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Guest (1) [chapter 77]: She really is! She and Anne have more moments in this chapter.
elder441 [chapter 77]: Get ready for some more smiles and tears. And a little bit of tenseness.
BlerBlerBler [chapter 77]: Get ready for more sad and angsty moments. Francis really is the best dad and uncle in the world.
Righto, back in the day they didn't perform certain surgeries as it wasn't until the recent centuries that they were discovered. We're getting closer to chapter 80 and I wanted to cure Francis so to speak to focus on the next situation - bringing Darnley down. I've done my research and the real-life Francis had an array of possible diseases and was even considered to be poisoned because back then, whew were people crazy and murderous haha. So, this chapter will be focused on Paré finding a 'cure' (bearing in mind this is a recent cure and would not exist back then as extensive research has been done over the centuries) and he gives the King and company odds of his survival to which family and friends ponder that. We're getting into tetchy waters basically. I've been enjoying reading Frary stories over and over again and have even got a request from a friend at uni who is trying to take my mind off everything. My brother and I have been even playing Sims and quarantining our Sims by putting everything they leave their house for in their house (we made them rich by cheats, sue us haha) so we're basically trying to move onto being happy and calm and continuing staying safe. Thanks for reading guys and being supportive. You truly are wonderful. Stay safe.
We are in September now by the way and we've got some of Dr Paré's view. I've also taken inspiration from the show on certain scenes.
I'm not sure if I'm happy with this chapter. I don't know, my writer's block got to this one in particular if I'm honest. But after reading all of those happy Frary fics, I had to rework a little bit.
"Je le pansai, Dieu le guérit," Paré said, circling a cure he finally found. He looked up to see his candle nearly dying out. "I bandaged him and God healed him."
The light went out and he fell asleep right there and then, the dark plaguing over him as he slept soundly for the first time in a while. His wife and daughters had been very heavy on coaxing him to bed, to rest or to eat but he couldn't fail their king.
"Our King would prefer it if his doctor didn't fall asleep tending to him," his eldest daughter had told him.
Paré laughed softly in his sleep, a wide smile gracing his lips when he remembered replying with, "Our King doesn't sleep at all and fell asleep as I tended to him!"
Come morning, he took a long bath, his wife helping him to scrub at his back with the bar of soap. It was a luxury, all of these commodities being gifted to him by the Queen for his efforts in trying to save her husband.
He had found a cure. He will present the case to the King and Queen and hope his life wouldn't end if things went wrong.
"Are you sure?" His wife asked softly.
"Should I be unsuccessful as I was when treating his father, at least I have lived a long life-"
"Ambroise!" His wife scolded. "They won't punish you for your efforts."
Paré smiled. "I know," he replied. "I just hope everything goes well. Presenting my surgery case is one thing. The King accepting it is another. But the two Queens who bend my ears from one side to another? The Queen Mother threatens me, the Queen herself praises me. I shan't let either down and I must save their son and husband."
"Am-"
"Jacqui..."
His wife quietened and smiled widely. "I am proud of you."
Paré patted her hand lovingly. "Write up the reports for our estate. The August yield have been generated."
"You are just trying to take my mind off this," Jacqueline replied. "I've done the reports to death whilst you've been squirrelling away for months downstairs with that strange man."
Ambroise chuckled. "Then get started on this month's reports. I have a King to save."
...
"The Princess Royal, Princess Anne has returned!"
Mary stood from her throne, watching as her eldest daughter and her travel companions in the form of her ladies-in-waiting from noble Scottish Houses, her guards that included John and servants and handmaidens, some of whom had fresh faces probably originating from Sweden as gifts.
She could feel her daughter's relief from her position and although both Queen and daughter kept their composure, their shared glance said it all. Mary wanted nothing more than to bring her child into her arms and hold her tightly.
She needed the comfort, her husband was worsening and the only things that brought comfort were the facts that Darnley was in hiding, Darnley's son was enjoying his stay at the French Court albeit secretly as he was in the private quarters permanently, James was becoming a proper little Dauphin and at his young childish age requested to be included in matters of the state in which he joined his mother in listening to the worries of the French people along with his mother's cousin from Scotland and finally the fact that Anne was fast becoming. A queen from the reports she received from the Queen Mother of Sweden.
