May 31st, 1533

~Cecily's POV~

"Wakey, wakey!" I hear Anne's singsongy voice say. She pulls the coverlet off and says, "Hi, Sunshine!"

I groan and stretch out my sore body. It feels as if I shifted for the first time in my sleep. Everything hurts.

I say as pleasantly as I can, "Bonjour." (Good morning.)

"Come on. We have a full day of coronation preparations." She says pulling me up as I groan sarcastically.

As my eyes adjust, I see her as she is pushed over to her folding screen in her connecting rooms.

She peeks her head out from it, letting her hair run wild from lack of restraint, and says, "What is with you this morning? You're never like this."

"I know, I just- I went to sleep really late last night and I had the weirdest dream." I say as I dress myself facing the other way. I link her the dream.

My dream

Mama rubs her pregnant stomach and whispers, "Little one, I hope you can understand that I must keep our secret to keep us safe. If anyone knows that we had a baby, they will kill us all. This is the only way for you to live, my child. You should not be punished for the love your father and I have. Your father and I love you so much, baby girl. Stay strong, my precious one."

Back to Reality

"That sounds like could have been one of your night visions perhaps."

"Maybe. But what can it mean? I mean, my parents were absolutely miserable in their marriage. My father never even goes within a mile of me, and when he does, he can barely even tolerate me." I say.

"Just talk to Margaret. She might have some answers for you." She tells me.

So I went out in search of my sister, who had just joined Anne's ladies recently. I had spent three minutes searching through every inch of court, and I have had enough of no results.

'Margie, where are you?' I link her.

'Hey Lil, I'm in the center of the hedges in the gardens. I was actually about to ask if you wanted to join me. There's something we need to discuss.' Margaret links me back.

'On my way.' I tell her. I rush off for the gardens.

I walk through the hedge maze until I reach the center. I spot my sister staring off into the distance and get her attention by saying, "Margie?"

"Oh, Lily." She says pulling me closer into her. "There is something we need to talk about."

"What is it, Margie? You're really scaring me." I say to her. She sighs and let's go.

"You know I love you like a full blooded sister, right?"

"Go on." I say.

"Your father was...what is known as a mage. Someone who knows magic. He was our mother's mate. He got it from his great great grandmothers on both sides." She tells me.

"Well, what is his name?" I ask.

"Francis Griffen. He was a descendant of a bastard son of a human family called the Cockburns in Scotland. Before her child was born, your great great great great grandmother, and her husband moved to France. Her daughter, a bastard mage, later married a barber with the surname Griffin. Francis, your father, about 100 years later, was visiting a friend who had just moved to Scots when he met our mother."

"'Was?'" I ask her.

"My father killed him. He just hated him for stealing the chance of mating and having children with a wolf of royal blood." She tells me.

"Is that why he-" I ask. When she nods, I start sobbing.

It was Douglas who arranged my kidnapping. He told me himself. And now, I know why.

After crying for a few minutes, at 10 A.M. Lady Isabel Bayton, my step cousin through my adoption--adoptive Uncle Edmund's stepchild--walks up to us. My Ladies--" She says. We look at her and she says to us, "Our future Queen told me to inform you both to ready yourself for the coronation procession. We leave in an hour."

I wipe my tears, trying to look like I was not just crying to any I would walk past, and say, "I will be up there in a moment. Thank you for telling us, Lady Baynton."

We slowly walk back to our rooms. I enter my quarters looking at the ground and wipe my cheek. "What's wrong?" I hear Anne's voice ask.

I look up and give her a sly smirk. "Tell you what, I'll tell you if you do my hair like you used to." I say. She smiles and gestures with her neck for me to sit down by the mirror.

"Spit it out. I raised you. I know when something bothers you, and I thought we don't keep secrets." She says. She kisses my cheek, then my neck jokingly, knowing that would get my attention.

I sigh heavily. I never wanted to keep anything from Anne. "I'm a bastard child." I tell her, letting a single tear fall.

"What?" Anne asks.

"Margret told me my father was a man named Franics Griffin. He was a mage, that's why I have magic." I whimper out to her.

