the truest of loves // Timothee Chalamet The King fanfic

Scene Two

Hal and i returned to our own chambers. my mind still stuck on his words to his wife, had he told her his love was not true? did she protest? did she agree? i couldn't help but wonder. i wanted the best for my friend, he had stuck by me in the roughest of moments, i had to stand by him in all of this.

"miss Maria, the king has called you for breakfast," one of the maids said while i brushed my hair in the mirror upon my wall. "thank you, may you inform him that i shall be with him in mere minutes," i smiled to the older woman. all of the staff in this place had full hearts, it was truly beautiful. i made my way down the cold stone corridors lit by flame mounted on the walls. "good morning to my king and queen," i bowed as i came into the room, Hal and i rarely used formalities yet he insisted that around his wife we must. "and to you lady Outheart" he replied, "good morning my lady," his queen added. we ate in silence. before the war Hal and i used to eat breakfast alone together in a secret chamber we found one night, sadly now we could not due to his marriage.

"what are your plans for the coming day?" Henry asked his wife, "i must write my family back, my dear friend Jack sent us a gift, so i must write a letter thanking his kindness to him," i saw it. her eyes truly did light when she spoke of the man named Jack. i knew that look, 'twas the same look my mother and father had between them, true love. my heart heart for the poor girl. we had hardly spoke since her arrival, i couldn't help but feel she was cold to me yet i still felt a pain for her.

Henry and i went to the village to visit his subjects. the village of Eastcheap was more than familiar with our faces. we spent most of our early teen years around these streets, Hal and i even lived here for a while, before his kingship. we walked along the busy roads in clothing that did not show our class, we wanted to just feel like we used to. free. we travelled to our old living space, our rooms had a door which linked them. i often heard him with the woman of the town, something i grew used to. we walked into my old room and collected some items from the drawers. "come, look to this," Henry smiled while showing me where we had once carved our names, "i miss these days, we were truly happy," the words slipped from my mouth unintentionally he just nodded and continued to trace the engraving.

we sat upon my old bed and spoke for a while about our coming plans. "did you tell her? Catherine, about your heart?" i asked, i couldn't let it bother me any longer. "i have. she told me her hearts true desires alike i did, non of which contained me," he looked to me. "i am proud of your honestly, you make me so proud everyday my friend," i smiled and patted his hand. "aye but you, you are the strongest woman i have ever known. i could only ever wish to find a love that comes any close to you my dear," i could his words were true, he looked deeply into my eyes. "you always do make my cheeks the brightest of crimson," i giggled hid my face.

on our way back to the castle we spoke of our plans for the future, we got onto a topic that i had been dreading to talk about. my future marriage. "do you want to marry?" he asked, i looked at him plainly, "you know i have to, it's not a choice for a lady like me," i stated. he gave me a weary smile, "i'm sorry it is like this for you my friend. if i could change it all i would," his sincerity made my heart warm. "there are two men whom have asked for my hand, i am unsure of who i should chose. i haven't even met the men properly, only at glance have i seen the two," he was taken aback by my words, this was the first time i'd told him about this. "and the men are?" he enquired, "lord Balforth and lord Halsworth," he looked at me in shock. "i think we should talk later of this matter, meet me tonight, the garden," he said as we reached the palace gates. he did not seem happy, maybe he knew that if i married he'd be left here, alone. however what he did not know is that i had felt alone for a while now, truly alone.

the skies turned the darkest of blacks and the stars shone like candles. i walked alone to the garden to find the gate unlocked, i stepped in and saw him waiting, he was admiring the nights beauty. "Henry," i whispered with a smile, he turned to me slowly, his smile was bright and true. "come Maria, sit. let me talk of the men whom desire your hand," he stated and moved over for me to sit with him.

"let's start with Halsworth, an older man, mature, smart however i know of him to be stubborn. i heard tales of him touching the woman in town without their approval. i wouldn't never want that for my dearest friend. never," that ruled Halsworth from my list leaving only Balforth. "now onto Balforth, a man only a year older than myself, making him 2 more than you. smart, good trade connections, a man of business however i have yet to see him smile. i fear that that man has no emotion," Henry laughed. "in the simplest of ways to say i am doomed either way," i chuckled. i knew that none of the two were man for me. i wanted to find my own love, not marry for class. "maybe i shall stay alone for the rest of my years," i sighed, "you know the i will be alone with you Maria, my wife and i may be married yet not love is there for either of us. she loves another and i do not even know what love truly is. the closest thing to love in my adoration of our everlasting friendship," i pulled him into a deep embrace. my best friend would never leave me to be alone if he had his own way, i knew of it.

i woke up in my bed, not remembering how i got here. there was a note beside my table, written in my favourite persons hand.

Dearest Maria,
You fell into a deep sleep as we star gazed last night, we searched the sky for constellations for hours. I didn't want to wake you, you looked truly at peace, I must say i enjoyed the quiet, oh how i kid. After you fell asleep I brought you back here, please know that in the morn I shall be out on a hunt. Catherine asked if you desired spend the morning together, I feel you should as she must feel so alone over here. So please just help her became comfortable. If I don't see you in the day please know I will be in the garden tonight.
Yours Truly,
Hal x