A/N: Hello all!
This is my first published The Tudors' fic and I really hope you enjoy it. I want to explain a few things before we go on, though.
Catherine is not necessarily an OC. We see her in the very first episode of the first season; she is the girl Charles Brandon (later Duke of Suffolk) bets with the King. The one that is slapped by the father when he catches them in the act. Yes, the daughter of the Duke of Buckingham.
In the series she is credited as Anna Buckingham, but the Duke of Buckingham never had a daughter named Anna. He had four children: Henry, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary. Little information is known about his daughters and I've chosen Catherine to be the one we see in the series and that's when we go from real history to fiction.
In real history we know Catherine married 4th Earl of Westmorland, but here her story will be completely different. Here, for example, despite being the girl we see in the series she will have only one sister (Mary), who will be younger than her. I just wanted to use one of his daughters' real name; to give a real name to that girl we see in the very first episodes of the series.
The fic will have some real facts and some fiction as we go through, if you have any questions regarding what is what, you are free to contact me.
I'm very aware of how King Henry VIII's real history was, but this is a fiction piece based in the series The Tudors. I also use some information from the fiction book "The Autobiography of King Henry VIII" by Margaret George.
Please be warned that there will be spoilers from the episodes and I do not own anything you might recognize from the series or real history. The characters I use are how they are portrayed in the series.
"To These Words I Beheld No Tongue" is a song by Theatre of Tragedy.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it! :) Thanks in advance for reviewing it as well.
PS: I do not tend to write long Author Notes, only in the beginning of the stories.
I
15 of May of 1521.
Buckingham's Estate - Penshurt
Catherine Stafford had her eyes closed when she heard the first knock on the door. It took her a moment to take her mind away from the prayers she had been saying since she had woken up that morning. The young seventeen year old stood up from her knees, leaving her black rosary over the bed.
"Come in," she said lower than she expected while picking the trail of her dress and walking towards the middle of the room. Before the door opened she managed to wipe the few tears from her cheeks.
The wooden door opened and soon the figure of one of her servants appeared before her, the young boy bowed to her. She wondered of their loyalty to her, for any of them left the estate even after her father was imprisoned for high treason.
"His Eminence, Cardinal Wolsey, my lady," the boy said and before she could react to the announcement, he left the room and then the figure of Cardinal Wolsey appeared before her.
The girl forced herself into a slight bow, while with her head down a thousand thoughts ran in her mind; she believed Wolsey plotted to have her father imprisoned. And for that she had to force herself to bow to him.
"Your Eminence," she said as quietly as before, ever politely. Lifting her head and looking at the Cardinal's eyes.
"My Lady," Wolsey barely nodded his head, he took a quick look around the girl's stateroom, as if analyzing it, before looking at girl's light hazel eyes. "I am sent here to treat matters of your father."
"I must confess I am impressed you have come personally," Catherine replied. After her father's imprisonment it was as if she had matured thirty years, but she was yet to learn how to hold her tongue.
"As I know Your Grace is a very busy man," she added quickly when Wolsey stared at her.
"Indeed I am, but the King requested of me to come personally," he did not try as hard as her to hide his discomfort to be there. There was a slight pause as he moved his eyes around the room again; Catherine however maintained her eyes on him.
"In any way, Lady Catherine of Buckingham," he continued shortly, as if reminding himself of what were his duties there, his eyes again on hers. "As you already know your father is to be executed in two days, at ten in the morning on the seventeen, in Tower Hill."
"Yes, I am aware," she replied politely, hiding her anger towards him to talk of her father's execution as if informing her whether that afternoon would be good for a picnic or not. She put her hands together in front of her body in nervousness, trying not to breathe too heavily under the tight corset.
"You are to visit him one last time today," he continued as cold as before, his eyes dancing around the room between his words and landing on hers now and then. Catherine nodded slowly at this, feeling a strange cold in her stomach. One last visit.
"Now, for the other matters," he gestured apathetically around the simple, yet slightly wealthy room. It was no denial that Catherine was brought up in wealth and almost royalty, being tutored inside and outside England. However, after the imprisonment of her father, most of her jewels and fine things were taken to the King's treasure. All that remained of her personal possessions were her dresses, nothing else.
"The King is aware your father had no born sons and you are left with your three year old sister to take care of, since your mother is also dead," Wolsey continued with some sly when pronouncing also dead. Catherine chose to ignore it, nodding for him to continue.
