The long journey ahead

[naivequeen]

Mary didn't look back, not until they were miles away from the castle. Her heart was already shattered into so many pieces, hearing Francis call for her when she left him and the court behind. She knew if she had looked back she wouldn't have had the courage to leave. They managed a good distance that first night and Bash had been remarkably quiet as Mary had huddled by herself and sobbed herself to sleep. But by morning, she seemed to have put herself back into some semblance of order. Her cheeks were red from her tears, but she had managed to gather water for the horses from a nearby stream.

She knew they still had a long journey ahead of them and an even longer one by boat before they would reach Scotland. No doubt Francis would be hot on their trail, whether or not he had his father's blessing to go after her. She knew he would try to reach her, try to talk sense into her and if she saw him again she might just let him.

The next evening proved to be far too cold to forgo building a fire. Mary didn't know what use she could be until Bash sent her to gather some wood. Even that simple task left her breathless. Her corset wasn't made for any sort of labor.

She realized they hadn't spoken beyond a few small words here and there, but she was grateful for Bash's company. She didn't know how she could have ever gotten through all of this on her own. Just by being here, he comforted her. She didn't have to make this journey, this great sacrifice alone.

"Is this enough wood?"

Comments

[naivequeen]

Mary didn't catch on to what he was implying right away. Too much had happened in the last few days. She had been consumed with heartache over her choice and it didn't help that she had always been a bit naive to these sort of matters. Growing up in the convent would do that.

"Oh..." Her eyes widen when the realization hit her. "They won't think we ran off together to be....together? That's nonsense. I told Francis I was leaving of my own accord!" But she knew that wasn't how others would see it. She had been alone in the wild with Sebastian for two nights now. He was right, her reputation was at risk. Even if they had done nothing except ride together...

"We'll just have to deal with that when we come to it."

[thedarkprince]

"I doubt they'll think that was necessarily our intention." Though Francis knew enough to know Bash cared for Mary, enough to warn them away from one another. "But, at the same time, I could neither allow you to go into the wild alone, nor had I any authority to drag you back bodily, so..."

He shrugged, giving her a wry smile. "You are a Queen. You will be forgiven. I...will be grateful for a place in your court."

[naivequeen]

Mary watched him move about and again, she felt more then a little useless. Even collecting firewood had turned out to be quite the chore. It was her corset, she hadn't removed it since she had left the Court. As fashionable as it was, it hindered all of her movements. Left her breathless at times.

"I'm grateful for your help. I don't know what I would have done out here on my own, I wasn't thinking clearly when I left." Then again, who could possibly think clearly under the intense weight of breaking off an engagement, ruining a wedding and an alliance, and breaking two hearts all in one day?

"You could have a land and title of your own, if you wished it." That way, at least he wouldn't have to be known as 'The Bastard' all the time. It was a very generous offer for Mary to make. He would still be ridiculed, but it would be in hushed whispers.

[thedarkprince]

"I am happy to provide it." Bash gave her a sincere smile. If it was a touch self-deprecating, because both of them knew he was more than happy, really, so be it. His voice turned lightly teasing. "And you are highly resourceful. I'm certain you would have found a way to survive, even against the odds, out here alone, but. You would not have had the pleasure of my company, so I would have felt very bad for you on your journey."

He finished up getting the fire going, but looked up at her, surprised by the offer. "That's incredibly generous, Mary. And far more than I deserve."

[naivequeen]

Mary tried to memorize how he had made the fire. She knew there had to be tinder and that the logs had to be in a certain order, but she probably couldn't duplicate the process just yet. "I'd be lost without you, Bash. That is the plain and simple truth." Mary might have made it on her own, but she would have been half-starving and possibly might have fallen ill to the cold evenings.

"You were there for me when I had no one else. How can I not repay the favor? This time, you will be the stranger in my court. I do not want you to feel as I did in France."

[thedarkprince]

He considered her predicament, out here without him, and gave her a bit of a smile, gently teasing. "Perhaps. Not that I doubt your capabilities, but...we are somewhat lacking both in supplies for porridge and goats."

