I DO NOT OWN REIGN.
French Court, Kingdom of France. 1 week later.
After dealing with the contract, Mary and I got a few days of peace. Claude had decided to take up Mary's office and took a walk about the castle grounds while Bash and I caught up on our swordplay. I was taking advantage of the peace while I could. Lola's marriage to Lord Julien was that week and I knew that was the beginning of the end of season 1 when all Hell broke loose.
At least Lola actually seemed to fall for Lord Julien, if the way they danced their first dance as a couple was any indication. It was a naturally splendid affair and the whole court had shown up to revel in their union; Mary and I among them.
"Pleased to see you enjoying yourself." I quoted as I danced with my wife. "It wasn't so long ago you were ready to topple the Valois dynasty."
"It wasn't so long ago that your parents were trying to trick me into bequeathing them Scotland." Mary shot back.
"To be fair, your mother went along with it." I reminded her as the Medici bitch stormed up to us.
"That's enough merriment for you two; we have problems." She said with concern in her voice.
"Well, then." Mary said annoyingly.
"Can I not dance with my Queen for 5 freaking minutes without the kingdom going to Hell in a hand basket?" I asked, knowing what was coming.
"That impatient-looking man over there is Cardinal Morosini, the Pope's new envoy." She said as Mary looked to see who she meant.
"Don't look now." She chided.
"I thought the cardinal wasn't due for another week." I said, as if I didn't know.
"The weather cleared in the Alps, and he left early. He came all this way to see Henry. But your father seems to have chosen not to attend." Catherine explained.
"Well, maybe that's a blessing, seeing how Henry is feeling." I pointed out. "Can't the cardinal be told that the king's indisposed?
For an entire week?" The serpent asked incredulously. "That's how long the cardinal is staying. He wants to renegotiate leases on the Pope's tenancies in France. We depend on that income."
"Can't you negotiate with him?"
"Let's just say that the cardinal wasn't my choice for his current position, and he's well aware of it."
"There might be another way; I have an idea." Mary offered as she took my hand and led me over to the cardinal in question.
"I'm not sure about this." I said, even though I knew her plan would work.
"Trust me, just follow my lead." Mary whispered before turning to the holy man. "Cardinal Morosini, what an honor and a pleasure to meet you."
"Your Grace, a pleasure indeed." The cardinal told my wife before turning to me. "Dauphin."
"You'll forgive our presumptions." She said with charm in her voice. "We thought you might agree, as Francis and I are the future of France and Scotland, and you are the future of Rome, that we might discuss the, uh, um how should I say it? The intimacies of our Papal relations?"
"I'm not sure what you mean." He replied.
"Well, you're here to discuss rents and tenancies, yes?"
"With King Henry, indeed."
"I'm sure Henry will sign off on anything that we agree on." Mary assured him. "Tell me, are cardinals permitted to dance?
"To further the interests of Rome, why not?" As I watched my Queen work her Stuart charm, I saw a man in a Scottish uniform come up to me.
"Your Grace, I've come to announce the arrival of James Stewart, Earl of Moray." He said as Mary's brother had officially arrived into the picture.
Later that night.
As in the show, James insisted that Mary had to go to Scotland to show up her dumb ass mom. I had to apologize to the real Francis because I could finally feel the rock and hard place he was being put in.
"Now, you want to go to Scotland now?" I asked as if I was just hearing this.
"James says it's now or never." Mary answered as we talked in our chambers. "The Scots feel occupied by their French allies. If we don't act now, they could end up hating you more than they hate the English."
"It needs attention, I can see that; but why does it need your attention in person?"
"So they can see that they still have a Scottish queen. So I can strengthen my mother's rule; and then, if that doesn't work, then to replace her, with someone who can rule for me."
"Mary, you convinced the cardinal to do business with us." I reminded her. "You can't leave in the middle of what you just started."
"Then finish it without me." She insisted. "I told him we were the future of Scotland and France, you and I both."
"You know perfectly well why he doesn't insist on meeting with Henry. He keeps asking for you He wants more of your flirting, your innuendos." I snapped.
"You want me to risk Scotland's health to continue some game; to save France some embarrassment?" Mary snapped back.
