Note: Thank you all so much who reviewed last chapter! It was asked for me to show Henry's POV so here is a chapter all from him. I enjoyed writing it so. Please review and enjoy. If you want me to continue, I will and reviews always help inspire me to do so.

Part IV

Henry was usually prompt unless his mood dictated otherwise. Unless the matter at hand did not hold his interest, then he would be late. One thing in which did hold his interest was Anne's trial. He intended to have Anne receive her fair punishment. Thinking back to their encounter yesterday, a feeling of... regret, loss, anger and desire? The woman was under his skin more than any other woman he'd known since being king and he bedded many women, prided himself on his sexual prowess. Anne though brought him to his knees and made him pant after her.

Then he'd been struck with the dart of love so he hadn't realized what control she wielded over him as he pined. Now he wasn't so foolish. In the past, he laughed at her wit, wanted to strangle her at her impertinence and quite her with his kisses. Kiss her passionately, bury himself inside her and give into the raging passion she enflamed him with. The memory of their first coupling traveled to his find as he entered court and took a seat, briefly glancing at King Francis across the way.

Couldn't say why he was thinking of the moment as she surrendered to him. Nearly four years before he had first taken Anne after six long years of waiting. After Wolsey died, they were pretty much free to marry and soon katherine would be put away with. Everything set in motion. They rode off to the outskirts of the kingdom in the woods, Henry nervous as an unlearned boy because he hoped they could finally consummate their long awaited relationship, but it had been a long time of waiting. Both soberly silent because they knew what would happen and Henry feeling himself become aroused at the thought as he gripped the reins of his horse and they stopped the horses and dismounted.

This had been a long time coming. Leaving court, being free of the mess and just the two of them. As it should always be. The way he dreamt of it for years and wanted to possess her and make Anne his. Only his. Flashes of them kissing, groping, her riding him, head thrown back and moaning filled him and after all this, Henry felt aroused and cursed her. Wanted to curse her and wipe her memory from his mind. The whore. He hated it. Remembered her soft skin against his, the feel of her full and sensual lips, her strong legs wrapped around his waist as he roughly kissed her and pounded into her.

"I want you," he huskily told her.

Once again, Henry's mind shifted because he couldn't think of their passion without feeling anger and betrayed, yet he saw her clearly clad in white, a mask obscuring her features from him. When he first met Anne at the masque, it wasn't the first time he saw her, but when he first noticed her. They were swirling as he danced with his sister, but he couldn't shift his eyes from the pale beauty of Anne. Dark hair pulled back revealing her long swan neck and elegance she possessed.

"What is your name?" he demanded, in awe.

"Anne. Anne Boleyn," she softly said.

"Please state your name!" a booming voice shouted, a line of judges rising up and looking severe. Back to the present, Henry saw Anne.

"Anne Boleyn," she stated in a clear, unwavering voice, refusing to glance in his direction.

Grudgingly Henry thought she never looked more appealing. Wearing the red gown he liked, a new red gown with a tight waist and flowing over her hips. Her hair fell and cascaded down her back, as it did in the time he first courted her. Also he could perceive she wore some manner of rouge for Anne looked very pale under it, but it caused a bloom to her cheeks and Henry nearly cursed at himself. What the hell was wrong with him? He had lost interest in Anne, but now that she outsmarted him and didn't seem the least bit interested in him he found it... appealing?

Curse her. Henry knew why she was affecting him, poison to his blood. She had bewitched him and he knew it must be witchery. But now, the trial was commencing and Henry listened alertly, keeping his eyes off Anne, but when he did let his gaze shift quickly to her, she wasn't looking at him, but straight ahead.

"We shall now hear the cases against Anne Boleyn, the former queen of England by her accuser King of England Henry," the judge announced.

Henry's eyes widened. This was his advisors job to do way with her, not him! Turning to his advisor, Henry demanded in a whisper, "Where are my witnesses? I thought I ordered for them to be brought."

"My majesty, as you well know," his advisor stated. "You had many witnesses but they are all dead. Smeaton, George Boleyn and a few others. There is very little case now. The only case left is your accusations and in this court, there is not much evidence."

"I need no evidence," he whispered incredulously. "I am the king."

Everyone had heard the conversation and were staring at them. His eyes accusingly flew to Anne's and he saw she was smiling, the first smile he'd seen in ages and then to his mortification she laughed. Laughed and couldn't stop. Suddenly they both knew she held the upper hand. The French loved her, most of the accusers were dead except for Jane Boleyn and she sat in London.

