Chapter Six: Unwise Kings and the Unbearable Consequences

Danielle looked down at her plate as tears welled into her eyes, falling gently against her cheek and onto the hard wooden surface of the table.

"What do you mean the treaty is still in effect?" Henry demanded. "You said that you had taken care of this before this all happened!" Henry lowered himself down into his chair and, taking Danielle in his arms, grasped her tightly to his chest.

The King was ashamed. "I'm sorry, my son. But you will have to marry Gabriella by the next full moon, or risk going to war with Spain." Marie slapped Francis hard and burst into tears once more.

All through this Danielle had been sitting quietly, almost catatonic. She finally looked up, into Henry's eyes and spoke what she feared, as her heart shattered. "Henry," she said, speaking very softly. "You need to marry Gabriella. Don't go to war on my account. I couldn't bare it. Let me go, and do your duty for your country. It's not worth the risk." Marie and Francis looked at her in shock, not realizing until just then how much she truly loved Henry and what an astounding girl she was.

"NO!" Henry cried. "I can't let you go! I love you too much. Letting you go would be like ripping my heart out. You're my air, my everything; without you I can't live!" He buried his face in the crook of her neck. "Please, I can't live without you in my world..." Henry whispered through his own tears so only Danielle heard him.

"Henry, there's no other way. I love you with all of my heart and soul, my entire being, but I can't marry you if the consequence is war. You can't be selfish when you know that you could have done something differently." Danielle looked down at their entwined hands, now sobbing quietly, feeling her heart turn to dust at the thought of never marrying her soul mate, never seeing him again, for she could never stand to watch him marry another. "And neither can I." She said softly.

"I wouldn't be able to live each day without your beautiful face Danielle," Henry mumbled forlornly. "I would die without your love." Henry was struck with an idea and suddenly straightened upright. "Danielle, marry me now. Let's call for a priest and be married in secret. I want to be able to call you my wife, even if it's only for a week."

Danielle looked at him, knowing that she too would die without him, and nodded yes. 'I hope that the memories of our brief marriage will be enough to last me the rest of my life.'

"Then it is settled. Mother, Father, will you aid us? Call for a priest?" Henry looked at them with pleading eyes.

Marie and Francis had been watching the soul mates with heavy sorrow and remorse. "Yes, my son, I shall call for the priest and you two will be wed post-haste." Marie called for a page and told him her orders. He left at once, rushing off to the chapel.

Not an instant passed before a guard burst in, pushing Gustave ahead of him. "Your Majesties, this peasant was trying to get into the castle. He was also carrying a satchel with a very expensive gown in it. I believe that he stole it. Shall I put him in the dungeons?" He asked eagerly.

"No, leave him here, and give him his satchel back." Henry ordered, dismissing the guard with an arrogant wave. The guard left and Henry turned to Gustave. "What did I tell you about getting in?" Gustave opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Henry. "You know, I don't even care at this moment. Just give her the dress."

Gustave quickly came forth and gave Danielle her dress. Danielle hugged him tightly, murmuring her thanks. "You came just in time Gustave. We are to be married right now." Danielle spoke as her voice quivered with tears.

"What's wrong Danielle, shouldn't you be happy? This is your wedding day." Gustave looked at his childhood friend and suddenly felt more sorrow then he'd ever experienced.

"The treaty is still in place. We're only to be married until the masquerade. Then, Henry is to marry the Princess of Spain. This way we'll know the joy of being wed, though only for a short time." Danielle wiped a tear from her cheek and stood up straight. "Gustave, would you stay here as a witness, and as my friend?" Gustave looked at her and smiled weakly.

"My Lady, I would be most honored." Gustave bowed and stepped towards her as he swept her into a hug. He didn't know whether to be happy for her or to mourn for her loss.

The priest walked in, escorted by Laurent, and his entourage. Dismissing his men, Laurent began to put the priest under an oath of silence, telling him that if he broke his oath, he would be tortured to death by the most painful methods imaginable. Becoming very nervous, the priest agreed to the oath.

Danielle had gone into the adjoining chamber to change into her mother's dress and came out to stand before Henry. 'She's like the pale morning embers on a cold winter's dawn.' He thought, 'I will never love another.' He vowed this to himself as he walked to wards her and took her hands in his and walked solemnly to where the priest stood.

Danielle and Henry stood before the priest, holding onto each other for dear life. As the priest began the ceremony, the world suddenly dissolved around them until it was only them, looking in one another's eyes, proving their love without words.

"Do you, Henry take this woman as your lawfully wedded wife?" Henry gazed into Danielle's amazing eyes. 'God, please don't take her from me like this.'

"I do."

"Do you Danielle; take this man as your lawfully wedded husband?" She breathed as she relived, within her mind, all the wonderful moments with him.

"I do."

"Have you the rings?" the priest queried.

"Yes." Henry answered.

"Exchange them." The priest bid.

With that, Henry slid the ring on Danielle finger, saying, "With this ring I thee wed."

Danielle also slid a ring onto to Henry's finger, reciting, "With this ring, I thee wed."

"I pronounce thee husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

Henry gathered Danielle into his embrace, and kissed her soundly on her lips. Henry pulled back and sighed, "Finally." Danielle smiled and pulled him down for another kiss. As they went to leave, Henry and Danielle smiled and waved to the King, Queen, and Gustave, before retiring to Henry's chambers.

Sweeping Danielle off her feet, Henry carried her to their bed. Henry kissed her tenderly, running his hands to the back lacings to start undressing her. He moved his hands to pull the bodice down around her waist, exposing the exquisite bare flesh that was Danielle. He brushed the hair away from her face and traced warm passionate kisses from her lips down to each breast and back again. How he loved her, he thought, this was the most wonderful woman in the world. Her back arched slightly as she softly whispered his name. She looked at him as he looked at her face. Tears fell as she wondered how she would endure life without his embrace.

Henry pulled off her dress entirely to see the rest of her. There were scars from past lashings, but he didn't care anymore. She was his, in his arms and real, and it would never be like that again. He undressed and laid her softly on her back. He positioned him self over her as he made love to her, his angel, for the first and what could be the final time. Her tear soaked eyes looked at him with loving tenderness, and Henry cried, as he realized, that he would never again love her like this, never wake to her next to him at his side. It hurt, oh how it hurt him, but he could never bear to wake up with anyone else but the woman with him now. He bent down and kissed her as she wrapped her arms around him and clung. They stopped and held each other for a few moments before they started their passion all over again.
They spent the rest of the night loving each other, as one, like the ocean becomes one with the shore. It was a night that both would hold in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

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Hey peeps! Here's a newly revamped chapter for you, my loyal R&R-ers. This is all from Dragonwolf77! Thank her!

Laters!

Loreli F. S.