Anne curtseyed low. "Your Majesty," she said, greeting her mother and turning to James. "Your Royal Highness."
James twitched to latch onto his sister but the stern glare from his governess, Harriet (who had been specifically hired for the future King since his father's illness as opposed to the regular governesses that tended to the children) had stopped him in his tracks as he folded his hands behind his back and gave his sister a nod.
"Welcome home, Princess Anne," Mary said, stepping down to cup her daughter's cheeks.
Anne's eyes sparkled with tears. Tears she'd been holding in since she left home the beginning of June. She had so much to tell everyone but now wasn't the time as her facade grew and her eyes cleared up.
"It's wonderful to be home," Anne said.
After formally greeting her mother and brother in front of Court, Anne took a walk in the gardens, the gift that Oskar had given her in her hands. It was a portrait inside a locket - of himself, the vain goose!
But he wasn't vain, he had thought the comfort of having something from her new home would be warm and dear to her. They had had a great time, engaging in balls and secret dates to the mountains.
She fell in love with him because she opened her heart, remembering what her father had told her.
Oskar promised her with, "I will try and get over the one who holds my heart. First, she will have to give it back but it will be yours."
"Annie?"
Anne stopped and turned, smiling brightly at Rose. "Rosie."
"Forgive me for saying this but it looks like you've aged a thousand years," Rose said lightly, coming forward to hug her tightly.
"So have you," Anne replied, running her fingers through Rose's hair. "Tell me, about our siblings. Did they behave themselves?"
Rose pulled away, laughing softly. She looked so much like Papa, her smile was Papa's, Anne believed in surprise.
"Caterina walks. Her tenth month of living brought a lot of surprises. Guess whose bedchambers she walked towards?"
"Whose?"
Rose smiled sadly. "Father's. She walked in as if she owned the place and he was so overjoyed..."
"And how is... the King?" Anne looked down, it was better to detach herself. She had made a decision.
"Anne..."
"How is he?" Anne shakily asked.
Rose's face fell. "Any day now. He has good days and bad ones. He has had a lot of bad ones, this past month coming into now. Aunt Leeza married the King of Prussia. Her, Bella and Kitty left to live with him. James has taken on the weight of a crown at only seven years of age and I have signed my own marriage arrangement."
Anne stared at her in disbelief. "To who?"
"A Scottish cousin," Rose said dismissively. "No one to be overly excited about. Tell me about Sweden! The food, the music, the atmosphere?"
Anne looked away, still taking everything in. "I married Oskar. I will be leaving for Swedish Court permanently after Christmas."
Rose let out a breath of air in shock. "Anne! Y-You were supposed to... How come Mother and Father didn't..."
"Not formally," Anne quickly said. "The official marriage does not come until next year as planned but we... we had a private ceremony between us. It was for us and no one else. And with Father's health... I have to be stronger now more than ever and make decisions he'd be proud of me for even thinking."
"I can't believe you'd leave us!"
"I am not!"
"You are!" Rose cried out tearfully. "While we're stuck here watching our father die, you run away!"
Anne felt as if she'd been slapped. "I haven't run away from anything! Rose, let me tell you now. You will be a more powerful queen than me one day but you must never forget that Dauphine of Scotland used to be my title once. It comes with responsibility, being a queen so start acting like one and stop crying, blaming other people when you are a sheep that follows the dog."
Rose didn't say anything more, merely left in silence, suddenly wishing her sister never returned home but stayed with her new, happy life in bloody Sweden.
...
Mary stopped brushing her hair when a knock sounded on her door and the page announced the arrival of Paré. She placed her brush down and rose, lifting her skirts and opening the door herself to let the old man inside, closing the door behind him.
"I have found a cure," Paré said carefully. "But it comes with great risks - odds of survival. Roughly about thirty per cent chance."
"Tell me," Mary said evenly.
