AN: Thank you so much for the reviews! This is my first ever published story and I'm still finding my way rather nervously, so I appreciate the support! Yes, I am planning this to be a pro-Cathry story (I love them so much!), but first of all, I really wanted to explore the angst between them. Megan Follows does emotion SO incredibly well, and I felt there was a lot missing in the show after she had lost her Medici family's support, discovered the existence of Clarissa and what her choices had caused, seen Richard lose his life for her, and almost lost her own life at the hands of the man she loves - all the while with the threat of Bash's legitimisation and Francis having left French court. Expert mask-wearer or not, that had to be painful and hard to recover from, so I wanted to explore the emotional aspect for her. I have a soft spot for Megan and emotions. :) I'm so sorry for the pain in this bittersweet chapter, but I promise it will be okay in the end!
Chapter Two
"Where are we going, Henry?" she asked again, with an excited giggle.
His response rumbled quietly, close to her ear, his hands holding her shoulders firmly as she stumbled along, "Patience, Catherine. We're almost there." The smile she let spread across her face matched the one she heard in his tone as they continued on their path. How happy she was to have such a husband! He was kind, handsome, attentive, and fun. Her best friend, and her lover. She felt overwhelmed with joy, thinking of her great fortune in such a good match.
Henry's hands suddenly caught her shoulders at a standstill, leaving her feet to stumble slightly as they caught up. She lifted her hands to push away the silk sash that was covering her eyes, but his fingers clasped gently over hers before she could reach it.
"Not yet." He whispered.
"What is this, Henry? I can't help wanting to see where you've brought me!"
Letting her hands drop, his fingers moved to stroke her cheek, and then to run gently through the loose curls of her hair. She had worn her hair down especially for him this evening, because she knew how much he loved it when she did.
She stilled, her senses sharp with her sight temporarily covered, enjoying his loving touch. She could smell leaves and grass, the way they smelled at the end of a long summers day, after soaking up the rays of the hot sunshine for so long. Such a heavenly smell. And was that the quiet liquid ripple of water? In the distance, the slight creak of wood, gentle and soothing. The sweet chirp of evening insects. And Henry's breathing, soft against her hair. Standing behind her, he wrapped his arms around her comfortingly.
"Catherine… Caterina?" began Henry, "I… I wish I could find the words to tell you what you mean to me. I can still hardly believe that you're mine! It doesn't seem to matter how much time passes." His arms squeezed hers lovingly. "I just wanted to say it again. I love you so very much, my little Caterina. You are my little one, but also my bride, my princess. And you are my strong, brave, intelligent wife, who I admire and adore. How can you be so many things wrapped up in one beautiful package, Catherine?!"
She gave a shy chuckle, blushing at his words. He laughed nervously, pulling her back closer into his chest, and continued. "I think if I could, I would want to shout from the mountain tops how much I love you! But the mountains are so far away. I… I thought… I hope you don't think this strange… I thought about how you make me feel. And I felt like… like nothing around me exists sometimes, when I'm with you. As though we're just us, blissfully afloat in some beautiful vessel, with nothing around us to cause friction or strife. I felt like I would want to light up the night sky with my love for you, Catherine! If only I could!"
He dipped his head to kiss the top of her head, and laid his cheek against the spot lovingly. Catherine reached up behind her to cup the rough stubble of his cheek. "Oh Henry…" she breathed, unable to put words to her feelings beyond her acknowledgement.
Henry spoke softly again, "So, since it's such a special occasion, and I had time to plan…" She felt the sash loosen over her face, and blinked as the world came back into focus. Henry let the blindfold drop and moved to stand in front of her, eager hands taking hold of hers as he caught her gaze and looked into her eyes. "Happy Birthday, Caterina!"
She stood transfixed at the sight before her. They were standing a little way back from the lake, just after sunset. The sky was dark, with pale streaks of mauve and pink still lingering at the horizon. Lanterns were strung everywhere, in the trees, along the lake edge, twinkling merrily and lighting everything in a glorious golden warmth. The water sparkled with the reflection of so many flickering flames. As Henry led her closer, she could see beyond the lights a beautiful little boat waiting for them, bobbing gently at the small landing stage. Catherine had never seen anything like it before. It was so delicate and intimate, structured more like a four-poster bed than a boat, with soft drapes made of sheer fabric, hanging gently down between each of the four posts, the side against the landing stage itself being partly lifted so as to allow them access. Catherine could see that the edges of the drapes sparkled with the light of the lanterns, and she knew that Henry had spared no expense in commissioning them to be edged with tiny diamonds. Beyond the drapes, the entire body of the boat was filled with softness – pillows, thick and comforting, and lavish coverlets and blankets. A deep ledge at the top end of the boat contained what looked like a picnic of the finest of Catherine's favourite foods and treats, a bottle of wine and two goblets. Fragrant roses were woven around the bases of the four posts, and more of them filled any gaps around the picnic items in the ledge.
