I decided to write a different ending for this chapter. So I hope you enjoy the ending!
May 1536
Anne looks out the window, admiring the beautiful landscape outside the chateau one last time. Behind her, Lady Nan Seville slowly walks towards the former queen and stops a short distance from her.
"My lady." Nan addresses her friend and mistress.
Ann turns from the window and looks at her friend.
"The carriage is ready and waiting." The lady-in-waiting informs her.
The former queen nods and walks away from the window. Nan reaches towards the bed and reaches for the traveling coat. Anne stops and turns around as Nan helps her into the coat. She turns around and watches her friend pull her coat, and buttons it up. Nan finishes and looks up at Anne and smiles. Anne smiles in return.
"Are you ready, my lady?" The lady whispers.
"Yes I am." Anne answers quietly. "Now we better go. We don't want to be late."
Nan nods to the statement and steps aside for the English woman to pass. Anne smiles and walks pass her friend, and out of her temporary room. Nan follows her out of the room and down the hall, and down the staircase. At the foot of the staircase, the Countess of Chateaubriant waits for her friend. Anne smiles at her friend as she climbs the last stop, and face each other.
"I have plans to write to the king and beg him to let him you remain here." Francoise tells Anne.
"You will do no such thing." Anne replies kindly. "There is no need."
Francoise nods her head reluctantly and sighs in defeat.
"Very well then." The Frenchwoman concedes. "Now come, the carriage is waiting."
The former queen nods in agreement and together walk down the foyer. They step into the warm sunlight and is greet by the Countess' husband. Anne smiles briefly at the governor and turns back to her friend.
"I am grateful to my friend. For all the you've done." The former queen tells her kindly. "I am forever in your debt."
"No, you are not." Francoise responds, taking her friend's hand. "I am happy to see you alive and safe."
Ann squeezes her friend's hand for comfort then releases her hand. Francoise quickly wraps her arms around the Englishwoman, who returns the gesture and shares the hug. After a few moments, the governor steps forward and places a hand on the Countess' shoulder.
"Francoise." The governor whispers to his wife. "We should not delay Anne's journey."
The Countess nods and pulls away from her friend. Anne smiles once more at Francoise as she wipes away a tear, and looks to the governor.
"Thank you, Jean." Anne tells the governor. "I know that this was not your decision to harbor a fugitive, but I am still grateful for your kindness."
"Out of my own free will, I protected an innocent woman." The governor responds to her thanks. "I protected my friend."
The former queen breaks into a wide smile and bows her head to the governor.
"My lady, we cannot delay any longer." Nan informs her mistress.
Anne briefly glances at her lady and nods her head, then turns back to her friends. Francoise smiles and inclines her head towards the carriage. Smiling, the Englishwoman bows her head one more time and turns to the carriage. The footman opens the carriage door as Anne approaches and helps her in. Nan climbs in after Anne and settles down across the former queen. Francoise walks up to the carriage as Anne pokes her head out.
"I will see you soon, my dear." Anne tells her friend.
"I know." Francoise replies with a smile.
The Countess steps back as the carriage begins to move. The governor comes to his wife's side as the horses pull the carriage and leave the courtyard.
"She is under the king's protection now." The governor states as he watches the last of the carriage.
"But will she be safe?" The Countess questions her husband's statement.
Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond stands in front of his family and looks down at fresh grave. He barely hears the words and prayers of the priest over his wife's grieving cries. Boleyn looks up at the final amen and nods to the priest in silent gratitude. The holy man bows and quietly walks away from the grieving family. The earl turns to his son.
"Take them inside." He commands quietly.
George Boleyn nods and turns to his mother and wife, and whispers to his wife. He watches the two women walk away from them, and catches a young man walking towards them.
"Father." George calls out to his father.
The earl turns and spots the man speaking with the Countess and lady.
"Go to your mother now." The earl commands again, this time more harshly.
The young lord nods and walks away from his father and towards his mother. Boleyn watches the man walk pass his son and heading towards him. He turns back down to the newly buried grave. The visitor quietly approaches the earl and stands beside the man. The visitor bows his head and whispers a prayer.
"What are you doing here, Percy?" Thomas harshly questions.
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland finishes his prayer and looks up.
"I have come to pay my respects." The young earl answers as he crosses himself. "Anne was my friend and my once future bride."
Boleyn takes a deep breath and faces the young man.
"I would have never given my permission to marry you." Boleyn replies. "She was never meant for you."
Percy turns and faces the earl.
"I warned Anne about the dangers of court." Percy replies formally. "I did not think to warn her that you would play a part in her death."
Boleyn takes a step closer.
"I did not kill Anne." Boleyn hisses in defense.
"No, her uncle and your daughter-in-law did that." The young earl states. "You may not have killed her, but you had a hand in her fall long ago."
