So glad that my first chapter to this story was well received. Here is the next chapter for your enjoyment, it is pretty heavy stuff but I hope you enjoy.

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Forbidden Kiss

Francis' urged his horse to run faster as he approached the castle gates, his heart racing as his brother remained limp in his arms. The guards shouted inaudibly in the distance as they approached the gate and signalled for the guards to raise the portcullis. Francis nudged his horse forward into the courtyard, holding his brother tightly in his arms. Bash's head hung limply, blood from his mouth dripping onto his chest.

'HELP' Francis shouted as he pulled his horse to a standstill 'PLEASE SOMEONE.'

A flurry of guards filled the courtyard, their hands grasping at the king's deputy, carefully lowering him to the ground.

'Someone get him to the Physician,' Said Francis 'and inform the Queen that I have returned.'

Very carefully, four guards lifted Bash and carried him swiftly into the castle. Francis followed closely behind, Leith by his side, his heart was practically pounding out of his chest. Carefully the guards laid Bash on a bed in the infirmary. Memories of when Bash returned wounded before came flooding back, his torso covered in blood, his face drained of colour. Mary came running into the room pulling Francis back to reality. He looked at his wife, tears were pouring down her porcelain cheeks.

'Sebastian,' she whispered as she ran to his side falling to her knees, she grabbed his hand in hers and held it to her face. Despite choosing Francis over him, she had never stopped loving him.

They all stood there watching as the physician looked over Bash's wound, his face grew solemn as he looked to his king.

'My lord, the sword has run him through and he has lost a lot of blood. It is unlikely that he shall survive, I can tend to his wounds best I can but I think you should prepare yourselves for the worst.' He finished as he returned his attention to his patient.

Mary looked at him with wide eyes, shaking her head in disbelief she then looked to Bash, his skin was almost as white as the snow that covered the grounds outside.

'I will not accept that diagnosis,' she stated as she continued to look at Bash 'you will do everything you can to save him.' She paused 'Do you understand me?'

He nodded in understanding and went about tending to Sebastian's wounds. Mary stood and turned to face her husband, his tunic was red with Bash's blood, her heart racing as she walked to him. Francis' eyes were filled with tears as he continued to stare at his brother's limp form. Mary took his bloodied hands in hers and his gaze turned to her. They just looked at each other for a while, the gravity of the situation hit them both like a great wave.

The room was quiet except for the soft clicks of the fire that burned in the corner of the room. The silence was soon disturbed however by the sound of Bash's cries of agony, he writhed in pain, tears tracing down his cheeks.

'PLEASE,' he screamed, 'Please make the pain stop.' He pleaded.

Mary broke down, her friend's cries too much for her to bear. She turned to see him looking directly at her, his blue eyes filled with fear. Her heart broke and she once again ran to his side.

'Shhhh Bash, it's okay. I'm here.' She said as she stroked his hair.

'Mary,' he said softly as a small smile crossed his lips 'Mary please stay with me.'

'I shall stay with you Bash, I'm not going anywhere.' She replied as she took his hand in hers again. She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and instantly she felt him relax.

The physician slipped him a sleeping potion and the king's deputy's eyes began to grow heavy.

'Please don't leave me here alone.' He pleaded weakly. Soon his body went limp and his head lolled to the side.

Mary sat there and stared at him for a moment. She took in his pale features; his face was finally free of the pain that etched his features just moments before. She stroked his face, flinching as her fingers ran over the sticky blood that clung to his face.

'Please fetch me a damp cloth.' She asked as she looked at the guard that stood beside her.

He nodded and returned just moments later with a small bowl. Mary took the cloth and began to clean up Bash's face, the blood soon turning the once white fabric pink. After a few minutes, she had cleaned his face up as much as she could. Francis came and sat beside her, placing a comforting hand upon hers, they sat there together at Sebastian's side. For the first time in what felt like an age, Mary could stand to be touched by the man that she had married.

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Hours past, Francis left to change out of his bloodied clothes, Leith and the guards left to return to their posts leaving Mary and Bash alone together.

She held his hand and listened to his weak, raspy breaths. Tears still filled her eyes as she sat there and wondered if she was ever to see him open his eyes again. Memories flooded back to her as remembered how he made her feel when she had first arrived at French Court after so long. He was attentive and kind, whenever she saw him his beautiful smile would appear leaving her feeling warm and safe. In the small time that they were engaged, she had been so happy. She had found herself falling in love with him, her heart aching for the touch of his lips against hers. The day that she chose to wed Francis over him was one of the hardest days of her life.

'Bash?' she paused for a moment as if she were waiting for him to answer 'Bash if you can hear me, you cannot leave me. Not now.' She finished as she sobbed.

He did not stir, his eyes danced around beneath his eyelids. He shook with fever, his lips slightly parted as he slept.

'Bash I need you to know something. The day that I had to choose between you and your brother. I still to this day wonder if I made the right choice.' She paused for a moment as she looked at his still hand that she held in hers 'You made me feel so alive. The love I felt for you was wild and untamed. I did what I thought was right, but I have always wondered what our lives would have been like if I had chosen you.'

'So do I.' replied a quiet voice causing Mary to jump in surprise 'my heart broke the day that you chose Francis.' he continued as his pale blue eyes met her dark brown ones.

They looked at each other for a while, no words were shared, just worried stares.

