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JesstheWitch- Sorry about the writing I thought I had formatted correctly but obviously not. I hate reading the way it is too, so sorry about that. If it's still not working than can you PM and tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!
Here's the next chapter
"It's a lucky thing we arrived before the rest. Otherwise we would have been mobbed with questions." Remarked Charles
"What do you mean my Charles?" Asked Grace
"Well for one, who you are and why Anne has returned with us. Your purple gown is another." Grace and Anne nodded knowing what the people at court would say. Charles led Grace and Anne towards their rooms after they promised to report to the king in the morning to be introduced to Queen Catherine, for whom they would be serving. The two were sharing a room at the top of the palace. It was almost like an attic with the sloping roof but it was nicer and more lady like. A large window seat looked out onto the wide courtyard and Grace could see the people arriving to see the procession. It was coloured with a deep wine red. Charles left them quickly and the two girls changed into their nightclothes. They sat on the window seat and looked down on the setting sun, the orange turning to magnificent reds and purples. They didn't speak, they simply watched. When they retired Anne pulled out a bible and began to say her prayers. When she had finished she looked up and appeared shocked to see Grace sitting in bed reading a book by the soft light of a candle.
"Shall you not say your prayers Grace?" She asked with a tone and air of curiosity. Grace shook her head and smiled.
"How can I pray when I do not know which God is the right one? If I pray to your God I may offend the true God." Anne simply looked shocked. Anne climbed into bed and delicately blew out her candle.
"Grace?" She said turning to look at her companion. Grace simply grunted to show that she was awake
"Do you want to win the favour of the king?" Grace sat bolt upright and looked at her.
"I have no interest in marrying a man almost double my age who regularly takes mistresses and hates the idea of not having a son. Anne simply lay still in slight shock.
"And his terrible wardrobe doesn't help." Anne smiled lightly then pictured his outfit from the day he fell from his horse. The puffy red and green pants with a green shirt looked rather hideous and Anne burst out laughing. Grace tried not to giggle but couldn't help herself! They laughed hard before Grace leant over and blew out the candle encasing them in darkness. As she lay there in the dark she couldn't help but think about what she had lost .Her mother and younger brother and sister had died in a house fire when she was 14 along with an aunt and uncle and their 3 eldest children. Grace and her goddaughter had managed to escape the house and despite the attempts made by the entire family to get back inside and save the rest of the family the smoke had been too thick. Grace adopted her goddaughter, Sasha, after that and raised her. She hoped that her father would look after her. She had a good job as a writer for the local newspaper and had just received her acceptance letter to study criminology at Harvard University all the way over the ocean in America. She had never been in love so there was no one to leave behind in that retrospect. Then she thought more about her family and what would happen to them. Her male cousins and uncles would fight to find her, leading search parties as they had when Anna had been kidnapped when she was 12. Her aunts would become more dotting on their children, attending all their sports games and dances. Her cousins would tell their parents and boy/girl friends that they loved them every day. The people who worked on the farm would work to keep her Dad happy. Tilly, the farm secretary, would have to find a new godmother for her unborn child. And her dad. He would totally shut himself down and throw himself into work. He would work so hard and so late that he exhausted himself until someone stepped in and helped him to get past his grief. But maybe something good would come out of her disappearance. Maybe her cousins James would get up the courage to ask his girlfriend of 5 years, Lisa, to marry him. Maybe the children would work to be what Grace might have been. She had always been the guinea pig and the yardstick for her cousins. She had been quite successful at school. DUX of primary and high school. An excellent skier and a wonderful part of the choir. Maybe the children would attempt to live Grace's life for her. With the thought that one day they would all be ok, Grace drifted to sleep.
As the sun rose over the magnificent kingdom that was England, the leaves glowing golden, red and orange in the cool morning air and a little frost dotting the grass, a deer moved quietly through the forest. As the deer travelled through the forest, it didn't notice the girl sitting on a black horse following it through the palace. She wore a pair of black riding pantaloons made of silk and a white blouse of the same material. A turban like hat with a small veil hung over her eyes. As she looked to the sky Grace noticed that she needed to be getting back. As her horse cantered into the crowded stable yard, she saw Anne looking down at her from the window signalling for her to return quickly. Grace threw her horses' reins to a stable boy, feeling guilty about leaving Symphony with strangers, and walked briskly towards the stairs. As she reached the top floor she spotted Anne's father and uncle leaving the room. She dropped into a curtsey. Not entirely low but just low enough to be polite. The Duke of Norfolk stood before her and said
" Why are you not in a full curtsey? Are station is far higher than yours'." Grace rose from her curtsey and said, anger lacing her voice.
