Drowning: A Reign Fanfiction

Chapter 11

"Bash, I have a question."

I had walked into the stables, where I knew he would be, without warning. His back, which was initially turned away from me, twisted when he heard the sound of my voice.

"Mary?" His expression was full of surprise. "Shouldn't you be preparing to leave the castle with the others?"

His utter perplexment brought a sad smile to my face, and I nodded.

"I should be, but first, I must ask you something."

"Of course. You know you can ask me anything."

He smiled down at me fondly, and I bit my lip as I thought, you may change your mind about that.

Sucking in a harsh breath, I said, "What would you do for a person you wrote a love letter to?"

Silence pervaded the stables. Even the horses were quiet.

"Come on, Bash," I said with sudden desperation. "I'm running out of options here."

Bash frowned.

"I don't see what your question has to do with 'options.' Is this about Conde?"

Seriously?

"Sebastian, everything we do right now is about Conde! Now please," I begged, wrapping my arms around my chest, "answer my question?" Please.

Naturally, having once had feelings for me himself, Bash's tense aura melted into the big brother I'd come to know and love.

"If I wrote a love letter to someone," he said with a slight pause of hesitance, "I would be willing to do anything for them."

Passion burned behind his eyes, and I knew with absolute certainty that he was telling the truth.

"Anything, anything?" I verified with a hard expression.

If he said 'yes,' there would be no going back.

"If by 'anything,' you mean risking my life, then yes."

I stared at him with fire in my eyes.

"Then, if I come into contact with Conde, I can convince him to trust me," I said as more of a question than a statement.

"It's possible, I suppose . . ." he trailed off with a suspicious gleam in his eyes. "Mary, what's the meaning of this?"

I hugged my body tighter. Too tight.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you." Even though it hurts me. "If I tell you, then you'll tell Francis, and he'll stop me from doing what needs to be done."

"Mary, whatever you're planning to do, you can't do alone. And as your friend and Francis' brother, I can't allow it. I won't."

"But you need to," I said quietly. "I need you to let me do this, Bash. I need you to trust me because if this works, everyone we love, including Francis, will be safe."

Apprehension grew like a vine, covering Bash until he was standing as stiff as a rod across from me with a fearful expression.

"Why do these plans seem to mention nothing about keeping you safe, Mary?" he said with accusation.

I pressed my lips into a hard line.

"Conde cares for me. He won't let them hurt me." I hope.

Bash's eyes grew wide with a mixture of fear and anger, before he took a step towards me.

"Your entire plan relies on a theory that Conde won't harm you because he wrote a love letter?! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, Mary! Surely you can't be that stupid!" He shouted, jabbing his finger towards the stable gate.