D' Arc || The King

Chapter XIX

Light feathers brushed against her neck and Isabel squirmed as they brushed her jawline. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked up and found Henry looking down at her. It was still dark and this was one of the few times he could escape to be with her.

She smiled and pulled him closer, pressing her lips against his. He hummed and she pulled away, reaching up and brushing his hair away from his face. Isabel's fingers trailed down his face and stopped at the dark circles under Henry's eyes.

As if by an unspoken command, his eyelids fluttered shut and she nuzzled closer to him. "Rest," Isabel half begged, "The siege can wait."

Henry's eyes remained closed as he reached up and held her hands in his own. His were warm while her own were cold. His eyes opened a crack and he kissed her icy fingers. "Sh, the children aren't awake yet," he whispered before letting his eyes close again. Isabel let out a breath of relief and pressed closer to him, sinking back into sleep with Henry's thumb caressing her skin.

When she woke again, Isabel was alone. Her hand reached out and her fingers brushed against the rough fabric. She could hear the sound of clothes being pulled on and Isabel sat up, tossing her tangled hair over a shoulder. After pushing herself off of the bed, her feet carried her to the edge of the wooden platform.

The tent was closed off from the rest of the world, but if Isabel pushed aside the heavy fabric that covered the entryway she would be able to see the flickering torches of another city that Henry was besieging.

Normandy. She had never been so far from home before, her heart felt a pang of sadness, but it shrunk in comparison to the joy she felt around her children. It would always haunt Isabel, but she had decided long ago not to fret over her leaving at her every waking moment. Suddenly, something slithered around her waist, making her freeze.

Isabel glanced over her shoulder and Henry grinned smuggly at her frightened face. She smacked his hands, rolling her eyes as he pulled her closer. She didn't move as Henry closed his eyes and nestled closer.

"What's wrong?" Isabel asked, looking back over the camp. "Hm? Nothing...not yet at least. Are you feeling well?"

"Better now. The herbs are working and I can feel myself getting stronger by the day," she replied with a smile. "Good, because I'm not ready to go marching up to Heaven or down to Hell to bring you back."

"Who knows, maybe I'll stay down here and haunt you until you die," Isabel teased, making Henry smile. There was the sound of a bed covering rustling and they turned around to see Arthur standing up and rubbing his eyes.

"Mama, the bed is wet!" He complained, pointing at the mat he slept on. His voice was loud and demanding and a feeling of dread washed over both of his parents. They both moved to shush their son, but it was too late. A split second later, Anne woke and began to wail, hungry and upset that she had been awoken so easily in the morning.

Henry sighed while Isabel visibly wilted. "Qui a besoin de coqs quand on a des bébés?" Isabel grumbled and Henry chuckled as he kissed her forehead. "And that my dear, is my queue to leave. Thomas, John, and Humphrey will be awake soon and as will the others," Henry declared and she crossed her arms.

"Don't you dare-" "Hey, I've got a war to fight. Send Arthur, Anne, and Harry my love," he said, dipping out of the tent and leaving Isabel alone with three very grouchy children. Bastard, she thought before she let out a sigh. Henry wared on France and Isabel created and cared for her own little kingdom.

Arthur covered his ears while his little siblings wailed. Isabel gathered up the blankets and threw them into a pile before dipping her hands into a bucket of water and drying them off on her skirt. By the time she was done cleaning her son's bed and putting Anne and Harry back to bed, the camp came back to life with the night shift leaving their posts to rest while everyone else woke up.