Mary re-entered the infirmary to find Catherine on the floor. Tears stained her face.

"Oh God, Catherine are you alright?" she said as she sat a plate of food on a table and rushed to her. She knelt down beside her and looked her over for injuries.

"I'm fine, I'm okay." she said as Mary continued to look her over. "Alright, enough. I said I'm fine." she added pulling away a little.

"Then why are you on the floor? And why were you crying?" she asked wiping a tear from her face. Catherine didn't answer, only handed her the letter. Mary looked at it and realized she'd read it, then Catherine turned it over to reveal her reply. Mary read it. Mary cocked her head to the side a bit when she looked back at her. Catherine could see that once again she didn't need to speak. Mary understood. Mary leaned in and hugged her. Catherine squeezed her hand.

"Let me get Bash to get you off the floor." Mary said, standing back up. Catherine nodded.

"Don't worry I won't go anywhere." Catherine replied. Mary knew she was only joking about the fact that she couldn't walk, but all she could think was that 'going anywhere' could also mean dying and it stung. She swallowed hard and tried to smile as she left the room.

《《》》

"Maybe we should we lay some pillows on the floor?" Bash jested as he placed her back on the bed. She rolled her eyes.

"I am not going to fall off the bed again." She said.

"Are you sure? How did you fall off in the first place?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter." she said. Oddly she felt strange to tell him the truth.

"Well then maybe I should..." he began. She shot him an angry look. "Alright." he added, holding up his hands in defeat.

"Have you apprised the guards of their task?" Mary interrupted. Bash turned to face her.

"Yes. At first light a team will go out knocking on doors. Then they will come back and rotate out with another team and so on. This way we will always have men guarding here without stopping the search until we find the flowers." he said.

"Or until I'm dead." Catherine added.

"Catherine, no, don't..." Mary started to say, but was cut off.

"Mary, it's good to have some hope, but we must be realistic about this. If you don't find it in time...well." she said. "And if that does happen, I need the two of you to promise me something."

"Anything." Mary said. Bash nodded in agreement.

"If I don't make it, someone needs to take care of my children. Charles cannot rule on his own and I cannot trust Narcisse to be loyal, no matter how much he swears he's changed. The two of you are the only ones I know will never betray them." she reached her hand out toward Mary and Mary took it. "Please make sure he has someone at his side he can trust."

"Don't worry. He'll have me. At least until he finds a good advisor, or comes of age." Bash assured.

"But you need to stay here...Mary." she said.

"It's okay. I have my brother and Greer. I'll be alright." she said, squeezing her hand.

"I think it's time I went home anyway, don't you?" he said. She smiled a little and nodded.

"I'm going to get some rest, I'm in the first team out in the morning." he said as he turned to Mary. She nodded and he left the room. Mary sat back down next to Catherine's bed.

"You should get some rest too." Catherine said.

"I can rest right here." Mary said.

"Mary..."

"You're not the only one who can be stubborn." she stopped her. Catherine breathed out a small laugh. "And speaking of Charles, we should probably write to him and let him know what's going on." Catherine nodded. Mary stood and went to the desk, pulling out paper.

Dear Charles,

I'm sure by now you've realized your mother has gone missing. I'd like to tell you not to worry, but I cannot. She is here with me in Scotland. An enemy of mine has poisoned her and dropped her on my doorstep. She still lives as I write this. We are looking for a cure, but the situation does not look good for her. I will do everything in my power to rid her of this poison and send her home to you, but if I cannot, know that I am here to help you in any way I can. I remain loyal. I will never give up on France, on my home, on my family.

MarieR

《《》》

The next day's search turned up nothing, and Bash had returned defeated. Two parties left and returned after him, and still nothing. The first day was nearly over already. The sun was already fading into the night. Mary was pacing the floor of the infirmary with dark circles starting to form under her eyes. 'It's only the first day.' Bash had said to her when he'd told her the bad news. As if that was supposed to make it better.

"Mary, could you please sit down. Wearing a hole in the floor isn't going to help anyone." she said.

"How can you just be so calm about all of this? Since when do you give up so easily when your life is on the line?" she asked.

"Because there is nothing to give up on, I can't exactly go and help them look can I? Besides, we can't both fall to pieces..." she paused a moment then added. "I'll take my turn when you're done." Mary tried desperately not to laugh at her comment, it felt wrong to laugh at such a moment, but she let out a small one despite herself anyway.

"How do you always know exactly what to say all the time?" she asked, finally sitting down.

"Too bad no one ever listens." she said. "Can you hand me that water." she pointed to a cup on the table. Mary held it out to her as she attempted to sit up a little to take it from her. Only to realize she couldn't. She furrowed her brow...no. She could no longer feel her hips and waist.

"Catherine?" Mary was instantly worried.

"Seems the poison is spreading." she said. They exchanged a knowing look. Suddenly Mary's legs stopped working as well and she had to sit again. This was really happening and she couldn't stop it.