Paré sighed heavily. "A mastoidectomy. So many drawbacks come with it, naturally with any surgery performed. Permanent deafness for starters if successful to an extent. Although hearing could be affected but kept. Before I would do that surgery, I will try one last myringotomy where I insert a tube into the eardrum to relieve pressure by draining the ear as I've been doing."
Mary paced the room, her lips forming a thin line. She paced for ten minutes before finally stopping and nodding with a confirmation of his suggestion. "Very well."
"Will you help me bring it forward with the King himself?"
"Yes, in fact, right now."
Mary and Paré found Anne pacing in front of her father's bedchambers and she froze, eyes wide at the Queen and doctor. She gave her mother a small smile and bowed her head, quickly hurrying by.
"Anne...!"
Mary sighed and turned back to nod at the guards who let them inside. She found Francis asleep, his mother on the chair right beside him and she gently coaxed Catherine awake, stating that the doctor needed to treat his patient.
The Queen Mother warily stood and accepted being kicked out but not for too long she warned them before leaving.
"Mary?"
"It's me, my love," Mary said, taking a seat by his bedside. "How are you feeling?"
Francis furrowed his brows. "Anne is supposed to be here by now."
"She was tired from her journey," Mary excused their daughter. "The doctor has something to tell you."
"What is it?"
Paré cleared his throat. "A permanent fix, Your Majesty." When he was done explaining, he asked Francis, "Well, Your Majesty?"
Francis's eyes flickered to his wife briefly before he eyed the doctor. "Forget the other one - you keep trying but the first one... that's the last resort, is it not?"
"It is," Ambroise said, nodding.
"Then do it. No more draining and waiting, just... do it."
Ambroise nodded. "As you wish. We could perform it now or-"
"Now," Francis said quietly. "Do it now."
...
"Amb-"
"I failed," Paré mumbled, downing his cup. "It's been a week and-"
"You tried. You told him the implications, presented the facts and he chose to go through with it."
Ambroise sighed heavily, getting up from his seat and collecting his clothes for the day. "I will see if he needs anything to ease the pain as he..."
"You said it yourself, this had never been done before," Jacqueline replied. "Not all surgeries performed for the very first time succeed. Extensive research had been put forward, tests trialled... Ambroise, it is no fault of your own. You did all you could. A doctor loses patients sometimes, you are no God."
"I am not but God gave me hands for a reason! A brain full of medical knowledge for a reason!" Ambroise replied. "What use am I if I can't use them efficiently to treat patients? Treat kings?"
Jacqueline nodded slowly. "I will leave you alone to sulk but you must remember, the King thanks you for your efforts. Whilst you were sulking, he personally had the Queen grant us lands for your eldest daughters and their families. They are to leave ours for theirs soon."
"That's good," Ambroise mumbled. "Go. I will be in better spirits soon, I promise."
His wife pressed a kiss on his cheek and left, leaving him feeling more disappointed than before.
...
Kenna flinched when the axe met the block of wood harshly, splitting the damned thing into multiple pieces as opposed to two. She watched as her husband paused for a break, the sweat glistening down his bare chest and back as he wiped his forehead and continued to cut the wood.
"It's cold," she said, hoping her voice would carry in the wind.
"So?"
"You will catch a cold," Kenna told him.
Bash stopped. "I'm feeling perfectly warm," he replied tersely. "What do you want?"
Kenna's eye twitched. "Don't be like that. Not to me at least."
"Like what?"
Kenna scoffed, crossing her arms. "Bash-"
"My brother is dying, Kenna. We've tried all we could. It's been a week since the last resort treatment was performed," Bash told her, turning his head to look at her. "The doctor gave him thirty per cent to survive and it looks like the seventy per cent is working hard."
Kenna's brows furrowed. "Now, you just have to bear it. We need to prepare."
"For what?"
"Bash, Francis's death means a lot for us," Kenna told him. "And also for Mary. James will be King of France and the Netherlands and you will have sworn to Francis that you'd protect him and be loyal to him and be a good uncle and Deputy to the child. Where would that put me and our children? Me forever helping Mary and her mourning heart? And our children unsure of how to comfort their bereft cousins? You and I need to be clear to each other where we stand. If it's in France, Scotland or wherever else..."
