Hey guys, I hope you had a good start in 2021. Thank you for always being so supportive!
I hope you'll like this chapter. It will only be Henry's POV
Disclaimer: I don't own "Reign" and I don't make any profit with this story.
Enjoy the reading:)
Chapter three
At the same time, Henry couldn't stop thinking about Catherine, the exchange they had this morning, and the conversation they had the day before...he couldn't stop thinking about the glance Lord Narcisse gave his wife just a few minutes prior,...he just couldn't think about anything different than his wife.
The glance this Lord...Lord Narcisse gave her today made his blood boil. He could've punched him or rather took him into the dungeons or just killed him in front of everyone. He didn't care at all what the others would've said about his behavior. This man was looking at his wife and this Lord didn't even mind that Henry could see those glances he gave Catherine.
Speaking of Catherine, his wife... he loved her, he never stopped. He wanted her back. He wanted to start again... he wanted to reconcile with his beautiful wife. Still, in his thoughts about what he wanted to do to the Lord, Henry went instinctively to go to Catherine to talk with her about this situation, about the little encounter they had this morning and most importantly he wanted to confess that he loved her and that he wanted to have her back, he would fight for her and her heart if he had to. He would give everything, really everything to have her back.
He knew it wouldn't be easy and he knew he had to fight and prove that he meant what he said to get her back but at this point, he would do anything just to get his Catherine back.
With long and quick steps he went the long hallway down to Catherine's chambers - she was mostly there since her chambers had a passage to her study room where she usually prepared some documents or wrote correspondences. However, he also remembered the one time he made love with her on her study table. It was a gorgeous experience he thought, absolutely passionate...he and Catherine decided to leave the past behind and try to make a healthy relationship. Everything went perfect for weeks but then he and his wife had a conflict and everything went downhill again...so that he ended up in bed with Diane to get over his hurt ego...he was a fool. Such a big fool. He thought trying to forget how things could've been now if he had just talked to her instead of jumping into another woman's bed as soon as something didn't go the way he wanted it to go.
It was time, he had to change something in his behavior, he couldn't just go on like this, or he would never get his wife back. As he turned the corner, still planning what he would say to her, he looked up and saw something which shocked him extremely. Catherine was talking to another man...not that this bothered him a lot, she had to talk to a lot of men during her day but this man...it was the man Henry fantasied about killing or punching or throwing into the dungeon just a few minutes before.
Lord Narcisse...Henry couldn't trust his eyes at this moment. He blinked a few times, thinking his eyes played a sick joke on him or his imagination did. But it wasn't a joke...it was real...just there in front of him.
He heard them talking about something but he couldn't really hear exactly what except the words "oh, well I think I could make it. Which time did you have in mind? Late afternoon?" He wanted to go to his wife immediately, he wanted to throw this man who called himself a lord into the dungeons, preferably the darkest place available so that this Lord, who dared to give his wife those dirty looks, would never see the daylight again.
He could see in the other mans eyes that his intentions weren't simply talking to Catherine...the other man's intentions were certainly way more different and simply knowing this, Henry wanted to talk to his wife, telling her of the other mans intentions and having her by his side...but now...now he didn't feel as strong and confident as he felt before anymore. He felt empty in a way as if he just lost the most important thing in his life...this feeling of emptiness felt like it was eating him alive.
He needed to go to his chambers, to think about the things he saw and heard just a few moments before. Suddenly he felt anger rise in him, burning in his chest but also pain and sadness...he didn't feel all of those feelings combined in years. Only his wife had this effect on him; she made him want to rage and weep at the same time. She made him push her away but also keep her close to him. She could start a fire in his chest by just looking at him and at the same time could extinguish this fire again and could start something completely new in him.
On his way to his chambers which were on the other side of the castle, he thought about all the things he saw and heard and just wanted to go to his chambers to relax and to think about the things which happened. He still couldn't believe it. Did his wife cheat on him? He cheated so many times on her...was this her Revanche?
