A/N: Thanks for all the comments and alerts! Your reviews are much appreciated!

I do not own Reign

"Your grace looks lovely this morning." Bash bowed to the young queen, the woman who so captured his heart, knowing full well how she was likely to respond.

"Bash!" Mary quickly wrapped her arms around him in a momentary embrace, aware that around the corner stood guards, servants, nobles and most of court. They were to enter the meeting chamber shortly, her counsels and she having been called upon some short moments ago that a matter of urgency had arisen, and so they have precious few minutes before they would soon not be alone.

How good it was to see him. His skin had regained its lovely color and his eyes came clear. No longer did he seem in pain or discomfort of any form. For the first time in several days they met outside of her accompanied visits to his chambers. It seemed he was no longer infirm and what a lovely sight it was to see. "You appear quite well healed."

"I became ambulatory as of the morning. The last of the poison appears to have left me but I believe news of your successes here at court was primarily responsible for my restoration." How happy it was to see her smile. He was proud of her to be sure.

There was word that the queens had settled several disputes between England and Scotland in the short time, making the notion of Mary gaining control of English troops the more likely in the days to come. If the uprising commences today she may not be successful in procuring the men but soon, so long as she continued to impress, she would likely do so.

"Yes, I believe you may have placed your faith properly within me. It appears all the English truly want of me is to know I do not want to steal their crown but rather take it legitimately." She gazed aside in guilty pleasure of her face. "Who would suspect so little effort be needed on my part?"

How sure he had know she would win the hearts of the English court. "I would suspect. Though, I am sure you made some very proper efforts. I believe I heard of you taking six ladies into your service."

Humor lit her tone. "You do have quite the appetite for news and rumor while in recovery." She enjoyed the guilty rise to his cheek in response. "I have many men to win over here at court, men in charge of potentially banning my succession. There serves no better method for a queen to gain their favor, while maintaining her virtue, than swaying the opinion of his lady."

"I was thinking much the same." He reached out to smoothed a lock of her hair come out of place and enjoyed the slight shiver it elicited. "You have made some wise choices; however I have come to understand these ladies of yours leave you with less companionship than you are accustomed. I would hate to think you lonely, your grace."

There was something so careful in his freedom. Whenever he addressed her formally it was as if a secret was shared between them that none of the world could decipher. It was as if he was not speaking to the queen, but the girl. "I assume the source of your information be Thomas."

"Perhaps." Bash let his roguish smile speak for itself. "I find I do rather enjoy him."

Of course he would, he is a co-conspirator when it comes to protecting some of the intricacies of their relationship. "You like him because he informs you on me."

"He does so only in the interest of full disclosure among counsel, I can assure." Bash retorted, the reply on the ready in an effort of invented defensive humor.

Mary rose a single brow as her smirk grew and sarcasm colored her tone. "Yes, that is why Robert is rushing in here now, anxious to share a personal moment alone. To cure the loneliness inside me."

Only she could be so wonderfully perceptive to his motives in the early arrival. And only she could take something which she clearly found endearing and let him be in trouble for it. How he had missed her wit. "Perhaps I have simply come to have different concerns than your Scotsman."

There was a vulnerability in the statement equal in measure to the intimation of his infections that it implied. She found herself unable to weigh out her options, unable to determine the value of giving in to her heart's desires and doing the duty demanded of her. Here stood a man willing to break every rule and she remain unable to determine if she could do so as well.

That man in question could see the conflict within her. He knew she cared for him. It was plain as day or rain those two days ago when she nursed him, when she almost allowed a kiss. But he knew her moral composition well and so too knew of the inner turmoil brewing within. The advantage he had above her was the freedom from a royal position. He did worry for his people and his father's kingdom as well as her own. But it was not his obligation, it was his choice. One that he was aware she did not have. "It appears I have rendered your grace speechless. I take that as a personal accomplishment."

"We must all our goals."

"Indeed." Bash stepped to her side upon seeing Thomas approaching and bowing to the queen. "What news have you, Thomas, on this urgent matter?"

The advisor's eyes looked to the floor before meeting those of the queen, begging her understanding in what he was trying to convey. "Your grace." It was more a question than anything else. "Perhaps we should remove to a separate room for the moment."

