dear_mun | Very nervously voice-testing

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Very nervously voice-testing

My lady:

Must I add you to the growing number of those who have become my enemies? You claim to favor me, but do you not also seek to remove me from my throne, from the side of my true and noble husband?

And you do not seek to replace me, but to send me away to some unknown realm? No, my lady, I will not have it. Look to your others for your entertainment. I serve only God and the king.

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You can share my list if you want to.

[Pardon her if she seems a little startled. She's just not used to random people speaking to her without so much as a "Your Majesty" or "Your Grace."]

Your list, sir?

List of people you don't like. I've got one too.

My own is quite enough.

How many pages?

I am not proud of my enemies, sir, and so I will not boast of their numbers. [Catherine...is not always the best at taking jokes.]

[He's starting to get that.]

You know you don't have to keep calling me sir, right?

[....no, she doesn't.]

What would you have me call you?

Your Majesty.

It seems you are as stubborn as ever. Even in a place like this.

Your Eminence.

There is no earthly thing that could tempt from the position to which God has called me. That has not changed.

Mother?

Mary? [Oh my. Forgive her, but the last time she saw you, you were much smaller. That doesn't stop her from smiling and reaching out to take her daughter's hands, though.] You have grown into such a beauty.

[Mary grips her mother's hands tightly, smiling, eyes glassy. Tears would get in the way of conversation.]

Mother, I... forgive me. I heard that things like this were possible here, but I did not dare to hope that I would see you.

[But kisses won't. Catherine pulls her closer and kisses Mary's cheek.]

You have done no wrong which needs forgiveness. Oh, it is good to see you.

[She leans into this, letting out a shaky breath. She'd almost forgotten her mother's touch, what she smelled like.]

You've been in my heart every day. I only wish that I could have been with you at the end, to ease your suffering.

[However, she doesn't feel as if she has done no wrong. She hesitantly pulls back.]

I do need to ask for your forgiveness, mother.

And you will always be in mine. Even the thought of you is a great comfort to me.

[When Mary pulls back, concern registers on Catherine's face. She's not worried about what Mary has done because- well, this is her Mary. She trusts her and, besides, there's very little she wouldn't forgive her. But she doesn't know what sort of life she has had while she grew so. Something is weighing on her heart and it troubles her to see it.]

Whatever for, my child?

[She lowers her eyes. Her mother's words don't make this any easier to confess.]

I was given articles to sign. They stated that your marriage was unlawful, and thus that I am not a rightful heir to the throne. They stated the king was the head of the church. I feel as if my own hand signed away all that you stood for, mother. I did not have your strength.

Oh, my Mary. [She can't hide that she's disappointed. But there's more sadness in her eyes than anything else.]

I could never be angry with you for this. It should not have been asked of you. [Which is as close as she will get to an open condemnation of Henry.]

You are your father's true and legitimate daughter, whatever you may have signed. You are the descendant of Isabella and Ferdinand. Remember that and let it bring you strength.

[She thinks of Thomas More and his execution, but says nothing of it.]

I can only pray that God also forgives me and, in time, myself.

[Probably best. There's nothing she can do about it and it would only upset her.]

As will I.

Father has since remarried, after that Anne Boleyn's execution. She has been more than kind to me, and reconciled me with the King. That, at least, has lightened my heart.

[There's a lot of new information in that sentence. Give her a moment.]

Has there been any joy for you?

That has brought me the most joy, mother. And speaking to you once more.

*tries to speak, but for a moment finds herself tongue tied*

It is not so bad, your majesty. Not usually, being sent to a new place.

Unfortunately, I also know from experience that we do not always have a choice.

My own mun has just..applied for..a spot for me in this strange realm, though she has yet to receive an answer.

[Oh, Catherine knows what it's like to be sent to a strange place well enough. England had been strange to her once, as it had to Anne. But she will not be sent away, now that she has her place. She's digging in her heels on this.]

I hope she does not mean to treat you unkindly.

Actually, compared to the other lady she keeps *Anne can't bring herself to use the term 'puppet'* the Mun treats me fairly well.

The other one is a lady soldier from the 20th century, and the mun on occasion puts her through trails that put her at risk of injury because in her words 'she's a fighter and she doesn't put her into anything she knows she won't be able to get out of.'

The worst I have had to go through is observing.

Yes, my lady has [diplomatic pause] quite a variety of others in her keeping. [Which is Catherine's understated way of saying that some of them are rather odd.]

She is also harsher with those who believes capable of "taking it."

I've heard that it is called 'character building' to pup 'others' through such tasks as to see what comes of it-usually to make them stronger in the outcome.

Have you been treated well by your mun, your majesty? My own seems to take on a more...calmer..approach with me.

She has done little as yet. Her plans seem to be kinder than those she holds for others.

It is the same for this one. The most she has put me through was..*she blushes* well, the world I'm living in-there was a plot going on to turn people into their 'opposites.'

The way I behaved-well, again, it could have been a lot worse, but I behaved more like one of my maids-in-waiting than as a princess or duchess.

Thank god nothing serious came of it-only I did sell or give away most of my clothing from home. Apparently, the 'opposite-me' thought they were too constricting.

Do you love him?

With all my heart. [Which only makes her current predicament more painful.]

Even so, you are fortunate.

How so, my lady?

That you could live out your days with one you love.

You have not heard, then, of the king's Great Matter. He would have our marriage declared invalid.

An annulment? [ She feels the tiniest bit of guilt. ] But, why?

[She pauses, choosing her words carefully. She knows very well the actual reason- his passion for the Boleyn woman. But even now she plays the part of the dutiful wife, refusing to speak ill of him openly.]

I have borne him many children, but no living son. Only our daughter, Mary, survives. He holds this as evidence that the Pope's dispensation was not sufficient to satisfy God. That my marriage to his brother Arthur makes our union a sin, though I came to his bed a maid, untouched by man. [There's no trace of blush in her cheeks. She can ill afford it. Her personal life, her body, is a matter of state.]

He is a good and honest man, misled by those who hate me and by his own grief. [Or so she tells herself.]

[ Political marriages, she thinks, are the true sins. ]

But do you believe your marriage to your husband to be a sin, my lady?

I do not. [It's rather insistent. Defensive even.] We were wed with the express permission of His Holiness and according to the laws of the Church. I am his true wife and the rightful queen of England. And my daughter is no bastard.

[Which is another large part of what this is about- protecting her daughter's birthright.]

[ She inhales at that word, the one her family conveniently tiptoes around. But the lady meant no harm surely. ]

I believe the Holy Father's dispensation was enough, and hope that your husband would soon see the error of his doubt.

[She really didn't. For one, she has no idea. For another, her issue is really with Mary's place in the line of succession.]

Thank you, my lady. I have few friends in this matter.

[ A Papal bull solves everything from dispelling bastardry to conducting divorces. ]

You would call me a friend?

[And when that fails, founding your own church is the way to go. At least according to Henry.]

You are not against me. That is more than I can say for many who I have known for years.

Well then.

[ Taking on a more chipper tone. ]

You must at least know my name: Lucrezia Borgia. [ Because like hell she would introduce herself as a Sforza! ]

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Very nervously voice-testing

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OMG, why do I think I will get teary-eyed over this?

mom :'(

Babby :'(

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sorry for the slow, rl killed me for a few days

no worries ;)

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*mun goes 'squeeeee*

I love Anne of Cleves, my gosh.

I love tudor pups :D

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ooc: still looking for a game? I've Anne in one for LJ and waiting for approvale in a DW comm

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*flails* how did I not see the notif

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mun goes 'squeeeee

flails how did I not see the notif