I do not own Reign
Two full days Sophia had been here and yet it seemed like weeks. She had tea with Queen Catharine. Which had been interesting because she could have sworn the Queen was hinting that she would like Sophia's assistance in getting rid of Mary. Sophia of course ignored her and acted like she hadn't heard them. She didn't want any part of what Catharine was up to. She had played a game of Castles with Henry. The King was a very sore loser even after two years; but he always sent her away in a good humor. She had visited her favorite cook downstairs and she had talked to him for hours about the Man's children and his wife. She had ridden Orion both days. She met all of Mary's handmaids; lovely girls. Myrtle and them seemed to get along well. She had written to her father and told him of her safe arrival and of course that she already missed him and her baby half-brother.
She managed to avoid both Sebastian and Francis; which was an amazing feat. She had no intention of speaking to either of them. Francis until he apologized for acting like and ogre and Sebastian….. Well she wouldn't speak him until it was absolutely necessary.
"Lady Sophia?" Mary's voice called to her and shook her from her stillness. She turned from the window that she was looking out of.
"Please call me Sophia or Sophie, Queen Mary." She said smiling at the Queen of Scotland. Sophia still was wearing men's clothes. She had been for the last two days here at the castle. It was easier for her this way. She would continue unless the occasion called for something else. Like the masquerade tonight; that event called for a dress and also made Sophia exasperated. There was no need for a celebration. But she wouldn't be so rude to tell her hosts that. So she would dawn a dress and woman's shoes and dance around like everyone else.
"If I am to call you Sophie then you are to call me Mary. For are we not friends now?" The girl asked her and Sophia smiled again at her. In the last two days she had come to rather like Mary. She had a good backbone but was also very sensible; something Sophia lacked sometimes.
"I Dare Say we are Mary. I dare say." She said and sitting in a chair across from her friend. She still crossed her legs in breeches. "Since we are friends would you tell me what the delay with you and Francis' engagement is?" Sophia took the cup of tea that Mary had poured for her and smiled at the blush that crept up Mary's face. She had not yet gotten used to Sophia's way of speaking her mind.
"I think the King delays it to make sure that France and Scotland is a good commitment to make." Mary said hesitantly. Sophia realized that she was being careful of what she said. Well Sophia was going to have to stop that if they were going to be friends.
"The Queen hasn't taken a shine to you has she?" She asked Mary and Mary looked at her with a stare that Sophia admired. Mary was strong. That much was clear. "Oh come Mary I did not escape my mother's womb a fortnight ago. I know she dislikes you from the way people talk. No need to protect anyone. I'm not here to hurt anyone. It is pure and innocent curiosity."
After much deliberation on Mary's part and after Sophia had drained a cup of Tea Mary spoke.
"She doesn't seem to want me to marry her son." She said to Sophia
"No that woman loves her boy. I think she tries to make up for the fact that her husband favors his bastard child." Sophia said as Mary's eyes went wide again.
"Oh Mary you must stop looking at me like that. I speak plain; I wish you would do the same. You strike me as a person I can be honest with. Have I misjudged?" She asked pouring herself more tea.
"No Sophie." Mary said sitting back and letting her shoulders droop. "No Sophia you have not misjudged me. It is just that since I have gotten here I swear everything is against me and I don't know who to be plain with." Sophia smiled and relaxed back in her chair letting her perfect posture go to shod.
"If Catharine saw me sitting like this I am afraid I would frighten all those well-earned wrinkles from her face." Sophia said and Mary laughed a loud but true laugh. It was the kind of laugh that Sophia could get used to hearing. It was an infectious laugh. Sophia looked out the window and realized that the time when she was going to have to but a dress on.
"I have given your ladies maids and mine leave of us tonight I thought perhaps we could help each other prepare for my welcoming party." Sophia said rising a little "Then perhaps we shall have a moment to discuss how you feel about my dear Francis." She winked at Mary who smiled at her. "' going to go get my gown and I will back to pleat your hair if you like." Sophia didn't wait for and answer as she went out the door and to her room to get the dress the Myrtle had picked out for her. She frowned when she saw it. It was Myrtles personal favorite. Sophia had only worn it once because she thought it was too gaudy for any even. It was deep metallic moss green gown with sheer sleeves that her ladies maid insisted made her skin glow. No that wasn't what she said…. Sophia tried to remember and snapped her fingers.