Henry Percy steps back and walk away without another word. Thomas Boleyn spins around and watches the young man leave.
TB
Lady Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire and Ormond looks up to see her husband enter the dining hall in anger.
"What is wrong, husband?" She asks without feeling or real concern.
"Who was that man, father?" George asks.
The earl pours himself a glass of wine and takes a drink.
"That man is Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland." The earl answers his son's question, ignoring his wife as he pours more wine into his cup.
"What did he want?" His son asks again.
"To pay his respects." The earl answers the second question. "And to blame me for Anne's death."
No one said a word but remain silent. Thomas slams his cup down on the table.
"Why would he say that?" George continues with his questions.
"Because he is right."
The family turns to the owner of the voice. Jane nee Parker looks at her father-in-law with some pathetic courage.
"What did you say?" The Earl questions the frighten lady.
"The earl is right." She states with a little confidence now. "Anne is dead because of you."
Thomas bangs on the table again, causing everyone to jump in their seats. He turns and looks straight at his daughter-in-law.
"You killed Anne!" He yells at her. " You and your lies killed her! And for what? You gained nothing from your actions!"
The earl straightens up, as Jane shrinks in her seat.
"You will not return to court." Thomas tells her. "You will reject the any offers of position from that woman, do you understand me? This is your punishment for betraying your family!"
Boleyn walks out of the dining hall without another word to anyone. The Countess stands up after her husband and looks to her crying daughter-in-law.
"Stop crying, dear Jane. Your tears will not help you now." The countess tells her. "You have no one to blame but yourself."
Jane looks up and watches the Countess leave, with George following right behind.
Anne Boleyn opens her eyes and slowly turns her head towards the carriage window. She watches the green fields of the French countryside pass, as the horses pull the carriage down a dirt road. She looks away and glances at her friend, who sleeps soundly and peacefully. Sighing, the Englishwoman shifts in her seat and pulls the cover up a bit more over her legs. She closes her eyes again and starts to pray quietly, holding onto her rosary underneath the cover. Before her, Nan wakes up and looks at her friend and traveling companion. She watches the former queen as she prays to herself, confused at the sudden change of heart of the woman before. She turns away from the praying woman and looks out the window. The horses turn and pull the carriage onto another dirt road. Anne opens her eyes and finds her friend looking out the window. She smiles at her friend as Nan turns to look at the former queen.
"Did you sleep well?" Anne asks.
"I am rested, I thought we would have arrived at our destination." Nan answers the question.
"We should be close." The former queen responds. "I remember that there is a turn on the road that leads to the chateau."
Nan nods her head and glances once more outside the window.
"May I ask a question?" The lady in waiting presses.
"Nan, you don't need permission." The woman answers with a reassuring smile.
"I think it was unwise for his majesty to ask you to move." The Englishwoman begins. "It is very dangerous to be so close to French court. We cannot trust anyone until we are sure that you are safe."
Anne smiles a little wider at her friend's concern.
"I understand your concern, Nan but I trust the king." Anne responds confidently. "I know you must think I am not in my right mind since we left England, or think how can I trust another king but I can."
"My lady, what sign has his majesty given us that he will not abandon us when the moment serves him?" Nan questions again.
"I do not think that the king will abandon us." The former monarch replies. "Henry Tudor has offended and anger many of his allies and friends, especially King Francis. I do not think that my friend would ally himself with a king, whose mind is constantly changing."
Nan nods her head, unconvinced that the French king would leave them at this most vulnerable time. Outside, the horses pull around and come to a stop. The two women look out the window and find the steward of the château and the king's secretary standing side by side. A young footman walks up to the carriage and opens the door, and extending his arm inside the carriage. Anne pulls back the cover and takes the young man's hand, and slowly climbs out of the carriage. Her feet touch the ground and she releases the man's hand as she steps away from the carriage. The two men bow at her, the secretary smiles at her.
"Your grace, welcome to Chateau Rambouillet." The Frenchman greets her.
"Thank you, master secretary." Anne responds kindly and with a smile.
"His majesty, the king sends his regards and prays that you will forgive him for not greeting you himself." The secretary informs her.
"There is no need to forgive his majesty of anything." The former queen replies.
The secretary nods his head and looks pass the Englishwoman, and sees Nan climbing out of the trailer. He turns back to the downtrodden queen.
"Everything has been prepared for your stay." He informs the woman. "His majesty made sure that everything was done for you comfort and safety. He will pay your grace a visit soon."
Anne nods and the steward turns, and leads the two women into the chateau.
Anne stands up at the sound of keys juggling and the door unlocking. The heavy wooden door slowly opens and the jailor, Master Kingston walks in and bows his head to her.
"Is it time, Master Kingston?" The imprisoned queen quietly asks.
"I'm afraid so, your majesty." The jailor sorrowfully responds.