She stood speechless, tears filling her blissful gaze, as Henry led her onto the landing stage.
"Do you like it?" he asked, anxiously.
Catherine shook her head slowly, almost in disbelief, as she took in the breathtaking sight, her face bathed in delight. Eyes shining and breath catching, she finally found the words to answer him, "I love it. I love YOU. It's wonderful!"
Henry smiled and held out his hand to help her into the boat. She took it and stepped in to their cloud of paradise, and he quickly followed. Settling themselves in each other's arms in the soft layers, they lay looking up through the open top of the boat, and through the thin veiled drapes around them. Stars filled the sky and the air smelled sweet. Henry kissed her temple, her cheek, and then the tip of her nose, as he enfolded her in his arms.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked.
"Very." replied Catherine.
"Good." He smiled into her hair. "So… We are blissfully afloat in a beautiful vessel, just the two of us… Now if only I could light up the night sky with my love for you…" Henry chuckled softly behind her ear, squeezing her body against him momentarily and then releasing her to pull her head onto his chest, and settling back comfortably.
A moment later, the sky exploded with colour and light, fireworks popping and fizzing over the lake and beyond, towards the castle, in a spectacular display. Catherine gasped in surprise, watching Henry's gift to her unfold in the heavens above, open-mouthed, tears once again filling her eyes with happiness.
After some moments of silence, sprays of beautiful light continuing to fill the skies, Henry whispered to her, "You see, this is how you make me feel inside. I wanted to show you, somehow. I hope… I hope you like it…" he faltered.
"Like it? Oh Henry, I've never seen such a beautiful sight in my life!" whispered Catherine, a little sob catching the end of her sentence, as she turned her face up to Henry's.
His eyes, flickered with the dancing light of the lanterns, and yet as dark and liquid as the lake, melted into hers as his fingers traced the contours of her face gently. She barely heard his response, so soft and low was his whisper as he looked deep into her, "My feelings exactly…"
He lowered his face towards hers, and caught her lips with his in a soft kiss, lingering to savour the moment, before pulling back slightly, and catching a tear on her cheek with his thumb.
The fireworks popped faster and more rhythmically now, as she basked in her joy and the love of her Henry with his arms around her, holding her close. Pop-pop-pop-pop, tap-tap-tap-tap… Catherine felt the shifting sensation of her surroundings changing, as the only constant became the popping sound of the fireworks. Fireworks without the light. Surrounded by softness, but not warmth.
Coming to full awareness of her surroundings, she pulled back the covers, and stepped lightly out of bed. She crossed her bedchamber quickly to close the window, shutting out the hail that had started raining down against the side of the castle from nowhere. She turned and retreated quickly, climbing back into bed and laying back against the pillows, drawing the coverlet tightly up to her chin.
As she lay there staring at the ceiling, Catherine remembered lying in the same position, staring at the sky filled with lights for her. She reached a hand up from under the coverlet and touched her cheek lightly, remembering Henry's touch on that same spot. It had all been for her – his heart had been for her, so completely. And now it was gone. As bleakly empty and dark as the night around her. Her throat ached, and tears burned her eyes. She swallowed hard and closed them quickly, trying to will her pain away, but the memories lingered. The way he had looked into her, as though he was part of her inmost being, so deeply had he gazed. As though she was the only thing that existed, or that mattered to him. She used to matter. How she missed mattering to someone, to Henry. Her heart ached for him still, and her arms ached to be filled with his embrace – everything in her suddenly ached to be held by the man she loved. It didn't matter what the years had done to their marriage, or the hurt he had caused her. Even the fact that he showed no feelings of love towards her any more, and had planned to have her killed. She couldn't help herself. She couldn't help loving him and wanting him still.
The ache overwhelming her, she listened for a moment to her own dry sobs echoing off the stone walls of her chambers, before turning her face into her pillow, clinging to it for dear life and letting her tears flow, her sobbing muffled so that nobody might hear her hurting in the dark.