A/N: I felt very inspired so I wrote the second chapter right away! enjoy and do PLEASEEEE review )
I raised my eyes only to see of the men that had been keeping the king company a few moments ago. He smiled at me kindly and so did I.
"I would be delighted sir" I answered politely and took his hand.
"Your hands are cold my lady" he stated as we moved towards the center of the room
"It's quite cold in this room… though it is summer"
I just smiled again. I knew perfectly well why he had said that, he saw the way I behaved when Henry looked at me; he wanted to be sure of what he though. Or was the king the one who wanted to be sure?
"My name is Charles Brandon, yours is?" He asked
"This is a masquerade ball sir; I am not supposed to let my identity be known" We both laughed at my remark.
"Yes…please do pardon my indiscretion" he apologized.
Just as the musicians started a new tune, we started to dance. Gladly I was quite familiar with this dance; I didn't want to look like a jester trying to follow everyone's movements. As I danced I catched the king's glance more than one time, I remained calm and smiled on the outside. But on the inside, I was experiencing sensations I had never before.
Once the tune came to an end I bowed politely at the young man and started to move away from the dance floor. As I was preparing to go the courtyard and take some fresh air, I felt a light grasp around my hand and heard several people gasp and then whisper rapidly. I slowly turned to see who it was.
It was him. The king himself, we were so close, too close. I looked directly at his eyes and felt like fainting though, on the outside, I seemed completely calmed.
"Will you join me for this dance?" He asked, his voice demonstrating the power he beholded.
"I would be delighted…my king" I answered as tradition demanded and bowed.
We walked to the center of the room as under the gaze and gossip of several men and women in the hall. They must be wondering who is the girl hiding underneath the silver mask, who is the girl the King has chosen over his own wife to dance with.
As the music started I felt myself in a dream, looking into his eyes, moving in unison.
But all good things must end, don't they? I bowed politely and went the great hall trying to look for a place were I could rest for a while. I felt suffocated all of the sudden, I didn't know if it was the corset or…
After several turns I found what seemed to be a large dormitory as soon as I set foot in it…
"My lady" I heard the king's voice behind me. I spun around to look at him.
His short hair, his intense eyes, his body covered in the most expensive materials. I became nervous almost instantly.
"My lady" he said yet again trying to catch his breath, he had certainly followed me "May I know who is the one that hides behind this lovely mask?" He finished saying touching the border of my silver mask.
"Only because it is my lord who asks" I answered, even though I preferred to keep hidden, he was the king, and his command had to be my wish.
I slowly untied the back of my mask and held in my shivering hands. The king stared at me intently. He must think he committed a mistake in asking such an awful girl to dance.
"Of all the ladies I've seen tonight…allow me to say you are the most stunning one" The king flattered and, in response, I felt my cheeks turning slightly red. The king let out a chuckle.
"I..I am sorry"
"Don't be…I found that quite amusing" He said touching the redness of my cheek
"No my lord" I muttered as he came closer to me "I believe it will be highly improper if you approached me any further" I stared at the floor trying to look up and see his entrancing eyes. I heard his steps coming towards me and his chuckle.
"P…please" I managed to say as my back hit the wall. I must confess it's not that I didn't want to, but I wasn't supposed to.
The king slowly raised his hand and touched my cheek so slowly it sent shivers down my body. Instinctively, I closed my eyes in delight. I heard him chuckle again.
"You see" he started as he kept caressing every inch of my face "It isn't as bad as you though"
It was then when I woke up of my trance and moved to a side, away form the King's touch. I couldn't let him; Mary had warned me about this, I must not let him touch me improperly for that will lead only to perdition.
"What's the matter?" The king asked as he advanced towards me smiling devilishly "I though you were beginning to enjoy it"
"Please my lord" I begged "It is improper for a lady to be with a man alone…like we are…now"
"Says who?" The king asked in a superior manner "I am the king…I decide what it improper"
"My…maid…Mary she…she warned about this… feelings" I stuttered as I tried to get as far away form him as possible, a hard task considering I was trapped inside his room.
"Please do enlight me" He said encouraging me to proceed
"She…she said that when a lady is alone with a man…she may experience some feelings…and she may like them…but that only leads to sin…and" I took a deep breath before continuing "I don't want the court to treat me as a sinner" I had been so concentrated during my speech I haven't realized the king had me trapped against one of the walls. I gasped as the sight of his face close to mine, his intense gaze into my eyes.
