return to france (Reign fanfic)

Chapter 20

I. 

Mary was not at breakfast the next morning until Greer and I went to wake her. 

"You shouldn't spend so much time alone, it isn't healthy," Greer advised. One week had passed since Francis took her uncle's army to go fight at Calais. She had been inconsolable since.

"I know he had to go," she said miserably. "Thousands of Frenchmen would've died otherwise. But now my mother is in a castle under siege. Who knows when I'll see either her or Francis again? If I'll see them again."

"Don't talk like that," I said. "I know Francis will return unharmed."

"How can you?"

I thought of my vision of his death. They'd been married only a few months, not a year. "Faith," I lied. 

II. 

I was walking to the kitchens, past the throne room, when I nearly bumped into a gaunt-looking couple.

"Pardon me," I said, bowing. I could tell from the woman's jewels that the couple must've been at least nobles. 

"You're quite alright," the redhaired man said.

"Honestly, such things she tolerates," the woman moaned. I didn't know who the "she" was, but it didn't sound like the woman had much respect for her. "In Rome, such rudeness would never be allowed. This brat would be flogged through the streets."

I blushed deeply at that, and the man shook his head. 

"Don't say such things just to frighten the child."

"If Catherine has gone soft, it is  hardly my concern if her servants should know."

"If Catherine has gone soft, it is hardly your place to say. Just because you have your men here to protect you does not make you any safer. This is still her court," the man hissed. He seemed to remember my presence, giving me a curt nod and leading his sister away. 

"What even-" I began as Mary rounded the corner.

"Catherine's cousins, Alfonzo and Hortenza." She seemed distressed. 

"Medici blood. Now I understand. Did something happen to you?"

"I asked Catherine for money. I know she has a secret fund. But she denied ever knowing about one."

"There must be some other way for you to help your mother," I said. 

She only sighed.

III. 

I went to visit Lola. Snow was falling once again, and, according to Kenna, she had been feeling cramps. 

"How much longer until you have the baby?" I asked, entering her and Lord Julian's chambers. She was alone on the bed. 

"I still have a couple more months before I should deliver, but sometimes babies come early."

"Aren't you excited?"

She sighed. "Scared, mostly. I've been having pains that come and go recently, and labor can be very dangerous."

I sat on the bed and combed back her hair. I didn't want to tell her not to feel scared, because that would be ridiculous. Any woman would be. 

"You'll have all of us," I said instead. "Kenna, Mary, Greer, and me. We'll all be at your side. Not to mention the midwives. And Julian. It'll be like a party."

She smiled at that, but only for a moment. "Not Julian."

"He doesn't want to be by your side?"

"His first two wives died in their childbed." She sniffed. "So I understand his hesitations in that regard. Besides, the baby isn't his." She looked at me. "But there is more."