Chapter 114, December 1520
Ribeira Palace, Kingdom of Portugal, December 1520
A tear slid down her face, the Queen could hardly believe what was happening. Catalina of Aragon trembled as she took a deep breath, leaning her back against the wall for support. In the room adjacent to where she stood in the hallway her husband was dying. Worse yet, because it was the dreaded plague that he was suffering from, she could not comfort him for fear of putting her life, or that of their unborn child at risk.

The woman prayed quietly for a moment, trying to appear calmer than she really was.

Elvira de Mendoza placed a hand against the Queen of Portugal’s shoulder blades, the older woman trying to quietly comfort her as best she could.

“Thank you, Elvira and Maria.” Catalina whispered

Maria de Salinas was also there, by her side, stroking her friend’s hand, and Catalina could tell that she too was bewildered, not sure what to do. The woman saw a flash of dark cloth in the morning light out of the corner of her eye, and she heard a trembling voice,”Your Majesty.”

Turning her head, the Queen of Portugal noticed that it was her eldest stepchild, Prince João, and she lowered her head, unable to curtesy due to her pregnancy, and asked,”Highness, do the physicians send any news?’

João’s lip trembled, his facade of cool formality falling apart,”My father, the King is dead…”

Catalina of Aragon blinked away tears and walked over to the young man, nay, the boy who had just lost his father, who would now assume the heavy burden of being King. She threw her arms around him, and together they both sobbed, utterly despondent.

Catalina no longer the Queen Consort of Portugal, sniffled,”He was a good man João, a kind father to you and your brothers and sisters.”

“Yes, he was.” João nodded his head,”But he was still taken from us too soon, far too soon.”

Catalina thought about the child in her belly, who would never meet its father, and hugged her nephew tighter,”Si João, far too soon.”
 
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Poor Cata. At least João is there with her. This certainly was a mood change from the fluff post!
This is certainly a crushing blow for Catalina,, though you are rigjt in that at least she has her stepchildren/nieces and nephews. Yeah definitely a change since the fluff post, but I decided we needed one more before we said goodbye to Manuel. Thank you very much!
 
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RIP to the King.

Hello King João.

If Catalina‘s baby is a boy does he take over from João When he reaches age?
João is indeed King, and we'll see how he does in this role, though he'll have Catalina to possibly advise him. As for Catalina's child, well we will soon find out if it is a boy or a girl... Thank you so much!
 
Damn it, I knew Manuel's dying was coming, but I was hoping for atleast a few more years. I hope Catalina will be alright and taken care of in Portugal.
 
Damn it, I knew Manuel's dying was coming, but I was hoping for atleast a few more years. I hope Catalina will be alright and taken care of in Portugal.
Sadly poor Manuel didn't have much time left, but he at least died knowing that Catalina and their unborn child were healthy. As for how Catalina will be, well she's devastated, but will have other things to worry about. Thank you very much!
 
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