Sorry for the delay School got in the way but here is the long awaited chapter. Thanks to Doctor Madwoman who helped me write part of the chapter *hands her a snapshot of Tomkat*
Warnings: Violence and Rape
Tear Down The Wall Part 1:
In all my years of judging
I have never heard before
Of someone more deserving
The full penalty of the law
The Way you made them suffer
Your exquisite wife and mother
Fills me with urge to defecate
Since my friend you have revealed your deepest fears
I sentence you to be exposed before your peers.
-Pink Floyd- The Trial
May 31st 1537 Kimbolton Castle
"My plan failed with Philip of Bavaria," Henry said angrily pointing at his captive, "the stories he was told of what you did to heretics must have spooked him to recant. So once again I backed off. I decided that my plans to directly get revenge on you. It took a few months of careful planning and then the rebellion happened so I was delayed until around January."
Sir Thomas eyes widened. In the haze of the hunger, pain and exhaustion he jerked right back up. The past January was a significant month for him. The Rebellion ended, it was announced the Queen was pregnant, the Queen was officially crowned and on that same night….Meg was raped. He blinked oh no, no, no Harry wasn't implying that HE raped Meg. It couldn't be then again Sir Thomas was being held hostage by that monster. Maybe Harry planned it.
"You remember what happened in January," Henry said now walking over to him with his hands crossed behind his back, "to your poor defenseless daughter." He knelt down in front of Sir Thomas and slowly pulled out the gag causing the humanist to gasp for air, "you may speak now."
The only reason he took off the gag he wanted to hear Sir Thomas Moore's blood curling scream in reaction to what Henry was about to say. The King needed some amusement.
"You don't need to tell me you planned my daughter's rape," Sir Thomas said with snarl, "spare me the details and go on to your next story."
Henry started laughing evilly and then roughly gripped Sir Thomas' face causing the humanist to wince. He then brought his face so closely that the two men's noses were once again touching each other.
"I didn't just plan your daughter's rape," Henry said triumphantly, "I also….did the deed."
Instead of becoming pale, Sir Thomas' face became red with anger. The fire rushed through his veins. That monster, that swine, King of England HA! He certainly now wasn't acting like one. HOW DARE HE RAPE HIS DARE MEG! He suddenly started violently thrashing through his binds.
"You are lucky you tied me down," He growled ignoring the pain in his shoulders and he pulled at his chains above his head, "I don't care if it was treason I would have broken your little neck."
Henry gripped his captive's face tighter now crushing his captive's chin. Sir Thomas' only response was biting him hard causing the King to yelp and pull back. Henry looked up to see a triumphant grin form on the humanist's face. His own blood was dribbling down the corners of his lips.
"You disobedient servant," Henry growled getting onto his feet, "you steal my soulmate and now you attack me you are going to pay for that."
Before Sir Thomas could say anything else Henry punched him so hard in the face that he fell unconscious.
May 31st 1537 Whitehall Palace
"Lady Roper," Cromwell said sitting behind his desk, "you do know the ramifications if your statement turns out to be false, especially since the man who are accusing of the rape is the King of England."
Meg didn't care if she was sent to gallows the next day for treason. The world had to know the truth. The King of England was nothing but a rapist SCUM. She then took her rosary from her corset and gripped it tightly. She then brought it into Cromwell's view. She wanted the heretic to know that she was going to do this and not take back on her word on this.
"I swear before god," she said shaking her fist with the rosary in hand, "every word of this statement is true. If this were not true god would strike me down right now."
Cromwell raised his eyebrows. Just like her father, very convicted and very devoted. If she was swearing before god she was raped by the King of England it had to be true…right? Cromwell sighed, leaned forward and folded his hands on the desk.
"Alright Lady Roper," the Lord Privy said, "if it weren't for the circumstances I wouldn't have listened but I will listen to your statement and if I find evidence that supports your statement I will take action if not I will keep it between us and work tirelessly to find your rapist.
Meg shook her head.
"Fair Enough," She said "I am surprised you are taking the time knowing how much you hate my father but the fact you are listening is something."
Cromwell made a slight smile and picked up his quill. And with he said:
"Start from the beginning."
