Disclaimer : I don't own Reign or any characters associated with the show

AN : okay this is an emotional and painful chapter and I know it's disturbing, but stick with me. Whomever asked if I'm continuing my Algan story the answer is yes, as soon as I finish this story. Only four more chapters after this one, so have hope!

They had ridden throughout the night and had pushed the horses to their limits. Catherine's whole body was in agony from the constant movement of the horse and the pain of her labour. Thankfully she hadn't felt her water break, but she knew if she didn't get off of this damn horse soon she and the baby would die. It wasn't even a question in her mind and it wouldn't help to tell that to her abductors. They had as little care for her as they did the horses they were driving into the ground. Even now with as much pain as she was in she hadn't screamed, wouldn't let herself show them any weakness on her part even then.

She hadn't been looking up for awhile as she had been breathing through another of her contractions and didn't see the land that stretched out before her with the large châteaux on it until the horses were slowed to a trot. She could hear the cock crow from out of the dark morning and a light rain had started falling from the sky.

When the gate of the home was opened they were ushered in quickly. She couldn't help giving a small sigh of relief that she would be taken off of the tired animal beneath her, but what would she be faced with now? Henry hadn't rescued her during the night, and she wondered if there had been any clue as to her whereabouts at all. How could they possible pick up on her trail? After the mill there would be no scent trail for the dogs and there hadn't been much rain so the ground was too dry for the wagon to have left clear impressions. Wherever she had been brought was a good distance away hidden in the countryside it seemed. Who had done this? There were clear suspects in her mind, especially after the uprising, but why her? Henry and the boys would be clearer targets.

When one of the assailants rough hands grabbed her around her waist to pull her down, she hadn't been ready for the quick action and couldn't stop the shrill scream of pain from her mouth as she was yanked to the ground.

"Unable to take such a rough ride, Medici Bitch? I'm sure that's quite boring for the King, unless he's more whipped than has been spoken of."

The howl of laughter from the men mingling around with the horses turned her skin. She hoped Henry had each of their lips and tongue cut out before he skewered their heads on spikes.

Scarface grabbed her arm and started pulling her towards the door of the châteaux while he told the other men to stable the horses before coming inside for a drink in the kitchens.

"Tell me why you are doing this! What do you have against the crown? Against me?"

A shiver went down Catherine's spine when he spoke.

"Besides the fact that the amount I'm being paid gives me enough cause to do to you whatever the hell is needed, your husband and his bloody wars have spilled more French blood than ever should have been. His damn ego cost me my father and my brothers so it's time he learned the pain of losing the ones who mean the most to him, starting with you."

Being yanked through the doors and down halls at such a hurried pace didn't help the pain Catherine was in at all. With every step she was reminded that the baby was coming until she could take it no more and had to bend to the pain. Uncaring of her health, the heathen grabbed her again to pull her along only to be slapped across the face.

"Stop touching me, you damn bastard. I need a midwife immediately!"

"I wouldn't expect to have much need for one of those. You'll be dead soon. Are you going to walk, or should I drag you the rest of the way?"

As much as she didn't want to move, she also didn't want to be touched again by this lunatic. Wincing with every step, she moved along until they arrived in what Catherine was sure to be the main room of the châteaux. She was shocked to find it set up similarly to a throne room only on a smaller scale. Her shock disappeared when she saw the Duke propped up in his 'throne'.

The Duke gave her an evil grin when she entered the room. Ah, the woman who held the heart of the King. He had always known there was more there on both of their parts for years, but love? Who would have thought Henry could have been so stupid? Who also would have thought the bitch would have actually put up with him riding every woman he saw and then letting him back into her bed. That spectacle of their 'love and devotion' had been a bit much, hadn't it? But then again he was thankful. It had revealed to him the King's weak spot. After all these years who would have thought she had been right under his nose?

Henry was a foolish man, one foolish enough to believe that the Medici could actually love him. She only wanted his power. He had tried to talk to the King about his obsession, but no, she had him firmly under his spell. Henry was weak now, unable to rule with the former devotion he had held for his country and someone had needed to do something about it. Mary's position to hold the French throne was stronger than ever. All he had to do was get rid of some very irritating chess pieces and the country would be firmly in his grasp. The nobles were with him, and although his first plan had failed this one was fool proof. The King would surely come for his wife and he would kill them both. It was a brilliant trap. Francis was weak and would be easily picked off, and the two youngest boys, if sent for could be easily disposed of. Mary would be regent when her child was born, and she was naive enough to take his council. Overwhelmed by her duties, he was sure she would accept his marriage proposal. A marriage of convenience and he would be King of Scotland and regent of France. With a few not so subtle changes in the line of succession, France would go to him. After that bumping off a child and its mother would be an easy task. What was two more bodies to his pile of sins? Some may call him crazy, but he was truly brilliant to himself.

Catherine watched as the Duke's eyes raked over her. He had always had the most penetrating gaze she had ever seen except for her husband's, but there was something changed in him. She could see how the lust for power had changed him.

"Did you bring me here to stare at, or is there a purpose in kidnapping your Queen?"

"Catherine de Medici, how pleasant to see you looking more like the peasant that you are instead of the imposter Queen that you aren't."

Her laughter, full of disgust for the man in front of her, filled the air.

"I always knew you were a power hungry bastard, but I really think kidnapping a pregnant woman is beneath you. You must be running out of ideas or have totally lost your mind. I carry an heir of the house Valois. The King will burn this place to the ground with you in it if you harm me in any way."

Stepping forward the Duke circled Catherine threateningly.

"Actually I have you right where I want you. In my grasp with your lovesick husband on his way to play the hero only to be led into my trap, and..."

Catherine couldnt focus on what the Duke was saying anymore. She felt like she was going to pass out as the pain hit her again. Trying to stay upright and show as little weakness as possible , she bit her lip to stifle her scream when she felt a rush of fluid between her legs. She didn't have to look down to know what she would find. The peasant dress was wet with her life's blood, and she could already feel the stickyness between her legs. She vaguely registered an eery laugh from behind her as she doubled over in pain.

"What a pleasant surprise, Madame Serpente does feel pain after all."

"Christian, please...you weren't always so unpleasant. There was a time you showed me a kind-...kindness."

She was heaving now from the pain, on the verge of falling to her knees as she refused to push. God this couldn't be happening. She was going to die here! Looking down, the stench of her blood filled her nostrils as it graced the floor beneath her.

" I never held any true sentiment toward you, Catherine. You were just another option for me to wrangle more control of the Crown's affairs. A means to an end. You shouldn't take it personally. I would have done the same to anyone who had married the King."

Unable to stand any longer, she screamed as her knees hit the floor. Her trembling hands were the only thing that kept her from landing on her face.

"That's right kneel! Kneel before your soon to be King, Medici whore."

His cackle was heard even throughout her screams as the waves of pain threatened to take her under. Looking up at him with tears in her eyes, she still dared not to be broken by him.

"You will never be my King, pezza di merda! Vai all'inferno, vaffanculo!"

Spitting on him with all the fury she had left, her vision started to fade as she heard a ruckus and an unsheathing of swords behind her. Sure that death would take her, she turned to watch as she was sure a blade would strike her. Instead of coming toward her she saw the soldiers in the room run towards the hall. A flash of blue appeared in front of her eyes before she gave into the darkness that was trying to consume her.

Henry's arrival on the scene is next chapter