A/N:

First of all let me just say that I am so beyond sorry that I have not updated this story sooner, there were many circumstances beyond my control, including the loss of the usb that had an almost completed copy of this chapter on it, and I just had trouble re creating what I had wrote, and a very nasty case of writers block. Still that is no excuse for how long this chapter has taken to get out. I also apologise because I do not think this is the best chapter I have ever written and due to my creative juices not flowing the way I would have liked them to I had to end the chapter sooner then I would have liked to be able to start fresh with chapter 11, which I promise will be up a lot lot sooner.

This chapter does contain some important moments both from the show and created by myself which lead in to bigger things to come in the future.

Thank you so much to everyone that has stayed with my story and continued to review and favourite it and me even with the time it has taken me to update. Also a big thank you to my anonymous reviewers who honestly do give me some of the best feedback and who I wish i was able to reply to directly.

On a more serious not I did get anonymous reviewer by the name of french girl, accusing me of erasing France from the map in my story because both Henry and Anne called themselves the King or Queen of France, to clear that matter up:

I know that Anne Boleyn and Henry Tudor were never the monarchs of France, however the english Kings often adopted that title as the Kings of England believed that they had a lawful claim to the throne of France, through the mother of King Edward 111 ( Isabella of France). Queen Isabella was barred for the french throne due to their Salic laws (which prohibited female monarchs). They argued that Edward should have inherited by right of her. The French disagreed, and settled the matter else where. Even in the Tv show Henry called himself the King of France. I know that he was not, and France and King Francis and his children will play a very important part in this story in no way have i or do i intend to erase them from history.

Anyway on with the chapter I hope you all enjoy it. Please review. they keep me going.

I own nothing

Chapter Ten: For King or Country:

October 7th 1536

Hampton Court, Queen of England's Apartments.

Anne was seated in her sitting chamber, George next to her happily conversing with Mark. Their "package" they had been informed had just arrived, and Anne just hoped it would make it safely to her rooms before either her father or uncle heard word of it.

She was anxious, excited even, and as such she could not help her constant glances at the doorway, she felt as if she had been waiting forever and at this point in time her patience had very much reached its limit. She was in desperate need of some light in her life. The absence of her children still pained her greatly and as such she had had very little reason to smile over past month.

When her courses had been late Anne had been elated, thinking (somewhat foolishly) that it would no doubt cause Henry to once again look kindly upon her and treat her with love and respect. He had always been more prone to gentle and kind behaviour when she was pregnant, a pregnancy (with a possible Duke of York) she thought would make him somewhat more discreet in his conduct with Jane Seymour, for she was sure that the memories of her pregnancy with William were as present in his mind as they were in hers. However her momentary feelings of elation quickly disappeared when Jane Seymour had pranced into the room, a new necklace and headpiece adorning her body.

It was too soon, she realised that now, she had only just gotten Henry into her bed, it was too soon to lose that small comfort now. Henry would no doubt insist he forsake her bed for the sake of their unborn child and she would not have been able to argue with him. She had only just set the wheels of her mission to get rid of the Seymour's, a pregnancy would have set her plan back by at least a year.

When she had awoken one morning with the all too familiar feeling of being wet and sticky, Anne had all but cried in relief seeing that both her nightdress and bed were stained red. Only Nan had known that there was any possibility that she may have been pregnant, so Anne knew there was no chance of some rumour spreading and finding her husbands ears, for he no doubt would have seen this as a failure of Anne's, where as Anne herself saw it as a chance.

She could not fall pregnant again. Not until Jane Seymour, and the threat that she and her family possessed were vanquished. Anne would not rest until that horrid woman was out of her life for good, for the sake of herself and her family, Jane Seymour could not in anyway be apart of their life.

Henry had also been rather distant with her of late, not that she was unaccustomed to his harsh and cold behaviour, this she just felt was different.

