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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 14 2011, 12:16 PM (540 Views) | |
| Anne Boleyn | Nov 14 2011, 12:16 PM Post #1 |
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January 1513 Soon it would be Lent, and while Anne was pious in her own way and had her own convictions concerning religion, she would still miss the frivolity that was allowed during the rest of the year. Forty days of pray and fast and Anne's ankles growing stiff without occasion to dance. How dull it was. But in the meantime, the raven-haired woman had a good amount of coin from the Christmas and New Year's festivities, and she saw no reason why she should not risk losing it -- or gaining more. The Great Hall was comparatively placid tonight. The dancers seemed to lack luster in their step and the buzz of conversation was low. Perhaps it was owing to hangovers or the overwhelming appetites that often happened during Christmas celebrations. Either way, Anne entered the hall with a glossy set of cards in her hands and a mince in her step. Her brother George was a favored partner at cards, but anyone would suffice tonight. After all, cards not only garnered her new wealth, however paltry it may be, but new friends as well. "Dear lords and ladies," Anne laughed as she set her cards upon a small table near the edge. "Shall anyone be so inclined to rise to the occasion of a game of cards with me? I promise to lose for the first two hands!" She laughed at her declaration, her cobalt eyes lighting up with her jubilation. |
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| Henry Percy | Nov 25 2011, 11:19 AM Post #2 |
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In the midst of the frivolity, the dance, the feasting, the wine and merriment, Henry knew it was all in binge for the slow, quiet, fasting forty days of Lent. Which, quite truthfully, the young disgrace was looking forward to... forty days of prayer, of mild sociability, forty days without meat, without the lascivious wine and ale of the palace, and most importantly, forty days Henry would be able to spend perhaps in his own sense of solitude. He felt nearly exhausted with all the celebrations, with all the days and weeks he spent under William's employ, even with all the French guests still making merry in Steward House. Henry could not remember the last night he had full of rest, but he felt that not only with Lent on its way, so were things that would once more put reason to his efforts and his plight. His cause that so many members of his family were trying their hardest to assist him in. But here even in the Great Hall, sipping a small chalice of wine, lingering thoughtfully through the crowds and tables, he knew it was his turmoil to fight, his battle to win, and it did not lie upon the shoulders of his cousins or his sister. No, it was on his, had always been on his, and he only hoped those who were trying to help would only still be there should he ever fall from his cause. Determined as he was, Henry knew he had to be prepared to lose, to retreat, to perhaps lose again and where else to retreat... it was the soldier in him that had him thoroughly mulling over each and every possibility. And being the man he was, the man whose father had ruined nearly everything for him and his siblings, it was easy to get distracted in a room full of others. Not many freely and openly approached him, not unless it was William or Margaret or... God willing, Anne. "Dear Lords and Ladies!" Turning his head, there she was. As if on perfect cue! Seeing her put an immediate smile to his lips, the emerald hue of his eyes glistening with adoration as he admired the Sun that was Anne Boleyn. Already he felt replenished, refreshed, and he dared to take a single step towards her as she proposed a game of cards. Cards! Fond memories flooded his mind, nearly forgetting about the chalice in his hand as he approached from the side, his expression warm and held higher than it had been since their last encounter. A breathless chuckle passed his throat as she put forth her promise, her confidence so high she was sure losing two hands would still amount to her winnings. Ah, yes, this was the Anne he knew and had come to so easily love, and it was that very thought that had him nearly blurt out his inclination. "I believe I can rise to that," he smiled again and offered a low bow, keeping his wine chalice extended from his body before standing straight and holding it once more at level. Peering through the ends of his blond tendrils, he only flashed her a familiar grin. "But I believe it is I that will need to promise to lose first." |
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| Anne Boleyn | Dec 9 2011, 03:42 PM Post #3 |
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The only taker emerged, and how Anne's heart leaped as she saw Henry Percy, his golden hair more radiant than all the King's finery, his eyes the same lush green as the grounds of Hever. Even with disgrace attached to his name, attached to his family, Anne could still forget all that and everything that she thought mattered in a man. Her composure could not, but her mind was her own -- as well as her heart. Her lips stayed curved in a smile and a hand strayed to the deck of cards. "How kind of you, my lord." Anne replied with a grateful curtsy, her eyes glittering at Henry. Was her affinity obvious? She could not shy away, not now, not with so many that could be watching. And besides that, she was a Boleyn. Often composed and eloquent, she did not back down. "Without you, I fear I should find my evening very dull." Let the others think that she was merely grateful for a partner to play cards, a very