Chapter Text
1610
Artagnan France
The younger sister of Henri IV of the house of Bourborne was in labor with her first child or Pup.
Francoise of Navarre, had been wed just over a year to her Alpha husband, the Comte D'Artagnan, Alexandre Charles d'Batz.
She had been fortunate in her marriage, finding love with her Husband, something that was often rare among the Noble and Ruling houses of Europe, where Politics was more the reason for marriage than desire.
Her Brother, and his hard, Italian Wife, Marie de Medici of the Florentine Bankers, had approved the match, and the two had been wed in Notre Dame, a wedding fit for a Queen.
Franciose had been grateful that she had not been sold to a foriegn Prince as so easily could have happened, that she would remain in France, though the Principality of Artagnan was in the South-West of France, in Gascony, near Tarbes, rather than being closer to Paris in the Picardy.
Francoise, who`s Father had hailed from Gascony, being a Bearn himself, felt very much at home in her new Chateau, fluently speaking both French and Occitian, aswell as Latin, and passable Spanish and Italian.
She and Alexandre had been well suited to each other, sharing many of the same tastes and passtimes, so that Francoise had never become homesick during her thirteen month marriage.
Her Pregnancy, which had been anounced seven months into the marriage had been the icing on the cake, her Brother sending his best wishes and congratulations to her, while her Nephews and Neices eagerly awaited a cousin to play with.
Then, just six weeks before she was due to deliver her offspring, the most devestating news was brought to Francoise.
Her Brother, Henri IV, King of France and Navarre was dead!, had been assassinated by some lunatic in the streets!.
Naturally the whole country was left reeling from this horror.
While Henri had left heirs enough for the throne, Louis was only nine years old, a child himself, not ready to bear the weight of the crown or take on the riggors of Goverment.
In his minority, a regent had to be named until Louis came of age and was able to become King in more than just name.
There saddly was only the one choice, Marie de Medici.
Francoise dreaded to think what would become of the country with Marie taking the reigns of goverment, already it was rumoured she had brought in her powerful Concini friends, who were little more than thugs and bullys, and would subject the Peoples of France to a reign of tyranny.
Francoise had wanted to go to Paris, of she had wanted to attend her Brothers Funeral, to comfort the children who were now Fatherless, left confused and grieving with only an ice cold manipulator of a woman for a Mother to care for them.
But being so close to giving birth such a journey was out of the question, both the Physicion and Midwife forbade Francoise from leaving her home, and Alexandre begged her not to put herself or their baby at risk, reminding her that Henri would never have wanted her to take such a chance, would rather that she take the care she needed to see to it that she bore a healthy child or Pup, and honoured his life by remembering the good times, rather than made herself ill in mourning his death.
Now six weeks on Francoise laboured on her child bed, clutching tight to the hand of her favourite Lady in Waiting, her forehead being mopped with a cool cloth by another, while her body contracted and strained to deliver the offspring.
"Nearly there Your Highness, nearly there!" the Midwife stated from between Francoise thighs, which had been covered with a sheet of linen to protect her modesty, even though she was stripped from the waist down, her legs spread wide, and her body strained in the most undignified manor!.
Under normal circumstances Francoise would have been horrified to have been viewed in such an unseemly state, to be bared before any but her Ladies and Husband, but now, as she was so tired, in so much pain, she could`nt have cared less!, all she wanted was for this torture to be over!.
She cried out long and loud, her body bucking as she felt the pain grow worse, the fetus she had nurtured in her womb preparing to make it`s small journey into the world
"I can see the head Your Highness, not long now!" the Midwife reported to Francoise who was too busy panting to reply to her!.
Just when she thought the agony could not possibly get any worse, Francoise suffered the torments of hell itself!, the unbelievable pain of the fetus moving down the birthing canal, seeming to stretch her so wide that she must be torn in half!, Francoise fully expected to be split in two!, to be ripped apart as her infant was pulled from her body!.
How was this right?, how could God have made Women like this!?, made it so the birthing of offspring was so revolting and agonising!?.
Francoise was certain, as she bore down for the last time, that she would, never!, NEVER!, do this again!, and then............there came a cry and the most beautiful, perfect infant was placed into Francoise arms making her forget everything as she took in the adorable new born she had just delivered!.
"A healthy Omega Boy, Your Highness" the Midwife said "A fine weight, and by the sounds of it a good pair of lungs on him!"
"My boy!, my little boy!" Francoise laughed as she stroked the reddened cheeks of her new born pup
"Let me in!, I demand to see my Wife!", Alexandre pushed past the protesting maids, forcing his way into the chambers, having been pacing outside for hours, desperate for news, and hating the painful cries of his wife as she struggled and strained to deliver their infant.
"A boy Alexandre!, we have a boy!" Francoise laughed holding him up so that his Aphan could see him, Alexandre melted at the sight of his new born, tears of joy filling his eyes and his mouth trembling with emotion
"He is perfect my love, he is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen!"
