Mary and Bash galloped away from the palace as fast as they could without looking back, for all she could hear was Francis screaming her name as they rode off. After an hour or so they start to slow down. With Bash riding next to her, Mary starts to feel safe, however her mind could not escape the memories of Francis. Bash interrupted her thoughts, "So why do you feel the need to flee just as the marriage is being finalized."
"Do you remember the prophecies by Nostradamus that I asked about?" Mary replied.
"Yes, it seemed strange, why?" He replied inquisitively.
"Well after that conversation, I started to believe in them, but he predicted Aylee's death." She took a deep breath before continuing, "Nostradamus predicted that soon after Francis and I were married he would die. I didn't want to believe it but how could I not after he predicted Aylee's demise. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if Francis died because of me…" Close to tears Mary stopped, bringing the horse to a halt in the process. Bash carried on a little further before turning around to face her, "Mary, it's all right we are leaving. No harm will come to my brother, but we must keep moving or the guards will catch up and drag us back."
Mary looked at him in a confused manner before replying, "Guards?"
"Well of course, Francis will have the whole army out looking for you, but we will be quicker." He said with a half-smile before turning and walking a little further before Mary carries on the journey by his side.
Late afternoon arrived, Bash pulled the horse aside to a lake. The horses lapped at the cool blue water, where the two weary travelers rested on the grasses. Having left hours previously, both Bash and Mary were exhausted. After ten minutes of silence, Mary asked "Bash, why are you accompanying me"
"Well come have to keep you out of trouble"
Sensing that he didn't want to express his true reasons she chuckled and replied, "You're cheeky."
Both looked away for moment while a memory arose of the last time he was called cheeky by Mary. It was one of the first times that Mary noticed how handsome Sebastian really was. She felt as if she was a normal girl not the Queen of Scotland. She could be more herself around him than with anyone else in the castle, just as she felt when they were children.
Before they could continue, there was a sound causing then both to turn and look.
"Mary stay down, l will assemble the horses and signal you over." Bash whispered. She nodded in return too scared that any noise she made would alert the trespasser.
A few moments later they were galloping away on their horses trying to escape the guards. Any residual exhaustion departed with the fear of capture. Soon after they arrived at a cliff edge with the guards closing in.
"This way Mary!" He said gestured to the dark water. Mary looked at him to check he wasn't joking around. "Mary, trust me" he replied. A sudden thought came to Mary's mind. "I do trust you." Bash held out his hand, which she took and they leaped into the black water below.
The water was beyond freezing and as they swam to shore the longer they swam, the colder the water seemed to become. Close to the shore edge there were logs that has washed up. They both climbed up and began to walk on. By this time is was early evening and it was starting to get dark.
"We must find shelter soon" Bash said interrupting her thoughts.
"Sorry what did you say?"
"We must find some shelter or we will both freeze."
They moved on hoping to find somewhere they could stay. As it got darker, their hope for a place to stay began to dwindle. Just as both the weary travelers were about to give up hope, they saw a light from a building in the distance that grew closer. A small wooden sign outside the place stated 'Dark Horse Inn. Vacancies Available.' Bash turned to Mary and grinned.
"Looks like something is on our side. You must keep your hood up though. We don't know if they are friendly or not, so stay behind me." Mary nodded and allowed him to lead her inside.
The atmosphere of the inn seemed warm, lively, and welcoming, where everyone was enjoying the company of others, until the door opened. Bash took Mary's hand and led her into the establishment. Everyone in the place went silent as they turned and stared at the strangers entering. Being the Queen of Scotland meant she was used to being gawked at but this attention was different. It was an inquisitive and somewhat protective as if to say 'What are you doing here? This is our place.' Bash led her to the bar and asked, "We'd like a room please."
"Room 4 is available by before you go I must ask, what are you doing out here at this time of night?"
Bash looked towards Mary before finding his words, "We were attacked by bandits on the road on the way to my mothers house, so we needed a place for the night."
The barmaid looked at both the travelers unsure of what to respond, "Hm okay, Goodnight"
Bash started to leave but turned around said "goodnight" flashed a smile and left pulling Mary along with him.
The room was small, damp, and dark but had a rather large fireplace with a bed in the middle of the room. Bash started up the fire, hoping to bring some warmth back into their chilly bodies.
