I do not own Reign

Tell me how you like it so far!

The polished wood and the expensive furnishings welcomed Sophia back like she hadn't left. The cold that seeped from the stone walls reminded her of so many nights she would walk the halls by herself. That was back when and door held the promise of adventure.

Sophia walked down the hall trailed by Myrtle, Francis and the Queen she just met named Mary. She thought she would rather like her once she got to know her. Perhaps she would finally find a royal woman that she could stand to be around. But for now she was intent on telling everyone that she was here.

"Are they in the greeting room Francis?" She called behind her turning a corner and quickening her steps.

"I believe so Sophie." He called to her using the nickname that only he called her. The only other person that Shortened her name was Bash. Only Bash shortened her name to the word 'Soph'. She unconsciously reached for the ring that was always hanging about a long silver chain from her neck. She shook her head and clasped her hand tightly behind her back. 'No not Bash' She corrected herself. He would no longer be Bash to her he would have to be Sebastian. She would not put herself in that position. The weight at the end of the chain tugged at her heart but she ignored it and walked directly through the heavy wooden doors of one of the many throne and throne rooms. It wasn't as different as she remembered it. The tapestries on the walls had changed the faces of the people standing on the side had changed perhaps but mostly it was all the same.

So as she pushed open the doors and was greeted by hushed voices and confused whispers. And as she walked up to The Queen and king she curtsied to them taking her hat off. Catharine and henry both smiled. Catharine with less amusement than Henry but it was there and Sophia was glad she hadn't taken offense to the way she was dressed. She smiled at them both and Curtsied to Catharine with invisible skirts.

"Queen Catharine, such a pleasure to see your face again." She said smiling at the queen who held her arms out to Sophia who stepped toward her and kissed both of the Queen's cheeks and smiled genuinely at her. She turned to the king and Curtsied again. "And King Henry I am uncontrollably happy to see that you are well."

"There has been a lack of trouble since you have left Lady Sophia he said to her." He smiled at her as he did when he expected her to bite back.

"Oh I Doubt that King Henry. I see that the Queen Mary has come to grace you with her presence and has brought many ladies maids with her. I suppose you have started a bit of trouble with one or more of them." She said holding her ground. The king was silent for a moment and Sophia was sure that if someone's button popped off you could hear its descent to the ground. But henry broke out into a grin and stood to embrace Sophia.

"We missed your sharp tongue and brash actions here in France Dear Sophia." He said taking both her hands.

"And I rather missed being around those who appreciate it as much as the lot of you do." She said bowing and retreating back a few steps.

"We shall have a celebration in honor of your arrival." Queen Catharine said to her. "Shall we have the ladies dress in riding pants?" It was always like Catharine to try to trip Sophia up. She took it mostly as a compliment that she would waste her time on Sophia.

"Yes Queen. On all counts the woman shall wear riding breeches and the men shall wear full skirts. Let us see how they fair then." The room erupted in laughter. Sophia saw Francis hold back a laugh while shaking his head. The Queen seemed appeased at the moment and even let out a smile.

"I will now retire to my room Majesty. I look forward to seeing you both soon." She said waiting for the approval to leave. She liked to bend the rules but there were certain ones that she wouldn't. Being dismissed from the presence of a king and queen was one of them. The king waved her on and she turned to head out the doors to leave. Francis, Mary and Myrtle all followed her. When the doors shut Sophia did a few steps from a fast paced dance in Spain.

"Couldn't do that in a skirt." She said chuckling to herself as they all headed to the room where she would be staying. She of course already knew where the room was. It was the room where she had stayed for two years. It was the room where she had stayed when she called this place her home. It was the room that had the best view of the gardens.

"I will have to re-introduce you to my ladies maids. Myrtle your room is by theirs down the hall." Mary said to her "Also Lady Olivia is staying in the opposite wing of the castle. Perhaps you know her."

Mary's tone was friendly but there was an edge to it that Sophia raised her eyebrow at but then she realized what she said. She stopped and turned to Francis.

"Olivia is here?" She asked him and he avoided her gaze. "Olivia from Italy?" She asked again. Her accent got much heavier when she was upset and it was a wonder anyone could understand her. "Why? I got a letter from you not two weeks ago, yet no mention of this" She asked as she heard the horrified tone in her own voice.

"Shed has come across some bad events and we are seeing that she feels safe." He said staring at her. She gave him a look she reserved for people she knew to be lying.

"I'm sure you ar making sure she is very safe. I am sure you are seeing to it personally. Francis…" She started but he held his hand up.

"It is not open to discuss Sophia." He said with finality to his tone. Mary had a worried look on her face. "I do not have to explain myself to the daughter a king and his mistress." Mary sucked in a breath

"Francis" She said quietly looking at Sophia who just started to laugh. She swept a big bow toward him.

