Abandoned

                                    

                                          
Mary's POV
                          
"Louis, you're back. I was starting to worry you'd given up on us." I ask, as the crowd of people emerge from the castle.
                          
"I went home to my region. I needed time and distance from you to think."
                          
"I know I promised you so much more when we were going to Scotland, but I can't leave. Not when Francis has sent so many troops to defend my country, my throne."
                          
"Oh, you had to protect your crown, Mary. You did the right thing." He says.
                          
"And what about you? Did I do right by you?"
                          
"You offered me an affair in the home of your husband. I'm offering you me... my love. These last few weeks without you... I felt as though I was dying."
                          
"Louis..."
                          
"..did you come here to say good-bye? Or did you hope that I would? Because that's not what I want." He says.
                          
"I love you. And I want us to be together." I whisper. 
                          
~
                          
Bash's POV
                          
"Riding again? So soon after your injury?" I hear Kenna say.
                          
"I've healed quickly. It brings me peace, being out in the woods."
                          
"You mean, being alone. I know that this has been hard on you, too, our separation, but to see you flee an entire castle just to avoid being around me..."
                          
"You needn't worry." I say.
                          
"But I do. I don't want to see you suffer on my account."
                          
"I'm fine, really. Recovering in all ways." I add.
                          
"Well, then, why are you spending all of your days in the woods?"
                          
"There's a friend that I've been passing time with... fishing, hunting."
                          
"But you don't have any friends." She says, as I take a deep breath.
                          
"You have people you're bound to... your brother, me... Who is this friend?" She asks.
                          
"It's no one you know."
                          
"Well, does this friend have a name? Breasts? A virgin?"
                          
"Stop! Yes. Yes, to both. None of your business, as your doings are none of mine." I urge.
                          
"My lord, we need you immediately. Protestant rebels have seized the Benedictine monastery outside Angers. There are at least a dozen of them, heavily armed. They've rounded up the children, killed all the guards and the monks." One of the guards say to me.
                          
"Oh, my God."
                          
"Save two who managed to escape."
                          
"I'll be right there." I say turning my horse towards the castle.
                          
~
                          
Francis' POV
                          
"I just heard. How many are dead?" Bash asks me as he enters my study.
                          
"At least 40. 19 hostages. If the boys are still alive."
                          
"Children." I say, correcting the guard.
                          
"What are these radicals doing? Ransoming them, or do they plan to slaughter them, as well?"
                          
"It's further retaliation for sending our troops into Scotland." I say.
                          
"For supporting me, a Catholic queen. I knew that there would be consequences." Eliana says.