A/N This is inspired by the Marquess of Pembroke challenge but doesn't follow it. I may have timeline issues but it is AU.

Now I don't own the show and I am not God so I cannot change the past or know what happened in these people heads.

I hope you like it!

Updated and revised June 2013.

Chapter one

Late April 1536

Anne knew that her Ladies were being questioned about their Queen. She knew that Henry had abandoned her and wished to marry Jane Seymour, believing that Jane had no interest in advancing herself and her family. Anne was afraid, afraid that Elizabeth would be the one to pay for Anne's downfall. Would Henry be content to get rid of Anne or would he make Elizabeth a bastard as well? Anne did not know and it terrified her.

Anne moved away from the window and looked out in her chamber. All of her ladies were here except Madge. Nan rushed forward.

"Do you need anything, your Majesty?" Anne smiled at Nan both shook her head. Her thoughts needed to be dealt with. Anne could not ignore them simply because they are unpleasant. Anne knew that Henry wished to be rid of her. She also knew that her father would advise her to try to take back Henry's affection from Jane Seymour now that Jane Seymour was away from court. Anne believed that to be too late. Annulment was a dismal thought because there were precious few ways that Anne's and Henry's marriage could be dissolved without making Elizabeth a bastard.

But a far scarier thought, the one that makes Anne so terribly afraid, was accusing her of some sort of a crime towards her husband. Queens were above the law, so it would only be at Henry's command that they would investigate her. The crime had to be against Henry since he is the only one above her in England. Why else would they interrogate her Ladies? If they bring Anne to trial it is to sentence her to death. Elizabeth would be motherless, abandoned by the shifty courtiers and Henry might still make her illegitimate. Anne had to do something! She could try to plead for another chance but she must be some other option. Please God, Anne thought, please give me an idea!

Anne was almost running up with Elizabeth in her arms, gown trailing in the mud trying to reach Henry.

"Henry please!" (A/N just imagine the scene… Anne pleads with Henry, but is angry. Just before he leaves in the series we begin)

"Your Majesty I beseech you!"

Anne looked desperately at Henry's back. She had no other choice, her father would be furious but this was Anne's and Elizabeth's last hope.

"Your Majesty, if you cannot give me another chance at giving you an heir, can you at least give me a chance to solve this situation without me being accused of crime I'm innocent for?" Henry turned around and stared at her. Anne took her chance.

"You can annul our marriage on the grounds of me being unable to conceive more children. It may be so. You can have a doctor examine me in front of witnesses. You can bribe him, or anything, and you will be free of me. But Elizabeth can still be your legitimate daughter if our marriage is annulled on those grounds. You know she is your daughter Henry. While people say she looks like me they also says she looks like your mother Elizabeth of York! Even if you do not love me anymore I know you still love Elizabeth! Please Henry this is for her, not for me!" This was Anne's last card. Her last chance of keeping Elizabeth somewhat safe, Anne alive and hopefully still in her little daughters life. She looked at Henry. He seemed to contemplate her words. She hoped that he would accept. If he did her political power would end and her father and uncle would be infuriated, their fury aimed at Anne, but the other option may end all of their lives.

Henry looked at Anne. He had gotten reports of her praying when he was unconscious after the joust. He did not think that she was foolish enough to try to kill him. She knew how hard it was to keep secrets at court. She had failed him; she had promised him a son! But was she guilty of adultery and the other charges Cromwell was investigating? Perhaps this offer would make it easier and he could wed Jane sooner and be rid of Anne. Also if Anne is innocent God could abandon Henry's and Jane's future marriage and their sons that they surely would have if Anne is sentenced to death. Anne had caused much misery, Henry thought, but she is perhaps innocent of the charges. What then would happen to any sons of Henry with Jane?

Little Elizabeth is an innocent child. She looked scared and confused in her mother's arms, his words earlier having frightened her. He could not deny that the little girl looked like his mother. Perhaps this option was the best. But if Anne backed out there would be hell to pay!

The examination was humiliating but she kept her thoughts on Elizabeth. Nan and Madge were some of the witnesses. She was poked and prodded and declared unable to conceive any more children. Anne knew that some people that were witnessing this must be delighted to see her like this. Anne knew she was not liked at court or in the country. However she could not afford Pride if she was to keep her head.

Anne knew she had not behaved in a pleasant way as Queen. Perhaps this was God's punishment for her pride. She had treated the Lady Mary in a way that was not nice in any way. She did believe that Mary's parents' marriage was not legitimate, but she could have treated the girl better and asked Henry to treat her better. But Anne was not guilty of all of the girl's misfortunes or the executions of Sir Thomas More and others. Henry could not be controlled even if you could influence him. He was far to pride to be controlled by anyone if he did not desire it. However Anne would not deny that her father and uncle were responsible for many things most blamed on Anne, right or wrong.

Anne was now sitting in her chambers. Soon she would leave them. She had asked her ladies to start packing her belongings. All the arrangements were not made but Elizabeth would remain at Hatfield with her household. Anne would live in one of her estates she was given when she was made the Marquess of Pembroke. Soon she, Henry and Cranmer would sign the contract dissolving her marriage. She did not know all the details. She did not know how she would be treated. She could not argue. She had lost. But she had lost on her conditions.

