All the Queen's Men

Fandom: Reign

Pairing: Cathry (mostly), more Catherine-centric.


AN:Hi! My name's Mariel and I am only recently just finishing Reign. I am watching it very slowly and re-watching my favorite scenes at the same time. I like a slow burn. I am so in love with Catherine de Medici and Megan Follows. She portrayed the character so magnificently I am dying to go to Florence to try and meet the real one from history. Well, anyway, enough babble, I guess all I wanna say is, nice meeting you all Catherine, Cathry, Megan Follows and Reign fans - I follow even the IG account. This is my first Reign fic and an attempt at writing a fanfic again (after so many years), so please be kind to me. English is not my first language and I am trying very hard. I don't mind constructive criticisms though, and suggestions. I'd love a good conversation.

Disclaimer: I do not own Reign and I am not gaining anything from these aside from some peace in my troubled heart. Catherine has been very strong, but these jerks treated her so badly she grew fangs and wings at the same time, she's so beautiful. She deserves a tale about how she grew so strong and still manage to redeem herself. Also, we all deserve to find comfort that she in some way avenged her misery against these men however minute.

About this fanfic:This is my attempt to unburden my head full of so many stories I made up for Catherine; of how I wanted to bridge the information that the series had fed us. So, I will be taking references from the series, as it was those that fired up my imagination. It is an intricate attempt to reconcile it with history (as I enjoy researching the Medicis) woven with this fictional stories I made up myself. Basically, it is about Catherine's relationship with all the men in her life - the Popes; Francis I, II, II; Richard, and of course Henry - the love of her life.

Reference:"When I was eight years old, rebels stormed the Florentine palace. Both my parents were already dead, but my name and my family's fortunes made me a target. War doesn't spare children. I was held hostage for years until finally, they had to decide what to do with this Medici girl. Many of the soldiers, men just like these, they demanded that I be turned over to them so that they would...so that I would be shared. And I can still hear their laughter outside the convent. That sickening laughter. The nuns and I prayed. We prayed to God to send the Pope and his armies to retake the city and rescue me in time. And then one day, the laughter stopped. It grew quiet. And I stepped out into the sunlight, over their bodies and Pope Clement welcomed me into his arms. I emerged intact and so will you if you have faith."


Chapter 1: Into the Light.

Pope Clement led the army that destroyed the convent doors. He found his favorite niece at the center of the small chapel, on her knees, holding a golden crucifix, praying ardently to the Mater Dolorosa. The light from the sun that passed through the stained glass placed color on her pale complexion. She did not flinch nor opened her eyes.

She was so immersed in prayer that she didn't hear his footsteps circling her, examining every inch of her vulnerable, stoic body. She was clothed in one of the finest silks that the Medici's can afford, untouched, incorruptible.

"My beautiful saint," Clement burst, "my Catherine!"

In an instant, her eyelids flew open, letting a free flow of tears slide down her cheeks.

Clement caught her eyes in a tender gaze, held his arms open to invite his only niece to the safety of his embrace, "Come to me, my treasure. You are safe!"

Catherine painfully stood up, setting aside the bleeding from her knees brought about by her prolonged kneeling. She was in the same spot almost every day since she was eight years old to this day four years after, consistently praying for a miracle, until it finally happened. Getting up from that floor released her from the shackles of constant fear and torment.

She ran to her only remaining uncle, slamming her weakening body to his as her legs collapse unable to bear her light weight.

Clement was very quick to catch her. He couldn't help but tremble in her arms as well. He escaped Rome just as swiftly but not without immense difficulty to try and raise enough gold to organize this army to retake Florence. But on the gates of this city that their overly powerful family once owned, when faced with the option to choose between reclaiming Florence or bring her niece to safety, he cannot not choose her.

All those troubles wasted and cast aside only to make sure that his pure Catherine - the one and only remaining hope for his family and their legacy be brought back to safety. His mother, his father, his Pope brother, his ancestors - must all be rejoicing with God in heaven for this momentous event.

Suddenly brought back to reality by Catherine's shaking body, her weeping now uncontrollable in his arms. He lifted her fragile body, cuddled her as a loving father would out of this forsaken place that held her prisoner for a very long time in her short life. She was the daughter he never had. She was the hope that made him want to escape captivity. She would be the one that will bring their family back to power.

That's how the tales went.

That's the story all Florentine and all Italians tell each other. The Pope Clement preached the same divine story to all Catholics all over the globe. Everyone sympathized to the gentle flower that is Catherine, an innocent victim of war.

But that is not how she remembered it.


That's for the first chapter. Please review and leave me a message.

Chapter 2: The Venetian Envoy.