"I'm walking away from France"

And Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots strode off with her black shadows trailing behind the marble floor of the Throne Room. Francis frantically follow suit for his own defense, for his own purpose of making Mary his wife, the person he truly loves.

"I don't understand. I thought you'd loved me"

"I told you I was afraid, I told you I'm not ready to make England mine. Marrying you would be a great mistake for my people, for Scotland."

"What does that got to do with me? Those weren't my terms, those were my father's. Haven't you heard me last night? I love you. Truly."

"I can't trust that. Your loyalty is to France. Love is only a matter for the people of the common. Love is not relevant to people like us. You said so, a privilege we do not share. I remembered it all, and I'll keep it in my heart forever. I love you but I don't think that's a wise sentiment. Forgive me Francis. But I couldn't wait any longer. I'm not going to marry you."

….

With Nostradamus's prediction, a prophecy that was both a gift and a curse, with Queen Catherine de' Medici strong belief in the God's sign, how could Mary oversee it? She wouldn't, couldn't afford to let the man that she loved most of her life to be dead, upon her own mercy, to be the cause of death of her beloved. She would die inside, for the rest of her life but her love for Francis will become the source of her life. She need to be strong, for him to be alive. Even it definitely would ruin France.

"I will marry the next king of France, but not Francis. Make Bash legitimate son of yours, and I will agreed to your terms, Henry."

Bash knew Mary was different, different from the obvious because that's what makes him fall for her in the first place. She's strongheaded, wild and free spirit as the wind. But she wouldn't dare to suggest such things! She would not dare to be against King Henry, the King of France and Queen Catherine, none the less!

"Forgive me father, but that was not what she meant!"

"No, your highness! You did hear me correctly. Make Bash the next King of France, and I'll marry him. Then I promise you, I will bow down to your request of succeeding the throne of England."

Henry was in deep thought for the longest minute, while Catherine on the side, badgering like a black hawk, pestering him not to accept such kind of offer! This would definitely removed her from the court, ending her life and changing the line of succession of France. Robbing her for what she'd built all her life. She most certainly won't do allow any of that to happen!

"Very well, you will have what you wish. I'll go to Rome to get Bash legitimize. But after that, you will have no more excuse Mary, Queen of Scots! Prepare my carriage tonight! I will not lose any minute pass before I have my hands on England!"

….

Winter follows, but also the chill and grim of what come together with it. Soon, with Catherine lock on the Tower of France, Henry at Rome, Francis fled the castle with a broken heart, that Mary left all alone to mend the ways with Bash, who never really want the throne after all. Her ladies were never a disappointment, but with Aylee gone, and Lola is over at Paris, it never feels the same again. Like some of the pieces is incomplete. Mary doesn't feel at peace, she needs some quiet, some solace to clear her head. She needs to go riding. She needs some normalcy for once. She used to ride all the time at the nunnery. Horses are her favorite animals, they listen most carefully and they are gentle in ways not many are dare too.

She went with her black stallion, Stallion, her friend, her companion of so many years. She remembered the day she asked for him, it's because Francis always spend hours riding through the woods, that she would want for herself, so that she could go with him, whenever she want. But when he arrive, she was sent send to the nunnery for her safety, along with him. Stallion somehow reminds her of him, of Francis, the boy who keeps her company all day long. The boy who somehow manages to stole her heart since the beginning. She love Francis, she does. Spending all those years apart, with a future that they will be married, which girls doesn't have a dream of marrying a prince? All of them has. He was gentle, truthful, and a gentleman, all the character of a man, everything she hopes for. But now, with a learned prophecies, not only she need to not marry him, she would care to take the throne away from him. If it the last thing she do. She will protect Francis from his bloody fate.

As she rode along the vast green land the court, she notices, the river were wider, the trees are much bigger, the sky are bluer than ever. As though the Mother Nature herself tries to cheer her up. She need that. She need to be strong. When the cool breeze of the winter blew across her face, she shudders, the clear air does wakes her up, make her realize the truth. The reality. She would never be with Francis. She need to live with that.

"Mary!"

Frighten by the sudden appearance, her horse neigh, halting from the speedy ride, knocking Mary backwards of to the ground.

"Oh my God! Bash!"

She swore she would hurt herself, but no, a pair of hands caught her falling in mid-air.

Bash makes sure he would protect her, the love of his life.

TBC