Disclaimer: I do not own Reign
A/N: Thank you google maps, it's been a great help when I was writing this chapter.
Chapter 2
Mary knew the exact moment that they crossed to Scotland. Because the air didn't feel stifled anymore. And the men outside could be heard sighing in relief and one particular scotsman even started whistling a Scottish folk tune.
The ship trip was tumultuous at best and all her men were tense, thinking that France might curtail their transit or worse, Englishmen could also attack them in the middle of the sea. So it was not one would call a pleasant voyage.
She parted the curtains and breathed deep. Scotland was as lush as she remembered it. The green grass was almost difficult to stare at; so vibrant were the colors that France's own well-tended and manicured gardens almost seemed faded in comparison.
Lush, rough Scotland. Like their queen, it needed polishing.
"Guid Morning, Yer Grace!" a familiar voice in a different accent cheerfully greeted. Mary turned her head sharply and saw Bash stirring his horse towards her carriage.
"What?" She asked, stifling a laugh.
"Whit's new?"
"What are you doing, Bash?" Mary asked raising an eyebrow in amusement.
"Just practicing some Scottish phrases. The men" he tilted his head towards the Scottish escorts "were kind enough to help me in blending in with the locals by teaching me how to 'properly' pronounce certain phrases. Gaelic, unfortunately, is beyond my tongue or patience"
"It is a beautiful language. I know that French is known to be the language of love but I have always preferred my native tongue to it"
"Another motivation" he teased, a common enough occurrence throughout the trip that most of the men ignored it "Are you fluent in it, Your Grace?"
She replied in a string of gaelic that had the men behind Bash guffawing.
"I still don't have a gist of what you said however, from the reactions of the soldiers, I believe that it was at my expense" Bash smiled at her, showing that he was not offended in the least.
She smiled back, "You should give it another try Bash. After all, you will be staying in this country for a while"
"Or until your wedding?" the mood dimmed a tad bit with that question.
"Oh, I don't know about that..." she replied softly.
His head whipped up in surprise and Mary simply smiled mysteriously before drawing the curtains closed again.
The land trip was grueling and unlike France, majority of the roads in Scotland were rougher so the carriage felt like it was being thrown every which way. Twice now, Mary got sprawled off the seat when the wheels hit a particularly large rock. At one time, she almost asked one of the retainers to send her a horse, then and there preferring to ride even bareback if needed.
By late morning, Mary was ready to ask for some ice to tend to her bruised bottom. They decided to dock the ship at Bo'ness (I'm not sure if it was called that before) to avoid any 'unwanted' surprises. From what Mary gleaned, Englishmen and Frenchmen were not her only enemies. She only hoped that the politicians in this side of the sea will prove to be less tenacious. Another player the likes of Queen Catherine was bound to entangle her in another distorted web.
They decided to stay at an inn near Grangemouth road on their way to Holyroodhouse palace. The inn itself was a quaint two-storey lodge that seemed inviting with orange light coming from inside.
The owner and his family were outside to greet them. He was a stout man with shockingly red hair, thick eyebrows, and an even bushier beard. His daughter and son who looked to be of ten years age, also curtsied clumsily... charming the young queen more.
"Ye 'ighness!" He kept bowing low to Mary when he saw her step out. She pushed the hood back to better see them and vice versa. She could feel Bash coming up behind her should there be any unwanted attacks.
The family gaped at seeing their queen in the flesh for the first time. The adorable daughter tugged on her mother's apron and whispered reverently in Scottish gaelic, "Caileag bhrèagha" (beautiful).
Mary smiled before bending down and replying in a similar language that the little girl and her mother was infinitely more beautiful than she. The mother beamed thankfully while the husband puffed his chest in pride before ushering the royal party inside.
The inside of the tavern reflected the hospitality that the family displayed. Wooden chairs and tables were roughly cut but that only added to the rustic charm of the inn. Each corner had a small vase of wild flowers that could be picked on the side road. Adding charm without needing to spend overly on the cost of transporting it from some other country.
Again, she marveled at how different it was from France.
Mary ordered a simple stew; the hot texture of it burned down to warm her insides and it was delicious. Her ladies likewise did the same while the men decided to eat a full Scottish breakfast composed of kippers, bacon, shortbread, sausage, eggs, and even some tattie scones for good measure. From the side, she saw Bash looking astonished at the portions.
Nonetheless, he tucked in with gusto and was only a tad bit intimidated by the black pudding. But if there was one thing she liked about the Dauphine's bastard brother, it was the fact that he never discriminated. Sebastian tried every dish with equal fervor and enthusiasm.
From beside her, Lola whispered, "Your stare gives you away, Mary"
She turned her attention back to her ladies and was surprised to see them all looking at her curiously with knowing smiles in their faces. Even Kenna, who has been pouting throughout the sea trip has noticed, quipping, "Well, I told you before, the man is gorgeous, who wouldn't be mesmerized?"
At that, all four ladies and their young queen turned to study the bastard son's countenance.
Despite Bash's want to blend in with the other men, he still stood painfully out. His back was a tad bit straighter than the rest of the eating soldiers and the way he held his utensils and forked the meat betrays his upbringing, which was every bit a reflection of proper mannerisms inculcated from an early age.
Furthermore, Bash was also taller than some of them and leaner. Again, suggesting a life of leisure and full meals rather than hardship.
