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 7
Henry was walking down the corridor with his children. Charles and litle Henry were playing catch (he knew he shouldn't let them run inside the Castle, but one time weren't times), Francis was walking a few steps ahead with baby Hercules on in his arms, while Margaret looked at her father suspiciously.
The King had never been a big influence in his kids lifes. He regreated it now. Before, he was just to focus on other things, like England or... Diane. The woman he had abandoned his family for. He sent Claude to England because she had sugested it. She had played a major role in wedding Elizabeth to the Spanish King. Lucky him, Catherine hadn't oposed to any of the ideas. Or realised they weren't his.
However, now that he thought about it, there was something odd about this story. Asides from the poisoning of the Queen and how he couldn't stop himself from staring at her breasts last night. Honestly, what kind of husband thinks about boobs when his wife was just poisoned!? Maybe Catherine is right and I need some mental help... But the oddest thing was that neither Diane, neither Penelope, neither Kenna had came to him. Not that he wanted! He intended on keeping his promess of being a loyal husband and fix his marriege. The last thing he wanted was for his precious Caterina to go back to Italy. Still, Henry knew something was wrong.
And then, there were the headaches. They were painfull and clouded his jusdgement. The King wasn't sure when they had started, but thankfully his mind had stayed clear a the biggest part of the morning. Only when he helped Catherine to dress did his thoughts wandered out of reallity. Stop it! Really, one night without company and I'm already day dreaming about my naked wife. With those beautifull eyes, allways so shining, her smooth ginger hair, her freckles, covering her checks, her nose, her shoulders, her neck, her bo- NO! Catherine needs her husband right now, and I can't stop thinking about her naked! I'm not a teenager anymore! I'm the King of France and I can, and will control myself. I hope...
"Father?" Margaret's voice pulled him out of his thoughts (thankfully). She was tugging at his ear, trying to get his attention.
"Yes, my litle princesse?" Henry answered her in a sweet voice with a sweet smile, like he used to do with Elizabeth.
"Where are those Ladies going?" Margaret was poiting her litle hand towards a rather large group of women.
Some of them bowed slithly when they passed him. He recognised a some, while the others he felt like he had never seen them. Probably because they were all talking in italien. What alerted him to the shrieking woman with black hair that had her hands covering her nose.
It seemed his wife's cousin was heading for the infermery. Probably his wife doing. He could still remember when he first saw his Catherine's temper. It had been all Hortensia's fault. And the funniest thing was that he was supposed to marry the dark haired woman, and thanks to her, he fell in love with Caterina. The ginger italien beauty with fiery temper.
"I don't know sweatheart. You're going to have to ask momy."
Soon, the all family entered the Dinning Room, and Henry had to smile. Even if Catherine looked heartless has stone on the outside, she was just like pudin inside. In more than one way. Henry stop it! Bad Henry! It seemed the Queen had decided to forgive Mary. It was just like she said so many times: forgive, don't forget. He knew that whenever his wife thought about it she would feel anger rise in her, but there was nothing he could do. He was quite happy that Catherine hadn't tried to claw Mary's eyes out. Henry was very proud of his wife for that.
"Hello again, my darling wife." Henry helped his Catherine sitting the children and gave her a peck on the lips, much to his delight.
"You had no problems, I presume? I know the litle ones can be quite a handfull." Catherine tried to place a napkin around Hercule's neck, but the baby was constantly tugging at it.
"I can see that." he gently helped his wife. "But to answer your question, no. Everything went quite smoothly. Well, at least I got Francis to help me."
After making sure all the kids were in their repective places, the Royal Couple finally sat. Henry pulled the chair for his Queen, wich she gracefully took. Catherine couldn't deny: she was enjoying this. And to think that it had only been two days! Well, one and a half. And so many things had already hapenned. They had kissed in front of all the French Court and her familly, she had been poisoned, Henry had murmured sweet nothings when he thought she was a sleep, she had met once again with Bash, there had been a fight with Penelope and Hortencia had gotten herself a brocken nose. It really was being a one of those days.
But Catherine couldn't say that she wasn't enjoying it. If only she got closer to discover anything regarding her investigation... Not feeling safe in her own home wasn't something she was found of.
"May I know what troubles your mind, my italian beauty?" the servants were starting to bring in the food.
"Only wondering where Kenna is... I think I saw her leaving to the infermery, but I can't be sure." the less people knew about her investigation, the better.
"Catherine..." he had promessed her he could wait, but not knowing was killing him! He needed to know so he could help her! "I know something is wrong. I know you told me to wait but I can't stand here and watch you closed yourself up after everything that hapenned. Whatever it is, I won't judge, I promisse." the King placed a hand on his Queen's and rubbed it, trying to confort her.
Catherine let out a breath. She knew she would have to tell him. She wanted to. And if she did, she surelly would feel better.
"Not here. After lunch, come and meet me in my room. An-"
"Mama, why were all those women going to the inferemery?" not aware of the conversation between his parents, Charles had started playing with his food around the plate.
"First than anything Charles, eat your brocolis. Second, my dearest cousin Hortencia wasn't feeling very well, so we thought Nostradamus might be able of helping her."
Mary hide a smile behind her napkin. She knew what had really hapenned, and looking back at it, it had been quite funny. Very funny in fact!
"Something you would like to share, ma cherie?" Francis leaned in her shoulder and whispered.
"I must admit that your mother really as quite the temper." Francis caressed her cheek and kissed her nose, making her blush slightly.
