Sign in or 
Location: Team Frain/Cromwell
Discussion: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Category:
Discussion Forum /
Teams
Share this
Maggie-AnneB. |
40. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 24 2009, 11:20 PM EDT
Well ok.. yeah my first story was TONS better. It was more dramatic, just better really. But this will have to do. Hope who ever is writing after this will find this something that they can easily add to. I just REALLY wish I didn't delete my first story. Damn. That's all I can say. Well goodnight everyone. May Thomas Cromwell be with you... (I've been having dreams about Fat Henry, which isn't fun. He does a lot of yelling and picking up and breaking chairs. I don't know why he yells and breaks things. All I am worried about is no Cromwell yet. Which is such a downer.)
Do you find this valuable?
|
scooter&buster |
41. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 24 2009, 11:42 PM EDT
| Post edited: Mar 25 2009, 1:29 AM EDT
Okay...I don't remember much about the geography of England...so if I'm way off base, someone may have to correct me.---------------- As Thomas Cromwell kissed away his dutiful wife's tears and caressed the face of his young son, he heard a beloved voice shout.... "There it is!" In the barge with the Cromwell's were two of their servants. Gregory's govrness, Mistress Alice Blayne, and their cook, Richard Smythe. Alice was just 22, and came from a relatively well off gentry family who'd of late fallen on hard times. Elizabeth had been good friends with the Blaynes and asked Thomas to help them out in any way possible. With little money for a dowry, Alice had not been able to make a good marriage for herself. So, Lord Cromwell had taken her on as his ward and employed her as a governess to Gregory. With this position also came the promise of eventually presenting her at court. That would never happen now. Mr Smythe had known Thomas Cromwell all of his life. He had been a friend of Thomas' brutish father, Walter. They'd shared many a pint of ale together...he and the elder Cromwell. And, he'd seen the old man raise his hand to his son, Tom, on several occassions. Smythe had always defended the young Tommy, and when the lad grew up...he never forgot his old protector. When Mr Smythe was destitute, Thomas found him, gave him shelter and a job. He was like a father to Thomas Cromwell...and was dearly loved.. "Tommy...There it is!" Shouted the excited old man. "What?" Thomas jumped to his feet as he saw a merchant's ship in the distance. An old tub of a ship from the looks of it...and flying Italian colors. Good, he knew how to handle Italians. Hadn't More once accused him of being Italian through and through "Ahoy!" came the shout from a young albeit weather beaten sailor. . Do you find this valuable? |
|
Maggie-AnneB. |
42. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 12:13 AM EDT
This is REALLY GOOD! I would go on with the story.. but I must get some sleep.. I will be back tomorrow! But seriously, this is good... everything is! Although, I have a feeling its going to get crazy, if it stayed "normal" it would be good too. But I think a little crazy is in store for Cromwell!
Do you find this valuable?