"Oh Sweetheart, you will never be a bastard in my eyes. You family considers you legitimate, and love you as the wonderful person you are." Anne tells me hugging my shoulders. "Okay?" I nod three times. She gives my cheek a hard kiss. I give her a playful smirk of a smile.

I let Celeste nuzzle into Anne, purring lovingly as we stay together, "Thanks, Annie."

"Anytime, my love." She and Storm say together nuzzling us back. She kisses my cheek gently.

Later

We get ready for the procession, but I can't shake the feeling of danger approaching. Despite being well liked among the common people, my sister still has quite a few enemies.

I gasp and scream as I get a horrible vison.

Anne trots to my side. I grab her arm and mumble over and over, "Brenton, Danger! Brenton, Danger! Brenton, Danger!"

"Doctor Linacre!" She calls worried.

I whimper as she tries to leave as the doctor approaches me. I try to say something else, but all that comes out is, "Brenton, Danger!" He's going to try to shoot her.

He sighs as he examines my eyes and my mouth. "Do not worry. She's just in shock. Whatever she saw must have extremely upset her." He says.

"Oh thank goodness!" She says relived as she rubs my arm looking at my head.

I try to link her my vision, but nothing happens.

"Huh?!" I gasp out. I run out.

"I want trustworthy guards on every watch tower we will pass in the parade. No one, I repeat, no one,... is to get in or out." I order of Kingston.

"Yes, My Lady." He says. He assembles his guards and assigns posts.

When we go down stairs, I quickly realize my entire family is here at the party celebrating Anne and her rise to power. Everyone is introducing themselves to Anne—and me since I rarely leave her side—hoping to gain power.

While there, I spot a girl, about seven years younger with the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. However, before I can talk to her, she gets dragged off after the Dowager Duchess talks to Anne, introducing herself as our step grandmother, being way too careful to reiterate that fact. Anyway, like I was saying she dragged the kid off without even introducing her.

"Hey Annie," I ask getting her attention. She leans down to me. "who was that with the Dowager Duchess?"

"Oh," She says quietly with a laugh of sorts. "that's cousin Katheryn. I haven't seen her in a while, since her baptism in fact, but I am sure it's her." My eyes widen in shock. That little girl... was the Katheryn Anne told me about?

A few hours later (7:00 P.M.)

Eventually—after the party—we get a private carriage for Palace of Westminster. It's a 38 minute ride, and I put on a less then fine silk cloak to hid my identity so I can look for any kind of threat to Anne.

"Cecily, what are you looking for?" Anne says suspiciously. Mary whispers something in her ear. "Oh, baby... I told you that there's nothing to worry about. No one knows where we are and Henry has guards following us."

"Guards can be stopped—" I say looking at Anne. I look back out the window. "and people can throw weapons and rocks."

"Cecilia Collet Tudor!" She snaps. I flinch in terror. No one ever calls me by my full name unless I'm in trouble. She sighs and says, "It's okay. No one's gonna hurt us. I promise, we're safe."

The Next Morning

We ride throughout the streets of London. I wear clothes of crimson velvet, smiling and waving to the cheering people.

"God save the Good King! God save the Good Queen Anne!" Some shout. I feel pride, but I keep my ears open for any hint of a bullet.

"Woooosh!" I hear. I whistle high, low, then lower. My eyes glow as I move the parade two steps faster, deliberately placing an older courtier that was part of the Monster Alpha's Pack in front of the bullet. He pays no notice, probably thinking everyone just wanted to move faster. I hear the bullet make it's mark and the man fall to the ground in pain.

My horse rears and I desperately try to soothe her as people surrounded him. Soon, someone announces, "He's dead."

I look to the tower where the bullet came from and think to myself, 'Not this time Brenton.'

The remainder of the parade was pretty uneventful. Except for my memory of the last time I had dealt with Brenton.

Flashback

I had overheard them saying how Anne was a witch and "must be sent back to hell" on a ride I took to one of my favorite abbeys. In the spirt of fast thinking, I made a plan.

