*unedited*
"My darling Elizabeth!"
Anne Boleyn, the lamented Queen of England dropped to the floor, pooling into her tourmaline purple gown as it adorned the cold, grey stone tiles; her arms were held out, open, beckoning out of love to her rouge haired child.
The scorched haired toddler, eyes wide, thumb in her mouth stared, settled in the arms of the governess Magaret Bryan. Anne's eyes brimmed with tears, trepidation seizing her body. her young babe remembered her not, it appeared.
"Mummy..." the little girl mumbled. She was released by Lady Bryan, and scampered over to her mother with the unbalance of any other child her age. She dived into her mother's gown, her little arms clinging on for dear life. For months, the babe had cried out, yearning for her mother, the only being to have shown her true love and affection.
Although a child, indeed she was, she was anything but a fool to goodness. Innocence sought out truth, truth sought out true love, true love sought out anything but ingenuity.
Anne's composure fell through, and she dismissed the governess so she could relish in a private moment with her child.
It was like that, His Majesty the King found them.
He spoke not until a teary eyed Anne stood up, still as graceful as she had been at their first encounter despite the child nestled in her arms and the swollen eyes she displayed. "You hold the intention of departing with the Princess to your abode at Kimbleton Castle, do you not?" Henry spoke.
Elizabeth stared at him, thumb back in her mouth.
"She is my child, Your Majesty. You have removed her claim to the throne and announced her illegitimate. Nothing new on your part, however. You bestowed a very similar fate upon our marriage. So Elizabeth has no need to be separated from me."
"Should something happen to the babe Jane carries, she shall take the throne. I must assure her safety. And of course, i will be able to offer the best education to her in all of Europe." Henry was not letting go of the child easily. Elizabeth was the only leverage he had over Anne.
"Agree to being my mistress after the birth of your babe and i shall see to it our beloved babe resides with you at your home. Of course, if you refuse, this shall be the last time you ever lay eyes on young Elizabeth."
Anne shook her head and cradled her daughter. "You wish i be the very same thing i nearly lost my head for. A harlot i was not, a harlot i am not and a harlot i shan't ever be, Your Majesty. False accusations shall not bear true fruit. Shame on the throne, your integrity and your truth. Lest you fail to see it, i shall never be unfaithful. I shall serve you, My King, but under moral and compass circumstances. If leave my child under your care i must, then so be it. My husband and i shall take leave come Tuesday morn."
With that, mother and child left the room.
Henry was left alone, to realise the truth of his past love's words.
Enraged, he made way to his throne room where he was sure to find the next person to lose his head.
