Scotland
Elizabeth sat in her bed, with her new born daughter in her arms, and Princess Mary sitting next to her. The labor was long and difficult but it was all worth it to see the beautiful girl in her arms. Elizabeth loved this child instantly and would do anything to protect her. She wondered if this is how her own mother felt when she was born. She also wondered how her own father could treat her so horribly. However, none of that mattered now, Elizabeth had a daughter to love and cherish.
Princess Mary was happy to see her cousin so happy. She hoped motherhood would soften Elizabeth, and it already appeared to be working. "She is so beautiful, like her mother. What will you name her?"
"I have had this name picked out ever since I figured out I was pregnant," She told Mary and smiled again at her daughter in her arms, "She will be called Anne, after my mother."
Mary smiled at the sentiment, "What a beautiful name for a beautiful princess, and best yet, she looks nothing like Philip." Mary laughed a little, hoping this would be a new chapter in all of their lives, with Elizabeth giving up her anger and hatred.
Elizabeth could not help and laugh a bit, but before she could respond the door opened and James Stewart walked in. She could not look at him the same anymore since she had rejected his proposal. If only he knew she had said no because she loved him. "My lady congratulations on the birth of your child. I also come bearing news. Her majesty the Queen is summoning your presence at French court. The Princess Mary and I have also been asked to accompany you."
September 16, 1559
Spain
Catherine was in her private study going over some papers. Philip rarely gave her anything to do, so she mostly studied various topics about Spain, hopefully to find weakness in case Philip really did turn on the Valois. Admittedly she was lonely. Without her daughter-in-law Elisabeth or Carlos here Catherine had no one to talk to. The young couple were the only ones she was close to and felt she could trust. However, she knew it was for the best, they were safer in France for the time being. If Carlos was not in Spain, the cardinal could not declare him insane. It also did not help that a rift was developing between she and her husband. It started with her pregnancy, he took a mistress, which she could overlook, but recently she was seeing even less of him. Maybe he was guilty, but to be honest Catherine did not want to see him either. Sometimes she still longed for Edward, her husband of only a few months who died in battle. How much easier and happier her life would be if he were still here.
As Catherine was looking over some papers she was shocked when the door open and the servant said, "Your majesty, the Dowager Queen of Scots is here to speak to you, should I let her in?"
'Marie de Guise? What is she doing here?' Catherine thought to herself. She knew that Marie was here for something that probably involved Mary, but Catherine had no idea what it could be." Send her in," Catherine told the guard before standing up from her desk and waiting for there queen to enter.
Marie entered the room with the usual sense of confidence and determination. Catherine could immediately tell that she was here for an important reason. Marie waited for the guard to close the door and leave them before saying, " Are we in complete privacy right now? The matter I am here to discuss requires the upmost secrecy and discretion."
Catherine nodded, now used to the Dowager Queen of Scots' usual straight to the point attitude." Pleasure to see you again as well your majesty," Catherine said before sitting back at her desk and motioning her hand for Marie de Guise to sit on a nearby couch." We are in complete privacy, you can speak freely here. What is the purpose of your visit?"
"To kill your husband," Marie replied plainly. She had received clear instruction from Catherine de Medici to not leave Spain until its king was dead, and she planned on following those orders. In the past Catherine de Medici and Marie de Guise would butt heads, but now the two were very close allies, protecting the interests of their children.
The young Queen of Spain was both shocked and instantly anxious about Marie's suggestion. "Your majesty, that seems like a rather hasty and impulsive thing to do, perhaps we should think of a better plan?" Obviously this idea terrified Catherine. Queen's have been beheaded for doing much less than killing their husbands, and Catherine had no interest in ending up like her sister Jane.
"This is the only plan," Marie replied to the young queen. She knew that dealing with someone so young and inexperienced would be hard, and Marie knew after dealing with Mary Grey that the Grey sisters were stubborn, but she knew she had to convince Catherine. "Every day that man breathes is a step closer to a full scale European war. The Valois control France, England, and Scotland, but their reign is still fragile, Philip wishes to upset that balance. We could not win a war against the entirety of the Hapsburg Empire. Prince Carlos is loyal to his Valois in laws, we need him on the Spanish throne."
Catherine looked over at the small portrait of Philip on her desk. Their marriage was not as happy as she had thought it would be, but she could not imagine him launching a full scale war against Mary and Francis. Nor could she imagine him trying to spread lies about his son's sanity in order to disinherit him. "He is a kind man, maybe I should talk to him." Catherine was lying to herself though. She's known for a while that Philip was only interested in power, but the idea of killing him terrified her.
Marie could tell the girl was upset, but now was no time for crying. "We believe he killed Mary Tudor in order to set this entire plan in motion. He is capable of ruining everything we have all worked so hard to build."
Catherine held her stomach, almost upset that she was carrying this man's child. A murderer. He murdered his own wife. She sighed, knowing her unborn child would be much better off if Philip was gone. She then rose to meet Marie de Guise's gaze. "What do you need me to do?"
France
It was well into the night. Frequently, Mary, Francis, and Catherine de Medici would stay up late at night in order to discuss things without the curious ears of French court. Tonight was different though. It would not be just the three of them. Mary knew she needed to form a team to take down not just Philip, but the rest of the Hapsburg threat. She needed cunning minds, powerful people, and most of all, loyalty. However, in the current state of Europe, that seemed impossible to find.
