Disclaimer: I neither own Reign, nor profit from this story.

Ch 12 - The Comfort Wrought by Love

As the older children were in the middle of reading through the Canterbury Tales for their lessons, Henry left the four of them to themselves following dinner and took the younger ones outside as the weather was still warm enough to enjoy for a short time.

Little Henry and Charles decided to continue their adventure in the garden and Margot was curious of what they were doing so she followed along as well.

Hercule was becoming more independent with walking and with help would bounce as he tested his weight and balance so Henry primarily stayed with him. He would periodically check in on the others as needed and generally tried to minimize the number of bruises that they all accumulated on his watch.

He would go and wake Catherine in a little while when the lessons were done and the little ones were being readied for bed.

He wanted to try and get her to eat at least a little and she would want to see all of her children before they retired for the night.

Perhaps he could convince her to stay in bed and have them all visit her there.

Once it started getting dark and a bit chilly they all headed inside to find that lessons for the night were just finishing up. With a nearly sleeping Hercule on his shoulder, Henry continued moving around with a slight staccato in his step and asked Mary and Francis to get the girls and boys respectively ready for bed.

Particularly with Catherine not feeling well, he knew they wouldn't mind and in no time everyone was being marched into their rooms to begin preparing for bed,

He normally would have headed towards the rocking chair to finish putting Hercule to sleep but instead decided to allow Catherine to do the honor if she so desired. Hercule still nursed most nights before bed and so it would be good for both of them to end their night in this same ritual.

Earlier Henry has asked Mary to continue to keep the soup warm and add water as needed if it started to simmer down too low. Should he get Catherine to agree he would prepare a tray to take some in to her along with some mead and bread. All of the fish had been polished off by their children, but Catherine would probably want something a little lighter anyway.

Walking in as quietly as possible to try and not startle her, Henry continued bouncing their sleepy child making soft cooing noises both towards Hercule and in hopes of gently waking his wife.

Moving languidly without being yet fully conscious Henry watched her awareness return gradually. Eventually opening her eyes slowly until her gaze fondly found their sleepy child.

The light was low, but Catherine could find one of her children even the pitch dark easily.

"Good evening my love, and how are you feeling?" she said, out one hand to grab hold of his foot playfully. .

"I believe he is tired enough for bed, but still wanting his bedtime snack before fully nodding off."

"Well of course my prince," she said, beginning to sit up and wincing a little, but determined to finish her task so she could nurture her smallest child in the way that only a mother can.

Earlier she had removed her day dress as it sometimes caught in the oddest placed when slept in, Catherine pulled her chemise down so that Hercule had easy access to the source of nourishment he sought.

Laying him in the familiar way she held him for nursing she readied herself for him to latch on.

Each of her children seemed to find their own ways of snuggling to her breast for their feedings. Elisabeth had in fact been the most difficult and would only latch if held to her side, instead of across her front.

Both parent's were transfixed for a moment as Hercule suckled. Not long after getting comfortable his eyes began closing and then being forced open as he fought sleep.

Despite his tiredness, his age and gender meant that feedings were rarely calm. After ducking enough limbs Catherine decided he must be finished on that side and nudged him to relax his grip to turn him around, raising the first side of her garment and lowering the second as he settled.

Still looking at Hercule she inquired of Henry, "And the other children…"

"Mary and Francis are helping them get ready for bed as we speak. I though you might enjoy seeing them before bed as well once they are readied?"

Smiling that her husband knew her so well Catherine nodded her response.

"I also had Mary keep the soup warm for you and would like to bring you some before you return to your slumber. Perhaps some mead as well to keep up with your strength and to help you rest?"

Appreciating Henry's gestures, but knowing how he tended to coddle her when he thought her unwell she continued. "That would be fine, but I caution you Henry not to treat me as an invalid when I am not one."

"No of course not my queen," he said, smiling.

After several fruitless attempts at staying awake, Catherine could feel Hercule relaxing into his own slumber, still partially latched on to her breast.

The power of a mother came not in the shrill of her tone, or the temper she displayed, but in the nurturing of her offspring. Though she used the first two as the need arose, she much preferred, and enjoyed the later.

Mary poked her head in their doorway to see if Catherine was ready for the others.

Smiling at the gesture, Catherine nodded, removed him from her person and kissed Hercule on his crown before handing him off to Henry's waiting arms.

Hercule would not be going far, but she appreciated not having to get up to put him there.

Returning her chemise to fully upright Catherine sat a little taller so that it would be easier to reach her children. Margot and perhaps Little Henry would probably be hoisted up to say their good nights, but the others would remain on the floor.

With a whispered prayer in each of their ears followed by a hug and a kiss Catherine sent them all off to bed.

Henry in the meantime had snuck out and gone to retrieve her food, which she looked at somewhat warily until her threatened to feed it to her.

Pouting slightly, Catherine tested her first bite and slowly began to eat what was presented to her.

The mead sat well in her stomach and helped to relax her as intended. When she was finished she thanked Henry for thinking of such a thing. He had been readying himself for bed as she ate and once done removed all but the cup, which would rest easily on the small table next to her.

She could also hear him saying goodnight to Francis and Mary who apparently were hovering not far outside of their door to make sure she was indeed alright.

It would appear that they didn't fully believe her word on the matter either.

By the time Henry returned she had settled back down into a reclined position and was nearly asleep when she felt his arms come around her. He nudged her to settle into his chest and took comfort in the strong arms and steady breaths of the man she had loved for nearly twenty years.

Stroking his chest gently she breathed in his scent and allowed a relaxed sigh to escape her lips.

Henry certainly made her feel like a queen, and she could never thank him enough.