Prompt: Captured

[happyfalcon]

((ooc: Open for anyone to tag, but beware the historical mindfuckery. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Is to rescue Anne Boleyn from the prison tower of Emperor Charles V in Spain.))



It seems the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, was not content to sit idly by and let Henry VIII, King of England, mistreat his aunt. Catherine of Aragon, the unhappy queen, had been neglected and ignored by Henry since her miscarriage of their son. Henry grew angry, thinking his marriage cursed by God and had thus sought to create male heirs by his mistresses.

Though Anne Boleyn was different.

She had refused his advances at first, to the chagrin of her father and uncle. Anne hadn't had interest in the king - and did not take to the idea of being referred to as "The Second Great Prostitute" like her sister, Mary. Still, after a while she had broken down and agreed to be the king's One True Mistress - though they had yet to share a bed. Still, that didn't stop Henry from pursuing a divorce from Catherine.

That's what had made Charles angry.

A few secret letters from Catherine told him the truth of how she had been mistreated by the king, and how he sought to divorce her in order to marry Anne Boleyn. Outraged, Charles had sent orders to his ambassador to take a few men with him and kidnap the queen and her ladies.

Kidnapping the queen and bringing her to Spain would free her from the king's cruelty. And, as Anne was a lady in waiting to the queen, she would also be captured, and Charles would be free to execute her in his realm. The charge: Treason against the queen of England.

So Anne was locked in the prison tower, awaiting her punishment. What would it be? Hanging? Drawn and quartered? Anne knew Catherine would want the slowest, most painful death imaginable for her...but Anne would not give the satisfaction of showing her fear. Even locked in the tower she remained strong and refused to cry.

But in her heart, she wondered: Where was her brother, George? Where was her father? Where was the king?

Would anyone rescue her?

Comments

[seekingcrocodile]

"Okay." He opens the door and shows her in. It's small, but there is at least enough room to move. "It's not much, but it should do."

[happyfalcon]

"It's certainly better than my last lodgings," Anne gave a slight chuckle as she entered.

She settled down on the bunk, however hard it was, but she wasn't about to complain. Anne glanced up with a small smile.

"Thank you, again. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for what you've done for me."

[seekingcrocodile]

He stands just inside the door. "I'm sure you'll come up with something."

[happyfalcon]

Anne tilts a brow at him but she's unable to stop herself from smiling.

"Even my best kiss wouldn't convey the depth of my gratitude."

[seekingcrocodile]

He closes the door behind him. "You may need to prove that statement."

[happyfalcon]

Anne gently bites her lower lip, her hand pats the section of the bed beside her, beckoning him near.

[seekingcrocodile]

He comes and sits next to her. "Although I haven't got much time."

[happyfalcon]

Anne nods a little, slowly her hands slide up his chest and stop to clutch the sides of his coat.

"If you must go, then we shouldn't waste a moment then, should we?"

She doesn't give much pause before pressing her lips hard against his, even letting her body lean into him as well so there was little, if any, space between them.

[seekingcrocodile]

"It's a good start," he says. "I think you have a chance at thanking me."

[happyfalcon]

"To your mind perhaps," Anne replies. "To mine, it's still nowhere close to showing enough gratitude. I suppose I may have to find another way to thank you."

[seekingcrocodile]

"I have some duties I have to attend to, so while I take care of that, you come up with ideas of how you can thank me, and I'll come and check on you later."

[happyfalcon]

"Very well, I'll do my best," She gives him a softer, more fleeting kiss. "Try not to take too long."

[seekingcrocodile]

He nods and leaves the cabin. About half an hour later, there's a soft knock on the door and he opens it. Upon entering the cabin, he closes the door again. "I have been instructed to inform you that you are invited to dine with the officers tonight, if you wish. Otherwise food will be brought to you."

[happyfalcon]

Anne smiled when he returned. She folds her hands behind her back, considering the offer. She would prefer to dine alone with him, but she doubted they could get away with that.

"Well, such a generous offer - who am I to refuse?" Anne replied.

Her fingers wrap around something she has for him behind her back.

"I've a gift for you."

[seekingcrocodile]

Not yet, anyway. One day perhaps they'll find a way to manage it, but now's not the time.

"A gift? For me?"

[happyfalcon]

Anne holds out her favor, a small token from a lady to her knight to a man who had saved her. In more ways than one.

It's nothing major, the Spanish had taken the jewels she'd been wearing when they captured her. It's a small piece of dark blue ribbon. Not one she would use to secure her hair, no - it was one she kept tied to the garter around her thigh. That was the importance of such favors, after all - the intimacy of them.

"It's not much, I realize, but I imagine it's a decent start to expressing my gratitude to you."

[seekingcrocodile]

"It's," he might not know exactly where it came from, but he knows what it means symbolically. "It's lovely, thank you." It's also something that he can hang on to without much difficulty.

[happyfalcon]

Some women gave detachable sleeves, or locks of hair or a locket with their picture in it. Anne's not quite that forward - she would not force herself upon him so. A simple ribbon would do.

"So...you do not mind keeping it?" Anne stepped closer to him.

[seekingcrocodile]

"I do not. Tokens from women, a lot of men have them."

[happyfalcon]

"Then I'm so glad," Anne smiles, placing the ribbon in his hand before leaning up to kiss him once more. "I could not imagine giving my favor to any other man."

Not even the king.

[seekingcrocodile]

"I've never had a favor from any other woman before."

[happyfalcon]

"Charming as you are? I find that hard to believe."

[seekingcrocodile]

"There aren't a lot of women who are patient enough to spend a lot of time with someone living a sailor's life."

[happyfalcon]

She bites her lower lip a moment - don't say it, you really shouldn't, Anne-

"They're idiots, all of them. I could."

[seekingcrocodile]

That seems to be a statement that surprises him. He wasn't expecting her to say it. "You could?"