handsome partner whom she had once had a tender spot for. Anne would not fool herself into thinking that a secret could be kept at Hampton Court, even by her. Wagging tongues and open ears were always present, even behind thick tapestries and cold stone walls. "Come, my good lord, and keep me company... take my money." The raven-haired woman laughed as she took a few steps back towards the table, expecting Henry to follow. Here at this table, away from most of the commotion and the traffic, perhaps they could be alone... or hide in plain sight. Whether they would achieve any degree of privacy or not, Anne was just happy to be able to converse with the man she had held -- and still did, despite herself -- so dear. Anne sat first, aided by a nearby retainer who pulled her seat out for her. Taking the deck of cards into her hands, Anne smiled at Henry, and laughed again at his counter-offer. "Ever the proper gentleman!" Her head cocked to the side slightly, dark hair falling ever so lightly into her face. "If you insist, I promise I shall not squeeze all that I can from you... this time." She teased. The cards slapped together as she began to shuffle, and then deal. "Is there any particular game you desire, my lord?" |
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| Henry Percy | Dec 12 2011, 12:34 PM Post #4 |
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Henry could not miss the glitter in Anne's eyes. They had always been like that, sparkling in beautiful thought and mischief whenever having caught whiff of a challenge. Of course, the young disgrace was no challenge, but he knew to gain the attention of her prowess, he had to at least try and play the part. He was only thankful she had welcomed him, had not eyed him once and shrugged him off instead... which, he knew he would have deserved. Nonetheless, her next comment of subtle praise caused his heart to lurch in his very chest, and he did not bother to wonder if anyone else had heard and questioned. The emerald hue of his eyes brightened and his smile tugged just a bit further at the edges of his mouth, so entirely pleased with the sight before him, Henry was almost unsure of what to do with himself. Oh, how he wished he could be the charming, intellectual heir of Northumberland to her again, wished he did not feel so empty of confidence that he nearly found himself trembling at the knees again in her presence. Surely she would disapprove of any wavering countenance. But he could not help it. Anne Boleyn remained the very symbol of everything he had lost and was working hard to win back, and though she remained one of the first of his most beloved, she would have to be the last he fought for. She could not be won unless he had everything to give her. For now, a mere game of cards would have to do. "Come, my good lord.." oh, if only she beckoned for him every day of his life. Every morning when he woke and every night before he slept. Following in step beside her, Henry turned his head and smiled happily. "You speak with such openness," he began, letting little time to allow misinterpretation. "It brings me to wonder if you have an extra card or two up your sleeves." He chuckled breathlessly in jest and took a small sip from the chalice he had been holding. Coming to the table, Henry watched the retainer pull out a chair for her and stifled a small sigh; if only that boy knew the privilege he had to aid the woman of his heart. And yet, it was he that she called the ever-proper gentleman. His eyes lit up yet again from the praise, as if it was only her approval that he had been needing for so long. As if right here she was the answer to all of his questions and prayers. Falling into the chair opposite her, he smiled and placed aside his chalice of wine. "Oh, but I must insist," a tiny smirk tugged the edges of his mouth, a faint light of confidence restoring within the young disgrace. "Every bit of your efforts will be needed here, Mistress Anne, so I dare say you will have to try to squeeze out every bit of me if you seek victory." He stifled a chuckle and watched her nimble fingers shuffle the worn-from-use deck of cards. "Tonight will be not like other times, I promise," he smiled and shook his head, remembering fondly all the times she had beaten him so easily. And how, Henry had never been able to figure out. Hearing that she'd left the choice of game up to him came as no surprise, and he could only grin as he recalled all the times he and Primero never quite came out as equals. Shaking his head, he took another sip from his chalice and flashed a very subtle wink at her. "How does a game of primavista sound?" |
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| Anne Boleyn | Dec 19 2011, 09:13 AM Post #5 |
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It was so easy to pretend that Buckingham's flawed revolt never took place, that the man Anne gazed upon was not the disgraced heir of Northumberland. She did not fool herself at all -- pretend was a game for children, and it would do no good for either Henry or Anne to pretend that the truth was false. But for tonight, for the moment, the woman could not dwell on the harsh reality of their situation. She could smile for Henry and laugh and make merry. Tonight could be their reprieve, their bastion of fantasy away from the cruel, cruel world. And so it would be. Anne threw her head back and laughed, mischief giving her face an impish look as she turned her eyes up to look at the beautiful man across from her. "Do I?" Her voice was positively roguish as she questioned the man. "If that is so, I believe I should be commended, not scolded!" Lifting her hands into the air and rotated her wrists to show the close-fitting sleeves, Anne