Chapter 8: Under Siege (part one)

Leith run to the throne room. Charles was seating, talking with some peasants who asked for a request. Charles looked at him after dismissed the man.

"Leith Bayard it is a pleasure, but I'm afraid my sister is not here."

"You sister?"

"Yes. You are Claude body guard, are you?"

"Yes, I am. But I come to talk to you."

In the meantime the King of Imereti came to the room.

"What is is? You can speak," Charles allowed Leith.

"We are surrounded."

"It can't be. By who?"

"English."

The Prince gave a worried look to the young King who has just entered.

"Are you sure?" King Georges asked

"I recognized their coat of arms."

"How many are they?" Charles questioned

"About a hundred."

"We need to warn everyone."

"The guards are already aware your Highness and they try to reunite everyone in the ball room."

"Thank you Leith." The Prince nodded.

"Kenna and my sister are attending a party in Chateau Beauregard, they left this morning."

"Alright, I know Lady Greer is staying in her new property during the entire week." Charles continued.

"Princess Claude is with your brother and sister. Princess Anastasia is with them too and the nanny."

"And the King's son where is he?"

"I believe with his mother Lady Lola. I'll find them."

He told all the servant, and the other noble who were in the castle to hide on the ball room, like they did one year ago during the siege lead by the Prince of Condé .

The only one remained unwarned about the potential threat were Lady Lola.

That's why Leith was on his way to the nursery, but it was too late, he saw one of them, they're coming. Leith shot the first English on the back. But there were others, six perhaps more.

He run to the passageway where he was sure Claude and her siblings were deciding to hide. He was right.

"Leith?" The Princess asked worried

" The English, they're here. I'm too late."

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Lola was on the nursery with Alexandra, John's nanny and the baby boy. They hear the noises. John was very afraid and gripped his mother's skirt.

Lola and Alexandra were doing everything to reassure him. But nothing worked.

"John, my love I need you to be strong, just like your father the King was."

"But I'm too fraid moher."

Lola kissed him on the forehead.

"I know angel. You know what, we're going to play hide and seek, just like you did with Henry and Charles."

"Aright"

"In no instance you left your hide, am I understand?"

"Yes I promise."

The little boy went in the wardrobe and Lola closed the door.

She could hear some scream outside. The intrudes were closed, she hoped deeply all her friends were alright. Alexandra, standing next to her was shaking so she took her hand and tried to comfort her.

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Kenna was enjoying herself in the Chateau Beauregard, miles away from the castle. She let her baby boy with his nanny since his father has left to see Diane.

Diane, did she know about Alexander, did she aware she had a grandson, Bash's son. Did she know about Kenna's and Bash's marriage status.

Never mind, tonight was not the moment to think about such things. It was the moment for her to have fun.

"Kenna, I saw the ambassador, come with me."

She followed Tamara's move. They greeted the German with a smile, a fake one. The man was very big and very old, he could be their grand-father.

"Shon, dich kennenzulernen" The German saluted them

"Welcome to France Ambassador." Kenna greeted him. "Do you want to dance?"

"Ya, it will be my pleasure."

"Perfect. This is Tamara." Kenna presented her friend to the German.

The Princess didn't have time to protest when the German took her hand and invited her for a dance. Away she could see Tamara's dark look and it made her smiling.

"Good evening my lady, are you enjoying yourself?"

Kenna turned her side to the man who came to her. He was very handsome, brown-haired with blue eyes, and looked familiar.

"Do we know each other?"

The man smiled and gave her a peck on her hand.

"Of course, Lady Kenna, I'm Lady Lola's cousin. Lord Edward."

Kenna remembered Edward, he used to date Aylee before they were called to French court and get their young Queen in the game. But before he date Aylee, Kenna had a crush on him, and one day they kissed, it was her first time actually.

"Good to see you Edward. I didn't know you were coming to France."

"Joanna is a great friend, I couldn't miss her festivities. I heard you will be the future Queen of the small nation of Imereti, is it true?"

Kenna nodded to confirm.

"I knew you will become someone powerful, but a Queen? Bravo."

"Thank you. It's been a long time we haven't seen each other."

"Yes, that's why I'm sure your future King won't mind if you give me a dance."

Kenna looked at Tamara who was still dancing with the German.

"It will be a pleasure."

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Bash went to the stable where his horse has stayed for the night. He saddled the beautiful animal then got on it. He was ready to join his sister-in-law and his step-mother.

"Bash wait!" A feminine voice interrupted his action.

The girl came to him. He got down his horse, and smile to the beautiful young lady standing in front of him.

