~ MPOV ~

The days I spend at the castle melt together. Everyday is filled with lessons and exploring and getting to know the French court. Before I know it a year has gone by and Francis has a new baby brother named Charles and I spend hours upon hours playing with Claude and Louis while watching Catherine with Charles. I often wonder if my mother was ever as loving towards me as Catherine is with her children. Everyday she encourages us to explore and have fun as one day we will no longer be children. Francis and I see each other every day and have become good friends and we often spend time together, just Francis, Elisabeth, and I. I have come to love France and the people who live here. People who will someday be my subjects but that seems very far away.

Four Years Later

The months bleed into years and the Valois welcome Prince Henry and Princess Margaret. Now that I am ten years old I feel so much older than I did when I first came to live in France. Catherine has personally taken to giving me lessons on how to be a queen as strong and graceful as she.

Today I find myself sitting beside the pond Francis showed to me so long ago. I have a book open in front of me and am completely engrossed in the story that is being painted before my eyes. The world fades away and I am lost to the pages in front of me. At this moment my life is utter perfection and I could ask for nothing else.

I have just gotten to the part where Gargatua arrives at Paris when I am startled out of my book.

"MARY!" Francis shouts. I have never heard him holler in such a manner before as it is rather frowned upon I look towards him and see him sprinting towards me from quite a ways off.

"Francis? What is it?" I yell back.

"MARY RUN!" he yells again frantically. Run? Run from what. Finally I look up to see a strange man nearly bearing upon me with a sword in hand. I manage to scramble back without getting caught up in my skirts. However I'm still not far enough to be able to get away.

"Hello Mary Queen of Scots. Queen Mary of England sends her regards." Just as he raises his sword to kill me an arrow appears sprouting from his neck. Blood flows down his front and he makes a terrible gurgling noise before falling down dead. Whatever guard managed to kill my would be assassin is an excellent shot and I owe him my life. I suddenly realize that in the last few minutes the world had gone quiet and stood still while I stared at the dead man before. All at once everything started again and I could hear Francis yelling my name. Guards rushed towards me and I could see Catherine running from the castle. Just as Francis reaches me I begin to tremble from fear or shock I do not know. Four years of no threats and suddenly my life is in danger once again. I was a fool to think my enemies would leave me be. My own cousin coming after me to take me life. What a life I live.

Francis wraps his arms around me as I shake harder.

"Are you hurt? Mary! Are you hurt?" He asks me forcefully.

"No. No I'm fine." I realize that Francis is wiping my face with his hands and I realize that blood had spattered onto my face. My stomach rolls unpleasantly and I have to force myself not to be sick. The guards have now surrounded Francis and I to protect us from any further threats. Much calmer now I step away from Francis and see Catherine pushing towards us with the guard who much have saved me.

"I owe you my life sir." I say while inclining my head towards him in thanks.

"Tis my honor your majesty." He replies while bowing. Eagerly Catherine crushes me in a hug.

"Are you alright? What happened? Tell me as we walk. Move all of you! To the castle!" she barks at the guards. I told her what had happened and Francis informed her that he had been coming to see me by the pond when he saw the attacker creep out of the woods. Immediately he alerted the guard and came for me trying to save me. We didn't have anymore information besides that and as the man was dead we could get no answers from him either. Catherine sent us both to our rooms while she met with the king urgently. Lola, Kenna, Greer, and Aylee all sat with me and tried to keep my mind away from what had happened. Dinner was served to my room as I waited to hear from Catherine what we would be doing.

After waiting many hours I finally went to bed and tried to sleep. I was awoken suddenly late into the night by Catherine.

"Listen to me Mary. Your cousin Edward has died and his sister Mary has taken the throne and ordered a price for your head. She knows you are here and you are not safe any longer. I have made arrangements for you to be sent to a convent at a secret location for your own safety. We must move quickly so as no one can follow you. I am sorry to do this Mary but you shall return I promise you and claim your throne as the Queen of Scotland and France." I don't protest as I know it would be useless. My life is in danger and without any real power I must hide to live another day. I get up quickly and get dressed while only throwing a few small possessions in a bag.

"My ladies in waiting?" I ask while fighting back tears.

"They will be sent back to Scotland until you need them again."
"And Francis?"

"He shall learn of the details in the morning. Come now dear child, we must get you in the carriage."

Within minutes we stand in the courtyard before a carriage and it finally occurs to me that my perfect life has crumbled around me into harsh reality. Catherine crosses herself before kissing my forehead.

"May God bless your journey and keep you safe until your return. Goodbye Mary. Do not be discouraged, we'll see each other again." She helps me step into the carriage and then closes the door for me. I look back once more on the castle that had been my home for the past four years and for just a moment I think I see the shadow of a prince in a window watching me leave in a carriage.

"Another adventure begins Mary." I say aloud to myself as I finally allow silent tears to fall down my cheeks.