Setting: In a convent garden, you're digging up rocks to help the soil. You're a year or so away from having to make a decision to leave the convent when you become of age or stay and become a nun.
Eleanor: Garden duty....again.
You: Would you rather be cleaning all the chamber pots?
Eleanor: I can't wait to get out of here. I'm going to find a rich man, marry him and never get my hands dirty again.
You smile and then look up towards the balcony to see sister Agnes standing there looking down at you. Eleanor follows suit before you both turn back and continue what you're doing.
Eleanor: She has it in for you, you know?
You: Eleanor?
Eleanor: She does. Several of the nuns do.
You: That's ridiculous.
Eleanor: Is it? You've never noticed how some of the sisters seem to always be in the same place you are, always looking in your direction?
You: I'm sure they do it to everybody, we've just never noticed because we're all so involved in our own matters. They're only trying to keep us out of trouble Eleanor.
Eleanor: They're only trying to keep you out of trouble. They don't follow anyone else.
You briefly talk about it.
You: Oh, this is nonsense.
You turn away from her and continue your task. Although you've never truly thought about it yourself, a part of you wonders if Eleanor is right.
Eleanor: You should come with us, you know?
You: You know I can't do that.
Eleanor: Of course you can. You could get a job...you could be a seamstress
You: I hate sewing.
Eleanor: What about being a tutor. You've always been successful in your studies.
You: And get paid less than half of what a man makes, no thank you.
Eleanor: You should do something besides stay here and watch your life go by.
You: I'm not like you and the other girls Eleanor, I have no money, no family and no where to go. I have to stay here.
Eleanor: All I'm saying is there's more to life if you want there to be.
Later that evening. It's your turn to help cook the night time meal. After making everyone a plate and serving yourself you sit down.
Eleanor: It smells wonderful.
You: Thank you.
As you get ready to pray and eat with everyone else, you notice one of the nuns staring at you.
Eleanor: Ignore the old bat.
This time, it was a different kind of stare, one you've never seen before. Her face is turning as white as a ghost, foam is starting to appear from the side of her mouth, she starts coughing while her nose starts bleeding. You watch unable to look away from what is happening in front of you. And then...she falls face forward into her plate, dead. Screams and shock erupt from the dining hall. You suddenly feel someone pulling on your arm. Sister Agnes.
Sister Agnes: Come, quickly.
You: Where are you taking me?
Sister Agnes: Hush, child.
Sister Agnes stops pulling you for a second, listening carefully to sounds coming from outside. Horses are quickly galloping towards the convent, their riders out for blood.
Sister Agnes: Forgive me child, for I've allowed myself and the other sisters to lie to you for the whole of your life. We were only following your mother's orders. God forgive us.
You: What are you talking about Sister Agnes?
Sister Agnes: You are the youngest child of King Henry Viii and his sixth wife Catherine Parr. We've been able to protect you from being found and possibly killed, but now it's too dangerous and you must leave us.
She opens the door leading to the garden. There's a gate on the other side.
Sister Agnes: Run child, and never look back.
You stall for a moment.
Sister Agnes: Go!
You do as you're told and start running, you don't know where you're going, but it doesn't matter, surviving is what's important. As you're running you hear screams, the smell of fire burning, and the voices of men yelling. You almost stop and turn back, until you remember Sister Agnes telling you not to. When you can no longer run, you find a tree to hide behind. Suddenly you hear horses and men coming up the road, a few of them stop in front of you.
Guard: What's your name?
You're too stunned to answer.
You: I...I
Guard: Are you hurt?
You: No.
Guard: I'll ask you again. What's your name?
You almost tell him your old name but you stop yourself.
You: Tudor. Y/N Tudor.
The guard looks to one of the other men. The man nods his head. Before you can say anything two men grab your arms, you fight back, but they're too strong. They put you on a horse with one of the men sitting behind you with his arm firmly gripped around you and you ride off into the night.
