Disclaimer- I do not own the tudors.
So another chapter! I would like to thank sarah for proofreading. And thank you to Lianna, Diana Prince, undesirable1, courtlylady, renai-85, princessMaryjaneKOATudor, Ladyjaxs999 and tudorGirl910489! For without you there would be no chapter.
Chapter 7 Nightmare terrors and fantasy dreams.
Katherine of Aragon held back the tears that were burning behind her eyes, she was determine not to cry. At least not until she was safe and sound in her bedchambers. She marched threw the halls with her head held high, nodding when someone curtseyed or bowed down to her. She tried to ignore the whispers flying around her; people had never seen the Queen out in the castle this late. Right now Katherine just wanted to go to bed and fall asleep, to try and forget the horrible image in her head. She had always knew that Henry was bedding Anne, she knew it and Henry knew that she knew. But she always had saw a glimmer of hope that she was just a toy, that Henry really truly still loved her. That Henry still had feelings for her but just wanted a son badly. How naive she had been. She knew that Henry loved Anne when she saw him kiss her with the love in his eyes that he once had for her.
Katherine opened the door to her rooms and saw her ladies there waiting for her. They curtseyed and she dismissed them with a nod and they left. As soon a they shut the door she let the tears fall out. She got dressed for bed still crying, for some reason the tears would not stop. She climbed into bed and lay there in the darkness, the tears finally starting to dry. Katherine rolled over to her side and shut her eyes, praying for sleep.
Nicholas William sat down on the edge of his bed and took out the small box he had in his pocket. He recounted the night from when he had left Katherine. He had sat down for a while and tried to keep the memory in his head, the memory of the wonderful time he had had with Katherine. He remembered the picnic they had had, the wind threw their face as they rode through the forest, the smiles she gave him that made his heart skip, holding her when they stood on the tree and the gratitude on her face when he had helped her with her cut. After sitting in the dark for a while he was about to leave when he saw a man walking, he looked to busy fumbling with a brief case that he did not see Nicholas and crashed into him. He had helped the man when he saw a small necklace fall out. It was a gold chain and attached to it were to small silver charms. One charm was of a horse and another of a lion. He immediately thought of Katherine, the determined elegant horse galloping freely in the winds, not letting anyone get in her way. And she had always compared him to the ferocious lion, so she used to say. Especially when he stood up for himself against his parents and tutors. He immediately bought the necklace not caring about the high price, he could not wait to show it to her. Nicholas took out the necklace and held it in his fingers, admiring it. He placed it back in the box and laid down and closed his eyes. Before he knew it he was sound asleep.
Katherine smiled happily as she sat on the boat with Henry. They were out on a cruise to no where in particular, and Katherine could not have been happier. The sun was shining and the food was delicious. Suddenly she felt a shadow creep over her. Both her and Henry raised there heads to see a humongous grey cloud in the shape of Anne Boleyn's head glaring at them. Two storm cloud hands were brought up then down with a wham, the hands had hit the water. The boat rocked violently as the waves crashed back and fourth trying to drown the boat. Katherine tried to scream but nothing would come out, she watched as the hands took Henry out of the boat and away. The sinking sad feeling came to Katherine as she tried to get Henry back, but he only pushed her away. Katherine was drowning in the water, she was going to die. She looked up for help when she saw hand come down, she grabbed onto it and felt herself being pulled up. She felt her feet on land and looked up to see her rescuer, Nicholas's almond brown eyes staring lovingly back at her. Katherine smiled at her hero and threw her arms around him, suddenly loud echoing footsteps approached them. Nicholas and Katherine turned to see a twelve foot Anne and Henry chasing after them. Nicholas took Katherine's hand and ran, Katherine holding his hand and running behind him. Together they ran and ran and ran. Nicholas found a small door to get away in, quickly he pushed Katherine threw the door first, wanting to save her. Just as he did this Anne and Henry were there. Together they descended onto Nicholas. His heavy screams filled the air followed by Katherine's high pitch screams.