Anne had agreed to leave court. She would live close to Elizabeth's establishment which was a bit too close for Henry but he doubted that he would get troubles from her anymore. She had agreed before witnesses that their marriage could be dissolved. Everything was happening quickly. Henry wondered why Cromwell had not suggested that they appeal to Anne. Anne is intelligent and Henry liked this solution. He does not look like a fool, he could marry Jane and get sons but he could also keep little Elizabeth as his Princess. He did love the little girl. Cromwell, Cranmer and all members of the Privy Council, except the Boleyns, came in and bowed. They were to establish the terms of the annulment. Perhaps he could be generous. Anne had after all made this easy, when Catherine had not. Yes he could be generous.

They quickly worked through the issues. Anne was no longer to be Queen of England but she would not be dishonourably dismissed. Anne would keep her estates and incomes that she was given when she was made Marquess. Her personal belonging including gifts from Henry she could keep but not the jewels and other things reserved for the Queen of England. She was not banished from court but had to be invited in to come visit. She had a right to see little Elizabeth whenever she wanted and some control over Elizabeth's household and education. She would discuss what she did not like with Cromwell and he would contact her when they wanted to inform or even in some cases consult her about changes in Elizabeth's household. However Henry would be the one who had the last say in these matters.

"What title will her Majesty receive, your Majesty?" Charles Brandon asked. He did not seem to be happy with this solution. Henry remembered that it was Charles who had first raised the suspicions about Anne. Perhaps Charles wanted more then an annulment for Anne, had had never liked her Henry thought. Cromwell seemed to think.

"She is an anointed Queen, your Majesty. Also this annulment dissolves the marriage but does not mean that it was not legitimate before the Queen became barren." Cromwell spoke quietly. Henry considered the options. They could not treat her as a dowager Queen that was out of the question. But she was anointed. Had not Catherine been so stubborn he would have let her call herself Queen in some form due to the anointment. They had to be careful. There could be no question that Anne was no longer Queen of England but still an anointed Queen. An anointment was holy and could not be reversed.

"We will call her her Highness Queen Anne, the Marquess of Pembroke. She is no longer Queen of England but she is an anointed Queen and her marriage to us was legitimate. She is to be honoured." The men nodded some more pleased then others.

"Where will she rank in precedence, your Majesty?" The question was from the Duke of Norfolk, the only one of Anne's relatives present. He had said little during the meeting. He was a shifty friend Henry thought. He was very unwilling to risk losing his title. Henry turned to look at Cromwell. Cromwell gently put down the document being prepared for signing.

"Her majesty will no longer be part of the royal family, but she will be called Queen and highness. She will obviously be higher than a wife of a Marquess. Perhaps the most fitting place is after, or of your majesty wishes before, Princess Elizabeth of England and potential future Princesses of England." Henry nodded.

"She will be placed after Princesses of England." Most matters were settled. It was yet to change what would happen if Henry died too soon. Henry wanted to think about it and none of the men were brave enough to question him. Now he could marry Jane!

May 1 1536

Anne was leaving court with her belongings. The papers were signed and soon Henry's betrothal to Jane would be announced. Anne was now Queen Anne, the Marquess of Pembroke. She was astonished that she was allowed to keep so much of her honours. She was on her way to one of her estates but she would stop at Hatfield to visit Elizabeth. Elizabeth had travelled back to Hatfield a couple of days before.

Her father was furious but Uncle Norfolk had calmly said that he could not see any way things could have turned out better. Her father had raged and said that he could have remained Queen of England. He had the nerve to suggest that she had failed him. Anne had furiously turned around and yelled back.

"I did not want to flirt with him in the beginning and I refused to be his mistress. So then you made up the plan that I would become the new Queen when it was discovered that the king's and Catherine of Aragon's marriage was illegitimate. You were the one that managed to make the Lady Mary illegitimate; even if she could have remained a Princess since it none of her parents knew until later that the marriage was not valid! You are the one who used the king's pride to your own means! You are the one who have destroyed lives and have people's deaths on your conscience but it is I who am called whore and murderess when you do of tell me of your plans! And for your information your advice on my behaviour and actions is what have made me even more unpopular and caused this situation. You forced me to make a relative a mistress to his majesty. I loved him and I had to send somebody to his bed! Then you blame me for worrying and causing my miscarriages, when I actually was right about Mistress Seymour! And for your information father women cannot consciously control the sex of their child even if we wish to! I still out rank you, so get out! You are the one that have caused this!" Her father had stared at her both angry and somewhat guilty but he seemed to suppress the guilt. Her uncle had looked at her.

"You are very intelligent for a woman" he had said and then left. Anne knew that he was shifty, but for the moment he did not seem to be her enemy. She did not care bout her father. Even as Queen he had more political power then her. Now he had none even if he was on the council. Even her brother was greeted by the king but not her father. Anne had lost but she was also a winner. Her father had simply lost. Anne was happy to be out from the political game.

Anne stepped inside the carriage and breathed in. She was as free as she had ever been.

A/N So what do you think? Henry treated Anna of Cleves well when she cooperated and Catherine of Aragon back-upped her claim to the title of Queen partly on being an anointed Queen.