Chapter 7
When the first rays of sunlight bathed the royal chambers into a soft light, Henry Valois groaned in distress and pulled the covers over his head to shield his sensitive eyes from the brightness. His night had been anything but restful and the raging headache that had nearly driven him to insanity the day before made it's continuing presence known with a slight but constant throbbing at his temples. Sleep had lessened the vehemence of the pain but knowing what kind of duties and obligations awaited him today did dispossess his hope of oncoming relief.
Several minutes passed wherein he felt sorry for himself and hoped for a miraculous healing, then Henry resigned and arose. Frowning and bad-tempered he called for his valet who helped him getting ready for the day.
Shortly thereafter the King of France stepped out of his chambers and almost collided with Mary, who had obviously been in search for him.
"Excuse me but it is important I speak with you," she addressed him immediately.
"That'll have to wait till after breakfast," Henry decided grudgingly and intened to push past Mary. But to his surprise she put her hand on his arm to stop him from getting on his way.
"I would not bother you at this early hour and before breakfast wouldn't it be a matter of extreme urgency."
"Is this about your upcoming marriage? Mary, I would like to speed things up for you and Sebastian but right now my hands are tied. And yesterday's events did not help at..."
"No, it's not about my marriage. It's about..." Henry who wasn't used of being interrupted by anyone, started to get annoyed by the younger woman's behaviour. He freed his arm from her grip and shook his head.
"No matter what it is - it has to wait." He was not willing to continue this conversation on an empty stomach. No wonder he was being plagued by attacks of nasty headache lately. Mary, Diane, Catherine - they all were driving him crazy.
"Henry, it really is crucial. I..."
"Have you had breakfast yet, Mary?" The King of France did not wait for an answer but already purposefully hurried towards the dining hall.
"No but..."
"Then join me and later on you may inform me in great detail about whatever bothers you right now. After breakfast!"
Meanwhile in the tower
Just like Henry, his wife Catherine de' Medici did hardly find any rest that night. Her thoughts had constantly circled around the events of the previous day. She had racked her brain over the question if her survival was sheer luck or tragic misfortune.
In the wee hours of the morning she came to the realization that she still didn't know how to answer this question.
For some inexplicable reason Mary and Sebastian seemed to be standing by her side – at least for now. Heaven only knew how long this newly developed sympathy would last.
While Nostradamus's concoction now held the nausea at bay that had been a constant companion since the very first weeks of this unexpected pregnancy, the remedy could not mitigate Catherine's feeling of generally being unwell. Dizziness spells, fatigue, terrible back pain and some circulatory problems continued to plague her.
She sat down on her bunk when silver stars started to dance in front of her eyes once again and groaned in distress. She hated feeling weak and not being in control of her body.
When Catherine opened her eyes again, she was looking straight into the eyes of one of her eldest enemies and Henry's eternal lover, Diane de Portiers.
"Diane, just when I thought my day could not get any worse, you decide to honor me with your presence." She saw absolutely no reason to hide her aversion for the other woman. What was there to lose?
"You may draw in your claws. I came to make you an offer, "Diane explained without preamble and although she knew it wasn't a wise decision given her previous dizzy spell, Catherine rose to meet her visitor on an equal footing nonetheless.
"What is it you think you could offer me?" She eyed Diane suspiciously.
"Maybe a way out, Catherine?" The French Queen didn't like the sardonic expression on the other woman's face at all.
"Let's be honest with each other, shall we?! The proclamation of your pregnancy may have delayed your expectable fate for a few month but you still can only buy some limited time. And did you ever consider the things that still could happen? I've heard that you are not feeling well. This baby might kill you just as well as the hangman's ax will do. Childbirth alone entails countless dangers and if I remember correctly, your last delivery was pure agony. Didn't you almost bleed to death and hadn't the physician warned you that another pregnancy could seal your fate? And even if you should survive the delivery - contrary to all expectations - there is still this unfinished death sentence hovering over your head. And no one is going to save you as Henry grew tired of you once and for all - just like me."
