The Shadows of the Past
A.N.: In this story, Hortensa didn't died, because I like drama and I think it would be interesting to explore the realtionship between the de'Medeci cousins.
Chapter 2
"Bring me my crown." The King's voice broke the silence of the early morning.
Today would be very important. Both King and Queen had to be at their best. The Pope would be arriving any time soon. Of course that being married to his niece helped the growing relationship between France and the church, but still... This was the first visit of the Pope in about... almost twenty years! This had to work...
Looking at himself in the mirror, Henry couldn't stop woundering about how his wife would present herself. He hadn't stop thinking about her since that day, a few weeks ago... Se had been so beautifull...her hair free, looking just like the itallien girl with a sharp tounge he had met so long ago... They had changed so much, but still, it was like nothing had changed... In the early years of their mariege, he would b the first one getting out of their bed to get dressed and ready for the day, and just when he was already done Catherine would get out of bed, walk to him and stretch herself so that she could kiss his cheek. He was still the firs tone out of bed in this days, but there was no one there to bid him goodmorning.
"Henry, dear, what is this?" Penelope's voice interupted his thoughts. On her hand, was a little cross, made of marfin...
"It's... a present. From my wife..."He could remember perfectly the day she had given him that. That's why it was so dificult to speak.
"Oh, than is better to put this in the trash. We don't need to be reminded of that cow, now do we?" She headed to the bin but Henry snatched the little necklace from her, his face red with anger.
"Don't you there to touch this ever again, understood?! This was a present from my wife, something very prechious to her, and she gave me it right before I went to war. Even thought I had taken Diane back to Court, she showed me that she cared about my well being, that she loved me..." It was to dificult to think about it... About all the mistakes they had made, all the things they had donne to each other, how things could have been if they had talked to each other... I was going to kill her... My own wife, my Caterine... What have we donne...? The King looked to the cross and made a decision. He placed it around his neck where everyone could see it, especially an itallian Queen. Turning around, he started walking to the garden, where the celebrations would take place, leaving a stunned Penelope behind.
"Place the food on the tables under the trees, we don't want anything getting spoiled. And don't forget to bring more chairs, are you listenning?" Caterine was in as incredible hurry. Her uncle would be arriving soon, and nothing was ready. He would stay for a week, and the room wasn't even ready! Mary and her ladies hadn't been seen, little Henry had to change his cloths 'cause he decided it was a good idea to play in the stabulems, and even worst, Diane, Penelope and Kenna would be there, presented as Mistresses of her husband. She didn't even had a crown! And Hortença was coming too...
"Catherine, there's a carriage arriving at the gates, we should be going." It was easy for Mary. She wasn't the one about to be completely humiliated. Again
The carriage was huge, painted in yellow and red, her family colors. And of corse there was a litle purple flag representing the Pope. Soon, everyone was there. Henry placed himself next to her. His crown was shining on his head, his shin held high, just like a King. His hand behinde his back, his blue trousers making him taller... My goodness... He looks so handsome like that... Oh, don't be stupid! There's no time for that now, uncle Clement is just arriving!
The door openned, and an old men immediately steped out. White hair and a growing belly, is face was cold and austerous. She remembered the first time she had seen him. She was terified. Terefied he would discover the true about Florence and condene her. After all, Christianism condenned her actions...
In his own head, Henry was starting to feel regret. I really should have sent Kenna and Diane away... And Penelope back to the kitchens! Why doesn't she stop rubbing her arm on mine?! It's getting really creepy. He looked at Catherine, who had her best mask on place. He finaly realised how badly this could go. She had failed to her uncle, she had let him get mistresses... And Hortensa wouldn't loose a chance to hurt her. He sudendly had an idea! Placing a hand on his wife's back, he pulled her closer. She shivered at this. It pained him to know that they had grown so much apart that she enstranged his touched. He would have to fix that.
"Uncle, how wonderfull to se-"
"Didn't you brush your hair this morning? And who're this people? Don't tell me your husband took mistresses? Are you really that stupid? You're a shame for de de'Medeci name..."
"Yes, I did brush my hair. This people are my kids, Mary, Bash, and yes, Henry's mistresses. And for you're information, I'm no-"
"Catherine, how lovely to see you alive. I'm not surprised poor Henry tried to kill you, right Henry?" she batled her eyelishes seductivly at HER HUSBAND. Hortensa was such a bicht. But Catherine would get her revenge...
"I agree." Chaterine's eyes flew to him, and he notested the pain that just someone that had already seen her hurt would notte. "I still don't believe that I was stupid enough to even tink about doing such a thing to my Catherine. France wouldn't last a day without her, neither would I." this words shocked everyone. Had the King just admited to love the Queen? Everyone was so shocked, that if it wasn't for the Pope's demandings to be fead, no one would have moved for more than five minuts.
