The Heir (TV Series 'Reign') #2

Mercy

Francis' POV

Pacing back and forth from my study, the door opens cautiously.

"Francis, you seem shaken, but they failed. You and Mary are all right. Eliana is all right." Bash says.

"There is nothing small about an attack on the king."

"Of course." He whispered.

"What about Narcisse? Did you get to him?" I asked.

"No. No, he disappeared. But I will find him."

"Condé." I say, as he enters the room.

"I was going to visit my brother in Navarre, but I turned back as soon as I heard the news. Where's Eliana?"

"She's fine... getting some much-needed rest." I say.

"Thank God. Francis, you must know my loyalty lies with you." He says.

"I do. But you're also a Protestant. You know the leader of this movement. If he is behind this, he will be found and hanged. And if he wasn't, he needs to cooperate, help us find the conspirators."

"I'll try to find him." Conde says.

~ 

Bash and I walk outside, where Protestants are are being questioned, when I see Eliana.

"What's Eliana doing here?" I ask Bash.

"She's looking for her rapist. And if you don't catch him, that's what she'll be doing for the rest of her life... in every room and in every crowd." He says.

"Eliana..." Gasping from my touch.

"I'm sorry. Please come inside. He's not here."

"But all of these men will be questioned and one of them will lead us to him. And the other men, too. The ones who stood there and would have done the same to me, or worse." She says.

"Yes. Eliana, it would be foolish of me to ask you to try not to think about it, but I urge you to get some rest."

"I can't close my eyes without seeing them. And the next hours are crucial... every minute that passes makes their capture less likely."

"They won't get away. I will find the men responsible." I say.

"They could be miles away by now."

"It doesn't matter where they are, Eliana, I will hunt them to the ends of the earth."

~

Eliana's POV

Francis ordered guards to escort me back to me chambers shortly after. Talia and Lydia rearranged my belongings back to how I had them 

"What can I do for you? Are you cold?" Lydia asked.

"I'll fetch you a blanket." Talia said.

"I should have known those weren't our guards." I whisper, sitting down near the fire.

"Eliana, you were startled in the dead of night. There were three armed men against you." Talia whispers, spreading the blanket over me.

"Please don't torment yourself. I'm so sorry that this happened. That my choices brought this violence into our home." Francis says, entering my room. 

"Don't blame yourself for the actions of evil people. We've disagreed about tolerance, but you were just doing what you believed was right, what you thought was best for France." I said.

"No. I wasn't doing what I believed was right or what I thought was best. I made choices... under pressure from another. I was being blackmailed." He said.