Bash eyed the two carefully, suspect as to what this may be about. There was only one matter on which Thomas was unwilling to discuss during their visits, longer in length than those Mary could spare, and that was the nature of his poisoning.

When they found themselves into a private chamber Bash turned her towards him, worried at the paleness of her countenance. "Mary? What is this business?"

She swallowed her trepidation as she looked to him. "While you were recovering, I came to bond with Mary Tudor on several matters. The first, which served as our starting ground, was in my request that the conspirator against you be found. It was that topic and my request for assistance that provided the opportunity for her to see that I was not some young child wishing to sit upon the throne but rather a woman wishing to rule from it."

"A child you most certainly are not, Mary." He was proud of her and he hoped it showed in his tone. "I am happy to have provided the opportunity to display your capabilities."

The queen looked to her friend, the man so new to being recovered. How greatly she wished she could spare him from this. But it was his right to know and necessary if he were to return as her counsel. "It was the best of a bad situation, I assure you. But that is not where the matter lay." Mary moved to him, placing her hands gently upon his shoulders as she was aware of the delicate nature of what she was about to share. "Of this I am sure Thomas has not informed you for I specifically requested otherwise."

Bash waited out several moments of her pause before he was sure it was hesitation. "Whatever it may be do not upset yourself so. Share your thoughts openly, if with no one else then at least with me." He did so hope she were not about to dismiss his service.

She could see that her reluctance was only causing a surge of apprehension within him and thus, she sped along. "The current suspect in your poisoning owned the vial which was unique to him. Bash I will not try to lighten the burden or seriousness this will impose. Francis-" her words were cut off by his protest.

"Francis would never!" His voice raised higher in his insistence as he paced away from her. He was not angry with her, he was simply unbelieving. His brother, a man so dear to him, could not do this. "As angry as he may be, as low as he had come to have struck a blow, no. He would not attempt to end my life."

Thomas watched their exchange with interest. He worried for them. Matters of far less importance have come between many lovers before and this was as grand a scheme as any. A man comes near to death and the woman he loves, the woman engaged to his brother, accuses that very same man of the plot. It could end them and as he was the only person aware of their deep affection for one another, perhaps even including themselves, he took it upon himself to correct some assumptions. "Sebastian. You must understand. My future queen does not suspect it of him."

Bash looked upon her and seeing the question in his eyes she was glad for Thomas's intervention. Of all the many at court who proved willing to serve her she had come to trust him more than anyone and was thankful for the numerous burdens he so eased. "Bash. What he says is true. I too think not of Francis as the guilty party. I believe someone, perhaps Scottish, might be trying to break the alliance."

"What Scotsman could want such a thing?"

"I do not know. But if it be such a man he will be convicted of treason. I assure you of that."

Bash understood so greatly what she was saying. This matter was serious to her and there was a cost to pay for whoever had acted against him. If a Scotsman, as he prayed, it would be death. If Francis, the entire alliance would fall with English and Scottish accusations such as these launched against the dauphin. As much as Bash wanted her to avoid taking his brother's hand he knew too well that he did not wish hostilities to break between them.

He re-approached the queen with an ardent expression of worry. "Will you please speak on my brother's behalf, if necessary? So much is at stake, even if he be the man to order my poison I ask you to keep away from openly believing in it."

The sacrifice within him, Mary knew it existed but so horrible it was when it showed. He would be willing to further endanger himself in the name of his father's continued peaceful reign, in the name of her countries' alliance with France.

She was thankful that before she could respond, for she knew not how she would, a page called for them and soon they stood inside the meeting chamber. Bash and Thomas found Robert at the side and joined him there as all in the room bowed to the two queens.

Mary Tudor began her address "As my friend Mary has requested," Bash took a moment to wonder just when the two had become 'friends'. His Mary truly had been busy as of late. "I have taken it upon myself to conduct an investigation into the attempted murder of Sebastian de Poitiers, son of Henry of France."

