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Chapter Text

Mary could not believe what she had just heard, it was only an hour ago Bash had kissed her with all the passion he could muster before he rode off to arrange their elopement. Now she is standing before Francis and being given an ultimatum.

"I can't marry you! I opened my heart to him and he has consumed it......I can't turn back from this!" Mary cried as hot tears started to well up in her eyes.

"You have your choice. Choose him and I will have him beheaded for treason, choose me and I will allow him to live in exile." Francis said this with smirk "The Vatican has already judged him illegitimate, he will never be fit to marry you. So, will you live being known as the dead bastards whore? Or as the Queen of the three strongest nations?" Francis now looking at her like he had just caught a prize animal in a trap.

Mary couldn't not fathom sending Bash to his death, although there was a part of her that knew he would rather die than give her up. She starts to harden her emotions as she looks into Francis eyes, her voice cracks as she begins to speak "I..I will marry you.....if you swear to God that Bash will live a long, peaceful life far away from France." Trying to look as if she is not begging with all her heart, Mary glares deep into his eyes. "I swear it." He replies with a bit of an angered hiss in his voice. 

Francis takes hold of her wrist and pulls her into the throne room where the King is sitting on his throne, "Father! Mary has decided to give up her foolish pursuit of my bastard brother and marry me. Would you grant us the honor of marrying us right now?". Mary gasps, surely she thought she would have a proper ceremony in a day or two but it would seem Francis didn't want to take any chances.

King Henry stands from his throne and begins to have them repeat their vows, communion and sign the marriage contract that had been laid out since their childhood. Mary tries to choke back the tears as she repeats the vows, " I, Mary Stewart Queen of Scots, vow to....love only you......" She allows a few tears to fall down her cheek, it's hot and burns her skin has falls off her chin to stain her bodice. She doesn't remember saying anything else during the rushed ceremony, she feels numb and distant until she hears King Henry ask for all the nobles to gather into the consummation chamber. Fear strikes her heart, she knew she would have to conceive an heir but she had convinced herself that given the rushed nature of their marriage that the ceremony would be tossed to the side. Francis approached his father and whispered something that only they could hear, a moment later four guards left the room on Henry's orders.

Francis turned to face Mary with that look from earlier when he knew he had his prize caged up, "Prepare yourself wife to put on a show that will take any doubt that you want me above all others.".

" I will not go along with this ceremony! I will fight it with every breath that is in my body!" Mary says with a fire, when all of a sudden her body doesn't feel so strong anymore. Her head starts to spin and she feels the fight she had disappear, "Ah....I had suspected you would not go along with this. So I had your communion wine drugged so you would be..... easier to manage tonight." Francis had the handmaids take her to their awaiting chambers to prepare her for what was to come.

A few moments later Mary's head began to clear when she noticed a pressure on top of her. Her eyes met with Francis's as he pulsed on top of her and the realization of what was happening hit her. She tried to move to push away but she felt her wrists were being held down by his hands so she couldn't escape. He whispered in her ear "Everyone in this room will hold witness to your love for me. Make it believable. "Everyone in this room"..she thought "do I dare look around?" Mary needed something else to focus on so she broke her gaze from Francis's face, which turned out to be a mistake, almost instantly she caught his eyes. Those beautiful, sea glass eyes that carried all of her love. "Why is he here!" She began to panic just has Francis very obviously finished his task and turns to meet his brothers gaze, he lowered himself to her ear and whispered "if you try to explain, whisper his name, even begin to make a single sound I will kill him right here." Mary whimpers at his threatening tone and made her face solid as stone. Francis returned to his brothers gaze, " Now brother, you know what is mine. And know this too, Mary choose me, she couldn't stand the thought of being known as a bastards whore when I could give her more wealth and power than she has ever known." Francis grins with an air of accomplishment, "Guards! Escort Sebastian to his chambers to gather what little he needs to live and then to the edge of the realm. And make it known that if I ever find out you are in French territory again I will have you beheaded.". Bash looked at his brother with anger, his wrists were red and bloody from fighting the ropes that were placed on his wrists when the guards came to collect him at the chapel. He remembered the excitement in his heart when he heard the hoof beats only to be overcome with fear seeing four guards approaching instead of his love.

"What had changed?" He wondered, not realizing his expression hadn't changed he looked at Mary who was still lying beneath his brother, "you choose him.....I thought..." He wasn't able to complete his thought as the guards yanked him away to go collect some travelling affects.

After the room had cleared Francis removed his grip on Mary and walked across the room for a glass of wine. Has he drank the entire goblet in one swig and poured another, he began to laugh, "Well now wife," she didn't like the way he hissed wife between his lips, "I will leave you this evening and go to be with Olivia. I will expect you to resume our marriage bed once a week until you have given me an heir. Until then you can go back to your own chambers and do whatever it is that you like...as long as it's within the confines of the castle." Mary finally looked up to meet his gaze, she let out a wraspy plea " So I'm to live here as a prisoner?", Francis laughed at her in a mocking tone as he moved toward the door, "No my dear.... you are to live here as a Queen." Slamming the door shut, Mary sat on the bed crying. An hour had passed until her maids came to collect her for a bath and bed. Has the maids prepared her bath she gazed out the window, just before the sun had set she caught a glimpse of five riders hurrying out of the castle gates. Mary knew that the rider in the middle was Bash, she bit her lip as she remembered the anger in his eyes just before he was drug away.

