BE-heading...

Everything was cold. I faced the north wall - the fireplace that occupied half of it was not helping suppress the heat. I walked towards it to add more wood.

"It's death..." the Lady spoke

"I'm sorry my Lady?" I spoke

"The coldness, its death... Lingering... Waiting..." the Lady

I just bowed my head to her. It has been a day since we were brought to the  Tower.

The day prior, we were with the Lady on her den, quietly embroidering a quilt for the the Lady's daughter when the uniformed men came. They have accused the Lady of Treason and Adultery and was ordered to be immediately detained in the Tower.

"If his Majesty so pleases..." was all that the Lady could muster.

"Ladies, prepare my things." the Lady directed us.

"No need for that My Lady, all has been arranged." the arresting officer said.

-o0o-

She was accused of Treason - of plotting against the King. They said that she bewitched the King into nullifying his marriage to the Queen Katherine.

That she was a Lutheran heretic who seduced the King's thought and action into the separation of the Church of England  from Rome.

That she was a witch.

And Adultery, she was accused of that.

Of having bedded more than a hundred men in her chambers to include his Brother...

And some say even his Father.

But in my eyes, the Lady was only guilty of one thing - love.

A love that knows only right and never wrong.

A love that was potent enough to kill.

A love that faded away from her so easily as it had been reposed on her.

I only gaze at her now with pity - the fear I have whenever she addresses me is now gone.

-o0o-

"You were found guilty of the charges Lady. Execution is set tomorrow at 9." Master Cromwell said.

The Lady did not flinch - its as if she was expecting the verdict to be just that.

"And what of my Father and Brother Master Cromwell?" the Lady spoke most sternly.

"Your brother is to be executed today Lady and your father is yet to be judged" Master Cromwell replied and left.

The Lady looked at the window.

"Fetch me the stool." the Lady ordered.

She placed the stool near the small window and stood on it.

Her face was blank - until suddenly...

She crunched and lost her balance.

She fell and I offered my hand to her.

She ignored my hand and remained on the floor.

"He's dead, my dear dear George. Oh - this is my doing... Oh brother dearest..." the Lady lamented as she covered her face with her palms.

I just stood there, not knowing how to comfort the Lady.

The Lady who could once, at will, have you dead was now on the floor weeping.

How the fates played on her poor soul...

Poor poor Lady Anne.

-o0o-

We did not sleep.

At 6, we were putting the Lady's dress on. She had a pearl necklace and a pair of pearl earrings on.

At 9, we put on her red cloak.

"The execution is postponed till noon My Lady, the executioner was delayed." an officer informed her

"No sir, this could not be. I... I am prepared to die about an hour ago... No..." the Lady uttered as she paced the room

"Your requested executioner My Lady, had a bit of a trouble on the road." the officer explained

"Yes... Yes the Frenchman. I heard he was very good at cutting heads... Hahahaha. Now who would ever corroborate such? Hahahaha." the Lady said laughingly.

We were all silent as she laughed. I thought her mad but then again, who wouldn't. The anticipation of death, I can see, is unbearable.

-o0o-

"Your execution is postponed tomorrow Lady, as decreed by his Majesty." she was informed again at noon.

"If so pleases his Majesty." the Lady simply said.

It was only when it is the will of his Majesty that the Lady surrenders without question. A complete submission to his will.

"But I died today... Yes, today was my death." she added.

-o0o-

We did not sleep again and at half past 6, the Lady was ready.

She walked out to her cell. Her chin held high.

The officer gave her a bag of coins.

"This is to pay your executioner My Lady." he said

I was curios to know how much death costs but I did not pry.

We walked towards the light and as soon as the Lady was out, the platform became apparent.

The crowds were shouting at her: Harlot! Witch! Prostitute! Satan!

But the Lady have seemed to shut the world out.

She climbed the platform and addressed the crowd:

Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge kindly. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul.

My heart broke for the Lady.

She removed her necklace and gave them to me.

And then her earrings...

We then placed her night cap.

She knelt and fit her neck to the wood board.

I turned away.

"Boy, fetch my sword." the executioner said.

-o0o-

I could have never loved the way the Lady did, nor could I ever surrender to my passions.

This attribute belonged to Queens and she, My Lady Anne was indeed a Queen.








PS: I'm officially a Tudor addict. One more season to go and I'm done! Woot! And HE now calls me Mistress Anne because of my fascination with Anne Boleyn - which I hate. ARGGGGHH!!! And on our annual costume Christmas ball, I have a pretty good idea on who I'm going to be... Hehehehe. Yay!