Shadow on the Wall

King Henry the Eighth had six wives.

That was a well known fact in the kingdom.

Catalina de Aragon, the human Paladin that fought wars and was revered by the kingdom. When she was divorced and was moved to a place of worship, she vanished and was deemed dead.

Anne Boleyn, the shadow-elf rouge that the majority of the kingdom hated. It was said that she died of sickness. The kingdom never really cared for the reason, they were simply happy she was gone.

Jane Seymour, the human cleric that healed wounds and gave Henry his male heir, earning the kingdom’s respect. The people mourned when she died in a carriage accident.

Anna of Cleves, the human barbarian that was divorced and deemed the king’s favorite sister. She lived and moved back to Holbein, the tribe turned town that she led.

Katherine Howard, the elf bard who was favored by the people for her kindness. She had multiple ‘affairs,’ and it was claimed that the final man she was with, Thomas Culpepper killed her, stating that if he couldn’t have her, then neither would the king.

Catherine Parr, a human wizard and the goddaughter to the late Catalina de Aragon was noted for her wisdom and outspoken nature. No one in the kingdom ever quiet knew what happened to her. It seemed she simply vanished in the night.

But that wasn’t all there was to their stories.

The kingdom wouldn’t know their true tales until much later. But what was known to the people that at some point during his rein, Henry had become a tyrant.

They didn’t know about his dealings with the shadow realm, the world of shadow creatures and demons.

That all started with a single spell. A curse, really.

A curse he used on one Anne Boleyn. For the shadow elf didn’t die to a sickness like Henry had them believe.

No, she was alive. But she was still a ghost.

She was turned into a shadow.

~~||~~||~~

Anne had been in her bedchambers when it happened.

She was in a green nightgown and almost ready for bed, her hair was still up in its signature hair buns and she still had on jewelry, such as the locket on a bracelet around her wrist (a picture of Elizabeth was inside that golden locket).

She hummed as she took off all the jewelry and was preparing to carefully take off the locket when she heard a presence behind her. She whipped around but relaxed upon seeing Henry.

“Bonjour, Mon amour.” Anne greeted with a fake grin. She didn’t love Henry. He screamed and yelled and on the extremely rare occasions, lashed out with his fists. But he could be worse, she supposed. She at the very least didn’t want to press him further.

(He got much worse only seconds from that thought.)

But Henry didn’t reply. There was a shadow to his eyes that immediately put Anne on the defensive.

“Henry, what are you—?”

Then, he slowly pulled out a scroll and a dagger. “Sorry, my love. But the kingdom desires a new queen. And so do I.”

Anne felt terror leap into her throat. How has this taken such a turn in so few seconds?! Was Henry really going to kill her?!

Anne always kept a dagger under her pillow. She used to be a rogue after all. She knew how to use it and she wasn’t afraid to. She moved to leap for it, but in the moment she had paused in shock and fear, Henry had already moved forward.

Anne didn’t feel the dagger slice across her throat, but she did feel her body hit the floor and the burning agony that followed.

Anne choked on the blood, her hands moving up to grip at the deadly wound. Why did Henry do this? Why was he killing her?!

Henry towered over her, staring down at her. Was that a look of pity on his face? Through her fading energy and the tears in her eyes, Anne couldn’t quite tell.

“I could let you die like this, my love.” He practically cooed, kneeling by her side. His hand trailed over her cheek and Anne coughed, her bloodied hands going slack against her throat. “But I’m a king of mercy. You’ll get to live, I simply needed your blood for the spell. And of course, you need to be still.”

That was when Anne blacked out.

She didn’t know how long she was unconscious for. But soon enough, her eyes were cracking open. The lights were the same as earlier, a simple lamp casting shadows throughout the room.

At first, she simply blinked, not remembering what happened. But then, she panicked, letting out a strangled gasp as her hands flew to her throat.

But she was alive.

Was it just a bad dream? And why did she feel so cold? Why couldn’t she feel herself, or anything for that matter?

She stuck her arm out to look herself over and let out a soundless scream. Her arm was entirely black. Not the light grey that her skin normally was.

No, her arm and all of her, was shadows. And they weren’t sticking out either, no they were going across the floor, just like a shadow would.

What did Henry do to her?!

Anne felt numb, not just in her body, but also in her mind. All she could do was curl up in the darkness, caught in a panic and breathing heavily.

What was happening? Why was she a shadow? Her thoughts were racing frantically.

Her panic didn’t calm at all, even much later when her breathing calmed.