"Do you think they believed our story?" Mary asked as she move towards the fire.
"I'm not sure but they gave us a room so it can't have been too bad a story." Bash responded.
"No honest person would be on the roads that late at night" Mary replied.
"Well this may not be the most honest establishment." He said.
He turned towards Mary, "Now get undressed."
Mary blushed "What?"
"You'll want dry clothes. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Bash responds casually.
Unsure of how to answer, Mary replies "Alright turn around." Bash looks at her for a moment, "For the entire night?" Mary scowls at him and he turns around. They both start to undress and Bash catches himself accidentally turning towards her majesty. He couldn't help but think how beautiful Mary looked and how crazy he was to feel as he did for the Queen of Scotland. After gawking for a moment, he turned back around as to not embarrass himself or Mary. Once they had undressed, Mary wrapped herself in the blanket that was placed on the bed. She turned to face Bash, "how are we going to sleep tonight?"
"Well I shall take this patch on the floor by the fire and you can have the bed" Bash replied confidently.
Mary looked at the patch in which he intended to sleep upon and then looked back towards the bed.
"No, you shall not! The floor is filthy, you will not sleep there. There is plenty of space on the bed for both of us."
Bash looked at her astonished.
"So, you wouldn't get undressed in front of me but you will share a bed?"
Mary blushed "Well it will be a long day and we both need to be well rested, if you don't want to then don't." She walked toward the bed and sat on the right side. Bash looked at her a minute and then sat on the left side of the bed. They both lay on their designated sides.
"Bash, you never did say why you were leaving…" Mary said after a moment of silence.
"It's a long story" He whispered as if hiding the truth.
"Well we have all night" Mary replied.
Bash paused for a minute before laying on his side to face her. Mary followed his lead and laid on her side facing Bash.
"My mother has been trying to get me legitimized behind all our backs. Kenna found out and told Catherine. The queen has now blackmailed my mother to leave, so I left as well" Bash explained.
Shocked Mary replied, "You never wanted to rule France, this is never what you wanted."
"You try to convince anyone of that, I'm sure Francis already does. Let's just put this behind us for now and get some sleep." He responded.
"Good night Sebastian" Mary spoke quietly
"Night Mary" he replied
The next morning, Bash awoke with the sun to find that he was unable to move, he found that upon his chest Mary's head lay with her arm around his waist. Not wanting to awake her, he settled back down just looking at the beautiful woman upon him. It reminded him of when she returned to French Court. She had just stepped out of the carriage and he'd walked down with the King and his mother. Although Mary had just arrived from the convent, she looked down to earth and stunningly beautiful.
Mary started to stir which brought Bash out of his thoughts. To reduce any negative feelings Mary may have felt from awakening on Bash, he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. A few moments passed and Mary awoke. She paused a moment looking at the peacefully sleeping Bash. A piece of hair had fallen across his face, which she carefully moved behind his ear. She stayed like this until she felt him move, as he awakened, Mary stretched, picked up her now dried clothes and dressed. As Bash sat up, he found Mary fully dressed sitting on the end of the bed.
"Good morning Bash" she said chirpily.
"Good morning, did you sleep well?"
"Best sleep in a few days thank you, and you? How did you sleep?" She asked.
Bash chuckled before replying, "Rather well. Let me get dressed and then we shall find some food and be on our way."
He dressed quickly and led Mary down the stairs to the main bar area. They sat at one of the many tables, to which a young barmaid strolled over with a jug of water and a bowl of oats for each guest.
After eating in a comfortable silence, Bash stood up and told Mary to stay there while he asked the staff if they had any horses they could have. Mary gave him a few gold coins that he could use as bribery. Once at the bar, Bash asked if they had any spare horses he could buy. The lady stated that they only had two and they were needed. Bash showed the young lady the gold coins and bartered to acquire of the two horses before heading back towards Mary.
He took Mary by the hand and led her outside, "they have allowed us to take their white horse Snow for the journey, she's through these doors."
He opened the door to find a black horse and a white horse, Mary walked up to Snow and groomed her, while Bash tacked the horse. Once the horse was prepared, he climbed on before holding out a hand to help Mary up behind him. She held onto his waist as she had during the night. In the comfort of each other, they set off to find the nearest port back to Scotland.