Her courage, her endurance, her kindness. And she needed me
This year, they held an exhibition for Louis' birthday where several of the musketeer cadets would be commissioned after displaying their skills in shooting, wrestling, and swordfighting. Stands had been erected, and in the royal box she and Louis sat on a raised platform. Constance stood to the side of her while d'Artagnan saw to his men, and though Aramis was given a seat on a lower level to Louis' right, he only sat in it for about a minute before getting up to stand next to Louis and answer their son's questions or point out maneuvers and techniques.
When it was time for Louis to reward the top cadets with commissions, Aramis went out with him onto the field while she remained seated. A set of steps had been brought out for Louis to stand upon, and she watched proudly as Louis, wearing his pauldron along with his new dress sword and hat, unsheathed his small dull blade and laid the tip of it on the shoulders of each of the young men d'Artagnan proffered forward.
She joined in with the round of applause that followed, and then waited for Louis and Aramis to come back. Aramis was talking to d'Artagnan and the new musketeers though, and after d'Artagnan motioned to Aramis, Aramis looked down and said something to Louis which made the boy nod his head vigorously. The musketeers let out a small cheer, and then Aramis began to escort Louis back across the field.
Louis was bouncing on his feet as he talked to Aramis, and once they reached the bottom of the platform, Louis bounded up the steps. "Mama! Aramis is going to fight d'Artagnan!"
"Just a friendly duel," Aramis explained jovially as he started taking off his ministerial coat. Across the field, d'Artagnan was taking off his doublet as well. "D'Artagnan suggested we ought to show everyone how it's really done, and His Majesty agreed wholeheartedly."
Louis was smiling when she glanced over at him. "Very well," she said. "Just be careful."
Aramis only grinned in response, and after taking off his sword belt, unsheathed his sword and went to meet d'Artagnan on the field.
She turned and exchanged a look with Constance, who gave an exasperated shake of her head and simply muttered, "Men."
An announcement was made, and after another round of applause, the crowd settled down to watch the Captain of the Musketeers and the First Minister assume their positions and salute each other.
She and Constance proceeded to watch their husbands duel. They had started off somewhat restrained, their swords meeting only a few times before they'd break apart, the two of them laughing as d'Artagnan loudly teased Aramis about being rusty due to the luxury of his new life, but the bout intensified as they warmed up.
For once she was able to appreciate Aramis' skill with a blade. The last time she recalled him dueling someone was against Rochefort, and back then she had been much more worried about his opponent running him through than noting how fluid his movements were. She knew d'Artagnan to be highly proficient with a blade-she had, after all, watched him run Rochefort through-and while Aramis had a reputation more for being an expert marksman, he seemed to be just as adept with a sword, and held his own against the younger man.
D'Artagnan was the more energetic and aggressive fighter of the two, and Aramis more conservative and controlled. There were a few times when each of their blades swung too close for comfort or it looked like one might not bring up his blade in time to block a blow, and she gripped the arms of her chair and held her breath while Louis sat on the edge of his seat. Aramis also liked to show off and play to the crowd, which d'Artagnan took advantage of at one point, putting Aramis into retreat. D'Artagnan's attack was relentless, and he got close enough to shove Aramis to the ground. It looked like the fight might be over then, but Aramis swept his sword out, forcing d'Artagnan to jump up to avoid it, and giving Aramis the opportunity to get back to his feet. They resumed their sparring, but then d'Artagnan lunged out, too far out, and Aramis was able to grab hold of his sword arm. He twisted d'Artagnan's wrist and then kicked his extended leg out from under him, bringing him down.
Aramis had his sword at the crook of d'Artagnan's neck, and the younger man yielded.
The crowd erupted into cheers. Louis had jumped off his seat and was enthusiastically clapping, and she got to her feet as well and joined in the applause. Aramis helped d'Artagnan up and the two embraced, clapping each other on the shoulder before facing the royal box and bowing. Aramis then turned d'Artagnan around to face the stands, and clapped for him. He paused though, to blow a kiss into the crowd, and her eyes quickly found Milady's vibrant red dress. They had planned for her to be there, for her and Aramis to be seen disappearing together after the tournament, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the display.
She gave the signal for an announcement to be made, directing the people inside for refreshments. As the crowd started to disperse, Aramis and d'Artagnan remained on the field, talking to the cadets. Pulling his shirt out of his trousers, she watched as Aramis gathered up the bottom of the fabric and used it to wipe his face. Lowering her eyes, her gaze was drawn to the redness of the scar on his side. When he brought the shirt away from his face, she caught a glimpse of the scar on his cheek, and her eyes then sought the scar that lay just below his right ear, hidden behind his hair. Each of them earned in his defense of her. Each of them showing his bravery, his devotion, and his love for her, right there in the open for all to see.
