AN: Sorry it is a day late but here it is! So I should mention some things will be from the show, other not. Like in history Anne's mother didn't die until 1538 but the show alludes to her already being dead. So I will go with the show on that. You will see a different side of Anne, my Anne. She is still ruthless and ambitious but still is a woman and I hope I show that. Sorry if you think it is OCC. And any mistakes are mine and mine along. Plus I don't own the show Tudors.
Chapter two: For I lay my head down to sleep…
Later that night
Henry's POVHenry Tudor barely glanced at Dr. Lincare as he left his rooms. Looking to his bedside table in disgust, the king's mood became even more sullen. The potions that the doctor left looked, and he was sure, tasted just as foul. There were three, for pain and a sleep aid. Henry quickly grabbed them one at a time and downed each of them. Fighting the wave of nausea he picked up the blue ribbon that Jane gave him. I had her initials in a slightly darker blue, embroidered onto the favor, which was unusual. Why did she do that? Ribbons weren't usually embroidered like a ladies handkerchief. Did Jane know he was going to ask for her favor? Did she think she needed to remind him whose favor it was?
Henry had to think but now that he was, he could think of several times (or almost always) that Jane would be somewhere he least expected. It always lifted his mood but why was she there? Didn't she have lady-in-waiting duties to do? And how did she know where he was? Edward Seymour's smug face came to him from earlier. Was Jane only doing what her family wanted her to do? Henry had to stop his line of thinking; it hurt his heart to think his sweet Jane only wanted his crown, not his love.
With the help of the potions, in no time the King of England was sleeping. However several hours later he was awoken by the sound of a lady giggling. Annoyed he sat up, looking for the page that should have been in his room.
"Boy!" he grumbled. No answer, Henry angrily got out of his massive bed and started towards his door, promising to have the boy whipped when he was found. The King followed the sound of giggling. He could also hear dainty footsteps and see occasional flashes of blue. He was so focused on find the woman he didn't even notice that he leg wasn't in any pain…
Finally he came to the Throne room. It was beautifully lit with candle and his Lady Jane was sitting on the Queens Throne. She had a sultry smile on her face that sent a shock of pleasure to his loins. Jane motioned for Henry to come closer, giggling as a she waggled a finger. When he reached her, she pulled him close and kissed him. Henry was in love at this moment and never wanted it to end. He had never kissed Jane, at least in this way, and was enjoying it very much. After several minutes he moved his hand up her blue bodice, towards her breast, caressing gently as he did.
"No, no, no, no," someone cried behind Henry and Jane. Turning he saw his wife's heart break, it was clear on her face. She had crumpled onto the floor, her silver-white gown cascading around her in a halo of sorts. Anne was clutching her round stomach, her very pregnant stomach. Suddenly blood seeped through her gown, running the halo affect that the dress had. If possible Anne cried harder, the sound she was making was inhuman and hurt to hear. Her movements were frantic as if she was trying to stop the blood.
"My baby!" She sobbed. "My boy! You lost me my boy!" She was suddenly an angry lioness wanting to kill her prey. Henry started to move towards his wife in shock.
"Anne, I didn't—it's not like that!" he whispered, not able to speak louder in grief. Did he really just kill his son? The room suddenly started to spin, the colors of the room a blur. Jane and Anne's faces mixed together causing Henry to become confused, not sure who he was staring at anymore.
"Henry." The room stopped. Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk was in front of him now and all of the Seymour's were behind him, smiling at Henry. The Duke was also smiling pleasantly at his king, ignoring Queen Anne on the floor, thirty feet from everyone, her pure gown now covered in blood. "Henry," Charles repeated. "You dropped this." He held out a blue ribbon to Henry. Out of habit Henry opened his hand and grabbed it. It was of course the favor that Lady Jane had given him the day before, down to the JS that was embroidered on it.
"But my son, and Anne…" Henry started weakly before Charles shook his head. "Leave it to me." He replied. Feeling sick, Henry turned to Anne only to find Jane smiling sweetly at him. Looking for Anne, he could only saw Edward and Thomas Seymour, Charles and Mary his daughter, all were standing around him.
"Don't worry, Father." Mary said. "Jane is a shining example of a woman. Much better than her. Accept the favor and I shall sign the oath and accept all you require." Mary smiled sweetly, her dimples showing. However, Henry was furious. How dare these people, especially his daughter tell him who should be his queen! With that thought he awoke, drenched in sweat, the pain back in full.
"Your Majesty?" His page, John, asked fully awake and at the ready with his sword. Henry waved him off. The boy seemed to fall asleep easily again, while the King of England did not go back to sleep that night.
Anne's POVQueen Anne was at a bit of a loss. Ignoring the dancing and music in her rooms and around her, she kept her focus on Jane Seymour. What about her held the attention of her husband? She couldn't read, and barely signed her own name. Couldn't speak French, which was the court language. Did not know anything of fashion, politics, nor religion. At least the Dowager Princess of Wales knew all of the about and had beauty (in her prime) on her side. But Jane had none of those. She was the exact opposite of Anne. Maybe that is why Henry fancied himself in love with the dim-witted woman. Where Anne was passionate and fiery, Jane was sweet and demure. Anne also knew that Henry wasn't sleeping with Jane, the girl was pulling the same tricks that Anne had with Henry knowing it would work because anything that Henry couldn't have made him have it more.