January 15th 1537 Whitehall Palace
Henry found the rebellion to be his advantage. His plans to have Katherine have failed miserably, but with this long and tedious rebellion it gave him time to come up with a new stragedy. Get rid of the barrier and that barrier would be Sir Thomas Moore.
It would hurt him to hurt Sir Thomas after all the man had done for him. Listen to his rants, teach him the basics of government and fixed the country out of the mess of Anne Boleyn faster than Wolsey's failed attempt to secure a proper divorce. But he had to be eliminated in order for Henry to get his soulmate back.
But it couldn't be the easy way which was to use the swift axe, his reputation as a murder was branded deep enough. The reason a death warrant was signed would be clearly obvious if Henry were to marry Katherine moments after Moore was reduced to a headless corpse. So that path would unfortunately not be taken.
But this path he decided to finally take would be much more fun. The path in which he would make Sir Thomas Moore's life a living hell. Moore was an older gentleman, it would be easy to stress him to the point where his body would be vulnerable to illness. The next step would be to divorce. So far he had a block with Anne being pregnant, but Henry would find his ways he always did.
Henry sat upon the throne and watched the party drained on. He first looked to Anne who was conversing and laughing with his Lord Privy Seal. A smirk formed upon his lips, he could use him later. But he had one task to achieve first.
He turned his head to another direction. To Katherine and Moore, a predatory feeling rushed over him. The two of them were dancing and gigging having a good time at this lavish banquet. He must have thought that Henry would stop his chase just because the horse was pregnant and she was queen. Oh he was wrong dead wrong.
Enjoy your life while you can, Henry said in his mind, for tonight it will begin.
Margaret Roper and her husband left the party early to enjoy a quiet night together with wine left to them by friends. It was drawing late when there was a knock on the door. With a quiet "come in" the door opened and when a King's messenger stepped into the room.
With a light clearing of his throat he said:
"A note to Master Roper."
The King's companion executed a polite bow and handed a surprised Will the neatly folded parchment. Watching in interest as her beloved husband unfolded the message, Margaret sipped at her wine and frowned slightly at the taste. Bitter, almost, and this was supposed to be the sweetest wine to be had. Oh, well. No matter.
"The King sends for me, Meggie." Will said suddenly, his brow furrowed. At once, husband and wife glanced up at the handsome clock on the wall and found that it was nearly midnight. Will and Meg exchanged a puzzled glance.
"What could he possibly want you for at this hour?" Meg pondered, and took the letter from William's hand. The messenger spread his hands, as if to confess his ignorance.
"His Majesty said nothing to me, Madame, but he was adamant that Master Roper come at once." said he, with an apologetic look. William nodded, rose from his seat and leaned over Margaret's chair, kissing tenderly.
"I will return as soon as possible, my dear, but do not wait up for me."
Margaret smiled and kissed him on the cheek, biding him good luck for whatever mission the King had for him. The men left, quietly, so as to not wake the children, and Margaret Roper was left alone in the living chamber.
Minutes passed, marked by the ticking of the clock, and Margaret stared queitly into the flames, feeling suddenly lethargic. She ought to get up and do something useful, really. Ought to finish that Greek translation, or perhaps start the final embroidery on Will's favorite shirt. Something. By God, how did she get so tired?
Meg's eyes slipped shut, and her head began to nod as a sickly, leaden sort of sleepiness overcame her. Perhaps she would rest, if even for a moment...
The daughter of Thomas More sat half dozed in her chair, oblivious to all around her. She did not hear the door to her and William's chambers creak open, nor did she hear the heavy footfalls of the intruder. Not until a heavy hand was clamped over her mouth did Margaret realize her danger.
"You will not scream, is that understood? If you love the brats sleeping in the next room, you will not scream. You will do exactly as I say."
Meg struggled as her unseen assailant dragged her from her chair and shoved her to her knees. Bewildered, her mind still dazed from her strange lethargy, Meg could do nothing even as a blindfold was tied tightly over her eyes.
"Who in God's name-!"
Her words were cut off as her attacker wrapped a massive hand around her throat and squeezed, choking off her air.
"You will not say a word, whore."
