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

Ch 33 - The Trials of Life

The time of Catherine's pregnancy had passed quickly…too quickly.

Though her worry had not helped along the way, Henry was certain that the babe had come too soon.

It had been nearly a day and his wife was still not finished with her labor to brith their newest child. Henry heard a blood curdling scream come from the labor room and had to physically grab on to a wall to restrain himself from bursting in.

Except in the case of a physician assisting with the birth men were not welcome, and certainly not husbands. Despite his desire to be with his wife he knew that without an invitation in he would be physically removed if he tried.

Just as he thought he might barge in anyway Mary came bursting out and called his name.

Several voiced called out ofter her but she persisted anyway.

"Mother needs you father, now!"

That was all it took for him to cross those last a few feet in determined long strides to enter the room where his wife had been for far too long.

The sight that greeted him stopped him dead in his tracks.

Catherine was lying there paler than he had ever seen her, covered in sweat and shaking. Her eyes were unfocused and she seemed to be mumbling something under her breath.

As he approached he listened more closely and realized that nothing he heard made any sense.

He barely heard the others scolding him for being in there, but Mary had made enough of a fuss that he believed would be allowed to stay. Solely focused on Catherine he put his hands on either side of her face and turned her head slightly to try and help her refocus.

It took a few moments but eventually her eyes met his.

"Catherine." He almost whispered, glad that his wife had been able to find him through the pain and exhaustion but now truly scared.

It took Catherine a few tries to put her words together coherently but she eventually did, albeit far to quietly for Henry's liking.

"Henry, I can't do this."

Her words were pleading, her exhaustion evident.

Leaving one hand on her cheek he reached for one of her hands and held it firmly in his.

"Yes my love you can. I know you are in pain and I know you are tired, but you have done this before and you can do it again. I have faith in you."

"No," she practically whispered, closing her eyes and shaking her head. Tears now joined the sweat already evident on her face.

"Henry," came the voice of Nostradamus.

Annoyed at the man for asking him to divide his attention, Henry looked over at him crossly at first. Once done, Nostradamus directed Mary to take over for Henry so that he could talk to him out of Catherine's hearing.

The look on the man's face did not comfort Henry at all.

"Henry there are two problems. The babe is positioned poorly and we have not been able to remove the child from Catherine's body."

"Remove? Don't you mean to birth the babe?"

"That is the second problem Henry. The babe is dead."

Stunned at what he had just heard, it was only Catherine's cries of pain that brought him back to the present.

The babe whom Catherine had been so concerned about all these months was not even born yet and yet they knew would never see the mother that had cried for him, and father that had prayed for him.

"Henry we much break the child's legs in order for this to end, or we risk losing Catherine as well."

Nostradamus saw a shadow fall over Henry's face as he took in this information.

"At that point we should be able to get the babe out and finish very soon, but I need your answer."

Hating himself already and having no idea of how he would tell his wife Henry closed his eyes and nodded his consent.

Turning abruptly back to his wife, Mary moved out of his way and he carefully sat next to her. He took her hand again and began wiping tendrils of hair off her face, something he had begun to do far more frequently than normal lately.

Catherine, Nostradamus assures me that this will be over soon and that you just need to hold on a little longer.

Shaking her head back and forth Catherine closed her eyes at his words.

"No Henry I can't, I have nothing left to give."

Refusing to lose both the babe and his wife Henry answered her with surety.

"Yes Catherine you can, and I will be right with you as you do."

Just then another contraction gripped her and she nearly sat up despite her exhaustion.

Amazed at what he saw Henry was equally as appalled when the contraction passed and he saw her collapse back down on the cot, head turned to the side.

He lowered his ear near her mouth to check if she was still breathing.

She was, but barely.

Deciding that he couldn't watch her do that again he carefully gathered her torso in a side hug and positioned himself under her so that she was laying back on his chest.

He still held her one hand in his and with the other tried to rouse her.