"The King is sympathetic to you, as you are second cousin to Queen Elizabeth wife to King Henry VII," he added; the very reason why her father thought he was earn to the throne. How ironic if not tragic, she thought for a second. "And His Majesty has requested to keep you in court as lady in waiting to Her Majesty Queen Katherine, thus he will also let you keep this estate in Penshurt remaining the Buckingham's Estate, where your sister must remain with her tutor and your expenses are still paid by court."
It took the brunette a moment to understand all the information. She remained quiet as she reviewed Wolsey's last words in her head; the King was sympathetic to her and has requested for her to go to court and serve the Queen, while her expenses are still to be paid by court and her sister can still have her tutor. She swallowed dryly and finally broke eye contact with the Cardinal that waited - clearly impatient - for her answer.
Knowing the King and his infamous affairs she feared for a moment the only interest the King had was to have her. I must not think so high of myself, she thought of a moment. But she had already left herself be fooled by the charms of Charles Brandon, one of the King's personal friends, and could not help to think of this. However now everything was different; she had changed with all that has happened to her father. And even though she would prefer to live elsewhere as a common, she had to think of her sister Mary; something her father has forgotten with his blind obsession with the throne.
"Well?" Wolsey's impatient voice brought her back from her thoughts and she looked from the ground to his eyes again.
"Thank you, my Lord," she replied almost dryly, but politely and managed a nod.
"You are free to visit your father today, as I have told you," Wolsey continued as if her answer did not really matter to him but rather only awaiting for his next turn to speak. "And you are entitled to attend his execution. Your duties as Lady in waiting begin when you are to return to court after the execution in that same day. Look for Lady Margaret, also lady in waiting to Her Majesty."
"Yes, thank you," she replied with a superior look she had to bear not to show her anger as to how he was treating the whole matter. He did not seem the slightest concerned by her or her sister, and to make her start her duties with the Queen the same day her father was to be executed only confirmed his indifference with her.
"My lady," he nodded as a farewell, still untouched by the whole situation.
"Your Eminence,' Catherine bowed slightly once again, looking at the wooden floor, she heard Wolsey's steps towards the door.
"Ah, Lady Buckingham," Wolsey called by the door, his back already to her. Catherine lifted her head to look at him, but her knees still slightly bent.
"My sympathies," he added and before she could answer, he was gone.
x
Instead of waiting for her servants to prepare the carriage to Tower Hill, Catherine anxiety made her ride a horse herself towards the prison. Following her was two of the King's guards and one of her own guards and servants.
She was a fast rider, as her father always encouraged sports when she was younger, and could have gone alone. However until she was to return to court, she would be followed by the two royal guards and Mark, her servant, refused to leave her alone with them.
It was a cold and clouded day, the spring fighting to flourish over the winter still. And Catherine could feel the cold wind touching her face and making her long cloak and hood swing behind her as the horse rapidly responded to her commands and trotted to Tower Hill, just outside the city of London.
When approaching the white and imposing tower, the two of the royal guards that were following her took front and the gates were opened for her and the escorting to pass, she then followed the guards to the entrance, barely looking around at the garden and other guards watching her.
"Lady Buckingham," one high ranked guard greeted her as Catherine unhorsed with the help of Mark.
"My Lord," she nodded slightly, adjusting her dress and cloak, maintaining the hood down to have a clear vision of everything.
"Lady Catherine Stafford of Buckingham has permission of His Majesty, King Henry VIII to visit her father, Edward Stafford, third Duke of Buckingham," one of the royal guards informed professionally standing by Catherine side without unhorsing.
"Very well," the other guard replied and gestured for Catherine to enter the Tower. She hesitated for a moment.
"My Lady, do you want me to go with you?" Mark whispered beside her. She smiled very lightly, it had become way too hard for her to smile, and shook her head.
"Better not, please stay here and wait for me," she whispered back and Mark bowed shortly. She was grateful for his loyalty to her.
With that she glanced at the guard and nodded, entering the Tower and following him inside. The sound of her heels echoed in between the stoned walls and she felt dizzy walking in the poor illuminated halls. However she pick up her strength and kept following the guard between the laces of stairs and endless halls until he finally stopped by a wooden door, guarded by three men.
One of the men immediately set his eyes on her and glanced at the guard with her, who nodded for him; he then turned to open the locks of the door and entered the cell.
"Your Grace, you have a visitor," she heard the man saying inside the cell and followed him with her eyes as he stepped outside again and gestured for her to enter. She followed the gesture and with a cold in her stomach, she entered the cell.
"Oh, Catherine!" her father exclaimed from a corner. She looked around rapidly to note the horrible conditions he was forced to live his last days. The cell barely had any light and only a sewn bed and a simple and small wooden table, where her father was.
