17, November 1558
England
The carriage slowly made its way through the town, to the palace at the end of the road. Normally a visiting monarch was cause for celebration and pompous parades, but not today. Subtlety was the necessity for today's visit because the young Mary, Queen of Scots, was visiting in secret. In honesty, the reason for this meeting was unknown to everyone, including the Scottish Queen. All she knew was that Mary Tudor, the Queen of England, had called her to come to England secretly. The teenage Queen could only assume that this had something to do with the ongoing conflict between Scotland and England. The two nations had been at war since the beginning of time due to England's hunger to control the entirety of the British Isles. This conflict had caused the tremendously unusual childhood Mary had experienced. She had grown up in a nunnery in France, so she would be safe from the English. Even being here in England frightened Mary. Her father-in-law, King Henri II of France, had warned her that this was a trap, but Mary needed to take that chance. If this meeting was really about peace, it was worth the risk.
Mary slowly felt the carriage stop and the door open. She knew now was the time, whatever was in store for her here, it was time she faced it. Rumors of the English Queen had spread across Europe, and Mary had heard just about every rumor. The English Queen had been described as a blood thirsty old hag, who, on top of killing hundred of Protestants, had also killed her own cousin, Jane Grey. The Queen of Scots knew that rumors could not always be trusted, but sometimes, where there is smoke, there is fire. Mary gently took the guard's hand and stepped out the carriage, where a servant was holding an umbrella over her to shield her from the rain. England was just as Mary had heard, dark, gloomy, and raining. This made her wonder what other rumors about this country might be true.
She gently straightened her blue gown, worn to represent Scotland, but also France, where Mary would also one day be Queen. A young woman greeted Mary at the palace door, which was unusual, usually a monarch would greet another monarch. However, Mary was not in the position to debate about protocol, so she merely politely greeted this woman, and followed her inside. Not much was being said as Mary was being led through the halls of the vast palace. All that could be heard were the footsteps of her and the woman leading her. This made the young queen uneasy, this was not typical for a royal court, which made Mary fear that her father-in-law was right and that this was a trap.
Eventually, Mary and her guide stopped in front of a door, to what seemed like a bedchamber. Once again, this confused Mary, because usually meetings like this took place in a great hall, this only furthered Mary's fears. "Please wait here while I tell her majesty you are here," the guide said before slowly opening the door and walking in. Mary could barely hear the conversation inside. "Your majesty, the Queen of Scotland has arrived. Shall I send her in?" Then there was faint mumbling, before the door opened once again, with the guide walking out. "She will see you now."
Mary took a deep breathe before walking in to the room, which was engulfed in darkness. The windows were covered with dark curtains, and from what Mary could tell, the room was completely empty except for a bed in the center. Mary took small steps forward, confused on the situation. Was this her new prison? Was the English Queen placing her under house arrest? Mary snapped out of her fears when she heard a scratchy voice call out, "Child, please come sit, we have much to discuss."
Mary's breathe hitched as she heard the voice then noticed a chair by the bed, which she assumed to be hers. She made her way to the chair and sat down, it was then she understood what was happening. In the bed was a frail old woman, who seemed to be clinging on to life. Mary Tudor was dying. This revelation did not please Mary, for she was still concerned on what was going on. Why did the English Queen invite her here? The Scottish Queen opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out because she had no idea what to say. After a couple of coughs the elder Queen spoke again in her weak voice, "Do you speak?"
Mary cleared her throat and then nodded, "Yes your majesty, forgive me, I am just confused. I was not expecting this at all. I thought this was a peace conference for Scotland, I wasn't expecting to..." show trailed off, not knowing out to finish.
"to see a dying woman?" The English Queen finished for the teenager. "Yes, it is true, I am dying. The doctors have many ideas on what it is, but none of it matters, there is no cure, God is going to take me home soon. Which is why I have called you here."
The Scottish Queen examined the woman, old, alone, and sad. It seemed that the two queens were exact opposites in almost all regards, but the Scottish Queen could not help but wonder, was this her future too? Was this old dying queen once young, surrounded by love, and happy, just as Mary Stuart is? Mary banished those thoughts before responding, "I am afraid I do not understand. What does your death have to do with me?"