"Sophia of Spain! This makes your skin glow like a forest goddess. You should wear this color often." Sophia shook her head. She didn't wish to look like a glowing woman but Myrtle would be hurt if she picked another gown. So she took her shirts off and took off one of her everyday corsets. She grabbed her occasion corset and laced it half way up before realizing that this is exactly why she had a ladies maid. She grabbed the dress. She also grabbed something she thought would match Mary's dress perfectly and a pair of woman's under garments held it to the front of her as she opened her door. There seemed to be nobody outside as she ran to Mary's room. When she closed the door she saw that the Queen was in the same predicament she was. She laughed out loud and when Mary saw her she laughed too.
"Is it ridiculous on how much we depend on those girls?" Mary asked her.
"I pride myself on being independent until I have to brush my own hair then I am at a loss." Sophia said
"I grew up in a convent. I can get myself ready but as soon as I have to wear anything that is appropriate for this place and I can't manage." Mary admitted as Sophia laced the rest of her corset up. Mary pulled a chair out and motioned for Sophia to sit on it. Sophia say and Mary laced her corset and began to brush her hair out. Sophia sat for a moment silent while Mary brushed her hair and grabbed a long piece of crème lace from a table.
"Francis really is a good man." Sophia said to her. "When he isn't being arrogant her can be quite sweet." She said though she wasn't sure why she was defending him.
"I know." Mary said and Sophia was surprised by her answer.
"oh yes I keep forgetting that you have known him for a long time; knew him as a child." She said.
"Yes I did but that isn't what I meant." Mary said and Sophia caught her hand and turned to look at her and her heart sank.
"Oh my Dear you are in love with him." She said shaking her head and turning away. Her heart ached for her as Mary continued on her hair.
"I do not love him." Mary said but her voice gave her away" she paused "You say it as though you just found out I had the fever."
"Don't you though?" Sophia said "Love is dangerous; especially for someone in your position. Not that I cast blame with you. We have no control over these things do we." Sophia then was very quiet.
"Were you in love with Francis?" Mary asked quietly and Sophia managed an unladylike snort.
"Heaven's no." She said. Mary finished her hair and the girls traded places. Sophia looked at her hair. Mary had braided the top half of it all the way across the back of her head and weaved the lace in. "It's beautiful thank you." she said as she started on Mary's hair. She thought of telling Mary something. She wanted Mary to trust her and yet she had not really told her anything about herself. Not something she usually did.
"No not Francis, but a kings son no less." She said
"Sebastian." Mary said
"Aye." Sophia said "Not something I remember fondly. I try to forget but my heart did choose him."
"I am afraid I may have offended him." Mary said to her.
"I doubt that very much. He doesn't Offend easily. How so?" She asked.
"I was upset with Francis. I found Sebastian and some liquor he had." Sophia's chest tightened but she managed a laugh. "We both had too much to drink and I kissed him." Sophia's stomach dropped though there was no need for her to be upset, and she wasn't. That is what she told herself. It was hardly Mary's fault her child's heart still threw tantrums. So she let out another laugh.
"Oh I doubt you offended him. Sebastian frequents liquor and knows the effects of it. He probably knew you were upset too and wouldn't hold that against you." She paused and smiled. "He probably enjoyed it very much."
"Oh." Mary said but it came out sounding like a protest.
"A beautiful woman such as yourself; a queen no less. I bet you offended no part of him. I would imagine the opposite actually." She said.
"I have felt so guilty." Mary said struggling for words.
"No need my dear." Both of those boys have no room to make judgment on matters of the heart." She said grabbing the necklace for Mary that she had brought. But instead of putting it on her neck she wove it in her hair so that the sapphire pendant was in the middle of her forehead. The pearls fell along either side of her head like a crown. When Mary looked she smiled.
"I rather don't like how it makes me look." She said to Sophia.
"How is that?" Sophia asked grabbing Mary's deep blue dress with silver lines running through it like fire.
"Like a queen." Mary said. "I don't like to remind people that I'm a queen. I would rather be Mary. Than Queen Mary." She said almost sadly. Sophia really didn't know what to say to that. She would never be a queen.
"My dear you cannot help what you were born to be. You are a queen. Everybody knows you are a queen and they will not forget. If you try to make them forget that you are a queen and they will think that they can take advantage of you. Don't let them do that. You are a queen. They cannot take that from you."
Both girls walked down the stairs and into the great hall. The laughed and smiled together and were introduced to the room.
Sophia wore a gold half mask that tied in the back and covered her eyes. Mary wore a simple lace one that covered her eyes as well. Both girls walked to the back of the room curtsying to people as they walked. Their arms were linked as they made their way to their ladies. Sophia Curtsied to them which was untraditional but she felt as if sometimes their jobs were tougher than some royals.