"Grace, I didn't want you to wake up so early."

"I wouldn't miss your departure, your visits are so rare."

Bash didn't know what to say, Grace and Annie were like a family to him, and these last years he was selfish and haven't think of them. And now he was going like a thief.

"I'm sorry Gracie."

"I love when you call me like this."

She said before stroked his cheek with her sweet hand.

"Grace..."

"Hush..."

Then she kissed him on the lips. The kiss was sweet and gentle, but Bash felt nothing, it wasn't like kissing Kenna. He stopped the kiss.

"I like you a lot Gracie, but you and I, it's ..."

"Impossible... Yes, I know, you love your wife..."

"You mean Kenna, no, we're going to divorce, I don't..."

"Please Bash don't lie to me, I know you did...You... you were screaming her name during your sleep, I hear you."

Bash got close to the girl.

"We have a son."

"Oh."

"It's been difficult between us, and now she don't want to talk to me at all."

"I'm sure it will change. You are amazing Bash, if she can't see what I see, then she doesn't deserve you."

"Thank you Gracie, but you're wrong, I'm the one who doesn't deserve her."

"You deserve happiness, and if she is the one who can give you it, then you deserve her."

You are a very good person Grace, and I really hope you will find someone who is worthy of your love."

"Thank you."

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Mary was sitting on the Cathedrale where Francis was buried almost a year ago. She thought their love would last forever, but she was wrong, now Francis was gone, and even if she had the support of Bash, Catherine and her ladies, she was alone in a war she couldn't won, Elizabeth was a threat to her country. For now, they have succeded to send away the English who could hurt the King of Imereti and his family, but for how long? She missed the first times in French Court when she wasn't the Queen of France, or the times when Francis were with her, by her side, protecting her from Elizabeth.

"I don't believe it. "

"Your Grace."

" No, call me Mary, please."

" Francis."

"The castle seems bigger. Is that possible? And you, too, of course."

"Is that such a surprise?"

" No. Especially since your legs were always longer than mine. You know, I hated that when we were young. I was always chasing after you, but, now, uh, now it suits you."

"I couldn't sleep."

" Mary... "

"Why? Why did you come back? You didn't know the gold was poisoned!"

" Mary, stop. It was one man against ten."

"They would have killed you!Why would you do something so stupid?"

" Because I love you."

" What?"

" And because it's pretty obvious now that for us to stay sane, we need to be together."

"But what about not having control of our lives... ? And... and France and... and Scotland... ? There has been entirely too much thinking going on.

...

"Tell me when you want me to stop."

"Never."

Francis and Mary wake up in each others arms, with the sun streaming through the window. Francis lies awake, stroking Mary's bare arm. Mary was rubbing the sleepiness out of her eyes

" It's morning."

" I know."

She freaked out a bit, but Francis tried to calm her nerves

" If the servants are gossiping about your unmade bed, it is too late to rectify the situation."

Francis started kissing Mary all over and she giggled loudly.

"Do you think we're being too reckless?"

"I'm yours. You're mine. I hope you're pregnant."

"Francis!"

"It would force the wedding sooner. How could my father argue it?"

" You don't think what we're doing is wrong? As we are not wed yet?"

"After we rule for a great long while, and we leave France and Scotland to our children, and our grandchildren and our great grandchildren, and we meet our maker, you can ask him yourself."

The pair started kissing again and snicked back into the bed until they've heard a knock at the door, which has caused them to cover themselves with their blanket.

"Not again."

" Yes, again. And again. And again and again and again. Shall we go back to bed?"

" Francis, we have more important things to do than make love or build boats."

" "We"? You have been no help with the boat at all." "

England is still a threat. The nobles are still uneasy, shaken after the coup." "

"It failed."

" The privy council has called for a meeting this afternoon."

Well, you'd better start sanding or we'll never make it."

Francis, we are king and queen. We have important matters to attend to."

"This... this is important. And this. Nothing is more important."

"I never want to leave you... If James rules well..."

"You would never go home?"

"You are my home. France is my home. I've lived here since I was a child. And we... we've been given a miraculous second chance. I won't waste it. Not a minute of it.

"A trip to Paris. What a wonderful secret you've kept from me. Well, I have a secret for you too. Do you want to hear it?"

"Mm-hmm."

"I always knew we would be wed, even when I first returned and you were nothing but worry and reservations. I knew"

"Did you, now?"

"Ever since I caught your eye, watching me dance with my ladies at your sister's wedding. Feathers falling from nowhere."

