Welcoming Anne
Hever Castle...
George paced the floors of Hever Castle in great despair. What was he going to do? His sister, Anne had been taken prisoner by the King! How would he ever get her back?
'My lord, Sir Thomas Wyatt is here.' said a servant. Thomas came sauntering in, washed and changed after his unpleasant mud-bath. 'Where is Anne? I want to see her.' he demanded.
'Anne is gone.' said George quietly. 'Gone? Where?' asked Thomas.
'She was taken prisoner by His Majesty, the King.' George told him. Thomas burst out laughing. 'Don't make me laugh. Now tell me- where is Anne?' he demanded.
'I told you, she was taken prisoner by the King!' George said crossly.
'Stop lying to me George Boleyn! WHERE IS ANNE?!' shouted Thomas, getting really angry now. 'I told you already, she's a prisoner! I'm not going to tell you again!' yelled George.
Thomas stormed to the door. 'I am leaving now! Anne had better be here tomorrow George Boleyn or I swear to God, I will strike you dead where you stand!' he yelled before storming out and slamming the door shut.
George sank to the ground, tears trickling down his cheeks. How could this have happened? Anne was now a prisoner and Thomas Wyatt threatening the Boleyn family if he didn't have Anne? 'What am I going to do?' cried George in deep despair.
Meanwhile, back at the castle...
Anne was still crying on her bed when she heard a knock on her door. She sat up. 'Who is it?' she called tearfully.
'Katherine Parr, dear.' answered the voice. Anne got up and opened the door- and was shocked to see a teapot and two cups walk in!
'I thought you might like a cup of tea.' said the teapot. 'Oh! But-but- your-' stammered Anne backing away and bumping into a wardrobe. 'Oh! Careful dear!' said the wardrobe.
Anne was astonished and had to sit down. Katherine and the two cups jumped onto the bed beside her. 'I know this is a shock but please allow us to introduce ourselves.' said one teacup. 'My name is Jane Seymour and this is my other cup friend, Katheryn Howard. And this is our wardrobe friend, Anna of Cleves.'
Katheryn hopped onto Anne's hand. 'It is a pleasure to meet you. And I must say that you are a very beautiful young woman.' she said. Anne smiled at this and said 'Thank you.' Katherine poured some tea into Katheryn and Anne took a sip.
'Would you like to see me do a trick?' asked Katheryn and then held her breath so that bubbles spurted out of the tea. 'Katheryn.' said Jane sternly. 'Oops, sorry.' blushed Katheryn.
'That was a very brave thing you did, my dear.' said Katherine to Anne. 'We all agree with that. You were so brave.' agreed Anna of Cleves. 'But I've lost my brother, my home...I've lost everything.' said Anne sadly. 'Cheer up child. Everything will work out in time, you'll see.' assured Jane gently.
'Oh, we'd better go! We have to prepare the dinner. Come along girls!' said Katherine, jumping off the bed, Jane and Katheryn following her. 'Bye!' called Katheryn before the door closed.
'Now, let me see if I have any dresses you can change into for dinner.' said Anna, opening her doors and then picked out a silver and blue dress. 'Ah, here we are. You will look ravishing in this one.' she said, handing Anne the dress. 'That's very kind of you Anna but...I'm not going to dinner.' said Anne. Anna gasped and said 'Oh but you must!' Then the door opened and Cromwell came in. 'Dinner is served.' he said, giving a smile.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the dining room, King Henry was angrily pacing around the fireplace. Brandon and Katherine were standing on the mantle, watching him.
'Where is she? I asked her down to dinner an hour ago. And why doesn't she come down?' King Henry growled to them. Brandon and Katherine looked at each other. 'Oh please have the decency to be patient Your Majesty. The poor girl has lost her brother and her freedom all in one day.' said Katherine.
'Your Majesty, have you had a thought that this girl could be the one to break the spell?' asked Brandon. 'Of course I have! I'm not a fool!' growled King Henry.
'Good! Then it is simple- you fall in love with her, she falls in love with you and POOF! The spell is broken! We'll be human again by midnight!' announced Brandon excitedly. 'Oh it's not that easy Charles dear. These things take time.' said Katherine gently. 'But the rose has already begun to wilt.' Brandon reminded her.
'Oh what's the point in hoping?' asked King Henry. 'She's so beautiful and I'm... well as you can see!'
'Oh you must help her to see past all of that.' said Katherine. 'I don't know how.' answered King Henry.
Katherine hopped down from the mantle and onto the table. 'Well you can start by making yourself more presentable! Straighten up! It's time to act like a gentleman!' she said. King Henry stood up more straighter.
'Now when the girl comes in, give her a smile. Try and practice a smile.' said Brandon. King Henry gave a shaky smile, baring his sharp teeth.
'But don't frighten the poor girl!' warned Katherine. 'Make sure you show care in your eyes!' added Brandon. 'But be sincere.' 'And above all...'
'You must control your temper!' they said in unison. Suddenly the doorknob turned. 'Here she is!' cried Katherine. King Henry looked up as the door opened...
'Good evening Your Majesty.'
It was Cromwell.
King Henry scowled. 'Well? Where is she?' he asked.
'Well- she told me-to tell you Your Majesty that...she's not coming.' stammered Cromwell.
For one second, there was silence. And then...
'WHAT?!'
King Henry banged the door opened and ran up the stairs to Anne's room. 'Your Majesty wait! Please! Don't be so hasty!' yelled Cromwell, rushing after him, Katherine and Brandon following.
