Forever

The Floor

Mary's point of view
I woke up and I was absolutely freezing. I moved closer to Francis because he's always warm. He's not there. It's the middle of the night where the hell is he? I moved my long hair out of my face and got out of bed, I put my slippers on. I looked in the bathroom and both closets. Where is he? I walked outside. I walked down the hall to the guards. "Do you two know where the dauphin went?" I asked "No your grace." They said "Okay thank you." I said, I walked past them down the hall to Madelyn and James's room. I just have a bad feeling. I went to James's room and he was dead asleep. His blankets were kicked off so I went over and pulled the blankets back on him. I quietly closed his door. I went into Madelyn's room and Francis was sleeping on the rug and Madelyn was watching him in her bed. "Madelyn sweetheart, what's wrong?" I asked "I had a bad dream and daddy heard me crying so he came to stay with me so no monsters get me." She said "You made your dad sleep on the floor?" I smiled sitting on her bed. "Yes So He can see the monsters under the bed." She smiled "Well you can come sleep in our bed if you want." I said as she climbed on my lap. "He snores very badly." She said "I know he does." I smiled "mommy do you love daddy?" She asked "Yes I love you dad very very much." I said "Does he love you?" She asked "Yes he does." I said "Will my husband love me?" She asked "You don't have to worry about that for a while." I said "Well all my friends daddy's have special girl friends but daddy doesn't have any special girl friends." She said. Dear lord how to I explain this to a four year old. "Well sometimes mommy's and daddy's don't love each other as much as your dad and I love you each other, so they will try to find other people that they do love." I said "Will my husband have special friends?" She asked "No my love, I promise you will find someone who loves you very much and they will never have special friends." I said "Can I still be friends with lily? Because she's my most special friend." She said "Yes you can still be friends with lily." I smiled "Okay good." She smiled "now do you mind if I bring your father back to our room?" I smiled "First check that there are no monsters." She said "Okay Sweetheart." I said, I checked in her closet, bathroom, and under her bed. I lit candles so it wouldn't be dark. "Okay is this good?" I asked "Yes mommy, thank you." She kissed my cheek. "Goodnight my love." I kissed her forehead and pulled the covers over her. I went over to the rug and shook Francis. "Francy wake up." I whispered "Madelyn was scared of monsters so I was sleeping on her floor." He said "I know, she's not scared anymore so would you like to come back to bed?" I asked "Yes, my back hurts really bad." He said "I can give you a back rub." I pulled him up. "Mhm okay." He said then kissed my cheek. I held his hand then walked back to our room. "Are you okay? You seem sick." I said closing the door. "I'm all right." He smiled "Sure?" I smiled "Yes my love." He smiled then kissed me. "Come here." I smiled leading him towards the bed. He laid down on his stomach. I straddled his back and started rubbing him. "Your a really good dad." I said "I try." He smiled "Well you are a really great dad." I smiled, he flipped me on my back so he was on top. "Your a better mom." He smiled "Well you slept on a stone floor with no blankets so your daughter wasn't scared." I smiled "Well James wanted you to cuddle with him while Madelyn wants me on the cold floor." He smiled "She told me you snore." I giggled "No I don't." He smiled "Yes you do." I giggled "Shut up no I don't." He laughed tickling me, someone opened the door. It was Henry. "Dad, What do you need?" Francis asked "Son, I don't feel good." He started stumbling around the room, Francis got off me a rushed over to him. "Henry." I ran over to him, his nose was gushing out blood. "Francis we have to go to the infirmary." I said "No, no I want to spend my last moments with my son." He said "Dad please go to the infirmary." Francis said "No I need to tell you something." He said, he was collapsed in Francis's arms. He started coughing and nothing but blood was coming up. "Henry just relax." I said "I'm sorry son, I'm sorry I didn't teach you the things a father should teach his son. I'm sorry I didn't respect your views. I'm sorry I was so cold to you. I'm sorry I haven't prepared you to be king. And I'm sorry-" He started coughing up blood again. Francis was crying. "Henry you don't have to go yet, let us take you to the infirmary." I said "Dad don't go." Francis cried "Francis I want you to know that I might not always say it but I love you so much. And I'm so proud of you for staying faithful to your wife. I'm so proud of your two children. And I know you and France will both be better without me. You will be a great king." He said "No dad I'm not ready." Francis cried "You are son, I love you." He said, you could see the life fading from his eyes. "No! No dad wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" Francis cried "Francis he's gone." I said trying to calm him. "Guards help." He yelled, the guards burst in. They tried to resuscitate him put it wasn't working. "Francis you shouldn't be in here for this." I said stroking his shoulder "Mary get out." He shouted "Francis." I said "Mary I need to be alone, I'm just going to go sleep in my own chambers." He said "Are you sure?" I asked "Yes." He snapped "If that's what you want I will give you space." I said, he stormed out. I don't know how to help him. The guards brought Henry's body out of the room. The floor surrounding him was covered in blood. I started scrubbing the bloody floor. I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed until there wasn't a molecule blood left. I put the rags and my bloody night gown into the fire. I put another night gown on. I got in bed and tried to go to sleep. I was tossing and turning but I couldn't. Francis needs me. He has been through such a traumatic event and he doesn't want me there. I got out of bed and went to Francis's private chambers. I heard crying. I opened the door and he was on the couch crying into his hands. "Mary my dad is dead." He sobbed. "Don't cry." I hugged him, he put his head in my shoulder and cried. "I'm sorry I yelled at you." He cried "No no, it's okay." I held him. "I don't know what got over me but I didn't mean to snap at you." He cried. "I'm not mad sweetheart, I love you and I always will." I kissed the top of his head. "I miss him so much." He cried. "I know Francis, I know." I stroked his hair. By that time I was sobbing too.