Even before 1529 begins, we agree to prepare ourselves for what the year will bring. "Blackfriars will be a critical point in the King's Great Matter. Historians will analyse what you say, Catalina. As such, you must memorise what you want to say."
"I already know what I want to say. So, I need to explain that my marriage to Arthur was not consummated and that my marriage to King Henry is valid."
"Exactly," I agree. "Also, appeal to his conscience and that you want the case tried in Rome."
"I can do that."
"You will speak second after King Henry. He will appeal to the Court that your marriage is invalid and that his lawyers looked at it extensively."
"Who are his lawyers?"
"They are all Anne's supporters."
"More like they're supporters of me wanting the crown," Anne mumbles.
"Anne, you are not in London during the trial."
"I am not?" Anne stands up. "Why not?"
"King Henry does not want Cardinal Campeggio thinking he wants an annulment because of you. That is why you are at Hever Castle during that time."
"What about our relationship?" Catalina asks.
"We have that covered," Maggie says. "I already talked with Rocky, Emma, Jane, Joan, Maria, and Bessie. We are all happy to carry letters between the two of you. Bessie is already living near Hever, so we could rest there, and she can take the letter the rest of the way."
"That is a great idea, and it means Bessie will feel closer to us. I should write to her and thank her for her cooperation."
Catalina heads to her desk and dips her quill in the pot of ink, and begins writing. The scratch of the quill on paper is the only sound in her room for a while. We all stand in silence as Catalina writes, allowing her to pick her words carefully and know what she wants to write. She finishes writing and lets the ink dry. "Who will be happy to go and visit Bessie?" She asks.
"We can go," Mum says, "if you and Emma can spare us?"
"I certainly can," Catalina says. "Emma?"
"It is only for a few days. I'll catch you both up on everything you miss."
"Thanks." Mum and Mummy take the letter and begin preparing for their departure.
Anne also starts preparing to leave Court. "I guess if my parents want me to make the King more interested, they will want me back at Hever so he will write more letters."
"Oh, yes, the letters! I forgot about the King's letters."
"You were so concerned about our relationship that you forgot about Anne's and the King's!" Catalina laughs. "That sounds like you."
"Indeed, it does. Anne, King Henry writes a series of letters to you. Do you have all of them?"
"Yes, I keep them safe."
"Someone steals them before the trial and delivers them to Rome. Make sure they go to one of Catalina's supporters, so they get to Rome."
"I want to get rid of them, so I may as well do it in a way that will keep history on track."
That afternoon, Court seems a lot quieter. Jane, Maggie, Maria, Joan, and I are the only ones sitting near the Queen. "Emma?" Maggie asks. "Bessie said you showed the Titanic musical to her."
"I did, yes. Why do you ask?"
"Can I see it?"
"You want to watch something tragic at a time like this?"
"Bessie said it was beautiful. Can we please watch it?"
"Oh, all right. Ask the others if they want to see it. Whether they do or not, we can arrange something. But don't ask Jane or the Queen. It will directly impact their future."
"They're on the Titanic as well as you?"
"Yes, and as far as I know, they don't know anything about it before the disaster. I want to keep it that way."
"You want to not tell them deliberately?"
"Yes. Imagine how devastating that will be. Also, don't tell Anne either."
"Is she also going to be on that ship?"
"Yeah."
"I should have realised. All right, I won't ask the Queen, Anne, or Jane."
"Thank you."
Maria, Maggie, Joan, and I meet up late that night, and I have my computer on the lowest brightness setting I have. I also play the video quietly, and we gather around my computer to listen. "Bessie was right," Maggie says when I pause it after The Launching. "It is beautiful."
"I think that is enough for tonight. We don't want to use electronics too much in the dark as it can damage our eyesight, and we don't want that." We all head back to bed, and I walk them to the maiden's chamber to ensure they get to bed. Once they reach there, I head to my own room. It seems strange now that Mum and Mummy are gone. I walk over to the window and out at the dark sky. How long do I have to wait until I can finally be myself? The court is so stifling, and I feel like I'm swimming in a stormy ocean. There's only a certain amount of time I can keep my head above water. How long will that be?
No, do not think like that. I must keep going. If I don't, who else can the others rely on? If I give up now, history will change. I don't want to do that; I want to get to at least the early twentieth century. By then, I should be safe to make a few changes here and there. It's so close to when I'm born that it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
The following morning, most of us are tired when Catalina calls another meeting. Anne is packing, so she does not join us. Jane, however, is there with us. "I heard you sneaking back in late last night," she says. "What were you doing?"
"Emma told me not to tell you," Maggie says, "she said it's critical you don't know."
"How is it critical?" Catalina asks.
"It is an event you, Anne, Jane, Anna, and Kitty are part of, but you don't know about it until after it happens."
"Do you do that deliberately?"
"Yes. At least, I think so."
"Well, I guess we should not ask too much about it."
We turn our attention back to Blackfriars. "Who represents me when I leave the Court?" Catalina asks.
"A man called Bishop Fisher. He is rather open about how he views the trial and continues to fight for you even after King Henry marries Anne."
"I wonder how he would react if he knew Anne and I were in a relationship." Catalina laughs and stops. "Actually, I do not need to wonder. He will react the same as everyone else."
"Exactly. That is why we must keep our relationships secret. It will only reflect badly on us now, even though historians in the future will look at it positively later."
Catalina nods. "What happens to him?"
"I don't know. I never researched him, so I have not found out."
We continue talking about Blackfriars for a while. "Cardinal Campeggio reveals at the end of the trial that the case can only be tried in Rome and commands you and the King to go there. That sets off the King breaking from Rome and creating the Church of England. Anyone who defies his authority as the head of the church is executed."
"Executed?" Jane breathes. "Well, we better be careful."
"Yes, we must remain on the good side of the King. But Catalina, you do not bow down to the King, claiming that as a foreigner in his country, he cannot execute you. And you would be right, but he makes your situation worse."
"What about Mary?"
"When Anne's daughter, Elizabeth, is born, Mary is sent there as a servant."
"What?"
"On orders of the King, not on Anne's orders."
"I know it would not be on Anne's orders. She'd never order something like that."
"Things get worse for Mary after you and Anne die. She's forced to sign two documents. One states that your marriage to Henry was invalid and that she's illegitimate, and the other that she accepts the King as the head of the Church in England. She does it so she can survive and does not do it to defy you. I think King Henry threatens to execute her if she didn't comply."
"That is awful," Catalina says. "I guess as Anne and I are dead, there is nothing we can do to improve her situation."
"There is nothing any of us can do to help her, but we could get letters between the two of you as King Henry stops you two from contacting each other."
"You would do that for me?" Catalina has tears in her eyes, and her voice is close to breaking.
"You are our friend," Maria says, "it is the least we can do for you."
"Thank you."
We know what is at stake, and we must make sure history goes the way it should. Catalina sits at her desk and begins writing a letter to Anne while the rest of us head to different parts of the room to do our own thing.