Reclaiming Queen Catherine

A Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII After-life Fan fiction inspired by Starz hit series The Spanish Princess

PROLOGUE

Seeing Her Again

The After-life, Hampton Court 2015

The After-life was not exactly what Henry VIII expected. He didn't expect it to feel so solid and real, there was nothing insubstantial about the Otherworld in which he found himself. In this world he had again the appearance of the young, idealistic eighteen year old he had been when he ascended England's throne in 1509, but with more wisdom, hopefully.

The Tudor Court lived on here in a dimension parallel to the mortal world. Sometimes the two worlds touched for just a moment and it was in these moments that sensitive mortals could 'see' into this Otherworld. Had a sensitive mortal been wandering the halls of Hampton Court that night, they might have seen the former Tudor Manor bedecked in all the finery of a Tudor Era Yuletide.

The ghostly king looked around him, his court full of those most dear to him, even four of his six wives were present. But the woman he wanted there most of all did not come. In the almost 600 years since his crossing over he'd often longed for her presence, but she never came, not on his birthday or for Christmases or even on New Year's days. The gifts he sent her always returned unopened. He'd even tried to go and see her himself, to beg forgiveness and asked if they might at least be friends, but every time he arrived at Caste Lodge in Ludlow where she was reported to haunt, Henry found an invisible barrier keeping him from entering the gates, even as a spirit.

Henry understood her refusal to see him, he cringed with shame and horror when he recalled how he treated her during the last years of her life. His maternal grandmother Elizabeth Woodville and his great-grandmother Jaquetta Rivers often reminded him that he was not entirely to blame, their ill-fated curse on the Tudor-line and an ever-worsening jousting injury poisoning his blood and brain had to shoulder at least some of the blame, but that knowledge didn't make the guilt he carried, especially with regards to Catherine of Aragon, any less.

"Your Grace, come and play a game of cards with us," Charles the Duke of Suffolk invited.

"Maybe later," Henry replied forcing a smile and a joviality he no longer felt. In truth the celebrations had lost their sparkle the moment he realized that she would not be coming, that even 600 years was not enough to erase the gulf he had so callously and foolishly placed between them.

Making a decision Henry turned to the woman standing to the left of him, behind the throne. ''I think I will retire early tonight Lady Great-grandmother.''

''Surely, you don't mean to leave so early, your Grace?" His grandmother Woodville asked where she stood to the right of the throne.

Henry managed a genuine smile for her. "The courtiers don't need me to continue the celebration as long as they like.

Mother and daughter shared a meaningful glance.

"Are you two ladies plotting something?"

"Perhaps," Jaquetta said simply, with that usual air of mystery.

"If your Grace could stay just a few moments more we would be most grateful," His grandmother Woodville's voice held an almost plaintive tone which intrigued Henry.

"Very well if you insist," Henry replied settling deeper onto his throne and accepting the gilded goblet of ale his cup-bearer handed him. Henry had barely taken his first sip when there was some commotion outside and the herald hurried into the great hall, eyes wide and seemingly struggling to find his voice, shock written plainly across his ghostly pale features.

"Your Grace," the herald stammered, "It's...it's..."

"The Lady Catherine of Aragon," a familiar voice finished for the stammering herald.

Henry watched as if caught in a dream as the owner of that voice stepped into view and sank gracefully to her knees, advancing no further. Before he even realized what he was doing Henry was on his feet and moving towards her.

Taking his movement as her cue Catherine rose and met him halfway. "Your Majesty," she said as she reached him and sank into a curtsy again. A servant had appeared behind her carrying a large silver chest, but Henry found he had eyes only for the woman before him, everyone and everything else around him seemed to fade away in an instant leaving only the two of them.

"Katie," his voice sounded suspiciously hoarse to his own ears as the name he called her in their youth fell unbidden from his lips. "I'm so happy you came!"

"A blessed Yuletide to your Majesty and his court," the lady replied formally, her voice steady, her gaze remaining respectfully downcast..

