A/N:
Well guys I hope you enjoy it and the song I added here as you see is Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, "Alex's Traveling Song" from Will., and one last chapter or two which will be short the middle or last one, so read guys, because the last one is one day away.
See ya.
I will try to update the others, snow white and cuckoos as soon as I can: D
Btw … to my friends, Reganx, AestheticNarcissist, BoleynGirl13, LadyJa999x and ladyredvelvet and lemondropseverus, thank you so much girls for everything! Also from Kitty Benet don't forget to read her stories Lady Mary and Regan's challenge she took Changing History, good ones too, check them out and No Greater treasure, newcomer won't disappoint us.
Don't forget: to R/R…
~Carolina
Chapter #37: "Absolution and the Truth"
"This is a long tough road we have to travel. The men that can do things are going to be sought out just as surely as the sun rises in the morning." –Dwight D. Eisenhower, in Letter to Vernon E. Prichard (27th August, 1947)
--
It was cold today. Nothing was moving outside despite that it was summer time and the roses were blooming.
"I've been around the world in the pouring rain,
Feeling out of place, I am feeling strange
Take me to a place where they know my name … where everyone knows my name …
The sun casts its rays among those who God favored. The lucky ones, who resided in Palaces, enjoyed very much of the riches and opulence that their luck brought with them. The others however; were the most unfortunate. Cloistered and deprived of what the rich took for granted, hidden in obscurity under dark shadows of their prison cells or dead monasteries. Many of them were left to beg for mercy, others to betray their religion, while those who refused to sell their souls for silver and gold the ultimate price they paid for defying their King, was dead.
How we die was something Thomas knew well was never within our reach. Most of the time, it was decided for us. But how we face that end, how we see to it that death does not laugh in our faces and it is us instead that laughs at death, can be done.
It is only a matter of time really before we encourage our brains to deprive our vital organ of its emotions, and feel only anger.
Henry who looked at his friend in shock and surprise could not help but admire at how such a man could be kept in well shape or form in all these little time, that for Thomas he no doubt thought the years must have been torture, being away from what he truly loved; the Church, Family and his grandchildren –the only family he had left in the world.
At the thought of children, Henry thought back to his own, how he himself had neglected one child above all by putting another who might very well not be his own. Henry could not stop thinking about the little Elizabeth, how he loved her and declared her the true ruby above all things, and now this! She might not very well be his, and Thomas knew exactly what this type of thinking could spell to Anne and Katherine in the end.
Thomas thought it curious that Henry was marrying somebody who declared herself a 'loyalist' of Katherine of Aragon. When last time he remembered … oh yeah that was right! Katherine practically nearly agreed to nullify the marriage with Henry so she could throw herself at Thomas, and now the poor woman was having second thoughts. 'How sweet' –Thomas thought it bitterly.
A woman he had loved so much, and just now he realized how much he had been there for her truly, even more than his wife when he shared Alice's bed, in the past.
And now the woman he loved was waiting for another child of his, and a child that he saw Katherine not being alright with. He knew Katherine would love the child unconditionally, as she loved Mary and John. But, her heart ached for Mary's forgiveness and acceptance, and to get that she needed to sacrifice Thomas and all her dreams of happiness with him.
Thomas out of respect for her and because he had once held Mary in his arms when he would play with her as a child, would fight dearly for them, even if he was about to reveal to Henry that he was married and father of the child of his past wife.
"Check it, check it out,
I am 'bout to do my thing
King of the floor,
King of the swing …"
He did not waste time, he told Harry everything.
After a long pause Henry spoke up. -Showing barely any emotion or signs of surprise in his features.
"So," he said "you married Katherine" The last word that came from his mouth was greeted with a mix of venom and animosity. Thomas figured his pride was still hurt that he could have divorced a fine and beautiful woman he considered old for a woman years younger for the promise of a son. A son who in the end was still absent in the Royal Nursery.
Thomas nodded to Henry's allegations as he continued. He had no point in debating, Henry needed to hear what Henry needed to hear, no more no less.
Henry nodded after Thomas for a short while interrupted him lightly to attest that Katherine was in no way part in his death, nor she is to be judged and her daughter to be bastardized.
Something Henry did not take too lightly, but because Thomas Moore was back from the ashes again, like a Phoenix he respected him and his decisions, no matter how foolish Henry thought they were.
"Play a little beat;
I'll be a dancing machine
Play a little gym,
I'll come alive …
Alive … Alive!"
