~In Sickness and in Health~

Her screams had started at night, so terrible they were, so deafening that they had sent the eldest children fleeing from their beds. They had run the length of the castle to where Eleanor and Richard lay, seeking comfort only to find it was Eleanor from whom the terrifying screams emerged.

Katheryn had banged on the door, little fists flailing as tears streamed down her face. Bess had demanded with all her might that they be let inside to aid her mother while Matilda, Isabel and Eliza merely cried, hands clinging to one another while they sobbed.

"Mama!" Bess wept when their nurse found them all huddled at the door, for once her determined nature leaving her for defeat "mama! Let us come to you!"

When there was no answer but more screams, the children allowed themselves to be led away but did not sleep a wink. They all cuddled close in Katheryn's large bed, praying with all their might that Eleanor would be well.

It was not long before John and baby George joined them, eyes reddened with crying, hands intertwined for comfort as they stood in the doorway, the eldest carrying a sleeping William.

꧁꧂

7th of April 1476....

"Richard!" Eleanor cried, tears streaming down her face. She felt as if she were about to be torn in two, the thick scent of blood sending her mind reeling "Richard! Where are you?"

"Here, Leena" Richard murmured as he knelt by the bed, smoothing her damp hair back from her face and pressing a cool cloth to her forehead "I am right here, my darling"

"Don't leave me....not now..." she begged, grimacing as another contraction forced her to screams. It was as if a thousand knives were stabbing into her belly. And she had been like this the past two days.

"I will never leave you" Richard promised, taking her hand as she sobbed out her pain and her body writhed against the bloodied covers of the bed. He looked up to where the midwife was, returning her nod with one of his own as he realised it was time for Eleanor to push "it is time, love" he told her gently and she nodded, letting him sit her up a little while Anais took her free hand on the other side of the bed.

"All vill be vell" she said gently and Eleanor nodded, taking a deep breath before she squeezed her husband's and friend's hands. A pained yell that emerged from Anais mixed with her own scream as she pushed, sobbing as she fell back onto the pillows, gasping for breath.

"Sorry Anna" she murmured, trying to send Anais an apologetic smile. The blonde woman simply shook her head, patting Eleanor's hand before she grimaced as the Duchess pushed again.
"Just once more and the first shall be born!" The midwife called and Eleanor's head shot up from the covers along with Richard who stared at the midwife in disbelief.

"First?!" He cried "whatever do you mean?"
The older woman began to laugh, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she shook her head.
"Her grace is pregnant with twins, your grace" she answered, smiling amusedly at the royal's shock.

"Twins?" Eleanor yelled "I carry two babes?"
"You do, your grace" the woman answered and Anais squeezed her friend's hand.
"You are strong, Eleanor" she said "the Queen of the North, remember?"
"The Queen of the North" Richard repeated with a firm nod.

"And you are my King" Eleanor added with a tired smile, her chest rising and falling at an alarming rate as she tried to catch her breath. "this day I shall give you two children it seems!"
"And we will love them both" he replied.

"Your grace?" The Midwife asked, smiling at the younger woman "it is time to push again"
Another scream filled the room as Eleanor pushed, her eyes screwed tightly shut as she pulled her remaining strength forth.

She had two children to give life too. She must not fail them.

Her first babe's cry filled the air and she felt a momentary relief enter her mind, the same joy she always felt whenever one of her babes was born. She forced herself to raise her head, anxious to see if her child was well, laughing when she saw them wiggling in the Midwive's arms, strong wails leaving their lungs.

Eleanor had never been more terrified than when she woke in the dead of night to blood flowing between her legs and sharp pains in her belly. She had at first thought she was miscarrying her child and had awoken Richard with fearful and pained sobs.

It had been too early. A whole month too early! The babes were supposed to be born in May yet had decided to make an appearance in early April!

But this child seemed strong (if a little small) and determined to cling onto life.

"You have a girl, Eleanor!" Anais cried happily and Richard let out an overjoyed cry, momentarily letting go of Eleanor's hand so that he could take their new daughter into his arms. Marie, who had returned from fetching more clean sheets, wrapped the babe in a soft blanket once she had cleaned her and passed her to her proud Father.

"We have a daughter, Leena!" He announced proudly while Eleanor smiled at him, craning to catch a glimpse of the child as he knelt by the bed once more and presented their baby.

"Hello little one" she cooed, reaching out a finger and brushing it against the baby's reddened cheek "she is perfect"
"What shall we call her?"
"Cecily? For your Mother? And we shall call her Cis?"

Richard grinned at the suggestion, nodding before he kissed little Cecily's forehead, making sure her blanket was tucked securely around her.
"Little Cis of Gloucester" he proclaimed before frowning as Eleanor began to groan again, clutching at her belly.

"Heaven help me" she whispered, crossing herself with a shaky hand before she found it taken by Richard's once more after he handed little Cecily to Marie.
"This little mite should be easy your grace" the midwife said encouragingly and with that in mind Eleanor nodded and pushed, fearing her teeth would break as she clenched her jaw.

Again and again she pushed, using all of her remaining strength to bring her seventh babe into the world. Pain blurred her vision, made her mind spin but she refused to give into it; was determined.

When she finally heard the overjoyed cries of Anais and the midwife she collapsed back onto the pillows, breathing deeply while Richard kisses her forehead, stroking her tangled hair.

