The Aftermath

*When I wake up, I eat the slightest bit of broth and smile at Nicholas.*

*smiles at her fondly* How is my dearest feeling today?

*Smiles back weakly*

Slightly better, but I hath been thinking ...

*he kisses her cheek softly*

And what have you been thinking about? *he smiles*

If I were to die, there would be business left unfinished and I don't want to leave the business I speak of unfinished ... *Blushes*.

Business? ... Wha ... oh *blushes* that would be a pity *grins*

Nicholas you don't understand. Before it was wanted, now it is crucial.

*Marie's hands are balled up into fists on either side of her body, her teeth are gritted and a lot of make-up has been shoddily applied to her face, quickly*.

Marie Stuart wrote:

Nicholas you don't understand. Before it was wanted, now it is crucial.

*Marie's hands are balled up into fists on either side of her body, her teeth are gritted and a lot of make-up has been shoddily applied to her face, quickly*.

*He looks at her intently, sensing something wrong*

You are going to be fine my love, there is no rush *he smiles at her, assumeing she fears for her illness*

Marie ... you know I want you ... I want to do this the right way. IT will not be long now my love. Charles has offered to summon his confessor to marry us, he waits only for your answer when you are well.

*Marie sits up straight and looks Nicholas in the eye*

No, you don't understand, Nicholas. It is now crucial. I wish to even the odds. *Picks up one of the cold rags beside her bed which are used to soothe her and wipes the make-up off my face. Revealed under them is an ugly hand-shaped bruise*.

Marie! My love, what happened? *he gently carasses her cheek and kisses it lightly.*


Who did this to you? Why? Even what odds?

Think about it Nicholas. *Looks at Nicholas* Someone obviously has put their hands on me and now I wish to "even the odds" by having sex with you. What dost thee think I mean?

No ... *what little color he has drains from his face as his eyes fill with bloody tears*


Who did this? *he demands* Tell me now, for they are dead.

*Thinks about lying to Nicholas, but knows that even if I could, which I can't, Nicholas would know I was. So I'm going to tell half the truth.*

It was an Englishmen. He was dressed in green. It was all so fast ... *To distract Nicholas (Because no matter how honorable he may be he is still a man) wipes up Nicholas' tears with my tongue*.

*he pulls her tightly into his arms*

Where did this happen? Are you sure you know nothing else of this man?

You should rest and I shall rouse the guards ... We must find him and make him pay.

NO! You shall do no. such. thing. They will never find him, and this cannot get out. I have for too long been someone's whore, I shall be so no longer.

Marie .... we can not let him get by with this .... no one wuldst think you a whore

Nicholas, you know nothing. When I married my second person, my enemies thought I was sleeping with my Italian secretary, I wasn't but they brutally stabbed him (the secretary) to death in front of me while I watched. One of them even put a pistol to my pregnant belly and I felt my son kick. And then my second husband was blown up in an explosion of gunpowder. The man who did it was the only man I could count on. Then he kidnapped me, raped me and forced me to marry him. Then I was forced out of my own country and forced to flee to England. Where I was imprisoned by my own cousin, Elizabeth, the woman you love. And now, after all that, here I am. I executed all the nobles who betrayed me (near all of them), increasing my power by 10 fold. I gave all their ranks to you, meaning that my sons will inherit them. I have enough money because of the kindness of my relatives who now keep me well-supplied, so I will forget the fact that they let my own cousin imprison me. I will not risk it all again. A Queens person is sacred, I cannot be touched unless I strictly condone it. Therefore nothing happened.

(OOC: Sorry about the length, lol).

*James bursts into my room almost as soon as Marie finished her last words, and the first thing he sees is the giant bruise on her face*.

*nodding at the Emperor Charles*

I am right behind thee my lord!

*James points at his mother's bruised face while looking at Elizabeth and Charles begging them to make his mommy all better*.

*arriving on at the door, banging on it with the hilt his sword*
Open this door right.now.
*loudly, ominously*

(OOC: The length is fine ... makes for a good story )


*Nicholas frowns he does not like this, but it tis her choice*

He holds the words he had upon his lips and keeps them until they are alone again.

Who dares lay hands on a queen anointed, a good Christian, and mine own cousin!
Declare him to me, and he shall pay!

Did anyone see this most foul assault?

*Nicholas wants to answer Charles but leaves it up to Marie. He picks up young James and places him between them on the bed*

Your mother is fine *he casts him a smile he does not feel*


See, I shall let no harm come to either of you