The Appalling Strangeness of the Mercy of God [M - Hannelorian x DuchessLivilla]

[Hannelorian]

The cry of life. Arabella immediately let out a sigh of tremendous relief, and looked at her sister with a soft gaze that gave her the meaning of thanks. She eagerly took her son into her arms and held him close to her, so delicate, soft. Looking at him, all she could see was perfection. No matter who his father was, the Queen had the same instant feeling of love that she had for her daughter. "Welcome to the world my darling Prince Henry." Arabella cooed, her body, however had not relaxed as she was still not entirely done. She kissed the top of Henry's precious head as the child immediately seemed to quiet down in the arms of his mother.

"Alex." Arabella said, still softly, her gaze turning toward her sister. "You did it." Arabella chuckled lightly, and feeling the pain in her body she quickly nodded for Mercy who appeared at once and gently wrested the baby from mother's arms. Assuming a similar position to what she had been just a moment before, Arabella managed to silently push, and within a few moments delivered the afterbirth successfully. It was finally over. In a small act of defiance, Arabella forced herself out of the bed, her hand clutching at one of the large posts to steady herself so that the bed linen could be changed. "Help me to the couch Alex." Arabella held out her hand and took her sister's assistance to move, slowly, toward the couch where she sat and Henry was returned to her.

Looking at another one of the maids. "Might you be so kind as to bring me the cool water and a clean cloth, please?" The Queen smiled softly, the exhaustion clear on her face. The maid did not delay and brought what was requested. Gently dabbing the cloth in the water, her body positioned to support Henry, other hand supporting the back of his head and neck, Arabella began to clean the gore of birth away from him. "You deserve a drink." Arabella said to her sister. "The rest of you... please go and rest. I thank you all for your service today. I could not have done this without your support. I will be alright from here." Arabella dismissed the maids, all of whom dropped into deep curtsies and backed themselves toward the door.

The Queen continued to clean off her son, cooing at him without fail. "I had forgotten this joy... it seemed all to far from me, torn away." Arabella spoke gently to her sister. "Thank you Alex." She watched her sister, her blue eyes filled with warmth and love, gratitude and limitless appreciation. "You took control and you saw me through this." Arabella loved her sister, she loved that Alex would do this for her. "I know the stakes were high, if anything had gone wrong." This was a moment where they were once again sisters, family. "Go hold one of your children." Arabella suggested.

"You have no idea what a debt I owe you." Once Henry was well cleaned, she wrapped him in a fresh blanket that had been left by her side. Time had passed, and Arabella resumed her duty as though she never had time in between, the routine of feeding her child, she would do so herself. The motions all coming back to her. In a moment there was a knock on the door. "Come." The Queen beckoned, Graves entered slowly, his eyes quickly averting from his mistress. He was pleased to see all had been well, but knew it was not his place to look.

"Your Majesty. Doctor Thomas is here to see you. Shall I send him in or do you need a moment?" His voice was warm, in his own way he was proud to be privy to this moment. Arabella nodded. "Send him in." Graves disappeared outside, a moment later the Doctor entered the room and bowed deeply, the look on his face one of shock when he finally cast his gaze upon her. He had not expected to see the child in her hand. At first he wondered if it was on of Alexandra's but he knew it was not. No one had even informed him, not even the guard outside.

"My husband, doctor?" Arabella asked immediately, not even taking a moment to acknowledge what had just happened with her. Doctor Thomas straightened himself out, clearing his throat. "The King is stable, your majesty. The surgery was a success, he is resting his rooms, unconscious. We are quite confident that his Majesty will survive, however, whether or not he will walk again, we do not know." The Doctor was clearly worried about how the Queen would respond, and he was desperate to ask her about the birth.

"Thank you Doctor. You'll need to summon the privy council immediately. I suspect we'll need a regency, I'm sure Arthur is prepared. I suppose I need to speak with him as well." Arabella knew she would never be chosen, however, she had deep reservations about Arthur, not that he would do something he shouldn't but rather, it was not what Christian would wish. "As you can see, Alex and I have been busy." The Queen did not make a single move from her seat, nor did she say further about her husband for the moment. "Alex successfully delivered Prince Henry, not very long ago. It would appear the stress of the situation was too much for me to handle, and Henry insisted he was ready."

[DuchessLivilla]

Alexandra smiled, watching her sister with her newborn. Before, the first time, she had been excluded from this private world, having no notion of what it was to look down at your child, this tiny thing you had created, and know that rush of love. Now, having had her own, she knew exactly what Bella was feeling and delighted in it for her. She deserved all this and more, for having suffered what she had done at the hands of the King.

