AN - Next chapter! ^^ I realise I may have made a small part slightly unbelievable last chapter, ie, Anne escaping to visit Elizabeth...but don't worry it will all be corrected this chapter!

She ran through the transparent woods as fast as she could even though her thighs and her back were extremely painful. She needed...no...wanted to get away from the palace and the people... When she couldn't go on any longer she stopped and fell to her knees, trying to catch her ragged breath. Behind her, she could sense the people coming to a stop some of them got off of their horses whilst some caught their breath too. Lowering her head she closed her eyes. If only all this would go away...they were going to drag her back to the palace now...they might even lock her up and claim her as a madwoman!

Suddenly, a warm hand was placed on her shoulder. She slowly turned and glanced at the hand before looking up at the owner of it...Henry! Gasping she looked into his eyes, fear taking hold of her. Now she knew that he would claim her mad and he might even kill her... A brave tear fell from her eyes and fled down her cheek to her chin. His hand cupped her chin and he wiped it away with his finger. At first she had flinched, frightened that he might hit her. Now she was ashamed for thinking that, after seeing the hurt in his eyes. As he bent down and slowly caressed her face she felt herself begin to melt...it was something she couldn't seem to control whenever she was around him...whenever he touched her like this... but no, after what he'd done she oughtn't behave like this with him, he had made her life a misery...

He could see the suspicion and the fear in her eyes, oh how he wanted to wipe that away and not just the tears on her face! He wanted to wipe away those years, months, weeks, days...all the bad things he had done to her, the way he had treated her...

He felt like crying himself, but that would never do...not in front of all these people...not yet.

Caressing her face softly, he leant forward a little and whispered just as softly and meaningfully to her,

"I'm sorry, my love..."

The broken Anne Boleyn slowly nodded her head and touched his hand with hers. She couldn't truly forgive him yet, not after all he had done... but she was willing to accept this small apology for now. And it was an assurance that he meant no harm, in this moment at least.

Henry smiled softly before standing up and offering his hand to Anne. She smiled faintly too and took it, he helped her to her feet and held her hand within his. He wanted to reassure her that she was safe and that they weren't going to imprison her. After his destruction...he had enquired from her sister and her doctor about how she was. They had told him all there was to tell before going inside to check upon her. He had been worried to death when they had reported that she wasn't there anymore. That was when some of them had searched the grounds, they spotted her in the woods and some other's had mounted their horses before following the chase. He was glad that they had found her in time and also that she wasn't harmed...she was greatly harmed, he knew that...but at least no more had come to her.

Anne looked at Henry curiously as he turned towards her again and spoke,

"Where would you like to be? We can go together...or we can take you there at least."

She had trouble getting her words out at first, but eventually she found her voice. It was weak and a little quiet, though she hoped she had been heard.

"I...I wanted to see...Eliza...beth..."

"Then we shall see her. I don't wish to stop you from doing anything you please...I just fear for your health, my sweet.."

Then he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently before helping her walk over to his awaiting horse. She was a little worried but at least they were allowing her to see Elizabeth and Henry appeared to be in a kindly mood. He placed his hands about her waist then drew them away again, seemingly disturbed by something. Then she realised that he must be thinking of the...the incident... smiling she nodded for him to continue assisting her. It was a relief to know that he had thought of the incident or more that he seemed to regret it deeply.

Henry nodded too as he got her consent to help her onto the horse. He hadn't realised how it might affect her until he had touched her around the waist. Something like that wouldn't go away easily nor would it be truly forgiven or forgotten. Still he was willing to try. Again, he placed his hands around her waist and gently lifted her onto the horse. He placed her on the horse so that she was in a riding position. He wouldn't push it by riding with her, no he would lead and guide the horse for her instead. He felt strange as he took the reins and started walking through the woods, he had never been this kind or considerate before. He had never acted in such a way before, it made him weep inside to think about what a horrible and terrible person he had once been. His thoughts drifted to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, had he made her suffer too? Why hadn't he been more understanding and less of a beast then? He had made her die in pain and in silence. Lonely and loved by none but her daughter. It seemed to take an inhumane action like that incident to change a man. Particularly a man like he had been.

Reliving this new revelation he walked silently on the path to Hatfield.

