Long May You Reign: A Mary Queen of Scots and Francois De Valois Fanfic

Author's Note: I know it's taken me a ridiculous amount of time to update this story, but life, writers block and general laziness has prevented me from updating. Some of the events of this chapter follow what happened on the show while others don't. This is the final chapter and I hope you like it. This may or may not serve as a template for a sequel, but that remains to be seen. Enjoy and as always R/R

Chapter 3

Mary sat in front of her mirror aimlessly brushing her hair as she looked at her reflection. The girl before her seem drawn, sad, almost lifeless. She'd been running on adrenaline since the day Aylee had died. In that one moment her world came crashing around her and it was only when Francis left, tacitly agreeing to her plan, that she felt like the gravity of her situation had hit her. Mary felt a deep sense of loss, an emptiness. She may have saved Francis's life, but she'd sacrificed herself. All she wanted was to touch his face, to be with him again, but she knew that was never to be. His image came to her at night while she put on a steel exterior during the day. It was at night that she dreamt of that life they'd promised to share. They were married and had five kids. In her slumber, Mary and Francis ruled together as King and Queen and cared for their family. It was everything she'd ever imagined, but then she'd wake to her bleak reality. Her days were spent pretending that a life without Francis was something that she could truly embrace. Bash was kind to her, but no matter how much he tried, he would never be his brother. She appreciated all of his efforts to acclimatize to his new role. He was attending the tutoring sessions and half-hardheartedly participated in hearing what the peasants had to say. Mary couldn't blame Bash. He was merely doing what she'd asked him to do, but it wasn't his fault that she kept comparing him to his brother. She knew she had to stop, so she made a promise to herself to give him a chance.

A knock on her bedroom chambers interrupted her from her thoughts. The maid curtsied and said, "I have a letter for you. It's from the Dauphin, I mean the former Dauphin."

Mary took the letter from the girl and signalled for her to leave. A letter from Francis. She turned it over several times before setting it on the dresser. She bit her lip and wondered what it said. But, a part of her was afraid of the contents. What if he was truly angry at her? What if he was unhappy? There were so many questions yet she was afraid to seek them out. She picked up the envelope and traced its edges when breathless Greer came running into her room.

"He's back. Francis is back,"Greer said as she plopped herself on Mary's bed. Mary turned to her in shock. "This can't be. It will cause chaos and possibly war. What is he thinking?"

"Where is he?"

"The servants say he has requested that your old chambers be made up while he goes to visit with his mother."

Mary picks up her skirts and says, "this is a disaster."

"Isn't it marvellous?'Greer mumbles to herself.

Mary barged into Catherine's bedchambers. She needed to see him; to understand why he was there. When he turned to face her it was as though some force beyond her control was pulling her towards him. She walked closer to him and he reached out for her hand, but she pulled away. "Why are you here Francis?"

"To claim his rightful place as the Dauphin of France,"Catherine said with more than a hint of pride. This was exactly what she wanted and everything Mary was not counting on. She thought he'd leave and live his life. She thought he'd find happiness elsewhere.

"You did not read my letter,"Francis said.

"I, I just received it. This is a bad idea Francis. This could mean war. It will divide the country."

Francis smiled and ran his hand across her cheek. "Oh my poor Mary. So naive, so headstrong. The country is already divided. My presence here changes nothing and neither will your plan."

Mary pushes at him angrily as Catherine quietly steps out of the room. An act that was very much unlike her, but she wanted her sons happiness. Nostradamus had assured her that his previous vision was now incorrect and that Mary would not be the cause of her sons death. A part of Catherine wanted to question the authenticity of his visions, but given the events with Clarissa, she could understand how he could come to misinterpret what he saw. If she felt Mary was a real threat to Francis, she'd do what needed to be done. Catherine was a pragmatic woman. She would cut down anyone that caused harmed to her children. Mary had always been a precocious child and the only woman she felt was truly worthy to stand by her sons side.

"You shouldn't be here Francis. I'm doing this for you. Why can't you understand this?"

"Because it's ridiculous and I won't allow your belief in mysticism ruin my life or the life of my brothers. Bash may not care because it gives him you, but I do. I told you that this was madness."

She started to turn and leave when Francis reached for her. "Don't leave. We can be together. We can marry and we can be happy. You just have to stop running."

"Why can't you see I'm doing this for you. I'm saving your life Francis."

Francis runs his thumb along her wrist, "It's not a life I want to live. Without the crown, without you. It's not worth anything."

