I beg of you, take me back. I am no longer blinded.

Sunrise

The queen woke up the next morning feeling dizzy. Her head hurt, which she attributed to the conversation she had, had with her husband the night before, and her dressings had started itching again. She groaned as she realised she would have to wear another long-sleeved, high-necked dress once again. She had already told her ladies not to come in that morning, so she got dressed by herself, though it couldn't have been any later than 6:30, and was still dark outside. The sun would come up soon and the battlements at the top of the palace were the perfect viewing spot for the beautiful sunrise that would take place and they would be empty at this time.

Catherine stood watching the dark sky become mixed with streaks of red and orange, as the sun rose in the distance behind the trees. She stood there for a few hours before someone behind her cleared their throat and she turned to find her husband standing there. 

"Were you following me?"

"Perhaps. I wanted to know what my beautiful wife was doing wandering the halls so early in the morning without guards."

"What?"

"The sunrise is lovely though, I'll give you that."

The king smiles and walks towards Catherine, placing his hands on her shoulders, he's surprised though as she moves away from him.

"Don't."

"Catherine..."

"No Henry. This little game won't work on me again. What's the reason you suddenly care this time? I got hurt and now you've realised that you can't be without me?"

"No. Yes. I mean..."

"Save it. I won't fall for your game this time. You've done this so many times, pretended to care just so that I'll end up in your bed again, before you run back to your whores and leave me. I won't do this again. I'll admit, your caring husband act last night was good, but not good enough now that my head has cleared."

"Catherine, please."

""Don't Henry."

She looks away for just a few moments to hide the tears that start to form in her eyes, silently cursing herself for letting her emotions come through. Henry takes her chin and gently turns her face towards him.

"This isn't a game."

An icy look comes back into her eyes, the barriers she's built around herself come crashing back down and she slaps the kings hand away.

"I am not one of your sluts that you can lie to."

She shoves her way past him, leaving him to stare after her retreating figure.

"Mother?"

The French queen looks up from her breakfast to her son, having spaced out and not heard him speak.

"Apologies, what did you say Francis."

"Mary and I were talking about when it would be appropriate to start wedding planning."

"Planning can take place any time my dear, it depends on when you want to start carrying out your plans that matters. A big occasion may put strain on many of the staff and guards who are already having their own problems with each other. However, announcing that you and Mary have begun the smaller preparations, such as having a wedding dress made, will arouse an excitement among the people, and a promise of unity always conveys strength. Especially at times such as these."

The queens firstborn smiles as his fiancé nods.

"Why don't you help me find my dress Catherine? I could use someone who will make sure everything goes smoothly."

"Who did you think was going to help you? Your ladies? They wouldn't know a good wedding dress designer if one came and slapped them in the face with their entire resume."

The Scottish queen smiles at her future mother-in-law's backhanded acceptance to her question. This could be her chance to finally get the woman she used to know back.

"Thank you."

"Mm."

Underneath the table out of sight from the French queen her son squeezes his wife to be' hand.