Chapter 2
The journey was a difficult one.
And they had barely even started. Demons sent by Henry, who knew they weren’t dead, were vicious. Thieves and regular monsters all decided they were perfect targets.
But they always managed to win. Catalina and Anna, Paladin and barbarian, were their heavy hitters. Kat and Jane, bard and cleric, were usually their supports, but between Kat’s flute and Jane’s rapier, they were good fighters too. And Cathy was versatile, the wizard wielding a wide arsenal of different spells and magics.
And Anne was the guard. She always kept an eye open, being unable to sleep meant she could take all night shifts along with all day. If any danger went unnoticed by the others, it was almost always noticed by Anne.
Their journey stretched from town to town, where they spent a few nights in an inn, usually helping civilians being terrorized by something or solving some sort of problem in general.
Between the fighting, solving, and camping under the stars and sharing rooms in an inn, Anne figured they had all gotten rather close.
While Anne got to know the queens back in Holbein, it seemed that she was able to see even more of them on this journey.
Catalina was scared to be weak. If she got hurt in battle, had a nightmare, or just felt bad, she would always try to hide it. Somehow, everyone always saw through it. If it was bad enough, they would gently sit the golden Paladin down and talk with her, reassuring her that the injury or emotions didn’t make her weak. And it seemed Catalina was slowly getting more open to the idea, although Anne (and all of the queens) knew it would take a lot longer before her walls fully fell, if they ever did. There was even one occasion where Anne and Catalina were alone when Catalina was trying to hide a nightmare. Anne simply pestered and annoyed the woman until they were competing in rather playful, one sided banter that distracted the both of them.
Jane was an anxious person. And Anne was pretty sure she knew the cause (she could add that to the growing list of why she hated Henry). But Jane was usually calmed by the others, Anna especially had a calming effect on the blonde elf. Jane was also the mother of the group, helping Kat with nightmares, making sure Catalina and Cathy didn’t overwork themselves, and making sure Anna felt appreciated. She even kept her motherly eye on Anne, always making a point to ask how she was doing. (She also had a temper that rivaled Anne’s, but Anne didn’t seem that too important.)
Anna had some self esteem issues. Anne had accidentally overheard Jane and Anna talking about it one night. And whenever Anna was in a funk and no one else (except Jane, the barbarian’s wife always seemed to know) noticed, Anne would wander as close as she could from her position as Cathy’s shadow and try to cheer Anna up, distracting her. Anna was also like a big sister to everyone, always able to calm them and listened with a patient ear to everyone’s worries. Yes, she liked fun and was loud, but when someone came to her for assistance, she was calm and steady as she listened and gave advice.
Kat had many demons. Stemming from childhood abuse and the abuse that took place as her time as queen. Sexual abuse. Rape. And Anne wasn’t scared to admit that she wished the worst fates for those that hurt the bard. It wasn’t uncommon for the young elf to wake up in the middle of the night with a terrifying nightmare and a scream that had everyone by her side in seconds. If Kat couldn’t go back to sleep after the nightmare, Anne would stay by her side until morning, something that was clearly a comfort to Kat.
Cathy was a worrier. She worried about Henry, Anne, and anything that could be a problem. Whenever Anne spotted Cathy about to spiral into those thoughts, she always found a way to distract her. Be it through bothering her, getting another queen’s attention, or getting Cathy to read or write. Cathy gets lost in her thoughts, good and bad. And sometimes, she just needed someone to pull her back to reality for a few moments. Anne was happy to do it.
They all even tried to help Anne in return, not that the shadow elf thought they could do much.
For one thing, they all started calling her ‘Shadow.’
Anne didn’t mind. They didn’t know, and couldn’t learn, her real name after all.
She was just happy to be acknowledged. It was even more acknowledgement than back in Holbein, if that was even possible.
Even as a shadow, attached to Cathy just like your average shadow, the others noticed her.
Even though Anne couldn’t speak, tell them anything, they always took notice of her. Kept as close an eye on her as they did each other. Anne kept an eye on all of them in return.
They always glanced at her to try and catch her opinion on matters through gestures and the expression that her white lips and eyes made.
They always included her in fireside conversation.
While Kat played her flute, Jane pulled out the smallest of sewing kits she managed to keep on her, Catalina and Anna finished polishing their armor and weapons, and Cathy pulled out another book or looked over her supplies. There was always the peaceful chatter of conversation.
Be it more serious topics or friendly, relaxed banter. There was usually a conversation. And they always made a point to include Anne.
“Hey, Shadow! Do you think Jane would like this? Also, do you think I could take on a dragon? Cathy says no.”
“Shadow, dear, please watch the fire. Yes, I know you’re a shadow, but still!”
“Shadow, is there any way you could point out what class you are? I’m rather curious.”
“Shadow! What do you think of my new song!”
“Do you want to read this with me, Shadow?”
And after years of being a shadow. Years of being stuck without a voice and so so cold. Years of being alone…
Anne felt seen.
~~||~~||~~
The night was their time to sleep. Anne didn’t need sleep. So she resigned herself to keeping guard. She would have made many teasing and sarcastic comments about it had she been able to talk.
