Disclaimer:
LKH owns hers, Disney owns theirs, and I manipulate them in a puppet like
manner.
I’m not making any money.
Jean-Claude
and Anita had returned to the prince’s castle, with Maurice. Fit to the
happy
ever
after prophecy, everyone was delighted to be human again in the castle,
and
delighted
to have two more permanent guests at the castle.
A month
had passed gaily at the castle. Anita and Jean-Claude walked through the
garden
that
once again bloomed, for the first time in years, in bright splashes of
red, purple,
yellow,
and white flowers. The lovers walked along the path, holding hands, but
Jean-Claude
noticed Anita was not in the highest of spirits. Reaching over, he plucked
a lovely red
flower
from its stem, handing it to Anita. She accepted it with a grim smile.
Jean-
Claude
stopped, turning Anita to face him. When she would not look up to meet
his eyes, he
hooked
a finger under her chin, turning her gaze towards him. “Ma petite, what
troubles
you?”
Anita
sighed, glancing down at the ground, then met Jean-Claude’s gaze again.
“Jean-Claude,
I am with child.”
Jean-Claude
smiled widely. She now knew as well. Kissing Anita on the forehead, he
embraced
her. “And is this not something to rejoice for, Anita?”
Anita sighed, snuggling into Jean-Claude’s chest. “I wasn’t sure how you could react.”
Kissing
the top of Anita’s head, Jean-Claude replied, “And how could I react with
anything
but pure joy, to the news of our growing son?”
“How do you know it’s a son?” Anita asked.
“Call
it a hunch, ma petite.” Jean-Claude smiled secretively, thinking of the
enchantress
that
had told him of their child. Then something dawned on him. “Does it bother
you that
we
are having this child out of wedlock?”
With another sigh, Anita answered truthfully, “A little.”
“Then we shall have to remedy that.”
~//~
The
town friar had been called to the chapel in the south wing of the castle.
Jean-Claude
and
Anita had wed, Anita would truly be Jean-Claude’s queen someday. And Jean-Claude
was
delighted
that the sight of a bible no longer made him cower in fear.
~//~
Two
more months passed. Anita was beginning to get a plump look to her. Jean-Claude
insisted
that Anita didn’t lace her corsets tight, or wear them at all. He didn’t
care what
the
people of fashion said, it can’t be good for a growing child to be fenced
in by whale
bone.
Besides, normally only the inhabitants of the castle saw her normally.
Maurice was
beginning
to suspect the child had been conceived before the two months prior wedding
night,
but he let it go. But the entire household remembered the date the child
was
conceived,
for them it could be considered something of a rebirth to become human
again.
Anita
and Jean-Claude lounged on the couch, Anita leaning back against his chest
reading
a
book. They had the library to themselves, Maurice was off working in his
workshop.
Jean-Claude
had given him a whole huge workshop for the creating of his various inventions.
As
Anita read Jean-Claude’s hand moved to rest on her lower abdomen, feeling
the baby
growing
in her womb. He often did that, and Anita wasn’t sure if it was more annoying
or
touching
that he cared about the baby so very much. Anita closed the book. “Why
do I even
bother
to read if you aren’t listening?” she asked, shifting in his arms.
“I am listening,” Jean-Claude protested. “I like to listen to your voice.”
“Oh? Then what just happened in the book?” Anita teased.
“The prince just walked up to the castle.”
“That happened four chapters ago, yes.”
Jean-Claude
smiled wryly. “The prince decided his spouse was in a foul mood from their
growing
child, and decided she needed some fresh air.”
This
made Anita smile. “Does that mean I have to get up?” she asked, snuggling
into
Jean-Claude’s
chest. “Because I really am content where I am.”
Asher
chose that moment to walk into the library. Jean-Claude noticed he was
holding a
piece
of folded paper. With a bob of his head, Asher handed the paper to Jean-Claude.
“This
just
arrived for you, Jean-Claude.” He then dismissed himself, quitting the
room.
Jean-Claude
eyed the paper in his hand suspiciously. It was sealed, with the crest
of his
brother,
Gaston duc d’Orleans. Gaston was the reason Jean-Claude had been sent away
from
court
in the first place. Gaston was always plotting against his older brother,
arguing
with
him, picking fights, jealous that most likely he himself would never become
king. So
Jean-Claude’s
father, Henry IV, sent Jean-Claude away to his secluded castle for safety
from
Gaston, more than anything else.
Breaking
the seal, Jean-Claude opened the message, holding it in front of both he
and
Anita
so they could both read it.
Dear Louis,
I regret
to inform you that our father has taken very sick. He will not be long
for this
world,
and I would recommend you make to Paris, and quickly if you wish to bid
him final
goodbyes.
Your Loving Brother,
Gaston
Jean-Claude
rolled his eyes at the closing of loving brother. But who knows, perhaps
Gaston
had changed, since they last spoke, nearly six years ago. There was always
a mild
hope.
A VERY mild hope. So father was dying. It appeared Jean-Claude would be
taking the
crown
very soon then.
“Why is the letter addressed to Louis?” asked Anita.
“Because
that is my first name. I prefer Jean-Claude to Louis though, don’t you?”
Jean-Claude
kissed Anita on top of the head, folding back up the letter.