It was only several hours later than Anne managed to finally move.

(During those hours, everything was a haze. She faintly heard her ladies in waiting enter the room and clean up the blood left on the floor. She didn’t— couldn’t hear anything after that.)

It was a struggle for her to move, getting used to moving this strange form and still caught in that panic feeling. But she had to check something.

Elizabeth. She needed to see Elizabeth.

Did Henry hurt her too? Was she safe?

Anne managed to make her way to the baby’s room. And to her relief, Elizabeth was sound asleep in her nursery.

She slowly edged over to her daughter, her breathing relaxing as she took in the sleeping, calm face. There was a calming effect to Anne as she watched the girl.

Carefully, ever so carefully, she moved her shadowy fingers towards Elizabeth. Her baby girl continued to sleep peacefully.

Anne’s eyes widened with panic as her fingers touched Elizabeth. Only to fade along her cheek, just like a shadow would. The queen couldn’t feel her at all.

Nononono!

This couldn’t be happening! What did Henry do to her?! He called this a mercy? What kind of mercy was this?!

That night, all Anne could do was cry in the cold, too cold shadows. She sobbed at her precious daughter’s bedside, cursing Henry as she realized exactly what fate had fallen upon her.

Over the years trapped on the castle wall, Anne always looked after Elizabeth.

She kept an eye on her darling girl. She would let the girl catch a glimpse of her. She would play with Elizabeth as much as she could being a shadow. She would carefully, with the tiny amount of power she had, nudge a color when Elizabeth was coloring, signifying which one she thought the girl should use.

(Henry always got angry when Elizabeth brought up the shadow, claiming that the young girl simply had an imaginary friend when she should be focusing on her studies. Eventually, Elizabeth simply stopped bringing it up.)

And for Catalina, to make up for what she did to the first queen— the real queen, Anne always looked after Mary too. She didn’t let the girl see her like she did Elizabeth, but Anne kept an eye on her just the same.

(She never knew that Mary had caught sight of her several times. The girl simply kept it to herself. But in the future, after the Kingdom was saved, Mary told Catalina and both mother and daughter thanked the elf.)

And if the same happened with Edward… then who could blame her? It wasn’t like Anne could do anything else with her free time. The boy’s mother, who never noticed Anne (just like everyone else), has died in a carriage accident. An accident where the carriage went straight over the cliff.

Looking after their children as best she could? It was the least Anne could do for the fallen queens.

~~||~~||~~

But while she looked after the children, Anne was also doing something else.

After Henry used the spell on her, he started to look deeper into shadow magic. Evil, cursed shadow magic. The kind of spells Anne was told to stay away from unless absolutely necessary for that reason alone.

It was addicting.

And Henry has fallen into its trap. Now, he was working with and controlling the shadow realm. The realm of demons and the evil creatures of shadows.

A place Anne had only heard tales of until she saw Henry trying to summon creatures from there with his own eyes. He was addicted to the power. And now, he was going to create fear with it. Control his kingdom with even more of an iron fist than before.

But Henry needed a sacrifice for it. He needed to sacrifice either many innocents, or one strong magic user. If he completed that, the strongest demons claimed that they would give him their power.

He would become king of the shadow realm just like he was king of reality. The kingdom would be in ruin by the end of it.

Which is why Anne began to try and put a stop to it.

Anne couldn’t do much. She was a shadow after all. Absolutely no one took note of her. No one knew she existed anymore.

But then, Anna of Cleves appeared.

A human leader of a tribe, the Holbein tribe, that has become well established and well respected as its own recently founded town. Anna was betrothed to Henry under the guise of a peace treaty.

And Henry was already planning on divorcing her and simply sending her back to Holbein. She didn’t know anything incriminating after all, and Henry thought of her to be too ugly for him.

But Anne noticed that Anna had ulterior motives.

She was looking for something. And it quickly became clear what. She was trying to figure out what Henry was doing.

What got her so interested in it, Anne didn’t know.

But what she did know? Jane died because she knew too much. Anne had overheard Henry talking with the drivers of the carriage that tipped over the fateful cliff.

Jane didn’t know much at all. Nothing substantial. But it was enough for her to be wary, and enough for Henry to have her killed.

(He already yelled and verbally abused the woman, Anne shouldn’t have been surprised that Henry wouldn’t hesitate to go so far. After all, look what happened to herself.)

