A/N: I just wanted to thank everyone who has been reading this. I know this isn't the best story, but over the course of wiring I have grown so much as a writer. Thanks for sticking with it, please leave reviews of message me if there is anything you wanna tell me about the story! (Btw I am considering going back and rewriting earlier chapters because after rereading them, I think they are horrible lol)

September 8, 1558

France

The carriage had been a bumpy ride, but not completely unenjoyable to Elisabeth. She got to spend the entire time cuddled up next to her husband, which made her feel happy. It was almost hard for her to believe that there was a time that she'd rather be sent to a nunnery than to marry Carlos. The rumors of his madness struck fear into her about her future, but she was happy to find out the rumors were merely exaggerated. She would be lying if she said his mental state was completely normal, but it was nothing to dangerous or out of the ordinary. Unfortunately his father Philip wishes to capitalize of these rumors and declare him mentally unfit to rule. Elisabeth decided not to tell Carlos this.

Elisabeth was trying to clear her mind of all of this politics and secrecy in which she had been sucked into while being in Spain. In just a matter of months Elisabeth went from cheering for her brother on the sidelines to becoming a key player in the game of chess that was European politics. Sometimes she missed the simple life of being just the king's sister. Now she was the future queen of Spain, and secret ally of Mary and Francis with the mother-in-law, Catherine Grey. She knew she would protect her brother and her marriage, but she just needed her mother's guidance.

"We should be there soon," Carlos said causing Elisabeth to snap out of her deep thought."Everything will be ok. I know you wish to protect your brother, and you need to be in Spanish court to do this. I won't let my father get away with this."

Elisabeth, who had been resting against Carlos, sat up and looked at her husband. It was almost like he knew, but she was unsure how he knew, Elisabeth made sure not to tell him."Won't let him get away with what?" She asked him curiously.

"The cardinal's secretary is an old friend. He told me that my father wants me declared mentally unfit. I know you have been keeping this secret from me, and I know why you have. However, I promise you, that he will not get away with it. I know you need to protect Francis and Mary, and I want to protect them as well," He told his wife.

Elisabeth was shocked to know that he knew of the plot, but part of her was glad he did, so she would not have to be the one to tell him." Its not just about that, I love you Carlos. If your father gets his way our marriage will be annulled and I can't bear that feeling," She assured her husband and then asked," You would really side with Francis and Mary, over your own father?"

"That man was no father to me," Carlos said with a grim expression on his face,"That is why he is doing this. He knows after the way he's treated me, that my loyalties would be with you, thats why he wants me removed from the line of succession. He's a bad man. What he did to Mary Tudor, then to her sister Elizabeth. Promised her the world then abandoned her with a ruined reputation. Now he is using Catherine Grey as his vessel to get my replacement. It would not surprise me if this was his plan all along. To sabotage Elizabeth Tudor's claim to England, so he could take Francis and Mary down while they are weak."

As Elisabeth heard this, her heart began to pound in her chest, filled with fear. It seems that King Philip was more evil and more dangerous than anyone had expected. He had manipulated all of this so he and the Hapsburgs could take down the Valois and conquer France, England, and maybe even Scotland, and no one had even suspected it.

As Mary saw the carriage approach the castle, she was glad to see her sister-in-law again. She also knew that Francis would be happy to see Elisabeth as well, and of course Catherine would be overjoyed. When she saw Carlos exit the carriage then assist Elisabeth, it made Mary feel happy that Elisabeth was embracing her new husband."Carlos and Elisabeth, welcome back to France and it is so good to see you again!" Mary said happily.

To Mary's shock, Elisabeth approached her with open arms for a hug. This was not formal for royalty, but Mary did not care and she embraced Elisabeth. Then she realized why this had happened. Elisabeth whispered to Mary," We need to speak as a family. Alone."

Mary nodded as she pulled back," Carlos and Elisabeth, please accompany me to the royal nursery to see the prince and princess," She said knowing no one but the royal family was allowed in there," Francis and Catherine come with us." Francis and Catherine seemed to understand Mary's tone as they followed her to the nursery. When they arrived Mary dismissed the governess and then closed the door." Elisabeth is something wrong?"