Quietly she began to cry, she knew he thought she had lied to him, she could see now that it was more than just anger. Anger, broken trust & betrayal is what was in his eyes at that moment. The maids left the room, she heard the door shut and fell to the floor in tears. Mary knew she would never be able to tell Bash what truly had happened.... because she would never see him again.

Chapter Text

One week later

Slowly Mary had started to come to grips with what her life was now. She was trapped in a loveless marriage to man who had become like his father. Francis didn't visit Mary at all in the week following their rushed marriage and she found herself quite happy with that. In fact he hadn't acknowledged her existence at all that week. At meals Olivia sat at his right hand and they acted like no one else was around them, Mary's heart aches for that feeling. She had that experience with Bash on several occasions during their betrothal, "oh how I would have loved him." she thought quietly to herself trying not to show sadness in her expression to those who were paying attention to her. 

Mary's ladies were her only companions once again, they spent most of their time attempting to bring joy to Mary's unhappy circumstances all while being in line with Francis's rules about where she was allowed to go and who she was allowed to be with. 

One rule he had given to them was that no one was allowed to go near Sebastian's old chambers. In fact no one in the castle went into them in the last week. Mary's yearning for him grew deeper though and she desperately needed something to cling to that reminded her of him. She decided to sneak through the tunnels tonight and into his chambers to find something, she didn't know what yet but she knew she had to have a piece of him.

She waited for the night to grow deep, very quietly she opened the passage way and started her journey to Bashes chambers. She had memorized the path when Bash guided her through them after her first few weeks back at court. He wanted to show her the way out and how to get to him if she ever needed to. That knowledge came in very handy during the Counts visit and the couple of times she required some friendly counsel in secret.

As she pushed the panel into Bash's chamber open she saw many things in a state of disarray, clothing hung halfway out of drawers and on the floor, books were left at the foot of the shelves with pages crinkled, his desk drawers looked as if they were quickly sorted through with his travel journal left open on top of the desk. Mary assumed he had been rushed to grab what little he could in order to get out of France quickly. She saw his journal and went to it, eager to see his handwriting and imagine he was talking to her. She thought back on a happier time with him just a little over a month ago......

They were laying in the meadow, side by side, fingers intertwined with each others just simply enjoying the peace that they felt being together. They had taken the morning to go on a ride, which had become a habit of theirs, laying there with the morning dew soaking their backs Bash noticed Mary's mind seemed to be elsewhere, " Where are you Mary?" Bash inquired softly, he silently wondered if he was there with her? Mary sighed " I'm just imagining how our lives would be away from here...". Bash took note that she said "our" lives, "And what do you imagine it to be like?", he now shifted in the grass so he was on resting on his elbow so he could look into her eyes as she shared her dream with him. She smiled as she recounted her day dream, " I am just a girl, and you are just a boy. We live in a border town in Germany, a little village named Auenhiem. It's a quaint village with lush forests and a winding river.", Mary had visited this town before when she was younger, she always loved the landscape around it and she knew if she were to ever loose her crown that is where she would flee. " You hunt and trap, selling the furs in the surrounding villages. Our home.." Bash thought "there is that word again....our", such a little word that holds so much hope and joy. " Our home is nestled in the woods, which is perfect for your vocation, you built it out of the trees around the small clearing and..", " Here!" Bash interrupted, " Draw it for me! I want to see it as you see it. Draw every detail so I can be there with you." He excitedly gave her his travel journal and charcoal. Mary explained every detail to him as she sketched, " and over here, just under the kitchen window, is my garden. I used to love tending the gardens at the convent! And we have a small barn for our animals." Mary's eyes were bright as she shared her dream with him, with the sketch finished they both looked on in awe of the dream. Suddenly Mary's expression changed to one of sadness with tears starting to form in her eyes, Bash wiped her tears away with his thumb as he cupped her cheek, " Why are crying?". Mary sits up handing his journal back, "It's a beautiful dream.....but it's only a dream."

As Mary came back from her fond memory she picked up the discarded journal on Bash's desk. She flipped through the pages wondering if he had kept the sketch. Her search was brought to end when she came across several missing pages, according to the entry dates the missing pages were from that day in the meadow and perhaps several days after. "Did he take it with him?" She thought it would be rather romantic if he had, but it was more likely he burned them out of anger. Mary looked down at the desk and noticed there was a letter with her name inscribed on it. She took a deep breath hoping it detailed a plan to help her escape to be with him. "My dearest Mary," she always loved hearing him say her name, she continued to read his letter: 

"My dearest Mary,

I don't have much time as I am sure you are aware. 

My life will be lived far away from here, far away from France. I would be lying if I said I didn't know the risks of falling in love with you. What I didn't know was how I could have possibly fallen in love with someone who would never love me in the same way.

Did you intend on lying to me from the start or did you just simply just change your mind in the end?

I was a fool to give my heart completely to you, but it was easy because you truly made me feel like I could be someone. Someone that mattered, someone you could have loved. But now I just see how naive I have been. I let my heart cloud my mind and fell harder than I should have aloud myself.

Goodbye Your Grace. If our paths ever cross do not feel obligated to acknowledge my presence. After all I'm just a broken bastard.