"I cannot live with the burden of your blood on my hands. I won't," Mary insisted. Francis grabbed her hands and lifted them to his lips. "Oh Mary, my sweet Mary. I'd rather be with you a short while and die young then live a lifetime without you by my side."

"I cannot be to blame."

"When did you become so superstitious?"

"I wasn't. Not until Aylee died which Nostradamus foresaw."

"I don't care if Nostradamus saw God himself. There is no proof that I will die anytime soon. As Dauphin and eventually King, I could die on the battlefield. Living in and of itself runs the risk of death. So live with me Mary.

Mary sucked in breath desperate to believe, but she could not let his charm break down her barriers like he did once before. She had made a decision (for his own good) and whether he understood it now was not on the top of her list. She had to carry on; to move forward for the good of Scotland and for him.

She reached up touched his face and kissed him softly one last time, before turning and walking out the door. Francis dropped his head. He was afraid of this, but like any good ruler (or in his case ruler to be) he had a contingency plan and his came in the form of Marie De Guise. They had hashed out the details of their plan before he had left Scotland. Her men had carried a letter from Francis to his relatives at the Vatican. There was no way Rome would allow the legitimization. Francis had also fortified a few general who were very much against a change in the line of succession. Mary may think the simple act of demanding that a change be made would result in it happening, but this was France not Scotland. The French were not her subjects, not yet, and they were not going to take well to a Queen who wanted to change succession rights based on a whim. Francis hated to play hardball, but Mary had pushed him into a corner. He loved her, but he also loved France and what she had done was not simply refuse him, but attempt to take away his birthright.

Mary ran to the stables to find Bash. There was only one thing to be done: they had to elope. She knew Francis well enough to know that he had a plan. She had made a decision for the sake of Scotland and to save his life, but he just refused to see the truth. If she married Bash right away then they would have no choice, but to make Bash the next in line for the throne since he would already be King Consort or worse comes to worse, she'd go back to Scotland with him. She needed the alliance, but her desire to keep Francis safe was her priority.

"We must go. I know of a small village a few miles away where we can marry. I'm sure if we gave the Vicar a bit a few gold ducets, he'd be more than willing to marry us."

"Have you lost your mind? I want to marry you, but there is no need to run off like theives in the night,"Bash insisted.

"We must. Francis is back and I'm afraid he might be up to something."

Bash sighed. None of this surprised him. A part of him had felt guilty for taking things from Francis that were his by birth, but his blatant resistance to how things were now simply made him angry and a little competitive. "He's what? This could mean war?"

"I know. But, he argues what we have done has already started the path to a civil war and I can't say I disagree especially after Charles and Henry had been attacked in the wood."

"That's true. But, how will hasty marriage stop this."

"It might not, but I cannot risk marrying Francis because I will not be responsible for his death. I refuse to be. If you become King Consort then they will have no choice, but to accept your legitimization."

"I'll meet you at the entrance of the wood in an hour. We need to leave before it gets too dark."

Mary kissed him and was on her way. When she got to her room, she quickly threw a few things into a bag including her jewelry and what money she could fit into the satchel. As she was about to exit her room, she came face to face with her ladies: Kenna, Lola and Greer.

"Mary where are you going?"

"I have to leave." She kissed each of her ladies before trying to pass by them, but they blocked her path. "You're not going. This is ridiculous and it is our job to stop you from making any more rash decisions."

"Your job is to do as I say and I say leave me be,"Mary said in her firmest and loudest tone of voice. Her ladies simply bowed and let her pass. They may have wanted to talk sense into Mary, but they knew she was right. They had no real power against a Queen. They were there in service to her and could not in anyway directly disobey her orders. Mary was on her way to the stables when she was stopped in the corridor by Catherine. "Mary, I need to speak to you."

"I have some things to do."

"Yes, I'm sure like eloping with that bastard, but trust me you want to hear what I have to say."

Mary looked at Catherine with shock, "How? Nevermind. I'm not going with you."

"It's about Francis. Give me five minutes and if after what I have to say you still insist on eloping with what's his face then so be it."

Mary sighed. Her curiousity won out and she followed Catherine to her chambers. Catherine immediately began lighting some candles as she got her bearings. I don't know if you have spoken to nostradamus and I know you have no reason to believe me, but you can go to him and he will tell you the same. His vision was some sort of error. The child he spoke of was Clarissa not Francis. Before you say anything, he had another vision of the two of you married and happy with children. You are not responsible for my sons death. Trust me if I still thought you were, I'd be plotting your death at this very moment."

