If I am not left alone soon, I swear to God I will absolutely lose my mind. Sebastian reflected with an angry sigh.
In the past 4 hours, he had been interrupted from his thoughts by no less than three people. All of them had come seeking his attention or wisdom. It would of course be that one day he actually needed a moment alone when he was the most important person on the grounds.
Nostradamus had stopped in to change the dressing on his almost healed wound. The seer had prodded at Sebastian's side to check for discharge and asked a few minor questions about how he was recovering. This infraction had thankfully been quick.
Lola had followed close behind, checking to see what she could help with and attempting to distract him from his infirmity.
She was a nice girl to be sure, cute even. Her long, wavy brown hair framed her face delicately and her eyes were a striking blue. Under different circumstances, he may have attempted to court her.
He had realized of late that there was more intended by her visits then she let on. His priorities lay elsewhere, however. How to handle the situation was something he would reflect on another time.
Now he was sitting in his favorite, soft, green chair while Francis paced the floor in front of him. His brother had been the last person Sebastian has wanted to see at that moment, but the prince had seemed desperate for assistance and so he had relented and allowed his brother access.
Now he burned with the memory of the very un-brotherly act he had committed less than 24 hours ago. The sky seemed to compliment his thoughts very well, as a cord of lightning flashed across the large window near his bed. The beauty of a wicked sky, threaded with flaming death.
Maybe he should have been a poet.
"I can't just abandon her, Bash. She needs my help." Francis was saying, bringing Sebastian out of his seditious thoughts.
"Francis, she had been here three days and you have all but abandoned Mary in that time. Regardless of if anything happened between you and Olivia or not, I hardly think it was your wisest choice if you are trying to win Mary's affections."
His brother sighed.
"I know Bash, but what am I to do? Olivia keeps showing up all over the place." Francis remarked, his shoulders sagging. He almost deserved to empathy.
Almost
"If Mary really means anything to you, as you continuously proclaim, you may need to be cruel to Olivia, despite of her own feelings. Mary's state should trump anyone else in your mind, brother." Sebastian shook his head.
"You seem to know so much about her. How do you do it? It would appear that she is very comfortable around you." Francis answered, narrowing his eyes. Sebastian winced inwardly but allowed a frown to cross his face instead.
"Mary is not so difficult to talk to. You just have to put in the effort and stick to your decision. She is a very loyal person Francis, but loyalty must go both ways in order to be effective." He replied, hoping he had said the right words. He had to be more careful around his brother. Mary didn't need to deal with rumors on top of everything else.
Francis nodded thoughtfully, letting Sebastian's words sink in.
"You are right Bash. I will go speak with her right this moment. I will explain to her how sorry I am about my ignorance of her feelings." Francis smiled broadly. "Thank you brother. I don't know how I would get on without you."
Only once the door was firmly shut, and he found himself alone, did Sebastian allow himself to relax. Slumping down into his comfortable chair, he thumped his head back and stared up at the ceiling in disarray. Absentmindedly, he brought his fingers to his mouth.
His lips tingled at the thought of the kiss he had shared with Mary. His body longed to hold her to him again. Groaning, he stood and walked to the fireplace on the far wall of his room. His fingers found the smooth stone of the worn mantle and he traced the wings of one of the many angelic carvings he found there.
He knew he shouldn't, couldn't, feel this way about her. She belonged to Francis. Scotland needed its Queen to marry a King, not the legitimized bastard son of one. Mary needed a country which he could not produce.
He had tried to stay away from her, truly he had, but this was not an easy feat in a castle that had more banquets, festivals, and special visitors per month than anyone could possibly count on two hands. She was everywhere, and he was never to have a moments peace without her flitting through his dreams.
Regardless of the outcome, Sebastian knew he needed to speak with Mary. This awkwardness would need to be fixed quickly in order to avoid any lasting unpleasantness.
Watching the numbers of the simple gold clock on the mantle dance slightly, he realized he had been examining the fire's flames for a solid hour. Francis should be deep in political discussion with Cardinal Fredrick and their Father at this time of day, giving Sebastian a moment to speak with Mary alone.
He cautiously walked the halls between his chamber and hers, gathering courage and praying not to be intercepted by anyone in the interim. Sebastian was fairly certain that steam may begin leaking out of his ears from the intensity of his thoughts if he did not speak with her soon. He could not afford to be interrupted from his mission.