Catherine angrily minimized the distance between them until her nose almost touched Diane's.
"Why not being frank and say what you have to say out in the open, Diane?" She growled hostile.
"Very well. I admit I can not guess what's going on in your black heart and evil mind, nor am I able to tell whether the drama Nostradamus caused on behalf of your pregnancy and your uncontested acceptance of your death sentence was genuine or just one of your infamous schemes to pull Henry on your side. But I certainly do know that only your death will give the King's first-born what is rightfully his."
"And here I thought you were going to be honest. Sebastian and whatever you think shall be his is only secondary for you. What you desire is the official place at the side of the King of France. The titel of a Queen. You want to satisfy your own lust for power and you certainly want the one thing you always craved and wanted to call yours in all these years. Henry."
The dizziness had returned, but Catherine stoically defied her rival with her head held high and her chin jut forward in defiance, poisonous arrows darting out of her brown eyes.
"Oh, you think you're so smart! It's not the place at Henry's side that I crave, it's your goddamn place! Yes, I love Henry and I love Sebastian, but it is you whom I hate with all my heart and the day when you will finally draw your last breath will not only give me satisfaction, it will be a day of true joy!"
The insane, hate-drenched expression in Diane's eyes caused the Queen of France to slowly walk around the other woman despite her discomfort.
"Like so many others you need to restrain your hatred and your thirst for revenge," she said succinctly when she was facing Diane once again, forcing a smile on her face that didn't feel real. Then she pointedly stroked her stomach to show Diane that Henry's unwelcomed gift was currently protecting her.
Diane couldn't hide how much Catherine's pregnancy and the truth related to her blessed condition was killing her. For not only did it mean that Henry had bedded his wife once again but also that as opposed to his mistressed and whores, he still did forgo any protection against a pregnancy while sleeping with his wife.
This fact was anathema to the other woman. A woman who had warmed Henry's bed longer than Catherine herself and in spite of everything had only given birth to one single child.
And that happened at a time when it was highly questionable if she - his rightful wife - could ever give him his badly needed heirs. Had Henry tried to secure his legacy through Diane?
Of course, his methods of protection occasionally failed, the three bastards she knew of were proof enough, but it was a proven fact that Diane, whom he allegedly loved so much, only bore him one son.
For shortly thereafter Catherine had not only given him a Dauphin but also numerous princes and princesses, whereas Diane's womb had remained emty.
Involuntarily the Queen of France wondered how her rival would react to the fact that this child had been conceived in an act of genuine fervour and fiery passion? In a night where Henry's hands had been tender, his words heavy with pent-up emotions and his lips hot and all-consuming. And no matter how quickly his attitude towards her had changed, this baby was the result of passionate love-making.
"Maybe not. Tell me, Catherine, you do know the contents of this pretty little box, don't you?"
Catherine indeed recognized the box and it's deadly content immediately and swallowed hard.
Meanwhile in the dining hall of the royal family
Henry looked over the rim of his coffee mug to the other side of the table where Mary - Queen of Scots – sat. She was throwing lurking glares at him all along. Sighing, he grabbed one more slice of roasted bread and started sawing at the italien salami with his dagger.
"Do tell, before you stare holes in my head. What is so urgent that it can not wait until I have finished my breakfast?" He said defeated and placed three thick slices on his golden-brown bread.
"I want to talk to you about your wife, about Catherine." At this revelation Henry rolled his eyes and bit off a large piece of bread.
"I know, I know, you're looking for revenge. But you must understand that I cannot simply proceed with executing her since she is pregnant with my child."
"For God's sake, you missunderstood what I'm trying to say!"
"If so, what's all the fuss about?" He asked in irritation and cut off another piece of salami. Then he skewered it with his dagger point and took a big bite off of it.
