OKAY GUYS, I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE FREEKING OUT OVER THE WHOLE 'MARY MIGHT DIE THING' DON'T WORRY! I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR MARY'S LIFE TO BE THREATENED INSTEAD OF EVERYONE ELSE'S.
HERE IT IS MY DEARS…
She couldn't move. Inside all of Mary's cells and organisms were lashing out in fright but for some reason she couldn't talk or move. As Mary felt the cage getting deeper into the flames and the smoke flowing up into her nostrils; she knew. Mary knew she was strong enough to take the pain of the flames for it was not greater than the pain of her regrets. All the dreams she had yet to complete and the words not yet said to Francis would not happen; as for Scotland Francis would take care of her for Mary. Francis just stared into Mary's dark brown eyes in complete utter shock.
"Mary, stay calm. It's alright my love." Francis said and continued reassuring her.
Meanwhile down on the ground the guards were furiously fighting back despite their King's orders.
"Stop!" Leith ordered. "This is not the way to go about it!"
"But the Queen." A young man around Leith's age protested.
"You are not helping by fighting this situation requires discussion." Leith calmed the guards and in return the Protestants lowered their weapons. Claude admired his loyal persona catching his eye and smiled sadly at their situation.
"Indeed it does." The monstrous man smiled.
"YOU WILL STOP LOWERING YOUR QUEEN INTO THE FIRE PIT THIS INSTANT!" Bash roared like never before; even though he was happy with Kenna it did not mean his love for her had completely vanished.
"Very well." The old man said as if it was a simple non-effective question and gestured for the men to tie the rope to nearest branch.
"What do you WANT?!" Francis growled.
"Justice! We have all been thrown out of our homes; our entire lively hood! And you just allowed it! YOU ARE MEANT TO BE OUR KING!" The man gestured towards the other Protestants around them and stepped threateningly towards the King however he pushed the old man away.
"I NEVER SIGNED ANY DOCUMENT TO ALLOW THIS! I HAVE BEEN BETRAYED BY A VENEMOUS LORD AT COURT BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT, WOULD YOU?" Francis took a few deep furious breaths from his rant, Catherine had just seen herself in her son; his fierce temper but for the right and not the wrong.
Mumbles began between the Protestants, the old man's face crumbled into confusion and distraught of what this meant.
"How do we know you are not lying?" A young girl questioned shyly.
"You may return to your homes but first I want the Royal ladies returned" Francis ordered.
As the fire was put out between Guards and Protestants the once fierce looking man stared unbelievably at them. Catherine and Claude were let go immediately then stood beside Bash, Francis and Leith.
"Thank God." Catherine rejoiced however Claude kept looking up at Mary worrying for her surprisingly.
"I had no idea." The man said.
"Well if you had come to us before this outrageous protest you may have known the truth." Leith said seeing as he deals with the commoners.
"Arrest him and the men assisting him." Bash said.
Some of the men were reluctant and there were cries from their families but eventually the criminals were chained up and escorted back to the Castle by some spare guards. Even though the Protestants were free to go home they feared they would be sabotaged if they returned to the village; Leith heard mumbles of conversation.
"I will make it my personal duty to make sure none of you are harmed." Leith reassured worried mothers as they held their children close. Claude smiled at him admiringly.
As soon as the Fire was demolished Francis jogged immediately to the cage, unclipping the wooden hinges from the top. As her thrashed the wooden door open Mary sat there completely still just staring into mid-air; her dress was ripped and stained in blood and she was shaking. Francis could see how injured and scared she was.
"Mary?" Francis climbed into the cage and knelt beside her slushing through her blood. "Sweet heart? Look at me." Francis gently said as he touched her arm Mary snapped out of her shocked state and started breathing heavily as if a brick was crushing her heart.
"Mary, look at me my darling." Francis cupped her face. "It's alright I am here now. I need you to breathe with me." Francis started taking deep breaths and Mary copied him. The King had dealt with distraught soldiers in the war if they were dying or panicking… thankfully Mary is just in shock.
"Oh my God! Francis you're here, you're here. Oh Francis!" Mary burst's out once she had regained her breath and leaned into his chest, Francis wrapped his arms around her and lifted her out of the cage as he left the terrible imprisonment.
"Yes, I am here my love." Francis reassured Mary as she still shook frightfully.
"Have you seen the state of that cage?! Would you put an animal in that cage?! Whoever harmed the Queen will pay with their life!" Francis turned red.
Soon after they left the camp leaving the remaining Protestants alone.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
All of Mary's ladies had been sent for by Francis to see to her and comfort her however Kenna was distracted to do her duty by Antoine so only Lola and Greer were met by Francis outside Mary's door.
"My King." Greer bowed.
"Francis is everything alright?" Lola comforted Francis by squeezing him arm however Francis didn't read into it.
"Mary is very quiet and fragile so I want you to be aware and careful with her, do you understand?" Francis asked as if it was a life threatening mission.
"Yes of course." Greer answered for both girls as Lola just nodded sympathetically.
"Right then…send for me if I am needed." Francis ordered. "If Mary needs me for anything just come and find me." Then Francis left the girls to deal with Lord Casory.
"Oh good Lord Mary!" Lola gasped as she entered Mary's chambers with Greer to see to their queen. Mary's whole appearance was ill fitting and broken as she sat in front of the fire.
"My dear, let's get you washed shall we?" Greer lifted Mary up of the feather cushioned seat carefully.
"Lola will you go and prepare a bath please." Greer directed the whole situation. Greer began to peal the blood soaked dress of Mary in front of the summerset coloured fire.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Greer asked.
"Not yet." Mary chocked out.
"Alright dear at least you are safe, you know that don't you?"
Mary just nodded.
As Greer undressed Mary the cuts revealed looked sore and probably needs the attention of a physician. By the time Mary was relaxing her bones in the tub Lola went to get the physician and send for Francis.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Francis bolted into the study to find the council including Lord Casory in deep conversation.
"My King" All Lords bowed to their King.
"Arrest Lord Casory now." Ordered Francis and so the guards took Casory away.
"My King?" Lord Desmond questioned. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I do not answer to you." Francis was too angry to explain.
Moments later Lola strolled in.
"Francis, you are needed." Lola said considering the people around them and what they should know.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
"It seems the Queen has a few deep cuts and needs plenty of rest, I shall leave some peppermint leaf oil to massage into the wounds." The physician diagnosed after examining the Queen while Francis is present.
"Thank you." Both Majesties thanked as the Physician as he left.
"I will let you have your rest." Francis said leaving the bedside.
"Wait Francis." Mary limped out of bed.
"Mary, get back into bed." Francis panicked and tried to guide her back to bed.
"I need to say something first." Mary was defiant; Francis knew he wouldn't win anyway. "When I was in that dreadful cage all I could think about is everything I hadn't said to you or what we hadn't done yet together, I regretted us not having children. I love you Francis. I never want to regret anything; I never want to spend another second apart." Mary spoke into his eyes.
And with that both of them held each other in one another's arms all night; sleeping at peace finally.
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