Chapter 13 : A Cruel Twist of Fate

Silently she grasped the cold stale words that escaped her rivals lips "Does your heart bleed to heavy", how could any rational person bare such betrayal, such monstrosity without heart ache, moments before she had seen her one true friend plotting murder in her name, conspiring with the sanction of the Holy Father, How could such betrayal not burden her heart.

"The Choice is yours" the seductive and tempting words whispered off Anne's lips, Choice she thought bitterly as she stared at the alluring image before her, What choice, to witness the destruction of everything she have ever believed or to run and hide and allow the world to continue along its corruptive path.

And then as her mind whirled a sudden peak unleashed a devastating curiosity that consumed her "Before we continue along this delicate road of truth, let me ask, when this journey began you whispered of a game, chest pieces and the cards that had been set in motion, tell me sweet Anne what hidden tactics have you plotted for the end of this quest, to reform the world"

Softly Anne laughed "I have changed key aspects, removed numerous players from the board and revealed hidden corruption to the master components, but if you must know my main attribute I have altered this reality to better save my children's future, now let me help you save yours" and with that and with no given choice the world again turned to darkness.

Slowly Katherine adjusted to the dim and blurring images, the sudden and strong smell of smoke and burning flesh consumed her, Swiftly she attempted to block out the screams, "Katherine, before I allow this image to clear I feel a compulsion to warn you, Mary's future is not a bright one, and as I am about to reveal a devastating reality I will show you her life in reverse dealing with the worst before the end"

Startled Katherine looked up "How bad is it? I don't understand my Mary is but a sweet innocent child" the words spilling from her mouth as pain began to seep into her desperate face. Slowly Anne began to answer carefully choosing her words

"Mary's life has been one of bitter loneliness and despair since your separation, Henry chose to use anger to reign in what he assumed was Mary's rebellion against her Lord and father, and so he punished her, forcing her to wait upon his newest child and disappointment" the bitter words filled the already chaotic scene "I will admit I did not help the situation, I did not speak against the cruelty's that were enacted upon her, Idly I stood by and watched as her father's love was ripped from her slender grasp, I have no excuse for my behaviour save fear, I feared her father's love would cause him to reclaim you as his only wife"

Silently Anne sighed "to be honest upon her death I sought her forgiveness but as she did not repent the deaths of so many, including that of her own cousin I could not find her, sadly I fear she wonders in purgatory and for this I am deeply repentant, as it was my duty to guard her wellbeing, but instead I allowed my own bitterness to consume me and for that she was punished, as she punished all those who did not seek her faith".

Slowly silent tears poured down Katherine's soft cheeks "Why did her life become so hate filled, why did she seek to punish those who were forced to follow her father's bidding, I do not understand, yes heretics must burn, but why so many, how did this poison spread?"

"Fate, and betrayal, when the Pope refused to allow Henry his freedom, we fought, I longed to bare sons, but was bound to the King, I asked for my freedom, I began to contemplate marriage with another, this Idea pushed Henry to the edge and what the King wanted the King claimed, I refused his advances and began to display affection for others, Jealousy consumed him and then he declared I was his, before the court and county he asked for my hand, and with the help of Cranmer and Cromwell he created the Church of England, a religion solidified under one vessel of God, One rule under one King in each realm".

Shocked Katherine stared, Henry had torn his country, his kingdom and his faith apart of the touch of one woman "What power do you hold over Henry, I have never known him to be faithful, nor dumb, so what dastardly persuasion did you commit to tame the untameable?".

Silently Anne shook, her anger building "I am no witch, nor sorceress, I have only my charm and the ability to say no, I never sort the affection of the King and if you must know I loved another before YOUR husband captured MY heart, I had even asked permission to wed the Earl of Northumberland, Did you not know that Henry Percy held my heart for years and then Worsley denied our union on behalf of the King and from that moment on Henry pursued me".

Heavily Anne panted "I will admit that in the beginning it was fun to toy with such power and to have the strength to gain my bitter revenge on a blatant cowardly Cardinal, However once the King began to love me, my heart melted, How was I worthy of such love and affection from so powerful a man? Why was I chosen to conquer that heart of a King? And before I knew it I loved him and he held my heart just as he held the keys to the kingdom, I will not apologise for this love, however I will ask forgiveness for your pain and for the suffering of your daughter".

