I DO NOT OWN THE TUDORS. SHOUTOUT TO QUEENMARYOFENGLAND FOR THEIR AID IN THIS LITERARY ENDEAVOUR.

Whitehall Palace. July 11, 1540.

The news that the King was seeking an annulment from his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, barely after sixths months of marriage to said woman had taken its grip at court and speculation as to who was at fault for the failure of the marriage was on every courtiers' lips. However, while the Catholic faction at court rejoiced at this news inside his chambers Ethan was still sulking about the news. He had grown to have a platonic affection for the Queen who, in her short reign as Henry's consort, had been nothing but kind to him.

"It's just not fair dude, she's a good person and Henry gave her the shaft...metaphorically speaking," Ethan said as the brothers were resting in their chambers.

"There's nothing that we can do Ethan," Anthony stated. "We need concentrate on taking care of ourselves, not some German divorcee."

"But Anthony...surly we could put in a good word with Henry the Douchebag!" Ethan exclaimed.

"No, we could not," Anthony replied. "We can't cash in favors that we don't yet have! At any rate, at this point in history the King has already turned into a tyrant. You've read the books on him; you know what would happen if we got on the wrong side of him. Look at what happened to Thomas More, Elizabeth Barton and John Fisher, all put to death for opposing the King's first divorce!"

"I know that!" Ethan exclaimed. "But that was about the Great Matter. Katherine of Aragon refused to back down and had failed to provide a son in over twenty years of marriage, Anne of Cleves has been compliant so far and has only had sixth months of marriage. That's not even the time it would take to complete a pregnancy had the King got her with child at the start of the marriage!"

"Ethan can't you see that it doesn't matter why the King is seeking divorce, all that matters is that he is." Anthony stated. "Anne has no chance of getting pregnant because, as the King is so fond of saying, he was unable to consummate the marriage. If Anne were to stand in his way, if we were to stand in his way do you honestly believe he would be kind to us? I don't!"

"But bro..."

"Stop, do yourself a favor and leave these things to my good judgement. Besides, if you truly value Anne as a friend you would let her leave this marriage with her dignity still intact."

"Dignity still intact? Henry is about to publicly announce to all the world that she was so repulsive that he could not bear the thought of touching her. What about that is dignified?" Ethan said with his voice getting lounder by the word. No person would want to come near her after that.

"The fact that she will be able to live in splendour as the King's beloved sister. Remember, Anne of Cleves lives the longest out of Henry's wives and definitely had the best life in comparison to the others who died in childbirth, were executed, or left to be forgotten. Anyway, as a wealthy woman she would have no need of a husband and would be fully independent. So, tell me, how is that not dignified? Good judgement, remember?" Anthony said, almost as if he knew Ethan's thought process.

"Oh yeah, like your good judgement was playing kids games with Catherine Howard!" Ethan exclaimed, earning a look from his older brother.

"How did you hear that?" Anthony asked. They had been alone. Either Ethan was spying on them or someone else was and Anthony did not care for that one bit.

"It doesn't matter," Ethan insisted. "The point is that these meetings with Catherine need to stop. She's a slut who'll spread her legs for any man she comes across."

"And you're slut shaming now?" Anthony chided. "Real classy."

"As long as it keeps my head attached to my neck," Ethan shrugged. Anthony was about to remark when a knock was heard at the door and Lord Edward Seymour walked in.

"Your Graces, you are summoned to appear before his majesty, the King." Seymour reported as the brothers followed him out. Ethan was nervous because with a King like Henry VIII, he didn't know what to expect. Anthony, on the other hand, kept up his poker face. The two of them followed Seymour into the presence chamber of the King. Ethan was expecting the worse, that Henry had somehow found out about Anthony's interest in Catherine Howard or that Ethan was a supporter of Queen Anne and that he was displeased with the two. However, when the brothers saw him face to face they were met with a pleased expression from the King rather than disappointment which they both took to be a good sign.

"Ah, your graces," he said as Anthony and Ethan bowed to him.

"Your Majesty wished to see us?" Ethan inquired.

"Yes," Henry stated. "After discussing it with my privy council, we have realized that France and the Holy Roman Empire still pose a threat to the realm and now that my marriage to Lady Anne of Cleves has been annulled, we can no longer rely on the Protestant League. Therefore, I have decided to accept your King's offer of an alliance!" Ethan was stunned. Anthony had somehow pulled it off. Henry fell for his bullshit; hook, line, and sinker. Honestly, it remarkable that a monarch as paranoid as Henry was willing to accept them so quickly. Perhaps it was the same kind of magic that brought them here that made the King inclined to favour them.

"Your majesty, this is happy news indeed!" Anthony exclaimed. "We will send a letter to his Majesty King Pritzker at once."

"Thank you Lord Springfield," Henry said as the two Dukes excused themselves from the room.

"Holy shit, can you believe this dude?" Anthony asked once they were out of earshot.

"I'm used to you pulling miracles out of your ass," Ethan admitted.

Hever Castle. July 14, 1540.

"It is so kind for you to visit me, your Grace," Anne of Cleves said as one of her servants poured wine for the Duke of Chicago. Once she had settled in, the King's beloved sister had invited the younger Barker brother to visit with her.

"No, thank you milady," Ethan replied. "I needed some space from my brother."

"Vhy?" Anne asked with a puzzled look on her face. "Are you quarreling ?"

"Sort of," Ethan admitted. "To be honest milady, my brother has always had a nasty habit of thinking with the wrong head, if you get my meaning." The former Queen was silent before a moment before letting out a small chuckle.

"Men his age often do, nein?"

"I suppose milady," Chicago replied. "It just gets sort of old watching women throw themselves at him. I haven't been so lucky that way." Anne nodded as she sipped her tea. Her eyes suddenly widened and she looked at Ethan with interest.

"Tell me your Grace," she said gently. "Have you seen Henry's eldest daughter: the Princess Mary?" Ethan was confused, what did Mary Tudor have to do with Anthony not being able to keep his dick in his pants? The only things that he knew about Mary Tudor was that she was the daughter of Katherine of Aragon and that she earned the nickname Bloody Mary by burning a shit ton of Lutherans at the stake.

"I have not met her personally, but I heard that she Is...a remarkable woman," Ethan replied carefully.

"Ja, she is indeed," Anne of Cleves agreed. "She is very kind and most intelligent and beautiful. I believe that you vould like her a great deal." Suddenly, the light bulb went on. Anne of Cleves was trying to set him up with Bloody Mary. Now that he thought about it, on the train ride to Windsor Castle, Anthony had told Ethan something about Anne of Cleves playing match maker to Princess Mary with a Duke from Bavaria, But that Henry had rejected the match once his own German marriage fell apart.

"Well, if she has won the favor of such an amazing woman as you, I'm sure I would," Ethan replied. He knew that Anne of Cleves had a good heart and she was doing this with only the best of intentions, but Ethan had been on blind dates before and each one had been a massive shit show.

"I vas vondering, would you perhaps care to meet Lady Mary, if I could arrange it?" Ethan wasn't sure what to expect from a woman who was called Bloody Mary, but he had never really had much luck with the ladies on his own. Maybe he could give blind dating a try.

"If you want, I would be open to making her acquaintance," Ethan relented as Anne looked pleased with herself. Ethan knew that he was playing with fire; but hey, if Anthony wanted to make friends at court...maybe he should as well.

ANNE OF CLEVES IS BACK TO PLAYING MATCH MAKER. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.