The Shadows of the Past

A.N.: I sadly don't own any of the characters, netheir do I make proffit out of this.

Chapter 5

Slowly, because of the pain in her chest, Catherin started dressing herself. It was already bad enough that she was caried there almost unconscious, with everyone watching, but to spend the night in there... How she would love to get her hands on who did this!

But who was this person? Her first thought was Diane. With the Queen gonne, she would have the chance to confort Henry and actually became Queen. But they had only agreed in trying again in that afternoon, so there was no way she had time toplan everything. Besides, she wouldn't have donne in front of everyone, but something more like an accident.

Kenna would never do it. If she did, it would by Diane's influence. In that way, Kenna would be guilty, and Diane would get what she wanted.

Penelope could have donne it. She wouldn't be urprised if she had. But Catherine knew the poison. The most important ingredient were the eggs of a chinese lizard. No way Penelope could get her hands on those.

But if it hadn't been this three, than who had? Whoever it was, would try again for sure. And next time, the Queen wouldn't be so easilly fooled.

Ready for the day, the Queen left Nostradamus "enfermery". She felt slightly light heade. If it was from the pain killers or Henry's behaviour she wasn't sure. He had been so sweet with her. This Henry was her Henry. The Dauphin that would take her out on walks in the midle of the night in a snowy Winter night. The one that would stay with her in bed until midday, even thought he was a morning person. The one she could share all her secrets with.

A wave of determination hits her like a bolt. In seconds, she has her signature smirk on her face and is walking down the coridor like she owns the place. Wich in fact, she does.

She would not loose Henry this time. If she had to be foolish and trust, than be it. But none of that whores would ever again catch Henry's eye. He would be hers and only hers. She had to put up some walls in her heart for protection, but if she had to breack them down, she would. If she had to tell all the truth, than she will. But for now, breackfast.

It was a beautifull day outside. Her boys would be certainly playing in the gardens. She remembered Henry telling her something about Charles and Henry being woried, but she wasn't sure. It could have been the her hight temperature. But it wouldn't harm anyone if she was to have breackfast with them, right?

It was warm outside. She walked for a while, trying to find her children. Along the way, she met Charlotte, and asked her to bring her something light for her to eat.

She found her boys training with swords under some trees. She went and sat in a bench near them. Her kids were so entertained that they didn't saw at first. But when Charles lost balance and fell, Henry looked at Catherine, who had been hide from him by his brother taller figure.

"MAMA!" he throutgh his wooden sword away and run to her. Charles stood up fast and run to her too.

They met her with a hug and many, many kisses.

"Are you alright, mama?" litle Henry's eyes were shining with tears.

"Don't worry, darly. Nothing hapenned." she kissed his forhead.

"Are you sure. Father stayed with you all night!"

"I know, sweetheart." she pated Charles hair. "But I'm here now, ok? Sometimes people get sick."

Henry soon forgot about the all deal, but it took more time for Charles to be convinced that his mother was trully fine. He was still scared that she would disapear like that last time. But she had came back to save them. That was the only thing that kept him from asking what had hapenned.

Catherine ate her breackfast with them. Some fruit with toasts. The kids had eaten already, but that didn't stop them from eating big part of the toasts. Of course, being Catherine an excelent mother, she couldn't let them eat that much, otherwise they wouldn't nothing at lunch.

It was near midday when the Queen left. She had agreed with Henry to spend the with the other Ladies in their restroom. It was going to be tedious. That's why she asked Charlotte to go fetch her the knew book that arrived right from Italy last week. She hadn't had the time to start it yet, but if she was forced to sped time with those foolish chickens, than she would need a distraction.

Her day was going rather well at that point. There hadn't been any unpleasant encounters, or nobles bothering her with stupid problems. Sadly, that was about to change.

She was heading to the west part of the castle, when a door openned and from there came Bash. They looked eachother in the eye for several seconds, before the boy gave her a nod. It should be a bow, but he had never been respectful towards her, something his mother had teatch him from early.

"Goodmorning Catherine." he sent her a look of hate.

"Bash." her face was like stone. He would never figure what she was thinking. "You should adress me by Your Majesty."

"I'm sorry. It's dificult to go back to call you Your Majesty after what hapenned in the Tower." he smirked at her. She knew perfectly what he meant.

"Oh, but believe me, it's not hard to go back to treat as a bastard. Tell, how does it feel to have everything and then loose it?" a smirk started forming on her face.

"You tell me. You lost your parents, your home and..." he smirked.

She stared at him for a long minut. And then she laugth in his face. He openned and closed his mouth severel times, like a goldfish.

"Isn't it cute?" she walked past him, and looked over her shoulder. "You know nothing, Sebastian."

Oh, how good it felt to mock people. And that bastard would have what he deserved. No one, no one messed with Catherine de'Medici and walk away.

She entered the restroom flancked by her own Ladys. She sat on one of the many couches and relaxed.

They updated her about what had hapenned after she fainted.

"There is not much to tell. The King stayed all night by your side. He was supposed to spend it with Kenna, so she was quite upset. But asides from that, everything was as normally is."

"And my family?" the reaction of de Medici was the one that concerned her the most. She was hoping to show them that she was still a strong influence in France, and respected, even after her time imprisioned. To be seen fainting and covered in blood was not helpful.

"They've walking around in the gardens for a while. After the party they went to their respective rooms and stayed there. However, Hortencia was heard talking about you to your uncle. The maid who heard them said that they weren't surprised by what hapenned. Like they were already expecting it to happen."

