Kenna Fleming

In all honesty, he could never understand why her brother would not consider him as a possible suitor now. Yes, he was once a mere bastard son of the King of France, but he had been a Duke for a long time now and the brother of not one, but two Kings of France. He had been married to Queen and a beloved King consort of Hungary. And even though he had no intimate relationship with his wife, the two had come to an understanding and had formed a beautiful friendship, cared for each other as a person and there was love, but it was just not romantic for they both had interest of that short elsewhere. So known was it that the two were close that none suspected him of possibly having any involvement in his wife’s death. But he pushed these thoughts from his mind now, smiled at her warmly. “Bet you will get an earful for that later…” he teased her, eyes glanced at her brother if only for a mere second. “Is this how you wanted to spend your last dance of the year thought?” He questioned, for by now he was not used to them being close anymore. Their relationship had been through storms and tornadoes. Through thick more than through thin. And yet, there was always love, at least from his part; he never ceased loving her, caring about her. And now, he did not know if the question was idle or if he wanted to satisfy the curiosity that raged in the back of his mind.

It was both a pleasant notice to hear that she has been great, but also a stab to the ribs too. Maybe he wanted her to be a little sad about them, even though he knew that it was entirely selfish on his part to even think of that. A genuine smile graced his lips despite that. He wished that he could say the same thing about himself; that the holiday spirit had some effect on him too, that it made him all happy and giddy. Perhaps he was too caught up on the brooding mood to let go of all the sad things that had happened to him during this year. To be frank, you could say that holidays had the exact opposite effect on his heart; made him reminisce of the year that was coming past and not in a good way. Francis passing away, him having lost Kenna yet again, the scandal with Charles and Mary…loses, grief and no smiles. Part of him was eager to leave this year behind and hopeful for a brighter, happier one coming. Hence, her question caught him a bit unprepared. Should he be honest and blunt with her, or should he put on his facade, as he did per usual for social proprieties? 

“Better than I hoped.” He compromised, kind of more soft than flat out lying to her. A laugh fell from his lips, heartedly, but leaving a bitter taste on his tongue. “Other than helping out Charles as much as I can, I don’t think I’ve got much going on…” He wished right now that he could lie and say that he had lots of things going, but it was Kenna he was talking to. “You on the other had, seem like you’ve got a handful in your hands…” He teased, a smirk formed on his lips as he subtly pointed towards where her brother was standing, watching them. “How is that going?”

Maybe it was the extravagance of everything, or maybe the music, or anything else really, but parties like these would always have a grip around her and she used them to stop thinking about the past but to instead look forward if only for a short period of time. But being here, with him, moving together to the music. It made it hard not to think about the past, about them and how she never seemed to get over him. But her soft smile stayed as she pushed away from the thoughts of the past if only slightly. It had been a long year filled with ups and downs, hopefully, the coming year would bring something they all were worth by now.

Every last working brain cell screaming at him to not do this; this was a bad, awful decision and he knew, deep down, how it would end. But his desire to hold and dance with the woman that has been holding his heart for the past few years, unwavering, not learning from the continues loop they both find themselves in, is greater than anything else in the entire world in this moment. His eyes firmly fixated on hers, her glowing appearance. His heart hammering against his chest, leaving him praying that she cannot hear it. And when she accepts, taking his offered arm, he beams at her in the most genuine way. So he led them to the dance floors, the other pairs parting to make room for them in the center of it all, and it felt all as if in a fairytale; even thought it was all too much real. “You look magnificent…” The Duke found himself telling her, not so much intentionally but he sincerely had no control over his tongue and body tonight. Not at this moment. The stare of his friends and his brother at the back of his head burnt, and he very well knew why they were all so displeased with him, and yet he was the happiest his had been in a long, long time. 

“How have you been?” A simple question, yet one which withheld his overflowing interest for her; to hear of her news and to hear her telling him that she has been well, that she has been happy. Even though he was aware that her brother was at court, his eye catching him for a split second as they spun around, but that was the only moment he took his eyes off her.

A warm smile spread across her lips as his words reached her ears. “Thank you... and so do you.” she replied, her words as honest as they could be. But he has always been in her eyes and despite the circle of broken hearts they always seemed to get caught up in it hadn’t changed over the years. In between she had moved on, she even had so now. But not entirely as one would wish, especially her brother. She always seemed to mend her heart in some way but there was always a missing piece that she had to convince herself didn’t exist. Deep inside she knew who held that missing piece and now while moving with him to the rhythm of the music those feelings was harder to hold back. How she missed him.

