Chapter 12

A feeling of security enveloped Catherine the moment she slowly surfaced from the land of nod. A feeling caused by Henry's strong arms that were holding her tightly and pressing her against his muscular body.
With her eyes stilled closed, she cuddled up against her husband, who promptly started stroking her cheek.
"Good morning, Catherine."
"Mhm..." She was only capable of answering with a sleepy hum and her reaction prompted Henry to chuckle in amusement.
"I see, some things never change," he whispered, alluding to the fact that she basically needed several minutes to come to her senses in the morning.
Especially now, when her weakened condition demanded more of her than usual.

Although Catherine still felt dull from sleep, his closeness immediately put her body on alert. Henry's presence was pervasive. Over the past days, he hadn't left her side. She didn't understand his motivations for one moment he had commanded her around and the next he had been highly concerned about her well-being.
And he had kissed her. Several times at that and in the most intimate way. But what surprised her most was the fact that she had permitted it without resistance, at least initially.

Once again his closeness threatened to deprive her of sanity and reason. It clouded her otherwise razor-sharp mind.
She urgently needed to put some distance between them in order to think more clearly.

"I will ride my own horse today," Catherine informed her husband therefore and she let her hand glide over his naked chest as if to appease him. "I need to."
She deliberately ignored the theatrical sigh that came over her husband's lips upon hearing this.
"Alright, you may start on your own. But as soon as I notice your arm or anything else bothering you, you will ride with me."
Henry seemed determined and by his tone she realized that a discussion was useless at this point. So she stroked his bearded cheek and resigned to her fate. At least she had this little triumph to register.

Her silent consent prompted Henry to bend down and kiss her tenderly.
"I know that you are the most independent woman I have ever met and that you hate it when someone else tells you what to do. But I am worried and I do not want your Medici pride to do you further harm."
Henry slightly rose from the cot to look at her.
"I certainly don't want to harass you or compromise you in front of my soldiers, Catherine."
In his eyes she recognized sincere affection and when Henry kissed her once again, she melted into his arms helplessly.
Only when she feared that she was going to lose her mind altogether, did her king release her.

"If you don't want me to finish what we've started here and now, I suggest you..." Henry stopped speaking while his hands started gliding all over Catherine's body. A sensation that brought her back to her senses.
"Henry," she whispered and didn't even know if she was asking him to stop or to keep on caressing her.

Loud yelling that was followed by some rumbling noise could be heard from outside and caused the couple to jump apart.
"I think I'd better go and check what they are up to," her husband grumbled and stole one last kiss before rising. "I'll see you later, sweetheart."
Catherine sat up on the cot and silently watched Henry getting dressed. Then he put on his boots and left their tent.

When he was gone, the Queen of France let herself fall back onto the hard flatbed, sighing heavily.
"What am I doing here?" Catherine mumbled in confusion and gently touched her lips with her forefinger. Lips her husband had just kissed mere minutes ago.

All this, his closeness, his consideration, not least his uncharacteristic leniency concerning her person confused her.
At the time of her flight Henry had been hell-bent on getting rid of her and now, only a few days after he had found her – badly bruised and devitalised -, she impended to suffocate under his well-intentioned care.

Because allthough he left no doubt that he desired her nowadays, she couldn't imagine that this was the main reason for Henry's changed behaviour. For legally he had every imaginable right to her and her body. If he wanted to bed her he was perfectly entitle to do so, with or without her consent.
Therefore his lack of just claiming what was his made it all the more astonishing. If she wasn't mistaken, Henry was acutually trying to seduce her.

What Catherine didn't know was whether she wanted to be seduced by him or not?
Could she dare giving herself to him – allowing passion to claim her once again? Could she risk chasing the illusion of a happy married life whose constancy was nothing short of a bubble's iridescently outer wall?
Could she forget all disappointment, all heartaches Henry had caused her over the years?
And what future lay ahead of them?

Their tent, the camp site, all this was like a little world of its own, isolated from court and far away from obligations and intrigues that reigned there. Far away from women like Diane and girls like Kenna.

But what would happen once they left their little bubble world?
How much would it take for Henry to drop her just as fast and carelessly as he did it so many times before?

XXX

Half an hour later Henry helped her on the white horse and he actually refrained from interfering the whole morning, even though his constant glances at her direction unsettled Catherine to an increasing degree.

When the sun reached its zenith, Henry let his soldiers stop for a short halt to water the horses.
As the day before, he simply lifted her from the saddle without warning. Once her feet touched the ground, her husband didn't release her but bent down instead.
"How are you doing?" In his eyes lay an entreaty she had rarely seen there in the past. As if begging her to give him an honest answer.
"I'm okay, Henry. A little exhausted, but okay."

Not quite the truth but neither a direct lie.
Because compared to the previous days and weeks, she was actually feeling okay, even though her arm had started throbing severely two hours ago. But her body was already used to this kind of pain so it was bearable.
"Catherine", Henry growled close to her ear.
"Don't look at me like that. Florence will tend to my arm and I'll be as good as new."
"At least you are as stubborn as ever," Henry attested her and stroked her cheek with a surprisingly tender gesture. "Get some rest," he told her and reached for the reins of their horses to lead them away.

"After our rest, you'll ride with me," Henry informed her casually before he disappeared from her sight to mingle with his soldiers. The determination in his voice and his departure left no room for discussion, so Catherine decided not to waste energy by fighting the inevitable. If Henry wanted her to ride with him on his horse, she would do so whether she liked it or not. That much was clear.

Once they've eaten and Florence had taken care of her arm, Henry gave order to get ready to leave. Without effort he lifted his wife onto his stallion and got on the horse right behind her. This time Catherine did not resist, she rather accepted her fate. Her fate as well as Henry's hands, that clasped her middle a second later to pull her even closer until he was holding her in a rather intimate way.

