hhanon

The next morning saw a much happier Richard health wise, the evening before a bath tub had been prepared for Henry in his chamber as it was considered good manners to provide your honoured guests with a hot bath. And much to Richard’s great surprise and pleasure, Henry had insisted that he make use of it first. A long soak followed by a thoroughly cleaning left him feeling much better, the heat having eased many of the aches left from the rape and the battle. While Henry had gone down and eaten in the great hall, Richard had dined in the bed chamber, but not on his own, Charles had stayed with him just in case the brooding Lord Stanley got any ideas about causing him more harm. And the physician had come in to make sure that the long ride had done him no more damage and had stayed to eat as well. He’d retired to bed before Henry had returned and the first thing he’d known about Henry sharing the bed had been when he’d woken up first thing desperately needing to use the garderobe.

Returning, he quietly drew on the fur lined robe that Henry used, wrapping it firmly around himself before going over to look down at the man who he’d slept soundly next to. He couldn’t believe that he hadn’t even noticed that he wasn’t alone. Had he been that tired, or was it because his sub conscious knew that he was quite safe with Henry by his side and could let him slumber in peace. Shivering slightly, he made his way over to the fireplace and dropping to his knees carefully started to make up the fire, gently coaxing it into life, adding some kindling before placing a couple of carefully selected logs on top. Lifting the heavy iron poker to stir up the ashes. It was then that he realised that he was holding what could be deemed to be a weapon, all it would take was one well placed blow and Henry would be dead. A sudden wave of nausea flooded him, the poker dropping from his numb hand to land on the floor with a dull thud, his head falling into his quickly raised hands, his frame shaking. Too many had already died and if he killed Henry many more deaths would follow.

Moments later, pair of arms were wrapped round him, a voice deeper than his murmuring soft words of comfort while rocking him gently. He knew without looking up that he was being held safe in Henry’s arms, and that the man must have seen what could have happened if he had been a much harder and perhaps braver man. Once he’d stopped shaking, Henry loosened his hold on him, allowing him to sit back on his heels, although he still kept one arm draped loosely across his shoulders. Lifting his head, Richard nervously brought his eyes up to meet Henry’s, fear clouding his normally bright blue eyes. Would the knowledge that he could have killed him make Henry treat him as most of his advisors thought he should, would he now find himself in chains, dragged along for all to see before meeting his end on the scaffold.

Reading the fear written on Richard’s face, Henry did the first thing that came into his mind as a way of removing that fear, leaning forward he pressed a kiss to Richard’s lips, not stopping until he realised that the fear had been replaced by surprise, the blue eyes wide, yet not afraid. Lord Stanley’s attack had not destroyed the real person deep inside the man. Searching Richard’s face, he saw nothing to make him stop, so leaning back in he kissed him again.