I DO NOT OWN REIGN. SHOUTOUT TO EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THIS STORY.

French Court, France. 1558.

As his French troops searched the countryside for his Queen, Francis was out of his mind with worry. It killed him whenever he was not with Mary. It struck him like a dagger in his heart. The King of France was running out of ideas. The castle had been searched to no avail. Bash had gone to the woods and had found nothing. Prince Louis Condé had proven himself to be an ass, but there was no evidence that he had anything to do with Mary's disappearance. As Francis was in the throne room brooding, Bash came in.

"It has been two days and there are still no signs of Mary anywhere," he said as his half brother suddenly turned to face him.

"What about the English?" Francis asked.

"What do you mean?" Bash asked in return.

"Come on Bash, you know that the English have always tried to kill Mary," Francis explained. "They want to keep England and invade Scotland."

"You think that the English may have kidnapped Mary?" Bash asked in disbelief. "Why, they have not sent word threatening her life or made ransom demands."

"Who else has the means and the motive do her harm?" The French King exclaimed. "This wouldn't be the first time that the English have made an attempt on her life."

"I just don't think that the English are behind this."

"I'm running out of options."

"Look, I know that you want to protect your Queen from the world and you can't and it kills you inside, but do not think that you are the only one in this castle that cares about Mary," Bash stated as he turned on his heel and left. Francis silently swore to himself. He knew that his bastard half-brother spoke true. He had after all, almost been Mary's husband instead of him and that was not something that Francis Valois could forget; no matter how hard he tried.

SORRY ABOUT THE SHORT CHAPTER. I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO WRITE THIS WEEK. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.