But as much as she would have complained, Anne didn’t mind. The group was doing all they could during the day. They deserved to have uninterrupted sleep.
Besides, night was when Anne thrived. Shadows were everywhere after all, and Cathy’s shadow merged with them, allowing Anne the freedom to scare off intruders and keep her companions safe.
Which is why Anne scared away two guards who came a little too close to their camp.
She didn’t know why they were this far into the woods in the middle of the night. And frankly, Anne didn’t really care. She just wanted them gone. (And if scaring away those who could harm the others was an amusement for Anne, then that was just an added bonus)
One guard was confident and arrogant, leading his companion through the trees without care. The other was timid, and startled at every movement in the shadows of the night.
Anne was quickly putting a plan in action. She made sure the timid guard saw her. Every so often, she would allow him a glance of her. She wasn’t scared to admit that his fear caused her to laugh.
“I’m telling you I saw something!” The timid guard practically whimpered.
“Ha! There’s nothing out here! Man up!” The confident guard snapped, a hand slapping the timid guard’s back.
Oh, Anne was going to enjoy scaring this one.
It was that second that she realized that they were about to reach the camp. Her white eyes widened with realization and she quickly rushed ahead of the guards.
She quickly plastered on a creepy grin and waited. She refused to let the two idiots find her friends.
Anne didn’t wait long at all. Only half a second later, the two guards emerged from the bushes and they both jolted upon seeing the shadow with terrifying white eyes and an accompanying smile.
The confident guard’s eyes widened almost frantically and he took several startled steps backwards. “What… the hell is that?”
“I told you!” The timid guard yelped in a panic, hiding behind the confident one.
The confident guard let out a snarl and jabbed at Anne with the spear in his hand.
Upon seeing the spear simply go through Anne, both of them froze. Anne couldn’t hide her grin getting wider at that one. What did they think would happen?
There was a second of silence before both of them began to scream. The formerly confident guard tripping backwards over the timid one.
From there, they both bolted away from her, tripping and pushing each other all the while.
Pleased with her work, Anne made sure they left before going back to the others.
All of them were up, weapons raised. They were alert and peering through the dark but blinking sleep out of their eyes. The past few days had been very lacking in sleep.
Anne mumbled an insult directed towards the two men before swiftly going over to them.
She gave Cathy’s sleeve a familiar, tiny tug that the wizard noticed immediately.
“Shadow? What was that scream?” Cathy asked quickly. Anne managed to pull herself up, using the night’s advantage, to gently push at Cathy’s shoulders, steering her back towards her sleeping spot.
By the time Anne managed to get everyone back in their sleeping spots, she had used all of the energy to interact with the real world she had for a while.
Luckily, it seemed everyone was too tired to complain. And they took Anne’s gentle guidance to mean that everything was safe.
It was only when everyone’s breathing calmed and they went back to sleep that Anne allowed herself to relax fully, going back to watching and listening for danger.
She couldn’t do much for the group. The least she could do was keep guard over their sleep.
~~||~~||~~
In every town they went to, Cathy would always look for a way to free Anne.
While the others searched for clues to stopping Henry or solving whatever problem the town was having, Cathy always made time to try and find a cure to Anne’s curse.
They would go to the library, ask around town (although discreetly), look around shops selling magic spells and potions.
Unless something pressing came up, Kat joined them.
(On the rare occasion Kat didn’t join them, another member of their group usually did. They’ve had each queen accompany them on their little side quest at least once now.)
And Anne was very amused.
Why? Because the two so obviously had feelings for each other.
They shared personal secrets with each other. Kat was comfortable enough to tell the story of her scar (Anne flinched upon hearing the retelling, it was still a horrifying experience) and also the story of her childhood. Of Mannox, Dereham, Henry, and Thomas. Cathy was rightfully furious upon learning this and Anne’s face noticeably twisted into a scowl.
(Both of them vowed to look after Kat however they could. She could look after herself, they had seen it themselves, but it didn’t stop them from wanting to help her.)
Cathy told Kat of the still healing wound of Thomas. She told of the engagement to Henry, the fear of him after the fates of his other five wives, and her own childhood.
They trust each other greatly, that much was clear. But it wasn’t just how open they were.
There was the staring, the shy looks and blushing upon being caught looking at each other. Anne had even witnessed them do the cliche act of reaching towards an object at the same time.
If they weren’t in love with each other, then Anne wasn’t cursed.
So when they were making their way through town, looking for a cure to Anne’s curse, it was actually hurting Anne to watch the two dance around each other. (And she couldn’t be hurt, so that was saying something)
At this point? While the pining was still adorable, it was starting to become annoying.
So was it really that bad if Anne ended up accidentally using her powers (complete accident!) to trip Cathy’s foot just enough for her to trip into Kat?
Whoops.
Kat yelped and managed to twist so she was holding Cathy in a dip, their faces inches apart. Both of them blushed beet red, the red even trailing up to the tip of Kat’s pointed ears.
Then, both of them shot up, beginning to babble apologies.
“I’m so sorry—!”
“No no, I’m sorry for tripping like that—!”