Sebastian "

If Mary hadn't been afraid of being found she would have let out the most agonizing scream filled with pain that you had ever heard. How could he believe that? Did he really think she didn't love him? Her heart shattered into a million pieces, and then the fear and panic set in. Now she knew without a doubt that no one was coming to save her from this hell she was now living. She was jolted back to reality when she heard Francis order the guards to pull the boards off of the chamber doors. He ordered them boarded up the day after Bash left to ensure no one went in. Mary quickly stuffed the letter and the journal into her bodice. Quickly Mary made her exit shutting the secret panel behind her. Just then she heard the men enter the room, she paused wondering what Francis was up to. Listening through the panel she heard him begin to give orders to the guards, " While I look through his correspondences start burning the rest of his affects. If you find anything that might give us a clue as to where he has gone bring it to me immediately!" Francis had an angry, authoritative voice which made Mary wonder what had happened? "He must have slipped away from his escorts....He got away!" Mary thought to herself allowing for her to hope Bash had indeed escaped a plot to kill him once he was away from the castle. Sounds of the guards ripping through to the room, breaking items and tossing his belongings into the fireplace echoed through the tunnels. Francis yelled out in frustration " WHERE THE HELL IS HE! How could he have escaped four guards? And not leave a single trace of where he was going?" 

Mary heard him slam the door as he left, she decided she better get back to her chambers before she was discovered to be missing. She ran back through the tunnels to her chambers, closing the door, quickly hiding the items from Bash's room in a chest under her bed and quickly jumping back into bed. Just as she had settled her mind, her chamber door swings open abruptly. Mary sits up to find Francis, out of breath, standing at the foot of her bed. " Where would he go? Who does he know? What did you two talk about before I came back? I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING, AND SO HELP ME IF YOU LEAVE ANY DETAIL OUT I WILL LET THE DUNGEON MASTER KNOW YOU WILL BE JOINING HIM SHORTLY!" Mary sat there more scared than she has ever been in her life, as tears started to roll down her cheeks she began to speak, " I--I don't know, I--I only ever heard him speak of going to the country house in the summer.....all the trips with your father....... please I don't know where he would have gone!" Francis lowered his eyes to gaze at the floor, he had no real reason to suspect she knew anything. He turned to leave as Mary stood " Why are you looking for Bash? You SWORE he would live in exile if I married you! Are you seeking to kill him?" She demanded. Francis turned and walked back towards her, " It's not your concern. But I was just reminded of something.....we need to have an heir so I can rid myself of my legal obligation to you once and for all." He grabbed Mary throwing her back onto her back while ignoring her pleas to stop. "Is this what it feels like to be no one? I was someone once.....to Bash I was everything but now even to him I am nothing."

Chapter Text

The next morning Greer came in to help Mary prepare for the day. She could tell Francis had visited her last night, with a sigh she placed her hand on Mary's shoulder, " My Queen, it's time to get dressed." Mary didn't move " Mary you have to get up. People are expecting you at breakfast." Greer was now growing slightly impatient with her friend, then she heard Mary let out a whimper " He isn't coming back for me..... I'm doomed to this hell for all eternity." she cried into the pillow. " What are you talking about?" Greer asked as Mary held up Bash's letter to her. She sighed as she read his parting words to herself, " Oh Mary......we will get you through this. He will have a change of heart, he as always been loyal to you in every way." Mary sat up shaking her head, "No I fear I'm on my own."

One Year Later

Bash had been on the run for just over a year, he had slipped his "escorts" which he had suspected were going to become his executioners given enough time and the right opportunity. 

From that point on he only traveled at night or deep in the woods, never stopping in the French villages for any reason. He knew as soon as Francis learned of his escape all the outposts would be alerted. He couldn't risk it even if the weather and terrain were unmerciful to him. He had contemplated heading for England, he knew the French army was too weak to invade and his brother wouldn't risk it no matter how badly he wanted him dead, but if they found out who he was the English are just as likely to kill him to ingratiate themselves to France. So he decided to start traveling north west, he didn't really stop to think about why he just felt drawn in that direction. 

One night while resting in under the stars his mind drifted on to when he and Mary ran away:

"Bash! You can't be serious!" Mary looked at him like he was out of his mind. "Do you trust me?" He asked with an outstretched hand. Mary grabbed his hand tightly and gave him a small nod, in an instant they jumped off the cliff and plugged into the river below. He broke the water first gasping for air as he called for her, " MARY! MARY WHERE ARE YOU?!" just as panic started to set in her black hair broke the surface of the water. Bash swam over to her and grabbed around her waist, her blasted dress was to heavy and it began to drag them both down. Without any hesitation Bash grabbed his knife and slid it up the front of her bodice cutting the overdress laces, now it was loose enough for her to slip her arms out of it. Being significantly lighter now he was able to swim both of them to shore. Mary stood up on the edge of the shore soaked all the way through, her dress was stuck to every curve and if it weren't for her corset Bash wouldn't have to imagine what she looked like very hard. " Well that is a first...." Mary stammered as she tried to catch her breath, "You mean to tell me you never jumped off a cliff before?" Bash was always trying to lighten the mood but he also didn't want to highlight the fact he had just cut her dress off of her. "No....I have jumped off a cliff before actually." Mary left it there as she let a small smile creep across her face. 

He always like to think she found that moment as exhilarating as he did. Bash had many fond memories of her from that point until the night he was exiled. He tried to think of his Mary and Francis's Mary as two completely different people, his Mary was wild, free, full of passion and dreams that he wanted to make come true. Francis's Mary was cold, power hungry and lacking any heart at all. After all these months away desperately wanting to believe his Mary was waiting for him, Bash decided the best thing to do was to accept his Mary had died the night she married his half-brother. He would never see her again and he had to let her go. He hoped the letter he left was found by Francis so any doubt would be erased and he would give up looking for him, part of him wondered if he would share it with Mary....she probably wouldn't care anyway. Like Francis said that night "a bastards whore"....he would never know what their life could have been like. 

