Queen of My Heart ( Eloping AU for: Ida-cullen. Hope you like it J)
Sunlight came creeping in through the windows, hitting Mary's eyes and waking her from her peaceful slumber. It warmed her bare skin like a kiss from the heavens.
The sensation of waking up in a new room enveloped her. The earthy, sandalwood smell filled her nose, the firmer bed and heavier sheets. It was colder in these chambers, but she did not notice, for she was safe, snug and warmer than she had been in months.
"Morning wife." a happy, sleepy voice spoke beside her.
She turned to see Bash watching her, propped on his arm, his sleepy, but ridiculously happy gaze and bed hair made her smile without effort.
"Good morning, husband." she said as his lips brushed hers.
Husband!
I'm married!
I am married to Sebastian!
"What time is it?" she asked, stretching.
He looked over out the window at the sun in the sky. "Eight of the clock, by the looks of it."
She sighed in disappointment. "I will need to return to my chambers to dress for breakfast."
Bash pulled her close and nuzzle into her hair. "Must you?"
His stubble tickle her and she laughed. "Yes, I must! We need to be ready to meet your father in the throne room with the marriage certificate, he will not be pleased and…"
He kissed her ending her argument. "It does not matter, there is nothing he can do about it. You are mine and I am yours, therefore stay another minute more."
She was about to refuse, but found herself defeated by his large eyes and subtle pout. "Oh, very well, I will grace you one minute more."
He pulled her back into his arms and they snuggled against the cold.
…
"Mary!" Greer smiled as her queen entered her chambers, already dressed in a sapphire gown embroidered with white silk on the bodice, her hair adorned with silver flowers. "I take it I speak to a now married woman?"
Mary smiled and nodded, showing a silver band with a crystal at its center hanging around her neck.
"Oh," Greer got up to take her hands in her own. "Are you happy?"
Mary smiled and could not contain her laugh. "Yes, yes I am happy!"
"I wish we could have been there with you." her lady-in-waiting sighed, pulling her into a hug.
"It was not quite as fanciful as you're used to." Mary told her. "It was just Bash and I in a small stone chapel covered in snow."
"Sounds like a fairytale." Greer said dreamily.
"Where is Kenna and Lola?" Mary asked, now noticing that Greer was the only one in these chambers.
"Kenna has already gone to breakfast and Lola is preparing for a trip to Paris." Greer told her.
"Paris?" Mary asked. "What ever for?"
"Her brother." Greer rolled her eyes, knowingly. "He is in more trouble."
"Poor Lola, I'll try to see her before she goes." the queen replied. "Did you tell either of them?"
"No, I thought it best to wait until you returned, best not get their hopes up for nothing." Greer replied with a little squeal, remembering that her queen just got married.
"I hope they will not be too angry," Mary thought. "It happened all so fast, I only just got a moment to tell you."
"Mary, if you're happy, they'll be happy." Greer told her wisely.
…
"That was not so bad, was it?" Bash asked her as they walked hand-in-hand out of the thrown room. Though Mary had been determined to marry Bash and make the Vatican make up their mind, she found herself fearful of King Henry's reaction. Not that she was afraid of him, but she was afraid he may take his anger out on Bash.
"A vein was throbbing from his forehead." Mary said. "He was infuriated."
"Yet, there is nothing he could do about it, was there?" Bash asked knowingly. "Just like you said, now the Vatican will make their decision."
They went to the courtroom for luncheon, Mary hoped the Greer managed to convince Kenna and Lola to join them. She longed for them to know the news.
"Mary." Bash spoke, looking down at her. "Are you happy that we did this, truly?"
She looked up at him in surprise. "Of course I am, Bash!"
She halted them both to stand in the middle of the stone aisle. "Do not think I regret marrying you, it was like I said, you are the perfect choice."
With that she pulled him down for a chaste lingering kiss. "I just worry what this will cost you, everything has happened so fast, I have still yet come to terms with it."
He smiled at that and they continued on toward their destination. "Nor I, it is like a dream… you… my wife!"
She smiled and squeezed his hand a little. "I know we both will make each other very happy, I know it in my heart."
In the courtroom, Mary spotted her three ladies and smiled, pulling Bash along to meet them.
"There you are, Mary!" Greer greeted.
She could tell by the her other ladies' startled faces that she already told them.
"Is it true then?" Lola asked, looking between them, a strange expression on her face. "You eloped?"