And what was more, the King was indisposed! Likely for a good amount of time. No one would come and snatch little Henry from the Queen, she could have all the time she wished, alone, with her child.

"Anyone would have done the same," Alex answered, smiling. "Risk or not, and you owe me no debt. Though if you insist," she waited until the door had closed on the maids and said softly, once more in French just in case, "When you do what you are destined to...make sure he screams. That is all I ask."

She leant against the bed, subtly, feeling herself rather exhausted now the focus and adrenaline was wearing off. Still, she hid it from her sister. Bella had need of her yet she was sure. Besides...Beyond these walls, chaos reigned, who knew what else she would have to do this day. Arthur would need her, even if it was just to listen.

As Mr Graves enetred, she smiled and caught his eye, nodding in thanks for all he had done, and for his listening to her. Then came Dr Thomas, rather on edge, then even more flustered to see the Queen sitting with an infant, and herself still glad in a blood-stained apron, her hands equally stained, and with a smear of blood on her cheek that had long since dried into a rust coloured sweep.

She let them speak and slowly washed her hands, watching the water swirl into a soft pink hue. When she herself was mentioned, she looked up and dried her hands, knowing the doctor would ask questions. "All went well, Doctor. The little one came out quiet and was slow to breathe but he soon responded to massage and recovered, though you may want to check him over anyway, just in case. I saw no obstruction in his nose or mouth and his colour returned quickly. The afterbirth is in that bowl, from what I saw, it came away intact but again...You should check. We want no infections here."

The doctor blinked. He had not expected such from the Princess. She spoke as if she was a doctor herself.

Alex caught the blink and smiled, "If you recall, you told me to rest as my own pregnancy came to an end and not to exert myself too much. I spent a great many days reading and naturally my interest lay with what was about to happen to me."

"Ah...yes," he laughed softly, shaking his head. "I am just...rather shocked is all! No warning was given. I did not expect the Prince's arrival! And born on Christmas day too. A fine pair you make, as sisters," he added, echoing Alex's own words some hours before." He nodded again, "As for the council..." The Doctor paused briefly, wondering how the Queen would take this news, "Ah, they are already in session, ma'am, and have been for about two hours. The Prince summoned them here and ordered them to meet with him as soon as all arrived."

The Princess looked at the Queen too, wondering the same thing. Of course, this was how it would be done...Queen or not, Bella was a 'mere' woman and no one would think of asking her such matters when there was an adult male of the bloodline here, but still, to hear things were already in motion would sting. "We shall need the archbishop of Canterbury here too," she said softly, hoping to give power back to Bella. No one else outwith the room knew at the moment, including the Prince and council. "He must see the child like this to avoid any talk of changlings and such. Master Graves shall swear, as a man, that no one came or went from this room with anything that might have been a child or such."

Again, the word of a woman meant less, title or not, though both she and Arabella would have to swear on the bible that the baby now in the Queen's arms was indeed the one she had borne and so on.

[Hannelorian]

"He did what?" Arabella seemed shocked, astounded that Arthur would take this decision away from her. It had to be done, she could not necessarily fault him for that. Yet Arthur had not even asked to see his wife, something Arabella felt he would have done before such an action. "He intends to assert himself, does he not? To assume the role of Prince Regent?" Arabella held her son in her arms, her words serious but her voice was not raised. Her expression soured rather quickly. "There will be a time for his reign, but Christian would not approve. Arthur is no idiot, he would not move against his father's policy while he still breathed, but... I cannot allow this."

The Queen turned to her sister and sighed softly. "I pray you understand, and while I am lucky to fail, I would be a poor wife if I did not advocate for my husband while he can not." Even though both Doctor Thomas and Alexandra knew full well how Arabella truly despised her husband, and were perhaps baffled at her words, there was a deep and innate understanding. Arabella had to answer to her husband when he eventually woke, and that meant she would do as she felt was correct. Then again, for all she knew, Christian would slam her down for this.

Standing slowly, an exhausted Arabella would not relinquish her child yet. "Pull the chord, Doctor." Arabella was not asking. Doctor Thomas bowed his head and swiftly complied, pulling the chord in the room which would send a flurry of maids flying in, given the circumstances. "See the Princess and her children are returned to her rooms by her own guard. She is free to do as she wishes, go as she pleases." Arabella closed her eyes for a moment where it had truly dawned on her just how incredible Alexandra's long march had been. "I must be dressed immediately." The maids did not hesitate to do exactly as ordered.