Anne didn’t want to see that happen again. She wanted to see Anna come out alive (she found the woman’s mannerisms rather funny, and the way she looked after the young lady in waiting, Katherine Howard, was sweet. Anne tried not to listen in on them too much, she may be a shadow, but she still respects privacy, unless it was related to Anne herself or Henry and his schemes.) and she wanted to see Henry stopped.

So she led Anna to Henry’s plans. She led the red dressed queen to Henry’s studies on the shadow realm and its shadows. Anne stood guard outside while Anna was in the room and managed to get her out when Henry came toward the office. Anna never saw her during any of it.

Fortunately, Anna didn’t remain much longer after that. Henry finally got his divorce and she moved back to lead Holbein.

And Katherine Howard, an elvish bard and Anna’s favorite lady in waiting, took her place as queen.

Anne was furious upon learning exactly how young the new queen was, especially for an elf. She knew Henry was a monster, his deals with demons proved it. But was he really so much of a monster to marry and practically rape such a young woman, only just out of teenage years?

Apparently, he was. And Anne was sickened by it.

But Anne quickly found herself growing attached to the new queen, even if Kat had never seen her. (And her surname sounded so familiar, but Anne couldn’t put her finger on it…) Kat was such a delight in the castle, cheering up those around her. She made time for Elizabeth and Edmund, and was even civil with Mary, who wasn’t her biggest fan.

And Anne appreciated the change in mood. The castle had been getting gloomier and gloomier.

But like everything else, good times didn’t last.

Henry was practically on the brink of insanity. The shadow realm’s influence over him was growing stronger. It was scary because of just how well he hid it. It wasn’t your loud, screaming type of insane (he only screamed at those he abused in private), it was the quiet, calculating sort.

So when Culpepper raped Kat, Henry flew into a rage.

Luckily, Anne had been present and heard of his plans. Simply stab her and frame it as Culpepper. Two birds with one stone.

It was right then that Anne decided she had to get Kat out. She would hate herself forever (more so than she already did) if she let Kat die without trying to do something.

~~||~~||~~

Kat had been playing the flute she used for her magic when it began.

She was trying to calm herself from another panic attack, having remembered Mannox and Dereham and dreading Henry and Culpepper. Playing her flute always had a way of calming her.

(Mannox already tarnished the lute for her, she wouldn’t let him ruin any more music for her. She adored her flute and the music and magic it could summon.)

She was finally calm and playing a gentle lullaby when the shadow appeared.

It moved between the bottom crack of the door and was on the wall when Kat noticed it. The silhouette of a person with white circles for eyes and a white curve for the lips.

Kat let out a shriek of fear and pressed herself back into the corner of the window seat she had been sitting in. She raised the flute to her mouth, prepared to use her magic.

Anne froze and swiftly raised her hands in a friendly gesture, staying where she was.

Kat’s magic might have an effect, or it might not. But either way, that would alert the castle and throw all of Anne’s plans out the window.

Both of them stared at each other, wide eyed for several beats. And then, Kat cautiously took note of how the shadow in front of her was trying to seem friendly.

“Are you here to hurt me?” She asked. Anne shook her head no, understanding that the question was a valid one.

Kat huffed, staring at the shadow before her voice became sarcastic. “Sorry if I don’t believe that, but I’ve never seen anything like you.”

Again, understandable. Anne nodded her head to that, still not moving from where she was against the far wall.

So they stayed that way for a few minutes, gauging each other and Kat still keeping a tight grip on her flute.

But then...

“Sorry for screaming…” Kat apologized, her sarcastic tone fading away. She remained in her defensive position but slowly pulled the flute away from her mouth. “It’s just… what are you?”

Anne laughed bitterly at that, the noise not exiting her lips. She shrugged as well. It wasn’t like she knew. Anne figured at this point she was just another shadow on the wall.

Anne carefully moved across the floor until she was next to Kat. The elf allowed it, but kept her gaze firmly on Anne.

They couldn’t waste anymore time. Anne used her power to give several urgent tugs to Kat’s dress sleeve, backing towards the door slightly.

“You want me to go somewhere?” Kat asked Anne, brows furrowed in confusion and distrust.

Anne nodded. If only she could talk…

No! There was no time for those thoughts! She needed to get Kat out of here!

“How do I know I can trust you?”

Anne shook her head and the message was clear to the both of them.

You can’t.

Kat bit her lip. She didn’t know what this shadow was trying to show her. But something in her gut was telling her she needed to follow.

So she did.

They made their way through the castle’s halls, Anne making a point to get Kat to hide whenever anyone came near. Kat was confused, but she knew the shadow had its reasons.