Bash frowned deeply. "You think with my brother's death, I'd leave you for Mary?"
Kenna's eyes widened. She forgot how easily she could be read by her husband. He could read between the bloody lines and understand all of her inferences. They'd been together for fifteen years now. Her whole adult life so far being his wife and mother to his children. She mentally cursed, keeping her steely gaze on him.
"Mary would have needs-"
"Don't-"
"Francis won't be in your way-"
"Kenna-"
"I've seen the both of you," Kenna finally whispered. "As Francis was confined most of the time. Every meeting, every order, every look, every hug..."
"There are no looks! As for hugs, I am comforting her over Francis. You know Francis. My brother, who is dying and is her husband and father to her children?" Bash cried out in disbelief. "You are seeing things that aren't there. You're deluded. And even if there was, I don't think I'd ever go for my brother's widow. Not when her children exist, not when my wife exists nor our children!"
Kenna nods once. "I see."
"Yes," Bash snapped. "Please, do."
"So defensive," she muttered, pulling her cloak tighter around her frame as she scanned their surroundings.
"I swear to God, Kenna-"
"Aren't I within reason to ask?" She asked him, coming to stand in front of him. "I know you're doing things for Francis that needs you to talk to Mary and accept her orders and whatever else but make sure that is it between you both. You are my husband, Sebastian. Remember that."
Before she could walk away, Bash pulled her to his chest and glared down at her. "I don't appreciate being accused of something I didn't do or even consider. Do you really not trust me after all of these years? After Robin, Ana, Xander and Sophia?"
Kenna shrugged indifferently. "I had a nightmare-"
"A nightmare! God, you Scottish women are really deluded-"
"Says the man who believed a damned prophecy meant he could get into my Queen's bed behind his brother's back!"
Bash flinched, letting go of her. "Go."
"Bash-"
"Go or we will really say things that we can never take back," Bash whispered.
Kenna looked away, pausing for a minute before pressing a kiss on his lips. When he didn't respond, she pulled away with a sigh and walked away.
"You're cold," she said, her voice breaking as she continued to walk back to the castle.
...
"Now, James," Anne began, running her fingers through her little brother's hair as they played soldiers in the boy's bedchambers which was heavily guarded. Even Harriet was in the room, quietly stitching whatever she was stitching on the rocking chair in the corner of the room. "You will be king one day." Not now, but one day. Whether it was coming or not, she didn't know.
"I don't want to be king," James whispered, tears threatening to fall. "It will mean Papa's gone. I want Papa. I want to play with Papa."
Anne smiled sadly. "I know," she whispered back. "But he would have gone knowing that you would do a wonderful job at being a king. The people of France and the Netherlands would look up to you. And you can always write to me in Sweden should you need help or someone to talk to. As for Rose... I think Maman and Papa have decided to let her attend studies in Scotland when things get calmer. But for now, she will be by your side and so will the twins and Little Cat."
James pouted, a whine emitting from his lips before he was full-on bawling. He latched onto Anne's chest, sobs shaking his tiny frame and Anne closed her eyes and sighed. She wouldn't cry nor would she scold him as their grandmother tended to do.
"Dauphin," Harriet called the boy, not looking up from her work. "Future kings do not cry."
"This one does!" James snapped back.
Harriet stood and Anne raised a hand towards her. "Don't scold my brother," she said slowly, unimpressed by the governess.
"You have not been here, you cannot command me. Only the King and the Queen-"
"I am a queen more or less," Anne snapped. "I command you to sit and get on with your stitching, Governess."
Harriet baulked. "Excuse me?"
"You are excused," Anne said, lifting James onto her hip. "Come along, James. I think there are some biscuits in the kitchens."
As they headed in search of the sugary treats, Anne found John, Robin and Rose strolling around aimlessly in the gardens. It was a cold day, the rain had come pouring down in the early hours of the morning, leaving its surroundings wet but neither cared.
"Perhaps you can play with Peter and Joseph," Anne suggested, wiping James's tears with one hand.
"I am not allowed," James mumbled, his head resting on her chest. "Not without Maman's permission, Governess Harriet said."
