War of Hearts || Reign

53- Louis III

June 29th, 1566

I looked up at the crucifix again.

I had been here praying for Louis for hours, and so had Francis, Catherine, Maximilian, Cecily and later Mary.

There seemed to be no end to it. The guards had already searched the entire area around the palace but hadn't found him. Nearly every servant and maid had been interrogated, and they were now also busy with the courtiers.

My poor boy. He was only two years old.

I didn't believe he was dead. Something in my maternal heart told me he was still alive.

A guard came over to Francis and whispered something in his ear. Francis nodded, made the sign of the cross, and stood up.

He came walking up to me "They think they found him." He whispered in my ear.

I immediately got up and walked out of the chapel with Francis and followed the guard. "Is he alive?" I asked scared, my heart was racing.

Francis stopped walking for a moment. "They didn't mention that, just that they found him." He grabbed my hand and walked on.

We entered one of the sitting rooms in the palace.

"Where is he!" Francis shouted, I looked around me.

The room was full of guards standing on the watch. The door opened and four guards entered the room. When they parted I saw him.

My son, he was still alive.

"Mama, Papa!" he shouted as he ran towards us.

"Louis!" I dropped to my knees and held my arms open for him. When he jumped into my arms, I hugged him tight, afraid I'd lose him again.

I held him a bit away from me and looked to see if anything was wrong with him. When I saw that he had nothing, I hugged him again.

Francis looked at the guards "where was he and what happened to him?"

A guard stepped forward "Your Majesty, it looks like he fled the killer when he entered the nursery. We found him in Princess Claude's empty room, hiding in the wardrobe." Said the guard.

I cried "My poor Louis, you must have been scared." I whispered as I kissed his curls.

"Where is the killer, have you found him?" Francis asked, his gaze serious. The guard shook his head, "He's still on the run."

I looked up startled, "So there's still a chance he's here in the palace? He's going to try to kill him again." I stood up and Louis clung to my leg.

Francis picked him up and held Louis close.

"No, I'll have you taken to another palace until it's safe here, if necessary until you've given birth."

"Sorry, Your Majesty, but that won't be safe. They are even more vulnerable to the killer outside the palace than they are inside." Said the guard.

I took Francis's hand "we will stay here in the palace. With enough guards Louis will be safe and he will come to sleep in my rooms."

He nodded.

"From today on, my son will be guarded day after night. The princess will also be guarded in case the killer wants to take advantage of someone else. I want 2 of the princess' nannies to be placed in Louis's care. Is that understood?" he said to the guards and servants in the room.

"Yes, your majesty." they said in unison.

You didn't think I was going to kill Louis by now, did you?

It literally took me 3/4 days to write this chapter. I am literally exhausted and without inspiration.

So I now have a few names for Bianca's new child or children but I can't choose from them so I leave the choice up to you.

Girls: Charlotte, Henriette or Henrietta (On behalf of King Henry) or Elisabeth (On behalf of Francis sister) will probably be difficult because of Queen Elizabeth Tudor who will be featured a lot in the story.

Boys: Henry (On behalf of King Henry), Nicolas or César.