Doctor Thomas was offered the infant Prince, to look him over properly as Arabella prepared herself. Arabella was assisted back toward her bed as Mercy quickly began to comb her golden hair. "Her Majesty will wear white, the silk floral." Mercy had come to know Arabella quite well, and more often than not Arabella simply trusted the young woman to choose her clothing as she saw fit. "Send Graves in." Another nod of compliance from a maid, this one called Hatty by most. Graves took not long to appear and once more bow.

"Go to the council chambers, do not knock. Tell them that their Queen demands they attend to her without delay. If they protest, you'll wish to tell them attestation will need to begin and unless they wish to bring harm to an heir to this Kingdom they will do as instructed."

Graves could only nod his head and disappear. Arabella was dressed in a slim white gown of finest silk, soft flowers of the empire were woven in with slightly differing shades of white to produce an effect that was subtle. The sleeves of the dress came just below her elbows, and the neckline remained quite high as Arabella still preferred. White gloves of course were donned. Her hair pulled back into a simple bun, a tiara of diamond and emerald placed atop her head, a not-so-subtle reminder of her status. Arabella, at the insistence of her sister remained seated on a divan, making little to no effort to exert herself beyond what was absolutely necessary.

Graves steps were swift but heavy, he had a narrow focus and moved like a man on a mission. Before the doors of the Privy Council chamber, a room he had seldom been inside since he was assigned to guard the Queen, was a weighty one. "I come with instruction from Her Majesty the Queen." The two guards before the might wooden doors nodded their heads and stepped aside, each taking a door handle pulling it open as they did so, allowing Graves to enter before the doors were sealed behind him.

At a long table covered in cloth of gold and riddled with assorted documents sat twelve men, with Arthur at the head of the table as the 13th. All men looked toward Graves who had bowed deeply before the group. Arthur cocked his head to the side. "Is there something wrong with mother?" He asked rather glibly recognizing the Queen's shadow for who he was. Arthur barely looked up from what he was doing.

"Her Majesty demands -" Graves began but was cut off by Arthur before he could finish his sentence. "Her Majesty is in no place to demand anything." Arthur corrected him. Graves, however, was undeterred.

"Her Majesty the Queen demands the presence of the Privy Council in her chambers immediately. The process of attestation must begin, the Archbishop of Canterbury has already been summoned." Attestation, the word for the process of formally recognizing that the child born was indeed that of the Queen. Immediately the whispers began, and it was clear the group had been unprepared for this possibility. Arthur folded his hands and rested them on the table.

"Is the child healthy?" Arthur asked, to which Graves responded. "His Royal Highness Prince Henry heir to the throne of England is quite well." Graves smirked softly, taking his jab where he could. Arabella had taught him well, no, Arabella had trained him well. "Her Majesty is in perfect health as well, I am sure you all will be relieved to know." Graves once more inserting more information than was requested, but he did his best to remind them all of who he served.

Arthur sat back in his chair for a moment. "Then there is no need for us to attend to her. Doctor Thomas has been dispatched to provide an update on His Majesty's condition." There was a degree of confusion amongst the men of the council on how they should proceed. Arthur certainly had made his position known, but was there complete agreement? Not exactly. Lord Dunmoore finally spoke. "Your Royal Highness, you will pardon my directness." The man began, he was older, of about 60 years, just beginning to gray. A rather portly though jolly seeming fellow. "I fear if we do not attend to Her Majesty, Her Majesty will be inclined to come to us, and surely you can appreciate that we would not want a repeat performance of what happened with your..." The man had to pause, words of hate on the tip of his tongue. "wife." He concluded.

Arthur relented. He very much would like Arabella to suffer as she forced her own sister to suffer. "Fine." A simple one word response as the men of the table rose and began their journey behind Graves to answer their summons. Graves knocked gently on the door before opening it. "The Privy Council and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, your Majesty." He bowed deeply and stepped aside allowing the group to flood into the Queen's drawing room where they would be pleasantly surprised to see a perfectly composed Arabella seated, well dressed and clean with the newest Prince swaddled in the finest cloth swaddled in her arms.

Each man, Arthur included bowed before the Queen. Arthur's eyes drifting to Alex, mostly to verify that she was still in one piece.

"Brilliant." Arabella said softly, casting her gaze over each of them. "I thank you for your swift response and attendance. I fear I am not yet fit to travel more than a few feet. Isn't that right Arthur?" Arabella was antagonizing him, and he knew it. Arthur nodded his head slowly, again looking toward his wife. It was an unnecessary comment, especially before Alexandra. "When the Archbishop arrives, he will coordinate with members of this council to complete the attestation process. His Majesty's attack was quite a shock which resulted in a premature birth, however as Doctor Thomas can state, the Prince is all well. I would like you all to meet Prince Henry." Arabella rocked him gently in her arms, cooing softly like a doting and devoted mother.

