Mary and her ladies had met up with Francis as they returned to the castle thankfully Olivia had waited to open the passageway for them. It was eerily quiet.
'Stay behind me.' Francis whispered as they slowly approached the dining room where they had left the Queen of France, his hand gripped on his sword.
'Maybe they killed her.' Kenna suggested bluntly.
Mary shot her an annoyed look then grabbed Francis hand, Kenna gave an apologetic shrug. 'It's Catherine Im sure she is fine.'
'We should have waited for the guards to go in first.' Lola protested.
The soldiers were not far behind Francis had rushed on in fear of his mother's safety, Mary had followed him against his wishes and her ladies had followed her out of duty.
Before they could enter the guards marched in Henry leading them.
'Is everyone alright?' the King asked.
Francis looked pale his stomach felt queasy he did not want to enter in case his mother was dead, Mary gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
'Everyone is accounted for….everyone but Catherine she stayed behind with the count and his men to give us a chance to escape.' the young queen explained.
Henry marched on ahead and came across the room of dead bodies they all seemed to have died from the same cause, all except the count who had a fork sticking out of his throat.
'You're alive then.' his eyes found Catherine who looked more than a little disheveled her dress was torn, her lip and nose bleeding, her hair in tangled knots.
'Sorry to disappoint you my dear.' she wiped blood away with the back of her hand to prevent it dripping down her face.
Francis had looked shocked he dropped his sword as he went to his mother's side putting a hand on her shoulder.'Dear god! You look - I shouldn't have left you I will never forgive myself.' he shook his head angry tears stinging his eyes.
'Francis if you had stayed I would never have been able to forgive either of us, Mary and I both knew what we were doing I have no regrets.' she said simply.
Lola's hand was over her mouth as soon as she saw Catherine, Mary's eyes were wide and burning with emotional gratitude at what the Queen had done for them, even Kenna managed to look half concerned.
'Your mother is not that easy to kill believe me I've tried.' King Henry commented dryly. Francis didnt look remotely amused at his father's words. 'How did you kill them all?' he questioned.
'Poison.' Catherine replied simply.
Kenna quickly flinched away from any object near her in case it were the poisoned item. 'The gold.' the Queen of France gestured to the gold scattered over the table and floor. 'Dont touch it whatever you do.' shakily she stood up getting to her feet.
'I will inform the servants, you should get some rest.' Henry instructed and took his leave.
Francis still looked totally distraught at having left his mother. 'The servants are not back yet let me help you to your chambers.'
Catherine smiled softly and cupped his cheek she pressed a kiss to his forehead. 'My sweet boy. I am capable of making my own way but please get your brothers to bed I dont want them seeing me like this.' she looked into his eyes and he gave a nod.
'Catherine.' Mary advanced stepping beside her husband. 'Words can not describe how grateful I am for what you did not just for Francis, but for my ladies and I as well.'
Catherine patted her shoulder. 'Im sure you can return the favour in time my dear.' that sentence actually made the Queen of Scotland worry a little.
'I'll send the physician along to your chambers.' Mary said as her eyes fell on Catherine's many wounds.
'No need Im more than capable of fixing myself. I've everything I need in my cabinets. If you'll excuse me.' the Queen headed off down the hall.
Francis left with Mary to find his brothers and put them to bed, Kenna headed off to find Henry and complain about his relationship with Dianne, and Lola went to make sure Greer was okay.
Aylee was the only one left and she was standing with a look of shock and disbelief on her innocent features.
Catherine had just sacrificed herself for them all and her husband didnt even seem to care, she bit her lip in thought. After a few moments she walked over to the doors and headed to the Queen of France's chambers to thank her properly. The halls were dimly lit but she could see a figure doubled over holding the wall for support. Her breath hitched thinking it was one of the Count's men at first who had escaped. Taking a few quiet steps forward she realised it was the Queen, she was holding her ribs in pain. Aylee quickly approached her. 'Your majesty,' Catherine's head turned sharply realising the presence of the girl.
'What do you want?' the Queen snapped sharply.
Aylee flinched but remained all the same. 'Let me help you to your chambers it's the least I could do.' she nervously tugged on her braids.
Catherine sighed and nodded giving into the young girl, who quickly took her arm and helped her along to her chambers.
'Thank you for your assistance.' Catherine spoke as she eased herself onto the bed. 'You may go.' she rested her hands at either side of her looking down.
Aylee remained standing looking down at the Queen her eyes darted over to the closed door.
'Your ladies may not even return to your chambers tonight, you cant possibly ready yourself for bed let me help you.'
Catherine quirked an eyebrow with a suspicious look on her features.
'Why would you want to help me?' she asked.
Aylee shifted to sit down beside her on the bed.
'What you did for us was incredible you saved us all, not just my Queen and my friends but everyone in this castle. The very least I could do to show my gratitude is help you ready for bed.'
Catherine gave an amused chuckle which made Aylee frown.
'Forgive me, my dear Mary's ladies were the last people I was ever expecting gratitude from. But I will accept your offer.'
Aylee smiled brightly at this proceeding at first to remove her earrings and then her large jewelled necklace taking them and placing them in her jewellery box.
'We'll need to clean you up.' she got a cloth and dipped it in water, whilst Catherine took the belt off from her dress tossing it on the floor. The blonde rung out the cloth then returned to the Queen gently wiping the blood from her face, her nose had stopped bleeding and her lip had begun to scab.
Catherine's eyes found the blondes.
'Would you be so kind as to draw me a bath dear?'
Aylee smiled softly and nodded.
'Of course.' she went off to prepare a bath, Catherine went to her cabinets retrieving some oils and a small phial.
The Queen swallowed the small phial to relieve her of some of the pain she was in and then begun struggling with with her torn dress. By which time Aylee had joined her once more.
'Let me.' she took the zip and carefully slid it down, Catherine let her dress fall to the floor, Aylee loosened her corset enough for her to get it off then left to get a towel. Catherine slipped behind a screen and freed herself from the garment.
Aylee had went over to hand her the towel for her modesty but her eyes couldnt help immediately locking onto the dark bruises all over the Queen's body. Even in the shadows they were noticeable. The blonde gasped her eyes wide, Catherine took the towel wrapping it around herself.
'Thank you.' she said simply and grabbed her robe wrapping it around herself as she lifted the oils she'd taken from her cabinet walking through to her bath she added them into the hot water.