Anne rolled her eyes. "I doubt Maman would stop you from seeing them. Harriet is just being a bully. Thinks she can boss a future king around. No, she can't!"
James giggled at the cheeky tone his sister adopted. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," Anne whispered. She could feel her heart sink, breaking.
She turned to look into his blue eyes. He was such a handsome, little boy. A perfect mix of Mother and Father, so sweet and caring. He will be a good king.
"You are strong," Anne told him. "A good king is strong. Not only in body, but in mind. Remember that, James, and you will be just fine."
"Promise?"
Anne beamed through her tears. "I promise."
...
"Oh, Rose. I didn't know anyone would be-"
"You can join me," Rose told her aunt, smiling sadly. "Maman tends to come but she's isolated herself from everyone else. Taking this on alone."
Kenna smiled wryly. "Your mother deals with things her own way. She shouldn't push people away but she will always get there."
Rose nodded and returned the smile, kneeling once again as Kenna joined her. She held her hands together and closed her eyes, a prayer forming on her lips before the statue of Christ.
When they were finished, Rose accepted a tight hug from her aunt before leaving and spotting Anne outside, holding a spherical item in her hands tightly. She hadn't spoken to her in a week, things still tense between them following their argument when Anne returned home from Sweden. Huh, home... Home is now Sweden for Anne, isn't it, Rose bitterly thought before scolding herself.
She had literally stepped out of a chapel.
Shaking her head, she went back into the castle and found her grandmother leading James everywhere and nowhere at the same time. They were laughing, the Queen Mother busying herself by obsessing over her legitimate grandson as her illegitimate grandson followed dutifully, deciding to get some practice in as his future duties as Anne's guard in Sweden.
Who better than to shadow than the future King of France to whom had five other guards following him.
"Rose! Papa has a gift for you!"
Rose beamed down at her little brother. "Does he? And where might that be?"
James grinned. "Maybe your bedchambers..." He drawled, giggling when she feigned a surprised gasp.
"I will see you later!" Rose told him, hurrying to her rooms. She found her mother standing straight, turning to face her by the edge of her bed and she gave the Queen a coy smirk. "Maman?"
"Nothing..." Mary sang. "Just doing absolutely nothing."
Rose giggled and came over, gasping when she realised that her whole bedchambers were full of roses. Rose of blue, purple, pink, red and white in colour. Her eyes sparkled with tears and she turned, admiring the petals beneath her heels and on her walls and furniture.
"There's one special one on your bed."
Rose turned to her mother before nodding and going over to collect the glass sphere that had a red rose set inside it. Rose smiled happily, bringing it to her chest lovingly.
"It's beautiful, thank you," she said to her mother. "Tell Papa the same. I know he is not taking any visitors but..."
"I know," Mary whispered. "He knows."
Rose looked down at her gift again. "Will we be alright, Mother?"
Mary nodded, a small smile on her face. "We will, Rose."
"I believe you."
"Good," Mary breathed out before leaving Rose alone to her thoughts.
Rose laughed softly, inspecting the glass in the warm glow of the closest candle. What a pretty gift indeed, something she will cherish for life.
...
"Francis?"
"I'm still here," he mumbled softly, turning to stare into his wife's wide, teary brown eyes. "I'm still here." He cupped her cheek, brushing a tear away. "Tell me about Anne."
Mary sniffled. "She's outside, enjoying the fresh air."
"Good. She's been low of late. The fresh air will do wonders," Francis replied gently. "And James? How is he?"
"He doesn't know why he can't play with his papa," Mary told him shakily. "Catherine is taking his attention elsewhere."
"Make sure his rooms are cleaned-"
"I know."
"Protect him-"
"I know," Mary breathed out, tears spilling from her eyes. "And I will protect John, Joseph and Peter too. They are all safe. They are taking their studies seriously. They will grow to be great men, like their father."
Francis brushed his thumb over Mary's lips. "As determined and headstrong as their mother... How about my Sweet Rose? Did she enjoy her gift?"
