A/N: I have personally put a lot of research into this story but if you find any historical errors constructive criticism is always appreciated! Enjoy and don't forget to review :)
Chapter One:
It was early in the morning and the sky in the east was just beginning to glow orange when Catalina shifted slightly in her bed before opening her eyes. For a few moments, she lay there quietly staring up at the ceiling of her bedchamber. Today she would be sent forth from her native country of Spain to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales and heir to the English throne. At least she was being allowed to bring some of her Spanish ladies with her… Even so, it would still be extremely lonely. What would it be like in England? Would her intended husband like her? She sighed. Whatever their relationship was fated to be, she was prepared to be a dutiful and loving wife to him. In recent months, the palace at Madrid had been swarming with English delegations and ambassadors who were all eager to get a glimpse of their future queen and meet her. According to her own Spanish ambassador to England, Prince Arthur was as pleasant and charming as he was handsome. He had assured Catalina many times that he was sure she would be happy with him… Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door and Catalina's friend and lady-in-waiting, Leonora, entered.
"What, Catalina, awake already?" she exclaimed.
Catalina shrugged,
"Mass is in a few hours."
Leonora set down the emerald-coloured dress and matching headpiece that she had been carrying and sat down on the bed. She placed her hand on Catalina's shoulder and said gently,
"You're frightened aren't you?"
"What girl who is not yet sixteen could help but be frightened at the prospect of being sent away from her family and her country in order to wed with a strange man whom she has never seen before?" replied Catalina without meeting Leonora's eyes and Leonora guessed rightly that Catalina did not wish to show her true feelings and the tears that were slowly gathering in her eyes to her.
Leonora attempted to comfort her, saying,
"At least he is not old enough to be your father… Marriages made between royal families are often made for political alliances with no regard for the happiness of the couple. Girls your age are commonly married to men who are well past forty or sometimes even fifty! You are fortunate: the prince is about the same age as you."
Catalina nodded slowly,
"Yes, I know."
There was a moment of awkward silence, and Leonora sensed that Catalina did not wish to continue any conversation on the matter. She bowed her head and did not press the subject. If Catalina wanted her privacy, who was she to protest? Slipping off of the raised bed, she said,
"Come Catalina, I will fix your hair for you."
Then she took a comb and carefully teased out the worst of the tangles before brushing Catalina's long reddish-brown hair.
"It has darkened considerably since last year," she remarked. "When you were young it was extremely fair."
She gestured toward the gown she had placed on a dresser at the other end of the room. The colour of it would match Catalina's green eyes splendidly and stand out in striking contrast to her hair.
A couple of hours later, Leonora finished setting the headpiece on Catalina's head and took a step back to survey her work.
Any man who looked at her now would be a blind fool if he did not think her beautiful…
"There," she said. "You look lovely."
Catalina smiled (almost a sad smile, Leonora thought), and turned to look at herself in the mirror. Leonora had not pinned her hair up nor entwined it with a gold net. No, she had merely left it down with a small braid down the back in the Spanish style so that her long hair flowed over her shoulders and curled down her back. However, there was one small thing that seemed to be out of place. Finally, Leonora realized what it was and stepped forward to remove the headpiece from Catalina's head. She laughed,
"Now you look like a woman again!"
The two women clung together laughing but sobered as a knock sounded on the door. Catalina straightened and drew herself up to her full height with her head held high before admitting the messenger. The man bowed low to her and recited his message,
"Princess, your most noble father and mother require your presence at the royal chapel immediately."
Catalina thanked the messenger graciously and informed him that she would come momentarily. As she walked down the hall of the palace, she murmured softly to Leonora,
"This is the last morning mass I shall attend in my own country for a long time…perhaps even forever…"
A/N: For those of you who are wondering, yes, this is a story of Catherine of Aragon. Catalina was her Spanish name. If this story gets enough reviews, I am hoping to make this into a series of stories each dealing with the first three of King Henry VIII's wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour. I understand if this chapter was a bit boring but I had to introduce Catalina's situation etc. before she goes to England. Please please review!
Justine