The way people moved out of his path was not lost on Henry. He knew he was an intimidating force to deal with. He was very to the point, he didn't skirt around what he was trying to say or accomplish, and he most definitely did not take emotions into account when he did his work except when Catherine was there..his wife had this way to inflame his temper in seconds and extinguish it just as fast. However, he was a King through and through and by god was he proud of it.
A couple of people nodded to him but none said his name. He gave them fleeting glances and curt nods as he moved.
A few people gave him strange looks but he ignored them. Henry was never one to bother with funny looks. He rounded the last corner on the way to his chambers, perhaps he should call for Kenna? She was always excellent in keeping his mind away from his wife and especially in a situation like this she could help, couldn't she?
But as soon as the thought reached his mind, Henry dismissed it. He couldn't start doing the same mistakes all over again. He wanted to change, no, he needed to change and in order to do that he needed to stop any other sexual relationship he had with other woman except his wife.
And that meant...he should perhaps really call for Kenna but not to make any sort of sexual activity with her...no, this time he wanted to make the right decisions and that meant ending their relationship here and now.
"Let nobody in except my wife and call for Lady Kenna," Henry said to his guards when he came to the front of his chambers, not giving any of his guards any time to respond.
Henry let out a loud sigh as he finally entered his chambers. It had been a very, very eventful day. The conversation with Catherine today, or in better words he making her angry and then escaping before it could get worse, Lord Narcisse coming to court and thinking it would be a great idea to court his wife, the conversation he witnessed between his wife and the Lord...the conversation he had before him now with Kenna... it wasn't even afternoon yet...and still this day was already full of events.
He heard commotion, familiar commotion, coming from down the hallway, and placed his head against the door, groaning to himself. Say her name, and she shall come as soon as she can. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, Henry enjoyed spending time with Kenna. The issue with this one was that he already knew very well that it wouldn't end well.
Head against the door, tilted to the side, frown on his face. He probably looked pretty miserable in his current state. He felt pretty miserable.
A few minutes later Kenna entered his chambers, a passionate smile on her face. Oh, she didn't know yet how fast this smile would disappear in just a few more minutes, Henry thought, feeling pretty bad to hurt his newest mistress this way, but this was the right decision.
His mistress came straight to him, ready to kiss him. But he took a step backward leaving his mistress in a state of confusion.
"Kenna, we need to talk. Seriously this time." He said to his mistress in a polite tone.
Standing a little bit away from her now, surrounded by his usual posse, "We need to end this relationship here and now. I'm sorry that I have to hurt you but I certainly wasn't in my right senses when we started this. You can't be my mistress anymore Kenna, of course I'll keep helping you find a wealthy and nice husband with a good title but our relationship has to end. Now." Henry said, noticing the visible confusion in his ex-mistresses face however, he tried to ignore it as good as possible for the time being.
"I'm sorry, I really am Kenna. I-"
"Spare me with your apologies Henry. You weren't in your right senses? It certainly seemed to me that you were more than just aware of what exactly you did...but why ending it all, why now, did I do something wrong? Why this sudden change ? A few days ago, we enjoyed each other's body's and company and now...you want it to stop?! Why?" Kenna interrupted, clearly getting angrier with each word she said, but her confusion was the most present emotion on her face.
She took several steps towards him, attempting to lay her small hand on his chest.
"Why, Henry why...let's forget that and be happy again. I can make you happy, I can make you forget all the trouble, you said it yourself just a few days ago." she said, sounding calmer or rather seductive like there happened a switch in her brain and all the anger and confusion was washed away.
However, Henry took a step back, taking Kenna's hand away from his chest.
Her face looked like she just failed in the most important task in her life. She looked down...a sad expression washing over her face out of the sudden which made Henry feel even worse. He didn't want to hurt her, in a way he cared about her but for once in his life he had to make the right decision, even if it hurt people.
"Kenna, it's over between us. It's over, forever. I'm so sorry, really I am." He said, with a gentle tone like he'd spoke to a toddler.
The young brunette looked up at him, watery eyes, which threatened to overflow in just a couple of minutes, looked him directly in his eyes adds tried to make some sort of contact..but it failed. Henry wasn't here for any games anymore.
