The Tudors: The Swan & The Crow.

Reunion.

The Swan & The Crow x The Tudors:

"She is of the strangest beauty and the darkest courage, and when she walks with intent the earth trembles beneath her feet."
- Nicole Lyons.

________

"Mistress Anne, Lady Elizabeth Valentine is here to see you."

Wendy Miller, a small framed girl with rosy cheeks, narrow nose, and pouty lips spoke in her mousy voice. She, along with the three other ladies-in-waiting, snapped their eyes onto the stone archway until Beth gracefully stepped within Anne Boleyn's sitting chamber. Wendy shyly curtsy, lifting her yellow and white skirt by the sides. With a pleasing crescent smile, Beth tilts her chin as a form of a half bow and sparked her cool eyes onto Anne Boleyn.

Anne gazed up from her needled work of a white Hardanger Embroidery. Carefully placed patterns ran across the soft thin linen evenweave fabric. Forming a diamond. 'A work of art' Beth thought to herself. Such needlework not seen in England or Scotland, but exciting to see no matter how unattainable the effort may seem to Beth.

The room felt unsettling when the two women placed their eyes on the other. Anne lowered her Hardanger onto her lap, poking the safe curved end of her needle with the tip of her index finger.

Years have gone by since their last meeting with each other. That meeting was so long ago, Anne could barely recall the images that flicked in her skull. However, she could remember the scent of roses from Katherine Valentine's garden and the prickly feeling of autumn winds running across her flushed chubby cheeks and short bone straight brunette hair. Those days had died and gone. Years of growing up from far away lands changed both of the girls into bright young women. Their childhood might have gone into the wind, never to be seen again, but the feeling of jealousy and rivalry did not quite leave.

Anne felt that jealousy pinch the inside of her chest, her ears burn in a silent rage. Before her stood a woman who had blossom into a white rose. Face so soft and attractive, Anne herself could not deny that Beth took her breath away. Breast-hell the rest of her body-fitting the gown with such beauty, no one who dared to look Beth's way could claim her to be a whore. No matter how much skin the gown presented. Those pale green eyes are unreadable yet encouraging. And her soft platinum hair is long and wavy. Thick strands rest upon her shoulders with grace causing this beautiful glow around her within the sunlight. Anne heard stories of The De Aldeburgh family: All members resembled snow-white hair, a reason to believe those who belonged to the family were a gift sent from the angels or maybe even angels themselves.

Thomas Boleyn, Anne's father, spoke so fondly of Elizabeth Valentine. The intelligence she inherited from Philip Valentine apparently is outstanding.

Rubbish. Anne refused to believe Beth could be as smart as her, but after reading careful notes sent to Thomas Boleyn; War plans, Philosophy, troubling mathematical problems figured out, all the above—Anne concluded that Beth is the most intelligent woman she's ever known. Yet Elizabeth wasn't smart enough to catch Henry's attention. At least Anne thought this at first but began to feel threatened that the King would turn his attention onto a more attractive and well-spoken woman.

There had to be some weaknesses or flaws Anne could figure out before this happened.

Suddenly, as if to remember why Beth was here, Anne raised from her seat and replaced her frown with a big toothy grin. "Beth! It is so good to see you!" Anne nearly jumped on her toes across the room like a child and embraced Beth into a cheerful hug. Most certainly, Courtiers would find this affection inappropriate but Anne wasn't one for staying in line.