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- Suffolk! Suffolk, wake up! the duke was awoken to the voice of the king, who was shaking him gently in the middle of the night.
- Your Majesty, he said with a low voice, - why are you up in the middle of the night? What has happened so that you came to get me yourself?
Henry was standing beside the duke's bed dressed in his morning gown.
- Get up and come to the garden with me, he said and held his hand tenderly.
- At night, Your Majesty?
- I was already walking there on my own for a while, said the king, - come with me, this is important.
- As you wish, Your Majesty, said the older man and got up.
He put on his morning gown and followed Henry to the garden, which was slumbering in the beautiful summer night. Moon and the stars were illuminating the plants and the cool night air seemed to strenghten the fragrance of the roses. Dew drops were shimmering on their petals, which had closed themselves delicately.
- I woke up and couldn't sleep anymore, said Henry, - so many things were circling in my mind. I came here, but I couldn't calm down, Suffolk. You have to help me!
- What's bothering you, Your Majesty? asked the duke.
The young king grabbed his hand and looked straight into his eyes, seemingly restless.
- Remember, what we talked by the fountain yesterday..., started Henry, blushing a little, - about how me and Margaret must... we must...
- Consummate your marriage, Suffolk said calmly.
- Yes, Henry nodded, - when I went to bed, I was thinking about it and... Suffolk, I... think I can do it, but...
His eyes wandered from the duke's eyes to the roses and back again.
- I don't want it to be like... what my mother did with that man...
Henry's expression darkened and he lowered his head.
- I want it to be... beautiful.
- I understand, Your Majesty, Suffolk nodded.
- Could you then give me some advice?
- Your Majesty, you are a sensitive and thoughtful person, so I don't think you could do something wrong, Suffolk said reassuringly.
- I've never kissed anybody, lamented Henry, - please, show me how to do it right and delicately.
The duke was dumbfounded.
- It's night and there's no one here. No one will see, said Henry.
- Alright... once, Your Majesty, Suffolk said gently.
- Thank you so much! Henry smiled and held his hand warmly.
- Well then, said the older man and moved closer, his handsome face framed with beautiful light brown hair now only inches away from Henry's. - Keep your eye contact, deep into the eyes.
The duke brought his hands carefully to Henry's soft cheeks. His sky blue eyes stared back at him, only half open.
- Just do what I do, said the duke.
The young king moved his hands slowly to Suffolk's cheeks.
- When you kiss, close your eyes and be very gentle, the duke instructed.
Henry felt his heart beating madly, as Suffolk brought his face even closer. He closed his eyes and felt his soft lips touching his own. Henry flinched, but answered the kiss carefully. When their lips parted, he opened his eyes and looked at the duke with his cheeks rose red. A delicate blush had risen to Suffolk's cheeks as well.
- I wish could kiss that beautiful young man from my dreams like this too, sighed Henry absentmindedly.
- The young man from your dreams? Suffolk uttered, stunned. - Your Majesty, have you seen more dreams of that person? I thought you had completely forgotten about that dream.
- I've dreamt of him many times, replied Henry, - but I keep forgetting most of that dream.
- You want to kiss him, Your Majesty? Do you even know his name?
- He hasn't told it to me, - said Henry, - but he awakens so wonderfully fond feelings in me.
The young king's eyes were shining so much that it looked like he could burst. He turned to the rosebushes and picked a white rose for himself.
- He still reminds me of this white rose. I dreamt of him again tonight and when I woke up I was tearing up again! Oh, Suffolk, what do I do?! He is so beautiful. His lips... are like petals of roses.
Henry picked himself a red rose as well, and took both of the roses to his lips. Their scent was absolutely intoxicating. Lost in his thoughts, delicately he bit off a white petal, then a red petal. He put them on his palm and touched them softly, fiddling them with his fingertips. They felt soft like velvet.
- Your Majesty--
- Once, said Henry, - let's do it one more time... so that I'm sure I'll know what to do. Please, Suffolk.
- Alright.
Henry turned to face his friend again. However, this time he didn't just wait, but did what Suffolk did, and brought his face closer to his. He closed his eyes and their lips brushed each other for a few times, before they indulged in a deeper and proper kiss.
- Mmh..., mumbled the duke, - Your Majesty, please don't bite my lip...
- I... I'm sorry.
After continuing the kiss for a while, they stopped, looking at each other confused, their cheeks vividly red.
- I think Margaret will like it, said Henry, - she's got... beautiful lips too. What do you think, Suffolk?
- Well, yes, Your Majesty, the duke nodded, looking troubled.
Henry embraced him warmly.
- I have to get back to my chambers, he said, - but I thank you with all my heart, Suffolk. I don't know... what would I do without you.
- Your Majesty, I'm glad I can be of help to you.
- Good night, Suffolk, Henry smiled fondly.
- Good night, Your Majesty.
Henry hurried back inside. He left the red rose to the garden, but took the white one with him. Suffolk followed him slowly, lost in his thoughts, but was snapped out of them as he noticed movement in the shadows.
- Who's there? he inquired.
Someone took a couple of quick steps back, but Suffolk caught up with the person easily.
- Who...?
- Don't!
It was Margaret.
- What are you...? Suffolk started, before he was silenced by Margaret's unbelieving expression.
- I couldn't sleep and I thought to take a little walk in the garden, said the young woman, - and I found you and Henry kissing in the moonlight.
- It... it wasn't what it seemed--
- What then, William?
- Don't tell him that you know, please, said Suffolk, - His Majesty wanted me to teach him to kiss properly, so that you...
Margaret blushed.
- I... I saw you yesterday by the fountain, she said, - and I've seen how Henry looks at you. He doesn't realise he has a crush on you, he is so innocent.
Suffolk nodded. He knew it too.
- Since you kissed him, kiss me too, whispered Margaret.
The duke didn't dare - nor did he want to - say no. In the shadows of the castle walls he wrapped his arms around Margaret and kissed her tenderly.
At the same time Henry was lying in his bed and had turned to his side. He was admiring the white rose and had brought it delicately to his lips. Henry kissed it softly. His head was spinning and his heart was racing, as thoughts and feelings about Suffolk, Margaret and that mysterious beautiful young man from his dreams filled his mind and heart.
- I want to dream of you again, whispered Henry, nibbling at the rose petals until he fell asleep.