Reign

Previously on Reign...

You'd plunge France into war to sate your lust for my crown.

But you will never have what belongs to me.

You deserve someone that cares for you.

I mean me.

The truth is we both need this marriage to work.

Me to shore up my country's finances,

and you to gain Catholic support

to counter Mary's aggression.

But you must stop

whatever is happening between you and Gideon Blackburn.

- And you must remove him from court. - I will.

I just received word from one of my spies

that your privy council is planning to overthrow you,

and your worthless, traitor of a husband is helping them.

You have to leave now. Muster our forces

and prepare to storm the castle.

Mary, what happened?

They wanted to accuse me of adultery

and when they didn't find you, Bothwell,

they butchered David.

Darnley, help me escape the castle.

- They will kill you. - If we're going to escape,

we've have to do it now.

Your sovereign queen has been betrayed.

We will take back the castle.

And the traitors will pay for what they have done

with their lives.

It's time.

Mary, I understand you want to lead the charge

on Edinburgh castle, but must I point out the obvious?

Yes, I am with child.

But I must show my people,

and the treasonous privy council,

that I am Scotland's only true and legitimate ruler.

And as such, you must protect yourself,

and the life of your heir, at all costs.

I've gathered legions of loyal clansmen

who are ready to march on your behalf.

Allow me to lead in your stead.

I beg of you.

I will remain at a cautious distance,

for my child's sake.

But I will not stay behind.

I want Lord Ruthven and the council to know

that it is their queen who is taking back her castle.

And all those involved in the coup last night,

they will pay a very steep price for it.

Hundreds of heavily armed clansmen

- descending on the castle? - I'm afraid so, my Lord.

Gather the privy council, wake and alert them at once.

Sir, I... I'm afraid they've fled.

Fled?

- All of them? - King Darnley as well.

One sign of resistance and those cowards

slither out the back door. And Mary?

Does she know her king has fled?

She's been under guard,

imprisoned in her quarters all night.

By order of the queen,

I demand your immediate surrender.

I'm afraid that won't be possible.

I hold this castle,

as I also hold

the queen of Scots as my prisoner.

You hold nothing, Lord Ruthven.

And the queen is here...

to see you fall.

For the crimes of high treason

and insurrection against the crown,

you are sentenced to death, Lord Ruthven.

Your family lands will be spared, however,

if you testify against your traitorous leader.

I know nothing of traitors, only patriots

fighting a Catholic tyrant

and false queen.

You will get nothing from me.

As you wish, Lord Ruthven.

I will be more than happy to round up

the remaining members of your faithless privy council

for the testimony I need.

And I will do it.

No matter how long it takes.

That was for David Rizzio.

_

You asked to see me, Reverend Knox?

I've come to demand that you call off your guards.

They tail me relentlessly, day in and day out.

You are in no position to make demands.

If you have evidence to arrest me for something, then do it.

I assure you, I will have evidence soon enough.

Months have passed, and still not a single council conspirator

has been apprehended.

Your husband, the king, has vanished.

Perhaps it's time to be honest with yourself.

Enlighten me, Reverend.

You are a selfish and misguided queen,

whose own husband moved to topple your rule.

Whose own privy council despised you enough

to assist him in his treachery.

You have stirred hatred against me since my return.

You dangled Darnley in front of the privy council

as my replacement.

You fostered this insurrection,

and that is treason!

King Darnley and the privy council

are likely regrouping as we speak.

Preparing another attack on your crown.

How can you not see?

I've never been your greatest threat.

That ought to put an end to that pious agitator, Knox,

once and for all.

- Believe me, I will. - (Chuckles)

- And you know what you have to do? - Yes.

The agreement with Spain is quite explicit.

As soon as Charles chooses

one of the brides approved by Philip,

Spain will finally support Charles' reign.

They were impressed with him taking his post in hand,

but now is not the time for equivocation.

I hope the king knows that.

Well, Charles is quite eager

to end the threat of Henri assuming his throne.

For once my sons' rivalry actually helps us.

I do worry, though, with you away,

Nicole will be a bit less...

manageable?

She's proven key in keeping Charles in line.

I have spoken with her and I have filled her purse with coin.

She knows what must be done.

Are you certain this is safe?

Safer than the castle. I've taken a room at the inn.

We can't keep risking our afternoons together

right under Charles' nose.

- Why do you care about Charles? - Your brother has been kind to me.

I have no desire to see him hurt.

The feelings I have for you, Henri...

I love you.

Tell me you feel the same.

I love being with you.

Oh! (Chuckles)

To hell with Knox.

I want all the remaining members of the privy council rounded up at once.

I assure you we've been searching for them

in every possible manner.

Even your brother James is on the lookout

in the western region, which is a likely hideout.

There's one more thing.

Knox was right.

Darnley may have helped me escape,

but he is still my single, greatest threat.

He could be moving against me in a number of ways.

He must be found.

Oh, I need to be free of him.

Free of this marriage.

And when I am, I...

I want to be with you.

That is if you still...

: I want you.

Then I will find a way to be free of my husband.

No matter what it takes.

Whoa.

You are an extraordinary shot.

Is there anything you don't win at?

I'll certainly feel I've won if I marry you.

"If?"

- We are quietly engaged. - Mm.

Although, you were a bit noisy last night.

It's a good thing your castle has walls made of stone.

Uh, my servant, Jane, requires my attention.

I'll see you at dinner.

Lord Blackburn's returned.

His ship docked at harbor over an hour ago.

He's on his way.

That is marvelous.

But also challenging.

The archduke won't take kindly to Gideon's return.

But how many useless diplomatic missions

can I send poor Gideon on?

What will you tell him?

You'll need to be more specific, as I've lied to both men.

The archduke, but, yes, also Lord Gideon.

He has no idea you promised to expel him from court, does he?

He doesn't, and my hope is that he never need know.

Lord Blackburn, back at court?

But Elizabeth, you'd agreed...

That I'd send him away, and I did.

He's been to France, Prague, Amsterdam.

- The idea was to remove him. - From any sphere of influence over me

- because you're jealous. - Yes, I am. We've been over this.

He is a long-term confidante.

A skilled advisor and diplomat,

whose journeys, for the Crown,

have met with spectacular success.

- Who is in love with you. - Perhaps. I don't know.

Many are.

I'm the queen of England.

I represent something glorious, for everyone.

And if you want to banish

every person who is dazzled by me,