King Henry banged hard on Anne's door. 'I thought I told you to come down to dinner!' he yelled. 'I'm not hungry.' said Anne in her room. 'You come out or I'll- or I'll break down the door!' yelled King Henry.
'Um, Your Majesty, I could be wrong but that may not be the best way to the girl's attention.' said Brandon. 'Yes. Attempt to be a gentleman.' added Cromwell. 'But she is being so difficult!' growled King Henry. 'Gently, gently.' coaxed Katherine.
'I would be really glad if you joined me for dinner...please.' said King Henry softly. 'No thank you Your Majesty.' answered Anne. The beast lost it.
'You can't stay in there forever!' he growled. 'Yes I can!' said Anne diligently. 'Fine! Then go ahead and STARVE!' yelled King Henry. 'If she doesn't eat with me then she doesn't eat at all.' he said to the others and then he stormed off to the West Wing. 'Well that didn't go very well did it?' said Brandon to Cromwell and Katherine.
'Come along Katherine. We shall go back to the kitchen. Brandon, you keep watch by the girl's door. Let us know if she comes out.' ordered Cromwell. 'You can count on me Cromwell!' assured Brandon. He started pacing around Anne's door while Cromwell and Katherine headed back downstairs.
King Henry threw open the doors to the West Wing. He stormed over to the enchanted rose, resting on a table. 'I ask her nicely, but she refuses!' he growled. 'What does she expect me to do? Beg?!' He grabbed his magic mirror that was on the table.
'Show me the girl.' he ordered. The mirror let out a soft glow and then Anne appeared in the mirror. She was sitting on her bed, sniffing. Her wardrobe, Anna was talking to her. 'He isn't all that bad Anne. Give him a chance; just try and give him a chance.' she was saying. 'I don't want to get to know him. I don't want to have anything to do with him!' answered Anne.
King Henry put down the mirror in despair. 'It's no use. She'll never love me. She only sees me for what I really am...a monster.' he whispered sadly.
A petal fell off of the enchanted rose. Already a few petals had fallen. 'It's hopeless.' he whispered.
Meanwhile...
Anne softly opened her bedroom door and peeked out. Nobody in sight. Stepping out of her room, she started to make her way towards the stairs.
'Oh no.'
'Oh yes.'
'Oh no!'
'Oh yes!'
Brandon came out, behind a nearby curtain, twirling a feather-duster around. It was his lover, King Henry's sister, Margaret. Then they noticed Anne walking down the stairs. 'Holy Mother of God, she has emerged!' cried Brandon.
Downstairs, Katherine and Cromwell were still looking at the table with all the food set out for dinner. Jane and Katheryn were warming themselves on the mantle. The cooker, Francis Weston was sulking because all of the food he had prepared was going to waste.
'Should I go up and check on His Majesty?' asked Cromwell. 'Maybe not right now. We might as well give him more time to calm down.' answered Jane.
Just then, the door opened and Anne walked inside. The objects were surprised. Cromwell quickly jumped over to her.
'Ah my lady! It is a pleasure to see you!' squealed Katheryn. Cromwell hopped over to Anne. 'My lady. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Thomas Cromwell, Secretary to His Majesty.' said Cromwell reaching for Anne's hand...
But Brandon got there first. 'This is Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.' added Cromwell crossly. Brandon smiled up at Anne. 'My pleasure mademoiselle.' he said kissing her hand. Anne had to smile.
'My lady would you care for some food now?' asked Jane. 'Jane please!' said Cromwell.
'I am a little hungry.' admitted Anne. 'You hear that? She's hungry!' said Jane.
'Start the fire! Fetch the wine! We will have a feast!' ordered Katherine. 'Remember what His Majesty said!' reminded Cromwell. 'Oh Cromwell! We're not going to let the poor child go hungry!'
'Alright fine! Fetch some water and bread and I'll-' 'Cromwell! I'm surprised at you! She is not a prisoner! She is our guest! We must make her feel welcome here! Right this way my lady.' said Brandon, leading Anne to the table. 'Well at least keep it down. If His Majesty finds out about this, he will have our heads!' warned Cromwell.
Anne sat down and they set about offering her food and drink. As she ate, they talked to her, interested in meeting a person after a year of being confined in the castle.
'Tell us about yourself. Where do you come from my lady?' asked Katheryn. 'Please all of you, you can call me Anne. Anne Boleyn. I lived with my family at Hever Castle in Kent.' answered Anne. 'I've heard of Hever Castle. It's a very beautiful place.' said Jane. Anne nodded. 'Yes it is but...it can feel very dull and boring at times.' she said.
'Any handsome young men?' asked Katheryn. 'Katheryn!' said Jane sternly. 'I'm curious!' 'Oh that's alright. There are a few handsome young men but they can be...' Anne trailed off. 'Strange?' suggested Brandon. 'Yes, you could say that.' agreed Anne.
'Have you ever been to France?' asked Cromwell. He was starting to warm to Anne. 'I was a lady in waiting to Her Majesty Queen Claude for seven years. I loved the French court. I would like to go back in the future.' Anne told him.
They talked happily until Anne could eat no more. But she wasn't ready to go to bed just yet!
'Do you think you could give me a tour of this castle?' she asked Cromwell. 'Certainly, my Lady Anne. I would be delighted. Hopefully you will feel more at home here.' he answered. 'I shall assist you in your tour Cromwell! I will fill you in on all the history of this castle, Lady Anne!' added Brandon. Cromwell rolled his eyes at this but didn't argue. 'Fine, come along Brandon! If you'll follow me this way, Lady Anne.' he said.
To Be Continued. Next chapter...Anne runs away and falls into danger! Who will save her? R&R!
