She was all he could think of.
For days and days, she was the one thing on his mind; through the whirlwind of Francis leaving court, while talks of legitmizing him to become the true heir ran rampant, he still yet could only think of her. How she must be suffering and he could do nothing to comfort her, his father had scarcely let him sleep let alone allow him to dally with the Scottish queen. And so he remained the respectful son he truly was, standing beside his father at every meeting with the Council, the church, with anyone who might be involved with the matters at hand. Though Henry had more than enough young sons born of his wife the queen, it was he that he had selected to take Francis' place. Though he suspected Queen Catherine was beyond livid, the woman had yet to lash out, and that was truly a whole lot more frightening.
"Sebastian?"
The voice brought him back and he focused his eyes upon the King, murmuring his apologies. "Truthfully, we've been at this for hours now, have we not? Go, my son, you are dismissed." He waved his hand, gesturing for the young man to leave the room, and so Sebastian went before his father changed his mind. It was strange when the chamberlain bowed at him as he went past, his new found title of dauphin and the respect it earned him still yet unfamiliar. He took a left and headed his way towards his own chambers, deciding he might sneak away for even an hour, before surely something else called him to his father's side.
But, as he passed through the main hall, he came upon Mary and her ladies, all of whom took an appropriate few steps back, giving the two the space to speak. "Come along," Mary said to her ladies before casually slipping her arm through Sebastian's, her face every inch of the queen she had been born to be. Though shamed by Francis' sudden departure from court, she still yet held her head high, dark eyes daring anyone to speak ill to her. They spoke of court things as they walked, turning off down to a quiet hall that led to the dungeon, perhaps the only place they might find a moment of privacy. Her ladies remained at a discrete distance, serving more like a diversion, should someone happen upon them in the hall. "There has been no word from Francis?" When Sebastian didn't answer, Mary bit her lower lip and turned away, arms folding over her chest.
"We will find him, Mary, I promise you." Sebastian spoke earnestly, longing to reach for her hand as he had done another time in a moment such as this. But he hesitated a moment too long for she let her arms drop to her sides, hands squeezing into tight little fists. It was not sorrow that graced her features, but rather anger and Sebastian could not help but to notice how she furrowed her brow with it, looking much less like the calm and collected queen he knew so well.
"Perhaps I don't wish for him to be found." She spat, again turning away with a shake of her head, a sigh soon following forth. "What a woman I must be, unable to keep even my betrothed at my side." She had tried to keep Francis beside her, had tried to close the distance between them but he'd only pushed her further away. "I am shamed by him. What must everyone think of me?" Mary cast her gazes down towards her faithful ladies, the only people within that palace that she could trust with all of her heart. Then she turned back to Bash only to see him smile upon her and that was when she knew there was always someone else for her to trust in France... It was him.
"They all think the same thing and it is not of you, but of Francis." Sebastian finally gave in, reaching out to take her hands between his, her skin warm against his. "They say what a fool he is to have left the side of the most beautiful queen in all of Europe. They say that he is beyond abhorrable for deserting his court and his duties." Mary clutched at his hand, so small that it fit perfectly within his own, and Bash found he never wanted to let her go. "He has shamed himself, Mary, you are free from embarassment." He gave her hands a tender squeeze and was thrilled to see the smile that found its way upon her face. "You are the best of women, surely you know this?" He went on, his words bringing a crimson blush to the young queen's cheeks. "There are none such as you, not in this palace, not even on this earth."
Though Mary opened her mouth to speak, her ladies had appeared at their sides and she knew it was time to go; though innocent as their meeting was, the court would whisper and Mary would never allow slander against Bash. "You are too good to me." Mary spoke quietly, drawing her hand away and then she turned to go, hyper aware of how chilled her skin felt without his against it. Then she, along with her ladies, returned to the main hall, disappearing down it; Sebastian felt his heart skip a beat when she cast one last look over her shoulder at him.
He watched her as she went and was still yet standing there when a pair of Queen Catherine's guards turned down the hall. "You there-" one began as they approached, but when Sebastian turned around he stiffened and then offered him a small bow. "My lord," he changed his tone to one of half-respect, though Bash could care less about the men who had clearly been sent to spy on him. "The King is looking for you in his chamber." Thankful for something else to focus on, he pushed past the guards without a word and headed back towards his father's chambers. He would attend his father and try to think of anything but the Scottish queen, though he found his affection to be renewed by their meeting. He longed for the feel of her skin against his, longed to slide her long, dark hair between his fingers. Bash knew deep in the depths of his heart, he wanted to make her his; he wanted to marry her. And so he vowed to continue on the path he was on- offering her friendship and guidance when she so desired. Never would he rush her nor ever force her into something she didn't want. And if friends she wanted to remain, then so they would. But he would not stop himself from going around her, would not stop from offering her counsel and honesty, and would protect her from harm no matter the cost to him.
Whether she loved him back or not, Sebastian vowed he would always love her, for there was truly no one else on this earth like her; there was no one else that he'd ever love the same.