They both froze and glanced down to their hands. They were still holding each other’s hands. That realization made them blush further, but neither made an attempt to pull away.
After a moment, Cathy carefully spoke. “Is this alright?”
“Yes!” Kat beamed, she quickly calmed a second later. “Yes. It’s great, actually.”
They continued around town holding hands. They didn’t let go, keeping each other close as they searched for a way to help their friend.
Said friend was smiling happily as she took in their clasped hands. They didn’t confess, but Anne found that holding hands was just as cute.
Eventually, they had scoured the entire village.
Cathy was frowning, clearly upset that she hadn’t found anything in yet another town. “I guess we should meet up with the others. The mayor mentioned something about zombies appearing at night…”
But Kat tugged gently on her hand, keeping the both of them in place. “Are you alright?” The elvish bard asked in concern.
Cathy blinked in surprise. “Yes, I’m fine... Why do you ask?”
Kat paused. “It’s just… you seemed so sad a second ago.”
Cathy’s frown returned and she glanced down to Anne, who realized what the problem was and looked back sadly. “It’s just… we’ve been to several towns now and there’s still no sign of a cure for Shadow.”
Kat’s gaze softened with understanding. “Oh, Cathy… We knew there was no easy fix.”
“I’m a wizard! I’m supposed to understand magic! And I can’t find a simple spell!” Cathy didn’t look at Anne or Kat. “It feels like I’m letting her down…”
Anne’s heart clenched upon hearing that.
Cathy really thought she was letting her down? It was the pure opposite! Anne was still amazed by (and didn’t quite understand) just how determined Cathy was to free her.
“Cathy, can you look at me?” Kat asked slowly. She smiled at the wizard, who did turn her head to look at her. “I don’t know every song or every magic I can use as a bard… there’s no way you could know every spell out there. Besides, Anne’s curse is dark magic. It isn’t just some ‘simple spell.’”
Cathy opened her mouth to speak but Kat continued. “We will not stop looking until we find the cure. I promise you. And I know the others aren’t going to stop either.” Then, Kat gestured to Anne. “And look at Shadow… she isn’t upset because you’re letting her down. She’s upset that you think you are…”
Cathy and Anne held eye contact for a moment, taking in each other’s expression and sadness. Then, Cathy let out a shaky breath, looking to both Anne and Kat. “I’m sorry… both of you.”
“Don’t be sorry! That feeling was completely understandable… Just know that you aren’t letting anybody down. We’ll figure it all out. Shadow, Henry. All of it.” Kat reassured, rubbing the back of Cathy’s hand with her thumb.
Truthfully, Kat was also wondering if they would be able to solve everything. Would they free Shadow? Would they stop Henry?
But… Kat was choosing to hold onto hope. They would figure it out. She believed they would. And now, she wanted to help Cathy find that hope too.
They sat there for a moment, taking in the setting sun and the last few wandering people finishing up business.
And then, Kat let out a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. With all the confidence she could muster… “Can I take you out on a date?”
Cathy’s eyes widened and her blush deepened. Her thoughts seemed to go haywire for a moment before she calmed and spoke, a smile on her face. “Want to go to the shop down the street? We might not get a second chance and there’s still some time before nightfall…”
“It sounds perfect!”
It was as simple as that.
And when the two officially began dating as girlfriends a little while later, telling the others a few hours after that, Anne knew her personal little mission was complete.
~~||~~||~~
While Kat and Cathy’s relationship had been secured, and Anna and Jane were still happily married. Anne did not have a partner.
But she did have a crush. On one Catalina de Aragon.
She tried to keep it hidden. It wasn’t like she could ask the woman out.
But she could admire Catalina. She could admire how beautiful and strong the woman was, inside and out.
And apparently, the admiring was more obvious than she thought. As proven when Cathy returned the favor during a training session.
If they went a few days without monster attacks, the queens would hold training sessions with each other. They couldn’t let their guard down after all.
Currently, Cathy was sitting out, having traded places with Kat. They had a rotation system since there were five of them (they counted Anne in everything but that. Anne was pretty upset and grumpy, but understood completely). So Cathy and Anne simply watched the battles in front of them.
Cathy’s eyes were trained on Kat, the elf was sparring with Anna. Cathy’s eyes hardly trailed from her girlfriend as the bard played her music and dodged nimbly away from the barbarian’s practically earth shattering attacks.
But Anne’s eyes were captured on Catalina. How she deflected Jane’s rapier with her shield. How beautiful, strong, and even regal she looked in her armor, sweating and showing off her strength.
A laugh caught Anne’s attention and she glanced over at Cathy to find the human laughing at her. Anne frowned and Cathy’s laughter only deepened.
But then she pulled herself together and spoke in a very teasing tone. “So… Catalina, hmm? That’s my godmother you’re crushing on, Shadow.”
Oh shit!
Anne felt her eyes unwillingly widen and she knew the gig was up. She crossed her arms and looked away from Cathy, knowing that her face would have been red had she been able to blush.
“It’s alright, Shadow. I think it’s rather cute.” Cathy soothed the embarrassed shadow elf.
