Mary felt the carriage rock her gently and it would have sufficed if it weren't for the need to constantly wrack and empty her stomach and the fact that Catherine was offering her so much to eat every now and then, a drink to help calm when the clock comes striking at every hour. But she was thankful for Francis wasn't with her, forcing into her hand a cup of that wretched tea.

Mary's expression had softened when she remembered her dearest husband. She felt a pang of guilt explode in her chest as she remembered what she had done to Francis who has been nothing but loving and kind and generous and honest. That last word she thought of brought guilt to her when she felt the carriage move rocking her, moving across the fields of France that would bring her to the countryside where Darnley was waiting for her. Mary bit her lip as her heart ached—secrets tore her and Francis apart the last time, and here she carrying on with secrets knowing that she could tear them apart once more.

Mary caught Catherine looking at her strangely in the corner of her eyes. She had this disapproving look planted on her face. "A pregnant woman should not be depressed, Mary, it's not good for the child," Catherine grabbed the container and took out a bundle of sage, placing it securely near the window. Mary raised a brow at Catherine before she remembered how her mother-in-aw had burst into her room when she was with Francis during her first pregnancy.

Catherine looked warily at the walls as if evil spirits had visited her.

Mary forced out a smile even though it did not feel quite right with her. "I'm perfectly happy, Catherine. I am, after all, in your presence," while it was sarcastic, it held truth and Mary knew that Catherine caught on to the real and underlying meaning. Truth be told, Mary was quite lonely inside her carriage during her previous trip. She was supposed to go to a village and treat the villagers to a feast for Michaelmas when she was suddenly attacked. A seasoned and experienced companion inside her carriage would have greatly influenced the following events but Mary shook her head, there's no use in dwelling in the past.

After all, Francis bent the rules even if it's until she fully recovered from her condition, allowing Queens to accompany each other despite the precedence of being the Queen and not just being a Queen.

Catherine shot Mary an amused smile, before taking a look outside the window, grimacing at the sight before her. Mirroring Catherine, Mary looked out the window and saw buildings and foundations, reminding her of the village where Greer was. Then, Mary suddenly remembered Bash and wondered how hurt he is at the moment. Mary remembered then remembered Delphine—if the only the situation with France and Scotland and all the other problems with Spain and Rome would magically disappear, or if the burden of keeping France safe from a hostile, political takeover, Mary would have been attending the funeral of a dear friend who she owes so much.

But she owes France as well, the Valois family, and she could not stand to become the reason why a strong family, a deserving and generous leader—a good and loving man that she knows her husband is—would fall to disgrace and even lead them to death. Mary may have been able to gamble with the life of Francis but only it was because she thought their love had overcome the burden of a prophecy. Maybe it had, no one will ever truly know, but for Mary to gamble the life of an entire nation when she herself is a leader?

No, Mary thought to herself, fighting back the tears to make that Catherine would not know of her struggles, she is willing to sacrifice.

Then, Mary thought of Darnley. Mary's first time meeting her cousin admittedly did not leave a good impression seeing that he had manipulated his way to be granted an audience with her. But she saw the honesty that burned in his eyes, the sincerity in his voice when Darnley voiced his love for her country, a land they both have been long separated from.

Strangely, Mary felt for Darnley. Her mother was, in fact, the reason why Darnley and his family were cast out of Scotland just so that her mother could solidify her hand on the reins for the control of Scotland. And while yes, it was for her, she too was shipped off overseas because of the looming threats that hung over her head like the sky above because of the power she held, power she never asked for in the first place.

But then, a thought rang clear in her mind that maybe, everything he had been doing was all a convoluted plot to gain power to rise and pave his way to become King of Scotland. After all, if she died without a proper heir, she would forfeit the country to her nearest of kin, to the closest cousin and who would the people accept better? Darnley is a man who is baptized a Catholic but raised a Protestant—that fact alone peaks volume about his religious tolerance while all she has before her alliance was the mere word from a regent and a war costing her country millions against a Protestant country.

"How dreary," Catherine's voice jarred her back to reality, the aroma of food being handed to her further anchored her and drew her away from her thoughts. Mary shook her head at the offer of food. If anything, eating would be the least of priorities. The top would be how to break off with the alliance if Darnley is right about the situation with France, Scotland, the Vatican, and Spain. Another high priority of hers is how can she battle Darnley on her own when the alleged situation is nothing but an over-complicated lie. Catherine shot her a look, forcing the plate into her hands. "Your figure's going to hell anyway so you might as well eat up!"

Mary shot Catherine a look before taking the fork placed on top of the plate and took a piece of the sliced ham. Her thoughts going back to Darnley, it would be profoundly difficult for her to put him away. Not when he has the likes of many personalities protecting him. Leaders and influential people with the power to affect Scotland in ways Mary knew she couldn't allow her country and kingdom to suffer.

"Legend is that if you stare more fervently at the window, it will shatter," Catherine quipped dryly before the carriage came to an abrupt stop. At first, Mary gripped the edge of her seat, wondering if the sudden stop was due to something quite similar to what served as the cause to cancel her service of charity for Michaelmas. "Don't worry yourself too much, Mary. Nostradamus mentioned that your feelings are heightened, magnified even," sarcasm was in her tone but it was there to mask how terrified she is as well. "Feelings, honestly," Catherine before she pulled from her hair a long and pointed pin.

Mary balked at the sight at first before realizing that the woman in front of her was Catherine de Medici. "Poisoned?"Mary asked, hoping actually, for once that it was in fact lethal. Mary never thought that she would see the day where she actually prayed that Catherine was armed with poison.

Catherine sighed, as if it was wishful thinking and also because she wanted the pin to be poisoned as well. "Poisoned? You say that so hopefully now, but sadly it's not." Catherine had somewhat of an offended expression on her face. "I don't carry poison everywhere," Catherine then was deep in thought, as if she was contemplating or thinking of a situation. "I might accidentally kill myself," Mary raised a brow at Catherine when a guard suddenly opened the door.

"Majesties," The guard bowed his head ever so slightly and Mary found herself sighing in relief, grabbing the cup nearest to her hand and taking a sip from it before she realized that it was actually the herbal tea that she despised so much. Immediately, she placed it down on a platform before gesturing for the guard to continue what he was going to say. "The Lord Darnley, Henry Stuart, offered to give us lodgings for tonight," Mary looked outside and saw that they were parked right in front of a drawbridge. "Are we to accept the Lord Darnley's proposal?"

Mary braced herself for the moment of truth. Catherine gave her a strange look. "We shall."