"I am sure it won't take more than a half hour. There is not one among us who believes anything other than the Prince being the genuine article." Arthur knew it was her baby, so did every one in this room, but for the sake of appearances this little formality had to be completed. The men of the council all seemed to nod in agreement. "I am pleased you are both well, you look spectacular mother, as always." Arthur bowed his head, his compliment genuine.

Arabella smiled. "Thank you my darling boy." Arabella teased at him. "There is one matter I wish to discuss before you withdraw." The Queen's face turned serious. "I have in illusions that you would dare put a woman in charge of this country as my husband recovers. However." The Queen looked at Arthur directly, her eyes like daggers. "You are all well aware of His Majesty's feelings toward the Prince and Princess of Wales. They are not of His Majesty's disposition. Christian is confident that Arthur is a danger to the throne and to the country." Whispers again, most nodding in agreement with Arabella, only one or two seeming to sympathize with the Prince.

Arthur could feel his eye twitching for just a moment as Arabella cast forth her accusations. Even Arthur knew she had no choice, she did not believe what she said, but so long as Christian was alive, it was her duty to say it. "As such I humbly request you reconsider this decision and allow someone far more inline with His Majesty's beliefs take to the helm with the guidance of this most noble and wise council." Arabella bowed her head politely.

The Prince of Wales, quite obviously still stealing glances from his wife sighed. "We will consider your request." They wouldn't. No matter how much the men of the council, those chosen precisely for their loyalty to Christian knew that Arabella was correct, a Prince they felt they could control was better than a woman. A goat would have been a better choice of regent than a woman.

"That is all, you may go." Arabella dismissed them without so much as a blink or batted eye. "That is unless you all wish to bare witness to the feeding of a Princeling?" Arabella teased, forcing Arthur to roll his eyes before he and the others left the room. "I pray you don't hate me sister. I took no pleasure in that." That was mostly true.

[DuchessLivilla]

As her sister spoke, one would have seen, had anyone cared to glance at the Princess, the shutters coming down, rather firmly, on her face. Rationally she knew why Arabella had acted as she had but also she knew, deep down, there was a little bit of relish for it. And beyond that, as a wife, she would always side with her husband now, as Bella would, thus she was greatly irritated by this little display. There was no need to go so far...she could have adovocated for herself without spreading the seeds of hate about the Prince.

Threat indeed.

She stood silently where she was, still in her apron, making no comment nor facial expression, even when Arthur glanced at her before he left. That could wait for when they were alone. In her head, she raged, "She cannot help but let the poison out. Even now she works to build her own prison, as if any of those fools on the council will thank her for it. She works tirelessly for men...First papa, then Richard, now the King...And yet all she is doing is building her own prison. Arthur will not forget this insult...Nor will the rest of them...God-damit all."

As the room emptied, leaving Alex with her sister, she turned away and started to strip the bed, wishing to avoid looking at her. It seemed for every step they took to be united, fate or...malice or whatever one wished to call it, dragged them back 3 steps.

"She owes me a debt she says, she might have done it simply but making a case for herself without casting such insults," the Princess seethed silently, dragging the bloodied sheets towards herself with some force.

At the Queen's imploring, she was forced to reply. She did without displaying any of her inner turmoil, though she would very much like to. "Of course not, Your Majesty," she replied smoothly, as if Bella had merely asked if she thought it might rain or some such, moving to ring the bell to summond the maids back to assist in tidying up the bed and such. As well as to get Mary; she would need a hand with her own children if she was to escape.

She carried on with the bed, finding the work helped to keep her calm. All she wanted to do was snap something to the effect of, "As the wife of a man considered so dangerous to the throne, I should take my leave to avoid tainting the Queen and the new heir!"

But she held her tongue. It would do no good and likely much bad.

[Hannelorian]

Arabella remained silent, fixated on Henry who none would be allowed to take from her. When the maids had finished their tidying the Queen thanked them and politely dismissed them so that only the sisters remained in addition to their children. "You've always been a poor liar." Arabella commented almost off handedly like it were nothing at all. "You may not hate me but you are certainly upset with me." Arabella contemplated the notion that she had destroyed all of their progress up to this point with such a simple, but radical and out of place comment, but one she felt had to made never the less.