Anne gave her a glance out of the corner of her eye. Cathy smiled patiently back, although there was a certain glint in her eye that told Anne that the teasing would for sure continue later.
There was a moment of silence, Anne slowly easing before she gave Cathy a confused look. She even tried to say, ‘how did you know?’ It didn’t work, but Cathy got the message.
Cathy chuckled. “You had that dopey, lovesick smile.”
Anne looked away from Cathy, stubbornly crossing her arms.
“I think you should talk to her. Maybe you can eventually ask her out.” Cathy told her. “It worked for me and Kat.”
Anne glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. She was clearly saying ‘you know I helped cause that, right?’
“Fair enough.” Cathy agreed with another burst of laughter. “I’m serious though, Shadow.”
Anne frowned. It wasn’t like she could. She couldn’t speak and she could barely be seen too. Her mood dropped and she gestured to herself.
Cathy took notice and a frown crossed her face before turning into a determined stare. She looked away from Anne, back towards the sparring. “Then it’s just another reason for me to free you.”
Anne stared blankly for a moment before turning back to Catalina, her thoughts running wild from that conversation. But while thinking, she faintly noticed the lovesick smile that Cathy described spreading across her lips again as she watched the paladin spar with Jane.
~~||~~||~~
One day, they came upon an abandoned house that apparently belonged to Kat’s family. They were able to tell due to the crest on the door.
Kat had been eager to look inside and the other queens indulged her, keeping a close eye out for danger.
It was in the attic that they found a book. A book that displayed the Howard family tree, updated periodically through magic.
Currently, Jane and Kat were chattering happily with each other, happy with their newfound connection as distant cousins. Anna was joyfully pointing out how her name had been placed with Jane’s by the book’s magic.
Catalina was looking over Kat’s shoulder to the family tree again, chuckling fondly at the queens. Cathy mentioned something about how Catalina and her were family as well before going on to fix her reply to state that all of them were family.
Everyone grinned at that and Anne found herself shrinking back.
Yeah. They were family. Probably didn’t include her. The shadow that they picked up along the way.
She was more like the family pet than anything.
So she stayed back like a pet would. Not like she could talk to them either… just like an animal. So she would watch and interact, just like she’s always done with them.
But that was the exact second Anne noticed something in Kat’s book. Her name.
Her name was in the book on Kat’s family tree.
Anne’s white eyes widened and she lurched forward. Well, as forward as she could.
She could tell the others her name!
Cathy noticed the movement out of the corner of her eye and looked to her shadow. She seemed to notice the expression on Anne’s face.
“Shadow? What’s wrong?”
That caught everyone else’s attention and they all tensed. Anne had alerted others to danger before, so were they in danger?
Anne tried to speak, her excitement and shock taking over.
‘Cathy! My name! That’s my name in that book!’
But upon seeing the sad, almost heartbroken, look on Cathy’s face, Anne began pointing. She pointed vigorously at the book. In the shadowy abyss she moved her arm up, across the floor to point at the book in Kat’s hands.
Realization hit Cathy almost immediately. The wizard seemed to know exactly what Anne was pointing out. “The book… is your name in the book?!” An excited look came across Cathy’s face as well.
The white smile and white eyes grew larger and Anne felt warmth bloom in her chest, obvious among the cold darkness. She nodded and the others all felt their own excitement grow.
They swiftly began reading over names. All of the ones they had read were wrong. And each time they got it incorrect, Anne would shake her head. But no one lost their energy. Anne had confirmed that one of these names was the right one, they just needed to find it.
And Kat was excited. Shadow was related to her and by extension, also Jane!
That was when Catalina noticed a name on the page. She swiftly reached over and tugged it from Kat’s hands, wide eyed.
“It can’t be…” the Paladin whispered, reading over the name multiple times. Then, she brought her face up from the page to stare at Anne. “Is your name Anne Boleyn?”
Anne felt excitement thrum in her chest. They finally knew her name! They knew who she was!
“Our final queen was with us the whole time!” Anna realized.
It was Jane who realized something else. “It was Henry who did this to you…”
Anne’s energy faded as the memories of that night returned. Henry standing there with a dagger and a scroll. Terror holding an iron grip on her. The blood gushing from her throat. The cold shadows’ first grip on her. Elizabeth.
Henry hadn’t listened when she pleaded. He turned his back on her. Everyone did. How long would it be before these wonderful queens did as well?
“Anne!”
Anne jolted at the sudden use of her name. It had been so long since she heard it's use. She whipped her head to stare at the speaker. Kat.
Oh, when had she started breathing so fast? Could a shadow hyperventilate (did she even breathe at this point)? She certainly couldn’t feel any of the physical negative effects.
“You’re having a panic attack, Annie. Can you breathe with me?” Kat asked in a soothing whisper, crouching next to where the shadow had stretched herself as far away from everyone as she could.
Anne didn’t know if she could. The panic still gripped at her throat. And again, could she even breathe in the first place? How could something that couldn’t breathe in the first place calm itself down?
Anne curled further into herself, the familiar darkness surrounding her. An existential crisis mixed with her panic and for a moment, Anne wasn’t entirely sure where she was. Was she back in the castle or still in the shadows?
