Forever...

The Calm Before The Storm

(MARY'S POV)

It's been 2 months since I've been back at court and not much has changed, Francis and I have grown closer over the weeks, we actually spend a lot of time together he's teaching me archery and I'm teaching him how to play chess which isn't going very well to say the least.

"Francis have you noticed anything different about Bash lately?"

"Well he isn't drinking as much" he chuckles and then aims is arrow at the target.

"No I mean have you seen much of him lately"

"Now that you mention it not really but my guess is he's got company in his chambers"

"I think I may know who that company is"

"Oooo I see you've been listening to the castles rumours, they bounce off the walls of this place"

"It's Lady Kenna" I shoot at the target and I don't even reach the target.

"You need to aim a little higher" he walks to me and grabs my waist to line my body up straight.

He places his hands over mine and guides me through it.

"Now pull back and release" his chin is placed on my shoulder and his hands on my waist, I shoot the arrow and hit the target just above the middle.

"I think you're getting the hang of it, now try it on your own" he instructs me and takes a step back to give me a chance on my own.

I get into form and aim just about the target then release the arrow, I watch nervously and as the arrow gets closer to the target...BULLSEYE.

"Dear lord did you see that Francis, did you see what I did" I run to him jumping up and down in excitement grabbing on to his waist coat.

"Yes I saw" he smiles down at me making eye contact and I stop jumping.

I smile back but before I could say anything I feel his lips on mine, it's soft and gentle almost like a feather falling on the ground. He cups my cheeks with his hands and I place mine on his chest, I pull away and look into his eyes, them piercing blue eyes that can only be described as the colour of the sky on a clear day.

"What it is?"

"Nothing, i think we better go inside it's starting to rain" I say and take a step back away from him and put my cloak hood up.

I walk across the muddy field towards the castle which is now like a swamp because of the rains.

"Mary!" I turn around and see Francis jogging to me soaking wet.

"Francis you're going to get sick" i shout and he starts running faster, I can hear him shouting but I can't quite make out what he's saying.

I suddenly fall to the ground and my head bounces off of the hard floor, my head spinning and my visions blurry and I feel someone on top of me then someone drags them off. All I see is two men fighting until everything went black.

(FRANCIS' POV)

I run to her as fast as I can and drag the man off her body, I punch him to the ground and then he kicks me off of him when I go to punch him again. He heads for Mary again so I gather my strength and tackle him to the ground punching his face several times, I shout for the guards and 2 come running over.

"Arrest this man for treason against Queen Mary" they take him away and I pick up Mary in my arms and carry her into the castle.

"Mother! Mother! Get me Nostradamus now!" I shout while falling to my knees with Mary in my arms.

"Get the queen to my chambers now!" I shout at the guard and he takes her from my arms as my mother runs towards me.

"What happened my sweet child? Why is your face bleeding" She cups my face with a look of concern in her eyes.

"Mary was attacked, she needs Nostradamus now she's in my chambers send for him" my mothers hurries to Nostradamus' office and I walk up to my chambers out of breath.

I open the door and Mary is laid out on the bed.

"I want extra guards outside this room at all times, no one comes in who is not me, my mother ,her ladies or Nostradamus. Do you understand?" I say to the guard and he nods closing the door.

I take off my wet clothes while Nostradamus walks in and hurries to Mary's side to check on her.

"How long has she been unconscious?"

"5 minutes, her head hit the floor quite hard"

"Darling I thinks it's best you wait outside" my mother comments.

"No she is my future my wife and queen I will stay with her" I correct her and take Mary's hand in mine.

"Can we get her out of these wet clothes, she will get sick and that will worsen her condition" Nostradamus suggests and my mother calls for her ladies.

Her ladies change her clothes which was quite the task considering she is unconscious.

"She has no apparent fever and only a little bruising I've gave her a pain herb and she should wake up in a matter of hours"

"Thank god" I grab her hand and kiss it.

Everyone leaves the room apart from me and I sit on the chair opposite her on the bed waiting for her to wake up while the sound of storm plays in the back ground all I can think about was how calm it was before...