Jane awoke in a strange place. Perhaps it was heaven? No, make that hell... She was surprised to find herself able to sit up and looked around in confusion as she found herself lying in a strangers bed in a strangers room. No, wait she was in George's room...George Boleyn... She looked on surprised as she saw him kneeling and what seemed like praying. Oh, but the awfulness of it all! To be lying in his bed of all peoples! And he was praying as well... praying, just praying right there in his room! A good religious man went to church or the chapel to pray not just anywhere they pleased! Then a fact hit her like a brick, he was a Boleyn so therefore he was a heretic, or a 'reformer' as they liked to call themselves...

Almost rolling her eyes, she reached inside her bodice and clutched at her rosary. Holding it in her hands, she made a promise to visit a chapel sometime and pray. Not forgetting to do many ,many Hail Mary's for all her sins! She still owed them after all!

He turned around as he heard a shift in movement behind him. Placing his hands at his side and opening his eyes he forgot all prayer as he watched her clutch her blasted rosary and seemingly pray. Probably for his forgiveness for 'heretic' actions or perhaps his damnation... Standing up, he silently made his way over to where she was seated. She was too absorbed in whatever she was doing to notice,

"Well, well Lady Jane...praying without a church now?"

He was happy to find that she jumped upon hearing his voice. He then chuckled as she raised both eyebrows at his 'heretical' remark.

"How dare you assume that I would do such a blasphemous thing as that?"

"I dare. I also believe that something like that is not blasphemous at all. Besides who are you to declare what is blasphemous and what is not? After all, you yourself are covered in sin and it appears to drip from your skin like milk from a cow..."

Again, her facial expressions stretched to the extreme as she took in this new insulting remark. He grinned at her and leaned against the bed post watching her interestedly.

She couldn't believe the awful things that were coming from this heretical beast...how dare he mock and insult her like that! Mind you, most of his accusations were true...not that he had to put them in such a manner though! She couldn't stop herself as her tongue replied before her mind could,

"Your not exactly the example of godliness and innocence either! "

She clapped her hand over her mouth as soon as she'd said it, there would no doubt be more trouble for her now...

"Fair point, my lady."

George folded his arms and gave her a curt nod. It was true, they were both as sinful as each other and neither could particularly claim to be better than the other. He chuckled again though, as he watched her clap a hand over her mouth and return back to her shocked expression. He much preferred her when she was witty and feisty. A good match for him to tease and taunt at least.

"Surely your remark wasn't that bad, besides it was very true,"

He raised an eyebrow as he said this hoping to make her expression and her mood change yet again.

"However, don't you feel a little pity for my poor damned and bruised soul?"

George pretended to look hurt and sniffed as if he were crying. She was much more fun to tease then any of those gentle and easily bruised court ladies. He watched as she looked confused before frowning.

"Surely you jest, my lord? You are merely teasing me, go and have your fun elsewhere and leave me be! "

He smiled mockingly and chuckled again at her answer, he was enjoying teasing her and it kept his mind off other less joyful subjects. This time he decided to perplex her even more and circled the bed with his arms still crossed. Suddenly he stopped at her side and brushed her hand accidentally on purpose. This gave him another thrilling reaction from her, and she seemed affected by his touch enough. He leaned over her and placed his hands either side of her body, she was now laid back across the pillows of his bed. He smiled seductively and drawled in a matching seductive voice,

"No jest, my lady. I wish to never leave you...indeed I wish to savour you..."

He breathed in deeply and brought his face slowly closer to hers. This was definitely getting a reaction from her.

She couldn't believe it! Now he was definitely teasing her, he was talking seductively and seemed to want some sort of reaction from her. Well damn him and his charm! She wasn't going to give him what he wanted, no he only wanted to tease and torment her with his sensual words and sweet lips, inching ever closer towards her own.

"No, this is all some joke to you and you want to see me squirm!"

This time she said it freely, unashamed by her words. George smiled to himself as he heard her words and watched her face turn angry as her arms tried to push him away. He moved his lips closer to hers again and spoke,

"You've got it all wrong, Lady Jane. I merely wish to love you..."

Then before she could fully push him away, he brought his lips upon hers and waited for her to resist. For a few seconds she seemed to, until he parted his lips that was. The n she stopped struggling and parted hers, he brought his tongue into her mouth and found her own tongue. Then he caressed hers with his and made the kiss more passionate as they both succumbed to it. He felt her tongue run across his lips as they slowly parted for a few seconds to take a gasp of air. Then his tongue entered her sweet mouth again as they continued their kiss, this time she freed her hands and ran them along his back. He than moved his own hands from their place beside her and brought one round her waist whilst the other one rested against her neck. Their bodies both seemed to want for more as he moved her across the side of the bed, her blonde and flowing hair hung from the side as his hand moved to cup her head safely. She brought her hand to the bottom of his shirt and was just about to pull it away when he stopped her hands and released himself from their hungry kiss. Moving off her he stood up and ran a hand through his hair before leaving the room and muttering a pathetic 'sorry'.

