Chapter 14: All's Well that Ends Well
Francis and Mary had retired to their chambers that night as Francis was exhausted after the journey. He got into bed and Mary followed. He wrapped his arms around her, promising that he would never let her go again.
They woke that morning to the rain outside hitting the windows, the wind blowing wildly.
Almost an hour later and they were ready to face Court.
"Come Francis, lets see Anne. She missed you almost as much as I did." Mary said dragging Francis to the nursery. When there he wrapped Anne in a blanket and rocked the child, happy to have her back in his arms.
Mary watched them, they two people she loved most in this world. They're family was back together.
"Her hair is growing." Francis commented.
"Yes, it is."
"Curls. Just like you wanted." Francis said looking up and smiling Mary.
"I missed you so much Mary." He said looking up at her.
"I missed you too Francis, but how did the Spanish take our apologies?"
"Oh, I almost forgot that. Apparently they never sent anyone over, must have been the English hoping provoke a war, but the Spanish king commended me on coming over to apologise first hand. I shouldn't be telling you before the nobles but they agreed to the alliance. Hugo and Anne are engaged!"
Francis finished and Mary's face went white.
"Mary what is it?"
"Francis I have made a horrid mistake! Guards! Guards!" Guards burst into the room at Mary's cries. "Go and take James Stuart back to Court, treat him well, in a carriage and get him a healer immediately! Send for me as soon as he arrives!"
"Yes your majesty." And the two guards left.
"Mary why does James need a healer?" Francis asked wearily.
"He has an eye infection! When you left I was so distraught I went straight to him and- well as you can guess now he has a very sore eye and I have a very bad conscious." Mary said nervously.
"Don't worry Mary, we will get him the best healers and he will be fine. Hopefully." Francis said hugging Mary one handed, while still holding Anne.
The two went down to the throne room after, ready to face their subjects. People piled into the throne room anxious to hear from their King. Francis stood from his throne a little slowly as he was still tired and drained from the journey. Whispers started to carry through the room, until Francis raised a hand.
"Now as I am sure you have all heard of my sudden return last night. I have been away from Court for a while but am glad to announce that Princess Anne of France and Prince Hugo of Spain will be united in marriage!" Applause raced through the hall and Francis waited for them to calm down before he continued. "And not only that but Prince Hugo will be arriving in Court on his sixth birthday! Until then I hope everyone here will keep a happy relationship with Spain and will keep them in your prays along side Scotland and France."
Everyone stayed back to congratulate the King and Queen, already forgetting Francis' absence. Once Francis and Mary had managed to leave the hall they walked, arms linked, around the more private halls of French Court.
"Now I do not want you to worry about me Mary. Speaking of those past few weeks will only make me revisit those memories, which I wish to forget." Francis said taking Mary's hand.
"Of course. I understand. You wish to forget this, keep it in the past?"
"Exactly. And I know it must be hard for you to know that I have things I do not share but I need time to forget this and put it behind me and maybe someday I will speak of it. All you must know is that Bash saved many lives, he is a hero and I plan to give him a higher status. He saved my life as well as the lives of many brave guards. He deserves recognition for his actions."
"Yes of course. A role at Court. It would keep his family safe as Kenna has told me they would very much appreciate a higher status and-" Mary said before Francis cut in.
"Wait, Kenna said that? Well what if this was some plot for Bash to get a higher title. It did seem odd, I mean we were fighting and I can't imagine Bash would have done that for any old reason. I must confront him about this." Francis went to head back to the throne room but Mary grabbed his arm and stopped him, Francis turning and looking at her in surprise.
"Francis, Bash didn't go to get a title. He went because... well because I asked him too." Francis looked shocked at Mary, completely aghast that her and Bash could be talking so much that Mary could ask such a thing.
"Mary you promised me you wouldn't speak to Bash-"
"Yes I know Francis but," Mary raised a hand to her mouth to stop herself from crying. "I needed him to find you. He knows the area and I knew he was the last option. I needed you, and if something had happened you Bash would find out. The locals wouldn't be intimidated by him as they knew him well. Francis please don't hate me. I did it to save you, and me and Bash only spoke for a moment. You were gone, no one knew where you where, killers were reported to have killed a whole family and I was scared the Spanish would attack and we couldn't have a King. I didn't do it for me, I did it for you. I swear I asked Bash for this big request, he agreed then off he went. We haven't spoke since only a brief smile of gratitude last night when you returned."
"Mary, you know Bash' feelings for you-"
"Are one sided. I feel no love towards him, I only see him as a friend. I love you, I married you. I had the choice and I chose you, because Francis I love you. I always have, since the day we met when we were six. All those years at convent I thought of you and the future we had together. Bash was, is, irrelevant. I never saw a future with him."
"Thank you Mary. For being so loving and amazing, most royals can't be faithful for two days but I am glad we are." Francis said wrapping his hands around her waist.
"Yes, except for your child with my friend." Mary said smiling.
"Yes, except for that. But now we have a wonderful child of our own." Francis said smiling, kissing her softly.
"Um, yes. Our child..." Mary said smiling down at her stomach with a mischievous grin. Francis took on step back, looking at Mary with surprised eyes.
"You aren't?"
"I am." Mary said smiling and Francis went up to her and picked her up, spinning her around.
"I have known since the day after you left, Catherine suspects but I am sure we can keep it a secret for a while longer-" But Mary's sentence was cut off by Francis kissing her. He was so happy that now he had Mary, Anne and their unborn child.