"Do you honestly think that a cold, sparse cell without any comfort whatsoever is an appropriate place for a pregnant Queen?" Mary, who had already pushed her plate aside, leaned forward to look at him intently.
"It's the right place for a convicted adulteress, whether pregnant or not." He should have known that Catherine would try to intrigue her way ouf of her captivity. Though it surprised him how quickly she had won over the Scottish Queen and turned her into her tool.
"Even if her state of health is worrisome?"
"Don't let yourself be fooled by her outstanding talent as an actor. Catherine is a true master of deception. My wife has the health of an ox."
With a dismissive gesture he showed Mary that the matter was closed. He would not jump to action just because Catherine was playing her little game with the Queen of Scots.
She should have thought about the consequences of her adultery before betraying him with his best friend of all things. A few more days in the dungeon would certainly not hurt, maybe the imprisonment would teach his wife some humbleness.
"In this case you're wrong, Henry. Your wife is struggling with health issues and the stress of the last few days is not conducive to her well-being in principle."
To his surprise Mary rose and starred at him across the table.
"Catherine brought that upon herself. She has to bear the consequences for her own actions like any of us. Both as a wife as well as a Queen. Haven't you learned to stay out of things that aren't your concern? I know damn well how to deal with my mulish wife. Or are you questioning my decisions as King of France?" Henry shouted angrily but the young Queen didn't seem the slightest bit intimidated by his tirade.
"No, of course not. But I urge you to convince yourself of your wife's status of health if you don't believe my words. There is this one thing you two definitely have in common. You are both stubborn as a mule and equally lead astray by your pride - even if it leads you to a dead end. If you do not want to lose your wife along with your unborn child, you should go and visit her today."
All of a sudden Henry jumped up as well and jabbed his dagger on the table. Mary flinched.
"Well, I'll visit her this afternoon to personally judge her condition. Even if only to be able to rub into your face how foolish you were to have fallen for Catherine and her schemes."
Meanwhile in the tower
"And what is it you expect me to do now? Shall I just swallow the poison and do the hangman's job myself for your sake?" Catherine asked sharp-tongued, assessing her visitor with watchful eyes.
"Good guess!" Diane's mouth turned into a dangerous smile when she first looked at the Queen and then at the box she was still holding in her hand.
"Why should I do you and Henry this particular favor?"
Catherine was no stranger to serious considerations about suicide. After all she had received the deadly poison from her relatives that Diane was presenting her for exactly this very same reason. Not out of pity but to spare the Medicis the disgrace of her failure.
And she would be lying if she told she hadn't thought about a possible scenario where she voluntarily departed from this life. In the end she had opted for an extended suicide. She had been convinced that the murder of Mary would at least save her eldest son, even if she had sealed her own death sentence by that. But the poisonous steam had neither killed Mary nor herself.
"You may be unscrupulous, devilish and unquestionably dangerous, but even a Catherine de' Medici has a weakness. Her children."
At these words the Monarch's hand shot up and she slapped Diane de Portiers with a resounding noise in her face.
"How dare you threatening me?!", Catherine shouted angrily and was wrestled down to the cold floor of the cell a second later by her rival.
"Let's see how you're going to stop me." Hissed the dark-haired woman and pulled Catherine's head back by tearing on her hair violently. "You're going to die. One way or another. Maybe by giving birth, maybe even before. And if you shall survive the delivery, be assured that the executioner will be eagerly waiting to chop off your foul head of your body. If all else fails I'll strangle you with my very own hands." To express the meaining of her words, Diane's hands wrapped around Catherine's neck and started to squeeze the air out of the Queen of France. When she gasped for breath the pressure decreased as suddenly as it has increased.
"And the second you'll take your last breath I will see to it that your beloved children will follow their mother one by one. The journey into the distance is terribly dangerous, especially for small children."
"You will not harm any of my children..." Catherine's growling warning was interrupted brusquely when Diane pressed her more firmly to the ground and squeezed her neck once again.
