AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you so much everyone for the striking feedback you have given me. I very much admire it. I'm glad so many people are liking this story, it's comforting. I would also like to thank those who have helped me improve my writing. I'd like you to know I appreaciate your comments as well as your constructive feedback. Thank you again.

Falling Out Of Favour

Chapter 4

Mary sensed that she was falling within her dreams and subsequently woke with an unexpected start. Her eyes flashed open as her body jolted in static shock. She squinted and glanced around the room. In consequence her eyes strained because the light was flooding in through her bedroom windows. She rolled over in her bed momentarily and closed her eyes to rest them. She hated the first stages of the body as it was waking up especially because her bed always felt most comfortable in the morning. However, her luxury was short lived. The longer her body lay awake the quicker her thoughts regained. Mary's eyes shot open again as she recalled her agreement with Sebastian. She abruptly sat up and threw the blanket off her body. The moment her feet hit the floor she slipped across the room. The bath was already full and almost cold. Her mind went wild wondering how late it was. She slipped out of her bed robe, tied back her long hair and hopped into her bath. Her body shuddered at the nonchalant impact of the water on her sensitive skin. She took the soap from the wash basin and cleaned her body. Afterwards she acquired the blade and shaved every inch of her body carefully. Whilst in the bath she thought of the night's events and how she needed to be more practical with her depicted actions.

Once she was dressed appropriately Mary picked up a bright red apple from her fruit basket that lay at the bottom of her bed. She put her robe on over her outfit and departed her room to head into the grounds. She ate as she walked, finding the skin on the apple tough to penetrate. Once outside she found herself passing a compost mound. She stopped for a moment to finish her apple off and then dropped her core on top of it. She patted her hands together to rid her fingers of their stickiness. She strolled slowly and elegantly through the gardens, enjoying her view of the French court from afar. Gradually, the pond she adored emanated into view. However, she was saddened to find that Sebastian was not present. With what her eyes just witnessed she walked even slower towards the bench and when she reached it sat on it. She sat by the pond for a while, her mind in suspense over Sebastian.

"I must be out of my mind." Mary said humbly, feeling disappointed. She was concerned that she was being too obvious or too forward. Her mind went barren with careless thoughts. She was scared she had ruined Sebastian.

It was then that she saw a figure flicker into view in the distance. It was Sebastian and the closer he got the warmer she felt. As he approached she raised from her seat eagerly. His smile beamed across the distance and she couldn't stop herself from smiling in return. She looked around as he crossed the lawn but no one was there. The grass was wet with mildew and the air was laced with fog. At Sebastian's side were two horses, one brown and the other black. He was holding both of the reins in his right hand. His left hand lay swaying at his side. He wore a brown suit covered by a long brown robe. It was connected at the top with a hood. It matched Mary's perfectly, if not for the colour.

"Have you been waiting long?" He asked as he approached her.

"I awoke late, but I arrived here some time ago." She said and Sebastian's smile got bigger.

"How could I ever forgive myself for making her majesty wait patiently?" He teased and carried on walking. Mary scuttled to his side.

This time he walked into the trees of which Mary had spotted him strolling through the week before. The two found themselves looking anywhere else except for at each other. Mary wasn't sure what to converse about and Sebastian sensed her nervous inclination. She fiddled with her robe as she walked. Her hood had turned inside out. Sebastian sighed and turned to face her within the canopy of the trees. Her hands still present on her hood. He smiled weakly and handed her the reins. She took them as he moved behind her and pulled her hood so it appeared the right way. Mary then returned his reins and the two walked through the protection of the trees and towards the kings road.

"I don't suppose we'll be riding those horses?" Mary inclined.

"As you're dressed amiably, I thought we could ride south down the king's road and into the fields." Mary glanced at him and then back at the path in which she was walking. "I ride it every week, it's quite refreshing." He gestured and Mary nodded.

"I'm more than happy to ride… If you would be as kind as to help me onto the horse." She smiled.

"I was going to leave you to the embarrassment of getting on it yourself, but if you insist." He teased further.

"Sarcasm does not become you." Mary said and Sebastian smiled.

"I can call a carriage if you'd like?" His voice deepened and the hairs stood up on the back of Mary's neck.

"No one will see me if I ride and if you call for a carriage we'll be seen together." He nodded realizing she had a point.

"Point taken." He replied bluntly and subsequently helped her up onto the horse. It shifted beneath her weight.

The leather saddle felt soft under her legs as she slipped into place. Sebastian made certain she was steady before mounting onto his own horse. He sharply shook the reins and Mary heard the sharp sound of the leather on the horses back. She mirrored his actions and both horses broke into a trot. After a short time the horses broke into a slow gallop and Mary straightened her back to help keep her hips balanced on the horse's saddle. She found herself bumping up and down unsteadily on the back of the horse. She felt free but at the same time scared. Sebastian checked on her every few moments and every time he found Mary smiling contently. The two did not talk much as they rode for the sound of the horse's hooves was too flamboyant. After a long while they reached the fields and Mary found herself aching to get off. As the air left her lungs, white smoke decorated the air. It was cold, but not bitter.

"Would you mind if we un-mount here? My legs are tiresome," she questioned on a whim as the horses started up the hill.

"Forgive me. I forget that men do not ride like women," he said stopping his horse and jumping down. A smile claimed his gentle lips. The sound of his feet hitting the floor was feathered by the grass. "Here let me aid you," he gestured and picked her up by the waist.