He was still stunned by the offer. She could not make him legitimate, no, but with land, he could, at least, have a chance of making his heirs so. It wasn't like royal bastards were no ones. He did have the blood of a king in his veins. Not that there was anyone he wanted save her, but he had been raised at Court. He knew how to be pragmatic.

"Thank you, Mary." It's familiar, using her given name, but it seemed right for the moment.

[naivequeen]

"Agreed." Mary laughed alongside him. As tough as some people found convent life to be, living out in the wild was considerably worse. At least at the convent, the worst promise of food was porridge. Here, the worst promise was no food at all.

No, she couldn't make him legitimate, although if she could, she would have tried. Assuming he wouldn't try to take over the French throne. What she could do, however, is ease his transition from France to Scotland.

"It's no less than you deserve. I've never been a fan of blaming someone for their inheritance." Meaning, She never would have cared who Bash's parents were. What his status was. She had never seen him as the Bastard son of the King. He had always just been Sebastian to her.

"Of course, we have to reach Scotland first. It's a long way off."

[thedarkprince]

Bash had no desire whatsoever to take Francis's place except that if he'd been born to it, Mary might have been his. And he would have stood up far more to his father, for her. He would have had the security of position to do so.

It's not like Francis was going to get beheaded for standing up to his father.

"Well, I hate to come a beggar to your court, but I am realizing I will very much have to cast myself on your shores and beg your favor." The overly-courtly language was said with a teasing smile, serious, but not really.

He nodded a little. "It is, but we'll get there. It's easier, faster, traveling just two, with just the horses, than if you had your whole entourage, luggage and carriage."

[naivequeen]

Mary smiled back at him, laughing softly at the thought of Bash begging for anything at all. He'd never have to. She'd never allow such a thing. "Well, we can't have that, now can we?" She mused with a playful grin. Feeling for the first time as if the world wasn't ending. "I'm sorry to say you'll have to be happy with a title and land. Of course that means you'll have to stay in Scotland for awhile. You might even be forced to stay at court. How perfectly horrid."

She couldn't wait to see what her mother made of him.

"I left my ladies in waiting at court, I just hope King Henry won't send them packing for my rudeness. I'll send for them as soon as we're settled."

[thedarkprince]

He considered that--or pretended to--for a moment. "Does anyone even know what to expect in a Scottish court?" he asked, teasing. She hadn't been there in a long time, he knew, but Scotland wasn't known for its luxuries. It was, however, known for its wild beauty and he was looking forward to seeing it.

"If he does, I think he would send them packing in this direction with escorts. He won't just kick them out into the world."

[naivequeen]

"No, least of all me." Mary hated how weak she sounded when she said those few simple words, but it was true. It had been over ten years since she had last been in Scotland. She wouldn't know what the current fashions were there, what the gossip was, or even what politics had come to light. But all of this could be learned and mastered in a fairly short span of time. Hadn't she done the same in France?

"But if it's not to your taste, at the very least you're always free to leave to your titled lands." Even though she knew she would see him periodically throughout the yeah, mostly during holidays when the court became overgrown with counts, lords, and dukes.

"I hope so. Especially considering his newest mistress is within my inner circle of serving maids." Mary didn't know how Henry would react, but she hoped her friend would be able to temper him if no one else would. Their actions would cause consequences, she certainly wasn't naive enough to fail to realize that.

[thedarkprince]

"Are you eager to see it again, after so long away? Most of your life has been spent here in France--do you remember much of your childhood there?" Royal children were often raised in safety, but so rarely sent so far from home. He understood the political circumstances, but it still made him ache for her. Already he felt the pangs of leaving France--necessary for survival and he would adapt, but this was home.

"Which is still a little too strange to think about--especially tonight." He gestured at their campsite, their fire, giving her a wry smile. He didn't mind it, was trying, mostly, to lift her spirits.

"He does seem very fond of her, yes." But, then, Henry was fickle. The sooner her friend realized that, the better.