Colette

chapter three

November 1558
Bordeaux, France

The ride in through the castle gate was an experience that Colette never thought she would she. She was content to live through her life without all the pomp and circumstance that court had to offer. Men, guards she would assume, were all lined up at the top of the tall walls and even more to greet Colette and her aunt and escort them to the rooms assigned to them for the night while they prepared to move them to the maids-of-honor rooms.

One of the young soldiers was assigned to keep the ladies safe for the night and escort them to meet Their Highness' the King and Queen. While Colette's aunt had fallen asleep for the last hour of their journey she was now more nervous and excited about meeting royalty than her charge.

Three ladies had been given time to bath the road from their bodies and change into proper attire to meet their king and queen. Her aunt had chosen a more modest dress that showed her as a chaperone for her niece, Colette. Her charge had dressed in a beautiful gown of red and deep burgundy trimming with a matching headdress and her long golden hair left down in long braids. She really was a beautiful fae child that would no doubt woo the King and his prickly Queen.

"My ladies? Are you almost prepared? I fear that we are keeping their majesties waiting", the young solider said from outside their chambers.

Colette's aunt finally woke from staring at the woman her niece would become and opened the door to look at the young man who looked as though the king was ready to hang him in moments if they didn't appear right then and there.

"Lady Colette and I are done preparing ourselves. Please show us the way to where their Highness' are keeping court", the older woman said regally as she pushed Colette to follow her.

..........

King Henri III was seated well above everyone in a large chair that could have swallowed Colette up whole. He was a handsome man with a cold expression. Seated next to him was a great beast of a woman who stared at every young girl in attendance with a look that would surely kill.

As her aunt pulled her toward the King and Queen, Colette bowed her head
in a humble manner and curtsied so low she almost thought she was touching the ground as she murmured, "Your Majesties" ,and her aunt followed suit.

Finally Colette dared to look up and finally saw the King and Queen closely. While the King was still very nice to look upon he had lost his glimmer as Colette noticed that he was only a man. The queen was different. She looked bitter but desperately in love. Colette wasn't stupid, she heard the rumors of the Kings infatuation with another woman as kings were prone to do. Colette felt great pity next in her chest as she thought of the queens plight.

The Queen finally spoke to Colette taking everyone for surprise.

"Would you please take the seat next to mine? I wish to get to know my new maids of honor and see if you are truly loyal to your real queen", the woman sneered as Colette made her way to the small but cushioned chair next to the queen.

She snuck glances at both the couriers dancing and the woman next to her. It was her first outing in court and she had to spend it sitting.

"I hear you're mother was a bastard", the queens voice shook Colette to the very core.

"My grandfather is the late King James of Scotland, Your Highness. My mother says he treated her just like his other children", Colette said gaining some strength in her voice

"You are brave to talk to me as such. You'll need to be, to survive this crowd. As the queen I have never picked a favorite, albeit there had never been one deserving but I would call you a favorite. We shall be as friends in private." The Queen looked around the crowd a moment and smiled, "Do you know that you have a relative in my court? She will soon be queen and I will be a very distant memory. She is actually a queen by her own rights. There. Look upon Queen Mary of Scotland, your aunt", she says pointing to a dark haired girl dancing in the crowd as though she want a queen. There she was, the aunt Mary she had merely heard about but that her own lady mother had never met.

Please guys tell me what you think in the comments I really want to know and I really hope it was worth the wait.

While I would live to have super long chapters I really want to get something knew out fit you guys. It might be another slow go but just bare with me. I lost all my research and have to do so again.

Anyway I hope you guys liked it and see you next time.hopefully it won't be in another six months.

-TH