I DO NOT OWN REIGN.

Craigmillar Castle. Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scotland. 4 weeks later.

Mary and I were both glad to have Lola back in our lives. Despite the whole blackmailing thing, Lola had been a good friend to me when I needed one and even though I didn't fully trust her yet, I was hopeful that we could get back to that place and that her love for me would fade with more time; plus, if being in Scotland kept her away from that ass burglar Narcisse, I was all for that.

My wife was also in high spirits since Lola's arrival. She was in desperate need of a lady in waiting. Aylee was dead, Kenna was too busy being Duchess of Ross, and Greer was back on France; presumably pining after Lord Castleroy while trying to rebuild her reputation after getting caught shacking up with a servant. Lola was all Mary had left in terms of friends.

I was too feeling longing for all the friends I'd once had. David Rizzio was entertaining and fun to be around, but I still missed my Varden buddies. Bash and Leith were settling in their respective duchies, Remy or Lord Julien had gone radio silent since getting caught red handed in identity theft and Lord Castleroy was...well, to be honest, I didn't know what the Hell he was up to. He faded out after begging for mercy on Leith's behalf and didn't come back until he gave Greer's old man a much deserved chewing out.

Anyway, as King consort, I had made my duty to get better acquainted with my new country. I started to study and explore the Scottish culture and entertainments. The most surprising thing is that Haggis actually doesn't suck. I mean, you hear the words animal stomach and you assume it's fucking disgusting, but I actually enjoyed it.

Further more, Mary took time out of her busy schedule to take me golfing throughout the countryside. I'd heard the stories about Mary being the first female golfer, but they didn't do her justice. The Queen of Scots would turn into the 2nd coming of Bobby Jones when you put a club in her hand. I was ok at golf, but we wound play round after round, hole after hole, and she'd always beat me. Mary even tried to throw a game and she still kicked my ass on the green.

"How do you throw a game and still win?" I asked my wife as we turned to the castle.

"How do you take 12 putts to hit a ball 2 inches. Into the hole?" Mary asked in giggles as we handed out clubs to a servant.

"I'm glad you find pleasure at my ineptitude." I said with a eye roll as she planted a consolation kiss on my lips. Before Mary could reply, David came rushing up to us.

"Your majesties, a letter from France." David said as he handed a piece of parchment to me.

"Is it from Greer?" Mary asked as i heaved a sigh.

"I wish, it's from Catherine." I replied as I read over the letter.

"Is Henry dead?" She inquired.

"I wish, he's gotten worse in his madness." I replied as I crushed the parchment in frustration. "She is pleading with me to come back to France and aid her in killing that son of a bitch."

"Regicide...you and Catherine would both lose your heads!" Mary insisted as she grabbed my arm as if I was about to fade from her.

"Henry has become a great threat to everyone around him and to France itself. I can't blame Catherine for wanting him gone." I said as I squeezed her hand. "I feel torn between 2 kingdoms."

"I'm sorry Francis...I wanted so badly for you to be here with me...I didn't think about how it could make things worse back in France." Mary said as I could see the guilt in her face from pulling me away from what she believed was my homeland.

"Coming to Scotland was my choice, I could have stayed back if I wanted to, but I chose to be with my Queen." I assured Mary as I kissed her lips before looking in her eyes. "Mary...how did you manage to care for 2 countries?"

"I didn't...I was willing to throw France into civil war to save my country. Scotland and I are 1 and the same." Mary replied after a few minutes of silence. "Francis...you can only balance the needs of 2 nations for so long. I had to choose Scotland and now you have to choose France."

"What do you mean?" I asked anxiously.

"Return to France and aid Catherine. I'll explain your absence as best I can to the nobles. Your country needs you." Mary said as she stroked my cheek. I thought about everything that had happened and everything that could happen if I raised a hand to Henry. I couldn't risk the timeline getting back into a place where Narcisse's blackmail and Mary's rape could still happen. In that moment, I knew what I had to do.

"You're right, my country needs me." I said as I motioned for Rizzio. "David, I need you to take a letter to Catherine Di' Medici. Tell her that I share her pain at the events in France, but I can no longer be of help to her. I am renouncing my claim to the French throne; for myself and my descendants."

"Francis, no!" Mary exclaimed as her face turned white as a sheet. David stopped writing as he too was shocked, but I motioned for him to keep writing.

"While I understand that this news may be disheartening to my mother, she need not worry for my brother Charles is fully capable of rising to his duties as the next king of France. May God guide her hand to the proper path. Sign it, Your loving so, Francis." I finished as David wrote out what I had said and excused himself to send the letter.

"Francis, what have you done?" Mary asked in shock. "Without your claim to the throne, the alliance between France and Scotland will crumble."

"It will not, I believe that once Charles comes of age, I can persuade him to back us. Meanwhile, we find a way to untie all Scots and keep the English at bay." I answered as she looked into my eyes with disbelief.

"You gave up your birth right, your country, your crown, for me." Mary whispered as I took her face in my hands.

"You are my whole world and my home is Scotland." I assured my wife as I embraced her tightly. "You said that I needed to make a choice and I made it. I am the king consort of Scotland and that is the only title I mean to hold."

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