Sluggishly Katherine gasped, Anne Boleyn was asking for her forgiveness, the concubine that could be compared to Alice Perrers was admitting wrong and asking for repentance.

"Just answer me one small question Queen Anne" her voice dripping with sarcasm "why should I forgive the sins you have not yet committed upon me, are you asking forgiveness for the sins of your past or the ones you have yet to commit".

Swiftly Anne looked up, it had been Hundreds of years since her wit had failed her, yet before her stood her Katherine of Aragon, Queen of England and Princess of Spain, the only woman she had ever compared herself to and felt that she failed, staring her down with a look of haughty derision.

"A bit both I think, however let me ask you, have you ever been compared to your betters, have you ever been told you could be dragged down as swiftly as the man you loved raised you, have you ever been told that your own husband would sign your death warrant, to be burned or beheaded at his pleasure, Do you know what it feels like to hear the sword being unsheathed, to stand upon the executioners block when you know that you are innocent and that if not for a petite blonde who followed the same path you created you would still hold your husband's heart"

Sadly she looked away," I know what Karma is, I fell because I forged the path, because I showed those behind the way, because I taught them how to get rid of a Queen, and for that I ask forgiveness, because I will not take it back, I will only attempt to create a better situation out of the road that I must walk to safe guard my children's future, when this journey ends I shall tell you other details of my pain but until then you must decide if you can bear witness to your own child's deathly path"

Katherine and Anne faced each other standing between the world and the darkness, "If you can face your past, knowing that you are changing your future, and then I can surely face my future knowing I have the strength and courage to change it in the past, How can I hope to save my daughter if I do not know what I am saving her from, show me, I know it may be painful but I must see my Mary, for I know who she is and who she is meant to become and I will not allow your cowardliness or her father's cruelty to determine her fate".

Gradually Anne sighed "As you wish, behold Bloody Mary".

Slowly the world began to spin, the noxious fumes of Blood and Burning Flesh invaded her nostrils "Anne where have you taken me, what is this madness?" Silently Anne grasped her arm, "This is the fourth year in the reign of Queen Mary the first, also known as Bloody Mary, this is your daughter's Catholic reformation and unlike our previous adventures, this occasion is different, we are not invisible to all throughs around, I cannot explain the mind or life of your only child to you, at least not from her point of view, So I am allowing her to explain it for you, Come we have a very important appointment to Keep".

Dazed Katherine heart began to pound, she would speak to Mary, what would her daughter look like, who had she become, from the swirling Chaos that consumed the atmosphere Katherine feared to know, Silently she entered the darkened Castle of Hampton Court Palace, treading softly as not to wake the guard. "Katherine, I should warn you at the moment our daughters are face to face and when the moment comes they will both sense our presence and all will be revealed, however your beloved child has never accepted the truth, to her Henry was the victim and I the criminal, the cause of all her pain and she has never forgotten.

She may unleash a world of Anger long since bottled up, However as her mother I had hoped your presence could sooth her, before I change this world I wish to ask her forgiveness and explain the truth, however hurtful, please do not hold this hope against me for there is also another purpose, as you know I am attempting to change your reality, However my own has played out and cannot be saved, none the less I still wish to save your daughters soul, at least if she knows the truth I may be able to mend some sadness in the world beyond, I am the cause of all her initial pain, with luck I can attempt to heal those wounds".

Silent Katherine stared "In the defence of my daughters soul, I will gladly aid you, but first I must understand the life she has suffered and hurt you have caused".

Gently Anne placed her hand upon Katherine's shoulder as soft tears slid down her cheeks "Then let us face my past united for even the smallest of moments" She whispered quietly, softly drawing strength from the confidence of her companion

And then Suddenly before them stood a deep Oak door, At one time or another their royal door, The chambers of the Queen of England, silently they opened, and two tall figures swiftly turned, two instant flashes of Red hair, One graceful and young, the other elegant and tired, Slowly both figures faced the entry.

"Who dares to enter unannounced, show yourselves, I AM YOUR QUEEN" the voice all but screeched, and in one solid motion Katherine revealed herself from within the shadow, "Mary, My Mary"

Softly the figure rose form the velvet chair "Mother" she whispered as she fell silently into Elizabeth's awaiting Arms.