Absence (Reign)

New Beginings

Water. Salt. Wind. Heat.

These were the only things that surrounded Francis and the crew of La Rata Santa María Encoronada, one of King Philip's best ships.

With summer fast approaching, the captain of the ship, known simply as Santiago, aimed to reach the West Indies in mid-June in order to avoid the harsh sun while at sea.

Though Francis seldom got seasick, being on La Rata for two months was difficult. On several instances he was sure he'd go insane, but the constant light of Mary in the heavens calmed him down. The further he got away from the star's namesake, the more he longed for her presence.

He was angered when he found himself thinking of her. He hated the thought of her preparing to marry someone else, especially his "brother," whom he'd envied for so long.

Francis laughed to himself then, thinking about how long he'd wished he could be like Bash. Going where he wants, doing what he wants, charming to everyone he met.

It was all very ironic. Francis, after so many years of wishing, had Bash's freedom. However, the taste was not sweet, for he no longer wanted it. The only things he wanted now were within the grasp of his brother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The New World was astonishing. Francis had never seen such a raw, undeveloped environment. The water was the bluest he had ever seen, paired with white sand beaches that resembled sugar. The sun was beating down on them cruelly. Santiago went to greet the party that was meeting them.

The ship's crew had consisted of ten men, including himself. They were good men, most of them sailors along with two merchants. Francis had felt insecure about his position at first, but it seemed that the crew was unaware of the recent change in succession in France's royal blood line. Francis desperately hoped to keep it this way.

After some time, Santiago motioned that it was time to get off the ship. After two months at sea, Francis's legs felt extremely wobbly on solid ground. But nevertheless, he was pleased to be on dry land.

King Philip had arranged for one of his advisors stationed here to show Francis what he had planned for his colonies. When he had been offered this opportunity, he was surprised. He would assume that the King would want to keep all other countries away from this land. But because Francis was no longer closely associated with France, it was deemed safe.

In King Philip's eyes, he was just a brother-in-law. Future king of nothing.

The party that met them at the docks consisted of five men. Three Spaniards, and two men with unique facial features and skin tone that Francis had never seen before.

The two wore no clothes, apart from a small animal skin over their genitals and rear. They both wore their thick, black hair in a single braid.

"Hello." Said one of the Spanish men. "I am Luíz. Welcome to Cuba."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luíz and the natives (Francis was told who the two mysterious men were) led them to collection of small cabins. It was very different from what Francis was used to.

"The quarters are small, but all the essentials are there. If you need me, I'll be in the main cabin." Luíz smiled at them all, turned, and walked away.

The men were all assigned to different cabins. Francis walked up to the door of his and paused. He was nervous.

Being nervous was not an emotion Francis felt often. The last time he'd been nervous was when Mary returned to court last year. Being the Dauphin had boosted his self-confidence through the roof. Now he was afraid to open a door. Granted he was the only Frenchman among hundreds of Spaniards, and that he was in a very strange place.

He closed his eyes, reminiscing about the night Mary had returned from the convent.

*******

She was twirling around, dancing with her Scottish ladies at his sisters wedding. She was radiant. There wasn't a person in the room not touched by her spirit.

She turned around to smile at Bash, which had annoyed him then but angered him now. Then, soft and delicate feathers of the purest white began to descend from the ceiling, and her beautiful eyes landed on him.

That was the moment he decided he could love her. He hadn't been sure at first, but he was certain then. It wouldn't have to be just an arrangement. He wanted more.

*******

He shook his head, as if trying the cause the memories to fall out his ears. With a deep breath, he pushed open the door with both hands.

The door opened into a small foyer where at least six pair of boots very in disarray. The foyer turned left into wash station and right into sleeping quarters. The adjacent sleeping room was darkly lit, and several men were laying on cots, some resting, some speaking in hushed voices.

"I heard it yesterday. At first I thought it couldn't be true, but there was proof to back it up." Whispered one to the others. They had yet to notice Francis had entered.

Someone who either wasn't listening or has just woken up asked, "What did you hear?"

"Jorge, you were there when I was told! Don't you remember our break at mid-day yesterday? The French merchant?"

At the mentioning of his home country, Francis sunk further back into the shadow. What was going on?

"Oh, yes! How could I forget! I was very surprised. I thought it was a very odd time for her to announce that she's bearing a child." Jorge replied, matter-of-factly.

"Please, just say what's going on!" Snapped a clearly agitated man. Francis felt his heart beating as he hid from these men. Revealing himself may cause him to lose this opportunity to learn something about home.

"Yeah, out with it already!" Sighed another. Francis was holding his breath.

"Catherine di Medici is pregnant."