"My lord…" I began but his finger sealed my lips
"It's Henry, my dear" He said smiling oh so seductively, I felt my blood boil with desire…no…I couldn't "And…what sensations did Mary said you would feel?" He asked.
"She…she never specified them my…Henry" I answered trying not to allow my eyes to encounter his.
Slowly, Henry raised my chin and tilted my head to a side. I know I must resist, this is a test, made by god…I cannot surrender to him for his represents sin, and I must keep myself away form sin as cardinal Wolsey said.
"Maybe like this" Henry whispered in my ear biting it carefully as he finished the sentence. I heard myself letting out a small moan.
"P...probably" I answered scared of my previous reaction
"Or like this…" He whispered again this time slightly kissing my jaw line
"Probably" I answered again but this time, it was teasingly my god ¿What am I doing?
"And those reactions may lead you to this" Henry said before taking my lips
"Pro…No!" I screamed as I jumped away form a startled Henry. He looked at me with a mixture of surprise and anger.
We stood there, looking at each other take deep breaths, trying to control ourselves…well, mostly in my part. What I felt when he kissed me…it was simple desire, and the worst part is, I liked it, completely, entirely enjoyed it.
"Why not?" Henry asked exasperatedly
"Because I … I don't want be sinner!" I said raising my voice above his
"Is that it? Then let me tell you I have been with tons of other maidens and none of them had been considered sinners!" He answered back his voice above mine. I gasped at his statement…so I was going to be only "one of the bunch"
"No that is not it…also I don't want to be a common whore!" I finally yelled.
I don't know how it happened but by the time I was done yelling, Henry had be against a wall grabbing my arms roughly and looking at me with both anger and lust. I must admit I was scared this time. I knew I shouldn't have yelled to a king…he will have me killed for sure.
"You will never" he whispered dangerously "ever raise your voice at me understood?"
"Y…yes"
I saw his eyes wonder around be…first my lips then my chest heavily rising and falling and finally, my eyes. Within a moment the anger was gone from his eyes. He let my arms free and let his hand wonder through my light brown hair. One of his hands slowly brushed the crook of my neck, I gasped at his touch. He knew what he was doing.
"And who says you will be a common whore?" He whispered in seductively in my ear "You can be my queen"
I pushed him away at that remark. How dare he imply he will leave his wife for me? God forbid that to happen!
"You make me laugh my lord…you have a wife and you certainly won't leave he for me" I said matter of factly.
"I will…I want you Marion…more than anything"
"Then, my lord, Iet's keep it that way" I said before running to wards the door. I opened it, but before I could cross Henry closed it hardly making me yelp.
"Please…please…Henry only let me go" I pleaded "Don't force me into doing anything I don't want to do, there plenty of girls you can choose from that will gladly fulfill your desires!"
"Probably" Henry answered using my own words "But the problem is, I don't want any of them…and besides" He continued as he played with the laces of my dress "I am not forcing you…you want it aswell"
I looked into his eyes, he knew it, he knew I wanted him and I certainly do…but the question remains should I?
"Perhaps it is so…but as you seem to like what you can not obtain…farewell"
I have no idea of how I managed to get away form his grasp and out of the room. I ran as fast as I could to the great hall, it was the only place in the castle where I was going to be safe from both Henry and myself.
Before entering the hall I tried my best to look calm and fix my hair which was mostly undone. In that moment I remembered my mask! I had been so worried about escaping that I…Henry …no, not Henry…the king must have it now.
"I am afraid this is yours my lady" Henry whispered behind me showing me my mask as if he had heard my thoughts.
"Yes" I replied not turning around and yanked the mask away from his hands. Henry only laughed slightly and then passes by me entering the hall.
I place my mask again and waited a few minutes before following the king's steps. I didn't want the courtiers to start a new gossip as it was probable. Gossip has become the most practiced sport since our new king was crowned.
As I walked into the hall I felt as if all the courtiers had their eyes fixed on me. I felt like I everyone knew I had been too close to perdition…I had been only inches away from taking what would have been a direct road to hell and torment. I kept my head bowed, trying to avoid people's faces and simply sat at the table waiting for dawn to come so I could go home and rest.