"Ladies, tonight we make all the Goddesses jealous." She said as they smiled. They did all look lovely. Within seconds of their arrival the girls broke up to find dance partners. The dancing was in full effect and the sound of shoes on the stone made Sophia smile. The king came up to them and Sophia smiled at him. Normally the queen and King didn't dance.
"Lady Sofia would you do me the honor of doing the houses dance of France?" She nodded. The houses dance what dancing with all the royal males in the line. In her case the King and Francis. And while Francis still made her want to spit she supposed now was better than any other time. She looked at Mary who nodded and she took Henry's hand as he led her to the floor. The music started and Sophia took the familiar steps of the dance she knew so well. Henry wasn't one to talk while he danced so Sophia was surprised when he spoke.
"How are you fairing?" He asked quietly.
"Rather well. I have taken a liking to Mary.' She said to him spinning around.
"I see that." Was all he said and Sophia added nothing that would suggest she wanted to expand on the conversation. They smiled as the dance pace increased and when the end came Sophia laughed with Henry who bowed and kissed her hand as was tradition. He then handed it to Francis. She looked up with him with what she hoped was the most sour expression she could muster. As the dance started she refrained from making eye contact with him. She saw Mary dancing with a courtier from England and talking to him with a smile on her face.
"You look nice Sophie." He said. He may look grown up but he still sounded like a child to her. Like a child seeking permission to enter a room.
"You look like the backside of a horse Prince Francis." She said not looking at him as she turned to the tempo of the music
"I suppose I deserve that." He said and she met his gaze. Her heart melted as she knew it would. She could not stay mad at him. He knew that.
"Yes you do and more could I muster the phrases to insult you properly." She said smiling
"I am Sorry Sophie." He said "My temper runs away with me. I suppose I haven't changed that much."
"No I think not. I am sorry for I did speak out of turn" She said "though I am so glad to be on good terms with you. I hate to be cross with you."
"And I also." He said "we must go to the wall like we did when we were children. Then we can talk of everything and I can tell you all haven't put in my letters."
"I have a feeling there is a lot to tell Dear Francis." She said as the song ended and he bowed and kissed her hand She turned away and tried to find Myrtle. But as she tried to pull away she heard him say 'oh'. She turned to find Sebastian standing next to Francis and she shook her head at Franco to tell him not to dare hand her over. He smiled and handed her to Sebastian. She glared at him as he smiled and walked off to offer his hand to Mary. Cheeky boy; she thought turning to her new dance partner.
"I didn't know that you took part in the Houses dance." She said as the music started.
"I don't. I just had a feeling I asked you to dance later you would reject me." He said with that maddening smile.
"You would have been right." She said to him.
"Well I hardly know what I did to deserve such treatment." He said innocently. She gave him a convicting look. Sophie then composed herself. She didn't care what he had done. She was going for indifference here. Recalling that day wouldn't solve anything.
"No?" She asked "Well as you don't know then I suppose I have no reason to refuse you then do I?" My mistake.
"Admitting you made a mistake. We shall get the scribes to take note of this day for it surely is a rarity." He said and made her blood boil. Was he truly the only person that could make her head spin from anger? She wished to rip the silver chain from her neck and throw it at him. Perhaps then he would remember.
"Truly it doesn't happen often." She said wishing the song to be over.
"You look lovely Soph." He said to her and she felt heat creep up her neck. As if no man had told her she was beautiful before. "You have always been beautiful; even in Men's breeches."
"I thank you, It is so nice to receive a compliment from such as you Lord Sebastian."
"Soph, why are you calling me that?" He said and when she looked at him she almost forgot her resolve. What was it with these boys? It was some influence of Henry; of that she was sure.
"What would you have me call you Lord Sebastian?" She asked sweetly. It was a sweet that didn't suit her though a sickening honey sweet that even to her own ears sounded false. Before he could answer the song came to a close and they both bowed to each other. She went to step back for the second him but he held her hand tight.
"Is there another brother that I missed perhaps?" She asked looking around mockingly
"No Lady. No other brother." He said as he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. Before her heart won over her mind she snatched her hand back and gave him a polite smile before walking over to where Mary was eyeing her curiously.
Sophia grabbed a goblet of wine and went to stand next to her. She took a sip and stared at the couples that were getting ready for the next dance.
"Sophie?" Mary called to her.
"Yes Mary?" She responded absently trying to cool off.
"Speak plain?" She said to her
"I will do my best." Sophia turned to look at her and saw a mischievous look in the Queen Mary's eyes.
"You say you don't wish to recall your love of Sebastian. However it seems to recall itself upon looking at his face." She laughed a little as Sophia looked at her with her mouth open slightly.
"Mary you and I are going to get along just fine." Sophia said smiling through the heat on her cheeks.