"Mary!" The almost seven year old Queen of Scotland and its isles jumps with a very unqueenly like squeak as her chamber doors are pushed open and a florescent Dauphin runs in with all the might his seven year old legs can carry him. It pleases Mary to see him run around, for it reminds her of the conversation King Henry had with her two nights ago, when he thanked her for bringing his son out of the sick bay and gave him a spirit and rambunctiousness that the French Court had never seen from Francis. He had whispered that Charles was seen to be the actual Dauphin de France, seeing as the toddler was everything his elder brother was not, and it was down to nobody but Mary, Sebastian and her little ladies that they brought the Dauphin out of his pampered, cherub lifestyle practically still on Catherine's breast, and into the gardens to be the child he could only be for so long.
She smiles at the memory, and at the sight of her fiancée, pulling the book from her knees to lay it on her lap. Her silk rouched skirts were white with waterfalls of silver embellishments, a soft tulle silver bodice and a band of silver around her head, almost matching her ladies, who all have been forced to wear white cotton dresses after young Kenna had thrown wine at the Duchess of Bercloux, after the middle aged woman had accused the girl of picking at the dinner table. An order traced back to Queen Catherine, no doubt.
"What is it?" She asks, her voice soft as Kenna, Greer, Lola and Aylee all mutter as they have to get up and curtsey to the Dauphin, it's only the Queen Regnant of Scotland that stays sitting, and Kenna and Geeer grin at each other as Francis bows to Mary, before he opens his mouth to speak again.
"Mary, maman has had the baby!" Francis cries out, pushing his hair from his face. "Another Prince!" He yells. His eyes are wide with excitement, no doubt eager to meet his brother and see his mother again, after she had been separated from her children for the last month and a half to be on bed rest.
"Lovely, Francis." He doesn't seen to acknowledge her somewhat lackluster reaction as Aylee and Lola begin squealing in excitement about the baby.
"The court is already celebrating the baby, Mary! There's going to be a ball tonight, a tournament and jousting and a carousel, oh, it's going to be amazing! Come! Come, come, come!" He grabs her wrist and begins to pull her off the window settee she has been perched upon, and the girls stand up amongst hushed whispers. Kenna and Lola link arms, and the small army of little nobles march straight over towards the birthing chambers.
"Bash!" Francis cries out, looking over at his half brother, who's being scolded and straightened by his sleek mother. Both all dark hair and glowing eyes, they turn at the Dauphin's voice. "Bash, to father, come! He wants to see us!"
Madame de Portiers ushers her only child towards his half brother, always keen for the two to get along, for it would provide her child a safe haven and a full stomach for the rest of his life.
"Where are we going?" Sebastian asks, showing off the gap in his front teeth as he falls into step with the hoard of children.
"To mama!" Francis smiles, looking at him. "Lizzie, Claude and Charles saw him this morning, but now I want to show you our brother! All of you!" The heir to France smiles, looking at all his little companions as he leads them to the birthing chambers.
"Are you sure?" Bash bites his lip. "Mama says never to get under Queen Catherine's foot."
"Oh, nonsense! You're with me, and I'm sure Papa would want to see you and baby Henri!" The Dauphin grabs his wrist to lead the favoured son of Henry towards his newest son. The girls follow quietly, stopping at the sight of a large maroon door, which the Dauphin happily pushes open, marching inside.
"Mama!" He smiles, letting go of Sebastian to run over to his mother and new brother, who lays in Catherine's arms, swaddled in soft cotton blankets. Catherine herself is content and exhausted, bags under her eyes but a large smile on her face when she sees her golden child run to her new baby. "Mama, look who I've brought!"
Catherine, who is all natural with no makeup and freckles, her hair undone and hanging in loose waves over her shoulders, aloe vera softened white cotton sleeping gown. She looks so much younger than usual, and in any given circumstance, Mary would be softened to see her. But not this one, because as soon as Catherine's attention is on them, her face twists with fury. A fury so sudden that Henry feels the need to stop closer to the children in case his wife allnof a sudden lept out of bed and struck the children.
"No! No!" The Queen Consort of France shrieks, startling the baby in her arms to begin to cry, and her midwives gasp and rush over to her to console her. "Get them out of here! Especially them!" Catherine yells, pointing at Mary and Sebastian with her one spare hand that does not clutch babe to breast. "Henry, get that bastard boy away from me! And her, get them all away!"
Mary wishes she could be surprised, but in all honesty she is not. The Queen had been cold and unforgiving ever since her little feet had stepped onto the French beach, and even now, after giving birth to a beloved, wanted Prince, her heart is still cold and black with hatred and disgust towards the girl, and the boy who's very existence proves her husband betrayal.
She steps backwards slowly, reaching a hand over towards Sebastian, slowly gathering the boy and her ladies into her arms. The Queen of Scotland and its isles begins breathing deeply to hold back her own temper as she sees Aylee and Greer beginning to shed their tears of fear. Now is not the time, especially with Francis crying out, pleading their case, Henry begging her to calm down, and the baby crying and the hissing nursemaids who begin ushering the children out. But Francis stays, of course Francis stays, because although Mary may have a blood crown and royalty in her veins, Francis has Medici blood, Catherine's beloved firstborn baby boy, and she knows for sure that there will never be the spark of tenderness between she and Henry's Consort.
But for the first time, she begins to feel her heart harden against the Queen, and decides she must do whatever it takes to protect her ladies and her people from the Madame Serpante herself. Even if it means writing to her mother and begging to be taken home, despite how much it would hurt her to seperate herself from Francis.
Because this day the seed will be sewn of a ruling Queen, childhood love be damned.
YOU ARE READING
You Are My Light Part II
Historical Fiction-Reign Oneshots/Taking Requests- The world can be dark, Mary, and uncertain and cruel. The only thing that matters is that we face it together. No matter what happens, you are my light. Part 2! -Read TEML first!-