Absence (Reign)

The Heart Goes On

Riding on horseback for long periods of time is very calming for the mind. At least it is for Francis. It seemed he'd been riding for an eternity. As the French countryside flashed past him, he couldn't help but think of the girl he'd left behind.

How could she do this to him? She threw everything they'd worked so hard to achieve straight out of the window. When he left the castle, he wished with all his heart that she would stop him. But she hadn't stopped him, so now he wouldn't stop either.

When he departed from the stables, it didn't take him long to figure out where he was going. He had been planning to visit his sister, Elizabeth, in Spain later that month, and he was sure she wouldn't mind him coming a few weeks early. It was hard to believe that her wedding to the future king of Spain all those months ago, was the first day he's been reunited with Mary.

It had been five days since he'd left French court, and the only times he'd stopped were at midday and night, to rest his extremely tired horse. He hadn't slept at all during the journey. His body yearned for it, but his thoughts were running nonstop through his head.

He rode into a clearing, which looked like a good place to stop for the night. He was getting close to the border of France and Spain, and he predicted another four days of travel. However, he had never been the best a judging distances and time, that had always been Bash's forte.

Bash. He felt an unmeasurable amount of anger for this single word. He was taking everything from him. It was hard enough that he was father's favorite son, but then he'd become close to Mary. He remembered the day he'd seen them kiss on the waterfront, the day Bash had lost his trust.

Now, father would have to meet with the pope, to ask for Bash to be legitimized. Once this was granted, there would be no hesitation to marry the two. Father has wanted control of England for as long as Francis could remember, and now Mary made it possible.

He sighed deeply, as he led his exhausted horse to the small stream that ran nearby. While the horse drank, Francis laid out his makeshift camp; a bedroll, blanket, and a few utilities to allow for an easy fire construction. He'd been fortunate thus far with the weather, as he didn't have anything to use as a cover if it rained.

He fed the horse and tied it's lead securely around a low-hanging tree branch. He laid down on the bedroll, gazing up at the dazzling stars.

As he had for the past four nights, he sought out the brightest one. It made all other stars seem insignificant; dull in comparison to this single star. On the first night he left her, he'd found comfort in this star, which seemed to be telling him that everything would be alright.

On the second night, he'd felt so alone, until his eyes met the starlight above and told him that he wasn't as lonely as he thought.

On the third and fourth nights, he'd began speaking to the star, desperate to get some of his pain off his chest. At first he'd felt crazy, talking to the sky like an idiot, but after awhile it felt familiar, almost calming.

Tonight, he thought that his unofficial companion should be given a name. He would definitely feel less odd if the entity he was confiding in was named.

He pondered it for a moment, running through names he might have someday given his child, but none seemed to fit the stunning brilliance of his new friend.

It came to him then, as he lay there alone, with nothing but the sound of running water, wind through the leaves, and the steady breathing of his nearby horse. There was only one name that could possibly be given, and it happened to belong to the one person he was trying so hard to keep from his mind.

"Mary." He whispered, the sound of his voice being carried away gently in the wind. And for the first time in days, he graced with a good nights sleep.