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Together at Last

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While I had known that it was bound to happen eventually, I was terrified as I was jostled about the French countryside in a carriage fleeing for my life. Simultaneous poisonings at both the convent where I resided and the one where my sister lived. With numerous attempts on our lives over the years, they had thought it best to keep us separated - what with my sister being the Queen of Scotland and me, her younger twin sister, first in line to succeed her should anything of great detriment occur.

My heart yearned to be reunited with my sister again. I hadn't seen her in years and letters between the two of us had been scarce, for both of our protection. It had been hard to determine who could be trusted. But now the both of us were headed to French court where she was two wed the Dauphin to keep an agreement between both our countries which had been established years ago. Should something happen to my sister, it would be up to me to uphold the agreement. I desperately hoped it wouldn't come to that. For both our sakes.

The alliance with France was very important for Scotland, which was why I hadn't yet been betrothed to a prince of another country. They intended to wait until Mary was wed to the Dauphin and the French alliance secured before bothering with making another alliance using me as their pawn. They wanted me available as a substitute should something happen to Mary before she was able to marry.

I didn't particularly enjoy growing up as a pawn in the game of kings, queens, and alliances, but it was a small comfort that Scotland thought the alliance with France so important they were willing to risk waiting for me to wed and form another. I wished for a choice as to whom I would marry. At least Mary had known Francis since we were young. Once Mary and Francis were wed, I feared I would likely be carted off and married before even getting a chance to meet the man I was to marry. I was born in the wrong position to marry for love.

Over the years, I thought that running off and joining a convent sounded preferable to my situation. I didn't mind a life of solitude and simplicity at the convent I had been kept at, separate from my sister. Truthfully, the hardest part was being away from Mary. The rest wasn't quite so bad - it was actually rather comfortable. But until Mary was wed to Francis, I was safe and I wanted to relish my last bit of freedom. As long as my sister was still alive.

My carriage came to an abrupt halt. Upon recognising the view outside as one I had known in my younger days, I knew that I had arrived. I poked my head out of the carriage and saw a familiar face looking back at me from another carriage. Without waiting for assistance, I flung the carriage door open myself and scrambled down without help. While I knew I was acting without much decorum, I didn't much care as I ran as fast as my legs would carry me to the outstretched arms of my sister, who was also running toward me.

I flung my arms around her neck and hugged her tight as she did the same to me. Both of us were a mixture of tears and giggles as we clung to each other. It had been years since we had seen each other. While it had seemed like time had dragged on intolerably slow, in a way it also felt like no time had passed at all.

Mary was the first to pull away. "Let me get a look at you," she told me.

I wiped at the tears that had spilt onto my cheeks before I stood to my full height. As I did so, I realised that I now was slightly taller than her. By no more than an inch, but I was indeed taller. "Now who's the little sister," I teased her through sniffles.

She smiled warmly. "Still younger, however."

I rolled my eyes before I embraced her once more. She sighed as she leaned into my hug and hugged me back just as tightly. "I've missed you dearly, sister," Mary said, resting her chin on my shoulder.

"And I, you," I responded, resting my chin on her shoulder. "At least we're together now."

"Until. . . "

I stopped her by placing a finger over her lips - being just about the only person who was allowed to do such things to Mary, Queen of Scots without repercussion. Our bond wasn't one that could be broken by something like distance. "Don't you dare utter such things. I'll not have you ruining our time together, do you hear me?"

Mary chuckled and removed my finger from her face. "Still bossy as ever. One might think you're the oldest the way you go on."

I smiled. "No, that duty thankfully belongs to you, my dear sister." I then mocked a curtsy for her.

She rolled her eyes at me. "If only it were possible to hate you," she teased me.

"Many have tried, but few have succeeded." I offered her a coy smile. My words were said in jest. Truthfully, I hadn't met very many people being sequestered away for my safety. But all the nuns I had met seemed to like me. So, my statement was partially true.

Mary then turned more serious. "Is it true that someone managed past the defences of your convent as well?"

I sighed and slowly nodded my head, trying not to picture sweet Magdalena drawing her last breath after tasting my food. I had been told that a similar experience had happened to Mary. "They're getting desperate," I said.

"And much bolder," Mary added. "Going after the both of us and on the same day no less. It would certainly throw the line of succession into peril."

"Thank God they didn't succeed."

"For the sake of Scotland."

I reached out and hugged Mary again. "And us, my dear sister. I don't know that I'd ever want to live in a world without you. I know a day will come when we will be physically parted, but I can sense you. It probably seems silly but . . ."

"No, it's not silly. I completely understand. I have the same feeling. Sometimes it feels like I can tell when you're sad."

"Rather annoying really," I added. "You always seem to be quite miserable when I happen to be enjoying myself."

That made Mary chuckle before she pulled away at the sound of wheels rattling, two more carriages approaching from behind mine. "That'll likely be our ladies," Mary said, standing a little taller.

And then everything would start to change as they prepared Mary for a union with the Dauphin. I sighed. Sometimes I wished time would just stand still so that I could enjoy the little things about life - not continue to play the role of the dutiful pawn.

"Come now, Margaret," Mary said, reaching for my hand, entwining her fingers with mine. "Let's not keep them waiting."

Together we'd show a united front because together we were stronger. Always had been. Always would be. Anyone or anything that got in our way be damned.