Eventually, they were in a particularly shaded hallway, the lights dimmed. They were walking down it when they heard a voice behind them.

“Katherine!”

Both of them froze. Kat felt dread as she turned to see Henry and several guards. But why was she so scared? (She knew the answer. Henry raped her. Screamed and raged at her. He wasn’t a loving husband.)

Anne felt terror swell inside her. This wasn’t supposed to happen! How did Henry find them?!

Henry spotted Anne and his face dropped from a fake smile into a scowl. “I see you’ve made a little friend…”

Kat was quickly trying to buy time, for what she didn’t know, and she definitely couldn’t stop the curiosity. “You know the shadow?”

Henry snorted. “Sadly... I was hoping she would stay out of my business. But it seems she has to disappoint me.”

Anne bristled at that. Disappoint him?! She was happy to have done so!

“Business?” Kat’s eyes narrowed with fear and anger. “Do you know why she was trying to lead me somewhere?”

Henry sighed, pulling a dagger from his belt and making a gesture to his guards. “I was hoping this would be swift and painless, Katherine... Kill her.”

Kat’s eyes widened with panic as the five guards surged forward. But Henry and the guards underestimated her strength as a bard.

She was swiftly pulling her flute to her lips and playing a fast paced melody.

The magic in Kat’s music caused a burst of flames to send two guards falling backwards with yelps. Thank the gods she had been learning more offensive spells in secret!

As she put another guard into a deep sleep, Henry came rushing forward, dagger in hand.

She swiftly moved to play another tune. She didn’t know what spell it would cast, she just knew she needed to cast something!

But that was the exact second the dagger in Henry’s hand lashed out, catching Kat across the throat.

Anne’s mouth opened and she let out a soundless scream. For a moment, she felt a pain, a feeling she hadn’t felt in forever, stab at her own throat. She could see herself, her own throat cut open by Henry’s wicked hand.

Kat’s breath gargled as she stumbled back, a large gash across her neck already beginning to drip the crimson liquid.

Anne lunged forward as Henry pulled the dagger back, this time to stab. What happened next even Anne didn’t expect or understand.

She managed to grab the pink queen. She managed to interact with her. Her fingers weren’t simply shadows across the elf’s skin, she was actually touching Kat.

And then, Anne managed to pull Kat into the shadows with her. Anne’s shock sent her into autopilot, and she was swiftly bundling the woman in her arms and rushing down the hall as a shadow on the floor.

The guards were trying to pursue but quickly lost them. Henry let out a roar of rage as Kat vanished, literally pulled into the shadows with Anne. “I should have killed you long ago!” He bellowed behind them.

(Later, he would finally manage to track down and corner Anne in a dark, abandoned corner of the castle that Anne always hid away in. There were many threats launched her way as Henry ranted and raved. Anne wasn’t bothered by them. There was nothing worse he could do to her. Let him find a way to kill her off. It would be a mercy.

And sometimes, Anne couldn’t stop the corner of her mind that wished Henry let her die to her own fatal neck wound so long ago.)

Anne couldn’t do this for long. Honestly, she didn’t even know she could do that before now! So she quickly moved through the halls, out of sight of the rushing guards.

Eventually, they made it to a tunnel under the castle. It was a secret path made for the royal family to escape through if there ever was a siege.

Anne felt Kat shudder and cough in her grip. A neck wound like that was almost entirely fatal. She should know. Anne felt her panic swell further at that thought.

Kat needed attention immediately. She needed it now. There was no time. And Anne didn’t know if there was anyone even friendly around that could give her that medical attention.

Dammit!

Was Kat going to die here? Was Anne going to watch a woman already burned by the world turn to ash? Was Anne going to have someone’s blood on her hands?!

… Was Anne going to see how she herself could have died?

Then, Anne heard a voice.

“The castle is on high alert, we need to leave—!”

Anne gasped upon seeing a familiar face among the trio before her. She let go of Kat, her magic having reached its limit at the exact same time. Kat stumbled out of the shadow in front of them, collapsing as she coughed and whined in pain, hands flying to her throat.

Weapons were pointed at Kat and the young queen fell back with a startled and fearful yell. Her voice was distorted by the blood running out of her throat.

Immediately, the weapons paused. It was three ‘ghosts.’

Catalina de Aragon, the human Paladin and first queen, stood tall and surprised in her golden and black armor. A golden sword lowered itself from Kat.

Jane Seymour was wide eyed and slowly sheathing a rapier. The elf cleric was clearly stunned to see Kat.