The monarch nods and turns to one of her attendants. One of the girls step forward with the queen's robe, and carefully places the robe on the queen's shoulders. Another young girl steps forward and clasps the robe together. The girls step back into their original position behind the English queen.
"I am ready, Master Kingston." Anne tells the jailor.
The jailor nods his head once more and walks out of the room. The queen and her attendants follow him out of the prison cell. Anne keeps her head down as she walks down the halls of the Tower, and passes pleading prisoners. The gates open and the small group leave the Tower and enter the courtyard. Anne stops for a moment, taken back by the large crowd gathered. She quickly recollects herself and follows Master Kingston. The crowd parts like the Red Sea as she draws near them. A few reach out and briefly touch her, and whisper "God Bless You". She pushes through and approaches the scaffold. Anne picks up the front of her skirt and climbs the stairs. She turns to look at the crowd and freezes. Her eyes glued to the young child at the center.
"Elizabeth!" The queen whispers loudly. "What are you doing here?"
"She is here at my command." A familiar voice answers her question.
Anne turns to the voice and finds Henry Tudor, King of England standing on the wall above her.
"I want her to learn a lesson." The king informs her. "She will learn that her mother's whorish actions must be punished."
The king nods his head at the guards, who return the gesture and walk to the queen. They grab her arms without warning and force her to her knees. The executioner steps forward. Anne lifts up her head as best she can and looks straight at her daughter.
"Elizabeth, darling, look away." She tells the young girl. "Please look-
Anne bolts up in a sitting position, panting in fear and drenched in sweat. She looks around the room and slowly her breathing returns to normal. Letting out a sigh of relief, Anne climbs out of bed and walks to the end of it. She grabs her robe and puts it on, as she walks towards the fire. She sits down in the chair in front of the small fire, and looks down at her hands. In them and wrapped around her fingers is a simple, wooden rosary with the wooden cross at the center of her palm. She closes her hand and forms a fist and closes her eyes. Anne begins to whisper a prayer, a prayer for her one and beloved daughter.
Nan walks down the stairs and stops at the last step as a young pageboy runs into the chateau. The boy spots her and runs to her, stopping in front of her.
"What is it?" She questions the young boy.
"The dauphin has just arrived, my lady." The young boy answers the question. "He is here to see the queen."
Nan takes a moment, her heart pounding at the news of the royal's arrival.
"Very well, go and inform her grace of the dauphin." She tells him. "I will greet the dauphin myself."
He quickly bows and runs up the stairs passed her. Taking a deep breath, Nan steps down and walks across the foyer. She walks into the sunlight and finds the dauphin dismounted from his horse. He turns and smiles at the English lady.
"Nan!" He shouts her name in joy.
"Your grace." She replies with a curtsy.
The young royal hands the reins of his horse to a stable boy and faces the lady.
"I know I have come unannounced, but I wanted to see her to calm my father's worries." Philip informs her.
Nan doesn't move nor respond but looks down at the ground. Philip looks at her and senses something is wrong.
"Nan, what is wrong?" He questions her with great concern.
She slowly raises her head and looks at the young royal.
"Nothing is wrong, your grace." She answers the question. "Please come inside, her grace should be downstairs now."
Nan turns around and walks back inside, the dauphin following. The English lady is taken back at the sight of Anne standing in the foyer of the chateau. Anne smiles at her friend, who bows her head and walks pass her and stands behind the queen. Philip walks and smiles at seeing the former English monarch. She stretches out her arms as he draws closer and takes both her hands.
"Your grace." She greets him with a smile.
"Your majesty." He responds and brings both her hands to his lips. "I apologize for the unannounced visit, but I wish to see how you fare in your new surroundings."
"I am doing well, my lord." Anne replies with honesty. "I am grateful to his majesty for allowing me to stay here, I am most comfortable now."
"The king will be pleased to know." Philip tells her with a smile.
"Now come, you must be hungry and I have asked for food be set up." She tells him.
"I am starving, thank you, your grace." The young royal replies.
Anne turns and walks down the hall. Philip turns to Nan with a raised eyebrow but she does nothing, but follow the queen.
AB
"How long has she been like this?" Philip asks with concern. "And please do not lie."
Nan sighs in defeat.
"It has nearly been a fortnight." Nan answers the question. "Every morning after she eats, she goes to the chapel then returns. She remains silent throughout the day, she reads most of the time but she does not bother anyone."
"Do you how this can to be?" He asks another question.
"No, I cannot tell you the reason because she has yet to tell me." She answers the second question. "Nor would I ask her."
Philip nods silently and looks down as they move through the garden. He looks back up again as Nan speaks again.
"I know I have no right to say this, but your grace should not tell the king about her majesty's behavior." Nan tells with hesitation. "I know his majesty wishes to know how she is faring but if he learns about her behavior, he leave court quickly and draw attention to himself and her grace."
