AN : And another one for you my dear readers ! Hope you'll enjoy.
Disclaimer : I don't own « Reign », no plagiarism is intended and I do not make profit of this.
Chapter 20 :
Later that day in the campsite near the front line.
Today's offensive had given the advantage to the english but the french King was not going to surrender so easily.
When Henry returned to the camp with what was left of the army he went directly to his tent and ordered his meal to be brought to him.
Entering the tent the monarch didn't notice the woman liying on his « bed ». He sat heavily on his chair and sighed while waiting his dinner.
Rubbing his temples with his fingertips he relaxed a bit until Kenna's voice broke the silence.
«- You seem tense, my dear.
Henry quickly got up and turned around, prepared to fight the threat. But when he saw Kenna he sighed and spoke.
- What are you doing here, Kenna ?
- Isn't it obvious ? I'm coming to see you. She answered while coming closer to him.
- Why ?
The girl marked a pause and continued, putting her palm on the King's chest. :
- Because I missed you, Henry… Haven't you missed me a little ?
- Actually… Not at all. He said while taking a step backward.
- What ?
- As you are here I might as well tell you now.
- Tell me what ? Henry I don't understa… But she was cut off by the King.
- It's over.
- What is over ? War ?
Henry rolled his eyes at Kenna's stupidity and answered, looking into her eyes :
- Us. You and I. It's over Kenna.
- WHAT ? Henry ! You can't do that ! After all I have given to you ! Do you realise what… But she was again cut off by the monarch.
- I do realise. I have found a man, a noble man who is willing to take you as his wife.
His name is lord Robert de Savoie. I have never seen him but from what I hear he is a good man. And as he lives in the Alps, far away from court he won't know that you have been my mistress and won't even know that I am behind this wedding as it's a friend of mine who took care of the matter.
- You can't seriously consider this. She said more calmly.
- Oh but I can and I do ! »
Alright, she was never going to make him change his mind this way. She had to play her last card : Catherine's pregnancy.
« - Think. Why would you want to send me away while your pregnant bitch of wife will no longer be able to attend to her duties to you ? »
« - She is giving me another child, another heir… I can live without mistresses. I can live without you ! But not without her. I love her.
And then marking a pause he continued : « And don't you dare speak ill of her again. »
His voice was dangerously low.
« - But, she will be as fat as an horse !»
At this the King took her by the shoulders firmly and shook her while shouting :
« - DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I SAY ? I SWEAR IF YOU SPEAK THIS WAY AGAIN I WILL KILL YOU MYSELF, BECAUSE MY WIFE IS MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN ANYONE AND ESPACIALLY WHEN SHE IS CARRYING MY CHILD ! .HER DO YOU UNDERSTAND ?
YOU WILL MARRY THIS EARL AND I WILL NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN ! »
Then he led the shaking and crying girl out of his tent.
Yvonne who by chance stood near the royal tent had heard the King shout and saw the crying Kenna being thrown out by the sovereign. She hurried back to her tent to inform the Queen of what happened.
Meanwhile, Kenna took her things and went to Savoie to marry the Earl of Savoie.
/-/-/-/-/
And this went on during three months. Henry continued to deny every women that offered themselves to him. Yvonne continued to report everything to the Queen. And Catherine continued to rule the country and rub her belly with oil from Cairo every night while thinking of her King.
/-/-/-/-/
Today ! It was today ! Henry has beaten the english and was finally going to return to her ! Thought the five months pregnant rulling Queen.
The King has sent word yesterday that he would arrive at the castle just after lunch time.
It was time !
The whole court was gathered outside and in front of them the royal children stood with beaming smiles at the thought of their father returning from war and of course there was Catherine. She would only relax when she would see her husband leading his men back home.
*trumpets sounds*
Catherine took a breath. Normaly she would be able to see Henry very soon but when she saw the General Irwin leading the troops instead of the King she couldn't breathe anymore.
Francis who by the time had returned to court and his rightful place took a few steps forward and lightly took his mother's arm.
« He isn't here. Your father isn't here. » She said never turning her eyes from the approching army. »
The Dauphin answered nothing. He just stood there.
