Ok...here we go! Everything starts speeding up from here. Hope you enjoy the adventure! Thanks so much for all the comments and support. I so appreciate you all. ~ Sweet R.

Chapter Four: Choices

The next few days were like heaven on earth for Francis. Mary and he enjoyed long walks through the countryside, talking of happy times and watching the wildlife that Stirling didn't scare away. It felt like they were courting again when they held hands during their walks, a privilege that he treasured with every fiber of his being. Mary even suggested having shared chambers again, but Francis slept on the divan instead of the bed, determined to take things slow in their rekindled relationship.

On the fourth day, they took a small rowboat out on the lake after dinner and watched the sunset together. As the boat approached a floating log, two frogs croaked and leapt into the water. Mary laughed. "I can't see a frog without thinking of that one you put in my hair when we were kids."

Francis grinned, remembering her high-pitched scream. He could have sworn the frog screamed too as it hopped off of her head. "I'm sorry for being so rotten. The truth is, I liked you from the very beginning and didn't know how to express it." He paused and a silly grin spread across his face. "So, I tormented and pestered you instead."

She blushed and focused on the rippling water. "Well, we learn something new about each other every day, don't we?"

"Yes. I suppose we do." He started rowing back to the dock. "And hopefully when we have a son or daughter they'll take after you and not get into such mischief." Mary's expression became downcast, pricking his heart with regret. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

She managed a sad smile. "No, it's all right. I know how much you want children. I do too."

He pulled up to the dock and tied the boat to a post. After helping her out, they sat on the dock side by side. "I'm sorry if I put too much pressure on you in the past. It was never my intention. I know things will happen in their own time."

Mary nodded and dipped her feet in the water below. "Perhaps, but honestly, after all that's happened, I'd be content just to have a long and happy life with you."

Francis gauged his wife's expression in the fading light and his heart lurched. The apprehension in her voice confused him and the evening of her nightmare came flooding back to his mind. "Mary, these past few days have been wonderful, but I cannot help thinking there is something you're hiding from me. The dream you had… I think it's time we discussed it."

She looked away and bit her lip. "Francis, do we have to talk about this right now? We've had such a perfect day and I'd hate to ruin it."

He shook his head. "I think we've delayed it long enough. At least answer this one question. Does this have anything to do with Nostradamus?"

Mary's eyes widened, as if she'd seen a ghost. "How did you know?"

"You had a nightmare the first night we arrived here. You were talking in your sleep…something about Nostradamus and a prophecy and…"

"Your death?" Mary interrupted, staring at the last remnant of light as it dipped below the horizon. She released a weary sigh. "The dream has been tormenting me for several weeks. When I sought out Nostradamus to interpreted it, he told me I had a choice."

"What choice?"

"A choice my heart resisted." Mary's lips trembled as she explained. "A choice that could save your life. When you asked me to come with you on this trip to the chateau, I wanted to decline… but I agreed instead. I chose to come here with you, hoping it would change your fate."

"You didn't want to come…" Her words took a few moments to sink in, but when they did it felt like a punch to the gut. Anger and hurt boiled in his veins. "So, this was all about some prophecy?" He rubbed his jawline. "I can't believe it. When all this time I thought…" He stood up, letting the sentence drift away with the cool night breeze and marched toward the safety of the chateau.

Mary trailed behind, catching up with him after passing through the tall weeds bordering the lake. She gripped his arm to halt his retreat. "Francis wait! All this time you thought what?"

He avoided her gaze as his eyes clouded over. He couldn't risk looking at Mary's face. Her deception hurt more than words could express. "All this time…I thought you were falling in love with me again. I thought we could have a fresh start. Now I know you only came here out of a sense of duty."

"That's not true! My heart resisted coming with you because of all we'd lost. It was so painful I wanted to block it all out. Now I know the only way for us both to heal is talking about it. I'm ready to do that, Francis."

Francis barely heard a word through his anger. "If you are saying this out of pity for my feelings, please stop." He clenched his jaw and continued avoiding her eyes. "I release you of your obligation, Mary Stuart. You're free to leave here tomorrow morning and we can live separate lives if you wish. Maybe it's better for both of us if the prophecy comes to pass. Then I'll be out of my misery and you'll be free of me for good." He walked away at a swifter pace than before.

"That's not what I want at all. Francis…please come back and hear me out…Francis!"

