So, I read all your reviews, and I'm pleased u guys liked the first bit! Sorry if it was a bit short, but I'm still getting used to the whole writing thing.
Anne, I took your advice, and took a standard Mary Sue test, and the result was a balanced character- Since that was only the prologue, and was only around 900 words, Marina's character hasn't really had a chance to develop yet.

And, as for the eyes, I only meant that they were unusual, like these ones, . , and that they are tinted different colors in the sunlight. Anyway, I didn't model Marina on AnneB because Marina is absolutely nothing like her- I gave her exotic looks because I wanted her to have them.
Also, just wanted to say, that while Anne of York was Elizabeth of York's sister, and Marina's mom, making Marina Henry's first cousin, I will be ignoring this connection in the story!
Anyway- To the chapter!

Chapter One

1st January 1516

"The Earl and Countess of Tottenham!"
Marina felt rather giddy as her sister walked in on the arm of her husband. It was her turn next. She and Eleanor had arrived at court only last night, at around quarter past seven. They only had time to greet the queen and for Marina to be introduced before Catherine, who, despite being heavily pregnant, left with her ladies for the feast. Eleanor had gotten ready as quick as possible and followed them, along with her husband, Henry, as she wanted to meet all her friends, but Marina, being tired, and who was also not one for huge celebrations and feasts, had retired to her family's apartments, having had a bath, some dinner, and had hardly given her maids enough time to undress her, before she fell asleep.
Now, it was the first day of the new year. She had not gone to Queen Catherine that day, as she was ill, and only needed her closest ladies, and so, had spent the whole day exploring Whitehall. While it was the first day of the year 1516, it was also Marina's court debut.

She had dressed as simply as she could've at such an event, something her tiring woman, Dianne, and her maid servants, Claudine, Irene and Olivia, had not been pleased about. She wore a forest green gown, bringing out the green in her eyes, edged with pearls, and a pearl necklace, with droplet pearl earrings. She had some rosewater dabbed behind her ears, and was wearing lovely white silk dancing slippers. Pretty- but plain.

Marina knew she had to look all graceful and delicate and lady like, but she couldn't help feeling rather stupid in her fine lady like clothes. When she had been at home, she had spent her days in riding clothes, bolting through the forest on Thunder, her dark grey horse.

On the occasions that her father had hosted feasts or balls, she had ridden off somewhere. The only times that she had really had fun at balls was in France. When her mother had been around. Her mother had danced with King Louis- quite a lot, one could say, but then, her mother danced quite frequently with people she liked. She may not have been very young, only in her thirties or so, but she was a youthful spirit, always enjoying some fun. Her mother had been alive in France. And so had Marina herself. She had danced all over the place with the young, teenage gentlemen and noblemen of the court. All the ladies had presented her with dolls to dress, and the gentlemen with red roses which they had said matched the beauty of the little 'mademoiselle de file de England.' She had been treated very specially there, but then, she was the daughter of a Princess of York, which most were not.

She had hated it when her father had told her that it was time to return to England, and make obeisance to the new king, and that his time as ambassador was up. Her mother had been reluctant to leave too, but her father had insisted. Her siblings, were, for the most part, singing to the same tune as her father. Edward wanted to return- he had lived in England until he had been around ten or so, and missed it greatly. Eleanor was thrilled because a marriage to a great Earl was being organized for her, and Eliza had been told that another match would be made for her too. Thomas was indifferent- as long as he could take his mistress of two years, the fifteen year old orphan, Olivia de Hielly, with him, he would go. It had seemed to Marina, that only she and her mother were the ones who wanted to stay.

When they had returned to England, the skies had been as blue as blue could be, filled with big, white, puffy clouds, quite opposite to the grey skies above Versailles on the day they left. Her mother tried to cope. She tried to handle it, manage it. But she couldn't. And she withered away. And the flame that had burned for so long in her daughter's heart, flickered, and died.