Here she turned to him and Bash came forward as was expected. "Sebastian, before I reveal the details of what we have come to determine I wish to prepare you. They may well be shocking." Internally he winced, praying she not say what he expected. He truly would rather remain in danger of Francis than risk war. It was not what he wanted for Mary. It was not what he wanted for France. "I understand, your grace."

"Very well. Mary, Queen of Scotland. I regret to inform you of a great betrayal of someone dear to your heart."

Mary could see the whole world end in her eyes. If she, representative of Scotland and England were to stand here with the string of accusation against Francis it would change everything. She would free of his hand and yet she would be burdened with the impending possibility of war. "I beg of you to wait no longer in your verdict, for I can barely contain myself."

Out of the corner of his eye Bash could see movement to his left and after some short moment of wonder he could see Robert, the Scotsman, struggling in the arms of guards now upon him. "Your grace?" he looked to the English queen with hope in his eyes.

It was as if all the air reentered the room just then.

"Mary, Robert Williamson, your friend and advisor has been found to be your conspirator and when approached confessed his guilt. Witnesses account for his stealing of the vial which contained the poison while at French court in your service. Mary, I turn him over to your authority. As this is now a Scottish matter, I offer my assistance in the absence of your mother and home country in carrying out what sentence you may give."

Mary stole a small moment in time locked in gaze with Bash. Of anyone save he, she had little suspected someone so close to her of betrayal as Robert. There must have been good reason but regardless this betrayal hurt more than he could know.

She stood tall, walking higher on the platform as he was brought before her. She was aware of what she must do and it pained her deeply. "Robert Williamson. Have you any words which may save you? Any explanation as to why you chose to point our investigation at the dauphin of France?"

Bash was stunned by her. He had yet to have opportunity to view this woman he so loves in a position where she must exercise her power acutely. She was young, brave and strong but inexperienced. He prayed she not be too lenient but not for his benefit. She must appear as capable as Mary Tudor seems to be convinced. She must show her preeminence as a figure of justice and rule if she were to maintain all the work she had done in gaining favor with the queen and the court. Parliament was unlikely to remove her from succession if they felt her a capable leader and conversely likely to do so if they felt she lacked the ability to effectively rule.

But he worried little for this upon seeing the look in her eyes. She was the woman betrayed and yet she stood to be that figure for which she must represent naturally in her tone and grace. She was a queen.

Robert knelt before her, the picture of servitude and submission. "My reasons shall remain my own, your grace. But know that I did so in what I believed to be your service."

He cast his eyes on Bash and realized where his error had been. He knew that Mary would need the English authorities to investigate on her behalf and he knew they would not make an accusation against Francis for the sake of peace. He meant only to cast suspicion upon Francis and break the ties binding Mary to their engagement with no fault of her own, ties he had once believed to be love.

He had seen love, this is true. But on the wrong brother it lay.

The consolation in this failing is that the poisoning failed as well and Bash survived, meaning the chance for Mary to still separate from the unpopular engagement which would lead England to have an unfaithful regnant king of France as its consort. It also rest in that his guilt provided the opportunity for Mary to cement the bonds he had not expected she would gather so quickly at court.

Sentencing him as a traitor, to death, would fully rally the English around her in seeing that she were equitable in her rule to them as she would be to her own countryman. The process of unification would start to begin well before she took the English crown, making Scotland and his queen all the more successful. Yes, it may not be the manner of service intended but he could see the value in that. "My reasons, my service are not enough to save me, I am aware. I wish only that your grace know the extent of my sorrow as I come to understand how now greatly I have betrayed you."

"Betrayed me." Her anger came through with deadly calm in her tone of authority. "You betrayed my counsel. You put an alliance and war with France at risk, not just for Scotland" she looked to the room taking each of court into her conversation. "But of this, my new country as well. Speak not of betrayal to my person for it is the people I rule, the people we all serve in leadership which you have betrayed."

She spoke all this with the presence of command in her tone but her heart spoke differently. She was sure that Robert's motives were truly in what he viewed to be her service. From the moment she saw the guards restrain him it all came to make sense to her. He had doubted her. He doubted her ability to secure England while still engaged to the future king of France. He wished a peaceful, no fault separation. So, he had schemed.

