Long May He Reign

The Getaway

Trumpets rose to the ceiling as the ones holding it played a lovely song.  Everyone paired off and danced eloquently, it didn't matter if Prince Leon was dancing with someone that wasn't his wife or if Duchess Katerina was dancing with someone other than her courter.  It only mattered that everyone was having a good time and didn't notice Catherine's lips twist upward at Mary who was cornered off, looking around for Francis who was nowhere to be seen.  

Eventually, Bash had shown up to take Mary's hand in the dance.  

Danielle watched her ladies leave one by one to the middle of the room.  All of them were dancing on cue with future suitors. She glanced around her and noticed the attention on her was gone, it was her chance to leave... so she did. 

She was eventually seated against rocks that overlooked the ocean before her.  The waves crashed against the rocks and created a harmonious sound that no one could get anywhere else. As her eyes closed and she leaned against the rocks behind her, a sound of crunching made her eyes snap open. 

Danielle reached inside her dress, inching closer to the dagger that was tucked to her garter. 

"I thought I'd fine you here." Francis' head popped out from the corner with that endearing smile that could make anyone fall for him. 

She retracted her hand. "You shouldn't sneak up on people, Francis."

He tilted his head, blinking owlishly in a mocking manner. "Sneaking? No, that's not me."

Danielle's lips curved upwards. 

"Besides, it wasn't hard to find you." Francis sat beside her as he watched the waves. "We always used to hide out here." 

"How could I forget?" She responded, her gaze faraway, contrasting to his concentrated look as he changed his focus to her.

 Maybe he thought it was the right timing, but he wanted to inch closer to her. Feel her skin and if it was the same, it would feel like laying on a bed of feathers. Soft, light, yet comforting. 

Francis was a keen man, aware of everything around him, yet, he couldn't seen to read her or her thoughts as he laid his palm over her hand. 

She didn't flinch away, but she didn't lean forward either. Her eyes were transfixed on the waves that crashed against the rocks in that same exact area where moss had formed. Yet, her mind wasn't even on that, but in a different place. A place that was too complex to bother the future King of France. Because she knew while he was trying to find a wife, she was trying to find a crown that would rest on her head. A crown that wouldn't break. A crown with a strong foundation. 

So, Danielle finally turned her head to face him. She tilted her head slightly, mocking the look of a clueless and naive, star-stricken girl. As his face lit up, her lips tightened. Even though she could not deny the attraction to the latter, she knew it was forbidden, but she was going to shoot her shot and she wasn't going to miss. 

So, she leaned forward to him and pressed a chaste kiss against his own. 

He had received confirmation and would run with it, grabbing the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. It was the type of kiss he had been waiting for. It was like a soldier returning home to his wife. 

Amongst the kiss, Danielle felt a presence behind Francis. As his tongue explored the caverns of her mouth and his hands found the crevices of her waist, she opened an eye and saw the heartbroken Mary with tears streaming down her eyes. 

Though, she felt bad. The show was just starting, and she wasn't going to lose. 

Danielle pushed Francis onto his back as she hovered over him, watching his crystal blue eyes peer back at her with lust and enlightenment. "Are you going to take my dress off or will I have to do it myself?" She muttered, just loud enough for Mary to hear.

His mouth opened to form words but nothing came out. Instead he smirked and reached up under her dress, as a look of shock adorned her face. "How about neither?" He whispered back, pulling her on top of him as he pulled her in for a kiss again.

It was a dangerous game Danielle was playing, but she knew what she was doing as soon as she stepped foot on their land.

She had launched her arrow and successfully hit the bulls-eye.