AN : Hey ! Hey ! Hey ! Here it is :)
Disclaimer : I don't own « Reign », no plagiarism is intended and I don't make profit of this story.
Guest reviewer : Yay I'm back ! Finally the holidays haha ;) Here is another chapter I hope you'll like ;) We'll see Catherine's reaction to that haha :)
Chapter 31
In the evening
Catherine and Henry had just come back from their afternoon activities. They had gone into a stroll in the forest and happened to come by some berries. In their excitement, they had nearly eaten the whole bush.
Later in the early evening, the couple had continued their road back to the castle.
Now, they were back and it was nearly time for dinner.
"Are you hungry ?" Asked Henry to his wife.
"Frankly, not really." She laughed, thinking of how much berries they had both eaten.
He smiled at her "Maybe we should excuse ourselves for dinner and just have a light supper here ? What do you think ?"
She came slowly towards him with that seductive smile of hers planted into her face. She put both of her hands flat against his pecs and said : "Humm… I think my husband has got an excellent idea." And she gave him a peck on the lips. He put his hands on her hips and kissed her again tenderly, not able to resist her any longer. Soon enough, his tongue came to brush against her lips, asking her entrance which she granted without hesitation. As the kiss grew more heated, both of their tongues slid against the other lovingly, Catherine took hold of Henry's neck for support. But when she felt moisture against her hand, she slowed the kiss, and looked at her hand on his neck to see what it was. She was surprised to see that her husband was glistening with sweat.
"God, Henry ? What is it ? Are you hot ? Are you going to be sick ?" The questions flew from her mouth as her worry for her husband overwhelmed her. In less than a second, she was back with a wet cold cloth and began to dab his forehead and neck with it.
Henry couldn't help but smirk at her, he secretly loved when she took care of him.
"Catherine" She didn't even look at him.
"Catherine" She was still too concentrated in her task.
"Catherine" He finally succeeded to catch her attention by stilling her hand against his neck. "I'm fine, darling." In fact, he felt hot, too hot but he thought nothing of it, it was probably the weather. And he was not going to worry her over nothing, she didn't need this.
Soon after, servants came back with a light soup and some bread. They served the monarchs and went away, leaving Henry and Catherine alone.
Placing her napkin gracefully on her knees, the Queen said : "Hum, this smells delicious."
"Indeed." Replied the King, smiling at her way of smelling the soup delicately.
They both ate and unlike every day, they ate in silence. Not because they preferred to, it was the kind of odd silence. Catherine inspected closely her husband, not at all convinced that he was as fine as he said and Henry was trying as hard as he could to hide the fact that he was indeed feeling worse than before. The effects of the poison were beginning to show themselves…
When they were about to start their dessert, the Queen decided to break the silence at last.
"Henry." She began in all seriousness "How are you really feeling ?" Seeing he was about to answer she added "And don't tell me you're fine because I can tell something is wrong."
Henry closed his mouth and looked down before looking in her eyes again. Gentle, warm and worried hazel eyes stared back at him, pleading him to tell the truth. The King sighed, took his napkin from his lap, placed it over the table and leaned back in his chair. The Queen did the same but instead, she got up and went to sit across his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Henry, please. I never saw you like that." She looked into his eyes once again, making light caresses with her hands.
At last his resolve weakened, - he could never resist her for too long, especially when she was doing this to him – he sighed again while placing his hand over their child and rubbing little circles.
"It's true, I don't feel at my best." He admitted without making eye contact, he always had a hard time admitting he was weakened.
"What's wrong ? Where does it hurt ?" She asked, pleased that he told her the truth but not less concerned.
"It doesn't hurt anywhere in particular, it's a global feeling. I'm hot and uncomfortable."
"I see… do you think it could be because of the berries ?" She asked, she was nearly sure that it was not, after all she had eaten as much as him herself and she wasn't sick.
"No, I don't. Back when I was a kid I used to eat even more fruits than what we ate and I was never sick after." He replied quickly, no, it couldn't be that.
"But Catherine, I don't want you to worry. Especially in your condition. I'll be fine." Henry said softly.
"You don't want me to worry ? While my husband is not feeling well and may be sick ?" She answered, looking at him, disbelieving.
The King chuckled softly and caressed her soft cheek with the back of his hand "I know it's a rather large expectation, but yes… Catherine, I will be fine."
