Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.
Chapter Ninety-One: Contagion.
15th of October 1535 - Convent of Las Descalzas Reales, Madrid, Spain
Staring at the falling snow from the window of her chambers, Isabella of Portugal pondered her role in the misfortune that seemed to have come to the country that she now called her home. A sickness had swept across the lands and the royal court had been forced to disband in an attempt to avoid the sickness that was claiming so many lives.
News had arrived that morning that the former Queen of Aragon, Germaine of Foix had been claimed along with her daughter Isabel by the sickness that ravaged their lands. Perhaps this was punishment for Charles' actions, God was angry with them so he sent a sickness to their lands so that they would not be able to strike against Charles' enemies who continued to steal his lands.
Closing her eyes and resting a hand on the small bump that made itself known, Isabella had not announced her newest pregnancy; it hadn't felt like the right time when so many around them seemed to be dying. It had been days since she had seen anyone but her ladies, even her beloved husband had not graced her with his presence since they had entered the lockdown.
Isabella had requested that he come break his morning fast with her, or that he might enjoy her company in the evenings with one of her ladies playing the lute to entertain them. Nothing she said seemed to entice her husband to her chambers, nor allow her to enter his. Since the birth of Infanta Joanna during the summer, it had been on rare occasions that Isabella got to enjoy her husband's company; he had been hinder in his attempts to strike back against the alliance that had formed against him. Their treasury had taken quite a hit and with Ferdinand's intentions now revealed, it meant that Charles' plan of attack had been further delayed before the sickness had swept in.
"Your Majesty," a voice said interrupting Isabella's thoughts, she blinked surprised that someone had managed to approach her and she looked up to see Francis Borgia, her equerry looking rather nervous. He lingered by the door to her chamber, his eyes darting around the chamber seeing who was inside and taking in the Empress' limited household.
"What is it?" Isabella asked concerned, she rose to her feet knowing that he would not have come to her at such a late hour unless it was urgent; her mind conjuring all sorts of things that could have brought him to her. She feared for her children. Philip, Maria, and Joanna were her world and she had done everything in her power to make sure that they were kept safe from the contagion that was swallowing their country whole.
"It is the Emperor, he has taken ill," Francis informed her, it was only right that his mistress was informed of such things especially if the worst was to come and the country found itself without it's King. The Prince of Asturias was only eight years old and in no way prepared to take over ruling from his father especially given the international state of affairs.
Isabella was silent for a moment as she stared at Francis, her heart dropping into her stomach before she surged into action and started to make her way out of her chambers. She cared not how she looked as she started to run towards the chambers of her husband, her household following after her as Francis tried to call for her to stop.
His panicked calls of concern reached deaf ears as Isabella continued on her way, the empty halls a reminder that the sickness had reached into her home and now might claim her husband. Pushing open the doors to Charles' presence chamber, Isabella stumbled inside to the sight of several men in the middle of discussing her husband's illness. The men turned to stare at the Empress before she pushed forward heading for the bed chamber, she didn't care what anyone had to say; she had to see her husband.
"Your Majesty, you must not enter… it is not safe," Juan Pardo de Tavera, the Archbishop of Toledo called after her but his words did little to deter her, he shot a look at Francis knowing that this was the exact reason that they had not wished to tell her. The last thing that they needed right now was for Her Majesty to fall ill as well, the contagion could take the Emperor and there would be need of a regent for the young prince.
Moving swiftly to Charles' side, Isabella dropped to her knees beside his bed and took his hand in hers; she brought his hand to her lips and she pressed a kiss to the top of it. Charles' face lacked any colour, his breathing was laboured and his face covered in sweat as Isabella stared up at him taking in his sickly appearance.
"My love please," Isabella pleaded with him, it was far too soon for them to say their goodbyes and she wanted more time with him; nine years of marriage didn't seem like enough especially given the fact that Charles had been out of the country so much. He was the love of her life, the father of her six children, her king, her emperor; she loved him with all her heart and she prayed that they would never be separated.
"I am with child again… please do not leave us," Isabella whispered, she needed him here and she hoped that the news that she was pregnant would bring him back to her. Her eyes taking in his pale face, his hair sticking to his sweaty forehead and she ignored the concerned looks from her husband's ministers who watched from a safe distance.
Tears filled her eyes as she took in her husband, the man that she had sworn to honour and obey; was this to be her punishment for plotting with Ferdinand to put a stop to Charles' bloodshed before it got worse. She had wanted to do what was best for her country, she wanted to protect Spain from the constant wars and neglect that it had seen since her husband had started his campaign.
No one family could rule all of Europe, Isabella was no fool and she knew that Charles' plan would only end in the deaths of everyone that she loved; it would rip his family apart if he succeed. Charles remained unmoving in his bed, his chest wheezing with each breath that he took and it was the only sound that filled his silent room as Isabella bowed her head.
'Please God, do not take him from me' Isabella prayed, her hands clasped his as she whispered prayers pleading for God to not take her husband, she vowed to ensure that they achieved peace if he allowed Charles to live. That she would do all that she could to stop the bloodshed that stained his hands, Isabella had heard that the new Pope was more in favour of the alliance than he was of the Emperor. It had only been a matter of time that such tables would turn against them, she knew that the house of Habsburg was forever tainted and there would be no coming back from this if Charles continued on his path of hatred.
Isabella was unsure how long she knelt there praying for her husband, her knees complained from the amount of time that she spent in such a position and she pressed a final kiss to her husband's hand before she rose to her feet. Staring at Charles, Isabella knew that she could not remain with him and the royal physicians would be here to care for him; she could not leave her country without a monarch while their king fought for his life. Moving out of the room to the gathering that waited in Charles' presence chamber, Isabella squared her shoulders as she exited the room and looked upon the men.
"No one can know that the Emperor is sick, Spain and his other lands must believe that their ruler is strong," Isabella ordered swiftly, it was her that would rule while her husband was incapacitated. It would only do more harm than good if their enemies were to learn that Charles was unwell, she would happily concede the territories in Italy if it meant that she could keep the Habsburg lands safe. Taking a breath to steady herself, Isabella looked back at Charles before she looked back at the men; this would not be the first time that she had functioned as Charles' regent in his stead.
"You must bring the Prince of Asturias and the infantas to me," Isabella instructed Francis Borgia, she needed to have her children with her should the worst happen. It would not do for the children to be so far away and for the worst to happen, Philip was but a child and there would be men that would seek to control and use him for power if Charles died now.
Isabella had heard stories of the Princes in the Tower, betrayed by their own uncle who usurper Edward V's throne, and took it for himself. There was no way that Isabella would allow anything to happen to her children, she would defend them with her life; she would protect her son's inheritance and start educating him in the art of ruling for when his time came.
Slowly the gathering dispersed and Isabella was left with the royal physicians to watch over her husband, she looked back at where her husband lay in his bed and she could only hope that he would recover from this.
I recommend Bed of Deceit by BellalunaMcKenzie, For Even as Love Crowns You by wizardfantasy and Sanctuary by Cattyfan. Also check out My Lord Husband,The Enemy by Esme24, That Subtle Wreath by EvilFluffyBiteyThing and its sequel, A Progress in Kent.
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