- Oh my God!- Catherine exclaimed, rushing to her former lover. He raised his head badly and his eyes lit up.

- Catherine!- he exclaimed as the woman embraced him.

Henry snorted with amusement.

- Spare me this pitiful scene- he said. The queen looked at him with an indecipherable expression on her face.

- What is on your mind?- she growled, clutching Richard's torn shirt.

The man squinted his eyes and dismissed the guard with a glance.

- You see, Richard? - he said to his old friend - Your beloved Catherine is still alive.

The other man shook his head and stared at the king with hatred.

- I remember you as being decidedly less cruel - he spat out - and less stupid.

Henry chuckled.

- Where have I heard these words before? - he asked looking at his wife - They are not foreign to me.

- Question your conscience then - the woman hissed. She stroked Richard's face with concern - How can you think of treating your dear friend like that?

- He had an affair with you, offending me and my honor, Catherine. I'm amazed you even thought of that sentence.

- Your stupid honor blinds you- exclaimed the queen - so much so that you don't realize how hypocritical and pathetic this meanness of yours is- she shook her head. - We are always at a standstill, Henry, and people put their lives in the way.

- Don't be a good queen- said the king- You are a devil, very unwilling to kill-

- Forget it, Catherine- said Richard, sitting down properly - It's no use arguing with him.

- Shut up! - exclaimed Henry - Remember that I am still your king, you bastard.

- Then why are you here with Catherine? - asked the other - To let me witness your marital disputes? I know them all too well.

- Indeed, Henry - intervened the queen, impressed by the courage of the ex-lover - Why am I here?

The king looked at the two with a raised eyebrow.

- To make my beloved wife understand - he grinned - that I have something to blackmail her with.

Catherine gasped.

- I'm not a valid commodity then - Richard said - I'll kill myself if I have to.

- Don't even think about it - the woman said to him in a panic.

- Stop it, Catherine, you know I'll do it if it's necessary to protect you - the former lover replied vehemently.

- Richard...- began the queen but was interrupted by a cough from Henry.

- Finished? - he asked sarcastically. Catherine snorted.

- I propose you a deal, Catherine- added the king - If you obey my orders and avoid making disasters like the one of our son's wedding- the queen shuddered - You can ask for your lover's release when I deem it appropriate-.

The woman thought about it. She looked at Richard, who was shaking his head, and felt faint. It scared her to even think about having to obey any of her husband's demands, but the thought of her former lover committing suicide...made her shudder. He had done far too much for her. And Catherine de Medici doesn't like to be indebted to anyone.

- I accept, Henry- she said firmly - but any wrongdoing- she threatened - you know what I'm capable of.

The king smiled without mirth.

- I accept - he said - Say goodbye to your lover because we go back upstairs, it's cold and I'm sleepy.

Having said that, he went out the door. Catherine leaned over Richard.

- You shouldn't have done that - he muttered - You made a mistake.

- No - replied the queen - It's only fair that I pay my half as well.

She kissed the man's lips lightly.

- Hold on - she whispered.

- You too - Richard replied.

The queen smiled at him and left. Outside the cell was Henry, who looked at her with a mixture of pain and anger. Evidently, he had witnessed the kiss. Catherine smiled proudly and walked past her husband.

Note: I'm going to have a bit of a busy summer, so all my stories are going to have some pretty long slowdowns. Happy vacations!