"I thank you Thomas for being honest with me" Thomas stayed silent. Henry continued, "You were … have always been a true friend. I should've said that before."
"I have no quarrels with anyone Henry, just Boleyn" Thomas stated
"Boleyn is going to die either way Thomas."
"They've got jungle fever,
Show 'em some love …
Love"
Thomas scoffed. -An act that surprised Henry as he saw his best friend being transformed into something else entirely.
The old Thomas was long gone, and he made it clear by what he had to say to the King of England.
"No!" Thomas interrupted him, surprising Henry at seeing his friend sudden turn of hatred. "He will die by my hand Henry and no other hand. Your Majesty."
"Bowing deeply cannot get you a permit to kill him. Do. You. Understand? He is in my custody if you still know what that means … old friend.
Better pick up your children for I guarantee you, it will be a messy block that will be stained by that man and his wench of a daughter, at least tell your wife that now she can feel happy again, I am killing her aren't I?"
"This is my home … this is my home
King of the Throne ...
Thomas shook his head and for the first time, showed the emotion of remorse to Henry's face. "No Henry she will not. And I can tell you that if you kill Anne or behead her –whichever term suits you best, I will see that her daughter in Court is given the title of Marques or that you at least recognize her as yours. Look at her Henry! You mean to tell me that the King of England is unable to keep his own word and spit out centuries of peace, and wretched battles all for England! After all Your Majesty she as all we are merely Your Majesty's humble serfs!"
Thomas stung deep in Henry's heart. Like fifteen years ago, almost fifteen years or was it just fourteen? Henry could not remember, it seemed so far away; Thomas had stung deep in Henry's heart when he refused the peace of the French (that he ultimately squandered in a bad decision in allying himself with the Emperor), minutes later he apologized mildly for his actions –as well did Francis- and on the next day, signed the Treaty for Universal and Perpetual Peace.
His mentor had taught him another valuable lesson now: that he was no longer the man he used to be, people changed and whether for good or for worse, you had to deal with it no matter how.
For this round Thomas had won, Henry did not want to discuss with his mentor that he still had one card under his sleeve.
Let go of Anne easily? How could he, the woman he bewitched him and made him deny his beautiful old pearl Mary, whom he still was bewitched to curse her for leaving him and her Home Country! But then again, what if Thomas decided to take Anne's case and everybody would know then that he was alive. It could be a double edge sword for Henry, one to use against the Boleyn woman who had previously disguised herself as Katherine –as his wife, and further condemn her; but, if it did not turn out the way the King wanted, he –meaning Thomas- and other nobles sympathetic to their Queen Anne (among them he had no doubt was Archbishop Cranmer) would round up with enough support, maybe even revolt for her.
Yet they would not win, there were more Catholics against Henry than in favor of Anne, and would soon want to see her die, yet the woman was a good artist and charmer, she could very well round up sympathy and make Henry wind up as the villain of this story.
Like Katherine she was another thorn up his spine, and one that did not have the political allies or powerful "friends" abroad like his previous "Wife" had. Yet she was still a thorn, and all he wanted now was to get rid of her, kill her and marry off his promise for the future. Beautiful and magnanimous Jane Seymour, a true woman of passive nature, charm and beauty like in ancient tales of fairy Maidens in search of their Prince to come to their rescue.
They did not strut or show dominance over men, defy them and make them look as the ridicule of their Country, they did not even have grand political connections abroad or on the Throne their husband rule to challenge him, they were just their lovers, wives and women willing to give out their hearts, minds, bodies and souls for their lover.
Why could he not have spotted a woman like that before he decided to marry two women who had been so far now the cause for disruption, turbulence and uprising in His Kingdom?
Thomas knew what His Majesty was thinking, but he didn't comfort Henry.
"You can kill Anne, bastardize Elizabeth or deny her … as you say. But Harry" Henry turned surprise to his mentor at the usage of his old name when he was boy tutored by his Master (Thomas Moore). "… while you think you can escape me, you can't. Not even I can escape myself, I beg you for the first time for her, to see through her, see through her Harry and you will see a woman drunk in madness who can hurt you no longer. Divorce her and just like I will say later about Katherine, in good faith –say that you will grant her something."
"What?" Henry said, a little bit enraged and annoyed. But Thomas continuous speech ignoring his former pupil sparked a true interest in Henry. He could make that proposal, after all the witch would never take it, the woman was cunning and a trickster, hungry to make everybody see that she was a victim and clear their minds that she had every intention in the past to kill Mary –his daughter- and Katherine if given the chance. But say she accepted –Henry whispered to himself, and unknown that he had said it to himself a little louder than he would have intended, Thomas heard and went on further to please but convince the King.