Mary glanced back at Bash who gave her a look that said: So much for secrets…
"Its true!" Mary said beaming. "We're married since last night!"
Lola did not smile and Kenna only managed half a one, as she was not sure what to make of this.
"Congratulations then!" Kenna spoke at last. "Hopefully this will move things along."
"It will." Mary told her, and looked back at Lola who seemed to be holding back her thoughts.
Bash could tell he should let Mary speak to his friends, and gently kissed the back of her hand. "I will make you a plate then, shall I?"
Mary smiled at him and nodded, as he faded into the background.
She turned back to her ladies.
"Mary, I don't think that was wise!" Lola asked, as soon as Bash was out of earshot. "What if the Vatican refuses him…"
"They won't the can't." Mary said firmly. "They need me, so does Henry, they won't denounce me now."
"But, what if they do?" Lola pressed.
"Lola, she made her decision, what's done is done." Kenna told her, rolling her eyes. "At least its Bash and not anyone like Tomas she needs to marry, anyone can see how much Bash loves her."
Mary felt her face flush at this and turned to look back at her husband.
"Do you love him?" Lola asked.
Mary was quiet a moment as she thought of this, the answer was plain as day, yet it had been deeply buried in her heart.
"Yes, I do love him." she turned back to her friends. "That is more than anything I could ask."
"What about Francis?" Lola blurted, before coiling back, knowing she had said too much.
Mary felt as if Lola had just slapped her across the face and could not find any way to respond. What of Francis? She did all of this for Francis!
She let her heart break, left the pieces vulnerable… all for Francis! It was only by God's grace alone that Bash was able to mend her heart and gave her all the love she deserved. She could have lived the rest of her life in misery, opening her heart the way she did… all for Francis!
"Lola!" Greer reprimanded.
But, Mary had already turned away from them and started away toward Bash, trying to hold back angry tears.
Bash noticed her distress and set down the plate he had been carrying. "Mary?"
"Its nothing, I just wish for us to eat alone, if that is alright?" she asked him.
"Of course." he said.
"How about we pack a picnic, just the two of us?" she said hopefully.
"I'll make the arrangements, meet me by the doors, we'll leave in a moment." he said.
Anything for his queen.
He gave her a comforting kiss. He knew that her ladies would never fully give their support, he knew more than half of court did not support their union. It would be hard for her, it would be hard for both of them.
Mary nodded and hoisted her skirt to walk out of the courtroom, glancing back at her ladies. They were arguing amongst themselves, all of them quietly yelling what their opinion of the situation was. It was then she noticed a little less than half the ladies in the room were looking at her with odd looks, almost jealous looks.
Sometimes she had forgotten how Bash had a reputation with women, for she had never seen it with her own eyes. Ever since she arrived, he only had eyes for her, and her alone. He flirted here and there, but she never saw him spend more than a few meager conversations with a woman at a time.
She felt heat rising to her cheeks, overwhelmed by the courts reaction to this. She needed air and freedom.
Bash was soon by her side. "Horses are awaiting us at the stables."
…
The fresh air took all her troubles away as they ate together in silence, hands entwined, watching the rolling waves of the ocean, finally at peace.
Mary fingered the ring around her neck thoughtfully.
"It doesn't matter what they say, you know?" he told her, pulling her to lean against him. "I've heard a lifetime of the murmurs, the disapproval."
"I don't doubt this, or you… Nothing they could say could make me" she spoke. "I doubt myself, my whole life I've had to care about the murmurs, Bash, my whole life I've had to please and…"
He kissed her forehead, patiently waiting for her to continue.
"It is different outside the castle walls." she said finally, taking a deep breath. "Everything is clear out here, nothing makes more sense than to be with you. There is no array of fog and lies, it is just me and just you."
"As it should be." he said. "Give it time Mary, soon we will rule together, we will only grow stronger and closer…we will show them, all of them."
She turned and smiled. "Purify the court? Dear husband, I fear that is an impossible feat."
"My queen, you are now my wife, I'm afraid I no longer no the meaning of impossible."
Her smile broadened as she leaned and kissed him. This was the first day of their forever…
I wish... ): Thoughts on tonight's episode? I'm not so mad at Lola anymore... poor girl. Still mad at Francis. Bash still loves Mary! Yay! The archer girl thing was too rushed for me... but I doubt she is in the long run of the show. Hope you guys like this, don't know if I am pleased with it yet, but I did my darndest! Thanks for all the lovely reviews and prompts, I want to try and get to them all...