Author's Note: First: I'm back! - And I've read all of your AWESOME, LOVELY reviews you've been kind enough to keep leaving me. I'm very gratified and your reviews, follows, and page hits have spurned me to continue!
My goodness! I know I took a VERY long break here, 8 months. Yikes. I first had to take a bit of a break because of personal reasons (family, school, work, etc), and then, I'll admit to growing rather disenchanted with Reign for awhile. Seriously – Bash and Kenna? EW. Now, Kenna is okay on her own, but with Bash, no. Just – no. Still, I've chosen to erase that from my mind and, instead, I will continue playing out my own little MASH world in my happy little universe. It's much more fun this way.
Bash looked over his shoulder at Mary, who was nearly falling asleep behind him. Her fingers loosened on his waist, her cheek was pressed against his back. He looked ahead again, searching for any sign of the village a peddler told him about a mile back. They should reach it at any moment. It was getting late, the sun would be down soon. Bash, afraid Mary may slip off the horse if she grew too relaxed, reached behind him to pull her more upright in the saddle.
"Wha? What? Are we there?" Mary asked, straightening at his touch.
Bash smiled. "Nearly. It shouldn't be too far now."
They rode on for another fifteen minutes before the first thatched room came into view. Bash slowed the horse as they made their way between the modest cottages and towards the small town square. The inn loomed before them, it looked dirty and small, but it was safer than staying out in the open again. Bash stopped the horse at the nearby stables, stopping to gently nudge Mary awake once more before he dismounted.
"I'm awake," she mumbled as he slipped off the horse and reached to help her afterward. He lifted her down, keeping his hands on her waist even after her feet reached the ground. "Bash," she whispered as he continued to gaze at her.
"We're finally here," he announced, smiling when she maintained his gaze. He smoothed his hand down her hair. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, thank you," she answered with a nod, finally breaking eye-contact to look around them.
"Stay here, I'll be right back." Bash untied their bag and few effects from the saddle, including her rolled-up corset, before he led his horse into the stables to be kept for the night. He returned a few minutes later, but Mary didn't notice him. She was too distracted by their surroundings, the way she could stand there and on one paid her any attention. She obviously enjoyed the rare anonymity.
"Do you wish it could always be like this?"
Mary started to see Bash standing directly behind her. She blushed at his close proximity. "Like what? Being in a little dirty village, you mean?" She laughed a little as she spoke.
"No," he answered, staring at her intently, "I mean being able to be a normal person. Or," he added, "at least under the pretense of being normal."
"Oh, that," she swallowed, wanting to lean back into him, but forcing herself to take a step away from him instead, "yes. But that is a luxury I cannot afford to dwell on. It's only a matter of time before..." She pursed her lips, unable to voice the thought.
"Before Francis catches up with us and we're forced back to reality." Bash nodded once before sighing. "Come on, we should secure a room before we eat."
Mary quirked a brow. "A room – as in one?"
Bash couldn't help but smirk. "We need to support our story, don't we? We can't very well admit to being unchaperoned, unmarried travellers. Besides, it wouldn't be safe for you to be separated from me, even for a night." Mary's pulse increased, Bash took pleasure in her reddening cheeks. "But fear not, Your Grace," he whispered, sure that no one would able to overhear, "I will be a perfect gentleman. I won't covet all of the blanket and leave you wanting for warmth." Mary's breath hitched. Bash leaned his face towards her, almost bringing his lips to hers as he whispered, "Don't worry, Mary. I'll take the floor." He brushed his lips against hers for a second before he pulled away and began walking towards the inn. He paused when he saw Mary was not beside him. He turned a questioning glance her way. "Coming?"
She took a deep breath, cleared her throat, before she took on an unaffected air. "Certainly." She linked her arm with his before he opened the front door and they entered the inn.
The inn was filled with smoke and unwashed men, many of them with prostitutes hanging on their laps. The front door immediately led into the tavern, with the innkeeper sloppily keeping the books at a desk shoved to the side. Beer frothed from his mug, the light wooden desktop bore wet rings around the corners. Bash shot a reassuring smile to Mary before they approached the desk.
