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]

"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?"

[happyfalcon]

It surprises her as well, it takes her a minute to realize that she actually spoke them.

"Yes."

Fear begins to fill her now; not for the king's vengeance, not for the consequences - but for what he might say next.

[seekingcrocodile]

"I--" He'd never really explored the possibility. She's a noblewoman pursued by the king. He's a common man, a sailor in the king's navy. Those two groups don't tend to mix.

"You know it would never work out, no matter how much we might want it to."

[happyfalcon]

She's a bit sheepish at that proclamation - of course it's crossed her mind, she's an intelligent woman after all.

"I know but..." She struggles for words now. "....it seems so silly and so selfish...but I don't care."

Still, slightly put off by the response, though in truth she should have expected it, Anne looks away from him, even takes a step back.

[seekingcrocodile]

"Anne." He hopes he hasn't offended her. "We both know it's not practical, but that doesn't mean we have to stop seeing each other. That's certainly not what I want."

[happyfalcon]

She bites the inside of her cheek, trying to keep herself from saying anything more. It's not really working out too well though - but it does give her a moment to think about her words before she says them.

"I don't...want that either," again she forces a small smile before glancing up to him again. "Forgive me, I spoke out of turn and wasn't really thinking. T'was indeed silly of me..." It's a lie, but she suddenly doesn't enjoy the situation she's in, so she's attempting a way out.

[seekingcrocodile]

"What do you want?" This is not the way this conversation should be going.

[happyfalcon]

She's caught off guard - it's not a question she's been asked before. Ever. It takes her a minute to process it, but even still, she doesn't quite understand it - even if it is a relatively simple question.

"What do you mean, 'what do I want'?"

[seekingcrocodile]

"What I asked. What do you want?"

[happyfalcon]

Anne stares a moment, still contemplating the question. But after a moment she looks to him again.

"Happiness. Freedom of choice. Is that so wrong? I want the ability to say 'I don't want the king I want-'" Her pause isn't out of hesitation or fear, it's frustration. But she blurts it out: "-you!"

[seekingcrocodile]

He steps closer. "You have that, just perhaps not in the way that you would like."