Chapter 5

I knew we weren't officially together, not until King Henry decided it would be favorable to the alliance. So I shouldn't be upset that Francis is seeing another woman, but I couldn't help this crushing feeling in my chest. It hadn't stopped since I got here. I was told at a very young age that Francis and I would wed, so throughout my life, I stayed loyal to him and not once looked at another man the way I look at Francis. Even though we hadn't seen each other in years.

I had no other duties for the day so I decided to take a stroll around the castle. The sound of my heels echoed throughout the empty halls. I stopped walking suddenly and peered out of one of the castle windows. All sorts of people were enjoying the nice weather and were walking in the courtyard. Noblemen, young women, and even the servants. My eyes were drawn to a younger couple holding hands and slowly making their way through the gardens. I sighed and looked away from the window, unable to watch any further. I envied what they had for each other.

Then I noticed Francis had turned into the hall and was making his way toward me. My body had tensed at the very sight of him. We had just argued moments ago about Olivia and how I felt about her. I told Francis I no longer wanted her in the castle, but he wasn't having it. He blew me off completely and told me that we weren't married so I had no say in whether she stayed or not. The argument only led to us to being enraged with each other so I left before I said anything I regretted.

"Mary," Francis called. I bit my lip, scared of the next words that would follow. I almost wanted to turn in the opposite direction and run away so I didn't have to hear what he was going to say.

"I'm sorry I've hurt you." He said as he stood in front of me, his eyes wandered my face. "I just-" He stopped himself. It looked as though he was struggling to form a complete sentence. Suddenly he pulled me in and placed his lips on mine. His strong lips were forceful against mine, but I felt my body become weak from his embrace. My heart was beating rapidly due to this sudden happiness filling my body. When he pulled away I could only stare at him. But then I started to smile uncontrollably, as did Francis. "I love you, Mary. I can't get you out of my head. I tried to force myself away from you but I just couldn't." He laughed nervously. "I love you, Mary."

"I thought you were mad at me because-" Francis cut me off by placing his forehead on mine. "I could never be mad at you."

"Francis." I almost cried with joy. "I love you, Francis."

There was a loud yell that woke me from my slumber. It almost sounded like a cry that I heard in battle, but the yell was followed by laughter. My eyes slowly opened without permission. Then my eyes began to wander around the new location I was in. I was in a small white tent that could only fit maybe two people inside. It also consisted only of a small table that held metal tools and the blankets I was lying on plus the one on top of me. Without warning a large amount of pain and soreness ran through my body. The memories of before I passed out flickered in my mind. I was stabbed in the stomach trying to save Francis.

My head pounded at the thought of Francis. I didn't even know if he was okay or alive. I know I saw him kill the man, but what if Nostradamus' vision wasn't about that man either.

I lifted the fur covered blankets away from my body. My eyes widened at the sight of my body. I was practically undressed. The only things that covered me were pants and bandages that covered my stomach and chest. I forced my body to sit up even though my body was screaming at me to lie back down. My hands started to shake when my mind finally put together my bare chest and the bandages. Someone knows. They know I'm a woman.

Voices approached the entrance of my tent and I froze. I pushed myself under the covers and pulled the blanket over my body, covering my chest.

"The man saved my life. I have to go in there and thank him." I heard someone say. It was Francis. He was standing in front of the entrance to the tent. "My lord. I understand, but there is something I need to discuss with you before you go in there." Another man spoke. He must be the one who knows.

"This can wait. I'll be right out." Before the other man could respond the tent's flap was pushed open. I rolled my body to the side so that I wouldn't have to look at Francis. The gash in my side screamed as my body laid my weight on it. It was screaming at me to turn on my back, but I ignored it and pretended to be asleep. Francis took a step inside and let the flap fall behind him. "Anthonie?" Francis said. I said nothing and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the pain. "I guess you're asleep." Francis sighed. I heard him let out a small breath then the blankets were pulled slightly to the side. He must have sat down next to me on the blankets. "I can't believe you saved my life." He paused and almost chuckled. "Twice."

I was trying to focus my mind only on Francis' voice, but the pain was becoming unbearable and if I didn't move I felt like the wound would start to bleed again. I put my palm on the blankets below me and pushed my body upward. My sudden movement made Francis jerk back and gasp.

"Anthonie! Sorry I didn't mean to wake you." Francis said apologetically.

