Catherine had just settled into her bath when the young woman entered and quickly shifted over behind her removing the pins from her hair. The Queen's body hidden beneath the bath water due to the darkness of the night.
'You dont have to do this my dear, Im sure you are tired.' Catherine rested her head against the back of the tub.
Aylee used her fingers to untangle the knots in the Queen's hair paying no heed to her words.
'They could have killed you, we should have waited with you to be rescued.' she said quietly. 'You are lucky to be alive, they could have raped you.'
Catherine stiffened a little at her words and watched the steam float up from the bath water.
'The first lesson I ever learned was never wait for a man to rescue you. History is written by survivors. And that I surely am.'
After that the two remained quiet all that was heard was the sound of trickling water as the young woman washed the Queen's hair. When she was done she left allowing Catherine to change back into her robe as she returned to her chambers to fetch her night dress. When Catherine entered she was surprised to see the young woman was still there rekindling the fire in the fireplace.
'Are you feeling any better?' Aylee asked with a kind smile.
Catherine regarded her with soft eyes and an attempted smile before taking her night dress and going back behind the screen. She slid off her robe and then winced as she tried to get into her night gown.
'Catherine,' Aylee pushed herself up wiping ash from her gold coloured gown. 'do you need help?'
Catherine de Medici was not accustomed to needing help, spare when it came to her servants and the duties they performed for her. But the bruising was painful and she'd no other choice but to ask the young Scottish woman to aid her.
'Yes.' she replied.
Aylee joined her behind the screen taking the gown her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes filled with concern as she studied the bruises once again. Catherine quirked an eyebrow after a few seconds and cleared her throat.
'My nightgown if you please dear.'
Aylee blushed faintly and nodded raising the soft white gown up and sliding it down over her body.
'Thank you dear.' Catherine then headed to her vanity table and toweled off her damp hair.
Aylee lifted the hair brush from the table and began to run it through the Queen's hair, Catherine watched the girl in the mirror studying her features.
'Dont tell Mary.' she said sternly. 'Dont tell her about how bad my wounds are, she'd only tell Francis and he'd beat himself up about it.'
Aylee looked into the mirror to meet Catherine's eyes in the reflection as she stroked the brush through her hair.
'You have my word.' she promised and put a simple braid into the Queen's long hair tying it at the bottom and putting a hand on her shoulder.
'You were so brave.' she gave a gentle squeeze.
Catherine put her hand over Aylee's and shifted around so she could see the girl properly.
'Thank you for your kindness, now off to bed it's very late.' she patted her hand.
Aylee curtsied before the Queen of France.
'If there is anything else you need you know where to find me.' the girl took her leave after that closing the door behind her returning to her chambers.
The next day the castle was filled with gossip about what had happened the night before, all manner of rumors were flying round well before breakfast. Mary had spent most of her day in her chambers, as Francis had too since the siege. Greer had spent a strange amount of time in the kitchens so Aylee had spent her time with her friends Lola and Kenna in ladies common room.
'The king said he's still not going to leave Dianne even after everything that happened.' Kenna huffed.
Lola sighed not approving of her friend's choice in lovers. 'Everyone else is talking about what happened last night.' she tried to change the subject.
Kenna shrugged. 'What's to talk about? No one got hurt in the end, well no one except those bastards. Luckily we all escaped.'
Not all of us, Aylee thought to herself, and as if she'd read her mind Queen Catherine entered the room with her ladies. Walking past she paid no attention to the girls before taking her usual seat.
Kenna bit her lip trying to hide her glee when she saw Catherine's burst lip.
'Well she's had that coming for a while now.' she whispered to Lola and Aylee.
Lola gave a small smile then lightly slapped Kenna's arm.
'Kenna! Dont be unkind.' she said in mock disapproval.
Kenna smirked. 'Im just sorry I wasnt there to see it.' she sniggered.
'Thanks to Catherine you werent.' Aylee said coldly.
Kenna looked taken aback but before she could say anything her eyes darted to Catherine watching her wince in pain as she'd sipped her tea which had irritated her burst lip. Both Kenna and Lola were forced to stifle their laughter yet didnt go unnoticed. Aylee rolled her eyes angrily and stormed out of the common room.
Aylee returned to her room and slammed the door shut angrily flopping onto her bed in a very unlady like fashion and idly began to play with her braids. She loved her friends like sisters but sometimes they could really annoy her especially Kenna. Never had she ever found Kenna and the king more deserving of each other. In a bid to preserve their friendship Aylee decided to remain in her chambers for the rest of the day. Come night fall her stomach started to rumble and she found herself regretting not having gone to dinner. Just then there was a knock at the door, she pushed her hair back and went to answer it expecting it to be one of her friends. Instead she found a servant holding a tray of food.
'Her majesty noticed you did not attend dinner and thought you might be hungry.' Aylee smiled at the servant's words and removed herself from the doorway let him into place the tray.
'That was very sweet of her.'
