Morning Glory-Francis (Reign)

Chapter Ninety-Five

"Be wary of my uncle, the Duke of Guise. He'll seem kind, but he's starving for power." Mary warned me as our carriage bumped along the roads towards the castle on the Scottish highlands. I nodded, only half listening, more occupied with the scenery rolling by outside the window.

The castle was grand, with stern stone towers climbing up to the blue sky. We were greeted by Mary's half brother, James, the Earl of Moray, who was standing in the courtyard.

Mary embraced him as she climbed out of the carriage, even though she had confessed earlier that she barely remembered him. I smiled as James pulled away from Mary and greeted me and Mary's ladies with an appropriate bow.

"It is an honor to host you here, Your Majesty." I nodded my head kindly. "A servant will escort you to your chambers. I hope you will join us for a feast tonight, in honor of Queen Mary's return and your visit here." James turned, and lead the party into the cold stone halls.

Luckily, inside, the corridors were warmed by roaring fires in every room. Once in the privacy of my chambers, I changed into a warmer dress, one more appropriate for a feast, than for traveling. There would be a few more hours to pass before the feast would begin, but there was too much energy in my bones to stay sitting around in my room.

The hall was empty, but I could hear loud voices coming from around the corner. They were too distorted to comprehend, but I could tell several people were arguing. Slowly, I walked down the hall, taking in the elaborate decorations. The voices grew louder.

Confusingly, the hall was empty when I turned the corner, and the voices seemed to have moved farther away. Continuing on, in no hurry, I followed the sounds.

"Bringing her here was a mistake..." I heard one voice shout.

"She's powerful."

"That's the problem." The voices grew more distinct. I recognized one of them as Mary's.

The stone corridor opened up into a grand gallery, crowded with courtiers dressed in rich dark fabrics and furs. Various smaller conversations were along the sides of the room, but the main discussion was between Mary, who was seated on a throne on a stage in the center of the room, and several important looking people surrounding her, looking agitated.

Though as soon as they began to register my presence at the mouth of the room, all conversations fluttered towards silence.

"Tsaritsa, I'm so glad you are here to join us!" Mary called out to me, a genuine smile evident on her face. She gestured to a servant to have a chair brought up for me to sit near her.

"You have a beautiful country, Queen Mary. Thank you for allowing me to stay here." I smiled and sat next to her. "I don't mean to intrude on an important discussion."

"Do not worry yourself, Your Majesty." James cut into the conversation. "I'm sure your expertise will be much appreciated." I nodded at him graciously.

"May I ask what it is we are discussing?"

"It is necessary that Queen Mary take a husband. I'm sure you, Your Majesty understand the essentiality of a woman having a husband." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mary tense.

"I'm afraid I don't understand, actually. Why does Queen Mary need a husband? I believe she is perfectly capable of ruling Scotland without someone." Mary nodded in agreement, but my words sent a disagreeing murmur through the crowd of lords.

"Queen Elizabeth is gaining power in England, and right now the only advantage that Queen Mary has over her is that so far she isn't refusing a marriage proposal. Queen Elizabeth absolutely rejects the idea of marriage, which significantly weakens her claim. She'll never be able to give England an heir. If Queen Mary takes a husband, she can produce an heir."

I sighed. My stomach rolled slightly at the subtle reminder of my own lack of an heir.

"Do you have any candidates that show promise of being a suitable match for Queen Mary?" I asked, rather frustratedly. I could tell Mary was upset too. They had her backed into a corner. Yes, she was Queen, but you can only push too hard against the lords who give you power.

"Lord Darnley is the council's first choice." Mary said with a hint of apprehension. "He has a strong claim to the English throne."

"Have you ever met the man?" I asked, simply.

"No."

"It doesn't matter if she's met him; it matters if he'll marry her. And if she will marry him." One of the councillors cut off Mary.

"Why would this Lord Darnley ever agree to wed Queen Mary if he has never met her?" Agitated whispers were beginning to fill the hall, and I could feel the anger of several lords directed at me. I understood. After all, I was a foreigner, only a guest here, and I was asking all the wrong questions. Naturally.

"Your Majesty," James placed a hand on my shoulder, and leaned down to whisper in my ear. I was surprised he approached me so casually, but listened to him nonetheless. "Perhaps it would be better if I escorted you back to your chambers. Maybe get some rest and rejoin us for the feast this evening."

"If you think it wise." Standing from my seat, I made sure my skirts were appropriately situated around me, before walking out of the room, James at my side.

"They don't understand you." James said once we were in the relative privacy of the hallway.

"Of course they don't understand me. They don't understand Mary either, and I'd be surprised if you understood either of us." I snapped quietly. My annoyance towards the council members was getting the better of me. "I apologize for my rudeness, James."

"You're right. I don't understand you. You have much more power than I will ever have. It's only natural that it will make it difficult for the two of us to see eye to eye." A pause fell. "I'll see you at the feast." James left me at my door, without another word.