"Pardon? I don't think so. Because as a matter of fact, sweet little Margot is not alone right now..."
As if stung by an adder Catherine suddenly leaped up and struggled with blind rage to free herself.
"NO! You wouldn't dare! They are also Henrys children", she hissed and punched Diane against her chin. The mistress screamed in pain and once again darted for Henry's wife. Only when Diane forcefully pressed her knee against Catherine's lower abdomen, the pregnant woman let her resistance die.
"Bitch, are you ready to listen to what I have to offer you or should I increase the pressure?" The demonic look on Diane's face was more like a sardonic grimace than a smile.
"So tell me what you have to say," Catherine spat hatefully at the dark-haired woman, but in fear for her unborn child she gave up her bodily fight.
Instead of giving her a direct answer, Diane reached behind them and showed Catherine the box with the poisonous ball. The pressure on her lower abdomen didn't diminish for even a millisecond.
"Why should I if I am doomed to death anyway?"
"Because you can save the lifes of your dearly beloved brood, Catherine. Die now - voluntarily and on your own hand and I promise that only exile and not death will await your children, if none of them ever crosses French border again."
"An empty threat followed by an equally empty promise! Or how are you going to guarantee the unscathed departure of my children to Spain?" The pressure on her stomach increased at that question.
"I can't. You'll have no guarantee and I will not force you to swallow that poison."
Quite unexpectedly Diane straightened and released the Queen of France. Seeming unfazed she smoothed her skirts and paid no attention to Catherine who was still lying on the floor.
"Poor little Margot," she murmured softly, looking in mock fascination at the pretty box in her hand. "Obviously her mother doesn't love her as much as she always pretends. How unfortunate." Shrugging, the mistress gathered her skirts and walked slowly towards the door of the dungeon.
There had been many moments in Catherine's life where death would have been mercy, but until now she had always been able to cheat death. Even the unspeakable horror she had experience in Florence hadn't taken her will of life. She did not want to die today, but there was more at stake than her own meaningless life.
"Wait," Catherine's voice broke the silence while she rose in dignity despite her disheveled state and imperiously gestured for Diane to hand her the poison.
Here we are - well, I promised Henry & Catherine but I didn't promise any quality time.
So here we are in the mess I have created...
I need and want to thank all of you for your mindblowing feedback.
at demedicigirl: yes, I oh so hate this woman. More so after writing this chapter. And yes, Henry will have to make some serious amends.
at guest 1: thank you! It seems we all have a common enemy. Let's hope for Kenna, Henry, Bash or Mary for the rescue?!
at guest 2: More of them to come, I promise, but I had to built it up. :-)
at guest 3: yes, they definitely become more interesting, right?
at A: ich bemühe mich, allen Stories gerecht zu werden, aber ich frage mich schon manchmal, wie irre ich sein muss, gleichzeitig 3 Stories zu schreiben und zu übersetzen - das ist wie 6 Fanfics zur gleichen Zeit...
at BrittDS: Oh dear! Excuse me but I was laughing so hard when I read your review. That's so sweet and a bit scary as well. ;o) How are things with you and your parents? So what do you think should happen with Diane once (or if?) she's stopped?! Take care, sweety.
at Medicibitch: Thank you! I'm glad you like it. Frary will come, but I'm not sure about Kennash as Kenna isn't my most favorite character and I actually didn't like Kennash in the show - I'm sorry...
at CallmeCordelia1: That's so sweet of you. And brave because sometimes I don't even trust myself... ;o) Thanks for your encouragement and your kind words.
at Guest: Thank youuuu!
at Eve Mullerova: Thank you, Hon. I'm glad that you like this idea. Some tenderness will come.
at WhitmanFrostFiend: My thank you. So glad you like this fanfic and also took some time to leave a review. We are all keeping this fandom alive and I'm very grateful.
And this time I can promise you some major Cathry in the next chapter. :-)
Thanks again, you're the best!