Flamme Éternelle: A Reign Fanfiction

Les Yeux Sur Nous

Mary and Bash entered the hall together, after being announced by the page. All eyes in the room were drawn to the pair. Whispers flurried around the room and both of them realized their mistake. The court spoke avidly of the bastard brother attempting to steal his brother's future wife and of the unfaithful Queen of Scotland who had surely disgraced her name and country with the man who's arm she held. Bash was furious with himself for being so stupid. He did not dare meet his father's eyes nor Francis's, nor Queen Catherine's, but he could feel them staring daggers at his back. He led Mary to her seat, which Francis pulled out for her, and then turned and walked to his own seat, not meeting anyone's eyes.

Mary cursed herself silently for not thinking to arrive separately. She should have known people would talk, they always did. But there was nothing between her and Sebastian. Bash. There shouldn't be anything there, they were just reunited friends, but when she thought of him, it was always Bash, and she could see the joy in his face when she called him that. She could still feel where his hands had rested when he had picked her up and the way she had felt when he had spun her. Those blue eyes similar to Francis's. Francis. She froze on remembering him. The brother to which she was betrothed. He had made her happy too, right? He gave her butterflies. And that was who she should feel something for. She straightened her posture in her seat and resolved not to fall in love with someone else. She wouldn't think about him. She couldn't. For Francis, for Scotland, and for herself.

Mary brought herself back to the present and engaged in conversation with those around her; Francis, Lola, Queen Catherine, King Henry, Greer, Kenna, Aylee, and the other boy, whom she refused to look at. Soft music played as they ate the copious amounts of food. They asked how she had been, which was fine, they asked if anything of interest had happened, the only thing being the unfortunate poisoning of one of the nuns. They asked if she was happy to be back, she replied with a yes as she had earlier. They shared old stories of the young Mary growing up in the castle with Francis and the other boy. She asked how they all had been and they told her of their adventures at court. She learned the state of trade and foreign relations from King Henry, which she took note of.

When they had exhausted every topic of talk, Francis rose from his seat. "Would you care to dance, Mary?"

"I would," she took Francis's hand and he turned, leading her out into the center of the room where space had been left for dancing. She dared not look to where he was sitting, but felt his eyes watching her. Francis spun her around quickly and caught her before she fell over from dizziness. They laughed, and up at the table the King and Queen smiled, as did Mary's friends. The other brother did not. He quietly excused himself, making up a reason to leave, and exited the hall.

The music continued from inside the hall as Bash leaned against the wall outside. He had been foolish to escort her, but he felt it was better than her entering alone. He had felt something when he saw her arrive. His heart and moved to a different beat for the moment he had seen her. It had reacted the same way when he had found her near the old playroom. He had ran to her and spun her around in an impulse he couldn't control, but that was every impulse with Sebastian. He was rash and impulsive and he never thought before he acted. He was sure to suffer for his actions tomorrow. But Bash didn't regret his actions nearly as much as others would have felt he should have. If given the choice, he would have done it again, and again, and again. Just to see her smile. He knew he would be able to pull a smile out of her, even if no one else could. He didn't know how he knew this, but he knew it was true. He loved that smile, and he would do anything to make her show it to him again. Bash decided then and there that he didn't care about her betrothal to his brother. He loved her. And by the way she had looked at him when he picked her up, Mary felt something too. It could work. It had to work. Bash returned to his chambers with a smile on his face and a spring in his step.

Mary too was smiling. But she was smiling at Francis. She had forgotten how much she had liked him. He was funny and kind, and now, charming and handsome. As they danced, she almost forgot Sebastian. Almost.

When the banquet ended, Francis escorted Mary to her chambers. They paused outside the door, not completely sure of what to do. Francis quickly made up his mind. He kissed her on the cheek, "Good night, Mary. Welcome home. " Then he was gone.

Mary entered her chambers, and shut the door, leaning back against it with a sigh. She bit her lip to keep from giggling as someone might hear. A servant helped her get dressed for bed, and Mary fell asleep, excited for the next morning so that she could tell the girls what had happened.