Even though she was in the shade, she suddenly felt hotter.
"I should get back to Elodie and the girls," Constance began to say behind her.
"Constance?" she quickly asked. "On your way, can you send Aramis to his office? I need to speak with him straight away."
"Of course, Your Majesty. Is everything all right?" She could hear the uncertainty and confusion in Constance's tone.
After glancing to the side, she stepped closer and lowered her voice. "Constance, when you're with child, your body doesn't only change physically, but your senses, your emotions, they're...amplified, and for some women, that includes their desire."
Constance blinked. "Oh, so you're saying…"
"I really want my husband."
"Right."
MMMMMMMMMM
Anne was standing at the window when he arrived at his office.
"Majesty, you wanted to see me?"
"Lock the door," Anne replied, her back still to him.
He complied and then began walking over to her. "Is something wro-" he began to ask once he was closer, but she turned around and after two steps she was cutting him off with a fervent kiss.
"Why did you put your clothes back on?" she complained once they broke for air, despite the fact that her hands were currently gripping the edges of his coat.
"I thought I was going into an audience with the Queen Regent," he answered with a raise of his eyebrows. "Not my wife." He flashed her a cheeky smile. "Not that I'm complaining."
"Good, because I need my husband to fulfill his marital duty and make love to me."
"Again? You know the reason I nearly lost to d'Artagnan is because I'm still recovering from this morning."
"Are you telling me you're too tired now to do anything for me?"
"Oh, no." He started unbuckling his sword belt once more. "That little showcase got my blood pumping," he said as he leaned his head down to stare deeply into her eyes. "If anything, I'm reinvigorated now," he added before rejoining their lips.
"When I was carrying Louis," she said, her breathing becoming heavy while his mouth began to descend down her neck, "there were times when I wanted you so badly I considered trying to sneak off to the garrison or even sending for you."
"You should have sent for me," he replied in between kisses. "I would have done whatever it took to reach you and satiate your desire." After one more kiss to her collarbone, he brought his head back up and whispered in her ear, "But please, let me make it up to you."
MMMMMMMMMM
There had been a trickling of gifts coming in ever since the quickening, but Louis' birthday had been the start of a raging river of them. Her birthday would be in a couple days, a little more than two weeks after Louis's, and then the baby was expected to come towards the end of the month or the beginning of June, though many thought it destined that he would be born on the twenty-seventh, the late king's birthday.
There was one gift though, that she wanted to give to Aramis, and as she waited for Milady to arrive, she went over to her small altar in front of her prie dieu and started rearranging the latest batch of relics she had received.
"I hope you've had those tested for poison," came Milady's voice behind her, making her jump slightly. How did the woman move around so quietly?
"Rest assured," Anne said, turning around to face her. "Aramis has been personally seeing to the inspection of every gift I receive, and not just the relics." The Cardinal's poisoning was apparently still fresh in both their minds.
Just then she felt a sharp tightening in her abdomen. She winced and gripped the edge of the table while her other hand went to her belly.
"Majesty?"
Pushing off the table, Anne took a few steps and released the breath she was holding as the tightness went away. She looked over at Milady and saw her concerned expression. She might have even said that the woman looked uncertain for once.
Anne shook her head. "They're just false pains. They happen now and then; practicing for the real thing."
"Glad to hear it. I have many skills, but midwifery is not one of them. You did send for me though?"
"Yes, I want you to retrieve something and deliver it to Constance d'Artagnan."
MMMMMMMMMM
Hearing the click of the latch, Aramis looked over from his work to see Anne's belly peeking out from behind the door to the passageway. Stifling a laugh, he told her the main door was closed, but not locked.
"I won't be long," she said, fully stepping into the room and taking a moment to catch her breath. "What's so amusing?"
"You, trying to sneak around with that belly of yours," he answered. "The baby enters a room and says hello before you even have a chance to."
"Well hello from me too," she said, and came to stand next to his chair.
"I thought you were resting. Louis had wanted to show you something."
"I was, but even laying down for too long makes me ache," she replied, pressing one of her hands to her back while the other rubbed her belly. "What did Louis want to show me?"
"That loose tooth of his finally came out."
"Has it, really?" She gave a mournful sigh. "He's growing up too fast."
"I know." He laid a hand on her stomach next to hers. "And this one could come any day now."
Sliding her hand over his, she stroked her thumb over his fingers. "Where has the time gone?"
