Here's another Reign story. I know I have not finished all of my stories, but I have so many ideas for Reign since I started watching it and I wanted to get deep into 'The Family They Deserved' before I started writing another Reign Fanfic. Enjoy3
Mary's POV
He has returned, Francis has returned to the palace with his child and my best friend. I do not know if I can even call her that anymore, she has betrayed me in the worst way. Flaunting her fertility in front of my face. Proving I am the reason we do not have a child running the corridors. I had sent Nostradamus to examine them for signs of the plague before they were let back into the palace.
I return to my chamber, I did not expect him to return to 'our' chamber tonight. I write a letter to Catherine, telling her of their arrival and to meet me tomorrow morning to talk. We have grown closer by having to rule France under its recent conditions. I would like to say she is a mother figure to me now.
I go to bed with a heavy heart, not knowing how to respond to what my life will be. I decided that I would give Francis a son to be the heir to the French throne if God permitted it, and another child, daughter or son, to rule over Scotland. Then I would take my child whom would rule over Scotland back to my homeland and raise them there. I know it would be hard to leave my first child behind, but I can not think about my decisions that are guided by my heart.
I walk into Catherine's chambers in the early morn. She gets out of her chair when she sees me walk in. She walked up to me with quick hast and caresses my cheek in a motherly way and guides me to her couch.
"Mary, I am sorry you must endure this pain for the years to come. I never thought my Francis would become his father, especially having a bastard child. I have been in your position, more so being she had a son, I am sorry my dear. I am here for you."
"Thank you Catherine, I need to know I have a friend, or more like a mother, in my life. My ladies in waiting have their own lives and one of them is causing the darkening of my heart and soul. I never wanted to be someone Francis hates, but I feel as though he leaves me with no choice. I just wish I could give him two children, one of each country, then return home."
"And when you go darling, take me with you if I am still alive. I believe it shall help me to get out of this court before I die."
"You are always welcome in Scotland. Well, in court more specifically."
"Thank you darling, now I have a feeling Francis will be preoccupied for a bit so let us begin with worrying about France. The plague has come as you know, but our plans of spreading food throughout the land is working nicely. The villages in the surrounding areas of the palace have less famine and the bit of extra food we had left over is being spread to the neighboring villages. Paris is okay more among the wealthier we are trying spread the food to the poor, but we must be careful and not stretch ourselves thin."
"Let us try more until we contact more allies. I did give the Spanish some Scottish timber in trade for wheats, it should be here soon….hopefully." I finish with a small smile, trying to distract myself from my personal horrors with the wellbeing of the country that I have lived in for so long.
We continued to try to figure out the solutions to the problems that plagued France without the advisors help as much as we could. Many have left the castle for the time being to be in their own estates with their families, but some have stayed so court was still crawling with snakes. Especially with the recent events my power will be questioned by people in court.
After we believed we have analyzed the situation well and come up with good solutions for France and her people, we gave some of our proposals to the pager to give to the head of our advisors. We sat and ate a midday meal in my chambers, trying to protect ourselves from the frosty bite of the weather.
"Mary, I dare to ask but I do see myself as a mother figure to you and I was in your position for the beginning years of my relationship. How are you doing? With everything that has happened."
"To be honest Catherine, I do not know how I feel exactly. I feel waves of guilt for the time the conception….h-happened. I also feel betrayed, because I never slept with Bash and she has given him a son she was s-s-supposed to be one of my best friends, I feel ashamed, angry, sad; I have so many emotions and I can not find one which is good. I have not talked to any of them and do not plan to: I will not approach them, they will have to approach me."
"I am truly sorry Mary, hear me out. Do not do what I did: do not distance yourself too much so it breaks your marriage completely. I know yo need time away to heal, do so but do not break off entirely."
"I feel like such a b-b-burden. The one thing two countries are depending on me to do the most I can not even do. Almost a year of marriage and I can not produce a heir. The time I was with child I lost it. How am I not a burden." I fall into my tears that had been threatening to escape my eyes.
"You are not, this feeling is what motivated me and my fears which caused me to give up on my marriage. Francis still loves you and I am guessing you love him."
"Yes I do, very much so. But now he has a family, I could live with the fact he had been with Lola but now by bringing her and their child back to court, the child will be nothing than a reminder to me of what I can not give him."
"Does Francis even know about the miscarriage my dear."
