Back in Time

WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES

Knock! Knock!

"Come in," I said to whoever was knocking on the door.

"Your highness, the king requests your presence in the great hall immediately," a maid announces as she came in.

"Okay, I'll be there in few, I'm not finished dressing yet." Apparently, dresses in the 16th century are so hard to wear, they are so many layers, and two of my ladies have to help me put it on.

"It's an urgent message you highness, apparently, there is a breach on the English walls on the south side of the border, the Spanish are attacking as we speak, and your parents are asking for more soldiers to send to England," she explained.

This made me jump up on my seat and hastily put my dress on. Without bothering to look at myself in the mirror, I quickly went out of my room.

When I got to the great hall, there were a lot of people gathered together in a huge table, including the king and queen. There was a big map of England placed on the middle of the table and wooden ornaments of what I think represents as soldiers.

Francis was the first one to notice my arrival, "Mary, you're here," he said as he came over to me and put his arms on my waist. "We are just discussing on how to address the problems in England," he explained gently as he escorted me back to the spot he was standing earlier, next to his father.

"We are more than willing to send more soldiers to your country Mary, but I'm afraid there will be no one to lead them, we have already sent most of our admirals to England, most of them dead from fighting and some are left guarding our borders here in France," King George explicated in a commanding way.

"We've already sent letters to our alliances in other countries and they are willing to send more troops but it will take weeks before they arrive in England, the Spanish could do more damage in the south border by then," a man, which I assume is a soldier, said to King George.

"Isn't there any other way we can avert the Spanish's attention to the south border?" Queen Marguerite asked, "We can..." she started to explain her idea. I didn't understand any of her words, I was so filled with astonishment, how could she know so much about battle tactics and all? Aren't this works for men?

I was so in awe of how amazing Queen Marguerite is, she showed bravery and intelligence in times as hard as this, which any queen must do.

"We can't risk it," Francis' voice beside me brought me back to reality.

"What do you propose we do then?" King George asked looking directly to Francis, as if challenging him to provide a better idea than his mother.

Silence, there was total silence. Everyone was looking at Francis expecting his answer.

After a few more seconds, Francis answered, "I shall lead the attack, myself."

"WHAT? NO! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND FRANCIS?" Queen Marguerite bellowed.

"Mother please, England needs our help now more than ever," Francis said to her mother.

"No, I forbid you to do so," Queen Marguerite replied firmly.

"Hush my queen, Francis is, indeed, the dauphin of this country, he is bound to play a role in war sooner or later," King George stated. "Reynold, how sooner could our soldiers sail for England?" he asked one of the men who was standing opposite him on the table.

"Tomorrow at dawn your grace, we need to ready all the necessary equipment to be brought to England," he replied.

"Alright then, Francis..." King George turned to Francis.