She surveys his face
for recongition of her
suffering and finds instead
questions and requests for
tender caresses. He needs
her to validate his place in the
pathetic makeshift court.
The seismic shift in their
connection is not upsetting
to her but instead
stimulates a sense of the
familiar. She understands
her role better now and
what she is to him.
He needs her in such a way
that no one else can
provide what she has.
It soothes and
sustains her soul
to make her feel
that she is meeting
both their destinies.
Since she was a young
girl she has an overwhelming
passionate need to nurture
children and wounded animals.
She takes them all in her arms
and this makes her feel
satisfied in her role in life.
His destiny is not to rule but is
to breed rulers to upsurp his
status as second surviving son.
He knows he will not achieve what
he has been told is his due.
In many eyes he has failed.
He was always the tallest and most robust
of men. Still tawny haired and barrel
chested despite the steely streaks
of grey he is the same giant of a man.
Towering over his beloved
Katherine who is one
of the tallest women at court.
It is his disappointed hope
that has drawn him back
to Katherine at this advanced
stage in their lives. None of these
wizened, black-heared knowledge-
heavy men can given him waht he wants.
He no longer desires her body as he once did.
It is her gentle, confiding words, looks and movements
that braces up this stocky giant of a man.
His child-like need of her makes her feel
loved like never before. She is steering
a great man who is suffering through the
knowledge he will not achieve what
others expected of him through
the final phase of life. Enveloped
in her soothing beauty he is
remoulding himself into
gracious benevolent knight.
Making himself beloved among
the people in a way that has
evaded him for most of his adult
life. Carried forward by the small
gathering of romantics at court
who spread the word that they
are simply a pair of old soft-
hearted fools who have substituted
power for love. Katherine knows
differently. She knows John needed
to cherish him through his doomed
ambition and thawarted hope.
By moulding themselves
together in matrimony they
are making a statement
about love and legacy.
What they leave behind
is what someday will
make a great empire.