" The king said that, as my rank is undetermined I am to curtsey as I see befitting to that person. Now if you will excuse me I have to meet the king in a few moments." And with that Grace swept past them and through her door almost squashing Anne who had her ear to the key hole.
"What are you doing Anne?" Grace said bemused. Anne stared in awe and said
" No one talks to my uncle like that!" Grace smiled and said
"Well I don't know my station, for all he knows I could be a princess from a faraway land!" Anne smiled and nodded to the closet of dresses. Anne had already selected a jade green dress with a leaf pattern swirling over the skirt. A necklace with a B and three pearls sat next to it. Grace assisted Anne to dress before turning to select her own outfit. She closed her eyes and ran her fingers over the fabrics before stopping on a silky dress. It was a dark midnight blue, the colour of lakes on clear nights when the moon shone bright. The neckline was trimmed with sapphires and pearls. Hanging from the hanger was a set of jewels. There was an amethyst shaped as a perfect crystal tied in a piece of leather and a set of pearl earrings. Grace dressed herself in the gown and pinned her short curly brown hair to keep it out of her face. Anne turned to face her and gasped.
"What? Does it look awful?" Asked Grace with a look of worry on her face.
"No. You look like a princess. No a queen. You look amazing." Grace smiled and the two began to walk towards the room where they were to meet the king. When they told the squire he scurried inside with a look of importance and excitement. He announced Anne before saying
"Grace Difey. Here title is unknown so she is to be referred to simply as Grace, until her title is determined." Grace frowned, it sounded like there were more people than just the King, Queen and their daughter in the room. When she entered she found the entire court waiting before her. Grace held her head high and walked to the front of the room, dropping to the ground in a low curtsey before the King, Queen and the Princess Mary. The king approached her and helped her to rise. He then kissed her on each check in the French fashion. Grace smiled and said.
" Your majesties and your highness Princess Mary, it is a great honour to serve you and I swear to be a faithful and good subject. Until I die". She said the last part in Spanish Catherine smiled and said
"You are Spanish my child?"
"I don't think so your majesty. I cannot remember anything before the ravine. But I know I can speak Spanish, English and French."
"Interesting. This is my daughter Mary." Grace curtseyed before Mary and smiled at her.
"Princess." Said Grace. Henry watched the exchange a smile on his face. He knew that Mary always felt lonely and he could imagine Grace being a good companion for the girl.
"As of today, the princess Mary will not be leaving court to Wales. Instead she will remain here, with her mother and move around with her court. Lady Anne will serve Queen Catherine and Grace will serve as a companion and tutor to Princess Mary. You are all dismissed." The crowd dispersed and left the royal family along with Grace, Anne, Charles, Anthony and William as Henry's servants and Maud Parr and Eva Johns for Catherine and Mary.
"You know Spanish, Grace. I wonder if that is where you are from." Said Henry
"I doubt it your majesty. Grace's accent is not a Spanish one that I or my ladies recognise." Said Catherine. Henry frowned and spoke in French. "Hello madam. What is your name?" Grace smiled and replied in French
"My name is Grace Difey. I feel as though I know this language partially, but not fully." Henry nodded. He smiled at the group and dropped his head to the ladies before leaving, followed quickly by Charles, William and Anthony.
"Lady Anne, you shall come with me and Ladies Maud and Eva. Grace you and Mary shall go to her music room. Perhaps you can discover if you can play and instrument." With that Catherine swept from the room with Eva and Maud quickly following. Anne walked slower turning back and nodding encouragingly at Grace.
"So your highness, could you show me where the music room is?" Mary nodded. She had black hair that seemed to have a hint of red that had lain dormant and was only just coming to prominence. Her eyes were a hazel colour, green and blue flecks prominent. Her dress was a lilac purple and her black hair hung down over her back. Mary even walked like a princess. Strict, almost as though she didn't know how to have fun. When they arrived at the music room, Mary passed her a music book.
"Princess, all these songs are choir and church songs? Do you sing anything else?" Mary shook her head.
"How about I teach you one." Mary nodded and said
"Could you just play me a song?" Grace nodded and sat down at the harpsichord.
