"I HAVE TO DO WHAT?" King Henry VIII was not pleased. Not in the least. Here he was, trying to obtain a divorce from that woman, appealing to Rome to have his marriage annulled, and his advisors come in, demanding that he return to her bed.

"Your majesty, it is only for the sake of appearances. While the representatives from France are here, you must continue to act as though you continue to be married to the queen. In every way," said Wolsey, already wondering if this was a wise to carry this particular piece of news to the king.

Thomas More added, "Majesty, you have said that, should Rome declare that your marriage to Katherine is legal, you would happily return to her. Here is your chance to prove this."

Henry remained silent, not knowing how to argue this point. He couldn't believe that he, the KING of England, Ireland, France and Wales, was being forced to do this. With a frustrated sigh, he turned on heel and stalked into his private chambers.


He sat at his desk, seething. He didn't want to share anything with her, that woman who called herself his wife. Every moment he spent with her was difficult, because he still cared about her. She was still is Catalina, that girl who waited seven long years for him. The woman who stood beside him at his coronation – THEIR coronation. She had borne him nine children, and loved and cared for Mary, the only one to survive infancy, the pearl of his world. Whenever she looked at him, all he could see was the pain in her grey eyes – the pain of so many lost children, of separation from their daughter, of being deserted by the man she had married almost twenty years earlier.

He had never wanted to hurt her. Not like this. He needed a male heir, preferably more than one. He thought Katherine understood that. Katherine, whose own brother had died, leaving Spain in the hands of her sister's foreign husband. Katherine, who had married the Prince of Wales only to see him die and be succeeded by his younger brother. And married that brother.

And there was the problem. She had married her dead husband's brother. The book of Leviticus forbade such a marriage. Why couldn't she see that? Why did she have to insist on being so stubborn? If she'd just agreed to step down, Henry would have let her retire anywhere she chose. She could have seen Mary as often as she pleased. Neither of them would be stuck with this situation.

Suddenly, a knock at the door jolted Henry from his thoughts.

"Enter"

In walked a messenger, carrying a slip of paper. Henry took it from him. Just as he was about to tear the seal off, he was overcome. The paper smelled like her. That beautiful mixture of rosewater and lemon and he didn't even know what. That same smell that clung persistently to the pillowcase on the right side of his bed, that instantly brought to mind flashes of red-brown hair flying as they danced, that radiant smile, the beautiful peal of her laughter … Every memory of Katherine that he just couldn't seem to forget.

Shaking his head, he forced himself to open and read the note.

Dear Henry,

I hope that you are well. I was expecting to see you at mass this morning, and was worried that you might be somehow indisposed.

If you are able, it would please my heart to have you join me to sup this evening, in my chambers.

I shall wait for your response.

Yours always,

Katherine

That stubborn woman. Continuing to care about him, even when all he did was ignore her. Nonetheless, dinner would be a good opportunity to discuss being forced to share a bed. Henry grabbed a sheet of parchment and a quill, pausing for some time, considering how to respond, before quickly writing his response and sending the messenger away with it.

Eight o'clock


Hope you enjoy this. It's my first fanfic, so any reviews or advice would be great!