Disclaimer: I neither own Reign, nor profit from this story.
Catherine was retuning to her rooms after a particularly long day.
Henry had been…Henry.
Francois had been kind but frustrated.
She had been trying to buffer one from another and manage some of the duties she would eventually be handling entirely on her own as the future Queen of France. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary, but she could freely admit that she was well past needing nothing but peace and quiet.
Making her way into the relative privacy of her chambers, she tried to rub away some of the stubborn knots that had made themselves at home in her neck.
.
Head angled downward, thoughts far from her present location she didn't even think to check for any visitors as she entered the room.
"Good evening Catherine."
Jumping and turning her head shortly she was not only startled but also rather annoyed that her husband had decided to make himself at home in her chambers and surprise her as he had.
Their seven year anniversary had passed not six months ago and she could well and truly say that their marriage had essentially disintegrated into a purely political alliance…one which she knew Henry was being pressured to end as she had thus far failed in her duty as future Queen.
Despite her best attempts, and regardless of her feelings for her ever charmingly unfaithful husband, she had been entirely unsuccessful at producing an heir for the throne. It was something which she was not only constantly reminded of but also which she had taken to berating herself over, not that it seemed to do any good.
Whatever the reason she couldn't seem to get pregnant though it was certainly not for lack of trying.
Relatively speaking.
It was true that Henry had not visited her in that way for several weeks, but that was not her fault and she had absolutely no intention of seducing a man that seemed to make it his life's mission to remind her of her 'wifely place' in this relationship.
Namely quietly dutiful despite any and all dalliances he may choose to maintain.
Turning her attention back to husband she allowed her body to collapse into itself every so slightly, weary as she was.
Of all the people who could see her virtually unguarded at this point it would be her husband, especially right now. Every now and again he would actually abandon whatever pursuit he hand intended on accomplishing with her if he saw how tired she really was. Though she didn't need to supply him with any additional fodder, should he choose to take advantage of such things, it was not as if he did not have plenty already.
At least this time it had not been he who had caused her to be so weary, at least not he alone.
"Yes husband what is it? Are you here because your preferred bedwarmer has once again forced you in here to try and fulfill our duty to France? Or have you simply tired of your usual playthings and are looking for someone mundanely familiar?"
This time it was he who froze momentarily.
Though he knew that Catherine had quite an expressive tongue when she so chose to, it was rarely directed so liberally at him.
No longer the doe eyed Italian girl he had married, he realized that he might need to approach what he had come here for with more carefully than he had intended.
"Catherine I would…it would do me great…would you come over here please?"
Sighing and turning slowly, Catherine all but dragged her feet over to where he now stood.
Gathering both of her hands in his own he directed her to sit in the chaise he was currently occupying, hoping that his demeanor would help to calm whatever storm was brewing.
Nearly collapsing into the cushions Catherine just sat there waiting for Henry to continue.
She simply did not have the energy for anything else.
Opening and closing his mouth a few times Henry decided on the direct approach instead and reached under his seat for the box he had left hidden there.
"Happy Birthday Cara." He began, extending his git out to her as he spoke. "I know I have not been particularly attentive of late, or even a very good husband at all, but I wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten you."
Blinking a few times before reaching out for the offered box Catherine's movements were slow.
He had remembered.
It was not as if she paid any particular mind to this anniversary. It served little purpose except as a reminder of her continued failure.
And yet he remembered.
Opening the box her heart melted at the sight.
Inside were a pair of baby shoes, white with gold filigree and ribbon laces.
Delicately grazing her fingers across the lines and ridges she was momentarily stunned speechless.
She was not pregnant, she knew she was not pregnant as did he, and yet he had chosen to gift these to her. Why?
Looking up, eyes searching for his she tried to find the words to respond. To find something to…
"Catherine?"
Fear gripping her suddenly. She had not been able to do this so far, was this way of him telling her that he had conceived with another and was releasing her from her burden by replacing her?"
"Catherine, Caterina?" He spoke, removing the gift from her hands and taking hers in his much larger digits he tried to soothe away her fears.
Taking a firm hold of her emotions she blinked back a few tears that had gathered and were begging to fall.
Sliding closer he cupped her face in one hand and tilted her gaze so that he could look into her eyes.
"I'm sorry I Cara, I only meant to convey that I have faith that we will some day conceive, that it is not a worry that burden me as it seems to you. That we will fulfill our duty to France together, that it will happen."
Shaking her head she began babbling in Italian as Henry watched on, helpless.
Cupping both cheeks and drawing her to him swiftly he did the only thing he could think of to try to distract her.
Kissing her surely he tried to relay all the confidence he had in her, in them to a girl, no woman, who lately had become more and more distant to him. He knew of her fear and certainly of her dedication for going about producing an heir, but also that he could not fully understand what she was going through as a result.
He wanted to be let in, but it seemed like ever time he tried she was hustling off to some doctor, or busy making preparations, or even more appetizing giving him a concoction to try…all of which had failed to this point.
Her single minded focus was very difficult to breach when all he wanted to do was comfort and spend time with her.
Her chest began to heave and she planted her little hands on his chest to push him away, but he would have nothing of it. He had left her all the space she desired and it had done nothing but lead them farther and farther apart. This time he would hold her close, impress on her that he was here for her, that he could be trusted with her confidence and her fears.
Wrapping both arms around her he continued in his affections for just a moment longer before lightening the embrace and pulling back, loosening his grasp as well, but only enough so that they could look at one another without straining their necks.
A single tear made it down her cheek as she tried and failed to work out what she wanted to say.
"Cara, resta con me e io starò per sempre con te**."
Burying her head in his chest she wrapped her arms around his torso and began to sob in earnest. The stress and exhaustion finally catching up with her, she allowed her husband to weather the storm with her.
They sat there for a while. Catherine eventually calmed and sighed into his chest.
"Thank you Henry, I apologize for being so weak."
Shaking his head and running his hand lightly across her hair he replied, "Never my love, never be sorry for letting me see the real you. I am your husband, and I love you. I only even want to see you as you are, to know how to comfort you and calm your fears. Please don't block me out as you have been."
Shaking her head in acceptance she stood, intending to get ready for bed.
"Henry you are welcome to stay if you wish, but I really am quite exhausted and hope that any plans that you had might be postponed?"
At his nod of ascent she began to call over one of her ladies to help.
"No Catherine."
Also standing to meet her, he explained his words. "I would like to help prepare you to retire tonight."
"Henry really I…"
Taking her hand in his his he raised it to his lips before answering.
"Not like that my love. I only wish to spend time with you and to hold you close."
As a small smile blossomed on her face she answered him,"I would love for you to spend the night here, and you are always welcome to do so.
Relieved, a genuine smile grew on his face as she led him over to where she would need him.
Laces, and pins, and ribbons, and silk.
He didn't know how women even moved with all these layers on.
Finally after Catherine's outerwear was taken car of and after calling for some sleepwear for Henry, the Dauphin and Dauphine settled into her bed. A comfortable silence blanketed them as they waited for sleep to come.
Words at this point seemed to complicate matters. Instead the royal couple preferred to just enjoy this moment of peace, a rare instance during the course of their union.
Sleep did not come easily that night, but come morning they felt more rested than either of them were used to. For rest and sleep are not always companions, just as the two of them seemed to be less and less as the years trickled by.
How they would survive it neither were sure, but for now they reveled in what they had.
Each other.
** Stay with me and I'll be with you forever