So here is the second chapter of Her Majesty The Marquess of Pembroke, I did not want to post this chapter until I had finished the new chapter of An act of fate, as I knew a lot of people were worried that I would abandon one of my original stories to make way for one of the new ones and I ensure you that will not happen. I love all my stories equally and have an equal interest in all of them.

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported this story the amount of support it received made me so very happy. A huge special thank you to all those who reviewed, or placed myself or the story on their favourites or alerts list it really did mean the world to me.

As always I own nothing. Please enjoy and review.

Chapter two:

22nd of May 1536

Pembroke Castle, Wales

Pembroke Castle was not nearly as beautiful or as grand as the residences she had come to know in her time as Queen, nor even when she was Henry's mistress. Nor did it bring with it the comforts of Hever, the familiarity of her childhood home. Yet still Anne found it be beautiful, it had become hers the moment she had been created the Marques of Pembroke, yet in all the years since she had never laid eyes upon it. She had not had a reason to, until now.

It was a nice enough castle, it was honey-stoned, stout and square, sitting just beside the River Cleddau, It would do. For Anne and her children (Royal bastards now) it would do.

Nan and Madge where the only of her ladies permitted to stay in her service, she thanked Henry for that small mercy, she didn't thank him for any others. Nan had journeyed with her, while Madge had been in charge of collecting her possessions, the Queen's jewels of course would remain behind, but everything else, everything else was hers. And she wouldn't allow Henry to take one more thing away from her.

There were few people waiting for them when they arrived, Anne knew she would trust none of them, they were all no doubt sent by her husband..the King she corrected herself, no matter how much it pained her to think so she could not think of Henry as her husband any longer, it would only pain her to do so. Still she was glad he had at least sent her some people, she would need them to help keep the castle in an immaculate state, if there was one thing Anne could not stand it was a messy home. She would not be the owner of an unkempt house.

She was glad that he sent no jailors to watch her every move, to dictate what she could and could not do, no doubt he had not wanted to waste much thought or expenses upon her, she should be glad of that she knew, the further away she was from his thoughts the safer she and her children would be.

" Nan," Anne said taking her most favoured ladies arm into her own, as they walked towards the entrance of the castle. Anne did her best to ignore the hesitant bows that were being directed at her, just a month before they would have all been on bended knee showing her with praise, " Tell me what news is there from court? Is it true that mistress Seymour was sent from court?"

" Yes madam," Nan responded gently, and Anne could just tell that she mulling over what words were best to say, " She was sent away just before your arrest my Lady, though she returned just two days ago by Royal barge."

" Has the betrothal been announced?" Anne questioned, her eyes watching her feet as they moved.

" It was announced that same day, they are to be married by the 30th of this month," Anne could tell just by the tone of her companions voice, that she was just as displeased about the turn of events as Anne herself was, yet like Anne she also knew it to be prudent to watch what they said.

" Thirteen," Anne murmured to herself, her face unreadable.

" Thirteen, My lady?" Nan questioned

" Thirteen days, when they are married it will be thirteen days since my marriage to the King was declared null and void, it seems like an incredibly short amount of time." Anne explained, her voice low. How quickly Henry changed his mind, perhaps Jane Seymour too would not survive his wrath, Anne could not help but wonder what lies the King would come up with in order to be rid of Jane if she did not give him the son he so craved.

Nan made no response to her musings, and Anne was glad for it. She did not want to be given an opportunity to say something that would hinder her chance of raising her children. They could never be taken from her.

30th of May

Whitehall Abbey, London

Her wedding dress had been designed before her betrothal to the King had even been announced. Henry had informed both her family and herself of his desire to take her as his wife, before the harlot had even been arrested. When she had questioned her brothers over that bit of information, they had told her not to worry about it, for it was the Kings business.

Yet still Jane could not help but worry, she may have been sent to Wolf Hall for the proceedings, but news still spread. Despite Jane's hatred for Anne Boleyn, she couldn't help but feel slightly sympathetic towards her situation. Jane knew without a doubt that Anne, while guilty of a great many things had not been guilty of the crimes she had been accused of. Jane had been one of Anne's ladies, she had observed her movements, while the woman could occasionally be a flirt, she was no adulterer, yet she had been condemned to die as one. Jane would never have expressed her feelings out loud of course, she was to be the King's wife, the Queen of England, she could not express such thoughts out loud. It could not be said that she disagreed with the King's wishes.

