𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter nine; A Michaelmas Proposal
" You don't go where I can't follow. "

  THE NEWS CAME early the next morning. Sebastian's fever had broken— he'd be bedridden for a while, considering his wounds, but he would live. Sickness would not take him from Elspeth.

  And with Sebastian's new burst of energy, he encouraged Elspeth to spend some well-needed time with her friends, instead of remaining at his bedside.

  "Well, I would never know there was a costume banquet in an hour with the faces I see."

  Elspeth nervously fiddled with the lilac mask she held at Mary's comment.

  "How can you be so cheerful knowing how soon we're leaving?" Lola asked.

  "Should I spend my last hours in France with moping and tears?" Mary retorted.

  "Don't forget pining and regret," Kenna added.

  "So, have you made a decision, Elspeth?" Mary questioned, smiling as she held up a mask that covered the top half of her face, "You know you have my blessing."

  "A choice— what choice?"

  "And Mary's blessing— Elspeth, you're not!"

  "What?" Aylee questioned urgently at Kenna and Greer's gaping faces, "What's going on?"

  "What else could it mean," Kenna grinned, nudging the girl. "Our little Ellie is smitten enough to be thinking of marriage."

  "Smitten yes, but. . ." Elspeth sighed, plucking through the bin of accessories, "What of you? I can't stay behind while you all leave— my duties are to Mary, and our friendships, we've only just all gotten back together, there's no way I could break that now."

  "Elle," Lola spoke seriously, "If you have Mary's blessing, that says more than enough for all of us. We'd be nothing but happy to see you marry a man you love."

  "It's lucky in court," Greer agreed, "You can't risk losing this to stay with us a while longer. Not to mention, we'll all be married off at some point— this won't last forever."

  Elspeth frowned at the idea, though this was never Greer's intention. It was just easier for the Liens girl to forget— most noblewomen had duties. And the main one; finding a suitable husband. 

  The thought slipped from her mind all too easily, that her life would not be spent with her friends, in court, traveling the world. Every one of them would settle down with a husband and a family, and inevitably, she would, too.

  "I suppose you're right," Elspeth agreed quietly, "But I still need King Henry—"

  "No, you don't."

  Elspeth raised an eyebrow at Mary.

  "Mary, what have you been up to, other than having two men fight over you?"

  Mary shook her head, shrugging her shoulders lightly.

  "With a bit of free time, I spoke to the King and Queen. . . Catherine seems in a brighter mood, now that I'm off to Portugal and. . . well, it was rather easy to get them to agree— no persuasion or bargaining needed."

  "Are you saying—"

  "Your place at Court is secured," Mary smiled, "Once you and Sebastian are engaged, you, Elspeth Liens, are officially a French subject."

  "What?"

  Mary grinned, eagerly accepting the hug Elspeth brought. 

  "Mary, are you sure?"

  "I've never been more sure," Mary smiled honestly, pulling out of the hug, "I made a promise to your mother that in her absence, I would do everything in my power to ensure you end up in a happy marriage, full of love. I'm simply keeping that."

  And the girls happily chose the costumes, grinning wildly as they joked, for as they knew, it would be the last time they were together.

  "Let me guess," Sebastian spoke as Elspeth approached, briefly attempting to keep her worries at bay, "An angel?"

  "You're far too flattering for your own good," Elspeth pointed, looking down at her brightly colored dress, "A wood sprite— Kenna's requested a matching appearance, as it will likely be our last banquet together. . . at least for a while, that is."

  Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

  "Or, I could follow them to Portugal," Elspeth breathed out, searching his eyes for something— anything, "A big choice."

  "I don't want you in Portugal."

  "Oh?"

  "Tomas is crooked— he's dangerous— Francis and I have been trying to figure it out. . ."

  Elspeth's eyes cast to the ground as Sebastian continued on about how neither he, nor Francis, wished for Tomas to marry Mary. 

  But, of course, all she heard, was that Sebastian had no care for where she herself wound up.

  "Elle?"

  "Sorry?"

  "Where's your head gone?" Sebastian laughed gently, tucking a rouge hair behind her ear.

  "Nowhere," She lied quietly, "Mary just had this. . . foolish idea."

  "And what was that?"

  "That you and I. . . get engaged, so that I could remain in France," Elspeth breathed out, shaking her head, "I told her it was far too rushed, but she's filled my head with her positivity, and for a moment—"

  "Engaged?"

  "Yes, I know, it sounds so outlandish when you say it— I'll just have to tell her I'll be going wherever she does, and—"

  Sebastian swiftly cut her off with a gentle kiss on her lips. 

