Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.
Face claim for Clarice de' Medici - Synnøve Karlsen.
Chapter One Hundred & One: Family Reunion.
25th of March 1536 - Château de Fontainebleau, France
The trumpets sounded as Queen Elisabeth of France prepared herself, she stared at herself in the mirror as her ladies dressed her for the arrival of the King. It had been many months since the royal couple had last seen each other and Elisabeth had immersed herself in the culture of French court as much as she could during her time here.
Gone where the fashions of her homeland, she was dressed as a French Queen should be in the latest fashions of the court and she hoped that it would greatly please her husband. Taking a look at herself in the mirror, Elisabeth watched as her crown was carefully placed upon her head and she swallowed as she felt the weight of it resting atop of her.
Letting out a steady breath, Elisabeth nodded to her ladies before she turned away from the mirror and held out her arms so that Aubert could be placed in them. Her son was the delight of her life, she was so proud to show him off to his royal father and she was most assured that Francis would be pleased with her; she had succeeded on her first attempt to give him a son.
The line of succession in France needed further securing, her duty here was clear and Elisabeth vowed before God and Country that she would do her part; even if her sons never saw the throne. Her little Duke of Anjou was just the start, Elisabeth planned to give Francis as many children as she could; all of them would make grand matches, she had been ever so pleased to her that her boy would marry the younger princess of England.
It was a great match, one that would secure their alliance with the English throne rather than see the girl married off to a Habsburg especially now they were eager for to join the alliance. Isabella had sent on her congratulations at the birth of Prince Aubert, although Elisabeth had been rather stiff to receive them given the timing.
Afterall, Charles had been content to overthrow the Valois crown of France if he had his way; he saw any Valois as dirt beneath his feet and there was no love lost between the two countries even now. Leaving her chambers and making her way down to greet the arriving party, Elisabeth kept a steady pace as many gathered to greet the royal party on its triumphant return from war.
There was much for them to celebrate, the coronation of King Charles IV of Naples had been presided over by Pope Paul III who had spoken of his great love and friendship for the alliance. His election only months earlier coming as no surprise, Elisabeth had heard that he was a favourite of the new Duke of Florence who had traded his new daughter for support from the Pope.
Marguerite of Navarre was waiting as Elisabeth exited the palace, she smiled at her sister-in-law pleased to see that she had arrived for Francis had made his entrance; no doubt her brother was prepared to put on a display of glory upon his return. The royal nursery seemed to be emptying out now that Charles was away in Naples with plans already being made for Madeleine's marriage to the King of Scots in the coming year.
Francis, Henri and Margaret remained from the King's first marriage, with no plans cemented yet for the marriage of his eldest son and heir or his younger daughter. Then there was Henri's marriage of two and a half years, which still showed no signs of bearing children; although Marguerite couldn't quite blame Catherine for lack of child when Henri refused to share her bed.
The two of them were now of age and Marguerite had done all that she could to nudge her nephew in the right direction, he seemed to resist her more each time she brought up consummating his marriage to the Medici girl. God willing, Catherine would be like her cousin; Clarice had birthed three healthy children for her husband since she had married one of which was a son.
Shaking her head, Marguerite shook away the bad thoughts as she focused on her brother's return; a return that meant that she would be returning to Navarre in the coming days to be reunited with her own husband after many months apart while she helped govern France in her brother's absence and help her new sister-in-law adapt to her role.
They did not have to wait long before the royal standard was insight and soon King Francis came into view riding upon a white stallion; his armour shining in the spring sun as he approached the gathering. His eyes swept the crowds that had come to see their triumphant king return, it had been the same upon every village and town that they had passed on the way here. There was much for France to celebrate, they had beaten the Spanish dogs and made them pay for what they had done.
Now was a time of peace and there was still much to be done, Francis would not have it said that he sat on his laurels especially given that the new Holy Roman Emperor was Charles' brother. Ferdinand seemed more peaceful that his elder brother had been, he was eager to see his own sons and daughters married well and to secure them to the alliance. It was already reported that he was eager to match one of his younger daughters with the Duke of Florence's son in the near future since Francis had engaged Charles to one of Isabella's daughters. After what felt like an age, his horse was slowly to a stop and Francis wasted no time in dismounting his stallion and removing his helmet.
"My people your king has returned triumphant over those Spanish dogs," Francis called to the crowds, they cheered at the news that they had won the war and the death of Emperor Charles had spread quickly. He made his way through the crowd towards his family, all whom had gathered to greet him upon his return; his eyes catching on his wife, dressed in french finery and holding his new son in her arms.