She had thought all was lost for her when the Ladies pregnancy was announced, she had thought it even more so, when Henry had released Anne, despite the woman being found guilty of the crimes she was accused of. Yet her father and brother had told her not to worry, the King was simply being merciful she should be grateful of

Such things.

Jane knew that things would have been much easier for her had Anne died on the scaffold as she was meant to. There would be no one who could dispute her marriage to Henry, if both Queen Katherine and Anne were dead. Yet still Jane had no doubt that the people of England would grow to love her, especially if she reconciled the Princess Mary with his majesty, and of course bore his long awaited for heir.

Jane's style of fashion had always been much like her personality modest and meek, she had never been one for extravagant jewels nor stylish dresses. She was a true English beauty; she did not think she needed the rest of it. Yet today, on the day of her marriage things were much different. She was to be the Queen of England, the wife of the King, as such she had no more need for simple dresses and limited jewels.

Her hair was styled neatly in a simple bun, a long lace veil sitting upon her head. She wore a crown, despite the fact that she had yet to be proclaimed Queen, it was heavy upon her head, but Jane did her best to hold her head straight despite the weight of it. Her gown was of course white in colour, with gold thread adoring the bodice, skirt and sleeves in an elaborate pattern. Her sleeves were fit tightly around her arms, and she wore a matching set of pearl earrings and a large pearl necklace. She just hoped the King was pleased by her appearance.

Jane walked down the aisle before Henry. It was unusual in a way but it didn't bother her much, Henry was the King, it was him the attention should be focused on. They didn't have that large on an attendance, Henry had not wanted the wedding to be a public affair, he claimed it was because he wanted it to be intimate but Jane thought it was because he was still not quite in the good graces of the common people, no doubt he didn't want to parade his new marriage when there was still grumblings about the dissolvent of his last one.

She heard him enter the room; his footsteps were loud yet she made no move to turn and look at him that would not be proper of her. She had to always remain submissive and obedient in his eyes. She did not chance a glance at him until he was standing beside her, and when she did it was for the briefest of moments, before she took his hand in her own, muttered out a 'Your Majesty," and gave a slight curtsey.

When she looked at him she noticed that she was dressed just as grandly as she was, if not more so, and his outfit she thought (also white and pale gold in colour), almost matched her own. They would look a perfect royal couple.

" We are come here together before God and these witnesses to join in Holy matrimony Henry VIII, King and England and France, defender of the faith, Supreme Head of the Church of England, and the Lady Jane Seymour," Archbishop Crammer, said in a booming voice, " And if there be any among you who may imagine some impediments as to why they should not be married, let them speak out, or forever hold their tongue."

Jane knew that no objections would come, her family and Henry's most loyal supporters where the only ones present, in the circumstances Jane knew there had been little other option. Yet that did not matter, Anne Boleyn would soon be forgotten, far away in the countryside where she could do no harm, and Jane would be the Queen, and like good Queen Katherine before her, she would be a Queen of the people's hearts.

1st of June 1536

Hudson House, Hertfordshire

It had been three years since Mary Tudor, The Princess of Wales, and the only true and legitimate child of the King of England and her sainted mother Queen Katherine had worn any other colour than black. Yet when she had heard that Anne Boleyn, had been arrested and sentenced to die, she had thought it a good reason to wear a gown of colour for surely her mother to would be in a sea of colours.

Yet now when looking at the swainish ambassador in front of her, Mary found that she once again wanted to be dressed in black.

" So the Harlot continues to live?" Mary all but spat out, she could not believe the woman had managed to worm her way out of the charges against her, and find herself pregnant once again. She must have been a witch of that Mary was sure.

" I am afraid so Your Highness, as you know a pregnant woman cannot be executed, and your father it seems had decided to be merciful." Chapyus responded evenly, neglecting to mention the fact that King Henry had only spared the woman (who Chapyus believed despite her many faults was not guilty of the crimes she was charged with), because of the great pressure that had been placed upon him by the commoners.

Mary just nodded solemnly to the ambassador's words; it was more mercy than her mother had even been shown. Elizabeth at least was allowed to reside with her mother, and they had not been housed in some dank desolate castle, with little money to care for themselves. Anne Boleyn had been found guilty to treason yet still her father was inclined to treat her kindly. The only sin Mary's mother had ever committed was to be unable to produce a living son, she had loved her father until her death yet still it was her who had been treated like a common whore. There was one positive at least, Anne Boleyn may have been alive but she was no longer Queen, Mary's hopes to being restored to her fathers good graces were not completely lost.

