With that the King and Queen drifted to sleep, both consumed with thoughts of each other and a longing they never felt before.
"Henry what are you doing with that", Catherine asked worried about what he may have seen, about him figuring it out, based on the words she read to herself often, so often she knew them by heart. She stepped closer and he began to read,
"It is precious, so guard it well And when you give it, be sure,
That the one you choose, The one you want, The one you love,
Can care for your heart.
But sometimes we give it without consideration.
We are sometimes careless,
In nature and in deed.
The things that mean the most are the things we lose easily.
Then comes the regret,
Then comes the shame,
Then comes the brutal pain.
Hopeful it'll be over soon,
but just in case, always Be wise, be smart, when guarding a precious heart",
Henry read the poet's words then downed his head, for the first time he understood just how much pain he caused.
He had gone to the library for a new book, trying to block out recent events that cause him to do such deep thinking, thinking which sent him through a roller-coaster of emotion, mostly pain. But unfortunately his curiosity kill that whole idea, you see, Catherine was leaving the library as he was entering, "Caterina, lovely to see you, that dress looks beautiful but alas its nothing compared to you", he was determined to make her smile, " Henry", Catherine nodded to him gracefully but didn't smile.
"We must talk at some point, Catherine", he knew he shouldn't push, less the walls she kept strengthened themselves.
"Must we, Henry, must we, by order of the King" ? she asked with sarcasm dripping off her. She knew they would have to talk but not a day later it was too soon for this.
"No, when you are ready", this made Catherine smile, ever so slightly, in Henry's direction before she took off.
Henry entered the library with a smile, shadowing his hopelessness, he knew Catherine would come when she was ready but what if she never was, he could only hope. He went over to the court librarian as the man was packing some books under his desk. The man barely noticed the King, Henry heard a click before the librarian pulled up from under the desk and said, "My King, what can I do for you"? "Well I was hoping to find a book to my tastes but now I want to know why those books are under lock and key", Henry nosily asked.
"My King the books are the Queen's, they have been reserved for her alone and she askes that I care for them", he replied.
"But why look them up, I understand why you keep them away from the another books but the rest of it is strange ", Henry wanted to know why books reserved for Catherine were so secretively kept.
"I don't know maybe she just wants privacy , I only do as told", the man replied, he also found it strange but she was Queen so he never voiced it.
"I know the Queen has probably told you no one is to see the books", to which the librarian nodded, "Though as King I overrule her, so I want to see them", Henry said.
The man went back under his desk, unlocking the cupboard and retrieving the books. Henry picked up the books and ventured to a sitting area in the back of the library for complete privacy, he sat and scan the books, 'Their in Italian, all but one', he thought, secretly regretting he never took interest in being fluent in Italian, he only knew a few things. He decided to set the Italian books aside and opened the one he could read. It was a book on poetry, a good 190 pages long, in the table of contents pages were marked. Henry turned to the first marked page, soaking in the words, the beautiful poetry.
After reading most of the marked pages and with a few more to go he decided to retreat to his chambers with the book, little did he know Catherine was on her way to see him.
Catherine had been scheming but this time for a good cause, she was preparing a plan to humiliate and ruin Claude's ex fiancé and his family. Henry was needed as a part of the plan and she also thought he should know what happened to Claude, he was her father. She had checked the library but was told he took off with some books, she knew he would most likely be reading in his room. She also wanted to see him after their encounter by the library.
'He has made it my choice, its never my choice', she thought. Her parents dying, not her choice, her time at the convent, defiantly not her choice, one of the only things forced upon her that she appreciated was her marriage, though it was arranged, the definition of forced and she had to leave her country behind to go to a country she didn't know, adapting to the language and culture, she meet the love of her life. No matter what Henry had done he was her children's father, her first and only true love, who had caused her more pain than anything that happened in her life.
She wanted him, loved him and hated him all at the same time, when they were young, their love was passionate, unruly and animalistic almost, causing the oldest of maids at the time to blush like virgins when passing their rooms at night, early morning and even some times in the afternoon. It had been so long since those times, no one else could remember them. No one but her and the man in question, if he still did, she couldn't forget. Any love they've made once those times were gone was simple sex, for fun, to produce heirs, just sex, he didn't stay and sleep like he used to or cuddle while running his hand through her hair or tell her he loved her.
It became a rarely used hobby of theirs, passing time, having fun, making heirs. Lost in thought she went on, till she finally reached his room, nodded to the guards and passed through.
"Henry", she was stunned, 'That book, how did he get that book, it was under lock and key, must he take everything, her love then her heart and now her thoughts were his to steal, why'? her mind mused. She loved him but she was starting to wonder why she never loved herself more, why she thought him worthy of her.
"Henry what are you doing with that", Catherine asked worried about what he may have seen, about him figuring it out, based on the words she read to herself often, so often she knew them by heart.
She stepped closer and he began to read, once he was finished reading her eyes rose to his face which had gone unnoticed so far, he looked run over, like a dark storm cloud had settled on him, engulfed in his own emotions. Till he spoke, looking up a her.
"I've never been deserving of you or your tears over me and you never deserved such a foolish man for a husband, Caterina", he commented, Catherine went to him and brought him in her arms. "But I have you, and I love you, is it foolish, maybe, but that depends on what happens now", she knew it was time, now the ball was in his court again. "Lets go, far from here, in secret, no one to trouble us, let them worry where we've gone, we can discover each other again away from court and the castle. I will become worthy, my Caterina".