You could almost touch the feeling of the festivities filling the castle these last couple of days. First with christmas and now tonight they would say goodbye to this year and welcome the next. Though it had been a few days between the two big parties one could almost think the first one had never came to an end. In one way, maybe it hadn’t, as the guests who arrived before christmas still filled the otherwise empty rooms in the castle. Even Kenna who loved these grand  parties started to feel that the castle was a bit crowded. But as the last day of the year started to come to an end and the music once again filled the grand room were the christmas tree still stod and reminded everyone of the festivities the overcrowded feeling faded and instead got replaced with a large dose of joy. For tonight she wore an emerald green dress with gold details that matched the mask that was covering her face. Her long brown hair was put together in a beautiful hairdo with a few small braids. This was trully her, the green reminding her of the never ending green hills of Scotland. Her father who sent it trully knew how to please the more materialistic side of his daughter. She placed the now empty wine glas in her hand on a table that she passed as she moved towards the large group of dancing people. It wasn’t long until they would all move outside to watch the fireworks light up the night skye but until then, she wanted to have one last dance of the year. Despite already having had a quite handful of different dances the alcohol she consumed so far made sure she didn’t feel the slight ache in her feet. Following the edge of the circle where the people danced she let her gaze look over the people, or actually just the men, to try and find who would best suit as her last dance partner of the year. Soon her gaze stopped on a man she knew very well, a man who still made her heart jump and left a tingle in her stomach whenever she saw him. Still after all these months. Her feet moved her closer to him, not caring much of the people he was talking to and soon she stopped by them. “ What man would leave a Lady without a dance partner on a night like this? ” she said, her gaze only locked on Bash who she directed the question to and a small smirk slowly grew along her lips.

The atmosphere has been greatly improved since the last time he remembers a gathering or festivity at the French court. Even he could admit that he was feeling more upbeat and merry than he had in, what seemed like, years. Perhaps it is the Christmas spirit and the anticipation to leave behind the awful year that is, eventually, coming to an end. Or more likely, it is the alcohol that has become a more frequent inhabitant of his system than it ever has in all the years before. Regardless, Sebastian had already decided and promised to himself three things that he wouldn’t do tonight; one, to not get excessively drunk and have a perfect recollection of events. Two, to not overthink. Anything. Not about his personal relationships, not about his family, all the people who have passed away and cannot be here with them tonight. And lastly, he promised himself to not let himself get distracted by Lady Kenna’s presence, and even more so that of her older brother’s. He was no fool, after all, he knew exactly what her brother was at court for, other than to be near the Scottish Queen and provide advice and consolation; he had come to marry Kenna of, to a good, wealthy gentleman who could provide for her and, hopefully, raise her standing or the family’s prestige.

Standing there, laughing and joking with all the familiar Lords and nobles that surrounded him, his eyes often drift off to the dance floor. Watching her. Watching her move gracefully across the floor, mingling and laughing as she twirls and turns about, according to the dance demands. A sigh fell from his lips, barely audible, when his attention was demanded back from his discussants.

And then the lovely, soft sound of her voice broke through the static that reined in his head; Kenna. His eyes immediately found hers, and her smirk was mirrored by him; somewhat more subconsciously than it was a conscious decision. “That would deem one not a proper gentleman…” he found himself responding, the words simply rolling off his tongue. She was a sight to behold; magnificent. Dressed in a fine emerland dressed, the gold thread bringing out the tan of her skin, the color of her eyes. She was beautiful. Breath taking, even. “Excuse me, gentlemen…” He laughed, placing the goblet which he had been holding on the table beside him. The men parted and he found himself standing right before her; why he had come to him, specifically, tonight, he knew not, but what he did know is that he has been dying to have a moment with her; just to be able to see her, stand so close to her, touch her.