"My wife and I require a room for the night." Bash reached into his pockets for some coins.
The innkeeper eyed Mary, not caring enough to hide his leer as he looked her up and down.
"Do you have an open room or not?" Bash snapped, glaring at the man.
"Well, that all depends," the man turned annoyed eyes onto Bash.
"On what?"
"How much money ya got there."
Bash handed the man a few large coins. "That's more than any room here would cost." He held his palm up. "Now where's the key?"
"Fine," the innkeeper grumbled, greedily stashing the coins into his change purse. "Ya can have our finest room," he sneered at Mary, "we only got a few rats in that one." He dropped the key into Bash's palm before turning his back on them and going to refill his tankard.
"It'll be alright," Bash told Mary as he took her hand and they made their way through the tavern and up the stairs. The floor was sticky with spilled beer and who knows what else. Mary grimaced a few times as they stepped over drunken men passed out along the corridors. Their room was at the far end of the second hall. Bash unlocked the door and peered into the dark room, looking for a candle. He fumbled around for a moment before finding one and lighting it. Mary still stood in the hallway. Bash set down their things on a chair in the corner before he held out his hand to her.
"I know you're uneasy, Mary, but things will look better soon. For now, we have a warm place to sleep."
Mary took his hand and stepped into the room with him. Her gaze immediately found the small bed in the middle of the room. Bash cleared his throat. "Well, shall we brave the tavern downstairs, get something to eat?"
Mary laughed a little. "As a little girl, I always wondered what it was like for everyone else. What life was like, and how it was different from what I've always grown up with. Well," she looked around the meager room, "now I suppose I know."
"This isn't what life is really like, outside the castle walls," Bash began, his gaze tender, "you're not seeing what normal life is right now. This is life on the run, which is anything but normal. Life, for non-royals, can be happy and uncomplicated. A life where you can do what you want – with the person you want to do it with."
"You've had a taste of normal life, haven't you? Life outside of French court. You've been allowed to come and go as you please."
"To an extent, yes." Bash stepped closer to her. "There's always been certain rules I've had to abide by, because of my position, but as a bastard," he paused, watching her intently, "as a bastard, never to be king, I can afford to act on my desires more readily than my brother." He palmed her cheek. "More readily than you."
"I wish I could afford the same liberties." Mary gripped Bash's forearm.
"What's stopping you now?" He leaned into her.
"Even outside of court, I'm still Queen." She tilted her head, waiting for his kiss...
"And I'm still me." The moment was broken, Bash stepped away. "Come on, let's get some food." He blew out the candle and shut door.
They made their way back down to the tavern. There was a small unoccupied table in the corner. Mary sat down, Bash sat opposite her. They had barely been seated before a barmaid approached, her top much too small for her chest. She leaned next to Bash when she reached their table.
"What can I do for you, handsome?" She winked.
Bash laughed. "We'll have some roast chicken, if you have it."
"We?" She lifted her brows and looked across the table at Mary before she brought her eyes back to Bash. "Oh. I didn't see her at first. Well, I think we can manage that. What will you have to drink?"
"Wine?" Bash looked to Mary for confirmation. She nodded. "Wine, an entire bottle of it, if you can manage it," he ordered.
"Of course, milord." The barmaid shot Bash a saucy smile. "I'll have that out to you shortly. And, if you should find yourself needin' companionship later, I'll be around."
"I can assure you," Mary spoke up, loud enough to halt the flirtatious girl's exit, "that he certainly won't be in want of companionship tonight."
Bash turned wide eyes onto Mary, whose focus was entirely on the barmaid. He grinned from ear-to-ear. "Well," Bash started, still grinning at Mary, "that settles that. Thank you for your kind offer," he glanced at the barmaid, still smiling, "but my wife is quite right. I could never look elsewhere when I have her." Now it was Mary's turn to look at Bash, biting her lip through a smile.
