Chapter 12

-three weeks later-

Mary and Francis were waiting outside their palace to greet King Philip of Spain with Elisabeth and Catherine de Medici. This have escalated in France due to the Catholics causing all sort of trouble for the young royals. They sent extra soldiers to patrol the country in hopes of stopping some rebellions before they began; but they really needed a Catholic alliance to show their people they are still Catholic, just tolerant to their people. Every life, regardless of beliefs, deserves the opportunity to live a good life. Francis lead everyone inside after he arrived hoping this plan would work. He lead Phillip straight to the throne room after forcing his guards to wait outside the room where they could be overpowered and thrown in the dungeon quickly.

"King Philip, thank you for travelling all this way." Francis said standing in front of his throne as Mary sat in hers.

"Of course, your majesty, but I do not understand why my wife could not handle this matter." he said, completely unaware of what was happening.

"Which matter arranging a marriage between our son and your daughter? Or the matter of you trying to usurp the French throne?" Francis asked.

This shook the Spanish King. In a thick accent he replied, "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Don't bother denying it, your letters have been intercepted. I have a fleet preparing to meet your armada and yes we did use the resources from all three countries and would be happy to call upon allies." Francis said.

Philip looked around the room realizing he was on his own," Where are my guards?"

"Oh, we insured that this conversation doesn't escalate. They are in the dungeon, you will either be joining them or taking your armada home with you. But just know, no matter which way this ends my sister will only be going home with you when she choses. I have heard rumors from her ladies on how you treat her and I don't like it." Francis said finally sitting.

"She is my wife, you cannot tell me how to treat her," the Spaniard spat.

"She is your Queen and you should show her more respect. She is also a Valois Princess for now and always. I will always have a say in her welfare for she is my sister. I will always protect that which I love whether it be country or family. Now I understand you are unhappy with the recent power shifts. What did you think was going to happen when you helped the King of France and Queen of Scotland take England?" Francis said.

"Your right I gave you England and now you owe me." Philip answered.

"Which is why we are talking and why I want to make your daughter the future Queen of our Empire ensuring Spanish relations continue through the next generations. Now you are also going to hand over the title of Holy Roman Empire." Francis stated.

"WHAT? Are you crazy? The Pope would turn against me. I would lose even more power and standing. I will never-"

"Guards surround the King," Francis ordered, "you seem to think you have a choice in this. You tried for the throne and you lost. I don't want to be the first King to execute another sovereign but you are pushing me. Do you really want to gamble with this? If you just accept we move on peacefully, if you don't it becomes war. There is a very real possibility I would take your throne. What would happen to your children? Your wife? What would the Pope think of you then? You don't seem like a stupid man so do yourself a favor and make the right choice."

"I could rally forces against you." Philip stated.

"I have been busy making alliances. We are currently have allies out of Sweden, Germany, Portugal, and soon Russia. The pope will support me because my wife and I have made two protestant countries Catholic again and soon our country will be the first Catholic and religiously tolerant. You can help is bring in a new era for Europe or you can go down in flames. It would be as easy as placing heretic books in your room and profess you to be one. The vatican would come to burn you themselves." Francis said. "You King Philip belong to me in this moment and if you betray me afterwards, I will destroy you. I definitely have that power."

Francis turned to one of his servants and nodded. The young man brought a small and chair to the Spanish King before placing a document on the table. Their children's marriage contract. Francis was never planning on ever demanding instead of negotiating like Kings should in this situation.

He demanded the following:

Isabelle was to be sent into the care of Francis and Mary immediately, the couple would be married at 14.

Philip was to surrender the title of Holy Roman Empire to the Valois Imperii Pacis

Her dowry would be twice what it originally

When/if Elisabeth returned she would be sent with her own guards as well as a protector. Francis was to see her at least once a year to make sure she is treated the way she should be. Philip didn't have to love her but he'd better respect her.

Spain would provided the Empire with the best of their products in trade deals

Francis would be allowed to pick his son's Spanish title (he was really going to give the choice to Elisabeth since she knew the country better but Philip didn't need to know that.

If King Philip failed in a single one of these tasks he would be abdicating, willing or by force, in favor of his son Don Carlos.

The King just stared at the document for a long time. He was wondering how he fell to this point and all he could do was rage. If his stupid wife hadn't been so careless he could be ruling Spain at this moment. She couldn't do anything right and with this agreement he couldn't even punish her for it. He looked over at her standing next to Mary's throne not daring at look at him. That bitch. He realised something was different about her since last time he saw her...she had this glow about her.. Elisabeth is pregnant again. "Tell me Elisabeth who is the father of that child of yours? I highly doubt it was me."