"You defend your husband and I defend mine. That is always the way of it." The Queen sighed, her eyes finally shifting away from the sleeping new born and to her sister. "Even when it is painful. Do you think I too am not offended by the simple fact that I cannot be trusted to be named regent simply because I am a woman?" Arabella chuckled almost as if it didn't matter. But it did. It bothered her deeply. "Katherine of Aragon was one of the most effective regents, deftly running the country while Henry fought his wars in France." Arabella was in some singular way, firmly in alignment with her sister's beliefs in the ills of this country.

The Queen sighed. "I know the comment cut you deeply, and it cut him as well. Believe it or not, I suppose you'll choose not. I did not intend to hurt him." In some ways perhaps the two sisters would never understand one another. "One thing I keep dancing in my mind is my own mortality. What will happen to my children when I am gone?" Leaning down Arabella kissed her son's head softly. "A silly thing, you'll be saying oh but Bella you have so much life to live. You're so young." The Queen's voice lilted softly.

"Now that I have a son, we have the proof we did not need that Bridget was correct. Which means the truth about your son will soon be realized." Even though Arabella did not know the exact nature of what was said, she had a few guesses. "By extension that means I will kill my husband." Arabella's voice fell flat, she was enjoying none of this any longer. "A corrupt, spoiled, maniacal, sadistic lunatic. Deeply unpopular amongst his own people. A man who is prepared to start a war because his son choose a woman he did not approve of." There was truly something Shakespearian about all of it. "A woman with liberal thoughts and ideas, a different interpretation of religion. A woman whose intelligence is unmatched. A woman who dared capture his son's heart, but who lives in ignorance that he deny that his son shares the same beliefs as his wife."

The Queen looked about the room. "But Christian is still a King. The King. Killing a king, regicide. There is no higher crime than that. A crime that is still punishable by hanging, drawing and quartering." Shaking her head as she gently rocked Henry, her voice low enough to not wake him. "While there will be a tremendous amount of people who will be elated, some who might even venerate me for doing so... it is a crime that cannot go without punishment. Lest we suggest Queens may routinely kill their husbands and all will be well."

Rising slowly Arabella moved across the room slowly back toward the bed. "Even I could not blame Arthur for sentencing me to death." The grim reality had set in, and a tone of acceptance. "I'm going to tell the butler and the head housekeeper to prepare for your and Arthur's departure for Marlborough, that is once the Prince Regent's meetings are concluded. And of course we've sworn on our bibles before the Archbishop." Arabella smiled softly as she leaned back against the pillows her body aching and protesting all the while. "My council will not be needed, and with the King incapacitated there is no reason for the two of you to maintain residence at Windsor. The Council can make the journey to London when needed, and Arthur will be closer to the Prime Minister and Parliament."

Arabella was not, as it might seem, kicking her sister out. Rather she was hoping to free the two of them back to the safety and comfort of their own home where they need't constantly look over their shoulder, and from which Arthur could govern just as effectively as he could from Windsor or Buckingham or any other residence." Arabella nodded softly and resigned herself to her own fate for the day. "In a few weeks, provided there is no change in His Majesty's condition, we will travel quietly to Osborne House."

The newest royal residence on the Isle of Wight seemed an ideal retreat, Arabella enjoyed the thought of escape. If Christian weren't in his condition she would simply go without him, he would not object as Arabella had done her duty. "I thank you for seeing me through this. I will never forget it, sister. I do love you." Arabella felt as though still she had to prove that, and the burden of proof was growing ever heavier, ever more tiring. "When this is all said and done, Arthur will sit on the throne and he will rule with you by his side, and you can begin to make the changes that the country desperately needs. I have great faith in you and him."

Arabella moved to lay on her shoulder, Henry beside her. "I need to rest, and I imagine so do you. You've been through enough between your births, the long march and now helping me through." The Queen effectively dismissing her sister.

[DuchessLivilla]

Alexandra shoved that truth away: that if Arabella had indeed had the son Bridget told her she would...then her own son would truly be sickly and die young, before he had the chance to be King. That could be dealt with another time. For now there was more cirital issues at play.

"No, I'm not," she did think, briefly, "I'm a fine liar, one of the best for all it is arrogance. You saw through it because I wanted to hurt you...or at least make you feel something..."

Again, she banished that thought and turned to her sister, sighing deeply. "Oh, Bella, let us not fight. I know why you said what you said, and I am just tired and angry at the world and..." She squeezed her sister's shoulder, unable to hug her given she was holding the baby. "It just vexes me so that you had to say that, and I know why you did, I promise, because you will not be thanked for it...Not even by the King I imagine. I've watched him closely, it is all I do when I am here with you and him. He is greviously hurt and possibly may never walk again...The injury to his pelvis may have damaged more than bone and muscle. He is a man who enjoys using that other organ and if he has lost that, he shall never recover in mind from it."