Mary wished he had simply spoken with her on the matter. They might have found an alternative that did not lead to this. "I consider this interference an act of treason. It is only out of the years you have served me that I offer you this one relief. You will sent to Scotland for your execution."

All of court, including Bash and Thomas rose their head in surprise at that statement. That was a generosity none expected given her tone. Many, however, including Bash believed the decision to be a product of not wishing to show a weakness in needing the English for the simple matter of execution. She showed all her strength in determining a man's sentence. And having his execution arranged in Scotland, where her mother still holds the responsibilities of rule, equally showed her readiness to assume command of her kingdom. They thought on this dominant aspect of the queen to soon wear two crowns intently as she carried on. "Take him away."

Bash watched her closely as the meeting on this terrible matter concluded and the two queens lead the court in dismissal. He hurried to reach her side once in the hall, pulling her into the same private chamber where they had stood before.

He held her to him, overwhelmed in his need to console what he saw rising within her. "I see your worry, and your guilt, but it is not for you to take." He whispered to her gently as he rubbed her back in comfort.

She inhaled sharply through her teeth, trying desperately to stall the quiver of her lips but that stall would just not hold. Here in his arms no one could see her cry, no one would know save him. And she found she didn't mind him knowing she were not stone. She didn't mind that at all.

Her tears fell freely and Bash held her body with care as it racked with sorrow. He wrapped her fully around the small of her back with one hand and drew his other through her smooth locks until her brow met to his lips. "You are so strong Mary." He rested his nose into the tangle of silky black, taking in her sweet and jasmine scent. "You did what was needed. What must be done."

The gulps of breath she called upon in trying to calm herself began to fade in intensity. How so very much he cared for her, how so observant and understanding of all she feels he has always proved to be. "Please tell me you do not like me less for sentencing a friend once so trusted onto his death."

Bash pulled his head back so as to make her eye contact, his body still holding her. He was stunned at the source of her worry. "Mary," he caressed her cheek, the softness overtaking his senses. "There is nothing which you could ever do, out of duty or otherwise, which would persuade me to think or feel anything different than I already do."

As she looked into his eyes, ardent in expression, she wondered if she had the courage to ask to ask what those feelings were.

"Pardon my interruption. I usually pass my afternoon here." Mary Tudor entered the chamber with heightened volume upon seeing the bastard and queen in their intimate embrace. Falling in love with her fiancé's brother… To be sure, Mary Queen of Scots proved a most interesting young woman.

Bash and Mary were quick to drop their positions and stand apart, Bash bowing to the English queen and Mary discreetly turning so as to wipe the dried streaks of tears from her eyes and straighten the mess of her hair. How unfortunate, how dangerous all this could be.

She prayed desperately that all she had done to befriend the other queen did not unravel in so short an instant. Her selfishness in allowing this moment to take place, to be consoled so intimately by her friend, could cost her country the support of the army it so desperately needs. It could cost her an alliance with France. It could cost her everything.

"I do thank you for your investigation, Mary." The Scottish queen recovered in only a few moments, a skill she was thankful was instilled within her since birth. "It comes as a grand relief that the dauphin was not at fault."

Mary Tudor stood closer to the fire she had ordered in place and turned her body so as to fully face the scandalous couple. "I am sure the relief comes particularly to you, Sebastian. Your brother's affections for yourself seem unchanged from where they held on the outset of your journey here."

Bash inclined his head slightly in respectful agreement as he held his hands behind his back. He was so very weary of what the elder queen in the room might think, or say, or act upon in having found he and Mary in the compromising position. "Indeed I am so relieved, your grace. I only learned of the suspicions against my brother just prior to our meeting but I can say with honesty that no amount of time wondering on the possibility would have proved comfortable."

"Comfort seems to be of vital importance to you, I can see."

Mary grew past weary into fright at the accusation that intoned. But she recovered, for the sake of what Bash might feel at the moment. "Comfort is a human trait, surely. It is why we play, build fires, wear garments of silk. If a comfort can come from knowledge that so provides a desired relief from great pain then all the better of it."

