𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter twenty-seven; The Plan to Return
" You are the best thing Scotland has given me. "

  IT WAS A long conversation with Hans Liens. 

  Demetre had left the couple to face it alone, leaving Sebastian nervous beyond himself.

  But after a few pointed words from Elspeth, Hans changed his tune.

  "It won't be safe for you to remain here," Hans said quietly, "After reaching for the throne, you will have many enemies. Enemies your wife will inherit."

  Sebastian frowned as Elspeth grabbed his hand tightly.

  "Speak with your father, he may have wishes for where to send you," Hans sighed, "If I have any say, the two of you will return with me to Scotland and be wed within the month. . . Speaking politically, a broken-off engagement says poor things for my family. Restoring it quickly and flooding any news with tales of a lavish wedding will have many in Scotland forget this lapse."

  "Hans. . ."

  "Ellie, you have father's blessing to marry whomever you wish," Hans said quietly, "He never wanted to force you into anything. Luckily, you have found a man you love. If it was father's say, he'd let you run wild with him until you wanted to marry. While I do not want to force anyone's hand, I have to press the matter this once. If the two of you are in love, why wait to marry? It would wash out the scandal of your broken-off engagement, and solidify the relationship you two have already created."

  Elspeth looked to Sebastian with worry creasing her brow. But Sebastian only smiled lightly, grabbing onto her hands like they were his lifeline.

  "I would marry you today, Elspeth."

  "Truly?"

  "Today, tomorrow, yesterday-- whenever you wish."

  "As lovely as the sentiment is, we need time to plan a wedding fit for the daughter of a duke," Hans said, clearing his throat, "A dress for Elspeth, a venue, invitations must be sent out, food, music. . . tomorrow will not work."

  Elspeth laughed, clearly easing her brother's worries.

  "If Henry allows it I would love nothing more than to return to Scotland and marry Sebastian as soon as you have time to plan the event," Elspeth said with a small smile.

  "Then it's settled," Hans smiled, "I'll send word to father; you speak with your own, Sebastian."

  He nodded.

  "And for God's sake, do not find yourself in trouble again."

  Hans looked between the couple for a long moment, before departing to pen a letter to inform his parents of Elspeth's future.

  But all Elspeth was focused on was Sebastian. Having him back, within reach.

  "I missed you," She said quietly, "More than you will ever know."

  "Oh, I know," He urged, "I spoke of you every day and dreamt of you every night. . . I felt so trapped, Elle. I'd never. . . my father never looked my way for things like this."

  "But you are free now," She said, resting a hand on his cheek and fondly running her thumb over the skin, "I am sorry--"

  "Don't."

  Elspeth's eyes widened at his resolve.

  "I don't want to hear you say those words," He said quieter, lifting his hand to encase her own, "Your only fault was agreeing to be a mistress in the first place."

  "Well, you agreed, too--!"

  "And that is a fault among the many I have made," He soothed, "I love you, Elspeth Liens. I have no doubt I always will. That means I put you before myself. I shouldn't have let it get any further than an idea in your head; I knew you would be unhappy, just as unhappy as I. But I agreed. I. . . I could not let you go. And that was my first mistake. Because you are not a thing to hold onto. How foolish I was to think I should."

  "I want to be held onto."

  "I will not hold you to the point of detriment. Never again. If letting you go means preserving your happiness, I will do it."

  "I do not want to be let go."

  "I hope I do not have to let you go," Sebastian said, resting his forehead against her own, "But your brother is right. It may be dangerous-- I do not know what my father or Francis will do or--"

  "You don't go where I can't follow."

  Sebastian met her eyes, and he was comforted by the determination blazing in them.

  "I'm sorry, Elspeth."

  "I forgive you," She urged, "I forgive you, Sebastian. You did not wish for this. You did not want a crown. You did not want a queen for a wife. You did not ask for our engagement to be broken, nor did you ask me to become a mistress. We were dealt losing hands-- you were forced to play, and I only made it so far before realizing folding was my best choice. But in the end, neither one of us would have won."

  "What if I do not deserve your forgiveness?"

  "What have you done to make you think such a thing? Did you suggest this?"

  "No, but I went along--"

  "Did you force me into a position as a mistress?"

  "No."

  "Did you ever move your relationship with Mary past that of a friendship?"

  "No."

  "Did you respect my decision to go our separate ways if you were to marry her?"

  "Yes."

  "Then it is not you who does not deserve my forgiveness. You were forced into a position, made to believe it would be the rest of your life, and you dealt with it the only way you knew how. I do not care if others fault you for that, I do not care if my brother faults you for that-- I do not. And there will only be two of us in this marriage, so I care not for opinions beyond that."

  Sebastian pursed his lips, squeezing her hand. How could he argue with that? 

  "I tried to reason with my father. He would not hear it."

  "He is a cruel man," Elspeth said blankly, "And we will leave him and France if you wish it so."

  "I only want to share my life with you. I only wish for such."

  Elspeth nodded, her anger subsiding slightly.

  "Then we will make it so," She whispered, "I will speak with Catherine shortly. She may yet sway your father."

  Sebastian did not seem so sure.

  "At the very least, she will support your leaving France."

  "She may not support yours," Sebastian breathed out a laugh.

  "She will, if it is what I wish for," Elspeth said quietly, "I will find you after I speak with her. You should see Francis."

  Sebastian faltered.

  "Tell him what you have told me," She urged, "He will not fault you for Mary's feelings. Just as I have not."