She chewed her lip and carried on, ignoring the offer to leave the room. This had to be said. "Mark my words, he shall care more for what he has lost in this, than any regency or likely even the birth of his son. He is a selfish brute of a man, and his bodily loss will mean far more than anything else. He firmly believes he shall outwit Arthur and destroy us and all shall be well, it is why he is happy to be nice to his son at this moment because he enjoys thinking that the more we get now, the more we shall lose later. I do not mean to imply I know him better, because I do not, but I know enough to see the way the wind is blowing."

Alex brushed a stray curl from her forehead as she finished, shaking her head slowly at it all. It was insanity to her. The entire stupid farce of it all. "As for regicide...I would not worry on it. Arthur will not order your death, no matter what. Power resides where men believe it does, if he is King, they shall believe what he says. Any number of stories can be put about. Especially now with this injury, even if the event comes years later...A fall, suicide, anything. I swear it, I will not let Arthur condemn you, sister."

This time she did embrace her, with one arm, careful of the child, her head against the Queen's, both looking down at the baby. "The idea of a retreat sounds lovely. The King might not be able to go though...Still...I imagine you can do as you please now," she smiled, echoing Bella's own thoughts on the matter. "Arthur spoke of looking into a retreat for us, now we have the children."

She sighed softly, finally addressing the idea of leaving, "As for us leaving here, as much as I wish to for my own sakes, I cannot leave you nor do I wish to. Besides, Arthur loves his father, I cannot fault him for it, and he hopes to God this little game is real. If Christian is hurt, and even if he were not regent, he would wish to remain here to be with him, welcome or not.

Now come, let me fetch the cradle for the baby, and you can have him at your side as you rest. The maids should be due any moment to make the bed. Do you wish for a bath? It was all I wanted afterwards," she laughed, "I can hold the baby while you wash or I can help you. Tiredness be damned."

[Hannelorian]

The thought that Christian would be broken form his injury in a mental capacity, rather than just the physical struck Bella like a double edged sword. On one hand, she could be grateful for such a thing. It meant she would finally be spared. On the other hand, if it meant he was more cruel than ever, angrier than ever, that did not bode well. Arabella was barely coping as it was, she could only imagine the hell if Christian was somehow even more horrid. It was enough to shock Bella into silence for a few moments as Alex spoke, eventually declining the offer to leave. Arabella wished Alex had taken her up on the offer, her heart sank when she did not. No joy, nothing good would come of remaining at Windsor.

"I would love a bath." Arabella looked down upon her son, and realized that one of the only people in the world she would hand him over to for more than a moment was her sister. "You may take him." Arabella smiled softly, offering her sister the child who had finished his first feeding, a moment that Arabella would never truly forget. The maids were summoned and the bath was to be drawn. The Queen purposefully did not comment on most of what Alex said, not because she did not agree, but because Arabella lacked the strength required in this moment.

"Besides, I can't look and smell a mess before the Archbishop. Wouldn't that be terribly inconvenient?" Arabella laughed softly. The Queen then sighed. "I cannot leave with the King." Leaning back as Alex gently took Henry from her, she relaxed for but a moment. "The Royal household was a mess before I got here, and now it is not, but if you think I'm just going to let him abuse the staff..." The Queen rolled her eyes. "I am their buffer. When they cannot tell him something for fear of life itself, they tell me. I am there to calm and quiet his hand before he does something most would consider unforgivable."

It could not be denied that Arabella's presence was a relief to most, both amongst the court, and amongst the household staff. Arabella was the kind one, she never raised her voice, nor did she forget to thank and reward. She was the shield that had never been there, even when Elizabeth was theoretically in charge of these halls. When the bath was ready, so was Arabella.

Arthur sat quietly, listening to the privy councilors go debate on endlessly about the regency. His fingertips gently tapping against the heavy table periodically, not out out of boredom but out of exhaustion from listening to these men go on and on and on with no end in sight. Finally, Arthur decided to express his own opinion. "My mother is right, you know." His bright eyes gazed across the room as everyone turned to him, the oncoming silence was swift as he gathered their attentions, much like his father, his presence was commanding. "She should be named regent."

There was a gasp from those assembled. "My mother's outlook and message, her beliefs are those of my father in frightening exactitude. Whereas it is no secret amongst you all that I have different opinions." This was no stunning admission, everyone knew it, but Arthur would always be first to admit it. "Even if she is a woman, it is not unheard of." The past didn't matter.

