Replies to reviews:
BlerBlerBler [chapter 38]: You will just have to see ;) All I can say is that, it won't be smooth.
Guest (1) [chapter 38]: So am I! I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Guest (2) [chapter 38]: I'm sad about him too! Here's a little something for you ;)
Guest (3) [chapter 38]: Communications between the couple is non-existent, but there will be something little which should aid put Francis's mind to rest.
elder441 [chapter 38]: Yes, Kenna and Robin are so brave! Robin knows so much, it scares him and he can sense when his parents are scared because of his pagan abilities, it kind of matures his mind beyond his years. That also scares Mary because the child can practically pull up any secret and memory he can without his will. The Frary story is now up! :)
Guest (4) [chapter 38]: Here's a little something for you ;) Here's the next chapter!
Guest (5) [chapter 38]: We'll get to see a little bit of that soon. Claude is now a part of this, sadly and she will get treated unfairly for supporting her brothers and former lover. Kenna is smart, she can defend herself hopefully. Mary annoys me as well! I am hoping that there is something redeeming about her. Welcome to the ATEOTB club! New readers are welcome to join in the discussion and ideas! Thanks so much for loving this! And thanks for saying that, you are amazing! :)
Guest (6) [chapter 38]: He will ;(
Guest (7) [chapter 38]: March ;)
Guest (8) [chapter 38]: Here's the next chapter! :)
Before I start this chapter, quick thing! I posted Eighteen, my new Frary story set in the modern AU as well as One Day At A Time which is based on true events to an extent and is focused on Kenna, also modern AU. Enjoy them both whenever this isn't updated! :)
Catherine downed her goblet, gesturing for the servant to pour her another. She couldn't believe the mess that was happening. Well, she could and she did call it. Sometimes, she hated being right - it was a chore, a blessing and a curse. At this moment, it was a curse.
"This was a bad idea," she said, under her breath. "Pour me more wine."
"It's already full, Your Grace-"
"Pour me more," she snapped, rubbing her head.
The servant jumped, quickly pouring out another goblet full before placing it right beside the other one. She turned away and stood by the door, in fear of having something thrown at her. The Dowager Queen had been ruthless lately.
"A visitor, Your Grace," the guard outside announced. "From France."
"Who?" Catherine asked, rolling her eyes. "From what I know, I have no friendly faces in France."
The guard stepped aside. "The Duchess of Avon, Kenna de Poitiers, Your Grace."
Catherine's head snapped to the door and she gestured for him to let her inside. "Empty the room!"
The servant rushed out along with a handmaiden who was brushing her hair earlier and did not have the chance to be dismissed. The guard then led Kenna inside and left, closing the door behind him.
"How did you-"
"I told Antoine I needed to source some materials..." Kenna trailed off, taking a seat. "For our wedding."
"Dear God," Catherine muttered, holding a hand to her head. "How deep are you into this?"
"I can't tell you," Kenna mumbled. "Just know that he trusts me."
Catherine pushed the other glass to her guest. "Drink it all."
"I would love to but everything makes me sick."
"I understand," Catherine replied. "If I had to sleep with that vile creature, I would want to vomit a lot. Go on-"
"I'm with child," Kenna cut her off. "It's not Antoine's. I came because I needed someone to talk to and I know that no one will know about my visit to you because you pay them for their discretion."
Catherine nodded slowly. "What do you need?"
"Assurance?" Kenna whispered. "And help, for the next part of the plan."
Catherine stood, pacing the room slowly as she held her wine. "I remember when I was going to be executed. Now, my eldest child is going to be on the chopping block and I have no means to help save him. I can't give you any help, no matter how much I want to."
"You can't let Francis die. Or Bash and Claude for that matter!" Kenna cried out, standing up. "You can help them, help France. Influence the nobles, start gaining their support for when Francis takes back France," said Kenna.
"I am Italian. The only link I have to France is my children and two have been arrested already," Catherine told her. "They won't-"
"Oh, Catherine..." Kenna trailed off. "I know what you can do. You've done it when we were in Scotland against England. Gain the support of the Vatican and French nobles."
Catherine warily eyed her. "I will see what I can do."
...
"And there we have it. Month three of our imprisonment," Leith said, drawing a line on the ground. "I'm surprised they didn't shackle us down."