Elisabeth looked at the babies and smiled a bit, but she knew she could spend time with them after she gave the news."Philip is more dangerous than we thought, he wants to declare Carlos mentally unfit to rule, which in turn would annul my marriage to him. He's gambling that either Elizabeth to Catherine is carrying a boy that could become the new heir."

"Why would he do that? That is to much of a risk," Catherine de Medic asked confused on Philip's motives. In fact there is not a single decision he's made that made sense to her. At that realization she knew what was going on." He's playing us, all of us."

Carlos nodded in agreement with his mother-in-law," He knows my loyalty lies with Elisabeth, which means it lies with he house of Valois, so he wants me gone. He has been planning this all from the beginning."

"Of course, it all makes sense now. His marriage and quick divorce of Elizabeth, his insistence on marrying one of the Grey sisters, his attempt to stop Elisabeth's marriage to Carlos, we have been set up," Catherine said as she balled her fists in anger."If Catherine Grey or Elizabeth Tudor gives him a son he will have a replacement heir, who also has a claim to the English throne!"

Mary started to feel faint as something occurred to her. This was all set in motion by one thing, the death of Mary Tudor, who was coincidentally Philip's wife. There is no way he came up with the plan so quickly, he had to of known Mary was going to die. Mary fell back into a chair," Dear lord I think he killed Mary Tudor. I do not know how, but he did, poison, an assassin, I don't know, but he did." Francis went to Mary's side to comfort her.

"The solution is simple, there is no time for an elaborate plan to take him down, we have to act swiftly if we are going to make sure Carlos is king," Catherine said as he walked to the desk and began to scribble on a piece of paper," Philip has to die, and he has to die now. Philip made himself the puppet master of all of Europe, but with him gone and Carlos as king, Europe will be controlled by the people in this room."

Elisabeth knew what her mother was suggesting and she did not know if she could go through with it," Mother I cannot kill Philip."

"I know dear, and I would never ask you to, luckily I know someone who will do it and be glad they did," Catherine said as she finished writing and sealed the letter. On the front she wrote 'To Marie de Guise'.

Scotland

Recently Mary was able to get back in Elizabeth's good graces, and things were almost like they used to be. Mary knew she was doing a job for Queen Mary, but Mary also genuinely loved and cared for Elizabeth. However, one thing Princess Mary left out of her letters to Queen Mary was Elizabeth's relationship to Queen Mary's half brother James. Elizabeth claimed that she and James were through, but Mary had hopes Elizabeth would stop being so stubborn and give James a chance.

As well as spying on Elizabeth, Mary also had to balance that with her marriage to Charles. Since they had married their love did not waver, but in fact grew stronger, she knew they had a bright future together. She just hoped she and Charles could step back from politics soon and enjoy life as a normal couple. However, that did not seem likely in the near future. The political landscape of Europe has changed so much, it seems as if everyone in both her and Charles's families were major players in Europe.

She tried not to let the stress get to her, so she decided to walk with Charles in the gardens. She enjoyed this time with him because she was not sure how much she would get."How are things with Lady Elizabeth?" Charles asked his wife.

"They are better," Mary replied, it was still hard for her to see the relationship she had with Elizabeth crumble, but Elizabeth asked her to choose between her and her cousin Mary, and the choice wasn't hard. However, Princess Mary still felt guilty about it, she felt like she was all Elizabeth had, and she turned her back on her."If I try hard I can almost pretend like nothing has changed. How is your sister enjoying Spain?"

"She writes me that she enjoys her husband's company and she is very fond of your sister the queen. The two have seemed to become very close. However she informed me that danger is nearing and I am frightened," Charles admitted, he missed the days that he and his siblings were all together.

Before Mary could respond a servant rushed over to the young couple. Out of breathe the servant said," Princess Mary, Lady Elizabeth has summoned you, she is gone into labor and she wants you by her side."