He wanted to turn around, but he was too angry right now. Francis didn't want to say anything else he'd regret. Maybe later when his temper cooled, he'd be able to think rationally.

Mary stood shivering in the cool evening breeze, watching helplessly as Francis retreated inside the chateau. How had everything gone so terribly wrong in a blink of an eye? She wandered back to the lake shore, hanging her head as tears cascaded down her cheeks like rain. After walking aimlessly for several minutes in the dark, she heard grass crunching nearby. She looked up but saw no one. "Francis?" Had he returned to talk?

A man's hand clamped over her mouth and the cold metal of a blade pressed against her throat. Mary let out a muffled scream, but it was no use. She'd wandered too far from the chateau to be heard.

"Don't make another sound or you'll not live to see the sunrise."

Mary obeyed, struggling to breathe as the stranger pulled her toward the dock. Terrifying thoughts raced through her mind. What did this man want? Did he know who she was?

As if her captor could read her thoughts, he answered while removing his hand from her mouth. "I'd planned on breaking in to steal the silver tonight but holding you for ransom sounds like a much better option."

Mary thought of screaming again while she had the chance, but he still had the knife pressed against her throat. "I'm only a servant," she lied. "If you release me, I'll sneak in myself and get all the silver and jewelry you desire."

"Do you take me for a fool?" the man growled. "I heard your husband call you by name during your little lover's spat. You're the queen of Scotland and if I collect a ransom for you, it would make me a very rich man." He put a gag around her mouth and had just tied her hands together when she heard a familiar voice from behind.

"If you wish to live, release her and drop the knife." Francis had his sword pointed at the criminal and his eyes burned with fury in the moonlight.

The man stood slowly and acted like he was going to drop the knife, but to Mary's horror he threw it right at her husband. He dodged the blade as it flew toward his shoulder. With Francis distracted, the man charged, knocking him off his feet. Francis landed hard on the dock, hitting the right side of his head.

Mary let out a muffled scream as the two men rolled on the dock while grappling for Francis' sword. Desperate to help him, she fought with the rope tied around her wrists. Her skin burned and began to bleed as she frantically tried to free herself. Her bonds released as she heard a sudden grunt followed by a loud splash. Mary's eyes frantically scanned the dock. Both men were in the water, splashing and gurgling from the struggle. Then everything went silent.

She pulled the gag out of her mouth. "Francis!" Hearing no reply, Mary crawled to the edge of the dock and peered over the side, gasping for breath. "Francis…no!" she sobbed and watched in despair as a few bubbles floated to the surface followed by the limp body of her captor. She gasped and covered her mouth at the disturbing sight. Mary had resolved to leap into the lake after her husband when Francis burst out of the water and took a huge breath of air. Mary jumped into action, pulling his drenched body out of the lake.

He sat on the edge of the dock, coughing up water before laying down on the wooden planks. After taking in several large gulps of air, he sputtered, "Are…are you…all right?"

"Yes…I'm fine. Are you?" Mary managed in between sobs. She collapsed beside him with her head resting on his shoulder.

"I…I think so." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. They stayed like that for a while, too exhausted to move. "I never should have left you," Francis rasped and coughed again. "I knew something was wrong when you didn't follow me inside. This was my fault."

She wiped her tears and sat up just enough to gaze into his eyes. "We can't live our lives full of regret, Francis. What matters is what we choose now…and I choose you. For this moment and every moment in the future, I choose you."

He pulled her close to him until their faces were only inches apart. "I choose you too." Mary closed her eyes, savoring the perfect way she fit into his arms. When his lips found hers in the darkness, it felt so natural—so right. His kisses were slow at first, but grew more fervent, moving down her neck and leaving a fiery trail across her collar bone. All at once the distance between them melted away. She forgot they were outside, resting on a lake dock— forgot their misunderstanding earlier that evening— forgot she'd been abducted and he'd almost drown. Mary only knew she never wanted him to stop kissing her.

A few moments passed before Francis rested his head back on the dock, short of breath. "Mary…"

"What," she whispered and continued kissing him, swept up in the moment.

"Something's wrong."

She opened her eyes and smoothed back his wet hair. "Nothing can be wrong. As long as we're together."

He winced and held his right ear. "No…something's wrong. I-I don't feel well."

Mary had been so relieved when he came out of the water alive, she'd forgotten Francis had hit his head on the dock. Now her heart pounded wildly in her chest, noticing something wet and dark seeping between his fingers and dripping onto the dock. Blood.