Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.

Slight tweaks have been made to Filiberta of Savoy (1498-1525) and Giuliano de' Medici (1479-1516). I have bumped up their birth years slightly along with the year of their marriage. Filiberta is born in 1488 and married Giuliano in 1504 instead of 1515.

Prequel to Festina Lente.

Chapter Two: You Must Be Strong.

27th of February 1504 - Château de Cognac, Cognac

"I do not wish to leave France. It is my home," Filiberta whispered softly almost pleading with her sister to command her husband to remain here so that she might also stay with him; she did not want to leave everything that she had ever known. Despite living at the Château de Cognac for only a few years as part of her sister's household, she had come to think of it as her home and she had never imagined the day that she would leave.

"It is your husband's wish to return to Venice," Louise replied firmly, her eyes not leaving te needle work that she was doing as she attempted to mend one of Francis's shirts that he had damaged while practicing his swordsmanship. Her boy was a fine swordsman and had relished in the lessons that had been given to him by Giuliano, he had come to adore the man that was now his uncle via marriage and this pleased his mother greatly.

The alliance between their families was still fresh and there was still much to be decided especially since there were whispers that the Queen of France was pregnant again. Should she be delivered of her much-needed son then Francis would be pushed down the line of succession and there was a chance that he might never take the throne that Louise was sure he was destined for.

"Perhaps you could offer him a position here. Francis adores him so, he could tutor him," Filiberta pleaded, knowing that if anyone could convince Giuliano to remain in France then it would be Louise. Tutoring Francis would surely be a step up for her husband, it was not like he had to rush back to Italy because he had lands to govern or a career that would support them.

"I shall do no such thing. You will leave for Venice with him and you shall do as others have done before you when marrying into the Medici," Louise stated firmly, her eyes not leaving her work and she grew tired of her sister's complaints. It was not her place to command anything from Giuliano, she could not command him to stay nor would she when there were other things that plagued her mind.

Securing her son's succession to the throne was always going to be more important, surely it was God's will that the son of a Count came to the throne when there had been so many others in his way. Setting down the shirt that she was mending, Louise stared at her sister with a tight frown on her lips knowing that there could be no going back now; she would have to be stronger or she would be eaten alive when Florence returned to Medici hands.

"Cardinal Giovanni cannot marry, it is through you that the Medici line shall continue," Louise instructed her, if things had gone well on her wedding night then she could already be pregnant with a Medici heir. Any child would be a sign that this marriage was blessed by God, they had even had Cardinal Giovanni and several French Cardinals bless the marriage bed.

"Piero's boy is as weak as his father was. You need to give Giuliano a son that will secure the Medici for the next generation, one that can live up to the Medici legacy as the grandson of the Lorenzo il Magnifico," Louise said reaching for Filiberta's hands, she grasped them tightly wishing for her to understand. She could picture it now, their children uniting France and Italy against the might of the House of Trastámara that had joined together to unite their own kingdoms.

They could not allow such a thing to continue, if they could lay claim to those Kingdoms then what was to stop them from seeking to steal the throne of France especially from a King with no sons. Isabella and Ferdinand might have been titled Catholic Monarchs but their actions could only led to problems across Europe, what was to stop them turning their attentions to other thrones.

"You will do this sister. You will have to wade through blood and you will know loss, you must be strong," Louise instructed her firmly, her eyes searching Filiberta's face knowing that she had condemned her younger sister to an uncertain fate. The Medici would take back Florence when the time was right but it would not be without challenges and Filiberta could not afford to be weak in the eyes of the Florentines when Giuliano was expected to become their ruler.

Thumping from the sound of an arrow hitting its target made Giuliano smile, he clapped his hands as the young boy before him turned to face him; a large smile on his boyish face at the fact that he had hit the centre of the target. It had been a long morning of practice and Giuliano was pleased to see his lessons with Francis had gone well, he had been impressed with the boy's desire to learn and he was a smart lad. If he was not in his lessons that his mother had instructed his tutors to give him, then he was working on his swordsmanship or horse riding; archery was something new that had been added to his lessons.

"Bravo, Your Grace. A fine shot," Giuliano congratulated him, he found himself enjoying the time that he spent with the young boy and it was clear that Francis looked up to him. The Duke of Valois was still expected to take the throne even with the whispers that te Queen of France was pregnant, it appeared the French did not hold much hope that she would be delivered of a son.

"With a little more practice, you should be an expert," Giuliano encouraged him, he moved towards Francis knowing his attention to his wife's nephew had been noted. Despite what many would think of him, he was fond of the boy as he was with any of his siblings children; he adored visiting them when he could and it aggrieved him that he had not seen Lucrezia and her children since the Medici had been exiled from their home. His eldest sister had been forced to stay behind in Florence with her husband while her brothers had been forced out, much to her grief since her husband was a support of those who had hurt her family so.

"Thank you, uncle," Francis murmured pleased that he had impressed him, the two walked across the green to collect the arrow that Francis had struck; the setting sun reminding them both it was time to head inside. It would be time for supper soon and Francis would need to wash up, his mother would expect no less from him especially having spent the afternoon learning such physical lessons. Pulling the arrows from the target, Francis pondered his words before peeking back at Giuliano and knowing that he had to say something; he had to speak his mind or what use was his tongue if he was silent.

"Do you really have to leave?" Francis whispered, he did not wish for Giuliano to leave and he enjoyed the lessons that the older man gave him whether it be archery or when he spoke of Italy and how much it meant to him. The news that Giuliano and Filiberta were leaving Cognac and would be heading off to Venice was something that greatly displeased him, he did not wish for them to go when they could be happy here.

"I do. I am a Medici and Italy is my home even if it has been taken from me for now," Giuliano told him, he patted Francis on the shoulder and knowing that they could not remain. They could never allow those who had chased them from their home to think they would accept such a thing, he worked hard making other courts see them as their allies and hoping they would support the Medici in taking back Florence. It might not have been a glamorous life that most dreamed of but Giuliano refused to allow his father's legacy be ruined because of Piero's mistakes.

"When I am King, I shall return it to you, no one should be without a home," Francis promised with a smile, a smile which grew bigger when Giuliano ruffled his hair and he peered up at him with his dark eyes. He did not remember his father well, he had been but a babe when Charles had died, even his beloved sister did not know of him well.

"Then you shall be a very good and fair King indeed," Giuliano replied slowly starting to lead Francis back inside, in truth he knew such things would be difficult but Francis was but a child and he would not crush his dreams. It was never that simple but that did not mean that Giuliano would not see some reward when Francis came into his throne, he was the boy's uncle afterall and he would ensure of that.

"I shall write to you often from Venice and Urbino, perhaps if you are well behaved and continue with your studies to your mother's satisfaction then I shall be permitted to send you gifts," Giuliano told him, he saw no reason not to continue to bond with Francis while gone. His brother was counting on him afterall to further secure their alliance with Louise of Savoy, one way or another.

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