Sebastian was careful when he handled her. He didn't want to bring any discomfort to her or make her feel reluctant. He placed his hands on her waist and lifted her from the saddle. As her feet body left the horse he dropped her in front of him. The two watched each other, their eyes locked. Her hands were on the side of his arms and his on her waist. Mary scanned Sebastian's face as he scanned hers. She cleared her throat and began to walk, pulling her horse with her. Sebastian smiled lightly and approached his horse, taking its dangling reins into his hand and began to pull it alongside hers. The sound of their hooves was cancelled out by the soft grass and the dirt below.

"It's beautiful," Mary said looking around. She was not pleased with the hill in front of her, but around her was a lot of open space where you could see for acres. The grass wasn't wet with mildew here like it had been at the castle. Though it looked lifeless. She presumed it was because of the winter season drawing in.

"Up there," he pointed to where she had already glanced, "You'll have a view of the port and ocean." His beady eyes followed the trace of the hill as he stroked his horse. When they reached the top Mary was breath taken by the view. The ocean that spread for miles in front of her was shining blue. The water was swaying back and forth and she took note of the sounds of the sea. She witnessed the water crashing into the cliff walls. She had come to France by these waters before and had also walked on the same port, but she had never saw them from this climatic view. She took in a deep breath and left her horse with Sebastian's and dropped her body weight to the ground. She sighed and resumed her scrutiny of the view.

"I'm very tired of late," Mary continued, "When I awoke this afternoon, my body was sore and my skin was sensitive. Very peculiar."

"That is either over sleeping or the toxicity of the liquor," Sebastian replied sitting next to her. He sat with his legs spread out in front of him, but one bent so he could prop his arm up.

"I adhere the taste of red wine. White wine is positively repulsive."

"A drink is a drink," he replied and Mary rolled her eyes, "It's an acquired taste." Mary nodded in agreement and after a few more sacred seconds she spoke again wistfully.

"This view is beautiful, Bash." She turned her eyes from the spectacular angle at which she was sitting and faced Sebastian. "I see why you come here."

"It's alright," he shrugged modestly.

"Oh men!" Mary exclaimed. "So proud and modest," she teased and Sebastian smiled in reply. He enjoyed her company, she amused him. In forced frustration Mary forced her body back so that she was lying down. Sebastian mirrored her actions but not as she would have liked. He lay so that his head was level with hers, but that his body was not. He turned his head to face her slightly and Mary found herself beginning to smile. She thought his face looked peculiar upside down and at the thought she giggled to herself aimlessly.

"What has amused you?"

"Oh Bash, your face is shocking from this angle," she laughed harder and he smiled lightly.

"My physique displeases you?"

"On the contrary..." She giggled louder and he nudged her, "I'm sorry," She said now calm.

At the same time they returned their attention to the sky. It was light blue. Sebastian did not spot a single cloud, but he knew what that meant. When there were no clouds in the sky it was a sign for the cold days drawing in. Everything in these fields connoted dreary things. He hoped Mary hadn't spotted it. As if she'd heard his thoughts she sighed and twiddled her fingers impatiently.

"Bash."

"Yes?"

"Would you ever think about getting legitimised?"

"I've already been there. Or well my father had when I was young," he reacted, his tone protected.

"You're older now. Couldn't you ask again?" She retorted matter of factly.

"Why?" He moaned.

"I'm just enquiring," he felt her shrug beside him.

"Be that it may, it was all very well thought," He acknowledged, "How long have you been thinking about this?"

"Not very…" She paused.

"I could always ask about royal decree, but if I do get legitimized, that's if, I still could not be king. Only if Francis dies and there's no other survivor in the bloodline." Mary felt slightly annoyed at his reply. He had said it as if she didn't already know.

"You wouldn't have to be king. Just legitimized." She said adding emphasis on her breaks in speech, "we could-" she fell short.

"I will enquire, but I will make no promises." He interrupted. The two lay quietly and Sebastian hated it. He turned his head to face her and she turned hers in return. He could see her whole face, but it distracted him because her lips were almost in line with his eyes. He leaned over towards her and kissed her lightly. He was surprised that she had kissed him back. He'd forgotten how surreal it all was.

"Well that was peculiar," She said afterwards and they both laughed in unison.

Mary sat up and Sebastian followed her actions. They sat opposite each other until Mary's attention was occupied somewhere else. Her lips opened ajar as she tried to pinpoint what she was seeing. Not too far behind Sebastian stood a man in the shadows of the trees. As she looked over his shoulder she saw that he was no more than thirty feet away. His face looked flat and cold. She wondered why he had not moved. Sebastian's fierce eyebrows knitted together as he wondered what had caught her attention. He twisted his head to look and to his surprise was also captivated at the view. It was then that the man fell forwards, like a man being drowned by bricks. He hit the floor with incredible impact and Mary gasped. There were three arrows lodged in his back. Sebastian was up on his feet in little to no time.

"Mary on your horse now!" He yelled and it surprised Mary entirely. He had never spoken to her like this before. She scrambled up onto her feet and as she did so her dress got caught between her legs, she stumbled. He took her hand as he pulled her horse towards her. She couldn't take her eyes off the man's body. The arrows had sunk deep into his back, but she had not heard him yell in pain. She found herself asking how his body been standing so steadily.

"What's going on?" She enquired.

"I don't know, but it's not safe for you to be here." He retorted lifting her onto the horse.

"Bash, you can't stay!" She exclaimed, but he would not look at her. "Please," she begged.

"I can't be seen riding with you Mary," he said and her heart sank at his words, "Ride now and ride fast. Report it as soon as you get back!" He slapped the horse and it hurdled off. Mary felt as if her heart was hurdling with it. She turned her gaze back to Sebastian, but he was walking towards the man's body. On her second glance back... he was gone.