"So I will be rid of her? And she will accept?" He said, so sure of himself that in a way even though he was urging everybody at Court to call Elizabeth "Lady Elizabeth", even Lady Bryant her former Governess had done so and had even threatened to slap the girl if she refused to leave Hatfield as commanded by her father the King. He had been distraught, sure; but it did not seem a matter of importance at the time.
Now Thomas had once again managed to strike a point, and like before in Calais he wanted to throw away all his ornaments and things to have it all. He was willing to risk his soul and easily Anne's and her family to have it all. To have control and power of the land and finally … Jane –Guinevere, him to be her loyal Lancelot, but he could never have that if "Morgan Le Fay" and "Morgause" were still alive.
He did make a good point; he could throw away everything, but what if Anne accepted? What could he give her? "Give her everything Henry" His conscience whispered, he said no. Thomas said yes, finally he said no again, but his old conscience was persistent and told him to give her nothing, just give her one mansion in Essex, York Place, and two other mansions, the latter were of minor importance and were hardly ever used, in fact they could very well be compared as next to the Moore, the most Austere Mansion to have in England.
Henry agreed but yet his mind formed secret plans that Anne would never agree to the deal.
Thomas had seen his friend's face agree to the terms, yet his mind Thomas could read very well was another matter. After four days through spits and nearly being killed … again, by the mob of Courtiers that shot Thomas dirty glances and wished he would have died, (they-that is the "Reformers"- thought that he was here to punish Anne and to have Katherine's bastard son along with the old Catholic Queen they now dubbed "whore" on the throne, and also her "bastard" daughter". Thomas well avoided these rumors, he knew them not to be true, but nonetheless even if he succeeded to have Anne free and her daughter restored as Princess or at least Duchess of York, he would have to watch out for all these people to not hurt his family and the babe his wife carried in her womb) but to the former Chancellor of his former pupil, the only thing that mattered was successfully completing his mission.
He went to Anne's cell telling Master Kingston, who with good reason had distrust in leaving a former Conservative who was well known for having burned four innocent men at the stake for their beliefs, yet something in his eyes assured Kingston that he was not to be feared. Maybe –Kingston thought, it was true what they say and Moore had changed, but yet something in Kingston like the rest of them thought that it was worse to have a man devoid of any faith, intolerance, soul or beliefs in a greater being or beings, than a Conservative keen on burning.
At least when there were burning the people believed in something, as horrible as it may have sounded –they [the people] had fear within themselves and obeyed Authority better than when they were devoid and had nothing left to loose. That was what Kingston feared when all men would resort to Atheism and become empty voids. May God –he prayed- never let that happen…?
1536,
Anne Boleyn's Quarters:
Thomas Moore entered the quarters of Anne Boleyn. It was a prison cell and Moore knew it all well, he had never been in a prison such like this; but his own had been much worse, in terms of freedom –she would gain it, he would never.
He was still trapped.
"What do you want? I don't want pity."
"I am not here to offer pity Anne, I offer you the proposal of the King."
"I have heard … I will not make my daughter a Bastard!"
Thomas let out a sigh. Anne was not going to be easily convinced so he might as well let himself in defense mode. "Fine Anne!" He said enraged. "You want your way fine! The King will not make your daughter a bastard, but if you die she will and your death will be useless, don't make yourself the martyr, you, I, and Katherine are nothing more than tools from our fathers …. Yes I know very well what it feels to be used, bargained and being spit at by your own family –the same thing happened to me when my mother was beat by my father because she was suspected to be a witch!"
"Impossible." Anne scoffed, knowing full well that the once "great" Sir Thomas Moore would never have a family such like that. He was show off as the ideal man with the ideal family.
But Thomas proved her contrary as he went detail by detail, how his perfect father nearly killed his mother and how years of devotion to God, repressed all that. By the end of his talk to Anne, knocking some sense finally into her, Anne was surprised that prior to his transformation and the devastation to his family caused by her own, he was very much abused and used just like she.
She found it difficult yet that she could "Betray" Elizabeth, as she said it was to Sir Thomas. If she was to agree to the terms of Henry, what was to say he was not planning to downgrade Elizabeth? If he did not, a daughter of Jane would take precedence, even when she was not supposed to?
Henry would make sure Elizabeth would never inherit the throne, and Anne, would she let her daughter be relegated to a simple Duchess of York, even after the offspring that wench had with her husband?