As he rifled through his saddle bag for some food he winced at receiving a sharp pain across his finger. Pulling back he saw a small cut on his finger, looking into his bag he had completely forgotten about the ripped pages from his journal he so hastily grabbed as he packed. Taking them out of the bag a small, sad smile grew across his lips. His journal was normally filled with tales of hunts and wars with the exception of these six pages. He had Mary sketch her dream on one of the pages, and on the others he had taken to writing down every detail she had shared about their home in Auenhiem. It was then he knew why he was traveling north, the only part of his Mary that could go on was in these pages. "I will make your dream come true. Maybe one day you will happen upon it and remember me..... remember us." Bash fell asleep that night with a renewed purpose. It was one thing his brother could not lay claim to.

Taking a chance he made his way to the nearest village, he needed to restock and gain his bearings so he could get to the French/German border. After gathering his supplies and filling his stomach with the first proper meal in a year, Bash saddled his horse and was ready to set off when the whole town came out in the streets to celebrate. Bells were ringing, people were cheering, the whole town came alive! Bash grabbed the nearest celebrating villager by the arm, "What is the meaning of all of this?", the boy looked at him with awe and hope in his eyes, "Haven't you heard? The Queen of Scotland bore the French heir but three months ago! France has it's next King! And rumor has it the kings mistress bore a son as well just a few months before the Queen, I wonder which one he'll favor for the throne?!" 

Bash released the boy not wanting to reveal his true feelings on the matter. Mounting his horse he decided this would be the last day he spent in France, Germany was just a days ride away. 

"You can not have our dream." He thought as he dug his heals into the side of his steed. 

Chapter Text

Bash never stopped until he crossed the border into Germany. He determined it would be safe to start staying in the local inns, this would also give him the chance to study local culture so he could begin to blend in better. The first town he came across didn't look much different than the French villages, little shops and houses speckled the landscape with peasants tending to their trades. He tied his horse up in front of the inn, " We can probably afford to rest a couple of days here old boy." Bash had taken to talking to his horse as to not get to lonely. The scene inside the inn gave Bash the impression that he could start over fresh, his new countrymen gathered around the hearths drinking ale, telling tales and pestering the bar maids. Germany seemed awaken hope within his soul. 

After two days of rest he set out to resupply and see if he could find someone to point him in the direction of Auenhiem. He decided a traveling merchant might be his best bet, "Excuse me, I was hoping you would know how might get to a village called Auenhiem?" holding out a couple pieces of silver he had hoped it would entice the man to answer quickly. The merchant pushed the silver back towards Bash's chest, "Don't trouble yourself with bribery. I'm heading there right now to fetch what little furs they have for me. Between you and me there isn't a decent hunter amongst them." Bash laughed at his opinion of the village "Well I plan on making Auenhiem my home and I can assure you I will keep you stocked with furs if you keep making the trip.". " Well.....we shall see if your bragging tongue is up to the task. I'll be setting out tomorrow morning, meet me here and we shall ride out together. It's only a two day journey so pack light."

"Only a two day journey.....two days until he can find peace and begin to bring his Mary's dream to life." Bash fell asleep quickly in anticipation for the journey. His thoughts of dreams quickly were drown out by a nightmare:

" BASH! BASH HELP ME!" Mary screamed into the darkness. Bash could only stand still outside the castle gates but he could hear and see everything going on inside the castle. Francis is dragging Mary to the dungeon as she screams for him. Throwing her into the cell Francis walked to stand over her, " HE is NOT COMING FOR YOU!" Mary finds the strength to stand up and face him "You don't know what we have, you never loved me! You only wanted England and Scotland to rule over. Our son will have my thrones NOT YOU!" At this proclamation Francis slaps Mary across the face "How dare you claim to deny me my destiny!". Bash is now looking for his sword so he can kill his half-brother for laying harm to her but he can't find it, yelling out both of their names does nothing. The next thing Bash's dream shows him is Mary standing at the dias with her head on the block. Right has the executioner lowers his blade Bash wakes up in a cold sweat. "It was just a nightmare......she is already dead to me anyway." He remains awake the rest of the night thinking about how real it seemed. He decided that once he gets to Auenhiem all will be well and he starts preparing for the journey ahead.

Back at Court- five years later

Mary gave birth to a son who is now five years old. Francis had given her the small gesture of picking a name for the new heir, she decided on James Henry de Valois after both of their fathers who are now deceased. Now that she had given him an heir Francis had decided to only have more children with Olivia, which was of little consequence to Mary.

She spent most of her days in her room with Greer and Lola. Her other ladies had been married off by this point, Mary had suspected that Lola would be next as Francis main advisor, Lord Narcise, had expressed interest in her on several occasions. Recently Mary's time with her son was growing shorter and shorter. Francis had publicly rebuked her influence over young James on several occasions, she figured it was only a matter of time before he was taken away completely.

She sat at her writing desk with trembling hands wondering if this was a good idea...."I have to know if....I have to let him know that I never wanted this." Mary had pinned many secret letters to Bash over the years sending messengers in every direction with no response. The last messenger was caught and questioned by the guard, lucky for her he suspected that he was being watched so he threw it into a fireplace just before being seized.

