The Seventh Queen (On Hold: Revising)

confessions

"What is it you?" Anna asked as Anine entered her privy room sweating and frantic.

She thought for only a moment to mention that she had seen the fallen angel once, but tossed it aside for the matters that were at hand. Charles tried forcing himself upon me, she thought, and I almost killed him. She told of earlier events. That Charles had tried to force himself upon her so she would marry him. All while Anna sat still and stoic.

"That bastard," Anna said once anine had taken a breath.

"I wanted to kill him," Anine said gripping her hands into fists, picturing his broken body in her grasps. "I was forced to use some of my strength to expel him."

Anna glanced towards the window as trumpets erupted beyond the castle walls. The king and anne had returned and Anine felt her throat thicken. Charles might lie about the events that had taken place.

"You should have killed him," Anna said gnashing her teeth together.

"Then where would we be?"

Anna looked back clearing her eyes of anger and expelling a breath. "It was good you did him no harm." She stood and went to braiding Anine's hair. Something she did when she tried calming her nature. "Have you told anyone else?"

"Of course not," she said relaxing as Anna's fingers combed through her hair. "You are the only one I trust."

"It was good you came straight here," She pulled her fingers slowly from Anine's hair and pulled her from the chair. "But we must go greet the king"

She accompanied Anna to the front gate as the trumpets sounded again, signaling the King had arrived at the gates. A moment later the fates creaked open letting the king and Anne enter. Henry glanced her way, his gaze catching as he found her amongst the crowd bowing. A glance that Anna caught as well. Charles had been right, Henry had never lost his passion for her, instead he had invested what he could into loving Anne.  He had been shifting his passion for years trying to replace her with others and it was destroying a kingdom. As the King and Anne vanished down the street and the crowd dispersed, anna nudged Anine waking her from her daze.

"What have ye done?" Anna asked.

"I have done nothing," Anine said glancing down the street. It had been years since the king had proposed marrying her without permission from his father, years that she thought such passion could die. She changed the subject before Anna could ask anymore questions. "Do ye think Charles will say something to Henry,"

"You mustn't call him that so blazingly in public," Anna said glancing around. "There are those in this court that wish you dead along side Anne,"

"Then they can try," Anine announced.

"What are you two babbling about amongst these muddled bloods?" The tainted sweet voice of Maraush broke their coupling.

Maraushm in her maroon riding clothes, fabously embroided riding jacket, tight bun, and stark black pants had wondered over to them. Her eyes blazed curiously as Anna bowed.

"What does this Charles have on ye daughter?" She said fixing a squinty glance on Anine. "Did ye sleep with him to feed your urges?"

She almost chuckled at that thought. It had been so long since Anine had feed on the abilities of the dark court that she'd forgotten even what lust tasted like.

"No," She said. "He tried forcing himself upon me when I refused his marriage proposal,"

Maraush's features darkened as Anine spoke the last words. She gripped Anine's hand before calming and returning her features back to mortality. Soft and tender.

"Did ye stop him?" Maraush said, her voice turning slightly shrill. "Please tell me ye stopped him. Gods. All three of us know ye have the strength to prevent a man from forcing himself upon you."

"I stopped him quickly enough. But I am afraid that he might tell the king that I gave myself to him willingly,"

"I will handle that situation." Maraush said with a sly smile. "I see the king has reminded himself of your many charms."

"I have no charms,"

"But ye do Anine. You're just like Anne if not better. Witty and cunning with eyes that hook into the soul and beauty beyond any other. You are sharp tongued and strong. All qualities Henry wishes to possess."

"All of which he has with Anne,"

Maraush's eyes narrowed and her hands turned into fists, but after a moment she sobered. "And he will have her, but as many things they will not last." She gripped Anine's chin with an iron grasp. "She is not the strong willed woman he wants and that will be her downfall."

"You don't know that,"

"Oh but I do child." Maraush said releasing her chin and smiling. "The king has obsessed over having a woman that reminds himself of you. Once she has relinquished her maidenhead and bore the king no son he will remember why he must have you and only you."

"He is a better man than that," she said. She hoped at least.

"I suppose he could be if he wanted her truly," Maraush said another sly smile crossed her rosy lips. "But she is a close imitation of what you are. Which only makes his love for her a close imitation to what he feels for you."

"He feels nothing for me," she said letting the weariness of the day's events wash over her.

"I know otherwise and deep inside that gut of yours, you know its true." Maraush glanced harshly at Anna before leaving them alone. "Do well to pretty yourself up for the ceremony tonight dear. We cant have you looking like you've been playing in the dirt all day." With those parting words, Maraush swung up onto her horse and galloped down the street and out of sight.

(c) Kelcey Winn