|
|
scooter&buster |
43. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 12:32 AM EDT
| Post edited: Mar 25 2009, 12:34 AM EDT
Thomas had now totally composed himself. He looked at his wife who stared at him in a way he'd never seen before. "The letter" he thought. It's finally sinking in...she's finally relizing what I'm capable of. Too late to think of that now. "Elizabeth. Give me the letter." She looked down, tightened her grip on it, then back up at him with suspicion. "God" he thought. She hates me now. I can't bear that look. "Give it TO. ME." he demanded. She flung out her arm limply. "Here" "No matter what you think of me now, all of you....we must, at present, think of our survival. If I'm caught...we are all doomed. I will not destroy the letter. Once we are on the continent, I will contact some useful persons and try my best to get it back to our dear Wyatt. It's intended for him, and he has a right to know the truth. I just pray he be still alive by then." He looked up at the old battered ship growing huge before their tiny barge. "Tell me about the ship. How did you arraign this? Quickly! I must know". "It was all Wyatt's doing Poppa. He contacted that man you used to work for in Florence. Remember. You used to tell me stories about the two of you. Mr Fres...Fresca?" "Frescobaldi!", breathed Cromwell. "Francesco Frescobaldi! My God! After all of these years. I can't believe it." "Listen to me." Thomas continud, "No one speak. I will do all of the talking. If this is in fact a ship belonging to Francesco, we are saved...but, for now, we must be careful.. Do you find this valuable? |
HeroineAddict |
44. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 7:12 AM EDT
"Well ok.. yeah my first story was TONS better. It was more dramatic, just better really. But this will have to do. Hope who ever is writing after this will find this something that they can easily add to. I just REALLY wish I didn't delete my first story. Damn. That's all I can say. Well goodnight everyone. May Thomas Cromwell be with you... (I've been having dreams about Fat Henry, which isn't fun. He does a lot of yelling and picking up and breaking chairs. I don't know why he yells and breaks things. All I am worried about is no Cromwell yet. Which is such a downer.) "Hehe, well, I actually dreamt that I was Anne of Cleves last night...how random is that? Though, I seemed to be in a Tube station for some reason...Cromwell was sort of there though, but naturally my dream-brain was interested in him and wandered off. LOL Both the new parts are awesome, Maggie (you wouldn't have known it was a second attempt) and Scooter (the servants are a brilliant touch), and I love Reggie's inclusion of the letter. It adds a really interesting dynamic to Cromwell and Elizabeth's relationship. This story is soooo gooood. I'm proud of it :D Do you find this valuable? |
Reggie19 |
45. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 7:35 AM EDT
| Post edited: Mar 25 2009, 7:37 AM EDT
"A little late, but the addition of Wyatt is perfect because he was in the tower and Kathryn Howard beg for him to be released, which he was."OMG Maggie, i so did not think of that, haha. OK, i would continue on with the Francesco Bibaldi thingamajig, but i'm not sure where to take it from where ScooterBuster left off, and i've just sat through two consecutive lectures and an exam so me brains a bit groggy, i was thinking of doubling back to White Hall, and maybe describing Cromwell's escape to Henry, via Charles Brandon, maybe add a little 'will he get caught, wont he' with Henry's men out looking for him, obviously Henry will set the dogs on him, he's been made a fool of on his wedding day, haha! Do you find this valuable? |
|
Reggie19 |
46. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 7:48 AM EDT
OK, here we go!Charles had firmly decided to say absolutely nothing, the reaction he had received from his King was bad enough when he told him, now Henry was pacing back and forth in front of him, his beautiful bride-to-be Kathryn Howard sitting behind him, Charles wasn't sure what the expression on her face was contemplating, but the way her brow was crinkled, she looked a little worried. Charles didn't have to ask what Henry was thinking, he knew him too well, he was disgraced, humiliated, furious... and he was to marry Kathryn today, definitely a wedding to remember! "Charles... how... how in God's name did this happen, was security not tightened around his cell?" asked Henry, Charles thought for a while, thinking how he should respond to that question. "Um... no, your majesty, it was not" replied Charles. "WHAT?" Henry bellowed, leaping into Charles' face and looking him directly in the eye. "We didn't suspect