Disclaimer: "Reign" or the characters used in it are not mine, sad but true :-( Violations of any rights are not intended.
Pairing: Queen Catherine/King Henry (Cathry)
Rating: M / P16
Kategorie: Romance, Drama
Timeline: Season 1 - Episode 9 (For King and Country) but in this story there's no Clarissa and Catherine didn't have an affair with Richard.
Summary: A classical what-if question: What if Catherine had actually managed to leave the castle unnoticed. Leaving behind French Court, her children as well as her husband. What fate awaits her out there and will she ever return?
Under my skin
Chapter 1
Prolog
"She actually left him?!"
Diane de Poitiers shook her head in disbelief and reached for a wine-filled goblet to down her amazement. She never thought the day would come that would make all her dreams come true.
"I bet that got a rise out of Kind Henry? How did he react?" She asked eagerly and impatiently looked up at the gaunt man who has broken the happy news to her.
"Apparently he seemed very upset and even canceled his trip to Rome."
The King's mistress laughed at the thought that by her flight Catherine de Medici had relieved her husband of the burden of traveling to Rome in order to ask the Holy Father for an annulment of his marriage. Her action played them perfectly into their hands.
Her disappearance could be seen as an admission of guilt and improved Henry's chances to get rid of his annoying wife.
What she didn't like about this whole scenario was the trembling uncertainty. About where the merchant's daughter had fled to and what she was planning to do regarding her situation. For by no stretch of her imagination could Diane picture her nemesis voluntarily forfeiting her station, her crown or her husband.
"I wonder where she will go into hiding," she mused aloud.
"My source has learned that she has left for Italy," her spy told her and Diane nodded absently. She probably sought the support of her wealthy and influential Medici family there. With them or even the pope as allies backing her up, Catherine de Medici would be able to destroy Henry's and her plans even from afar.
"She must not reach Italy under any circumstances!" The King's mistress said indignantly and looked at the man who slowly stepped out of the shadows. His face was as gaunt as his figure and a broad, jagged scar graced his left cheek. It ran from the corner of his mouth to his temple and disappeared under a thinning hairline.
"Her soldiers are highly trained and armed to the teeth", he told her but she knew that he wasn't shying away from the perspective of fighting her guards but merely wanted to raise his price.
"Then you either have to surprise them or lure them into a trap. I'm sure you can come up with something."
"That won't be cheap. I need outside assistance."
Diane, who had expected this answer, nodded and went to a chest. She took out a sizable bag of gold and handed it over to her co-conspirator.
"I think this should be enough," she said smiling and went to the window to give him the opportunity to examine its contents.
"I guess it kind of does," grumbled the hired assassin a moment later.
"Good," the dark-haired woman rejoiced and turned her attention back to her visitor. "You are going to kill everyone. Except her!"
She answered his questioning look he was giving her by offering him a green vial and a second, much smaller bag.
"Lace your blade with this and wound Catherine de Medici, but do not kill the woman." The man took both the gold and the vial. The latter he held up against the light to inspect it sceptically.
"Poison?" He asked unnecessarily and Diane nodded.
"Yes. So be careful and don't get exposed to it yourself," she instructed the man.
For she knew neither the exact consistence, nor the potency of this contact poison but she was pretty sure that it was highly efficient and very dangerous.
Wasn't it a twist of fate that Catherine de Medici would die of her own poison? One she had secretly stolen from her rival a few weeks ago and that would hopefully bring her a slow and agonizing death. Alone, lonely and far from home.
At that thought a smug smile appeared on the dark-haired woman's face.
"I assume that's all?"
"Yes, and now you'd better hurry. Once she has reached her family in Italy, we won't be able to succeed."
Diane dismissed the man with a nod. He indicated a bow and left the room without another word.
From her position at the window she could see the assassin galloping off a few minutes later.
End Prolog
Oh no - you may think - why is she posting another fanfic without finishing her other stories...
I have to confess: My imagination is running wild, I even have another story in the loop and I'm working on 2 new ideas as well. But no worries, I'm also working on my other fanfics. Give it a try, would you...?