"No, I never told him. Bash does not know either, he still believes I was recovering from poisoned bathwater. I can not help but think tis because of that I do not have a child with me right now."
"We can not change the past Mary, we can only act during the present and what will happen in the unknown future."
By this time Catherine is sitting next to me with one hand on my shoulder and another on my hand in my lap comforting me. I look up at her with blurry vision and give her as much of a smile I can create. She has always been here for me, after the prophecy was disproven. She returns my smile and we hear a knock at my door. My pager walks in,
"Your Majesty, the Dalphine would like to come in." he says.
"Thank you pager, Mary would you like him to come in? Would you like me to stay?"
"Yes please," I reply in a whisper, "I do not think I can do this on my own."
Catherine nods to pager to get Francis and escort him in. When the door reopens Francis walks in with a sad guilty look in his eyes, but I can see the happiness he is trying to mask. Catherine's face grows stone cold, but I see her trying to put a loving and warm mask on to her child.
"Francis, tis good to see you have not been infected." Catherine says to break the silence, she walks up to him and gives him a quick hug. I keep my eyes down, not having the strength to look back at his gorgeous blue eyes I have fallen in love with. I know I do not have the strength to stand up to him at the moment.
"You too mother, tis been a while since I have seen you."
"Yes son it has." She replies with a little venom in her voice. She is standing in-between us, hopefully to block my red and watery eyes. She steps to the side of her and looks at me. I continue to keep my eyes down, looking everywhere but him.
"Mother may you please. I would like to talk to my wife alone."
"I may not leave Francis; Mary had requested I stay with her so I shall do so. I will let you have your conversation thought."
"Mary, tell her to leave. Do you really want my mother here, seeing our intimate conversations."
"Yes," I reply in bearing a whisper, "she shall stay here."
He is taken back by my want to have his mother here, knowing this conversation might lead us to the depths of our relationship. He regains himself and the surprise is off of his face.
"If this is what you want, then okay." He takes a step closer to me. "You have been crying, why?"
"You should not ask questions you know the answer to Francis."
"Mary I do not know what you are talking about," he says with ignorance in his voice, "I wanted to come to you ad ask why you were not there when I returned. I thought I would see you there to greet me or at least after I was seen to not have signs of the plague."
"I am happy you were not stricken with the plague, but you know why I was not present at the time of your arrival. Tis very clear reason."
"What is that reason Mary? Tell me." My anger grows and I snap my to look at him.
"You can not be this stupid Francis. Why would I greet you and MY lady in waiting with YOUR and HER CHILD?! Are you really that blind?! I want you to leave, I will not have anymore of this conversation during this time. Catherine, may you see your son out?"
"Of course Mary."
Catherine guides, more like forces, a shunned and guilty looking Francis out of my room. With my tears running down my cheek I walk to my desk and write up a document stating Lola is relieved on her duties as one of my ladies in waiting.
I give the excuse she can not tend to her duties as on of my ladies while taking care of her child. I make it sound logical and without any of my emotions within the text. I call the pager and have him deliver it to the King. I tell him to come tomorrow for the one which he will give to Lola, I decide to allow her some bliss with her new family. Her not being able to attend to me today and as I predict tomorrow morning will give the perfect support to my the pager leaves Catherine returns.
"Why was the pager here?"
"He is giving King Henry a letter stating that Lola will be relieved of her duties as one of my ladies in waiting. He knows she will receive a letter relieving her of her duties tomorrow."
"What is you reasoning?"
"In the document it says with her having a child she can not meet the expectations of one of my ladies right now."
"And what is your true reasoning?"
"The only way she can truly stay in the palace, excluding the houses surrounding the palace on the grounds, Francis must either request for her to stay to Henry or he must take her as a mistress. Tis means he must acknowledge his child in some public way. If she stays in one of the small houses on the grounds, but still far away from Court life, his family and child will not be flaunted in my face."
"You know what you are setting yourself up for?"
"Yes I know I am most likely setting myself up for heartbreak, but it will show where Francis' real heart lies and how much like Henry he is."
"I hope you can prepare yourself for what might come."
"I will, I am a Queen. You have taught me what tis like to be a good queen for her country, so I will stay strong for my country. As you had said before, Francis will probably be preoccupied so I must be strong for France."
What'd you think? How was it? Trying more of a Angst kind of story.
-Mo