"What do you think she looks like?"
"I've heard that the castle loves her, it's no wonder they've gone into a frenzy to prepare for her."
"Yes," said Mary, Queen of Scots, as she approached her two former ladies in waiting. "A great deal more than they love their own Queen."
"Don't be ridiculous, Mary," Kenna, now Mary's sister-in-law, said as she took Mary's hand in her own and smiled. "All of France loves you, you're an excellent Queen."
"Exactly, Mary," Said Lola, the mother of Mary's step-son, "All of France loves you. Who is to say all of France loves her?"
"How can they not when she is all the people rave about?" Greer had appeared beside her Scottish Queen, a troubled expression on her young face. "And it is no wonder, four countries and the Princess of Spain? She is even allied with Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth?" Mary turned to face her dear friend. "Does Francis know this?"
"Surely Mary, Francis wouldn't allow the ally of England to touch French soil if he didn't trust them." assured Kenna, still holding Mary's hand.
"Ladies," called a male voice. All four woman turned to see Sebastian, Francis' half-brother, and Lady Kenna's husband.
"Darling, you've been at court longer than all of us," said Kenna as she abandoned being by Mary's side to run to her husband.
"Yes, I have. Why?"
"Well," began Mary as she turned around to face him. "This Alaina girl, just exactly who is she? And does Francis know she is allied with Elizabeth?"
Bash chuckled at Mary's questions. "Relax Mary," he said, "Alaina is a good Queen, and she happens to be France's ally as well. You needn't worry unless you cross her that is. Just, be much kinder to Francis while she is here, and stay clear of her ladies. I must warn you, she is far much worse than Catherine."
"Oh great, I didn't think you could get any worse than Catherine." said Lola.
"Well, Catherine had a hand in raising her, so a little of Catherine rubbed off on her," he explained. "It's only if you cross her or do something she deems suspicious. Other than that, she is probably the one person you wish to be on your side."
"Are you saying I should convince her to become Scotland's ally?"
"If you wish for the war between your's and Elizabeth's country to stop, she will have a way," Bash told her. "But Mary, I must tell you, it will not be easy. You are a woman, a married one at that."
"Is she not married herself?" asked Kenna, curiosity bubbling in the pit of her stomach.
"No," replied Bash a little bit more quietly. "She never married, but that is why Mary will have a harder time gaining Alaina as an ally. You married to protect your country. She was born to rule one and was given three more. And because her uncle, King Philip II of Spain, does not have any heirs, he has announced her as his successor."
"But if she is an ally to France, surely she's willing to submit to being one of Scotland?"
"Mary, Francis is Alaina's dearest friend. She is solely France's ally because of him."
"So what you are saying is that in order to gain her as an ally and save my people, I must be seen as Francis' wife, but also come off as an independent Queen?"
"You can do it, Mary," said Lola as she reached out to touch her friend's arm and offer a warm smile. "We all believe you can."
"And if you need us," added Greer, "We will be most willing to oblige."
"Princess! Princess come back here!"
All five of them turned to spy a small girl with long dark ringlets and piercing pale blue eyes running toward their direction. Bash removed himself from Kenna's side to approach the girl.
"Lizzie," he said softly, yet still in a stern tone.
"My God," breathe Lola, her grip still on Mary's arm. "She looks identical to Bash, does she not?"
"Yes," replied Kenna, skeptically. "I wonder why that is. "Bash, darling, who is this little girl?"
Bash stood up and turned to face his wife. "I must go. Mary, Alaina is due to arrive any second now, you must hurry to greet her." And with that, he escorted the young girl and the ladies chasing after her back in the direction they came.
"Odd," said Kenna as she turned toward the others. "He completely ignored me."
"I wonder if Bash has a secret of his own that we don't know about." said Lola.
"We will figure that out later," said Mary as she looked at her ladies. "For now, we should go greet this other Queen and see exactly what all the fuss is all about."
"I had a feeling you would be in here," he said.
She turned, a chocolate brown ringlet slipping loose from its pin that held it in place as she did so. Her bright blue eyes landed on him and she smiled softly while bowing her head to acknowledge him.
"Was our daughter being a menace again?" she asked him, turning back to the dappled gray horse in front of her. "All she ever talked about, before our departure, was of seeing Francis. She loves him so."
"Yes, well she is with him now," he said. "And it's quite good to see you, Alaina."
"You too, Sebastian," she said, now backing away from her stallion to leave him to the stable boy that had been patiently waiting for her to do so. "Come, I suppose I can not leave the court waiting any longer."
"No, you can not," he said with a large smile. "Do tell me, was your journey pleasant?"
"Oh, as pleasant as ever, I suppose."
"And your new country, do you like it?"
"Enough to leave Egypt and set up home in Denmark, yes. Though the weather is much colder there."
"I can only imagine, but you are from France, you are used to the cold." said Bash.
"Sebastian, have you ever traveled to Denmark?" she asked him.
"No, your Grace, I have not even left French soil." he replied.
"Then you've no clue as to just how cold it really can be. Far too cold for me, that is for sure."
Sebastian chuckled as he patted her hand, "I did forget you lived in Egypt a good few years."
"Oh how I do miss the warmth."
"Do you now?" he asked, a brow raised. "I thought you hated it."
"In comparison to the cold? I very much miss it so."