Mary had tried to let Catherine be upset with her, as she had every right. Until she showed up with Narcisse, again. Mary saw red.
"Why is he at your side again? He is everywhere you go as of late. You are associating with a man who is our enemy." Mary said.
"Narcisse has paid for his crimes. Associating with him does no harm, he has nothing left to hold over anyone." Catherine said.
"He's responsible for everything that has happened. His blackmail lead to our problems with the protestants, the fact that we are on the verge of war, the invasion on the castle, the men who..." she petered off unable to finish the thought. "How could you stand to be near him?"
"And yet, I am still not the one committing adultery and treason." She said, trying to stay strong even though part of her knew Mary was right. What was she thinking?
"You say that as if you haven't done the same. It wasn't too long ago you almost had your head removed for adultery." Mary shot back.
"Don't you dare attempt to compare my affair with yours. I did what I did because I was degraded by my husband, who slept with every available woman in France, all the while rubbing it in my face!...Francis did nothing but love you, and you betrayed him. It is not the same thing!" She said, anger rising with every word.
"It was Francis's lies that led to all this." Mary said.
"Francis's lies? I thought it was Narcisse's blackmail...So which is it Mary?" She said.
"Both. Narcisse may have forced him to do those things, but if Francis had only told me..." Mary started.
"If he had told you it wouldn't have changed anything. He still would've been forced to make the same choices and those men still would have broken in." Catherine argued.
"Your argument would set it back to being Narcisse's fault then, wouldn't it? Which brings me to my first question. Why is he at your side?" Mary raised her voice again.
"Why is Conde at yours? You know how dangerous his family is to Francis's rule, how they hate him, you don't see that as a threat?" She said.
"That's not the same thing Louis has done nothing to hurt us." She said.
"Nothing? He has made Francis look like a fool. Weakened him in the eyes of this court. That is the kind of thing that gives more nobles the idea that they can do as they please. Not to mention he is manipulating you." Catherine said.
"He is not manipulating me. The idea to back to Scotland was mine." Mary said.
"I'm sure he had no objections." She countered. Then a guard stepped into the hallway.
"Your majesty, the court is getting restless." He said. Catherine and Mary stared at each other, still angry but knowing they had to do their duty.
"They need to be calmed down before there's a problem." Mary said.
"We have to make them believe Francis's condition is less severe than it is. We have to try and avoid the chaos that would ensue." Catherine said. They went inside and took their positions and tried to keep their composure. Mary made her speech and it seemed to work. The crowd dispersed and Mary was about to go and continue her conversation with Catherine when Conde stopped her.
"I need to have a word with you." He said into her ear. She followed him into another room.
"I've just gotten word that protestant forces are mobilizing in Scotland. The danger we faced in going there has just increased ten fold. With it's weaknesses, Scotland may fall entirely. You have to make a move now, otherwise risk loosing your country." He said.
"With Francis ill, the whole of France will be watching me to see how I lead without him, I can't leave. And what can I do from here?" Mary said.
"I have enough information to figure out where the protestants will strike. If you send troops now, they may be able to stop them before they gain too much ground." Conde said.
"Only the King can mobilize troops, and he can't. He wouldn't even if he could. It would leave France weak." Mary said.
"With Francis as he is right now, the King is you. You can send those troops yourself. But you have to do it now." He explained.
"So I should betray Francis? Send his army to Scotland? Let France fall in it's place?" She said.
"France is not going to fall just because you sent some troops to save Scotland. Is that not what an alliance is? You're supposed to help each other when need be. Otherwise what is the point? If he would deny you this, then he is the one betraying the alliance." He started to get angry.
"I don't know. This is an impossible decision." Mary said.
"What is impossible about it? It's your country or his. He's done nothing to protect you thus far, you need to start protecting yourself." He finished and left the room.
Mary stared at the map for a long time. She moved the pieces around, trying to figure out a better way. She felt like she'd been standing there for ages. She didn't want to betray Francis again, but she couldn't bare to lose her country. Not like this. After awhile, Catherine busted into the room, furious again.
"You just won't stop until we're all dead will you?!" She bellowed.
"What are you..."she began. 'How did she find out so fast?' she wondered.
"Using Francis's illness to steal our army out from under our feet is a new low." She seethed.
"I'm not stealing anything, we have an alliance. I am trying to save my country!" She argued.
"Your country is lost! Do not drag us down with you!" She said knocking all the pieces off the map. She couldn't understand how this girl could still be so nieve. "No amount of armies can save it. How many times will you betray this family?...If you send our army out now, it will leave us vulnerable at the worst possible time. And when your plan fails...with a victory in Scotland, Elizabeth will feel bold enough to strike France next."
"If I send them before the English strike, they could..." she started again.
"Are you not listening to me? It dosen't matter. You can not win. You have no choice to make...except one. Are you going to lose one country, or two?" She said.
"So I'm just supposed to surrender?" Mary questioned.
"Yes. As I have said to you once before. It's simple math. Sacrifice lives to save lives. The lesser of two evils. You didn't listen to me then, and we all know how that turned out. The same will happen here. Only this time there is a much higher price to pay." She glared at her and left her to think about what she'd said.