AN : Thank's for the reviews. As promised in this chapter : Henry's reaction. And as asked, I will continue this story soon but I have a few things to do (travels for sports competitions…) so I will continue this as soon as I can ( ± 3 or 4 days ). :)

Enjoy the reading.

Disclaimer : I don't own « Reign » and no plagiarism is intended.

Chapter 3 :

So that's what they were up to ! Henry thought. Catherine couldn't possibly be pregnant ! They haven't made love since two months and he knew by her last pregnancies that she would have started to show by now.

- « You aren't pregnant Catherine ! We both know that if you were you would already have a round belly ! » Henry said

- « As odd as it is Henry, I am pregnant. Nostradamus told you. » Catherine answered when her sobs began to be less violent.

But at the mention of the seer, Henry's anger started again to rise in him.

- « I DON'T TRUST YOUR WIZARD PROPHET, CATHERINE ! » Said the King looking deep in the eyes of his wife.

And then there was a heavy silence in the room. Until Diane began to talk.

« Another of her tricks, I'm sure ! » Said the mistress

But it was not the Queen that answered to her but Nostradamus.

« I'm sorry Milady but as much as I can tell the Queen is indeed pregnant. » The seer said very calmly.

- « I HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT I DON'T TRUST YOU ! » The King said, mad at him.

Looking back in the direction of his wife, he said :

- « I will have my personal physician examine you. And if you both have lied, you will have the opportunity to watch your seer burning to death before dying youself !

Then, the King turned to ask a guard to bring the physician to his chamber immeadiatly.

The moment after he grabed his wife's arm with a strong grip and began to walk in direction of his appartments. Her husband was walking so fast in castle's corridors that she nearly fell to the floor. She tried to free her arm from his hand but he was holding her with so much strengh that she failed. So she began talking to make him see reason so he would slow down his pace.

« Henry please ! You're hurting me and I nearly fall over my skirts several times ! »

But he didn't aswered so she screamed : « HENRY ! PLEASE ! SLOW DOWN OR I WILL FALL TO THE FLOOR !

But the King wasn't listening. In fact he was so much concentrated in his task that he didn't even heard.

/-/-/-/-/

In the throne room

Diane was forced to stay there with all the nobles.

« I'm sure it will not take long. The Queen is not pregnant »

« And… We will all be rid of her and her wizard ! This day is going to be even better than I thought ! » The mistress said with sarcasm and half laughing at her own words.

But no one dared to move in the room. They were all to shocked by what was happening…

/-/-/-/-/

By the time the royal couple made it to the King's rooms, the physician wasn't yet here. So they entered the appartments and began to talk. Well… they were both more yelling at each other than talking.

- « WHAT IS THIS SUPPOSE TO MEAN ! »

The King was now in complete anger, but the Queen was not the kind of woman you can treat like a common whore.

- « CAN'T IT SIMPLY MEAN THAT YOUR WIFE IS PREGNANT WITH YOUR CHILD ! OH ! BUT OF COURSE YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THAT ! Catherine answered.

- « I AM VERY CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING THIS ! BUT YOU ARE LYING CATHERINE ! »

- « WHY WOULD I LIE OVER THIS SUBJECT ! THIS IS SERIOUS HENRY ! She was now on her tiptoes so she would be able to look straight in her husband eyes despite her short stature.

The Queen face was now red with anger and her blood was boiling. As the King's was… The guards outside the doors heard every bit of the conversation between their rulers and they were clearly not well… They were as pale as death…

But it's the moment the King's personnal physician choose to make his entrance. Him neither, he was not well but he had to go into that room. By order of the King. Who would dare to defy him ? Except his Italian wife.

Henry spoke first.

- « AH ! Finally ! » The king said beginning to calm down himself.

- « I hope you will excuse my lack of ponctuality » The physician said shyly.

- « I want you to examine my wife. » Henry said while pointing at Catherine with his finger.

- « Of course Majesty. If the Queen could take off her dress it would be easier for me to make a more accurate diagnosis. »

By now both men in the room were looking toward Catherine and waiting for her to start to remove her clothes. But the Queen didn't move an inch.

The King began to be impatient and said : « Would you care to do as he asked ?! We are not going to wait until tomorrow !

- « I was waiting for you to leave this room before ! I do need some privacy. » The Queen answered.

- « Don't be ridiculous ! There's is nothing I haven't seen before ! Now TAKE OFF THAT DRESS ! »

What was she thinking ? He was still her husband after all !

How Catherine hated when he was talking to her like this ! It was giving the impression that he was speaking to a little child. One she was no longer… But she was not in position of protesting. If she did, anger would surely rise in him again and he would drag her back to her cell as fast as her brought her here or worse… he could kill her right now. As neither of the two options were good nor for her nor for the baby she was carrying so she granted his demand.

/-/-/-/-/

In the throne room

Nostradamus stayed there as he was given no order on where he should go. He stood there and listened to Diane little speach about « The adulturous and black hearted woman that was their Queen and the fact that she couldn't be pregnant again, that she was too old for bearing children and that the court's life would be easier with her as Queen.

Because yes, she was sure of becoming Queen after Catherine's death and she was convinced of Henry's love for her.

But Nostradamus knew that she would NEVER be Queen of France, Catherine couldn't let her become Queen… even if she had to kill her herself before she dies. Diane de Poitiers will NEVER become the wife of the King.

To be continued

AN : Thank's for reading and don't forget to comment

Next part : Catherine examination and Henry's reaction at the fact that is wife is indeed pregnant…

Don't worry Diane will not last long in this story. I can't stand her.

And let me know if you want to see something special and I'll see what I can do

:)

Laura D.