Main Entrance

James had just returned to Stirling but had already been informed his old friend the Duke of Westmoreland had arrived. It was happy news that he received gladly. Royce was one of the few nobles who remained that were of good intention and loyal to the crown - he was always welcome for James.

James bound down the stairs in the main entrance, a smile tugging the corner of his lips. Once he spotted Royce he called out to him with a wave. He approached him with a contented laugh, tapping him on the shoulder in an almost brotherly fashion, "It is has been much too long, Royce!"

James gave Royce's horse a friendly pat, running his hand gently from it's forelock to nuzzle - the beast was nearly as familiar to him as Royce was. The horse neighed quietly as James glanced back up to Royce, catching his bow from the corner of his eye. Royce was respectful to a fault, and even though James would never expect such a display, he knew Royce had meant it with good intentions.

"I am very well, Royce - very well indeed," he replied with a broad grin and began to walk with him toward the castle.

"Certainly glad to have some familiar company," he added, "Tell me - how are your family?"

"I knew you had boys, Royce, " James began - a bright, grin spreading across his face when he heard the names of Royces' sons. He looked at him incredulously, "But I did not know their names. I cannot believe you named him after me! Do they keep well, " he questioned - his protective instinct and natural tendencies towards fatherhood showed. James cared for his kin greatly, and went to extreme ends to ensure their wellbeing, "If they need anything, Royce - you need only say. You are a great man and I have no doubt you are capable but...you have my support should - God forbid - you need it."

It was a great honour, one that James felt slightly unworthy of but it nourished his personal esteem. He knew that people would obviously name their children after him, but it was a genuine gesture of friendship from Royce, "All I can say is thank you...sincerely - to you and your wife, " he added playfully, "I am sure James shall live up to his name."

At the mention of Mary, James glanced down to his feet with a boyish smirk,"Indeed, " said he, "You are of course welcome, I would be glad to see you there. She is...I am quite convinced we will make one another happy."

James slipped his hands into his pockets as he walked causally beside Royce. He felt lighter now he had such a comrade with him, a familiar and loyal face was a rare thing at court. Royce's loyalty was clear and James was entirely loyal to their friendship.

"You must bring them - and your wife - to court some day soon. Show them off," James said with a bright grin, "You must be very proud. I think you are blessed to have such gifts as they."

James brushed his hand through his hair before adding, "Well my coronation was tiring enough and she is such a little thing - but she shall be well looked after. I think it will be a good day when it arrives."

Royce smiled gratefully and bowed with his head

Thank you, Your Majesty. I feel very blessed, indeed. And I wish you to have an heir soon. My wife and I will join with pleasure at coronation. It's such an honour for us. I also think that she will let her brother know about that. You know..King Henry is going to take a new wife. And probably very soon there will be another coronation in England as well..

He explained, since he was used updating James about everything. And he felt happy doing this again like old times

James nodded thoughtfully, he had heard about about her ways. She was apparently a Lutheran and was  encouraging Henry to adopt the new faith so they could marry. While he did not object to anyone having a different faith, he was loyal to his own and to the pontiff Rome. I would not be so easily swayed, he thought, Anne must be a very enrapturing woman indeed. James was, in many ways, devout. He believed implicitly in his faith and while he had ignored certain stipulations on chastity - he believed honestly in the doctrine.

"So I have heard," James began, "Although, I'd wager their union will be good for Scotland - politically at least. I hear Anne was raised in France and so no doubt the Tudor alliance with Spain will crumble...meaning we shall all be uniting with France. Finally, a bit of peace."

"Henry has an inflated sense of imperial majesty," James retorted and kicked the stones beneath his boot. It was not often he spoke bitterly but - as far as he was concerned - Henry had killed his father and that, for James, was unforgivable. Indeed, he was not so ridiculous as to hate the population of England but those in Scotland with Tudor sympathies were intolerable, "I think it nothing short of folly that he is forcing his people to change all that they hold dear because of his infatuation. He is fickle - what shall become of the country when he grows tired of her?"

"Yet," James added, "You shall never be forced to change to the new faith, my friend...unless of course it is your wish."

"I must admire her - in some capacity," he said fairly, scratching his beard as they walked beneath the archway to the castle. She was hardly a significant noble when Henry met her and he had developed a reputation for seducing even the noblest of women - yet, she had been resolute.

"Although, if she were my kin I would advise her to accept her new peerage and title, leave her ambition and Henry aside - secure her and her families' safety and income. Never the less, as long as she is distracting Henry from our borders - I am content."

“You are right,” James admitted and smiled at Royce. Royce had a sensible head upon his shoulders and while James was perhaps prone to passionate emotions and reactions, Royce was temperate and more restrained than his friend. Indeed, his wife was English and shared the blood of the English monarchy too. It would be a divide in loyalties for James and he was glad not to be in his position. He thought simply - that the Tudors were his enemies. Henry killed his father and brother - that was cause enough for James’ enmity.

“Yet I still think he could whenever he decides to…he is a fickle man and as he tires of his women, he will soon tire of peace,” James replied.

James conceded to Royce with a simple nod, he knew that his friend would have sympathies with England because of his wife. While James was related to the English monarchy through his mother, her treatment of him in youth and the murder of his father - in cold blood - had irrevocably hardened his heart to England. England would always aim to usurp Scottish rule and continue to cite the foolish claim that they have a right to France, a right even greater than that of the French King. They were treasonous traitors, at least for James and not even the tentative council from his friend would convince him otherwise.

“Let us not speak of such things, “ James replied and patted him on the shoulder, with a friendly smile, “We should speak of something else - something happier."

James chuckled and his thoughts flashed back to the conversation he and Mary had when they were still rather new to each other. Then, his lust for her had still not been satisfied and he was still reserved - touching her as if she were fragile and delicate...he had yet to learn of the passion in her. In some way, she would always be that girl upon the glen to James, gentle and quiet - not quite knowing what fate should become her. As much as they may drift apart from each other or come together  - James was quite sure that he could never be capable of loving another as he loved Mary.

"Children?" James said with another light laugh, "Between you and I...let us just say that I do not think that Mary and I have very long to ponder names. I would like a son - of course - to be called James after my father...perhaps Mary for a girl...it would almost be like Mary and I would live on again through our children."

James smiled appreciatively, Royce always had kind words to give freely. Never had James encountered a man who was so skilled in diplomacy and yet who was equally genuine. His words were filled with truth and sincere altruism.

“Our wish is the same, Royce,” James replied and tapped his shoulder in a friendly manner, “And when the time comes…perhaps you would honour us by being one of our child’s godparents."

If James had a son, he wanted someone to protect him as best he could - Royce could do that through his dukedom and marriage. Should James die before he saw his son grown, it would surely be at the hand of the English. It made political sense to have his child stay with a loyal Scotsman with a noble English wife - at least his child would have safety.

James was gratified that Royce accepted. While not many would refuse a King's request, James thought he and Royce were good enough friends that they may be honest with each other. As well as an honour, it would be a burden if anything happened to James. Yet, James had no intention of dying before his child was grown - he barely wanted to contemplate it, he would not have his child grow up fatherless like he had. I shall die in bed with my wife, he vowed to himself, I am young, I am quick and I am lucky - I shall not die on the battlefield.

"I must leave you now, my friend," James replied, "Do stay a while at court and come see me before you leave. I should very much like for you to meet my wife."