One of you gave me a good idea I already had but had put it in a later chapter. I just reworked this one to add it in here instead and the other chapter to remove that part. If you didn't know already, lost some people close to me from the coronavirus so my writer's block had unknowingly stemmed from that in the sense that I knew something was wrong and had it confirmed sadly afterwards. I truly hope you are all safe with your friends and families and do not suffer any heartbreaking losses. I love you all, stay safe - Bex.
Replies to reviews:
Guest (1) [chapter 74]: Glad you are, haha!
Guest (2) [chapter 74]: It's only getting more chilling from here but Robin's fine! Moments between Francis and his girls are down below :)
"There is little trace of poison. Mild effects, but this was not brought on by poison. His make is different than what one could state as normal. Perhaps even like me, immune," Nostradamus confirmed. "This was due to his unnatural use of his powers."
"What does that mean?" Kenna asked, wiping her tears as Bash placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Nostradamus sighed heavily. "He forced his powers to reveal themselves, my lady."
"Why?" Kenna breathed out, turning to look up at her husband in confusion. "What reason does he have-"
"It was me."
"Francis, you shouldn't be out of bed!" Mary chastised him, heading to the door to help him to a seat. "What do you mean it was you?"
Francis stared at the unconscious boy. "I had him try and find the evidence we could use to condemn Darnley for treason. I gave him some of my sleeping oil, I believed it to be harmless-"
"It could have been bad for children his age," Nostradamus said gently. "But that would not have had an effect like this unless he forced his powers. As I said before, most remedies and elixirs work differently on the boy."
"Don't blame yourself," Bash said to his brother quietly. "I know my son, he'd do anything to help. Even if it meant hurting himself."
"I'm sure he didn't know-"
"Have you found anything to prevent his powers?" Kenna asked, sharing a nod with her husband.
Nostradamus winced. "I have not dedicated time to that after..." Francis's poisoning, they all thought. "I will continue-"
"Don't," Kenna whispered. "I will find a way to prevent them, myself. Just focus on Francis."
"Come back to bed, Francis," Mary told him softly. "His parents are with him now."
Francis gave his brother an apologetic look and Bash shook his head. "Bash, I'm sorry."
Bash gave him a wry smile and a shrug. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I would have done the same."
Francis nodded sadly and allowed Mary to help him up and take him back to their bedchambers. She tucked him in the bed and laid beside him, pressing a long kiss on his lips. She pulled away and saw that he was crying.
"I told him to tell you with such haste and he-"
"Shh-"
"Mary, what if I've caused his death?"
Mary shook her head. "Nostradamus told us that he will be just fine. A headache would mostly plague him and he'll need some rest."
"The message for you, it was important," Francis said. "You need to know everything his vision told us."
"Only when he's better."
"We don't have time-"
"Francis, we do," Mary assured him.
Francis furrowed his brows. "Mary?"
"Bash is not only preparing scouts for Scotland, Francis," she admitted quietly. "He's preparing soldiers." She sighed. "We thought you'd be less worried if we kept that from you."
"Kenna will kill me if anything happened to Bash. I'll hate it myself," Francis breathed out. "Stop the men. Don't send anyone-"
"Francis, Darnley has killed my secretary Rizzo," she told him gently. "He is gaining favour with the Scottish Protestant Reformists. I've sent a letter to Elizabeth, even she's against him after what he said of her in the past."
"But, Mary-"
"We need to subdue the Darnleys soon," Mary told him. "We must strike before he gets more support."
Francis sighed heavily and nodded. "He's going to hate me for this."
"Who will?" His wife asked.
"Bash. I'm going to sign an order for him to be locked up-"
"Francis!" Mary cried out. "You cannot do to him what you did to me. Every time we want to do something in favour of us, you allow us to. Why will you want to stop him from-"
"If I don't, this poison won't kill me but his wife will," Francis said lightly. "Lock him up, don't release him until they've gone at least two days. Also, I want his head guard, Cassius to lead. He did well in the Azores whilst Bash was wounded. We trust him."
"Francis..." Mary said warningly.
Francis looked at her, his eyes doing that thing she hated but loved all the same. "Please? Give a dying man his wish?"
Mary scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Damn you, Francis Valois," she muttered before handing him the order and a pen to sign it.
...
Rose entered the bedchambers when she was granted access and she presented a tray of fruit tea on her father's lap. "You are looking much better, Father."