"Nonsense, your Highness." Dunmoore stated rather flatly. "You are the Prince of Wales, it falls upon you to maintain the throne while your father is unable." Fists slammed against the table as "hear, hear" was shouted all to share their agreement with Dunmoore. "Despite her public popularity, she is still but a woman, and women have no sense for government." Another lamented. Arthur knew it would end like this, but he tried, kind of.

"For the time being, we should keep this incident quiet. We do not need to panic the general public over the holiday, after the New Year may be most appropriate, barring there are no changes for the worse." Arthur suggested, trying to put an end to the final topic of discussion. "I'll need briefings to catch up to speed." Another thing Arabella would not have needed, she listened to Christian every night on the ongoings of government and court. Though Christian never imagined she paid attention or even had thoughts on that. "Rather quickly if you don't mind." Arthur would not change the course of Christian's policy, though he would do what he could to suggest he did not agree with it by choosing less controversial things to attend to.

[DuchessLivilla]

"Yes," Alex smirked, "Only one of us should look a mess and make a show of herself and I have that sewn up. The archbishop is one of the ones who is convinced I am a...what was it? A harlot and a witch and so on? If I am already condemned, why make an effort for him?" She gently took the new prince in her arms again, smiling at him as if he was her own. She loved babies and the child was hardly to blame for who his father was anymore than Arthur was for the same 'sin'.

She gazed down at Henry, taking in his little screwed up face, the one all babies had, as if displeased to suddenly find themselves in the world! "He looks like you, and...I think a bit of Papa," she said finally, smiling. It was not just comfort, though it was that too; Alex had needed her child to look like Arthur, for the sake of parentage and to silence or at least limit the doubters...The Queen had no such need and her sister judged that it would be a greater comfort to Bella if the child did not look the double of his beast of father.

Who wished to look into their child's face and see the man who had daily raped them?

Not that one would blame the child but still, it would be a struggle.

She sat with her sister, beside the bath so that Henry was never out of Bella's sight, knowing her own concerns on that level. "Well sister," she said, smiling, moving the topics to more pleasant things, "You've done it. You've had your son...What was it called...'A woman's one consolation in this life?'" She rolled her eyes, "Still, he's a fine little chap!"

Her own children were just within sight, their cradles by the door, and Mary had returned to be with them. Alex was not really worried but...why risk it. Children at this age were delicate and she had heard the horror stories of such things happening to them. With the castle in chaos, it would be easy for harm to come...she'd take no risks.

As she gazed down at the baby, fast asleep in her arms, she smiled again, "It's funny, isn't it? The little one is my...nephew...and my brother in law, being Arthur's little brother. And my children will be his cousins...and his...nieces and nephews...I think, it's all rather complicated! Still, none shall want for friends, I hope, as they grow up together."

[Hannelorian]

Arabella lay in the tub, the warm water soothing to her aching body, the color of the water slightly pinkish in nature as the last of the blood washed clean from her porcelain flesh. "I think he looks a little like Christian too." Arabella spoke freely and calmly. "I'm not upset by it." She would never hold Christian against Henry, and now that Henry was here, it seemed he was her sole purpose. "Though you might be right about papa." She giggled softly and shook her head. "And if we're to care for accuracy, I do believe the Archbishop also remarked that he could smell the Sulphur and the devil on you all the way to the Cathedral."

Once again Arabella found herself laughing, it was such an absurd comment. "To think we did it, both of us." Arabella remarked softly, gazing now upward at Alex and Henry, her head leaning against the back of the tub, a few stray strands of her hair falling free from it's encasement and into the water. "Had our boys. Fulfilled out duty as wives." Of course Arabella knew, as did Alex, that Alex would go on to have as many children as God would grace her with. "I am in effect, useless." Arabella sighed deeply with disappointment. "There is not one thing anyone else expects of me. I could never be seen again and it would not matter one bit."

The Queen had no intention of shrinking and retreating. Quite the opposite really. "Indeed our family tree has become quite twisted rather quickly. Imagine like the Habsburgs, our children marrying one another." The thought was not unusual or even unwelcome for Arabella. Mercy silently approached the bathroom door, dropping into a deep curtsy before the Queen and Princess. "Your Majesty, Royal Highness" Mercy addressed both women politely. "His Holiness, the Archbishop has arrived and is waiting in your drawing room."

Arabella sighed and stood in the tub, running her her hands down along her body. And held her arms out after she stepped out of the tub with Mercy's assistance, a rob placed upon her body. "I've laid out suitable clothes. Though they may be a bit tight." Mercy was not insulting Arabella, but acknowledging it would be some time before the Queen's body recovered entirely. "Has he spoken to Graves yet?" Arabella asked as she briefly pressed her hand onto Alex's shoulder.