"Of course," the barmaid stuttered, clearly taken aback at Mary's sudden boldness where she had previously been quiet. She threw one last glance towards Bash before leaving to fetch their wine.
"Now, that," Bash quirked a brow, "I enjoyed. I always enjoy it when you loosen your restraint."
"I must admit, I quite like it myself. It's a relief to be so free." Mary wiggled in her seat, obviously excited over this new brashness.
"You should get out more often. You've been missing out."
"I really have." Mary kept his gaze a moment before it all became too much for her. She looked around the tavern, doing her best to avoid further conversation. Bash sat, watching her without saying another word. The barmaid returned with a bottle of wine and two tankards. She winked at Bash as she put them on the table in front of him, lingering, she bent over the table longer than necessary ensuring he received an ample view of her cleavage.
"I'll be back shortly with your meat," she told him, ignoring Mary, before she trotted away. Bash uncorked the bottle and poured them each a large glass.
"Really," Mary rolled her eyes, "why do some women feel the need to put themselves on display like that. As if men liked it."
Bash choked on his drink at her words. Lowering his cup, he managed to swallow the rest of his wine before a soft laugh escaped him. "Quite right."
Mary raised her brows. "What? Are you saying you enjoy women like her? I thought you said you don't like women who squeeze themselves into uncomfortable contraptions – you had better believe she's wearing a corset, tightly laced, too. No woman has a natural waist that small with such large – measurements."
Bash continued to grin. "Don't worry. I much prefer you to her. As a matter of fact, I much prefer you to any other woman."
Mary paled. "I wasn't – I didn't mean for you to –"
"Be honest?" Bash finished for her, still smiling, but there was a new sadness to it. "I know it's only been days since you left Francis. I know it takes time to heal a grieving heart. I know all this. I also know that my feelings for you won't change. I'm tired of being silent on the matter. So, I'm laying my cards on the table. No pressure. I know you have feelings for me, and I just want you to know, I'm here when you're ready."
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything." Bash raised his glass. "Instead, let's toast. We'll toast to our new –"
"Freedom," Mary inserted. Bash nodded.
"Freedom. To our new lives, wherever they may take us." They clinked their glasses together before they each took a drink, or two. The barmaid brought them two plates of chicken. Mary noticed Bash's plate was more plentiful, while she was given the less appetizing pieces. Bash noticed, too, and immediately switched their plates, much to the annoyance of the barmaid, though she said nothing before she left them again.
"Thank you. I'll share my good fortune with you." Mary let out a laugh as she pulled some of the tastier pieces from her plate and handed them to Bash, but he stopped her with a wave.
"I appreciate the offer, but I want you to eat. You ate less rabbit than I did. You need it more." Bash began to happily eat his own slim pickings. Mary watched him.
"You really are a selfless man, aren't you?" Bash froze mid-bite. Mary continued, "You really are. You sacrifice, all the time, for others. You never ask for anything in return."
"Oh, I don't know about that," Bash let his chicken fall to the plate as he reached for his wine. He took a drink before he added, "I'm nothing special."
"You're wrong." Mary reached across the table for his hand, taking it in hers. "You're one of a kind."
Bash laughed a little, clearly uncomfortable. "Thankfully for France."
"I'm serious." She squeezed his palm. "I've never known another man like you."
Bash stood, leaned over the table, kissed her lips, before sitting back down again. Mary simply stared, wide-eyed, surprised at his gesture. Bash awarded her with a toothy grin. "We should eat. We'll need our energy for later." Mary blanched, and Bash suddenly barked a laugh. "I meant for continuing our journey tomorrow. But I wonder what you were thinking, Miss Mary," he quietly teased, his eyes twinkling. Mary avoided his gaze, ducking her chin in to hide her scarlet cheeks, as she bit into her chicken.
I hope this chapter was worth the wait! I'll be continuously writing on this again, so don't worry. I won't disappear anymore. Please review if you have a chance! I love hearing your thoughts!