Since William's birth, Henry had at least been trying to keep up the pretences of a happy marriage (despite his naming of an official mistress) in order to convince his nobles and the ambassadors at court as well as the common people to an extent that since the birth of their son, any problems that had once existed in the royal marriage were no longer present. Yet lately he had not even given her that kindness, however Anne felt some reassurance in knowing that she was not the only one.

Her husband too had been distant in his dealings with his little minx, Anne knew this because Jane had been present for her duties almost everyday and not in the company of Henry, when before hand she would have feigned sickness to spend days on end with Anne's husband, what they did Anne did not want to know. She imagined enough of it on her own.

Anne was not in anyway a stupid woman, she had been given one of the best educations a girl could be given she knew when something was afoot. Charles Brandon had send his wife and children, save young Eleanor, away from court, he claimed they left to comfort Frances after her recent stillbirth, but Anne knew there was more to it than that. Hal Fitzroy had been recalled to court without his wife and newborn child only to leave not even three days later, and Henry had sent five members of his household guard to Hatefiled. No one would tell her anything however, she was probably not meant to know any of this, not even George would relent to her constant requests for information, and her father and uncle had told her to focus her attention on quickly getting herself with child. Henry, well Henry had told her not to "meddle in his affairs."

Anne was being kept very much in the dark and she did not like it one bit.

If something was going on, something serious, something that was causing such secrecy from those around her, Anne felt that as the anointed Queen of England, and as the mother to the future King that she had the right to know just what it was that was causing such a fuss.

" Your Grace, " Jane Parker's voice called interrupting her musings, she could not help but notice the heated (and slightly suspicions) glances, her sister-in-law was aiming in the direction of her brother, and Anne had just been thinking that things had been getting better between George and his wife.

" What is it Jane?" Anne questioned with a small hopeful smile, was it finally here the moment she had been waiting months for.

" The Lady Mary Stafford is here to see you My Lady, as are her children and husband." Anne could not help the beaming smile that spread across her face at the mere mention of her sisters name, she and George had been planning for their older sisters return to court since Anne's near miscarriage. At the beginning Anne knew that George had only been doing so to offer her comfort and soothe her, she never truly believed he would go through with their plans and defy their father, and right in this moment Anne was more than thrilled that he had been willing to face their fathers wrath simply to make her happy.

She was also truly happy that Mary had decided to bring her husband and children with her, it had been too long since Anne had laid eyes on little Henry and Cathy, and she had never even meet her sisters second husband. Anne was more than a little intrigued to lay eyes upon the man who had stolen her sisters heart; the man for whom she loved so much that she did not care if it meant losing all the earthly things she had once cherished and loved above all else.

" Let them in." Anne ordered immediately, standing up from her chair and flattening the skirts of her gown. It was a simple enough dress, green and gold in colour, she had worn it once or twice before. She wore only one piece of jewellery, her famous "B", her hair she wore down, not a crown or headpiece in sight. She wanted to look a sister and an aunt, not a Queen. Her family, Anne now understood must come above all else.

Her sister looked well. That was the first thought that came into Anne's subconscious when Mary came before her for the first time in almost three years. The country life it seemed suited her.

She had put on weight, but Anne thought that it suited her well, her hair she wore down, and her dress was a simple brown, with a French hood upon her head. Her husband was behind her, a small baby cradled in his arms, that Anne knew would explain Mary's obvious weight gain, Mary had always found it a tiring process to lose her pregnancy weight, and when she had been Henry's mistress he had claimed that he liked her better "plump."

William Stafford was, like William Cary beforehand, not a very remarkable looking man, he seemed to Anne to be kind and good looking enough, but he was no King, and after spending so long in the beds of two Kings, Anne always found it strange to see her elder sister with someone so common.

When Anne had last seen her sister she had been heavily with child, and already a mother of two by her recently deceased husband. Now it seemed her sister was a mother to four, two girls and two boys. Cathy and Harry, Anne had of course known, but when she had last seen them they had been only ten and eight, despite them being only three years older Anne hardly recognised them.