March 1527
She ran her fingers over the keys determining the pitch of the notes. This happened every day for almost 2 years. Grace taught Mary piano, singing, art, dancing, cards, mathematics and horse riding. In that time, Henry fell in love with Anne. He pursued here with such a passion and such a love that it was almost impossible to believe that he ever loved Catherine. Catherine had grown angry at Anne. Slapping her and taking jewellery were the basics. The people of the court knew nothing. They were oblivious to the king, Anne and the Queen. Henry had confided in Grace that he wanted a divorce so that he could marry Anne. Grace often wondered if it was just lust or if Henry truly loved Anne. Anne didn't even know that Grace knew. She had being suspicious and confronted Henry and he had told her everything.
"Grace, Grace are you alright?" Questioned Mary. Grace pulled her head up and out of her day-dream. Grace nodded and began thinking.
"Mary. How about today we sing a new song?" Mary nodded timidly.
She wondered what would happen if she played a song that had yet to be written. But then she remember Elizabeth Of York's words. Don't focus on what will happen, just change what you can. She grabbed a piece of paper and wrote on it telling Mary to sing the parts labelled Mary. So she began to play one of her favourite songs. Her finger flew over the notes and she let her voice fly.
Grace-Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap!
As she sung King Henry, Queen Catherine, the kings sister Mary, who was married to Charles Brandon and their servants were on their way to see Grace and Mary. The Queens' eyes were red from crying and she had a letter scrunched tightly in her fist.
It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!
As they got closer Charles mentioned that he thought he could hear singing
I'm through accepting limits
'cause someone else says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost!
Their voice melded and twirled together creating a beautiful song. The king, queen and servants were outside listening by then.
Both- I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down:
Mary- Dreams, the way we planned 'em
If we work in tandem:
Both- There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I
Defying gravity
With you and I
Defying gravity
They'll never bring us down!
Grace- So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!
By the time they had finished their audience was quite in awe. Anthony was the first to applaud followed quickly by the rest of the group. Grace and Mary spun around from their seats, a look of fright glossing both faces. When they realized who it was Grace relaxed and Mary tensed even more. Henry walked over and knelt in front of her. He smiled and said
"Mary, my pearl, where did you learn to sing like that? And how have I never known of it before?"
"I've only ever really sang choir songs before. They don't really fit my voice."
"Then Mary, pearl of the world, you shall only sing songs like that one. Grace did you write that?" Grace smiled and said
"No your majesty. It's just one I remember."
"Now Mary, my daughter, Mr. Watson is here for your Latin Studies. Please go." Mary curtseyed and left the room. Grace looked at Charles before pointedly sliding her eyes to the king, queen and the letter. Charles only shrugged. She repeated the motion with Anne and the other maids and men but their reactions were all the same.
"Grace?" Questioned Henry
"Yes your majesty… Henry" She corrected herself at his pointed look.
" Catherine and I can trust you can we not? And you to Anne?" The two girls nodded.
"Good."
"This letter comes from the Pope. He has decided that Catherine's sister Joanna is too mad to rule and Charles is not ruling well enough. Therefore Catherine must go back to Spain as their queen or she will be excommunicated." The ladies gasped.
"Furthermore, he has declared our marriage invalid on the grounds that Catherine was married to my brother. He says if I want to name Mary legitimate I can and he will support that, but no other children I have with Catherine will be legitimate."
"So I have decided that I will return to Spain, leaving Mary here and Henry will marry again." Catherine's face was stony as she spoke. She already knew who Henry was going to marry. Catherine swept from the room, taking Eva and Maud with her. Henry grabbed Anne's hand and motioned for her to stay
"Do you have anyone in mind Henry? So that we may begin negotiations?" Asked William
"There will be no need for negotiations. Anne sweetheart?" Henry lowered himself to one knee and continued
"Will you do me the honor of being my wife and Queen of England. From his pocket he removed a purple velvet box. The ring was a gold band with an Amethyst set in the middle. Anne looked down on Henry began to nod
"Yes Henry, yes a thousand times yes!" Henry leapt to his feet and kissed her passionately on the lips.
5 days later Catherine boarded the ship to Spain. A fortnight after leaving port, a terrible storm struck the ship. A familiar name was at the top of the list of those who had died
Catherine of Aragon
Sorry to all the Catherine of Aragon fans out there, but I've never really liked her and if she was alive it would create problems. I do not own defying gravity from wicked, I was listening to it as I wrote and just had to put it in there. I hope the format's better this time if it's not I'm really sorry and I'll try to fix it. Thanks