The party was in full swing as Henry and Catherine entered.

She was giggling as everyone bowed to her.

God.

Elena thought, she hoped she was wiser than she looked or at least got pregnant, otherwise Elena suspected that Henry would get bored and then....

Oh god.

"Your graces"
Ambassador Chapuys addressed them

"Excellency" they nodded their heads slightly

He looked toward Elena
"You must accept my condolences for your recent losses, your grace. I pray you feel better in time"

He was talking about her baby...and her father.

Elena's reaction to her father's death was rather bland.
She could not mourn for him for him fully for he had become a man she did not recognise, a man who prioritised power and ambition over his own family, if anything she mourns for the man he used to be.

"Why thank you excellency, you are too kind" Elena smiled politely

Charles looked unattached from the conversation staring off into the distance

"Charles?"
"Your grace?"

He snapped his eyes back to them
"My apologies, I was just thinking of those who are no longer here to sup with us, I had a moment of nostalgia, even for my enemies"

After Henry had introduced Catherine and announced her to the court, everyone clapped and celebrated as the feast carried on.

They all sat at the kings table at the head of the room.
The earl of Surrey was introduced, turns out he was the uncle of our new queen.

If he's smart he won't try use it to his advantage, Henry might grant him what he wishes for now but Henry also gets bored easily and after finding a new dream he always wants to erase any evidence of the old one.

Carful lord Surrey lest you be another Icarus in this court.

Catherine stared longingly at the dance floor.
"Would you like to dance?" Henry asked
She nodded like a child a Christmas
"Go on...wait."
Henry looked around for someone to dance with her

Elena swatted Charles on the arm
"Go" she whispered

He furrowed his eyebrows
"What?"

"Go dance with the Queen, find out what she likes, her interests then you will come back, you will tell me and I will get close with our new queen" Elena said bluntly

Charles gave a smile
"Have you always been this cunning" he joked

She did nothing but give him a warning look as he cleared his throat and offered
"AH good man!" The king cheered

Henry then turned to Elena, his face softening
"My friend, my con-"

"Please do not give me your condolences, it is all I've heard these past few days and I grow tired of it"
She said gently with a sad look on her face

"Very well..." he looked around before a smile appeared on his face "Cards?"

She gave a laugh "Very well, if I win..." she looked around for something she wanted "I get that" she pointed towards a large tower of champagne

"Very well and if I win, I get your two horses, the black one and the white one" he smirked

She had a puzzled look
"You gave me those horses when you made me a Duchess"

He had a mischievous look on his face
"And what if I want them back?"

She smirked
"Very well" snatching the cards out of his hand, she began to shuffle them "prepare to lose your Majesty"
__________________________

Charles had gone hunting with the king as Elena went to visit the queen

"Your Majesty, Her grace, the Duchess of Hastings"
Lady Rochford announced

Catherine stood up to greet Elena

"Majesty" Elena gave a curtesy

"Your Grace"

They sat down at a table in the corner of the Queens Chambers

"What have you come for, might I ask, your Grace"
Catherine asked nervously

She truly was young and naive

"I only come to offer my friendship to you, Majesty"

"You do?" Catherine asked surprised

"Why yes, I know this court can be daunting at times and the people in it can be mean creatures
but if you should ever need a friend or advice or
need to talk to somebody who has gotten used to these mean creatures that live in the walls of the English court, my hand is yours"
Catherine gave a big cheesy grin at Elena

It wasn't completely wrong.
Catherine seemed sweet and Elena had no problem being true friends with her, it was just a little extra bonus that she happened to be the Queen of England.
__________________________

She passed the lady Mary on the way out and waited until Lady Mary had left.

"My lady, could you spare a moment of your time"

"Of course, go" she sent her lady's away

"I was pleasantly surprised at your letter my lady, I thank you for it"
They walked slowly down the hall way together

"I feel as if we should be civil to each other, despite what has happened between our families, we both care for Elizabeth greatly, I see no reason why we should cause her grief by being hostile to each other" she said seriously

Elena smiled
"I agree, My lady...tell me what do you think of the new Queen"

Mary scoffed
"I think she's not fit to be a queen in the first place, she does not act queenly and is simply here to give birth to a child, why do you ask?"

"I was simply curious" they stopped walking "The Queens, uncle Lord Surrey, he is power hungry my lady. If you ever see me being kind to the Queen, please do not take offence to us I still wish for us to be civil and on good terms but I feel it is better to know what you were dealing with then to be blindsided, there is a much larger game being played at court my lady, I am sure you have noticed it, all these years"

Mary nodded and gulped a little
"I have..."

"I am one of its main players, I simply wish to stay atop that" Elena have a gently smile

"I understand"

Elena gave a deep curtesy with a smile
"My lady"

Mary did the same with a small smile
"Your grace"

The rest of the day Elena spent with Elizabeth and her children as well as Charles.
__________________________

HEYOOOO

Last season huh?
That's crazy

I hope u enjoyed
See u next chapter
Bai bai xx
-Issy ❤️

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