With a small smile, he leaned back in his chair. "Louis did also ask me if Marie-Catherine could come back just to tell him fairy tales before bed since his new governor doesn't know them. I suggested that La Porte could read him French history; stories about past kings and queens, and great battles and such, what do you think?"
"I think it's a wonderful idea."
"Good. I'll let La Porte know. Now, to what do I owe the honour of your presence?"
Anne folded her hands over her stomach. "I'm having a bath drawn and I wondered if you'd like to join me."
"Oh?" As a musketeer he had heard stories about her luxurious bathing apartment, and knew that she'd been going down to it more frequently these past few months as the water helped ease her aches and pains, but this was the first time she'd invited him to join her.
She looked at him from under her lashes. "I know I've been rather moody and ill-tempered lately."
"You're nine months pregnant," he reasoned, "and my breathing probably is loud and annoying." He'd offered more than once to sleep in his own bed to give her some peace and quiet, as well as more room for her to splay out, but she didn't want him to leave entirely, and in truth, neither did he, and so he ended up in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace on more than one occasion.
"And you've been nothing but wonderful," she smiled softly. "I figure I ought to reward you. So will you come down? Around a quarter past?"
"I'll be there," he answered, getting to his feet. "I'm walking you back to your room though."
"You don't need to do that."
"I want to," he insisted. "You shouldn't have come that way in the first place. I don't even like going down that staircase and I can still see my feet."
MMMMMMMMMM
Set in the floor of her bathing apartment was a marble basin in the shape of an octagon, three feet deep and nine feet across, with steps cut into one of the sides, and a bench that went around the rest of it. One of her ladies helped her step down into the water, and once she reached the bottom and more than half of her body was immersed, the water did its trick of relieving her of some of the baby's extra weight. She sighed heavily, and taking a seat on the side, laid her head back against the raised lip of the bath.
Dismissing her ladies, she closed her eyes and let her body relax, inhaling the scent of the rose water. A short while later, she heard the special knock she and Aramis had agreed upon.
"Come in," she said, her eyes still closed.
"So this is what you've been hiding down here all these years," she heard him say, and opened her eyes to see the slightly awed look on Aramis' face as he slowly walked towards the center of the room. Stopping before the bath, he crouched down, and ran his hand over the water, catching some of the fresh rose petals that floated on top with his fingers. Picking one up, he held the pink petal under his nose and inhaled. "Mmm. How come I never get fresh petals with my rose water baths?"
"Because you're not the queen?" she surmised, teasing him. "I am willing to share though."
With a smirk he dropped the petal back into the water and then made quick work of getting undressed. She stared unabashedly as he stood naked before her, he really was the most beautiful man, and when she looked up at his face, she could tell that he knew it.
Once he reached the bottom of the basin, she stuck her leg out to rub the arch of her foot around his ankle. He turned to face her then, and after a couple of steps he was bracing his hands on the edge on either side of her so that he could lean in to capture her lips in a kiss.
She brought her hands up from the water to cup his cheeks, and when they broke apart, she slid them down to pinch the ends of his mustache with a thumb and forefinger, bringing the hairs to a fine point as she'd often seen him do.
He chuckled and gave her a peck on the cheek before stepping over to sit next to her on the bench. He spread his arms out along the rim on the bath and dropped his head back, giving his own sigh of contentment.
"No wonder Louis likes to come down here with you so much," he said.
She smiled. "This is where I first taught him how to swim." Even before then she'd bring him into the water with her so that he could splash around while she held him or simply so they could relax together. "But these days he mostly likes to play with his ships. Maybe now that the weather's warmer he can bring them out to one of the fountains and the two of you can play together."
"I'd like that," Aramis replied, and with another sigh she laid her head back and closed her eyes.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly beside her.
"Exhausted," she answered. "Ungainly and uncomfortable." She opened her eyes to look at him. "I'd gladly carry this baby for another month or more just to keep him safe with me, but at the same time, I want my body back, I want to hold him in my arms." Reaching up, she brushed some of his hair away from his face. "I want to see how much he looks like you and to see you with him."
"Ana, you know it's for the best that he looks like his brother, like you."
She wrapped her finger around the end of one of his curls and blinked back her gathering tears. "I know, I know. Just let me imagine…"
"Come here." With his left hand he gently brought her arm down and then pulled her onto his lap. Encircling her with his arms he pressed tender kisses to her hair and shoulder. "I want a girl then," he said after a few seconds. "After our second son I want a little girl, a miniature you."
She found herself smiling at the thought. "Well then she'll have to have a sister."
"Constance and Anne." She could hear the smile in his own voice as he squeezed his arms around hers. "And they'll be just as much trouble as their namesakes, if not more."
