Flamme Éternelle: A Reign Fanfiction

Dieu Sauver La Reine

Nostradamus rushed back to the Queen's chambers. He knocked in her door and entered, "My Queen!" He called.

"What? Why are you back so soon? Is she dead?"

"Mary mustn't die. In my vision I saw a girl die, then Francis, then France fell. The girl who died first, the one who will start this chain of events is Mary! If she dies, Francis will die! Their fates are intwined," he gasped out.

"Did you already give her the poison?"

"Yes! Where is the antidote? I need that antidote!"

"I don't have any. I never intended to have to poison then save someone. It is a fast acting poison, she must be dead already. Oh, my poor Francis," Catherine started panicking.

"She's not dead yet! I have her a concoction to slow the spread of the poison. It will not work forever, so we must move fast. Where can we find the antidote?"

"It is six hour's ride from here. It is a low growing shrub with purple, star-shaped flowers. I cannot go or I will become a suspect. You cannot go because you need to keep her alive. Who do we send?"

"One of the boys. Sebastian or Francis," Nostradamus said.

Catherine answered immediately, "Sebastian. We cannot put Francis in harm's way."

Nostradamus kept his mouth shut about how she had already put her eldest son in harm's way. He nodded and set off in search of Sebastian. It did not take him long to find the young man. He was fencing with his father while Francis watched. "Sebastian!" Nostradamus called.

"Not now, Nostradamus! Can't you see that we're busy? Though I guess not, seeing as you're only here to see the future," King Henry snarked.

"Queen Mary is dying," Nostradamus ignored the King.

"Why do you call out to Sebastian when it is my fiancé who is dying?" Francis asked, coming over to Nostradamus from where he stood against the wall.

"Your mother wanted Sebastian to go because... he is, a, uh, a faster rider!" Nostradamus turned to Bash who had left the duel with his father to learn what was wrong with Mary, "There is a plant in the mountains six hours east of here. It has a small, star-shaped, purple bloom and grows low to the ground. We need the leaves and flowers to save Mary. Go, quickly! The fate of France rides upon you."

Bash turned and set off for the stables at once, running in his haste. Francis followed him, "Bash! I cannot let you go alone! Especially not when Mary is my fiancé."

Bash winced at Francis's use of the f-word, "Well, by all means, brother, do come along." he was irked that Francis was coming.

Francis either did not catch, or ignored the sarcasm in Bash's voice as he followed him. They mounted their horses and were off. As it was still early morning, they should be able to return before nightfall.

They rode in silence for some time. It was not awkward but it was not companionable either. It was heavy; and after less than an hour, Francis grew sick of it, "What is bothering you, Sebastian?"

"You never call me 'Sebastian'," Bash evaded the question, not wanting his brother to find out that the rumors were true about his feelings for Mary. Francis had already asked him before if he was interested in Mary. Bash had denied it through clenched teeth because he didn't want Mary to come between them. But if given the choice, Bash would pick Mary's happiness over his brother's.

Francis, on the other hand, had believed Sebastian when he had said that he was not interested in Mary. He was curious where the rumors regarding Mary and Bash had come from and why they were still running rampant after he had proposed. Francis also wanted to know why his brother was being so quiet. Bash was usually animated and chatty, the light if adventure in his eyes. Now he was quite the opposite. He looked determined and upset. "Bash, what's wrong?" He asked, using Sebastian's nickname this time around.