No.
She could not.
Thomas left her no choice, he argued if she died, the situation would be worse and her offspring would be bastard. Anne was moved later how angrily, but almost fanatically Thomas pleaded through her masked by the necessity of saving also his grandchild.
Suddenly Anne's mind turned to Annie. "Promise me Anne that you will protect her … If anything were to happen to me, Annie must be safe, at all costs along with your child. Tell her I loved her … even if I loved another of my own sex who I cannot love … but that her mother by blood may not be with her, but I will be always and so will you." George had made it clear he had not much time; he knew he would die but he left instructions for Anne to take care of his tot, his only reason at that time where he came to care for someone so deeply, that when she heard the painful account of how Thomas killed George, he refused to tell Sir Thomas about his child. Even in death, he wanted Annie to be with no one other than with Anne for her own protection.
Anne wanted to protect Elizabeth, but what she did not tell Sir Thomas was that she was afraid that should she live; Thomas would take Annie away from her. She could never let that happen, but her most important factor was Elizabeth. She died; Elizabeth was ruined, could she deny that much?
Besides, what did Thomas said about her properties … would she keep them?
"You will be named Duchess of Pembroke." He stated.
Anne's eyes sparkled, dumb folded. "What? Me? …Duchess (Not Queen)?" She slowly whispered, the words seeming so impossible that she had a hard time swallowing the facts of separation under these terms.
She would be Duchess … Duchess of Pembroke, and be allowed to maintain York Place, Essex, one of her most important manners, and if her father … her father –she thought with sadness and bitterness- would never be judged, he would kiss her feet again.
"What about Annie? You swear to me right now that you will not lay a hand on her, that you will not touch her because I have the power to crush you as Duchess. Do you understand?" She threatened.
Thomas did send any threat back, unlike others he showed no fear, but pure coldness, enough to scare Anne and leave her quiet to comply to the King's will. He was offering her a chance, and whether she spit back at him, he could care less. He could take Elizabeth and [the girl could be] Duchess of York, and she as Duchess of Pembroke would be an awfully rich woman, even more powerful than before.
Of course it was difficult for Anne, when her daughter had been before the Princess of Wales and invested as His Majesty's true daughter, who sacrificed a great deal, even men and blood for his daughter and for her. Now all of this was lost … partially.
He only had to wait if Anne would accept the deal or not.
After he walked out from her cell; that was it. Deal done or not, Anne now only had seconds before the guard closed the door behind him and then all deals were off the table and she looses her head.
"Stop! I say stop!" Anne pleaded desperately to the Guards, who let the door open again for Sir Thomas to enter and face the former Queen. Anne knelt with cold eyes that met brown cold as well. She spoke clearly, "I accept His Majesty's deal, I am astounded of how merciful he is, but my daughter must still be made Heir, I know she will be Duchess of York, I want her … do you understand Sir Thomas? –to be with me."
"Please" She finished.
Thomas nodded and lifted her up, face to face as they were looking to other's eyes to make sure there was no deception, she concluded that Sir Thomas was a man of his word, but because of this she was both pleased and afraid. She knew that her daughter would not be made bastard, and that she will be Duchess, but as for Jane Seymour. She would still be Queen, and what was worse, Anne would be humiliated.
Henry would not let her go unpunished that easily. He would make an example of her, parade her as Duchess, granted that … but, nonetheless; have her face shown in Court to look at in disgrace, but all of this she would do for her daughter.
And she would have to look as Jane Seymour would take the Crown and bear a son or daughter who would take Elizabeth's place in Henry's heart, something that would enrage her more than when that wench Mary was here."I will tell the King… You made the right choice, even if you don't think so My Lady."
"This is my home … this is my home
This is my home …
A week later, unknown to Anne that Henry had already proposed in secret, and was ready to be married to Jane in three days time, the Constable came in, with the first time with a smile for a prisoner, now former, and told her she was released.
"See … I've been traveling,
been traveling forever,
So she was released into the world again, and as the boat led her to ashore where the carriage was waiting for her to go to Hatfield. She looked at Elizabeth who jumped into her arms. When she asked about Lady Bryant, she said that Lady Bryant was afraid. Anne asked why, she said because she was afraid when she heard the news that 'mama' would be mad at the former Princess' [now Duchess of York, something Anne knew Elizabeth would be bothered by at first, but would take no time in getting used to she thought] Governess because she had slapped her two days ago from her release for refusing to pack her bags and be called 'Lady Elizabeth'.