laughed again. It was a luxury that Anne enjoyed to be able to laugh and joke with Henry again, even if it were in public, even if it were the only thing she could hope to do now. It soothed the ache in her heart and sustained her for the time being -- or possibly set her up for a rude awakening afterward. There! It was like the first break of dawn after darkest night -- Anne could see a glimmer of fortitude in his eyes, something similar to Henry before his father's death. His words reinforced such an expression, and Anne found herself grinning a bit like a simpleton. Taming her smile to one of mystery, Anne replied, "Your challenge is accepted, my lord -- I shall do my best to assure you don't rue it." A cobalt eye closed in a wink and Anne laughed as their hands were dealt and she placed the deck in the middle of the table. "Primavista? It has been a while, my good lord, but there is no one other than you that I would like to renew my skill with in the game." Grinning, Anne tapped the cards of her hand into order and then fanned them out in her hand, giving them a glance. No emotion was betrayed on her face, but her eyes turned to Henry before her head followed. "Would you believe me if I told you I have a very dreadful hand?" She teased. "I only say this so that you know the depths to which I have plunged and the height I must aspire to squeeze all I can out of you." |
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| Henry Percy | Dec 26 2011, 04:31 PM Post #6 |
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Henry Percy loved that laugh. As she threw her pretty head back and let it come out of her small, elegant throat, the young disgrace was sure he had never heard anything more beautiful. Especially in the most dreary of times, the most languishing, Henry found nothing but solace in Anne's company... and Heaven in her laughter. How easy it was for her; merely breathing was something she could make look so beautiful, so special... God, how had Henry gone this long without her? How had he let one man speak against his love for her? Casting his eyes down to the deck of cards, he knew he was but of a man of many others... and the will of his beloved Cardinal Wolsey -who, of course, hadn't spoken a word to him since his father's disgrace- and his expectant, angry father would not be betrayed. He would have cost not only himself everything, but Anne as well, and by taking her as his wife against their peers' word... it would have killed him to bring her into such lowly misery. Henry deserved to live and endure it completely alone, making sure the heads of his brothers and precious sister were above any tormenting currents. He made sure he carried them high on his back. Anne, though, he had left on a very high pedestal, and even as she revealed her the slender wrists from the tight-fitting sleeves, he knew he had made the right decision. To think, she would be right here beside him, disgraced not only by his family for marrying out of his inheritance, but he and Anne would have even less after his father's betrayal. They would not have even a roof of their own, no Alnwick, no nothing. She would have not been the Countess of Northumberland like he had once promised her. But here, simply Anne Boleyn, she seemed happy. Shining and golden, as always, just like the honey harvested in the heat of summer. Just like the sun that he felt himself trying to drink up more and more as she continued to bless him with her melodic laughter. He could do only the same, his smile bright and his chuckle hearty, feeling the memory of life warm him to the very core. If she was not commended for being able to hide cards in the tightness of her sleeves, then she would be commended for simply being, for simply letting him sit across from her and invite him to a game of cards. It were small moments like these that Henry Percy found the very meaning of happiness. Taking the dealt cards into his hand, he splayed them out just so so that every suit was showing one after the other. His eyes flickered over the top of his cards to his opponent, a faint smirk touching the edges of his lips as she inquired about her own seemingly terrible, terrible hand. The very brims of his eyes lightened with a coy grin and he let out a breathless chuckle. Even with her words of praise, of teasing implication of her small chances of losing, Henry knew it would all come to haunt him very, very soon. He was no fool to underestimate the Anne Boleyn... and though his emerald gaze searched her sparkling sapphire one, he knew there was no use to bluff and frighten her to fold. Henry would have to try his very hardest to prove even the slightest bit of challenge for her, even if her cards were as dreadful as she described. "Well, I am not so sure.." he smirked, glancing at his cards. "Bluffing is a common tactic in these games, often used to confuse the opponents and frighten them with the possible chance that.." he trailed off, his face still quirked. "They just might lose everything." Of course, Anne knew all about that. Henry would take his winnings from a game and take them to Anne to try and defeat her as well, only for her to strip him of every coin in his pocket. That was his Anne Boleyn. "I am not so easily coaxed, Mistress Anne.." he peered playfully at her through the ends of his blond tendrils. "You will have to aspire higher than that." Managing to flash a subtle wink at her, Henry placed two cards face-down on the table and asked to be dealt another two, only to fish out two gold coins from his doublet pocket and lay them in the space between them. "After all, primavista is a game of bluffs and vies. It seems I chose rather well." |
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| Anne Boleyn | Jan 12 2012, 01:28 PM Post #7 |