'I've never stopped loving you, Mary. I don't think I ever shall.' he paused to take a pained breath 'I will always put you first.'

Mary just sat there for a moment in silence, unsure of what to say to him. She held his hand tightly, pulling it to her lips, she placed a tender kiss on his fingers.

'Bash I am so sorry,' she said as she placed his cool hand against her cheek 'I have caused you so much pain.'

'Yes you have,' he replied frankly 'but you have also brought me much joy' he finished as he smiled at her weakly. His body shaking as the fever raged through his body.

He looking at the ceiling, scrunching his face in pain. Mary placed a comforting hand on his chest, her eyes filled with worry. When the pain subsided a little, he took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips.

'If I am to die, I am glad that you are at my side, Mary.' He said as a tear trickled down his cheek.

'Sebastian, you cannot speak like that. You are not going to die.' Replied Mary as she cupped his cheek in her hand.

'Mary, I have seen my wound. There is no coming back from that, I was lucky to make it back to the castle.'

'You are a fighter Bash, you've survived wounds like this before.' She stated as she remembered the first time he returned wounded, trying to help save Scotland.

'My wounds then weren't as grave as they are now.' He replied as he looked at her with his pale blue eyes.

Mary nodded, she smiled at him and then laid her head on his chest. The sound of his beating heart calmed her, taking his hand in hers again she laid there for what felt like an age.

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Day's past and Bash made little signs of improvement. Mary spent every day at his side, leaving only to eat and change. She slept by his bedside, she had grown used to the sound of his heartbeat. She knew that she had to make the most of it, for soon she could lose the sound forever.

Francis stood in the doorway watching as Mary sat by Bash's side. He had been slipping in and out of consciousness for over a day now, the physician saying that it was only a matter of hours now, Bash would almost certainly not survive. A pang of jealousy hit him as he watched them together, the feeling was oh so familiar. He knew it was wrong of him to feel this way, his brother was dying, but he could not help but despise the fact that the only man who's breathing his wife could bear to listen to was his brothers. Mary could not stand to be around anyone but Bash, she would not even see Conde. He had paid several visits to the infirmary in the hope to catch a moment with Mary, only to be sent away.

Mary raised her head from Bash's chest to see him smiling at her. She smiled back, glad to see that he had not left her yet.

'When I wake to you here, it makes me wonder what it would have been like to wake up to you as my wife.' He said softly.

'I have wondered the same,' replied Mary as she sat up slightly 'I think I would have been very happy waking to your smile every morning.' She finished as she placed a loving hand upon his stubbly cheek.

'Mary, you don't have to do this. You have a duty to France, to your King. You shouldn't be sitting with a dying Bastard.' Said Sebastian, his eyes drifting to his still bleeding wound 'I don't have long, I don't want you to see me die.'

Tears began to well up in the Queens' eyes, she looked to his torso, it was bare but for the bloodied bandage. Sweat glittered on his chiselled chest, his body still shaking with Fever that tormented his body.

Francis continued to watch from the doorway. He wanted to walk away, to leave them be but he couldn't, his feet were glued to the spot.

'Bash, I'm not going to leave you. I don't care about my duty or France. At this moment, all I care for is you.' She replied as she leaned in closer to him 'you don't have to hide what you're feeling from me Bash. I know you, I've seen your heart.'

'I am nobody,' he replied, his brother's words echoed in his head as he remembered their fight in the graveyard the day he and Mary were due to be wed. He looked into her eyes, 'I am no one's priority. I am the Bastard son of a King, nothing more.'

'You are so much more than that Sebastian.' Said Mary softly.

For a moment, they just smiled at each other sweetly, his blue eyes locked to her brown ones.

'I love you Mary, more than you shall ever know.' He said as a few tears escaped from his tired eyes.

Mary leaned in and placed a tender kiss on his lips, as she pulled away she smiled at him again.

'I love you too Bash.'

For a moment Bash looked at her, his heart racing from the kiss they just shared. Suddenly he felt a surge of strength return to him and he grabbed her face in his hands and pulled her in again. This kiss was more passionate, she placed her hand behind his head pulling him in closer. There was a fire between them that excited her, it reminded her of how she felt all those months ago.

She pulled away, her eyes wide, lips parted as she caught her breath. She had not felt like that in what felt like an age, had she chosen the wrong brother. Bash looked at her, worry filled his eyes as he waited for her reaction.

'I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that.' He said as he looked down in shame.

Francis stood there, his eyes widened in shock, he had lost Mary to his brother again. Anger filled him and he now felt like he could not stay any longer, he couldn't watch this anymore.

Mary stroked Sebastian's cheek causing him to look at her once more. She smiled at him and then placed one more tender kiss upon his lips.

'Don't be sorry.' She replied and she placed her fingers on her lips and smiled.

Bash suddenly began to shake, his eyes rolled into the back of his head as his hands balled into fists at his side.

'Bash?' said Mary as she grabbed hold of him to try and keep him still 'BASH!'

Francis heard Mary scream and ran into the infirmary as fast as he could. He was greeted by the site of his brother motionless and limp, Mary by his side with tears streaming down her face. He stood there motionless for a moment, unsure of what to do. Just moments ago, he watched his wife and his brother kiss in front of him again. Now his brother's life hung in the balance.

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So there it is the next chapter of this story. Thank you for the awesome feedback I have had so far. I will try and put up another update soon :)