"I feel better, Rose," Francis replied, even though it may not have been the case. "What have we got here?"
"Raspberry tea," she said, pouring the red liquid into two teacups. "I will add some honey to yours. I know how much of a sweet tooth you have."
Francis chuckled softly, brushing her hair behind her ear as she spooned some honey into the hot liquid on his side. He studied her as she kept her gaze down as if she was terrified to look at him and he'd disappear.
"Look at me, Rose."
Rose shook her head, bringing her cup to her lips and she took a long sip. "This tastes wonderful, doesn't it?"
"I haven't even taken a sip," Francis said before he took one. "Why, yes, it tastes wonderful."
A hint of a smile graced Rose's lips before it disappeared. "What is it like?"
"What?"
"Dying."
Francis sighed heavily, leaning back on his pillows. "It's actually quite calming. Once you come to terms with it, of course. It makes you value things and people a lot more. Things you took for granted, like a warm bed with a warm cup of milk before sleeping... Things like that seem sweeter, bittersweet actually. As it could be the last thing you do or the last time you do that thing and you'd die, peacefully knowing that you had no grudges or regrets."
"Father-"
"When death comes, look it in the eye," Francis began, lifting her chin so their eyes could meet. Blue on blue. "And never show it fear."
Rose nodded. "Yes, Father."
"You have always been a smart girl, Rose," Francis told her proudly. "Quiet, reserved, friendly, charitable... You will make for a good queen one day and you should never be afraid. You are and will always be loved... Our future Queen Mary II of Scots."
Rose smiled sadly, wiping her falling tears from her cheeks. "Thank you, Father."
"Now we ought to enjoy this tea," Francis said, letting go of her chin and putting another spoonful of honey in his tea. "It tastes sweeter when you're here."
Rose let out a breathy laugh, playfully rolling her eyes as they continue to drink their teas in silence.
"Robin's awake, by the way," she stated casually. "Complained of a headache but he will come and see you after."
"I'm glad to hear it," Francis replied, relieved. "When I am feeling more myself, we are going hunting. You and Anne will join us, give your future husbands something to be impressed about."
"We will be forces to be reckoned with," Rose said, smiling.
"As you should be," Francis replied, kissing her forehead. "As you should be..."
...
"I have a plan," Mary began, pacing the room. "A cunning plan so to speak."
Bash eyed her every move intently. "Care to let me in?"
"James Stuart, Darnley's son," Mary stated.
"What about him?"
Mary stopped and crossed her arms, turning to face Bash. "I want you to find him. Robin told me that he'd been separated from Darnley and Darnley doesn't care about him. He must be terrified of his father, what he's become so I want you to find him and bring him to France. With him here, Francis and I can have him marry Rose by proxy. As for Darnley and Knox, we will deal with them separately and make sure that Darnley cannot get to his son and poison the boy's mind against his true king and queen."
"Darnley believes he is the true king of Scotland and England," Bash replied. "He would want to secure his line - find his son."
"So, we get there first."
Bash nodded and slowly stood. "I will diverge from the scouting mission and find him."What will you tell Francis when he asks of me?"
Mary sighed, rubbing the side of her head. "That you chose to stay at Avon out of displeasure of not going to Scotland."
"Francis is not stupid," Bash told her. "He will want evidence that I am where he wants me to be."
"It's not even Francis's choice," Mary replied warily. "It's Kenna's."
"Kenna who accepted this regardless?" Bash asked. "He does not need to worry about my wife's wrath. Tell him I had her permission, not that I need it."
"No man needs permission," Mary said, smirking. "But you must have it."
Bash scowled and headed to the door. "Go to Scotland, find Darnley's son, bring him to France and marry the boy off to a future queen. Seems like a decent plan enough. Totally won't fail."
Mary laughed softly. "I know, it's mad but we must do what we did to Philip."
"But this time, you're giving Darnley the ammunition he needs," Bash replied carefully. "Now, if he becomes king, he has a French princess who will be a future queen and his new daughter-in-law, gaining more favour."
"That's why he won't marry Rose just yet. And there are such things as edicts. Remember mine?" Mary told him, making him wince. "We will talk more about it when the plan is concrete and James Stuart is in my protection. Now, go and I will talk to Francis about this marriage between Elisabeth and the Emperor." Before he could go, she added, "Thanks. For everything."
Bash turned to her and nodded. "Just look after my wife and children whilst I'm gone."
