This chapter took me ages to write. I'm 1000% sure this chapter is drowning in errors, please forgive me for losing the internal conflict of having someone I know in real life edit it for me (probably my worst fear ever) to just posting it so, you wouldn't have to wait for me to get over my fear. I own nothing, enjoy~

Palace of Whitehall
Summer of 1546

He had been seeing her more and more. It was unnerving and frightening. He knew he hadn't lost his mind, everything else was clear to him. Everything was clear but her. While he was talking to advisers, she was there looking out the window. While he ate his meals, she was there; leaning against the table, watching the servants come and go. When he walked from room to room, she was always within his sights; moving through the courtiers. Anne Boleyn was everywhere. She haunted his thoughts and his dreams. She haunted him.

"Henry," Cate asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Henry murmured but he kept his eyes on Anne.

"Is something happening in the gardens?" Cate said, getting up to join him at the window.

"No, no," Henry answered as he watched Anne gaze into the fountain, "I was just thinking, my dear."

"Do you wish to discuss it?" Cate asked.

"No, it is quiet alright," Henry said taking her hand, "Come."

"Father?" Mary asked, "Is something wrong?

Henry watched Anne walk through the garden; she studied the flowers and sang little songs as she went. She acted like he wasn't just a few steps behind her. He imagined this is how she spent her days before she came to court, when she was back at her family home at Hever. She did not speak to him nor did she look at him. That infuriated him. Anne did not even react to the sight or sound of Mary and that scared him. . .

"Father?" Mary asked again, placing a hand on her father's elbow.

"I'm fine my dearest pearl. Come, we should not keep Cate waiting."

Henry and Mary followed Anne out of the gardens and into the Palace, through the halls and into the Queen's Chambers. How Anne knew where he was going made his stomach drop. While Henry and Mary sat at the table to dine with Cate, Anne sat by the window with a book. Throughout his meal Henry kept glancing at Anne, hoping she would acknowledge him.

These actions granted him unwanted attention from his wife and daughter.

"Husband," Cate asked, "Are you well?"

"Perhaps you should rest, father," Mary suggested.

"I'm well, do not worry," he said, turning his attention back to his meal.

When the next course came, Anne tossed the book toward him. Henry's heartbeat became rapid when he saw the book was a worn and well used copy of Obedience of the Christian Man. On her way out of the room, Anne kicked the book near his feet but did not glance in his direction or say a word to him. Henry looked at the book, which was now opened. Inside the yellowing pages sat a large pink ribbon decorated with the words Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne.

"Perhaps, I will retire to my chambers. . ." Henry whispered.

"Anne?" Henry asked.

She had been watching him all night. He could not sleep. He could not relax with her silhouette sitting at the foot of his bed. She did not speak to him, but once in a while she did look at him. Her dazzling eyes seemed to pierce his soul with every glance.

"Anne!" he said, a bit louder this time.

She looked up at him but her face showed no emotion; not a smirk, not a smile. She did not look sad, angry or happy. She did appear sickly, however, like she was near death. She seemed shaken, broken and like her mind was elsewhere. She wore a solemn gown of a dark cloth and her hair was pulled up and tucked away in a white bonnet. . .

"Anne!" Henry hollered.

She did not shrink away at his outburst but instead turned around and watched the flames dance in the hearth. She seemed memorized by the flames but her actions were maddening; Anne would look at him for a few moments, then she would watch the flames for what seemed like hours before turning her attention to him once more.

"I am the King of England!" Henry screamed, "You will answer me!"

Anne looked at him once more but this time her hands were wrapped around her slim neck. Her eyes were wide with horror.

"Anne! Anne?" Henry inquired as she gracelessly fell off the bed and onto the floor.

"Anne!" Henry screamed as he uncovered himself as quickly as possible and scuttled to the end of the bed but when he got there, she was gone

Henry looked at his young son and smiled. One day his beautiful son would be king. Henry was afraid to die but was not worried about his kingdom. Henry was sure Edward would be a great king, one to be remembered for hundreds, if not thousands of years. He would take care of England and her people. He was equally sure Edward would sire many fine, strong sons and he would be the patriarch of a fine dynasty of kings, dukes and princes.

"Papa!" Edward said when he noticed Henry, "I thought you ill. Mary said I shouldn't bother you but you have come to me."

"I am well and even if I was sick, I'll never be too sick to see my son," Henry answered, "Don't let me interfere with your business, continue."

"Yes sir!" Edward said before returning to his toys.

Henry turned his attentions toward Anne. She had been standing behind the playing child since Henry arrived. Anne followed his son around his chambers; she acted like the young boy's shadow. Somewhere, deep down, he knew she wouldn't hurt his boy. He knew she could not touch a single hair on the boy's head. Despite knowing a dead woman could not harm Edward, Henry was afraid to see what she might do if she was left alone with his darling prince.

"Elizabeth!" Edward stated with a smile as his sister walked into the room.

"Brother," Elizabeth bowed, "Father."

Henry smiled but not because of his daughter but because Anne had vanished the minute Elizabeth had made herself known.

She was gone. He hadn't seen her in days. She had been gone for years but this was different. Anne had been gone long from his life; everything of hers had been given away or destroyed. Her daughter sent into exile until recently, her crest vanished from the walls, even her name could not be said around him. . .but seeing her float around him had brought him some sort of comfort. It had to of or he wouldn't be so angry that she was gone. . .

We're getting close to the end.
Two more chapters left, if my calculations are correct.
Then I'll probably super edit it before marking it as a completed story, hence the need for a beta. I know someone volunteered (and I thank them) but it didn't work out because I'm technically challenged. Yet again, I'm sorry for the delay, Spring Semester has started and I'm already swamped. I will not give up on this story and will slowly but surely be working on it between school assignments.

In the show, Anne let's Henry read her copy of Obedience of the Christian Man.
Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne or Let them grumble, that is how it is going to be is one of Anne's mottos.