July 16, 1525

Anne walked into the Queen's chambers for the first time. She curtsied to Her Majesty but didn't feel welcome as she had thought she would be. Everyone in the room stared at her.

"I hear you are the new Marquess of Pembroke." The icy stare did nothing to make Anne feel at ease. "Not yet, Your Majesty." The two looked at each other in silence. Anne felt the stares of everyone on her. She didn't know how quickly word spread. "What have you done that is so noble? No woman has ever held that honor."

Anne was unsure of what to say. Did the king want anyone to know she'd beat him at chess? Well, he had been the one who'd chosen to reward her. It isn't as if he thought people would not ask why he had done so. In any case, why should she be the one to care for his pride or ego? "I won a game of chess with His Majesty."

The Queen scoffed at her, "You expect me to believe that is why His Majesty has rewarded you?" It was the first time this occurred to Anne, and she was quite disappointed with herself for not noticing this sooner, but these ladies probably all thought she was Henry's mistress. His Mistress! The very thing she despised and vowed herself not to ever be. They already thought so lowly of her and she had just met them.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

If this girl was intimidated, she did not show it. Yet, knowing Henry as she did, Katherine could not believe he would bestow such a high honor on a woman simply for winning a game of chess. In any case, she'd expected him to punish anyone who beat him. Henry was very competitive and proud.

Katherine stared at Anne. The girl had a defiant look in her eyes, and Katherine noticed a subtle anger burning in the dark brown orbs. "Anne, is it?" The lady nodded.

"Mistress Alice will tell you your duties." With that, Katherine left.

"I just don't understand what you're doing." Charles looked to his friend. A friend he thought he'd known. He knew the king was likely to often change his mind. He knew the king had a temper that was easily upset. He knew the king to be relatively pious and sometimes even generous. Yet, this generous, he'd never expected.

He'd known Henry to raise the families of his mistresses. Yet, Charles did not even suspect that the Lady Anne was his mistress. He was sure Henry would have mentioned it to him after she'd left yesterday. Even if she was, Henry did not honor his mistresses directly, but rather, he honored their families.

To say Charles was confused would be an understatement. He considered Henry his best friend, and had a strong feeling that Henry felt the same way about him. Henry let out a frustrated groan, "Charles. I feel as though Anne is repulsed by me, because of my many mistresses. She interests me and if I must go above and beyond to put myself in her favor, I will do so. I have never seen a woman so beautiful."

Charles stared at his friend again. At this point, he thought his friend had gone mad. He didn't dare say so, because even though they were friends, Henry was easily made angry. Saying the wrong thing wouldn't be in his favor.

"I don't want her reputation to suffer. Do you think that will happen?" Charles looked to his best friend. He often wondered where Henry's head was when he said such things. The answer was obvious but he knew what Henry wanted him to say. Still, he went against what he knew Henry wanted and answered truthfully, "I think gossip will be that she is your new mistress. That that is why you've given her the honor."

Henry put his face into his hands and closed his eyes. Charles stood there awkwardly, not knowing what he should do. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, but finally a few words escaped Charles' lips, "In all honesty, Your Majesty, if I may speak freely, I do not think giving her titles will make her love you."

The Emperor's visit was an important occasion at Hampton Court. Anne quietly served the King and Queen's table and walked away. She could nearly feel the stare of Henry but chose to ignore him. He had a wife, and in her opinion, he should stick to that.

She walked to her father and poured him a drink. As she was pouring, he whispered to her, "Put yourself in the King's way." Anne finished pouring the drink but did not give any reaction to her father's demand. Instead, she simply walked away. She served the other guests and watched a bit of the dancing. She was delighted to see Princess Mary dancing. So young, yet so graceful. Although, Anne did not personally agree with the union that was in the future for the young Princess. Charles so much older that the two probably wouldn't be able to have children in the future. And, in any case, Anne would always favor an alliance with the French. King Francis and his court had always treated her with respect and dignity. Mary was their whore, the girl they committed adultery with. But Anne was strong-willed and intelligent, the girl they lost card games to. She suddenly noticed the King in front of her and her breath hitched in her throat. She curtsied to him, knowing that despite their friendship, if that was what one could call it, she would still have to show him his due respect. Not that she would dare to think otherwise.

