Aguard had told Mary that Catherine and Bash had finally returned and she rushed to go find her. When she got to her room, Catherine and Bash were coming out. They were disheveled, bruised and bloody.

"My god, what happened?" Mary asked. Catherine stepped aside and opened the door so Mary could see for herself. She looked at Catherine worriedly and then turned her eyes inside. There, lie Narcisse's cold dead body on her bedroom floor.

"We found out he had helped plan a coup. He's the reason Francis is so sick. He had him drugged. When he figured out we were coming to tell you, he...he tried to..." Catherine started but got a bit emotional. Bash put a hand on her shoulder. Mary noticed this and knew it must have been bad if she was accepting comfort from Bash. Then she saw the bruises around her neck and she remembered when she too had bruises around her neck.

"No. Tell me he didn't." Mary asked.

"He tried. Bash stopped him." She said. Mary knew she must have been terrified. She hugged her. "It's okay. I'm alright." She assured, knowing Mary was probably worried about her state of mind. And she really was. "You were right. Both of you. I was such a fool to believe him. Even for a moment."

"Catherine..." Mary began. Catherine held a hand up to signal her not to push the subject. She knew if Mary tried to comfort her, she would break, and she couldn't afford to do that. Not now.

"We have to get men over that ridge to stop the coup before it reaches the castle." She said. Mary nodded.

"Bash send all of your men. Every last one if you must. I will not let them get to Francis." She said. Bash nodded. He glanced at Catherine a moment before leaving. Mary looked back and fourth between them and then gave a questioning glance at Catherine. Catherine looked away. Mary shook off her thoughts and continued. "We'll post every guard we have at his chamber door if we have to. They will not win." She started to walk away when Catherine grabbed her arm.

"Mary, there's something else you should know. Conde will be leading the attack." Catherine told her. Mary's stomach dropped.

"Oh god. This is all my fault." She said.

"No more than it is mine. Your relationship with Conde may have caused him to seek revenge, but my trust of Narcisse allowed him to drug my son and help plan an attack on the castle. Just as Francis's letting the slimy insect live in the first place, had a part. We are all to blame." She assured. "We will stop them, and then we will all wash our hands clean of this mess we have made." Mary nodded and they went off together to talk to the guards.

They had the guards made aware of the possible attack and then made there way to the front gate where Bash was getting ready to lead the men out.

"Are you sure there enough men here?" Mary asked as he mounted his horse.

"Not entirely, but we have more men coming. We should also have the element of surprise on our side. I think we can win." Bash said.

"Good luck to you." Catherine said. Bash nodded and went to the front. Catherine and Mary stood and watched them until they were out of sight.

"Do you really think they can win?" Mary asked.

"If Bash says the can. They can." Catherine said.

"Since when are you so trusting of him?" She questioned.

"Well he did just save my life." She said. Mary thought there was more to it, but didn't push. "We should get back inside. We don't want to be out here if they do happen to get past Bash. We'll be sitting ducks." Mary nodded and followed her inside.

They went to sit with Francis. Being all in one place would make it easier for the few guards they had left to protect them. They sat there for what felt like forever.

"I wish there was something I could do." Francis said.

"What you can do is get well." Catherine said.

"Or you could just come with me." They heard a voice say from the doorway. They turned to see Conde staring back at them.

"How did you get in here?" Asked Mary. He opened the door wider so they could see the guards all lying on the floor.

"I laced a few darts with a sleeping potion. They'll be out for a few hours." He said holding a crossbow on them. "Come with me Francis, and no one gets hurt."

"You will take my son over dead body." Catherine said.

"That can be arranged." He said turning the crossbow on her. "You ruined everything for me. Yours is the one life I wouldn't mind taking."

"No. If you want vengeance, take it on me." Mary said. "I'm the one who hurt you. She had nothing to do with it."

"Mary no..." Catherine started.

"She's the one who talked you out of it." He said.

"Stop this! I'll go with you..." Francis began as he tried to get out of bed.

"No Francis. Both of you stop trying to sacrifice yourselves. Nothing is worth that." Catherine said.

"You're so eager to die for him? Maybe you will." He dropped the crossbow and went after her with a knife instead.

"No!" Yelled Mary and stepped in front of Catherine. Something forced Conde to stop, as her reached her. A confused look spread across his face. He looked down, a dagger sticking out from his gut. He looked back at Mary, a drop of blood falling from his mouth.

"Always carry a dagger at French court." Mary said shakily. He fell to the floor and Mary dropped the knife. Catherine walked around to face her as she shook.

"You killed him? To save me?" She asked. A tear fell from her eye, but she said nothing. She didn't need to. Catherine simply hugged her in response.

"It's alright Mary. It's over." Francis said. Mary let go of Catherine to see that he was standing next to her. He put a hand on her shoulder. She turned and hugged him.

"I'm so sorry. You deserve more than that but I don't know what else I could say. I'm just so sorry." She cried into his chest.

"It's alright. I forgive you." He said. She pulled back just enough to look in his eyes.

"But how could you?" She asked.

"You risked your life just now, to right your wrongs. I couldn't ask much more of you than that." He said. She tried to smile through the tears. Then turned to Catherine.

"Catherine, I..." she began.

"Don't." she said holding up her hand. "I forgive you too...Welcome back." Mary nodded and held out an arm. Catherine joined in on the hug. "Neither one of you better not ever try to die on me again."

"We'll put it all behind us. Start fresh. No more secrets, no more lies. And we learn to trust each other." Francis said. They both nodded.

"We will because we're family." She said then looked at Mary. "All of us."

~FIN~

(Note: Wait for the final chapter of A Change of Heart if you wanna know what happened to Bash)