Chapter 16: Battling the Darkness
Francis and Olivia sit and talk in the infirmary when Bash comes in. Francis leaps up, anger in his eyes. "If it isn't for my wife stealing brother," he says. Bash gives his little brother a glance. "Mary chose me, brother. If she hadn't I would have left you both alone. I would have looked out for her and you. even if Henry sent me away." Bash says.
"Francis," Olivia starts. "I know you're angry. But I asked Bash to come because he knows the Pagans and he knows the Blood Wood. You said yourself you want to take the Darkness down. You can with Bash's help." Both brothers look at each other. Bash is more than willing to help Francis despite being angered about Lola, but Francis is not too eager to help Bash. But Francis sees the terror in Olivia's eyes, and he knows he must put his jealousy aside.
"We leave right now," Francis says, getting up and leaving. Bash follows him out after promising Olivia they will be successful. He follows Francis out with two guards. They ride out past the woods and to the area Olivia described. "See any beast?" Francis asks Bash. Bash shakes his head, getting his bow ready. "Let's be ready to kill it when it does arrive," Bash says.
Then the noise sounds and all men are ready to battle. The Darkness comes out, a big man. Both princes look at one another and start fighting. Bash shoots an arrow at the thing, while Francis comes in swinging. Francis looks down by them and sees an icy pond. He looks back and sees the beast closing in on Bash. He knows what he has to do at this moment. "Come get me! I am the future King!" he yells. The beast, who thought it was Bash, turns around. "I am King Bash! Come get me!" The beast runs towards Francis. Francis gets off his horse and runs away towards the pond. When he reaches it he waits for the beast. Finally, he comes, the ice beginning to crack. Without much time, the ice shatters beneath them, sweeping both away. "Francis!" Bash yells, rushing over to the hole. Francis is gone but he notices the current. "There is a current! Find him! Find my brother!" he yells at the guards.
Bash rushes to find Francis, stopping many many times to save him. When he finally finds him, he starts cutting away at the ice, punching the ice until it breaks. Finally, it does, and Bash begins to pull his brother out. The guards yell towards Bash, telling him to run. Bash looks at the beast as it runs its way. Bash shuts his eyes and keeps his brother close to him. Then an arrow is fired into the beast. Bash looks up and sees an arrow right through his heart. Then another in his head. Two more are fired and Bash is left in awe. Francis starts to cough up the water as Bash pushes him on his side. Bash looks up to see his wife, Mary, bow, and arrow in hand. The beast lays still on the ice, dead. "Bash! Francis!" Mary yelps, rushing over to them.
Mary POV
I get to Francis and start patting his back, getting all the water out. "Is he alright?" Bash asks. I nod, looking at Francis's pale face. "We need to get him to Nostradamus," I say. Both Bash and I pick him up and help him onto his horse. I look back at the beast I just killed, the guards walking over. "Its... just a man." One says. I look at Bash, who did not think at first this beast was human. We both look at Francis. He knew it was just a man. Bash and I look at each other and I am wondering if he feels as I do. Guilt. Guilt for all we put Francis through.
"We need to get him back, now. When I lived in the convent, during one winter a girl fell through the ice and died an hour later. The Castle is hours out!" I cry.
"Not unless we go back through the Blood Wood. It will be shorter," he says. Francis is injured, and the Pagans in the woods will see this and see a perfect opportunity for a blood sacrifice. "Bash I can't go through that again. They terrify me. I know you aren't like them but those Pagans frighten me." I say.
"Mary, I have always protected you and I promised to always do so. I can get us through safely," he says. Bash kisses me once more before mounting his horse. I get on the back, keeping Francis between us. We then ride off, heading straight for the woods.
While riding through, the chants start not long after. A flame passes in front of us, causing our horse to fly up on its back legs. We hold onto each other, and Francis. Bash stops and listens to the chants, his Pagan guard listening too. Just like they did when we helped Isabel, Bash's cousin give birth in the Blood Wood. "What is it?" I ask. Bash takes his sword out, the guard doing the same. "We killed their leader. They want a life to pay for a life. They want to raise the Darkness back from the dead." he says. My eyes grow wide as I look at Francis. "Bash his mouth is now blue. Light blue." I say. I open Francis's eyes, also turning chilly.
"Bash!" I cry out. I put my fingers to Francis's neck. "His heartbeat, it's faint," I say. Bash gets off his horse, making me scoot forward. Francis wakes up and I gasp. Bash has me get off and puts Francis on the back. "What's going on?" Francis mumbles.
"Mary, go straight and don't stop for anything," Bash says. I shake my head as I see the hoods coming closer. "No! No Bash I won't leave you!" I yell. Bash doesn't listen. He kicks the horse in the butt and it lunges forward. "I love you, Mary!" he cries. Francis has his arms tight around me. I know I must get him back, and then I can send an army for Bash. Besides, one thing Bash knows about me that Francis doesn't is that I am fast. With running, with horses. I always have been able to keep up. The coats move closer around us, some torches are lit, but I keep running. I keep Bash in my mind as we speed forward until we reach the gates. I skid inside just as we make it. Catherine walks out as the gates open, then she sees Francis. She starts running towards us. I stop the horse and she grabs her son. "It's hyperthermia. Catherine get him to Nostradamous now!" I say. I look at the courtyard, soldiers standing and watching. "Your future King is in danger! Ready your horses! We must go now!" I cry. But no one moves.
"Why should we help that bastard?" Someone asks. My smile drops and I look at every one. "Because he is my husband. The future king of France, and the King consort of Scotland! Scotland and France are allies! If you turn against him, you turn against France. And if you turn against France, you become my enemy. I may be a Scot, but I was raised here! This is my country! My home! And I will let no one turn against France. Now, please! Help me save my husband." I say. Catherine hands Francis over to two guards. "You heard her! Horses now!" Catherine commands. The soldiers listen, reading their horses. Catherine grabs a horse but I grab her arm before she hops on. "What are you doing?" I ask.
"Bash and you saved my son. I want to help you both." She says. I look out as the soldiers start riding from where I came. "Catherine you have to stay here and take care of Francis. I have to go after Bash." I say. Catherine agrees and stays behind. "I can't have you out there. It is too risky." Catherine says.
"Bash is my husband and I must save him," I say. A guard passes me a sword and we all ride off. Once we reach the woods, the bloodbath is done. I ride slowly in awe around the forest, looking at the battle. Bash stands in the center, blood splattered all over his leather coat. My eyes grow wide once I see all the dead Pagans. "He did it. He killed all the Pagans." one guard says. I know what this means. The people are going to love Bash for getting rid of the threat. But now any remaining radical Pagans will come after him. And we have no idea how big this will be.
