Music fills the hall but not loud enough, the laugher and talking over powering the music. The music, laughter, and talking come to a silent note as the king and queen are announced. The couriers quickly rise to their feet, curtsying and bowing as the English monarchs walk to their seats. Everyone looks to the king, Henry turn to the musicians and wave his hands. The music begins to play again as the king and queen sit down. The courtiers resume their talking and eating. Two boys come to each side of the monarchs, setting down a cup and pouring wine into them, and stepping back. Anne grabs the cup and takes a sip of wine; Henry sharply turns to her in impulse.
"How is our daughter, Elizabeth?"
She put the cup down and turns to the king, smiling.
"She is well and thriving your grace. Lady Bryan informs me that she is charming and clever much like her father."
Henry smiles at the compliment. "And no doubt is a great beauty like her mother."
"Thank you for allowing me to visit her, it gave me great joy to see her."
"Of course, Elizabeth should always remember the love we both bare for her. Maybe we can arrange for her to come to court."
Anne's smile grows wide at the thought. "That you make Elizabeth and I very happy."
Henry smile and turn away, taking his cup and drinking from it; his eyes laying elsewhere. Putting his cup down, he jumps out of his seat and leaves the table, and walks among the courtiers. Anne turns her attention away from the king and turns to the music. Watching the kings join the Seymour family, Thomas Boleyn finishes his wine and quickly walks to his daughter. Anne watches the courtiers dance, ignoring her father as he sits down beside her.
"Anne?" Boleyn addresses her.
"Father."
"What are the Seymours doing here at court?"
"I don't know, I assume that the king invited them."
The early look at his daughter, flabbergasted at her attitude to the rival family.
"How can you sit there and do nothing? These people are rumored to be in favor with the king and that the king has become smitten with the girl." Boleyn informs his daughter.
"I am aware."
"And yet you do nothing. You are willing to let the king put you aside."
Anne slowly turn and look at her father. Thomas Boleyn is taken back as the lack of life in his daughter's eyes.
"The king may do as he pleases. He is after all the king."
She look away from her father, not waiting to see his reaction. Boleyn shouts up from the chair and storms off without a word. Near the table and standing with a few men, Cromwell watches the queen. He is completely shocked as her behavior, especially towards her father and the Seymours' presence at court. Anne look around the room and stops at Cromwell, the king's secretary bow his head as the queen raises her glass to him.
*NLAQ*
Charles Brandon walks into the king's privy chamber, where Cromwell and Richard Rich stand. The two men bow to him as he walks to his seat near the king. King Henry walks into the room, the three men bow to the king as he sits down. The duke follows suit and then the men. Henry turns to Cromwell and Rich.
"Cromwell, Rish what have you found?"
Cromwell and Rich look at one another before answering the king. The secretary clears his throat and looks to the king.
"Mr. Rich and I question the queen ladies, and they have informed us that the queen has entertained certain men."
Henry shifts in his chair, anger fueling inside him.
"Who? Who are these men?!"
"The poet, Thomas Wyatt, Sir Henry Norris and the violinist, Mark Smeaton are the men. Her cousin also told us that she has seen Lord Rochford in the queen's bedchamber."
The king sits back and takes in the information. Charles looks at Cromwell in disbelief at the report.
"Are you insinuating that the queen and her brother are imitated?" Charles inquires.
"That is what the queen's lady, her cousin has told us."
"You mean that is what you wanted her to tell you. It is natural for the queen to turn to her brother, to suggest otherwise is outrageous."
"I am doing the job his majesty has asked me to do." Cromwell states in his politician voice.
"You-
"Enough!" The king yells.
The duke and Cromwell stop talking and look to the king. Henry leans forwards and places his elbows on the table and look at each of his men.
"I will not proceed until I have the facts. Question the men and any others that may be suspected." Henry commands them.
"Yes, your majesty."
"You are dismiss."
Cromwell and Richard Rich stand up and bow to the king. The door closes behind them; King Henry looks to the duke.
"I am surprise to see you defending Anne."
Charles sighs as he sits back and looks at his friend.
"Majesty knows my feelings towards the queen but what Cromwell is saying is unreal. Your grace should be cautious about this matter."
Henry nods his head, taking in the duke's words.
"I intend to be open minded about all on this matter but if the evidence is clear, then we will proceed from there."
Charles did not argue or protest but nod his head in agreement to the king.
*NLAQ*
Outside and away from the palace walls, Queen Anne walks the grounds arm in arm with Nan. The lady look at her friend and queen, the silence making her uneasy.
