The Royal Chapel

I came to the chapel to familiarize myself with it's surroundings. It was a glorious sight to behold. The ceiling above the alter was woven in the most beautiful golden patterns. To each side of me flags hung on the walls, from where they came from I do not know. But they each had a place within this chapel. The sun shone right through the windows, enhancing the splendor. All was silent and still except from the clicking of my heels upon the floor. I could imagine what it would be like to be married under the window light. It had a certain romance to it when I would be crowned it would be at night. When a thousand stars would cast their eyes down upon me, with a thousand candles illuminating the golden ceiling. Coming closer to the alter I noticed my future crown sitting upon a velvet cushion. I could only stare on in amazement at the beautiful craftmenship.


Just like the ceiling it was golden with the most delicate of pearls adjorned around the outside. This was no ordinary crown, this crown was made especially for me. My mind went to James and his lips. It was a slightly inappropriate thing to think in a chapel but his lips were one of my faviourite things about him.

James had decided to come to the chapel, ensure everything was prepared for the coronation - that there would be no risk to Mary's safety. He had left his guard behind, his men dispatched to go about their own business. There was no threat here, whether he said it or not - sanctuary was immediately evoked when he stepped upon the hallowed marble floors. Still, his hand held the hilt of his sword out of habit, his hand brushed through his hair.

As he meandered down the aisle he noticed a figure in the distance. Immediately he could discern it was Mary. Her figure slight yet graceful, the sun spilling upon her and so she appeared almost like an apparition. James approached quietly and when he was near enough, he leaned against one of the pews - arms folded across his broad chest, "Are you nervous?" he asked.

So enthralled was I by my crown, that I did not hear James entering the chapel. I gasped deeply letting my rosary beads fall to the floor. I turned to see him casually leaning against the pew. We were on holy ground yet, he owned every room he made an entrance in. James! No I just wanted to see the chapel. My crown is as spendid like a thousand suns.

James smiled a little as he saw her reaction and heard the hushed whisper of her gasp. He smiled endearingly, striding forward in but a few paces to collect her beads. He held them in his hand for a moment, admiring the delicate string of beads. He collected her hand in his, placing the rosary in her little palm.

He was restrained in the chapel. As much as his life was fairly hedonistic, he did adhere to a sense of propriety with his faith. It had become stronger since he was King and often in the chapel had he got some moments of quite. Yet, his mind was free...and how it wandered. He recalled the last night, her smile and moans - that bliss. He took a pace closer to her, touching her hip gently, "I had my mother's melted down, and had yours crafted from the same gold. I thought it would suit you better."

Such silent footing you have James. I said with a rather cheeky smile on my lips. How he occupied every part of my mind and how naturally my body followed his command by just a single touch. It was your mothers! I am so very honoured to share the same foundation of the crown. And the pearls, such a personal touch on my behalf. I wrapped my hand atound his, gently pressing my lips in the palm of his hand as my eyes held his gaze.

He shook his head, "Nay, love," he began, his voice coming out like a soothing, deep sigh. There was little love between James and his mother - he acted out his filial duty while she lived but she resented his spirit and he resented her weakness. The day she was exiled with her husband was a relief for James, "I should think the honour would more be hers. You shall be a far greater Queen and much more beloved by the people," he replied tenderly.

He was told there were cheers on the streets as his mother's carriage trotted to the border. An English Queen ruling the Scots was never popular amongst the common folk. Even his father's - from what he was told - had little affection for her.

A sign of regret slowly crept on my face as I remembered how we had just spent this morning disscussing his childhood. How careless of me to forget, yet it was not done on purpose. I have you as my king, to guide me when I stray from my duty. I let myself touch him this time. Letting my fingers move slowly down his cheek. I was admiring the flags up on the wall. Which cities do they represent.