She saw a smile creep up on his face and felt suddenly aware of all the people that were sure to be staring. Her face felt hot and she tried to maintain her composure. "Lady Anne." She rose from her curtsy and walked away as quickly as she could without looking like she was running. She walked into the palace and stood against a wall. She tried desperately to catch her breath and make sense of what was going on. The King wanted her. She had been so stupid not to see it before, but she did now. That had been why he'd bestowed the title upon her, not because she was smart. He wanted her to be his mistress and there was nothing she could do about it. He was probably going to ask for her soon and she wouldn't be able to say no. Her own father would never allow her to keep her maidenhead if the King wanted it. She shook her head in disgust. She head footsteps and tried to calculate a reason as to why she was here in her head. She was shocked to see Henry beside her.

She breathed in shallow breathes. Henry was once again mesmerized by her beauty. Her hair framed her face so perfectly. He wondered briefly why she was here, but then assumed that she was waiting for him after their encounter earlier. He reached out his hand and caressed Anne's face softly before pulling her close to him and covering her lips with his. The kiss went on for some seconds and it surpassed the excellency that he thought it might be. His joy was cut short however, when Anne broke herself away from him and ran in the other direction. He stared after her, confused. She turned around and said, "I have to go," quickly, and ran out. He stared after her, confused.

He went to bed peacefully, later in the evening. However, he woke with a start after dreaming of a naked Anne. He's been walking down a hall, crown on his head, when he came upon a shut door. He didn't know who resided there, but he'd opened the door anyway, and found Anne. She didn't have any clothing on her, but she covered her most desirable parts with her slender arms. He began walking towards her, but she reached out a hard to stop him silently, revealing her bare breasts to him in the process. "No, not like this." He concentrated on her beautiful face and replied, "Then how?" "Seduce me. Write me letters. And poems. I like poems. Seduce me." Then, he'd woken up.

July 18, 1525

Anne received a gift from the king. She sighed and took the cloth into her hands, opening it to find four beautiful brooches. She had no clue what to do. With the kiss the King had given her two days ago, and now this, she didn't know what to think. She'd already gone alone to the chapel to pray for God's forgiveness, but she couldn't bring herself to go to confession. She didn't want a living soul to know. She didn't want anyone to know. Now, she didn't know what to do.

She walked to the Queen's service and washed the woman's feet, not noticing the departure of the other ladies until they'd already left. It was just her and the Queen.

"So, you are truly not the King's mistress?" Katherine's thick Spanish accent filled the air. Anne shut her eyes, "I don't know if I can deny that accusation and I wish I could, honestly. He kissed me and I allowed it. It went on for far too long and today I received a gift from him. I do not know what to do, my lady. I want to just leave the court and go to Hever, away from the King's advances, though I did think I had a friend in him. What should I do?" Anne could not believe the words that had left her mouth, but, at the same time, she was delighted to have told someone. It was too much to hold it all inside, and now, look at this - she was acting so out of character. Telling father or anyone else would have not been pleasant. Though, she was not sure telling the Queen was a good idea either. She was unused to telling her secrets. What was a woman without some mystery? Anne opened her eyes slowly and saw a look of surprise on the Queen's face.

Katherine did not know what to think. This young,pretty woman, had confessed to her and seemed to be sincere in her feelings. "Do not fear, my child. God will not punish you, and he will reward your honesty. I give you my permission to leave to Hever, and I think that is best." Anne nodded and finished washing the Queen's feet.

She wrote a letter to his majesty to thank him for the beautiful brooches and to return them.

Your Gracious Majesty,
It causes me such pain and grief to return the gifts you gave me. Alas, they are too beautiful and I unworthy to receive them. I think I never gave your majesty cause to give them to me. Since I am nothing, and you are everything. Give them, I pray you, to a lady more deserving of Your Majesty's affections. I am leaving now, for my family's house at Hever. I shall think of you on the journey there.

Your loving servant,
Anne Boleyn

With a deep breath, she gave the letter and asked that it be delivered in the morning, along with the brooches. She began packing her things but could not help thinking about the handsome King who'd taken an interest in her and his piercing eyes.

A/N: I suck. I know. But here it is! This is my first update since that little predicament and I am "the most happy" to be posting for all of you. I'm very upset by the series' end, but the finale was great, and the show will always be amazing to all of us who loved it. I hope you all enjoyed this update. Let me know, regardless. I've had a blast writing this and I hope to update soon.

Leave a review and tell me what you think! : )