The Shadows of the Past
A.N.: I sadly own any of the characters, netheir do I make proffit out of this.
Chapter 9
"Your Majesty, is time to wake up."
Just a nightmare... Catherine openned her eyes to the morning light and Charlotte preparing her bath. These nightmares had been increasing since the atack on the Castle, at it was allways about the same thing. About that night, the night her familly was betraied and...
She stood up from bed and went to see her list of things to do that day. First take care of court issues with Henry, have lunch with her uncle and familly and have afternoon tea with Mary (wich meant talk about the assassin). Assides from lunch it could be worst, she supposed.
The warm water did wonders to her tired muscles. She let her maids take care of her hair while she looked out the window, thinking about the events of the past few days.
Since the beginning of the week that Henry had started to behave like a real gentleman. It was sweet from him, and hilarious to see how embaressed he seemed to be some times. The strangest thing was that no one had donne nothing since Penelope said those things. By now Diane should have already made a plan, put it into action, fail to achieve her goal but get what she wanted anyway... The Queen would have to be extra carefull. Besides that there was the problem of the murderers. Yes, because she was convinced there was more than one.
She had asked her Ladies for a list of the possible culprites. Anyone who had something against her, her familly, Mary or the Crown, anyone who would benefit with the her death. The problem was that there wasn't that much people, or at least tha much that didn't have an alibi, and none of them seemed to be the culprit. Maybe she shouldn't aim for the master, but first for the pawns? But that would alert him that she knew what was going on... They probably already knew anyway, so why not? There was at least one killer in the Castle, now they only had to catch him. All that without telling Henry. But if she didn't he would get mad and they would start fighting again... But if she did it might be harder to do catch him... She was already doubting that she should have told Mary.
"Catherine, what's wrong? You've just woken up and are already tense." At least I can trust my Ladies. The de'Medici woman stood up and accetped her maids help to dry herself.
"Have any of you seen or heard anything abou 'the matter'?"
"We know Diane is planning something and that she will take advantaje of either Kenna or Penelope." Laura, a blond woman with green eyes said as she brushed her Queens hair.
"And you're familly doesn't seem to be envolved. It seems they are pleased with the way you act. And your uncle seemed genuanilly surprised when you were poisoned."
"I'm going to have lunch with him, so there is still a chance of discovering something."
"I heard your cousin Hortencia will be staying." Catherine turned around shocked with this revelation. Why would she stay? She hated the fact that Henry had chosen her to marry, and she would want leave now more than ever since he had been acting like a proper husband.
"Why would she do that?"
"I heard it has to do ith her lover."
"Her lover?" Catherine knew Hortencia had one. It was kind of normal in Itally to take a lover after the husband died.
"Yes. His name is Horningold and it seems he has something to sell. He has been trying to aproach you and Henry for some time. It's very likely that he will try to talk to one of you today during Court. He has also been seen with some low birth woman and man. He seemed to be making and offer, maybe selling something?"
"Could it be something forbiden? Or something that would make it obvious who is the culprit?"
"He will be in court today, so you can take a look."
"Oh, and one more thing." Catherine turned to them, now fully dressed. "I need you to keep an eye on my son and husband. Henry will likely try to discover who the assassin is, and we can't have him messing with our investigation."
"What about Mary?"
"Don't tell her anything unless I have told you it is fine to do so."
The Queen, followed by Charlotte headed to the Throne Room. Horningold... I've never heard the name before and it seems something british, not Italian. From what I know the two countries aren't in good terms, so he must be half british... and I haven't seen him yet. It's not easy to evade a person for an all week if he is trying to aproace you. Something is wrong with this man.
Catherine found her husband passing from one side to another in front of the door. He seemed nervous, but not the kind of nervous he had been around her, it was the bad kind of nervous. Had something terrible hapenned?
"Catherine! Oh, thank god you're here!" The king rushed to her and held her hands. They weren't used to public afection, so they kept to the basic.
"What's wrong? Henry, for god's sake, make a proper sentence." Henry had started to talk and she couldn't catch a word.
"Your cousin Hortencia disapeared. There is no sign of her and your uncle demands an investigation."
"Alright, alright. He is supposed to leave tomorrow and he won't let a familly matter stop his jorney. If we got away with the countess, than this should be no trouble."
"How are you?" Henry wanted to hug her, but wasn't sure how she would react.
"I've been worst."
"That's not what I asked."
Catherine looked up at her husband and gave him a peck on the lips. Hortencia wasn't someone she would miss, at least not like she missed her pa- other people. And it seemed she had finally fully recovered from the poison.
Henry knew when not to push her, so he offered his arm instead. She took it without hesitation. Was she giving up a litle too easily? Yes, she was. Did she regreated it? Not at all.
The rulers of France strode together confidently to their respective thrones. Before he sat, Henry kissed Catherine's fingers. She however, asides from being enjoying her husbands kindnesse, was searching for someone.
She isn't here again... From what I'm told, she just keeps acting like Queen, but doesn't come to Court, doesn't try to defy me... I can't have scared her that badly. I don't like this. Penelope's abcense brings me a bad feeling.
"Very well. Let us beggin." Henry had finally started adressing the issues.
The reunion went on and on and on and Catherine was starting to dread more and more the lunch. When she spoke to Henry she had forgoten completely about that. At least things were going smoothly. The problems were easy to solve, Henry actually cared about her opinion... But she hadn't seen the so famous Horningold yet! Damn the man for evading her so easily!
