BOOK 3: One True Destiny

Chapter 2

                                                                                            Abducted

It is early morning but Francis is still wide awake. He spent the night with Mary of Guise and King Henry waiting at the court room for tidings. The young prince is pacing back and forth praying for his fiancée's safe return. He cannot forgive himself if any harm should come to her. King Henry then stood up, walked towards the prince, place his hands on his shoulders and said, "Francis you must retire. You need to gather back your strength." "Father I'd rather stay awake." He replied. "Very well, I will be at my chamber." Henry then turned to Mary of Guise. "My lady, you should rest. I will send word to our trusted spies in France to enlist their help at this matter. I assure you that we will find her." The guards are still out looking for Mary and making queries if anyone has seen anything unusual last night. Surely, the news of a missing queen will spread quickly in the kingdom. Soon, somebody will come forward to provide information. It is midday when the door opened; it is Bash. "Did you find out anything from Darnley?" Francis anxiously asks. "No, he totally had lost his mind. There is no way that he is responsible for Mary's disappearance." Bash sits down and place his hand on his forehead. It seems like the Queen of Scots just simply vanished into thin air. Then suddenly, one of the servants comes in running towards Francis. "Your Highness, I found this inside your chamber!" It is a sealed letter. The prince immediately opens it and inside is an unsigned letter with a red "X" mark and Mary's signet ring! Francis accidentally drops the ring as his hands begin to tremble. The worse indeed had happened! Mary has been abducted! But by who?

                                                                                              Taken

Mary woke up seeing nothing but darkness. Her eyes are covered and her hands are tied up in her back... She can barely move... Her head feels heavy, a clear indication that a potion was used by her captors to put her to sleep as they took her away from the castle and away from the people she know. The last thing that she could remember was Francis ending their relationship and leaving her by her door. The young prince walked away from her as an angry, broken man. She had caused him so much pain and anguish all because she chose to be honest with him. Then she thought of Bash; she recalled hearing him calling her name and screaming for help but she was too weak to respond; she cannot get herself to. Where is she now? Who is she with? These thoughts strike fear in her heart! She starts to sob, thinking of the worst... She may not be able to see Francis nor Bash again! And what becomes of her beloved Scotland? Of her mother? Her abduction will tear her country apart! She has to be strong! Mary then tried to calm herself down. She must survive this for the sake of those who are desperately searching for her. Though for now, no one else can help her but herself. The Scottish Queen managed to gather her remaining strength as she struggles to pull herself up. She does not know where she is or if someone is with her. "Hello! Anybody?! Hello!" She shouts on top of her lungs. "If anybody can hear me, I beg you to release me and no one should know of this." She pleads. Moments have passed... Nobody seems to be around to hear her plea... Just plain silence. There's no sign of any noise nor sound. It seems like she is left all alone in a deep, dark, unfamiliar surroundings where no one else can find her.

                                                                                               Blood Ties

Mary of Guise comes in running at the court room as soon as she heard about Francis' disturbing letter. She confirmed that it is Mary's signet ring and like the rest of them, she has no clue as to what the red "X" mark stands for. It could mean anything. Royals are not accustomed to the ways of the real world. They are kept safe and protected. A queen's abduction is not simply an act of terror. It is an act that can lead to war! Both foreign and civil! "I must write to my brother, Francois, The Duke of Guise at once. We need his assistance to take hold of the Scottish court. When all the powerful nobles find out that their queen has been abducted, chaos will occur." She anxiously said. A country without a queen can suffer either the invasion by its foreign enemies or by its ambitious, power-hungry nobles who will not hesitate to take this opportunity to strike to usurp the throne! Then suddenly, one of the guards finally shows up, bend his knees in front of Mary of Guise and with sadness in his eyes said, "Lady Mother, forgive me. But we have searched every single house in all the villages and the entire area including the forest. There is no sign of Her Majesty." All their hopes have faded. Mary of Guise went down on her knees and started to sob. Bash leaned against the wall to prevent himself from losing his footing... He felt like somebody just forcefully took his heart away and left  him lifeless. Francis can barely stand. He slowly sat himself on the ground as he broke down into tears. If they cannot find Mary anywhere, then it means that she is no longer in Scotland. She must have been taken away and hidden somewhere far where they cannot reach her... She may be suffering by now, all alone and helpless. Francis had failed to keep her safe.