"You'd better be." She said in all seriousness while leaning her body against his frame and placing her head in the crock of his neck.
He just smiled at that and enjoyed the feeling of his wife in his arms.
They spent a little time like this enjoying the silence but during all this time Henry felt worse with every second that passed. He was trying to hide it as well as he could but there came a time when he felt he could no longer hold his wife without throwing up.
"Catherine, Catherine get up please." He asked regretfully, sending his wife away was the last thing he wanted to do but he had no choice.
She got up as quickly as her pregnant form would allow, without understanding why he was asking this of her. When she was up, she immediately turned back to see Henry. What she saw shocked her and worried her to death : her husband was as white as a table cloth, his eyes were beginning to get glassy and beads of sweats were running down his temples.
"Henry !" She screamed and took his hand between hers. But when her hand touched his, he instantly took it back and his face became green. The next second he was bent over the chamber pot and vomiting all his stomach's content.
Catherine yelled for the guards to fetch the best doctor they could find immediately but without arousing suspicion. Nobody could know that the King was ill.
Next she ran to him with a napkin in her hand and when he finished, she carefully wiped his mouth.
"Henry" she called his name once, twice and at the third time his eyes finally found hers.
"Can you get up ?" She asked her husband. He nodded, not entirely sure he could.
With much effort his wife put him back on his legs and accompanied him to bed. He laid back and closed his eyes painfully.
"Oh Henry…" Her eyes flooded with tears. She was sitting by his side on the bed, and held his head between her hands softly.
"Catherine…" He moaned. "I… I…" he tried.
"Shh… shh… preserve your strength my love." She said her voice cracking with emotions for the man she loved to the stars and back.
But when he felt her hands leaving him, he rapidly grabbed them. "Don't leave…" He was only able to whisper.
"I will just fetch a wet cloth Henry. I'll return immediately." She cried and brushed his face.
She rapidly brought back the cold material and dabbed his forehead with it. What could possibly have him so ill?
Henry sighed when she touched him. He was really feeling bad. In fact worse than he had felt in years.
The Queen contemplated her poor King. He was sweating and his skin was burning. His eyes were closed and lines of worry were visible on his face. While taking care of him, she wondered what could be affecting him.
The next moment, the physician's arrival interrupted her thoughts.
"Your Majesties, I am Paul Vernay. How may I be of help ?" He asked but got his answer the moment he saw the King, laying on the bed as pale as a November morning. Catherine didn't answer him, she didn't even heard that someone had entered the room.
« Majesty ? May I have the room ? » The physician asked the Queen for her place beside the bed to be able to examine the King. He didn't need any explanation on why they had called him but, he had to act rapidly. He would ask the questions after.
Catherine finally noticed him and tried to get up from the bed, but her husband would not let her go.
« Henry, darling, the doctor is here. He needs the room to examine you. I won't be far, love. » She tried to reason with him.
He nodded his head slowly and unwillingly let her hand go.
The physician immediately went closer and started his examination.
He touched the King everywhere and measured his heartbeat.
After several, unending minutes he finally turned towards the worried Queen and explained what he had observed : « Your Grace, the King seems to have caught a very, very serious cold. He is sweating a lot, his forehead is burning and he's been throwing up from what I have seen. I advise a lot of rest and he should drink a lot of herbal concoctions to get rid of the virus.»
« A cold ? We're at the end of the winter and nobody here has been feeling ill. I don't understand, how could he have caught a cold today ? I was with him all day long and I am feeling fine. Wouldn't I, as a pregnant woman, be more prone than him to catch an illness ?! » She couldn't comprehend what was happening, it didn't make sense.
« You would your Majesty, but sometimes nature is unpredictable. » Answered the physician. Catherine did not speak, she was too busy thinking about her husband's critical condition.
« Majesty, in your condition, I would advise you to rest as well, you know stress isn't good for your baby. » Catherine only glared at him, at heart she knew he was right but it really wasn't the right time to say something like that to her.
« You expect me not to worry when seeing my husband like this ! » She pointed towards Henry's laying form.
« I know you're worrying and that it will be almost impossible for you not to but your baby feels your emotions too. » He said softly as not to enrage the Queen.
« Is there anything else that can be done for the King ? » She asked.
« No, your Grace. Sadly there is not any miraculous medicine for this. » He answered honestly.
