Chapter 14: Bittersweet Return

Francis rushes down the halls of the castle. Catherine walks out of the throne room. She turns around and sees her golden-haired boy. "Francis? Is that you!" Oh my boy!" she rejoices. They both embrace overjoyed to see each other. "Mother, are you well?" he asks.

"You should not be here! Henry will be furious." She has to gather the strength to tell her son his father is mad. "I heard about Olivia. Where is she?" he asks. Catherine looks around, watching out for Henry. Then she hears him. "Go! She is in the infirmary!" she tells him. She kisses her son's hands one more time before he runs off. Francis leaves his mother and takes the secret passages to the infirmary. When he arrives, Nostradamous is tending to Olivia. "Olivia..." Francis says. He looks at the girl he once loved, someone he has thought of every day since Mary left him for Bash. She sits up and looks at him. "Francis. You returned?" she says. Nostradamus steps back to give them privacy. 'Wait! Olivia calls, reaching and taking his hand. "I won't be long. Francis is an old friend." Francis's heart drops when he sees Olivia's hand in Nostradamus's. "Why have you returned?" she asks, walking closer to him. He steps back, looking at Nostradamus and seeing how uncomfortable he is. "I wanted to see if you were alright." Like Mary, he also wishes Olivia happiness. But he did not think he would see her with someone like Nostradamus. He thought she would always be there for him.

"Nostradamus he saved my life. Nursed me back to health. I almost feel ready to rejoin society. How amazing is that?" she says, a smile on her face. Francis smiles for her. "I am most certainly glad to hear it," he replies. He looks at Nostradamus and gives him a smile. "Take care of her, please," he says. He hugs Olivia quickly and leaves the room. As soon as he leaves the room, Kenna is waiting. "What are you doing back here?" she asks.

"I wanted to see Olivia. I heard what happened." He says. He doesn't meet her eye, and Kenna notices. She places a hand on Francis's shoulder "Are you alright?" Francis looks at her and notices a cut on her cheek, and the bruise on her arm as her sleeve falls slightly. "Kenna, what happened?" Francis asks, taking Kenna's arm. He caresses her cheek at the cut. "It's fresh. Who did this to you?" he asks. Kenna steps back, trying not to cause alarm. But she knows Francis is no foul. "My father. He did this."

"I know what I signed up for. Besides, Henry has gone mad. I am happy I found you because we actually have an issue." Kenna says. Francis does not care, all he knows is Kenna is in serious danger. "You must break this engagement off. We will find another way. We must act quickly, soon he will pressure Mary to take England. This wedding is a distraction."

"We can't wait much longer. Francis, he, and Catherine snuck a secret contract into Mary and Bash's wedding contrast. It gives Scotland to France if Mary dies. Henry just told me this morning about it. I was refusing to do something and he treated to harm Mary and take Scotland and I would be his subject and I would have to do as he says. He said there was a secret document in Mary's wedding contract."

"That gives him a license to kill Mary," Francis says, wide-eyed. Kenna nods, in total and utter fear for Mary's life. "If she does not take England. He will take her life." Francis says.

"We have to tell Mary," Kenna says. Francis walks off saying no over and over again to her protests. She tries to reason with him, but it does not work. "She is at risk" and "she is strong she can handle it" and "she won't be implicated."

"Kenna we don't know that. The less she knows the better off she is." Francis says. Kenna lifts her head up high, knowing what she has to do. "Fine. But she must know about the document so she can warn her countrymen." Kenna walks off past Francis and to the path of Mary.