"He is with him now." Mercy replied as she attended to the Queen's clothing. "Can you pull something for Alex to wear please? It doesn't have to be perfect. Just clean." Mercy bowed her head in response to the Queen and backed to the door to leave the room and retrieve something from Alex's rooms. "We can't have you covered in my blood." Arabella smiled as another maid stepped forward and removed the robe. The Queen was fitted first into a white shift, then a sleek gown of golden silk that hugged her body perfectly. "Tight indeed." Arabella repeated. As per Arabella's style the gown featured floral embroidery and a high collar. A fresh fair of white gloves, never worn were donned.

Mercy appeared a few moments later with a fresh outfit for the Princess of Wales. Arabella would once more take Henry into her arms once she had been dressed. Just a few rooms over, Graves entered the drawing room cautiously and catching sight of the Archbishop, a relatively familiar face around the assorted Royal residences. Graves bowed deeply and remained silent. The older man was seated, his robes were ornate, exactly as one expected of a Catholic priest. Full of glamour and splendor and excess.

"The guard, Graves is it?" The Archbishop spoke plainly as he extended a hand toward a chair, gesturing for the younger man to take a seat. Graves did not disobey. "Yes your Holiness." Graves complied, confirming his identity. "Ah, good, good." The Archbishop remained with a smile on his face. "You were present outside the Queen's chambers during the birth?" He questioned. Graves nodded his head. "Yes." He confirmed once more.

"Did anyone enter the room once the labour began?"

"Only maids bringing supplies and supporting the Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales as she assisted Her Majesty." Graves answered sensibly. The Archbishop simply nodded. "And you can attest to the fact that no other babe was brought in? That the child birthed is legitimately a son borne of Her Majesty?" He asked.

Graves nodded his head. "With absolute confidence the child was borne to the Queen and is a legitimate heir to the throne of England, son of the King." Graves was firm and clear in his response. "Very good then. All is well, you may return to your duty master Graves."

Once Alex had been prepared, the Queen departed with her son in her arms, Alex following shortly behind her. Once the Queen entered her own sitting room the Archbishop rose to his feet immediately and bowed before the royal figures.

[DuchessLivilla]

Alexandra, as they both dressed, said, smirking, again in French just in case, "I hope and pray the lecherous old fool survives long enough to see the world change. I would get much pleasure from watching him crown Arthur and myself. I wonder if he could bring himself to do it...Time will tell, I suppose, at the Christenings, if he can touch my children."

She finally shed the soiled apron and changed her gown, though, quite by accident, everyone missed the smear of blood upon her cheek. She took pulled on fresh gloves; both ladies being the picture of what they should be.

The Princess followed behind her sister, taking care to compose her face though really she was rather looking forward to this little game. She knew full well the archbishop, a creature of Christian's if ever there was one, hated her almost as much as the King did. She wondered what path he would go here today...He was in a tricky spot. She could imagine him trying to work out whether he should be sweetness and light, if the Queen was currently in friendship with her sister, or carry on being his unpleasant self and openly hostile.

Alex could hardly wait to see what he would do! He bowed when they entered, which was something, she supposed, though she noted he looked only at the Queen. She helped Bella sit and said, smiling sweetly to the man, "Forgive my sister, Your Grace, I fear bending to kiss your ring is beyond her right now. With your permission, I shall do it for both of us?"

She had learnt, ironically with Bella and Richard, that it irriated those who disliked you far more if you were meek and docile rather than what they thought of you. It had grated her sister a great deal when she did exactly as Arabella did; rejected meals and went to pray instead.

And thus it worked just the same this time as she knelt before the Archbishop, tenderly took his hand and kissed the huge gem encrusted ring twice, once for Bella and once for herself. She felt his hand shake a little, as if desperate to yank it away, but he held his nerve, before she rose and smiled, taking her seat beside her sister.

As she turned her back, the Archbispop was seen, by the Queen only, to hastily rub at the ornate surface of his ring with his palm, as if cleansing it of some evil before the ruby cracked or some such nonsense.

-

In the Queen's bedroom, Mary fussed over the twins, smiling at them and making cooing noises. Two maids from the kitchen brought in trays of tea things and scones for the staff and while these were being handed out and seats taken wherever they could be in the bedroom or the smaller drawing room next door, she opened the bedroom door to look for Mr Graves.

Seeing him back in his place, she smiled, "Master Graves? Would you like to come in and sit? We have some tea and scones," she held open the door, a clear invitation. "I am sure the Queen would not begrudge you," she added, showing the informality the Princess had in her household.