Morning Glory-Francis (Reign)

Chapter Fifty-Six

My peace and quiet only lasted a few moments before my door burst open. I whipped around, stepping away from door in case my unexpected visitor meant me harm, but instead I was swept into a massive hug.

"Anya, that was brilliant!" The normally calm Liesel nearly shouted. Recognizing my friends, I smiled widely.

"What do you mean?" I asked, out of breath once the six of us pulled away from our embrace. It had been a while since I had seen Isabella, and even longer since I had seen all five of them all together.

"What you said, out it the hallway, with Queen Mary!" Alice blurted out, excitedly. "Every servant in the castle is talking about it! They love you!"

"King Henry would be a fool to let the Scottish Queen take the throne now." Breelyn added.

"Breelyn!" Liesel immediately scolded her. "Don't say such things about the king." Breelyn looked down for a moment, but her excited energy didn't fade.

"How did you even know about that?"

"Rumors travel fast in Fontainebleau. I thought you would have learned that by now." Millie commented as we walked over to a few chairs to sit.

"Anyway, Anya, we came to tell you. If anyone doubts your story, we are ready to defend you." Liesel said, her tone turning more serious.

"Thank you, Liesel. I appreciate it, but you don't really need to do that. Besides, I made sure not to leave too much evidence that I was there." I patted her hand. "I was in hiding; it was kind of the point that no one would be able to find me there."

"Still. We have your back." Isabella said.

"On a slightly happier note," The excitement in Alice's voice rose again, "your wedding dress is almost finished. So is Prince Francis's tunic. We were-" Breelyn cut her off.

"We were wondering if you would like to do the embroidery for it." I didn't speak for a moment, as I processed what she had said.

"Is that allowed?" I asked after a second of silence.

"I mean, no one's really done that, but at the same time, no one has to know but you." Liesel smiled and placed her hand on my shoulder. "I think Francis would really appreciate it. Especially after he made that for you." She nodded down at the ring on my finger.

A matching smile spread across my own face. My happiness lasted approximately thirty seconds before I remembered the fact that Francis and I may never get married. Isabella must have caught the change in expression on my face because she started to talk.

"And don't start now, Anya, with all of that business about Francis being declared illegitimate. It's not going to happen now. Not now that you've become the Queen of us common folk." I let out a dry laugh.

"Mary and her friends will find that to be a fantastic name."

"Are you embarrassed to say you were one of us? Even if it was only for a short time?" Millie asked, her tone slightly hurt.

"Of course not." I reassured her immediately. "It's just the nobility of French Court might not take too kindly to the fact that allowed myself "to sink below my station." I made quotes with my fingers. A silence fell over the six of us.

"Well, no matter what happens, we'll stand by you, Anya." Alice wrapped her arms around me comfortingly. The rest of my friends followed suit.

"I know you will. And I will always have all of your backs." Slowly, we all peeled away from the embrace.

"We'd best be going. I'll try to bring the Dauphin's wedding tunic by tomorrow." Liesel said as she ushered her girls like sheep out into the hallway.

"Goodbye girls!" I called after them.

"Goodbye, Anya!" They chorused back as the door swung shut behind them.

Once again in the solitude of my own room, I sat tiredly down at my desk, my eyes scanning over the documents piled high. Tearing open the seal of the first letter, I almost immediately set it aside. It was another letter from one of the former members of my cabinet. They had been writing to me almost constantly, seeking to worm their way back into my favor.

The second was a letter from Anfisa. I appreciated her personal letters that came in addition to the council's usual reports. Her descriptions of the days' events was often much more frank, and therefore much more informative.

Dear Anya,

Within a few days after you read this, the majority of court will be setting out for France. Erik has volunteered to stay behind and safeguard Moscow until we return. His mother has fallen ill, and will likely pass soon, and we all feel it would be fair to allow him to stay with her.

I had known Erik was the one chosen to stay behind, but without Anfisa's letter I would have never known about his mother's sickness. I made a mental note to express my condolences to him, on the next occasion I saw him. Her letter continued:

Aleks has been slightly better over the last few weeks, and yesterday the court physician cleared him to travel with us. He is very excited to see you again, and anxious to see how French Court compares to the one here in Moscow.

The people are excited for your marriage to the Dauphin. There are celebrations almost every night in the local taverns, and everyday people come to the gates to praise your name. They are excited that Russia may win herself a Tsar, and hopefully soon a new Tsesarevna or Tsesarevich.

The council has considered your wish for your firstborn child to be declared the next in your line, despite the sex of the baby, and I'm happy to say that we all wholeheartedly agree. I believe Darek's words were "any child of the Tsaritsa would make a fine ruler for Russia."

I was very happy to hear that your wound has completely healed, and that there are no apparent complications. I have been worried that you would never heal, but I am glad to learn you have been listening to Natasha and Elisa and taking it easy.

Just between the two of us, Feliks was very excited when a date was set for our departure to France. I understand from my conversations with him that he is very anxious to see Natasha again.

See you soon, my dear friend,

Anfisa