"I have been with no one else. We may not have a good relationship but I raised correctly and to not shame my husband; even if he shames me." she responded finally looking at him.

"Then I am not leaving until my son is born, then I will sign your silly agreement and shall leave." King Philip stated.

"Then you will be waiting in the tower." Francis replied.

The King looked shocked. "If you add the condition my son will be sent to me after his birth, I will leave right now."

Francis looked at Elisabeth and she nodded slightly defeated, she would never want to keep her son from his father.

"Fine you have your deal, page!" Francis's page ran forward and added it to the document. King Philip signed it. Afterwards his guards were released but not given their weapons back until the next day when they all left. Elisabeth knew watching her husband leave that she was never going back to him. She began to pray for a girl so he wouldn't come back for the child.

After King Philip left, Mary went looking for Elizabeth. She wanted to stroll through the gardens with her. The two settled into a rhythm as they started around the garden. Mary told Elizabeth what had just transpired and they laughed at the expense of the Spanish King. Elizabeth always hated him, his politics and the way he treated her sister; the siblings may have been estranged but they were still sisters. The two gossiped about French court which Elizabeth was surprisingly enjoying- their was so much scandal and almost none of it was about her.

Mary enjoyed her time with Elizabeth. She knew it was still a few months before she would be in confinement but she wanted to make the most of her time now. After they went to the nursery where they found all the children plus Mary's ladies. They were all growing so fast; it seemed like just yesterday Mary was conquering England after she gave birth to James who was now 2 as were Anne,Rose, George, and Alban. John was almost 4 and little Cathy was almost a year. She looked around at the people she loved and wished she could stay in this peaceful moment forever. She smiled as John watched over the younger ones, especially little Cathy. He was a very protective older brother and almost never let his sister out of his sight. Rose and Anne were practically attached at the hip while James played mostly with Alban while George read. While all of them showed signs of being incredibly intelligent (John already learning the basics of Latin, English, and French) George was definitely the studious one. He was the only one who didn't speak but he would go through at least two of their royal library's children books a day. Mary guessed he would be one of the world's greatest scholars one day, or possibly he could go into the church and rise through those ranks. Mary loved to speculate the destinies of her ladies children, as her's were to be very planned. James would rule the empire, his siblings married for alliances unless they decide to join the church. Mary didn't like that James was engaged already and would postpone the engagements of her other ones as long as possible. She wanted to see who they would grow to be before she made that decision. John, Anne, James, and Isabella didn't have that choice and Mary prayed they would grow to love their chosen spouse. Princess Isabella was to arrive any day now and had a space in the nursery ready for her arrival, they had to redo over half the wing with how many children were beginning to fill the room.

Mary had Elisabeth help make the decisions to try and reconnect with her. Philip must have been cruel to her because while she was so fierce before Mary could tell it was an act now. She wasn't particularly sad and it wasn't as if she flinched as those she had been hit, but something definitely seemed broken in her. She hoped this new child would bring her much needed joy. Elisabeth and Elizabeth still struggled to get along but Mary's ladies were friendly to her and she was getting to be more comfortable but Mary worried she would never fully recover from her experience.

Isabelle arrived the day after, she was accompanied by her older half-brother Don Carlos. There were rumors all over Europe that he was mad but Elisabeth swore they were started by his father to keep people from usurping him in favor of his son. Mary thought it was odd King Philip to France after what happened; Don Carlos insisted that he insisted to see his sister home safely. They held a feast in Isabella's honor with Don Carlos as the guest of honor.

The next day Mary went to find Elisabeth to see if she wanted to join her in the nursery and discovered the real reason for Don Carlos's instance to come to France. She was about to turn the corner to her chambers when the door opened. Don Carlos stepped out of the room with his pants untucked. He took off the other way and Mary rushed into Elisabeth's room as soon as he was out of sight. Elisabeth's hair was a mess and her lipstick smudged as she fixed her dress.

"Are you having an affair with your son-in-law?!" Mary demanded.

"I...I can explain!" Elisabeth spurt out. "Don Carlos was the only person who was kind to me in Spain, I love him." she threw her hands up over her mouth at the last bit. She had never said it out loud.

"What if Philip finds out? It's his son!" Mary was trying to figure out how to handle this.

"He will never find out. There is no proof of our affair and until now no witnesses. I am also never going back to Spain. Once Philip dies and takes the throne it would be inappropriate for me to marry his son so I have no future there, and I will never return to Philip." Elisabeth explained.

"Just be careful! You are playing with dangerous men and if you get caught there is only so much Francis and I can do. We will protect you as much as we can but you will put us in a bind with the vatican, our allies, and our nobles." Mary said. Elisabeth sighed with relief before Mary asked, "is Don Carlos the father of your child?"

"Both of them."