By Wendy Falla
SECOND PLACE in May Competition
1562 The Court of Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth and King Eric’s of Sweden’s respective secretaries of state, desperate to unite dynasties and nations, have spent two years corresponding. Exasperated, Elizabeth personally wrote to Eric, requesting that if his intentions were genuine, he visit her in person.
Ladies-in-waiting and Lord Burghley’s observers occupy the viewing platform of ‘The Standing’, a hunting lodge of Henry VIII’s design. Blanche Parry and Helena Snakenborg, the eyes and ears of their mistress, complicit in her whims, exchange nervous glances. Horses’ hooves thrum towards Chingford Chase. Elizabeth and Robert Dudley emerge from the forest ahead of the main hunting party at a canter, urging their horses to a gallop and disappearing through the distant treeline. In a clearing, Elizabeth dismounts, her gloves and gown stained with blood, she’s breathless, exhilarated by adrenaline,
‘Did you see pale Eric turn away? I heard him retch,’
‘He didn’t expect you to slit the stag’s throat yourself,’ Dudley takes the reigns, leading both horses, ‘even less to gouge into its chest!’ They have arrived at an annexe, Little Standing, half a mile from the larger lodge. Dudley secures the horses to a tree, continues, ‘reaching into the beast with your hand, presenting it to him!’
‘Still beating! What more symbolic for my suitor than a heart from a Hart?’ Elizabeth smiles mischievously,
‘Come, we have mere moments,’ Elizabeth pushes the door open, takes his hand,
‘Moments I live for,’ Dudley follows her inside.
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The rest of the hunting party come into view at The Standing. Courtiers murmur; where is the Queen? Blanche moves closer to Helena,
‘They play a dangerous game,’ she says, ‘Elizabeth’s letters to King Eric are fair words and false promises. Burghley is losing patience.’
‘And Dudley could lose his head!’ Helena replies.
Judges’ Comments; I loved this story of the love affair between Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. The way that Elizabeth puts off yet another of her suitors by her behaviour and the way she buys herself time to snatch a moment in private with Dudley is expertly done. I could feel the excitement of the moment and the chemistry between them.
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