"but now that I've found a home -
seems like I'm in heaven …"
Anne was furious, but she would let others deal with Lady Bryant, the woman was a harsh and dedicated caretaker, but she was jealous of how she easily betrayed her daughter just because her mother's marriage could be non existent and she a bastard, now that she was still a royal, although downgraded to Duchess of York, she could have Lady Bryant be slapped by her hands. But she would never let that woman in charge of Elizabeth again … never again, she was here to take Elizabeth with her, where she would better live off under her tutoring in the Country or in York Place, where her daughter had previously expressed was her favorite Palace of her father's besides Greenwich.
Now it would be theirs.
(1536) August 23rd.
Greenwich Palace:
Thomas Boleyn, former Earl of Whilstshire and Ormonde, got to Court disgraced. Now he was only Sir Thomas Boleyn, as if the King could be that blunt to punish Sir Thomas Boleyn for his daughter's crimes and failure. He was only a tool, merely a pawn in her daughter's game of chess. And he would make it clear when he begged the King for absolution that he had nothing to do in it.
'Strange' –he thought. He found the Court Rooms nearly deserted. Not one soul was in the Castle. Suddenly his senses alert played out the worst of what the King was going to share with him.
He thought to that simpleton's daughter –Jane Seymour, who was no prettier than his daughter Anne, but that was old story. He heard that Anne was free and now Duchess! Ha! It seems the girl never ceased to impress him. But what would that mean, even now Elizabeth would still be lower in status to the children that Jane Seymour would bear to His Majesty.
How he hated that a simpleton's, granted a simpleton who descended from much Royal blood through her mother's lineage, like Anne's, could have caught the King's eye in her web of lies. He did not doubt the girl was a virgin, seeing her, was seeing a meek and inexperienced girl, naïve but unlike Mary –his disgraced daughter- she had a sort of cunning and ambitious spirit, something else that made this young girl special, almost like Anne, but playing the entire opposite, even physically, of her. A sudden change from his Majesty's past preferences. It seems that finally he wanted to have a quiet and meek wife, like other Kings, and he got one. But one who had to be in the way of Anne and his plans.
It was his Majesty's plan then, to further humiliate the Boleyn Clan and make him bow before the soon to be Queen, who was to become his wife tomorrow morning. Like Anne, Henry would drag them, even in life, through the mud as they had done before, but they were of strong lineage too, they would not let themselves be intimidated even by the King, or by a simple want-to-be Queen.
For her it would not be easy, at least it was the only poor consolation he could give himself that the idiot would have to face harder pains and pressures as she would be under strict orders, stricter in Regime than Anne, to have a Prince in the Tudor Nursery … soon.
He entered one of the King's rooms … empty too.
He did not call for His Majesty until he saw no one present, but the answer he got instead was from a voice he never thought he would hear again.
"Moore" He said somberly.
Turning back, he saw Thomas Moore, with Anne, Elizabeth, Annie, and the rest of her wards –including the boy Anthony Roper.
He was not alone; the King was there, behind Sir Thomas Boleyn. He knew that Moore had survived, he had gotten notice of it, before his release, but the Boleyn Patriarch seriously thought that the King paid no heed since the King had made it clear that Boleyn was released.
What a fool, for the first time Boleyn cursed himself for making himself look like such a fool!
"You know Sir Thomas; I really thought that you were smarter than this."
The King said from behind him. He would not get out of this alive, several guards, a number of about ten came, like when they first did for his daughter's failure, who now stood with cold eyes, yet with regret at the poor sight of her father, about to be taken away again for murder, slaughter and other worse crimes.
He did not beg though, he stood tall, and as Thomas Moore was about to grab Mary, his oldest granddaughter to leave, Thomas Boleyn did something quick and unexpected that surprised the entire room; he got hold of one of the guard's pistols and with great speed he took Annie's hair and pulled the small girl to his waist.
"Stand aside men!" The King called.
Thomas stood shocked. Boleyn had his youngest grandchild in his hands, all the members of the room were in equal shock, but especially Anne, who as of yesterday –not unknown to her father- was made Duchess of Pembroke, a higher Status that placed her amongst the most riches and perhaps more powerful and influential women in all England, next to the King's Consort when she would be crowned.
"Let her go Papa!"
Father Boleyn smirked. He had done so much for this bastard as for his daughter; he would not let them go easily. He knew he was doomed, but desperately like any man about to be quartered or trampled over by some other horrible death and shame, he was playing his last card, however useless it was. Thomas Moore would just murder him, ready to do so if he harmed on hair of his family.
