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Then the Queen cried, "Catherine, keep the door,
And I to this will suffice!"
At her word I rose all dazed to my feet,
And my heart was fire and ice.
...
Like iron felt my arm, as through
The staple I made it pass:-
Alack! it was flesh and bone - no more!
'Twas Catherine Douglas sprang to the door,
But I fell back Kate Barlass.
History told as a story
In the twilight of the Scottish court, Catherine Douglas,
a lady-in-waiting with a heart as bright as the heather, served
Queen Joan. A loyal friend and confidante, Catherine's laughter
echoed through the halls, a constant comfort amidst the whispers
of courtly intrigue.
One fateful night, a shroud of fear
descended upon the castle. The king, a man who had weathered
storms and battles, was now threatened by unseen enemies.
Catherine, her loyalty burning strong, stood guard by the royal
chambers, a silent sentinel against the encroaching darkness.
Betrayal lurked in the shadows, and the king's own
chamberlain, with a heart as cold as the winter wind, left the
door vulnerable. As thundering footsteps echoed in the hallway,
Catherine knew a terrible truth. This was no ordinary night; it
was a night etched in blood.
Without a moment's hesitation,
Catherine threw herself against the heavy door, her slender arm a
fragile barrier against the coming onslaught. The wood splintered,
the sound a death knell in the stillness. Her arm, once strong and
graceful, gave way under the pressure, but Catherine held firm,
her love for the king and her queen a shield against the
encroaching darkness.
The assassins surged forward, a tide
of violence, and the door burst open. Tears streamed down
Catherine's face, a mixture of pain and defiance. Though she
failed to save the king, her courage echoed through the halls, a
testament to unwavering loyalty and love.
Catherine,
forever marked by that night, carried the memory of the king and
the weight of her sacrifice. Though she found solace in marriage
and a life away from the court, the legend of her bravery lived
on. "Catherine, keep the door!" became a whispered warning, a
reminder of the night a lady-in-waiting stood against the
darkness, forever etching her name in the heart of Scotland.
See also:
Catherine Douglas
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