Anne had completely shut down. The shouting in the courtyard was completely mute to her. The clamor in the halls though, that did give her pause. She heard it, but paid it little mind in the long run. Anne shook her head, again burying her face into her skirts. The maid pounding on the door was a bit more difficult to ignore.

At first Anne just shrieked for the woman to go away. She didn't want to see anyone. Anne assumed that her presence was being requested for some ceremony that she couldn't be a part of. Even if she had the strength to stand up, she wouldn't be there. She couldn't.

But the maid's incessant screaming and pounding at the door was just too much for Anne to deal with. Finally, fueled by her anger, Anne stood up, whipped the door open and stomped to the royal chambers with the maid scurrying behind her. She wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to put on some semblance of a strong face. Her cheeks were still red and her eyes were still glassy and teary.

She burst into the room and started to turn to give some snide comment to the maid.

But then she paused. Dark eyes opened wide. Oh God. She'd lost her mind, that was the only explanation.

"...it cannot be..."