Epilogue

Five years later

*Author's note: needless to say, I have discarded any and all connection to historical accuracy in the spirit of fun and fantasy.*

Mary ran down the stairs of the front hall in her Scottish castle, still a child at heart when pure excitement propelled her. She caught herself up at the bottom, remembering to be careful. But today was nothing less than her favorite day of the year, and her face was lit by an irrepressible grin reflective of jubilant anticipation.

Every June, in defiance of the forces that had been devised by the world of royals to drive a wedge between them, the group of friends reunited in Scotland. Francis and Lola. Greer and Leith. Mary and Bash. The marriages that had bound each couple remained sturdy and thoroughly happy, and they all had many stories to fondly unfold to one another about their lives since their last meeting. As they confided these tales to one another in the sitting room, each couple nestled close together, their children played happily around them, increasing their felicity.

Francis, Lola, Greer, and Leith arrived together. Since Francis had granted Leith a title and a place at French court, he and Greer had been able to wed after Lord Castleroy decided to put Lola's happiness before his own by releasing her from their engagement. Greer and Leith's beautiful little blonde boy and girl went bolting full-force into the castle with only the most rapid and thoughtless of greetings to their parents' royal Scottish friend. Mary laughed, admitting the rest of the party as they all embraced affectionately.

Life in Scotland hadn't been smooth for Mary and Bash at first, but after all, this was her kingdom and she had the power to arrange her life to make it the way it needed to be. That involved the lengthy process of compelling her mother to stop trying to interfere with her relationship with Bash, and in convincing Mary de Guise finally that Bash was her true and irrefutable love, somehow Mary became closer to her formally cold and elusive mother at last. Deep down, Mary suspected that her mother had come to respect that stubborn, scheming, indefatigable side of herself that so perfectly matched that quality in the woman who had given her life. Now, after five years, an easy, comfortable camaraderie had long since evolved between them, and her mother had even come to begrudgingly like Bash, who, after all, made an excellent quiet joking companion at all stiff and formal royal events.

Mary's happiness at being back among her people, whom she strived ever to keep in peace and safety, was complimented by the bliss of being wed to Bash and having him by her side always. The passion and elation of their love had only grown over time. When their daughter, Antoinette, had arrived two years ago, Bash had held Mary's hand strong and fast, his eyes brimming with loving tears of wonder. The scene brought them both back to the silent promise of that night in the tent years ago, witnessing the birth of the pagan child, when they had first realized they loved one another. In a flash of recognition, Mary and Bash had seen their future in each other's eyes, and they had been right. With a thoroughly feisty disposition, the pretty little Antoinette was certainly her mother's daughter, as Bash never tired of reminding Mary with an exhausted, affectionate, and amused attitude.

Now, Antoinette spun around, holding hands with the flaxen-haired twins Margery and James as they all made themselves dizzy. Soon, they were joined by Francis and Lola's son, who went hurtling past Mary so fast that her skirts went blowing up around her. The children knocked each other over in a merry heap in the exuberance of their reunion.

"Francis, Lola!" Mary greeted her much-missed loved ones, hugging them both in one fell swoop. Bash appeared with Mary de Guise in his trail.

"Oh, is it time for this infernal mess already?" Mary's mother inquired tartly. "How fast the year does go by. You will excuse me, your majesty," She nodded to Francis with a little bow. "And all of you other varied creatures," she said to the rest dismissively before traipsing off to make mischief elsewhere.

"Brother," Bash greeted warmly, clasping Francis' hand in his own. Everyone gathered in the usual room, chatting enthusiastically all in a flurry of news that simply couldn't wait another moment to be shared. They collapsed into their chairs and sofas, a glittering assemblage of lovely young people in the full flush of life. As they partook of a light lunch, Mary was startled in the midst of a giggling frenzy with Greer and Lola by the sight of a guard informing her that there was another visitor at the door.

Could it be?, Mary wondered. There was one person, one friend, she dared to hope to herself, who had been invited every year to this gathering but had never attended. Suddenly, the realization of the visitor's identity struck her heart with certainty.

"Excuse me," Mary murmured almost to herself, rising and hurrying to the entrance. Sure enough, she saw Kenna standing there waiting for her.

They both burst into tears and threw their arms around each other, so many reasons for their explosion of emotion making them cling to one another, washing away the years of conflicted feelings — guilt, anger, regret, resentment — useless impediments to the affection of true sisterhood that had always bound their hearts.

What made them laugh upon stepping back from each other was the fact that they were both pregnant. "Kenna," Mary said in a half-sob, "I'm so glad you're here."

"So am I," Kenna replied quietly, wiping away a tear and grinning at her own uncharacteristic display of fragility. "Look at us," she grinned, "it's as if we were always meant to meet again right at this time, in this moment."

"We certainly make a lovely matching pair," Mary agreed, touching Kenna's blooming belly lightly. "Kenna," she began, her features growing more serious, "I want to tell you that—"

"Never mind all that," Kenna interrupted, stopping the flow of Mary's apologies and explanations. "I don't care about the past. I'm happy, Mary, truly happy. My husband could not be here because of other commitments, but he's a wonderful man and we love each other truly."

"I'm so glad," Mary breathed, taking Kenna's hands between her own.

"And," Kenna added with one of her very best smirks, "Our estate really is quite impressive. I find that the lap of luxury is a good place to live indeed."

"Ah, Kenna," Mary answered with a laugh, "you were always destined for it! And, my dear friend, no one ever was more deserving of contentment and joy."

"Unless it was you," Kenna said, seemingly unable to help herself from indulging in a phrase of such sweetness. "But now, Mary…where is everyone? I've much to gossip about, as you might imagine, after all of this time."

Mary kept one of Kenna's hands clasped firmly and led her to the sitting room where everyone would share her feelings of exquisite surprise, would understand in the space of an instant what Mary had felt when she had seen Kenna again at last. Mary saw it immediately in Bash's open-hearted, happy face as he gazed lovingly upon his wife when she came back in with their long-lost friend.

Now, gathered as one in the circle of their unbreakable friendships, their beautiful, chaotic, magnificent lives were made complete.