AN: I'm so sorry it has been so long since I update this story! I began this chapter in October, and then Megan's father died, and I couldn't bear to write any more about grief for Catherine knowing that Megan was grieving. Maybe I'm crazy, but I just couldn't stand to visualize it, so I took a break from writing this. Then my laptop died with my story on it, and ugh it has taken until NYE to be fixed and my files restored! But they are back, and so am I! Thank you for your patience and for the encouraging reviews! Happy New Year to you all!

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Chapter 11

Riding side-by-side towards the castle at a gentle pace, the King and Queen of France were, unusually, somewhat at ease in each other's company. They had cleared the air considerably with their emotional conversation at the lakeside, each softening a little towards the other. Catherine had shared more of her heart than she had ever intended to. She'd felt too exhausted to hide it any longer, especially out in the neutral setting where she had come with her mask off, not expecting to have any company. She had been so unguarded when Henry came upon her, his questions so probing and his words so gentle, that she had come undone when she least expected it. Catherine pondered over their morning together. Normally she would be panicked at having been so exposed before her husband, but aside from a slight feeling of unease, she felt surprisingly balanced. Perhaps it had been a good thing, to share her heart with Henry? She shivered unconsciously, her heart reminding her of the countless times that he had betrayed her trust and hurt her. Opening up to Henry always meant pain. To trust and love was foolishness – she had learnt that lesson the hard way many times. And yet, here she was again, opening up her heart.

Catherine decided that even if it would bring her pain, perhaps the benefit would outweigh the risk? She had so needed to talk to someone about the anguish bound up inside her. She stole a glance at her husband, sitting tall and handsome on his steed, his gaze fixed on the path ahead of them. He had shown her such kindness, which was unusual, and it reminded her of their younger years together. Once upon a time, he was kind, always. She had often wondered if only his kindness would return, that everything else that had fallen in the way would matter less and less until it finally disappeared, and left them with only love for each other again. It had seemed like foolish thinking, the wistful longings of a young thing with heartache, so she had pushed the thoughts away each time they came to her. She learned to do so with quick efficiency as the years went by, giving herself less time to feel the pain that came with them.

As they emerged from the forest into the open land which spread before the castle grounds themselves, a rider could be seen galloping towards them at quite a pace. He had evidently come from the castle. The King and Queen halted their horses as he approached, confusion and concern etching their features. As the horse stopped in front of them, the guard who had ridden out to them spoke breathlessly,

"Majesties! I have been sent to inform you that the young princes have gone missing! The Dauphin himself sent me to find you, and he asks that you return immediately to assist in the search."

Panic clutched at Catherine's heart. No, no, no! Not again! This couldn't be happening! Why had she ever left the castle that morning?! If only she had been there!

"When did they disappear?" Her voice was coldly authoritative, but it had to be, for appearance's sake, if not to steady her own nerves and remind herself that she must stay in control. Nobody must know of her panic. It would make her seem weak, and nobody must consider Catherine de Medici to have any sort of weakness.

"I don't know, your Grace, I was simply sent to find you and to make great haste. I was not privy to the details."

Catherine shot an anxious glance at Henry, who sat straight-backed and alert. His face held his tension, his eyes dark with determination, and yet soft with concern for his sons. Meeting her gaze, he reassured her with his eyes and a slight nod of his head, telling her wordlessly that he would find their children, that everything would be alright. As the three riders set off back towards the castle, the King called over his shoulder to the guard.

"Accompany the Queen back to the castle. I want to lose no time in talking to Francis!"

"Henry! Neither do I - " The Queen's words were lost on her husband as he galloped into the distance, his powerful horse faster than the two that she and the guard were riding. Nevertheless, she spurred her own horse to gallop as fast as she could to the castle, the guard matching her pace.

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"HOW?" The King's voice bellowed, echoing off the walls of the large study where Francis had been waiting for him. He paced restlessly with large strides, sweeping his hand over his brow where perspiration still lingered from the exertions of his urgent ride back to the castle just moments before.

"They were playing in the castle grounds near the woods. Just typical play – the nannies said they were playing battle games, and then they played a game of escaping from floods, or something like that. The nannies looked away to attend to Margot briefly when she fell and hurt herself. Her dress tore and it kept their attention for a few moments. When they looked back to the boys, they were gone."

Francis looked concerned. He hoped to set off to look for his little brothers himself as soon as he had briefed his parents on the situation. Their being away from the castle had delayed him in his efforts and he urgently wanted to begin searching.

Henry stopped pacing, his palm to the side of his neck tensely, while he considered their options.

"How many men are searching?"

"Three dozen within the grounds. I sent another two dozen into the woods with Bash."

Henry nodded approvingly.

"Where are the nannies now?"

"Searching in the grounds, with the others," replied the Dauphin. "They were quite distraught and I suggested they come inside, but they insisted on staying to help."

The heavy oak door opened with a crash as the Queen hurried into the room, breathless from taking the quickest route from the stables, almost at a run. Both men turned to look at the woman who meant so much to each of them in different ways, and whose heart they knew must be filled with anguish as a mother over her missing children.

