Whispers and curious looks followed Catalina as she strolled through the garden with King. Since the joust in which Henry has worn her favor, everyone was speculating what was happening between the young King and Spanish governess. Catalina has heard many different stories about the nature of her and Henry's relationship. Some have gone as far as to suggest that they married in secrecy and that she was carrying his child. Those rumors bothered her. On the other hand, Henry seemed completely unaware of what courtiers thought. He used every minute of his free time to be with took her for long walks, danced with her at the feasts and regularly visited her at Diana's chambers. Catalina was flattered by his attention, but at the same time, she was confused. She rejected his offer to become his mistress, why was he lavishes his attention on her? Did he hope that she will succumb to his charm? Did he assume that she will change her mind and step on her word? That thought irritated her deeply. She looked at him. He seemed quite tense, which was in contrast to his usual bright mood.

"Is everything all right Your Majesty?"

He exhaled deeply and stepped in front of her. She could see that he was notably nervous.

"Yes and no. It depends on your answer." He replied and took her hand into his.

"I am afraid that I don't understand." "Well, that is because I still didn't say anything." He spoke and his eyes sparkled with humor.

"I love you, Catalina, I love you for quite some time now. It was wrong of me to ask you to ruin your honor and I apologize for that. So I have a different question now. Will you be my wife?"

Catalina felt as if someone knocked the air from her couldn't speak or think. Was he really asking her to marry him?

"I am not worthy of such honor." She finally muttered.

"You are worthy. Say yes Catalina and we will bring the golden age together. Say yes and become my Queen."

She never saw this coming. She always knew that Henry had a crush on her, but she thought that he will grow out of it. Especially after she refused to be his mistress. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that this would happen. She simply assumed that he will find another woman, willing to allow him in her bed to be his mistress and that he will marry for political inside she was afraid. How long will his love last? He was still a boy, will he look at her with the same adoration in five years?

She did care for him very much and she had to admit to herself that her heart skipped a beat every time he looked at her with those piercing blue eyes. He was a very attractive young man, that she had to admit. When he kissed her, that night at the feast, it felt so right, like they were created to do that.

"Yes." She finally replied and smiled softly at him.

But did she really have a choice? Nobody refuses the King.

/

"I forbid it. It was bad enough that your brother married that Spaniard, but at least she was of royal blood. You have a responsibility toward your country." Margaret Beaufort screamed at her grandson.

"You cannot forbid me anything, I am the King!" Henry replied in the same manner.

"I am not my father and you will not control me!"

"You know nothing about ruling a state. You are but a child. Do you know what I sacrificed so that your father can have a throne? It was a God's will, but I made it happen."

"I have reached majority and I am the King. Your King too."

"You are acting like your grandfather, King Edward IV, does that stupid girl think that she is Elizabeth Woodville reborn? I already had enough problems with the first one, but at least she was Englis born and bred."

"My grandfather had two living sons and many daughters."

"And where are his sons now? If I recall correctly, they died all because of their mother's scheming."

"I'm marring Catalina and that is my final word."

"You will ruin all that your father and I made. I refuse to be part of that." She said in dry voice and left.

Henry didn't try to stop her. Her reign was over, his, on the other hand, just began."

/

Her wedding day passed in a blur. Her new maids woke her up and helped her into a bath full with the scent of rose water. Her long ebony hair was washed and combed to perfection tied elegantly at the top of her head. Her wedding dress was magnificent. It was the deep blue of the shoulder ball gown that emphasized her thin waist. Toward the middle of the wide skirt color slowly transitioned into silver. The bottom of the skirt was decorated with embroidery of blue flowers and leaves. The waist and the décolleté of the dress were adorned with silver roses.

Catalina was truly a sight to behold in her new majestic gown, especially once they put a tiara at the top of her head. It was a wedding present from Henry. made especially for her. He bragged that he helped with a design and Catalina's heart fluttered because of his thoughtfulness.

The tiara features 33 blue sapphires and 655 diamonds, set in platinum, and resembles the Gothic architecture of a great cathedral with sparkling stained glass windows. Several of the stones are also mounted en Tremblant, meaning they attach to a trembler or a material that acts as a spring, to create movement when worn and reflect the surrounding light.

She was also gifted with a necklace, two bracelets, and a brooch.

She was called Katherine during the wedding ceremony. She decided that as the Queen of England, she has to use the English name. She was a foreigner and one without royal blood to offset that to English. She didn't know how will they react to foreign courtier becoming their Queen.

As they spoke their vows Henry gave her a reassuring smile and gently squeezed her hand. That eased anxiety she felt. He loved her and she was starting to fall head over heels for him really fast.

They were going to be fine as long as they loved and respected each other.