"I understand your concern but you know I cannot do what you ask of me." Philip replies.
"Why not?" She asks a question of her own.
"Because my father wishes to know the truth." The dauphin answers the question. "I cannot return to him and lie, he will see through it and he will rush here either way. I must tell him the truth."
Nan looks away at the answer. It was not what she wanted to hear, she hoped for a different outcome. Instead, she decides to confess something that she may later be punished for.
"I think that her silent behavior has to do with her daughter." She confesses without hesitation.
Philip looks at her, alert.
"Why do you say this?" He questions her again.
"Because, she grows quiet when there is mention of her daughter." Nan informs him. "I know your ambassador did not tell you, but she was willing to die rather than leave in the cover darkness while her child remained in England. She did not feel it right that a mother should leave her child in any circumstance."
"I did not know this." The dauphin tells her sadly. "If there was any way, my father would have found a way to rescue the child."
"That could not be done, my lord." Nan responds. "The child was heavily guarded. Nor could her grace take her away from her father. Leaving the princess behind broke her heart more than anything, more than King Henry's betrayal."
His blood boils at the sound of the English king, his anger rising at the monarch's actions.
"I cannot promise you that we will find a way to bring the child here." Philip starts. "But I will see what my-
"No." The English lady interrupts him harshly. "The queen would not want his majesty to take such a risk."
"Why not? The child has been declared a bastard." Philip informs her, causing her to stop briefly before continuing. "King Henry has announced that she is no child of his, no matter the resemblance."
"It does not matter what King Henry says." She states. "Taking the child is dangerous, no matter her status. The queen would not wish for the king to take such a risk as this, especially if it will lead to war between England and France."
"Then what shall we do to help heal the queen's heart?" Philip asks.
"I do not know, my lord and that is what I fear the most." Nan answers his question. "If she cannot recover, then we may have lost her forever."
Philip walks into his father's private chambers and finds the French king sitting at the table, overlooking documents. King Francis looks up and smiles as his son closes the door and walks further into the room. The king closes the ledger and sits back in his chair.
"You are back early." The king comments at his son's return.
Philip nods silently causing the king to become alert and sit up in his chair.
"What is it?" The king questions with worry. "Philip what is it? Is it Anne?"
"Anne is well father, or so she tells me." The dauphin informs him.
"What do you mean 'so she tells me'"? Is she not well?" The king questions again.
Philip reaches inside his coat and pulls out a sealed letter, and hands it to his father. The king takes it and looks at his son with some curiosity.
"What is this?" Francis questions once more.
"It is a letter from Nan." Philip answers.
Francis nods and opens the letter, and begins to read.
Your gracious and merciful majesty,
I write with care and love for out mutual and dear friend, but with worry as well. For some time now, her grace has not been herself. She does not tell what the cause of this is nor is it my place to ask. I can only think of one thing that can have caused this silent behavior in my beloved friend and mistress, and that is her aching heart for her child. I do not write to your majesty in plea that you bring the child here. No, that cannot be done nor would she wish for it. But your majesty, her heart must be mended and her smile brought back to us. I fear she is fading fast and that I may lose her to her heartache. Please, my lord, help her and bring her back to us before God calls her.
Your faithful and obedient servant,
Anne Seville
The king looks up at his son in disbelief, his own heart breaking at the news of his dearest friend's condition.
"Is this true?" He asks with dread of the answer.
"I am afraid so, father." Philip answers his father's question truthfully. "She puts an act for me and the world, but she cannot hide it."
The king violently stands up and walks over to the window, unable to cope with news.
"Father, what will we do?" Philip asks helplessly.
Francis looks out the window for a moment then turns to his son.
"I will ride to her today." He informs his son. "I do not care for the gossip. I will not allow Anne to fall to heartbreak."
"Yes father." The dauphin responds.
"I will bring her back." Francis pledges confidently. "I promise you."
Philip watches his father walk out of the room, without another word or a look back.
KF
Nan walks out of the chateau as the king arrives and jumps off his horse. She quickly curtsies to him as he stops in front of her.
"Where is she, Nan?" The king gets to the point.
"In the garden, your grace." She answers.
He nods and walks towards the gardens, and leaves Nan behind. He quietly walks through the small maze of hedges, as he tries to walk in a regular pace than running. The king slows down as he draws closer to the opening and stops as the former monarch comes into his sight. He watches her for a moment, taking in the sight of her. Taking a deep breath, Francis slowly walks towards the silent English lady. He stops before her and looks down at her.
"Anne." He whispers her name, loud enough for her.
Anne looks up and gives her friend a small smile, but cannot hold for long before a tear escapes and falls down her cheek. Francis quickly sits down next to her as Anne starts to cry, and he wraps his arms around her.
"All will be well, my dear." Francis whispers to her.
He places a hand on her head as she buries her face into his chest, unable to stop the tears from falling.