"How can I? You really think I can so easily, you cost me everything! I gave you everything Anne, and to this bastard, this stupid bastard Annie. I raised her as my heir, even His Majesty here made everything to yours and George's whim, so she could be the Boleyn Heir, and you made it sure that I agreed she would get nearly a great deal if I was to die. My Inheritance to her, and I agreed. So she could not be a bastard and because George could not get one bastard or true legitimate heirs because of his affairs with Mark Smeaton! I pulled this girl into my family, even on dances I took her in my arms. Now you expect me to go quietly? No …"
Anne was desperate now, and Elizabeth who was equally in panic to see her cousin, who was in all truth her sister, being so close to death, she yelled at her 'papa' to do something. But the King was equally frozen in shock, part of him could care less what happened to this wretched girl and order his guards to shoot Boleyn, but if he did, Boleyn who had the musket pointed to the girl's head –could easily fire in his last attempt for retribution, and the little girl dies. The other part of himself did not want that -she was Sir Thomas Moore's daughter, and he wanted to make things fair with the man, even if the girl was of foul lineage and less dignified than Mary or Anthony Roper.
"Would you let your grandchild, even if she was mine as well raised as my own and now legitimate Heir to Boleyn, be killed. Did you hear how your daughter died? … Ah I see you have heard, well I think its time you know how your son died!"
Thomas nearly leaped forward, but Anne grabbed him as she dug her nails in his black tunic, the King's voice as Anne's force seemed non existent as he wanted to grab that piece of vermin and kill him with his bare hands. But one voice, one so similar to John's broke his train of thoughts –"No father!" "Do not succumb to vengeance, do not please … for John and Katherine!" He thought later as he heard Thomas Boleyn give the horrible details of his first son's murder that it was all his imagination, but in reality John was always there for him. John Moore the Second could never allow his father to succumb lower into hatred, but he could not stop his old man from killing the man who murdered his soul and his son's.
" … He was running away, contrary from what you heard from Norfolk, I will be more merciful, and tell you the truth. He did not run away, but he did when he saw us, for his brother in law, Giles Heron and one of his youngest sister's offspring and his, he ran towards them. He was brave but foolish just like you. When they shot his wife Sir Thomas … I think you have guessed it (laughter), his wife was pregnant, from what I got from his lips –she was three months, he cried. Your son cried, but he was nonetheless brave and ran all the way and shielded his six year old niece and his brother in law Giles Heron to keep them safe. What a foolish boy you had Sir Thomas … I think that being with your new wench Katherine –the Princess Dowager, might be a good thing, your new son seems better and more good than that idiotic boy. Five shots got to his chest, but the boy still towered over Giles Heron who was near death, and his niece who died moments later when one bullet went through her heart. Your son died as a fool hero's death. I would have loved to see your head rotting on a spike, but it was your son instead when surprisingly he still had strength with him, he towered over one of my men, and killed two of the mercenaries, one luckily cut off his throat while the others butchered his neck. Now this girl will be on your conscience too."
He was about to pull the trigger, but like his dead son, Thomas saw with surprise, Moore moved with incredible speed and pulled his son's knife from inside his tunic and threw it at Boleyn. He dropped little Annie and she went running to her Aunt's arms. Boleyn was clutching his neck, gasping for breath, and then Thomas went to him and finally gave him death, cutting his mouth in one single swift.
The King stood there speechless, as he saw Thomas Moore pull the knife from the man's skin and hide it inside his tunic. No doubt his friend was gone, and in his place, stood a man with no morals and no longer any faith to distinguish from good or bad.
"Sir Thomas …" Anne called, but he did not hear. He only wanted to go home.
1536, August 23rd.
Kimbolton Castle,
Katherine was waiting in her window, with her small son for him. She leaped from her seat and handed John to Elizabeth, while she went to open the door to her husband.
"See, I've been traveling,
been traveling forever …
but, now that I'm home, seems like I'm in heaven …"
She was surprised to see him unharmed, or regretful, but she thought that is how it was.
Her husband was a strong man, and she couldn't be happier to have him finally by her side, safe and alive most importantly, it was what mattered.
He was not the man to longer show affection or tenderness as a form of his physical love for Henry's first Queen, but it was enough for her that he cared.
"Thomas …" She said. He embraced her, with no remorse or emotion, for a moment Katherine thought that he would leave again without saying goodbye to their son, John Moore.
