Chapter 2
As Mary left with Frances and young Charles to meet his fiancé I stayed in the castle and wrote back the Italy in the quite of my room. Once I finished I decide to look at the room for the first time, it was one of the best ones in the castle that is for sure. I look at the beautiful walls and I touched then and for my surprise a secret passageway and I got a candle as I tried to find to where it went. I noticed a door in the other side, probably to another division of the castle, as I tried to open it I noticed it open to my side as I saw no other than Sebastian surprised but that soon turned into his typical grin.
"You're Grace."
"Good morning Sebastian. I was just."
"Exploring." He finishes my sentence and I nod felling my cheeks getting warmer.
"Yes, I found the passageway in my room I figure that I could find to here it go."
"Then come in." He tells me walking a few steps back to let me enter but I try to decide if I should."You came to see, you can come in, I won't bite." He tells me with his typical smirk and I decide to take the risk and enter the room and the first thing I noticed is the bed and I blush a lot. I am in Sebastian's bedroom.
"This is your room."
"Yes." He tells me still with the smirk. So cheeky. I look around trying to avoid his face. I look at the simple but welcoming room and I notice papers in a table as I approach I notice they were draws. I took one as I saw the beautiful small village all in dark tones made with a charcoal.
"It's beautiful." I say not talking my eyes from the draw. It was needed a lot of talent to produce something as this. "Did you draw it?"
"Yes." He says and I notice he's right behind me, so close that I could feel his breaths on my neck and it made me shiver.
"They shades are impressive."
"You draw?" He asks now more kindness without the smirk, truly him.
"I bit. I prefer painting. I am more correct with color than shades." I tell him and I see him moving to a closet where he open the two doors and I could see a lot of papers, no doubt most of them where draws and paintings and I see him talking one and opening it as a smile appear in his attractive features. He came to meet me at the table and open the paper showing me two perfect trees painted by the end of the summer as for the colors of leaves of the threes. "It's incredible Sebastian you have real talent."
"There are beautiful landscapes around the castle it just look around for the perfect capture. There is actually one that looks impressive at the end of the day but I can see to find the colors to paint it, I think it because of the sunlight but the paint would be impressive."
"Can I see this place you talk?"
"Of course I can take you there, it here in the castle closer to the woods."
"Can we meet outside and you talk me to there?"
"We will meet in a couple of minutes then." He tells me with a smile wish I repay.
As promised, Sebastian took me to the place that was breathtaking it was in the back of the castle and you had to go by horse because it was in the top of a hill. There you could see the sunset and a large plain with a lake and some trees surrounding it. It a peaceful and beautiful place.
"At the end of the afternoon the shy is almost orange and the reflection in the plain it beautiful." I could see how beautiful it must be, the place already was.
"Maybe I could try and help you not that I promise anything I am not that good."
"I am most then happy that you even would consider helping and I am sure it will be impressive as well." He says very close to me as I stared at his beautiful eyes as my eyes fell to his lips. He was been so kind to me. I could feel the heat and his eyes on my lips as we came ever closer he was about to close the space when someone caught.
"Sebastian." A man voice calls and the closeness is reduced as I look down at whoever was behind Sebastian who now had turned to speak to making the man seeing me as he stares shocked and bows. "Queen Rebecca."
"What is it?" It was impossible to not miss the discourteous tone is his voice and I realize it was probably because he was about to kiss me and I was going to let him.
"The English came to tell us that they are in the borders close to where Prince Francis and Queen Mary are going."
"The English?" I ask now scared for Mary and myself as they wanted both of us death. I noticed the man looking at us strangely and I see that I am holding Sebastian's arm and I blush. I didn't even notice I was doing it.
"Yes you're grace but they came in peace." That must be a first. "King Henry told me to find you and tell you that you must meet them as soon as possible so that we can prevent a tragedy from happening."
"I am on my way. I will prepare now the horse."
