Light of Dead Stars

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

 

Saving you

 

The darkness takes him over,

The sickness pulls him in;

His eyes-a blown-out candle;

I wish to go with him.

Sometimes I see a flicker—

A light that shone from them;

I hold him to me tightly,

Before he’s gone again.

-Lang Leav

 

“Is Mary still not here, mother?” Francis weakly said as he lies on his bed

“She’s still in Paris, dear. The guards said that they will not leave until they find Lord Conde… “

“did you know? …That Conde is one of those who planned your abduction?” Catherine asked

“Yes mother… he was the one who… who—tortured me” Francis replied

“oh Francis, I know that the Bourbons have always wanted our crown but I didn’t know they would go that far”

“Antoine wanted the crown… Louis on the other hand, wanted Mary for himself… he said he was doing it for Mary, he said Mary would be happier if she married him”

“you know that’s not true” Catherine said

“I’m afraid that it’s true, mother. If Mary has truly fallen for that man, I can’t imagine the pain she will go through to put him to death, I know she has to, he committed treason and it’s punishable by death, she knows that… I wish— arrghh” Francis was cut off by the sharp pain in his ear

“what is it Francis?”

“the pain, it’s getting worse and worse every day… I don’t think I’ll—“

“don’t say that, don’t you dare say that Francis, you’ll get better and all this pain will be over soon”

“I’ll send for Mary, she will be here soon, until then, hold on… you hear me Francis? You won’t give up now, I won’t let you” Catherine said, she’s pained to see her son experience excruciating pain, if she can, she will take all the pain away from him and she will suffer in his place instead, but deep down she knows she can’t and the only person who can somehow make him feel better is miles away and is finding some other man.

 

~^oOo^~

 

Catherine wrote to Mary and convinced her that she is needed in the castle immediately; she arrived a day later and was received by her anxious mother-in-law.