« Well, then you may leave us. And be ware for your own safety not to breathe a word about this. » Threatened Catherine with a cold and warning tone.
« Of course. » Bowed the doctor before reaching for the doors.
But before he could get out, Catherine called to him : « What is your name ? »
« Paul Vernay, my Queen. »
« Well, Paul Vernay... see to it that the King gets one of these herbal mix of yours. »
« Yes, your Majesty. » He answered before leaving the royal couple.
Now that they were once again alone, the Queen went to her husband instantly.
She got up on the other side of the bed and wrapped him in her arms. He snuggled closer, burying his nose in her neck.
«Stay with me, Henry. » She pleaded softly while grabbing a soft cloth from her bedside table and once again dabbing his face with it.
« I will. » He tried to speak but only ended up coughing. I sincerely hope I will... he thought.
The entire night went like that, the herbal mix was nearly without effect on the King. He spent all night shivering and coughing in his wife's arms.
Catherine who by morning, hadn't slept a wink knew something was wrong. She had been with him constantly but she was not sick and that was odd... because of the two of them she should have caught this illness first especially since Henry didn't ever catch anything.
The Queen decided to call back the doctor to speak to him further about this.
/-/-/-/-/
After hearing Catherine's explanation, the physician answered : « I agree, something is wrong. » Suddenly, a thought came to Catherine's mind. How could she not have thought of this earlier ?
« Could it be poison ? » she asked.
« I don't really know... I have never seen a poison with effects such as these » He pointed towards the King.
« Me neither... » said back the Queen, her gaze travelling to where her poor husband rested.
« Sadly, I am not a specialist of poisons but my brother, Bernard Vernay is apothecary in the village. Maybe he could help us ? » Offered the doctor.
« I believe it's our only hope as the King's state does not improve with your medicines. » agreed Catherine.
« I'll go and ask him if he can come to examine the King. »
« Do that. And quickly. » said the Queen, if there was any chance of easing Henry's pain, she would not lose a second.
« Yes, your Majesty. » and with that, he was off.
Catherine once again returned to her husband who had only found sleep an hour ago. She gently traced the contours of his face with feathery touch, he seemed so tired… and it was hurting her to see her always healthy husband like this… Fate must really have something against them, she thought. How was it possible that nothing of the sort happened during two decades and when they finally got back together, something was always coming between the two of them. Really, it was unfair she thought… it seemed as though destiny was testing their love… but now she knew her marriage would win, now she was certain their love was stronger than anything… during these past months she discovered that she could love her husband more than she already did and frankly, she didn't think it possible.
At this moment, Henry moved in his sleep, as if he was waking up : "Catherine" he whispered tiredly.
"Shhh, darling, I'm here." She answered with an equal soft voice.
"I'm sorry…" He said.
Catherine was stunned to hear these words pass his lips. Why would he be sorry ? "For what ?"
« I'm sorry to be like this... this *coughs* this isn't what I planned… » He struggled to say.
The Queen put her hand on his chest and rubbed soothing circles : « Henry you don't have to be sorry...none of this is your fault, my love. »
He tried to smile at her and she answered with a bright but teary smile. « Henry, promise me you'll stay with me, with us » she said while placing his hand against her belly.
Henry felt the distinct kicks and rolls of his baby and a smile once again formed on his tired face : « I'll do my best, darling. But if I don't survive... » he was never able to finish his sentence because he was cut off by his wife.
« Henry, I beg of you, don't leave me. What am I going to do alone ? » She pleaded with tears in her eyes... she couldn't lose him.
« Catherine, I need you to think like a ruler now...if... » once again she cut him.
« No Henry. There is no ruler or Queen right now, only me, your wife. I can't lose you, not now, not ever. You are my life, Henry, the love of my life, the only one that matters, the heart that beats in my chest and the father of the child I carry. This baby needs a father, and I need my husband. » Now, she was crying, a river of tears were flowing down her flushed cheeks.
With the little strength he had, the King wiped away his wife's tears. « Darling, I'm here. I'll do everything I can to stay with you. » He tried to reassure her as much as he could.
She kissed him, laying her soft lips against his dry ones. « I love you » they said at the same time when their lips parted.
They both smiled at the other's words.
For the next few hours, the royal couple tried to sleep.
AN : Next chapter soon ! Take care of yourself and of your family :)
And if you want, let me know what you think ;)
Love u.
Laura.D