False advertising

Booking.com had this advertised as free cancellation. I had to cancel the trip 2days prior due to a medical emergency. Booking.com advised they would ask the establishment to waive the cancellation fee which took me by surprise as it had been listed as free cancellation. The Hub Boutique Hotel advised me that it was booking.com that asked them to charge the full amount. A day before the travel they cancelled my booking yet they claim the hotel was fully booked yet they charged me the full amount for the two rooms.