anyone would seek to release him, not to mention no one has ever escaped the tower before, we didn't think it necessary to tighten security, after all, as your grace knows, he isn't a very popular man, who would even attempt, or risk their lives to set him free... " Charles drifted off, and finally came to a halt at the expression on Henry's face. "Someone did, Mr Brandon, someone we completely overlooked, and who we welcomed back to court after the fall of that b****, Master Wyatt was not alone in this, he had help, and we will find out who" Henry hinted. "Majesty?" asked Charles, hoping he wasn't considering what Charles feared. "Henry" Kathryn Howard's voice purred, as she lifted herself from the Queen's chair, and glided gracefully in the King's direction. Do you find this valuable? |
|
Reggie19 |
47. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 7:58 AM EDT
"Must we talk of such things today, we are to be married, Master Cromwell can wait, but..." continued Kathryn, looking between Charles, and glancing back up at her husband."Henry Wyatt was one of your father's most beloved councillors, it would grieve him terribly to do harm to his beloved son, his only son... I'm sure whatever part Thomas played in this, was a reluctant one, as you know yourself, Secretary Cromwell has a way with words, he probably convinced poor Thomas to do this, repay him maybe for saving his life when... the last time he was in the tower" explained Kathryn, sidestepping the mention of her cousin, she knew that Anne was the last method of persuasion she could use against Henry. "What do you suggest we do then?" Henry asked, composing himself slightly. "Send him back to his wife, Elizabeth Brooke, should he decide not to go, then his life will be forfeit" explained Kathryn, hoping the punishment would suffice for Henry, after all, Thomas had left Elizabeth due to her adulterous lifestyle, she was hoping that him continuing to live with it would serve as damage to his pride, a suitable punishment for damaging Henry's. "I shall have to consider it, Charles, prepare a search team, check any and every where Cromwell could have managed to reach in the hours of his flight, i also want a letter written to Sir Henry Wyatt, explain to him the matter concerning his son, but don't mention whether or not we will be pressing charges against him as of yet, Mr Wyatt has done me a great disservice, i don't want him leaving the tower completely innocent!" explained Henry. "Yes your majesty" and Charles nodded his head respectively, a wave of relief washing over him. Do you find this valuable? |
|
scooter&buster |
48. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 9:11 AM EDT
"i would continue on with the Francesco Bibaldi thingamajig, "Okay, I forgot to write last night that, Maggie your entry was great, really good. And, now Reg, I so like thiis double back thingy...it lets us know what's up with Wyatt. I must say, the man has nine lives, no ;) And, of course, we need to get Henry's reaction. Great work. FWIW, and y'all probably already know this, but Francesco Frescobaldi is a historical figure. I'm reading Scofield's book on Cromwell (Thanks HA), and there is a bit in it about Francesco. According to the tale of Cromwell's early life, it was Frescobaldi that rescued a homeless and starving 18 year old Cromwell off the streets of Naples and brought him back to his home in Florence...where he taught Cromwell the merchant trade. Also, the Frescobaldis were very wealthy and may have been friendly with the Borgias. There is also unfounded speculation that it was during this time that Crom may have been given an unpublished version of the infamous"The Prince". I just wanted to inject a bit of history into our totally fantasy world story. LOL Do you find this valuable? |
|
HeroineAddict |
49. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 12:01 PM EDT
| Post edited: Mar 25 2009, 12:32 PM EDT
I think Franny's a great additiion to the story :DMaybe it'll surprise people that I know nothing about ships OR Italian...or maybe it won't :) Either way, this is my next attempt. As usual, angst-tastic :p * * * The battered majesty of the old ship dwarfed the little boat as they approached it like a cork on the black water. Richard Smythe rowed with cautious determination, his gnarled hands strong on the oars. “All eyes open,” he muttered, and Cromwell met his gaze with a soft smile. They were now directly abreast with the merchant’s ship, and the boat bumped gently against its side. “Who goes there?” demanded a sharp voice, in Italian. A lantern was hefted far above them, and they goggled up at the ragged firelight like frightened children. Cromwell felt Elizabeth’s hand on his back, an unconscious act of reassurance that almost made him shiver with the memories it evoked...of touch...of long-absent love. Even when she took her hand away, he still imagined that he felt its warmth there, tingling. Very deliberately, his mouth tightened in resolve against emotion. He was just beginning to feel the sting of humiliation over his tearful outburst earlier, and he suspected that snivelling wouldn't help endear his cause to this implacable sailor whatsoever. “We are friends of Signor Frescobaldi,” he replied in his own fluent Italian. His voice was rough and he wanted to clear his throat, but he pressed on. “We mean no threat to you, but beg the assistance of your master.” Do you find this valuable? |
