Chapter 1
The hour was late in the night, easily approaching midnight and much to the dismay of Sir Thomas, word of his finding the unknown woman and her state had quickly spread through the nearest village faster than Court gossip. The one arrival Sir Thomas was relieved to see however was that of the local Vicar, though a wild part of him would not have been altogether surprised if a Priest was to arrive, especially if word were to reach London and he had a fear that it would. He was after all the King's former tutor and still considered to be a most trusted advisor. Not that he wasn't touched by the concern of the villagers, quite the opposite in fact, but his instincts as a father told him to protect the unknown lady and his family from harm.
With his hands still stained with blood and his mind and his body now numb from his horrific discovery, Sir Thomas was sat at the table of the family dinning room, his hands had worked without consent and quickly grabbed what he searched for, his bible and rosary beads. As he clung to his book and worked the rosary, Thomas's mind was going over the most important question.
Who would commit such an atrocity?
Eventually it was the sound of one exceptionally angry man that shook Sir Thomas out of his numb state.
"Is there no sign of the monster responsible?" One man asked the room at large.
"There was no sign of any one when my son and I found Sir Thomas and the young lady." The old man replied, his own anger growing.
"Well, I say we rally the people and hunt down the beast!" The first man declared to a tremendous cheer and agreement.
"My dear boy, now is not the time for such talk. It is time for prayer..." the Vicar began but another older man interrupted the holy man.
"And let that soulless monster strike again? If he hasn't already!" He bellowed, his voice met with more agreement.
Before anymore talk could continue of going after the person responsible for the attack, the physician came down the stairs, newly arrived from somewhere up north some months previously, eventually came downstairs. The small crowd of people descended into silence at the sight of him and waited for the physician to speak of the lady's fate.
The physician, an older gentleman by the name of Williams, slowly raised his head to look at all the faces. Nobody could read his face, had she lived or had she died?
"At this current moment, the lady...shall live." Physician Williams said in a sombre whisper, but it was heard by all.
They wanted to cheer, to celebrate with a feast at the news but the first part of the good physician's words kept them from doing just that. 'At this current moment' meaning there was a chance that she could still be called by God.
Not one person knew what to say, so they merely stood around silently praying for God to be merciful and allow the unknown woman to live. Even their stirring plans to hunt the person down had been put to the back of their minds for the time being.
Meanwhile...
The King's chambers were in darkness and given that it was only approaching the third hour of the new day it was to be expected. The King and his latest Mistress, Mary Boleyn, were asleep at last after spending the whole night engaged in passionate love making. Which was why Mary Boleyn remained in the King's bed at such a time, instead of taking her leave after all was done. So it was with slow caution that the door was opened and one of servants of the Chamber entered.
He slowly approached the King's bed and knelt down at his King's side and sent a silent prayer to the heavens. The King never responded well to being woken up.
"Your Majesty..." the servant whispered but the King didn't move.
Clearing his throat the servant whispered again, but this time a little louder and this time there was movement from his King.
"Sire!" The servant hissed urgently, causing the King's eyes to snap open and anger was quick to flood his blue eyes.
"You dare to wake your King!" Henry VIII barked, causing the servant to fall backwards and Mary Boleyn to jerk awake.
The servant stammered to his knees and bowed his head, fear shaking his entire body.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. But I have received word something terrible has happened at the home of Sir Thomas More..." the servant stammered out in a horrified rush as he looked to his King. His eyes wide with fear as the King launched himself from his bed as naked as the day he was born.
"Fetch me some clothes." He ordered.
He servant wasted no time in following the King's orders while the King himself turned his attention to Mary. She was looking at her King with some alarm.
"Leave me." The King ordered her, and despite her alarm at the current situation, she did as her King ordered.
After getting dressed in leather trousers and a simple white tunic, the King was to be found storming through the Palace. There was hardly a soul to be found except for guards as he made his through the many corridors until he heard voices from the room where he and his advisers usually sit down and discusses the matters of the day. The doors were thrown open by two of his guard and the room fell silent as he entered.
"What matter warrants my awaking at this late hour?" Henry demanded.
"Your Majesty, it has been brought to our attention that late yesterday afternoon Sir Thomas More found a young woman in his grounds. The young woman, reportedly dressed in very strange attire, was most viciously attacked and found by Sir Thomas in a pool of her own blood. We are yet to hear anymore news of her current condition or if she will survive to see morning. If she hasn't already been called home to God already." Charles Brandon spoke.
