𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter five; Between Two Brothers
" What does your heart tell you about me? "

  COLIN WAS ALIVE. It turned out he'd escaped and avoided execution, and as happy as Elspeth was, at this revelation, that Lola's love may not yet be lost, and Mary had the chance to discover who was plotting against her, she had no time to think as Catherine requested Elspeth alone come with her and the king.

  "Henry, this is Elspeth Leins," Catherine introduced as soon as the trio exited Mary's room.

  "Your Majesty," Elspeth greeted properly, curtseying and allowing Henry to press a kiss to the back of her hand, despite her revulsion.

  Catherine saw through and nearly broke out into a smile.

  "May we have a moment?"

  "Anything you'd say to her, you can say in front of me."

  Clearly, Catherine didn't want her husband hovering over the conversation, but she wasn't one to quit so easily.

  "Now, Elspeth," Catherine cleared her throat, beginning a slow pace, "You're a smart young woman, yes?"

  "I believe so."

  "And you're not timid, which I respect," The woman continued, "And, you're loyal to your queen."

  "Of course," Elspeth spoke slowly, furrowing her brows, "Mary's family has been nothing but kind to mine, and she's been my friend for years; I know her values and believe in her as a woman and a ruler."

  "No need to defend, this is not an attack," Catherine eased, "I just ask that you reassure her."

  "She seems plenty reassured knowing that she'll get to speak with Colin."

  "As I said, that may not happen," The woman informed tightly, "And I need you to make her. . . lenient."

  "I beg your pardon?"

  "She's hard-headed, and that's dangerous here at court," Catherine said, smiling, "But you're smart, you think with your head and not your heart, and I do believe you'll be a great help in building the bridge between Scotland and France."

  "But—"

  "Thank you, dear," She said, smile never wavering, "I knew you were the right one to come to."

  Catherine continued walking, despite Elspeth remaining still with her jaw hanging open. Henry chuckled, making the girl look up at him in shock.

  "You'll have to excuse my wife, she often forgets her place," He spoke, words rolling off like they weighed nothing when Elspeth thought it was quite a horrible thing to say. "I'll do everything I can to bring that boy back unharmed, just as I promised your queen."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty."

  "Please," He smiled, dipping his head down to meet her eyes, "Call me Henry."

  She smiled nervously, refusing to move until the man had taken a turn and disappeared from her sights completley. Elspeth let out a shiver, hugging her arms around herself as she slowly approached an open arch, admiring the French landscape.

  They were, admittedly, not what she had expected. Catherine was, in most ways. Elspeth was only shocked that she'd not threatened her or uttered a single insult, though there was still time for this. But Henry was everything bad. He was rude, a horrible husband, and a massive flirt.

  With everyone, apparently.

  Which, personally, Elspeth found revolting. That he had the urge to flirt with a girl as young as she and the nerve to act upon it while his wife was feet away.

  "Apple for your thoughts?"

  Elspeth jumped slightly as Sebastian's sudden presence, making the man smile as she rested her hand over her heart in an attempt to slow it's beating.

  "You're jumpy."

  "Suppose that's what happens after a chat with the king and queen of France," Elspeth mumbled, taking a ruby red apple from his hand.

  "What?" He asked worriedly, "Are you alright? What did they say?"

  "Well, Catherine would like me to convince Mary that Colin need not be brought back alive— started saying I could 'help build a bridge between Scotland and France' and your father— alright, perhaps 'flirt' is a strong word, but the way he looked at me and spoke. . . it was all very unnerving."

  "My father will leave you alone," Sebastian assured gently, joining her side fully to look into the outdoors, "My mother is gone and he's trying to fill his time, but if Catherine is trying to hold you close, and he sees much more of us. . . he's not one for a challenge."

  "That's comforting," Elspeth sighed, not thinking much before she rested her head against Sebastian's shoulder, "Not that I very much like the idea of Catherine trying to hold me close."

  "I don't like it much either," Sebastian spoke honestly, "You could end up hurt."

  "You almost sound worried," She teased lightly, "I can take care of myself, Sebastian, especially when it comes to court. . . I've had to hold my own for a long time."

  "Is that so?"

  "Well, by the time I was getting proposals all my brothers were already married," Elspeth shrugged, "My parents are kind, supportive. . . they want me to marry for love, not money or titles. . . but all that means is I've had to navigate through all of it by myself. No one to lead me. It's not always been good, following my heart too much lands me into trouble."

  "What does your heart tell you about me?"

  Elspeth felt a smile crawl onto her face at the question, tilting her head to look up at Sebastian who, now, shamelessly wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  "That you're quite possibly the most handsome man I've ever laid eyes on," She smiled as he chuckled, "That you're strong. And brave. And I have so, so much to learn about you."

  "I could say the same."

  "You think I'm handsome."

  "Oh, very," He nodded, making Elspeth laugh loudly, "I just mean you're entirely too complex for me to just meet and know."

  "We have time."

  "Yes, we do," Sebastian smiled, looking around the corridor briefly, "And, it seems, against all odds, we're alone."

  "What do you have in mind then?"

  Elspeth was smiling as he leaned down to kiss her, attempting to soothe her racing heart, two sets of lips perfectly fitting into each other. Maybe it was foolish, or childish, but Elspeth didn't seem to care because it felt right. It felt like what she'd been waiting for.

  Of course, this didn't come without worry; what if Sebastian was too much like his father? What if she only craved this intimacy because a pit in her stomach told her she was never going back to Scotland? What if loneliness had finally set in and she'd jumped on the first chance at love that had presented itself?

  But Sebastian's hand gently carding through the hair at the nape of her neck chased all these worries away because his hands didn't feel like they were trying to capture her. His lips weren't hungrily attached to hers. In every movement, along with every word, it was just like Sebastian was trying to get to know her, and how lovely that was.