|
HeroineAddict |
50. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 12:02 PM EDT
| Post edited: Mar 25 2009, 12:12 PM EDT
They could indistinctly make out the silhouette of a man, peering down at them in the lamp-light. His shadowed face seemed inexplicably menacing as he regarded them coldly, their lives as fragile as a dice in his hands. “And what might the name be of he who seeks the help of Signor Frescobaldi?” Cromwell hesitated, the skin at the back of his neck prickling as the weight of the man's words sank in. It seemed almost diabolical foolhardiness to announce himself to a stranger when by now the whole country was probably in an uproar over his escape. They couldn’t even be sure if the ports had not yet been closed...He swallowed a grim smile at the thought that that would have been precisely one of his own first actions as Lord Great Chamberlain had a wanted prisoner escaped. Not to mention the enforced searching of foreign ships. The dawning absurdity of their actions almost made his nerve fail as he bit his lip and breathed in the scent of sea-salt. It wasn’t just his wretched life at stake now, but Gregory, Elizabeth, his poor, faithful servants. If he spoke his own name and this ship was in the pocket of the King… He looked at Elizabeth. The firelight was reflected in the depths of her eyes. High above them, the lamp burnt on, enquiring, beckoning... “My name is Thomas Cromwell,” he said, his voice clear and firm. Do you find this valuable? |
|
Reggie19 |
51. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 12:48 PM EDT
"Okay, I forgot to write last night that, Maggie your entry was great, really good. And, now Reg, I so like thiis double back thingy...it lets us know what's up with Wyatt. I must say, the man has nine lives, no ;) And, of course, we need to get Henry's reaction. Great work.Thanks for clearing that up scooterbuster, i haven't read much around a lot of the characters in the Tudors, other than Anne Boleyn anyway, right, i have no idea who Francesco Frescobaldi is, so if i continue on and completely contradict his character, don't hesitate to call me one it. OK, i know quite a bit about ships, due to Pirates of the Caribbean, but know nothing about the Italian culture of the 16th century, so again, i may begin to sound inaccurate. As for the Wyatt thing (does it show i'm suffering as a result of Jamie not coming back for S3 yet, lol), i honestly don't know where i',m taking it yet with him, but i did know i wanted Henry on the look out for Crom, adds some tension 'if he being watched, OMG, he was almost caught', that kinda thing! Do you find this valuable? |
|
Reggie19 |
52. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 1:00 PM EDT
Argh, i can't think of anything, got a stupid mouth ulcer that's so sore my jaw is stiff ,and keeps making *clunking* sounds everytime i moved my head that are so distracting (don't mean to gross anyone out!).Think, think, think... Do you find this valuable? |
|
HeroineAddict |
53. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 1:18 PM EDT
| Post edited: Mar 25 2009, 1:25 PM EDT
"Argh, i can't think of anything, got a stupid mouth ulcer that's so sore my jaw is stiff ,and keeps making *clunking* sounds everytime i moved my head that are so distracting (don't mean to gross anyone out!).Ow, that sounds really painful :(( You poor thing. I've kind of left it a bit vague, really, haven't I? Sorry about that. In my head, I was imagining that the guy they're speaking to is actually Frescobaldi himself (just being an eccentric sea-dog, I guess...despite the fact that he's not actually a sailor...and it makes no sense that he'd be manning the look-out...lol), and when he hears Cromwell's name, he welcomes them onboard. I know that years after Cromwell met Frescobaldi in Italy, Fresco came to London to reclaim debts that were owed to him and met with Cromwell again who invited him home to dinner, gave him gifts and arranged to have his own servants investigate Fresco's debtors. The Italian stayed with him for a while before returning home. So they were good mates, by all accounts. But that's all the book says about Fresco, so I wouldn't worry about making him out of character. For some reason, I keep picturing him as Dustin Hoffman in 'Perfume'. Do not ask me why... Do you find this valuable? |