" Kenna..." he tried again but before he could say more the young brunette interrupted him, anger finally building in her as she said,
"Just stop. Stop it. It is because of that witch...your wife. What did she do to you? Did she poison you, or what, she isn't even pretty or young, did you see her figure? She's good to give you children but she certainly couldn't be good in bed or you would have never switched to mistresses right? This tucking bitch what did she do to you! Can't she see that she already lost. She doesn't even love you Henry. Oh Henry...don't believe the things she said, she doesn't love you, she uses you...oh god I'll kill her for it."
She didn't realize what she'd said to him in her rage until it was too late and the words were already out of her mouth. However, the brunette woman didn't even try to take it back, her anger overflowed every inch of her body.
"What did you say? Do NOT call her that! You lost your last brain cell right the minute you decided to threaten MY WIFE! What is wrong with you?! I love her and even if she doesn't I won't give up! Don't you dare, just for one second, to threaten my wife! You don't get the right to. Nobody does. My wife, Catherine...didn't poison me or anything, I just realised after far too long that I love her and that I want to have a life with her and our children. I was an asshole and an horrible husband and father for far too long to her and our children but I want to change! And you certainly don't have the right to say anything against that. You just overstepped a line Kenna! I could throw you in the dungeon if I wanted to, you know. So stop to threaten my wife and get your few brain cells finally together!"
He took a step forward, Kenna took a step back, visibly angry but also...afraid, her eyes were bigger as they used to be, her mouth was open, she clearly wanted to say something but it seemed like she didn't have words anymore.
Henry's chest was heaving, his lungs aching, his throat burning because of the scene he just made, and he knew everyone might have heard his shouting through half of the castle,but he didn't care, not anymore.
"What are you doing ?" she screeched, ignoring what he just told her and storming towards him. She dropped her volume, hissing, "I thought we had an agreement. None of this was part of the plan. It's because of you that your oh so beloved wife doesn't want you in her life Henry. And with all the drama you create here, she probably won't be happy either, and I'm sure you won't break up things with Diane because —"
"I will," he interrupted her, and Kenna's face twisted with disgust as he continued , "I will end all things regarding my mistresses. I care about Diane deeply, she is, after all, the mother of my son but for the sake of my wife and my family, I will end this relationship too. I want to be able to concentrate on my real family and finally be happy."
By now, Kenna's face had turned stark white. It took a moment for her to compose herself, but once she did, she gave him a sickeningly sweet smile that made him nauseous. "King Henry," she said smoothly, even at her low volume, "this is not a path you want to go down. How do you think Bash would feel if he found out his father was responsible for getting his mother exiled ? Because I know Diane won't be that easy on you."
Henry remained unmoved, giving Kenna nothing more than an even stare.
Her eyes narrowed. "Is this all a joke to you? You don't mean that seriously...you are ending everything just to try to get back the one woman, you know you won't ever have because this witch doesn't even love you..Henry..can't you see..she doesn't love you, she probably never had. It'll be better to get her into that tower again so she won't be able to bewitch you, Henry she really doesn't even care-"
"I think you didn't hear me right when I said it the first time Kenna, DO NOT threaten my wife or say anything bad about her, she is and will stay the Queen of France. And she loves me more than anyone ever did even though she might not show it." A step forward, Kenna copying with another step back.
Kenna's expression was suddenly full of hurt, sorrow, perhaps even a bit of regret, tears streaming down her face but Henry. Didn't. Care. Couldn't care. Wouldn't care. "Henry...I'm- I'm so-sorry Henry," she stammered out of the sudden, as if she just realized what she told him.
Another step. "I don't care how sorry you are," Another step. He was almost flushed against Kenna now. "to threaten my wife twice, to say she is a witch and accuse her of poisoning and better bewitching me, saying all those things to your Queen, the Queen of France and my wife who did nothing wrong right now except exist. When you know that I love her and that I just ended our relationship," He got right up in Kenna's face, screaming now. "that is completely and utterly UNACCEPTABLE!"
