I DO NOT OWN REIGN.

French Court, Kingdom of France. The next day.

Now that we were officially heading for Scotland, I had 3 days to ensure that I could get my wife back home in one piece. Thankfully, Mary was occupied by Kenna, who was eager to return to her homeland with Bash and eager to see if Mary would consider granting him a real title; as well as Greer and Lola who were helping their queen pack. Bash was riding to bring Leith back from his forced conscription, so it was up to me to deal with the English threat.

I kept an eye on James's footman and sure enough, I saw him consorting with a whore and paying her in English gold. Before he could close his door, I made my move.

"That's a lot of gold for a footman to be throwing around." I said as I got up to him.

"All I did was pay for the lady's services; since when is that a crime?" He asked.

"It's rather how much you paid, and how you could afford it." I answered.

"It was given to me in thanks for a decade's service." The footman lied as I snatched one of the coins from his hand. Sure enough, it had the image of Bloody Mary on it.

"Service to my wife's brother, James Stuart, the Earl of Moray." I remarked as I showed him the heads side of the coin. "But he's a Scot, and you're a Scot and there's a Queen Mary on this coin, but not my Queen Mary."

"That gold isn't mine." The footman said nervously.

"You're lying, not a good start." I said as I went into his room and searched for the valise as spoken of in the show.

"You have no right to paw through my things." He insisted angrily as I found the valise, took out my dagger and sliced it open; causing all the gold coins to spill out like guts.

"Would you care to explain to me why you're carrying English gold?" I asked as he started to panic while I walked around and blacked the door.

"I don't know what you mean..." the footman stuttered.

"I found your English contacts. They tried to save you for all of 10 seconds before they sang like birds to save themselves." I lied as I put on my intimidating face, needing to scare the piss out of this traitor. "They confessed to the plot to kill my wife and replace her with her brother. They've already been put to death, but you can still save yourself: confess to your crimes and I'll pay you ten times what the English did and I'll let you go on your way. If not, I have enough evidence to see you hanged; make your choice." He seemed to weigh his options for a moment before he looked at me.

"I was paid to murder the Queen of Scots on her voyage home by Englishmen." He admitted as he tried to keep calm. "I didn't know them, but I heard them talking. They want James to be Scotland's king."

"Was that so hard? Now I don't have to kill you. Follow me and I'll get you paid." I said as i opened the door for him. We walked to the treasury room and I gathered a couple fat sacks of French gold for the footman.

"So...I'm free to go?" He asked hopefully as he took the gold eagerly before I locked up the treasury room.

"Yep...oh and by the way: the Englishmen didn't confess the plot to me; you did, so don't spend it all in 1 place." I teased as I walked away, leaving a flummoxed footman in my wake.

Later that evening.

After we'd packed, I took Mary aside and confessed the plot. Just as in the show, she refused to believe that her brother could mean her harm. It was heartwarming, but frustrating.

"Did the footman tell you that James was involved with the plot?" She asked.

"No, but can you take that chance?" I asked in return.

"I take that chance every day, the English are constantly plotting against me." Mary insisted as I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "If they want a Protestant king in Scotland, of course they would choose James."

"But do you really think that he had no inkling of this?" I inquired as I took her hands in mine. "His own man in the pay of your enemies?"

"James has written to me of dozens of plots against me, plots that were to his benefit." Mary argued defiantly. "He tells me because he wants what is best for Scotland, as he knows I do."

"Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. The fact remains that I don't trust him or anyone close to him." I declared as Mary gave me the look she often gave Francis when he refused to back her.

"Francis...you promised me that we were going to Scotland!" She exclaimed angrily as I took her in my arms.

"And we are, but we shan't go with James and his men." I replied as I raised her chin with my finger. "We will go on a seperate ship with sailors and guards that aren't affiliated with James."

"You mean French sailors and soldiers, James will not look kindly on more Frenchmen setting sail for Scotland." Mary pointed out.

"That's too damn bad for him. You are my everything, Mary!" I insisted as I stared into her deep brown eyes. "Besides, you can't keep Scotland safe if you're dead. Your safety is non negotiable, I want to sail with guys that I trust, not James who I don't." After a long pause, Mary leaned in and kissed my lips.

"I understand your scared and I know you would never let harm come to me." My wife said as she rubbed my cheek. "If you feel that we need a separate ship, then we'll have it. But we must get it quickly, a storm is set to make landfall within the week."

"I can have it ready in 2 days." I promised as I held Mary close. "Tell James that we are going separately if you must, but keep the details vague." Mary may have trusted that half brother of hers, but me...not so much.

Port of Honfluer. Honfluer, Kingdom of France. 2 days later.

I managed to hire a Schooner called the Blanc for the trip; along with a crew and a team of French guards for the trip. Mary, Kenna and I took a carriage to the port of Honfluer where thanks to a messenger I sent, Bash and Leith would meet us. As we got out, the crew began to load out things into the vessel.

"I honestly never thought that we'd ever go back to Scotland once you wed." Kenna said as she linked her arm within Mary's.

"I just wish that it were under better circumstances." Mary replied wistfully as we were interrupted by the sound of galloping horses. We turned to see Bash riding up, along side Leith Bayard in a non armored French uniform.

"Bash!" Kenna exclaimed as she ran into her husband's arms while I walked over and clasped arms with my fellow Varden man.

"Leith, it is good to see you my friend." I said as we embraced.

"I had just completed my training, my squad was about to be sent to the border near Calais. Thank God Bash made it in time." Leith replied as after a minute we broke the embrace.

"I'm glad to see you in good health Leith." Mary said with a smile as he bowed his head.

"I'm most eager to lay my eyes on Scotland, your majesty." He replied as a cold gust of wind chilled us all.

"It rained briefly as we rode back; the weather is getting foul and the seas will soon follow." Bash said as he held Kenna close to him. "Francis, Mary, if we mean to leave, it has to be now while we can our run the storm."

"We're going to Scotland." Mary declared as he we all walked up the gang plank and made way for the land of Scots.

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