"Why the hurry?" Catherine asked a few hours later after Henry and his soldiers had almost pushed their horses to the point of exhaustion with their murderous pace.
"I've promised you a comfortable bed tonight," Henry said matter of factly.
"A bed we'll never reach if we break our necks in this rampant area." With a worried expression Catherine looked down into the abyss at their left side, then at the rocky path they were following for half an hour now. They had to bypass massive boulders and slippery debris whereof loose stones were tumbling down beneath their horses hoofs.
On the one hand she was glad that she didn't have to lead a horse along this steep and narrow pass herself, on the other hand she would be able to slow down this murderous speed otherwise.

"How much farther do we have to go until we reach Lord Bernard's lands?"
"Just a few more miles after we have passed this rise."
Upon hearing this, Catherine's gaze glided along the rocky path that disappeared behind a massive ledge 500 meters ahead of them.
"Then do us all a favor and slow down, Henry. I would prefer to get there alive".
"How I've missed that during the last couple of months," Henry said and to her relief he actually slowed down his horse.
"What?" Catherine asked in confusion.
She would have prefered to turn to him to get a better look at her husband, but she was afraid to cause the horse to loose its footing by unnecessarily shifting her weight.

"You and your ability to save me from foolishness."
"You hate it when I give you advice," she reminded him, slightly surprised by this revelation.
"Only because you're right most of the times."
"I am, aren't I?" she agreed, not without a hint of arrogant pride in her voice. Her answer made Henry laugh out loud.
"Indeed. Maybe I should finally start listening to you."
"That would be a good choise for a change."

The loose banter between them gave Catherine a sense of normality, something she hadn't felt since the moment she took flight. It allowed her not only to forget her concern for the future, but also the throbbing pain in her arm that was nowadays dominating her very being.

Once the troop had finally passed the ridge, Catherine spotted a small village in the adjoining valley. An impressive castle behind the village overlooked the rather smalish buildings. The sight of their harbourage for the night lifted her spirits even more. Apparently the soldiers felt the same way, they probably already saw a proper meal with a beer jug or a pretty girl in their mind's eyes. Catherine herself longed for a hot bath.
"Almost there," Henry whispered into her ear and his beard tickled the sensitive skin on her neck.
Now that their path was wider and less dangerous, he drove his horse into canter one last time.

A messenger had announced their pending arrival, so when they reached the castle, Lord Bernard and his family were already awaiting them in the courtyard.
"Your majesty, it's such an honour to accommodate you. We have prepared the most beautiful room for you and your...", the stocky man cleared his throat, then he looked at Catherine indecisivly, who was just being lifted off the horse by Henry. Obviously he couldn't quite place his king's female companion.
"Thank you, my wife and I for sure appreciate your efforts," Henry explained with a mischievous smile and generously overlooked the older man's faux pas, who nervously bowed to Catherine at this announcement.
"Pardon me, my Queen."

"It's all right, Lord Bernard," Catherine reassured the older man and she was more than aware of the curious looks those present were throwing her way. She could only imagine how her dishevelled appearance had to come across to others, certainly far from majestic if she was mistaken for one of Henry's mistresses rather than the Queen of France.
"We will prepare a second bedchamber for you this instant, your Grace."
"That won't be necessary, my friend. Her Grace will stay with me. But I am certain you can please her with a hot bath and a clean gown. And I would fancy a glass of your best wine." Henry patted the old man's shoulder and winked at his wife mischievously.

Catherine could do nothing but stare at her husband in bewilderment.
"But of course. My wife Mathilde will take care of it," Lord Bernard hurried to assure, and the small corpulent woman at his side nodded deliberately and reached for Catherine's right arm to lead her inside the castle.

"Follow me, your Majesty. I heard that you've been on the road for quite some time already. I'm sure a nice hot bath will do you good. Are you hungry? It will be a while until dinner is ready, but I can have them bring you a little something." Mathilde was eagerly chattering and led Catherine through the great hall. Her round face shone with joy and her cheeks turned red due to her growing excitement.
"Forgive me, I talk and talk and you are most likely exhausted. You have to forgive an old woman, but it's not every day that the Queen and King of France honour us with a visit. Would you like some cake?"

"Do not worry, I would like to thank you for your hospitality, Lady Bernard," Catherine assured her and followed her overzealous hostess to the upper floor.
They crossed a corridor, then the other woman opened the door to a bedchamber that had been arranged for its royal visitor.
The scent of fresh roses filled the air and a huge bed occupied the left side of the room. It was well-furnished and flooded with light. The curtains and and the sitting area were of royal blue coloring.
"I hope this room is to your liking. If we had known that you would accompany your husband..." Catherine stopped the woman by placing her right hand on the woman's arm.
"This room is beautiful and it will be quite sufficient."

Lady Bernard nodded in relief and entered the adjoining room where maids were busily preparing Catherine's bath.
"Just a few more minutes, your Grace." Mathilde assured her. "Do you require help with your bath? One of the girls can stay to assist you or I could call for my youngest daughter."
"Thank you, but this is not necessary. A young novice accompanied us. Would you send for her? And some cake sounds very appealing, Mathilde." Catherine gave her hostess a warm smile.
"Of course, your Majesty, I'll send for that cake immediately. And for your novice. Oh, and a gown of course. I'm sure my daughter's clothes should fit you." Lady Bernard promised and she hurriedly left the room to meet her obligations as the royal couples host.

Wow, thanks for your numerous reviews. I was quite busy these days and it took me some time to write and translate this chapter. But here we go! I hope you like it.