She was finally here after so many centuries, her auburn hair falling in glistening waves of red-gold silk about her slender shoulders and her delicate features carrying once more the full bloom of youth, but there was still a distance between them, one Henry would have given anything to breech.

Easy, he reminded himself, small steps, remember what comes from always running at life. She is here now and that is enough it has to be...

"I hope your Majesty can find use for this humble gift and that your Majesty will accept it in the spirit with which it is given," Catherine spoke again in that same steady tone as she moved aside so that the man baring the gift could step forward.

Henry lifted the lid of the silver chest to reveal a beautifully crafted golden bow with twelve silver arrows. "This is exquisite Catherine, thank you!" He said as he removed the gift from the chest, causing the crowd around them to erupt in spontaneous applause and reminding Henry that he and Catherine were not alone.

Around them, the courtiers were buzzing with surprise and excitement at Catherine of Aragon's surprise entrance and the King's reaction to it. It was clear he didn't mind her presence in the least. "Is that really Catherine of Aragon?" Kathryn Howard whispered to Jane Seymour. "As in the Catherine of Aragon?"

Jane nodded enthusiastically, a bright smile lighting her normally placid features. "The Queen, isn't she lovely and doesn't the king look happy to see her?"

"He looks like a teenage boy seeing his true love for the first time after many years apart," Anne of Cleeves said in her thick accent as she clapped her hands excitedly.

As the courtiers watched The king's maternal grandmother and great-grandmother came forward to welcome Catherine to court with all the honor due a true queen. Henry watched Catherine closely and though she hid her discomfort well it was clear that she was uncomfortable with the situation.

In an effort to soothe her Henry suggested a stroll in the gardens and he was relieved and delighted when she accepted. "I fear I cannot stay long your Majesty." She told him as they moved through the lush rose garden. "I must leave again almost this moment I only came to deliver the gift..."

Henry swallowed his disappointment. "Would you allow me to come see you at Ludlow?"

She was quiet so long he was beginning to wonder whether she'd even heard him. Then she spoke: "No Harry, this is the closing of a chapter, not the start of a new one."

He felt like all the energy was being drawn out of him at her words and he struggled to make sense of this turn of events. "Kate, I know I have a lot to make up for, forever may not even be long enough for me to make all the amends I need to make to you, but Kate I want to try, please."

Catherine looked up at him and for a moment Henry found himself drowning in the familiar blue pools. ''I bear you no ill-will, my lord. I meant what I said in my last letter to you. I do wholly pardon you...''

''If that is the case let me be part of your existence, let me be your friend.''

There was a rustling behind them and Henry turned just a moment, but it was enough. When Henry turned back from the unsuspecting mortal who had for an instant touched his world, Catherine was gone.

"Why did she come if only to leave again almost the same moment?"

The celebrations were over and many of the ghostly guests had retreated to their usual hauntings. Henry was pacing up and down the lengths of the now deserted ballroom. "Did she come only to wound me?"

"Catherine came to honor you," Jaquetta said, her tone carrying a smidge of irritation. "She owes you nothing you understand? Not her friendship and certainly not her loyalty... Whatever debt she owed you is paid in full now..."

"Mother!" Elizabeth Woodville's voice held a warning, one Henry's sharp ears could not help but pick up.

"What's going on here," Henry demanded. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Tell him, Elizabeth." Jaquetta said on a sigh. "He deserves to know, the fates know if someone had, had the backbone to tell him the plain truth in life things might have turned out very different..."

"Stop talking about me as though I'm not in the room!" Henry said as he banged his hand on the table. "I already know about the curse and the ulcer which poisoned my body and mind so what else is there?"

It was Elizabeth Woodville who finally spoke, with obvious reluctance. "Have you never wondered Harry, how it was that you came from a tyrannic life, directly into the rich splendor of this personalized Tudor Heaven?"

"I admit I'd pondered it, but have yet to find a satisfactory answer."

"You never saw purgatory because another bore your punishment, spending 600 years in torment in your stead."

"What? Who?"

"You cannot think of one loyal and humble enough to bare your sins?"

"You can't mean...not Catherine?"

The two ladies silence was answer enough...