Then, a melody pricked at her ears.
A gentle flute was playing and causing Anne to glance up. Kat was sitting in front of her and gently playing the flute. (Had Anne not been focusing every ounce of her attention on Kat and the sweet lullaby, she would have noticed the others sitting nearby as well)
Anne felt her body relax as Kat continued to play. The bard’s eyes were closed serenely and she was playing a very familiar melody.
(Kat had managed to figure out that this particular lullaby was Anne’s favorite. Every queen had their favorite song and the bard would always play their favorite if they were in distress or needed to be calmed.)
They stayed this way for several long minutes before the song slowed to a stop.
“Henry hurt you like he did the rest of us, hmm?” Kat asked after a moment. “Maybe even more so…”
For a moment, Anne’s temper flared and she clenched her fists. Anger at Henry, anger at Kat for talking to her as if she was a child. But it drained away just as quickly. At this point… after being angry and sad over everything for years, Anne was just tired.
(And besides, Anne knew Kat was just trying to calm her. Really, it felt nice.)
The anger faded and Anne nodded slowly, closing her eyes and leaning back further into the cold shadows. She had a small hope that she could vanish into them. That excitement from earlier was long gone by now.
Yeah, they knew her name. But they still couldn’t free her. Anne just knew it.
Faintly, she registered the others talking to her and each other, but she zoned them out. Her panic was gone, but the intrusive thoughts still lingered.
Eventually, Anne managed to tap them out (not really, but for right now it was enough) and focus back on the others. They all looked relieved to see that she was back with them.
After a few more minutes of making sure Anne was okay and excitement over her name, they left the building. Kat was still hugging the book close to her chest.
On their way out, Anne realized something else.
Catalina knew her name. Catalina knew her as the person who stole Henry from her. That realization did not bring pleasant thoughts and she quickly found herself growing nervous around the woman.
And later that night, Catalina pulled Cathy and Anne aside, wanting to talk with the shadow. Cathy sat off to the side with a book, far enough away so that she couldn't hear, but close enough that Anne and Catalina could sit together. Kat joined her, the two curling up together and sharing the book. (Faintly, they could hear Kat complain about how cold Cathy was)
“I don’t blame you.” Catalina had said, having noticed just how nervous Anne had gotten around her. “Henry’s the one who sent me away. And if I know him, then he forced himself onto you, yes?”
Anne nodded slowly.
Catalina nodded, almost to herself. But it was a sad sort of nod. “I knew it… and of course, he’s the one who put you in this state.”
Catalina is trembling in anger now, fists clenched. Anne can’t stop herself from being taken aback. In the time she had known the woman, she only got this angry whenever someone she cared about was hurt.
Was Anne really one of those people?
Catalina glanced at her, and it was almost as if she read the shadow’s mind. “I care about you a lot, Anne. In the little time I knew you, you were always a bright and amazing woman. And even now, as a shadow, you clearly are brilliant and strong, and so caring too.”
‘What…?’ Anne found herself whispering, even though Catalina couldn’t hear her. But the Paladin saw her lips move.
A sad look crossed Catalina’s face for a fleeting moment. “I can’t imagine what it feels like. To be trapped as a shadow. Unseen for so long and unable to touch, eat, or sleep. I don’t know what it feels like to be so alone. If I was in your position, I think I would have given up by now...” Catalina murmured, more to herself than Anne.
Anne’s expression softened, noticeable even on her shadow. Without thinking, she carefully tried to reach out and take hold of Catalina’s hand.
Her black fingers simply faded across Catalina’s hand, just like they had with Elizabeth so long ago.
Anne physically recoiled at the sight and sudden memories that came from it.
Catalina noticed her panic and she reached out for Anne, only to jolt back with realization. For a moment, both of them stared at each other, Anne still panicking, turning her gaze away and bringing it back every few seconds.
So Catalina used her voice.
“Hey, you’re okay, Anne. It’s alright.” She began to smooth, turning so she was fully facing the shadow.
She continued her soothing words and eventually, Anne began to calm down. But where her panic faded, a depression took its place.
Maybe… no matter what the others did, she would be like this forever. Anne found herself staring forlornly down at her hands. She couldn’t cry, she couldn’t feel, she couldn’t do anything.
Catalina observed her quietly for a moment. Anne had never let herself be this vulnerable with her. Catalina didn’t know if it was the same with the others, but it was still a sad sight.
She knew Anne was probably depressed. It was hard not to notice. Being cursed like this simply had that effect on someone. And for several years now? Catalina meant it when she thought Anne was strong.
(Faintly, Catalina wondered that if Anne had been able to kill herself… would she have done it? Her heart dropped with despair at the thought.)
Every so often, everyone would notice Anne’s familiar smile slip into a deep sadness. But none of them quite knew how to bring it up. So they simply kept a close eye on the shadow.
Catalina already made a promise to herself. But she felt the need to vocalize it. Make sure Anne knew not to give up hope.
(And that night, Catalina would give an extra prayer to the god she worshiped and recieved her powers from. Make extra sure that some day, no matter how long it took, Anne would get the freedom she deserved)
“I know Cathy has already promised this… but I swear to you that we will free you.” Catalina’s voice was steel with determination.
