I apologize for not posting recently and also that this is a short chapter. I am going to try my best to post chapters more frequently for you all! I'll try to have the next chapter out tomorrow and make it much longer than this. Sorry again!
Chapter 22
Henry led me through the vacant halls all the way outside into the garden. Mostly everyone was inside the hall celebrating Kenna and Bash's marriage. The royal garden was filled with all sorts of beautiful flowers and plants. There was also the occasional statue that sat in the middle of the walkway. It was always a wonderful place to come to when you needed to be alone or to clear your head. Being in court you would need a lot of those moments. Unfortunately now, it wasn't one of those times. My feet felt heavy as we walked through the empty garden. It almost felt like I was trudging through a thick layer of mud. The type of mud that when you stepped into it your foot would sink and it didn't want to release you. But when I looked down there was only a clear stone walkway. Sometimes there would be small leaves or flower petals, but the servants always kept the garden clean.
Henry was close to me. Too close in fact. As we got further into the garden I could tell Henry was inching his body closer and closer to my body. This time Francis wasn't here. This time, it was only Henry and I. We were the only ones occupying the garden. I was trying so hard not to allow myself to think. I even tried to refrain from moving a certain way that would set Henry off. This was a man you couldn't read. At least, not anymore.
"It's a lovely night. Wouldn't you agree, Mary?" Henry murmured. I hadn't even noticed that the moon hung high in the sky. I was so focused on my own thoughts I didn't know that the day was almost over. I could tell Henry was staring at me through the corner of my eye. I nodded slowly, hoping he saw me. That way I wouldn't have to speak to him. I was trying my absolute best not to make eye-contact with him, or even face him. I don't think I would be able to without fear taking over my body. "Soon you'll be able to claim the English throne. That'll mean I'll be king of three countries!" Henry chuckled to himself in disbelief. The only way for Henry to be in full control of Scotland and England was if he was married to me. Suddenly, it felt like a fire was lit in my stomach, heating my body in terror. I wasn't able to walk any longer. My body felt like it was stuck to the walkway beneath me. It was like my body forbade me from going any further with Henry. He stopped walking then noticed my expression, which must have been covered in horror. Henry smiled. "You finally understand." He lifted his finger to the side of his head then used it to tap his temple. "I've been thinking about this for quite some time."
"I'm married to Francis." I tried to say. My throat was completely dry. It was so difficult to even talk or breathe. Henry raised his brow as if there was a simple solution to this problem. "You'll have to marry me if I get you pregnant with my child." My eyes widened. My body was shouting at me to tell him. Tell him the news that Francis and I had only just discovered. We didn't even know if it was real or not but at this moment I didn't care. I just wanted something, anything, to get me out of this situation. "I'm already pregnant with Francis' child!" I almost blurted out.
Henry froze and his eyes grew wider. "What?" I wasn't going to answer him, even if it was rhetorical or not. I stood my ground and waited for him to process this news. "No!" He shouted with fury. I quickly took a step back away from Henry as he slammed his foot into the ground. Then he put his hands on his head and began scratching furiously as he paced back and forth while he mumbled to himself. I could only stare at him in shock. I didn't know what to do or if I should even do anything. The man was insane and now he was having a tantrum right in front of me. Without warning, he pushed me against one of the large hedges that were used to block anyone from seeing this part of the garden. This is where they would hold exclusive parties, or take political leaders to have a private conversation with them. He was eyeing my body up and down with fire in his eyes. He was probably thinking of all the things he could do to me. I wanted to scream or to fight back, but I knew neither of those things would work. I got lucky the first time when Francis saved me. Now, we were alone and no one could save me. Henry began rubbing his rough hand on my upper leg. "Even if you are already pregnant I can still make you mine. In more ways than one." He remarked. I stared at him in horror. I didn't want this. I just wanted to live with Francis happily. That's all I wanted and yet I was always put in these situations I could not control. "Henry, please. Don't do this." I begged. Henry looked up at me and glared. He didn't like that I would defy him, even though he should expect me to. Then he leaned in and pressed his lips against the tip of my ear. When he pulled away he whispered, "Not another word."
I was shaking to the point where I needed to put my hands on the hedge behind me for support. As if it would protect me from this terror that Henry was inflicting on me. "You think you ruined my plan," Henry huffed as he continued to touch my body. "But really, you only sped up the process." He looked up and looked me in the eyes, then smiled. Suddenly, I felt Henry's hand reach for my chest. He groped it tightly between his large fingers. Without even thinking of the consequences I pushed my hands onto Henry and pushed him as hard as I could. He stumbled backward, then when he managed to regain balance he whipped toward me. He was infuriated.
"You stupid girl." He growled. "I gave you a home when you were being threatened. I gave you everything. Even now you get anything you could possibly need! You owe me-"
I didn't even see the man. I didn't see anyone follow us or sneak behind Henry. I heard no sound that there was another person with us. One that had the intention of hurting us. But now I watched as Henry gasped in agony on the ground as a knife was stuck in his side. There was a man standing behind Henry. The only light source was the moon and that wasn't enough to see who was the man standing before me. That, and my whole body was in a panic, making it hard for me to do anything. The man took a step forward and with one quick motion, he covered my head in a bag. "Don't do this!" I pleaded as I felt my hands being tied. I attempted to pull my hands away from him but he was holding onto them tightly. All of this was happening too fast for me. Before I could even process what just happened I felt my hands get pulled forward by the ropes around them. "Move!"