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Henry's own smile was mirrored in Anne's. She demurely hid the grin behind her cards, her eyes flashing at her card partner. How giddy he made her feel! There was real danger of her facade slipping so, quelling her glee, Anne lowered her cards and cocked her head lightly to the side, her expression a curious mixture of smug and simpering. It was a way for her to tease him -- Henry knew her well, and at least had a running knowledge of her tactics at cards. But she could still play the part of innocent gambler, if there was such a thing. "Me? Bluff? My lord, you wound me -- is not bluffing dishonesty?" Cobalt eyes sparkled and Anne had to hide her smile again. How she missed this! "And, by doing so, insinuate I should wish to fleece you -- Never! Never would I fleece you... in public." At that, Anne let out a naughty chortle, hiding all but her eyes behind her cards once more. Arranging her cards with the reverence that a priest might handle a tome of scripture, the woman flicked her eyes between the suits of black and red back to her partner. "Ah, so you deign to present yourself as a challenge to me?" Henry had always been a challenge to Anne. He had been the heir of an Earldom richer than the King of England himself. A marriage to him was almost unattainable, no matter what his and Anne's hearts had said about it. And now, in disgrace, the challenge laid in Anne compromising her feelings with him and his new station which, some could say, was lower than Anne's. Henry Percy was a frustrating riddle at times that Anne wished she could just solve, just call her own for once and for all. Of course, Anne wanted that to happen and for his previous wealth to be restored to him – that would be the best possible scenario. "Challenge accepted, my lord." Anne lowered her cards, keeping them guarded from prying eyes, and from her purse she pulled a sovereign, placing it gently in the middle of the table. "If such a poor bet doesn't convince you that I speak the truth, I do not know what else will." Her eye closed in a wink and she gave Henry a devilish grin. She rearranged her cards again, knitting her brow together in thought and glanced back to Henry. "Can you read my primavista face, my lord?" The raven-haired woman teased, leaning forward as she did. "One might even say that our existence at court is a game of primavista." Anne began philosophizing, breasting her cards for the moment. "A game of bluffs and vies --" Anne echoed Henry's sentiment, grinning like a fox. "And in a game, one always needs the perfect partner -- much like we have right now, my lord." |
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| Henry Percy | Jan 19 2012, 07:16 PM Post #8 |
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How had Henry gone this long without her? How had he gone any time without her? At this very moment, Anne bubbling and laughing just across from him, cards in their hands, words -for the most part- free, Henry did not have the time nor remembrance to damn his father or the misfortunes that threatened to drown him. Instead, he was able to quite guiltily indulge in the company he had been granted, the time he had been blessed to spend with the woman that continued to hold every meaning and purpose of life for him. But, of course, playing a simple game of cards could not possibly allude to his undying devotion to his playing partner... could not possibly show her that she held the entirety of his heart in her very palm. Instead, he smirked over at her, shaking his head occasionally and shuffling his cards, too, as if a nervous habit to remind himself that this was no fantastical dream. Anne was real, this moment was real, and as simple and meager as it was, Henry clung to it with all the gratitude he could muster. "Are you saying you would fleece me, Mistress Anne?" He asked, feigning complete shock and surprise, even offense as he gaped at her across the table. A single hand flung to his chest, as if he'd just been struck there, but in the following second a humored smile took his lips and a hearty chuckle left his throat. "Then I shall be on all guard!" He shook his head and peered at her beneath the very ends of his blond tendrils, "after all, I am the one that has dared approach this match!" He refrained from flashing her a wink and instead reached for a chalice of wine that had been placed there by a servitor, taking a sip and swallowing with just the slightest of movements from his lips and throat. The dark emerald of his eyes flickered to the slenderness and subtlety of her hand as she slid a single sovereign onto the smooth wood of the table, accompanied by the dull glisten of the two coins he had placed in bet himself. A tiny smirk tugged at the edges of his lips as she continued to try and convince him she had no winning hand, and with the gesture of a tiny, minimum bet, he was supposed to believe that he had every chance in the world of beating her. But Henry, so far, had known better. He would not be fooled so quickly. Hardly moving an inch as she leaned forward, putting on her best primavista face, the young disgrace could not help but notice the light whiff of her perfumes and oils he had been granted with the small movement, and a single second, it was as if time itself had been altered. There was nothing like scents to put one in a past moment, to overwhelm the senses with nostalgia, and all Henry could do to distract himself was to look to his cards and to the tiny pile of sovereigns between them. Admittedly, without much though, he placed another coin into the accumulating pot and smirked appropriately. "I think, Mistress Anne, you and I know