"My lady, I know it is not my place but have you thought about the king's affair?"
Anne smile but did not look at her friend and lady. She place a hand over Nan's and gave it a pat.
"I have thought a lot about it."
"And have you made a decision?" Nan inquires to the French king's offer.
"No, I still have some doubts about it all but then I think about what will happen."
Nan presses her lips together, the present situation worrying her a little more. They walk a good distance from the palace and courtiers' eyes and ears. Nan looks around the grounds and stop, her eyes resting on two figures. As the queen and lady draw closer and Nan soon learns that the French ambassador and another man writing are the two figures. The ambassador and his colleague straighten up as the queen and Nan approach them. Anne smile at the two as they knelt before her, with their heads bow in respect. She stretches out her hand and let them kiss the ring that belongs to the queens of England. Ambassador Mon Blanc smiles up as he gets to his feet.
"Your majesty."
"Your Excellency, you must forgive me for meeting like this but there is no other option. I also thought it would be nice for a walk in the gardens."
"I agree with your grace, the gardens are beautiful. But if we are to be honest, I prefer walking in the gardens in France."
Anne smiles at the ambassador, then nods her head to Nan.
"Ambassador, walk with me please."
"It would be honor, your grace." The ambassador comes forward and walks to her side.
Together they walk step by step, Nan and the other Frenchmen walk behind them, keeping a small distance from them.
"I assume your Excellency knows the content of the king's letter."
"Yes I do, your grace. My master wrote to me, asking that I assist your grace in whatever you may need."
"Thank you, your Excellency. I am grateful for your help."
The ambassador and the queen walk in silence. The ambassador waits patiently for the queen to speak on the matter. Anne looks around, her heart clenching at the horror of the situation she put herself in. Taking a deep breath, she prepares to ask the question that she knows the answer to.
"Excellency, I must ask you a question. It is a very dear and important to me."
"I will answer your grace's question to the best of my ability." The ambassador retorts to her.
The queen takes a moment before continuing.
"If I take your master's offer to leave England, I would have no choice but to leave my daughter, would I not?"
"I am afraid so, your grace. The princess may be your daughter but she is also the king's child. To take the princess would mean war and my master does not wish for that."
"Nor do I, monsieur. His majesty is already taking a great risk by helping me."
The queen stops walking and look around, finding herself exiting the gardens.
"I am sorry your grace, I know my answer is not what you wished for." The ambassador says with sorrow.
Anne stop and look to the ambassador, and gives him a small smile.
"Do not apologize for honesty, your Excellency. The truth is painful but it is the only honest thing in this world. Thank you ambassador for your help and your honesty, I will think over yours words."
Mon Blanc bows his head then formally bows to her. Anne smiles at the ambassador and nods her head. Without another word, Anne turns back to the gardens with Nan behind her.
*NLAQ*
One of the queen's ladies walk to the door and open it. The young girl quickly steps aside and drops to the floor as King Henry walks in. The senior lady, Elizabeth Ward greets the king with a deep curtsy.
"Majesty." Elizabeth greets the king.
"Lady Ward, I am here to see your mistress."
The lady bows her head and turns around, and leads the king to the queen. They stop at the entrance, the lady turn and steps aside. The king nods his head to her and walks into the bedchamber quietly. Henry stands quietly at the entrance of the bedchamber, watching Anne. His mind clouded with memories of love and happiness between him and his wife. Shaking away the thoughts, he walks up to Anne and calls out her name. Anne looks up her book and finds the king, her husband looking down at her.
"Your majesty." She addresses him as she closes her book.
"Anne, I thought I come here myself to tell you that our marriage is over. I have ask Cromwell to draw up the necessary documents, and Archbishop Crammer will hold a council that will rule in my favor."
"May I know on what grounds, your majesty?" Anne questions.
"Our marriage is based on a sin. We married in sin when I was still married to Katherine. I married you with the belief that you were virtuous and honorable woman, but you are not who claim to be. Due to all this, our marriage is invalid and God will not bless a sinful marriage nor bless us with a son." Henry informs her with no emotion.
Anne says nothing, nodding her head to every word of the king as if she is agreeing with him.
"Am I to believe our marriage is ending the same way yours and Katherine's marriages ended, because it is based on your conscious?"
"You lied to me!" Henry shouts at her, the flames of the fire reflecting on his eyes.