For a moment, Anne could only stare. And then, she slowly nodded. The other queens wanted to help her. And Anne found herself believing more and more as time went on they would. Maybe they would free her from this curse.
There was also the growing crush on Catalina. If anything, after this, Anne thinks she just fell deeper in love with the Paladin.
Catalina smiled softly and if Anne wasn’t a shadow, she would have felt the heat that flooded her cheeks. That didn’t stop her from hearing her own heartbeat in her ears, increasing speed.
“It’s nice to finally know your name, Anne.”
~~||~~||~~
Henry’s forces were growing far more dangerous. As were the monsters in this particular area.
The demons at Henry’s command were growing stronger by the day, but it still seemed he couldn’t send but a small group. Still… the greater strength was frightening and the queens knew something was wrong.
The most terrifying theory… was Henry starting to sacrifice innocents?
But they put that in the back of their minds for now. They had reached the next town in their journey.
Kat had gone ahead to check the town. Make sure there weren’t too many guards like there had been in the last town.
She was gone for a while and the remaining members back at their camp made small talk, preparing to pack up camp if they needed to.
But they were surprised when Kat returned with pure joy in her eyes. Something had clearly gotten their elvish bard excited.
Kat actually picked Cathy up in a twirl. Cathy yelped in surprise but didn’t argue when Kat sat her back onto her feet and planted an excited kiss to her lips.
Anna was laughing, Jane was chuckling, and Catalina looked amused.
“I appreciate it, mi amor, but can I ask about your sudden excitement?” Cathy asked with a chuckle, not letting go of her girlfriend.
Kat was absolutely beaming and she turned to look at everyone, not just Cathy. Anne blinked in surprise upon noticing what seemed to be happy tears in the corner of the pink dressed elf’s eyes.
“I think I found out how to free Anne!”
At that comment everyone paused for a moment before everyone began talking at once.
“Really—?!”
“By the gods—!”
“We can finally free her—?!”
“You’re not joking, are you…?” Cathy’s voice was quiet. She had been looking for the spell for this long… had they really finally found it?
Kat beamed at her, her hands moving to hold Cathy’s hands in her own. “It’s just a lead, but it’s the most we’ve got! Apparently there’s a woman who owns a magic shop in another town. A shifty guy in the inn was talking about the exact spell Anne was trapped in! She’s the one who made it and probably sold it to Henry!”
“Well then, let’s go! What town?” Anna spoke up eagerly, clearly ready to get on the road.
Kat winced, suddenly shrinking. “That’s the problem… the town we need to go to is Ironhaven… to the north.”
Everyone glanced at each other. They had already made plans to head in a different direction (an old friend of Catalina’s was there who could help them. Maybe they could even start gathering an army to try and bring down Henry). And the path to that particular town was rather dangerous.
But then everyone glanced at Anne.
The shadow looked sad, that glimmer of hope fading for acceptance. She knew the danger as well. And she accepted that they couldn’t take the time to free her.
“Well queens, lets free our friend, yes?” Jane spoke up, beaming at everyone. The other four grinned, the same idea in their own heads.
For a moment, all Anne could do was stare. They were willing to make a detour like that to free her?
A nobody shadow... A person they couldn’t even see?
“Anne?” Jane’s voice caused Anne to glance back up. It was filled with worry. “Did you think we wouldn’t want to save you…?”
Anne paused. That was all the confirmation the others needed.
“We want to free you, Anne. I promised that I would free you. And I’m going to keep it.” Cathy declared, her face becoming steely with determination.
“So did I. And I know the others feel the same way.” Catalina said, already beginning to pick up camp with Anna’s help.
“We’re going to free you, Anne. No matter what kind of path we have to take!” Kat told the shadow, moving to help the others.
Anne could only watch, wide eyed as the group picked up camp right then and there. Jane was chuckling as she moved to help Anna, giving her wife a kiss on the cheek. Cathy and Kat began to pick up objects and put them in bags. Catalina helped with heavier objects.
Anne faintly noticed her own, shadowy hands shaking. She also knew that tears would have been pouring down her cheeks if they could.
These queens… they really were something else...
~~||~~||~~
It was a few days later that they reached the town where they could hopefully free Anne. They got a room for the night in the inn before making their way through the town, looking for the woman they needed.
They found her in a shop that sold spells and potions.
“Hello there!” The woman greeted them at the door of her rather small shop. She wore a pleasant but noticeably forced smile.
“Hello, we were looking for a spell.” It was Cathy who spoke, looking at a bookshelf of books with interest.
The woman perked up. “Yes, of course! What kind of spell do you need? I have many different spells. Fire spells, water spells, and many more!”
“We’re looking for a spell that can free someone from shadows.” Cathy said, looking back to the woman, her expression cold. If they had learned right, this woman also made the spell that trapped Anne in the first place.
And just like that, the woman froze. For a moment she looked horrified, and then disgust mixed with it. She glanced down and noticed Anne in place of Cathy’s shadow.