" Tell me about this other Lady, that my father has married, this Jane Seymour? I have been told in confidence that she is of our faith, and that the King loves her. "

" And that she means to restore your grace to the succession." Chapyus added quickly.

" And Elizabeth will become a bastard now? As I have been a Bastard?"

" Yes Princess. The Brat is now officially a bastard."

2nd of June 1536

Pembroke Castle Wales

She was dressed simply, in a light and flowing white gown, the day was hot and she had not wanted to be uncomfortable, especially not in her condition.

Anne had found it difficult to decide what to wear everything she owned reminded her of him. She did not own a piece of clothing or a jewel that he had not laid eyes upon, many of the things she had in her pocesion had been gifts from him. Even the gown she was currently in she had worn during their courtship; She had thought it made her look like a young maid, a virgin, the very thing he had wanted, yet now she wore it for the comfort more than anything else, the feeling of freedom the loose material left over her growing belly, it was not a Queen's gown, but then she was no longer a Queen. As much as she tried to block her mind the dress still bought back memories and they pained her so. Anne knew however that she would have to get over such things quickly; she no longer had the funds to accommodate her lavish tastes. Her allowance as the Marques of Pembroke remained, yet it was not the riches she had grown used to as a Queen, or even still when she had been Henry's mistress, for she hadn't needed to worry about money then. Now however she had a household to manage, a daughter to accommodate and servants to pay, she could no longer afford to be so vain. She was lucky that during her years she had collected a vast number of clothing and jewels, she was luckier still that despite three pregnancies (before the one she was currently enduring) that her figure had not much changed.

Elizabeth was to arrive any minute now, Anne had been sent a letter two days prior to be informed that 'the Lady Elizabeth,' would be arriving on the 2nd of June and that she should make preparations to prepare for her stay. The letter had been written in Cromwell's hand and signed by him as well, Anne had thought it an insulting letter as if she, a woman of an impeccable upbringing, would not know how to accommodate for her own daughters needs.

Elizabeth's carriage arrived without much fanfare or announcement, in the eyes of the law the girl was a bastard now and as such Henry no doubt thought she had no need of such things. It had been just over a month since she had laid eyes on her daughter, yet still Anne thought she had grown. Her hair still sitting just above her shoulders was arranged prettily enough, it was the gown that shocked Anne the most, or rather that hurt her the most. Her daughter was wearing the beautiful yellow dress that she had worn the day Anne had thought herself to be on the edge of a golden world. She had been pregnant with the King's son, Katherine was dead and Jane Seymour was not yet in the picture, the image of Elizabeth in the gown only served to remind Anne of how wrong she had been. Anne supposed that unlike herself, Elizabeth did not have a vast collection of clothes, she was only three, and while Anne had always made sure that her daughter was dressed a befitting her station, Anne more than anyone knew how expensive it was to keep a such a young child in clothing that fit her, Elizabeth would no doubt grow out of all of her things, in a few months times, and Anne would have to find the money to buy her new outfits. She still had time to think of such things however, although Anne was certain of one thing, she would not beg, and she would not give Henry any reason to remember her or their children's existence.

" My Lady," Elizabeth said curtsying prettily once she had exited her carriage and was standing before her mother. No doubt Lady Bryan had instructed the girl that she should no longer address her mother as Your Majesty or Your Grace, Anne could not help but wonder if her daughter wondered upon the reasoning or thought it even strange, Anne hoped that her young daughter didn't dwell on such things, but knowing her daughter, who was brighter than her years, Anne doubted it very much.

" Oh Elizabeth, My own heart," Anne sighed bending down to her daughters level with outstretched arms, Elizabeth did not even hesitate to run into them. For the first time in what felt an age, Anne felt something other than empty inside; she still had something to live for after all.

" Is this to be our new home, Mama? Lady Bryan said I was come to live with you." Elizabeth questioned, her eyes wide and confused as she gazed upon Pembroke Castle. It was a much larger place than Hatefiled.

" Yes Elizabeth, it shall be our home for just the two of us." Anne said smiling softly as she rubbed a hand through Elizabeth's red locks. She would be forever grateful for her daughter's hair, the whole world knew she was Henry's daughter because of it.

" What about Lady Bryan?" Elizabeth questioned, she had been distressed to learn that her Lady mistress would not be accompyning her on her journey to Pembroke, it was just another thing that had changed.

Anne tried not to feel hurt by her daughters need of her former governess, she had no doubt that in time Elizabeth would come to enjoy the fact that it was just the two of them.