With her hands still shaking she wrote a short letter to Bash and her brother James. But this time she made a copy of both and gave one to a messenger and one to Greer who would be setting out soon to Germany to see family. Mary handed the letter to her friend "You know better than anyone my plight here. I am dancing on the edge of a sword and it's only a matter of time before Francis cuts me down." She pressed a second letter into Greer's palm. " The first letter is for Bash, on your way to Luxembourg stop in the town of Auenhiem, ask to see if he resides there. The second is for my brother, as soon as you make it to Paris send it out before you make for Germany. And stay in Germany!" Greer takes the letters looking confused at her Queen, " Your Grace.....I don't understand-" Mary hugged her tightly, " Once that letter reaches James I will no longer be your Queen. I'm releasing my throne to my son and making my brother regent of Scotland until he comes of age." Greer let out a loud gasp in shock from what she just heard. " But Mary! Francis won't think twice about beheading you."......"Which is why, my dearest friend, you must get this letter to Bash. If he doesn't come to save me then I am ready to end my suffering in this life. I'm tired and can not go on like this any longer."

Tears fell between the two friends has they said their goodbyes. Before leaving Greer turned to ask one last question, "What makes you so sure Bash is in Auenhiem?" Thinking back on their morning in the meadow, and the missing pages Mary smiled at her friend "Because we were able to love each other there once."

Chapter Text

It had only been a month since Mary sent her two messages out with Greer and her servant when the French guards burst through her chamber doors. Mary stood up from the bench in front of the fireplace with all the regalness that she could muster, "What is the meaning of this intrusion?", "The King demands your presence in the throne room immediately.". Mary scoffed "Tell the King I will be there shortly....." The guards didn't move "We are ordered to take you there now!" the biggest guard bellowed at her as the grabbed her by the arms and drug her out of her chambers.

Once the throne room doors swung open she knew this was it. This was going to be her end. The servant she sent was now laying in a pool of his own blood on the throne room floor, Francis sat on his throne holding two pieces of paper. "So you thought you could cut me out of ruling Scotland without getting caught?" a smirk reached his eyes that seemed so vile to Mary,"And to make it even better you are still trying to appeal to my brother. You do know I have intercepted every single letter you have sent out. I also took the liberty of flushing out the locations you believed him to be in." Fear now struck her in the heart, had he already killed Bash? While her thoughts were racing she didn't notice Francis was now standing directly in front of her glaring into her eyes. "I told you if you withheld information from me regarding my bastard brother I would have your head...I decided to let you continue writing him so that you might lead me to him but alas....I have grown tired of this game." He took a deep breath before continuing " But this letter to James is something I can not ignore. Shall we read it for all the nobles to hear my dear?"

" My dearest Brother (Francis smirked "your endearment towards the bastards of this world is one of your worst qualities")

I fear my time on the throne must come to an end. I'm tired of merely existing until I'm no longer useful and I pray my torment will end soon. Marrying into the French alliance was the biggest mistake of my life and one I wish I could take back. 

Please know I did what I thought was best for Scotland always. Just as I, Mary Queen of Scotland & France, am doing now, I here by grant you, James Stewart, the position of regent of Scotland and her armies. May you rule well in my absence brother.

Having done so I am now resigning my crown as ruler of Scotland to my son, Prince James Henry de Valois. Since he is only five years old I trust you will arrive quickly and take him home. Help prepare him to rule over Scotland until he comes of age.

This will be my last letter to you dear brother.....

Long live Scotland.......long live King James de Valois

Your loving sister,

Mary Stewart 

All eyes were on Mary after the contents of the letter were read. Whispered voices could be heard all around the room. Mary stood with a stone face and silently waited for Francis's judgment. He paused before sitting back into his throne, "Well Mary, since it is my duty as your husband to give you your hearts desire I will remove you as my Queen. As soon as I read these letters I wrote the Vatican requesting an annulment. I have decided to take Olivia as my new queen and change my hair to Jean Francis de Valois. Our son is now a bastard....how ironic." Francis has that look that he had the day they got married. He thinks he has Mary trapped and that she will come begging him for mercy. It's not going to work this time....she has every reason to believe that he never suspected Greer and that her messages got through. 

Mary raises her head with dignity and strength to meet Francis's gaze, " Shall I remain in my chambers under heavy guard or I'm I to await my beheading in the dudgeon?" Francis was taken back for a minute. He expected her to plea for her life but she declared her own death sentence before he ever put in upon her. Still in shock his voice waivered slightly, "I--I suppose I can't risk you being within reach of loyal people. Guards! Escort Mary to the dungeon and put heavy guards on her at all times. She will remain imprisoned until I wed Olivia. I expect a reply to my letter within three months time." At that moment Mary courtesies then turned on her heals to walk to her new accommodations with little fuss. 

One month later

Francis can be heard coming done the dudgeon stairs yelling at each guard he passes. "HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN!". Mary stands and steadies herself has her cell door unlocks. She takes a deep breath " My dear King, what seems to be the trouble?" Trying not to appear joyful because she suspects Greer succeeded. Francis stomps across her cell and lands a slap across her face, "Don't play coy with me! Explain to me why I just greeted your BASTARD BROTHER AS REGENT OF SCOTLAND?!" despite the sting on her cheek Mary let out a small giggle. "Oh! Good, my dear brother has come to collect the King of Scotland like I requested. Since he won't be the heir to France I would hate to impose on your good graces and hospitality." The anger was now growing quicker in the Kings heart, "Why couldn't you just be the queen your mother had promised? Why did you have to fall in love with Bash? He is the cause of all of this you know that right?" Francis was now pacing back and forth trying to reason with Mary to reverse what she has done. "I loved you, and then you ran off with him and tried to take EVERYTHING from me! Why do want me to kill you?" For the first time in years Mary saw sadness in his eyes, he has always had this cynical, stone heart when it came to them. He never tried to love her or be with her after they were wed.....why is he being this way now?