He placed his hand upon hers gently as her fingers touched his neck. As he blinked, he let his eyes stay shut for a just moment longer, a sigh came from his lips as she touched him so gently. He tipped his head closer to her and brushed his nose against her cheek almost playfully, a smile upon his lips.

He then took a breath and stood up straight again, as if he had awoken from a dream, "Clans and houses - noble and the common.," he began and looked at the sigils which draped along the walls, from where they stood to the entrance, "It used to - in years gone by - be the nobles only...but my father changed it. Everyone is equal to God and the common folk have their mark here too."

I stood by his side holding his hand as I took in all the different flags. All the noble and common people of scotland all had a place in the heart of the palace. It's a great gesture to the people of scotland, maybe we could have one made of our alliance. Half of it could be scotland the other france with our initals on either side. Will any commoners be coming to my coronation. It was the commomers I cared for the most. The nobles I didn't need to please, they had enough wealth to do what they liked. I felt more sorry for those who waited long hours to gain entry into court. Just to have their caused heard by James.

He smiled, already she thought like a diplomatic Queen, "Then that may be your first task as Queen," he replied indulgently with a grin. The artists in court where already painting and carving 'A's where there were 'J's - intwining their initials through their craftsmanship, a subtle display of their unity.

"They will be outside no doubt - holding banners with your name, tossing blossoms into your path, singing songs about you," he said a little playfully but he knew it to be true. He would be a fool if he did not have spies and they all reported how popular she had been. Poets apparently wrote about the French maid bewitching the King upon the glen, bards composed tunes in her honour...

"But," he added with a frown,"There are some traditions not even I can break. My law doesn't extend into these walls. The Archbishop who will crown you is a fearsome man who thinks masses should be said in Latin and the printing press is the work of the devil, because the poor can have their own bibles."

He chuckled a little at the absurdity of the man, "But tradition shall follow that taxes are reduced after a coronation and clan leaders will be given a bursary to help their people."

They are not allowed inside. I didn't hide the dissapointment in my voice. I think that the nobles are already too high up on the rank list. Why not make rules equal just for one day, but that is just my opinion. I hadn't gone that far out into scotland to see the poorer parts with my own eyes. So I could not help them, or extend my wishes to help them.

He touched her cheek gently, brushing his thumb across her soft skin, "It is our opinion, love but they wouldn't have notions of coming inside the chapel for the ceremony. It would be a risk to mix nobles and common folk in here. Nobles would spit at their feet and there would be a clash, "he explained, adding protectively,"And, I will not have you near that if I can help it."

I wish to treat people equally but it is an impossible task. The only favourite I have in scotland is you, will you dance with me tonight. I tilted up my head to look at him, he could calm me and hush my tongue should it needed to be hush. In James I found the other half of me thus making me complete. To fail him would break me yet I would not take advantage of his feelings for me. To use for the greater good like some others do across many kingdoms. Is their anything else I need to learn before I am crowned. Things I can or cannot do.

He glanced down while nodding, a smile spread across his face, "Yes," he said simply and deeply - his mind straying to where they would go after the festivities.

He then looked to her again and kissed her upon the forehead tenderly, "You shall handle it...beautifully. The archbishop shall guide you through the ceremony and after we are relatively free. Your head will probably hurt from the crown," he said with a chuckle,"And you shall be exhausted by the end of the day but it will be a good day."

I rested my head in his arm letting my hand gently rest on his lower back. Their was nobody about to see my public affection only god. And after all he created Adam and Eve. You wish to tire me out so that you can rest peacefully tonight. I replied in a cheeky manner never before had I been so bold in my speech with him.

He chuckled and wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders tenderly, holding her closer to him. It was the greatest of pleasures he experienced when she leaned her head upon him, willingly resting in his arms. He dipped his head slightly, his chin sat upon her hair and whispered mischievously, "Well, I am hoping you shall take rest throughout the day so that you are still awake at night."

