A.N. – Thanks to all reviewers. Very much appreciated! Hope all your own stories are going well and your other studies you are pursuing. Here is the next instalment, so I hope it begins to answer some of your questions. If not, please let me know.
Chapter 5 – A Night of Torture, A Lifetime of Suffering"Oh, Joseph. I just can't do this anymore!" Clarisse cried, her face muffled in his shirt.
Joseph wrapped his arms around Clarisse, holding her close and murmuring comforting words into her ear. She clung onto him for some time before releasing her grip and sitting back to wipe her tears.
"All right, Joseph. I'm ready to talk" Clarisse said in a shaky, broken voice.
She then began to explain what had been occupying her mind the past week and why she was so distraught by it…
Sitting up straight, Clarisse took several deep breaths before beginning.
"Now, I told you that my sister, Marie, suffered a long illness until she passed away on the seventh of July, 1967?" Clarisse asked.
Joseph nodded, urging her to continue.
"Well, she and I were very close. We shared everything together and were often mistaken for twins, even though she was a year younger than I was. When we found out about her illness, we were both shattered. I think we found out in early 1966 so she fought her illness for over a year.
"Anyway, I was Queen by then with Pierre at the age of 7 and Phillippe age 5. I contacted as many specialists from around the world as I could and they all tried to help. At times we thought she was getting well but then she would just go down hill again. Each Doctor told us the same thing; she was dying quickly and there was nothing we could do about it."
Clarisse took a deep shuddering breath, clasping Joseph's hand tightly in her own.
"So we waited. It seemed liked months that we just sat by waiting for the inevitable, but there was nothing else to be done. I made sure she was always comfortable and was always there for her, even with the duty of Queen forever hanging over me. It was hard but we managed it.
"The boys loved Marie. They were always found with her in the palace when they had completed their duties for the day. I don't think they understood that she was dying, to them she was just always tired and just didn't do the physical things that others did. She was the best aunt in the world!"
Clarisse's eyes began to fill with tears again at the thought of her children with their Aunt Marie. Joseph could see her pain so began to rub small comforting circles on the back of her hand. She relaxed ever so slightly, plunging back into the story.
"A couple of months before her death, I myself became very busy with my duties and also became ill from over working" Joseph couldn't help but share Clarisse's knowing smile at this comment. He often told her she worked too hard.
"I was confined to my quarters for all of June, with only the doctor coming to visit. Not even my own children could see me! It was during this time that I heard Marie was getting much worse.
"This news only made my illness worse so I was admitted to a private part of the hospital for a couple of weeks at the end of June and the start of July 1967. I was staying stable but was not allowed any visitors.
"It was on the fifth of July that the doctor told me Marie had been asking for me. I longed to go see her but the doctor advised me against it and I knew myself that I couldn't go back to the palace. I sent word that I would come and see her the next week when I would be released back into the palace care. I never realised just how ill she was. I didn't realise I would never get back in time."
Clarisse now had tears pouring down her face, not bothering to attempt to stem the flow. She was staring off into the distance, letting the painful memories play freely through her mind.
"It was the night of the seventh of July, 1967. I was suffering a very high fever and the doctor had to stay by my side for hours, keeping me conscious. It wasn't until the fever had passed near midnight that word was passed to the doctor that Marie had passed away. She had died right at the climax of my fever."
Clarisse broke down into silent sobs, pushing Joseph away when he tried to embrace her.
"She was asking for me the whole time! She needed me Joseph, and I wasn't there for her! The last word she spoke was my name and I wasn't there to hear it! What kind of sister am I!" Clarisse was hysterical now, fighting Joseph's firm hold and kicking out her feet.
Joseph had never seen her so upset. It was bad even seeing this strong woman cry, but being so hysterical? It was a nightmare come true. Joseph was thankful no one else was around to witness it.
"Clarisse, love, please calm down" Joseph soothed, wrapping his arms more tightly around her.
"No!" she screamed, punching his chest in her emotional pain. Joseph just gripped her tighter, even when they fell off the side of the fountain onto the ground.
When they hit the ground, Clarisse ceased her struggles and just sobbed uncontrollably onto his shoulder.
"Your Majesty!" a voice suddenly exclaimed.
It was Shades closely followed by two other guards. Joseph was annoyed, to say the least, that they had heard her scream but grateful that they weren't as useless as he thought.
"You two!" he barked at the two guards who were staring in disbelief at their broken down queen. They snapped to attention immediately.
"Go and inform Charlotte that Her Majesty will be taking the rest of the afternoon off. She will continue with her duties tomorrow" Joseph ordered and the two guards immediately ran off.
"Shades, help me get her up" Joseph asked quietly, not wanting to startle Clarisse too much.
The two men got Clarisse up and helped her back to her quarters in the palace. Placing her gently upon the couch, Joseph turned to Shades once more.
"Inform the guards outside the suite that Her Majesty is not to be disturbed and not to enter under any circumstances."
At Shades' look of surprise Joseph added, "I will be here with her. You are in charge of all other situations outside this room for the rest of the evening. Understood?" Joseph asked.
Shades nodded before leaving to carry out his orders.
Joseph turned to Clarisse once they were alone and watched silently as she pressed her face into the couch arm, sobbing uncontrollably.
Sitting down beside her, Joseph pulled Clarisse into his arms, and began to rub her back soothingly. Clarisse wrapped her arms around Joseph's waist, pressing her wet face into his chest. She had calmed down significantly and was now beginning to drift off to sleep.
Joseph just sat back, letting her rest against him as he held her tightly. He would stay here the whole night if he had to.
As Clarisse fell into a deep sleep, Joseph pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.
"Rest well, my love" he whispered, his voice the only sound heard above Clarisse's deep breathing.
A.N. – Well there is another chapter. Have all your questions been answered? I don't think so…
The next chapter isn't far away so review and tell me what you think! Cheers! Annette-Rose.