Lucrezia

by Averie Masters

The story follows the world of the Borgia family through the eyes of the oldest son, Cesare Borgia. Mainly focusing on his relationship with his younger sister Lucrezia and how it affects their life. From the day she was born to all of her weddings, Cesare tells their story of love and sorrow. Just a heads up, my story focuses on what I wanted to happen along with what did occur.

1. All wrapped in white

The Borgias, My sister and I

It was a warm day in April when she was born, the 18th to be exact. I was only 5 years old at the time, but I can still remember that day, clear as water. I remember the exact moment too, I was out in the courtyard, pretend sparring with Juan, we used wooden swords and every time we played, Juan would lose, father always told him that he should not be losing if one day he was to be a soldier and a duke, so he would throw a fit every time, but that did not matter, we still played. As we sparred my father came out, sweat dripping from his face, and tears swelling up in his eyes, he smiled and said "Boys, your mother and I have been blessed with a baby girl, come meet her" he led the way and we followed, I was so excited to be a big brother to someone so much smaller than I, I was already thinking about what I would teach my new sister too. Juan was different though, unlike me, he was less excited, in fact I'm sure that he would rather have stayed out sparring than come see his newborn sister, nevertheless he came, putting on his best "surprise" face, that made me laugh.

Father guided us to mother's chamber, and there he opened the door, letting us see mother, lying in her bed, holding something wrapped in cloth. With each step I could see more of her, until finally I saw all of her. She was a tiny thing, all wrapped up in white cloth, tiny golden hairs were on her head, and plum rosy cheeks were on her face, she was a pretty little baby. "Lucrezia" my mother whispered, "What mother?" I asked, confused, "Lucrezia, that is her name, the name of your baby sister Cesare" she replied. Lucrezia, I thought, what a pretty name, Lucrezia. "Mother, may I hold her?" I asked, "yes of course Cesare, come here" she patted the spot on the bed next to her; I got onto the bed, arranging myself in a comfortable position. "Here you are Cesare, but be very careful, your sister is fragile" she said as she handed me Lucrezia. I held her in my arms, watching and feeling her tiny breathes, I was almost afraid that if I held her incorrectly she would break. As I held little Lucrezia, I wondered how I could ever love something so small, and someone who I just met, but somehow, I did.