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farewell, my love; Tag; Andrew Dudley
Topic Started: Jan 1 2011, 10:51 PM (210 Views)
Christina of Denmark
Unregistered

Late January 1512

The early afternoon sky was dark and the rain was coming down, but Christina, Princess of Denmark, found that she couldn't care. Even as the rain soaked through the rich fabric of the gown she wore, she still couldn't care. It seemed as though heaven itself was weeping as she had been only moments ago. Though this leave had been planned in advance by herself and Caterina, who was acting for her father, she refused to tell Andrew until the moment was at hand and now it was. A servant would now be arriving at her chambers to deliver her wish to see him, here in the gardens where they had met in the first place. The maze beyond where she was now standing was the place of many a coupling, but she kept her back to it; it was too painful to look at. She decided she was fortunate that she did not have to live at the place that beared such memories.

Her heart throbbed when she realized that he would be. Hating herself for leaving him this way, she sat down on a bench and covered her face with a hand. Her father's letter was brief and clipped. Dyveke, the woman who had offered to help them, died around the sixth of the month and he discovered letters between her and Andrew. He was displeased beyond belief, that she would act that way, and told Christina that she best be home within the month. Later, Caterina came to her with a letter that detailed with what her father wished. Part of her thought that would be the time to tell Andrew, but that was immediately chased away with the thought I would rather spend time with him, pretending there is no ending, so she hadn't pursued it.

But now, now she had to tell him. She couldn't leave without saying goodbye. She didn't want him to hate her, though he might anyway. He might demand that she try harder to stay, but she would say she had tried her very best and she had. There was proof in the letters she left on the seat of the waiting carriage if he needed to see them. She hoped they could, at least, write and perhaps that she might return to see him at a later date. She was firmly determined that her child, boy or girl, would know their father and she would send the child away in care of someone she trusted if her own father protested. She would rather see the babe in England.
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Andrew Dudley
Unregistered

As soon as Andrew received that letter, he dreaded meeting his Princess. He of course didn’t know the manner of the meeting, but he had been banned from seeing Christina until now. So he automatically jumped to conclusions that something bad had happened. But then her meeting of choice was indeed the grounds where they had met, where he had made love to her that one last time before their separation, so there was a part of him that was hopeful. Maybe the ban had been lifted. Or maybe she was going to tell him that they could be together.

But all he had to do was remember his conversation with Caterina and he knew that it was very unlikely that they had a chance. But they still could runaway together, now that was something he wished to do. Have his Princess all to himself and be away from all the craziness of court. But either way, he was eager to see her again, he couldn’t deny that. Whether it was bad news or not, had to see her, be with her. So he hurried along, never missing a beat as he stepped out into the rain, caring not that he was soon soaked through. He did hate the weather though, it made the day somewhat depressive and it wasn’t until he saw his Princess again that there was a reason to it.

He had had a smile on his face as he approached her, but as he came closer and saw that she was upset, he knew. He cared not of who saw him now, of who saw them, for he fell to his knees before her and gently took hold of her hands, removing them away from her face before giving her a hungry, and earnest kiss, almost a loving one. Then gently he lowered his head and kissed her stomach, with his lips touching only the fabric of her gown. For a brief moment he didn’t want to look up into her face, because the truth would be written all over her. He had failed. He had failed to impress anyone, failed to find a solution to their problem and now? He remembered seeing the carriage and looked up, studying it for a moment and returned his attention to her, looking up to her face finally. “You’re leaving.” It wasn’t a question. He knew it was true and now he looked to her with sadness in his eyes. “I wasn’t good enough, was I?”
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Christina of Denmark
Unregistered

"My father," Christina began waveringly, "found the letters you wrote to Dyveke and he ... he was quite upset."

She wet her lips and pressed them together, uncertain of how to continue. Imagining her father in one of his rages terrified her beyond anything and she wasn't looking forward to returning. In fact, she hoped her aunt Mary would take her in at her court once more, but her letter was unanswered. That cut her deeply; her aunt was more a mother than her own had been. She bit her lip and reached out, touching the top of Andrew's head. This entire process was cutting and tearing through her.

"Please stand." she said now, nearly begging. "I cannot stand to see you so below me."

These words had double meaning and Christina was sure he knew it. Slowly she lowered herself to a kneeling position, flinging her arms around him. Fearing tears, she was glad it was raining. No one would know she was crying, so in that, it was really all right that she cried.

"I love you. Do not forget that, even if you hear news of someone else."

There was already a man for her, her father said as much in his letter, and she hated to think of being shackled to a man she did not love or respect. Her future husband might not even respect her. She knew she had been lucky in the way of men so far. It might be fate that she now marry a man that she would not feel happy to be with.
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Andrew Dudley
Unregistered

Andrew frowned, he even winced. He shouldn’t have sent those letters, but then he had to prove himself for her didn’t he? But what was done was done and he was beginning to realise that this might be for the best, no matter how much he didn’t want it to be so. He was never going to be good enough to be a King, he knew that. But he had hoped. He was a fool to think he could keep his Princess.

He sighed softly at her words, he knew the meaning. It was clear to him now more than ever that she loved him. How could anyone love him, him the fool? His confusion did not matter in the here and now, because what would be the first time ever, Andrew did not feel like the fool. He was equal to her because love was involved. So he went to stand, but it was she who joined him on the ground. He made move to protest, but it was too late. All he could do was wrap his arms around her, pulling her to him in such a way that her knees barely touched the ground.

They would turn heads for sure, and even with this moment, all Andrew could think about is her precious gown being ruined. But there was no moving her, he knew that. So he stayed with her, holding onto her for dear life, knowing that this was goodbye, and this may be the last time he could to see her, touch her. He buried his face into the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent for the last time. Finally, he drew back and his lips found hers, and he kissed her deeply, before whispering against her lips. “Do not worry about me my love. I will never forget you my Princess, never. I will write to you often, so do not cry for me. You be the Princess I know you are and some day you will rule as Queen, I will not take that away from you.” Slowly he rose with her, keeping her held to him as if afraid to let go. But even he knew there was a time to let go, and hope the fates will allow them to meet again.

He drew back from her, kissed her cheek and then wiped her tears away. “Take care of our child, Christina, choose for yourself who will raise her, do not let your father break you.” He paused for a moment, before adding with a small grin. “I never did.” Finally, there was a silent moment when he knew this was goodbye; he stepped back again to open the carriage door for her, his free hand clasping hers gently. “You helped me find my heart, Christina and I thank you for that, now go my Princess and live the life you were born to.” He gave her a hesitant smile before giving her another kiss on her cheek, knowing that if she didn’t go now he would surely steal her and runaway, no matter the consequences.
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