Katherine shot up breathing heavily. She felt a drop of sweat on her forehead and could just tell that her hair probably looked like a birds nest. She could not remember when she had ever had such a bad nightmare, or such a unusual dream. Suddenly she heard a loud crack like a whip had been cracked, followed by a loud boom. She gasped in surprise and looked outside her window, it was thundering. She saw the golden spikes of lightning and heard the loud bangs of the thunder, soon she saw rain. She brought her knees up to her and looked out fearfully in the window. Another rumbling sound was heard and Katherine hugged her knees tightly, wanting badly to call out to her ladies for company. But she knew that she was a queen and no queen would do so. Katherine buried her face on her knees and tried to block out the loud roars of the thunder and the heavy howls of the wind. As much as she did not want to admit it, she was scared of the lightning and rain. She had always been ever since she was a little girl, but it was not only the loud noises and darkness that scared her. But bad things had always happened to her when it thundered. Her parents would usually argue when bolts of lightning sparked , the day the thunder rumbled and heavily rained was the day she was curled up inside her tent in Grandada praying that her mother would come back unhurt or at least alive and the day she heard the echoing of the thunder was the day she was in the ship on her way to England, leaving back her country forever.
Katherine sighed, this is stupid she thought. Katherine could survive the depression of loosing her first husband, defend England in War against Scotland and survive in a new foreign land but she could not survive a stormy night. Katherine sat there in the darkness trying to block out the noises and rain, but she could not. She just wanted to hug someone or just be held. Memories of her in Henry's arms came back to her, how he used to hold her when it rained. How he use to whisper loving words into her ears when she was scared and how he wiped away her tears. Katherine shut her eyes squashing out the memory, she did not want to think of him. Especially when he had hurt her so. Katherine gave a small sigh, she knew that she was loosing it. She could not stay here in bed surrounded by darkness for now, she needed to get out. Slowly she slid the covers off and hopped out, she out on her long coat and quietly sneaked out of her bedchambers. Right now she did not want to be alone, she needed company.
Nicholas smiled loving at his new bride; he gazed at her long raven hair, white silky dress, her net covering her pale face and blue eyes. He turned to the priest and whispered those two words. " I do." he saw her eyes sparkle with happiness and she to turned the priest to say the words. She opened her mouth but nothing came out, Katherine frowned and looked up to see why she could not speak. She saw Henry standing there with a bouquet of blood red roses, Nicholas watched as the smile grew on her lips. He watched her as she threw down her ring and ran up to embrace him. Nicholas tried to run after her, to warn her that only he truly loved her and that Henry would break her heart again. But he could not. It was like there was an invisible glass war that stopped him from running to her, all he could do was stand there and watch as she hugged him. He slowly watched as two pointy ears grew on Henry's head followed by a tail and a crown. He banged hard on the glass wall to tell this to Katherine, but she was not paying attention. Instead her eyes looked up at the blood red crown that was forming on her head, she smiled admiring it. Nicholas wanted to shout to her that she did not need Henry or the crown or the flowers and money to be happy. He wanted to tell her that he loved her more and that he himself could make her happy. He took a deep breath to yell these out when he saw a beam of light coming down from the sky. He looked up to see what it was, he could make out a female but the rest of the image was blurred out by the light. She was gesturing for him to follow her, Nicholas shook his head at the girl and turned back to Katherine. Suddenly Henry turned his cold red eyes to him and fiery red horses beamed out of it, galloping towards him. Nicholas saw the pitch black demons spewing from there mouths, read to attack him. He saw the sharp hooves the horses had ready to trample him. Nicholas tried too run but could not, it was like his feet were nailed to the ground. They descended to him, galloping closer and closer...Nicholas opened his mouth and let out a loud scream.
Nicholas instantly sat up, his heart beating widely he looked around. He shut his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, it had just been a dream. But what had it meant? He shook his head to erase the horrible dream. I am sure it was nothing, Nicholas thought. He gasped when he saw a outline of someone standing in front of him, he winced in the darkness to get a better look.
" Nicholas?" the voice said in a strong spanish accent.
Nicholas recognized it immediately.
" Kat?" he asked sliding his blankets off and hopping out of bed. He picked up the candle on his bedside table and took it.
" Just wait a moment." he said.
He walked to the other room nearby where the fire was crackling in the fire place. He held the candle to it and lit it, walking back to the table he placed it back. He turned to Katherine who he could now see was dressed in her white dressing gown and long navy coat. She seemed to be twisting her fingers uncomfortably and looking around.
" Catalina what is wrong?"
" I, I am sorry to come in like this. I, Im just..." Katherine stopped not knowing how to finish.
Suddenly a bolt of lightning was fired from the sky. Katherine jumped up and ran over to Nicholas, throwing her arms around him. Nicholas surprised wrapped his arms around her hugging her tightly. He felt her head resting on his shoulder and her wet tears falling down onto him. He released her and took out a handkerchief wiping away her tears. He touched her cheek lightly and ran the back of his hand down her hair.
" There there Catalina, please do not cry. You know I hate that."