"I promise," she whispered, giving him a smile before he left.
...
"...Perhaps tomorrow, I will be able to do the voices better," Francis said, closing the book as he pressed kisses on each of his young sons' heads.
"Come along, boys," Anne said, entering the bedchambers. "It's time for dinner."
The boys groaned and each pressed a kiss onto their father's cheeks before scurrying off the bed and running out to their governess. Anne chuckled, turning away from the scene when the doors closed and she turned to her father.
"Are you feeling alright?" She asked, walking up to the bed with her hands clasped on her front.
Francis nodded, smiling wryly. "I forgot how eager to read your brothers were. They are doing well, reading so expertly at their ages."
"You and Mother did provide only the best of educations for us," Anne replied easily. "I better go-"
"Wait," Francis whispered, reaching a hand towards her. "Come."
Anne paused before she slowly walked up to him and accepted his hold. "Yes?" She whispered back inquisitively.
"I have a gift for you."
Anne frowned. "A gift?"
Francis groaned a little when he shifted to retrieve his sketchbook. He then opened it up and tore a page from it, handing it to her. "For your birthday."
Anne gasped, staring down at the paper clutched tightly in her hands. It was drawn of her, her holding a flower in her hands against her chest. The fleur-de-lis. Upon her head was a crown and a soft smile played on her lips as she looked almost serene, yet forlorn. Written in her father's neat handwriting underneath the sketch was her full name - Marie Anne Madeleine of Valois.
"Never forget who you are and where you come from, Anne," Francis said softly. "You are my daughter and even when you are someone else's wife, you will always be my daughter. My pride and joy, mine and your mother's beginning of our greatest love story - our love for you and your siblings. Because of you, France was strong."
Anne's eyes watered but she composed herself and didn't let a tear fall as she met her father's eyes. "I will cherish it to my dying breath, Your Majesty." She curtseyed low and rose again, giving her father a warm smile.
"A queen in waiting," Francis breathed out in wonder before closing his eyes. "I'm quite tired now, sweetheart. I will see you soon."
Anne nodded and left the bedchambers, leaning her back against the door she went through. Ignoring the guards' sympathetic glances, she stared down at the drawing of herself and hugged it to her chest.
After three minutes of gathering enough strength to continue, she walked on and headed to her bedchambers to lock the drawing away and head down for dinner.
...
Leeza undid the plait she'd done on Francis's hair, brushing her fingers against his stubble as he slept. He looked so peaceful, like a child once again if not for the sign of his manliness - his facial hair. Leeza laughed softly, recalling the first time he'd grown some, eager to show off how much of a man he'd become - the future King of France he'd been then. The Dauphin who was loved.
"One day you will be king, Francis. Being a man is more than the amount of hair you grow on your body but what you hold inside of you."
Leeza sniffled, recalling their half-brother's words. He'd never wanted the crown anyway, he was only a bastard and could do whatever he wanted. If he was killed, it would hurt their father greatly but if Francis was killed, that was a different story. As children, they quickly knew the difference between a prince and a bastard.
But how come it was the bastards who knew how to value life, friends, family and much more than princes and princesses? All Leeza could remember before her teenage marriage to King Philip was all the lessons Bash bestowed upon them.
He didn't have to give it to them, he had no duty to them. He could have been jealous and spiteful but he took the blame whenever they broke things or did things not favourable and he looked after them more than their parents ever could.
Because of the likes of Bash and Mary, Francis had grown to be a great king, loyal, strong, just and clever. Leeza was so proud of him, she knew she could seek asylum with Francis should life in Spain become life-threatening. And she did as it did.
Francis mumbled something incoherently and she hushed him, brushing his hair back before he settled back into a deep sleep. His forehead grew with sweat and she sighed, knowing what it meant.
She fetched for Ambroise.
"Francis," she said softly, even though she didn't want to wake him up. "You have to fight. Whatever is going on that you and your wife refuse to tell us, you must fight for that. Fight to remain with your children. Fight to remain... Don't leave us. We still have a lot of reminiscing to do over our childhood together."
She pressed a long kiss on his head and looked up when Paré entered.
He bowed and went over to Francis's desk to bring out his equipment, leaving Leeza a few more minutes with her brother.
"I knew we'd be safe the minute you become king."
"Welcome home, Leeza. You'll always have a home with us."
And it really did feel like home.
Until now.
"Keep fighting, Francis. It will all be worth it in the end."