The Glow

As Anne waits in the garden, she reads the note one more time.

My lovely Anne,

Please accept these gifts. If I remember correctly, orchids are your favorite right? You're probably wondering why you've received them, but I'd actually like to talk to you about something first.

Meet me in the garden right away.

Yours forever,

Catherine <3

Anne had briskly made her way to the garden after reading the note. It didn't exactly sound like her crush friend, but at least she now had an excuse for not completing her daily tasks. Meaning someone else would have to do it. The thought of it makes Anne smirk for just a second before it fades away at a different chain of thoughts.

Why does Catherine want to meet with her? It couldn't be for anything political, as neither of them bring up the topic of politics in their conversations. Perhaps she wanted her opinion on something? But the thought of independent Catherine asking for help doesn't seem all too likely. So..... Oh. Oh. Of course. It always comes back to this, doesn't it?!

Anne is slightly annoyed at herself for her train of thought. Unless it was an absolute emergency, the only logical solution would be that Catherine somehow found out about her crush, and was coming to confront her about it.

Realizing this, the green woman starts fiddling with her hands, and the note that she decided to bring with her. You know, as proof. Not that anyone would come out here at this time, the gardens are always attended to earlier in the day. Catherine must know this too... She probably hates me now! No wonder she wanted some privacy.

"Oh...um. Hey Anne." The sound of another's voice causes the lady in waiting to jump, before she turns and sees it's the queen. And beautiful as ever. "I'm sorry, did I scare you?"

"No no, you're fine. I just wasn't in my right mind I suppose." Catherine hums in response. There's a long, awkward silence. One that's too long for both women. "So, you asked to see me?" At this question, the Spaniard gives a confused look towards the French.

"......No, you asked me." Anne mirrors Catherine's expression, both of them perplexed at the situation. "...You left this in our chambers." The brunette holds out the note she had brought out with her, the black-haired woman inspecting it.

"I-I.....didn't? You left this in the room I was assigned." They each copy the other's previous action as Catherine inspects Anne's note. Another period of silence follows, neither knowing how to react. 

The two inspect their note a little further, reading the words over again. Trying to find some sort of hidden message. Some clue to who sent the gifts. Or why.

It's after a minute or so that Catherine notices the handwriting. The familiarity of the crossed t's and dotted i's ultimately labels the culprit. A certain loop that Catherine had seen so many times before.

"Oh." Anne perks up as the other speaks. The older of the two, moves the note so she can point out her discovery to the younger. "Mary crosses her t's and dots her i's like that."

"Ahh." The amount of discomfort between the women starts to eat at them. They've never been this uneasy with one another since they've become friends. And even before that, the uneasiness came from their rivalry, not......whatever this was. All they want is for it to go away. Perhaps by suppressing their feelings, or their crush reciprocating them--though the latter is highly unlikely.

"Though, I can't figure out why she would want us to meet like this..." Catherine silently and quickly asks God for forgiveness. Truth is, she had determined that her daughter is attempting to set the two up. The young twelve year old often joked about forcing them to confess, but the gold woman never thought that she'd follow through. Though, Mary is her daughter.

"Really? Didn't expect to hear that from such a 'wise' queen." This little tease earns the green woman an elbow to the side. Something that happens quite a bit between the two friends. Though, of course, when you fall in love with your friend, you tend to overthink a lot of your actions. At least, that's how it is with this duo.

"Well then, I don't suppose her reason has to do with you does it?"

"Well, if you'd count your daughter repeatedly teasing me about my crush a reason, then yeah, you could say that." If there's one thing Catherine isn't, it's dense. The only reason the queen stays silent is because Anne had a crush.

So, Anne has a crush.... And if Mary's been teasing her about it.... And it ultimately lead up to this.... Then that means Anne's crush is.... Me? Anne likes me? But....why??? I thought I gave off such an...unapproachable impression. Yes, we've become friends, but.... Why would she like me?

It's in this silence, that the green woman starts to internally panic.

Oh god, why'd I let myself say that? I could've just lied. She wouldn't have known. But noooooo! My mouth just had to confess! Well, technically I didn't say the words 'I have a crush on you' but I mean Catherine is really smart she probably figured it out. That's why she's not saying anything. Oh my god, she hates me, doesn't she? Ahhh! 

"Anne?" Catherine cautiously asks, still unsure of how to approach the situation, and still trying to grasp the facts. "This crush doesn't happen to be.......me......does it?" Okay Anne, you can still save your friendship. Just say that it isn't. Anne attempts to reassure herself.

".......Maybe?" But ultimately fails, as she ends up confessing anyway, not making eye contact with the other. 

"Wait but....why?" The younger of the two is slightly offended at this question. There are countless things about the older that made her so attractive.

"You can't be serious." Anne makes sure that their eyes are locked as she starts to talk. "First off, you're quite literally the most beautiful being I've ever seen. And you're also really intelligent, and confident, and strong, everyone sees that. But then very few people see that you're really soft and honestly kind of protective, but I'm really glad I'm one of those people who get to see that side of you. Your smile is one of the most special things I've seen, and I really could go on, there's so much I admire about you."

If Anne hadn't confessed before, this certainly seals the disclosure. She starts to fiddle with her hands once more, worried for Catherine's reaction.

"You really see all that?"

"Of course I do! Not that you'd see any of it in me..." The lady in waiting starts to curl into herself, eyes trailing down to her shoes.

"Anne, I would never see my personality in you, because you are your own person. You're a naturally friendly and talkative person. Well, when you're not complete enemies with someone that is." Anne giggles at this little comment before continuing to listen intently, eyes locked on the other. "You have this sort of contagious happiness that radiates off of you. If you don't understand, what I'm trying to say is that when you're around I feel a bit warmer inside and my mood lightens from what it was before. And then on top of that, you're absolutely gorgeous."

"......How do you....see all of that?"

"Because God knows I like you back, Anne." The French woman blinks twice in shock. Catherine actually liked Anne back. In a burst of relief, the black-haired woman walks closer to the brunette, their faces getting closer......and embraces the other woman in a tight hug, which is gladly returned.

"So, what happens now?" Anne questions as they pull away, gazing into her friend's amber-gold eyes.

"As much as I want to be with you.....I cannot. I'm married to the king, and I'm sure we both know what would happen if I had an affair. Much less with another woman."

"We'll be careful. Please. It all feels different with you. No one will know." Suddenly one of the chairs squeak, revealing the presence of a certain blushing spy who had set everything up. "Well, no one except Mary, I suppose." The child puts her hands behind her back, twisting her ankle nervously. "But back to us. Please Catalina?" The gold woman tilts her head as the green quickly slaps her hand over her mouth. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. It just slipped out."

"Anne, it's fine. As my little secret lover, you have been granted that privilege." As the younger's eyes light up, the older feels a blush creeping onto her cheeks at how adorable her new lover is.

"UGH FINALLY!!" The shout comes from a certain twelve year old who had been paying very close attention to everything that's happened. "I'm sorry. The two of you were very oblivious, and you wouldn't listen to me so...."

"Thank you, mi hija." At the praise, Mary proudly smiles. That is, until her mother continues. "But as much as I appreciate you doing this for us, you cannot see your friends for three days. Understand?"

".....Yes mother." Mary reluctantly agrees to the punishment, causing quiet giggles to escape from the new couple.

A couple. We really are a couple aren't we?