Presently, the new additions to Mary, Francis, and Catherine de Medici's team was Queen Mary's young sister-in-law Elisabeth, and her husband, Prince Carlos of Spain. She was grateful for their support, after all having the heir to the Spanish throne on your side seemed almost like a miracle. But neither of them were versed in politics nor could wield much power in their current state. She is lucky that King Philip let his son even leave Spain amidst all of the plotting. Nonetheless, Mary was hopeful, because there was one person on their way that could change everything. Mary needed their help in order to defeat Philip and without them, there would probably be no hope.
"This is a horrible idea, how can we trust her after all that has happened," Catherine de Medici asked in a rage as she paced the floors as the team waited for the arrival of special person.
"I know what I am obligated to do in order to win her loyalty and I am prepared to do it," Mary replied to her mother-in-law before her husband, Francis grabbed her hand. Small gestures such as that were the young couple's way of displaying unity, something they often needed to do in order to show Catherine where the real power lies.
"Good," said an unfamiliar female voice coming from the hallway. Princess Mary and her husband Prince Charles entered, arms interlocked." Because she is not happy to be here, we could barely get her onto the boat."
Queen Mary's face lit up as she saw her young cousin enter the room. Princess Mary was not only loyal and smart, but also Queen Mary and her have grown very close since they first met almost a year before. The Queen of Scots could not remember how she got along without Princess Mary to talk to. The Queen stood from her throne and ran to her cousin. The two Marys embraced each other tightly. "I missed you much! And I am glad you are here, we will need you ingenuity. Also, where is she now?"
Princess Mary smiled at her cousin, having missed her as well. "I am glad to see you as well," She said and then looked around a bit, disappointed her sister Catherine was not invited to this meeting, the two had not seen each other since Princess Mary's short trip to Spain in the summer. "She is on her way, your brother is helping her, she has given birth to a girl right before we left."
Then the doors opened again, the Scottish queen looked up and saw her brother enter. She gave him a wide smile before seeing Lady Elizabeth walk in right behind him. At the sight of Elizabeth after all this time, Mary's heart dropped. She told herself she could be regal and powerful again, but it all faded as she saw her old nemesis.
Elizabeth Tudor was not so pleased to see Queen Mary again either, and her mind could only wonder why she was called here. It was her impression she was meant to rot in that horrid Scottish court forever. "Can we skip the pleasantries? Why am I here?"
Catherine de Medici closed the doors and locked them, in order to keep anyone from coming in or listening. "Everything we say in this room stays in this room," The Dowager Queen of France announced. "We are sworn to secrecy with only those in this room, and Queen Catherine of Spain, and Marie de Guise. No one else can be trusted. We all have a common enemy to face."
Elizabeth could only imagine this was about King Philip of Spain. She looked down at her infant daughter. That common enemy was Anne's father. "He is not enemy of mine, I am the mother of his child."
"As if he cares," Prince Carlos replied. It was the first thing he'd said all night, but he knew better than anyone how King Philip was. Elizabeth then looked down, almost guilty of what she had said. She knew the rumors of what Philip was trying to do to Carlos, and she was kind of an accessory to that plot. "Especially now since your child is a girl. May I hold my sister?"
Elizabeth nodded and handed the infant Anne to the Spanish prince. She then turned back to the others, "Well he is still not my enemy. I was rid of the pleasure of having enemies when you shipped me to Scotland."
"He wants to take over England," Mary responded bluntly, knowing it would appeal to Elizabeth's love of her country. " He was going to use your daughter to do it, but now he will likely use our cousin Catherine and her unborn child. That means a spaniard on the throne of England, I know even you'd say thats worse than a Scot. Also, you and I both know that Philip will burn every protestant on the British Isles if he is in charge, and I suspect that would include you."
Elizabeth clenched her fists, not in anger, but in nerves. It seemed each day Mary become more confident and learned how to manipulate even more. Mary was right, Elizabeth's hands were tied, and there was almost nothing she could do about it. However, Elizabeth was not going to show all her cards, she was going to try and get something out of this." I care not for the peasant Protestants, nor even my own life. I now only care for my daughter, who would be safer with her father being powerful."
Mary knew this was a lie, Elizabeth was not so heartless as to abandon her Protestant supporters. It was a power play, one Mary did not mind indulging in order to win Elizabeth's loyalty. "I thought you might say that. Which is why I am accepting the proposal you gave so long ago. Your beautiful daughter Anne will grow up to be marry my son Henry, making her the Queen of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. And I will establish religious tolerance in England."
"Are you mad?!" Catherine de Medici yelled at the top of her lungs.
"We have discussed this and it is the best course of action," Francis told his mother and shot her a look to silence her.
Elizabeth looked over at Anne in the arms of Carlos. She then thought back of her own childhood of not knowing what her future would hold. She did not want that for Anne. She looked back at Mary, staring straight into her eyes and said, "What do you need me to do?"
Author's Note: Hi! Its been a while lol. I started this story years ago for fun, and about a year ago I got discouraged because I thought it was very bad and that no one cared, so I stopped writing it. However, recently I have received a few messages asking me to bring it back, they were so heartfelt and so kind that I felt like I owed all who read this to continue this story. I cannot promise the frequency of the updates, however I can say that I will be trying to resurrect this story and keep it going in the future. Thank you for all who read this, feel free to message me or leave reviews! (Btw this chapter is boring I know, I just wanted to try and get everyone back together for the first chapter of my comeback!)