Henry paused to survey her carefully, as she strode purposely towards them, shoulders squared. Her brow was creased with worry, her cheeks flushed prettily from the effort of her hasty arrival, and her hair had come almost loose from the ribbon that had bound it simply, earlier that morning at the lakeside. Henry managed to prevent himself from smiling at the sight of her, only because of the gravity of the situation with their sons. Smiling with pleasure at the sight of the beauty of his wife when she was slightly undone would not be appropriate at all. He dropped his gaze briefly instead, and cleared his throat before updating his Queen on the situation.

"Well, did anyone see any riders outside the castle grounds? A carriage?" Catherine's voice was a tone higher than normal, betraying her anxiety.

"We've sent men out to the nearest villages, Mother. So far the reports that have come in show no evidence of carriages or riders coming or going through the area this morning."

"Nobody has seen anything?! They can't just disappear! Somebody must know where they are?!"

Francis glanced uneasily at his father. He felt unconfident about handling his mother in such a situation. Anxiety always brought out her most powerful side - questions must be answered, or else! No matter who was being questioned. The King read his son's expression, and with a nod of understanding, released him from the situation. "Thank you Francis. You should join the search for your brothers. Be sure to keep us apprised of any development – large or small."

As the door closed behind the Dauphin, Henry turned to his wife. He knew she must be bound up with worry over their children's disappearance, and he wasn't sure how best to help her while the search continued. Catherine was pacing the carpet in front of the heavy desk, her back to her husband, tension in her back, her hands clasped in front of her. He watched her in silence for a moment, and then spoke.

"Catherine."

She shook her head tensely, eyes averted, jaw clenched. Her pacing continued, but she remained silent.

"Catherine. Our best men are out there looking for them. I am sure they will be returned safe and sound."

Henry hoped he wouldn't be made a liar by his statement. His reassurances seemed to serve only to make his Queen more agitated. Her breathing audible and erratic now, he watched her pace as her fingers frantically pressed and released against themselves repeatedly, an aggressive twisting of her own hands to mirror the anguish she felt inside. Walking towards her, he reached out for her, touching her shoulder as she passed him. Flinching at his touch, she snatched her shoulder away from him and whirled to face him, her hands going up behind her to grasp the nape of her neck where the tension had gathered the most.

"How could this have happened, AGAIN?!" Her voice was tight with anger and restrained emotion. "What good is a castle full of guards if two little boys can disappear into thin air at the drop of a hat?!"

"I know, Catherine. They were outside in the grounds. They – "

"I DON'T CARE WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE, HENRY!" Catherine's eyes flashed angrily at him, unleashing her fear and pain in the only way she knew how at that moment. "This is the second time in a matter of a few months! I won't have them put through such trauma repeatedly!"

"Of course, I agree with you. We will absolutely – "

"And we are talking about PRINCES here, Henry! Heirs to the throne of France! Is there nobody in this castle who can do a half-decent job of being responsible for the future Kings of France?!" Closing her eyes momentarily to shut out the nagging twinge of guilt that told her she should have been there, the Queen balled her fists, angry at everyone and everything. Henry knew his wife only too well in her current state. He tried again, more softly.

"Catherine. Everything is being done to find them. Once they are safe in the castle again, we will address security concerns."

"Why are you so calm and collected?! Do you not care at all about the welfare of our children?! This is unacceptable what has happened today!" She turned angrily, her sharp inhale betraying her as a dry sob, as she struck the desk in front of her with her clenched fist, the resounding crash punctuating her speech as she shouted again, "UNACCEPTABLE!"

Standing silently behind her, Henry watched his wife's shoulders drop their tension despite their rapid rise and fall as she tried to catch her breath. They sagged forward as she leaned over the desk, her fist still pressed in place where she had slammed it. Her free hand going to her face, she shook her head gently. Seeing his chance, Henry stepped up close behind Catherine, and embraced her protectively, one arm wrapping around her waist, and the other around her shoulders, across her collar bone in front. He was relieved when she sighed and leaned back against him, her hands grasping his strong arms gratefully.

"Henry, I can't… My darling boys… Anything could have happened. Anything."

"We'll find them," he whispered into her hair.

Catherine took a long shuddery breath.

"I can't do this again. The last time still torments me. Henry, I nearly lost them… Right before my eyes, I nearly saw them – "

Voice faltering, Catherine turned in Henry's embrace and buried her face in his chest, too numb with anxiety for tears. Feeling her hands shaking slightly as they clutched the sleeves of his shirt, Henry sought to bring her as much comfort and protection as he could, rubbing her back softly and stroking her hair. He soothed her with comforting words as he held her, feeling as though he would rather protect and love this woman than do anything else. This new warmth of feeling stirred his heart and made him feel alive; with purpose; contented inside. Where had he been all these years to miss this?!

"It will be alright, love. We'll find them. Everything will be fine."

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AN: Hopefully I will write the next part soon! Thank you "guest" for your request for a femslash story. It definitely piques my interest to write one, but I have never written femslash before and maybe I won't do it justice?! If there is enough interest I might. I will start thinking about ideas in the meantime, and continue updating this story. I have ideas for a couple of others that I haven't started yet, too! J