“Are we going to see your father?” asked Anita.
“I
expect so,” said Jean-Claude. “If you wish to accompany me, that is very
well. Or you
can
stay here, and I will send for you, once everything has been taken care
of.”
“I’ll go. I’m not going to just sit here, even with the baby.”
“Ma
Petite, I did not think you would.”
Author’s
Note to history buffs who might be annoyed: Citizens of Paris, I am one
of you!
Wait,
wrong line. Lol. Anyway, yes, I know Henry IV was stabbed when Louis XIII
was five,
but
I’m taking historical liberties. Even though it hurts. ^_-
~//~
A few
days after the letter was received from Gaston, Jean-Claude and Anita started
off
on
the journey to the Louvre to see the dying king, on horseback. Jean-Claude
wanted Anita
to
retire to a carriage, but she would have nothing of it. And once Anita
had made up her
mind,
Jean-Claude knew there would be no arguing.
They had ridden for an hour in almost silence, when Anita asked, “Jean-Claude,
if you
are
next in line for the throne, then why are you living in this secluded castle?
Why
weren’t
you at court with your family?”
Jean-Claude sighed, then smiled grimly. “My brother and I do not get along
very well. My
father
moved me away to protect me, from him, and my mother. My mother, Marie
de Medici,
favors
my younger brother Gaston greatly over me, and is a very…conniving Italian.
My
brother
lacks strength of character, and my father would rather I step up to the
throne
rather
than Gaston. Sending me away from court was the best way to ensure I stay
alive long
enough
to claim the throne.”
Anita frowned. “Your own mother would try to kill you?”
Jean-Claude laughed bitterly. “Oui. She tried to drown me when I was ten
years of age.
And
then when that attempt failed, she tried to poison me a year later. Luckily
I was not
hungry
that night, and passed my food to the dog under the table. The dog died,
but I
lived.
The poisoning attempt was blamed on assassins, but I am sure my father
knew it was my
Mother.
He sent me away soon after, to the castle we have left behind not but an
hour
ago,
where I have lived ever since.”
Anita furrowed her brow. “Damn,” was all she could say for several minutes.
“Indeed, ma petite.”
A sudden thought hit Anita. “Your brother sent you that letter, Jean-Claude.
How do you
know
it’s not just an ambush attempt?” Her eyes darted around the forest, suddenly
watching
for threats.
Jean-Claude furrowed his brow. “I had considered the possibility, but I
had been told by
another
that my father is ill, prior to the receiving of the letter.”
“By who?”
Jean-Claude thought how to explain the visit from the enchantress. Nothing
came to mind.
“An
old acquaintance,” he simply and evasively answered.
Anita frowned, but let it go. She knew that if Jean-Claude did not want
to tell her, he
would
not tell her.
The travelers rounded a bend, and both reined their horses, surprised.
There was Richard
waiting
on his horse in the middle of the path. Le fou, Micah, stood on the ground
beside
him.
Jean-Claude frowned. “Ah, trespassers. I could have you jailed for this,
Monsieur
Richard.
Richard laughed, a full on masculine irritating bray. “Jailed? It seems
to me that you
should
have considered the option of ambush more so, Jean-Claude.” Richard waved
his hand,
and
more people stepped from the woods, surrounding the riders from all sides.
There were
about
seven of them, and they all had swords drawn, ready to do battle. Jean-Claude
began
to
suspect these men were more than human to have sneaked up on them as such.
He was
alarmed,
but did not show it in the least. A glance over at Anita told him she was
hiding her
fear
as well as he. Or perhaps, knowing Anita, she may not have been afraid
at all.
Anita frowned. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Richard? What
do you possibly
think
you’re going to gain?”
Richard smiled. It was more like a baring of teeth. “I’m going to get a
lot out of this,
Anita.
I’m going to eliminate a rival, which I am getting paid for handsomely,
by the
way.
And I’ll get you, at long last.”
“Paid handsomely by who?” demanded Anita.
“Why, Jean-Claude’s own dear brother, Gaston duc d’Orleans.”
Jean-Claude sighed inwardly. I should have known, he thought to himself.
He turned to
Anita.
Catching her gaze, he nodded slightly back towards the path whence they
had come.
She
nodded slightly as well, and Jean-Claude hoped she understood that he wanted
her to
head
back for the castle. If she could make it back there, then she would be
safe. The baby
would
be safe.
Not wanting to wait for Richard to move first, Anita and Jean-Claude moved
as one mind.
She
turned her horse to charge the back line of people. Spurring her horse,
she made it
through
the back line of people, trampling one, and kicking another with her booted
foot.
This
left five more, and Micah and Richard for Jean-Claude to deal with. Richard
spurred
his
horse, going after Anita. Jean-Claude began to move his horse forward to
block
Richard’s
path, but Micah sprang like a cat, knocking Jean-Claude from his horse.
Jean-Claude
kicked
the petit cat-like man from him, sending him reeling into a tree. He crumpled
to
the
ground, dead or unconscious, Jean-Claude was not sure. He immediately got
to his feet,
drawing
his rapier. The last five henchmen closed in on Jean-Claude, and were quickly
slain
as well by Jean-Claude’s speed and skill with the rapier. He mounted his
horse and
chased
after Richard and Anita.