the truest of loves // Timothee Chalamet The King fanfic

Scene One

Maria's POV
"may i present you, King Henry V," boomed around the hall as my childhood best friend walked in the hall. his robes lavish and red, the crown upon his head exemplifying his handsome features, his stride carried so much power. as he walked past me i saw his eyes shift in my direction, i couldn't help but smile however quickly returned my head to its bowing position. he sat upon his great throne and stared to all the guest, i knew what he was waiting for, and it hurt my heart.

"may i present, Queen Catherine of England, formally Princess Catherine of France," her name made me hold my breath. i could not help but sneak a look to the woman who had married my best friend. i heard rumours of her beauty yet didn't expect it to be so immense. physically, she was perfect for him. their children would be beautiful, i just hoped that she would make him happy. she took her seat next to Hal and smiled to him. i couldn't help but miss my best friend in this moment. i didn't not feel jealous of their love, i just missed the love he had prior been giving me, the love of friendship.

the gala commenced and everyone began to dance. i saw Henry and Catherine dancing at the centre of the hall while i danced with an old Lord. in the past Henry and i would always dance together, it was the only thing that lightened my mood at these boring events. now he had been given someone else. a princess.

from the corner of my eye i saw him walking toward me. "my dearest friend Maria, it feels like years since you have graced me with your presence," i found that his words caused a bitterness in my mind, however i understood that his responsibilities now prevented our old shenanigans. "i have miss you Hal, i see that you and Catherine have became fond of eachother," i nudged his arm lightly. "well, you could say that," he looked down, i could see sadness, i didn't like to see him in the way, i didn't want his guests to see. "quick come. i need your opinion on a matter of great importance," i said as i pulled him into the large stone corridors of the castle.

"what is wrong my friend?" i placed my hand on his shoulder. he flinched at my touch, he never flinched at my touch. "you are my dearest friend, the being that holds my trust more than any other. i must tell you, i can't not love her Maria. my heart can not fall for the princess, my queen," i internally gasped, i didn't want him to think i was judging him. i pulled him into a hug, "Hal, we don't chose who we fall in love with. maybe it's just not destined," i whispered while consoling him. "i do not believe she loves me either, she tells tales of a man named Jack back in France. i see the ways her eyes light when his name pours from her mouth," i felt sorry for the pair. "do you love another my friend?" i enquired, he sighed, "not that i know of, love is unfamiliar to me Maria," i could tell he was becoming exhausted in his position of king. "tell her, tell the queen of your feelings and may she be truthful with her own, but don't like this leave her lips, we can't let the kingdom know of this."

the gala had ended and i retreated back to the room which i has been gifted as a young girl. Henry's father and my own were close allies, our visits became so frequent that we subsequently moved in. Henry and i used to run around the long halls as young children trying to discover all the rooms in the large building. we pretended to be at war with each other on the courtyard however if either of us were harmed immense remorse and sorrow were presented from the other. we were very close, all up until the war. it broke us apart, Henry had bigger priorities than coming to see me me. i knew that it was his duty so i didn't try convince him to step away from any task he was faced with to spend time with me. he had a kingdom to look after now, he didn't have time for me. i understood.

my sleep was rough. my mind was filled with fear that i had provoked something that could tear the treaty of France and England. i awoke in the early hours of the morn, i knew sleep was no longer possible for me. i moved to my writing desk and read my fathers journal, he had passed earlier this year. when Henry and i began to detest his father my father supported us in silence. he knew the the past kings ways were cruel, he knew Henry would be able to change our kingdom for the better. one line of his journal stuck out to me,
'my daughter Maria and her closest friend Hal are inseparable, i can not wait till the day i hear the church bells chime for them.'  he had always thought Henry and i would end up wed yet we always laughed and denied at these silly jokes my father made. Hal's wedding bells had already chimed, they had rang throughout all the kingdom, not for me, not with me. i did not mind, Hal was my friend after all.

my unrest had led me to wander through the castle. i made my way through the dark halls to the small private garden only Henry and i had the key to. before my mother had read to us in this garden before sleep every night, after her passing Henry and i made it a weekly event to read to each other on the same bench that my mother had. his kingship stopped that, he was often busy until extremely late hours. i missed it. i sat upon the bench and looked to the stars above me. i could help but wish Hal and i were young and free again. i knew i soon had to marry and leave this castle, leave Hal. i heard the gate open from behind me, did i forget to lock it?

then he appeared, his smile trying to hide the internal sadness only i could see. "come, let me embrace you," i whispered and he came and held me tight. i could feel his soft sob on my shoulder. he only ever let his vulnerability show around me, alike myself with him. i rubbed circles on his back to calm his breathing, "come my friend, sit with me," i whispered and brought him over to our bench. "do you miss her?" he asked quietly, i knew he spoke of my mother, i looked to him only as he sorrowfully looked to his feet. "i miss her waking moment of my life Hal, every moment," i stated averting my eyes to the floor to avoid him seeing the glaze that had appeared over them. "i miss her too," he moved closer and leaned his head upon my shoulder. we sat in a calming silence. the stars shone brightly above us, i had wished then that my mother was looking down upon us. my eyes scanned each star, "Maria, look! a shooting star," Henry said excitedly, i could only smile. she was there. always.