Things had happened, Marina thought, before and after her mother's untimely passing, but, just as the rest of the family hated remembering her mother's death, Marina hated remembering those happenings. They had made her feel sad. And so, she had decided not to feel. She was just that awkward, strangely beautiful, opaque person. She wasn't witty, not to her knowledge at least, and while she could dance, and sing, and make conversation, and smile at people and laugh at their jokes, she felt that Eleanor could dance far more seductively, Eliza could sing far sweeter, and Thomas and Edward could make fine conversation if they wanted to. Even her father could pretend to find something funny if he wished. But when Marina danced, she stumbled.

When she sang, a lump seemed to form in her throat. When she chatted, she gave simple, mono syllabic answers. When she laughed, she always managed to turn it into a cough. And when she smiled, it never seemed to reach her exotic eyes. Everyone she met always received the impression that she was a most stuck up person, just because she was a Duke's daughter. She didn't like it. But she didn't want to feel. It just hurt too much.

"My lords! The Duke of Norfolk, and the Lady Marina Howard"
It's time, she thought, as she was pulled out of her thoughts, and entered the great hall on her father's arm. Everybody was chatting, while the musicians were playing. The king was standing in a corner of the room, with his friend Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk. The King noticed her father standing at the end beginning of the hall, about to make his way to Eleanor, when he beckoned him over.

"My lord Norfolk!" Said the King. "I had no idea that you were returning to court today!"
"I actually arrived late last night Your Majesty- my daughter Eleanor was with child, and she has just delivered of a healthy baby girl, her first, only a few weeks ago, and I came along with her to court." Said Norfolk, smiling to see the young king, who was around twenty years younger than himself, and who he had taken care of as a child.

The King's gaze turned to Marina.
"And who is this lovely lady you've brought with you my Lord?"
"Ah, Your Majesty, allow me to present my youngest daughter, Marina."
Marina stumbled forward, and dipped into a curtsy. She couldn't help but look up at the King, and to see what he looked like close up. She had heard tales about how he looked, how handsome he was, and had always assumed that it was idle flattery, but now she looked at him, she realized most of it had a ring of truth.

His hair was a dark, reddish brown, and his eyes were deep, soulful, but at the same time, wild, like those of an animal trying to break out of a cage.
"Lady Marina", he said, looking at her, studying her from top to bottom.
"Your Majesty", Marina said, lowering her gaze quickly.
"Have you enjoyed court so far?"
"Yes your majesty. I find it absolutely delightful." She replied promptly, but there was something rehearsed, flat toned, about her voice.

Henry looked confused, smiled, and then he looked at her again, gazing at her rather intently, as if there was just something about her, something that attracted him. Marina shuddered for a second, but quickly regained her composure. The King noticed, and changed his expression, turning it into a warm smile, but he couldn't get rid of that curious look in his eyes. Marina was confused- what was wrong with him?

Henry himself was confused. He could normally read a woman's face like the pages of a book, but this woman seemed closed up, different somehow.
"Walk with me, my lady"

Marina took his arm, and they walked off to an outer part of the banqueting house.

"How old are you, Lady Marina?" He asked
"I'm very nearly sixteen, Your Majesty." She said, blandly.

Henry noticed her tone of voice. Bored. Bland. Plain. He sighed, and they continued to make small talk. Then, they reached a bench in a corridor, and he motioned for her to sit.
"So, you've spent much of your life in France, I hear?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, we've been there since before I was born."

"How lovely! France is such a nice country."
"And where did you prefer being?" He inquired.
"To be honest, France. I may be English, but France was my home. I was born there, I grew up there, I lived there, and I loved it. And my mother, she loved it two", Said Marina, her eyes brightening, filling with love as she spoke of her mother.
"She- she died, two years, after we returned from France."
"And you think leaving France was the reason?" Henry asked, his eyes widening.
"Perhaps. Perhaps it was something else. Anyway, it's in the past now." She replied, the emotion disappearing from her eyes as quickly as it had appeared.
"Do you miss her, my Lady?" He asked.

"A great deal, Your Majesty."