Mary realized she needed to tell him the full truth, not for her sake but to make putting her to death an easy choice for himself. "I can grant him this little mercy for the love he once showed me." She thought to herself before beginning to speak. She looked up to meet his eyes, " Francis, I grew up my whole life being told I would be your wife. I was told of love, and romance and how we would be all of those things from fairytale books. I came here believing you were taught the same things, it took less than a day for me to find out you were not preparing to love me. You were granted love and romance wherever you looked and with whomever you wished." Seeing he was still being attentive she continued " When I kissed you for the first time I felt nothing but duty and obligation. You can't possibly tell me you felt love in those moments?" Francis shook his head slightly in response. " When I kissed Bash it was like my whole world was set on fire. When we were on the run together I saw him go to edge of insanity to keep me safe with no regard for his own life. I meant what I said to you the day we wed, I opened my heart and he consumed me. I still love him......I will love him even if ---he doesn't come for me." Mary choked back tears.

Francis balled his fists in anger, "If I can not have you completely.....then no one can..... especially him. You will die in the next month, I will wed Olivia, and you will die the next morning.".....he paused at her cell door as she asked one last question "What about my son?". He turned one last time to meet her eyes, "James is now King of Scotland......I don't think it wise to have Scotland in French court any longer. I will have Lord Regent take him home immediately."

And with that he left her cell, that would be the last time they would talk. Mary felt relieved that even though her life is forfeited, her crowni s safe in Scotland at last.

Chapter Text

One month after Greer's departure from Paris

Greer climbing out of her carriage as they came upon the little village of Auenhiem. "Finally!". She sighed hoping hey friend was right and that she would find Sebastian in time. Looking around this little town she didn't notice anything that stood out to her right away. She decided to go get some food then ask around to see if they know of Bash.

While she was eating her ears perked up at an older merchants tale of the amazing hunter he discovered five years ago. "Now why the lad wanted to settle here is far beyond my knowledge. But you all should be buying me drinks for the French hunter that I led to you....you should, he will bring a lot of good to this town!" Everyone laughed at the old man but Greer stood up and made her way over to the man. She laid a coin on the bar in front of the man, "I'll buy you the next drink......if you take me to this amazing Frenchmen you are boasting about." She flashed a wicked smile at the man. "I can take you-" He chuckled a little under his breath "but I fear you'll be disappointed.....he is not married.....and he isn't looking to be either." She smiled a little as the bar maids interrupted "Yeah honey, you are cute but he is still pinning over a lost love. We've all tried, every girl in this town has been turned down by Sebastian de Poitiers." 

Greer's heart jumped at the confirmation of his identity. " Take me to him right now and I'll give you enough gold to drink on for a week!" The old man jumped off his stool and ran out the door while clinching on to Greer's wrist. " We will find him right quick my lady!". They were pretty deep into the woods when she began to question the wisdom of taking off alone with this strange man. She quickly pushed those thoughts aside when she knew what Mary was most likely facing back at court. She hadn't read the letters, although Mary told her what the letter to James said, she felt that Bash's letter was more personal and therefore needed to be known only be he and Mary. Before she knew it they came upon a small clearing near the rivers edge. In the middle was a small, hand built cabin, a little barn with animals running around it and a large garden just outside the window facing the river. "How lovely" she thought to herself. The old man ran ahead and knocked on the heavy wooden door. Greer held her breath as the door opened, before her stood a tall, dark haired man with eyes of sea glass. He immediately locked eyes with her and exhaled her name like he had the wind knocked out of his chest, "Greer----what are you doing here?", the old man smiling turned to her and held his hand out to receive his reward. She handed over his coin and thanked him for showing her they way. Bash still stood in the doorway not sure what to do next. Motioning her in he shut the door and wondered what this could mean.

Breaking the silence that seemed to last for ages Bash finally asked her, "Why now? Why have you come all this way to find me?" Greer steeled her breath as she tried to find the right words, " I was traveling to Luxembourg to visit family. Marry entrusted me to carry a message to Paris to get to her brother and she tasked me with finding you on my way through Auenhiem to give you this." Bash looked at the letter Greer held in her hand not sure if he wanted to take it. He slowly reached out to take the letter when Greer started to speak "A week after their marriage Mary used the passage ways to get into your chambers. Francis had it boarded up so no one would mess with it until he went through it.....she found your letter." Bash held her letter in his fingers as a lump formed in his throat, " That wasn't meant for---her." He couldn't bring himself to say her name. The pain it must of caused her, she must hate him after all of these years. Greer lifted his chin until their eyes met, "I am glad to hear you say that. She has spent all of her time trying to find you, she has been sending messengers out for years in different directions in the hopes of reaching you.". She waited for his response, "what made her send you here?". "She said " because we were able to love each other there once." Bash now found a small smile grow across his lips, "Mary found my journal didn't she?", "well yes but I don't know what in there would have pointed her here. From your tales you never traveled to Auenhiem?" Greer looked puzzled and felt like she was missing something but decided quickly she didn't need to know. 

