Mary found Francis talking to her uncle, of all people. She interrupted them, excusing herself; and accepted his congratulations for the wedding with the best smile she could muster. She shot a look at her uncle then, and with a tactful nod he understood and left them alone. She grabbed Francis' arm before he could turn away.
"Can I speak with you?" She asked, her voice confident, partly because of the wine.
"You'll find you can, since I'm your rightful husband and all." He said, flippant.
She nodded her head towards the doors, and he led the way outside. Night had fallen hours ago, and she could not see the ships of her guests in the distance, only listen to the waves crashing against the stone barriers of the castle.
"I…Francis, I-" She started, but the words stuck to her throat.
"What's wrong Mary? Cat got your tongue?" He asked her, detached; not even looking at her but instead staring out at the black abyss extending in front of them.
"You've been drinking." She said, he'd obviously had his fair share of wine as well. She could smell it on him, and guessed he was a cup away of slurring his speech.
"Well, yes, I've been drinking. You see, my fiance left me, she was forced to come back kicking and screaming and then was miserable the entire wedding! And what I… still can't understand…is why. Could you answer that for me, Mary? Why have you tried so hard to keep me away from you? What did I do to change your mind?"
"I left because I love you," she gasped out, the words escaping her like she'd been waiting all her life to utter them. "I thought…it was the only way to keep you safe."
"From a prophecy." It was clear that he did not believe in it at all, but she could also see the effect her confession had on him. His eyes opened wider at the word love, surely remembering she'd tried to convince him he was nothing to her. It was her own fault he doubted her feelings for him, she reminded herself, and now it was up to her to make things right.
"Yes." She told him, and he shook his head, starting to pace around.
"I don't believe in anything Nostradamus says. I have never trusted anyone's words; I couldn't, as a future ruler. It is too easy to lie." He stopped walking and looked at her. "Yet I chose to believe in yours. And that was my first mistake, I guess. You told me you would wait for me, and you left. You left…and with Bash of all people. You say now it was for fear of me, but I knew nothing then! How did you think I slept? Thinking of how you were fairing? Thinking of you together- "
"Francis, it wasn't like that. He was just trying to help me-"
"Yes? So you can tell me nothing happened between the two of you?"
She flash-backed to her and Bash's brief kiss, and felt color rising to her throat and cheeks, out of shame. Francis saw it, even in the dim light.
"I kissed him. Once. And I regret it." She fought against the urge to explain herself, I was confused and scared and we were about to jump off a cliff and I thought I would die and he stopped it, but she didn't say a word of those. She would not make excuses for herself. She needed to own up to her mistake, and hope he would forgive her.
"That's…good to know." He didn't sound angry now, he just sounded empty, like he'd given up. And that was infinitely worse than if he'd screamed at her.
"Francis-"
"God knows I'd rather you went with him than be alone though" A chuckle escaped his lips, but there was no humor in his voice. "…if anything happened to you, I'd…but you don't care, do you? You left with no care for me at all."
He looked so crushed she couldn't help but reach for him but he stepped away from her instantly, and the automatic rejection made her want to sink to her knees. Her chest hurt, and she longed for the few days they had where they wouldn't even need touch to be intertwined.
"I left because I cared too much. I didn't think about my country, or myself. I couldn't bear to be here, to be happy with you; if my mere presence would bring you harm. Nostradamus' prophecy said so, that our wedding would be the cause of your death."
"Mary, do you expect me to believe-"
"I believed it." She interrupted him, trying to get everything out before she gave way to tears. He needed to believe her. "Nostradamus saw one of my ladies dying before the frost melted, and in mere hours Aylee was gone. He saw Tomás and Bash fighting days before it happened; I saw what he could do with my own eyes.
So when he told me our marriage would be the cause of your death…Francis, his prophecy is the reason your mother has been trying so hard to get rid of me, she was just trying to protect you, just-" She took a breath, trying to contain her passionate speech, "just like I was. Please believe that. I never meant to bring you pain." She could feel tears burning behind her eyes, but still looked at him, willing him to believe her.
"You could have trusted me, Mary. You could have stayed and talked to me. If you loved me like you said you did-"
"Forgive me," She said, as a tear spilled down her cheek. "Please, forgive me. I know I hurt you, I know I shouldn't have run away and not told you what I knew. I didn't trust you and for that I'm sorry. I was afraid, I am still afraid. For you. I couldn't bear if anything happened to you, and if it was because of me? I would die before losing you, Francis.
I'm sorry. I should have said that a long time ago. I'm sorry, and I love you. " Her voice broke, and she lowered her eyes to the floor, hope growing dimmer inside of her. "If you still love me...could you find it in yourself to forgive me?"
He took her by the chin and made her meet his eyes. His touch became impossibly tender at the sight of her tear streaked face. His hand slipped to her cheek and his fingers traveled down her throat to caress the nape of her neck. His thumb wiped her tears away as he looked at her; truly drank her in after days of side glances and empty stares. He couldn't mask the hurt in his eyes and neither could she. But still, for the first time in forever she could see tenderness in his, and love. Her heart beat as fast as a hummingbird's wings as he stepped closer to her.
"I love you, Mary. That never changed. Not for a second, but I-"
"Here they are!" Announced the booming voice of a French count, one of King Henry's guests. He bowed to them and spoke, "Your majesties, they've sent me to find you. The witnesses have been called away already and they're waiting for you." He told them, and walked inside again, with one last inclination of his head.
Mary was confused as to why they were needed; only wanting to hear what Francis was going to say. But I what? He loved her, but was she forgiven? Could they go back to what they once had? Francis had already started for the doors again, a hand on the small of her back guiding her forward. She was about to turn around and ask him why they were going back inside when he told her,
"It's time." They entered the ball room again and she caught the curious, meddling looks of some guests and saw her ladies waiting for her with hopeful, supportive smiles. Oh. The bedding ceremony, she realized. She'd almost forgotten.
a/n: Thanks for reading! Next chapter is probably the last. Leave a review and let me know what you think?
