The Court of Their Royal Highnesses Queen Marie and King Nicholas.

*He slips out of court unnoticed and stands upon the battements, the chill night air ripping at his cloak. He is but a shadow standing there, seen by none of the guards. Because he does not want to be seen. Not even the full moon shining over head casts its silvery light upon him.

He looks out over the highlands of the North and wonders in which direction to turn. He is not yet accustomed to the villages and hamlets that scatter his new home. His new hunting ground. But the night awaits, and he is hungry.

This part of who he is, what he is, is never easy. He loathes the taking of another life, however vile that life may be. He tries to justify some goodness in it, the smoteing of evil doers, but he knows it is ruse. He is a killer, just as they are, and it matters little if he has never spilled the blood of innocents or not.

His decision made he leaps from the battlements and glides into the darkened sky.

Hidden in the shadows, Richard watches in silence, his suspicions it seems were founded. His lips part in a devious smile as he watches Sir Nicholas’s flight into the night. *

Oh I see well if you want to drink blood & kill people then stay in the North. Drink Marie's blood, it is a little old & bad, but whatever.

I shud not like to drink yours ... it wuld be cold and bitter I am sure

'Tis very odd, I remember in Sir Nicholas's introduction Elizabeth stated thou art a loyal supporter of the Boleyn's!

Even one who is loyal will turn sour if faced with insult time and again

Sir Nicholas of Rhodes wrote:

I shud not like to drink yours ... it wuld be cold and bitter I am sure

*Laughs loudly*

Quite right Sir Nicholas, quite right!

*bows to Katharine of Aragon*

Is there finally one in this court who doth not insult me or my betrothed?

You art both goode catholics, why wuldst I insult thee?

*speaks boldly*

'Tis a shame Marie didst not take her rightful throne from that bastard Elizabeth!

*frowns*

I do not want to offend what seems to be one of the few friends to our household however

Elizabeth is my oldest and dearest friend, I wulds repectfully ask thou not to speak of her so in my presence.

Sir Nicholas of Rhodes wrote:

I shud not like to drink yours ... it wuld be cold and bitter I am sure

I've no blood left as that psychopath of a husband of mine spilled every last drop at my execution. But why dost thou think my blood would be cold & bitter? Simply because I do not share your love for Marie? God man you are pussy-whipped!

You hath no right to ask me anything, I am Catalina, daughter of the legendary Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain. What art thou? How DARE thee? I see not how you can place yourself in the middle of Marie, god bless and the whore of England.

Dowager princess of wales how doth thee you ugly old thing? Shouldn't you be praying or whining or plotting with your imperial realtives who don't give a shit about you and did nothing to aid you when your husband dumped you?

See Sir Nicholas the dowager princess of wales is a loon like many in her family. So beware!

I art not a loon, perhaps I should just have the Spanish crush thee.


Harlot.

Anna, you were no pretty picture in your old age. You try being pregnant 10 times, I was a renowned beauty in my youth I would greatly liketh to see your figure after spending most of your life with childe!

Crush me? With what? Their useless Armada? Some hairshirts perhaps? Go away you are so 10 minutes ago!

Why don't you? I could haveth thee banned you haughty whore!

Katharine of Aragon wrote:

Anna, you were no pretty picture in your old age. You try being pregnant 10 times, I was a renowned beauty in my youth I would greatly liketh to see your figure after spending most of your life with childe!

I was always beautiful because sadly I never made it to old age. Unlike you I was murdered before my time. Why didn't you just go to a convent? You insisted on living like a nun. Your spartan regime was mostly your idea not mine or Henry's!

Hve me banned? HA! You and what army? I think not, you useless old fool.

Shutteth uppeth, do not dare look me in the eye and say you would give up Elizabeth's inheritance. You wouldst not throw away Elizabeth's future so how can thee expect Mary to surrender hers! You naive fool! Do not ever dare speak of matters somebody of such filthy blood understandeth not. And you looked a state by the time of Jane Seymour's accent. I was loved by the people, you were not! I was an ideal Queen - YOU WERE NOT. *stamps foot*


I am Catherine of Aragon, Rightful Queen of England.

You are Catherine Dowager Princess of Wales. And your mustache needs shaving. I was never more beautiful than in the days and weeks before my death. And your daughter Mary did not have the intelligence, will, conviction, disposition or skill to rule. She would have gladly turned England over to Spain. She lost Calais. The only thing she did reasonably well was kill innocnet victims!

Katherine of Aragon I AM the MArquis of Pembroke so named by Elizabeth I, and I AM also soon to be King of this realm. And I am not asking, I am insisting, do not speak so of Elizabeth in my presence.


Anne I truly no longer wish to fight with you, it makes me quite weary. I care not if you love Marie or hate her. But as her husband I must defend her honor. I take great offense of any insult towards her.

That's a hoot! she gave you my old title. I was made Marquess of Pembroke on 09-01-1532 by her father. Sir Nicholas if you are not my friend then you are my enemy simple as that. Which are you? I don;t understand how you can profess to love my daughter so and be so cold and indifferent towards her maman.

* the words "you started it" come to mind but he chooses not to use them*

You are right *he nods after a moment of concideration*

My apologies, I do not intend to be cold or indiffrent towards you or anyone for that matter. Tis not who I am, or who I was. As of late it wuld seem I am not myself at the best of times.

Shall we start again then?

Sir Nicholas, *laughs loudly*

You are NO KING. Do you truly believe the Scots will accept a peasant and a VAMPIRE as their king?