Together, they walked to the place where the "party" would take place. Catherine placed her head absently on his shoulder. It looked like his litle speech had worked. He smiled to himself, and invited her for a dance. They swinged on the grass, all eyes on them. Soon, other couples joined them. The Queen looked at Francis and Mary, dancing hapelly in each others arms. Smiling, kissing. She and Henry had been like them once. And his speech...
"Why?" her voice was low, and no one assides from him would hear it.
"Why what?" he decided that he would have try to figure out what was she thinking.
"Why did you said those things? I apreciat that you try to defend me, but I don't know what you want."
"I said it 'cause it's true, Caterina. I'm really sorry about that. I was mad... mad that another men touched you. I didn't realise right away that you've been feeling like that for years... I want to try again, to save our mariege." Catherine stayed quite for several minuts, while they twirled around the garden.
"Henry, we already tried. It didn't work. And you're always humiliating me. And I don't know if I can forgive for locking me in the tower. Besides tha-" She shuted up abruptadly. Catherine was staring at the Cross. "You... you kept it?"
"I did. I didn't knew why first, but I realised that it was my way of having a piece of you always with me. I found it this morning, at it brought me some memories... I really want to try. I don't want mistresses, I should have never taken one. I'll send them away, I promise. Just give me one more chance. Please!" his eyes were the ones of a pleding dog.
"You don't need to send them away Henry. Bash is here, and I wouldn't want to him to live away from his mother. But, I want to be able to get my revenge. I'm tired of people laughing at me, I didn't like the way Kenna talked to me while I was in the tower, even thought I saved them from being raped, and Penelope..." she looked at the girl. There she was, with her crown, sending glares to her. She waved her hand at her, with an extremely happy smile "Well, it surely will be fun teatching that kitchen whore a lesson."
"You're so wicked, darly. I missed this. I missed you." And with that, he kissed her. And that was the second time the world stoped and stared around them. The King and Queen of France showing affection to each othe?! Kissing!? No way!
Henry leaked his wife lower lip, asking for entrance, something she willingly gave. As soon as they toungs touched, she moaned in his mouth, making Henry grunt. Oh, if it depended on him, tonight they wouldn't be sleeping much. They batled for dominance, until a very embareced Francis pulled them apart.
They grabed each a drink from a passing servant, ignoring Kenna's red face, Penelope's face of disgust and Diane's sneer.
"You sure you don't want me to do anything about them, darly?" he was worried, after all, they didn't know howfarlong they would go to keep their places in court.
"Henry, I know what I'm doing. I'll just wait until they try to get you back, or in Penelope's case, until she makes a big show out of it." she took a sip of her whine.
"Where did you learned to make such mean plans?"
"They're not particulary mean, you know?"
"What you told me? No, it is not. What you're thinking about? Probably." he smirked at her, his signature smirk that always drive her crazy with desire.
"Oh, dear Lord Husband, you know me to well for you're ow- " Catherine didn't get to finish her sentence 'cause in a matter of seconds she was on the ground, shaking and coughing blood.
Everyone heard her initial scream, and when they looked at her , she was on Henry's arms, who was screaming curses.
"What are you waiting for, you idiots?! Go get the wizard!"
"But you don't trust him." Bash stated.
"But Caterina does, so I do! And if you're not helping get out of the way!" and with that, the King run to the castle, carrying his wife bride style.
"What just happened?" Mary was stuned. First the speech, than the kiss, now Catherine was dying...
"I don't know, but I don't like this." Kenna was staring at the litles spots at the distance.
"Of course you don't. The King is going to dumpe you:" Greer was always the nicest.
"Thank you very much! It doesn't make sense, he used to caller Medeci Bicht, Itallien Cow... All kind of insults, and now he's with her..."
"Oh Kenna, don't worry love. Henry's allways doing this. He goes back to his wife, gets her pregnant, and then dumps HER, not Us." Diane looked so sure of herself that it was dificult to disagree.
"So you're just going to sit and wait?" Penelope's was the most worried. After all, if she was dumped she would be back to the kitchens.
"Of course not. WE will seduce him. Prove him he doesn't need her. This is, if she survives, of course."
And with that, no more words were said, everyone waiting to know how this will end. Great changes were about to come.
A.N.: I'm so sorry it took me so long to update this! I had so many exames, and then I got sick... I'm really, really sorry. By the way, I just want to warn you that, even thought I'm not sure where this is going, it will envolve lots of fictions. I might try to explore some stuff that didn't really got resolved to me, mix it with maybe a game for PS4. See if you can give some help there. I'm divided between two, but I would like to here your thoughts. Or maybe you could try to guess wich one's I have in mind.