  "With all due respect, Elspeth," He spoke quietly, his eyes boring into her own, "You don't go where I can't follow."

  With those simple words, Elspeth Liens felt her heart leap. 

  "I intend on being with you a very long time," Sebastian continued, "And if asking you to marry me keeps you by my side; I will do that. We can wait. As long as you'd like until we wed— I have all the patience in the world for you."

  Elspeth's breath was caught in her lungs. This was it. The huge, scary thing that had always hung over her— loomed in the back of her mind like a gray cloud on a sunny day. 

  But today, it didn't seem scary. It wasn't the clouds; it was the sun.

  "As long as I'd like, you- you mean it?"

  "A month, a year," Sebastian shrugged, "I know you wished for a longer courting. A proper one. I am sorry I couldn't do that. . . but what I can do, at least, is give you the choice of when our engagement begins, and when you want to take the next step."

  Elspeth hardly believed her heart was still in her chest as she stared at the man who mere months ago was a complete stranger, and yet, said every word she'd ever wanted to hear.

  "So, Elspeth Liens?" Sebastian asked with a small smile, "What do you say to getting engaged?"

  "I say we're crazy," Elspeth laughed out before she could stop herself.

  "Of course we are," Sebastian smiled, "What's wrong with that?"

  Elspeth smiled. There was nothing in the world wrong with that— even though it seemed with Sebastian and Francis's combined efforts, Mary would not leave France to marry Tomas and everyone would remain here Sebastian knew there was no looming threat of distance separating them, he didn't care. He still wanted to marry her. He still wanted to get engaged, to make a physical promise that they were together in the truest ways, that neither one of them was leaving anytime soon.

  "There you are," Lola greeted, approaching the two, "Elspeth, your costume is lovely."

  "And yours," Elspeth grinned at the large wings Lola had on.

  Lola nervously looked between the two, wanting to ask Elspeth if a choice had been made, but not wanting to spoil it if she hadn't had time to ask.

  "Un-formally, officially, engaged," Elspeth explained, making Sebastian chuckle. "We'll inform Catherine and Henry tonight, likely— I'll be staying in France for a while."

  Lola grinned, quickly embracing Elspeth and letting out a thousand congratulations in the process.

  "Aha!" Sebastian spoke as the girl's embrace broke and Francis approached, "Saint Michael, aren't you? Better be a real sword if you plan to slay Lucifer."

  "You had to bring up Tomas?"

  "I don't understand why he changed so quickly," Lola spoke up. "Before Mary said yes, Tomas seemed a whole other person."

  "Wait, what are you talking about?" Elspeth questioned, furrowing her brows, looking between the trio, "What's happened?"

  Only then did Elspeth realize what Sebastian had said earlier. She felt so foolish, focusing on her own emotions rather than the safety and happiness of her friend, and queen.

  "Elle," Lola said gently when neither man spoke up, "Mary didn't want to worry you. . . while Bash was still recovering. . ."

  Elspeth felt herself fall deeper into a pit of guilt as Lola explained how truly horrible Tomas had turned out to be.

  "Well, what are you going to do about it?" Elspeth questioned Francis angrily, the man recoiling at her question, "You've got to do something, Francis."

  "I intend to, I just. . ." Francis began, shaking his head.

  "There must be a reason he's turned so quickly," Elspeth said, "As you said, Lola, a man doesn't turn into a monster overnight. . ."

  "He was desperate," Francis answered, "He'd been looking for a queen all over the continent. No doubt to make sure the Pope declared him legitimate. Of course, he'd put on an act if it got him what he wanted."

  "Well, he got bloody lucky, didn't he?" Sebastian asked, "If I hadn't been ambushed getting those men off to Scotland, Mary wouldn't be marrying him."

  ". . .Say that again," Francis spoke, pieces falling into place in his mind, "If our men hadn't been ambushed then Mary wouldn't need his men or his marriage proposal."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
OKAY SO THEY'RE ENGAGED!
I know it's kinda abrupt but 
trust me, M'KAY? It just makes
sense to me-- they're like, 
the falling fast and hard kind
of love, and the idea of Elspeth
having to leave made them both
realize they don't intend on
being apart-- not to mention
getting engaged so soon was like
not weird at all in this time period!
ALSO HI THE LOTR QUOTE?? I'm re-
watching the movies w my bf 
because he's never seen them
(????) and the quote is just so
PERFECT for Ellie and Bash