AN: This is not entirely a Tudor fanfic as much as I'm using the characters and trying my hand at writing this so since it is in the Tudor Fanfic domain I will say I do not own the show or it's characters. Except the occasional made up ones.

Prologue

Hever Castle

Anne Boleyn stood on the stair. Her father was downstairs talking to her Uncle Norfolk. They were discussing her fate. They wished to sell her to the King of England. Henry VIII had grown tired of his mistress, her sister, Mary Boleyn and they intended on replacing her with Anne.

Anne had no wish to be anyone's mistress much less the King of England. She ran to her brother's room.

"George! George! They want me to be the King's newest mistress! Help me! I do not wish for this."

A couple days later on the road

George Boleyn had helped his sister, Anne leave Hever. Anne was intent on never returning. She had nowhere to go but anywhere was better than home. She was walking the road, when a carriage spotted her and stopped. It was her good fortune, Mary Suffolk, the King's sister and wife of the Duke of Suffolk was in the carriage. She was on her way to Ludlow to visit Princess Mary, her namesake. The girl looked dirty and hungry. Mary thought nothing of it and assumed she was a servant. But a servant to whom? And why was she out on the road by herself? She stopped the carriage.

"Hello, I'm the Duchess of Suffolk, where are you off to?"

"Away. I ran from home. My father is a cruel man whose only mistress is ambition and it is his ambition to be close to the King of England. My Uncle Norfolk is just the same. I have no desire to be anyone's mistress, much less take my sister's place as the King's Whore. I wish to give my virtue to my husband, not someone else's."

Mary knew the way of men. Look at her brother and own husband. Neither were faithful men. If her sister was the King's Whore, that would make her Anne Boleyn. What a coup! To steal that ambitious deceitful man's daughter right from under his nose. She could make her loyal to her family's fortunes. She already seemed against her father. Knowing the girl's uncle as she did, they would get the truth out of this brother of hers. For anyone knew that the Howard's were loyal only to the Howard's. They would throw this girl away like they had her sister when she out lived her purpose as the King's Whore. When they got all the land and favor they could from her. The King would lose interest eventually. She could take Anne Boleyn in. Make her, her woman. She would keep her from both her husband and brother's lustful eyes. What was the best way though? She was on her way to Ludlow anyway. Maybe make her one of the Princess of Wale's maids of honor? She would have to write Queen Katherine.

Hampton Court, Queen's Chambers

Katherine had just received a letter from her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Suffolk. She requested putting a special lady, Lady Anne Brandon in the household of her daughter. According to the letter, she was a SPECIAL lady who was the niece of her husband. Katherine wondered if that meant that she was actually the illegitimate daughter of Charles. But why would Mary ask for her put in Mary's household if she was?

"Bring the Duke of Suffolk to me," Katherine ordered one of her most loyal servants.

Fortunately for Katherine, Mary had sent a similar letter to Charles with more details.

When Charles came in he said, "Your Majesty, I think I know why you called me and all I ask is a quick word in private with you. Mary was afraid her letter to you would be intercepted by the Cardinal and thus it would not reach its target so she sent one to me hoping I could give you a better explanation."

Katherine dismissed her ladies, "What could Mary not tell me in her letter?"

"Lady Anne Brandon is not the lady's real name. She was running away from home when Mary happened upon her. She wished not to do you the disservice of obeying her father. Her only wish to be a loyal woman. She is the daughter of Thomas Boleyn. The King's mistress, Mary Boleyn is her sister. She overheard her father and uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, talking of replacing Mary with Anne. Anne wished not to follow in her sister's footsteps so she ran away from home. When Mary came upon her, she had the notion to make Anne our woman by placing her in Mary's household."

A year later, Ludlow Castle

Lady Anne Brandon, née Boleyn, stood in her highness, the soon to be former Princess of Wale's chambers. She had been loyal to the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk since they took her in a year ago. She was a very loyal servant to her Highness, the Princess of Wales. Her father would be furious, but she found friendship in the young Princess of Wales. Her first loyalty was to her. She would do anything to protect the Princess of Wales even for all intents and purposes, betray her. She knew the King would need someone to champion his daughter even if he currently didn't. Eventually the tides would change and he would lose interest in the Whore, Jane Seymour. When that time came, she would champion, Princess Mary's rights. She had discussed this possibility with the Queen and the Duchess before the Duchess's death the month before. With much sorrow, the disgraced Queen Katherine had agreed with their plan. She had tried talking her into signing the oath if not for her sake, then Mary's, but the queen had said it was far too late for that and her conscience would not allow it. Princess Mary's household was being dismantled as they spoke.

"Princess Mary, know this, despite how it looks, I'm your most loyal servant. When the Whore starts to lose her footing I will be the one to return you to your rightful place as the Princess of Wales with the Duke of Suffolk's help. The king has recalled me to his household. Stay strong and know the Whore will not be queen forever and any child she has will be illegitimate."

"Oh, Lady Anne!" the princess said hugging her before Charles Brandon pulled his "niece" away from the Princess.