"Long live King Francis!" Anne de Montmorency cried causing the crowd to call back, they had much to celebrate after being away for many months. He too was eager to be reunited with his wife, they had five little ones that he had missed dearly and he couldn't wait to see them again. Francis wasted no time in approaching his family, he offered a nod of his head to Marguerite knowing that his sister would fill him in on all that he had missed in his time away.
"Husband. May I introduce you to your son, Aubert," Elisabeth said proudly, holding out their son so that he may hold him; something that Francis did not hesitate in doing, he stared down at him in awe unable to believe it. The boy was a fine weight and had a dark head of hair on him already, he was everything that Francis had hoped that he would be and more.
"My Duke of Anjou," Francis praised pressing a kiss to the crown of the boy's head, he had prayed that the boy would be well and had been thrilled when the news had come that Elisabeth had birthed him a son. Surely there was no greater sign from God than this that he was on France's side, that he favoured the House of Valois over those who would seek to oppress them.
"My Queen," Francis greeted fondly with a nod of his head, he made no move to place Aubert back in her arms and moved down the line to greet his other children. The Dauphin was just as Francis remembered him, his time learning the role that he would one day hold suited him and if his plans worked out well then he would see his eldest married with the next year or so. His talks with the King of Portugal were proving successful and if all went well then Maria of Portugal would be the Dauphin's bride soon enough.
Next was Henri and his wife, a slight frown formed on Francis' face as he saw that there was still no sign of a child between them and even worse was the fact that Madam de Poitiers was standing just behind his son. He would need to speak to his son about his favouritism towards his mistress, Marguerite had written to him of her concerns on this matter in great detail. Madeleine and Margaret were next, his beautiful daughters offering him deep curtsies to their royal father; both had grown so much in his time away. Margaret was nearly a woman now, soon it would be time for him to find her a husband while wedding planning had begun for Madeleine who was set to become Queen of Scotland in a few months' time.
"My people now we celebrate!" Francis announced to great applause, there was much for them to be grateful for at this time and he saw no reason to not celebrate their win. He offered his arm to Elisabeth before the two of them lead the way into the castle, the people following behind the royal family knowing that such great festivities could be expected. The people of France had much to celebrate and be thankful for, there were talks of Queen Elisabeth's coronation being planned for the spring and a royal wedding to expect.
The House of Valois was secure and nothing could bring it to it's knees.
15th of April 1536 - Royal Palace of Tordesillas
Resting a hand on her pregnant belly, Eleanor of Austria hurried through the hallways of the palace that had been her prison many months before. In truth she had never thought that she would return to this place but when Isabella had written to her, she had found herself unable to stay away. The dark halls offered little comfort as Eleanor pondered the years that her mother had spent locked away in this place, it had been Joanna's home for thirty odd years and she had never attempted to leave.
Even when Isabella had offered to house her somewhere more fitting for a Queen, her mother had refused and insisted upon staying here. The death of Charles had shaken Joanna to the core, with her ordering masses to be said for his eternal soul every day and was often found in the chapel praying alone. Finally reaching the chambers where Joanna had called hers in her time trapped in this place, Eleanor paused upon seeing Isabella speaking to the royal doctors that had been sent to care for Joanna.
"Your Majesty," Eleanor greeted lowering herself as best as she could to greet the Dowager Queen, she eyed Isabella's own swollen belly knowing that she was due to give birth to her child soon. The two stood in silence for a moment before Isabella made her way over to Eleanor, she smiled sadly at her knowing that this reunion was not what she'd had planned for them at all. She'd hoped to invite Eleanor and her husband to court soon, have them come for the celebrations for Philip's first birth as King; she wanted her son surrounded by family during this time.
"She does not have long left…" Isabella whispered sadly, she wished that there was more that she could do for Joanna; the woman having wasted away in the few short months since Charles had died. The death of her firstborn son clearly taking its toll on her and Joanna had called for the masses to continue upon her death, one to be said for every day of his life.
Eleanor nodded giving Isabella's hand a squeeze before she moved towards her mother's bed chambers, the sorrowfully looks that her mother's ladies gave her as she entered doing little to lift her spirit. The room was nearly in complete darkness, the candles by the bed doing little to light the room as Eleanor slowly approached the bed careful not to disturb her mother who lay in it.
Finally reaching the head of the bed, Eleanor stared down at the woman that occupied it in silent horror unable to believe that this was her mother. It had been many months since she had last seen her, having fled with Ferdinand when he had come to free her but this was not the reunion that she had pictured. Joanna had clearly lost a lot of weight during her final months, her skin ashy looking and blotted in places; her eyes unfocused as they stared ahead unseeing, so much so that Eleanor feared that she had arrived to late.
