Chapter 28
I awakened from my slumber by a large throbbing pain in my head that didn't seem like it was going to reside anytime soon. I lifted my arm sleepily and let it fall on top of my forehead that way I could attempt to press down the pain that wouldn't allow me to sleep. Since that wasn't working I forced my body up and let my legs dangle off the edge of the bed as I tried to breathe slowly, hoping that would help. I felt a hand gently creep onto my back and begin to move up and down. It was a nice distraction from the pain.
"Hey, what is it?" Francis asked me. His voice was still coated with sluggishness since it seemed he had just awoken as well. Probably because I was moving too much. "Just a small headache," I responded as I brought my hand up and pressed my fingers against my temple. I felt the mattress and blankets dip behind me as Francis got up out of the bed and circle his way next to me. "We should go see my mother. Tell her about the pregnancy before we announce it and see if she has anything that could help with your head."
"Alright," I agreed. I haven't talked to Catherine for quite some time it felt like. I think a part of me was afraid that if I said the slightest thing wrong then she would ruin my life with the secret she knew. That, and I haven't exactly had the time since things seem to never settle down. Regardless of that, Francis and I headed toward her chambers. When we arrived, outside of Catherine's room was a guard. He was watching intently as we approached him as if we could do something dangerous at any moment and he had to be ready. Francis told the guard that we would like an audience with Catherine and with that the guard walked inside to tell Catherine. A few seconds later the guard exited the room and held the door for me and Francis, granting us access inside. Francis and I slowly walked inside and found Catherine sitting in an old wooden chair that sat close to her desk. When she noticed us she turned her body slightly to face us and snickered. "What a surprise. I haven't seen Mary for quite some time. What do I owe this pleasure?" Catherine asked cockily. The chair Catherine sat in creaked as she lifted her leg and crossed it over her other leg. Francis smiled at me before he turned to his mother to tell her the news. "Mary is pregnant." Catherine's eyes widened as she shut upward from her chair. "Is it yours?" She asked Francis with a large amount of concern in her voice. I glared at her for making such a rude remark, but it had no effect on Francis. He only laughed. "Yes, mother. It is mine." Catherine's expression instantly changed to one more surprised and hopeful. She quickly whipped toward the desk she was sitting next to only moments ago and began rummaging through for her many herbs and potions. Then when she stuffed her arms full of different and mysterious vials she walked up to me and started to explain each one. "Here, you will need these. This one helps keep you healthy. This one-" Catherine was cut off in the middle of her ramble by Francis. "We're thinking of announcing the pregnancy today." Catherine nodded in agreement. "Yes, of course. We will need to discuss it with Henry beforehand though."
"No need." I heard behind me. My body begged me not to turn around and see who it was. Even though I knew who it was and the fear that that person forced upon me- I turned. Henry stood in the doorway, leaning against the stone wall. A smug looked covered his aged face. "You will not announce the pregnancy." My heart began to pound harshly in my chest in terror. Francis took a step toward Henry. "Why not? The people deserve to know that there will be an heir."
"Mary will be mine. So, I cannot have the people knowing that it is your child." Henry said casually as if this was an average day to day conversation. I watched as Francis's fingers curled into a fist. "She is not yours! She is my wife. You cannot obtain England through Mary." Henry slowly turned toward Francis. His face was calm as he stared into Francis's eyes, but his eyes conveyed another message. One far more threatening and terrifying. His silence was almost deadly. "This is not an option for you, Francis." Henry turned his head toward me to convey his message more seriously. "You will submit, Mary."
"And if I don't?" I tried to act brave against Henry, but it was hard when my whole body wanted to shut down in terror. "Simple. I'll kill Marceau," Henry said. I could only stare at Henry. I didn't know what to think or what to do. "Father, stop this," Francis begged in hopes his Father would see past this somehow. "Do you not believe me?" Henry laughed madly. "I'll kill the unborn child as well." I felt my body move on its own as an attempt to run away from Henry, only to bump into Catherine. Suddenly, Catherine wrapped one arm around my waist and the other around my shoulder. "Stop this, Henry." Catherine pleaded. Francis took a step in front of Catherine and me, blocking us from Henry. "You will not touch her." He threatened with a growl. My body wouldn't allow me to say anything as they defended me. "Then you will listen to me. You can all stop pretending that you can bend me to your own will. It is my turn to bend you and I plan on breaking you all." Henry said madly. Before anyone could say anything else Henry turned away from us all. "Do not announce the pregnancy." He repeated before leaving the room. I stood there in utter shock. For the first time in my life, my body collapsed against my will. My knees buckled beneath me and slammed into the hard floor below me, sending a shock throughout my body as if it was trying to wake me from a horrible dream. Catherine quickly kneeled down next to me and grabbed hold of me. "We will find a way through this." I heard Francis say, but my body made it sound like a loud thumping sound in my ears. My heart was beating so quickly that that is all I could hear. "How?" I whispered. "We will come up with a way to stop Henry." Catherine attempted to reassure me, but it didn't work. I threw my body upward and out of Catherine's embrace. "How could we possibly stop Henry? The King of France?" I asked them angrily. "I cannot risk the life of my child and Marceau." Francis stared at me for a moment as he tried to figure out what I meant by that, but instead, he asked. "What are you saying, Mary?"
"I'm saying it is time to give up. Let Henry win." I whispered silently. Francis' eyes widened and his eyebrows lowered, creating a crease in between his brows. "You can't be serious, Mary." I shot him a glare. "Tell me, Francis. Tell me what I am to do! How do I save our child and Marceau?" Francis said nothing as he watched me in shock. He opened his mouth several times to attempt to say something but each time he couldn't say anything. "That's what I thought," I whispered in despair. I left the room before anyone could try to persuade me everything was going to be alright. I was past that point of hope. I knew that this was not a fairy tale and that this will not be solved in some magical way. This was reality and reality no longer had hope. I gradually made my way down the long hallway. "Oh, Mary." Henry was walking toward me from the other side of the hall. "I was just about to come back and find you. I wanted to invite you to the duel this afternoon as my companion." He grabbed onto my hand and tightly squeezed it with his grainy hand. I wanted to say something like I don't really have a choice, but instead, I slowly nodded. "Excellent. I will see you there." Henry turned away from me and made his way back down to the end of the hall. His steps were heavy as his shoes thumped loudly against the stone flooring, creating a loud echo wherever he walked. He turned the corner and vanished from my sight.
I got ready for this afternoon as slow as I possibly could. I didn't want it to come any faster than it already was. I knew once I sat down next to Henry I would be giving myself to him. There would no longer be any uncertainty. If I wanted Marceau and my child to live this is what I had to do.
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