"I did not lie to you. Everything that you know about me is from my father and uncle. You believe what you wanted to and now that I cannot give you a son, this is your way out." Anne replies hotly.
"You promised me a son and you have only given me a daughter!"
"So like Katherine, you will put me aside to marry another. And from what I have seen, it is Mistress Seymour, you want to marry now. And you believe that she will give you your son."
"This isn't about Jane!" Henry proclaims. "You promise me and instead, you have given me miscarriages. I have one living daughter from you, as I do Katherine. She was not capable of bearing sons and neither are you! You have put me under a spell and I should have stayed away as others had warned me."
"So am I to be call a witch now?' Anne looks at Henry, waiting for him to answer her question.
"It is over Anne and that is final. After all the trouble that I have gone through for you was not worth it. I understand that now."
"No one made you do anything, Henry. When I refuse to be your mistress, you did whatever you needed to do for me to become yours." Anne reminds him.
"How dare you speak to me like that! I am the king of England!" Henry yells.
"I know you are. So if you wish to marry Jane Seymour then do so. I know that I will face the same fate as Katherine but even now, I wish I had listened to her. Your affection will always waiver." Anne says confidently, not back down to Henry's attacks.
Henry storms off without another word; Anne remains on her feet and quickly turns around. The king stops and turns around, glaring at her with his face red with anger. Anne turns back to the king.
"You have dug your own grace and you will be bury in it!"
He storms out of the bedchamber and out of her rooms, the door hanging open. Nan runs into the bedchamber and to Anne, quickly grabbing the queen's hand. Anne gives her a hand a squeeze and looks Nan in the eyes.
"Nan."
"Majesty." Nan whispers.
Chateau of Foutainebleau, Paris, France
Philip, dauphin of France walks into the father's privy chambers. King Francis turns around at the door closing and finds his eldest son standing by the table. The dauphin bows to his father, the king moving away from the window. He offers a seat to his son and both of them sit down. A boy comes forward and places a glass in front of them, and pours wine into their glasses. Philip watches the boy leave and looks at his father.
"I don't mean to be rude but you look like hell." Philip observes his father's appearance.
"Thank you Philip."
"Have you rested at all?" The dauphin inquires.
The king runs a hand over his face and sits back in his chair.
"I have gotten a few hours but I am otherwise plague with matters."
"Does this have anything to with Mon Blanc in England?"
Francis looks at his son, Philip raise an eyebrow to him as he drinks from his glass.
"How much do you know?" Francis questions his son.
"I know enough to know that Mon Blanc is not only in England for peace. So what what is the other reason for his visit?"
"I have heard disturbing reports concerning the queen."
"Anne Boleyn?"
He nods silently to his son.
"What do these reports say?"
"They state the queen may be in danger, after suffering a miscarriage." Francis states.
"She knew the becoming queen would not be easy, you warned her of the position when she came to visit with the king." Philip reminds his father of the English visit and his words to the lady.
"I did but I did not foresee the danger she would be in."
"What danger could she be in?"
"Philip, Anne married a king who is easily changed. Henry's desire for a son will drive him to great lengths to get a son. Now that Anne has miscarried, Henry will put her aside as he did Katherine." Francis forces the horrible truth out of him.
Philip looks to his father in the moment of silence. Taking in all the information but still missing something.
"Despite all you have told me, I do not see how she can be in danger."
"Henry does not know Anne's true character, like you and I do. Her father and uncle have altered her character for the English court and to please Henry. If he has learned Anne's true character, it will not end well for her. Now that Cromwell has the king's ear, he will do whatever it takes to please Henry." The king reminds his son.
"Do you mean he intends to injure her in some way?"
"I am afraid so. Anne is stubborn and she will not give up so easily, and that will be her death."
"King Henry would not send an innocent woman to death?"
Francis shifts in his seat and look at his son in the eye.
"If Anne is sentence to death, it is not because she is guilty but it is Cromwell and Henry's doing."
*NLAQ*
The carriage came to a sudden halt, a man comes running and opening the door to the carriage. The French ambassador climbs out first and turns back to the carriage, his hand stretches out. Grabbing his hand, the first passenger stands up inside and climbs out. The queen of England steps forward and looks at the ship. Behind her, Nan climbs out of the carriage and comes to Anne's side. Mon Blanc closes the carriage door and watches it take off. He turns around and walks to the two women. Anne turns her head and looks to the ambassador.
"Majesty, we must hurry and get you and your lady on board."
She nods her head and follows the ambassador up the wooden plank and onto the ship. Once on board, Mon Blanc turns to look at the queen.