“You want to free a shadow creature?!”
None of the queens liked her tone or expression.
“We want to free our friend. Are you going to give us the spell or not?” Catalina straightened, glaring at the woman.
“No I will not!” The woman practically shrieked. “That beast isn’t a friend! It’s a monster! Now get that… that thing out of my shop!” She huffed, glaring at Anne. “The king made a good use out of that spell…”
The queens' anger deepened further when they noticed Anne shrinking, the already small hope fading from her expression. They all knew that there was no way they were leaving without that spell.
Jane’s temper rose upon seeing her cousin’s depressed stare. “Ma’am I would hand over that spell if I were you.”
The woman snorted. “Or what? You can’t do anything to me! I would rather die than see a creature of shadows be freed.”
Anna’s frustration finally reached its limits. She stepped forward and towered over the suddenly cowering woman.
“You will be giving us that spell.” The barbarian said in a cold tone. “Anne has been nothing of a friend to us. She doesn’t deserve to spend her life like this.”
“She’s a creature of shadows!” The woman bristled. “A monster that will kill us all!”
Kat raised an eyebrow, clearly done with the woman’s remarks. “And you’re a racist.” She drawled.
“No, I’m a protector of the innocents! That spell was used for a reason!” The woman insisted.
“That spell was used by a coward. There was no good reason behind it. Only bad ones.” Catalina stepped up next to Anna, also trying to intimidate the woman.
The woman still stared back defiantly. Cathy sighed, taking a step forward. “We will be leaving with that spell. Our friend doesn’t deserve to be in the darkness any longer. If it’s like you say, we’ll deal with it.” Anne flinched at that and suddenly, the shadows felt much colder than they ever had.
“But I doubt it will be.” Cathy finished, holding out her hand expectantly. The woman glowered for another moment before sensing her defeat. She looked through a section of scrolls and books for a moment before pulling out a scroll.
“The second spell is the one that will free that wretched beast.” The woman practically snarled, shoving the scroll into Cathy’s hand.
Everyone glared a bit harder and Cathy took a deep breath to calm herself before turning and heading for the door. “Have a bad day, ma’am.”
“You’re lucky you didn’t piss us off anymore than you did.” Anna snapped before following suit.
The other three also gave one last glare and remark before they all filed out of the store. The anger quickly faded, replaced by sheer excitement as they realized what they just accomplished.
Cathy’s grip on the scroll tightened. They had gained this opportunity in the span of a few minutes, she wasn’t going to lose it now.
“You’ve doomed us! You’ve doomed us all! You’ll regret this you idiots! You’ll regret this!” The women wailed behind them.
They all ignored her. They were too excited and filled with anticipation to care.
(Anne still wasn’t quite sure this was real)
~~||~~||~~
After getting the spell, everyone headed back to the inn they had stayed in. They couldn’t just do it in broad daylight, everyone knew that would probably do more harm than good.
From what they had gathered, Anne wasn’t able to feel anything in this state. And she hadn’t been able to feel anything for so long. So when she was freed, her senses would probably be on overdrive trying to process everything again.
Which is why they hid away in their rented room, trying to keep it as quiet and calm as possible. The door was closed firmly, blocking away the sounds of the bar downstairs.
Catalina began mumbling a prayer under her breath. Jane and Anna press a little closer together as they watch with hope. Kat was fidgeting anxiously with her flute but excitement also shone clear in her eyes.
“Are you ready, Anne?” Cathy asked, unfurling the scroll.
Anne nodded vigorously. After all these years, was she finally about to be freed?
In the past few months, she had gotten to know these wonderful women. Was she finally about to have her wish granted? Her wish of being able to talk and interact with them? To finally be able to feel and touch everything? (Was she going to be able to be comforted? Was she finally going to be seen in full again? And Elizabeth… was she finally going to be a mother when she reunited with her daughter?)
Was she finally about to escape the cold grip?
The queens were having similar thoughts. Were they finally going to free Anne? Were they about to keep their promise? Were they going to get to talk to her? See her?
Cathy carefully began to read the spell. Like many spells, it was in a different, rather ancient language.
It was also longer than most spells. But that could be attributed to the tense waiting game they were all playing.
Cathy read out the last word and her gaze shot up to Anne immediately, watching with bated breath.
There was a noticeable shift in the air, the shadows in the room growing larger for a moment. Anne’s shadow wavered for a moment, her eyes closing.
And slowly, a figure stepped out of the shadows where Anne once was trapped.
She stumbled slightly, but still stood on her feet. She let out a gasped breath, staring at her hands and body. The queens felt joy spring into their hearts as they realized that it worked. They managed to free her!
And even after years of being in the shadows, Anne Boleyn was beautiful.
Grey skin that could easily be connected to her status as at least part shadow-elf, the pointed ears only helping that case. Her emerald eyes were bright with hope but dimmed by years of being cast into the shadows. A scar across the front of Anne’s neck, not unsimilar to Kat’s. Her hair was up in buns and she wore a green nightgown, showing that she had been either going to bed or in bed when Henry casted the fateful spell.
For a moment, Anne staggered in place, blinking wide eyed at the room and women in front of her. And then, her legs gave out, clearly unused to actually being used.
Cathy was quickly leaping forward to catch her and gently lower her to the floor. The others jumped forward too, but Cathy was the first to reach Anne, causing the others to stay back so as to not overwhelm the shadow elf.
Cathy carefully held Anne’s head on her lap. For a moment, both women simply stared at each other.
Anne let out a shaky breath, curling her fingers against the wooden flooring. She could feel it. The cold that had surrounded her was fading as well, and Anne suddenly realized just how cold the shadows had been.
“Somnolente…” Anne’s voice came out rasped from disuse and she let out a small cough. She stared up at Cathy’s eyes. Cathy took in just how hopeful the elf looked. “Is this real?”
That was Cathy’s breaking point. Tears gathered in her eyes and the smallest of sobs escaped her lips. “It is, Anne. It’s real… you’re finally free.”
Anne let her own tears slip as she closed her eyes. She ever so slowly moved her arms up to place her hands on Cathy’s cheeks. She felt so weak, she could barely even do that. Cathy moved her own hands up to hold Anne’s when the woman’s arms faltered and almost fell back down. Cathy tilted forward so she was bowed over, her forehead pressed against Anne’s.
For a long moment, the two remained in that position.
Honestly, all the touch and feelings were overwhelming to Anne. But at the same time… she was able to feel. She was able to feel the cool wood under her, Cathy’s forehead against hers, the wizard’s cheeks under her hands and the tears running over her own cheeks and hands.
Yes it hurt, but it was also amazing…
“Others?” Anne managed to ask in almost a whisper.
At this, Cathy brought herself back to kneeling straight up. She glanced behind her to the other queens.
Kat and Jane were openly crying, tears falling down their cheeks. Anna and Catalina’s gazes were soft and they had tears in the corners of their eyes.
Cathy nodded their heads and they all perked up. They clearly restrained themselves as they slowly made their way over and kneeled down on either side of Anne.
“We’re all right here, love.” Jane murmured, not bothering to try and hide her tears as a joyful smile came onto her face.
One of Anne’s hands was released by Cathy and Anne shakily brought it into the air, letting another queen grab onto it. That queen was Catalina and Anne let her hand go slack in the strong grip. She could feel one of Kat’s hands replace Cathy’s cupping her cheek and she could feel Anna and Jane next to her as well.
The touch was overwhelming, yet it felt so so good. It proved she was really here. It proved she wasn’t cold anymore.
“You’re all so warm.” More tears appeared in Anne’s eyes and there was nothing she could to stop them.
With her limited energy, her hand clenched tighter to Catalina’s and her head pressed back further against Cathy’s legs, as if she was afraid that removing the contact would suddenly thrust her back into shadows.
And really, that’s exactly what she thought.
“I can feel you… you can hear me… you can see me!” Anne had become louder, more excited as she went on and she had to break off into a cough.
“We can, Annie! We can!” Kat let out a watery laugh, her free hand reaching over to grasp Anne’s own free hand.
At the same time, Jane also spoke gently. “Don’t hurt yourself, love! I’m sure all of this is a lot. Especially after all that time being unable to feel anything…”
“You need time to recover.” Catalina agreed, her voice soft. “Just relax…”
“And we’ll be here for you every step of getting readjusted, okay?” Anna asked, placing her gloved hand on Anne’s knee.
“You’re finally here, Anne. And we won’t lose you again.” Cathy murmured, keeping one hand on Anne’s cheek.
That was the second Anne realized exactly what the others had done for her. She closed her eyes and simply focused on the sensations around her, the other queens especially.
“Thank you…” it quickly became a repeated chant, over and over. Anne ignored her dried lips and throat, she had to get this out there.
She needed them to know just how much they had done for her.
Eventually, it was Anna and Cathy who gently shushed her and calmed her down. All five were giving her reassurances, telling her how happy they were to finally see her, how beautiful she was.
They fell into a soothing silence as Anne calmed and focused on finally feeling those she cared about. Eventually, Anne’s lack of energy decreed it was time to rest.
“I’m tired…” Anne mumbled, her eyes closing against her will.
“Sleep, Anne. We’ll all be right by your side.” Someone soothed. Anne couldn’t tell who it was.
Everyone let out a small breath when Anne fell asleep. All of them exchanged tired, proud, and most importantly, happy smiles.
Catalina gently scooped Anne into her arms as she stood, walking over to a bed. The other queens followed suit. They were going to follow what they said to Anne. They were all rather nervous to leave Anne alone anyways.
They all took up one bed, Catalina had Anne’s head on her lap, one arm wrapped around both the green queen and also Cathy and Kat. Kat and Cathy curled up together with Cathy pressed against Anne. Jane and Anna were practically draped across everyone’s feet.
Yes, it was cramped, but they were all too relieved and excited over Anne to care.
They still had a long journey ahead of them. The threat of Henry and the shadow realm still loomed over their heads. They would have to help Anne get readjusted to not being a shadow.
But that could wait until tomorrow. Now, it was time to relax and celebrate.
After all, they could finally meet and get to know Anne Boleyn in full.