Well, hello everyone! I suppose it's about time I introduce this whole story. It's become a lot more popular than I imagined it ever would. Thank you for that. This story is post 1x04. I had an idea in my head before 1x05 happened and then that whole (spoilers?) love triangle thing happened and it kind of messed everything up with my story. I was going to change it but decided that I wanted to focus more on the plot of what I have decided on than have a love triangle in the way. It would just be a very big mess and no one would like that. Anyways, this chapter is a bit short and not much happens in it. Sorry about that. I needed to bridge a gap between some events I have happening so this may happen more than once. No matter, I hope you enjoy this. If you have any suggestion at all on where else I could take this story feel free to leave me a review! Or just leave me a review in general. That would be nice. Enjoy the story!
"I imagine you slept well?" asked Francis. He was beginning to put away the rest of the breakfast that the two of them hadn't eaten.
"Very much so," she replied with a slight nod on her head. She was a bit distracted by the view of the woods out Francis' window. He followed her gaze to the window.
"Mary, it was only a dream," Francis reassured her once again.
"No, I know that. It's just… What are in those woods, Francis?" Mary questioned. She broke her gaze from the window to look at him. He pursed his lips and looked down. He fiddled with a fork that was in his hand.
"There are stories, myths really… They talk things being out there. Things that are far from our reach. They are much stronger than we are," Francis explained in the best way he could. He didn't want to lie to marry but he didn't want to scare her either.
"Things?" she asked begging for more. Francis looked up from the fork he was playing with and smiled.
"They are just stories, Mary. It's nothing to worry about. I promise you that," he stated. His hand found her cheek and he caressed it for a second before getting out of bed. "Aren't you going to want to be in your chambers soon? Your friends will be looking for you if that are not already and I'm sure you're going to tell them all about our spectacular night together," Francis went on to say with a smug grin on her face. Mary had forgotten all about the last subject they were talking about as the remembrance of her friends sprang into light.
"Oh! I've forgotten all about that!" she exclaimed leaping out of the bed. Francis stood by the doorway holding out Mary's robe for her to put on. "This can't happen every night you know," she said to him as she fixed the collar on her robe. Francis put his arm on the door before Mary could open it.
"I wish it could," he sighed looking up and down her body.
"Well we all have things we wish for," Mary smiled. Francis leaned in to steal a kiss from her but Mary quickly pulled the door open and strode out of the room before he could get the chance. Francis tripped a little on the space in front of him which Mary used to occupy. He smiled to himself and shook his head. He peaked out of the doorway and watched her stride down the hallway until she turned the corner. Mary's door came into view and standing in front of it about to go in was Lola.
"Lola!" Mary exclaimed speeding up her pace. Lola turned and smiled at Mary. She met Mary halfway and walked with her back to her chambers.
"Why aren't you in your room?" Lola questioned. Mary wanted to wait until she got into the room before she told her the details of last night. She explained to Lola that she had a bad dream and she was worried something happened to Francis. So, she went to check on him and then never left. Mary had to insist that nothing happened between the two of them but Lola hadn't seemed to believe her.
"What was the dream about, though?" Lola asked. She was worried about how something could scare Mary so much that she wouldn't want to sleep in her own bed.
"I'd rather not go into detail about it. Honestly, I'd just like to forget the whole thing," Mary said trying to divert the conversation away from last night's events.
"Why don't you get dressed then? We can go for a walk with the girls," Lola suggested. Mary nodded her head and went to her wardrobe to pick out an outfit.
Francis was walking around the castle's perimeter looking for Bash. He was bound to show up at some point. He was probably riding around on his horse somewhere. In the meantime Francis decided to pass the time shooting his bow and arrow. He got his target ready and pulled out an arrow from the quiver. He let out a small breath and pulled up the arrow as close to his face as he could manage. He focused all of his energy and attention toward the target. Everything around him was in slow motion. The wind seemed to have stopped and his heart too. His finger released the arrow and it glided through the air at lightning fast speed. The head of the arrow pushed its way into the target and slid inside of it with ease.
"A perfect shot," a voice said from behind him. Francis turned his head and smiled at his older brother.
"I heard you were looking for me," Bash said walking toward the target to retrieve the arrow. Francis pulled the quiver over his head and sat it next to the castle wall.
"I'm worried about Mary," Francis said. Bash was taken aback by the statement.
"What for?" He questioned putting the retrieved arrow into the quiver and grabbing the bow from his brother to set it against the castle wall also.
"She had a dream last night about the woods. She was so scared by the dream she had to come into my room to make sure I was still alive," Francis explained to his brother hoping he'd get some sort of an answer as to what was happening. Bash took a second to process all that was happening before answering.
"I'm not sure what you want me to say," Bash admitted.
"You know much about the woods. Do not lie to me. I have seen what you know about it first-hand," Francis argued. Bash only shook his head.
"I told you that it was only-" Bash began.
"No, do not start with that again. You know things. I know that for a fact. Now, I am worried about Mary. Which means you should also be worried about her. I want answers and I want them now. Whether or not I get them from you, well, that's for you to decide," Francis stated. He didn't let Bash get another word in for he was already walking away toward the castle.