I was getting tired of Mary always bowing to her mother, so I decided to have her stand up for herself in this chapter. Hope you like it & Keep reviewing!
Chapter 7 – Chosen
Mary POV
"Mary, get up! You have to prepare for the day, I have found the perfect man for you, he wants a queen by his side and thinks you are perfect, he wants to marry you Mary, and if you act like a pretty. Little. Girl", my problems may be solved Marie de Guise had never been subtle, she had burst in to the young queens room not caring that she was still fast asleep. "Mother, please. Not now" she sighed, "the country won't wait for you Mary. Now get up!" with that she left. Mary stared at the ceiling and rose from the bed, she prepared herself, for what she had to endure downstairs.
Mary walked down the stairs, and met her mother's gaze. She was standing in front a man with his back turned. He was well built with light brown hair, his sword hung next to him and his hands held the handle of it. "Mary. Let me introduce you to Prince Edward of Nigeria" Prince Edward turned around to reveal his somewhat familiar face. "Yes. We've met" Mary responded, "well yes, he was at the party 5 days ago. "Well then, we'll leave you too it" Marie de guise and Prince Edwards advisors left the room. "Shall we," Edward held out his arm to her and she reluctantly took it. They travelled to the garden and walked amongst the Lilies. It was silent for a while until he broke it "so tell me. Why would the Queen of Scotland and France, wanted to give up her queen ship of France?" "Things change" she replied "that is not a good enough answer, if we are going to be married, we need to have at least some level of trust" "The person I married was not the same. That must sound stupid, as I am a queen and we do not get to choose who we marry, but our marriage was more than just convenient." "I understand, everyone wants love. I am sorry for the way I treated you at the party the other day, that was wrong." He apologized "no its ok, something you are going to have to know about me is that I don't trust easily." She conceded, "That's understandable" "Mary, Edward you need to come inside. Now!" Marie de Guise came out of the door looking scared.
Francis POV
He had 5 days until he would make the journey to Scotland. As he sat in the nursery holding his son. He seemed only happy when he was holding him, he rocked him back and forth watching him sleep. He didn't notice Lola standing in the doorway. She watched them happy that her son had a good father, someone who treated him right, Francis turned and saw Lola watching them, "Lola" he spoke softly "Sorry I didn't mean to startle you, you are just so good with him." Lola replied, "Seems like the only thing I'm good at these days," replied Francis, Lola sighed, "Francis, you had to do it. To protect her." "I know, but that doesn't make it any less painful." He handed her the baby and left the nursery.
Mary POV
"English soldiers are massing at the borders" Marie de Guise spoke "it seems they have learnt, of the annulment and are seeking to exploit it, without another country at our side, we are seen as weak, as soon as they get word that you sign the annulment and we officially have no alliance, they will attack." Mary was shocked at the least, what did it mean? Her mother chose this moment to chime in "Which is why Mary. You will marry Edward." "How does that help we won't get a chance to if we are dead!" Mary replied "Which is why when Francis docks in Scotland in 9 days and signs the annulment you will marry Edward on the same day" Mary's eyes widened at the thought "It is the only way, this way you will only be married for a number of hours, that isn't long enough for the soldiers to get word back to their queen." "It is the only way and you will do it Mary. You will." Her mother cut in, her mother's last retort made Mary angry and she looked away from the floor and looked at her mother straight in the eye. "I will make my own decisions as I am queen and you are nothing. I will not be bullied by you and I will decide my own fate!" Mary's eyes never left her mothers and after what felt like hours of just staring her mother turned and left.
Francis POV
The news came quickly to France. It seemed that the announcement that their queen was now engaged to another was the best gossip the land had seen in many years. His hand gripped the dark liquor tightly, he thought of only Mary, the thought of her in the arms of another. He took another sip. The doors to the dining room opened. "Brother, tell me it isn't true. Tell me you are not going to let Narcisse win!" he stared straight at his brother but Francis's eyes never left the cup "I could always… Take care… of Narcisse" his words were merely a whisper but they were directed at him. "I couldn't let you do that Bash, you would have to live with his death for the rest of your life." Francis reasoned, "I would rather live with that, than knowing I stood around and did nothing, and watched you slip away in to darkness." "What's done is done brother, I must pay the consequences of my actions." Francis stood up taking a large sip of the wine and left the room.