Without Henry VIII

First Meeting

(Catalina/Catherine's POV)

After leaving Plymouth I made my way, along with my entourage, dowry, and belongings to Exeter, and from there we headed to Dogmersfield Palace in Hampshire. The journey was most certainly long and tiring. I went between riding on my mule to riding in my litter. I remember that at first, I did not want to ride in my litter because of how confining it was and how bumpy it could get, tossing me from side to side, while going over the dirt potholed roads, but for most of the days we were traveling it was raining and I would be soaked to the bone by the time we reached the manor we would be staying at that night. So, the litter did at least provide some protection form the rain, although my clothes would still be damp when we arrived at our destination.

After the first day of rain I retired to my litter so stay dry, and my ladies would take turns sitting in it with me so that they could have some reprieve from the rain, although we told Dona Elvira that it was because I wanted company since she would not have allowed it otherwise. My entourage became quite gloomy due to the constant rain, but surprisingly the rain did not seem to bother any of the English peasants that we saw as we passed by their towns. Everyone in each village and town that we passed through would come running out to see us pass, and many would even follow us to the next town. I did not know how they could be so unaffected by the miserable weather, but I tried to wave and act cheerful when they saw me. After all I would be their queen someday, so it would be wise to have them like me.

After nearly five weeks of traveling we arrived at Dogmersfield Palace, the home of the Archbishop of Bath. The palace was lovely and my rooms were quite large with a grand bed, two chaise lounges, five chairs, a grand carved wardrobe and chests, silk curtains, and a large stone fireplace.

When we arrived, what had now become, the normal procedure ensued. Everyone dismounted from their horses, the peasants that had followed us from the previous town headed home, I was helped out of my litter, and the Archbishop launched into a speech about how he was honored to have me staying in his house. I smiled at the Archbishop, and thanked him for letting my entourage and me stay at his home, but tried to hint that I was tired, so he would hopefully let me go straight to my rooms. Thankfully, the Archbishop seemed to take my hint and led my ladies, Dona Elvira, and I to my rooms. When the Archbishop left I immediately had my ladies undress me so that I could go straight to bed after I said my prayers.

When I was praying there was a knock on the door and Blanca answered it, finding a page outside with some ale and bread, it seemed that whenever I stayed with a clergyman there was food sent to my room. Blanca thanked the page, and once I had finished praying I sat on one of the chairs and ate the bread. I did not want to have the ale because I found it to be extremely sour and it unsettled my stomach, but I did not want to insult the Archbishop by not drinking it, and he had been so kind to send food to me, and the bread had made me terribly thirsty. Squeezing my eyes shut I drank the ale quickly and returned the glass to the tray. When I opened my eyes, I found Francesca looking at me and trying to hold in her giggles.

Had it been anyone else I would have reprimanded them, but Francesca was one of my best friends and I realized I must have looked rather ridiculous with my face scrunched up and eyes closed while drinking that horrible liquid. Eventually I started laughing too, and the two of us got strange looks from my other ladies who had no idea why we were laughing. I then saw Dona Elvira come back into the room and sobered up immediately, not wanting to get another lecture from her, she had been even more irritable than usual, if that was even possible, due to the miserable weather. Dona Elvira looked all of us over, her gaze staying on me longer than the other girls, and once she seemed satisfied that there was nothing improper going on she turned and left, but not before shouting at my ladies to get me into bed and blow out my candles.