A few minutes later Irwin was just a few step before the Queen and Catherine had to ask the question. She had to know if her husband was dead…
Irwin dismounted his horse and made the steps that were between him and the Queen.
Tears in her eyes Catherine said : « The King… where is he ? »
« He has been hurt, Majesty. » Answered the general.
« Is he... » She said a single tear running down her cheek.
« No, Majesty. He is alive but seriously injured. »
« Thank God. » She sighed to the sky while putting her right hand over her belly.
The Queen turned around and called for the physicians to bring the King to her rooms and to start to take care of him.
She thanked Eugene Irwin and went to her rooms to finally see her husband.
/-/-/-/-/
In Catherine's rooms
She was about to enter her rooms when three physicians came through the doors.
« How is he ? » she asked rapidly and worridly.
« He has a big wound on his left leg. It has started to get infected but we were able to stop it. He has lost a lot of blood and is still unconscious. But Majesty… I… we can not garantee that he'll survive this. If he pass this night, everything will be alright but we can't affirm that he will... » Said the physician.
« Go and find the Dauphin and tell him to take care of his sibling tonight as I won't be able to do so. Inform him of the King's state of health. » Answered the Queen saddly.
« Yes, your highness » And the servant was gone.
After praying for a long time for God to let her husband live, she took off her dress and put on her nightgown. She then climbed into the bed, fortunately she found herself on Henry's right side so she couldn't risk to hurt him further.
Putting her head on his right shoulder she slid her pregnant form under the covers and whispered : « Don't leave me, Henry. I beg you don 't leave me... »
/-/-/-/-/
Next morning in the Queen's chambers
Catherine slowly woke up. She saw the sun beggining to rise in the sky.
And she remembered… Henry.
She turned her head to face her husband and to see if he was still alive and breathing.
How she deseperatly hope he would be ! She wouldn't forgive herself for having slept if he was no longer… How could she move forward in her life without him ?
She couldn't loose him… not now.
She put her hand against his chest just above his heart to see if she could feel the familiar strong heartbeat and feel his chest rising and falling with every breath he took.
And then… she felt it. He was breathing… he was alive…
She cried but this time it was of joy. He was still here with her. She smiled, a genuine smile and kissed her King's cheek tenderly.
Then the Queen got up being careful to put the covers back around him so he would not be cold.
Then she choose a red and gold dress that was sculpting all her curves but not in an indecent manner and took the matching jewelry.
She left the room to inform the physicians, the children and court of their sovereign King's state of health.
Fortunately, the morning sickness had stopped two months ago so she was again able to enjoy breakfeast and as everyday, she choose to take it with her children.
/-/-/-/-/
In the Royal family's private dinning room
After ordering the physicians to attend the King and informing court that their King was still alive, she went where her children were waiting for her.
The pregnant Queen entered the room but it was not as usual… they were no happy chattering and laughs. The smiles that normaly adorned her children's faces were replaced by sad expressions.
Catherine took her seat at the end of the table and spoke.
« My darlings, as you already know your father has been gravely injured. That's the reason why I wasn't with you last night. I needed to take care of him. »
« We understand mama. None of us is going to protest because you haven't been by our side last evening. Especially given the reason… We are just worried for papa… » Answered Charles.
Smiling at her son's answer and being reminded again of how fast he was growing she said : « I can see that… but I bring you good news. »
At her statement, all the children lifted their heads directing their looks to the Queen, hope written all over their faces.
« Good news ? » Said Francis.
« Yes good news. As you already know the physician said that if your father survived the night, he would survive but they couldn't garantee he would.
Fortunately, he has. »
« So we are going to see him again ?! » Asked little Margot.
« Yes princess. » Catherine affirmed.
« So, I suggest that we eat before the pastries get cold. » the Queen added.
And each of them took a pastry with renewed joy.
After breakfeast, the pregnant Queen took care of some matters that she needed to deal with before returning to her husband.
To be continued…
AN : What will happen next ? Will Henry return to consciousness ?
The next chapter will tell.
Don't forget to leave a review, please. It always warms my heart…
I don't know when I will post the next chapter because of school it will depend on the quantity of work I have to do…
Laura D.