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…