Bash sat there twisting the letter between his fingers as Greer stood up to leave, "I'm sorry I can't stay longer, but my travel partners will wonder where I ran off too." She kissed Bash on the cheek and headed for the door. Before she left she gave one last piece of advice "Bash? If you are trying to decide if you are going to read it I wouldn't wait much longer......she has been waiting five years to give you that letter. It's waited long enough."

Bash took a deep breath to ready himself to be broken hearted all over again:

"My Dearest Sebastian,

I don't know if this letter will reach you in time, but if I know Greer she will get this to you, for that I am certain.

There is so much I wish to say....so many years I have to make up for. So many things to explain. I'll start at the beginning ~"

He blood began to boil has he read over the circumstances under which she had married Francis. She recounted the consummation ceremony and how she was forced to endure that under the threatening whispers of her new husband. He had started to pace the floor with out knowing he had moved from his chair. She told him about breaking into his chambers and finding the letter:

" I knew I had broken your heart but I had held out hope that you would come back for me. My hope was shattered upon reading it. I gave into my despair when I became pregnant, full well knowing if I had a son Francis would have no use for me and would surely kill me. And I thought you hated me too. I showed the letter to Francis one evening when he was mocking me for being disheartened. It was when he laughed and told me "I told you he wasn't coming for you." That I realized the letter wasn't meant for me.....it was meant for him. He stopped torturing me with the thought of you riding in to save me. I realized you wanted give me one last chance of peace.~"

Bash was relieved to read that she saw past the facade, he couldn't stand the thought of her thinking he hated her. He read on about how she finally figured out where he was and how stupid she felt for not seeing it sooner. Then she concluded her letter with what seemed like a farewell:

" At last my love, my time is growing shorter. I suspect I will have an end to my suffering soon. Greer delivered a letter to my brother in Paris before she came to you. I have laid my crown down, placed it upon my son and named my brother as Lord Regent until he becomes of age. 

I suspect Francis will pickup my back up messenger before too long and I will either be locked up in prison or sentenced to death. If he is smart he will wait to kill me until after he weds Olivia and legitimatize their son as the next ruler of France. My brother has instructions to take my son back to Scotland immediately.

So now I can die knowing I kept him and my country safe. I am also hoping that this letter will give you the closer you need to move on and find love again.

The night I saw you ride away was the night everything I loved was ruined, you set my world on fire. I could only watch as the flames went higher and I couldn't move. I could only watch as everything around me burned down, and I became ashes on the ground. There was nothing left for me in this world. There is nothing left for me to hold on to right now.

I am now at peace with my end, for now I am just a girl.

I love you Sebastian de Poitiers. I love you with an all consuming fire that will never be put out.

Yours forever ~ Mary

Maybe in another life we will we just a girl and just boy."

Sebastian could hardly believe what he just read. He grabbed his cloak and dashed out the door not even bothering to shut it. Grabbing his horses reigns tightly he set off to catch up to Greer. As he came upon the town he spotted her carriage leaving the east side of the village, digging his heals in he raced ahead to stop her. Greers carriage came to a sudden stop which caught her off guard, "Bash?! What is the mat--" he cut her off abruptly, "How long ago did you leave court?" She stammered trying to remember "A-a-about a month ago, why?". Bash didn't even answer, he just turned his steed and galloped off at full speed towards the border. Greer smiled ear to ear "God speed Bash, and Lord be with Francis when you get there." She thought to herself as her carriage began it's journey again.

Chapter Text

Present day at court

Bash arrived back on the castle grounds a week ago. He spent his first few days trying to figure out if Mary was even still alive, since he heard rumors of a cardinal coming soon for the wedding he assumed she was correct in her assumption that he wouldn't kill her until after the wedding and legitimation. Since the start of all of this two months ago several of the guards had uncertain feelings about the sanity of their King and frowned upon how he had treated the Queen they had all come to love. Mary always took time to learn their names and thank them for protecting her. Olivia acted like they were ordinary servants. It's safe to say Bash found a few old friends at the tavern who were more than ready to commit treason to get Mary out of there. 

One such friend was Leith, he had taken watch outside of Mary's cell the night Francis slapped her. "It took everything within me not to cut him down right there!" Bash grabbed his shoulders and smiled "Good! I'm going to need that spirit to get her out of there!". They spent the next few days gaining the loyalty of other guards and servants. Bash knew of a few unhappy lords and decided to try to appeal to them for help. "I don't care about the crown, I only want to get Mary out of France." Lord Narcise leaned over the table with interest " So you are saying you don't care who takes the throne after you cut Francis down?", "I don't give a damn about France.....or Francis." Narcise grinned " Good! You have my men. My wife has been horribly upset about her friends plight, this news shall cheer her up..." "NO! NO one may know of our plans. Francis could decide to kill her ahead of schedule and then I would loose everything.", " alright, I'll keep my mouth shut.". With that handshake he felt like he had the support he needed, he sent out a call to assemble in the blood wood by sundown. They would attack during the night the very next evening.

