I sat there praying for what felt like days, when it had really only been hours. Catherine was so pale. Nostradamus said she had lost a lot of blood and she would lots of rest before she would wake up. I looked up as Francis entered. He looked depressed. I knew he blamed himself, though he had no reason to.
"It's all my fault. If I had only thought of something faster."
"Francis, you shouldn't blame yourself. She wouldn't want it like that." He only sighed. I thought back to a time when Francis had almost bled to death and I had blamed myself.
Francis and I had been out practicing our sword moves. He had gotten pretty good and begged for me to challenge him. Catherine had never liked the idea of the boys challenging me. By boys I mean Francis and Bash. I never will know how Catherine came to care for that boy. I promised her that we would never use real swords only wooden ones, whose worst damage would be a bruise. So Francis and I started fighting and when Francis lunged at me he tripped over a stone and fell to the ground. He didn't get up. I'd thought, oh great he knocked himself out Catherine's going to love this. But then I saw the blood. I yelled for the guards to take him to the infirmary. As they picked him up I saw that his head had a gotten a pretty good gash on it, but on his arm was a cut that ran the length of his arm. I went to the infirmary with him and waited for Catherine to arrive. I was scared to want she would have to say. She had been pregnant at the time, so she'd been moody lately. When she came in she looked at me and frowned.
"Oh Henry, didn't I tell you to be careful with the boys." I just nodded and hung my head in shame. She smiled.
"Henry don't blame yourself. He'll be just fine." She was right in a few days Francis was up and ready to duel again.
I wish Catherine would hurry up and wake up. The suspense is killing me. Suddenly she stirred and started moaning. I up up and leaned over her and Francis sat down next to her. I almost forgot Francis is in the room with me, but right now I'm glad he's here. Her eyelids flutter open and those beautiful eyes look up at me and then over at Francis. She smiles at us.
"Thank goodness." Francis exclaims.
"Yes Catherine, you were beginning to scare me."
"Sorry for that Henry." Nostradamus came in to check one more thing and then asked Francis to leave for a moment while he talked with Catherine and I. Oh no, this can't be good, I thought.
"The Queen has lost a lot of blood and she'll need to rest for a few weeks." This puzzled me.
"I can still help Henry with the audiences, can't I?" Catherine looked worried.
"As a precaution so your wound doesn't open up and so you can recover I would like you to be on bed rest for the next couple of weeks." My jaw dropped. A couple minutes later I assorted Catherine back to her chambers. At the door I turned to her and said,
"I'll come and check on you later, to make you are comfortable. "
"Thank you, Henry. I you would like to you can sleep in my chambers with me."
"Of course, I'll see you later." I walked away with a smile on my face. I can't wait for tonight.