"The king is mad." I pointed out. "France is unstable enough as it is. If word gets out of his madness, if Rome pulls its support and its money, this country could come apart." Mary said nothing as I took her hands in mine.
"Mary, I promise I will travel to Scotland with you...just not now." I pleaded as i looked in her eyes. "Please wait until this deal is sealed and my father is better. Don't you see? I need you here with me, safe by my side, while France is in peril, and whilst we're trying to have a child, an heir.
"For France, of course." Mary said, losing patience with me. "Stability for France. A handy queen consort for the pleasure of the next king of France."
"I don't just think of my country's needs." I told her in desperation. "I think of my wife's needs as well, but Scotland..."
"Is one and the same." My Queen interrupted as she looked in my eyes. "My country and I are one and the same. Forget that, and you've forgotten who I am!"
The next day.
I knew what I had to do. I was not going to lock Mary in a dungeon. I wouldn't make the same mistake Francis did. I had to go to Scotland with Mary, but I wasn't going alone. I found Bash in the courtyard training and I told my issues to him.
"Bash, I need your help and I need it now." I said as he stopped fighting a straw man to give me his attention.
"Scotland, I'm guessing?" He asked with that knowing gaze that the fangirls loved. "Some dire news brought by Mary's brother James?"
"He's convinced her she's needed in Scotland right away." I told my false half brother as I looked in his eyes. "Bash...I was never meant to be a king. If I go with Mary, i'm going to be a shit king. But if I don't and I stop her from going...I'll be a shit husband. What do I do?"
"If you love Mary, there's only 1 thing you can do: be a shit king." Bash declared as I knew he was right.
"You're right Bash, we're going to Scotland." I said as Bash looked at me quizzically.
"We?" He asked suspiciously.
"Bash...please man, I need you." I pleaded as I didn't want to go without Bash. "Other than Mary, I won't be able to trust anyone. I need my half brother."
"Nolan, there's a vile creature in the blood wood and I won't leave Kenna just as we're finally happy; especially with father buzzing around her like a buzzard." He argued.
"Taken Kenna with you, Mary's going to need someone to look after her besides me." I pointed out. "Lola's off honeymooning with Lord Julien, Greer's going after Lord Castleroy and Aylee is 6 feet under. Kenna is the only one who can return to Scotland with. Mary and I need you both; please!" Bash was silent for a few moments before heaving a sigh.
"I guess I'd better ask my wife what to wear for the Scottish weather." Bash said with a smirk as we embraced deeply.
"Thank you Bash, I owe you." I said before letting him go. "One other thing: go to the training camp in Paris and bring Leith back with you. He should be able to fight by now and we need another Varden man. Tell them that Henry ordered it."
"Give me 3 days and we'll be ready." Bash assured me as he went to give Kenna the news while I went to find my wife.
Later that day.
I found Mary at her desk scribbling away as I was ready to make her proud of me.
"I've been thinking, and I'm going to take you to Scotland with me." I said with a smile as she looked
"Yes, I know, you told me that but when: Next month, Next year?" Mary asked as she still didn't believe that I'd put Scotland.
"3 days." I replied proudly. "We'll need to finish our deal with the cardinal before we leave, and make sure that my mother can handle my father. I've also talked with Bash: he and Kenna will join us and he's going to bring Leith Bayard back to serve as one of our bodyguards."
"You're serious." Mary said as I saw her face fill with hope. "But what if we can't seal the deal with the Vatican? What if your father gets worse?"
"I'm prepared to take those risks if you are. You need to know that I'll always put you first." I said as I knelt by Mary and caressed her cheek. "Besides, I'm not just the Dauphin of France; I'm the King consort of Scotland and I'm gonna start acting like it. I made promises to you that I intend to keep. You were right about you and Scotland being 1 and the same. I love you, so I love Scotland too; that's how it is. I'm just sorry it took me this long to realize it."
"Francis, thank you!" Mary exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around me and planted a big wet kiss on my lips. "I promise you'll be glad we went. When Scotland is stronger, France will be stronger, too."
"Well, start packing and tell your brother that Scotland will soon greet her queen and her king." I said as I was rewarded with one of the biggest smiled I'd ever seen from Mary Stuart.
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