"Definitely more."
MMMMMMMMMM
When he arrived at her bedchamber that night she was already sitting in bed with the sheet pulled up to her waist and her chemise pushed up above her belly.
"Quick," she urged. "He's kicking like mad."
Hurriedly, he climbed onto the bed and kneeled next to her. He'd felt and seen the baby moving around a number of times, but it was something he never got tired of.
"Come now, show Papa," Anne encouraged after a few seconds, and drummed her fingers near the peak of her stomach. Almost immediately, a small bump rose up where her fingers had been but then quickly traveled to the side, only to be replaced a second later by an even larger bump pushing up and stretching the skin of Anne's taut belly before also disappearing.
"Good Lord, he's really trying to get out," he said with a laugh. "He must have heard you earlier."
"Well it's certainly not because he's lacking space," said Anne, her face twisting in discomfort as the baby continued to move around. "It feels like he's practicing somersaults." She gasped, "Oh, that one really hurt."
"Hey now, easy on your Mama," he lightly admonished, rubbing his hand over her stomach.
"Strange to think I'll miss this once he is out."
He hummed in agreement as he shifted onto his side to lean on his arm. He hated to see Anne in any pain, but he already knew that he'd miss these moments too. His time and contact with the baby would be severely cut back once the child was born, and Anne wouldn't be able to refer to Aramis as "Papa" like she could now with the baby either.
Turning his head, he leaned over to kiss her arm. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For this. It was a sweet torture the few tantalizing glimpses I had of you when you were carrying Louis and to not be able to tell you how beautiful, how radiant you looked. To ask how you were. To not be able to touch you, to feel him." He stroked his hand back across her stomach and then looked up at her. "Apart from the one time. Do you remember?"
She covered his hand on her stomach and smiled softly. "Of course. Of course I remember. We both thought we were being quite clever, didn't we?"
"Our ruses worked, didn't they?"
"To Athos' dismay," she quipped.
He chuckled. "The stuff of his nightmares, apparently." Sliding his hand off of her, he leaned up to kiss her lips. "I'm glad we broke our promises," he said, sobering, and went to kiss her once more, so grateful to be here with her.
When he started to pull away, Anne gave a small groan and clutched at his shirt. "Don't stop," she breathed. "I want you."
He thought her ardor had finally cooled after Louis' birthday, but apparently the bath had left her more than refreshed. "Ana, our son is very much awake," he said with a raise of his eyebrows.
Her hand went to cup his cheek, her fingers threading into his hair. "Then let's rock him to sleep," she replied, and pulled him back down to rejoin their lips.
Before all thought left him, he broke away. "Are you sure? I don't want to make you more uncomfortable."
Anne shook her head. "I want you to distract me from how uncomfortable I am. Consider it an early birthday gift; I may not be up for this two days from now."
He smiled. "As you wish."
MMMMMMMMMM
He'd noticed Anne getting up a few times after they'd gone to sleep, it was a common occurrence by now, with the baby pressing on her bladder or sometimes wanting something to eat, but when he heard her inhale sharply next to him on the bed, he fully opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her.
In the low light of the few candles they'd leave burning he could see that she was on her left side, her face partially pressed into her pillow and the bedsheet crumpled up below her waist. One hand gripped the corner of her pillow while her other hand cradled her belly. Her eyes were closed and her eyebrows were knitted together as she steadily exhaled.
"Ana?" He reached out and brushed his knuckles against her arm. "Are you all right?"
She didn't immediately answer, but after inhaling and then exhaling again, Anne opened her eyes to look at him. "Aramis, I think the pains have started."
He shot up. "What? Just now?"
"A few hours ago, perhaps, but maybe longer."
"Hours?" he repeated, alarmed. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to start worrying yet."
"Ana," he chided, and threw back the bedsheet. "I'll go so you can send for everyone."
She grabbed his wrist. "Don't! This will might take all day and I don't want all those people in here, not yet. I just want you."
He clenched his jaw. Of course he didn't want to leave her, he would have preferred to deliver the child himself even, but the birth had to be witnessed, and he had such little experience with women in labour, he feared not being able to help Anne or the baby if something went wrong. She was right though, they still had hours before her maids would come to her room, and likely hours after that before the child actually came.
Sighing softly, he gave a nod of his head. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Just stay with me," Anne simply answered, and so he settled back down next to her. Her hand slid up from his wrist to wrap around his bicep.
He didn't even try to go back to sleep, despite Anne telling him he should. He was too nervous, too excited, and he didn't want to miss anything. He'd hoped that she'd be able to rest a bit in between the pains, but she could hardly keep still for long, and as the night went on she tossed and turned as much as a woman in her condition could, unable to find a comfortable enough position.