Cathy, was, as she had always been, the image of her mother, there was not an ounce of her father in her, and the girl was all Boleyn. Harry, in contrast was a blend of both his parents, and although he favoured Mary, it was clear from his eyes and nose who his father was. There was no denying that these two children where the children of William Carey, and Anne could still not believe nor understand why many believed them to be her husbands children, if her niece and nephew had been Henry's bastards, then they would have been recognised as such.

The other two Anne had never laid eyes upon, the little boy was his father in every way, and he was quite a handsome little thing, the babe Anne could hardly see, but the child's clothes gave her sex away. Her sister it seemed had a family and a life any person would be envious of.

"Your Majesty, " Mary spoke formally, her husband following suit, as she and the children bowed low, the sight made Anne's heart break slightly. This was her sister, not her subject, these people were her kin, the kin of Royalty, and she did not think it proper for them to be treated as anything less.

"Sister, please Mary, " Anne said smiling as she walked towards them, "I was your sister long before I was your Queen."

" Oh Anne," Mary said sighing happily, as she wrapped her arms around her younger siblings slender frame, within seconds of her sisters touch Anne found herself crying, tears rolling freely down her face.

Anne did not know how long they were embracing for all she knew was that it ended to quickly. When she looked at Mary's face red and splotchy Anne thought that she must have looked the same, and it warmed her heart to know that Mary too had felt the pains of their separation as she had.

After moving away from Anne, Mary made her way over to George and greeted him with a small kiss on the check, as if they had been parted for a mere day not years, but then it had always been Anne who her siblings had been close with. With Mary because she had all but raised Anne once their mother had died and during the years in France, it had been Mary who Anne had sought guidance from, and with George because Anne had always been more than willing to keep him entertained during his youth, and it was a relationship that had only grown as they years went on, Anne could see now that as she had grown closer to George she and Mary had drifted apart somewhat.

" And just who are these little gems?" Anne questioned with a coy smile, as Mary broke away from her greeting with their sister-in-law.

"Cathy and Harry you know," Mary said waving a hand in the direction of her two eldest children.

" That I do," Anne said ruffling little Harry's hair before she turned to the toddler next to him. He was a precious and robust looking child, who was wearing a small shy smile upon his face, as he clutched tightly to his fathers hand, "and who might you be?" Anne questioned, lowering herself to her nephews level.

" I'm Edward," the little boy said without a care for courtesies or titles, and Anne found the boldness of his words to be reminiscent of something her Elizabeth might do, the two of them were almost the same age, Anne was sure they would get along well.

"It's very nice to meet you Edward," Anne said in a voice that was reserved for her own children, "and is this your sister?" Anne asked feigning innocence as her gaze wondered to her brother in law, and the infant in his arms.

" Yes, " Edward nodded seriously, " that's Annie."

" Annie?" Anne pondered in some shock, after everything they had been through her sister had still named her daughter in Anne's honour. As small as the gesture may have been, it filled Anne with happiness; to her it was the greatest of honours.

"She is your image," Mary said from behind her, and Anne gratefully took the sleeping child into her arms, "the eyes are the only difference,"

The young girl was very similar to Anne, even at such a young age (the babe couldn't have been more than 9 months old) she had a full head of dark glossy hair, the exact colour and feel of Anne's own, she also had all of the Boleyn features, and Anne's olive complexion, the girl was a beauty. She could have been borne out of Anne's own womb; she was as much Anne as little William was Henry.

"George," Anne said turning to her brother, who himself had also been reacquainting himself with their nieces and nephews, " perhaps you could show our dear young nephews and William around the castle, so that they may get familiar with their surroundings," Anne knew as soon as her eyes locked with George's that her brother had got her subtle message. She wanted to be alone with her sister and nieces; it had been far too long.

With a mere nod of his head George was leading William, Harry and Edward from the room, effortlessly striking up a conversation with their brother in law, who was but a stranger to them. Anne had known Mary's past husband well enough, her new brother in law however had been no more than a name for three years; It was a fact Anne knew she was to blame for it was also one she was quite ashamed of. She should never have cast blame on Mary for following her heart, Anne saw that now, for had Anne herself not done the same thing with Henry. At the beginning she may have only strived for a place in his bed, but after she had fallen for him, Anne had been determined to marry him, no matter the thoughts of others or the consequences she may have faced. She should never have condemned her sister for following her heart; she should have celebrated it and encouraged her father and brother to do the same.