Bash's careful planning had paid off, their group of 25 men made an appeal to the gate guards that they had captured Bash and were bringing him to the King to be dealt with. "I have a gift for my King!" yelled Leith, "Open the gates!" The large iron gate opened without question. As all the the men gathered in the court yard they were met by a page who usher them to the throne room quickly. "Only the leader of your group and the prisoner may have an audience with the King." The page was met with Leith's icy glare, "These men have completed a great service to their King. They brought the highest ranking prisoner all the way here and fought ofg countless attempts to free him. They will be granted an audience!" The page stammered but didn't argue, Leith glanced back at Bash and with a small nod he new it was time to set their plan into motion.

Inside the throne room Francis sat upon his throne with Olivia on the Queens throne. There were only a handful of guards inside, and when the door final shut behind them Sebastian knew it was time to draw his brothers ire one more time, "Sebas---" Bash cut him off "a bit premature don't you think?" Francis looked at him puzzled so he continued "Is your old queen even cold in her grave yet? You're not even married to this wretch and yet here she is claiming the throne already. You never did have any class Olivia." "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO HER THAT WAY!" Francis was now standing at the edge of dias with a face full of rage. As he walked closer to Bash the men began to slowly spread out around the room ready for the signal. Bash allowed his brother to come within arms length of him, holding a mocking smirk the whole time. Francis looked into his half-brothers eyes "She will be a much better queen than that Scottish whore ever could have been, at least I don't have to wonder if she is running to my brothers bed.", Bash sighed and looked back at Leith, "Did you hear that old friend? Men did you hear what your boy king thinks of your Queen? The Queen who gave everything to save you from starving when your King was busy bedding this Italian bitch. The Queen who didn't need Francis to marry her to become a queen. In fact brother....." He leaned into Francis's gaze until their faces were mere inches apart, "I would say Mary lowered her station by marrying a boy who thought he was a King. I hope France gains a better man to be her king after this." 

Francis took a quick gaze around and noticed he and Bash were the only ones in the center of the room. The guards that had escorted Bash were now completely surrounding them and blocking all the doors. Before he knew what happened Bash pulled back and headbutted his brother right square in the face. A high pitched scream came from Olivia as blood ran down Francis's face, "Brother, I should have done this a long time ago. Remember that it was you who let this match", Bash's men held off the few guards and bared the doors to the room. Bash continued to fight Francis in a boxing style fight. Francis, seeing that his brother had the upper hand in this style of fighting, drew his sword and went on the attack. "Just as I thought little brother, just like when you preyed on Mary's heart. You couldn't win her in a fair fight, so you but a sword through her heart instead." Francis lunged at Bash but he was able to anticipate it and dodged the blade. Grabbing his brother by the wrist Bash disarmed the him and flipped him on to his back. Now has Francis laid on the ground with a sword to his neck all he could see is his once childhood friend stand above him. He saw an anger in his eyes that made him truly believe that Bash was going to kill him. 

Sebastian looked into the eyes of his bloodied brother, " You won her by threats of death and deceitful deeds. You never loved her, you only wanted her because she didn't want you." Francis feeling like he had nothing to loose smirked back at his brother, "Well in the end I still won....you will never have her. The headman was ordered to execute her this evening.....you may be to late even now." Bash's eyes darkened, "Lord Narcise! I trust you remember what I said in regards to my brother?" "Yes.....as I recall you said " I don't give a damn about my brother or France". The privy council will take care of this problem." And with that, Bash's parting words were "goodbye brother...." As he ran down the hall another scream could be heard coming from the throne room, he knew his brother was dead now.

Running to the nearest secret panel he descended the hidden stairwell faster than he ever thought possible. " I won't give up on her!" He thought to himself, she wasn't lost until he held her lifeless body in his arms. Rounding the corner he quickly dispatched the two guards that were taken by surprise. At the end of the hallway he saw the headsman at a cell door, " was he entering or leaving?" Panic filled his heart as he yelled "HEY! You have one head to take before hers!" 

All Mary could hear was yelling in the hall outside her cell, the stone walls and thick door were too dense to let anything through. Her heart raced knowing in her heart it was Francis finally deciding to take her head...."NO! Please! I need to see him one more time..." She pleaded with God. "He just needs a little more time!", just then it fell quite in the hallway.......

Bash had engaged the headsman in a sword fight just outside his door. They went back and forth for awhile slamming each other aggressively against the stone walls. Bash was more nimble and managed to finally get the upper hand cutting him down with one swift slice to the throat. Once he knew he was dead he began to search the body for keys to her door, he realized the headsman didn't have the key......there was more hope than he had ever had before. He looked at her cell door and with all the strength he could muster he kicked against the door. Three swift kicks and the door fell open.

They both stood in shock for what seemed like forever but really it was only a few seconds. "Mary..." Her name escaped his lips like it was the last thing he would ever say. Running the short distance to her he cupped her face with both of his hands and enveloped her in the most passionate kiss he could muster. A fire inside himself that he thought had died was now a raging inferno, her hands landed on his waist as he pulled her in deepening her kiss by grabbing the back of her neck and the small of her back. Finally after several minutes they broke their kiss and laid their foreheads against one another, " I knew you would come for me....", Mary said breathlessly as she took in his scent and the taste he left on her lips. He held her tightly in his arms leaving sweet kisses on top of her head. "I will never let you go again! Let's go home my love."...."home?" She inquired. "Yes... it's everything we had dreamed of." 

Bash waisted no more time as he took Mary by the hand and helped her mount his horse. Climbing up behind her they rode back to Auenhiem. Mary smiled for the first time in what felt like ages as she finally allowed the restraints of royalty fall off her wrists. 

"I finally get to be just a girl.....his girl."