Anna of Cleves, the human barbarian, was sheathing her axe immediately upon recognizing Kat and sweeping her off the floor and into a hug.

Kat tensed at the sudden contact but soon relaxed against the metal and leather armor her friend was wearing.

“Kätzchen! What are you doing out here?!” Anna asked urgently. Then, horror dawned in her vision as she noticed Kat’s neck. A curse flew from her lips. “Oh gods, your neck!”

Then, Kat remembered everything that happened. She began trembling and hugged Anna just a little tighter.

“Tried… kill…” Kat’s voice came out as a rasped whisper. Her energy was fading fast, the blood pooling down the front of her dress a dizzying sight.

“Let me see, love.” Jane was speaking quickly upon hearing this. The cleric knelt by Kat, who was still wrapped in Anna’s arms. She surveyed the wound with swift urgency before clasping her hands and murmuring a spell.

There was a glow and the wound sealed itself shut. But a scar and the blood was left behind. Kat didn’t seem to care, taking a relieved breath and letting her body untense fully against Anna. Jane then began talking about how they needed to look at it better somewhere safer.

For Anne, between making sure Kat was in safe hands, she began staring in shock. She knew Anna was there when she heard the former queen’s voice, as well as her two companions. But she never expected the fallen queens.

They were alive? Alive and well and walking?

Then her shock turned into anger.

Why did they get to be free and alive when Anne was stuck in shadows?! Why did they get to exist when she didn’t?!

(Later, she would realize just how stupid that thought process was. Just like how she didn’t choose this curse, they didn’t choose to almost die. They didn’t choose for Henry to betray them. But the stinging pain of that thought didn’t stop until much later than that, when Anne got to know the women personally.)

Anne spun on her heel and vanished back into the castle and it’s shadows. She knew what she needed to know. Kat was safe and alive. Anne couldn't leave with them anyways.

And besides? How could they free her?

No, they would work on their part to stopping Henry. And while they did physical tasks, Anne would wait in the castle, watching. She would help future queens (because it was achingly obvious Henry wasn’t going to stop) and put a stop to Henry in her own way.

Anne heard a faint, “It was right there…” from Kat, but she didn’t go back. She couldn’t look them in the eye right now.

Human interaction is overrated anyways.

~~||~~||~~

Or, that’s what Anne thought.

And then Catherine Parr, Henry’s sixth and newest wife, threw that plan out the window.

Catherine was a pleasant woman, mothering Henry’s kids and making sure they were safe. She wasn’t much older than Kat, yet she had a maternal instinct that made Anne chuckle. The blue queen seemed especially close with Elizabeth.

This time, Henry had actively tried to take measures to prevent her from finding out his plans after Kat’s escape. But Anne was clever. She had been staying out of sight for a long time, and her skills as a rogue were still ingrained in her brain, if a bit rusty.

Which is how she managed to follow him into a secret room. A room hiding the body of Thomas Seymour and written plans to kill Cathy.

Henry needed a very powerful magic user for a sacrifice. It couldn’t be an average magic user like so many others, they had to be talented and filled with magic energy.

It happened that Cathy fit that bill.

So Henry, in his lust for power, concocted a plan to kill Cathy. Anne couldn’t exactly recall what Thomas had to do with his plan, but the sight of his corpse was unsettling.

And as much as Anne hated to do it, she needed to show Cathy. There was no other way for her to tell the woman.

Anne went to Cathy several days before Henry’s plan was to be put in action. She learned the hard way that she couldn’t wait until the last minute. (Kat’s throat being sliced was still a terrifying memory that Anne couldn’t shake)

Upon showing herself, the reaction wasn’t entirely what Anne expected. Instead of screaming and running away, Cathy simply stared at her for a moment.

Faintly, Anne wondered if it was because the wizard dealt with magic.

“Hello there…” Cathy had said. While she didn’t show fear, she was still clearly nervous, standing from her desk and backing away from Anne slightly.

Anne gave her a small wave instead, plastering on a smile. She tried to make herself seem as unthreatening as possible, she couldn’t do anything if Cathy was scared of her.

It was several minutes of tense questions, and barely visible nods and shakes of the shadow’s head that Anne finally led Cathy through the castle. They passed a few servants and guards, but where the hidden room was, there was luckily no one present.

Anne pointed at the door and Cathy’s brows furrowed in confusion. “In here?” The wizard asked cautiously.

Anne steeled herself for Cathy’s reaction and slowly nodded.

Cathy carefully edged open the door.