"How are you sister?" Mary questioned once both sisters were seated across from one another in Anne's sitting chambers. Anne was thankful of her ladies for taking young Cathy and Annie off their hands momentarily, their sister in law was the only lady who remained with them, it seemed to Anne that the others had realised that the two sisters wanted a few precious moments together. "And how are William and Elizabeth?"

Anne smiled fondly at her older sister, Mary had always been more susceptible to forgiveness than any of them, even as children Anne had often escaped Mary's anger after mere days, even if she had done something extraordinarily horrible like ruin Mary's favourite dress, or lose her favourite jewel, or even break her favourite doll. Her smile lasted only seconds however when she realised with some shock that Mary had yet to lay eyes on William, she had cut her sister from her life in such a way that she had denied her the right to see her nephew or even attend his christening.

"We are well," Anne replied smoothly, trying not to let her anger at herself be known, " we will have to arrange a visit soon, perhaps we could even house your children at Hatfield, they have every right to be educated amongst their cousins."

" Your Majesty that is an honour I do not deserve," Mary stated, clearly more than a little shocked by her sisters proposal.

" No it isn't, and its sister please Mary," Anne responded her voice gentle, she knew that like herself, Mary would be having fears of being separated from her babes, especially Annie and Edward, "besides it will be good for William and Elizabeth to have other children to play with."

A small and tentative "Majesty," from Anne's doorway, cut off Mary's response. Anne did not need to turn around to see the owner if the voice, she knew the face by heart now, every hair, every feature was permanently ingrained in Anne's mind, more often than not entwined with that of her husband.

"Mistress Seymour," Anne spoke her tone icy and cold, she looked at the younger woman with cold distaste, noticing with a sneer, that the little wench had another jewel upon her neck. It was a Phoenix pendent and Anne could not help but think that the jewel did not suit the meek and simple woman in front of her, "you are late...again," Anne's voice was cutting and pointed and Jane Seymour all but flinched away from it.

"Forgive me my Lady I was..."

" There is no need to make up excuses Mistress Seymour, for they tire me greatly, " and they are always the same, I was not feeling well; my father needed me; my brother needed me; I took a stumble and thought it best to lye down... all of it Anne knew was code for I am fucking your husband and there is nothing you can do to stop it, " I'm sure you had some official duties to attend to," Anne was pleased to see the uncomfortable expression that crossed Jane's face, she had never been so weak with Katherine, Anne had always made a point to stand up for herself, no matter who it was that was insulting her. Anne could hardly imagine sweet little Jane Seymour taking on a Queen, nor a knight, nor a chancellor, Yet Anne had taken on all of them and more, the Pope, and King Charles…Anne had beaten them all.

Jane made no response to Anne's comments, she merely stood at the doorway waiting for a command, her ahead held annoyingly high, as if to send Anne some sign to say you can not touch me, and Anne hated it because she knew it were true. She had beaten Wolsey, and Katherine, the Pope and Thomas More, but she could not beat Jane Seymour, and sometimes Anne doubted she ever would.

"Leave," Anne spoke, fighting back tears that were threatening to well in her eyes, Jane Seymour would never see the pain she was causing her, for Anne was a Queen and a Queen she would be.

When Jane had left the room, Anne turned back to her sister and saw that Mary's face was filled with sympathy, and Anne hated that too, for it only brought the tears forward.

" So that was..."

" My husbands official mistress, yes," Anne finished all but spitting out the title, " a pleasant little creature isn't she?"

It took mere moments for Mary to wrap Anne in her arms, and offer the comfort only a sister could. She said no more than " it will be alright" but Anne felt extremely comforted none the less, and she could not help remember the last time Mary had comforted her in such a way, three years ago when Anne had been carrying Elizabeth and scared of the loss of Henry's love and the birth of a daughter, both had eventuated, but Anne was only scared of one now.