And Margaret felt his hands begin to wander her body, dipping between her breasts, slipping over her buttocks and pinching them bawdily. She trembled, terror gripping her as she realized what was about to be done to her.
"Please..."
She would have been ashamed of sounding so weak and pathetic. Her stepmother would have fought this bastard-whoever he was- with everything she had, not knelt there passivley while her clothes were loosened. Katherine would fight.
She felt the man grip the back of her dress and there was a tearing sound, and she knew her back was now exposed to him.
She was not Katherine.
"Please, please don't. What have- why are you doing this?!"
The attacker did not reply, merely shoved her onto her belly and tore her skirts down from around her waist. The next thing she knew she felt her hands being bound tightly behind her.
"Don't worry Katherine," The voice said causing the color to drain from her face, "I'll make you love it."
Meg was usually the type to stay calm in the face of danger but when her attacker said those words tears involuntarily fell down from her eyes:
She realized she was being violated by the King of England himself.
Katherine and Sir Thomas walked from the party hand in hand. They were tired from dancing the night away and now they were going to sleep next to each other holding each other close. Sir Thomas especially was excited about that. His day could be horrible and tiring then he would be in her arms, feeling her hand run through his hair, his head buried in her chest all these simple things made his day wonderful. It was in her arms he felt the safest.
"You know," Katherine said breaking the silence between them, "the Queen reminded me of myself at my coranation, I remember it well you danced with me whilst Henry danced with Maria De Salinas."
Sir Thomas' eyes lit up as she reminded him of that night. It was a night he realized two things. One he realized he was intensely in love with Katherine of Aragon. He didn't know what it was he felt like he had a strong connection to her, like she would be the only human being in the world who actually understood him. But along with that came cruel reality, it was never meant to be.
She was a Queen, and he was just a geeky courtier. A happy ending in which would only happen in fairy tales and never in reality. Little did he know, years later his dream would actually come true.
"Oh yes," Sir Thomas replied kissing her on the lips, "I remember that night well it was the night I fell in love with you."
They both giggled as they continued to walk foreword. They passed through a slightly opened door. And in a couple of steps Sir Thomas stopped in his tracks. He heard a cry and it was coming from…his daughter's room. He felt his fatherly instinct kick in. Quickly letting go of his wife's hand he started to walk quickly towards his daughter's room.
His palms were sweating. His heart was racing. He hoped it was some delusion.
"Mi amor," Katherine said suddenly concerned and following him, "what's wrong?"
Sir Thomas did not reply he just continued walking. The next thing he knew he burst the door open. And with a sharp intake of breath he stopped dead in his tracks. He was right something was wrong. His daughter was on the floor bound and gagged in a bloody mess. He winced.
"Oh holy god Meg!" The lawyer shouted as he crossed himself at the sight. He ran as fast as he can to her side with tears in his eyes. As he knelt to the ground he prayed to god she wasn't dead. He quickly untied the ropes before flipping her unto her back. He gently pulled down the cloth. While he thought it would calm her down it only made it worse because she started shrieking at the top of her lungs. The Lawyer just pulled her in and ran his hand through her hair. "Shh," He cooed, "it's me everything is alright."
"DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH ME YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Meg shrieked at the top of her lungs as she pushed her father to ground. She didn't care who he was, she didn't trust him, not after. At the corner of her eye she saw her stepmother standing in the doorway. In distress she ran over to the former queen and held her tightly.
Sir Thomas sat on his knees gasping for air. A thousand questions ran through his mind. Who would do such a horrible thing? Something so horrible that his daughter, whom he bonded with didn't even trust him! Would she ever trust him again? How would he lead her down the path to healing? Would she ever be the same way again? Out of the midst of his chaos that was his mind he heard a voice say:
"What in god's good name happened here?"
Sir Thomas looked up with glassy eyes to see his son in law on the floor (he fainted in shock) and Henry looking down in concern. The two of them looked into each other's eyes. Brown eyes against blue. For now Sir Thomas was too blind to see the mask, but little did he know the mask would come off too late.
Next up Francis Bryan and Thomas Seymour make a shocking discovery and get away with it and Henry gets crazier.