"Prepare two." I tell him and I noticed both man looking at me confused. "I am not going to stay here while Mary is there with the English, I am going with you." I tell him determinate besides I need to get my mind out of what was about to happen between us. I think to myself.
"Rebecca I am a faster rider."
"So am I." I tell him and the double meaning of the sentence was not missed by him and me. I could see also the conflict in his eyes, he wasn't sure if I should go. "Sebastian, I am going with or without you, it would be better with you having in count that I barely know this place."
"Ok let's go them." He tells me and I smile happy that I got what I wanted.
"No wait don't shoot!"
"There is an English warship."
"The English come in peace." Sebastian says as I get out of my horse and I noticed Mary's running in my way and hugs me.
"I was so scared."
"I know lamb, I know." I say calling her by the nickname I gave her once we were kids.
"Why are you here?" She asks realizing I shouldn't be here.
"I came with Sebastian, I was with him when they came to warn him. Don't worry everything will be fine."
I stayed close to Sebastian as Charles was introduced to Madeleine.
"Go on introduce yourself." Francis says to his younger brother who still doesn't move. Poor boy he was probably scare and shy about all of this. I look over at Mary who looks at me with a smile as I nod to her as we walk to the young
"Hello Madeleine I am Rebecca." I introduce myself and Mary does the same.
"I know you had a long journey but you are safe now."
"And you are very welcoming here." I tell her with a smile and I noticed her calming wish was good and we both gave one of our hands to the girl as we walked her to Charles who gives her a piece of grass and I couldn't help but smile at his sweetness, he sure was going to be a kind man. I look up and my eyes meet Sebastian as he smile at each other and I realize my feeling for him were starting to grow and I got scared.
"Something is bordering you, a lot." Sebastian tells me as he appears next to me.
"It's the English." And my feelings for you. "I fear as they stay in the castle, not only for me but for Mary."
"I will not let anything happen." He tells me and I believe everything he said.
"Thank you Sebastian."
"You know people who are close to me call me Bash." He tells me with a smirk and I my mind for a flash goes back to the events of this morning,
"When you start calling me Becca I will call you Bash."
"Sounds fair." He tells me and I smile showing that I also agreed. I look around the party and I see Mary talking with Simon and I noticed she was shaken and I was about to intervene when Francis came to her and push her aside as for people could be a couple moment but I noticed he was trying to calm her and I was glad then I looked back at Simon who had a smile like he just won something.
"I don't like him."
"Who? Simon?"
"Yes, there is something about him that I don't like." I tell him and I look back to Mary as she was walking hand in hand with Francis. "They are faking it, you can feel it."
"You don't believe there are true feelings between your cousin and Francis."
"They are, strong ones, but right now they are acting under pressure."
"Let's just hope you are the only one noticing it." He tells me kissing my hand and away as I walk to trying to find my friends.
"What was that?" Kenna asks with a smirk.
"We were just talking about the English."
"You don't trust them?" Aylee asks.
"Who does?" Greer points it out and I look at the sadness and Lola's face as I took her hand.
"How are you feeling Lola?"
"Sad, it is normal right?" She asks and I know she is referring to my death husband.
"Yes Lola it is." I tell her even if I knew that I didn't felt sad or broken for what happen to Giuseppe even if I should. "You should find something to keep your mind occupied." I tell her as I look over at the girls who take Lola to try to distract her.
"Princess Rebecca." The English accent said and I turned to see Simon. "Or should I call you Queen Rebecca."
"Simon." I try not to spat the name and be polite and he kisses my hand so I fake a smile.
"The rumors are true." He tells looking at my face with an expression who could be confused with desire but that couldn't be.
"Should I ask what these rumors are?"
"About the young Queen of Italy who has an exquisite beauty who happens to be a widow."
"Are you trying to flirt with me?"
"Every man would try my grace. You are still young and as I said before beautiful, ever man would be lucky to marry you because you sure would make the perfect wife."