I ran back to a few minutes away and had waited for Chapuys and Brenton to leave the Abbey. When they finally did as evidence by the sound of their feet coming my way.

I looked both ways, trying my best to appear suspicious. I hold my hand out and I called, "Broom!" A broom flies into my hand and I hop on, going slowly enough so they can just see me enough to follow. Until I spot a clearing in the woods and speed up.

I land in that clearing after I lose them and quickly project a solid image of what the devil is thought to have looked like. I link him what to do, what to say and how to say it and he nods.

I hear hooves approaching and I nod. He whips me over and over. I cry out in pain.

"YOU MISERABLE MUTT, I TOLD YOU WHAT TO DO AND YOU REFUSED!" He yells in a deep, demonic voice.

"I WON'T!" I yell as he whips me again.

It is then the hero's of my little play arrive.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" He yells.

"YOU'LL HAVE TO! I'M NOT KILLING MY OWN SISTER!" I shriek.

"SHE'S... NOT... YOUR... SISTER! YOU WORK FOR ME!" He growls.

Chapuys comes with a cross and spoke in latin. Breton plays a shofar, an instrument known to confuse the devil. My devil looks at them confused and as the exorcism prayer is said, he disappears shouting, "NOOOOO!"

I crawl and hug his legs, thanking him for releasing me from him. I kiss his hand, internally gagging.

"Child, what were you doing with Satan?" He asks as Brenton cheeks on my wounds. Celeste had already agreed to not heal me.

I look down in shame, "I just wanted my sister to be happy." I say as tears well up in my eyes.

"What?" He asks.

"I am Lady Cecilia Tudor. My adoptive sister is the lady Anne Boleyn. She has always been kind and good to me. When I was an infant she said me from a band of rouges who took me from my home in Scots. I just wanted her to be happy after her mate... died." I sob. They look at each other then back at me. At the look to go on, I sob out, "Henry Percy was supposed to fill that void, and for a time he did, but Wolsey separated them forever. She was miserable. Then, she saw the king and fell in love, but he paid her no mind. So I ask him for the power to make Henry... look her way and--" He nods, badgering me on. "In exchange, he just asked me to kill her."

They gasp and I bow down, begging, "Please, I beg of you, as a Christian to another, my sister is innocent. Do not judge her harshly for my mistakes. And please don't tel my family about me conspiring with the devil! I'll be lucky if I live to see the end of the week before I am flogged alive."

Back to reality

I sigh as I ride into Westminster Abbey. We all dismount and I stroke my horse as she breathes, feeding her a sugar cube.

"Come, Cecily. We haven't got all day." Anne calls.

"Coming!" I call looking back at Anne. I turn to my horse and say, "Be good. I'll be back soon." She nods her head and place my head on hers. She then throws her head and hugs me with her long neck. I hug her back.

I find my spot near the front and sit.

The trumpets play andUncle Henry and Anne walk in. Anne sits on the throne center stage with Henry on her right.

I flash an encouraging smile and nod.

Cranmer says the blessing in Latin. Everyone looks bored out of their minds, but Anne remains completely unmoved. She sits their with a face that is definitely betrays her pride to me, but yet betraying nothing really, completely neutral on the outside.

Cranmer grabs Saint Edward's crown, but Henry raises a hand and commands him to stop, "Wait." He commands. He stands and walks to Cranmer and says, "Give it to me."

He stands regally right next on the right to Anne and booms out, "With this, St Edward's crown, I do solemnly crown you... Queen of England!" He crowns her slowly and steps out of the way so everyone can see her.

"And here... are the scepters of the sovereign." Cranmer says. Uncle Henry sits back down as he says, "Honor and Grace be to our Queen Anne. May you prosper, go forward, and may you bear a new son with the kings blood."

I cheer with the rest of the Abbey and the whole of London.

Anne and Henry walk by me, her hand on his. "Your Majesties." I say curtsying.

"Ah, my Marquess of Pembroke." She says in a sing song voice.

She takes puts St. Edward's crown on my head as a joke as she says, "Let this show you, we may not be able to do all the stuff we used to, but you'll always be my little girl. I'll always make time for you. That's a promise." She curtsies and says, "My lady." I laugh and hug her.

