I sat in the barn wanting to get away from all the commotion. Queen had had just miscarried again and she was angry and screaming at anyone and everyone. The King I assume had been there just after I left. I stood next to a horse I had become particularly fond of. One that the Master of the Horse considered too dangerous. He was a sweetie to me. I named him Brego.

"There you go boy. I guess we're both outsiders huh," I said to him. He just threw his head up and down.

"I wish I had your strength," I said to him as I reached out to run my fingers through his mane.

"The strength to keep wishing for something different for yourself and to know that you can make it happen," I said to him. He just stared at me with his big black eyes.

"I know it's silly. I just wish for a world that would never exist. I wish I could find a man to be myself with. One who I could give many sons to," I said. I sat down on a pile of hay next to the stall.

"I have always wanted a son. My friends all wanted daughters but the one thing I want is a son. A little boy to watch grow up and achieve things I never could. I have been wishing for it ever since I was a child. But now I'm eighteen and no man has even made an attempt. It seems I wish for things that I will never have," I said. I put my hands in my lap. Some nights I wished for a miracle but every morning when I woke up, my life here was still the same.

"This is insane; everything about my whole life here is insane. But then again I am talking to a---," I said but heard someone about to enter the barn. I quickly hid behind a stack of hay. The door opened and the King came in. A horse from the stall next to the horse I had just been talking to came forward.

"Hello there girl. Lady Seymour gave herself to me tonight," He said. I put my hand over my mouth to hide my gasp of surprise.

"It was not satisfactory. I will most likely never call her to my bed again," He said to the horse. The horse just shook its head up and down.

"Now do you know who was just talking in here a moment ago," the King asked. My Brego poked his head out and pointed his head towards the hay stack that I was behind. The King looked my way and pointed his finger.

"Behind there," The King asked Brego. Brego threw his head up and down. I hurriedly took off my shoes careful to not make a sound and crept quietly towards the door on the other side. I heard the sound of the King's feet and paused to listen to see which side he was coming towards. I kept walking towards the back door then stopped. I heard footsteps and then the door close. I sighed and walked out towards Brego.

"You traitor," I said to him. He pointed his nose towards the door.

"What is it," I asked him. I looked in the direction that Brego's nose was pointing and dropped into a curtsey immediately. It was the King.

"I thought I was alone your majesty," I said.

"So it seems, what is your name," King Henry asked.

"I am a lady to her majesty Queen Anne," I said.

"I did not ask for your station. I asked for your name," King Henry replied. I hesitated before replying.

"Andrea James your majesty," I said.

"Lady James why have I not seen you before," King Henry asked.

"Next to the other ladies at court it is easy to do, and please do not give me any titles for I am nothing" I said.

"A beautiful woman like you should be a marquess at least," King Henry replied.

"I am not beautiful your majesty and please if you mean to seduce me then I must tell you now that I will resist even if it means my death," I said. He looked at me with honest eyes and for some reason I felt as if all he needed now was a friend. A friend I could be a lover I was scared of.

"Rise Lady Andrea," I rose and kept my eyes down. I looked down at the deep red gown I was wearing. It was another hand me down from Anne.

"Are you a friend of Anne's," King Henry asked.

"If you mean confidant then no your majesty," I said. It was true sure Anne was nice to me but she was more like an acquaintance.

"Please call me Henry," The King said sitting down.

"Your majesty I can not it would be improper of me to do such a thing," I said.

"Can you please just pretend that I am not a king and talk as if I am just a friend," King Henry asked. I looked into his eyes and felt sadness for him and his situation. He was a king without an heir just like I was a woman without a child. I sat down next to him.

"What have I done wrong," Henry asked. I sighed knowing what his future held if he stayed with Jane Seymour. She would bear him a son that would only survive barely into his teen years.

"Your majesty I--," I said.

"Henry," Henry replied interrupting. I shook my head.

"Very Well Henry. You have not done anything wrong. Things happen for a reason. You are a just King but I will admit you have been swayed in the wrong direction at times but still you hold strong. Your country is safe and your people love you," I said.

"I asked Thomas More once. Was it better for a King to be loved or feared? He never answered me. What do you think," Henry asked looking at me.

"Henry I am not a politician or a person credible to give a good answer," I said.

"Lady Andrea please," Henry asked. I looked at my hands going over the words in my head.

"I think that a King should be loved by his people and feared by his enemies but I also believe that any type of war should be avoided by peaceful means," I said.

"Spoken like a politician," Henry said.

"I hate politicians they only serve their interests," I said.

"But that is the nature of politics," Henry replied.

"Then you have your answer as to why I am not a politician," I said to him. Henry laughed then Anne's shout was heard. I tried to stand but Henry's hand kept me down. He kept his eyes on the doors.

"Do you think god is punishing me," Henry asked.

"Like I said before your majesty things happen for a reason. That is my belief now," I said.

"Do you believe that I should reunite with the Catholic Church," Henry asked.

"I believe that you should do what your heart and mind tell you to do. You will make a choice Henry and all you can do is hope that everything will work out. The world works in mysterious ways. Maybe it's time you listen to what the world is telling you," I said.

"Do you believe that I can have a son that is not a bastard," Henry asked.

"You never know until you try, but it is getting late I must be heading back" I said standing up and smoothing out my dress. I put my shoes back on and gave Brego one last pat before heading out the doors.

"Thank you Lady Andrea for listening, I hope that you will accept this conversation as a step to friendship," Henry said.

"I believe I can do that, sleep well your majesty tomorrow is a new day," I said leaving him behind. King Henry looked at the spot that Andrea had just vacated and found a necklace. It was a gold cross with an engraving on the back that said Miracles Happen. She must have taken it off earlier before I can in, Henry thought. He put the necklace in his pocket before leaving the barn taking one last look at the Horse that Andrea seemed to favor and smiling.