"T-tomas...you're kind and handsome. And very charming." I told him
"I sense a refusal."
"But I was sent here to wed a nation, not a man." I said when he handed me a letter
"What's this?" I asked
"My father's been writing to the pope. Arranging things to make me legitimate. He's dying and I'm his only living son. His grandson is next in line, he's only three years old." He said "He doesn't trust the regent, so to save our Portugal, he wants me on the throne. It would be announced any day now."
I can't believe I'm considering this.
"So you see, I can lay my heart at your feet, and my country as well. We can save Scotland, if you marry me. Will you?"
"Let me think." I can't do something rash.
I rode my horse and rushed my way back into the castle to find someone.
"Francis."
"Claude, what is it?" He told me
"Can you give me armies?" I asked him
"I beg your pardon?" He asked
"England is passing by Scotland's borders, again. Can you give me armies?" I asked him again.
"I have no power to order armies, I have to ask my father." He said rushing to go out.
Francis
"Father, Claude needs men." I said
"For what?" He asked
"To guard their borders." I told him
"Borders?" He laughed it out like nothing. "No, I won't waste any of our armies just to protect borders." He said with finality
"Father! When Claude and I are wed. It will be repayed so can you give Scotland armies?" I said, the room was filled with tension
"That's the point. You still aren't wed." I was confused "Are you going to be a king like that someday?" He asked me
"What?"
"So kind and giving. Are you going to kill all of your men when the time comes?" He asked me, there was fury.
"Father I-"
"No Francis! Harden your heart. The more hard it becomes, the more a great king you'll be. Learn to deceive and threathen, my heir." He said then left me.
Mary
"I can't believe it. A real proposal from a soon to be king?" Margaux said. "What did your uncle say?" She asked referring to the letter that had came again
"It's my mother. She said she needs men now." I said, she must've felt my nervous tone so she diverted the topic
"Come on, there's a luncheon feast downstairs. Let's get you dressed." She said before we head down
When we got down there was music, Francis asked me to dance.
"Claude, believe me I've argued with my father already. I've explained why it is politically a good idea. I've done everything I could reasonably do." He said
"Then maybe you should try to be unreasonable." I told him when suddenly Tomas snatched my hand from his
"Can you put some Portugal music?" Tomas told the musicians.
And as we danced I kept trying to get out of his grip but he wouldn't let me.
"Apparently, they do things differently in Portugal." The king said
"I love these Portuguese music. Keep playing!" The queen said happily
"Hey, you'll figure this out." Margaux said before I went out of the hall to have some air.
"You do have a way of leaving chaos at your wake. What was that about?" There was something different about Francis' tone
"Tomas wants me to marry him." The flavour in his face had a sudden change "He's being declared legitimate and his father wants him on the throne imminently. It's not what I want but my opinions are extremely limited.
"You went behind our back? You went to make a new alliance with Portugal without us-"
"It was his idea, not mine. And he's actually willing to get married too. Which is more than you or your family is offering." I cut him off.
"You can't just break an alliance!" He told me
"I don't want to. But this time my mother wrote. She said she needs men. Immediately." I told him "You told me that we have no power. That there's nothing we can do. I don't like it but I've found a way. If France won't help us then I have no choice but to accept Portugal's offer."
"His name is Tomas. You'd be marrying the man not the country." He told me while looking straight into my eyes
"It's what my mother would want... and what my country needs." I said before I left.
Francis
There was a boat celebration at night. I was thinking when I saw Claude and Tomas, talking. Tomas guiding Mary in their boat. I was the one who's supposed to be in that boat, with Claude.
Then I saw my Father's boat just leaving, with another girl. I knew what I had to do.
"I see how you look at this girl and how she looks at you, I know your pattern. But I wonder how your Leurie wife and Greer would react if they find out that you've moved on to another girl." I said
"What's this?" He asked
"We both know that Mother and Greer have a way of making life very difficult, even for a king." I told him grinning
"Finally." He said like he was waiting for this
"Very well, future King, we'll do it your way." He told me
"I'm not—"
"Win or lose, you'll answer for it because thats what kings do." He said with confidence "There are six companies of men quartered between us, and the channel. Send our fastest rider to mobilize them." The king said
And as soon as I got out of the boat I went to my brother, Bash.
"Send a message to all six captains, tell them that they'll board ship at Outreau." I told him. "Are you sure you're fine to ride?" I asked as I tapped his shoulder
"I am a riding fiend little brother. You'll be happy, Scotland will be happy. Claude will be happy and she will stay." He knows that I wouldn't want her to leave
"Alright, just be careful!" I told him as he rode the horse
"Aren't I always?" He yelled
And as soon as I couldn't see him or the horse I knew who I had to find.
"Claude! It's done. Six companies are on its way to Scotland tonight. I told her
"What? Oh Francis!" She yelled as she hugged me "But how you said the king wouldn't change his mind, that you'd done all you could" She asked me
"I suppose I was inspired." I told her as I looked straight into those hazel eyes.
She smiled. "I can't believe it."
"I still can't afford to marry you right away, like Tomas. You'd have a secure alliance there but here we can only hope. Someday it will be right for our countries." I said with an encouraging tone.
"I'd rather have hope with you than certainty anywhere else." As we smiled together
The next morning
"Francis!" It's Nostradamus
"What is it?" I just finished my sword lessons
"Sebastian" He told me.
"How is he?" I asked him as soon as I saw Bash
"I can tend to his wounds but I make no guarantees." Nostradamus said
"Claude." She was shocked as I am
"Francis, the English.....rode out from Calais....to face us. We never made it to the ships." He told me
"He shouldn't be talking. I'll give him a potion to sleep." Nostradamus said befofe I rushed out the door. Mary was behind me, following me.
"Francis! Francis! You did the right thing." But I couldn't speak, I was in shock
"Talk to me." Her presence was too much for me, I closed my eyes as I put my lips onto hers.
"You should marry Tomas. My father was right I wasn't thinking clearly." I finally spoke
"That's not true, you were trying to help." She said
"I can't help you. France can't help, there are no more troops to be sent. Do what's right for your country." I can't believe I'm persuading her to go to another.
"Francis!"
"Can you say that I'm wrong?" She didn't answer, just what I expected.
Mary
As much as I didn't want to, I had to. I took a deep breath before knocking.
"Well" I smiled. "I suppose you would have to teach me Portuguese"
At mid day
"I'll make you happy." Tomas said as we watch the ships take sail
"You already have." I said
"There are eight companies of fighting men in that ship. They'll be in Scotland in two days."
I did what I had to do. For Scotland
—
My heart is breaking while I'm writing this chapter. Oh god 😥