Terrible Beauty (OTA, gentle nudge canon mates)
Henry awoke, his body pained, as it always was. The death of Charles Brandon had made him face his own mortality, and he was not fool enough to be ignorant of the fact that his days were increasingly numbered. It was a comfort to know that at least Edward would be there to carry on his line, when God finally called him home.
He finally opened his eyes, surprised to find himself...in Haurvatat.
It could be nowhere else. The foggy memories from his last time here swirled in his mind, like butterflies he could not quite catch as they fluttered away.
He was alone in his bed. Was Catherine here, in the village as well? Their marriage, while consummated, had not been one of lust, but of companionship. In his mind he knew that she held beliefs that were heretical, but he was so tired and in so much pain...and he could not bear to lose that gentle companionship that she gave him.
Oh, how he missed his youth.
He forced himself to a sitting position, the aches and sores causing him to breathe in a terrible raspy breath in pain.
"Catherine?" he breathed, wanting, for this moment, not to be alone.
He finally opened his eyes, surprised to find himself...in Haurvatat.
It could be nowhere else. The foggy memories from his last time here swirled in his mind, like butterflies he could not quite catch as they fluttered away.
He was alone in his bed. Was Catherine here, in the village as well? Their marriage, while consummated, had not been one of lust, but of companionship. In his mind he knew that she held beliefs that were heretical, but he was so tired and in so much pain...and he could not bear to lose that gentle companionship that she gave him.
Oh, how he missed his youth.
He forced himself to a sitting position, the aches and sores causing him to breathe in a terrible raspy breath in pain.
"Catherine?" he breathed, wanting, for this moment, not to be alone.