So this is my very first attempt at fanfiction. Please enjoy.
Disclaimer- I don't own reign
Henry was restless. The dinner honoring some trade negotiations had gone smoothly and now the following festivities were as well. Despite all this, he just couldn't bring himself to fully enjoy the evening. No conversation could hold his interest, none of the women dangling themselves in front of him, really nothing could hold his interest, and everything about the evening just seemed mundane. Although that wasn't entirely true, there was one thing that kept drawing him in and catching his eye, and oddly enough it was his own wife, Catherine.
Had this been twenty years ago, his eyes wandering to his wife wouldn't seem so odd to him. In fact he and she would probably be dancing this very instant. Catherine always loved dancing, and Henry had loved dancing with her. He loved twirling her around, getting lost in the music and moment with his wife. She would completely give herself to the moment. Thinking back on these exciting moments with her on the dance floor brought a small smile to his face, and then a thought hit him.
He should ask Catherine to dance, this very instant. He quickly scanned the room looking for Catherine, immediately finding her on the periphery of the dancing, looking at the dancers almost wistfully it seemed. Too bad more people didn't ask Catherine to dance, she was a phenomenal dancer, but she often came off as unapproachable and quite intimidating, though right now this worked in his favor because it meant Catherine was not currently engaged. As he approached her, he noticed that her eyes had been following him, interesting he thought; maybe she was just aware of him as he was of her this night.
Her eyes watched him questioningly and suspiciously, suddenly filling him with self-doubt. It had been so long since he had danced with her, there was so much history between them that maybe Catherine would say no. Maybe her hatred and distrust of him would outdo her love of dancing and she would scoff at him. But she wouldn't say no, would she? Not in front of everyone at court. Catherine always played her part to perfection, even when his actions were less than what one would expect of a king. Next thing he knew, she was before him, her enticing eyes speaking volumes, though her expression gave off only grace.
"Catherinewouldyoucaretodance?" he quickly asked, wanting to get the words out before he lost all his nerve, since when had talking to his wife made his stomach fill with butterflies. For goodness sakes they had children together, how could asking her to dance be this stressful. There was a moment of complete confusion that crossed her face, it may have lasted only a millisecond but Henry noticed it, and made him feel like a cad, his own wife completely surprised at being asked to dance, least of all by him.
She nodded, not saying a word, but her expression spoke volumes. Despite her arched eyebrows, a surge of confidence coursed through him. He felt charged, and the whole evening took on a new note, at least for Henry. Noticing Catherine had not felt the shift, Henry set about changing this, if dancing with his wife could alter the evening for Henry, then one dance with her husband should at least make the woman smile.
"Why are you looking so miserable Catherine, if I recall, dancing was one of your favorite pastimes?"
"You are correct Henry, dancing used to be one of my favorite hobby of mine."
"Nonsense, someone who gave in to the music such as you could not lose that passion, I recall personally twirling you around this ballroom for hours and you never got tired of it."
"Yes, but just like your memories, my passion for dancing is in the past."
Trying to overcome her negativity and refusal to give in to him and enjoy the moment, Henry tried to continue with levity.
"No need to be so dramatic, and besides, just this very evening when you were sitting on your throne, you were fidgeting to the music, just itching to be out here on this very floor" he teased. A small but very present smirk graced her face, a look of knowing she had been ousted, that her own body betrayed her. Why did it take this long for him to seek her out tonight, Catherine's company made the evening so much more enjoyable, even if she wasn't feeling the effect of them dancing together. Just these past few moments holding and just being with her made up for the whole tedious week of meetings, and they had barely spoken but a few words to each other.
As this realization hit him, the dance came to a close. Knowing Catherine would attempt to make a quick escape, such was their relationship these past few years, Henry continued to hold onto her hand and lead to edge of the dance floor. He couldn't quite let her go at this moment, all evening she had been present in his thoughts, he could recall tidbits of her conversations with visiting dignitaries and lords, what she ate, who she sat next too, and it was no lie, he did remember her fidgeting on her throne looking at the dancers, watching her descend the steps away from the throne with a slight sway that happened to be on beat.
Reaching a less crowded corner, but knowing full well that most of court was watching them, Henry stopped and turned and looked at Catherine, who was trying to suppress the surprise that she was feeling, or at least that's how it looked to Henry, who should know, he'd been with the woman for twenty-five years. Goodness he thought, had they really been together for that long? Though he supposed he was using together in a general sense. But he could change that, she was his wife, but she hated him. Oh god why was this happening now, he had just wanted a dance with his wife, why was he thinking about altering their arrangement. He liked having mistresses to please him and give in to his every whim, but he wanted Catherine. Want Catherine? Where had that thought come from? He hadn't felt like this towards her in quite some time, and yet there the thought was.
"Henry why are you looking at me in the oddest manner, and might I have my hand back?" Catherine's voice cut through his thoughts, pulling him back to the party that was currently going on, but instead of releasing her hand, he slowly brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of her hand, he couldn't resist. What he didn't count on was just that minimal contact raging the desire that was building, kissing her hand was not enough, he wanted more, much, much more. Realizing he needed to leave her, right now, before he let slip the emotions that were currently running through his head and what would surely be her rejection.
"My apologies Catherine, I was only thinking about how much this dance meant to me and how lovely you look tonight, thank you for honoring me with your presence." Turning he quickly fled his wife's side. Why did she affect him like this, she hadn't even been trying, she didn't even like him, he wasn't supposed to like her. What a mess one dance did. Making his way over to Francis and Mary he tried to engage them in conversation, but as had been the problem from the beginning he found he grew bored of their company quickly and continued to scan the room for Catherine, only to find her retiring from the ballroom.
"Father, were you dancing with mother? How are the trade negotiations going? Are we keeping you? Father…?" Francis's questions were nonstop and noticing Catherine had left, Henry didn't see any reason to stick around.
"Yes son, I danced with your mother, she loves to dance, though she hides it well. The negotiations are still on going, and no you are not keeping me, I just suddenly find myself exhausted and would like to retire. Good evening, Francis, Mary". With that, Henry left. Hopefully sleep would help him collect himself and stop fixating on his wife, though a nagging in the back of his head told him something had changed. With that Henry continued the walk to his chambers, stopping only once to tell a servant to make sure that Catherine's favorites were served at breakfast, figuring a small gesture might be appreciated, all the while wishing the evening had ended differently for both of them.