Amphelice came over to the palace one frosty October night, when moonlit mists were hanging over the harbor and curling like silver ribbons along the seaward glens; for her lord and husband had long now been away to war and battle, and she, heavy with child and stricken with fear, had wearied of sitting home all alone save for her ladies, not knowing what to do with herself for how faint she often grew thinking of the commander, away from her, not knowing where he was or when next she shall have him back home, to her; was she, then, she often thought, to bear their child alone and in fear and homesickness for her lover? Would Mother not leave her homestead and come to her? Weeks had it been now since last she had written to her, and Amphelice worried that her letter had not been received, or worse, that Mother had fallen ill and would not at all be able to travel to be with her. She was near enough to her confinement now, belly swelling smooth and round with her babe, that such thoughts made her half-sick with worry; and although she did what she could to soothe her worries, she had but little appetite, and often had to force herself to eat, for fear of her child growing sick in her womb. Sighing wearily, sat she now before the fire with her sewing, firelight curling about her fair face and sweet, blue eyes like little sparkling rings of gold, her dark curls shining like silk atop the lace of her dress as she dipped her neck forward, bidding her lady bring her her shawl, lest she caught cold for how little warmth her body always seemed to keep.  “My back aches with sitting,” she said, peering over the swell of her belly at Kenna who sat near her, a pretty little grimace forming over her delicate brow, “–and that soup my old nurse would have me eat has given me a bellyache after all… "  she sighed, pouting miserably as once more she took to her stitching, hating how stiff her body felt; how cold and restless. No longer had she uttered the words, than her nurse came to her with her shawl and a cup of tea, bidding her drink it as she draped the shawl about her slender shoulders, “I have made you some tea with the hips of roses; it is sour and will taste good to you. I remember how I craved sour things when I was with child– babes in the womb know what is good for them, and they demand it of us. Drink it, child.” commanded she, and, not wanting to quarrel, Amphelice drank obediently, her body demanding the nourishment even as her mind revolted, making a face at the sourness of the drink, but drank it down thirstily nonetheless. “oh, I do not like it,” she said, “but how strange, I cannot stop drinking it… Want you some, Kenna?” she offered, forcing herself to smile a little now, not at all liking how she had sat there half the day, sighing and snapping at everyone around her;  Amphelice had been so edgy lately that there was no speaking to her at all. It was natural enough, so near her time, constantly longing for the father of her babe and knowing not when next she’ll see him, but nevertheless, she wanted not to sour their mood any further, and thus, swallowed her bitter thoughts and sipped at her tea, bidding her maid bring the lady Kenna and herself something sweet to nibble on whilst they occupied themselves with needlework, hoping to feel a little better for having the company of such dear a friend as Kenna; for she felt, if left alone amongst strange ladies another second, she should go mad and strangle somebody for how dreadfully fretful and overwhelmed with worry she had been; oh, if only Nicholas would come home!   

Mary hadn’t spoke to Kenna for as long as she could remember. She hadn’t heard much from any of her laides, to be quite honest. She missed the company of her friends, and was glad to have reconnected with Kenna. Her mourning had kept her from reaching out to anyone, and isolating herself from the people she loved did negative things to her mental and physical health. While Kenna was technically her subject, that meant nothing to Mary. Kenna would always be a friend to her, no matter what happened.

Mary sat in her chambers with her friend, sipping away at a goblet of wine as she talked and caught up with Kenna. It was a simple activity, but hiding away in her chambers kept her away from the stresses of court. The Queen looks over at Kenna, pursing her plump lips. “How have you been, I feel like I’ve been going on for too long about myself. I’ve really missed you, Kenna.” She says, smiling gently.

As their gaze locked her smile grew and gave him a slight nod at his words. ”Of course.” She added as she moved towards him to take the seat he made for her. ”You know you can always come to me if you need something.” Not that she could offer him everything, but she would always try. If there was something sure about her it was that she would do a lot for the people she care about. Despite her more egoistic side that seemed to get more attention from people rather than her caring side.

infinite list of favorite reign outfits:

Her tone like poison and her eyes sharp with judgement, Catherine joined the young girl’s side.

She could see the pain in his face, and after all this time and everything that happened between them. It still hurts just as much as always to see him hurt. She know all to well what it felt like to loose someone since loosing two of her closest friends. They may not have been family, but they had still been like sisters for her.

So when her gaze had met him and she had noted his expression she hadn’t hesitated a second before walking up towards him. She pressed her lips together as he opened his mouth before she had the chance to. ”I know.” She answered in a soft tone. ”So I wanted to ask if there is anything I could do for you.” she added soon after and let her gaze meet his with a slight, soft smile along her lips.

She could see the pain in his face, and after all this time and everything that happened between them. It still hurts just as much as always to see him hurt. She know all to well what it felt like to loose someone since loosing two of her closest friends. They may not have been family, but they had still been like sisters for her.