Mary heard the commotion in the hallways and she rushed out into the hallway and down the corridor. She stopped one of the maids who was rushing by her. "What's all the fuss about?" she asked. "It's Lady Kenna m'lady. Her water had broken, and she sent one of the maids to fetch someone. We found her on the floor unconscious on the floor of her chambers. I'm not sure what caused her to fall, but she must've hit her head. The midwife and Nostradamus is with her now. Someone was going to fetch her husband." the maid quickly explained. Mary gasped and rushed passed the maid towards Kenna and Bash's chambers. She met Bash and Francis at the door and after exchanging worried looks they entered the chambers.
Kenna heard voices around her and felt like she'd been run over by a hundred horses. Her head pounded, and it felt like someone was pressing on her stomach. Then she opened her eyes and gasped when she felt a sharp pain and her stomach muscles tighten. She tried to sit up, but immediately regretted it when she felt dizzy. "Easy Lady Kenna. You've taken quite a fall. Thankfully we found you before you went into hard labor." Nostradamus said. "What happened?" she asked groggily. "Your water broke and ye sent me for the midwife and when we came back we found m'lady passed out on the floor and quite a lump on yer head." her Scottish maid answered. "I remember that much and then a sharp pain. I must've lost my balance and fallen." Kenna said. Nostradamus nodded and handed her a cup of liquid. "That seems to be the sum of it. Drink this. It will ease the ache in your head." Kenna hesitated, and he touched her shoulder. "It won't hurt the babe or you." She nodded and drank. It tasted bitter, but she pushed through and drank it. He handed her some water to remove the taste out of her mouth. "If I may m'lady you are getting ready to enter full labor. Ye might want to send for..." Just then the doors burst open and Bash, Francis and Mary entered all looking extremely worried.
Bash was the first to enter the room and was a little relieved to see his wife conscious. Nostradamus nodded and exited the room leaving the rest to the midwife until the babe was born. "Kenna!" he set his sword belt and cloak down and hurried over to the bed. She gave him a reassuring smile and took his hand. "I'm ok." Mary and Francis came to the bedside and Mary took her other hand. "I hope yours is a much easier birth than mine." Kenna squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Mary. You can stay if you like." Mary kissed her friend's hand. "I would, but it's the first time Francis and I have both been able to get away. There are some things we should discuss. I think it would be best if it was just you and Bash." Kenna nodded understandingly. Then she drew in a sharp breath and gripped Bash's hand tightly. "I think it's happening." she said once the contraction passed. Bash swallowed nervously, and Francis must have noticed because he came closer and patted Bash's shoulder. "It will be okay brother." Then Mary walked around the bed and took Francis' hand and they walked out of the chambers. Bash hoped they were right as he watched his wife go through the contractions.
Francis was happy for his brother and that he finally had time to spend with his family, but their new visitor made him slightly uneasy. Mary must've noticed his distant look because she squeezed his hand. "Is everything alright?" he looked over at her and gave her a halfhearted smile. "For now." Mary gave him a puzzled look, but he just placed a kiss on her cheek. "Let's go get little Adi and we can talk over supper." he said. They were silent for the rest of the way to the nursery.
Mary picked up Merida when they entered the nursery and let the nanny know they would be taking her for a few hours and they would send for her when they needed her. She walked back over to where Francis stood in the doorway and he stroked her cheek with his thumb. "My little princess." She started to fuss, and Mary kissed her forehead. "I know little one. I'm hungry too so let's go get some food for both of us." she said. She took Francis' hand and they walked to their chambers. Mary sat on the settee and began nursing Adi while Francis asked for their meal to be brought to their rooms. She didn't care if she was breaking a rule or tradition of having a nurse maid. She felt closer to her baby this way and she wanted it to stay like that.
Meanwhile in Kenna and Bash's chambers it was high nerves and shirts soaked with sweat as Kenna started hard labor. Bash's heart twisted every time she screamed or cried out, but he stayed by her side and held her hand or stroked her forehead with a damp cloth. He knew she would probably argue, but he did think she looked pretty with the sweat glistening on her face and strands of her brown hair sticking to her brow. The midwife instructed her to bend her knees and spread her legs when it came time to push. Bash scooted onto the bed to support her from behind as she gave the first push. She panted and let out a whimper when it passed. "Oh, if only Eve hadn't sinned." she said eliciting a chuckle from Bash. "It's...not...funny..." she said through gritted teeth as she pushed again. Bash leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Yes, but if you remember most of the blame lays with you love." He said teasingly. She gave him a confused look when she stopped pushing.