The elder queen's gaze locked onto the younger woman's, her expression unclear. "Indeed." Turning towards Sebastian she lightened her tone as some games arrived, delivered by her servants. "Perhaps you might join some of the young men in tennis, Sebastian. I would very much care to play Pope July if Mary might entertain."

Upon hearing Mary's acceptance of the offer Bash bowed to both queens and retreated from the chamber, his worry and his feelings for Mary plain for all to see.

How greatly Mary wished she were a simple girl.

There was a distinct level of unease in sitting down to pass times with the English queen so sterile in countenance and expression. She was sure the elder woman was contemplating how to use her new information, information that could destroy all of her kingdom. And all she could do is sit and pretend not to worry as she built her stacks in the chilled silence of her company.

"For so young a woman you most certainly have varied interests." Mary Tudor remained focused on her cards but attention was clear in her manner.

Mary wished she could calm the emotional tide, so quickly spun between extremes in the last hour, so as to keep suspicion or perhaps anger from her voice. "I bed pardon?" Was she outright accusing her?

For the first time since they sat the elder woman looked to her successor, innocence playing. "I have observed you enjoy many of the games in which I too delight. I was ten years your senior however when I came to find value in the current venture."

Mary wondered on the possibility that this were some form of elliptical conversation, of the elder Mary venturing into a conversation of what she saw of her and Bash. Regardless, she tried to be reassured by her tone, if only to give herself a minute at composure. "I learned it only recently, at French court when-" she stopped herself.

"When?" she insisted Mary finish, aware of the discomfort overcoming the woman.

Mary re-gathered herself. If she showed no guilt, no fear, then perhaps the woman across from her would not be so apt as to throw her out with the bath water. "When Sebastian taught me how to play."

Aware of the Scottish girl's discomfort and almost finished in her contemplation on what she had witnessed, Mary Tudor spoke gently. The largest of her concerns remaining on the young woman was her future husband. She herself knew of the burden a husband's infidelity places on a regnant queen. His affairs and lack of loyalty would place her authority and ability to command in question, and that was something she dearly wished the next monarch to avoid.

It was then clear to her that she would favor and nurture any wedge which might sever the engagement between the dauphin and Mary. Perhaps then not only could a faithful husband be found but she needn't worry of the next consort being a king in his own right. That simply would not do. "I owe him my gratitude then. He found a fine player in you, though you might benefit from my instruction."

Hope. She examined the placidity of her predecessor for some hope in meaning. Perhaps the other queen was truly speaking in metaphor on the matter. Perhaps the other woman was not fully inclined to simply tell all and ruin the heiress to her throne. It had seemed before that she was coming to accept her position as just that.

There was only one way to be sure, and speaking around the topic was not it. "May I ask of you a moment of candor as I have come to consider you my friend these last days?"

"As I too have come to consider you." The elder queen placed her game pieces aside for the moment, giving her full attention to Mary. She did rather like her, did consider her a friend in the making, a placement for the affections of a daughter even. And she wanted to put the girl at ease, for she found that if she wished to sway the young woman from her long standing engagement to Francis she must first cement their bond. "A request of candor is a sentiment I too would like to initiate. But may I begin?" She must share some advice.

Mary held her breath, wondering what sort of lecture, reprimand or threat she may be in for hearing. "If you so wish."

"I thought you might find some information obtained during the investigation of interest. It seems you knew the Portuguese prince, now legitimized by the pope?"

Mary stood shocked for a moment. Of all those to enter this conversation he was not one she expected. "Indeed. We were well acquainted."

Engaged more like. The queen thought but continued unabashed. "It may interest you then to know that the push for his legitimacy came from a most interesting origin, Catherine de Medici, the French queen. Curious is it not?"

Well, that was interesting to be sure. Perhaps she should withhold less for a moment and fully open herself to the woman she calls a friend. "I can suspect only that she was trying to break me away from Francis. I cannot claim to know as to why, but I am sure of it."

Mary Tudor sighed easily, aware the other woman was finally appearing to take her into confidence. "Indeed. She wished to find you an alternate suitor, one more advantageous to Scotland at the time and he was her best candidate in what control she could exert over him. There were many motives in his looking for your hand but upholding his end of the bargain for Catherine's intervention was most certainly among them."

