Rebirth

Chapter 6

She didn't know what to do anymore. She didn't know who to trust any more. Could she trust Catherine? The woman who had made sure she never had to lift a finger, the one who had the best physicians in the country tend to her. The one who had the finest dresses commissioned for her pregnant stomach had no reason for her kindness. Should this baby be a girl, she had no obligation to acknowledge her. Mary knew that men were the preferred sex in the world. She knew as well as anybody that was the case. Why did Catherine show her this kindness? Why did she refer to her as 'my dear' or 'my dearest child'? Francis was dead, she had no reason to show Mary any sort of kindness. If this baby was to be a boy, then that would change things. Catherine had to respect the new Queen mother, but then, again, Mary would have taken her place in court, so would Catherine resent her? Did Catherine truly want her to just disappear, so the last bit of Francis was gone? So she could truly move on from her golden child's death?

At those moments of mental weakness and vulnerability, her baby moved. Through the tears, she smiled. Even if the baby was destined to be a girl, she still had Francis' blood. She was still Francis' child. She would provide her mother with station and her future country with security. But, if this baby be a boy, his mother would have everything she had previously had, but this time a more secure station. France had to protect her if she bore them a king. They simply had to.

On the day her baby came into the world, the entirety of French court, France, England and Scotland waited with baited breath as the days full of contractions rolled on and on.

The best midwives in the country had been summoned because of Catherine. She, like Greer and Kenna had stayed with her through every contraction, as they had been even more protective since the baby was due to come any day. They'd stayed with her for four days until she went into labour, and none had left the room until the baby came out after a three day labor.

Guards were stationed outside the Queen's chambers, two guarding each passageway, their backs turned to the queen -to protect her but not disturb her modesty- as she screamed and cried for days on end. The labour had been difficult and she found it hard to find the will to survive and stay conscious for her baby.

It was then she collapsed for the ninth time.

She felt herself slipping, but heard Catherine's sobbing voice. She heard Greer's pleading and Kenna's cries, but she felt him. With the large amount of blood lost, the lowering chance of her survival, she felt like this was the end. It had to be. She would be with him. In the low chance that they could save their baby, their baby would slip away with them and it's long dead brother or sister. They'd be together. But then, him.