"Where is their cry?" Eleanor whispered, weakly raising herself as she anxiously searched for her baby, eyes settling on a little bundle in the midwife's arms "where is their cry?" She repeated a little louder, jumping as she watched the woman give the babe a sharp tap before she breathed a gasp of relief as a soft cry filled the air.

It was not strong, was not powerful and neither was the little boy who gave sound to it. But it was a cry, a sign of life and that was enough "Give him to me, give me my son" Eleanor ordered shakily though Richard made her sit back against the pillows while he fetched their boy, not wanting her to tire herself even more.

"Here he is" he said gently as he passed the tiny boy to his Mother, smiling as she eagerly reached for him and cradled him against her chest.

Eleanor kissed her son on the cheek and gently rocked him back and forth while Marie, Anais and the midwife rushed around the room, trying to clear away the used sheets as quickly as they could.

She found herself silently marvelling at his size for he was so tiny! He reminded her of a little fairy with his thin limbs and delicate features that settled as he ceased his crying.
"He is small" she murmured as Richard sat beside her, Cecily in his arms "but he will grow"

"I am sure" he said, gazing down at his son and daughter "he shall be as strong as George and William are! A strong Plantagenet son!"
"Just like our strong Plantagenet daughters" Eleanor added smothering a yawn "I think....I think I should like to sleep, my love, if you do not mind?"

"Mind?" Richard exclaimed with a laugh "you of all people deserve rest, sweetheart. Here" he placed Cecily onto the covers so that he could take their son "I think we should call him Edward? It's a fine York name and could push us back into favour?"

Eleanor smiled tiredly as she lay down, flinching slightly as her limbs ached.
"Edward it is" she murmured as her head settled against the pillow "our very own Ned"

꧁꧂

Bess was gone from her seat in the great hall before anyone could stop her. She had slipped from the children's table while the adult's attention had been averted, too busy with celebrating the birth of Cecily and Edward to notice the four year old bounding up the steps to her Mother's chambers.

She had not seen her Mother for three days now for two she had been in labour and the last one she had spent resting in bed but now Bess was determined to enter her rooms and would not let anyone stop her.

She was pleasantly surprised when she found the door to her Mother's room lay open for her to simply walk through and even more pleased when she saw her Father was not present for she was sure he would chastise her. Bess concluded that he had most likely gone to the nursery to check on her little brother and sister as she made towards the bed, a wide smile on her face.

Running towards the bed, Bess clambered onto the covers, ready to hug her Mother awake only to let out a startled cry. Eleanor's body was covered with sweat, her hair damp and plastered against her forehead while she shook violently.

"Mama!" The little girl cried, pressing a hand to Eleanor's forehead only to snatch it back as she found the skin burning "Father!" Bess screamed "Papa! It's Mama! She's sick! She's sick Papa!"

Bess did not have to be alone for long for a moment later she heard a door slam and the heavy thud of footsteps before Richard appeared in answer to his daughter's cries.

"Bess?!" He asked, striding over to the bed looking to where she desperately pointed gasping when he saw Eleanor.

"Leena" he whispered, dropping to her side and trying to shake her awake, shaking his head when she did not even open her eyes "Leena! Leena! Wake up!" Bess began to cry, shuffling back and drawing her knees up to her chest as she sobbed. "Francis!" Richard yelled, his voice carrying down to the great hall "Francis! For heaven's sake come quickly!

In a trice Francis had thrown down his goblet and so had Anne, throwing her napkin onto the table top before she followed Francis in running from the hall. The children all tried to follow, alarmed by the panic in Richard's voice but they were kept back by a reassuring Marie while Anais dashed to the steps, almost falling flat on her face as she tripped on her skirt.

No more than a minute later the Duke and Duchesse's rooms were swarmed by servants and nobles alike. Anais barked orders at servants who dashed back and forth to fetch what they were meant to and Anne held a weeping Bess who was trying to reach for her Mother only to be held back.

Francis took one look at his sick friend and did not need to wait for orders; ran to fetch the Gloucester's physician before Richard had even begun to ask.

The elderly man that hobbled into the room around half an hour later waved everyone who crowded around the bed aside with an authoritative flick of his wrinkled hand. He placed his walking stick down, heavily aware of the silence that had fallen around him, the dozen of breaths that were being held.

He pushed his glasses up his long nose, frowning as he put a hand to the Duchess' burning forehead and checked her pulse. Too hot....too quick
"It is childbed fever" he concluded matter-o-factly, grimacing when he heard the pained cry of a young woman behind him. Anais.

"Take her" Richard murmured, passing Bess back to Anne before he nodded to Anais "take both of them and keep the children away I beg of you"
"Of course, Dickon" Anne said with a nod, though tears filled her eyes as she took the child and the blonde woman from the room.

"You are sure?" He asked, walking towards the bed with Francis on his heels "there is no doubt? No doubt at all?"
"There can be no doubt, your grace" the old man replied steadily, pity pricking his ageing heart as he watched despair and pain fill Richard's eyes; shoulder's drooping, head bowing.

"Will....will she live?" The question was little more than a whisper "I cannot lose her....the children cannot lose their Mother....they need her....I need her" The physician sighed, looking once more to Eleanor's trembling form, her flushed skin, the sheer sheet of sweat that covered her from head to toe, soaking her nightgown.

"If the fever does not break, your grace, then I'm afraid no....she will not live. She will die"