"I'll throw you into the dungeon or better the tower for that. Don't you fucking say anything wrong right now Kenna, or you'll get there sooner than you can say your own name"
Her body jerked with a sob, tears finally overflowing over her face, her anger from before fading into pure, crushing, destroying pain, "No, please- Henry, I'm sorry, I-"
She reached for his arm, but he just took a step back, away from the brunette woman. He shook his head, his head red with anger. "Sorry doesn't cut it, Kenna."
A hand grabbed at his shoulder as he turned to walk away to get the guards. "Please, please, just give me a chance to explain, please-" she sounded so desperate, pleading, begging, her voice shattering, and Henry longed to give it to her, he didn't want to be that cruel, but she just threatened his wife and it was enough for him. He wouldn't. Because it wouldn't be okay. It wasn't okay. And Henry wasn't standing for it anymore.
He just shook his head again, and jerked the grip off of his shoulder, storming away from the broken woman he was leaving behind. He could already picture the mutters, the chatter of the castle with a new piece of drama, his drama.
He called for his guards to get Kenna away, he didn't even look at her anymore.
He didn't even know how long he waited there, until his guards entered and took Kenna away.
She said something, trying to turn the whole thing but Henry didn't even listen, he was just standing there waiting for the storm to be over.
After everyone was gone from his chambers, and the silence finally settled in Henry took a long breath, closing his eyes, the stress of the day washing over him.
Catherine's face flashed in his mind, her hazel eyes; there was a shy green and opulent gold. Oh, her absolutely breathtaking hazel eyes were an interesting mix of brown, green, and yellow, which seemed to change as the weather changed. Sometimes they tended more towards green, others towards gold depending on the light that illuminated them. He never saw a woman with this eye color... he loved her eyes. As well as he loved her strawberry blonde hair, he longed to touch it again. It was so soft and it always smelled like lavender...and her beautifully shaped lips and the smile she used to give him... He wanted her back and perhaps he just took a right move forward, perhaps he'll win her back somehow.
He didn't know what it would be like if he told Diane that he didn't want to see her anymore. Diane was excellent in manipulating him the way she wanted and Henry was sure that she wouldn't accept anything that had to do with ending their relationship and her service to him. Without another drama. She never was the one who lost her temper that easily and never in front of anyone, she was the complete opposite to Catherine who showed him when she didn't agree with him and who had no problem to say it to him before court.
Diane, however, had her own ways to show him that she didn't agree with him and he knew that this confrontation would be a way harder to face than the one he just had with Kenna.
Anyway, Henry was just glad that Kenna was out of his chambers and that he was finally alone. A headache had replaced his burning throat from all the screaming he did, so he went slowly to his bed, got rid of all of his clothes, not once forgetting about the image of his wife in his mind.
He didn't care how his chambers looked at the moment or what a drama he had created. He just cared about the fact that he was finally alone in his chambers.
He lay down in his bed and tried to sleep a bit to forget about all the things around him but as soon as he closed his eyes he saw Catherine's face once again.
Her strawberry blonde hair that fell gracefully over her shoulders as soon as she put the pins out of her hair, her slightly arched blonde eyebrows that highlighted her emotions by moving up and down as she reacted to the world around her. Her large hazel eyes that sparkled golden and green as soon as she smiled or the light shone on her face. Her curved nose that gave her a little girl look which made him want to smile when she talked nonstop. And her mouth...her lips when she smiled, which was mostly when she was with their children, her well-formed and even, white teeth which brightened up her whole face. Henry couldn't stop thinking about her, even while small thoughts of insecurity became clearer and clearer once again. He just ignored them for now, he lay in his bed, eyes closed and just thought how it would be if she lay next to him.
He wished everything could be different now, he wished to have his wife back, he knew a lot of drama will follow this one..especially when he would end the things with Diane...in this point Kenna was right, his long time mistress Diane won't be that easy to get rid of.
AN: I hope you liked this chapter. I wanted to write a bit about how Henry could feel at the moment. And I desperately wanted to write a confrontation scene between Henry and Kenna. It was my first time writing Kenna and I hope i didn't do a horrible job.Well, I hope that my English wasn't that bad as well :) feel free to leave a review if you want.