Jane sat up for a minute and stared bewildered at the closed door. A few minutes ago they had been in complete passion and then he had decided to end it! He who had started it in the first place! She frowned, she was angry now at him and most of all herself!She sat up, leaning on her elbow and stared at the wall in front of her for the first time. She noticed it had a portrait hung on it, and most infuriating of all a portrait of him! Jane heaved herself off the bed and promptly turned her back to the offending portrait, what was she doing here anyway? And what exactly had happened?

Feeling irritated and trying to recall what had happened, she rubbed the front of her neck distractedly. Suddenly she felt a small wave of pain around her neck, had she injured it in some way? Curiously she stumbled over to a mirror on the far wall, but she wasn't prepared for the sight she saw...thick, black bruises covered her entire neck and there almost seemed to be hand marks too...all of a sudden she remembered running and shouting, Edward and gasping for breath... of course. Edward had tried to strangle her... her own blood & brother...but then George had been there for some reason...wait...he'd saved her? Now, her mind was full of even more questions than before and the fact that he had saved her life was only now starting to rear its ugly head. Jane sighed and put a hand to her forehead, it was all too much and she desperately needed to get away from this mirror before she cracked it!

Walking back over to the bed she sat down and thought, he had saved her life so she ought to be grateful, she ought to thank him, she needed...no wanted to do something for him to show her thanks. Sighing, she lay back on the bed and buried her head in the pillows, maybe sleep would help her?

Mary Tudor was all alone with her half sister Elizabeth in the nursery. She was still infuriated over the fact that she, a Princess, had to serve a bastard...and she wasn't even a maid! No, she was a mere slave who was forced to serve and obey the whore and her bastard daughter! However, things appeared to be getting better as she had heard that the whore was no longer pleasing her father and he had even found a woman to replace her. The news had delighted her beyond anything as it meant that she could finally regain her place as the true daughter of the King and would no longer be trapped beneath his whore!

All of a sudden the bastard child began to cry and startled Mary from her thoughts, she turned and looked about her wondering where all the maids had gone. Surely they should be here to look after her even if she was 2 years of age now? Feeling some sympathy for the poor abandoned child she walked over to where she was sitting and picked her up. As soon as Elizabeth had been picked up she immediately stopped crying and smiled happily at her half sister. Mary suddenly felt very guilty and gently held her half sister to her as she softly sang to her in Spanish. She of all people should know what it felt like to be abandoned, to not have a mother with you daily, to be thought of as a bastard... The more Mary looked at Elizabeth the crueller she felt, Elizabeth was no bastard and neither was she! They had both had the bad fortune to be a King's daughter so perhaps they ought to be good sisters to each other?

Elizabeth looked up at her big sister as she sang strange words to her. At first she had been surprised that one of the servants was her sister but after an explanation from Lady Bryan she had understood the situation. Apparently, Mary had been very bad to their father and so was punished by being made a servant. After hearing that story, she had been a little scared whenever her father visited them and tried her best not to anger him. Curiously she decided to ask her sister something,

"Mwary, will papa forgiffe you soon?"

Mary stopped singing and frowned at Elizabeth's question, what exactly had her ladies been telling her? And why on earth did she care whether their father would forgive her or not?

Perhaps her sister did care for her after all...maybe Elizabeth would help her gain their fathers favour again...in fact she wouldn't even want anything in return! Smiling Mary decided to try and get her onto her side.

"Elizabeth our papa will only forgive me if someone asks him to... he would only punish me more if I asked him..."

As she had hoped her sister seemed upset by this and Mary watched happily as she came up with an idea.

"What if I askes him for you?"

"That would be very kind of you, your Highness."

"No no, not your Hiwhness! Elizabeth!"

Mary smiled and hugged Elizabeth closer, she was really starting to like her half sister! The two sisters didn't seem to notice the door opening and two figures stepping through them...

Anne was taken aback for a minute as she noticed who was embracing her daughter...it was Mary! Katherine's Mary! Even Henry seemed surprised but he also seemed strangely pleased.

Over come by a sudden desire to hold her daughter close she stepped forward without Henry and gently touched Mary's shoulder.