"Why should I believe you? You are simply trying to save your hide for your death is the only way to ensure the legitimization."

"True,"she said as she picked up a letter opener and stabbed herself with it "would I do this"

Mary was aghast. She reached for a nearby cloth and placed it on Catherine's wrist, "Are you mad?"

"I am serious. I want my sons happiness and regardless of what either of us do this legitimization is happening so stop what you have put into motion before you end up in a loveless trust me. There is nothing worse."

"I need to think."

"I know you have convinced yourself that you must love Bash on some level, but we both know that is not true. It's amazing what one will do to convince ourselves to accept our fate. Go to Nostradamus. He will confirm what I have to say and then before it's too late go to Francis. He loves you and I know you feel the same. If not for yourself, do it for the babe you are carrying."

"How?"

"I have eyes everywhere. When will you learn that?"

Mary made her way to Nostradamus's quarters as fast as her short legs would carry her. She was out of breath and quickly asked him if what Catherine had told him was true. She wanted to kill him, but she was too happy to take the time to give him a tongue lashing. She was sure Catherine had taken care of that for her. She needed to find Francis, her beautiful beautiful Francis. But, before she could go to him she needed to speak to Bash. Mary owed him. She couldn't let him sit there waiting for her. By the time, she reached the stables she'd stumbled upon the two brothers in the middle of a quarrel.

"Do what is right and refuse,"Francis asked.

"Why? Because I have what you felt you were entitled to. How does it feel to have nothing and for I to have everything."

Francis shook his head. "Is that what you really think of me? That I have taken something from you? She was my bethrothed, the woman I loved and you did everything to take her from me. Forget the fact that I'm yourr brother."

"Half-brother."

"Not to me. I looked up to you. I saw you as a brother and friend. I've done nothing to you to deserve this."

Mary watched as Bash pushed Francis and the two of them began rolling around in the hay. She pulled them apart and said, "stop it, both of you just stop it. What's wrong with you Bash? Is this why you agreed to do this? To hurt your brother for some perceived wrong. It isn't him you should blame, but your father. Blame society, but do not blame Francis. He loves you. He is not responsible for your position or lack of one at court."

Francis pushed his long locks from his face and watched her. "I came here to tell you,You to tell you about the prophecy."

"Not that bloody prophecy again,"Francis muttered.

"It was wrong. It was about Clarissa. Bash, I'm sorry but I can't marry you."

Bash reached for hand and said, "why not? You love me and we were about to elope. Don't let this fortune teller make you change your mind."

"This fortune teller is the only reason why I was doing this; all of this was to save Francis's life. I thought you understood that. I don't love you, Bash. I love Francis."

Francis tried to hide the amused smirk as he watched his brother get even more desperate promising Mary things that he simply could not deliver. For the first time in a long time, he was beginning to understand the travesty of his brothers plight. He was without a name. The illegitimate first born of the King and his mistress. He had no lands, no real protection and he thought Mary could give him what he desired: security.

"Bash, you will always be welcome here, but I beg you to just accept how things are."

"Is that why you were trying to pummell me a few minutes again."

"I felt betrayed and I still do, but that doesn't change the fact that you are my brother. We are kin,"Francis said.

Mary and Francis made their way back to the Castle grounds in relative silence. They both knew there was a lot to talk about. But, their casual smiles were all the communicating they did during their short journey. Once they were alone in Francis's old quarters, she told him everything. Catherine's plea, Nostradamus's new vision and how his old one was flawed.

"This is what happens when we allow ourselves to be at the mercy of supersition. I've never trusted that man and while he is mostly harmless, he has reeked havoc on my life and yours. Promise me something Mary?"

"Anything."

"That you will trust in us, in our love our bond. Don't let your fear rule you. Look at what it has done,"Francis said as he ran his fingers along the curve of her face.

"I'm sorry Francis, I just I love you so much that I'd rather die myself then ever see anything happen to you."

"As crazy as all of this is, I understand."

They spoke of how and when they would inform his father and Francis's desire to wed her immediately regardless of his fathers plans even if they had to do it secretly.

"There is something else you need to know."

Francis kissed her hand and said, "What is it?"

"I'm with child."

Francis's eyes widened and he held her by the waist and swung her around. Oh how the fate's had blessed him. He had gotten his Mary back and now he was to be a father. "A baby."

"We must marry at once. Time is of the essence. Where was that chapel you were headed towards. Do you think we can still make it before first light."

"Yes, I think we can."

"Then let us be off,"Francis said as he led Mary by the hand.