But her worries were short lived as he pulled back and moments later, got his face closer to hers and kissed her. They stood there in a sweet kiss for some time, until John's cries for his 'papa' turned their attention to their only son.
"Papa!" John yelled, happy that he could see his father again; his friend John told him that he would see him again. John was right, Thomas was here, and he was here to stay.
Some ways Katherine did not question whether Thomas had agreed or not to attend the new wife of Henry's marriage, nor did he say that day that he wanted Katherine and his son to attend for the whole Court to see. Katherine did not care when she saw her husband handing down to her a beautiful sky blue with gold trimmings, made a very skilled hand Katherine had no doubt, to her. Nor did she refuse as Thomas pulled John in a kiss to his cheek and affectionately –like he had done some time ago in the past to another child, older than he- touch his nearly raven hair. Like his father John was not one to be tricked easily, and he asked his 'papa' where they would be going and why, Thomas did not answer but smiled as he gave John a chocolate, something Katherine had previously told John he was not to take. He silenced the small boy from making a fuzz as he dressed him in dark clothing, but, his intentions were short lived as the boy hugged his father with such force, that Thomas was surprised and asked himself where the boy could posses such strength.
His thoughts turned back to the boy's mother, who winked back at him.
It was a very special day today, Henry would take a new bride, or so to say according to him, but thankfully Thomas thought not officially –the first bride that would end his 'bachelor days'.
It was funny how things turned out, Katherine was his wife, he was a man who hated God, respected everybody but his heart still at odds with whatever good he had left, had a son named John who was the light of his world, and the grandchildren, remnants of his old family were now with the woman that in another time or space in time, he no doubted would have told his suicide daughter she would have perished, and he would have died for his faith.
Irony was probably a better word to describe his situation.
1536, August 23rd.
Royal Ceremony between Lady Jane Seymour and His Majesty Henry VIII:
4: OOpm.
Among those of Royal Lineage or noble ancestry invited at the wedding, were the King's distant cousin of Plantagenet blood and ancestry, some of the Pope's emissaries who were not too well pleased that His Majesty was marrying somebody else, and still had not returned to his true 'bride'. The noble Katherine of Aragon, who they looked with pity, but equally with disappointment that a woman who had before proven that her sex was no match for man, now proved what they thought was always true –that men were superior to women, those foul and wretched creatures who were so easy like that wench and harlot Anne Boleyn –to love and intimidate to no end.
Peace was for the women, and even if Katherine still possessed her warrior spirit, she was a woman nonetheless, frail and a wench for lying with another man not her husband! The Pope was in frenzy, as well as her nephew. Seating behind them, and it seemed against at least one of their liking, was Chapuys –the Emperor's first Imperial Ambassador who was very close to death for being the suspected father of the Queen's Bastard- and then the second and now most important player, one who gave credit to her sex, First Imperial Ambassador Contreras.
The Lady was seductive in how she behaved and spoke, but of all the shameful women present today, she was the only to give credit to her race of God's mistakes.
"Hey, ah Hey, ah"
"I am a work it,
work it out,
Check it,
check it out,
I am ok now …"
Henry said a few words, declaring tender words of love and affections, the likes of which he had never spoken to Anne or Katherine. To Katherine he was a silly boy so in love and so dumbly devoted too, and her smile seemingly innocent hypnotized him, kept him from the truth that she was another home wrecker who wanted power and control him with the act of her innocence, then there was Anne. She was blunter but more foolish to keep her mouth shut, one of the few obstacles that kept Henry from being close to her bed by the end of their 'marriage'. She too never loved him, but the Crown that adorned him, more than the head or person that wore it. Jane was different, she did not want him, but unlike Anne or Katherine, especially Anne who played the 'maiden' who never was, hard to get; Jane truly did not want him. And often made him feel like she was forcing him, until he saw her falling in love with him little by little, but then she tried to keep her distance, because she was afraid she might hurt him. A true maiden, the first one he could be entirely sure was without a touch from man.
He would be a happy man to finally marry, but because Parliament urged him and he had to agree, he bestowed on his 'daughter' the title of Duchess of York, something he was not too happy, but his gut told him –being Henry- that he would annul that title if they –he and Jane- were ever to have a boy and especially a girl. He wanted a boy, but if after a boy, where his birth would ensure Elizabeth would still be Duchess, a girl would be a different story. Henry would see that his daughter would be next to nothing, like his other forgotten one –Mary, and be replaced with a girl that he was sure Jane would give him after his boy.