"Duke Horningold." Well, this was quick.
A man dressed in blue walked forward. His light brown hair was held in a ponytail like the british style and he had a huge scar on his face.
"Your Majesties, I'm so pleased to finally be able to meet you." Henry could see Catherine was interestd in this man, so the longer she could study him, the best. Wich meant the best he could do was to hold him there.
"Tell me, Duke, what brings you to the French Court?"
"I have something. Something of great value that I'm sure is fitting for a Queen." only now Catherine notted the box he was holding.
She had to supresse a gasp when she saw it. It wasn't just a wooden box. It was a wooden box with the shield of armor of her familly. But not the de'Medici familly. It was the shield of armor from her familly speacifically, the one that lived in Florence. Wich wasn't normal because they were dead! And how the fuck had he got that box!? And what was inside it!?
"My Queen, I present you..." He bowed and openned the box. "the pearl of Florensa. I heard it is where you come from, so I thought it would be the perfect gift."
Catherine stared at the contents in the box. There was a silver ring inside with one single green pearl. It was magnificent. But it also was to ring of her father, the one he had died with. She had seen it! She saw it on his finger when they...
Henry seemed to have realized something was wrong because he placed his hand on top of his Queen's.
"It is indeed a beautifull ring. But tell me, how did you come across such rarety?"
"I was travelling through the countryside when I saw a body floating in the river. Of course I couldn't just keep going. So I stoped and found this in the hand of the body. I thought it would be a great present for my Hortencia, but now..." he supressed a cry. "Pardon me. I believe it is best for the Queen to have it."
"I agree." Catherine stood up. The story she heard made no sense. Her father died with the ring on his hand. But the house had been burn, and both he and her mother died inside, so there was no way he could have found it in a dead body. "It is certainly beautifull."
"Then you shall have it, my Queen. How much would you like for it?"
"I don't need any money. But I fear for my dear Hortencia. I have seen the King allways has a cross around his nech. That is all I wish, my King."
The cross... Why does he want the cross... If the ring is so valuable, and it is, why would he want to enchange it for an old cross? And this all story... He must be really desesperated to have it, to create a story with so many inconsistencies... But if the cross is so important, he can't have it. Not until I know what he wants it for... Because there is no way he wants it just to pray. He probably was the one who killed Hortencia.
Henry looked at Catherine unsure. She had given him the cross, and it meant a lot to her, but it was obvious the ring did too. Should he just accept the offer? In another prespective, that man, Horningold, didn't seem trustworthy.
"My Queen?" the best was just to let her decide. In these cases, Catherine knew exacly how to handle the situation.
"The cross you see on my husbands neck is a gift from me. I would rather he if he kept it." Catherine walked over to the man after changing a look with Henry. She picked up the ring and looked closely to it. "On the other hand, this ring is already mine."
It was obvious Horningold had not been expecting that. He stared at Catherine, mouth wide open, as she walked back to her throne, the ring in her finger.
"Your Majesty, with all due respect, but that ring belongs to me. I found it so I a-"
"Exacly. You found it. So nothing gives you the rights to sell it." she caressed the pearl in silence. "I don't know if you are aware, but this ring belongs to my familly. My father to be more precise." there were gasps everywhere in the crowd, and even Henry seemed to be in shock. "So if what you say is true, the body you found was my father's body. Wich means, this ring belongs to me."
The Queen had trapped Horningold in his own lies, and he knew it. If he admited to lie to the rulers of France, he would be killed. After all, he had been talking about the Queen's parents. But if he kept going on with his lies, he wouldn't get the cross. It doesn't matter. Master will understand. I still have one more chance.
"I apologiese, my Queen. I was not aware of that. So please, do keep the ring." he bowed to the King and the Queen. "A good day, and in the name of the Strozzi familly, thank you for receiving us."
Henry saw the way Catherine's jaw clenched, and imeadiatly knew something was terribly wrong. He was amazed by how his wife had been able to get what she wanted without any problem, but he was also concerned about what it meant. If it really was her father's ring, then how did the man had it? And why did he wanted to get ride of it? Why now? And who had poisoned his beautifull italian wife? Was she still in danger or had it been a one-time-murder? What could he do to protect her? Was he even able of protecting her? He would certainly try. Henry didn't let go of Catherine's hand the all reunion. And she liked that.
After that, Catherine couldn't concetrate anymore in the problems of the Court. Now she knew how he had gotten his hands on the ring. The Strozzi familly had been one of the famillies that took part in her parents death and what hapenned to her! As if the nightmares weren't already bad enough, now she also had to deal with this during the day.
In all her years as Queen, she had never been this confused. Was it all related to the cross, or with her? Did it have anything to do with her familly name or with that night in Florense? Was her familly in danger? Maybe a conversation with her uncle would help clarifying some things...
To be continued...
A.N.: Hello people! Here I am, back again! And Merry Christmas! I don't know what about you, but my familly celebrates Christmas today, so whatever! Anyway, I hope you liked it! It's Cristmas holdiays so I gotta take some adavntaje of all the free time I have. Don't forget to review! I really like to know what you are thinking and it helps to improve the plot! By the way, the name 'Strozzi' is not related to the de' Medici familly in relaty. Or maybe it is. To be honest, I only googled 'name of important italian famillies', so whatever. Adeus.
