1x02

« -I wouldn't want to disturb you, in your mistress's bed...

-Diane is at the country house, so, by all means, keep me informed, day or night. »

Catherine takes this request literally.

(it is my first fanfic, and my native language is french...so i probably made errors, please forgive me for that)

...

Sleeping was impossible for Henry. The sun has disappeared to hours and all the castle was probably asleep, but, not the king. Elongated in his bed, he was thinking. Actually, Henry's spirit was difficult to tame, Diane was gone and, honestly, it didn't really disturb Henry who began to grow tired of her stifling presence. There was also this girl, one on Queen Mary's ladies, Kenny...or Kenna maybe? Very pretty, with a beautiful bottom from whom we cannot look away...but with an immaturity almost so blatant.

Henry was frustrated. He didn't want this type of child who don't know what she want, a bit dumb, without so much temperament...pretty but uninteresting.

He didn't want either one of the wanton courtisanes who were always after him: no challenge, no difficulty...so no interest!

Henry sat up in his bed to be able to catch the glass of water which was of his bedside table.

- Your majesty?

He jumped. It was a guard who has whispered it, to know if the king was sleeping or not.

-I am awake.

-The Queen asks to see you.

Henry took a long look at the moon which was shining through his curtains. Catherine didn't come in his chambers during the night for...what? years?

He was intrigued.

-Send her in.

Catherine appeared a few seconds later.

He looked upon his wife and found it difficult to recognize her. She had let her hear down and they were even longer and curlier that in Henry's mind. He could also see tiny freckles on her skin and minuscule beauty spots.

There was a moment of silence while he was looking at her. She was wearing a flowing nightgown, white, not particularly bare but enough to remind that a simple woman was there, under all the layers of clothing which were always covering Catherine of Medici.

The king hadn't seen his wife like that anymore for a very long time.

-May I know the reason of your visit?

He could see many reasons why a women would visit his husband's chambers during the night but, in the actual state of their relationship...none of them seems like possible options...

He belived detecting a quaver in her voice when she answered:

- You wanted me to keep you informed, day or night, so here I am. First of all, Charles's pony have a strain, what is dramatic for

him, there is also one of Mary's servants who is sick, the poor girl has thrown up everywhere on a corridor. Then, we have a broken tile, on the fourth floor of the west wing of the castle and..

Henry interrupted her:

- Funny, very funny! I didn't know you so funny my dear.

Henry had to admit that he was a little bit disappointed. Why? He didn't know himself...maybe disappointed that she came only to blame him, again.

-So, now Catherine, you stay awake all the night and cross all the castle, simply to have the pleasure to scoff at me?

-I simply take the orders of my King.

Henry didn't like when woman called

him «my King », all of them thought that it was exciting but, he found it rather ridiculous in their mouth. But, on Catherine's tongue, it was a submission and and a rebellion at the same time, which sounded pretty good...unusual and unexpectedly attractive...

He looked in her eyes and he could felt how much she was uncomfortable under her mask of confidence, she was certainly regretting having come.

He saw that she was crossing her index on the sewing of her shawl, probably in an attempt to hide her discomfort. She certainly had been particularly satisfying of her idea: come to wake him up in full sleep with needless informations, annoy him to remind that she didn't really like to be reprimand like a child.

He continued looking at her. The silence was pesant, as a roaring storm during a summer night.

After so many years, Henri knew his wife very well, as much that he could guess she was actually maudire herself for coming. She had certainly expected him to get mad for being woke up in the middle of the night but Henry didn't want to give her what she wanted.

-Why did you really come?

Catherine raised her eyebrows, trying to catch the real meaning of his question.

-I only wanted to remind you that I know many things you don't even suspect and probably never will.

Informations from the most unimportant to the most crucial. Why do I know that and you don't? Because I need it when you don't. You are a man, a king so you don't care of it, when my power is based on it. Knowledge.

Knowing everything about everyone is what makes me so powerful in this castle and in this world. All that powerful people slowly became respectfull to the little florentine girl, because she knew their dirtiest secrets and was ready to use it at anytime. Knowledge is my power, don't ask me to share this power hardly earned with you, because I won't.

Henri smiled. This woman had always had a talent for speeches. She also always had a talent to undermine his authority...and that was why the king was not even surprised.

-It is the middle of the night, Caterina. You could wait tomorrow to do this little clarification. So let me ask my question again: why are you really here?

He said that very slowly, insisting on each word. He didn't know himself what game he was playing.

-I already told you that I..

He walked although his wife, interrupting her:

-You are a liar.

He was close to her now. She turned towards the door.

-Believe what please you Henri. I don't care. Have a goot night.

With a fast movement, he caught her arm just before she could run away and brought her back against him.

She couldn't escape this time, he was holding her in his arms.

-I know why you are here. You just have to admit it.

In reality, Henry was totally uncertain, she maybe came only to have a fight, but, now she was in his arms, with a burning skin and a heart beating wildly, he supposed that a little part of her came for something else.

-And why would I came in your opinion, husband?

-Because you desire my touch

-Is not you, who is actually keeping me here against my wish?

-You deny it so?

-Obviously

He freed his waist, so that he no longer held it... his fingers were touching her only like a light feather.

She could have run away, come back to her chambers and forget this strange night. But she didn't move.

Henry smiled darkly. What a surprising development... his hands snaked to the hollow of her hips, where he exerted a pressure as he approached her. Catherine cambered in reaction and swallowed with difficulty.

-Catarina di Medici, you can lie to everyone but not to me.

-How naïve...

He slowly approached his mouth from the lobe of her ear, and whispered « if you tell the truth, why are you so warm and out of breath? »

She let go a tiny groan, to the sensation of Henry's warm breath on her ear, and Henri knew this was going to be very interesting.

He slowly pulled on the ribbon that closed his nightgown around her neck, the white silk untied to be only restrained by the hand that the queen had placed on her chest.

Henry was aware that he was jostling his wife, but, with her, that was the only way to get honesty. It needed a burning-flame to melt the ice layer which was surrounded Catherine of Medici.

He knew she was engaged in an interior combat...His look was locked with Catherine's. She was staring his lips by breathing with difficulty, so, even if she was certainly trying to hide it, Henry was persuaded that she was on the brink of kissing him.

He pressed his hands a little more around her and, after what seemed like an eternity, Catherine whispered, almost against his lips:

-You will never call into questions my actions again.

- Never.

At this moment, Catherine's lips met his husband's. Her back met the wall. The nightgown met the floor. Theirs hands met theirs bodys.

Diane was at the country house, Kenna was in her chambers and the only women who could satisfy Henri's frustration at this moment was just at her perfect place: straddling him.