Kenna began to wonder if Bash knew it wasn't quite an accident that she got pregnant. His comment hinted at the idea, but his tone of voice didn't sound as if he was angry. She couldn't inquire more because the contractions were almost back to back and she spent most of her energy pushing. "The baby is almost here. I can see the top of his head." The midwife said. Kenna felt something start to emerge from her body and though the pain was almost unbearable the anticipation at meeting their little one was much more, and she pushed with all her might. Then with a few more pushes the babe emerged and Kenna's body relaxed, and she fell against Bash. "You have a son!" the midwife exclaimed. Kenna heard a slap and then the baby's first cry. "Oh, Kenna darling you did it." Bash said tears in his eyes as he beheld their little one. He kissed her forehead and held her tight. She felt her throat constrict as the midwife brought her son to her after she got him cleaned up and wrapped in a blanket. Bash helped her sit up and she cradled their baby close to her breast. His crying slowed to small whimpers as the presence of his mother seemed to calm him. He began nuzzling her and with Bash's help she uncovered herself and without too much trouble the babe latched on and though it hurt a little at first, she felt so much love she thought her heart would burst.
Bash felt himself so overcome with emotion and he felt his heart felt full of wonder and love. Once Kenna and their baby were settled and her body had run its course he had the maids bring their supper and he held their little one as they helped Kenna bathe. He looked down at his son as he slept and felt proud his son would have a better life than he had. He smiled as he thought back to his comment to Kenna earlier. His comment was meant to imply she was hard to resist making love to, but her reaction made him think she was thinking of something else. "He's beautiful, isn't he?" he heard her say as she emerged from behind the divider. He glanced up and nodded. "I say we wait till morning to tell everyone else." She nodded her reply as she made her way to the table where their food was. "I'm famished." she said. He stood and lay the sleeping babe in the cradle and walked to the table. He sat down, and they began to eat.
Kenna had been wondering about Bash's earlier comment and decided now was as good a time as any to further inquire. "You don't feel like you needed to marry me because I got pregnant, did you?" Bash was taken aback and stood going over to kneel beside her. "I don't want you to ever think that. We both knew what might happen that first night. It might not have been at the forefront of our minds, but it was there." Kenna smiled and put a hand on his cheek. "I know it's just I didn't want, you to leave and I talked to Mary and..." Bash kissed her softly. "Shh. It doesn't matter anymore. Let's just enjoy this joyous moment with our little Alexander Rydell." She nodded, and they spent the rest of the night admiring their son.
Louis had heard a lot of bustling going on outside his rooms and was growing more curious than when he'd arrived. When things seemed to quiet down, and he was brought his supper he asked the servant about the happenings. "I'm not sure what I'm at liberty to say just yet, but the King's brother was called to his chambers when his wife went into labor." Louis nodded. "So, it wasn't the Queen in labor?" The servant shook his head and before he could add any more information Louis dismissed him as his footmen had entered. "What is it Caesar?" he asked. "I just wanted to inform you that the men are being treated like royal guests and no one has questioned us too hard." Louis nodded glad they were being received well. "Thank you and goodnight." Caesar bowed and left the chambers. Louis stretched out on the couch and put his hands behind his head. He was looking forward to his introductions in the morning. It seemed as if there was a lot that had changed since his mission had been arranged.
Mary took Francis' hand as he told her about their cousin's arrival. Merida was lying beside them in the cradle they kept in their chambers and she was sleeping after eating her fill from her mother. "We must have hope he is coming to help. I fear Elizabeth's delays may cause some to fear a war." Francis nodded and brought her hand to his lips. "We must be strong. For our countries, for us, for our little Adi and for whoever may follow her." he replied holding Mary close. "About that." she said turning towards him. "I know I mentioned before about waiting, but I've missed you and..." Before she could finish Francis placed a hungry kiss on her lips slipping a hand to cup her cheek and the other staying at her waist. She missed these kisses and reveled in them joyously. She was confident that they would be safe from creating another little one tonight, so she held nothing back when Francis began asking for more. She readily replied after he'd carried her to their bed.
Francis pushed all his burdens and worries away for the moment as he finally got to make love to his wife fully since Merida's conception. He placed kisses along her jawline, behind her ear and across her collarbone. He smiled as she responded with little sighs and moans. Their haze of emotion and bliss was cut through when Adi began to whimper. Francis broke their connection and as Mary lay in the bed catching her breath, her eyes still closed he went over to Merida's cradle and lifting her out he brought her to his chest and carried her to her mother.
Mary was brought back to the present when she felt tugging at her breasts and realized Adi had awoken and was hungry. She opened her eyes and glanced into Francis eyes. He just smiled and when she cradled Merida he walked around to the other side of the bed and crawled in. He drew mother and child close with Mary's back to his chest and pulled the sheets up till it covered half of them, so Merida wasn't smothered. "I love you." he said kissing Mary's neck. She took his hand that was draped over her side. "I love you." They lay together until Merida was asleep and then Mary took her to the cradle. "Sleep my love. You shall stay with us tonight." she brought the cradle close to their bed and then crawled back in with Francis. He pulled her against him and kissed her again. "Now, where were we?" he said. She giggled and wrapping her legs around his continued kissing him. They both forgot they were King and Queen and became just two people in love.