I DO NOT OWN REIGN.
French Court, Kingdom of France. The next day.
As she did in the show, Catherine had McKenzie and the other Scots slaughtered; along with their whores for good measure. Mary had been exceptionally pissed with the human servant and Catherine had thrown it back in her face by telling her to basically suck it up and be a queen. I could have saved them, but I ultimately decided against it. Mary would shut Catherine up in her own way and the dead Scots didn't really affect the show all that much. Besides, if the Scots had spread word of the contract in Scotland, Mary might just have lost her throne and I couldn't have that. In case I ended up dying, Mary needed a country to go back to. Eventually, I went to Catherine's chambers where she was writing orders to repatriate the dead Scots.
"I am surprised you're willing to allow the bodies of your victims to return to Scotland." I quoted with justified venom.
Those poor men died in a fire as anyone can see from what's left of families deserve the consolation of burying them at home." Catherine said nonchalantly as I gave her the finger when her back was turned. Eventually, my wife barged in, looking fierce as she could be.
"Mary Queen of..." the guard uttered pointlessly.
"I hope you're not gonna make a habit of this bursting in; one day I might be indecent." Catherine snipped as I cursed her for putting that image into my head.
I would like the contract now, in my hands." Mary demanded as she stared down her bitch of an in law.
"Perhaps you don't understand what's happened: You lost, take it with grace." Catherine chided as if Mary was a child.
"You helped sell out her country, Mary has every right to be pissed." I declared as Catherine gave me a look.
"You will give it to me when you hear what I have to say." Mary foreshadowed as Catherine rolled her eyes.
"My dear, there's nothing you can say that can trump the fact I can stop you from getting word of the contract back to Scotland." The serpent queen reminded her.
"Yes, but getting word to France is much easier. Word that the king is mad; that the House of Valois is ripe to topple." The Scottish queen threatened as Catherine finally got a taste of fear and it was beautiful to watch. "How many dissatisfied nobles, hungry for power, do you think will step into the vacuum?"
"You're talking about civil war. Every duke that has a grudge against Henry will be lined up outside of the gate." My piss poor excuse of a mother spoke fearfully. "They'll fight us, they'll fight each other. You wouldn't do it. It would destroy France."
"You are the Queen of France, I am the Queen of Scotland." My wife replied nonchalantly. With Scotland in danger, she didn't really give too much of a shit about France; considering that France was the danger.
"You wouldn't harm Francis." Catherine offered, trying to use our love as a way out. Mary wasn't going to take the bait and I knew it.
"Francis is welcome to join me in Scotland as my consort, just as I am his consort here; it seems only fair." Mary insisted as I walked over and held my wife's hand.
"I hear Scotland is just lovely this time of year." I said with a smirk as that pissed Catherine off further.
"You find this amusing?" She asked incredulously.
"Not at all, I find what you, Henry, and Marie de Guise did to be reprehensible and you all can eat shit for it." I answered as I would be in the grave in Catherine's looks could kill.
"If I thought you were serious, you wouldn't leave this room alive." She warned us both.
"I sent 3 riders out this morning." Mary responded with a poker face. "Unless they hear from me with the agreed-upon phrase, they will deliver my letters to two dukes and to the Vatican. The world will know that France is open for the taking."
"Is she bluffing, Francis?" Catherine asked as I smiled.
"Not a chance in Hell." I replied as I looked at my wife with pride at how stubborn she was. "She's Mary Queen of Scots. You go after her country, she's going to make dam sure you pay for it."
"You killed 12 of my countrymen. Look into my eyes and tell me that I'm bluffing." Mary said as she looked into the eyes of Catherine de' Medici who looked like she was about to wet her dress. She went to one of her drawers and pulled out a set of fancy papers.
"This is the original that has your signature on it." Catherine said in defeat.
"Burn it." Mary said in victory as the bitch put the contract to the flame of her candle. After we made our exit from the chambers of a sulking Catherine, I took Mary's hand in mine.
"You were amazing in there, i've never been prouder of you." I said as Mary looked at me solemnly.
"I did send out 3 riders." Mary said as I turned her to face me.
"I believe you. I know you weren't bluffing and I understand why you took the risk." I assured Mary as she caressed my face.
"I'm going to be Queen of France someday and I hope to be a good queen." She assured me. "But France has you and your mother to look after her welfare. Scotland only has me. If it ever becomes a choice between our two countries, I will chose mine; in whatever way necessary."
"Ours. if i'm going to be the King consort of Scotland, I need to look after her welfare too and I promise you that I will always stand by you in defending Scotland. You aren't alone Mary." I assured my wife as she gave me a deep kiss as I told her what she needed to hear.
REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED