She looked out silently from her barred window and watched the boats bobbing happily on the river. The afternoon was sunny, no hint of the darkness overlying the land. Just a normal spring day for most. She tried to remember what it felt like to be free, to say and do exactly as she wanted.

In the distance, a pretty red haired girl was trying to roll a wooden hoop with a stick, skipping and laughing with no cares in this world. Her mother a few steps behind her, her face filled with love and pride. She wiped a tear from her eye, her own daughter was of a similar age, but she would never share a moment like that with her. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to imagine a different life and for a few brief moments she almost forgot.

The rusty scrape of the key turning in the lock, brought her sharply back to her senses and the surly, tall guard entered the room, bearing a quill and parchment as she had requested. He made no eye contact and did not speak, just placed them at her desk and quickly retreated. She settled herself down, took a deep breath and began to write…

My King, My Love,

My mother used to say, look up to the sky

Have faith in yourself, and believe you can fly

With belief there’s no end to the things you can do

So I grew myself wings and they brought me to you

At first I was shy, of the attention you brought

A different kind of King, away from the court

I was flattered, no doubt, your intentions were plain

But I would not be mistress, I aspired to reign

My wings then grew stronger, and i knew you’d be mine

I was brave, I was bold I was biding my time

You called me ‘Little Owl’, because I was wise,

To deflect your advances, and lower my eyes

We would talk of the day when I would become queen

To rule by your side, it seemed like a dream

An impossible dream, that soon would transpire

As your allies around you began to conspire

I should have sensed then, the dangers ahead

But I was young and naive and keen to be wed

We married in haste, our secrecy cloaked

Till the path was made clear and your marriage revoked

Finally at last, I was your Queen, Wife and lover

I was legally yours, I belonged to no other

That honeymoon season, I basked in pure bliss

To melt at your touch, & yearn for your kiss

And the baby that grew in my womb for a while

Made those handsome eyes twinkle and broadened your smile

Your hand was so gentle as you felt our child thrive

As it moved and it kicked, so keen to arrive

But the joy we had found would soon to be marred

On the birth of my daughter, it hit you so hard

You had longed for a son, a suitable heir

The image of you, so handsome and fair

The miscarriages followed, the mood soured still

My duty was clear, a role to fulfil

Your anger grew deeper, as you held me to blame

My conscience was clear, but I still felt the shame

Like a fool, I thought my country would love me,

But it gossiped and whispered, and plotted to kill me

And the courtiers so cold, my efforts were spurned

Then your eye caught another, and the tables soon turned

The tongues were out wagging, as they sharpened their knives

My days were now numbered, he’d found a new wife

The lack of an heir, was enough of a reason

To blacken my name and charge me with treason

A calculated trial, where the verdict was clear

‘Guilty as charged’, were the words that I feared

‘I’m innocent!’ I screamed in my heart and my mind

There was no one to listen, no one to be kind

But you my dear King, I beg and implore!

To care for our daughter, when I am no more

Our Princess will need a strong soul by her side

To act as protector, a friend and a guide

Your Little Owl is broken, no longer her best

Defeated and shattered, she longs for a rest

Her tiny wings falter, they no longer fly

Rejected and beaten, she’s ready to die

My King, I will love you, in the life beyond this

I will remember your presence and also your kiss

My husband, my lover, your light shines so bright,

Your Little Owl loves you, god bless and goodnight.

Your Queen.

She sighed and placed the quill down on the desk, a tear spilled down her pallid cheek onto the parchment below. She looked out of the window, surprised to see the sun was already setting, casting shadows on the river but spilling golden rays across the darkening sky.

In her mind, she felt her wings stir and beat again, feebly at first, but stronger and harder, until she finally burst triumphantly from the tower, soaring high above the city below her, wise and brave, like she used to be. She was gone, her body still captive but her spirit free. She would not feel the horror of the next day, they couldn’t hurt her anymore.

The final rays of sun flickered across the landscape, lingering just a while longer before nightfall descended. There were dark days ahead for England, change was coming…