"Now I believe you are trying to propose."
"Does every woman in your family think that?"
"I don't know what you are speaking about and I am sure I don't even what to hear it. Honestly I don't care, all that I care it the fact that you're tropes happen to be here in the castle."
"No need to fear us, not now."
"You're Queen only had a descendant who happens to be my cousin Elizabeth who is a protestant, who knows what will happen to your country once she is crown, if she will be crown."
"Are you inclining it will be a war. Just like the one who has seen in Italy. How does it feels to have a country in your hands and you can help the one you were born in because not only the distance but also your late husband and his family mistakes." I start to feel anger at this but I turn into a laugh but deep down he was right and sure I hate it.
"Me and Mary can be very alike but also different Simon, I am older and I have been through and saw things that I hope she will never face. You don't scare me, you know why? Because all the words that come out of your mouth are just that, words." I tell him leaving him and walking to Sebastian and Francis who had huge smiles in their faces, I knew they listen to my conversation with Simon so I smile back.
"I hate him." I tell Sebastian who smirks at me.
"I thought you dislike him. What changed?"
"I don't particularly like a man who tries to flirt with me at every change he got." I see Sebastian getting even happier and the smirk bigger, obviously because he is constantly doing it and I still don't hate or even dislike him, not even close. "I also don't enjoy when they treat me after." I say also smirking at him.
"Well I have to say, you handle it pretty well." Francis tells me with a smile that I repay.
"I had time to practice but the English sure know how to make it all fresh."
"You don't like them being here."
"They tried to kill my cousin and I since we were born. No, I don't like them." I noticed then the party is ending and people are leaving and Francis smiles at me bowing.
"Have a good night Rebecca."
"You too Francis." As he leaves I face Sebastian again. "Can't we even enjoy a party?" I ask and he smiles then I remember the last party… then wedding… and what happened next.
"The next one maybe." He says and I blush at my memories as I looked at the man in front of me. "Goodnight Becca."
"Goodnight Bash." I say with a kind smile.
I knocked Mary's chambers and as she opens I see her was ready to go to sleep.
"Can I come in?"
"Of course." She tells me with a smile entering the room as I did it so myself.
"You should be more careful; your guards let me come in without restrain." "
They know you are my cousin, you mean no danger to me."
"You never know." I tell her smiling and then my face turns seriously. "I meant it, I may mean no danger to you but other people do. No one should easily come into your room Mary, it is not safe." I tell her as she sits in the longue. "I came to talk to about them actually, the English or however is troubling for you. You can always count and tell me. With them where I know it's hard to know how to trust."
"I can always trust you." She tells me with a smile kindly.
"That was my point actually." I tell her with a smile sitting next to her. "I want you to look at me like you always did. I know we both change our positions but I don't want you to think of me as Queen of Italy or the 2nd heir of Scotland. I want you to always look at me like the girl who you used to play with, or read, the girl who you'd come at night when you had a nightmare or when you were scared of thunder. Like I am Becca." She lays with her head on my legs and I play with her hair.
"There is so much going on. So much to cared, to protect, I don't have the strength for all of this."
"We have time. You have people who love and care for you. I will keep you protected. I will always protect you."
"Just like the song you used to sing to me." She tells me closing her eyes and I smile starting to sing.
Come stop your crying
It'll be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
You'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
"You voice always calms me." She tells moving a little bit.
Next day I woke up and Mary's chambers as we both felt asleep last night after all the talking and all the things that have been happening to Mary as we raise our suspicions. When we thought things couldn't become bigger, it was told us that Collin was alive and me and Mary made the King promise to try to make him return alive, as we both needed it, to prove our suspicions. Poor Lola, she had even more torn as she thought her lover as death only to find out he was running around with every one after him. Even with all happening the King still organized a picnic for Charles and Madeleine which we would be attending but Mary as still very nervous.