Bash turned to him. "It's not as comfortable as one would think."
"Oh?" Leith teased, closing his eyes. "I thought Mary would be galloping to save us with the Scottish army right behind her."
Francis narrowed his eyes, digging his nails into his palms. "Be quiet, Leith."
Leith's eyes snapped open and he gave Francis a look. "Don't you have faith in your wife?"
"Leith..."
"Isn't she why we've been here for all this time? No word, no way of contact or assurance that everything will turn out as we want?" Leith asked, his mood suddenly changed.
"What do you want me to say? That I'd rather watch my kingdom fall, than trust the word of a Scotsman?" Francis snapped.
Bash frowned. "Francis, think about what you're going to say next."
"Why, Bash?" Francis asked him. "It is because of her that our children do not have their fathers to comfort them. Mary always told me that I was selfish, always acted in France's best interests. But where am I now? In my own prisons! Scotland are free to do what they want, their only link with me is my marriage to their queen. Mary's selfishness is why Scottish aid is not here now."
Bash laughed wryly. "Francis, you've never acted in Scotland's best interests to be fair. Be patient."
"How do you do it?" Francis asked him. "Antoine is probably bedding your wife better than you-"
"Why are you trying to start a fight that you cannot possibly finish?" Bash asked calmly as he stood up to pace their shared cell.
If Antoine's plan was to make them crazy and bite each other's heads off by entrapping them together, it was working well. Bash felt sick to his stomach, suddenly regretting the decision to remain by his brother's side. But then he felt guilty, it was more than duty. Francis was his family.
"I'm sorry, Bash. I never meant to say that," Francis whispered. "I just miss my children. Mary... I don't even know where we stand."
"I know these cells like the back of my hand," Bash said, ignoring the apology. "If I can just find a way out, we'll make our way to the back of the castle, near the waterfront side..."
"And how, pray tell, would we do that?" Leith asked.
Bash turned to give them a knowing smirk. "I trust my wife. There is always time to make many plans in case the first one or two don't quite plan out."
...
"Well?" Mary demanded the second her eyes landed on her cousin.
"Our armies have arrived in France," the Marquess announced. "And my sister wrote."
Mary snatched the open letter from his hand and gasped in relief. "Catherine paid some men to infiltrate the castle as guards," she breathed out. "Kenna's doing?"
"Yes," Robert replied. "Mary, this will all be over soon."
"Yes," Mary whispered. "It will all be over soon, I am sure of it."
Mary sat down on the chaise, rubbing her bump. It was now April, having not seen her husband since last year. Christmastime was a terrible affair, the children bemoaning the lack of their parents and her growing impatience during her pregnancy.
She hissed, biting back a curse when she felt a jolt of pain shoot through her body. "Get the doctor."
"Is it the baby?" Her cousin asked in alarm. "My wife, she's a mid-"
"Get her. If she's a midwife, nurse or a doctor, just get her! And Nostradamus too. It's time," she shakily said, her eyes watering.
This was not how it was meant to be. Francis was meant to be by her side, coaxing her through her labour as they would both welcome their newborn into the world.
She didn't care what it was, as long as it was healthy and safe. She started to sob, hearing the door open and close as she noted that her cousin had left. She breathed through the pain, her experience with three other babes proving fruitful.
Mary couldn't believe it. Her thirdborn had turned one in January and his father hadn't been there. James obviously noticed the lack of fatherly presence and was in a strop all day, refusing to even allow her to comfort him. Then, poor little Anastasia had also turned one by mid-February, neither of her parents there to witness such a big occasion of their child's life.
She let out a cry of pain, getting off the chaise and gently lowering herself onto the ground. She turned, resting her elbows on the chaise as she breathed through her pain, her hair and face becoming wet with sweat.
"Please, God," she cried. "Please, God..."
"Queen Mary!" Nostradamus breathed out, rushing over to her with the midwife. "Do not worry, we are here now."
...
Kenna swallowed deeply, blinking tears away as Antoine whispered gentle words to her bump. She looked at him, each day her hatred for him growing and hardening.
She was relieved though, Catherine's help in securing guards for the castle being successful. She had managed to sneak a few letters down to her beloved husband, telling him about their unborn child and how much she hurt that they couldn't be there for their daughter's first birthday and son.
