"Can I kiss you?"
Francis' question and subsequent actions played over again in Mary's mind as she awoke the following morning. It had seemed too perfect to be real, like everything that she had been dreaming of since she was sent away to the convent, had come to fruition. Mary sighed at the thought, deciding to concentrate rather on how Francis' lips felt against her own. In the middle of her reverie, Kenna and Lola came into her bedchamber.
"Your Majesty, you are awake," they said in unison, seemingly surprised.
"Yes…that is what one tends to do in the morning. Awake," Mary smiled.
The girls looked at each other warily, before approaching Mary. "It's just that, in your condition, we didn't think that you would be awake so soon."
"I'm sorry. I don't quite follow…"
"Mary, yesterday you were thrown from your horse while riding in the annual Christmas Day ride. You were thrown pretty far. Francis carried you himself to your room. Nostradamus said you hit your head pretty hard, and that you probably wouldn't wake for at least a few days," Lola said, looking at Mary concernedly.
"That's ridiculous. Yesterday, I remember perfectly. I was walking around the castle, trying to avoid the ball because of my nerves, and then I ran into Francis. And then, well, the most wonderful thing happened. Oh I need to tell you both about it," Mary smiled.
Kenna and Lola exchanged glances, sitting down on the bed next to Mary.
"You were dreaming Mary. There was no ball yesterday. The King and Queen canceled it after your accident. I'm sorry," Kenna said, looking at Mary.
Mary frowned, unsure of how to respond. She had dreamed of her encounter with Francis, and had more importantly, dreamed of a point at which they both admitted their feelings to one another. Disappointed was not the right word for what Mary was feeling. Devastated was more like it. Everything that she had been hoping for, waiting for, was still in the future. She was no closer to achieving her goal of an alliance with France, but more personally, of obtaining the love and affection of her dear intended, Francis. Mary smiled wearily, to reassure Lola and Kenna, asking them for some time alone, saying her head was rather sore and she needed a moment. When the door closed behind them, Mary collapsed on her bed, a single tear escaping her eye. After allowing herself a few moments, Mary decided to go for a walk. She excused her ladies-in-waiting, telling them she wouldn't be long. None thought it was a rather good idea, considering just yesterday she had a rather harsh fall, but they couldn't argue with their Queen. As Mary began her trek outside, she came upon Nostradamus, who looked positively puzzled to see her not only awake but walking.
"Mary! What are you doing out of bed? How are you feeling? Perhaps you should lie back down. I have some medicine for the pain, I'm sure you are still in pain. Mary? Mary!" Nostradamus yelled, as Mary kept walking, decidedly ignoring the man. She hadn't liked him from the moment she arrived, there was something foreboding about the man. And he certainly wasn't about to tell her what to do now. When she reached the lake, she sat down, folding her hands in her lap and sighed.
"What are you doing? I am taking you back inside this instant!"
Mary turned her head to look at Francis, who was walking up to her, and she weakly smiled.
"Thank you for your concern, but really, I'm…"
Francis bent down and scooped Mary up in his arms.
"You need rest, no arguing" he said, as Mary protested in vain.
Once he had reached the castle foyer, Mary was asleep in his arms. Grinning, he continued up the stairs to Mary's bedchamber. Francis was greeted by Lola, who was pacing in front of the doorway.
"Your highness, you found her! She has been gone for too long, we were starting to worry," Lola remarked, as Francis smiled politely, walking past her and shutting the door. He laid Mary as gently down as he could, a frown on his face as he pulled the blanket over her. What was she thinking; she could have hurt herself even more. She needs to think of what would happen if something were to go wrong, and she was hurt. What would her mother do? Her country. Her friends. Me…
He could no longer hide his feelings for Mary from himself. When she had fallen from her horse yesterday, Francis' world had been stopped. Everything he thought that was important was no longer, and he realized that the most incredible, wonderful, important thing in his life was her and that he didn't know what he would do if he lost her. But he could never tell her that. At least not now, not while their future marriage seemed less and less likely. For now, he would be content just knowing that she was safe. That she was here under his protection.
Taking one last look at her, he sighed, thinking that perhaps one day, things could be different. Placing a chaste kiss on her forehead he smiled at her sleeping form, leaving the room, and Mary, behind him.