  Sebastian nodded, his uneasy heart settling as Elspeth pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  "Go," Elspeth said, "I will find you."

↬

  Elspeth's buzzing mind had never calmed, only been replaced with new thoughts and concerns. But now, knowing both she and Sebastian were free of politics, she had her breath back.

  And she was planning on using that breath to convince Catherine that she and Sebastian returning to Scotland was the best choice, but it appeared the universe had different intentions for her yet.

  "Elspeth Liens."

  "Your Majesty," Elspeth breathed out, falling into a curtsey at the sight of Marie De Guise. "I'd heard you arrived but--"

  "What is this I've heard about you being. . . relieved of your duties?"

  Elspeth peered up at her nervously, standing back to her full height.

  "I was engaged," Elspeth explained, "Mary was going to leave France."

  "Yes, but you are not married."

  "Not yet--"

  "Your parents are friends of mine," Marie said, "That is why you were chosen over a thousand other girls vying for the title of Mary's Lady. Because of your family. Because you were polite and well-mannered and made Mary smile when the two of you played as children. And this is what you do with it?"

  "Excuse me?"

  "You abandon your queen, you allow her to run off with your fiance--"

  "I did not abandon her, nor did I allow anything to take place," Elsopeth argued quickly, "With all due respect, Your Majesty, if you dared to chastise your daughter the way you are chastizing me, perhaps both she and I would have been married to the people we were engaged to. But she is the one who suggested I stay in France. She is the one who made arrangements to relieve me of my duties. She is the one who followed a prophecy out of her engagement and into mine. Think what you want of me, but do not dare, for a moment, belittle me for how I have dealt with the fallout of your daughter's mishappenings."

  Marie De Guise was simultaneously impressed and murderous.

  "Do not forget your station, Elspeth-- or the country you will come running back to when Henry wishes to erase his bastard son."

  "Of course, your Majesty, I could never forget that I am a member of the Liens family-- the first Duchy in Scotland to back your rule in Mary's absence, and their un-ending loyalty to the Scottish Crown. How brave and honest their choices always are."

  It was a slap in the face said like the lightest compliment. 

  But Marie understood very clearly the weight of the statement.

  "Your parents will be happy to have you back with a husband in tow."

  "They will be happy to have me back. With or without a husband," Elspeth corrected, "If you'll excuse me."

  Elspeth left no room for argument, curtseying quickly before brushing past the queen hurriedly.

  No matter how headstrong and out of line, Marie De Guise was most disappointed Elspeth had been the one to leave her daughter's service. 

  It was no surprise Catherine De Medici was already rushing around with wedding preparations.

  Elspeth felt it safe to assume Mary had come to her senses and chose to go through with her marriage to Francis, and with this, Catherine had gone into a flurry.

  "Elspeth, wonderful, hold this."

  The girl widened her eyes as a vase of flowers was shoved into her hands before Catherine continued on the next thing.

  "Oh, um--"

  "Yours will be next," Catherine waved off quickly, "I'd have it first if I wasn't worried Henry or Mary would come up with another scheme. God knows your wedding would be happier for me to plan-- Francis has no care for the finer details and Mary. . ."

  Catherine scoffed, directing more servants to rush food and decorations to the throne room.

  "I've already chosen a dressmaker for you," Catherine informed, "Your veil will be lace detailed-- I've already told them the stitching must be perfect, for a girl as pretty as you any imperfection in your dress and veil will be easy to note."

  Elspeth smiled tightly as Catherine finally turned to her with a smile.

  "You will make a beautiful bride," Catherine smiled, brushing Elspeth's hair out of her face, "I only wish your husband was better suited."

  "Sebastian and I will leave."

  Catherine recoiled, her mouth falling open just slightly.

  "Once Francis and Mary are wed, we will return to Scotland," Elspeth said, "If you and Henry allow it. . . Hans says it is best if we are wed quickly, to bury the scandal of our broken engagement. And God knows the people of France will have many opinions on Sebastian. . . seeing him as reaching for the throne. It will be safer for us in Scotland. Quieter."

  Elspeth nodded as if trying to convince herself as well as Catherine.

  "This is because Mary developed feelings for him."

  "That is making my choice to leave easier," Elspeth breathed out, "I just. . . I want a quiet life."

  "You are a noblewoman."

  "Yes, who had a quiet upbringing," Elspeth urged, "In the country, far away from bustling streets and dramatics. That is the life I want."

  "What of Francis? This will break his heart, Elspeth."

  "Francis will understand my choice," She said quietly, "Just as I understood his."

  "What of Demetre?"

  "Demetre will remain in France, I assume," Elspeth said, furrowing her brows. "He, too, will understand."

  Catherine shook her head, rubbing at her forehead as she turned away, clearly lost in thought.

  "I will miss them," Elspeth said quietly, "As I will miss you. But. . . after what has happened, Catherine, I. . . I don't know if I can stay."

  Catherine turned her expression a mixture of concern and frustration.

  "I cannot care for you unless you remain here."

  "I. . . I appreciate everything you have done for me, Catherine. I do. But. . . I do not need extra protection in Scotland."

  Catherine tightened her lips, taking in a deep breath.

  "I will speak with you on this only after I have seen Henry. I do not know his intentions with Sebastian now, and the last thing I will let happen is you getting caught up in all of it."

  Elspeth nodded, smiling warmly as Catherine approached her slowly before dusting off Elspeth's shoulders.

  "You are the best thing Scotland has given me," Catherine said quietly, "Enjoy the festivities. I will call on you later."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
story is picking up again
who is ready for the dramaaa