The girl seemed sweet and very fertile, often it reminded Henry of all the women where he was a boy, excluding Margaret Beaufort of course, his mother was a good example of sweetness and tenderness, so was Jane. Imagine a daughter from her! After a boy, a daughter from him and Jane was sure to take the prudence and fairness, as well as beauty and brains from mother and father respectively, and become a true pearl like his mother –Elizabeth of York, the past Queen of England before Jane.
Looking at Elizabeth, he saw confusion but understanding that turned into sadness and then regret mixed with hatred as the little child's looks (who was no longer Princess of Wales but Duchess of York, something she felt she had to "congratulate" Jane for) turned in direction to his future wife, Jane Seymour.
Moments passed, and Jane's nervousness at the child's stared turned later into happiness as she and Henry were declared husband and wife. "You May Kiss the bride" Gave Henry full authority to kiss his wife, she kissed him in a way that even Katherine from afar felt hurt, as Jane did not kiss him with lust or want like his two previous did, or with desperation that reminded Katherine of her last days as a 'wife' to Henry.
It was a kiss free of passion, lust or want; it was a need but a tender need and patient, the kind of love one would die for, but without harming others or condemning one self.
It made two women jealous, and the latter of them, Anne who was forced to watch and her daughter too as Henry said this was the happiest day of her life, made her force her mouth and eyes very hard from grabbing that wench's hair and screaming at her. She had to be calm, at least Elizabeth was still Heiress Presumptive, and unless that whore had a son, Elizabeth would be Queen, but if she had a son, Anne scoffed at the meek idea of a son from that wench's womb, He would be no better or win over Elizabeth's claim. Her daughter would outlive that child, and she would rule a better England than her!
Just let them be patient and have their Prince, it would still be worth nothing, next to nothing!
"Hey, ah Hey, ah"
"I am a work it,
work it out,
The banquets were as all the others, noisy and full of life. They had a turkey, a recent meat brought from the "new world". To Anne and Elizabeth it tasted good, but to Katherine's son it tasted awful. John noticed that besides the Duchess of Pembroke and the Princess, now Duchess of York, were seated three people he seemed to have recognized for some of their features seemed close to his and his father.
He asked his father tugging his sleeve who were they.
"They …" He turned silent, not expecting that Anne would bring his three grandchildren here.
"Papa?"
"Check it,
check it out,
I am ok now …"
"They are … my … my daughter's children."
John turned to him in puzzlement. Katherine looked at him uncertain if he should tell their son now of his past life.
Thomas smiled and waved at Mary, who waved back, the girl he had agreed with Anne when he brought her back to the Duchess [barely 1 week ago] that she would remain in her care, and that he would keep his distance from Annie.
However painful it was.
Annie looked at Thomas with excitement, she knew this much that he was responsible for setting her 'Auntie' free, and for that she was happy to see him seated near her family, but she was puzzled as to why that man kept looking at her with mixed feelings. Ever since she knew the truth about her mother, she had wished she would meet more of her other surviving family, but when she came to peace with herself she saw that her real family was closer to home. Anne was her auntie and mommy, even if she was not really her 'mama', she had watched over Annie, and her father always loved her aunt, now Duchess of Pembroke.
She was disappointed at "His Majesty" that he had downgraded her cousin and sister Elizabeth to the title of Duchess of York, but at least she thought peacefully, she was still Heiress Presumptive, at least until that bad woman would sire a boy with her auntie's former Husband.
Adults were weird, she and Elizabeth decided. She and her debated about why would they spent so much time debating God if it seemed they all worshipped God, why was it so important to them, didn't they care more about others? It was a puzzle to both girls, but a puzzle that Mary and Anthony were not about to explain. Both siblings kept looking at each other with cold stares; they too, had been victims of this war.
Anne and Thomas were at odds; from opposite sides of each table, but unlike an alternate time where they would have been truly in opposite sides of the table, now they sat at the same table, staring at each other with understanding, beginning what was sure to be a mutual friendship.
Anne never forgot those who helped her, even if it seemed she did, and Thomas; well Thomas never forgot those who were unjustly charged as criminals.
Katherine said nothing of this new couple, her eyes were staring at Jane Seymour, a Lady she once thought she would favor and would have loved to see her at her side, but it was clear that as her mother had said all those years in Alhambra; friends are the ones that stab you harder in the back.
A/N: Hope you like it guys, yes the song was from Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa, from Will. I hope you like it, the "Traveling song" from Alex. And next chapter will probably be the last. The second Part will not be updated until April 1st.