Mary laughed softly, nodding. "You were right, roses all over her bedchambers was a beautiful sight to see. I had the one on her bed set in glass. The one you kissed. Rose represents love, concentration, balance and passion."
"Her mother's daughter."
Mary blushed furiously. "For Anne, the orchid. Love, luxury, beauty and strength."
Francis gave her a soft smile. "She does have a taste for the finer things. The epitome of a royal princess. Who is strong and will be a strong queen for a strong king."
Mary laid her head on his chest and he managed to catch her lips in a kiss before she rested her head. Her fingers played with the exposed blonde wisps of hair on his chest and she dug her face into his chest.
"Don't leave me, Francis. Caterina is not even a year old..."
"Ah, how can I forget Caterina?" Francis breathed out in wonder. "Seeing her first steps brought joy to my heart. I hate to miss more firsts with her. With any of them but..."
Mary looked up at him. "I can't lose you, my love. Fight this. Fight for us, for our children... Fight for you." She shut her eyes.
Francis swallowed hard. "Crysanthemum for my youngest daughter. Fidelity, joy and long life..."
Mary could hear his heart rate slowing down and she began to sob when it completely stopped. She gripped onto his shirt tightly and her sobs became gasping hiccups when the door opened and Catherine appeared, heartbroken.
"He's gone," Mary confirmed her suspicions. "Long live the king..."
...
"Mary?"
"Don't... Don't announce it," Mary whispered, running her fingers through Francis's hair as she cradled his head on her lap.
Catherine looked down. "I paid the guards off. Dr Paré will come to confirm the death."
Mary let out a sob. "No..."
"Mary-"
"Why us?" Mary croaked out, pressing a wet kiss on Francis's pale head. "Why?"
Catherine shakily sat down on the chaise, feeling overwhelmed as she shrugged helplessly. She had no answer for the first time in her life and all she wanted to do was to hug her son tightly and promise him that all would be alright.
But she couldn't.
He was dead.
And the feeling of having your child die before you broke her heart even more. He was supposed to live a long life, watch his children grow up and marry. But he couldn't.
A knock on the door drew her gaze to it as Mary would rather tend to her beloved husband, pressing kisses on his head over and over again.
"C-Come in," Catherine said, getting up and fixing her composure as it could be Ambroise.
But it wasn't.
"Sebastian."
Mary looked up and saw Bash take a sharp intake of breath. "Bash is here," she said quietly to Francis. "You aren't alone. You will never be alone."
Catherine turned back to Bash. "When the time is right, we will announce it. I doubt Mary is in the right frame of mind to be regent so... Would you... t-take..."
Bash blinked in surprise before he nodded in understanding. "I will take care of matters. What about you?"
Catherine smiled wryly. "A bottle of wine is calling my name. At least for just a day. Or two. Or a month. Or forever," her voice broke.
"You're so handsome," Mary's voice drew their eyes back to her. "So peaceful..." Her eyes were transfixed on Francis's face. To her, he was probably sleeping. The shock was now instilled in her brain and she refused to believe otherwise. "Do you want to hear a song? It's in Scottish - you love when I speak Scottish."
"Excuse me," Bash mumbled, leaving quickly before everything he ate that day ended up on the floor outside the bedchambers.
He heaved, closing his eyes as he supported himself with a hand on the wall. He was shaking, he knew because he stared at his other hand which was violently moving with great anxiety and distress.
He rarely prayed but right now, his lips said a prayer.
...
Paré watched as Catherine and Claude led Mary out of the chambers, the Queen begging to remain by her King's side. He bowed his head in respect and he and Nostradamus took a minute of silence.
When they were ready, Ambroise stepped closer and took Francis's wrist in his hand, pressing two fingers against Francis's wrist. He gasped when he felt something. Faint, but present. Perhaps the Queen had been mistaken because this man was most certainly still alive.
As if that wasn't more convincing, sweat began to build up and Francis let out an incoherent mumble as he slept.
"Are you seeing what I am seeing?" Ambroise asked Nostradamus. "I am nearing eighty years of age, please make me sound sane."
"You are of sound mind," Nostradamus confirmed, brushing back Francis's hair. "He's breathing."