Thankfully, or not so thankfully, everything was still there. Including Thomas’s body, which was beginning to decay much to Anne’s disgust, even if she couldn’t smell the rot. The plans of Cathy’s murder were still on the table as well.

Cathy froze, absolute horror coming to rest on her face. A hand rose to her face to muffle a scream as she took a step backwards.

Slowly, Anne edged her way over to stand next to Cathy. With that little bit of power she had, she gave a small tug to Cathy’s sleeve.

The wizard turned to her, her breathing fast and shallow with panic and terror. The shadow looked back at her, letting Cathy focus on her white eyes and frown.

It took several minutes for Cathy to calm, and even then, she was still in shock and fear. Tears were on her cheeks that she shakily tried to wipe away.

(She would cry again that night as she thought back to all of the dreams they had planned. Henry ruined them by marriage. And now he ruined them by death.)

Cathy knew Henry wasn't a good man… but this… this was the work of a monster.

“Why…” Cathy’s voice was choked and she finally closed the door behind them, stepping fully into the room. “Why did you show me this?”

Anne was quickly crossing the room, her shadow sliding across the floor and appearing on the wall behind a table with papers. She gestured to the table, hoping Cathy could stand to be in this room a few minutes longer.

The woman stepped over, her gaze not moving from Thomas until she reached the desk. She picked up the papers Anne gestured to and began to look them over.

Slowly, Cathy processed exactly what she was reading. She was processing the plans for her murder.

Her gaze flicked back to Anne. She was pale. “Are you trying to save me?”

Anne perked up, nodding her head.

Cathy took a deep breath. She glanced over the papers one last time and gave a sickly look to Thomas’ corpse. Then, she looked back to Anne, her face sealed with determination.

“Help me get out of here.”

Anne couldn’t stop the relieved grin at that response.

Over the next few days before Henry’s plan, they made their own. Anne and Cathy made preparations, sneaking around the castle and Cathy making her appearances. They couldn’t be suspicious.

They learned more about each other in that time. It was rather like a game of charades when it came to Anne. But they managed to do it, and Cathy learned a little more about Anne (one of those things was definitely not her name).

It was the day before Henry’s murder plot that they put their own into action. They stood in Cathy’s room, Anne watching as Cathy made final preparations and check overs. It was the dark of night, perfect time for escaping.

Gone was Cathy’s dress, traded for traveling gear and robes. She had pouches and small bags for items such as spell books and food. All of them were already filled with necessities. The wizard also held a wooden, knotted staff in hand.

“Are you ready to go?” Cathy asked, looking to Anne.

Anne blinked. Didn’t she manage to tell Cathy that she couldn’t leave the castle? So why was she saying it like the both of them were leaving?

Cathy noticed the confused look. “While we prepared… I looked through every spell book I could. You warned me and have been working hard to save me. You don’t deserve to be stuck here as a shadow for eternity. So I found a spell.” Cathy pulled out the spell book it belonged to and shifted through the pages until she found it. “It will attach you to me. Until we can find a cure for this, you’ll be my shadow. You’ll be able to leave the castle! We can find a way to free you!”

Anne stared at Cathy, her expression switching into pure surprise.

Cathy had really spent time looking for a way to bring her along?

“I couldn’t just leave you here. Do you… want to go?” Cathy asked almost nervously.

Anne paused for only a moment before nodding quickly. She didn’t think she could stand being here any longer without going insane… Anne knew the only problem she had with leaving was the children. But maybe… they would be safe.

Cathy smiled at her. “Then I suggest we do the spell now. It would waste time if we did it right before exiting the castle.”

It was minutes later that Cathy crept from her chambers, her newly sentient shadow following, or being pulled, along.

It would take a while for Anne to get used to, that was for sure. And it even seemed to drain her of some powers for a little bit. (That gave Anne a bit of fear. What if Henry showed up and she couldn’t do anything this time?) But Anne was just grateful to have a way out.

She owed a lot to Cathy. Anne knew that much for certain.

They made their way through the castle halls, dodging people and keeping a wary eye out. But soon, they reached the final passageway without incident.

Anne thanked every single god in the realm that Henry hadn’t found them like last time.

They moved through the passage and found themselves outside the castle grounds, the city streets stretching in front of them.

Cathy was quickly looking around for a place to go when they heard a horse. Both of them froze, unable to turn back or find a place to hide.

Not again! Anne found herself panicking. She couldn’t get Cathy out like she did Kat. She didn’t even know how she managed that last time!

