The Library Chapter 7
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Library Chapter 7

A Return to Literature Brings Some Wisdom

29
The Library Chapter 7
Poet Kate Hutchinson

The doors to Anne's privy chamber were thrown open, and Thomas and I were shoved roughly in front of Anne. She was alone and fuming. "A few days here and already you push forward temptations for my husband to take as he pleases! And one of my own family! Who is paying you?" Anne spat at me. "I am deeply sorry, your majesty. I was threatened by your uncle, and had no choice," I said quietly. "No choice!? Helping a husband, a king, to be unfaithful! Where is your loyalty, your duty to God?" she continued, her face flushing with anger.

"And you," she turned her attention to Thomas. "I am sure you helped no doubt, Seymour." "I was too busy arranging your masque to have helped, madam," he said with a courtly smile. "Charming," Anne cooed sarcastically. "Unfortunately I cannot punish you Thomas, but I can punish my own lady. You are dismissed from my services, and you may enjoy your now free time behind bars for treason," Anne said with a smirk. "What?" I gasped as her brother, George, and a friend stepped forward to take me out of the room. "Don't use the main halls George, Henry mustn't know I have disposed of this rat," Anne called smugly to her brother. And with that I was dragged from the room, while Thomas was restrained by Anne's men, and Anne laughed - she was the happiest I had seen her since I arrived.

The dungeon was musty and the cell was made of cold imposing stones. I knew Thomas would try to find me, so I sat down among the straw on the floor and began to think of ways to get both of us out of this entire mess.

There hadn't been anything particularly special about the day I fell into the book; no crazy tornadoes, or blue telephone boxes, or even anyone else around in the library. Wait! The library! The palace must have one! Maybe all we had to do was fall through another book! My heart raced with excitement and I began circling the cell, coming up with a plan.

If we could get access to the library, we would need to find a book. But which book? A book on Anne brought me here, but there wouldn't be any of those yet, she hasn't done what she must do to have books written about her... she hasn't died yet. I began to wonder what book brought Thomas here, maybe that could be a clue as to which book to pick. We probably wouldn't have a huge amount of time to find the book we needed, so we would have to go quickly, and with purpose.

I heard boots begin to descend the stone steps by the time the sun had set once again on Windsor Castle. Thomas appeared between the bars of my cell, dressed head to toe in black with a riding cape and boots on as if he was ready to leave right away. "Time to get out of here," he said with a smile. "We have to stay!" I rushed into an explanation of what I had been thinking about throughout the entire day. "There is a library, but every hallway to it will have people who will see us and recognize us," he said dejected. Then it dawned on me, "but only Anne's men are looking for us!"

With that, Thomas pulled out a slate grey key and unlocked the door. He pulled me up the stairs and behind a tapestry into a hidden passage. A black gown and hat lay on a wooden bench beneath a lit torch. "Dress quickly, I am going to go ahead and make sure the coast is clear," Thomas said as he walked into the darkness. I quickly began to undo my gown, and after a not so hurried amount of time, I finally got dressed in a black riding habit and tugged on black riding boots. Thomas returned while I pulled on my last boot, "everyone is at dinner, this is the time to go." He grabbed the torch, and we disappeared into the dark.

While we walked, I looked at his face shining in the torchlight, "Thomas, what book brought you here?" I asked. He looked over, "'Henry VIII: Divine Leader or Wife Killer' was the title. I was at the library looking for information on... nothing. I just happened to be caught by the title and opened it up." "Strange, we came here through different books, so maybe there is hope that one of their books may be able to take us back!" I excitedly worked out the solution to our problem. "We're going to need a lot of luck," was all Thomas said.

We came to the back side of another tapestry and Thomas placed the torch back into a bracket on the wall. "Let's go," he said as he held the tapestry to the side. We were in a deserted hallway lined with huge doors. "This way," he said curtly, and we hurried our way down the hallway and turned left at a fork. We wandered through at least eight hallways before Thomas brought me before two huge dark doors. He pushed the door ajar just enough for us to squeeze through, but even this small movement made the door's hinges squeal. He glanced furtively up and down the hall and closed the door quickly behind us. Books, stacks of parchment, and bibles lined every part of the wall that wasn't window. "How are we going to choose?" I said in awe.

We both tore to opposite sides of the room and began looking at titles, through stacks of papers, and even trying to step on the open pages in hopes that something would work. We must have been searching for hours with no luck. The sounds of footsteps and muffled voices came outside the door as people left dinner for bed. I looked across at Thomas as he angrily began stomping on a huge volume open on the floor. "They haven't lived through our time yet, this is probably a dead end, isn't it?" I said softly. He quit stomping and looked up with frustrated tears in his eyes. "Yes, I think we've just about exhausted this resource," he commented sourly. "I guess we better get out of here, maybe try to find the witch woman again," I supplied. He nodded grimly, and we made our way back towards the door.

Thomas put up his hand to stop me from opening the door, pressed his ear to the wood, and listened. While I waited, I glanced over at a basket on the floor where a copy of Thomas More's 'Utopia' lay, probably waiting to be disposed. Thomas gave the signal that we could leave, I bent down and quickly grabbed the book and put it under my arm. Henry doesn't know what he may be trying to destroy.

We hurried out into the hallway and began walking towards the exit to the stables. We rounded the staircase leading down towards the smell of hay and horse, when we heard voices in the stable yard. Thomas pulled me into the dark behind the stairs to listen. "He wants to have her taken to the Tower within the week. Her inability to give him a son isn't worth it anymore, just like the last one. Keep this quiet, please, it must be a surprise when we come for her. We will send out a note in code to give the signal, keep your eyes open," a whispered man's voice said hurridly.

Thomas looked at me in the dark, his eyes wide. "This is happening almost a year too early..." I said incredulously, Thomas nodded. "I think we may have to stay a bit longer, something hasn't allowed time to pass correctly," Thomas mused. We looked at each other knowingly, and headed back up the stairs.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58154
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37458
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959101
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

192859
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments