Just another frary tale...

Visions..

Mary linked Francis's arm as they walked down the steps to the rim of the lake where Anne and James always played, sailing paper boats and so forth.

As their children ran off, Francis and Mary slowed their pace and sat at the edge of the lake that quiet evening.

"Do you remember when we were like that?"
Mary asked, breaking the silence as they sat there staring out onto the motionless body of water before them, water lilies floating silently upon the water without causing a ripple.
Soft giggles from the prince and princess could be heard across the lawn but apart from that, all was peaceful and calm.

Francis leant back on his elbow, resting his other arm on his bent knee and looked at Mary lovingly.
So many things they had to discuss, so many meetings.. So much politics.
And yet in the midst of it all, she stood firm, beside him, asking what he remembered of their childhood.
So Beautiful.

"Do I remember?"
He repeated the question, smiling at her fondly and holding her hand in his, laying her back with him on the provided blanket whose tassels dipped into the lake at the end.

"It is all I think about."
He paused, beckoning her closer to him and then added,
"You're all I think about."
Upon hearing this Mary smiled, blushed even.
It felt like when they were young again.
Like when they were children sitting by the lake and throwing petals onto the still water, playing pooh sticks by the river.
Climbing trees, exploring, hiding..
Loving.

"Tell me what you remember.."
Mary said, lying back into his figure and staring at the dark, beautiful blue sky which was dotted with sparks of light. Dormant fireflies, stars, whatever you wished to call them.

It was a summers evening and so the air was cool but not freezing..
All around them, flowers were in bloom and all their forests were a lively green.
It was getting dark, but it wasn't quite dark yet and so the children were allowed to play.

Bash and Kenna had come out for a walk along the promenade but on seeing the young prince and princess, who they dearly loved, they'd ended up playing hide and seek amongst the bushes with them.
Their giggles filled the air as a sweet symphony in the distance.

Francis laughed softly and hugged Mary close, resting his chin on her head and kissing her hand.

"Well.."
Francis began, watching some noble and his lady on a boat on the other side of the lake and beginning his story..

"Do you remember when we were just young, you'd come to court and the whole of French court had arrived to greet you but me."
He laughed at this and continued.
"I ran down the stairs, tying my shirt on the way down and instead of using the path, I ran across the lawn and amongst the flags which were blowing ever so slightly in the wind and for the first time since forever, I met you. Just seeing your childlike face, you and your ladies giggling, it sent my mind into a crazy frenzy of memories.. One after another flying in my mind and arousing my world.
And upon our meeting, setting my eyes on your beauty for the first time since you were a child, all I could think was,
'She is so... Beautiful.'"
Francis paused, smiling at the memory and feeling that Mary was smiling too.

Mary turned around, holding Francis's hand which was draped over her shoulder, and looked at Francis admiringly.
"Do you want to know what I remember of our first meeting?"
Mary asked, a grin spreading on her face as she finished her sentence.
Francis smiled back, touching her nose with his and then nodding.

"Go on."
He said expectantly.
"I looked at all your family arriving,
Completely intimidated but terribly excited. Of course I'd just finished hugging all of my much missed ladies and we were all giggling and inspecting the large array of nobles at this court of yours.
Kenna asked me if Bash were you and for a moment I thought he were but then I remembered you were blonde as a child so I continued to search the crowd.
I knew where to look, you should have been stood In front of Catherine and Henry but if you were anything like you were as a child, you were late.
And because I couldn't see you anywhere, I decided you must be late.
Just as I was about to continue updating my ladies on what had happened back at the convent, I caught a glimpse of your golden blonde curls and in an instant you were suddenly beside me, awkwardly wondering how to introduce yourself.
Kenna, Aylee, Lola they all laughed discreetly as they watched us mumble our greetings and blush.
I looked you over and I would say that I immediately thought you as handsome, but all I could think about was how your shirt was improperly laced at the top and your jacket lop-sided."
Mary broke off laughing and Francis shook his head mock- disapprovingly.