She didn't know how much longer she would be able to survive without her husband's love, Henry was still her everything, and it hurt Anne so much to think that he may not still feel the same way.

October 10 1536,

Yorkshire, Northern England:

The crowd that had gathered at the local tavern was a large and rowdy one. Robert Aske was in no way surprised by the number that had accumulated even though originally it had only meant to be a small gathering, intended for the people of Yorkshire to be able to congregate and discuss their grievances over the recent desolation of Sawley Abbey, more then a few it seemed had grievances to share.

It was the first time Robert could ever remember being given a reason to believe that the common people would actually dare to take up arms against their King. Robert had truthfully thought it only mere grumblings, now it looked set to turn into a rebellion, and that was something that Robert Aske could just not condone; He would be no rebel and he would certainly not be a leader of such a force.

Robert noticed John Constable from within the numerous faces jump onto a barrel and begin to speak. "Friends, friends! We've come here so that you can listen to and talk to this good man: Mister Robert Aske." His voice was loud and course and certainly not lacking in passion.

"Aye," the crowd loudly cried as one, in any other circumstances Robert would have found himself flattered, but he knew it was not truly him the crowd was cheering, it was his mission. And perhaps Robert thought perhaps that was the start he needed.

"Now, some of you already know him as the Duke of Northumberland's legal man," John continued, his voice being interrupted only by a few jeers from the crowd, truthfully this had been the reception Robert had been expecting, nobles were not popular men among the commons in such times and only their servants were seen in a lesser light than them, "Hey, hey! Now, he's always been honest and fair-minded in his dealings with the commons, so Mister Aske can speak for himself."

Robert did not know where to begin, what was he supposed to say to these people. What thoughts could he possibly express that would not lend himself to supporting of violence, yet also showed this distrustful lot that he supported their cause. "Evening, gentlemen," was what Robert settled on, climbing onto the barrel next to John as he did so.

"Evening," the crowd murmured in greeting. Once again Robert took this as a positive sign, they were not yet throwing pitchforks at his head.

"Now," Robert begun wanting to get to the heart of their problem immediately, he would not be able to help solve their grievances by being ignorant of them, "tell me what it is you all want?"

"Mister Aske," one man said, Robert could not see his face, but the voice was clear, " all our feast days are abolished and gone. Should it please the King's Grace that we might have our holidays back?" A few voices murmured their agreement.

"We want the abbeys restored and demand that this advance of heresy be halted," another man added, "We want these new heretic bishops like Cranmer to be cast out and him and Cromwell to be supplanted by men of noble birth." He continued more loudly, over the cheers that had begun to erupt.

"Aye," the people yelled, and Robert could not help but feel inclined to agree with their demands, for they were things he too wanted. He wanted the feast days he so enjoyed as a child restored, he wanted the abbey that had given him so much comfort and joy returned from the ashes, and most importantly he wanted Crammer and Cromwell removed from office, for Robert firmly believed that without such heretics around him King Henry surely would not have made such poor and devastating choices.

"We may as well call for the removal of Queen Anne then, for it is she and her family that brought these men to power," cried a voice in the back of the tavern. His words sent the rowdy crowd into a thick silence for none knew what to say.

Since the birth of Prince William the common people had all but hailed the Queen as a saint, no man, woman or child dared question her marriage to the king now; she would never again be labelled as a concubine or a whore. There were also rumours circulating around the countryside that it was Queen Anne, Katherine of Aragon's most hated rival, who had been the reason for the Lady Mary's return to court, and this, along with the fact that King Henry had acknowledged the Lady Jane Seymour as his official mistress, had warmed the common woman to her plight, those who had once been Katherine's most loyal subjects would now not say a word against Queen Anne.

However there were some who, while never questioning Anne's claim to the Queen's crown nor the legitimacy of Princess Elizabeth and Prince William, did cast some blame on the Queen for her large part in the reformation, for if not for her it never would have occurred. If Henry had never wanted to wed Anne Boleyn, England would never have broken its ties with Rome.

