AN : And another one for you all ! Enjoy !
WARNING : This chapter mentions violence, captivity and rape. If it's not your thing stop reading stop when Henry is rubbing Catherine's belly with oil from Cairo. Yes, again You can always take back the reading with the next chapter. PS : I'll tell you what happened in general at the end of the chapter.
Disclaimer : I don't own « Reign », no plagiarism is intended and I don't make profit of this story.
Chapter 27
"Always when it comes to you, love" He answered. She smiled and give him a peck before entering the water…
Henry directly followed his wife in the water. The warm liquid was now reaching their necks but they still could stand on the lake's ground.
"Is this good ?" Asked the King.
"This is wonderful Henry ! And it feels really good ! I'm feeling so much lighter." She said before sighing in pleasure and throwing her head back.
Henry barely could suppress a moan when he saw her doing that. But he regained his senses.
"I'm glad darling." and she smiled at him.
They spent a little more time in the water before getting out and directing themselves to their towels on the sand.
They both laid down on their towels and let the gentle sun of the spring dry their skins.
Catherine just laid there, hair sprawled around her face and one knee bend. God, saying she was gorgeous was an understatement. Henry could already see the freckles appearing on her décolleté and on her milky thighs as they always did when the sunny days came back.
Getting closer to her he propped himself up on one elbow and observed his wife before she finally re-opened her eyes and caught him starring at her.
"What is it Henry?" She asked gently.
"What is it ? You are laying here, looking like that and you ask me what is it ? I truly believe you don't even begin to realise the extent of your beauty, darling." He said tenderly as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh no. I'm not that beautiful. Especially now that I'm pregnant… my body is not as thin as it used to be…" She answered.
Henry was looking at her with wide eyes… She truly wasn't aware.
Taking her delicate face in both of his hands he spoke lovingly while looking to her eyes : "Catherine, you are never more beautiful than now. And never, ever, doubt that. You're always gorgeous, always. And especially when you carry my child. It's amazing really you are more beautiful than yesterday and less than tomorrow…"
Smiling with eyes shining with tears of joy she kissed him. Oh how she loved him, it was always amazing how easily he wiped away her fears and uncertainties. After a bit more time in the water and on the sand, the couple saw the beginning of the sunset and they decided it was best to return to the castle before it was dark.
/-/-/-/-/
When they returned to their hosts' castle the King and Queen had supper with Arnaud's family.
The dinner went smoothly until the end of it, Arnaud took a serious and lightly apologizing voice while addressing his rulers : « I... I have to tell you that as hard as we tried we couldn't stop everyone to spread the news that you're here. I'm sorry. »
« Well, I suppose it couldn't be avoided. You don't have to blame yourself Arnaud. » Answered Catherine, looking still a little annoyed by the situation.
Smiling at the royal's reaction Arnaud continued : « I tried as hard as I could to dissuade people from coming and see you as I know you're here to take a break. I succeeded in most part but one of the Earls of a southerner region of Savoie still insisted to come. And I couldn't stop him and his wife from coming as I have had a little disagreement with him some months ago and I owed him a debt. »
« I suppose we'll have to deal with them then. » Added Catherine. What harm could do one noble and his wife.
« And who is this Earl who doesn't respect the wish of his rulers not to be disturbed ? » Asked Henry. He wasn't angry with his friend. If he had a debt, he had a debt. But he was with this meaningless Earl who thought he could disobey his King.
« It's Lord Robert and his wife Kenna. »
Catherine's breath hitched. Not again...
« When are they to arrive ? » Now the King was angry. It was not part of his plans. He never wanted to see this stupid woman again.
« Tomorrow morning. Robert his very eager to meet you Majesties. » Answered Arnaud.
Henry looked at his wife to see her reaction as she hadn't spoken yet.
Catherine was angry. But when she looked into her husband's eyes, she saw he was as mad as her. It's wasn't his fault. And she certainly wasn't going to let this drive her apart from her husband. Not after everything they had done to repair their marriage and not when she spent the most wonderful days on her life feeling safe in his arms. No ! This wasn't going to happen. Henry didn't deserve her mistrust. He had been so gentle and caring. Maybe it was time to trust him... finally.
« I'm not mad at you Henry. More at the situation. But it's not your fault. We should receive them. »
A wave of relief flooded across the King's features. She didn't blame him. Maybe finally he had won some of her trust. He smiled and she returned it. God... how he loved this woman.
« I think you could share a glass with your friend Henry. » Said the Queen. Upon seeing the perplexed looked on Arnaud's face the King agreed.
Like yesterday, Carolina led Catherine back to their shared chambers while he drank a glass of wine with Arnaud.
After a moment the Duke spoke : « I didn't think it would be such a problem for this Earl to come. I'm sorry Henry. »
The King sighed at the situation while looking the grounds and mountains. « It would not have been such a problem if it had been another Earl. As a matter of fact, his wife is my former mistress. »
Arnaud stood there mouth open. Now he understood the answer of the Queen.