Right now she was somewhat sitting up against the headboard, and seemingly trying to decide what to do with her legs; bending and then straightening one leg or both. When another pain started, her left hand grabbed hold of his thigh, her nails digging into his skin.
He rubbed her arm as she relaxed again. "All right?"
Anne nodded. "It's not too bad, yet. And at least I got to sleep more this time. Louis decided he wanted to get things started just as I was getting ready for bed, and there was no hiding it from my ladies."
"And you think we've still got a while?"
"A long while," she confirmed, and then began to scoot towards the edge of the bed. "Help me up, I want to walk around."
After a brief protest about her being on her feet, he helped her out of bed, and with one arm around her waist, proceeded to pace the room with her. They did so for a while, pausing whenever a contraction came on and then resuming once Anne had caught her breath.
He could tell the pains were getting stronger, and at one point, Anne's knees buckled underneath her.
"Ana!" he grunted, holding her up.
"I'm fine," she assured him, or at least attempted to, once the pain had passed. "You know I have weak knees."
"My love, nothing about you is weak."
She gestured for him to take her over to the prie dieu, and he helped her lower herself onto the kneeler. Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead against the cushioned armrest and crossed her arms, clasping her hands around her forearms as she breathed deeply. He then went down on his own knees on the floor behind her and began massaging her lower back. After following her directions (and moans of relief) as to where to put the most pressure, he looked up at the silver cross on the table in front of them, and resumed his silent prayers for a safe and easy delivery.
"Remind me, when this is over, to write to the Pope," Anne said after a few minutes. "Your hands are performing miracles right now and I want you canonized a saint."
Stopping, he leaned over so he could give her an incredulous look. "Me? Ana, you're the one about to give birth."
"And if you don't resume your ministrations I'll have you excommunicated," she threatened.
He swiftly snapped back to work. "Certainly, my Queen."
After a while though, she wanted to walk again, and so he helped her back up to resume their pacing.
She doubled over in pain as another contraction came, and he hooked around in front of her so that she could hold onto his arm with her left hand. "Dear God," she gasped once it passed, and straightening, stepped up to him and wrapped her hands around his shoulders, burying her face in his neck. "I don't know how my mother went through this so many times."
"Becuase she was strong, just as you are," he told her, and when she began to shift her weight from one foot to the other, he stood there and swayed slowly with her, stroking her hair and holding her close.
Looking over Anne's shoulder at the window, the blue light of dawn had turned orange, and when her waters broke several minutes later, he took it as an affirmation that it was time for him to go. "You should send for the others now," he said, and after a moment's hesitation, she nodded.
Taking her face in his hands, he looked deep into her eyes. "You are so strong and I know you won't need me, but if you do, if you do, then send for me. Don't worry about what people will think, don't worry about me; if you need me, send for me. Promise?"
Gripping onto his arms, Anne closed her eyes and nodded before looking back at him. "I promise."
Aramis exhaled, and stroked his thumbs across her cheeks. "You know something, Ana?"
"What?"
"Our baby's almost here," he grinned, and was happy to see her face relax into a smile. He kissed her lips before pressing his forehead to hers. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you. Always."
MMMMMMMMMM
Aramis waited until she called for Rousseau, one the guards on duty at the end of the hall, and then gave her one final kiss on her knuckles before releasing his hold on her and retreating to the passageway.
Rousseau's hurried footsteps quickly reached her. "Your Majesty?"
"Send for the midwives and the d'Artagnans. The baby is coming."
A/N: You know I had to end it there :P
Also, according to my timeline of the show, I estimate Louis to have been born in the late spring or early summer, and made his birthday (along with Anne, Louis Sr. and now Philippe) in May.
Historical background/inspiration:
-As I've referenced in part 2 of this series, a "flood of relics" had started to pour into the palace of Saint-Germain even before Anne's pregnancy with Louis had been announced. Anne also had an "extensive collection of relics ranging from fragments of the Cross to a finger of Saint Anne" -Ruth Kleinman, Anne of Austria
-Once Louis turned seven, he "no longer saw the women who used to take care of him; but what upset him the most was that I [La Porte] did not know the fairy tales with which the women used to make him go to sleep...I told the Queen that...if she allowed me to do so, I would read him French history...The Queen agreed...The King enjoyed this and was determined to be like the greatest of his ancestors" -Ruth Kleinman, Anne of Austria
-"There are many vignettes of Louis's joy in his mother's company: he would join her in her luxurious marble bath in her Apartment des Bains" -Antonia Fraser, Love and Louis XIV