Disclaimer: I neither own Reign, nor profit from this story.
"Let down your hair."
It was as if time froze as her heart seized in her chest.
"Let me look at you."
His words…it was as if the very air in the room had been sucked out the moment slowed so that she barely breathed.
Moving quickly to comply, having already resigned herself to this possible turn of events, she ducked her head as much to aid in her efforts as to hide her face from his view.
His words…
Some said the scratch of the pen was mightier than the arc of a sword, Catherine could honestly say she was not certain which of Henry's truly cut her more deeply.
True it was his infidelities that had burned her so and ached like nothing else, but when he actually tried he could indeed be quite eloquent and endearing with his choice and use of words.
It was how he wooed her first, it would forever be the language that she understood the most clearly from him.
His actions had always mattered more as with her past actions were of more long lasting value. But as a Medici and later as the Queen of France, few had ever thought of speaking to her in the way that he did, fewer still would even dare.
And oh the memories those particular words evoked.
It was their first night as husband and wife without all those prying eyes.
Henry had walked in sometime after dark had settled over the Castle and the grounds but without all the fanfare she had to this point associated with him. She was sitting at her vanity at the time and so made to stand, but her waved off her efforts.
"When we are alone like this Catherine…Caterina there is no need for formality or fanfare."
Walking up behind her he made to wave off her ladies as well.
Ever protective of her charge Catherine's, the lady Maria tried to halt her determined husband in his pursuit. "M'lord, you wife is not yet ready to retire for the evening," her thick Italian accent reaching heavily through the French words the older woman had so carefully sought to learn.
In one small act of mercy the Medici's had sent with her a woman she had known on and off since birth and who had been somewhat of a maternal figure to the young bride for as long as she could remember. A long friend of the Medici who had earned her place through surviving a series of unfortunate events and the wisdom that they brought forth she could be quite imposing when she chose to. "Might we finish preparing her and then take our leave M'Lord?"
Catching Catherine's eye through the mirror of her vanity Henry's gaze never left hers as he spoke, "Not to worry I am more than capable of taking care of and assisting my bride with what she might require."
Catherine's heart fluttered at the many implication of those words.
Her lady in waiting gently squeezed her arm to catch her attention and ascertain her wishes on the matter. Nodding her head once, Catherine turned her gaze from her new husband's and expressed her ascent. Once her lady left though she could not quite quite find the strength to return her gaze to his, instead finding jewels and trinkets on her vanity to ostensibly retain her attention in an attempt to release her nervousness.
"Cath…Caterina, I hope I have not made you uncomfortable but I…"
Frowning as he searched for the right words, her husband seemed equally lost and determined. Finally deciding on the course of action he finished his initial inquiry with a steadier cadence in his voice.
"I would like to…how may I now assist you?"
The honest tenor in his voice as well as the apparent sincerity in his request was so unexpected she was left floundering for her words. Maria had warned her not to be taken in by such words, but she was finding it harder and harder to heed the woman's advice, sound or not.
"I…I mean I…you don't…"
Placing his hands on her shoulders her stuttering stopped immediately as she nearly froze under his touch.
"Caterina, look at me."
Slowly, timidly her eyes rose to meet his.
After a long moment she all but whispered, "My hair. They next were to take down my hair."
She watched as a grin spread genuinely over his features. They were both so young, but had been forced to grow up far too fast these last two weeks. Certainly it was expected of men and women in their positions, but it didn't make the reality any easier.
Squeezing her shoulders lightly Henry immediately removed his hands to her tresses, working his way through the strands of silk and across her crown. He had no idea what he was doing, but he worked patiently to retrieve every jewel and every pin imbedded in the mass of amber curls.
His fingers were already callused from training, both for battle and in sport, but his touch was gentle and the sensation she found she quite enjoyed.
At first she sat, still frozen in shock at his offer and resulting actions. She had never known a man to take on such a task, but her new husband had unreservedly offered, and was now occupied with doing just that.
As the moments stretched on Catherine slowly began to relax into his ministrations. She could tell that he had no idea what he was doing, but was reasonably certain he was purposely taking longer than even he needed to in order to accomplish the task.
For this she was grateful.
When he was done he carefully arranged her hair to rest along her shoulders and frame her face.
Some time ago she had closed her eyes but now as his fingers had ceased in their work she allowed them to flutter open and return to his gaze.
She wasn't sure how to process what she saw there.
At first glance it seemed to be a mixture of amusement and adoration.
Of what he was amused or adoring she was not sure, but she was certain that was indeed what she saw.
She had been in France barely two weeks so he could not possibly have had the time to cultivate any feelings of depth for her. She eventually would have to if this arrangement were even to remain, but for him it was an entirely a different story.
He was the second born son of the King of France. If all went according to plan he would have no greater responsibility than racing around the Castle as he willed, appearing at parties, perhaps helping in military campaigns and…Catherine swallowed to keep the bile as far down her throat as she could manage, having all the women he so desired bask in his oh so charming company.
She was reasonably certain that she would not be the sole recipient of his carnal desires, at least if he indulged as freely as most other men of the day.
He would likely be captivated for a time. As she understood, a foreign bride was considered a bit of a prize and likely be amusing for at least a short while. His father seemed to like her well enough though so hopefully she should be able to find something else to occupy her time with besides as an ornament for his arm and for the moment his bed.
Beyond that though he would likely have little use for her once the newness wore off.
She knew that she was not particularly pretty, her relatives had made certain to remind her of this as often as possible. She also knew she would need to find something else to fill her time, her intellect and desires for knowledge and it's application demanded little else.
For the moment though she found herself getting lost in his gaze so that when he offered his hand near her shoulder she placed her own in his willingly and allowed him to lead her over to the bed.
Her nerves had once again returned to being on edge so that when he picked her up with his hands around her waist and hoisted her up not the bed she gasped audibly.
Thinking that he would expect once again for her to fulfill her wifely duty she was utterly relieved when he again returned his attentions to her hair. Gently pinching a strand though his fingers and drawing it to its end. a grin spread across his face as he seemed to become utterly captivated by that one single action.
"I have never seen such a color before on anyone, man or woman."
Curious at the observation he had made in light of their current positions she opened her mouth as if to ask just that, tilting her head and inhaling in preparation when he continued.
"Since I first saw you I have wanted nothing more than for you to let down your hair, for you to let me look at you as you without the formal facade you have been forced to put on"
Again ducking her head in embarrassment, she felt his fingers under her chin and this time willingly moved at his bidding.
"Not because I am a man seeking your company purely in the carnal sense, but because you fascinate me Catherine, and have since you stepped of that boat."
Drawing his finger up and down her cheek he continued.
"I have known that you would be my wife for several months now and so from that moment it has never been a question of if or whether you would become my bride, only what kind of a bride you would be. And for myself never whether or not I was to be your husband, but whether I would be a good husband for you."
Oh how often she wanted to believe his words all those years ago.
But he had not been a good husband, and on most days she had been at best a dutiful wife.
Though as he stared at her now she could almost believe again, almost wanted to believe again.
Thought perhaps for a moment she could let herself forget., to let herself believe.
That she was his, and he was hers.
Once young and naive, now scarred and hardened by years of biting words and vengeful actions.
But as she looked into his eyes she so dearly wished that she could believe.
Her sweet Henry.