Disclaimer : I don't own Reign or any characters associated with the show
A disturbance in castle duties were clearly evident as the Dauphin hurried along to his father's council chambers. He prayed that the news hadn't reached his father's ears yet. He doubted anyone would be able to handle the King's fury that would surely come along with the panic that would quickly follow. There wasn't any need for some unsuspecting messenger to be killed simply because he didn't have the proper answers for the King. Seeing his father's guards posted outside of the council room, and hearing no particular disruption Francis hurried through the doors without introduction. All eyes turned toward him and his abrupt entrance, the King's eyes already searing into his son's face. One look told Henry that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
"Francis...?"
Before he had to explain to his father in front of every Duke and Lord about his mother's unknown whereabouts he made his case as short and swift as possible.
"An urgent matter has come to light that must be addressed by his highness immediately. All grievances will have to be addressed at a later time."
One particularly agitated Lord was having none of it. He had been waiting to be heard for weeks and had been on the verge of sharing his problems and hopefully getting a solution.
"Can the matter not be held over until later? I have waited for longer than whatever miniscule problem has popped up and there are needs of others besides the royal family to speak of. I-"
"-If I were you, I would hold my tongue, Lord Cregor'e, unless you would like to be striped of your burdens permanently. Everyone who would like to be similarly relieved can remain in this room while I speak to my father as well."
The room became deadly quiet and tense for a moment before the nobility started filing from the room as quickly as they could. They hadn't ever seen the young Dauphin so stern and none of them wanted to find out if the terror of his father had been inherited by the heir to the throne. When the room finally emptied and the doors shut behind him, he turned to face his father and his King. This wouldn't be a simple matter.
"Now that you have thoroughly silenced anyone who thought you weak in one afternoon, please tell me is it your mother? Is it time for the baby? You could have sent word instead of coming yourself. I had planned on being by her side. Why wasn't I informed at once? Is she in good health so far? I know there are many worries but I had hoped she would be-"
Hurrying toward the door he tried to move past his son before being stopped with an arm on his shoulder that also silenced his words. Suddenly he feared knowing the answer as he stared into Francis's eyes.
"Francis, is it your mother? Does the baby yet live?"
He couldn't even fathom the place his mind had taken him. He had promised Catherine that he would be there by her side, and that everything would be alright this time. He had failed her yet again? He had seen her only hours before and she hadn't said anything about being in pain. She had worried so much, and he had tried to assure her that they would all be together and happy. How could that possibly be now?
Reading where his father's mind had strayed, Francis felt a huge amount of guilt for being unable to prevent the pain that he could read on his face. The news he had to share wasn't any better then what the King feared.
"Father, mother isn't in labor as best as we know, but...she has been taken."
Blinking his eyes in rapid succession, Henry tried to process what he had just been told.
"Wait, what? Taken where? She shouldn't be traveling now. What could be so damn important that-"
"-Father! Mother has been abducted!"
In this moment it was difficult for Henry to focus on anything. Catherine had been...taken away by force? How? He wasn't sure whether to be relieved that she hadn't gone into labor or furious that someone had snuck inside his home and taken his wife? How had they even gotten in and why had they abducted her? None of this made any sense! She should be safely in their rooms resting at this moment.
"Francis, how the hell did they get into our home?! She was safely in our rooms. Our rooms! How did this happen?"
Stepping back, Henry needed some space to be able to breathe. Anger was covering his barely concealed terror at the thought that his Catherine was in the hands of some certainly unsavory men. What kind of animals would kidnap a heavily pregnant woman and what was their goal? Who would have the resources to order such an invasion?
"Mother wasn't in your rooms. She had taken a walk in the gardens with Margot and had only taken one guard with her."
Henry was pacing back and forth now. None of this made any sense. Why had she not been resting? She shouldn't have even been outside! If she hadn't disobeyed him, this never would have happened!
"What of the guard? Does he yet live? Has he been questioned? Was Margot taken as well? Or did they..."
When his King looked up at him, he read the turmoil behind his eyes.
"No, father. Margot is alive. She won't let go of Mary, but she is physically fine. As for mother's guard, the man is barely clinging to life. He was able to mumble a name though."
"Which was?"
