Thank you so much everyone, for all the wonderful follows, favorites and reviews! I so appreciate all your support. I hope you enjoy chapter three and the next will be coming very soon, along with some exciting moments to look forward to.

Chapter 3: Questions

Why did talking have to be so difficult? Mary pondered the question while plucking a fluffy white dandelion from the grassy knoll where she sat, overlooking the chateau. Closing her eyes, she blew the wispy seeds and made a wish— a wish for the happy life she used to have to return. A wish for joy to return to her life. Mary opened her eyes as the seeds scattered through the air. With the backdrop of the majestic chateau, rolling hills and calming blue sky, a small ray of hope entered her heart. Maybe in a place like this, wishes could come true.

She'd tiptoed out of her chambers with the dawn, careful not to wake Francis. Mary needed time alone. Time to think and work out the recurring nightmare in her mind. She couldn't tell him yet, not when she didn't understand it herself. What had happened to them? She used to feel as though she could talk to Francis about almost anything— especially when they were courting. In spite of all the drama with his parents and politics, it was the two of them against the world. They could do anything together. Now they were more like strangers. However, one thing hadn't changed. In spite of all the trials they'd endured in their marriage, she still loved Francis with all her heart and never wanted to lose him.

Mary shuddered as the dream returned to the forefront of her mind. She'd found herself wandering down in a narrow passage filled with doors. Each one she opened showed a part of her life with Francis. Many were happy memories and others sad or bittersweet. At the end of the hallway, she reached two heavy doors side by side. The first door was heavy, but Mary forced her way in.

To her horror, she saw Francis laying in a bed, pale as a ghost as she begged him not to leave her. As his eyes rolled back, she ran out the doorway to try the second door but no matter how hard she pushed, it wouldn't open. At the last moment she noticed a key hanging from a thin chain around her neck. Mary always woke up right before unlocking the second door. The dream remained the same every night. She was powerless to change it.

After several nights of the recurring dream, Mary sought out Nostradamus for his interpretation. "What does it mean? Please, tell me everything. I need to know," she pleaded after recounting the dream.

Nostradamus's expression turned grave as he explained. "Your dream aligns with the prophesy I have foreseen. The prophesy of Francis' death."

Mary's heart shattered. "No! There has to be some way to save him.

He nodded, but no hope shone in his eyes. "There may be, but it comes with a terrible cost, Mary."

"Whatever, the cost, I will pay it."

He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, like her words caused him anguish. "You do not know what you are agreeing to. Nor do I, but I fear there will be heavy consequences."

"I don't care. How do I change his fate? As your queen, I demand for you to tell me."

Nostradamus paused and released an exhausted sigh while resting his weathered palms on the table. "Very well. The two doors represent two paths your life could take. If you continue down the current path, Francis will certainly die. The other door represents an alternate future."

"A future where he will live?"

He clamped his mouth shut for a moment before speaking again, as if weighing his words carefully. "I believe so, but I cannot be certain. Unfortunately, my gift of foresight has its limits. If you choose a new path, you will lose something else. There is always a cost when it comes to changing someone's fate."

"And what of the key?"

"It represents the choice you must make. You will come to a crossroad. If you wish to change your current path, make the choice that is most difficult. The one your heart resists."

"The one my heart resists?"

He nodded. "Yes, you will know what that is when the decision comes."

Mary had left the presence of Nostradamus even more confused than she'd come. How would she know the right choice to make and what would be the cost? The questions tormented her. Had she made the right choice?

"There you are," Francis said while sitting beside her. "I started searching when you didn't return for breakfast."

Mary snapped out of her dazed thoughts. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

He smiled at her and the morning sun glowed over his golden curls. "There's no need to apologize. I decided to bring breakfast out to you."

Mary smiled, noticing the picnic basket in his hand. "That was very sweet of you, Francis. I believe I have worked up an appetite now."

"That's a relief. I'd hoped I wouldn't have to eat all of this by myself." He arched an amused eyebrow and they both laughed at his cheeky remark. When was the last time they'd shared a laugh? It sounded so odd, and yet wonderful. This used to be their normal— talking freely— laughing with one another. Oh, how she longed for it to return. She'd had a first glimpse of their "old normal" last night when he enveloped her into his arms and comforted her after her nightmare. In his arms she'd felt at home, but then reality came crashing around her again and panic took hold. She'd had to pull away, but Mary didn't wish to do that any longer.

She pushed all worries away for a moment and enjoyed her picnic breakfast with Francis. They talked of nothing important— only the pleasant warm day and improvements the chateau might need in the future to make it their own. Mary relished the simple moments, wishing they could go on and on without complications or arguments tainting them.

When they finished eating, Francis gazed into the distance, as though deep in thought. When he looked back at her, his smile faded. "Mary, about last night…"

Mary held her breath, fearing the question to come. She couldn't keep the dream from him forever, but after telling him, everything would change. Their relaxing holiday at the chateau and second chance to rekindle their relationship would be spoiled.

A sudden gust of wind swept over the grassy knoll, interrupting Francis. Mary's hair covered her face and when she brushed it aside a chuckle escaped her lips. "Well, that was unexpected."

Francis nodded with a laugh and smoothed his hair back from his forehead. "Yes, it was" He pointed to the sky. "Mary, look!"

She focused in the direction he pointed and let out a gasp. "Oh, Francis, It's beautiful." The wind had disrupted the white dandelions, filling the air with their wispy seeds, like thousands of wishes coming true at once. She reached for his hand, and they watched the seeds float into the horizon. "It reminds me of the last dance at your sister's wedding. Do you remember?"

"How could I forget? You, twirling in your beautiful gown, with white feathers falling all around you. You were stunning, Mary… like an angel in the clouds. Not asking you to dance is one of my many regrets."

She smiled and gripped his hand tighter. "It was meant to happen as it did. When our eyes met from across the dancefloor that night, I knew we were meant to be together."

"So did I, even if I tried to deny it later. We were always meant to be, my love."

Mary nodded as happy tears flooded her eyes. "Always."

His sapphire eyes gleamed with hope. "Can we start again, Mary? In this place, we can set all the regrets and complications aside and not be a king and queen for a while. Can we simply be just a boy and just a girl who love each other more than anything?"

"Yes, I'd like that very much."

Mary's apprehension vanished as he drew her into his warm embrace. She relished in his closeness and familiar scent— some glorious combination of citrus from the oranges he enjoyed eating and the leather from his vest. Nothing else mattered in the moment— not prophesies, fears, regrets, or past arguments. Later, they could work through those things together. Right now, all that mattered was they had found each other again.