Mary opened her eyes when she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned, shocked, to see the whore behind her. However, something looked very different about her she appeared almost as if she had no care for her looks nor her place anymore. Genuinely surprised Mary forgot to curtsey or greet either of them, then she heard her ask for her daughter and realised that she was still holding Elizabeth. She kissed the toddlers forehead sweetly and handed her quietly over to Anne, then she stepped back and was about to leave the room when she heard two voices call out to her in unison.

"Please don't go!" spoke Henry and Anne together.

All three of them seemed surprised by this, most of all Mary who had got used to loathing and being loathed by Anne and also the loss of her fathers love. However, she turned back around and took a seat away from them. After all it would do no good to immediately forgive either of them!

Once Elizabeth had become tired she was sent up to her bed with Lady Bryan in tow, leaving Anne, Henry and Mary on their own. Anne wasn't sure what to do now, here she was left alone with her husband Henry who had abandoned her these last few weeks, and Mary who she had treated so badly. Perhaps she ought to make amends with the girl? Her mother was long dead by now and even though she regretted keeping them apart she couldn't change the past...maybe if she tried to be friendly and kind towards Mary then perhaps she would do the same in return? Then again the girl simply refused to accept her as the rightful Queen of England! Her mother was long dead by now and there was no other Queen to accept but herself...perhaps she would relent now? Perhaps if she decided to relent herself a little, they could come to some sort of truce?

Meanwhile, Mary was thinking very much the same thing...she had seen the desperate look in poor Bess' eyes earlier and then seen the pure surprise and delight when both of her parents had entered and all three of them had stayed in the same room. She herself was surprised that she had managed to stay in the same room as the whore who had enticed her father, and even more so that she had begun to feel quite sorry for her too. Seeing such sadness, even in the eyes of her enemy, was something that she hated most of all. She had seen it often enough in her mothers eyes before they had been cruelly separated and afterwards in her own... Perhaps she ought to attempt a truce with the woman? But this time on her own terms? All she really wanted was her fathers love back and to be able to keep the true religion. Her mother would always be the true Queen and no one would make it otherwise, but she knew in her heart that her mother would have wanted her to be happy too. Not to abandon all happiness simply to honour her mothers true title! Still, she would find it hard to do and she would never truly abandon that honour, simply hide it in order to gain a little happiness for herself and to find peace for her mothers spirit.

As they were both thinking everything through they didn't notice Henry slowly leaving the room, he knew they had never been friends, no they had been more deadly enemies than anything else! However, he hadn't failed to notice the rather strange expressions and behaviours of the two women and thinking quickly he decided to leave them alone for a little while. And well if a fight broke out he could always run right back in right? Besides there were a few matters he had to take care of whilst in Hatfield...

Anne decided to make the first move, take the first step to peace with her stepdaughter. What she needed right now was someone to tell her troubles to, someone who bore the burden of being royalty too, someone wise and of a similar age... and for some strange reason Mary seemed to be the only person she knew to fit those requirements. A few years ago she would have laughed off the idea of actually needing Mary's company but now...now she wanted someone she could love like a daughter but was old enough to understand her troubles.

Clearing her throat a little to get the young woman's attention she drew in a deep breath before speaking, before she would have been braver than this, have spoken almost immediately, no hesitations... Now, after all that happened, she was no longer the strong, confident, cutting edge Anne she had once been. Now, she was merely a shell of her former self, perhaps less that that...

Lady Mary...have you thought anymore of my previous offer?

She stood waiting silently, and hoped that this conversation would be much different from the last one they had shared.

Mary looked up almost immediately as she heard someone clear their throat, a little startled to find herself alone with Anne she stayed silent allowing her to speak first. As she waited she found herself curious about the new Anne in front of her, she seemed more reserved, quiet, nervous...just what had happened to her to make her like this? She was somehow unsettled by the new woman in front of her and hoped that their conversation would be brief. She wasn't in the least surprised however when the first words to come out of her mouth were about the offer she had extended to her a few years back. This time however, things would indeed be different, this time she would make the offers and this time they would come to some sort of arrangement. But something that suited her just as much as it suited her enemy.

Yes, I have. Though this time I would prefer to negotiate your offer...

Mary stood still and watched her enemy, her face was a perfect mask, no smirk nor frown. No this time she would stay emotionless and that way she would hope to make an offer to suit her. As much as she wanted to make snide remarks and infuriate the woman she hated, she knew that she should never prey on the weak and perhaps staying civil she would get what she wanted.

The Queen considered her step-daughters sentence for a moment before closing her eyes and nodding her head, allowing Mary to continue. This time she would hear her terms and perhaps they would come to an agreement, besides she would rather keep everything civil this time around.