But nothing gives Sebastian away more than his eyes. Surrounded by thicker-than-necessary dark brown lashes, his eyes were ever changing depending on his mood. From darkish grey when angry to the lightest of green when happy.
Those eyes of his now seemed eerie in the dark background and much too intelligent to belong to a commoner.
As if sensing their gaze,Bash returned their inquisitive stares with one of his own; a smoldering one. Only breaking the hot-tense atmosphere when he wiggled his eyebrows abruptly and quirked it suggestively, causing the five young women to burst out laughing.
"I am telling you, if he was titled,I'd have snatched that man a long time ago" Greer offered jokingly, fanning herself with her other ladies giggled.
Kenna leaned in to gossip, "Well then, you'd better hold your breath. I've been hearing from Henry that he was actually thinking of granting Sebastian a title. Since the King can't really legitimize him, he's thinking of meeting halfway especially now that all the bastard sons of Kings across Europe are getting legitimized by the Pope"
"What title is he considering?" Aylee asked excitedly.
Kenna looked to the sides as if afraid that someone would overhear, then whispered much to the anticipation of Mary and her ladies, "Dukedom"
The collective gasp of delight and shock was expected. Kenna leaned back smugly.
"That is meeting halfway indeed! The only way that Bash could be King is if all King Henry's sons and their descendants die. In so doing, the next in line would be the Dukes" Lola wondered out loud.
True, Mary considered, princesses around the world were now marrying Dukes instead of Kings to secure their position more. Since princelings had a habit of monopolizing power, majority of female monarchs are finding highly titled nobles to be more accommodating.
In hindsight, it was fitting since Sebastian already had Henry's blood: the blood of a monarch, so it shouldn't be that hard for the rest of the nobility to accept it. Mary was also pretty sure that Diane was now doing everything in her power to make this possible for her only son. And Catherine will at least be more self-assured that Bash will not usurp the throne while her sons lived by demanding legitimacy.
"However, if that does happen. It will still be an uphill battle for Bash" Mary murmured, looking again at the bastard son who was now trying to jokingly snatch the last piece of kippers from the hands of the soldiers. She wondered now whether she preferred the light hearted but un-titled Bash to one bogged down with responsibilities. With those eyes of his turning to an ever stormy grey and never reverting back to that light green that they found so refreshing.
But just like everything else concerning the bastard son, Mary was conflicted.
"Your Grace, we will stop at Linlithgow Palace first before continuing. The weather is unpredictable and the roads could be dangerous for the party." The captain of the guards announced.
"Of course, Captain, the cold and the rough roads are also taking a toll on everyone. A secure and warm bed is very much welcomed at this point"
"I will send a messenger ahead to ready accommodations, your grace" Sir Alec bowed before leaving. Scottish ways were different. Conversations between classes were less stiff compared to France.
They were now on their way to another palace closer and one that Mary actually liked. Linlithgow was not as majestic or intimidating as Holyroodhouse. It was away from the capital but Mary was born in Linlithgow and she always felt assured whenever she passed by the building.
Mary leaned back and stared up at the carriage ceiling, contemplating her next move. With each mile covered, the enormity of the task before her seemed to loom larger. By removing the regent, her mother, from seat, several nobles are bound to try and seek favor with the queen. And her mother will not take it kindly that her daughter snatched the power from her hands against her will.
But this needs to be done.
Scotland as it is now is very vulnerable to attacks as evidenced in the English soldiers camping out at the border. At present, however, she needed to quell the friction between the protestants and Catholics. The biggest contestation among her constituents.
Mary briefly wondered why there exists friction in the first place especially when both sides (religion) preached free will; of allowing a person their own choice. Why then the need to slander or ostracize a person that believes otherwise?
Growing up in a convent, Mary knew that the sisters never turned their backs to anyone, be it pagan, protestant, or some other obscure belief. The nunnery always opened their doors to those in need and allowed sanctuary for those in pain and danger. At the perils of their own lives. Why then the need for massacres? and outcry? among the factions. As if mistreatment was excused by the very religion that taught otherwise.
If Mary were to investigate further, she was pretty sure that this was simply a ploy by the nobles to further frustrate her mother and the ever growing french presence in the main palace. Although, she'd also be the first to admit that her mother wasn't that tolerant of other beliefs than her own.
So as the light outside subsided and darkness engulfed the confines of the carriage, the young queen's mind was likewise busy in developing ways to resolve the tension. She'd first have to invite both leader parties to a conference and after reaching a compromise, she'd turn to the Highlands. The lowlands were more like the court in France with Burgesses and rich merchants but the Highlands were rumored to be different. Highlands were about small kingdoms ruled by strong lairds.
Mary rubbed her forehead worriedly, she would have to convince them that without a united front, no Scot will rule any land in the end. They were all residing in one country whether they like it or not.
A royalty's might was only as strong as the men she commands and right now, Scotland's royalty was not commanding anyone. The Regent's authority was not acknowledged by those in the Highlands while the aldermen were scornful of the ever growing french presence in court. The merchants were taking advantage of the lack of power and is ever growing their influence by the attractiveness of coin. All the while, it was the lesser landholders and laborers that suffer.
The problems of the court were so simple if they didn't taint it with backdoor scheming and corrupt practices.
But Mary knew that such was the game played in this field. And she would be sure to stand victorious in the end. After all, it has always been an uphill battle for the monarchs... France was simply a preview, the real ordeals will only be starting once she steps foot in the main city.
End of Chapter 2