  "Will I see you at the picnic today?" Elspeth asked once reluctantly breaking their kiss, "Or are you too busy for silly traditions?"

  "I'm never too busy for silly traditions," He smiled, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "I'll find you later?"

  "Promise?"

  "Yes," Sebastian breathed out a laugh, kissing her cheek before nodding his head to the side, sending her on her way.

  And as he leaned onto the arch, he felt a hand land on his shoulder in a congratulatory manner.

  "So quickly you've bed a Scot, Bash, it's truly astounding."

  "I've not bed anyone," Bash denied lightheartedly, rolling his shoulders to send Francis's hand off, "That's more your style, I recall."

  "Well, am I going mad, or did I see you and. . . uh—"

  "Elspeth."

  "Elspeth kissing?"

  "You didn't even know her name."

  "I'm not the one kissing her."

  "No," Sebastian finally sighed, scratching the back of his neck, "I'm not bedding her. She's a noble, I doubt that's her approach to things."

  "You never know. . ."

  "It's not my approach, either, not to this," He denied with finality, "She makes me want. . . to want more."

  "You sound like a fool in love."

  "A fool, perhaps.

↬

  Elspeth arrived at the picnic with her fellow ladies in waiting, their spring-colored dresses reflecting the weather and high spirits perfectly. Elspeth's eyes drifted from one thing to the next; ladies dancing with lively ribbons, children running between the feet of friends and family chatting. The smell of sweet, fresh food hung in the air alongside the faint aroma of pricey perfumes, and, for a moment, Elspeth loved France.

  "Look at all the guards. As if Colin would ever willingly return."

  Lola's comment cemented reality in Elspeth's brain. There were guards flooding the event, but their presence was easily forgotten if not for their involvement in the very reason they were there.

  "How is Charles supposed to recognize the voice of his true love if she's so quiet?" Kenna asked, referring to the game Charles was playing— in which he was blindfolded in a circle of girls calling his name, attempting to find Madeline.

  "True love is louder than any other voice," Elspeth sighed sarcastically, linking her arm with Kenna's— the latter of which scoffing lightheartedly.

  "Who is the king talking to?"

  "Anyone he likes," Greer responded, "Since he has no use for the queen, and his mistress, Diane, is away."

  "Not even we're safe from it."

  "What do you mean?" Kenna asked worriedly.

  "He was extremely forward in our meeting, right in front of Catherine," Elspeth mumbled, "I'm still working quite hard to be on her good side, it'd be nice if he didn't try and undo it all."

  "Wait," Greer said, "King Henry. . . flirted with you?"

  "Don't worry, I'm not going to jump in bed with him," Elspeth scoffed, shaking her head, "I have no interest in older, married men."

  "But you do have an interest in a man," Aylee whispered happily, just as Sebastian himself approached the group.

  "Ladies," Sebastian said politely, "May I steal Elspeth from you all?"

  "Depends what we get in return," Kenna said, smiling as she pulled Elspeth back slightly.

  "Ah, anything you wish."

  Kenna debated for a moment, before letting Elspeth go and gently pushing her toward Sebastian.

  "I'll expect a mountain of dresses from Paris in my room!" Kenna called as Sebastian and Elspeth departed, arm in arm.

  "She's. . . something."

  "Kenna's my best friend," Elspeth laughed lightly at Sebastian's clearly overwhelmed statement, "She's unlike anyone I've ever met."

  "You speak highly of her."

  "She deserves to be spoken highly of," Elspeth smiled, pulling Bash to a halt so two younger children could run past them, unharmed, "So, are you enjoying the picnic?"

  "A great deal, now that I'm with you."

  Elspeth blushed lightly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear as Sebastian furrowed his brows at the sight of a lonely, distressed Mary.

  "Excuse me, for a moment."

  "Oh, sure. . ."

  Elspeth watched as Sebastian quickly approached Mary, which seemed welcomed by her. Their conversation seemed private, hushed. And it made a pit form in Elspeth's stomach.

  "Unnerving, is it not?"

  "Your Grace—"

  "Just Francis, please," He sighed, tearing his eyes off of Mary and Sebastian, "Are you worried about them?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "You know what I mean, Elspeth," Francis mumbled, "You seem. . . on edge."

  Elspeth rolled her shoulders back, straightening her posture and swallowing the lump in her throat as Sebastian nodded, and departed from Mary, sparing Elspeth a glance. His eyebrows furrowed at her company, but once she broke the eye contact to look at Francis, he kept walking as if it didn't bother him at all.

  "I'm not his keeper," She said, "He can speak with whomever he pleases."

  "Even Mary?"

  "' Even Mary'?"

  "She's beautiful," He sighed, "And neither you nor I were blind to his eyes on her at Elisabeth's wedding."

  "I'm not jealous if that's what you're asking," Elspeth said, "Clearly, though, there is something bothering you."

  Francis refrained from responding to her comment, letting his eyes follow Mary through the picnic.

  "Would you like to dance?"

  "Won't that give the wrong impression?" Elspeth questioned with furrowed brows, looking between Francis's awaiting hand and his eyes.

  "That I'm making friends with my fiancee's ladies?" Francis asked patiently, "This is not the sort of dance that could give anyone any other ideas."

  "Alright," She said skeptically, taking his hand, "But, why me? Out of all of Mary's ladies?"

  "I'd like to see what all the fuss is about. My brother, my parents, Demetre. . . You, thus far, are a force to be reckoned with, Elspeth."

  "I'm just a girl."

  "That doesn't come around too often in French court."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
bash and elspeth are
so cute I really do love
writing them (: BUT CAN
WE TALK ABOUT a possible
elspeth and francis 
friendship?? BECAUSE
COME ON