He offered her the handkerchief and she took it blowing her nose, she handed it back and gave him a smile.
" I see you still have not gotten over for fear for the lightning and thunder," he said throwing the handkerchief into the bin.
Nicholas remembered how afraid Katherine used to be of the lightning and thunderstorms.
" Yes, not at all. In fact I think ever since I have left Spain it has increased."
Nicholas led Katherine down to the edge of his bed and she rested her head on him.
" What is wrong with me? Look at me, I am an adult and Queen of England yet I am afraid of thunder storms."
Nicholas took her hand.
" It is ok Katherine to afraid, many people are. For without fear there is no bravery, it would be abnormal not be afraid of something."
Katherine lifted her head up.
" I know, but of the rain?"
" Do you remember," Nicholas said trying to cheer her up. " When we were little and it used to thunder in Spain? Especially in winter at night when we were in our bedchambers. We used to make tents out of the beds and sheets to past time and distract ourselves from the thunder storms."
Katherine smiled remembering.
" Yes, and there was that time Dona Elvira walked in and saw us playing kings and queens underneath out tents, and she went off on how it was not proper for a great spanish princess to be in her bedchamber with another boy."
" Then a rat came out from a hole in the wall because it smelt food and Dona Elvira saw it. I will never forget that hilarious time she ran out of the room with her hands in the air screaming for someone to get rid of it."
Both Katherine and Nicholas were laughing happily at this memory. There was a moments silence when Katherine said
" I do miss those times, they were so simple and carefree."
Nicholas sighed.
" Yes, they were."
" I am sorry for disturbing you." Katherine said looking at him. " I, I guess I was just lonely." she finish looking down at her lap and twisting her fingers nervously. " It is just that Henry has not been to my bedchambers a night for months, and a woman can get lonely for some time. These past weeks have been very lonely for me, not having any company. I miss having someone to hold me at night."
Katherine gave a small sigh. Nicholas gently raised her chin up with his hand meeting her eyes.
" Katherine you are not lonely, the king is foolish to leave you. And you are not lonely, you have me. I will always be there for you, because I to know what it feels like to be alone."
Katherine smiled at him before another bolt of lightning struck. She gave a startled jump and got up.
" I should be going now, it is very late. Maybe I can catch up on some sleep."
Nicholas quickly got up.
" Do you have to leave? Surely you do not want to talk some more?"
Katherine shook her head.
" That is very nice of you but I should get some more sleep, Henry's jousting match is tomorrow and so I will have to get up early."
Nicholas's mind raced as it quickly wanted to think of something.
" W-well, um...why don't you stay here?" he said hurriedly.
Katherine's eyes widened then she started to laugh.
" What?"
He looked pleadingly at her.
" Lie in bed with you? That is absurd!"
" Well you are lonely, of coarse we do not have to do anything. But would you not like some company at night? Even if it is a friend?"
Katherine stared at him thinking. The idea seemed utterly ridiculous and she knew that it would be an act of treason, even if she did not do anything and they were just friends. But then she thought of the cold empty room she would have to go back to, curled up in bed as the rained continued. As the tears would fall out, she did not want that.
" Well it would be a nice change, my room is quit cold."
She gave him a smile and climbed into his bed, rolling over to one side. He to crawled into his bed and laid on his back. There was a small silence when Katherine spoke up.
" Tell me a story."
She sat up to brought her knees to the front, Nicholas frowned and to sat up.
" A story?"
" Yes, just like when we were little."
Nicholas thought for a moment.
" Hmmm, do you no of the tale of romeo and Juliet? Or cinderella?"
Katherine frowned and shook her head, Nicholas's eyes widened.
" How could you not know them?."
Katherine shrugged.
" I do not know of many stories, my mother and father never told me of any. And who is romeo and Juliet? And what is cinderella? A disease?"
Nicholas shook his head in disbelief.
" Then I shall tell you romeo and Juliet."
And so he began to tell it, the tale of romeo and Juliet but with a tiny twist. Katherine listened with wonder as he told his story. It was about a beautiful princess that was to marry a prince that she loved with all her heart. However there was another commoner who loved her but he could never be with her because she was a great princess and he was just a commoner. So the princess married the prince happily, but the prince did not love her like he did. This saddened the princess deeply, but she reminded herself that she was to mary to be queen and she knew that her destiny was to be queen. One day there was a royal banquet held in celebration of the Kings new son that his mistress had, the commoner knew how sad the Queen was to turn up to the banquet for something that she did not like. He also wanted a chance to dance with her and see her, so he disguised himself in a rich suit and got a fake identity as a wealthy nobel so he could go to the banquet; it was there he saw the Queen. He asked the queen to dance and she accepted, they had danced and ate all night and the queen knew that she was in love with him.