"Father," she said under her breath and ran to his open arms. She had never received such a strong embrace from her father. They were always so distant; it was as if for the first time she felt he wanted her there.
She fought the tears that came to her eyes, imagining this would be her last time close to him. If she only knew... She would not have disobeyed him, she would not have preferred to stay in court under the charms of Charles Brandon, she would have chosen to retreat to her estate with her father. But now, it was too late.
"Catherine, I thought you were not to see me," he said, letting go of her to look at her eyes. He held her face with both of his hands and looked deeply at her eyes, as if trying to keep her image in his mind. She observed his red hair and beard and his honey-coloured eyes , just like hers, she then smiled when noticing that also like her, he was fighting his tears.
"They made me stay in Penshurt; guards remained at our steps... I could not find a way to come," Catherine explained with a low and failing voice. She had indeed tried to escape and ride to the Tower, but the guards followed her everywhere.
"You have done right to stay," he nodded and she started to hear that mad and controlling tone he always had in his voice.
"I am so sorry, my daughter. My wealth is to stay with you," he said, letting go of her and walking nervously around the cell. She turned around to look at him; the same controlling Duke of Buckingham, the thirst for power that had also driven him mad and sentenced him to death.
"Thomas More assured me you and your sister would not be left to the winds," he continued. Catherine swallowed dryly and took a moment to reply.
"Our treasures are the King's now, father, last night they came to claim them," she informed him lowly and observed the madness again in her father's eyes. He wide opened them and yelled in frustration, she remained where she was, feeling half scared and half indifferent.
"NO!" he yelled, not looking at her anymore, gesturing and walking around. "HE PROMISED! THOMAS MORE IS A BASTARD JUST LIKE HIS KING!"
"BUT," she raised her own voice to stop her father from screaming or soon the guards would take her from there. The Duke stopped at his daughter's raised voice and looked at her.
"Cardinal Wolsey paid me a visit today." she lowered her voice and observed his eyes wide again; he walked towards her and continued lowly.
"What did he want? Did he do something to you?" he asked, with visible anger in his voice.
"Father, I beg you, just listen to me," Catherine implored before he started yelling in madness again. The Duke retreated, sitting on the bed.
"Cardinal Wolsey said the King has decided to keep me in court, as lady in waiting to Her Majesty Queen Katherine," she explained slowly and carefully. Observing her father's lost eyes focused in the nowhere in front of him.
"He also said we are to keep our state in Penshurt, where Mary will stay under the care of the tutor she has now and some servants, the expenses are still to be paid by court." she concluded.
"And has the King decided this out of his good will?" the Duke asked, raising his head to look at Catherine, still by the wooden table. She noted the sarcasm and mocking tone in his voice.
"Wolsey told me he has sympathies for our relation to Queen Elizabeth and King Henry VII," she said, her eyes on him and the fear of him losing his temper again. She observed him scoffing sarcastically.
"However now that you have said Thomas More assured you to help us," she reasoned quickly at that, pondering. "I believe it was him who used this argument with the King."
"I do not know whether to advise you to accept his token of sympathy or to be away from court as much as possible," the Duke reasoned for the first time in a long time. He knew the cunning people that surrounded the King's court and he did not trust the King himself. He knew what could happen to her there.
"I would not accept if not for Mary," Catherine dryly cut his thoughts with her voice, he glanced questionably at her. "But I think of her."
"I am sorry I have not thought of you two," the Duke replied with a guilty tone. He couldn't bear to look at her eyes by then and stared at the floor one more time. "I am so terribly sorry. Please forgive me."
Catherine felt the guilty in his voice and wondered if she had been too harsh with him. She could not help to think that she must not ask for him to reason, he had lost his mind a long time ago. Seeing him in that cell only assured her of that. She observed him, still staring at the ground, with pity and felt the tears running down her cheeks; she stepped in his direction and was interrupted by the door opening again. She stopped her pace and observed the guard.
"My Lady, you must leave now," the guard said coldly, setting his eyes on the Duke, still sitting on the bed and his eyes still fixed on the nowhere.
Catherine took a moment to turn her pace from her father's direction to the door. She was never close to him and his madness had driven them even more apart. Nothing else had mattered to him in a long time and she was always very aware of that, it was when she was almost leaving the cell that she heard her father's voice again.
"Catherine," he called her, she turned around to see him looking at her eyes now, like her he had tears rolling down his cheeks. "Do you forgive me?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice failing and nodded to assure him. She then met the guard's impatient eyes for her to leave and at once she continued her pace out of the cell. It was when she heard the locks on the door again that she realized that he had not said he loved her.