Anne at one time was able to get Henry's attention away from his mistress but two things had changed. One: she had not given him a son yet and two: he wasn't sleeping with her yet and therefore had no chance to get tired of her.
Anne knew she was carrying a son. It was a different pregnancy than with Elizabeth and she just knew. And while Anne hated the idea of Henry sleeping with other woman it would be the only way that she would be safe until she gave birth to a son. With Jane acting the innocent it only hurt Anne's position. Maybe she could tell Henry that it was okay? Maybe start acting like Katherine? For all that happened between her and the late woman, Anne had to admit that she respect how Katherine handled herself with situations like the one Anne found herself in. Maybe that is how she should handle it now? Make it seem like it didn't bother her? It would only have to be while she was with child, because she could not risk the life of the child. After she gave England a prince she could demand whatever she wanted again.
"Out!" Anne suddenly said. The musicians stopped playing and several people bowed out of the room, leaving their queen. She was tired and needed to rest to look her best. "Lady Seymour, help me undress." Anne demanded, loving the look of fear of that crossed the girls face. She watched her stand and curtsy, following Anne to her bedchambers. Lady Jane started to unlace her gown.
"I know what you are trying to do, Lady Jane." Anne said frostily. She felt Jane pause then start again. "It will not work. You will be only to hold him off for so long. Then he will demand you pay up with your body. While I carry his son he will not leave me. You will not become queen. The sooner you give in to him the better it will be. In fact, I bet you would even be allowed to leave my services. After all, a mistress needs to be available anytime the King wants." Anne could feel the girls fingers shake as she removed the gown from Anne's body. "I want a bath," Anne said impulsively. "And I would like Lady Jane to help. Nan, can you please get me a light snack for afterwards?" Nan nodded and left the room; Madge and Lady Jane Boleyn were left, preparing her nightgown and a hot pan for the bed.
After an hour of Jane bathing and brushing her hair, Anne finally dismissed the girl. She could tell that Jane was in near tears the last few minutes of her duties. Feeling like Anne had gotten her message across she was able to fall asleep with in minutes.
"Anne. Anne my love wake." Anne woke herself up and blearily looked around. To her right was a woman with slight frown marks and dark hair. Her gown was light and airy and she was smiling fondly at her Anne.
"Mother!" Anne gasped. Tears came to her eyes. "Am I dead? Why are you here?" Elizabeth Boleyn néeHoward smiled gently at her daughter.
"Because, my love, you need help. Someone has decided to intervene and help you. You must listen if you want to live and change the history of England." Elizabeth suddenly became very stern. "Anne, you must change your ways. You need to not work yourself up so with the thoughts of Henry with other women. You must not let yourself get caught up with parties and gambling. You must remember that you are always watched. That people will make rumors and whisper into the king's ear. You must make an effort to befriend those that you do not want, especially while you are in such a precarious situation. Anne, listen to me in this and you shall be safe."
Anne was still frozen in shock, scrambling to get her thoughts in order. "Mother, who sent you? Who is trying to help me? Isn't this just a dream?"
"No, dear it is more than a dream. You are older now; you aren't the fresh young girl that caught the king's eye. You are a mother and a wife now. You must act like it for it is what the king wants right now. When you give him what he wants, he will come back to you. Perhaps even before if you turn a blind eye. Do not try to make him jealous with dancing and flirting with other men. Husbands do not like it and kings even more so. If you do it will fuel his hate and rage and the rumors of your enemies." Her eyes turned kinder and she gently touched Anne's cheek. Anne pressed herself into her mothers touch, not having had it for close to fifteen years now. " I am so sorry my love that I was not here for you to tell you the ways of love and marriage. But this is the way life is for woman and you must endure for it is not your life at stake only, but your sons and others."
Anne didn't know what to say, tears were quickly falling and she made no motion to remove them. "You could not help it mother. I am sorry I have acted so shameful. I didn't not mean to bring you disgrace. But how will I entice the king back to me if I am not who I was before?" Anne was scared of what her mother was saying. How could everything get so out of hand that her life was in such turmoil? Was Henry really wanting to kill her, just to get rid of her and marrying Jane?
"You will still be yourself, you will find ways to make him remember why he loves you. Because he still does but you must always remember that holding a king affection is tricky and even if he strays you are still his queen. Look at Henry's grandmother, Elizabeth. Her husband, Edward was deeply devoted to her, yet he sired dozens of bastards across England. She even took in his bastards with grace because she remembered whom Edward came home to. And their several children over their marriage, shows you there was no lack of passion between them." Anne nodded, not know what else to do.
"Mother!" Anne cried, when Elizabeth made a move to go. "Please don't leave me, I need you!" Anne felt like she was sixteen years old again, hearing that her mother had passed away. She felt pathetic and helpless.
"Anne, you will be fine. You are strong, much stronger than your siblings and even your father. You must remember who got you here. While your uncle, my brother, and your father played their part you had to get the kings attention first. And hold it for seven years now. You will be great, darling. Just remember what I said and take heart, be strong. You make me proud everyday of who you have become. I love you." Anne was crying very openly at this point. Her mother was never very motherly towards Anne, especially since for most of Anne's life she was gone to Netherlands and France for her education, but she always knew that her mother loved her in her own way. Although hearing from her lips made it perfect and at thirty-one years old it still made her feel special.
"I love you to, mama." With those last words, Lady Elizabeth was gone and Anne was alone left wondering if it was a dream or if she had truly lost her mind. Within seconds, Anne was asleep again; the tears still fresh on her face.
