/
Side Note - Set after Francis and Bash return to the castle after Francis falls in the river, but before Bash and Kenna's wedding. Also, Catherine took Francis' place in the confrontation with Henry and Bash, and Henry poisons Catherine with Penelope after this.
/
"Mother of God!" the Queen Consort of France cries out, shoving the door with such furiocity that the Dauphine -when she noticed the door's attack- was honestly surprised that the hinges remained in tact. "What happened?! Good God, why didn't you send for me immediately?" Catherine de Medici asked loudly, picking up her silky crimson skirts to rush forwards at a greater pace, now that she cought sight of how pale her son actually was as he lay shirtless in his bed, his wife playing nurse as she sat at his bedside. The click of her heel was loud and echoed as she continued to make way to her son.
The Dauphin and Dauphine of France turned at the commotion at the doorway. However, as they took into account the fact that it was merely Catherine, the two turned back to each other. Well, Mary turned back to her husband, continuing her nursing duties. His eyes fell half lidded, pushing his body further into the warm mattress as his pretty wife continued her work. However, Mary knew that it wasn't ideal for a woman to see her grown son's bare chest, even if it was in these circumstances, so she covered him up with the warm blankets and furs as Catherine took her place upon the other side of her son.
"I-I was told by your brother that you fell through the river during your excurgence," Catherine whispers, grabbing Francis' warming hand from underneath the sheets. She kisses it over and over, much like she did when he returned from Paris, before placing at her own beating heart, as if trying to reassure herself that he was here, alive near her. "I couldn't help but fear the worst." she finishes, kissing Francis' large hand over and over and over.
Well, Mary could sympathise with that. She would never forget the fear she felt when a guard had interrupted her tea and cakes with her ladies -Kenna and Greer, Lola was indisposed- and informed her that her husband was deathly ill after returning with his bastard half brother. She had sprinted through the corridors towards her chambers, where guards and physicians tottered around like chickens trying to escape the pot. She had sent them away and sent for Nostradamus. He had arrived just after Mary had finished stripping her husband bare of all his drenched, freezing clothing. She had just finished drying his body with cloths and gotten him settled underneath their bed sheets when the door opened and the burly man entered. He had ordered for hot soup and mulled wine, before beginning to pour vial after vial down the Prince's throat. These things would have worried her if Francis hadn't started grunting and grimacing post taking the horrid sludge into his body. They had made him drink the soup and wine, before Mary got to work with her order of business. Dip cloths in hot water and gently swipe at the skin of his chest and torso. Somewhere along the way, he had awoken and she had smiled at him. It didn't surprise her that he wasn't all that talkative, the man ad nearly drown a few hours ago, but the fact his eyes were open and he was interactive was a good sign, wasn't it?
"He's alright," Mary informs her mother in law quietly. Catherine's eyes bore into hers, it's as if she's angry at Mary that this happened, but how could she prevent this? "Bash made him cough up the water in his lungs, and we're slowly warming him up. But he's stiff with the coldness that remains within his limbs." she says, brushing her thumb over Francis' bare skin. It wasn't just Catherine who needed his physical touch to calm herself down.
"I see." Catherine's voice is clipped and short, a far cry from the loving, soft tone she used to Francis. It's another stark reminder that one, Catherine hated her and always had, and two, she would never be held upon the high pedestal that Catherine's own children were. She probably loved Claude more than Mary, and everybody knew how she felt about Claude. The Consort of France looks towards the hearth of the chambers, sees the calderon hanging on top of the flames beginning to bubble. "Wait here," she says to Francis, her tone lessening into that tone. Mary's nerves waver, she can't help the childish wanting for Catherine to look at her, talk to her like that. It's not as if he's going anywhere, but Catherine continues. "I'll fetch you more soup. Perhaps a pain tonic, something to get you to rest?" but before he nods his answer, she's already tottering off.
It's a marvel, really, watching a woman as pompous, pious and entitled as Catherine de Medici, the Queen Consort of France, spoon ladle fulls of broth for her child, but, here she is, doing just that. It reminds the Queen Regnant of Scotland of the rare times that Catherine looked after her children herself -not her and Bash, though. Never her and Bash- when they were sick with chills. It also reminds Mary of how young she and Francis actually are. Those times weren't all that long ago, after all. She spoons three ladles into a small bronze bowl, and comes back with a silver spoon in the other hand, beginning to literally spoon feed her sixteen year old son whilst that same sons wife continued her work, rubbing the hot cloths over his skin, then drying the water with another one. They work in silence, the only sound the tittering of courtiers and court herself, and the flickering hisses of the fire, until the door opens once more and the bastard son of France shows his face towards them all.
"What happened?" the future King of France croaks weakly, more than likely mindful of an obviously tender throat. "Did Father forgive you?" he asks, remembering that his wife had told him that his bastard brother had been in a meeting with their father and his mother.
"Not exactly." Bash says, "But he illuminated me on his solution." Mary frowns at that. So does Catherine. What could that possibly mean? "It's a bit of a horror show, actually." It's as if he reads her mind. "And you're both invited. Now. On pain of death." he says, before looking at Catherine. "My father wishes to see you in his chambers." he says. He bows, and leaves.
//
Why didn't anybody know and or care that Francis nearly died in this episode?!?! The man nearly freezes to death in the act of nearly drowning to death, but in the next scene, he's just a little cold and completley fine? Come on, writers! Be a little realistic here >:(
Anyway, another person we know from this show is gonna have a little swim in the river in the next rewrite, guesses in the comments please! I'll try and get it up later today or tomorrow!
Stay safe, be kind.
Love,
me
:)
