Mary lay on her red, silk bed. "Francis.." She whispered, burying her petite head in her hands. "Do we.. have too?" She glanced up slightly looking at her fiancée, his brother and his father. Fear was evident in her eyes, she knew he'd see it, if not him then certainly Bash would. She looked at the other brother, her expression softened slightly, only to see he wasn't even looking at her, but at the cushion beside her.

"Mary.. It's the rules.." Francis sat down beside her and took her hand gently, kissing her engagement ring. "We have to do this. Today." He said, taking her other hand and pulling it down away from her face. "Mary - you ought to understand.." He said softly. "Look at me."

She shook her head, a tear sliding from her eye. "No, I will not - I cannot.."

Mary awoke with a jolt. She was in a nest of golden bed sheets on the cold, stone floor. "Such awful dreams.." She murmured to herself, stretching slightly. Her muscles were always tight after she'd had a nightmare. She groaned slightly and got up, picking her golden bedcovers and dropping them on the mattress.

She glanced at herself in the mirror and laughed slightly, "Well aren't you a delightful sight of a morning, Mary?" She asked her reflection, before laughing again and running a brush though her hair.

After a few minutes, Kenna knocked on Mary's door. "Your grace, it's me." Kenna said, opening the door slightly. "I'm on dress duty today." She walked into the room and shut the door behind herself. This was routine for Mary. Every morning she would wake up, glance in the mirror and within minutes, one of her ladies-in-waiting would appear, ready to dress her.

"Ah, good morning Kenna." Mary smiled. "How did you sleep?" She asked, running the brush through her hair.

"I didn't really sleep that much, your grace." Kenna said, walking over to Mary's wardrobe. "What do you intend on wearing today, your grace?" She asked, riffling through.

Mary rolled her eyes and walked over to Kenna. "Kenna." She said softly, "I pick the outfit, I put the outfit on, you lace it up. There's no need for you to act so... Fleetingly." She smiled, and put a hand on the girls shoulder. "It's only early."

Mary could feel Kenna's eyes watching her as she walked over to the wardrobe. "But my job is to dress you.. Queen Catherine said-"

"Queen Catherine has no right to tell you what you can and cannot do." Mary said, simply. "Queen Catherine does not decide how much of the dressing process you do - I on the other hand have the authority to. All I need you to do is lace it." In her arms, Mary had a black and golden dress and a pair of black heels.

"But Queen Catherine is higher than you in this court." Kenna said. "We have to obey her - she is the ruler of this realm."

Mary shrugged simply at her and walked behind her screen. "But I am your ruler Kenna. My orders to you are final." Mary slipped her nightgown off and let it fall to the floor. "Kenna can you get this?" Mary tossed the gown in front of the screen.

"Yes your grace. Where would you like me to put it, your grace?"

"On my bed please Kenna." Mary said. She paused slightly, pulling her dress on, "Oh wow, this is heavier than it looked." She muttered, before walking out, clutching it too herself. "Kenna, I hope you can lace quicker than Greer can." Mary teased slightly, "My back is awful cold."

A look of panic crossed Kenna's face and she half ran over too Mary.

Mary rolled her eyes, "I was joking.." Something's startled her this morning... I wonder what. Mary glanced at Kenna through the mirror, and watched her lace the dress up. Within a few minutes it was laced tightly, "Thank you Kenna."

"No problem - I ought to go now. The king should be here any minute, and I don't want to interrupt." She forced a smile and hurried from the room.