February 11, 1559

Scotland

Now was the time. Queen Mary, Francis, and Marie de Guise were the only ones left in the castle. Everyone else was outside with the forces getting ready to ride of the English border. Due to Mary's pregnancy she could not ride with them, so she and her mother would be riding in a carriage behind the army, but it was still Mary's duty to rally the troops." How can I tell them to have hope I do not have any?" Mary asked frantically.

"Do what all great leaders do," the dowager Queen Marie De Guise said," Just lie to them!"

Francis and Mary shot the dowager queen an annoyed looked then Francis turned back to his wife." My love, there is hope, and I think you know that. We have the greater forces, all of Europe has faith and wants you to win this battle."

Marry shook her head and walked away to look out the window at the army that was gathering," We may win the battle but this war, it's far from over. I'm pregnant, and Elizabeth is pregnant. Our descendants will be fighting for the throne until judgement day!"

"You mustn't worry about that now," Francis told her and he took her hand," You must have faith that things will work out the way God wants."

"God has been playing tricks on all of us. I'm a Scottish girl raised in France, being Queen of England doesn't seem logical," Mary said and she kept pacing nervously.

"Francis, leave us, I need to speak to my daughter, alone," Marie said and hugged Francis tightly, for this would probably be the last time she'd see her son-in-law until after the battle.

"Mother, there is nothing you can say now to make this any better," Mary said after she heard Francis step out of the room.

"I think you would be surprised on how good of advice I can give," Marie said and reached for her daughter's hand, but Mary pulled away.

"Who am I?" Mary asked as she twisted her wedding ring around her finger in nervousness.

"What do you mean? You are Mary Quee-," Marie began but her daughter cut her off in the middle of her sentence.

"No! Do not say it!" Mary said as tears filled her eyes," I know I am Mary Queen of Scots, but who is that? Who is the woman behind that title?"

"You are speaking gibberish, darling are you feeling alright?" Marie asked her daughter with deep concern.

Mary looked at her mother with almost disgust," Am I alright? How could you look at me and possible think I was alright?" Mary asked her mother with a look, just daring her mother to speak." Ever since I was born Ive been called the Queen of Scotland, then I got married Ive been called the Dauphine of France, now I'm being called the Queen of England. That's all anyone cares about? But who is looking after Mary Stuart? Who is going around trying to make sure this teenage girl who has been through so much is ok?"

Again Marie de Guise was silent. But Mary certainly was not finished." Who thought sending a five year old girl to France without her mother was maybe a heartbreaking experience?"

"It was for your safety, we had to," Marie said pleadingly with her daughter.

"But we would've been together, mother and daughter, the way it should be!" Mary said and balled her fists." Mary Stuart is gone, all that is left is the Queen everyone forced her to become, and I am not sure if I can play that part anymore. I am a teenager deciding the fate of nations!"

"Darling, this stress is not well for the baby," this was all Marie could even say to her daughter, but she instantly wished she hadn't.

"Stress? This stress? That show how well you know me mother because I am constantly stressed and no one seems to care!" Mary said with hot tears streaming down her face and she was practically yelling now," I am not a chess piece! I am a real person but no one treats me as such! So how am I supposed to inspire anyone when I can't even inspire myself?"

"You are not the only one deciding the fate of nations," Marie replied, trying to be calm to her daughter." Every single person decides the fate of a nation. There is no queen without the citizens, and the citizens cannot last without their monarch. Every baker, every blacksmith, bishop, noble, or farmer decides the fate of their nation. You are no more or no less important than they are. Those men out there, your Scottish subjects, the people of England who are loyal to you, they have as much to loose as you do. So do not speak to them as the Queen, because they don't care about her, speak to them as Mary Stuart, Scottish patriot, loyal to the true ruler of England."

Mary looked at her mother intently, then she slowly wiped her tears away," Then that is what I shall do," she said then she pulled her mother in to hug her tightly." Thank you mother."

Mary then made her way outside to see the troops off before they leave for the battle, and she needed to deliver a speech to them." Hello everyone and thank you for being here," she began," I must be honest in saying I do not have a speech written up. When I was a girl I was sent to France for my safety, this is far from a traditional Scottish upbringing. The only part of me that is English is from my grandmother. I guess you could say that your Queen isn't the most ideal woman for a ruler. However, Mary Stuart, is an ideal woman for an ally, a friend. Mary Stuart is just girl, as you are just men, just women, who love Scotland and want to see England ruled by the rightful ruler. She's just a teenager, but her love for her countrymen is as strong as all of the generations that preceded her. I am Mary Stuart, and I am the Queen of Scotland and England, I am both. But so are you. Each of you, King and Queen, deciders of the fate of your country. This is your country, this is your choice, and you have chosen me. You are the real rulers of your country, and today, you decide it's fate. You get to make the decision on the ruler of your country. Now, who is ready to fight for the decision they have made?"

Then there was a massive uproar in the crowds. Every soldier was cheering and Mary was crying tears of joy. Soon the soldiers began to chant the words "Long Live Mary" as opposed to the traditional "Long Live the Queen".

England

Elizabeth had no idea that Mary and her troops were coming, but she did know that her marriage with Philip was over. She had tried everything, pleading, begging, even threatening war, but it was no use. He had made up his mind, and there didn't seem to be any changing it.

Elizabeth stood on the balcony, overlooking the countryside when a servant said," Your Majesty, you have a visitor."

But before Elizabeth could respond, a man walked into the room." Elizabeth I needed to see you!"

Elizabeth jerked around at the familiar voice and saw the handsome face of Robert Dudley. She could've ran up to him and embraced him, but instead she just looked at him," How dare you enter my chambers this way," she said, but without the same regal command as she used to use.

"I heard your marriage to the Spanish king is falling apart!" Robert said and Elizabeth's eyes grew wide.

"Who told you that? Who knows about that?" Elizabeth asked in fury, she had only told one other person, and she know they wouldn't tell.

"That doesn't matter, Elizabeth, I want to be with you! I want to marry you!" Robert said and he grabbed Elizabeth's hands.

She smiled a bit them she pulled her hands back," No! My position is very unstable, I need to marry a king, I am sorry Robert."

"Please, I beg of you, don't think like a queen, just this once and think with your heart, you and I could be happy," he said pleadingly.

However Elizabeth just looked away, trying to fight back tears, she couldn't make that sacrifice to marry him. Then Robert nodded," I can take the hint." He said then he left her chambers.

As he walked out Lady Mary quickly walked up to begin walking beside him," So, how did it go? What did she say?!"

Robert stopped and looked at the young girl," I appreciate you telling me about this, but she said no, she still want to marry a king. Thank you anyway, for trying atleast."