Robert himself did not know where he stood on the issue of the Queen. A part of him did want to blame this dire situation on her entirely, but he knew within his heart how unreasonable that was. Queen or not Anne Boleyn was but a woman, in the end the decisions that had been made were done by that of the King and his ministers, and Robert like every other in the countryside had heard the talk, Queen Anne, it was rumoured, was advocating the plight of the commons, it was said she had openly disputed with both mister Cromwell and the King on the issue of religious houses, begging them to see reason and to change their course to help instead of hinder the life's of their English subjects.

"Our quarrel lies not with the Queen good sir, if the rumours are to be believed than she is our fiercest ally," few men murmured in agreement to Robert's words but the response was not as convincing as he would have liked.

" Rumours? We hear rumours, Mister Aske, that new taxes are to be levied against us; on our cattle and our christenings, on our marriages and our births!" Anther voice yelled, closer this time to the front.

"Mister Aske, they even will destroy our parish churches and steal all their treasures," another man yelled, his voice almost pleading.

Robert knew that he had to make them see that he was on their side, he just had no idea how he could achieve such a thing without encouraging their obviously violent tempers, not that he blamed his fellows for feeling anger, he too had felt the burning rage to take action, but he knew within his heart that violence would not be their saving grace. "Alright, gentlemen, alright," Robert soothed waving his hands slightly towards the crowd in what he hoped was a soothing gesture, "And what do you reckon you can do to stop them?"

"Mister Aske!" One voice cried, the owner of the voice moving to the front of the crowd, he was a man no older than twenty five years, and yet his face was filled with more pain and anguish than most men would experience in a lifetime. "Before our lands, our goods, and our houses are taken from us by the church commissioners, we will fight!"

"Aye!"

"And we will die!"

"Aye!"

This was what Robert had feared most. Their words no matter the intent behind them were treasonous, and to take such a violent action as they were speaking of would almost certainly only eventuate in death. Robert could not help but wonder what would occur if he stood idly by and let such an action unfold; would their blood be enough for the King to relent or would they bleed in vain.

"That is our full answer, Mister Aske!" The same man exclaimed, his voice full of passion and purpose.

"Aye!"

Robert could not help but lower his gaze at the crowd's response. So this was it, it seemed he had a lot of decisions to make. Their cause was surely a worthy one; of this Robert was certain.

"I know you are angry. The destruction of the abbeys is a terrible- a criminal thing since they represent by their very presence an exalted ideal to all of us," Robert soothed, thinking that perhaps if he could convince them of his agreement with their quarrels then perhaps he could calm them from the rash action they looked all but certain to take, "But, gentlemen, this call to arms, to rebellion against the King's Grace, is something which on my conscience I cannot agree to."

"Nonsense," some shouted, and Robert braced himself for an onslaught of insults. When it did not come he continued.

"Since the King is our body and soul, then an attack upon him is an attack upon the commonwealth and upon God himself!" Robert explained calmly. He had signed the act of succession, it was not the Kings supreme authority he had an issue with, it was King Henry's actions under that authority that Robert wanted to right.

"Did you hear that, men? The gentry don't care for us," an angry voice called, and in that moment Robert was very worried that all his and John Constables work would be for nothing, but then the man spoke again, and from his words Robert saw their course laid plainly before his feet. "Christ died for the poor. You remember that, Mister Aske?"

It was Christ they lived for; he was their saviour not King Henry. He gave his life for his people, and that was something Robert realised that King Henry needed to understand, they were not his servants, they were his people, through the wounds of Christ it would be known.

The wounds of Christ.

October 11th 1536

Hampton Court, Queen of England's Apartments

Anne truly did not know why he had come. They had not had a proper conversation for what she felt was weeks, she had hardly seen him at all over the last week, and now when he did bother to pay her a visit he spent the evening exchanging glances with that slut, did he have no tact. Or was it simply that he no longer cared to spare her feelings.

