The Seventh Queen (On Hold: Revising)

A start to a downfall

"Lady Anine,"

Anine gave a start. Charles Brandon was riding at her side.

"May I have a word with you when we return to the castle?"

Anine drew the reign, slowing the horse down to a trot. Then hearing Charles' question she exhaled.

"You may," she said.

Anine knew once the stable took her horse that Charles would be waiting for her at the stable door. He stood arms folded leaning against the door frame staring off into the distance. When she reached him he held out an arm and walked her to the gardens.

"Do you like court life?" Charles' asked

She probably would have liked court life if she were not a fae. No, the fae way of life kept her from enjoying what human courts were like. Simply she didn't have the humanity left to enjoy their frivolous natures- no matter how lustful, greedy, or destructive it could be- Athaine's courts had given her enough of a taste to resent it.

"To be honest Lord Brandon I was afraid the English court would be dull," she said. "We had always known the court during Katherine's reign and I found myself dreading the thought of being apart of it." she chanced a glance. Charles had put his hand on top of hers, and his grip was tightening around hers. If she were a human girl his intensity would have hurt her. "Anne has changed the court so much."

It was well known that Charles favored the fallen queen and that he wished Anne's downfall be slow and torturous. She had her doubts that he would be the reason Anne lost her head. She doubted such a vision would happen if Anine could change it, but it didn't change that fact that Charles wanted her gone.

"The King is blinded by a fool's love." He said as they came to a clearing in the garden.

In the middle stood a man made pond with a elegant fountain spraying water. Lilies floated across the water, some held frogs while others held flowers. If she were here with anyone else it would have been a perfect scene, but as Charles' irritation confiscated the air, Anine found that she couldn't enjoy the pond or its wonders. Pulling her hand from his arm, she went to the pond's edge and peered in. Goldfish swam in circles, catching bugs that landed on the surface, while some silently swam in place. It was beautiful.

"You have enchanted me these past five years," Charles said, casting a sharp rock in her heart.

She felt her mouth go dry as he took her hand and laid a soft kiss on her wrist. She pulled back quickly catching his eyes darkening as she moved away from him.

"I am in love with you," He said. "I have waited long enough. If I divorce will you marry me?"

Anine laughed, but sobered immediately. "I cannot accept your proposal Lord Brandon. I do not feel that way for you and will not be the scandal of your marriage."

He pointed above the top of the hedge towards the castle. "Is it because I am not the king?" he said. "I have seen the way you look at the king and his riches." grabbing her arm roughly he shook her as he continued. "All of that will belong to your dear Anne and you will be alone. Is that the life you wish for?"

"Unhand me Charles!"

"I can give you a comfortable life. A life that other women will envy, a life that they already envy." He licked his lips tightening his fingers on her arm. "You will never want for anything."

She felt a shudder of disgust run through her body. She would break his hand if he would not remove it. And the thought of him screaming in pain made her mouth water with hunger.

"I can promise you everything except the crown." He said. "The world can be yours."

She calculated her next words carefully, glancing at his hand and back to his eyes.

"Lord Brandon" She said finally. "Have you not said that you are a devout catholic and what Henry is doing goes against the church?"

He narrowed his eyes and shoved her against the hedge. His eyes burning with both passion and possession and neither made her comfortable as he pressed his body against hers.

"Do not dare," she hissed.

"I will make you unfit for marriage." he said. He began to pull at the strings of her corset roughly. His lips leaving scalding traces of heat against her throat. "Then you will come begging me to marry you."

"If you do not move away from me Charles I will hurt you," she maneuvered her hands against his chest, preparing to make a necessary and dangerous move.

"Will you," he mocked and took her hands on his chest as a reciprocation to his advances.

She was aware of how erect he was against her. He hoisted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist and hoisting her skirts to reveal her nakedness. Reaching down to undo his pants he urged her not to squirm. Swallowing hard, Anine pressed against his chest, conditioning her powers to scare not maim. She didn't want to expose her nature, but she would deal with the reprocutions later. He cupped one of her breasts roughly causing her to cry out. A smile slid across his face as he dropped his pants.

Just shove him, her sister screamed from the contents of her mind. I will if you don't act fast.

She shoved as lightly as she could and landed on her butt as Charles flew across the clearing, barely missing the stone fountain and landing against the hedge. It was easy as tossing a ragdoll and she could see the confusion in his eyes as he came back from his brief daze. Rising to her feet, she straightened her skirts.

"Do not think me such an easy woman to prey upon," she said as Charles rose to his feet. "I will not tolerate another lack in your judgment."

She left Charles to collect himself and ran back towards the stable. She avoided anyone she came across as she ran past the stable. This would be both comical and infuriating to Maraush, if Anine told her. And as she cleared the steps to the castle Anine thought it better to keep the events to Anna and her.

(C) Kelcey Winn