" What about Papa?" Elizabeth added her voice even more curious; it was odd for her to not see her parents together.

Elizabeth's second question hurt more than her first, but Anne could not blame her daughter for it. She was young and inquisitive such changes would not go unnoticed to her, but Anne did not have it within herself to explain what had occurred just yet. She needed time; time to deal with the situation herself, before she properly explained it to her daughter.

" Just us Elizabeth, would you not like that?" Anne questioned, trying to make her voice sound coaxing and calm. She stood up from her kneeling position on the ground and took Elizabeth by the hand, leading them into their new abode.

Elizabeth nodded her head with a smile, before frowning slightly and whispering to her mother, " Why is it Mama, that yesterday I was my Lady Princess, yet today I am but My Lady Elizabeth?"

Anne looked at her daughter in some level of shock before schooling her expression and taking a deep breath, " We will speak of such things later Elizabeth." She did not want the servants about when she spoke to her daughter about such matters, she needed to explain such things in her own way, and without worrying about prying ears eager to take her daughter from her.

Elizabeth looked at her mother with some disappointment, yet Anne made sure it did not last long, " I have news for you Elizabeth, you are going to have a little sibling soon."

Elizabeth looked at her mother with glee, before glancing uncertainly at her mothers stomach, it was not the first time she had been told such news, " I will pray for a brother Mama."

" No Elizabeth, we shall just pray for a living child, that is all that matters. "

June 20th

Sawley, Lancashire

The sight of Sawley Abby burning to the ground could be seen for miles away, the smoke rose high in the sky and the smell of ash was all but overcoming. Robert Aske, however did not just see the smoke, in his position he has saw the whole thing occur, and to him it was nothing less than a great tragedy to see his parish burning to the ground. He had of course heard of the destruction of the monasteries but to actually see it happen to his own was another thing entirely.

Most had thought that when the king divorced Anne Boleyn (however unjust it may have been) and married Jane Seymour (a good catholic woman by all accounts) that the raids on religious houses would end, and that England would return to Rome, yet now it seemed that all of them had been placing the blame on the wrong persons shoulders.

" Look what they've done John, "Robert exclaimed his voice betraying him, and his emotions more than evident. It was not often that he become angry, yet now he could find no other emotion, which fit the feelings that were all but cursing through his veins. He could not understand how the King had allowed such evils to happen, and by his own order no less. "Just look."

" It is all Cromwell's doing," John Constable stated from beside him, the blame had quickly moved from Anne Boleyn's shoulders to Cromwell's, " Cromwell and that sect of heretics in London, that bastard. "

Robert could do nothing but nod his head at the words that had been spoken, yet a small part of him could not help but wonder if they were once again placing the blame on the wrong persons shoulders. Was it not the King, who made the decisions? Was it not Henry who decided what did and did not occur in the realm? He would of course not dare to speak such words out loud, it was one thing to speak ill of the King's ministers it was another entirely to speak ill of the King himself.

" I tell you now Mister Aske, "John continued his voice growing angrier and more determined with every word, " people, they're no longer willing to stand by, and watch their faith, and everything that they care for, be stripped away. I heard just yesterday, that two of Cromwell's commissioners were attacked in Lincolnshire. And here in Yorkshire, and a man of the commons stood up in his own church and said go away to follow the crosses. For what they've taken from us, we can follow them no more."

The people of England had accepted a lot from their King, they had forgiven him for much and bended to his will as was called for, yet this it seemed they could not forgive, for it had all been done without just cause. For corrupt religious houses to be abolished was one thing, for their wealth to be stripped away and placed in the King's treasurer, for good and just houses to be destroyed only for the benefit of the King and his council well those were things that the people of England could just not stand for.

"What am I supposed to do, John?" Robert asked, not truly knowing why John was bringing this all to him, he was but a legal man; there was nothing of importance about him, not for a cause such as this anyway.

"The commons here, in Lincolnshire, everywhere. They're prepared to fight, to save what they love," John replied and Robert just knew where he was going and what he was getting at, "But they need captains, they need clever, educated man to lead them."

"I'm no leader, John," Robert exclaimed, to be asked to be a part of a rebellion was one thing, to be asked to lead such a thing, well Robert did not know how comfortable he was with such a notion.

"Don't decide now, " John responded evenly, "We'll call a meeting, then decide... For the love of God,"

For the love of God.

A/N: So there was the second chapter I hope you all enjoyed it and I ask that you all review and let me know your thoughts. Thanks again.