I hid my laugh against his chest as I tried to catch his eyes. You have it all planned out for me it seems. If I can look back at you today, I would. If I could carry a piece of you with me today it would be your heart. I took one deep breath in allowing my eyes to close, not knowing when we could be this close together again for the rest of the day. I absorbed this peaceful moment knowing that when this moment was over, it shall be filled with chaos.

He smiled, keeping an arm around her, while his other pointed to the elevated alter. Her little throne was already there, carved wood and upholstered with cloth of gold.

"You shall be there," he said before gesturing to the bottom of the altar - his throne already there, "And I shall be here...keeping guard."

He caught her gaze, "And you shall have the wren and I shall have your crucifix. We shall be together...in a way."

I followed his gaze seeing both of our thrones prepared for the day. My nerves had already started to build as the time started to fly by fast. Is my wren a broach then? I thought it to be a little ornament. I shall wear it close to my heart as it will match the color of my gown. I bit my lip to kiss him in a chapel would be most undignified and their would be time for pleasantries later.

He chuckled gently and touched her cheek, "Yes, love - only a little one...which reminds me," he said - his mind wandering,"You shall also need to decide upon your own badge, your personal crest."

The Stuart royal coat of arms - representing them both - was be a prancing lion. It had been so for centuries but James had taken some liberties when he designed his personal sigil. He choose a stag instead of a lion, much to the annoyance of the elder nobles, accompanied with thistle adornments and a pair of clashing swords. He always liked that his was a bit more imaginative that the English Kings - anything to differentiate himself from Henry Tudor was always good to James.

I nodded knowing that my coat of arms should be half scottish and half french. That was a way of uniting my past in france and my future here together. I know what I would like. I shall summon the best artist to have them sketch what I am thinking. I had thought that this would be done on my behalf not me designing it. Shall Lord Maxwell be attending today. Maxwell came from the isle of arran, he stood in as a proxy when my wedding to James took place in the notre dame, paris. He also escorted me to scotland some days ago.

"Yes - I hope so. The invitation has been extended," he replied simply. Robert was one of the few council members whom James had chosen personally. It was one of the first appointments and an easy decision for James. Maxwell distanced himself from James' stepfather and was eventually one of the jurors at the crown's trial against the corrupt regent.

"What of Isabelle?" he asked and absent mindedly tucked a stray tendril of her hair behind her ear. His fingers moved gently, a quick affectionate gesture, "I trust she is safely arrived?"

I knew should anything befall James that Lord Maxwell, would protect me with his life. He is a good man James. How is the work at Linlithgow Palace coming along. That was a place I was eager to see it would be a little french paradise for myself, should court ever become to much for me. I did write to her and she said that she would be attending. I shrugged not knowing whether she was on scottish soil or not. Us french our lazy, she will be here. I tried to smile reassuringly as I noticed the 11 priests entering.

“I have received letters from the architect giving me the particulars of the improvements. I hear they are working on a fountain in the courtyard - weather permitting - it should be complete by the end of the summer,” James could not remember his time in the palace well. He was born there, spent his infancy there but those memories were vague blurs. The sun blanched memories of kindly nannies, the gentle tinkling of his rattle and plodding through the gardens on unassured, short legs. He smiled a little to himself, a discrete and warm beam spread across his face. He glanced down only briefly as he thought of that time of utter ignorance - but happiness.

“You are free visit it - if you like,” he offered. He wanted Mary to be safe and feel at home with him - as he did with her. Yet, court could be stifling and while he ached to be apart from her - he respected her and so her need of occasional times of solace was something he had accepted willingly. He would not expect her to wait in her chambers for him for he would never be able to do so for her.

He was about to speak more of her sister when he heard footsteps from the bottom of the chapel. Without realising he took a subtle pace in front her, holding his hand behind his back for her to take - protectively standing her guard. He squinted, unsure why so many priests had gathered, and now approached - a mass of swathing robes and dog collars, “Fathers…” he said, awaiting their explanation - most likely deacons preparing their places for the ceremony.