As his dearest friend reported the situation that occurred of his former tutor and most trusted advisor, Henry felt his blood boil.
"Can one of you explain to me how such a thing could happen on the lands of one of my advisers!" The King roared in anger.
"We have already launched an investigation into this lack of security, Your Majesty, along with an investigation into the unknown woman that has been found." Cardinal Wolsey replied, hoping this would sooth the King's temper but to no avail.
"Indeed. Mr Knivet, you, along with guard members from the Tower are to head to the home of Sir Thomas More immediately. You are to conduct this investigation yourselves and send daily reports. Mr Compton, you are to re-examine the security of the Palace starting now. I want every inch of this place checked and double checked." Henry began to rattle off as he paced up and down in front of the small group of men he trusted most.
Both men bowed their heads and murmured 'Yes, Your Majesty'
"And I want immediate preparations to begin on receiving Sir Thomas, his family and this woman to brought here." Henry continued at which Wolsey felt the need to interject.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. But...would it be wise to bring the woman here? We have no idea as to the circumstances surrounding her attack, she could be an enemy to the crown." Wolsey suggested delicately.
Charles, Anthony Knivet and William Compton all looked offended at the notion.
"Surely you jest, Wolsey. What possible threat could a woman, whom may still die anyway, hold to our King?" Anthony asked him.
"Do not tell me you are afraid of a mere woman?" William added.
Henry looked at all four men with a deadly look that brought an end to the argument before it could even begin.
"Where better to keep a watch over her if she is a threat?" Henry threw back, his tone holding a sense of finality to the discussion.
The King turned to leave before stopping and turning to look at the men again.
"And one more thing, I want our best keeping watch over Buckingham and his allies." Henry stated in a tone that made it clear this was not up for any debate.
The men watched their King storm out of the room and undoubtedly back to his chambers.
"If it is proved that Buckingham was behind this in some way..." Anthony began before trailing off. They all knew how it would end.
Throughout the course of the morning the servants began the process of clearing out two sets of apartments for Sir Thomas, his family and the unknown woman. Not that any of them knew this of course, all they knew was that the King had given the order for two apartments to be cleared out and prepared for guests. Charles Brandon, after seeing off his friends, made it his mission to see that the apartments were prepared properly and to make sure that nobody got word of what had happened. While he was certain that the Boleyn family knew that something had happened, through Mary informing them no doubt, they wouldn't know the truth of the situation and would not risk speaking of it to anyone else. Not out of a sense of concern of course but they would see it as their advantage to keep quiet.
The sun was shining through one set of apartments that was being prepared, a million dust particles visible for all to see as they danced in the sun light. It was the stream of sunlight that caught the attention of Queen Katherine as she and her ladies in waiting were returning to her apartments after early morning prayers. But stopped in and doubled back when the corner of her eye registered activity down a corridor that led to some rather luxurious apartments that were only beaten by her own and the King's.
"Is that Mr Brandon?" One of her ladies whispered to another.
Well, the Queen thought there was only one way to find out.
"Mr Brandon." Katherine announced.
The servants stopped and either bowed or curtsied as the Queen and her ladies approached.
"Your Majesty," Charles greeted as he stood up straight.
"Is there a reason why the servants are preparing these rooms?" Katherine asked, her Spanish accent revealing nothing to the fear that was stirring in the pit of her stomach.
Surely these rooms weren't for that harlot Mary Boleyn?
Katherine saw a flash of uncertainty come across Brandon's But why?
"Your guess is as good as mine, Your Majesty. All I know is the King order the apartments to be prepared for guests at all times instead of just when there is a scheduled visit." Charles told her coolly.
While he gave no clear sign of lying, Katherine suspected that he was.
"Mr Brandon, while I appreciate your loyalty to the King do not take me for a fool. If these rooms are for Mistress Boleyn then just say so." Katherine told him firmly.
Charles shifted uncomfortably.
"I am afraid that I do not actually know whom these rooms are for. But I assure you that it is not Mistress Boleyn." Charles told her.
Katherine looked at Brandon half reassured half confused but left it at that and without another word continued on her way.
Charles, after straightening out of his second bow, hoped that Anthony was having some success in his investigation. There was no telling what kind of attitude the King would be in over the course of the coming days, if not weeks.
A/N: Hope you like the changes that I have made and will continue to make.