"Well, I'm sure my mother ordered them. My sister was also quite specific."

"Don't you remember when we were children?"

"I did. I remembered. I'm sure I knew it in that moment, too."

"That we were fated?"

"I don't care for that word."

"What is it?"

"It's nothing. Never mind.

.

"Francis, wait. Driver stop here!"

"What are you doing?"

"I want to show you something. There's a beautiful lake down in the forest. What do you say we go for a swim? We could leave our clothes on the shore and..."

"Wait for us here."

...

"Francis? Francis? Your head. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? The King has been injured. Get help! Now! They're going to get the carriage, and we're going to go back to the castle. You're going to be alright."

"No, I won't."

"Francis."

"No, we were meant to be happy, and we were, but I have another fate, predicted long ago."

"No, no, no, no, no! We were given a second chance."

"Well, maybe there is no magic but what we make for ourselves."

"No, but Delphine..."

"No. No more. No more"

"Please make sure that my son is cared for. That he knows that I loved him. And promise me that you'll stay in France until the future King... until he is safe and my mother is secured as regent.

"Please. Francis, don't leave me."

"Mary."

"No, don't..."

"Promise me; Promise me you'll stay."

"I will, I will. I promise. I promise."

"I see... such beauty. Such beauty you have brought me. You must... You must wed again. You must love again."

"I can't. I will never. I will never love anyone the way I love you."

"I pray to God that you do."

"Francis!"

Mary lighted a candle and whispered some words.

"Francis, I miss you so much. Everyday I feel this emptiness, I don't know how I can fight Elizabeth. Everyone was wrong. I'm not strong."

"You are Mary."

"Francis? How it can be? You're dead."

"I'm in your heart Mary, I'm always with you. I'm so happy that you are pregnant with our child."

"James." Mary said while putting a protective hand on her belly.

"You are strong Mary, don't believe the contrary. You are the strongest and most beautiful woman I ever know."

"Oh Francis!"

"I see you, Mary, I see how you're fight for Scotland, for France and for your loved ones. I'm proud of you. I love you."

"I will always love you Francis."

Then Francis was gone. Mary died her tears.

"I am strong. Your father is right, I am."

"Mary" A voice said while interrupting her thoughts

Mary, turned her side, a little bit surprise, and smiled to the person.

"Thank you for coming, I couldn't do this without you."

"I will be always there for you Mary. You are part of my family."

Mary hugged the man and burst into tears.

"I'm sorry Bash, look at me talking about my personal problems after you've been through with your own wife."

"Well Kenna is not dead, so I think right now your story is more important than mine. And like I said I will always be by your side my Queen.

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Two English men entered to the room. John was hiding and it was all that mattered for Lola.

"Where is the future King of France?" a English screamed

Lola stayed and quiet and looked at them with all the strength she had.

"Answer me!"

The nanny of John was shattering, she was scared but stayed quiet too.

"Alright..." "Arthur killed the old one"

The man named Arthur took the arm of Alexandra, but Lola tried to stop him. She was screaming, begging for mercy.

Then an other English hit her, and she fall into the ground.

Everything happened very quickly, Lola could hear her nanny last scream just before he broke her neck. He took Lola arm and get her up brutally.

"Now you answer me or you will be next."

She didn't know if it was honor our stupidity which lead her to this move, but she split on the man.

He pushed her against the wall and started to hit her. Lola was crying, and she knew she couldn't do nothing more. It was the end for her. Then everything went black.

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Kenna was enjoying her time with Lola's cousin, the party was rich, colored prestigious, perfect, everything Kenna loved. He give one last peek on Kenna's hand before the music ended.

"You're quite a dancer Lady Kenna"

"You too Lord Edward."

"I hope we will see each other sometimes, you're a great company. I heard lovers were not problem for you..."

"Excuse me?" Kennas wasn't expecting this commentary

"Yes gossips said, you're still married with the King bastard and have a child with a Prince."

"It's not true... How could you just..."

"Calm down Kenna, I'm not judging you. In fact I am married too and have a lot of lovers."

"You're wrong Edward!" Kennas was getting upset "I'm going to divorce, as for the Prince it's just stupid rumors, we were only friends, the baby is my sister's son."

"I know, some people said that, but I don't remember a sister, in fact I'm only remembered a young brother, Robert, is that right?"

"Have a good night Lord Edward."

Kenna left the man angrily. How could anyone know her story with the Prince. She was discreet at court, or maybe Tamara was the one who tell everybody about her love life. How could she became a great Queen with such gossips about her. The only thing she needed for now, was a drink.