"With all going one, we have this picnic, here I need to show the alliance is strong which isn't, as Lola is faced with more troubling news and all our proofs are in a boy who everyone is after. It is too much for just one day." She rambles and I put my hands on her shoulder making her stop moving around and actually breathe.
"You make sure the English leave believing in the alliance between Scotland and France I will take care of Collin. Now let's get ready."
"I am not sure who you fear the English or the French Court?"
"The English have treat me and Mary for years but Collin is the only one who knows who at French Court wants Mary gone. I promise my cousin I would do all I could to make sure he would return alive."
"And you think the word of an accused traitor will matter?"
"If the right people believe and I think they might then yes."
"Alright, I'll go."
"Sebastian, I truly appreciate it but I did not talk to you because I want you to go, I talked to you because I trust you." I tell him and I could see a smile on his handsome face.
"I am glad you do, because you can, but I will go free willing. The best way out of the dungeon is the south keep. Guards will have a head start, but they're not hunters, and they fear the woods."
"Why?"
"There is much to fear. Dark and dangerous times, your Grace. But your presence brings light." He tells me kissing my hand and I smile as my cheeks turn light pink. Every time that passed after our almost kiss was full with worry and treats, that I haven't even looked at the place at sunset so I could paint it but he still made sure to make a comment like this one to make me go red with embarrassment or look very shy. How cheeky.
"Bash." I call him once he turns to leave.
"Yes Becca." He tells me and I smile more because there was something in the way he said my name that made me smile but then I turn seriously.
"Please be careful."
"I will." He tells me smiling as he walks away.
"You and my brother seem very close with each other." Francis tells me as we both look for Mary who was been gone for a while.
"He is a good friend who has been showing me around." I tell him a smiling because I know he meant nothing bad with this question.
"My brother knows a lot, I am sure he is good to make you company and I apologize if I am not being the greatest host."
"Make Mary happy, don't break her heart, or anything like that and I can assure you that you will be in my good people list."
"There is one?" He asks smiling.
"Yes, restrict to a very small group of people." I tell him playfully and he smiles and I hear a little laugh escape.
"I will be honored to be in that list."
"I am sure you will. But I meant it, no bad things to Mary and you have me as your friend."
"And possible allied?" He asks playfully but also truly.
"L'amicizia e di alleanza per me sono sempre insieme." (Italian to: Friendship and alliance for me always come along)
"Italiano. Regina Rebecca sarò felice di essere il vostro loro amico." (Queen Rebecca, I will be happy to be your friend them)
As we both smile we hear someone scream.
"Mary." We both say at the same time running to meet her.
"She was dying. Where-where could she have gone?" Mary tells Francis and I confused by the girl missing.
"They took the evidence." I tell them as I try to keep Mary calm wish wasn't working.
"Whoever did this fail in their attempt on you. Go! Now! An assassin with a dying girl could not have gone far." Francis says and I remember the conversation we had, he sure was on my friends list. "
Go! - Go!" I say to the man as he leaves leaving just Mary, Francis and I.
"She was right there." Mary says confused and frighten
"How could anyone have escaped with her?" I ask out loud but also to myself.
"The passageway."Mary tells us both walking to the wall. "I don't know how far it goes Or where, but could they have gone through here?" It was just like mine who went to Sebastian's room, something I shouldn't be thinking right now.
"Shh. No. No, they'd echo. We'd hear them." Francis tells us. "These passages are all stone, nothing in them, but I didn't know one connected to this room."
"You know about them?" I ask curious.
"This castle's been built over centuries. The passageways- they connect the older parts to the new. They're mostly sealed up now, dead-ends. I'll have the guards check them anyway."
"By the way where were your guards when you came in?" I ask Mary getting also Francis attention to this.
"Well, they-they they weren't here. I I saw the servant, and I thought I thought it was safe." She says and I hold her.
"It's ok Mary. You don't need to worry about them."
"They'll be dealt with." Francis assures both of us.