Henry's patience at standing in this room instead of running to the stables for a horse was wearing thin and his voice was raw and booming.
The look in his King's eyes he had seen many times in his life, and Francis feared his retribution toward his wife.
"De Guise. Now father, before you get angry with Mary, she assures me she knows nothing of this."
Did his son really think he would think Mary capable of this? No, she didn't present to be the one with the most to gain from this. There was another De Guise he had set his mind on immediately.
"Spare me the sentiment. I'm not that stupid, Francis, and neither is The Duke. He is behind all of this. I should have killed the bastard as soon as I knew he was at the helm of the plot before. Ow it very well may have cost me my wife! So much must be done now. The dogs sent out, horses readied, I have to..."
Turning on his heel, the King of France headed for the door as he listed on and on what must be done almost automatically before a crushing blow clenched his heart. Catherine...she could be gone, forever lost to him. What if he didn't get to her in time? What if she was already dead? Suddenly the room and the heavy weight at the thought of losing her buckled his knees under and he hit the floor.
"Father!"
The sight of his father, the strongest man he knew on his knees in front of him after being so held together surprisingly well shocked the young Dauphin. He had never seen the King fall apart. Hell, he had seen him scream, yell, and almost murder in front of him, but he had never seen grief overtake the man. When Francis heard some chocked kind of sob come from the broken man's throat in front of him, he realized something that he never had before: his father's love for his mother had become the King's weak spot.
Heaving there on his knees, Henry tried to catch his breath, but it seemed to have been taken away from him along with his Catherine. Images flooded the Ruler's mind; their last kiss, her smile, picking out names for the baby. They all filled him with a grief he had never encountered before now. His sobs now ripped from his throat and he was powerless to stop them as his whole world turned on its axis. Not his Catherine! Now his mind summoned up horrid, painful images of her death. How would the Duke do it? A sword? Hanging? Would they torture her first? One thing was certain: The Duke would make sure she was dishonored and that Henry knew about it. This was his sickest way of revenge.
Knowing that he had to find some way to comfort his distraught father, Francis knelt in front of him.
"Father, you have to calm down. Mother needs you."
Henry was blocking out his son. No, he couldn't calm down.
"How would you feel, Francis? If Mary was ripped away from you...and she was probably going to die a slow, horrid, torturous death? How could you cope knowing you would never hold her in your arms again? That the love that she now grows inside of her, the hope for the future that was so bright only hours ago had been snuffed out? How...?"
Placing a hand on his father's shoulder Francis tried to get Henry to look up into his eyes.
"Father, look at me. Please?!"
Shaking his head no, Henry buried his face in his hands now.
"Papa! Look at me!"
Hearing his son so desperate snapped something inside Henry. Francis hadn't called Henry Papa in...a very long time. Raising his head, the King faced whatever his son had to say with red watery eyes.
"Mother NEEDS you! She is still alive and she is out there somewhere and she KNOWS you'll come for her just as she came for you, because that's what people who are in love do. They face hell to save them. You can't let her down now! Be the King and the husband that she loves. Be the man who she has always believed in even when things were the worst between you two, and go out there and fucking kill the bastard who dare take her away from you."
Henry was shocked at his son's words. He had never heard him be so bold before.
The words had the effect on the King of France that the Dauphin had hoped for. Drying his eyes, Henry stood to his feet as his senses started coming back to him, pulling Francis up with him.
"Your mother did well with you Francis. I'm proud of the man you've become. You'll make an empassioned King one day."
"Mother changes everyone she touches one way or another."
Shaking his head at the simple truth, Henry headed for the door.
"Father, there is one more thing. Mary insists on going with you and taking Nostradamus. I've argued with her about her and the health of our unborn child, but she won't be told no. She feels a responsibility to the Queen now...and if mother goes into labour, she will need Mary and the seer. Also you needn't worry with organizing the search parties. One was already sent out and the armed guard is waiting for you in the stables. Just watch out for my wife?!"
Stopping his steps, Henry turned and pulled his son into his arms.
"Thank you, Francis. For everything. Mary will be safe, I promise."
Without another word, Henry left as his anger swelled within him again. The Duke must not have valued his life, for he would surely lose it soon on the end of the King's sword.
