XXXXXXVI: 1531
January 1531
It was bitterly cold.
Frost marked the window panes and Eleanor, exhausted by the pregnancy had found herself retired to her bed more often than not. Her confinement had been almost a relief as Richard had not often come to visit her, claiming that he did not wish to tire her unnecessarily. When he did come though, he would often talk of their son. A son who would rule a fine England that Richard would present him on a platter, they would retake all their territories lost to his harlot of a sister. He would be the greatest monarch after Richard himself.
It was not a future Eleanor could see herself wanting for her child, not if they became so like her husband.
Still the strong kicks of the babe did something to assure her, the child lived and her child was strong.
Snow had begun to fall in Westminster when the pains begun, Eleanor let out a low cry that had her ladies come running. She waved them off, as she caught her breath. "If one of you would fetch the midwife and alert the physician, I believe that our Prince of Wales is keen on making his entrance now," She gritted her teeth as the pains came on, digging her finger tips into the sheets.
From there it seemed as though a flurry of activity erupted, the palace was on full alert. The future of England was at last in sight, they would have an heir, Richard would at last have an heir after so many years of marriage. People seemed to pace the halls anxiously, all they could do was wait.
The King himself got so violently drunk that he had to be put to bed and missed the first lusty cries that echoed through the birthing chamber.
"She's a loud one this one," The midwife said, "Likes to make herself heard already,"
"She?" Eleanor asked, lying back in her bed as the baby was passed to her.
"Aye, a lovely Lady for England, Madam,"
Not a son, not the Prince of Wales that was hoped for but...a child all the same.
Her newborn daughter was content to wail and Eleanor moved her arms to settle her a bit, she was a large baby and wrinkled but Eleanor loved her immediately anyway. "She's beautiful," Eleanor beamed, enjoying the moment with her daughter in her arms.
"Katherine?" She indicated a lady to her right, "If you would send a message to the King and let him know,"
"They say he's asleep now Your Majesty," Katherine said and Eleanor winced.
"Well I shan't think he'd want waking not..." Not if he didn't have a son. "But if you could let one of the men know so they might tell him when he wakes?"
Eleanor glanced down at her daughter again and something like resolve set in her, given how long it had taken them to have a child at all...this little girl might be all they had. A girl but..."God works in mysterious ways," Eleanor murmured.
And she knew, there was much work to be done.