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Face claim for Clarice de' Medici - Synnøve Karlsen.

Chapter One Hundred & Thirteen: The Duke of Rothesay.

22nd of October 1537 - St Andrews, Fife, Scotland

Screaming in agony, Madeleine of France, Queen of Scotland clutched at her ladies' hands as she continued to labour with her first child; her waters had broken early that morning and she had spent most of the day labouring to bring her child into the world. She had never felt anything like this before and Madeleine just wanted it to be over, the hours felt like they were not moving fast enough nor was she any closer to delivering.

"You're doing so well, you're nearly there," one of her ladies encouraged, wiping a damp cloth across the top of Madeleine's head to try and cool her down; her words soft as she spoke knowing that it would not be too long now. Having laboured for most of the day, it would surely not be long before the child made its way into the world; the labour had been slow to start but things were starting to speed up now.

Madeleine gritted her teeth trying to calm down on the shout of pain that threatened to spill from her lips; she could not understand why women had to suffer in such a way. Surely if penance were needed for another's wrongdoing, then the debt would have been repaid, she did not see how women did this multiple times and she just wanted it to be over already.

"We can see the head now, Your Grace," the midwife encouraged glad that the babe was making progress, it had been a long day for the mother, and she was pleased to see that the delivery was going as smooth as she hoped it would. There was no denying that she found herself feeling rather nervous when it came to the delivery; the last thing that the midwife wanted was for the new Queen of Scotland to die under her care.

Madeleine gritted her teeth, focusing on pushing her babe into the world; she was sure once she was done that her hard work would be rewarded in holding her child for the first time. She gave one last almighty push and collapsed back against her pillows just as a shrill cry filled the room, she barely heard the words that her ladies said to her in congratulations of her delivery of her child.

The midwife handed the newborn off to one of the Scottish ladies to clean up once the cord had been cut and prepared to deliver the placenta while the lady dealt with cleaning the newborn up before they were given to their mother. Once the placenta had been delivered, Madeleine's ladies helped clean their mistress and take away the soiled bedding; once everything was clear of the signs of birth, they allowed her to rest in her best.

Madeleine's eyes never left her baby while she was cleaned up, she could not believe that she had done it nor the fact that her child seemed most health given the sharp cry that they had produced. Already the gender had been noted and one of her new ladies had rushed to inform the King's steward of the birth, the King of Scotland had an heir and there was much to celebrate after twenty-four years without a true heir to the throne.

"You have given birth to a very healthy baby boy Your Grace," the Lady Hamilton informed Madeleine taking the baby once the midwife was done with her checks and walking over to the bed where Madeleine was resting. No doubt there would be celebrations all night long, King James had an male heir that secured his throne and hopefully the peace with the English would last.

King James had been put a child when he came to the throne at the age of seventeen months, he was the third son of King James IV and his wife Margaret Tudor and was the only legitimate child of James IV to survive infancy. The doors to her chambers swung open and Madeleine smiled at the sight of her husband, he strode towards her with a smile upon his face. James had rushed to Madeleine's side at the news that she had been safely delivered of a son, their son, an heir that Scotland could be proud of.

"My love," James greeted with a smile, he kissed her sweetly before casting his eyes down to their little Duke of Rothesay, their little James. There had been many names discussed for the boy, but it seemed only right that he would be named for his father. Madeleine felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, she had her son and he was perfectly healthy.

Château de Fontainebleau

Clasping her hands in prayer, the Dauphine of France knew that she would not get a third chance to give her husband a son; he had only returned to her bed because Diane had encouraged him to do so for he would need a true heir only Catherine could give him. That had not stopped her husband from flaunting his mistress around the court, showing her off despite the Queen refusing to admit Diane to her court or in her presence.

A part of Catherine was grateful for that, that if she lingered in the presence of Queen Elisabeth that she would not have to deal with Henri's cruelty as he showered his love onto another. Her hands moved to her swelling belly, this child would be her final chance to do her duty; Henri had made that more than clear to her, he would free himself of her in anyway he could if she failed him.

Their daughter, Princess Elisabeth, was cared for in the royal nursery with her uncle and aunt by the Queen; Prince Aubert and Princess Yolande were welcome nursery mates for the little princess. Catherine knew that the support of the King and Queen was necessary right now, she played her part well and she just had to pray that God would see her delivered of a son this time. She had worked far too hard to fall at the last hurdle, she needed a son, she needed to give Henri an heir; only a son by her would secure the throne for him and the line of Valois.

It had been God's mercy that Sebastiano had kept her name out of all this, that he swore that he was doing God's work when he had murdered the Duke of Brittany at the orders of the late Emperor. No one suspected that the orders might have come from closer to home, that it was she that had ordered his murder for the gain of her very own husband; she had played her part well in the mourning of Francis.

Catherine stared up at the cross, surely God had tasked her with such having sent such words of warning to her; she was sure that her three sons would bring about a golden age. It had pleased her to hear that Clarice had a third daughter rather than another son, her cousin's success in marriage was something that Henri liked to hurl against her.

That perhaps if his father had been a wiser man then he would have engaged Clarice to him rather than see her go to waste some English courtier who had been a no one before King Henry had given him a dukedom and married his sister. Clarice would have made a fine wife for Henri or Francis, the girl was of better stock in Henri's opinion than his own wife was; her mother was french royalty afterall as a daughter of Savoy.

Filiberta of Savoy was an interesting woman, she had fought hard for her daughter to inherit her father's lands after Giuliano had passed and had passed only eight years after her husband had died. The younger half-sister of Louise of Savoy, mother to King Francis had been a key player of her time even if many men would never have considered her as such; her mark on history and the role that Clarice had played would not likely be forgotten easily.

Catherine recalled her aunt fondly, she recalled that Filiberta had welcomed her into her household after the death of both her parents while it was decided what was to be done with her. Afterall, Catherine had been the great niece of her husband decided from the main branch of the Medici through Piero who had been her grandfather.

A lump formed in her throat as she thought about Filiberta, she wondered what her aunt would think of the woman that she had become; how she would react to what Catherine had done to hold onto her power. Especially in the wake of her half-brother's murder, a boy that had been raised by Pope Clement and used for his own gain; his death was something that had deeply saddened Catherine as he was the only one that had supported her.

When Alessandro had ruled Florence, Catherine knew that she would never have to fear the loss of her position since his murder and Ippolito taking control she felt unsupported here. She had gone from the sister of the Ruler of Florence to the cousin of the Ruler of Florence who was completely focused on securing his own children and power above all else. Catherine got to her feet, hand resting on her bump knowing that she was all alone in the world and it was up to her like her aunt Filiberta of Savoy before her to defend her children and her position.

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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