Chapter 2 - Because Marie de Guise is formidable.
"No, she can't. I already ruined her."
"WHAT?"
Three voices chorused. The two female voices were a given, but the third? Did not see that coming.
"What did you say, Sebastian?"
Henry was getting redder and redder by the second. He knew the treaty. He learned the alliance by heart. If Bash had ruin Mary, it would be the confirmation Marie de Guise needs that France has broken the alliance. France will be doomed. France will be known as a traitor. Henry Valois will be known as a traitor king. By a product of his own lust and philandering.
Henry, the King of traitors. The humiliation! And the retribution! France will fall to its knees! Not only to Scotland but to Spain, to every other country.
"He's lying!" Mary stressed out. "I did not sleep with him. I am not sleeping with him!"
Greer and Kenna were next to her, throwing dagger looks at Bash. If Bash did ruin Mary, they're station as Ladies-in-waiting will be in jeopardy as they haven't done their duties. Their families will also be humiliated.
"Mary, I love you. We tell this court that something happened between us. That I ruined you. We can be wed!"
SLAP!
The lightening force of Mary de Guise's left back hand connected with Bash's right cheek. Her hand, adorned with huge rings, left a bloody mess.
"You ruined my daughter? A Queen?!"
Back hands! the same cheek again. Another gush of blood flowed through the cut.
"You betrayed the alliance! And you say you love her? How could you? How could you let this happen, Henry? How could you permit this?"
Marie strikes another back hand and Bash's cheek is just unfortunate.
"And you think because you've ruined my daughter that I will allow you to marry her? Putting this pauper as the heir to marry my Queen? Think that the alliance will still be intact? NO! I demand retribution!"
Mary shrieks like a banshee, "MOTHER! MUST I SCREAM FROM THE TOP OF MY LUNGS? HE'S LYING! I DID NOT SLEEP WITH HIM! I AM NOT SLEEPING WITH HIM!"
"FRANCIS!"
Catherine runs eagerly to Francis, shouting his name again and again, hoping Francis hasn't heard whatever words were flowing from Marie, from Bash, from Mary.
"I miss you, my son! Its been too long." Francis just let Catherine cling to him. Never for once, did he imagine he would miss his mother's touch. And it certainly distracted him from looking for Mary, the love whose not his to love anymore. Not to mention, his mother has cut off his peripheral vision from the side, thus preventing him from any signs of her.
"Lola!" Kenna's voice cut through. Lola, who was behind Francis, was trying to get to Mary's side.
"Your grace, majesty. Francis saved me. We rode together here."
"Rode together? OR rode together?" Mary gritted her teeth. Seeing Francis again, squeezed her heart painfully. And she noticed how Lola looked at Francis. She wanted to run and hug Francis and kiss him and make love to him. At the same time, she wanted to kill Lola at this moment. Jealousy was eating at her.
"I'm here for my mother. I'm here to plead for her life. That's all. And you'll never see or hear from me again." Francis addresses the court and his father, still not looking at the other side where Mary was.
"We'll leave and never return."
"Ahem! I don't believe we were introduced." Marie already curtsied in front of Francis. It seems Marie moves fast.
"You're Marie-"
"Yes, Marie de Guise Stuart. My name precedes me. And you're the real dauphin Francis. A pleasure to meet you. Can't say I'm please with the others here." She moves closer, inspecting Francis' face.
"I can't say its a pleasure to meet you, your grace. But I hope you'll enjoy your stay here at the French court." Francis bowed which was difficult with Catherine's arms around him. Catherine wasn't letting him go.
"I think you can help me enjoy my stay here, Dauphin."
"Francis. Please call me by name, Francis. That title doesn't mean anything to me anymore."
"As you wish, Francis. Tell me, what do you know of Adalberon?"
"What? All I know of Adalberon is, without his support of Hugh Capet, the Valois family line wouldn't be monarchs of France. He helped Capet be elected to King of France. And Capet is King Henry's ancestor. Why? Has the King of France named a new town in honor of Adalberon?"
Booming laughter came from Marie. She's beginning to see why Mary's letters were full of Francis this and Francis that.
"And what of Scotland?"
"It is your country. You might be riddled with problems with the English, but it doesn't become you. Scotland is a beautiful country, and its people are good hard-working people. And you've fertile lands. Fertile for plantations-" Marie was smiling from ear to ear. She loves Francis already. "-along with vegetation, the land is also fertile with coal, iron and silver. And, gold. Good for craftsmen and their craft. I see a future in Smithing... "
"Spoken like a true king who knows his land and his people." Marie de Guise nods in awe.
"Indeed, we raised a good son." Henry boasted, proud at a son he never been a real father to.
"Then as payment for the betrayal of France-"
"Marie de Guise! What-"
"-and the humiliation France has set upon on Scotland-" Francis broke away from Catherine. Henry stomped towards Marie.
"Stop this nonsense, Marie! No payment-"
"On the contrary, Henry, I blame you for this nonsense! You betrayed Scotland. You! Bastard broke the alliance. And I will have my payment. I will have Scotland's payment!"
"Mother, stop. I did not sleep with Bash!"
But Marie wasn't listening. She will have her payment.
"Francis, I do believe you know the alliance and if its broken, there will be retribution. I demand retribution."
"What do you want, your grace? I cannot offer you anything. I am not the King of France."
Marie held Francis face in her hands, "Oh, I do know you are not Henry. You have honor. You love France. And if you can help it, you'd want France to overcome its shortcomings."
"I- your grace-" Francis was a lost for words. He can see in Marie's eyes that she wanted him but for what? And all he can think about was, Marie will bring him closer to Mary. Mary. Mary. Mary who was now wrenching her mother away from him.
"Mother, stop. There's no need for this. We can make a new alliance. No marriage-"
Marie, with determination and the iron-clad will of a harden sovereign, set her eyes on her daughter, "I will have Francis, the real Dauphin of France, as payment!"
"I will have him as my husband."
Toldya heads will roll.