"Any day now, the Scottish Queen will be found and she and her children will be dragged to wish their beloved husband and father 'goodbye'," Antoine told her, caressing her cheek. "Then, we will announce our marriage before he and his brother and sister die. Our child will be legitimate."
Kenna smiled. "I can't wait," she breathed out. "You should get going. The Pope doesn't like to wait."
"No, he does not," Antoine said, laughing.
Her eyes watched as he got out of the bed and put his boots on. He planted a kiss on her lips and left.
She waited a while, getting out of the bed to see Antoine's carriage leave out the gates through the window and she sighed in relief. She left the bedchamber with a cloak on and headed down to the prisons.
Before now, Kenna had not had the chance to see Bash, Francis and Claude, Antoine always breathing down her neck or something or another. She placed a few coins into the guard's hand and he let her through, her first stop being with Claude.
"Claude!" Kenna whisper-yelled, her hands gripping onto the steel bars.
Claude looked up, quickly heading over and holding Kenna's hands. "Kenna. I am so glad to see you. I know we haven't ever been close but-"
"Enough of that," Kenna whispered, digging into her pockets. "Some food. It's not much, but it should help you gather up some strength."
"For what?"
"This is nearly over," Kenna told her. "Just be alert."
Claude choked back a sob. "Thank you. Have you seen my son? They took him... He must be at least a month or two by now?"
"He is being well looked after," Kenna replied. "I personally see to him."
"I named him after Francis - I hope he can forgive me," Claude cried. "Him and Bash."
"Why would they need to forgive you for? You were protecting them-"
"You don't know?" Claude asked in confusion.
Kenna shook her head. "Know what?"
"Luc got the whereabouts of the children from my letters to Francis and Bash. It's my fault that Rose and Robin were kidnapped - Kenna, I am so sorry!"
"It's not your fault," Kenna quickly said. "Luc is a snake. I will make sure that Francis and Bash understand. Not now, we don't have that much time. Take care."
"Lawrence," Claude quickly said. "My son's name. Lawrence Francis Valois."
Kenna beamed, getting up. "A strong name for a strong boy. I will see you soon."
She moved on, heading further down the prisons. She went up the stairs, knowing that Antoine had a flair for the dramatics and kept his worst enemies at the top of the tower. The tower that looked a lot like the one Mary and Catherine were locked up in for various reasons.
Kenna placed a few more coins than the last time into this new guard's hand and he opened the door for her, Kenna stepping inside and greeting the inhabitants with a proud smile.
"I can assure you that everything is now back on track," she told them, going over to hug Bash tightly and kiss him. "I'm glad you got my letters."
He nodded, placing a hand on her bump. "Does he hurt you?"
"No," she breathed out, eyeing Francis. "The weather wasn't on our side, our armies were delayed and the English had to wait. The English were almost discovered so we had to keep them by the coast to avoid detection. Francis, your mother helped immensely. Without her, we wouldn't have guards on our side. They're Italian. My father has a few Scotsmen positioned around and my brother is leading the Scottish army."
Francis crossed his arms. "And Mary?"
"She would have had the baby by now. I haven't received word back from her in a while. It wasn't that long ago that I sent my own letter to her," Kenna replied honestly. "Her letters are full of grief and longing. She tells me to assure you that France will have her day and you will have a fair trial."
"So, I am still to be beheaded for treason?"
"It won't get that far," Kenna replied. "The day is getting closer. Antoine grows restless looking for her and he wants to announce our marriage before the baby comes. The armies will infiltrate the palace and put a stop to the trial before anything happens. I am also putting into motion a plan to have you all escape before the ceremony starts, but it's coming up unfruitful. Don't worry, is all I can tell you."
She retrieved a basket full of food hidden by her cloak and gave them its contents, taking back the basket. She cupped Francis's cheek and rubbed it, searching his eyes. She knew he was hurt, she knew that her country was to blame for this, but he had to be patient and trust Scotland.
"Francis, Mary loves you. She loves you so much, don't hate her," Kenna begged him. She let go of his cheek and hugged Bash one last time. "And as for you, whenever Antoine is not near, I tell our child about you and I feel butterflies. They love you so much, don't forget that."
She turned around and headed back outside. Just before the guard closed the door, she stopped him, giving the three men a comforting, assuring smile.
"It's nearly over," she promised them. "I will see you again soon."