Easing the situation for his friend Henry said : « It's not your fault, you couldn't know. The Earl himself doesn't know that I planned his marriage with Kenna. One of my adviser's negotiated with him. I never saw the man. »
Shaking his head the Duke said : « I'm sorry... but you needn't worry too much they'll only stay for a couple of days. »
« Hum » Answered the King.
The two men enjoyed the silence before Henry had to return to his wife.
Before leaving he said : « I want you to know that I don't blame you Arnaud. I'm madder at this brat for coming here. »
« I understand your situation Henry. You needn't worry about me. » Answered Arnaud with a smile.
The King smiled back and went to find his wife.
He was walking down the corridors that led to their chambers while he thought about the conversation that was surely to come with his wife… She appeared not to be angry with him but with a pregnant Catherine De Medici, you could never know… maybe she was just being kind and not embarrassing him in front of their hosts… in truth he didn't dare to believe that she finally trusted him… at least a bit.
At that moment he arrived before their chambers' doors. Taking a deep breath, he slowly pushed them open. He looked around the room to discover his wife lying on the bed. She was half seated, propped up by a cushion behind her back. She was holding the book she was reading with one hand while she stroked her belly with the other. Her curls were free and delicately framing her face. She was a vision of pure delight…
The moment he stepped in, Catherine lifted her eyes from her book to look at him.
She could read uncertainty in his eyes but also care and affection, sincere love.
She understood that he was maybe thinking that she blamed him for Kenna. She wasn't… Giving him a gentle smile she said : "I'm not mad at you Henry. This is bothering me, I won't lie… but it's not your fault."
Her words gave him the permission he needed to get closer and sit on the bed beside her. He waited a moment before answering. "This bothers me as well. I assure you I never intended to see this woman ever again."
"I know Henry." She assured and he smiled.
After rubbing her stomach with oil from Cairo as every night, they laid on the side. Henry was spooning her from behind and laying a protective hand above her belly. He buried his nose in her curls that smelled of orange blossom when she whispered his name.
"hum" He answered, he was beginning to doze off.
"I believe I'm ready to tell you about Florence." She added.
Now he was more than awake. He softly caressed her ear with his nose as a silent encouragement.
"I know it may seem that I'm doing it now just as a guarantee that you won't fall back with Kenna now that I know she's coming. But… I want you to know that it's not why I'm talking to you about this now. I have considered it for a long time and I think I'm, now, trusting you enough to speak to you about my childhood." Said the Queen.
"I know, darling. And it means a lot to me…" He whispered in her ear. She closed her eyes at the feeling of him so near her and his breath on the sensitive skin of her neck.
Sensing her hesitation Henry said "Darling, nothing you'll ever say to me will ever change what I feel for you, Catherine."
She immediately relaxed under his touch, it seems that he always knew what to say. It gave her the strength to continue…
"When I was eight years old, rebels stormed the Florentine palace. Both my parents were already dead but my name and my family's fortune's made me a target. I was held hostage for years until finally they had to decide what to do with this Medici girl. The soldiers they… they demanded that I be turned over to them so that they would…so that I would be shared. I was raped over and over again during two years. Until the pope sent his armies to retake the city and rescue me but not in time. No one never knew… I kept it a secret, I knew that this would ruin me… And I can still hear their laughter outside the convent. That sickening laughter… That is what I was dreaming about when I had these nightmares." Taking a deep breath and letting a single tear roll down he face Catherine continued.
"Soon after our rescue, I was sent to Rome. A few months after my arrival I learned that I was to be married to you and I sailed to France. I arrived and I saw you… only you… you were there, taking care of me… loving me in a way that no one ever did. You brought me back to life and then… you left. I know it wasn't only your fault. It was also mine. We couldn't conceive and I was desperate. I heard what they did to the woman who couldn't have children and I…I was scared. Scared because I didn't want to die but most importantly because I knew I couldn't bear to see you married to another. Especially her… You are the love of my life, Henry. You've always been and always will be."
Henry listened, understanding more of parts of his wife with each word she pronounced. He was shocked, he heard about the rumours of rape… but he pushed them aside. It couldn't be true he told himself countless times… Now he understood her fear on their weeding night. Her fear of letting him see her completely naked. There were no words to describe what they did to his beautiful wife. At that time she was but a child. He wanted to rip these men apart with his bare hands for making her suffer in this way.
Then when she told him about her beginning in France and the fear of not having a baby, he felt guilty, awfully guilty. It was all his fault. He should have asked her why she was acting this way… it would have saved them years of unhappiness. But he couldn't turn back the time sadly. They had only now and the only thing he could do was to apologize.
Once he understood she was finished, he gently turned her on her other side so that she was facing him. He put his hand on her cheek and wiped away her tears.