"I see.. I lost my own mother when I was young. It affected me a great deal. Mothers are so very vital in life, especially in that of a woman. I suppose you cant manage very much without her. Then again, I couldn't either. But then, I'm a man, and as for us men, we-"

She cut him short, and stumbled to her feet. He looked up at her, and saw for a second, just a second, the devastated expression on her face. God, how could he have been so careless!
"I'm afraid I must go your Majesty. I am very tired, and I do not want to offend your Majesty by dozing off in the middle of something."

"But my lady, we were just talking and-"
"I am sure that we can finish our conversation some other time."
"I am sorry if I offended you in some way but-"

"If you'll excuse me."
"But lady Marina-" And she was gone.

Marina stalked out of the banqueting house, and ran to her room, ignoring the stares that a few courtiers, having noticed her walking off with the king, were giving her.
She shooed her maids out, all except Dianne, and fell back onto the bed. She sighed. How could men be so inconsiderate. Did her feelings really not matter to Henry, even though he was a complete stranger. Even though he was the king?

The Queen of England's Apartments

Catherine stared into the fire. She needed a son! She had to have one. So many stillbirths, so many dead children. She was an Infanta of Spain, but her relations could not secure her position as England's queen. She needed a son!

"His Majesty The King!" A Herald at the door called.
Catherine stood up, and sunk into a shallow curtsy.
"Please, sit Catherine." Her husband said, shortly.

She wondered why he seemed in such a stormy mood. She did not know, of course, of his conversation with Marina. After Marina had left, Henry had sat, dum and still, for a minute, staring after this mysteriously cold woman running away from him.

"Henry?" Catherine said, looking worried. "Is something wrong? I am sorry that I could not attend the feast today, for last night's festivities seemed to disturb the baby" her eyes turned desparate, seeing that he was getting annoyed even further, and tried to get his attention, her eyes big. "It wouldn't stop moving. At least we know it's healthy and-"

"Oh for god's sake! I don't care that it's moving! You've had five children Catherine! Or is it six? Or was it seven? I honestly don't know anymore, because they ALL DIED! And it's your BLOODY fault! You and your Spanish blood! I WANT, and NEED a SON! Forget a son, an HEIR! I need an HEIR! And you are OBVIOUSLY incapable of giving me one! If this child is not healthy, then I swear to god I'll-" He stopped short, for the first time looking at his wife's face. She had tears running down her cheeks, and her eyes were distraught and hurt. He realized only then, of the magnitude of what he had done.

He made a move forward, "Catherine..." But she put a hand up to stop him.
"Please- don't. This child- this boy, if it please Your Majesty, shall be healthy. And our son shall be born, alive and well, but that is all in God's hands, Your Majesty. As is our fate. And our capability. Your Majesty." She curtsied. Then she picked up her rosary from the mantle piece, and kissed it gently. She sat down on her armchair, facing the fire, and began to pray. Henry could hear her quiet, suppressed sobs. Henry backed out, and left.

He would've gone to her, but he knew that there was no point. Catherine was difficult like this a lot. It was just her way, he reassured himself. And his whole outburst wasn't really his fault- not really. It was down to that Lady Marina. He hadn't been able to hold his tongue, he admitted that to himself. But no woman, not even Catherine, had ever walked away from him like that. She was obviously going to hate him now. How could he have been so insensitive, babbling on about mothers like that. He sighed. She was obviously a defiant one.

But defiant or not, she intrigued him. There was just something about her. Something strange, something different. Something mysterious.

And Henry intended to find out exactly what it was. He was going to get to know a little more about Marina Howard. Though god knew, she wouldn't thank him for it.

Soooo…..

What did ya think?
Sorry if the chapter wasn't too long, they will get longer as I write more.

Catherine's a little OOC right now, (not too much, but ya know), mostly because of the baby. I'm not extremely sure what and who the baby's gonna b. I mean, I do want a Mary, but lets see. I'm gonna put up a poll for it. As for Elizabeth, I would love to have her, but lets cross that bridge when we come to it. Anyway, I hope u guys liked it, and I will b updating more in the future.

And PS, more reviews=more updates!

Kisses

-V