The castle was quiet. A reverent hush had fallen over the walls and grounds since the screaming had stopped as everyone waited with bated breath for the fate of Mary, Queen of Scots, to pronounce itself. The problem was that fate had not decided its course yet. Francis lay, body heavy, mind full, on the soft feather bed, silent but wide awake. His ears listened carefully for the gentle rise and fall of the breath of his companion, steady and reassuring. He was warm despite the chill outside with the front of her body pressed against his side, her arm strewn across his chest in sleep. Guilt coursed through him at the pleasure he found at being in this situation, in Mary's bed with her next to him, albeit both fully clothed. His arm was tucked neatly beneath her head so his fingers could stroke soft lines across her dark hair.
It had been a long night; hallucinations had plagued Mary every moment of being awake. When Tomas had disappeared the English had taken his place, come to take her throne, her country, her life. She had shaken in terror unless Francis held her, his arms the only security, the only thing she could be sure was real in its entirety, until at last sleep had taken her. He had pulled her into his chest in her bed, whispered in her ear that everything was going to be okay and held her like a child, warm and secure in his embrace.
His body was stiff with lack of movement, pinned beneath the weight of her but he wasn't complaining. Francis ached to stretch and adjust and, almost as if she had read his mind, Mary began to stir from beside him.
Her head caressed his chest as she cleared her throat, eyes still closed, breath coming in quicker succession, until at last her eyelids, heavy with sleep, fluttered open to meet his. Francis stilled, waiting for her reaction. Doe eyes held a look of disbelief, lips trembled in fear.
"It's alright, Mary. You're okay."
Her response was silence. Mary tried to take stock of Francis statement. Was she alright? Her body was warm with sleep, pressed against Francis' side. She felt achy, stomach empty, head full.
"Do you remember what happened last night?"
Mary contemplated his question. A heavy haze of confusion had settled over her, causing memories to be blurred and abstract. There were fragments of things that could not be real on top of things that could only have been real. She couldn't distinguish between the two.
"I think so." Her voice was hoarse from the hours of crying and screaming. It hurt to speak.
"How do you feel?" the concern lacing Francis' voice invoked another emotion in Mary that she wasn't initially aware of: affection.
She pushed gently off of him, her hand still placed across his chest, and propped herself upright. Her throat was dry but other than that Mary more or less felt like herself.
"Fine, I think."
Francis smiled and raised his hand to touch her cheek.
"You haven't moved all night. The pattern of my tunic is embedded in your cheek."
She raised her own fingers to feel the mark, slightly indented into her face, and smiled. As she pulled her hand away Francis put his fingers back, slowly tracing the intricate designs with a feather light touch. Mary closed her eyes and embraced his touch, the warmth was comforting and reassuring.
"What's happening to me?" Mary whispered into the palm of his hand.
Francis pushed himself into a sitting position to face her. "Nothing is going to happen to you again, Mary. I won't allow it."
"You can't protect me forever."
"I can try."
Their eyes met in a blaze of promises, ones that she wanted to believe but was afraid to, ones he wanted to keep but was afraid of not being able to.
"I'm tracking down whoever poisoned your cup last night. They will not get away with it."
Mary hung her head, desperately fighting the tears that threatened to spill over. This was not the life she imagined for herself in France, fighting another attempt on her life every couple of weeks. She was supposed to be married to Francis by now but she worried that he would never have her with all the baggage she came with.
"I want to help. I need to know who is doing this and why. I won't sit around and wait for the next attempt someone makes to kill me."
"No." Francis answered quickly. It was resolute and definitive. "It's too dangerous."
"And what, sitting around helpless is going to help me? I'm not a child, Francis. I need to do something, not just wait for you to bring me answers."
"I will not have you putting yourself in more danger than you're already in. Actively seeking out the people who want you dead is suicide, Mary."
"So I'm to just wait here for the next time then?"
"There will be no next time." His voice was low and full with promise. "I am going to find whoever this is and I am going to make sure they never try to hurt you ever again." He closed his eyes and swallowed, trying not to lose his temper with her in his attempts to protect her. "Do you trust me?" He asked, more gently this time.
Her eyes met his, unblinking in promise. "With my life."
Francis pressed a kiss to her cheek and climbed from her bed reluctantly. "Then please just stay here today. Don't leave the castle. Keep only the people you trust the most around you. I will send my most trusted guards to stand station at your door, but even them do not let in. Until these people are found we must be extra vigilant."
Mary nodded in understanding as he turned to leave.
"Francis, wait!" She called as he crossed the threshold to her door. He spun to face her, eyes alight with fire. "Thank you."
He smiled in return, genuine filled with passion, then turned on his heel and left her alone again. Mary adored the fact that Francis wanted to protect her and take care of her, but hated the fact that he treated her like a china doll in the process. She was a strong woman. A strong Queen. The leader of a country and its people, an army, a nation. She would not stand by and wait for someone else to do her work for her. If someone was trying to kill her, then she had the resources to find out who. But she would need a bit of help.
Mary walked to the door and opened it a crack until a familiar face met hers. The guard smiled.
"Good morning, Your Grace."
"Could you do me a favour and bring me Bash, please?" Mary asked. "And please make sure that Prince Francis does not hear about it."
Okay so I won't give anything away for those of you who haven't seen the newest episode, but SERIOUSLY! Baah it makes me so frustrated. No wonder I have to write to get the type of character interaction we're all craving so desperately. Stupid Francis. I hope this vow he's made doesn't last long at all! But please review and let me know how you guys are liking it so far! Bash and Mary are going to be spending some time together coming up since Francis won't let her help. But don't worry Frary fans, I won't disappoint you either!