"He's fighting," Paré replied. "Quick, pass me the vial in the top drawer."
Nostradamus grabbed the vial and handed it to the doctor who quickly worked to shove some of the liquid down Francis's throat.
"Now what?" Nostradamus asked, looking up at the doctor whose eyes remained on the King.
"We wait," he said. "Quickly inform the Queens not to say anything."
Nostradamus nodded and left. He truly hoped they would not return to a dead queen after everything they'd been through over the past year to save his life.
...
"Your Majesty?"
Mary opened her eyes, wishing that it was all a dream. That she hadn't lost her husband, the man who kept her going, the one who had her heart. She swallowed hard and sat up in her bed to meet Ambroise's smiling face.
Was it a dream?
"What is it? Why do you smile?" She demanded to know, getting out of the bed and putting her silk slippers on.
Paré laughed self-deprecatingly. "It turns out a little rest after such a surgery was needed. The King - he's awake. He was just fighting a fever brought on by the surgery and it weakened his body but he kept fighting. Your Majesty, he's alive."
Mary's eyes widened and she hurried out of her doors and through Francis's. She got onto the bed and cupped his cheeks, making him groan.
"Francis?!"
"What's the noise about, woman?" Francis asked lightly, his voice stronger but still tired.
Mary let out a yelp, falling off him onto her side in surprise. She squinted her eyes shut and waited before opening them up again and staring at Francis who raised his eyebrows up in amusement.
"Do you need some water?" He asked her.
"You... bloody...!"
"Mary... I'm fine," Francis said softly, lifting her hand to his lips for a kiss. "I'm sorry for scaring you. I'm fine, I swear it. I feel better, I feel so... free."
Mary turned away from him, tears in her eyes. "You died in my arms."
"Not exactly. Then again, you are not a doctor. It's a good thing you aren't as well because you really can't tell whether someone is dead or alive," her husband replied teasingly. "Mary-"
"So, it's over?"
Francis nodded. "I believe so. I am to keep a strict routine of a few remedies but I am fighting fit. My body aches but I can move my limbs without pain."
Mary grinned and then she started to laugh, turning to face him as she squeezed his hand in happiness. Now, she won't do this all alone, she could stop worrying, their children still had their father for as long as possible, their countries had their king back.
"I should return to my duties tomorrow-"
"No, just take some time. We want to make sure, we have to be sure," Mary breathed out, kissing him hard. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said, cupping her cheek. "You have been doing so well in my absence. I have no doubt you will continue to do what is right for our countries."
Mary blushed. "I have been a mess."
"A beautiful one nonetheless," her husband quipped, making her laugh. "Look at you, you have bags under your eyes. You're tired..."
Mary shrugged him off. "I'm fine."
"No, sleep with me."
Mary bit her lip, raising an eyebrow. "Surely you're not well enough for that."
Francis choked before chuckling. "I meant sleeping, Mary. Keep your mind away from unsavoury thoughts. Perfect Christian woman my arse."
Mary giggled and nodded. "I do have a bit of a headache," she mumbled, rubbing the side of her head. "And I haven't slept properly in a week. The children have been pulling me one way and the nobles the other. Oh, Anne can't wait to see you. She stopped by a few times but you were obviously not ready for visitors."
Francis's eyes brightened. "She's back?"
"I told you this a week ago," Mary said softly.
"Can you blame me? I've mostly been asleep," Francis replied, laughing softly. "I will host a ball. Have Kenna plan it. I want it to be the biggest welcome home party a princess has ever had. Perhaps, we could have a petting area. Bring out all the animals-"
"Francis, you've just recovered and you're planning a party?" Mary asked in disbelief. "Sleep. Now. Head down, lie beside me and sleep."
"Only sleep?"
"Francis..."
"Warning heeded," her husband said, kissing her lips gently. "But I have missed your lips."
Mary grinned. "Fine. A few kisses and hmm-"
She let out a giggle when he climbed on top of her, his lips moulding with hers as her arms wound around his neck, his hands massaging her waist. She didn't even notice the doctor helping them by closing their doors, a happy chuckle coming out of his lips as he walked away.