But it wasn’t Henry. And it wasn’t a guard either.

It was Anna of Cleves.

The barbarian looked the same as ever, battle axe on her back, black gloves on her hands, and in red and silver armor. The only new appearance Anne could spot was a ring on a necklace around Anna’s neck.

Anna grinned at Cathy from atop her steed. “Need a lift, my queen?”

Cathy perked up. She’s had the pleasure of meeting Anna before. “Yes, please! What are you doing here?”

Anna was quickly pulling Cathy up onto the horse, letting her sit behind her. “We got a tip from a servant that Henry was up to something. After what happened to Kat and the plans I found during my marriage… we had a pretty good idea what it was.”

“Plans? Kat as in Katherine Howard? What is going on?!” Cathy thought she had seen everything crazy when Anne appeared to her. But it suddenly felt like things got much more complicated.

“We have to go, now.” Anna said, her horse beginning to trot before turning into a sprint. “I’ll explain everything later if you explain exactly how you knew to leave!”

“Deal!”

~~||~~||~~

They reached Holbein within the span of a few days.

The place was nice, if a bit small. People of all sorts of species seemed to wander. Fauns, elves, humans, halflings. Anne even swore she spotted two Dragonborn!

“This place is amazing…” Cathy whispered, taking in the peaceful atmosphere as they walked through the market.

Anna laughed, giving a wave to a friendly merchant. “I’m glad you think so! We’re rather small, but it’s home. We built this town, and it’s flourishing. Maybe one day, Holbein will be a city itself.”

Cathy didn’t mention Anne for the time being. It was fair enough, the shadow supposed. Cathy didn’t know how Anna would react. So Anne kept her head down for the time being, simply keeping watch for any danger.

Eventually, they reached what seemed to be a sort of town hall. It was in the center of Holbein and built to hold many people, Anne figured for meetings and also storing important records. Sure enough, people wandered around, charting trade and performing other important duties.

The room they were led to was a room designed for meetings. A round table with three people sitting there. Three very familiar people.

Anna had rounded the table to meet up with Jane, who looked the same as when Anne saw her helping Kat. They locked into a kiss and Anne’s interest was piqued when she noticed a ring on Jane’s finger, similar to the one on Anna’s necklace.

Catalina was just as intimidating as ever. Her golden and black armor had been recently cleaned and her sword was on the table, having been in the middle of being sharpened. The golden paladin’s gaze noticeably softened upon spotting Cathy.

Kat now wore a choker over the spot where Anne knew that scar from the night of her escape was. A ‘K’ made out of rich jewelry dangled from it, made by a professional hand. She wore pink clothing that was made for traveling but also flashy enough for a performance. The elven bard was fiddling with a flute in her hands.

“Hello, Mija.” Catalina greeted with a fond smile, looking at Cathy. “It’s been a long time.”

“Madrina…” Cathy’s voice was a whisper. “They told me you were dead.”

“I’m not, Mija.” Catalina said, standing and making her way over to Cathy. “Those were all rumors and lies. I’m right here, well and alive.”

There was a respectful silence as Cathy and Catalina hugged each other close. They stayed that way for a long moment before they parted and Catalina gently led Cathy over to sit in one of the chairs.

“We’ll have to catch up later, Mija.” The Paladin told her, moving back to her own seat right next to Cathy. “But right now… there’s some business we need to attend to.”

“We want to know how you escaped. Did you know of Henry’s plot?” Anna asked, leaning forward in her chair next to Jane.

“If you would like, we can tell our side first?” Jane offered after a pause.

Despite what they agreed during the escape, Anna said that she had some friends who would like to hear Cathy’s tale as well. And they would be there to help Anna explain hers. So they waited.

These were those friends.

They all looked at Cathy, waiting for a response.

Cathy bit her lip, glancing down to Anne. She was asking for approval to tell. And Anne had nothing to hide. The shadow gave her a nod that Cathy managed to make out.

It was now or never.

“I had assistance.” Cathy cleared her throat, sitting taller. “She isn’t the most conventional assistance, but she helped me, and I want to make that clear before I reveal her.”

Catalina’s brows furrowed and she looked concerned. “Reveal her? Is this assistance of yours dangerous?”

Cathy glanced down to her shadow, Anne stared back, waiting. “No. But she is a shadow.”

Everyone watched as Cathy stood and backed to the wall, allowing Anne to travel up it until she was peeking over Cathy’s shoulders. She gave everyone a wave.

Three of the four former queens were gaping. But the last one let out a gasp of shock and delight.