Standing up as straight as he could manage, Sebastian knocked softly on the door to Mary's chamber. With no response from within the room, he slowly and cautiously opened the door rapping again as he did so. Mary was seated in front of the fire, lost in thought. He mentally noted how closely the pink of her dress matched the cushion on the stool. It was as if she had melted into the furniture.
Mary jumped, spinning on him when the heavy wooden door panel clicked shut.
"Bash." she squeaked. Clearing her throat she spoke again in a lower voice "You just missed your brother. He came to apologize for his disregard of me these past few days." She looked up at him. "What brings you here to see me?"
"Just stopping by to see if you enjoyed lunch as much as I did today." He attempted a casual smile, chuckling as her face shifted in confusion. Returning the mask of seriousness to his face, he changed tactics. "I think you know why I am here Mary."
"I had been hoping for a moment of privacy to speak with you myself." She nodded in acceptance, flushing slightly.
"Mary I know you have been avoiding me and I understand why." Sebastian replied moving forward and clasping her hands in his own. He watched her stand and pull out of his grasp.
"I am glad you understand Bash." Her eyes refused to meet his. "I am with Francis. The alliance cannot be tampered with, both for your country as well as mine."
"What I understand is your position with my brother. What I do not understand is why you are attempting to behave as if nothing has occurred between us."
She turned away, wrapping her arms around herself.
"Nothing can happen between us Bash, do you not see that? It was a moment of weakness and we should be ashamed to have gone behind your brother's back the way we did."
He moved in behind her, nearly close enough to touch her. His skin tingled, knowing the small gap in proximity between them.
"I do feel shame for the feelings I have for you, but I am also a man Mary. I can protect you just as well as Francis can." Sebastian spun her around, his hand reaching under her chin and forcing her eyes toward his. Her brown gaze locked on his, sparking with the depths of her emotion. "You know there is something here. You feel the burning too, do you not?" He watched a shiver flow through her and smiled from the pleasure he knew was coursing through her veins, the same that was shooting within his own blood.
Her breath was on his cheek, lips so close he only needed to lean in an inch to capture them. Her soft hand came up timidly to cup his face, tenderly, in silent admission. He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her touch. As suddenly as they were connected, she pulled away. Sebastian opened his eyes to see her standing by the fire once more.
His gaze settled on the stack of wood near the fireplace. There was a string tied to one of them, the bark on the logs darker than the others. Sebastian moved towards them curious. On one of the pieces of string, a talisman flickered in the firelight. Upon closer examination, Sebastian realized that the metal had been shaped into a stag's head. Annoyance and realization dawned on him.
"Mary, why are their elder logs near your fireplace? Who brought these for you?"
"The servants must have brought them." She replied in an odd voice. She glanced at them curiously. Her eyes widened and she back pedaled away from them. "Is there something wrong? Are they dangerous?"
"No Mary, just Pagan superstition I presume. Even so, I will have someone remove them from the palace immediately." Sebastian scowled.
"What is it meant to mean Bash? I had thought the Elder was a tree of protection and good luck. " When he hesitated, she stepped closer to him, resolute and questioning eyes matched his. "Why does it make you so nervous?"
"The Elder Tree is in fact seen by many pagan religions to have protective magic. However, when cut down and used for firewood it can bring about the most ill luck for the user as it angers the tree's spirit." He closed his eyes and swallowed hard against the lump forming in his throat. "Some even say that it invites the Devil himself into a home, marking the place to show him where he is welcome to dwell."
She gasped and he reached a hand to her arm to comfort and steady her drooping form.
"Mary, you have nothing to fear. I will never let any harm come to you while I still have breath in my lungs, regardless of if you belong to Francis or not." He stated, vehemently. She nodded, her gaze watery. Bending over, Sebastian sorted out the two offending logs from the pile. One of the pieces of string slipped off a log, revealing a talisman shaped like a stag's antlers.
He straightened and attempted to reflect all of his sincerity and yearning through his eyes to hers. "I will always be here for you, whenever and wherever I am desired." Gathering himself, he left the room to dispose of the offensive wood. His mind reeled from the implications behind such a gift. It seemed the dwellers of the Blood Wood were not done with him quite yet and now they had made an attempt on those close to him. He would need to end this before it was too late.
Neither of them noticed the eyes that followed from a crack in the wall as Mary closed the door behind him. Nor did they see them disappear as she collapsed, allowing the tears to finally cascade down her face.