The English Queen broke off into a fit of coughing, holding up a cloth to her mouth to catch the blood she was coughing up. She then sighed and looked at the young girl, "Surely you know your ancestry. You are the great-granddaughter of King Henry VII, giving you English blood. My dear, you are the heiress to the English throne, when I die, you will become Queen of England, finally uniting the British Isles once and for all!"
Mary's eyes widened at this thought. Of course she knew this, but she did not think such a claim was possible, after all, Mary Tudor's sister, Elizabeth, was amassing armies for years to stop a Catholic uprising, when Mary Tudor finally died. "Your majesty, I am afraid I do not stand a chance against your sister Elizabeth. She is the rightful heir to the throne as your sister and daughter of King Henry VIII."
"Nonsense!" The dying Queen yelled before breaking into another coughing fit. After catching her breathe, she looked at the teenager, "My sister is a bastard. Daughter of that protestant witch. In the eyes of God, she is not recognized as the rightful Queen, but you are. You are Catholic, from a legitimate Catholic line of royalty. Elizabeth will fight back, but you must fight harder. With the power of France and Scotland by your side you will be unstoppable. I have even written my dear husband Philip, to offer Spain's support to you. God is calling you Mary, you must answer."
Mary took a deep breathe, she had never been given a direct mission from God before, and she had to wonder, was she worthy? Was this worth it at all? If she was going to end up like Mary Tudor if she pursued England, maybe she should not. Mary knew she had to ask her cousin something that has always bothered her, "Your majesty, why do you hate your sister? She is your blood, your family, you must love her."
The old Queen rolled her eyes at the young Queen's naiveté, "Why must you get so personal? I do love my sister, if you must know, just like I loved my cousin Jane before I took her head. However, as rulers we must place the crown above love. God gives us the responsibility to do so. We are not normal people, we are nations embodied as people, therefore we must protect our nations above our loves, and even ourselves. Which is why I am asking you to become the next Queen of England, at the expense of my sister."
The Scottish Queen examined the old Queen before, just the shell of a woman really. Then it was all clear to Mary, the English Queen had not just called her here to ask her to take the throne, that could have been done via a letter, the English Queen called her here because she did not want to be alone on her deathbed. The English Queen had no family to invite, and everyone knew that her husband, King Philip, cared little for his English wife. The Queen of Scots made a silent promise to herself that she would not end up like Mary Tudor. "Yes, I will be the next Queen of England, you have my word."
The old queen nodded and smiled a bit, the first show of positive emotions she had displayed this entire meeting. "Good, good, you will make your country, and God proud, long live Mary Stuart, Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, long may you reign" Then, much to the Scottish Queen's surprise, the dying Queen grabbed her hand, "Promise me one thing, tell my sister, tell her I am sorry, for everything. Tell her that in another life, she and I could have been sisters to one another, please," then the Queen's grip loosened and she leaned back in the bed, "Tell her I love her." Soon the Queen's eyes closed and the rise and fall of her chest stopped. It was official, Mary Tudor had died.
Mary Stuart, now in tears at being beside the Queen in her last moments said to herself, "Long live Mary Tudor, daughter of a king, sister to a king, wife to a king, but most importantly, a king herself." She then stood up and called for the servants and guards to come in, "Mary Tudor is dead!"
The guards and servants rushed in to see their queen laying in bed, now dead. They all turned to Mary Stuart and bowed, "Long live the Queen."
Mary shook her head, "No, this is not about me, we must mourn the death of the Queen. Write Elizabeth and tell her that her sister is dead, but keep her under strict house arrest. Also, write King Philip, and arrange a ship for me back to France." Mary paced the room a bit nervously as soon the servants rushed to follow her orders. As she walked she noticed a vile on the table and she picked it up and examined this. "What is this?'
One of the servants curtsied before replying, "That was her majesty's herbal remedies, gifted to her by her husband King Philip, the Queen took a does of it every day."
Mary nodded as she set the vile down, "Of course, and also, write my English cousins and tell them to meet me at the palace upon my return here. I want all of the possible claimants to the throne within close reach of me. Now, I must return to France."
Finally re-wreote chapter one, I always wanted to do that, will probably continue to re-write old chapter while writing new ones as well! Enjoy!