At the banquet, Henry and Katherine sat side-by-side, doing all that they could to avoid interacting. Katherine could still feel the sensation of her husband's lips upon her own once again, but she dismissed it as an accident. Nothing was going to interfere with her enjoying every second of Mary's visit to court. Not even her own confusion about Henry's feelings.

Henry, for his part, was thrown by what had occurred that afternoon. When their lips had met for that brief second, it simply felt right. Not romantic, not something he'd missed, just comfortable, as though that was where his lips truly belonged. But, as he reminded himself constantly, it didn't matter. God WAS punishing them. Katherine could no longer bear children, and what Henry needed more than anything, more than comfort, was a male heir. With that in mind, he decided to revert to his old ways of ignoring his wife's presence.

This worked well throughout the majority of the meal. Henry kept himself occupied with the visiting dignitaries, while Katherine distracted herself with Mary's constant stream of chatter. It worked well, that is, until it was time to open the dancing.

It was tradition for the King and Queen to open the dancing at any banquet. Recently, however, the Queen had either been absent from the proceedings, or Henry arranged for the dancing to be opened through the aid of a masque, allowing him to dance with whomever was lucky enough to be rescued by the "tall, handsome stranger". And all year, he had arranged for Anne Boleyn to be that damsel.

But this evening, there was no such entertainment to protect him. Just the musicians warming up and his wife seated to his left. With a heavy sigh, he rose from the table, offering his hand to the Queen.

Katherine lightly placed her own hand upon his, and allowed herself to be led to the dancefloor. She could not remember the last time she had opened the dancing with her husband. She had not prepared for this, and worried that the opening dance would be one that she did not know. Thankfully, the orchestra struck up a stately pavane, one that had been used for their majesties on a number of occasions. Katherine allowed herself to be carried by the music, and quickly found that she still enjoyed dancing very much.

At the end of the pavane, however, Katherine curtsied to the king, and the two separated, each bringing a new partner onto the dance floor. Katherine led one of the Frenchmen out and smiled beguilingly at him, looking ten years younger than she had when she walked into the room that evening. On his part, Henry went and grabbed the lady he most wanted to dance with.

"Milady, may I please have the honour of dancing with you?"

Giggling, his chosen lady replied, "Of course. You know I will always dance with you Papa!"

As the night wore on, Katherine returned to her seat at the table, watching the dancing. It warmed her heart to see Henry showing off their daughter so proudly. It reminded all present who the king's rightful child was but, to Katherine, it proved that Henry still cared for what the two of them once shared.

As such, it was regretfully that Katherine made her way back into the throng of dancers and scooped her daughter out of the king's arms.

"Mary, it is very late, and time that you went to bed. Say good night to Papa, then make your way upstairs."

"But Mama, it is a very special night!"

"Mary, come now. I'll even go up with you. I can tell you a story that my mother told me. Would that be all right?" asked Katherine, preferring not to remain at the festivities once her daughter was gone and her husband turned to Anne Boleyn.

"I suppose. Bonsoir Papa. Merci pour danser avec moi!"

"Good night my pearl."

Henry whirled and danced for a few dances after Mary left. He even managed to sneak in a few with Anne, and loved every second of them.

But before he could get too caught up in the festivities, his friend and advisor, Sir Thomas More, pulled him aside.

"Your majesty, I'm sure, remembers what we discussed last week?"

"Yes Thomas, of course I do. I'm just enjoying my evening before going up to the Queen's cold bed," replied Henry, somewhat resentfully.

"Forgive me, sire, but I believe you should join the Queen sooner rather than later. She retired hours ago, and it will seem strange for you to follow her so much later," replied More, nervous to anger his master.

"Fine. I will go to bed now, like a child. But believe me, Thomas, tomorrow, when the Frenchmen join me on a hunt, I shall do whatever I please. No matter what you and the rest of my advisors think!" And with that, Henry turned on heel and stormed from the room.

Not wanting to go straight to Katherine's chambers, where he knew she would want to again tell him how their marriage was legitimate and how he should stay with her, he decided instead to go to Mary's chambers, and check on her.

As he pushed the door open, he was surprised to find the room still dimly lit. Pushing the door open further, he saw that the light was there for the one person he wanted least to see. There, smilingly slightly sadly at the Princess's sleeping form, sat the Queen.

Wow, this is just flowing! Expect more chapters over the next couple of days, then probably a long dry spell.
As always, thanks for reading, and please, PLEASE, review. Good or bad, I want feedback :)