Broken timeline - Part One

Chapter Eleven - The Tudor inquisition

'Okay Em, relax, it's going to be okay... just play along, implore his forgiveness and let's get the rock outta here !' shouted my inner mind.

Good thinking. No need to panic. I'm here anyway so I have to make the most of this.

'Think Emma think, look for clues and try to find what year it is !'

'Right ! He's Henry Tudor but he's young ! Not the old fat and completely mad King that's been described in my history books.
So that means that he has not married his six wives yet ! But who is he married to ?'

But wait ! he didn't say Head of the church of England, which meant that he hadn't broken with Rome yet, so I was right at the beggining, right before he married Anne Boleyn !
There was a silver lining in all this mess after all, he's still the smart beloved King and hasn't gone completely loco yet !

Okay, I had to think fast, since I knew now in what time I was, I needed to know what year.

"Kneel before your Majesty and beg for his mercy and forgiveness", continued the man.
I followed his orders and kept my head down. I was trying to come up with an explanation.

"There is no need to beg, let us first hear about the reason for this young woman's presence in the Tower before accusing her of any crime. Rise young woman and please introduce yourself", said another voice.

I stood up and finally looked straight, my anxiety breaking through the roof and flying to the sky. At least ten men where standing in front of me, minus the King himself. They were all staring at me with very intrigued eyes, all looking serious and wearing very heavy coats and robes. The King was sitting on his throne in front of me with a man next to him. I could recognize him from his scarlet outfit; Thomas Wolsey, the king's adviser who had a very unfriendly look on his face.

'Oh boy that man isn't going to be my friend.'

On his left was standing a tall man with dark hair that was covered by a thick velvet hat, and a long dark robe. I couldn't stop staring at him,

'There's something about his face... I feel like I had seen him before...'

"Well ?! Let's not wait for the grass to grow !" shouted the Cardinal, snapping me back from my thoughts.

I stared at the King, his red hair was shining underneath his gold crown. His deep blue eyes were piercing and staring right into mine, making me uncomfortable, as usual.

"My name is Emma Hastings your Majesty", I said, with a shaky uneven voice. I coughed, trying to clear my throat.

"Well Miss Hastings, welcome to my court" said Henry with a smirk on his lips. He was clearly enjoying this.

"Hastings ?" whispered the Cardinal, looking intrigued.

"It was brought up to me that you have been found on the royal grounds of the Tower", continues The King, "without the ability to provide my guards with an explanation for your presence there. The Tower is a well guarded fortress. One may not enter and leave as they please, so may I ask, how did you find yourself there ?"

I was petrified. He was being polite and it was even more frightening than what I had expected.

'Okay Em', we have to come up with a story very fast !'

"I apologize for trespassing, I was just exploring the city when I got lost. Before I knew it, I found myself walking inside the Tower grounds when one of your Majesty's guards saw me. Forgive me, but I was scared and started hasting, trying to find a way out, I was rather frightened." I said, trying to sound convincing.