"Thank you, Louise." could her family be behind all of that? Had they really tried to kill her? It was a possibility. She had embaressed them after all. Or was all of this a test?

"Your Majesti, one more thing." Louise gotcloser to the Queen and whispered. "Be carefull with the King's comcubines. Right after you left, Diane told Kenna and Penelope not to worry."

The Queen only noded. If Diane had said so, than she must have a trick. She had already been poisened, so there would be to risky to do the same. Or maybe it isn't! If everything is expecting it to happen, than they will get to a point and say that it is to obvious! And if it is obvious, than it is very clever to do it, because no one will think about it!

"No one will think about what, Catherine?" SHIT! She hadn't notted she was speaking out loud! She really had to work on that.

The question came from the other side of the room, in a mocking voice. The de Medici woman lifted her eyes to stare at the idiot who dared adress her by her name. Surprise, surprise, it was Penelope. And with a smuged look on her face, that Bitch!

This were the moments Catherine was happy to had grown up in her family. With her cousins, a smart and quick reply was everything!

" Just saying that if something obvious is there for everyone to see, than no one will see it. It's like hiding in sight. For example, your head is enormous, but thanks to the big jewels on the crown and to your covered neck, no one sees it at first. But if you take out the crown, there will be no jewels to comper them with, and I your neck is uncovered, everyone will see how desproportionate you are. But I'm not expecting you too understand this. Althougth your head is big, what's inside it is quite small. The size of a petit-pois*." now the Queen had a smug smile, and Penelope a stupid expretion. You can dress like a Queen and use a crown, but you're nothing more tha a whore! At least Diane understands when I'm insukting her.

"You think your funny, ãh?! You think you'r smarter than me!? We-"

"Of course I'm smarter than you! That's obvious! The real question is: are you smart enough for me?" the Queen's behaviour was changing quickly. She went from relaxed to mocking to threatening.

"What do you mean with that?! Are you threatenning?!" Penelope's big head was red like a tomato.

"Obviously! How stupid are you!?" Penelope was standing up, but Catherine didn't move herself one inch.

"You think you're so much better than everyone, but you're not! You're less! You are not worthy of being a Queen! Do you think no one knows what hapenned to you in Florence!? The rumors are true! It's so obvious!"

No one dared to talk. All the women were staring at the Queen or at Penelope. Mary, her Ladies (principally Kenna), Olivia, the Queen own Ladies... Penelope's breath was fast and dificult, like she had just now cought up with her words. However, the Queen didn't said anything.

Slowly, her face started changing. She held her head low, so no one could see her completely, but it was obious she was smiling. No, not smiling. Smirking. But not her usual I'm-better-than-everybody-so-move-out-of-the-way-if-you-don't-want-to-get-hurt smirk. It was wicked one. The kind of smirk that one expects from a serial-killer.

And then, when no one expected, she started laugthing. First quietly, like a she was trying to contain it. But then it grew louder nadlouder, and soon it was ecooing in the room, making it even louder.

"You are soooo cute!" the Queen stood up and walked up to her. "It' just like I said. To hide in sight. Just remember that you brought this on yourself." she stoped. Their noses were almost toutching. "I feel sorry for you."

Penelope was trembeling. But she wouldn't loose a fight to this woman! No! She was the Queen now!

"You sn- Autch!"

"More respect to your superiors, you kitchen whore! Is this the book you were talking about Catherine?"

Chalotte had just walked in and hit Penelope in the head. As an oposite to what many might think, the relationship between the Queen and her Ladies, principally Charlotte was one of friendship. Very similar to the one Mary had with her own Ladies.

Penelope was getting ready to slap Charlotte when they heard the door openning. Again.

The scene the King found was at least weird. In the midle of the room was his wife, her hand stretched, has if waiting to be given something. One of her Ladies was facing her, her back turned to the door. Behind them was Penelope, hand raised in air. The rest was staring at them.

Guessing on what was hapenning, he walked in the room, right up to his wife. Penelope walked up to him too, but he pushed her away. He kissed her forehead, and grabing her hand, walked with her out of the room.

Two people had been paying extreme attention to that. One, was Mary, who hadn't the chance to talk with Catherine yet. The other was Kenna, who couldn't wai to tell what hapenned to Diane.

*petit-pois means pea in french )I'm not sure if it I well righten.

A.N.: I'm sorry for being late! I know I should have updated three days ago, but it's so hard tomake everything make sense it this story! Anyway, I'm starting a Harry Potter story about Hermione being the daughter of Rodolphus and Bellatrix. Check if you want! And don't forget to check my other stories. There are one about the Trix (one of my favorites! I don't think you will regret reading it!), Hunger Games, between Haymitch and Effie, Alice in WonderWordl, about the Red Queen.

Also, a big thanks to Davina Swan Mills, Junia Grey, Katherine Marceline Queen, LilianHathaway22, MediciQueen,QueenMedici, Reigncatherine, SarahBarbier5, Yougurtime, Youngdiva2, angelrrose, atwater83, .oncer12, hopescrescent and karebear21, who are following thing story, again to Davina Swan Mills, to Catherine Marcelline Queen, LilianHathaway22, Youngdiva21, iineedlove and karebear21, who have favorited this story.

A special thanks to Reigncatherine, the very first person to give me a review and and advice and to .oncer12, who encouraged me to keep writing this story.