That Night

At the party I stand by the queen and she says, "Cecily, come sit next to me." I follow her order sitting right next to her, enjoying a delightfully prepared pheasant with a small goblet of scrumptious wine.

Katheryn walks up and curtsies saying, "Your Majesty."

"Uh-uh, Kitten, none of that. We're your family here. It's just Anne." Annie says.

I smile at the young girl. I have no idea why, but I feel a sense of kinship with her. Like... she'll be important to me or Margret someday. But I can send deep pain. Not due to the recent loss of her mother, but something else.

"Thank you, Your Ma- Anne." Katheryn says. She looks at me, squats—I'm even shorter than her—and goes, "Hi. What's your name?"

"Cecily, My Lady." I say.

The Dowager Duchess looks at Katheryn harshly, and Katheryn hurriedly says, "Well it's been wonderful chatting, but I have to go. Nice meeting you." She curtsies and quickly leaves.

'Strange. Did you get anything from her, Lest?' I say to Celeste.

'She's been abused! The Dowager Duchess is known for her lax supervision of her wards, and her girls are know for sexual... appetite and lack of education. It's as good as a brothel. And he wolf will come within a few months.' She tells me.
"Anne, I think we should provide a space for Katheryn at Pembroke Castle. And a spot at court when she's ready." I say. She shoots me a questioning look, so I tell her, "I just feel like it's waste for her to be at a place like that. I mean, it's as good as a whore house. We need to get her out with her innocence in tact."

"That's a brilliant idea! Pembroke could use someone looking after it while you're at court." She says.

"I'll go offer it to her. Excuse me." I say. I stand to go look for her, meeting many bows and curtsies,"Y and find her being harassed by the dowager duchess.

"You little whore!" She says. She slaps Katheryn. "The Queen won't want to favor us if you bother her like that."

"That is enough!" I growl.

I rush and kneel to cheek Katheryn's cheek. I touch it whispering a healing spell in Latin and ask, "Better?"

She smiles and nods. "Thank you." I smile back warmly and stand regally.

"Katheryn, I'd like you to be my ward and live at Pembroke Castle. You'll be free to learn whatever you want to learn, and explore as much of the castle as often as you'd like." I say. I smile and say with a distant tone, "While I won't be there all the time as I have duties here, but, if you agree, you will definitely have a future place here in court when you're older."

"Really?" She asks happily. I nod. She hugs me tight, exclaiming, "Thank you!"

"I will send the carriage for you in a few days. Now, go home and pack." I say.

She leaves happy and I go back to Anne without a word to the Dowager, but a glare and a curt, "I'd adjust your mannerisms towards your wards and protect their innocence a bit better if I were you."

I resume my spot next to Anne. "Well, how did it go?" She asks impatiently.

"She'll be at Pembroke by next week at the latest." I tell her.

"To the Boleyns." Boleyn says. He and Gorge clang their goblets together.

"To the Boleyn's." He repeats. They raise our glasses to us and we do it back.

"Our new queen!!" A voice sounds.

Soon, we go up to a tower to watch the fireworks. I've never seen such beauty. We all laugh as we watch them. "Oh Mary, Oh Ravie." Anne swoons. She grabs our hands and says, "And it's all for me." I laugh and cheer, allowing myself to enjoy this night and the win. For soon, the real work begins.

In The Gardens

I go down the straits of the tower after the fireworks to get some fresh air. I immediately head for the gardes and sit on a near by bench.

I sigh. I enjoy being around other wolves, and the witches and humans, but there's only so much I can take before it becomes suffocating. Especially when everyone is looking to you to bring their family into favor.

I take a breath and resign myself to enjoy the peace for a while.

But soon, I catch an intoxicating smell of vanilla, wild strawberries, buttercream, lavender, Twelfth Night Cakes, jasmine, and what can only be described as the air after snow.

I rush off to follow it excitedly, knowing my mate was here.

I spot a man. He looks not much older than me. Maybe late teens to early twenties.

I hear him sniff and he turns.

"Mate." I say aloud.