"In the meantime, that English envoy needs to be detained and questioned." I say referring to Simon who I am sure had something to do with this.
"I will do that." Francis says leaving and I turn to Mary.
"Mary everything will be fine. Francis will take care of Simon and whoever was evolved in this and Sebastian went to try finding Collin."
"Sebastian?"
"Yes I talked to him don't worry about it, rest now I have some letter from Italy to read if you need anything you know where to find me."
Mary P.O.V.
"The English Envoy has been questioned. He had an alibi for everything." Francis whispers to me as he approaches me as my friends stay back.
"I'm not surprised." "I hope you know I take your position seriously and I want to help. As best I can. But I needed to talk to your Cousin Rebecca."
"She was in her room." I say as I see her coming in still in her previews dress as were all in as I sign for her to meet us.
"Do you know anything?" She asks both of us worry. She is always worry and it came to me a appreciate it because it means she cares as I do for her.
"No actually I wanted to you. I saw you talking to my brother."
"Yes we were talking about what was happening and he told me he was going to try to find Collin, is everything ok? I hope you aren't angry, he volunteer, I told him to be careful, god I hope nothing as happen." Rebecca says rambling wish is something I think I never saw so I smile as I look the girls who were also smiling; there was more then friendship going on between her and Sebastian and I was not the only one noticing.
"Becca." I tell her and she realizes she is rambling and blushes which is also something I can't remember ever seeing on her and that has been happening, a lot, since she meet Bash. I look over at Francis and I know he knows what we all are thinking, expect my cousin who is still lost in her thoughts.
"I am sure he is fine Becca and Mary needs more than a show of our support, but it's near dark if he has gone after Colin he should be back by now." Becca is now scared and I wanted to hug her as she normally goes when it comes to me but it is not the time. "You must have given him some lead."
"He was following a trail from the South keep. That's all I know he didn't said more. God I told him to be careful."
"I am sure my brother is fine, he knows the trials better and anyone in the castle."
"I hope so." I hear her whisper and I smile at Frances who smiles back.
"Thank you Becca."
"Just make sure he's ok Francis." She tells him and he nods but before he leaves I caught his hand making him turn and I offer him a smile.
"Thank you." I tell him so that he knew I took very seriously what he was going.
"I know you don't want to talk about it, but that language that you spoke." Francis tells Sebastian as they walk out of the stables.
"I told you it's nothing; it's just an old dialect."
"It's pagan or druid. Call it what you want, but it's heresy. It sounded very much like a prayer that you knew well. What were you saying? I remember some of the words. Would you rather that I went to a scholar, to Nostradamus?"
" 'Deep the roots, dark the night, red the blood I will pay' It's nonsense, but the Vagrants in the woods believe it."
"Vagrants, is that what those were? And, Colin? Was his death part of this blood oath?"
"I found him hanging. They used him as a sacrifice. Now you know why the woods aren't safe."
"You went into them for Mary."
"She's your fiance. I felt duty-bound to help her."
"Bash, we're brothers. We could always trust each other regardless of our station. I know for a fact that Mary wasn't the may reason why you went there so let that be the last lie you tell me." Francis says leaving his brother.
I found Sebastian with some of his friends the next morning and they friends looked over at me making him turn and he said something to them and walk to me.
"Thank you for what you did yesterday." I tell him as we both walk. "
It was nothing besides I found Collin death."
"But you tried for Mary, and that meant a lot to me, I am thankfully for that, so is Mary. So thank you Sebastian." I tell him as I incline to kiss his cheek, very close to his lips and I never wanted to kiss someone so much in my entire life.
Thank you all so much for the reviews, for these firsts' chapters the story will be very similar to the one on the TV show but there will be changes obviously. Still not sure if I will had Mary and Bash ( I am a huge fan of them) but I don't want the all brothers and cousins love square happen, I believe, but your opinions will matter a lot. For Rebecca's clothes they are as usual in my polyvore account.