Long May She Reign

The Argument

I wake up, shivering from the cold. "Bash. Bash, wake up," I say shaking him.

"What is it?" he asks, still groggy from sleeping.

"I think we fell asleep by the river!"

"Oh my, really?"

"Well this doesn't exactly look like castle does it?"

"No I guess not," he chuckles and brushes his fingers through my hair.

"Ugh, I'm never going to hear the end of this. If people find out we were out all night- what will they think? Bash, I can't have my reputation ruined. I can't have people talking about me. I-" I start to panic.

"Woah woah woah. Calm down. No one is going to be saying anything."

"You can't know that! Servants love to gossip."

"And so what if they want to? We didn't do anything that could ruin your reputation. Anyways, the only person whose opinion matters is mine after all, right?"

"Look Bash- we only kissed. We're not even courting each other. So no, other people's opinions do matter. We just met. And maybe in your world of fun and games, things like reputation and staying out all night with someone doesn't matter. But when you're a part of court, when you're a queen's lady- things like that matter."

"Oh so I'm just an irrelevant bastard that could never understand the inner workings of court. Is that right?! And fun and games? Is that what you think my life is? I could be sent away any day if I fall out of King Henry's favor!"

"I didn't mean it like that- Bash, Bash please!" He starts to walk away, clearly angered with what I said. "Honestly, I overreacted, and I really do like you. But you have to understand that what people think about you, is just as good as what is true."

"Do you really believe that? That must be such a sad way to live."

"It's the sad reality of life, isn't it? You're only what people think of you, what you think of yourself won't get you anywhere if everyone else thinks you to be a whore or a heretic."

"Maybe that true to a degree, but you certainly are not only what others think of you. You are so much more than that. You have to be."

"I don't know Bash. Just- growing up, my parents always worked so hard to preserve my family's image. It was the most important thing. I was always told to sit up, be more polite, not to run because "ladies" don't run. Now that I'm an adult, I feel like it's my job to uphold that reputation that my parents worked for. And I can't help but think that spending the night with you, no matter how much I like you, ruins that."

"I see..."

"Bash I really do like you..."

"So then act on it! If you have feelings for me, like you claim to, forget what people think! You're right, you are an adult, so it's time you start making your own decisions and living your life."

"I don't know..."

"Just try it. Tomorrow is the Frost Fair I'm planning for Henry and Charles. Come to it with me, there will be games and music and food. We can show everyone that we don't care what they think." He steps towards me and outstretches his arms.

"Alright," I step closer to him with my back towards him and he wraps his arms around me. I take his hands in mine and whisper, "Thank you Bash. For not leaving, for not hating me..."

"I could never leave you."

*sorry it took me sooo long to update! Please forgive me, haha! As always, give feedback as I love it! Also, if any of you are fans of the NHL team the Chicago Blackhawks, I started writing a fanfic involving them. check it out!*