She felt so foolish now, so stupid and naive. She had spent almost an hour getting herself ready, when she had been informed that her husband had decided to share his evening meal with her Anne had been so stupidly happy. She had had her ladies do her hair in lose curls and put her in one of her favourite gowns, a simple but revealing dress, deep and red in colour, for she knew Henry loved her in the colour. She had thought he had come to share her bed, to converse, or even to perhaps tell her what had been happening that had been making him so distant and unavailable over the past month, although truthfully she already knew, George had told her only that morning (in the strictest of confidence) that her husband was fearing a rebellion.

He had not come for Anne. It was a realisation that was making her feel sick to her stomach, he had come to catch a glimpse of his mistress and he did not even have the grace to hide it.

Not much had been said between them, he had inquired about her health as she had done with him, they had talked briefly of her sister and her young family, Henry had not had a problem with their presence in the slightest, her father however had had a very different response, but there was nothing he could do Anne knew that, Mary and her family were safe for as long as Henry was happy with their presence her father could do nothing. Henry had even given her his approval for young Edward and Annie to be moved to Hatfield, once appropriate preparations had been made, and Anne could do nothing but hope that that may mean a visit with her children was on the cards.

" Lady Bryan wrote to tell us that William had begun to pull himself up, and that Elizabeth continues to be the brightest child she has ever known," Anne said remembering the letter she had received the day before, she had no doubt that Henry too had received such a letter, but she thought that brining up their children might remind Henry why it was that he was with her and not Jane Seymour.

"Hmmm." Henry pondered in response, Anne thought he looked to be deep in thought, but still he would not speak to her.

" Your Majesty," She started, quite boldly, she was not some meek little thing, she was not his mistress she was his wife, he had no right to ignore her, Anne thought it was time she reminded him of that, Jane Seymour she thought would never be so bold, " Why will you not speak to me?" Her voice was calm and even she would not show weakness.

Henry looked at her as if he was ready to yell, she was prepared for him too, had she not dealt with his temper tantrums a hundred times? Henry King of England did not scare her; after all she was the woman who had conquered his heart…once.

He did not yell, and Anne did not know if she was relived or disappointed. Instead he sighed loudly, before speaking in a tone that sent shivers up her spine. "Because I am disappointed,"

" Why," Anne questioned biting back shock. How could he possibly be disappointed in her, she who had given him his heir?

" I am disappointed, because you are not yet with child." Henry's voice was cold and cutting and Anne did not truly know what to say to him, too many thoughts too many emotions were running through her mind, anger being the most prominent one.

The nerve of Henry the absolute nerve of that man to dear question her ability to conceive a child when he had visited her bed but three times since she had been cleared to perform her wifely duties.

It took two to conceive a child she was not the Virgin Mary she could not make him a Duke of York alone.

" Perhaps My Lord," Anne started her voice low, " a child could be conceived if you would visit my bed. "

Henry stood from his chair gracefully, and Anne feared that he was going to hit her, she had seen that steely gaze in his eyes enough times to know that she had crossed her boundaries. He stood behind her one arm over her chair resting on her shoulder, their heads all but touching.

" Never speak to me in that way again," He whispered his voice a dangerous tone, before kissing her check in what would be considered in any other circumstances to be a sign of love, but Anne knew without a doubt that love was not in anyway the message her husband was trying to send her.

October 14th 1536

York, Northern England

More had come then he had expected, that was becoming a sort of occurrence, and with every weapon forged every sword sharpened with every name he wrote down Robert Aske could think of only one word, Rebellion, it echoed in his head more and more every day. He had agreed to lead them, oh yes he had agreed. But was this what he had agreed to? He had never wanted this, and yet here it was an army all but laid out before his feet, and more would come oh yes he knew more numbers would come, he could not turn back now. He had given them his word; he had promised he would lead them, to bring their grievances before the King and his council. This was no rebellion; no matter how much the word repeated itself in his head this would not become that. A pilgrimage was what he lead nothing more and nothing less.

