Disclaimer: I neither own Reign, nor profit from this story.

Ch 31 - Inner Thoughts Laid Bare

Catherine was silent as she processed all of what had just transpired.

So the late nights then were…she was such a fool!

Beginning to cry now in earnest, Henry was not sure what to do next so he stood up and was about to hug her when she seemed to begin descending, unable to sustain her own weight in the vertical. Instead he picked her up and walked them both over to a bench nearby which the blacksmith had placed there for a more comfortable and convenient place to rest apart from the workshop.

He just sat there and held her for a while and waited for the tears to stop.

After a while Catherine mumbled something into his chest, though between the barrier of his body and the volume of her words he could not make them out.

"Could you repeat that my love," he asked gently, hoping that is was nothing like what she had come to believe earlier.

"I just love you so much Henry, and I'm sorry for all this." She said between sniffles.

Smiling and drawing her even closer he replied simply, "It is my pleasure my dear sweet wife," and placing a kiss on her head he finished, "And I love you too."

They had indeed been remarried not even a week later, and if the whole village wasn't there, Catherine didn't think she could pick out those that might be missing there were so many that came!

Brigitte had made her favorite meal and asked everyone else to bring a dish themselves. It was unconventional, but no one seemed to mind.

It turned out to be a mild temperatured sunny day with just a few clouds and not a drop of alcohol until after they had said their vows. There wasn't a single time in recalling that day that the memory didn't bring a smile to her face.

Her Henry.

It was during their first dance that she confirmed to him her suspicions that she was in fact carrying their first child.

To this he broke their step, lifted her clear in the air and twirled her around.

Laughter bubbled up in both of them then, enjoying the moment which Henry ended with a toe curling kiss. Some of their guests stared, and looks directed their way then might have cowered a lesser man or woman, but Henry didn't care and Catherine couldn't quite bring herself to either.

She did hope Mary and Francis could have that kind of happiness one day, that they too might have the opportunity for a 'redo' and that their marriage would grow to a place where such a thing would be desired.

Only time would tell, but for once in several days, Catherine had a good feeling about this.

-/-/-/-

Before the girls had sequestered Mary away to prepare for the wedding Mary had spoken to Munro as requested, or rather Munro had tried to manipulate her into being dissuaded about her marriage to Francis.

"Though they are not the wealthiest, you family has been holding on to the hope all these years that you would be returned to them, that they might have the chance to see you once again."

Mary processed this silently, still not convinced that she should go with him but trying to give nothing away prematurely.

"You're mother," He next tried to persuade her with pity, "that first year your mother cried herself to sleep every night, and woke the next morning just to cry some more as she remembered it anew."

"And how old was I then?"

Munro had begun o realize that this was no wisp turning at every breeze and bluster. "You were just two years old at the time. They assumed that you had just wandered off and died, but your mother could never shake the feeling that it was a lie."

Mary flinched at the mention of her 'mother'. She already had a mother, and was more than happy with, and she did have vague recollections of having lived with two families, with the travelers for about a year, and with some other people before that.

"Then why have they only come looking for me now, all these years later?"

Quickly spinning a feasible take in his head Munro responded, "Because they didn't know me back then, I only traveled to their region a few years ago and they only worked up the nerve to come speak to me about this earlier this year."

Grimacing Mary answered, "I assure you I am quite happy here, my life is here, and Francis…"

"Was not your betrothed until I cam along and stirring up trouble?" He finished for her to her greatest displeasure.

"You know nothing, and if it means staying right where I am I will happily marry him to prove it." The gleam in her eye now returning she finished, "Whether or not I had been planning to marry him is none on your concern, and I have far more faith in him as a husband that I do of you as a person filled with anything more than a half a truth at best."

She began to walk to her room to finish preparations but he stopped her reaching an arm across to a banister.

"You will regret this," he said with certainty.

"Perhaps, but less than you will if you do not allow me to pass."

Mary marched to the boys room and knocked on the door, then into her room with all the confidence she could manage.

-/-/-/-

Henry came out once Mary knocked and the looked back out into the main room area, he saw the frown on Munro's face and knew all that he needed to.

"I suppose we will be having a wedding after all."

He tried to keep the smug tone out of his voice…almost, though he was equally as frustrated. He would just as happily have seen the men on their way and gone back to life as usual here. Though the thought of Mary and Francis joined in marriage was not particularly a repulsive one.

Deciding on his next course of action, Henry asked, "Father, Nostradamus, wold you help me set up these chairs a bit more suitably? We can line up the chairs for observing and If I know my wife she likely has some refreshments set aside for afterward too so we can move the table against the wall for that."

The three men began moving everything to accomplish their aim while the three from out of town stood there awkwardly. Hearing the commotion Bash made his way back inside tried to discern what exactly had happened.

"There you are Bash," Henry announced once he saw the boy, "Is all well with the horses?"

"Yes, all was fine I…"

"Did you happen to feed them as well?"

Confused at the extra effort Henry was making Bash answered slowly, "No I didn't think that…"

"Well then gentlemen if you would follow Bash he can show you where everything is. I may no longer have a stallion myself, but I keep some fresh hay on hand should I have any visitors who's horses could use some refreshment, and you are welcome to it,"

Bash stared at Henry for a moment unsure of the wisdom of the extra hospitality, "Yes of course, follow me," He finally finished.

Making his way back to the stables Bash was silent as he showed the men where everything was. For a moment a peace came upon him when they neared the horses, beautiful animals for certain.

"Why haven't you ever take her as your prize?" Spoke the gruff voice of Munro to the startled young man.

Turning with a puzzled look on his face, Bash merely stared back at the stranger.

"You clearly are taken with her, or possessive at the very least so why haven't you ever asked?"

Processing the question, Bash considered it before answering. "She is still too young, and we have grown up together." Pausing at that he continued after a moment, "I suppose I've never considered it before now."

"Then why don't you take what you desire?"

Bash was so taken aback by this new question that he was nearly stunned into silence.

"Because I would never do that."

"Pity," Munro finished to Bash's absolute horror.

He hoped Catherine and Henry really did have a plan, or they might certainly have a problem on their hands, whether Mary was married or not.