𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑 || 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑬𝑵

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑋𝑋𝑉𝐼

~Light of my Life~

Catherine and Richard's fourteenth birthdays came and went as the summer sun froze into winter ice but still, their hearts remained warm. The new union between the Duke and his Duchess sprung from a flame into a spark and burned bright between them throughout the cold, long months.

Once more, they shared chambers, talking deep into the night before they settled contently into one another's arms. Catherine's joy could hardly be contained and she moved around Middleham with a new spring in her step; a new lightness to her voice. She joined the squires in the tiltyard again, watching from behind the fence while Richard trained with Rob and Francis.

There seemed to be a new strength to him now he had her support. He swung his sword with a new vigour, a new determination that summoned a grin to his face and made Catherine's heart set alight with love. Love it was still a strange notion for her but there was no other word she could use to describe the fluttering in her chest and stomach when she saw her husband. It felt like her heart had grown wings and taken flight; was soaring above the clouds where no sadness nor torment could touch her.

And he loved her too, of that she was sure, for he told her so every night as they drifted off to sleep. He'd hold her close, often undoing the braid Margery had plaited for the night as he liked her hair loose.

"I love you, sweet Cate" He would say and she'd smile, gently pressing her lips to his before drifting away happily in his arms. 'Sweet Cate' was just one of the new endearments her husband had devised for over the summer, her name becoming an every varying term of affection. 'Sweetheart' seemed to be his favourite and it was one of hers too, although she decided nothing could compare to 'ma belle', a name he often called her in an evening when they sat by the fire and all was calm.

They were so young to love and yet it did not feel a fantasy, a youthful dream conjured out of curiosity and immaturity, no, it felt true. Their hearts fit together like two halves of the same whole and both were sure there could be naught wrong with that! There could be no falseness in their adoration!

Agnes had always told her that when she truly loved she would know and Catherine was sure she knew, so very sure! 'Find one that shall love you more than the stars, more than the moon' She'd said and the boy who would do just that had been found. Rather unintentionally but found all the same.

Wherever Richard went, Catherine went too and soon it was unusual to see them apart at any time of day. They ate together, prayed together, slept together and often left the castle together, taking food in their saddle bags while they rode up into the hills.

There, Catherine would sit beneath the great oak tree while Richard swung from its branches, trying in vain to straighten his back. She would watch him with sympathy in her eyes, wishing with all she had that she could take his pain away with one sweep of her hand. God only knew how many nights he had spent since his confession weeping within her arms and she wept too, holding him close and whispering comforts into his ear.