"Now list your grievances," the judge stated as Henry stepped forward and looked around him at the court.

"This woman bewitched me. I have no doubt is of the use of witchery. I chased her 6 years, what man in his right mind would pursue a woman so long? She bewitched other men too and they lost their lives for it. She must be put away! No doubt she will conspire to poison me and conspired to poison the late Queen Katherine, my deceased former wife and my daughter Mary."

"Have you any proof of this conspiracy?" asked the judge.

"Need I proof? I am King! My word should be good enough."

"Not even the king is above the law, though he can make the laws often, your majesty," the grizzled old man said and then his beady eyes flickered over to Anne who was watching silently, looking pale and tired. "Now we shall hear from Anne Boleyn. You may have a seat your majesty as we hear her cause."

Anne rose to her feet and Henry strided over to his seat, running a hand through his hair. He had looked like a fool and held no case here! This turn of events which happened he hadn't expected and could not have foreseen. All her accusers dead by executers. The only viable witnesses gone.

"Now Lady Anne," the judge said. "You are free to be heard and defend yourself.

"Thank you your honour," Anne graciously said. "This is the first time I am heard for I was not given a fair trial in the court of England. I have not practiced witchery in all my days. I am a devout follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, have served Him and given alms. To charity also have I given, this is not a sign of witchery is it? As for committing adultery, I have not done so. The dates given..." she seemed distracted and in thought. "Whenever they were I was still in bed rest after giving birth to the princess Elizabeth, and as the physician ordered and many would say a woman is not to resume relations for three months after the time of birth. I did not have relations with George Smeaton or Thomas Wyatt, most certainly not my brother George..." her voice broke, but she didn't cry.

Henry watched, feeling sick and tired. He wanted this all to be over and suddenly knew Anne would not probably die. Even if she was found guilty he would have to bring her back to London, have another trial, wait longer to marry Jane. Then execute her. Now that he saw Anne, Henry found himself weakening and couldn't sign her death warrant again. What was wrong with him? He cared for her still and this did not bode well with him.

"But these men confessed to it," Henry added aloud.

Anne turned toward him, no emotion in her eyes. "As you well know your majesty they confessed under torture. You said I had relations with five men, I believe or maybe more, I cannot remember. I bore you our daughter, carried two more of your children and had little time even had I wanted to have an affair to do so, your grace. I am innocent of these charges, You must believe me. Even if you do not," she quietly added, "and I die. I shall die a martyr and one day have justice." She turned towards the judge. "That is all I have to say, your honour in my defense."

"Very well," the man said. "We have heard the case and from both people. Now we shall decide the fate. We will have your charge in a few minutes."

They filed out to the other room and left. Everyone waited breathlessly and Henry eyed Anne as she sat back down, head held high. Not looking at him again. Yet she had spoken and told of her innocence. Did he believe her? Then if she were innocent, everyone had lied to him and tried to bring Anne down. Anne hadn't always been that loved in England but surely it hadn't been a conspiracy.

Suddenly Henry realized he didn't want Anne to die. If she did, her fiery spirit would be gone. The thought pierced him and he rose to his feet, intending to tell her he would drop the charges if only she let him be free to marry and not interfere, but he was stopped as the judges re-entered the room and he glanced at King Francis to read him. The judge looked grave, merely shook his head.

Before he knew what happened he looked at Anne, saw her turn pale and crumple under the strain. She fainted and fell to the ground.

"Anne!"

Henry rushed over to her, heart pounding loudly. People in the crowd began to talk in a murmur. He reached Anne, stooped low and cradled her against his chest. She opened her brilliant blue eyes and hazily stared at him, dry lips moving.

"Will I die?" she asked him, tiredly. "Maybe after all... you will receive your wish."

"Not by my hand," he assured her, meaning it, staring into her heart shaped face and wishing to kiss her, to tell her... he was sorry, but needed an heir. They could never go back. What would happen now? Soon the verdict would be read and she would either be found guilty or innocent. Either way, nothing could ever be the same between them for all their old gay laughs and love they once shared. He felt loss, Anne was no longer his wife.

As he helped her to her feet, still holding her lightly until she moved away, looking wan, Henry turned expectant eyes to the judge.

TBC