If I recognize your Majesty as the Queen of England, I should like to be reunited with my father and in doing so would expect to be welcomed back to court...

She paused a second, taking in Anne's calm expression before continuing.

I should also like to be able to follow my religion, which I believe to be true and good, without any

objections.

She would never accept the heretics religion and she would let them damn their souls if they wished but only as long as she herself could keep to the true and honest religion. A simple request that wouldn't cause any of the heretics strife or reason to worry. As much as she was against their heresy she still respected their rights to practice it, after all she was under the reign of a new Queen and however much she abhorred it she must be tolerant...or else she would lose her fathers favour forever... Breathing slowly she closed her eyes and thought of her mothers face, she could picture her smiling, she could feel a soft touch on her shoulder, and she could hear the gentle reassurance that everything would be alright spoken in her mothers familiar Spanish accent. Smiling softly to herself, no longer caring whether Anne saw, she remembered a time long long ago with her mother...

"Mary, querida, what are you up to?" the gentle voice of Queen Katherine of Aragon echoed around the room, slight laughter at the edge of her words. She was seated in one of her Spanish gowns, trimmed with black lace that flattered her curvaceous figure. Watching her dear daughter Mary race from one end of her rooms to another, she hadn't the heart to tell her off today for running. Katherine wanted her to stay young and free as long as possible, she would be deeply saddened the day her querida would grow up and marry some foreign prince, leaving her all alone...and she would be completely alone, Henry was no longer interested in her and no doubt when that time came he would simply turn to his women for comfort leaving her sad and alone. The smile now gone completely from her face it was replaced instead with a sad sigh, which was soon interrupted by a little voice beside her,

"Madre, why do you look so sad?" One of Mary's hands was holding hers, her face showing worry for her mother whilst the other was firmly hidden behind her back. Katherine shook off her frown and smiled gently at her daughter, "I was thinking that when you grow up into a beautiful lady I shall miss you very much." The little Princess tilted her head to the side and looked up at her mother, her sweet face puzzled. "But mother, why should you miss me when I'm a lady?" The Queen smiled, a hint of laughter in her voice, her querida was still so young and would be for a long while yet. "Because you are mi perla preciosa." Mary still looked a little puzzled and perhaps hadn't caught the meaning of her Spanish words, but she looked much more reassured now. Katherine picked her daughter up and sat her on her lap, not caring if her skirts got creased. Still smiling, she tapped her daughters nose gently and smiled as she giggled, then holding her close she murmured the words to their special lullaby, "No me despiertes porque estoy soñando, de los ángeles en la luna, donde todos los que conoces, nunca deja demasiado pronto..."

Mary's smile slowly faded as she opened her eyes again and faced her enemy, ready for anything she said.

Anne had watched her close her eyes and had watched the smile light up her features, she looked just as pretty as Elizabeth when she smiled, it made her feel so guilty for taking away that smile all these years. Breathing deeply she had considered Mary's terms and had found them perfectly acceptable, something she would never have even thought a few days ago. She was just glad that Mary seemed to want to call a truce and as long as Elizabeth didn't get sidelined or Mary tried to get either her or her daughter dethroned she was perfectly fine with accepting her back at court. There was still a part of Anne that wished to keep her throne for herself and her daughter and to keep hold of the reformation she had worked so hard for. So as long as Mary's terms didn't affect that she was perfectly fine with it, all she cared about anymore was her precious daughter and her religion.

Of course, I agree with your terms Lady Mary.

Then she found herself giving Mary a small smile before turning to leave the room. And as she left she found herself feeling a little happier than before, her position still wasn't safe but at least she knew her daughter might be. As long as Mary took care of her and didn't try to take her birth right, everything would run smoothly for her precious little angel. And as she started to walk down the narrow hallway a strange little lullaby she had once heard filled her head... "Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know, if I can't see the sun, maybe I should go, don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon, where everyone you know, never leaves too soon ….."

AN – Sooo, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! And... (I know I promise this every chapter but...) I'll try and get the next chapter out soon! The 'lullaby' in this chapter is the chorus from 'Angels on the Moon' by Thriving Ivory. I suggest you go listen to this awesome song by an equally awesome band! :D And for anyone who's interested, here are the translations for the Spanish I used in Mary's memory,

Querida = Dear or Dearest

Madre = Mother

Mi Perla Preciosa = My Precious Pearl

And the lullaby that KOA sings is the chorus from 'Angels on the Moon' but in Spanish!