"Alaina, you shouldn't have!"

"You planned to divorce Mary?" Catherine looked as if she could not have been any more proud of Francis in her life. "And marry Alaina, oh how long I have waited for this!"

"Mother, please!" Francis turned to his mother, a fire burning in his blue eyes. "Yes, I wanted to marry Alaina, but that was before all this."

"Oh, so you've changed your mind? Very well, the Pope didn't grant the annulment anyway."

"What?!" Both Francis and Catherine turned to Alaina.

"Why?" Catherine looked as if she was now on the verge of tears. "The pope loves you, why would he not grant your request?"

Alaina didn't say anything as she turned to look out the window at the many campfires burning just beyond the castle. She could hear as Francis placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and patted it repeatedly, something he often did out of frustration.

"That's because she didn't ask the pope, not on her behalf, anyway."

"What? Alaina, do you not want to marry Francis?" Catherine was at her side, grasping her arm. "Think of how happy you two would be!"

"Catherine, you have a wonderful daughter-in-law," Catherine snorted, "Granted, she needs a little work, but she has potential to be a great queen... if you can look past her mistakes..."

"And how can we?" Catherine demanded. "Look at what she has done to this country? She has drained us dry and left us defenseless. Then she goes and runs off to be with Conde even after all this!"

Alaina looked over her shoulder to see Francis raise a brow as he silently agreed with his mother. "I love you, Francis, but it's clear your heart does not yet belong to me. She still loves you, you know?"

"You do not run into the arms of the man trying to kill your husband if you love them!"

Alaina turned her attention back to the outraged Catherine and smiled. "You were not there, Catherine, you did not see the way she reacted to my words, the look of hurt that crossed her face. She loves Francis. I even mentioned I'd become her ally, something that would make anyone happy."

"She wasn't happy about gaining a new ally? One that could bring peace to Scotland?" Alaina could see the confusion on his handsome young face as his brows furrowed together while he tried his hardest to make sense of it.

"No, she was not happy. Even Kenna was beaming when we won, and our victory meant the head of her lover."

"What does Kenna have to do with Mary?" Catherine asked.

"Well, even she noticed Mary was not happy, that something was wrong."

"And what did she say?" Francis looked at her.

"She lied, of course, but she said that everything would be alright."

"But that is because she like we did, believed the pope would give his permission."

"Perhaps," said Alaina.

"This still doesn't explain why she ran off to be with Conde," he began to pace back and forth, another one of his habits.

"No, it does actually," said Alaina as realization hit her. "Has anyone told Mary that we have armies to protect us?"

"No, I surely haven't, Francis?"

"No, I thought it was best to keep it secret after her past few actions."

Alaina nodded her head, a smile forming on her lips as she turned back to the window. "She is good. Very good."

"What are you talking about?"

"Mary has gone to tell Conde that they can be together," Francis said as he looked at Alaina.

"Even if she wants to or not, she knows that it will convince him to at least reconsider his siege on the castle and to take Francis' head."

The chamber fell silent as they all turned to stare out the window, all in their own thoughts. Thoughts about what was to come.

"Your imperial majesty, a letter has just arrived from General Pierre."

It was not Alaina who took the letter from the messenger, but Francis, eager to hear what news was to come from the Spanish army.

"They're here," he said as he scanned the letter. "And they wait for your word to attack."

"Thank heavens," breathe Catherine, relief washing over her.

"We shall wait," said Alaina turning back to the window. "Till morning. Natalie, send word."

"Majesty."

Natalie stood up from where she sat in the corner of the room and hurried out of sight.

"Why are we waiting? This is our chance to attack now!"

"Go, Catherine," she smiled sweetly as she turned to the Queen Dowager. "Go and get some sleep, for when you wake in the morning, we shall return victorious."

"You plan to join them," she placed a hand on her chest. "Must you? There are plenty of men to fight. Neither you nor Francis need to go."

"How will the people learn the sovereign king means business if they do not see me in action?" Francis smiled at Alaina. "Alaina is right, go rest Mother, do not worry about us."

"How would either of you feel if Elizabeth or John told you these words?"

"I'd swell up with pride, but I fear I will never hear such things from Lizzie, she's too much a lady," Alaina sniffed.

"I understand, mother," Francis turned Catherine toward him, "But I am doing this for John, and you."

"And France," she added softly. "Oh, alright. It seems I can't stop either one of you. Just be careful."

"We will," said Francis as he kissed his mother's forehead and bade her goodnight.

Once Catherine had left the room, Francis turned to Alaina. "You also told her about Edward," he said calmly. "Why?"

"I wish I knew the answer to that," she replied. "But I don't."