"Mama," Eleanor whispered carefully moving to sit upon the bed, she reached out to take her mother's frail looking hands in her own and press a gentle kiss to the top of them. A small part of her wished that this was some cruel joke, there was no way that this could be her mother; this husk of a person that had wasted away into nothing could not be the Queen of Castile that Eleanor knew.
"My Eleanor," Joanna called softly, her breathing heavily as her head rolled on the pillow to look at her daughter; it rested against her shoulder as her left hand lifted to touch Eleanor's face. The chamber was silent expect for the heavy breaths that Joanna took, the wheezing sound in the chamber that reminded all within that the Queen's time was growing short.
"It is I mama, I have come to you," Eleanor said giving her hand a gentle squeeze, afraid to do more in case she hurt her; she looked so weak and fragile like the wrong move could break her. Joanna patted her hand, a small smile appearing on her face as she realised it was Eleanor; she sent for all her children but the short notice of her letters would mean that many of them wouldn't arrive in time.
Of her children only four remained now, with Charles and Isabella being lost to her; although if God was kind then perhaps she would be reunited with them soon enough and her beloved husband. Ferdinand sorting out the mess that Charles had left behind in the Empire, Mary and Catherine were with their families.
Only Eleanor had come to her in her time of need, her dear Eleanor who had suffered greatly because of her actions; that had suffered at the hands of men just as her mother had done when she had lost her power. Even her siblings were gone now, it felt like a lifetime since she had seen her sister Isabella and brother John; even Maria and Catalina were gone now, both leaving this world younger than she. Eleanor opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come and she knew that
"You are with child," Joanna croaked, her hand moving to rest on the growing bump on Eleanor when she finally got a good look at her daughter; a smile appearing on her face again as she knew how much this meant to her. She'd longed for her daughters to have happy lives, blessed with many children; although for the most part they seemed to have been cursed with the issues that had plagued her sisters. Perhaps this was punishment for their mother's inquisition against those who did not follow the Catholic faith; surely there could be no other reason that their family suffered so much loss.
"Yes mama… Frederick and I are expecting, this summer according to my midwife," Eleanor confirmed sadly, she longed to bring her baby to see her mother when they had been born. To present her child to her mother after all she had suffered, to break the cycle that seemed to haunt their family even now that Charles was gone; it was unfair that Joanna would not see her birth her child.
Joanna nodded her head tiredly, although her smile remind as she rested her head back on the pillow and watched Eleanor for a moment. Turning her head to peer at the end of her bed at the sight of movement, Joanna stared for a moment blinking to clear her vision as her eyes locked on the person stood at the end of her bed.
"Isabella… my Isabella," Joanna called out, she reached out her hand towards the phantom figure before her almost expecting her daughter to come and take it in her own. It had been so long since she had seen her, her time as Queen of Denmark had not changed her and Joanna thought that her daughter shared a lot of her looks. Eleanor closed her eyes, Isabella had died nearly ten years earlier and her mother knew that; she recalled Charles telling her how upset their mother had been at Isabella's death. Her sister had been twenty-four at the time of her death, it was her daughter Christina that was currently being held hostage by the Duke of Lorraine after the war and Dorothea had expected to marry Frederick until he had eloped with Eleanor instead.
"Mama… there is no one there," Eleanor explained quietly, not wishing to upset her further and she wished she could make the pain go away; she did not know what to say to the dying woman that she'd been estranged from for most of her life. As if not hearing her words, Joanna's head lolled to the other side and fear filled her face as she was greeted by the phantom of her son; he looked just how Joanna remembered him. Not a hair was out of place and Charles was seated beside her bed with a look on his face that made her want to throw up, the words bubbled on her tongue before she could push them down and turn away from him.
"Charles… I am sorry, my son," Joanna croaked with tears forming in her eyes, she had robbed him of the chance to see his child born but she knew that he would have only ruined her realm if he'd lived. Her son was many things but he could never admit defeat, the realms were better off in Philip's hands; guided by his mother to make better choices than leave the Spanish realms in ruin. It was only then that a man appeared from the shadows, a warm smile on his face as he made his way over to the bed passed Isabella and Charles who now stood together watching their mother. He was as young as Joanna remembered, as handsome as ever and he held out his hand for her to take; beckoning her to come with him.
"Philip," Joanna whispered with tears in her eyes, she lifted her hand to take his own as she smiled up at him from her bed; her body feeling lighter than it had done in months and suddenly it wasn't hard to breath anymore. Gone was the heaviness in her chest, the aches and pains that had plagued her; all that mattered was she was holding Philip's hand again in her own.
"Mama," Eleanor cried softly, bowing her head as the priest beside her reached forward to close Joanna's eyes for the final time; she held on tightly to Joanna's hand as others offered prayers to Joanna, Queen of Castile and Aragon who had left this world behind.
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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