Flamme Éternelle: A Reign Fanfiction

L'étranger

Mary was lying awake in bed close to midnight when she realized: everything Francis had said, everything he had done, making her laugh, kissing her cheek- it was all a political act. He just wanted to convince the English nobles because it would benefit France politically. He didn't care as much as he wanted her to believe he did.

Mary was furious. How could he do this to her? They were to be engaged and he felt he couldn't trust her with matters of politics? She was a Queen for God's sake! She could handle the truth; she deserved the truth! If he wouldn't confide in her, why should she confide in him? Mary resolved to solve her future problems without Francis, and with that thought she fell asleep. Little did she know, a political time bomb was headed her way.

Mary woke up to someone shaking her. "Mary!" a voice hissed.

Mary opened her eyes, "Greer, what's going on?"

"Someone is coming," Kenna answered from the other side of her bed.

"Who?" Mary sat up.

"Heaven knows, but they will be here in an hour!" Lola said.

"Maybe it's a lord whom one of us could marry." Kenna said. she turned to Mary, "If it is, do you think you could introduce us?"

"You'll be there at court when he arrives!" Mary said, exasperated. She got out of bed and got dressed and they all proceeded down to the throne room where the visitor would be welcomed. As guests at court, they would stand off to the side of the royal family.

Mary and her friends took their places to the left of Francis who stood beside his mother with the two youngest princes in front of her, then King Henry, then Bash. Other lords and ladies milled about, waiting for the arrival of the new visitor.

The girls talked amongst themselves, who could it be? Was it a lord or a lady? Was it a foreign minister? Perhaps someone who could be a potential husband for one of Mary's ladies? The possibilities were nearly endless.

Queen Catherine was getting impatient; before she could say anything, trumpets sounded, alerting those assembled of a royal guest. They all craned their necks to see the guest who was not yet there. Then he walked in. Mary was taken by surprise at his appearance; he was tall with curly dark hair, tanned skin, and piercing green eyes. He had a striking figure as he advanced toward the royal family. He bowed and introduced himself in a rich, deep voice, "I am Tomas, Prince of Portugal."

"Welcome, Prince Tomas," Henry called, "I hope you will enjoy your stay here." By this time, Tomas's eyes had landed on Mary. She looked up and met his curious gaze, holding it. He smirked before turning back to King Henry, "I hope so as well." King Henry smiled and Francis frowned at Tomas's interest in Mary. Bash was not pleased either.

Mary and her friends exited the throne room. Francis ran after them, "Mary!" he called.

She turned, "Yes?" She was still a bit upset with him about his failure to trust her with politics.

"I'm sorry to ask, but my father and I have to speak with Tomas about his presence here and I'm sure you understand, being a Queen and all..."

"What do you need, Francis?" Mary asked, exasperated with his rambling.

"Could you watch my brothers, please?"

"I would love to," Mary said perking up.

"Great! Boys!" he called and his little brothers peered around the corner, looking like tiny reflections of Francis. "Come here! Queen Mary is going to play with you!" He turned to her, "Thank you so much, Mary."

"It's no trouble at all, I love your brothers." she replied. Francis walked back I to the throne room. Bash approached Mary, his half brothers, and Mary's ladies. "I hope I'm included in that," he whispered to her. Mary only smiled.

A while later, they were all outside playing with the young princes' ball. They threw it back and forth, laughing. Mary stopped for a moment with her friends and watched as Bash chased the two boys around. Mary smiled to herself, listening to his voice as he called after them. It was warm and smooth, like fine wine. He looked up from the game and caught her staring at him. He flashed a smile, she smiled softly in return and continued to admire him. He was tall and lean, his dark hair falling into his eyes that sparkled with the excitement of the game. His cheeks were flushed with exertion and he let out a chuckle as the boys ran about.

"Mary!" Lola called, pulling her out if her reverie.

"Hmm?" Mary turned to the girls, an apologetic look on her face.

"Have you seen Kenna?"

Mary's brow crinkled, "No, I haven't seen her since Prince Tomas showed up."

"She's been gone an awful lot lately," Aylee added.

Mary felt bad, she hadn't been paying much attention to her friends lately. She had not noticed that Kenna was missing. Mary usually paid a lot of attention to her friends, making sure they were alright, talking to them about suitors and gossip, but she had been neglecting them and now Kenna was missing.

"I'm sure she's fine," Greer said matter-of-factly. Mary relaxed a little, Greer was usually right.

Francis and Tomas came into the clearing. Francis walked over to speak to Bash and Tomas turned and left the clearing. Bash and Francis conversed for a moment and Mary watched. Francis clapped Bash on the shoulder and walked off. Bash began to follow but stopped in front of Mary, placing his hands on her shoulders and looking down into her eyes, "I have to go help Francis, there've been some disappearances in the forest, but I'll be back soon."

"Be careful, please," Mary wrapped her arms around his neck briefly before letting him go.

"I'll be alright, Mary. You are the one who should be careful, the French court is dangerous, and we don't know much about Tomas."

Mary nodded at him and he turned and left. He could still feel her warm embrace and it gave him hope. A small smile formed on his face as he strode determinedly away.

"Mary?" one of the young princes squeaked.

"Yes?" she turned her gaze to the small boy in front of her.

"We lost our ball in the tree," he pointed at one of the pines surrounding the clearing.

"I can get it for you," Mary walked over to the tree and spotted the ball. It was higher up than she had thought they could throw. Mary began to climb the tree, pulling herself up, branch by branch. She finally reached the ball and grabbed it, throwing it to the boys farther out in the clearing. The girls watched nervously as she began her descent. Mary's foothold was not as strong as she thought and as she went to grab a lower branch, the one holding her snapped and she fell, letting out a shriek. Mary closed her eyes and prepared to hit the ground. "Oof!" she said as she landed. But she wasn't on the ground. She opened her eyes and saw a pair of concerned sea green orbs looking at her. "Are you alright, Queen Mary?" Tomas asked.

Author's Note

Hi, everyone! I'm so sorry that it took me so long to update, I've been quite busy. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the introduction of Tomas. Please vote and comment to tell me what you thought! xox