The Crown

60. End of an era

Victoria watched as Francis grabbed a danger out of his boot and threw it at the leader catching the side of his arm but wasn't enough to faze him. In that moment Victoria's world seemed to freeze as she watched it play out in slow motion around her. There was no sound as she watched on helplessly. The guard stuck his sword through Francis' chest without a second thought. Victoria screamed and collapsed to the floor in uncontrollable screams. Francis fell to the ground as the guard retracted his sword from Francis' chest. The leader gestured for his men to withdraw and held out his dirty hand to Victoria. But Victoria pushed his hand away picking up the dagger from the floor.

"Come any closer and I will stab you." Victoria threatened the man and he laughed in her face

"A young Queen threatening me with a tiny dagger and small child in her arms. Oh I am so afraid." The guard said sarcastically and she glared at him.

Turning to face one of the more idle guards Victoria threw the dagger at him landing perfectly in the centre of his chest making him collapse and drop his sword. Victoria smiled happy with her accomplishment. Wiping her eyes of the stray tears trying to control her breath as much as she had complete control over her movements. It was as if she was two different people. On one hand a distressed wife worried about the life of her husband and on the other a woman on the path of revenge. Picking up the sword he dropped in the process before the dumbfound guards could try to stop her.

"Now am I threatening?" Victoria asked holding the sword as she pressed it to his neck all the while Johnathan was still in her other arm.

The guard still slightly speechless nods his head slightly.

"I suggest you give me your crown and get yourself and your men off my property before I kill each and every one of you and if my dear husband dies because of you. I will not hesitate to send my men. Better yet go myself to kill each and everyone of you in your sleep you heretics." Victoria threatens digging the sword further into his skin creating a superficial cut.

The guard now unsure of Victoria's capabilities retracts from the sword slightly and holds his hands up in surrender. Taking the crown off of his head and placing it on the sword in her hand. Making her smirk at them as he lead his men out of ball room. Victoria still held the sword threateningly in her hand at the men to make sure they didn't try anything. But knew they would since it was written in the rules when the crown is handed over in by the current reigning monarch they cannot touch the new royal as they are deemed powerless. Anything they tried to do would end up in their house being disqualified from the game and all members of the family would become peasants. With Johnathan still crying in her arms but she couldn't help but feel like the most powerful woman in the world in that moment.

"You win your majesty." The heretics say in unison and Victoria smiles.

" leave my property now." Victoria shouts as the guards escort them out.

As soon as the last of the men had left Victoria rushed towards Francis' body lying on the floor. kneeling down at his side placing Johnathan on her lap. She reached out to touch the side of his face that slowly began to turn pale. Her tears staining his cheek. She lightly traced a path from his cheek to where the sword had been thrust into him placing her hand onto of the shirt. Pressing down lightly as the blood began to stain the shirt and coming into contact with her hand.

"Stay with me please stay with me." Victoria says and Francis' eyes flutter open and look at her and lifts his hand slightly to have it rest on her lap.

"Sweetheart. don't worry about me. As long as you two are safe." Francis mumbles slowly and Victoria shakes her head

"I wont allow you to die. I won't allow Johnathan to not know his father and I won't let them win." Victoria says applying more pressure to the area trying to stem the bleeding.

"Please , darling. I can't be saved and after what you have just done I know you can do this by yourself." Francis mumbles his voice getting gentler by the second making Victoria's heart pound faster and faster.

"Francis. No don't speak like that you have to stay with me. We have to rule together. For Johnathan please. Francis. This was our dream." Victoria cried as his eyes fluttered shut again

"Francis. Don't you dare close your eyes. Don't you dare." Victoria cried as Johnathan began to reach out to Francis babbling words that sounded similar to dada.

"Francis. please. Stay with me I have to tell you something." Victoria begged and Francis' eyes fluttered open again and her heart stopped.

"I love you , do this house and country proud for me my Queen." Francis says as he lifts his shaking hand to Victoria's cheek.

" Francis stop please stay with me.." Victoria starts

" take care of our baby." Francis,mumbles

"Babies you mean.I am pregnant Francis, Johnathan is going to have a little brother or sister. I need you to stay with me. You are going to live please." Victoria repeated over and over again to try and get a response but each time there wasn't one so each time she began to lose more hope.

"Its your crown now my dear. Do me and our children proud." Francis mumbles

" Please." She begged barely above a whisper.

Tears falling from her eyes uncontrollably as she watched. Holding him as best she could with Johnathan on her lap. His blood staining her clothing and hands completely as her vision blurred and her cries melted into one uncontrollable scream.