"What's your name, lad?" Robert asked the next one in his line, he couldn't have been any older than eighteen years. How many young lives would be lost for their cause? Robert did not want to think of it.

The boy responded in what Robert knew was a tone full of nerves "Charlie, Sir, Charlie Raw."

"Trade?" Robert continued, the line of questioning being the same it had been for hours.

"Shepherd." Charlie Raw replied his eyes slightly downcast.

Robert nodded writing down the boy's words without too much thought, but he did not dismiss him as he had all the others. That was meant to have been Roberts final question yet for some reason he could not place his finger on, Robert did not send young Charlie away with a wave of his hand, there was something about the boy (perhaps it was the unfortunate birth mark that covered his face) that made Robert yearn to protect him almost; to make sure he knew what he was getting himself into.

"Do you know what we're about, Charlie?"

"Yes, Captain Aske." Young Charlie said with a nod his tone full of seriousness.

"We are not rebels," Robert started wanting to let young Charlie know all that he was thinking. "We are pilgrims and we have a pilgrimage to go on. If you want to join us, then you shall swear to be true to the Almighty God, to Christ's Catholic Church, to our sovereign Lord, the King, and to the commons of this realm, so help you God."

"I do swear." Charlie said placing his hand on a bible lying before him

Robert placed a piece of cloth in the boy's hand, the design was his own, it was their badge of sorts, and a representative of what they were fighting for. "Wear this badge. It shows the five wounds of Christ to prove that the commons will fight in Christ's cause."

"Yes, Captain."

"God bless you, Charlie." Robert said, and he meant it. God bless and save them all, for they would certainly need God in the coming times.

October 17th 1536

King Of England's Privy Chambers

Henry Tudor did not think there had been a time in his forty-five years where he had been so angry or shocked. Never had he imagined his body would be able to hold so much rage.

He had thought that the Pope's constant denies of a divorce and Katherine's stubbornness had been bad, oh how wrong he had been, his anger at Katherine and at the Pope and the fucking Emperor and any other traitors that had ever crossed his path was nothing compared to what he was feeling now.

His people, his own subjects, were rebelling against him, some band of lowly commons was daring to question the authority of their sovereign lord...and Cromwell had allowed it to happen.

"Why didn't you know?" Henry whispered furiously, he was trying to remain even-tempered but as he looked at Cromwell all but cowering in his direction Henry's anger boiled over.

Fuck calm, his country was rebelling against him, now was not the time for calm.

"You are supposed to know everything that goes on here," Henry insisted his voice still nothing more than a dangerous whisper. "You told me there was little opposition; on the contrary, you told me that most people were glad to see such places dissolved. You were wrong." And Anne was right. Try as he might Henry had not been able to push that thought from his mind since word of the rebellion had reached his ears.

Anne had been right. She had warned him of this well she had tried to, and he had believed Cromwell and now his people were taking up arms against him. The thought only made him angrier, much angrier. And he was glad to see Cromwell's body trembling slightly.

"You didn't know anything. Knave!" Henry screamed his anger and frustration finally reaching boiling point as he hit Cromwell on the back of the head, force not lacking. "Sit down. Write this." He ordered he would put these ungrateful servants back in their place.

"We take it as a great unkindness that our common and inferior subjects should rise against us without any grounds." Henry started, thinking over the appropriate words in his head, once his chancellor was seated and ready, " As for the taking of the goods of the parish church: it was never intended. Yet, even if it had been intended, true subjects would not have dealt with me, their prince, in such violence but would have petitioned me for their purpose…Now, I command you rebels to go home and sin no more. And remember your allegiance: you are duty-bound to obey me, your king, both by God's commandments and by the law of nature."

Once he was assured that Cromwell had written everything down Henry left the room and his chancellor with no more than a slamming door. Surely now they would see reason, they would not go against their kings commands and by God if they did, Henry knew exactly who would be to blame.

A/N: I hope that was not too disappointing for you all. Please leave a review they really do help a lot. Thank you all for taking the time to read. I am sorry again for how long it took me to get this out.