"I was selfish," I whispered. I slightly turned so that I could see Francis and he could see me. His face was covered in smalls cuts and bruises. "I saved you because I couldn't live without you."

Francis' eyes grew wider, then suddenly it was as if something clicked. He stood up quickly and his sympathetic expression turned into a glare. But it looked like he was fighting with his own emotions. He couldn't figure out whether he should be mad or affectionate.

"Mar-" He stopped, shaking his head. "Mary?!"

He leaned forward and ripped the blankets from my grasp as if he needed further clarification. He stared at my bandaged covered stomach then when his eyes trailed upward to my chest and he froze. He slowly sat down next to me and placed his hand on the side on my body. I flinched at his touch, a small amount of pain pinched my body. I looked down to find that the wound on my side was bleeding. When I looked back up I stared at Francis. "You shouldn't have done this." Francis shook his head, clearly getting angry. "Look at you!"

"Nostradamus came to me one night and told me of a vision he had. You died in the battle of Calais. A man was going to come behind you and stab you." I whispered as if it was painful to talk. "I just wanted to help you. I didn't want to lose you."

"So this is your idea of helping?" Francis scolded me. "Joining the army? Almost getting raped? Risking your life for me?" His voice was raising. "I-" Francis cut me off.

"You could have died! What would happen if you and I both died? Did you think of that?" Francis exclaimed. "Did you even think about our countries? What would happen if Scotland's queen just mysteriously disappeared?"

"I came here to save you and I succeeded! That's all that matters to me!" I shouted at Francis. Suddenly I gasped as Francis' grip on my wound tightened. His eyes widened and he gently fixed his grasp on me. "I don't know what I would have done if I lost you," Francis confessed. He slowly reached his hand toward me and placed it on my cheek. It looked as though he was fighting back tears.

"I love you, Mary. So much." He brushed his thumb against my cold cheek. "You just have to understand how much it hurts me to see you like this. And how dumb it was for you to do something like this." Francis let out a heavy sigh. I slowly nodded. "I know."

"Good." Francis attempted to wipe his face. "Thank you for saving me." He paused, almost choking on his cries. "How can my simple thank you be enough? I'm here right now, sitting in this tent because of you."

Francis laughed a little and leaned in to kiss me. When he pulled away he shook his head. "Never do this again." I nodded shakily, then gritted my teeth. The pain from the wounds felt like waves hitting my body, each wave being worse.

"The bleeding has stopped," Francis said. He leaned over to the small table and picked up a pair of scissors and a roll of bandages. "I'm going to recover your wound."

I nodded and gently lifted my left arm so Francis could have easier access. He scooted in a little more toward me then began to cut the bandage, starting from the bottom. He was gentle and made sure to pull the bandage toward him as he cut so he wouldn't cut me. When he finished cutting it all the way through, he slowly began to peel the bandage off of me. The top of my body, including my chest, was completely exposed and bare. Without the blanket covering me, I could feel the cold winds of winter on my body. My body began to shiver but when I attempted to cover myself with my arms a pain shot through my body. I grunted and let my arms fall to my side. Francis threw the used bandages to the side and grabbed the blanket, gently draping it over me. "I'm almost done." He assured me. Then he grabbed the new bandages and began to wrap it around my chest.

"When I was in battle I told myself it was a bruise." I laughed silently.

Francis continued to focus on wrapping my wound. "When we are in battle we'll tell ourselves anything to keep going."

When he finished he grinned at me. "You're as good as new." I giggled slightly and pulled the blankets over my chest.

Suddenly we were interrupted by a voice. "Dauphin, you have a man here who would like to discuss some things with you." It was the same voice from before, the one trying to tell Francis I was a woman. Francis turned toward the entrance of the tent. "Tell him to talk to one of the generals. I'll be busy for the rest of the day."

"Yes, my lord." The man responded. I turned to Francis. "Was he the one who bound my wounds?" Francis nodded. "I trust him. He won't say a word." I grabbed Francis' hand and squeezed. "I want to go home."

Francis grinned slightly and wrapped me in his arms. "Soon, my love." He paused and kissed the top of my head. "When we get home we'll lie next to the fire. You'll be in my arms and I'll never let go of you." My heart ached for that right now, but instead, I leaned my head on Francis' chest and closed my eyes so that I could dream that we were there now.