the workings of court more than plenty of those that surround us. Especially the bluffs and vies." No more was Henry Percy joking and laughing, but instead his voice had grown noticeably serious, and though the smirk was still clear across his lips, there was something deeper solidifying itself in his eyes. Memories flooded him, regrets and disappointments, things he could have done differently, things he hadn't done at all, but one thing was for certain. He had made no mistake in following his father and Wolsey's demands to rid himself of the Anne Boleyn. Of course, there would be no ridding himself of her, as no meager blade of grass could escape the sun, but he had made no mistake by letting others come between them. At first, he had hated himself, had wallowed in his grief for letting her go so easily... but he could see clearly now that it had been his only choice, lest the both of them live in muck and sewage for the rest of their lives. "So I think here in this moment, our perfect partnership may keep us at this table for quite awhile.." he smirked, wanting so badly to wink at her, but keeping himself from doing so and instead taking yet another sip of the claret in the iron chalice. "I could think of no one better to find myself straining to win a long game of Primavista with." And with that, he laid out two more sovereigns, smirking and finally flashing her a subtle wink as he hand slid across the table and back to cradle his hand of cards. |
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| Anne Boleyn | Feb 2 2012, 10:38 AM Post #9 |
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No longer playing demure and innocent -- Henry knew her too well -- Anne's lips curled in a wicked grin. The shade of his eyes were so lovely, and how they glittered! His lips were perfect, even when parted in his faux shock. Anne wished that she could run her fingers through his golden locks that glimmered as brightly as any coin, but she found herself rapturous in her thoughts. Reigning them in, she rearranged her cards once more, cobalt eyes flickering back to Henry's face as he spoke. This light-hearted verbal sparring was delightful! "I cannot be blamed for attempting to do everything I can to take advantage of you, my lord." Dark brows bounced once. "I am left with so very few weapons in my arsenal -- A woman does what she can, yes?" The idea of fleecing Henry Percy, figuratively and literally, was something Anne was not entirely averse to. If things had gone the way Anne desired, she would have known Henry Percy as only a wife can -- but share in his disgrace. And yet the thought of such was still alluring to her. Some part of her fool mind could trick her into thinking it could be worth it to know those lips so intimately, and to find pillows in Henry's arms... Pushing those thoughts away, Anne's grin grew again and she asked, "Do you suddenly find yourself on the defensive instead of the offensive? How terrible of me to lure you so falsely!" Her merry laughter rang through the hall once more and she ended it in a sigh. Wistful thinking would not help her now when there was nothing to do for it and there was coin to win. Whether or not the Boleyn woman prevailed in fleecing her opponent remained to be seen. And Henry was not showing any quailing of spirit as he put forward his own bet, raising the pot. Anne's eyes widened in pleasant surprise, and her grin turned into a slyly curved one, as though hiding a secret. "Such confidence; it almost makes me want to fold my lord!" The woman declared, teasing. Another coin was added to the pot, adding to the surprise, but Anne's sly smile wilted away as Henry spoke again. His words were heavy with meaning, his eyes laden with what he could not speak. Anne's cards lowered, removing any barrier between she and Henry, and her eyes met his own gorgeous green. Her lips, usually curled in smile, were uncharacteristically straight as she looked at the man she still loved but, as far as she could see, would never have as her own. Her pulse thundered in that moment, making her dizzy -- It was because of the wretched souls of Hampton Court and these bluffs and vies that they could not be together. It was because of them that Henry was besmirched and Anne kept intact -- It was because of them that she was not held as tarnished as Henry was, as she should have been. Swallowing as though the act would suppress what Anne was feeling (the guilt and yes, the shock that she could think she deserved to be at Henry's side in his disgrace), her eyes vainly looked to her cards for something to distract her thoughts. But Henry's words drew her gaze back to him. "I would desire nothing more in the world than for us to stay here as long as we can, my lord." Her words were low, barely a breath above a whisper. For once, Anne coveted another's ability to seem so placid when within her was a torrent that threatened to tear down her carefully constructed facade of nonchalance. Henry just sipped his wine, betraying little. But at his wink it was as though Anne was fortified again, could breathe again, and a chuckle escaped her as she met his bet with her own coins. "I shall do my best to thoroughly exhaust you by the time we declare the evening spent." Anne managed to say, putting up her front of cool confidence once more -- But surely Henry had seen her falter. "And I shall try to leave some coin in your pockets by the end of the night... Lord knows I should not want to leave you desolate and destitute." |
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| Isabel Leigh | Mar 9 2014, 08:08 PM Post #10 |
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Virtue alone is invincible.
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