Nicholas paused in his story and was happy to see how happy Katherine was with the story.
" What happened next? Did she stay with the King or the new man that she loved?" she asked with anticipation.
" well, what do you think?" Nicholas asked.
Katherine thought for a moment then said
" I do not know, I feel that I can understand this woman. It is her destiny to be queen yet she wants a happy future, but she can not leave her crown. I do not know what will happen."
" Well," Nicholas said continuing. " Her and the man met countless time each falling more and more in love, until one day the man asked for her to run away with him."
He saw Katherine gasp at this.
" But she can not!" she cried. " Her whole destiny is being queen and being loyal to her husband."
" Even though he has not been to her?"
" Well," Katherine said thinking carefully. " still, she must be queen."
" But she loves this man." Nicholas pointed out.
There was a silence and Katherine thought for a moment, then finally said
" So what did happen?"
Nicholas smiled.
" She said yes, she loved him so what else could she say? At midnight they ran away together and the king found out, he wanted the man killed and the queen to for the treason she had committed. They both knew that they would both die anyway and could not stand to be away from each other, so together they both drank a poison and died in each other's arms."
Nichols had finished telling his story and watched Katherine, her eyes wide and not knowing what to say. She never would have thought that the queen would have chosen this fate, surely the proper thing would have been to not commit treason and stay queen? Nicholas watched Katherine's facial expression as she pondered over this and now felt that he regretted telling her this. He had hopped that by doing this he would have opened her eyes to other opportunities she could have besides being queen of England and married to a husband that wants to divorce her. But he saw now that she would never see it, he held in a small sigh not wanting to know how sad he was by this.
" I-I think that we should go to bed now. It is very late."
Katherine nodded then said
" Thank you for telling me this Nicholas, it was a lovely story. And I now understand why she did it, why she ran away with him."
Nicholas's face brightened when he heard this.
" Really? You do?"
Katherine nodded.
" She loved him and it was that simple. I am thinking now, that maybe I would have done the same. Just maybe. For I now feel what the princess felt."
She sat there still thinking and Nicholas did to. Maybe there was still hope for them now. He gently led Katherine to lie down and she gave him a smile.
" Thank you for everything, for the story and for the company. You do not know how much that means for me."
He returned the smile.
" of coarse, I will always be here for you. And you know that. Now I think you should go to sleep now."
She gave a yawn as her eyelids slowly drooped then they shut. Nicholas still sitting up sat there in the dark watching her sleep. He watched her face that was lighted by the flickering of the candle and he watched her chest rise up and down from her heavy breathing. Yes, he thought. Maybe there was hope for them. He blew out the candles and climbed under the covers and fell asleep, blissful and untroubled dreams awaiting both him and Katherine.
Lady Parker leaned her ear against the wooden oak door of Nicholas's bedchambers and tried to hear something else, but she heard nothing. They must have gone to sleep, she thought. Jane shook her head, she still could not believe it. Katherine of Aragon was sleeping in another man's bed, this was treason.
Jane could not sleep that night especially with the heavy thunder storm going on. She knew that her majesty had trouble sleeping during this as well; she was surprised when she heard Katherine getting out of bed. Jane did not know weather to follow or not, but just in case she followed. And that led her to Lord Nicholas's bedchambers. She had tried to listen to their entire conversation, but only heard up to when Nicholas asked her to stay. From then on the storm has increased and she heard nothing more. But she was smart enough to guess what was going on. Now Jane was left with the decision to tell the king or not. She gave a small sigh and headed back to her bedchambers.
Jane did not want to tell, she cared for the queen dearly. She had felt sorry for her throughout the great matter. But now she had done treason, and Jane knew that it was right for her to tell. She opened the door and snuck back into bed, yes she finally thought. She was going to have to tell the king in the morning. Bless Katherine's soul that no harm would come to her.
Hey everyone thanks for reading! wow pat your backs, that was 4362 words you have read. woooow. Da da da *dramatic music*. So katherine was caught, how will the king take this? Jeaaaalous I expect. And wasn't that sweet? The small story he told and Nicholas being their for her? seriously people why did most of you vote henry? Please review and leave me with your thoughts, and by the looks of it most people wanted henry/katherine so we shall just have to wait and see! But I will tell you something, I do plan on katherine having a kid. Shall not say the father or sex yet. Please review for without them I can not continue! And you will get your name mentioned so you can feel special!