After giving birth to Princess Elizabeth, Anne she started to have nightmare of her being trialed and beheaded, screaming to stop the execution but no one heard her. It's the same nightmare every night. There was a point that she didn't want to fall asleep, afraid that she will wake up one day to realize that everything is real.
One night, Anne woke up from the horrible nightmare. She went to the balcony of their bedroom, look up to the sky and deeply sighed.
'Why I keep on dreaming it? Why?' Anne silently asked herself. It seems like she cannot escape her past. She wanted to forget the past and make new memories with Henry and Elizabeth but nightmare keep on plaguing her.
Anne was startled when she felt Henry's arms hugged her. She leaned on Henry's chest and listened to his heartbeats to calm her nerves.
"The nightmare is getting worse. Tell me about it, Anne." Henry kissed the side of her head. "It's bad for your health not getting enough sleep every night."
Anne sighed. She did not know if she will tell Henry about her nightmare.
A long paused of silence envelope the two of them.
"I have a horrible nightmare." Anne paused before continuing. "In this dream, you love me and I love you. You wanted to annul your marriage to Catherine but the Pope did not grant the annulment after seven years. Then you make a drastic move, you decided to separate England to Catholic Church, announcing as a head of church so you can divorce Catherine and marry me."
Henry turned Anne around and said, "That's intense, My Love. Even if it is just a dream, I will do it to be with you." Anne sadly looked at Henry.
"Then we got married and have Elizabeth. I failed to give you an heir for 3 years and there's an accusation of me sleeping behind your back and planning for your death. I was trailed just for nine days, found guilty of treason, incest and adultery then I was beheaded. You know what hurt the most Henry? You loving another woman and letting me die, leaving our almost 3 year old daughter, Elizabeth. You didn't have faith with my love for you and that killed me. You did not trust me. I would never betray you, Henry, it will kill me first. I have love you, I have stayed by your side for 10 long years and that is not enough to save me."
Henry did not comment but wipe Anne's tears as she told her nightmare.
"I....The same scene keeps playing in my mind. I was trialed and beheaded. I was screaming my innocence but no one heard me. I am watching myself get beheaded again and again. I am afraid that someday I will wake up and find everything is true." Anne felt like a heavy weight lifted from her chest when she told her nightmare to Henry. "I can't lose you, Henry and Elizabeth, this time. I can't."
To her surprise, Henry kissed her passionately and it likes he wanted to erase those memories with the sweetness of his lips. When they parted, they are both breathing deeply.
"Anne, you should have told me earlier." Henry sighed when their foreheads met. "That's bullshit. I don't know what to say to stop that nightmare but Anne, please know that I am here to stay forever by your side. That Henry in your nightmare is crazy and I won't be him. I have learned my lesson in a hard way, Anne. Losing you will also kill me. I will be your husband forever and you will be my wife forever. God is my witness."
Anne Boleyn slept peacefully in Henry's tight embrace that night. His heartbeats is her lullaby.
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Viscountess of Rochford, Jane Boleyn, the wife of George Boleyn reported to the King that she saw the Queen with his husband having an affair which spread throughout the country, sealing Anne as a whore, a slut.
It did not improve Anne's image and reputation to English people since they believed that she's an expensive whore who snatched the King from his true wedded wife, Catherine of Aragon.
Henry did not believe his wife is having the affair, he trusts her to be innocent so he ordered a trial. He wanted to prove to everyone that his wife is pure and innocent.
But Henry did not expect one of the five suspects who sleep with his wife will try to plead guilty and admitted having an affair with the Queen on three occasions.
Mark Smeaton admitted that he's having an affair with Anne.
There was a letter allegedly written by Anne that was read out loud before a thousands of people saying that the King cannot perform properly as a lover.
That makes Henry angry and started to slip away from Anne. His ego was heavily wounded.
Another letter sealed Anne's fate, a letter written to Lord Thomas, who is her long time admirer and still single, saying that Lord Thomas is just waiting for the King to be dead so he can pursue and marry her.
Anne was found guilty of treason, incest and adultery.
Cromwell know that Anne is innocent of all of this but did not do anything.
Everything piled up and it was like throw in Henry's face. Henry refused to believe it. He loves Anne dearly. There's no way a woman he loves dearly will betray him, will think about his death. He thought Anne was happy with him.
'He is not happy with you, you fool Henry. And you call yourself a king? Your wife sleeps with other men behind your back, worst her brother and talk about your death.' What a lovely wife you have Henry Tudor! You are dumb and weak' A voice in Henry's head mocked him.
Death is the punishment for a high treason.
He was resigned then he felt so angry with himself for believing Anne's Boleyn lies and betrayal. She's not innocent like he thought of.
He is staring at the death warrant of Anne. All he needs to do is to stamp his seal, this will also seal Anne's fate.
'God...I was stupid to believe you, Anne. How could you do this to me when I give you everything I have, I renounced my ties with Catholic Church, I divorced Catherine, I neglected Mary. I...I... am a big fool. I waited for you for 7 years, did I mean something to you?"
Henry cried as she remembered the first time he saw Anne. He did not want Anne to die.
Elizabeth. Henry felt like suffocated as he remember his child. Elizabeth should grow up with her mother with his side.
Henry closed his eyes and stamped his royal seal on Anne's death warrant.
All Henry knows is that everything won't be the same for him, for his daughter Elizabeth. His decision will surely haunt him for the rest of his life but he did not care, he was blinded with hurt, pain and anger.
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Anne cried as she woke up from the dream. It was liberating to know Henry's side from the past. But their situation makes it hard, all the people know she committed treason and Henry needs to punish her, whether she's his Queen or not. Anne knew that this will be her last time having a nightmare of her execution. Henry has fault so she did too, the important thing is, they were given a chance to re-do those mistakes and be together for a second time around.
Anne realized that she's blessed to have this second life with Henry and Elizabeth. Not all people are given this precious gift and she will do her best to make it worth.
Anne looked at Henry and kissed him in his sleep.
"Let's do this together, Henry. I will fight for our life and happiness."
YOU ARE READING
The Second Chance of Anne
Historical FictionHistorical Series #1 ----- Anne Boleyn is the second wife of King Henry VIII of England. She was accused of treason, incest, witchcraft and adultery which leads to her demise just 3 years after she was crowned as the Queen of England on 1533. Wha...