|
Reggie19 |
54. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 1:45 PM EDT
"Ow, that sounds really painful :(( You poor thing.For some odd reason i got a mixture of Geoffrey Rush and... (if i could remember the name of Hurley's dad in Lost i'd mention him!), but honestly, i don't know where to go with the story, my heads bogged down, and since you said sea-dog, now i'm imagining Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow (for some odd reason i have POTC on the brain today!), argh, i'm in need of serious inspiration here, i am determined to add something before i leave the house today!!! Do you find this valuable? |
|
scooter&buster |
55. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 1:46 PM EDT
Great addition HA. LOVE it! I'm proud of our little fantasy :) GO, us! Do you find this valuable? |
|
Reggie19 |
56. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 1:46 PM EDT
"For some odd reason i got a mixture of Geoffrey Rush and... (if i could remember the name of Hurley's dad in Lost i'd mention him!), but honestly, i don't know where to go with the story, my heads bogged down, and since you said sea-dog, now i'm imagining Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow (for some odd reason i have POTC on the brain today!), argh, i'm in need of serious inspiration here, i am determined to add something before i leave the house today!!!"Cheech Marin, that's his name, haha, also did the voice of one of the hyenas in the Lion King (seriously, my heads in many places but the earth's atmosphere today)! Do you find this valuable? |
|
HeroineAddict |
57. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 1:55 PM EDT
"For some odd reason i got a mixture of Geoffrey Rush and... (if i could remember the name of Hurley's dad in Lost i'd mention him!), but honestly, i don't know where to go with the story, my heads bogged down, and since you said sea-dog, now i'm imagining Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow (for some odd reason i have POTC on the brain today!), argh, i'm in need of serious inspiration here, i am determined to add something before i leave the house today!!!"Yep...now I have Barbossa in my head as well. Get out of here, Geoffrey! (ok, don't...) Thank you, S&B! Do you find this valuable? |
|
Reggie19 |
58. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 2:00 PM EDT
Right, this is the best i could think of (please, someone correct me if this Francesco is not chubby!). HeroineAddict, i'm just going with what you said about Francesco being a little sundazed here."Thomas Cromwell?" asked that same man. "Signor?" asked Cromwell, he remembered how Francesco's mind could be slightly unbalanced, not in an unhinged manner, one minute her could be talking to Cromwell like he was the only man standing in front of him, the next he'd stare over his shoulder, believing he was talking to someone else, it was confusing, but something Cromwell was accustomed to, and something that made him smile slightly as he remembered. "TOMMY" cheered Francesco, and grabbed a hold of Cromwell and lifted him up off the ground, Thomas couldn't help but laugh, and look at Elizabeth in amazement as Francesco started spinning him around, his bear hug tightening to such an extent Cromwell was afraid he'd put his back out of joint! "Oh, thank God, i was afraid that crazy little friend of yours had lost his mind, you know how poets are, but he managed to do it, Mr Cromwell, the first man to escape the tower of london, i bow to you" teased Francesco, as Elizabeth and Gregory looked on, happy that Thomas had been cheered slightly. "Yes... i am sorry for it - " began Cromwell. "Now now, let's not dwell, he's his own man, it was his own decision, don't you feel guilt for his insane mind" tutted Francesco, placing his hand on Cromwell's back to lead him in the direction of the captain's cabin. "Mrs Cromwell, young master Cromwell, after you" suggested Francesco, showing Elizabeth and Gregory ahead of himself and Thomas. "Now, i want to know everything, what happened?" asked Francesco as he followed behind Elizabeth and Gregory into his cabin. Do you find this valuable? |
|
Reggie19 |
59. RE: 'The Flight of the Secretary'
Mar 25 2009, 2:04 PM EDT
I am not certain if Crom was the first man to have escaped the Tower, i know there was someone who managed to, but i'm not certain if that was before or after Cromwell's time!
Do you find this valuable?
|