There was much there for Mary to consider but she could not be sure as to why she was learning of this now. "May I ask why you have chosen to share this with me?"

A smile reminiscent of Bash in its roguish integrity grew upon the other Mary's lips. "So you might learn that there are all manner of options when one considers the entanglement of politics and the heart." The elder queen reached for Mary's hand. "Your care and concerns have served as nothing but a manner of endearing you to me, and so I tell you this equally so as you might learn of my position in the nature of our relationship. You must not share your knowledge of this discovery I have found but I give it to you to make of it what you will." She paused to give the girl a chance to catch onto her meaning. "For as I trust your grace with my secrets so too may you entrust yours in me."

That was an astounding difference from what she expected. The queen of England, a woman so long her foe, who had so long wanted her crown, has now become the only woman, nay, person, with whom she could discuss the man closest in her heart. This was something of so deep a bond to form she hadn't considered it to be possible before now.

A servant came about just then, breaking the two away from the moment and calling them both to the attention of Thomas entering the room. There was something in his urgency, his manner which came to be of concern to both women.

"What is it?" Mary asked, no preamble necessary given his state.

"Your grace. We have word that the Protestants in Scotland have gathered. An army has been raised. They plan to rise against your mother in two days."

Once again the queen felt her eyes flutter closed in the severity of the news. "You are sure."

Bash's quick entrance, which would otherwise have been awkward and tense was masked by the news. "Mary, we most certainly are sure. And more so, it appears that the uprising has begun. A French emissary just arrived with news that these troops are already active in some of the villages near your shores. The situation is dire, instability of all of Scotland is imminent."

Mary began to pace. She had expected this, prepared for the eventuality that all her kingdom was to be plagued with internal strife. She had expected it to arise soon. Just perhaps not so soon, not before she could gather the armies of the English under her control. "And I suppose," she turned a hopeful eye to the elder queen so soon become her friend. "That I will not see help from the English yet? Having only just come to be of your favor?"

Mary Tudor looked to the heiress presumptive, a girl not yet in rule of her own kingdom but who would one day command all. She had faith in her, that she could rise to the challenges present, particularly now that the last days of her own life would be spent in preparing the girl for the role and her assistance would no go unaccepted. "You have become popular among the court and, as you know, we have come into one another's mutual trust. However the number of forces necessary is no small matter and stretches beyond the current alliance. I cannot relinquish the lot of my armies to Scottish control."

Mary whipped her body away from them before the other woman could continue, willing her mind to retain control of herself. She had failed. There was nothing she could think to do. Her home land would fall. "I understand."

The English queen came up behind her, aware of how very upsetting it is when a monarch believes they have reached the point of no hope. "No, you do not." Her hand on Mary's shoulder turned the girl towards her. "I cannot relinquish control of my men to Scotland, to your mother. I can, however give their authority to you."

Mary looked between the other three in the room, the English queen, a most trusted English advisor and her French counsel, bastard son of a king and desired lover. They three exchanged several glances which to them spoke volumes. "What do you mean?" She asked of her newest friend. When she found no response she looked to Bash. "Bash? What is it?"

He stepped closer to her, pulling her loosely into the wide circle of his arms and dipping his head to meet her gaze. He wished her to find solace there for he was aware of how greatly she would need the comfort and be damned the propriety that wished to prevent it. "Mary, there is more to you than just an ability to marry for alliances and bring home their armies. To repress this rebellion two things are needed. The first, an authority to which the Protestant nobility would be beholden to submit and could rally behind, and second, armies to force their need to make the decision to do so."

Mary took a step closer to him, wonder and worry clear on her face. "You mean to say we can provide both and bring the country back to peace?"

"Yes, Mary. We must leave tonight before the great deal of this uprising begins. Your mother can stall no longer because legitimate authority in Scotland and the ability to assume control of the armies of England on your soil belong to only to you."

She had come so far, she had been successful at court, procured an army for her people, settled much for international peace and found a home here in England and yet she was not done. She had danger yet to face, armies to lead, rebellions to repress, lords to rally and all it be for the sake of her duty.

How Mary truly did wish she were just a simple girl.