I DO NOT OWN REIGN.

French Court, Kingdom of France. Later that day.

After securing Remy's membership in the Varden, I was summoned to the main hall where I was greeted with the sight of a disheveled Bash who looked like he had just gotten out of a fist fight.

"Bash, what the Hell happened to you?" I asked with concern.

"I'm back for the castle's resources, its armed men and horses, to seek out and destroy the Darkness in the woods." Bash explained as he reached for a goblet of wine to quench his thirst.

"What threat?" Mary asked as she came up on us.

"You've seen the sacrifices in the Blood Wood. These pagans endanger every man, woman and child in the realm." Bash answered as I took Mary's hand in mine. "They even tried to sacrifice you; and they do it all in service to a monster they call the Darkness.

"Bash..." Mary sighed as it was clear that she didn't really believe him.

"I know how it sounds, but there is a monster in the woods. I saw it, in the shadows, myself." Bash insisted desperately. "It took a girl, a girl I cared for. Her name was Rowan, and now she is certainly dead."

"I'm sorry brother." I said awkwardly as I had honestly forgot that Rowan existed. I can't remember every single detail immediately!

"This creature is the cause of all the horrors in those woods. If you want to protect your realm from these devils, you must kill the monster they serve." Bash cautioned me as Mary waited to see what answer I would give.

"I'm not sure if I believe in monsters...but I do believe in fear." I clarified with my hand in my sword hilt. "And whatever this Darkness is, the pagans fear it enough to terrorize and slaughter my people."

"Then let us kill it, once and for all." Bash declared with anger.

"I shall send for some guards to aid us." I said as I felt better about our chances of success in this altered timeline. Since Bash and I weren't at each other's throats, I wasn't worried about Henry trying to kill him; madness or not.

Blood wood near the castle. Later that day.

I had managed to convince Henry to send a armed group of guards with us and we set off to catch the Darkness. There was still a foot of snow on the ground; which limited how fast we could track. Bash led us to a meadow where he had last seen Rowan; because in this timeline Olivia was gone and Bash had discovered the tracks on his own.

"All right, let's split up men, the lair of the Darkness could be anywhere." I declared as i unsheathed my sword and began walking in the direction of the lake. I knew that I had to be careful not to touch the thin ice because I had no desire to experience an impromptu ice water bath. After a couple minutes of slow trudging, my ears were assaulted by the sound of clanging steel. I ran back and saw Bash being circled by our guards. They struck at him and he was trying desperately to fight them off.

"Francis, help me!" Bash cried out as he saw me run over to him. I struck at the guards and slew 2 of them. As I fought them, I saw that they weren't trying to hurt me, they were only after Bash. After 10 minutes of intense fighting, we stood victorious.

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Nothing, as soon as your back was turned, they drew their swords on me." Bash answered, out of breath.

"Henry commanded those guards to come with us, I think we need to have a talk with our father." I told Bash as the look of shock and betrayal on his face grew large as he caught on to what I was saying.

French Court, later that evening.

After we got back, Bash and I went straight to Henry's chambers and by the look on his face, he was surprised to see his bastard alive.

"Francis, did you kill this creature in the woods?" Henry asked awkwardly.

"We didn't get a chance, I was set upon the guards you set." Bash declared as Henry decided that it was time to settle accounts.

"Well, now that he's here, we need to finish this once and for all." Henry said.

"Finish what?" I asked as he turned to Bash with anger.

"I know, about the kiss you shared with Mary and Francis was bedding Olivia. You will always covet what your brother has." Henry snapped as I used this to get a confession.

"Father, did you speak to the guards you sent with us? Did you order Bash's execution?" I inquired cautiously.

"Sacrifices must be made." Henry replied as Bash was stunned that Henry had actually ordered his death.

"What has happened to you, Father? Have you lost all sense?" I asked incredulously.

"Do not question me!" The mad king shouted. "Mark my words, he would strike you down to take what is yours. If he is a threat to you, then he is a threat to everything I want."

"He's your son!" I exclaimed angrily as I moved to shield my brother.

"Scotland, England, a peaceful France!" Henry said as he pulled out his sword and moved towards Bash.

"Father, stop this!"

"He will never let Mary go; not completely."

"He has let her go, Mary is my wife, she doesn't like him that way."

"You haven't listened to your king. When people don't listen to their king, when they've wax in their ears, drastic measures are needed."

"Piss on your wax, Bash is my oldest brother and I love him as such." I insisted.

"Don't get sentimental, you must cut down any threat like a weed." Henry chastised:

"Your son is a friend to your realm." I shot back.

"Francis, don't anger him." Bash cautioned, trying to get me out of the line of fire.

He has guarded your heir's life, and pursued your enemies." I pointed out as I wouldn't have survived this long without Bash at my side. "If you harm this man...your son, you harm yourself."

"I am pleased to see you two getting along again." Henry said after a few tense minutes before sheathing his sword. "I know just the thing to preserve this lovely harmony.If it doesn't work, this sword will take two lives tonight." Bash didn't know what Henry had in mind, but I did: he was getting married.

Later that night.

Everything happened as it did in the show. Despite my best efforts, Leith had been caught with Greer and sent to the front, Bash was being forced to marry Kenna, and Catherine had been drugged. Y that skank Penelope.

"How is she?" I asked Mary after she gave me the news.

"Nostradamus is treating her now." Mary answered. "She fell into some sort of drugged sleep, but she's coming out of it."

"I just can't believe that Henry would do this." I lied as Mary took my hands.

"Your father...he's not well." Mary explained.

"I am aware of that." I replied. "He got so angry at Bash that I thought he'd take his head off. He might kill him yet." On cue, the bastard walked into the room.

"What happened?" I quoted from the show. "Did Father forgive you?"

"Not exactly, but he illuminated me on his solution." Bash explained. It's a bit of a horror show, actually. And you're both invited; now, on pain of death."

That is how we all found ourselves in the throne room where King Henry II and Queen Penelope of the skanks were presiding over the impromptu wedding of Bash and Kenna. Catherine was even there in her drugged state. The 2 newlyweds looked miserable as fuck and it was honestly hard to watch.

"And so, under the eyes of the Lord, we prepare to consecrate this blessed union with two sacred oaths." The priest spoke:

"You want me to say an oath?" Kenna asked with lain in her voice. "What about your oath? You promised me someone with a title!"

"Fine...Bash, I hereby declare you the Master of Horse and Hunt." Henry said dismissively as if that fixed the situation

"What does that even mean?" Kenna inquired incredulously.

"Shut up and say the words."

"Please, this is marriage.It can't be undone..."

"Say the words!" Henry shouted angrily. I thought about telling Kenna that divorce was possible if she converted to Protestantism, but I knew that would not be well received.

"I Sebastian, take this woman to be my lawful wife under the eyes of God, from this day forward." The groom spoke as the bride cried her eyes out as Mary held my hand throughout this wedding of the damned.

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