"I'm sorry Catherine. Sorry for not having asked you what was wrong out of pride. Sorry for neglecting you during all these years. Sorry for what those men did to you. Sorry for not being the husband you needed. Sorry for not being there when you needed me. Sorry for letting everything and everyone get in the way. I'm sorry Catherine, truly." He said looking into her eyes with sincerity and gentle determination.
"I hope talking about it will make you feel better, it's a heavy burden to carry alone for so long." He said with a sad smile.
She smiled, nodded her head and snuggled deeper into him.
"Henry ?" She said a little bit later.
"Yes, my love" He answered.
She smiled, she liked the sound of that, my love, : "Please don't pity me."
"During our years of marriage, I have felt many thing about you. Respect, anger, passion, annoyance, confusion, love… but never pity, never." He answered.
"Thank you, Henry." Catherine said and he kissed her head.
A little while later, feeling it was the right moment to talk about his own childhood, the King began his story :
"Maybe it's time I tell you my own childhood…" Started the King, unsure.
His wife, her head still in the hollow of his neck, kissed his collarbone with an extreme tenderness.
Henry sighed at her touch and continued : "As you already know when we were young my brother and I were taken captive in Spain in exchange for our father's freedom. Francis was eight and I was going to celebrate my seventh birthday. We had lost our mother barely two years ago… She was the only parent that cared for us… for me. She practically never scolded me for my recklessness or my stubbornness and when she did, she was always so kind and comprehensive… something that could not be expected of my father…" The King sighed in remembrance and continued his story.
"You probably already know of the little time in which we were treated "properly"… but you certainly don't know of the rest of our captivity." He said while leaning back just enough to be able to look in her eyes. She gave him a comforting smile and nodded her head. He then tucked her safely back under his chin.
It was true Catherine knew of a part of his time in Spain… but the rest of it he had never told no one. She also knew about his beloved mother. They were only three things that could never be touched if you wanted to stay alive : his children, his wife…and his mother.
"We were taken captive for four years. Only one during which we were quite well treated. My father had an agreement with Charles V, one he never intended to respect… and as the time went by and he still hadn't made his part of the deal or concluded another one, my brother and I were living under the cruellest conditions. All visits or communications were forbidden to us. All our French men were replaced by Spaniards once we were retained in the fortress of "Pedrazza" in the province of "Segovia". It was an old medieval fortress, isolated in the mountains. It was damp and biting cold in winter. We were guarded both day and night by Spanish soldiers and we were forbidden to even utter a word in French. My brother and I were beaten and starved for three years. We had no distractions and we felt completely abandoned by our own family, our own blood, our own father… When we returned there was no loving embrace, not a word of comfort. He barely looked at us. From this moment we were two boys, entirely alone in this world…
A few years later, when you came to France, the moment I saw you I fell in love with you. And I was scared, scared because I had never felt anything like this for anyone. Even the love I had, I have, for my mother cannot be compared to this. It isn't the same. I was afraid of losing you like I lost my mother. I didn't know if I would be able to go on while going through this kind of pain again. So when you began to hide things from me and to be unable to see anything else but the fact that you hadn't produced an heir yet, I began to get away from you in the hope to protect my own heart. But it didn't work, I was still heartbroken. And I started to look for comfort elsewhere and listened to my stupid pride and ego because I was angered by the fact that you couldn't trust that I didn't care if we had no children, that I loved you no matter what… and because no one ever had the power to cause me pain as much as you did. I regret it now, so much…" The King continued, struggling to keep the emotion from his voice.
During all the time he spoke the Queen soothed the tense muscles of his back with gentle hands and once he finished she looked in his eyes and saw them shining with unshed tears. She had heard it, as hard as he tried to keep the emotion from lacing his voice, she heard it. "I'm sorry, Henry". She gave him another smile that she hoped comforting. That's the moment when the King came even closer and put his cheek against hers, needing to feel her skin on his own and to smell the fragrance of her hair.
"It all right, my love. It's over now. It is a fresh start, a new beginning." Said the Queen, reassuring him. At her words Henry leaned back to look into her eyes, smiled as well as he could. And it hit in once more, the strength of his love for her. In this moment he felt as if no one else existed in the entire world.
"Why are you looking at me like that ?" Asked the Queen with tenderness.
"I love you, Catherine. More than life itself." He answered without hesitation.
She kissed him with all the loving passion she could muster and said : "I love you, Henry. All that you are is all that I'll ever need."
They smiled, embraced each other tightly and fell asleep happy in their love.
AN : Haa… quite an emotional one. Let me know what you think, please.
Ready for Kenna's arrival ?
For the ones who didn't read the entire chapter : After the moment of the oil, Henry and Catherine told the other about their childhood. Catherine's time in Florence and Henry's time in Spain. And they confessed their love another time before falling asleep in each other's arms.
Take care
Laura D.