“It’s you!” Kat’s face filled with joy and she was quickly by Cathy’s side, startling the wizard. The elf beamed at Anne. “You’re the shadow that saved me!”

Anne blinked back, also surprised before grinning and nodding.

She was happy to see Kat doing well and even seeming to be happier than she had been back in court. After all, the last time she had seen her, Kat had just been healed from a fatal hit.

“She saved you, too?” Cathy perked up, looking to Kat.

“Yeah! Henry tried to kill me but it— she helped me escape!” Kat explained simply. She then looked back to Anne. “I never got to thank you… so thank you for saving me!”

Anne gave her a grin, but couldn’t hold back a thought. Why was Kat thanking her? Kat’s throat was slit! Shouldn’t she hate Anne for that?

Before anyone else could say a word, Catalina redirected the conversation. “Perhaps we should start the meeting properly? There’s much we need to talk about… the shadow included.”

And that’s what they did.

Cathy told of the shadow appearing to her. Her voice wavered slightly when talking about the hidden room and Thomas, but she told them all that she could, including her plans to find a way to free Anne.

The others told Cathy their side. About how Catalina ran away from the place of worship Henry put her in and found the nomadic tribe of Holbein that was becoming a town, led by their brand new leader, Anna. How Anna found Jane miraculously alive in the wrecks of a carriage at the bottom of a cliff. Jane had told them what she knew of Henry’s plans and the trio knew they had needed to learn more.

Which is why Anna was married to the king. She found out more information and Henry didn’t know, simply divorcing her and sending her back to Holbein. Then how they were going back to scout the castle when they found the grievously injured Kat, who had been rescued by Anne. And now, how they had gotten a tip that Henry was plotting to kill Cathy as well.

They also told her of what Henry required to unlock the shadow realm. Many innocents, or one powerful magic user. And of course, his reasons for murdering Cathy suddenly clicked.

Their meeting lasted a while longer before they ended. It was well into the night and Catalina showed Cathy to her room before telling her that someone would come get her for breakfast.

Yes, Cathy and Anne were there under bad circumstances. But both could agree that they already liked Holbein and the other queens.

They remained in Holbein for a few weeks. In that time, Anne learned more about the other queens.

Catalina was a big softy and quickly reconnected with Cathy, being rather protective of the wizard, other queens, and even Anne. Jane and Anna were in fact newlyweds, having been married a week or two before Anna came to pick Cathy up. Kat was a very strong woman, and had a very strong sense of sarcasm when she wasn’t being the nicest person besides Jane. Cathy could spend a lot of time in a library (the last one Anne learned the hard way) if she had enough books.

Anne also learned Cathy wasn’t very good at riding a horse at first. Which was very amusing. When Cathy fell off her horse, she had looked down to see a laughing shadow, making Cathy pout (she would forever deny it) and argue with Anne, the shadow making faces and still laughing all the while.

Anna had gotten in on the fun too, teasing Cathy before breaking it up and helping Cathy learn how to ride the horse properly.

The queens were rather strange. They weren't scared of Anne at all. They even seemed eager to get to know her.

And Anne couldn’t wrap her head around it.

The few times someone in the castle’s staff saw her, they always freaked out. They would run screaming about a ghost or an intruder. Those servants were punished for the false alarm by beatings. Anne didn’t let anyone outside the queens and Elizabeth see her after that.

So why were they all so friendly? Any conversation with her was practically one sided! And yet, every time the queens were around Cathy, and by extension, Anne, they always made sure to include her. They even greeted her and bid her good night, Cathy especially.

Anne almost cried at the realization that she was being seen. But of course, she couldn’t cry. She couldn’t do anything anymore.

So she shielded herself behind the movement signifying laughter and smiles when the others looked to her (actually looked to her!) and only at night, would she allow that Cheshire grin to fall.

But besides the despair, Holbein was fun! It was the most fun Anne had been able to have in a long time. She got to spend time with Cathy and the other queens, watching them train and explore the town.

Maybe human interaction wasn’t overrated...

But of course… It was only a matter of time before Henry found them. And he did.

Demons, summoned by Henry himself, arrived in Holbein and began to destroy the town. The queens got out every civilian they could and directed them to the nearest village for safety.

(It didn’t stop the number of deaths that haunted them for a long time after the attack.)

The queens didn’t go with them. They had something else they needed to do. It was time to stop Henry. So they set a course to a different town, beginning to search for ways to stop the tyrant king before he could summon the shadow realm.

That was the moment the journey truly began.