1525 passes quietly, although Jane and I almost got caught a few times. "We need to stop seeing each other in public places," I say, "it is making everyone suspicious."
"I know, but I love spending time with you."
"Yes, but we could both end up in the Tower and change history. Do you want that?"
"No."
"Well, I have an idea. Wait for the next joust, and when a Sir Luke Smith-White asks for your favours, give something to him, all right?"
"Okay," she nods. We part ways, and I head to the King while Jane returns to the Queen.

I curtsey when I'm brought before the King. "Mistress Emma," King Henry smiles, "it is good to see you. Why are you here?"
"I want to ask when the next joust is as my brother is considering competing."
"Your brother. What is his name?"
"Luke Smith-White."
"Does he know how to joust?"
"This will be his first time."
"Well, it will be nice to see someone new in the field."
"I will tell my brother, Your Majesty." King Henry nods his head and makes a shooing gesture. I curtsey and head out.

Now, I need to find some armour. Thankfully, Torchwood is developing armour for both men and women, so I go to them. "Why do you want to disguise yourself as a man?" Thomas asks when he hears my bizarre request.
"I want to joust, and I know I can't if I compete as a woman."
"Very well." He allows the fitting to go ahead, and I have a suit of armour ready. It fits me extremely well, and if I wrap my tentacles around my body, it will feel comfortable.

The day of the joust finally comes, and I am competing with men who have more experience than me. Of course, I decide to keep my helmet on and my visor down. I change my voice slightly, so no one will suspect I'm a lady. Of course, it won't hold out for long, but hopefully long enough that I can joust. One of the men hands me my lance, and I ride up to the Queen's box, where all the ladies will watch. Then, I see some people who shock me.

Clyde, Rani, and Luke are there.

I turn my focus to Jane. "Mistress Jane Seymour? Will you give me the honour of wearing your favours?"
"Of course, good sir." She unties a blue ribbon from around her wrist and ties it around my lance. "May you do well in the tournament."
"Thank you, my lady." I ride off and smile to myself. No one can see my identity beneath my visor, so I can show whichever expression I want.
"Sir Luke Smith-White will face off against—" I do not hear the rest of the announcer's words as I look at my opponent. He has a strong build and tough armour. Why did I think this was a good idea? Never mind, I am here now. I may as well show everyone that I can joust just as well as the men. I look at his shield, and my opponent lowers his visor. Someone waves a flag down, and I lean lower and aim my lance at his shield. He aims at mine, and we canter towards each other.

My lance breaks against his shield, and he misses me completely. "One point to Sir Luke Smith-White!"
I continue jousting for some time and win against my competitors. I look over at Jane and see she is smiling. My heart continues pounding as I look at her, and she looks back at me. From what I can see, she looks like she is blowing a kiss my way. As I'm disguised as a man, it's not as scandalous as it would've been if I was jousting as myself. Jane turns to talk to a man who appeared a few moments ago. Due to their similar features, I guess it's one of her brothers. I continue riding and wait for my next opponent. "His Majesty, the King!" The announcer says, and my blood runs cold. How on earth can I compete against the King? He is the best jouster there is! There is no way I can do that. I think about dropping out, but then what would Jane think? No, I must stay. King Henry looks over at me and smiles. Does he realise it's me? There is no way he can tell.

"Lance!" King Henry commands, and he grabs it from one of his courtiers before closing his visor. Someone waves the flag down, and we ride towards each other. King Henry aims his lance at my shield, and I aim mine at his. The horse's hooves pound on the ground, and it almost rings in my ears. King Henry's lance smashes against my shield and throws me off my horse. I start screaming as I fall to the ground, my disguise completely forgotten. The people are cheering, and my head starts hurting. No, I can't be injured! There is no cure for infection here! I can't get better if something happens to me!

I stand up; thank goodness I can do that. Slowly, I remove my helmet and blink when the bright sunlight hits my eyes. It takes me a few moments to orient myself and work out what happened. Well, King Henry bested me at jousting, I should've realised that would happen. As I look around, people start talking and pointing at me. Well, that's my disguise gone now. "Mistress Emma?" King Henry looks confused. "When you said your brother wanted to compete, I did not realise it was code that you were going to compete."
"I wanted to give jousting a go, Your Majesty."
"It is a dangerous sport, but you have done well to have beaten everyone else."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." I bow to him, but that's difficult in a suit of armour.
"Next time you want to compete, do it as yourself rather than taking your brother's name."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
King Henry smiles. "You ready to go again, Mistress Smith-White?"
"Absolutely." I put my helmet back on and climb on my horse.

Everyone watches us during the next joust as we charge towards each other. Thankfully, King Henry does not throw me from my horse, even though his lance breaks against my shield, and mine doesn't break against his. It is a thrill to joust, and I cannot wait to do it again.

Jane and the others catch up with me after the joust. "That was too risky," Catalina says, and I notice Anne is not there. Where is she? "You could have been killed."
"I would have come back to life no matter what happens. Where's Anne?"
"Don't change the subject. You unnecessarily put your life at risk, and our secret with it."
"I apologise, Your Majesty. I should have thought about the consequences of my actions more."
"Indeed, you should have."
"But you fought so bravely," Jane says. "If you decide to joust again, you are more than welcome to wear my favours."
"Thank you, Jane."

I think I like Jane now, but I'm not entirely sure if it's love. Maybe I should ask my parents later and get to the bottom of my feelings.

Anne bursts into the room. "Where were you?" Maggie asks. "We missed you after the—"
"King Henry wants me to become his mistress! I had to refuse him."
"Wait, he wanted what?" Catalina asks.
"He wants me to become his mistress. I turned him down."
"Good for you."
"Good for Anne, maybe, but not good for you," I shoot at Catalina.
"What do you mean?" Anne asks.
"Don't you understand?" Everyone shakes their heads. "This is the beginning of the King's Great Matter. Catalina, he will ask for an annulment from you!"

Catalina gasps and puts her hand on her heart. "On what grounds?"
"That your marriage to your first husband, Prince Arthur, was consummated."
"But it never was! I went to His Majesty's bed a true maid!"
"I believe you, but that is not enough. King Henry will get what he wants, even if it takes years."

The group falls silent as we think about what is to come. Maybe I should've done more to help them prepare for what will happen, but there's nothing I can do now.