The entire ceremony, Mary felt like she was on the outside looking in. She felt disconnected from her body, watching herself stand at the altar, promising herself to Francis in front of God, but feeling nothing in her heart. All she felt was dread.

Their wedding, instead of being filled with happiness like she'd dreamed of as a child, or love as she'd thought it would be this past months, had felt more like a death sentence for her, for if he died surely she would too. She did not want to wed Francis. She loved him more than life, but she worked the entire time to keep tears at bay. She did not want this at all.

Her heart ached at the thought that she would bring and end to his life. She had tried to explain about Nostradamus and the prophecy and his mother, but he'd ignored her plight; dismissing everything as superstition. No matter how much she fought, she was not allowed to break the treaty between her country and France. Which left her dismayed that the wedding would still happen, and Francis heartbroken that she would try so hard to get out of their plans, that before had caused them such joy. That day filled with love and sunlight was long gone.

She knew he was still angry at her for running away, and she hadn't asked for forgiveness. She did not want it. Mary couldn't regret what she'd done for she'd done it out of love. And she also thought that if Francis hated her, he would call their wedding off. Once again, she just made things worse in trying to protect him.

He recited his vows like he did the poems his tutors assigned them as children, and speaking hers out loud felt like something sharp inside her chest broke. Mary looked down as they walked out of the church, for she could not bear to meet his eyes. Until death do us apart.

-.-

They rode to the castle after the ceremony in opposite sides of the carriage, sneaking looks at each other. They'd barely talked in the past weeks. Their wedding vows were the most they'd said to each other, after her first day back and their fight. She couldn't help a tear leaking out as she thought of how wrong this all felt, how she should be filled with newlywed bliss and not this heavy, foreboding feeling in the pit of her stomach. She feared every step she took as his wife because it might be the one that set his death into motion.

Francis saw her tears before she could wipe them away, and she was too heartbroken to feel pride or embarrassment. All she saw in his eyes was betrayal and hurt.

"Marrying me that bad, huh?" he asked with a wry smile, his shoulders thrown back as he watched the fields blurring past them outside the window. He looked like he did the first days after she arrived, detached, trying to protect himself almost as much as she was trying to protect him.

They arrived at the castle and he stepped out of the carriage right away, seemingly not able to get out of the enclosed space fast enough. He offered Mary his arm so she could climb down as well. She tried to school her features into a smile as she did, feigning happiness for everyone who was there to receive them. They walked inside for the feast, both their hearts heavy. Queen and King, ruling only themselves. He let go of her hands as soon as they were inside, but before Mary could walk to her ladies he grabbed her by the elbow and whispered in her ear,

"Don't worry…it'll be over soon."

She looked up at him, surprised that he would try to lend her some comfort. He knew she was hurting over the prophecy, but it went beyond that. It was killing her, having to pretend to be happy when every step felt like a nail in his coffin. Mary knew he was talking about all the people congratulating them and the noise and the festivities, but that wasn't what was bothering her, and she couldn't help but continue the horrible game she'd been playing for weeks now. So she told him the truth, in the worst way she knew how.

"No it won't. Now I'm married to you." She meant to make her words sound harsh, still believing that she could prevent the prophecy by keeping him away from her, but her words came out like a miserable whisper. She registered the hurt in his blue eyes and felt a pang in her heart at doing this to him, but he walked away in a huff before she could tell him she did not mean it. She didn't think it would matter anyways, and it was better if he hated her, she reminded herself. If their marriage became what Catherine and the King had, then it wouldn't really be a marriage at all, would it? She knew she was grasping at straws, but her fear of losing Francis completely clouded her judgment.

"Are you ready to change, your majesty?" Greer asked from behind her. She just offered a weak nod, still staring in the direction Francis had left.

"You two are the most miserable husband and wife I've seen." Kenna told her as she walked in her rooms. This was the last time she would use them, as now Francis and her would move to a new shared apartment in the left wing of the castle. "Can't you try and talk to him, Mary? I know you said-"

"You know why I didn't want this, Kenna. You know about the prophecy, I can't be happy at something that will cost Francis his life!"

"But you don't know that, Nostradamus might be wrong-"

"Stop. I am weary of fighting over this." She said, her tone detached. Kenna nodded, as much as they were friends, she was her queen, and she was stepping over the boundaries. Lola started to let down her hair from her elaborate braids, and removed her veil.

"Mary, you know I agree with Kenna. And I know Aylee would as well." She told her.

"Let's not speak of this anymore." She cut them off, as Greer walked in with her best dress for the night's festivities,

"What if Nostradamus is right?" she said "What if no matter what you do Francis will die because of this marriage-" Mary Flinched but Greer still carried on "He will die loathing you for being so dreadful to him. He will spend his last years being utterly miserable, and for what? For the off chance that you might stop this supposed prophecy from happening?

He loves you Mary, and I know you love him, even more than you love yourself, or you wouldn't be suffering so much trying to save him. You deserve happiness, and I'm talking to you as my friend, not as my queen, you deserve to be happy with him." She finished tying Mary's laces and made her turn around, making sure she looked perfect for her wedding feast.

"I wish I could make things right. But I'm too scared of what Nostradamus said will happen…and Francis is still so angry with me for running away with Bash, and after all the hurtful things I've said to try to make him cancel the wedding-" Mary stopped herself and breathed, "I don't know if he will forgive me."

"You have to try." Lola said, "It still is your wedding day, after all."

a/n: Lately I'm obsessed with Reign and I'm shipping Frary hard. Leave a review and tell me what you think?