"Pup, Monsiegneur" the midwife corrected preparing for the after birth which she had yet to deliver from the Royal Comtesse, "An Omega Pup"
"A perfect Omega Pup" Alexandre stated carefully taking him into his arms looking afraid that he might break!, "He will be a heart breaker when he grows up!" he said beaming at his tired but radiant wife "He`ll be such a beauty that ever Alpha and Beta will be lining up and begging for his hand!"
"Not for a long time yet beloved" Francoise said gazing at her new born in pure adoration
"Shall we call him Henri?, for your Brother?" Alexandre asked, it would be fitting, the perfect tribute to her late Brother, God rest him, but Francoise shook her head
"No, he does not look like a Henri, I think Charles shall suite him better"
"Charles he is then" Alexandre agreed with a nod pressing a soft kiss to Charles`s soft downy skin "Welcome to our family little Charles".
Paris 1619
"Charles slow down!" Alexandre cried trying, and failing to keep up with the giggling, and very excited nine year old, who was intent of charging ahead despite his Aphans plea for him to slow down!.
Deaf to the gasps of courtiers, and the cries of startled servents and guards, little Charles ran straight into the throne room where he knew his cousin was waiting for him and his Aphan.
In the last nine years much had changed, Louis had grown from the defenceless child he was nearly a decade ago when his Father was slain, he had grown into manhood, and had taken the reigns of goverment and the full power of his Kingship from his Mother, all but banishing her to her estates, as she had tried to resist and keep the throne for herself.
Saddly, Charles`s Mother, Francoise had died as she had tried to bring another Pup into the world, the Alpha girl living for only an hour before she was spirited away to Gods house, her Mother, sickening with Child bed fever following only days later.
Charles had only been two years of age, and did not remember his Mother, he knew of her only through her portraits and the stories his devoted Aphan told him.
Him, and his elder cousins, whom he was coming to see.
As soon as he got into the Throne room and saw Louis upon his guilded Throne Charles let out a happy cry and sped up even more!
"LOUIS!".
The Pups cry drew the attention of the young King, the fair Queen on his left, and the Clergy man speaking with the King to his right.
"Charles!" Louis greeted with a laugh, hardly having a chance to rise from his throne and kneel down before the Pup leaped into his arms all but squeezing the life out of him joy!
"The Comte d'Artagnan and his Son, Charles d'Artagnan!" the Usher said a little belatedly as Alexandre finally arrived in the throne room, a little red faced from trying to catch up with his Son!
"Your Majesty`s" he greeted bowing to the Queen and Louis, "Forgive Charles`s inpertinance, he is......over excited"
"Oh there is nothing to forgive!" Queen Anne said with bright smile "He is a charming boy, and we are flattered by his excitement"
"A strong lad too ar`nt you Charles?" Louis said rising to his feet with Charles on his hips beaming up at him brightly
"I`m learning how to use a sword now!" Charles declared proudly "Papa says I`ve natural talent!"
"Does he?" Louis looked to Alexandre who dipping his head in acknowledgment
"Well then, you and I must have a tournament together, so we can test our mettle against each other!"
"I`ll beat you!" Charles declared getting a ripple of laughter from the court and a delighted laugh from Louis who set the boy back onto his feet and ruffled his hair
"Allow me to present you to my wife, Queen Anne, you did meet her at our wedding several years ago, but you were rather young then and may not recall doing so"
"Your Majesty" Charles said performing a perfect bow to the Queen who beamed at him beckoning for the boy to come over to her so she could pull him up onto her lap, kissing his cheek and soon had the boy laughing as she told him humerous limerics and tickled his sides.
"He is a fine boy Monseigneur" Richelieu said to Alexandre "You must be very proud"
"I am, Charles is the light of my world, the sweetest joy in my life" Alexandre said gazing fondly on the Pup as he laughed in the Queen arms, "I could not bear to be without him".
The Louvre was greatly livened up with Charles`s presence, it had been too long since the halls had rung with sound of a Pups laughter, and Charles`s bright, sunny nature made sure that they were filled with his infectious giggles all day long.
Louis happily put aside his Kingly duties to play with his cousin, taking him on hunting trips, with Charles nestled into the saddle in front of him, his eyes wide with excitement and crying out with joy as Louis spurred the horse into a gallop.
He fenced with Charles several times, taking care to go easy on the Pup so as not to injure him, and letting Charles win a few times, since while he had a flourishing skill with the blade, he did not yet have the skills and strength that would come with adulthood.
Charles was also spoiled rotten by Queen Anne, who longed for Motherhood herself, and spent much time playing games of hide and seek with the Pup, having her Ladies go into the city to buy him toys, and frequently had pic-nics outside in the garden with far too many sweets!.
By the time they were due to leave for Artagnan again, Charles was very much a favorite at the court and everyone was sorry to see him leave, non more so than the royal couple themselves who had fallen in love with their little cousin and were very much looking forward to seeing him again.