You Could Be Wild and Free (Dream AU for: Angel-of-the-obvious! Thanks for my first prompt!)
The wind of the Scottish hills danced about, playing with her hair as she ran barefoot, mud engulfing her feet pleasantly with every step. No where were her heavy jewels or restrictive gowns, but light simple frock and heather in her hair. She was laughing heartily, out of breath and dizzy with happiness, summer and freedom.
Behind her were her pursuers both laughing that sounded purer than the a choir in the lofts of the Cathedral. One laugh was small and ringing, like the sound of little bells, the other was deeper and warm, making her heart do summersaults. They blended together with her own laugh in the most perfect harmonic way.
A small boy with dark curls and chocolate eyes soared in the arms of his tall, handsome father, as they chased her all over the green wood and terrain that surrounded Sterling Castle. The Scottish deer-hound of the same now was trailing along with his long legs, barking loud and happily.
Out of breath, Mary fell to the ground dramatically, ending the chase in a fit of giggles.
"We have caught her at last!" Bash told his son once they reached her, the boy was laughing hysterically, his arms outstretched like a hawk. "Tell her to admit defeat." he gently hauled the small boy low so that he hovered over Mary who was still trying to catch her breath.
"Mama!" the toddler cried happily.
Grinning, she lifted her arms and took the child, pulling him down to kiss him all over his soft face. "Oh, alright! I surrender! I surrender!"
Soon Sterling was bounding up to them, assaulting Mary and the boy in happy licks.
"Oh Sterling, stop it!" Mary cried, pushing the tall lean dog back, giggling.
"Puppy! Puppy!" the little one laughed.
Bash came to their rescue and pulled them up together into his arms, taking the boy and placing him back on his strong shoulders. "Scotland is ours, my son!"
The boy continued to laugh, hugging his father around his forehead and laying his head down against his. Bash grinned at Mary and pulled her close to him as she feigned a frown.
"Your father is treasonous." she told the boy, shaking her head.
"Oh, don't worry, you're allowed to be our queen." he told her, giving her kiss on the forehead, carefully holding their son.
Hungry, they began the hike up toward the castle. The little boy was fidgety though and wanted down. Mary held one chubby little hand and Bash held to other as the little one walked between them, and every so often they would swing him together, making him truly believe he must have the gift of flight.
The sun passed over the hills and the child grew tired. Mary took the boy into her arms and he looked up at her playing with her curls. He was a beautiful child, he had her eyes and Bash's nose and expressions. He was full of fun and mischief and was always laughing. Like Bash, he always looked at her with such love and devotion… he would grow into a fine man and be a son who would take care of her always.
"Mama." he said snuggling into her neck.
She smiled and hugged him closer.
Time passed in a strange way as the disappeared over the hills. Mary's arms grew tired, so Bash took a turn holding the boy. They were close to home, but they were now in the woods and it was growing dark. Suddenly, Mary could not walk any longer, it was if her feet were frozen. Bash walked on ahead with their son, looking back at her with his sad blue eyes.
"Are you not coming, Mary?" he asked her.
With me you are wild…
"I can't." she tried to say but the words didn't come out.
You are free…
His face fell sadly, and turned and walked on, the little boy over his shoulder staring. She tried to move again but she couldn't, and they descended more and more into darkness of the twilight forest.
You can be who you are…
Tears fell down her face as reality drew closer and closer… they were gone… this life could never be.
…and I will always put you first.
The boy held out his arms, before the shadow of the unknown took them entirely.
"Mama! Mama!" he cried.
Mary wept.
The Queen of Scotland awoke suddenly, but did not jolt. She woke to a pale morning light in the castle of French Court, in the bed of the Dauphin, her husband.
Her dream state and reality did not blend well and she found herself blinking and only blinking, unsure what else to do.
Francis sat on the oaken desk, writing with quill and ink, he turned and smiled at her. "Good morning, you slept in!"
"Morning." she said, trying but failing to smile back at him. His presence brought warmth and comfort, but the vividness of the child in her dream in Bash's arms still lingered in her mind.
"Are you alright?" Francis asked with concern.
She nodded. "Yes, it was just a dream."
He smiled. "Not a bad one I hope."
"No," she said shaking her hand. "Just haunting."
Before Francis could speak more, his mother, Queen Catherine came through the door haughtily.
"Francis, have hurried with those signatures, I want to send them to the Vatican this morning." she turned to Mary, who still lay in bed, though it was about midday. "Mary, are you ill?"
"She just slept in, mother." Francis told her with a roll of the eyes. "I have the papers here, I will bring them down myself."
He went to Mary and gave her a small kiss on the forehead. "I will be back to join you for breakfast…well luncheon now, but I will miss the page if I don't go now."
She nodded.
Francis left the room, but Catherine remained. She looked at Mary evenly.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Simply being a queen." she told her, rising from the bed and rubbing her eyes.
Happiness is the one thing we queens can never have.
Catherine nodded. "I see."
It was quiet a moment.
"I thought you would like to know, that Bash has left for Spain." Catherine told her, as if she had been reading her thoughts. "You need not worry, his heart will mend."
Mary nodded again, feigning a smile. Catherine left her then and she was alone with the fading dream…
But, will mine?
This is kind of depressing, but I still have sad feelings after 1X13 ): Do I get bonus points, Angel? Catherine and Francis are both in here!