𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑 || 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑬𝑵

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑋𝑋𝑋𝐼

~To Become a Woman~

Catherine could not prevent the tears that glided down her cheeks as she watched her Mother's carriage pull away from Fotheringhay Castle, Percy red and yellow curtains draped around it. A gift from Richard.

Despite her thick woollen shawl, she shivered on the ramparts of the, peering into the distance as the carriage faded out of sight and into the snow-covered roads. Three days Eleanor had stayed, three days Mother and daughter had had together, laughing, drinking, trying to show all the love they felt for one another in the short space of time they had to do so.

Now, she had left for Berkley to see to Hal and tend to her household while Catherine was left to tend to hers. The last lingering veil of childhood was gone. She was a woman now.

"I will make you happy, my love" Richard murmured as he came to stand beside her. He'd been watching her from the icy steps for a few minutes in truth but had remained in the shadows to allow his young wife the privacy he felt she deserved. Only when he saw her cry did he go to her, he could never bear to see her cry.

Wrapping one strong arm around her waist, he smiled as Catherine leant against him, gently nuzzling into his shoulder for comfort "It is our first Christmas as the Lord and Lady of a great castle! There is much joy to be had!" She nodded, letting her body relax into his while he held her, so gently, so tenderly as he always did.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked and Richard looked down at her, smoothing back a lock of golden hair from her forehead with his free hand.
"Tell you about what, sweetheart?"
"About my brother.....he was imprisoned by Edward and....and I never knew"

At that, Richard frowned and she knew instantly he had played no cruel trick to keep it from her. The expression that crossed his features was one of true confusion, so much so it almost made her smile.
"Your brother Henry?" He murmured "I thought you knew....I didn't think you wouldn't! I thought that would be something Warwick used against you and you never speak of your family.....I didn't want to pry into a healing wound"

Catherine raised her eyebrows at that, sighing as they turned around and began to wander down the steep stone steps leading to the warmth of their chambers. The thought that Warwick could've used it against her had not occurred to her mind before and she wondered why he had not. After all, it would have been a ripe opportunity to torment her!

"I suppose he preferred to scare me with the image of his men hunting Hal down" She concluded quietly, smiling softly in contentment as they entered the warm halls of their new home.

"You're shivering" Richard remarked, making quick work of lifting her into his arms and carrying her to his chambers, a place he assured her would become theirs. Catherine could only imagine with a tremble of delight how and could not help but laugh as she was carried ably through the bailey halls, the servants they passed curtsying and bowing.