"This is where I take my leave, madam. A trusted man of the king's will meet you when you arrive in France, in a port city that is far from Calais."
"Thank you, your Excellency."
"May God watch and protect you, your grace, as he has spared you from death."
Mon Blanc steps away from the two women. Anne smiles briefly before turning around and calling to the ambassador. He stops and turns around, as she walks to him and hands him a thick letter.
"Please send this to Hatfield for me, Excellency."
"I will your grace."
The ambassador bows one last time down the plank. Anne steps back and watches the plank being pull in. Nan comes to the queen's side and took hold of her arm.
"My lady?'
"You should say goodbye, Nan. It will be a long time before either of us will see England again." Anne confesses quietly at their new reality.
*NLAQ*
Charles Brandon walks quickly through the presence chamber and into the queen's privy chambers. He comes to a sudden stop at the sight of the destruction of the chambers. The duke begins to walk around the ruin, with the hope of finding a clue: Master Cromwell walks into the room and suddenly stops at the wreckage. The duke turns around in time to see Cromwell's reaction. The secretary looks up at the duke, his composure regain.
"Has your grace been able to find what took place?" Cromwell asks.
"It seems Cromwell that someone has come and ransacks the queen's chambers." Charles points out.
"And what of the queen?"
Brandon walk through the wreckage and enter the bedchamber. Like the room before, the bedrooms is in ruins. The tapestries and bedding shredded to pieces, chairs broken and thrown around the room. With no sign of the queen, the duke walks back to the parlor.
"There is no sign of the queen; her bedchamber is similar to this room."
"If the queen is not here, can we assume that she has been taken." Cromwell states, the duke turns to look at him in disbelief.
"Do you wish to tell the king your theory on the queen's whereabouts? To speculate on the queen's life and anger the king."
"I do not wish to anger the king nor wish harm to the queen, but we must face the fact your grace."
Before Charles could say anything, King Henry walks into the queen's chambers. Both the duke and the secretary bow to him, Henry looks to Charles.
"What happen here?"
"That is what his grace and I are trying to learn but we have been unsuccessful." Cromwell confesses to the king.
"What of the queen?" Henry asks about his wife.
"I am sorry your majesty, but there is no sign of the queen."
Henry remains silent as he looks around the ruin room. Taking a deep breath, the king looks at Cromwell.
"I want this room clean up!" Henry commands.
"Yes, your majesty."
"And Cromwell, use every resource to find the queen and who is responsible!"
Cromwell bows to the king in response. Henry looks to Charles and motions for him to join him. Charles walks through the wreckage and joins the king's side, walking out of the queen's rooms.
"Charles, tell me, what do you believe happen?" Henry asks his friend quietly.
"I cannot say but it is clear that someone took the queen by force, and destroyed her rooms in the process."
"And there is no evidence to indicate who is behind the queen's kidnapping?"
"No, my lord, the queen was not very popular and it will be difficult to find the person responsible." Charles promises the king.
The king sighs, the whole situation difficult with no easy out. He stop and face the duke.
"I want you to find her, Charles. When you do, I want her in the tower."
"Yes your majesty."
The Countess of Salisbury walks down the halls of Hatfield Palace, and into the chambers of Lady Mary. She walks into the parlor and curtsied to the young girl. Mary looks up and smiles, closing her bible as she stands up.
"Margaret?"
"There is a letter for you." Margaret states quietly. "It is from Queen Anne."
Hesitant, Marry takes the letter from her governess. She looks at her name then looks up at the countess.
"Do you know what it says?"
"No I did not and I know why you are cautious, but remember what she has done for you." Margaret reminds her.
"I know."
The countess curtsied and walks away, leaving the room. Mary turns the letter and breaks the seal, opening the letter slowly. As she open up the last fold, a small trinket falls on her lap. Mary picks it up, and her eyes grow wide at what the ring is. The gold ring belonging to the Queens of England, the ring belonging to her mother, Queen Katherine. She looks down at the letter and begins to read Anne's letter.
Princess Mary,
I hope this letter finds you well and that your situation is better and comfortable than before. I do not write with hope that we may be friends because a chance for peace has pass. It is unlikely that gossip has reached Hatfield and I am thankful to God. But if word shall reach you then I pray you shield Elizabeth from it, I do not wish for her to hear it. So I plead to you, Mary, to watch Elizabeth it something were to befall me. Elizabeth has no one in this world but you, please protect her.
Anne Boleyn