"Well then your royal highness, please excuse me for speaking out of turn." She said and turning to Mary. "If I could trouble you to show Lady Myrtle to her room Queen Mary; though I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable. I am going to go for a walk around the grounds." She turned and started walking away from them hoping that they couldn't see how Francis' words had hurt her. She wish they hadn't she wished that that laugh that she gave him could have been genuine. But in truth Francis was one of her good friends and it was true what they said: that the closer people got to you the worse things they said hurt.

"Sophie." Francis called after her but she waved her hand and walked faster. She reached the stairs and hopped on the banister and slid all the way down to the bottom. She slid/fell and tried to regain her footing when she ran into someone. Strong arms reached out to steady her. She let out a small shriek and looked up into a face that scared her more than anything.

"Nastradamus." She said as he smiled at her. She stepped out of his hands and backed away slowly.

"Lady Sophia." He said "It is so nice to see you again."

"I wish that I could say the same but you always frightened me as a child. I am sorry to say that fear has not receded."

"I am sorry to be cause of such feeling." He said and she had no doubt that he was sincere. He always was. He wasn't a horrible person it was simply his role in life that scared her. "Is there something I can say or do to reverse that?" he asked her

"You told me of a vision when I was sixteen years old Sir. You told me an obscure vision you had and when I was fifteen years old. Your vision came true; and when I got news of my mother's illness I left here immediately. But I wasn't quite fast enough, but of course you knew that." She said. She was accusing him though she had brought many curses upon his head in prayers after the death of her mother. But reason had come to her months after that. She had been the one to ask Nastradamos to read her fortune. She was the one who peered into the glass of the future. He didn't create the future he was simply a vessel and could not be blamed.

"I am sorry for your loss Lady Sophia. If you wish it I will speak not of the future in your presence." He said and she smiled at him.

"There is nothing I would like more than that. Thank you Seer Nastradamos." She said as he nodded and she headed out the way she had intended to go. She shivered from the presence of the man and tried to get the vision that he had of her mother out of her head for the thousandth time. She walked down to the kitchen and poked her head in to see if there happened to be any apples about. To her delight there was a basket of unattended crisp red apples on a table. She took one and shined it on her shirt.

The walk to the stables was her second favorite walk here; her first being a walk through the gardens. She took her time walking there looking over the field that she loved so much. When she got to the stable she smiled. Everything here was exactly how she remembered. She walked to a Midnight black horse named Orion. He had been born while Sophia was here and had become her favorite. She was overjoyed to see that the horse hadn't been sold or traded. She knew it was him by the three spots of brown on his chest.

She normally didn't like horses. They were too big but this one and her had a connection and sometimes she preferred him to people. She opened his gate and walked inside. She offered him the apple that she had taken from the kitchen. He ate in in two bites and nuzzled her hand.

"Hey boy, you are probably the person I am the most excited to see today. I ran into the Seer her scares me very much. Also I am not sure about Francis, he seems to have changed since I left, which upsets me. Mary doesn't seem so bad though." She said stroking the horse. "What do you think of her?" He nuzzled her hand again and she laughed. "No more apples today boy maybe I'll come tomorrow." She ran her fingers through his mane one more time before stepping out and locking the gate. She stepped out and saw Sebastian walking toward the stable. She scrambled around the corner of one of the side of the stables and pressed herself against the wood.

"Soph?" His voice called from the door. Her stomach dropped. The way that her name sounded coming from him made her remember everything. "Soph?" He called again and she realized she was being ridiculous. He had obliviously seen her come in here. Her goal was to make sure that he didn't think that she expected anything from him. Because she didn't and she also wanted to feel like she had only thought of him in passing. Or rather she wanted him to think that. But hiding from him looked worse than anything so she came out from behind the wall as casually as she could. She dusted her hands on her pants like she had been doing something and smiled at him leaning against the doorway with his hands folded. Her smile faltered because she had forgotten his face really. His eyes and his dark hair and that horribly charming smile made her breath hitch in her chest.

"Hey Soph." He said smiling that smile. She wanted to embrace him like he did with Francis. Tell him how much that she missed him but they weren't children anymore. She couldn't act like a child.

"Hello Sebastian." She said smiling at her and trying to make it look forced. "I came here to say hello to Orion. Lucky you happened by I can get two things done at once." She walked up and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Lovely to see you again." She said stepping back. The ring pulled at her but she ignored it again.

"That sound a bit rehearsed" he said still smiling

"Never with you." She said "However I am awfully tired and need my rest as I am a lady so I will bid you goodbye." She walked right past him and toward the castle. Her steps were heavy.

"It seems as if you are avoiding my company Lady Sophia." So there it was and they were back to Lady Sophia.

"Not at all Lord Sebastian, It's simply been a long day." She said as she walked away from the second person she considered a close friend that day