It was time to return to court. Someone had poisoned her food, which resulted in the death of one of the nuns, who had tasted her meal. It was time for her to return to her betrothed, the dauphin of France and the Prince of Condé, Louis de Bourbon. Louis wasn't always the dauphin, originally it was a boy named Francis, who was sickly from the time he was born. Not long after his birth afraid that their only male heir would die, the French people revolted against the king, forcing him to give up his crown to the House of Bourbon. Shortly after that the new king of France, Charles de Bourbon arrived at court. Louis became the dauphin only because his older brother, Antoine had already married a queen from Navarre and was happily ruling the small kingdom. She had been betrothed to him since she was only five years old, and had remained at French court until Louis mother felt she would be safer at a convent, surrounded by nuns. She hadn't seen him since she was a child, only ten years old when she was sent away. He had probably forgotten her long ago, after all they've been separated for five years; five long years.
"Mary, its time," one of the older nuns, Greta, told her as she handed Mary a dress and a cloak. "Its time to look like a queen."
"Thank you Greta," Mary said as she took the dress and cloak from the women's old leathery hands.
Mary walked into a room, changing into the beautiful, fine dress and velvety cloak. Looking in the mirror at the new girl standing before her. She hadn't worn such fine clothes since she was ten. She couldn't believe that she had been gone for five years, and the entirety of those five were spent without the company of her best friends, Aylee, Greer, Kenna and Lola. She had been isolated from all things related to royals and French court, it was almost as if she wasn't the queen of Scotland, and soon to be dauphiness of France. But she was, it was her duty to both her country and to her father to lead her people and keep them under control. Suddenly there was a knock on her door.
"Mary are you almost ready?" Greta asked through the wooden door.
Mary opened the door and shakily replied, "yes, I'm dressed, but I don't think I'm ready."
Greta took Mary's hands into her own, "To leave here of marry the future king of France?"
"Both." Mary sighed.
"Mary you are the queen of Scotland, you will marry Louis for your faith, for your people, and he will love you." Greta attempted to reassure Mary.
"I'm not sure that matters." Mary responded warily. What if Louis doesn't love me, what if he just ignores me, finds comfort in the beds of others. That couldn't happen to her, she was a strong woman and she wouldn't let anything or anyone bring her down. Greta began to lead her outside, where there was a carriage waiting to take her back to French court. With a goodbye from every nun Mary stepped into the carriage, waving as the horses began to move forward. She was headed away from the convent and back to the drama of French court.
The ride back to French court was long and bumpy. The entire time Mary sat patiently waiting and contemplating how her life would change. Again the same questions raged in her mind, "will he love me?" was the one that appeared the most. It was nearing midday when she began to notice more villages, "we must be getting close," she thought. The closer they got to the kings home the more her heart began racing, and the more nervous she became.
After a couple more minutes of agonizing waiting, the carriage had reached the castle. As her carriage came to a stop, a horn sounded, surely announcing the arrival of the future dauphiness. As she stepped out she noticed how flooded with bodies the courtyard became. There were men and women everywhere. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed another carriage pulling up in the opposite direction, and when it came to a halt four special ladies poured out.
"Theres Mary!" Came a voice far too familiar. It was Aylee.
"Mary! We missed you so much!" All of the girls said, amongst laughter.
"Oh, Kenna, Greer, Lola, I'm so happy to see you." Mary said, smiling uncontrollably. Pulling them all into a hug. "Aylee, we're all together again."
"Oh, Mary, your hair. Didn't the nuns teach you anything?" Greer says as she picks through Mary's hair, giggling.
"Oh, Greer, those can't all be clothes." Mary replies, looking at the abundance of trunks being lifted off of there carriage.
"There's jewelry and silver, too. I'm making up in volume for what I lack in station, I suppose." Greer replies.
"Here they come!" Says Aylee, excitedly as someone blows into a trumpet, as the royal family started walking out from the castle doors, into a sea of bystanders.
"Your Highness: King Charles de Bourbon!" Shouts an announcer from an unknown location.
"The king!" Says Kenna excitedly.
"That's King Henry, but is that Françoise?" Mary asked curiously.
"No. They're still waiting on her. That's Diane de Portiers, the king's mistress." Kenna replied.
"So the rumors are true?" Greer asked.
"Unlike her, you'll have no trouble finding husbands here." Lola said half jokingly.
"We'll certainly enjoy the hunt." Kenna responded. "What about you? Oh, don't tell me. It's about that boy from Aberdeen." Kenna said to Lola.
"Colin said he'd wait for me." Lola responded matter of factly.
"Till when? We might never be back on Scottish soil, not if it all works out and Mary reigns here." Greer told the hopeful Lola.
"What do you mean, if?" Inquired Aylee.
"Make no mistake, we're here now to get our young queen in the game. Alliances can shift. Before they do, Mary needs to win the prince's heart." Greer said
"Is that Louis? He's gorgeous." Said a breathtaken Kenna.
"No, that's not Louis. I know it isn't." Said a confused Mary.
"Then that must be Sebastian, the king's bastard; Diane's son. I hear the king favors him." Kenna said.
"Her Majesty: Queen Françoise!" Yelled a guard, announcing her presence. It was then that Mary noticed a man walking towards her.
Mary looked at the man, smiling. "I don't believe it."
The man bowed to Mary. "Your Grace."
"No, call me Mary, please." She responded.
"Louis" The man replied, smiling towards her.
"The castle seems bigger. Is that possible? And you, too, of course." Mary nervously replied to the gorgeous prince, as her ladies snickered in the background.
"Is that such a surprise?" Said a humored Louis.
"No. Especially since your legs were always longer than mine. You know, I hated that when we were young. I was always chasing after you, but, now, uh, now it suits you." Mary said, nervous once again. Louis then offers her his arm, and they begin to walk down the aisle of people, showing off the alliance between the two countries.
"What is it? You've had a vision." Queen Françoise asks the court physician and her friend, Nostradamus.
"It's clear now. I saw your son's future - his union with Mary." He responds
"Well, say it." She says eagerly
"She will cost Louis his life."