Chapter 3 - Will Heads Roll Today?
"Mother!" To say, Mary was appalled at Marie, was an understatement, along with Catherine and all the other people in the court.
"What?" Marie rolls her eyes. "At least I didn't want Henry and the bastard's heads on a golden platter. I am not that cruel."
"And Mary, dear, this is why I didn't let any bastards of your father running around Scotland's court. They will bite the hand that feeds them. You might as well kill yourself. As they have no qualms in stabbing you in the back."
"And it makes perfect sense. Francis will come with us to Scotland. A living, breathing reminder that alliances should never be betrayed."
Circling Francis, Marie continues on. "He'll do whatever Scotland asks of him. He'll never come back here. Never to stay in France. He'll never get to rule France at all."
"A fitting punishment for France, losing their beloved dauphin Francis, don't you think so, Henry, King of Traitors?" looking at Henry, who in turn, had a speculative look.
"Of course, a marriage will shroud that detail. To save Francis, rather France, the public humiliation. Unlike Scotland's humiliation in the hands of France."
"You can't have my son, Marie! He is a not payment! He is not –'
"Silence, Catherine! I could still have your head, along with Henry's. Tolerating this betrayal, this unrest. I sent my daughter here to be spared from the strife in Scotland and to learn and honor the alliance, and what has happened? I get here, my queen refusing to marry the dauphin and traipsing with the bastard?"
Taking her daughter by the shoulders, they stand side by side, in front of Francis and Catherine.
"There will be no more of this. Francis will belong to Mary, to Scotland. And the alliance will be no more. We'll make do with what we have."
"Will my mother, my brothers and sisters be welcome to Scotland? Not as payment, but to live there freely?" Francis spoke softly but firmly. He was tired from traveling, and everything that has happened. He surprised himself that he's still standing and awake.
And before returning back to court, Francis himself had been in correspondence with his sister Elizabeth in Spain and other family relatives in Italy. They were gracious to answer his letters and welcome him and his family, if he decides to go there. What's another country that will welcome his family and let them live their lives as free people as another viable option.
"Hmm, brothers and sisters, yes. Catherine? Oh why not. We'll just have to make a treaty regarding her. She'll have to be generous to the Scots. I do not trust your mother, Francis."
"I don't trust you either, Marie. You and your daughter – "
"Mother, shut up."
Kneeling wobbly with one knee before Marie, Francis bowed his head, closed his eyes to stop seeing dancing spots and took hold of one hand, "I accept, Your grace."
"Splendid. Now, swore to Scotland. Swore to the one whose hand you're holding. Swore to Mary, Queen of Scots, you will belong to Scotland."
Francis looked up with wide eyes, startled. Out of all the mistakes he has done in royal court and legal proceedings, this one takes the cake. It was supposed to be Marie's hand, instead he was holding Mary's hand. And her hand curled around his with gentleness and familiarity. If only, he could twine their hands, his fingers within the spaces between her fingers.
Mary looked at him with a sad smile, yet there was a spark in her eyes, like the first time they saw each other again when she arrived as a young lady. To go back and start again. Too bad, there's no turning back the clock.
"Swore Francis."
"I, Francis, Dauphin of France – "
"No!" Mary stopped his words. "Swore to me, Francis. Swore to me, just a boy."
And Francis smiled a bittersweet smile, she just had to remind him of that time.
He took a deep breath, bowed his head, and – "NO!" What now?
"Look at me, Francis. Look me in the eyes and swear." Mary tilted his chin up and left her hand on his jaw. She wanted his gaze on her as she said the words softly, that only the two of them can hear. "Swore to me, as a boy, as I am just a girl."
"I, Francis, just a boy, of France, belong to Mary, just a girl, Queen of Scots. I will be hers and hers only – "
"Louder, Francis." Surprisingly, it was a jovial Henry who declared that.
His usurper now, his redeemer, his payment should be heard by the entire court. And no more hanging Scotland around his neck. He'll just have to take England by force. After he takes Scotland, that is. He and Bash, his favorite son, can take Scotland then.
'I, FRANCIS OF FRANCE, WILL BELONG TO SCOTLAND AS PAYMENT FOR FRANCE'S BETRAYAL OF THE AULD ALLIANCE. THUS THE AULD ALLIANCE IS BROKEN AND NO MORE TIES BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND FRANCE."
"Good! Now that's that. We'll burn the Auld Alliance documents and treaties as they are null and void. And tonight, Francis will wed Marie de Guise."
Francis and Marie, will the?