"Henry I…" but she was cut off by Nostradamus.

Raising his voice to unusual levels he announced, "There is another one, and this one is alive!"

"Whhhhaaa…" Catherine tried to ask what he meant by that, but Nostradamus overrode her.

"Catherine, I know this is not easy for you, but you will be birthing not one but two babes today. That is probably why they are earlier than they should be, and the second one has one arm out already. Their hands were clasped together which is the only reason we know about the second."

Henry had taken to massaging both of her arms by this point to try and prepare her for a second delivery.

"I will need you to push one maybe two more times and then this will be nearly over Catherine, do you understand?"

Where before Catherine was distraught now she just looked listless.

"Catherine, Catherine!" Henry tried to rouse her.

Realizing that she may well be close to death he prayed silently while doing all he could just to help her to fight.

"My queen I need you, both here and now and when this is done. I cannot go on and take care of our many beautiful children without you. You must do this and you must survive."

He pleaded with her hoping that the fears he had begun to have in earnest would not come true.

"I love you Catherine, please just hold on a little more."

Too tired to even speak Henry felt her squeeze his one hand that remained in hers.

Barely perceptible, but enough to know that she had heard him.

As the next contraction hit he was there to support her body and then cushion her when it was over.

Her voice barely perceptible as the pain was so intense, though written all over her being.

"Just one more push and this babe should be here Catherine," they both heard Nostradamus call to her.

Taking the rag that Mary offered, Henry wiped the sweat and tears from her face, her eyes finally opening and meeting his own.

"I love you my king, my love." He heard her say, far too softly.

"And I love you queen, but this cannot be the end."

"I need you," he stated again, hoping to instill in her just a little more strength by the sincerity in his own voice.

She began to smile but another contraction was upon her. Grimacing he stayed with her as she lurched forward as her body dictated.

There was a moment of almost complete silence and then the cry of a newborn filled the air.

Henry smiled at the sound and then looked down at his wife who had finally passed out.

"Catherine, Catherine!" He cried, his worry retuning in a rush.

"Nostradamus!"

At his cry the healer gave instructions to the midwife who was assisting and came around the bed to the more needy patient.

Mary had received the child and was holding her tenderly.

Checking Catherine's signs of life Nostradamus frowned.

"We are not yet finished and the child will soon need to be fed, but she also needs to rest."

Feeling helpless Henry was cradling her still form.

Several minutes past but to Henry it felt like hours. The only movement from Catherine came from her light but steady breathing. Nostradamus had gone over to retrieve smelling salts should they be required when Catherine tensed as another contraction hit, signaling the afterbirth.

A strangled cry came past her lips as her consciousness returned.

"Catherine," Henry called, hoping that she would not immediately pass out again.

"Henry…" she slurred, causing worry to return to him once again.

Shortly thereafter Nostradamus and the midwife seemed satisfied with what had gone on and released Mary to bring the child to Henry and Catherine.

Reaching for both of Catherine's arms separately, Henry brought them together in preparation for her receiving the child. She still seemed only mildly aware, but had maintained her state of consciousness.

Holding her arms with one of his he gestured for Mary to place the babe in their collective arms so that Catherine could hold their newborn in her arms.

Barely aware, Henry was glad that he had seen her feed their children so many times and directed Mary to help position the child where she needed to be to begin trying to suckle.

He was still holding onto his wife and helping her to support their newest child in hopes that this would only aid in helping Catherine stay determined and alive.

She did eventually rouse enough to follow the small movements of the babe and was able to help Mary turn the child so that she could finish the second half of her feeding. Once done though Catherine fell asleep in his arms.

Henry was about to admit the relieve that he felt when the midwife became agitated again.

She called Nostradamus over and they again began moving about somewhat frantically.

"Too much blood…" was all he could hear.

Realizing how long a night this was going to be he held Catherine tighter, pleading with anyone that could hear him for her life.