"Francis, you know the rules. No displaying of afention at the table." Henry winked playfully at his eldest son.
The blond young man only raised an eyebrow and looked at his father hand, that still rested on his mothers.
"What? I can, I am King!" the litle ones gigled, and for the first time in very long, Henry was happy.
The rest of the lunch went quite well. Charles and litle Henry decided they would spend their afternoon sparing, but only after their studies, as Catherine remarked. Mary promissed Magaret she would help her pick a knew dress while Francis was in his study and baby Hercule took a nap.
Catherine wondered of to her bedroom to mentally prepare herself for the up coming conversaion. She did not want Henry to judge her, but she wanted to trust him. And what would happen if he sided with Bash?
At the same time, Henry had decided to go and retrive some papers from his own room. After all, he still had a meeting before the surprise he was planing for his wife. Oh, his Catherine... How could he have been so blind for all those years? And to think that it had taken so litle to make him realise how much in love with her he still was... But maybe, that was it. It was all about the small things. How she allways tried not to role her eyes at the other Ladies, how he would catch her staring at him, but only for a second, how she allways seemed to smell of lavander and roses... How she was the only one who could match his wits, how she always came up with an answer to his remarks...
He opened the door of her bedroom slowly. She was satting at the window, like so many times before. It used to be normal for them. He would have a long day, but no matter what, he would allways find his Catherine sat at the window waiting for him in the end. Until one day, when she wasn't there anymore. Is this some kind of sign from God saying that we are heading in the right direction? I really hope it is!
"Hello." he said softly.
"Hello." they sat quietly for some time. Henry envelopted his wife in a bear hug, trying to calm her down. Whatever it was, it was really bothering his Catherine.
"Henry, you have to promiss not to tell anyone about this." he noded. "Alright. It hapenned while you were away, and I was in the tower..."
Flashback...
"Goodmorning Catherine."
The door to her 'cell' opened and the new heir of the house Valois entered. He had a frown on his face, even if Catherine could see in his eyes that he was smirking.
Her back hurt. Her wrists were raw and she was hungry. Yesterday night she had tried to run away, but she had a change of heart and decided to save Mary's skin and look where it got her!
"Bash." her mouth was dry and her voice was hoarse for lack of using. "I'm still you're Queen." how she wished she could stand, but the chains were too short.
"No, you are not. I'm the heir to the Throne, and you have tried to kill the Queen of Scotland. You will receive the punishement you deserve for everything you've donne." Catherine nuckles were wight from holding the sheets. She was down right furious!
"What is it that you want, Bash? You didn't came all the way here only to have a nice litle chat, did you?"
"No, I didn't. I'm here to trade with you." That was something she had not been expecting. "I know you don't want to die, and right now, that is what is most likely to happen. However, I found asolution for that... problem."
"And what would that be?" it was true, she did not want to die, principally because of her children.
"Since you have not actually killed anyone that can be proved- " Catherine scoffed at the last part of the sentence" - there might be an alternative. Instead of being beheaded, you would be wiped and then force to leave the Castle, striped of your title of Queen and others."
Catherine, stared blanckly at him. Was he serious!? Did he actually thoght she would comply to those things?! Never in a million years! Not even if Jesus came back to Earth and told her to! Being wiped publicly and forced to live in the streets? That had surelly something to do with Diane. And she would get her payback! Caterina de'Medeci was not someone one could play around with! She would get her revenge, and she would make it painfull!
"Listen here, boy." a flash of anger crossed his eyes at being called boy. Good! The most I hurt them, the better! "I AM NOT DOING ANY OF THAT! I don't know who you think you are, but I promisse that you will regret how disrespectful you're being! I know you think you will be soon ride of me, but you forget that only will happen if Mary marries you. And believe me, that is not hapenning, so don't get very hopefull."
"Funny to hear that. I suppose I will see you at your trial. Until there, you might want to think about my offer again. Because, you know, if you're going o die anyway, I don't see any reason to wast food with you." he turned around to leave. However, before he closed the door, he looked over his shoulder. "And it's funny you think that Mary won't marry me. I mean, after all, the King of France did marry a woman who had slept by an all army. What is that compared to the Queen of Scotland marreing a bastard?"
End of Flashback...
Henry didn't want to believe it. He really didn't want to. However, the look in his wife's eyes told him she was not lieing.
Fury gain control over him. How could have Bash donne that?! Threatning his wife, the Queen of France! Chain her to a wall like an animal and starve her!? Of course things between them were worst than ever!
And the last thing he said... Henry knew about the rumours. Henry knew they were true. In their early and happier years Catherine had told him about it after she had a nightmare. And he never told anyone, thank gods! The King of France knew his wife had suffered a lot in her childhood, and he would not let his bastard son use that against her.
But again, Catherine wanted her revenges. And to be honest, who was he to take that away from her? So he did the only thing he could think of. He grabed his Queen under her arms and placed her on his lap, one hand petting her hair, the other rubbing her arm, his head resting against hers.
"I'm sorry Catherine. If I had known I would've never let Bash do that to you.
"I know." Catherine was staring blanckly at her hands. Slowly, she closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. "Don't leave."
"I won't." one single tear found it's way down the Queen of France's face.
To be continued...
A.N.: Hey everone! Sorry about the extremely late update, but I have a lot of tests right now, and it has not been easy to find time to write. Anyway, I can't believe we've finally reach chapter seven! Next chapter: Henry's surprise to Catherine. Anyway, I hope you like it, and please review! See you next time, and don't forget to check my other fanfictions! Adeus!
