Ok so this story will start as Catherine's thoughts after episode 14 and around the beginning of episode 15. Catherine's thoughts before the First Light Ball where Kenna comes and tell her of the dead girl in Henry's bed. How will Catherine react? What if Henry took a more physical interest in Catherine during his madness. Hope you like it. Will eventually be M because there will be some dark sexual content but it will be a while.

Disclaimer:I don't own Reign!

Catherine sighed heavily at the enormity of decisions that invaded her mind. Ever since she had helped dispose of that poor girl's body and cover up Henry's "accident", her mind had been plagued with worries. Had the act truly been an accident? God forbid it ever be found out! The country would descend into madness and surely, a great civil war would begin that would put all of their lives in danger. Henry would be pulled down from the throne and beheaded, then they would all have to flee into exile or face their deaths with him. Catherine weighed her options thoroughly as she sat looking at herself in the mirror. Henry's words floated through her mind as she noticed the subtle changes the years had brought about in her features. When he had asked her to stay with him, he hadn't seemed to mind the small crinkle of lines that had formed around her eyes. Of course, as with all things with Henry, bedding her would have only been his way of dominating her.

She knew her husband's wild escapades with women were to bolster his ego more than just for the sport of it. Henry liked to control all in his presence and she knew after he had learned of her affair with Richard he would want to mark her again as his own. His pride had been hurt and Catherine had wondered how long he would wait. She had declined him, not because she had wanted to, but because she had to. She still, in her heart of hearts, loved Henry, but to give into him under his terms would be admitting defeat which she would never do. He wouldn't take her to bed that easily if he ever did again at all. Catherine highly suspected his accident wasn't anymore an accident than her approval of the dress that would reveal more of her than usual. If his interests in certain things in the bedroom were growing, Catherine had to take charge of the situation now. They couldn't have any more girls falling from windows. She had to grab his attention and keep it. She had attained certain skills as one might say over the years that would keep Henry entertained for a long time if she could catch his attention. Diane had always kept his more violent habits in check, as she surely had committed every egregious act upon him imaginable. Without her, he had surely become bored with Kenna's naivety on his sexual habits. To protect their secret, Catherine would have to appeal to his lust-filled desires if they were to come out of this unscathed.

Without another thought, Catherine called in her ladies to dress her. As they removed her day dress and before they replaced it with her gown for the ball, Catherine took a moment to look at herself in the full length mirror. Her body had changed drastically over the years, her youthful ability to eat anything and never gain an ounce gone forever. Carrying to term seven children wasn't easy on the female body either, as her breasts had enlarged with each child and her hips had widened to accompany them as they grew within her. She winced openly before she had them cover her with her new gown made especially for tonight. How could she ever draw his attention away from the young, fit girls he was used to grinding into his mattress? She would just have to make sure she didn't reveal herself to him. She would have to prolong their games and his interest as long as possible or he would surely be done with her. She dismissed her ladies after they had assembled her hair on her head and looked herself over once more before she left to join the celebrations. Her gown revealed her shoulders and dipped down to rest above her breasts, revealing her collarbone. She hadn't revealed herself this much in public for years.

Catherine almost called her ladies back in to change her into something more conservative before she thought of the precariousness of their situation. She must do what she could to save her family and realm, even if it did mean subjecting herself to the stares of the nobles who would think her a desperate wife longing for attention from her husband. Let them think what they wished. It wasn't as if they didn't think worse of her already. Squaring her shoulders back, she walked out of her chambers and towards the sounds of the merriment in the castle. Upon arriving and being introduced by the herald, Catherine wished them well before taking part in the activities, her eyes scanning the crowd. He hadn't arrived yet. Catherine's thoughts were interrupted from their wondering of his location when she was introduced to the young Duke of Lor'e and the young Duke of B'eckel. With them both being barely older than her son, Francis, Catherine was surprised and utterly pleased as they vied for her attention. She was used to the attention of men, but usually they were closer to her age and not nearly as charming as these two.

Catherine smiled genuinely as they compared her beauty to flowers, trying to outdo the other with their naming of quite so many of the species. She was quite enjoying herself and had forgotten her troubles until she saw a disturbed looking Kenna without the King by her side enter the room. Catherine watched as Kenna made a beeline for her. Whatever she had to say couldn't be good tidings. Catherine rolled her eyes inwardly as Kenna spoke before she half curtsied. Had the girl no class at all? Catherine smiled fleetingly at the men she had been engaged in conversation with and with a flick of her wrist they were gone.

"Always a highlight of my day." Catherine replied snarkily, a huge impish smile on her face before she took a drink of her wine and looked to see if Henry would enter soon after Kenna's arrival.

"The King! He's done something to a girl." Kenna said urgently, alarmed at having just woke up tied to a corpse.

Catherine looked at her sinisterly as she swirled the wine in her mouth before she let it slide down her throat. How had she found out about the Duke of Bohemia's sister? Had Henry really been stupid enough to mumble it as they lay together? Why did he always have to be so stupid? Dammit, one day she would have to let him get himself out of these messes. How much did his little whore want to keep their secret? Catherine wondered faintly how much poison would it take to be rid of Kenna permanently? If Kenna's price was too high she could always think up something. Who really would miss her after all?

"Go on." Catherine said putting on her best mask to hide her irritation.

Kenna sighed and looked away from Catherine's eyes, unsure of what the Queen's reaction would be. "The King's…sexual appetite appears to be growing."

Catherine's mask fell from her face as the words met her ears and registered in her brain. What exactly had Henry done? The young woman before her was almost visibly shaking as her fear shown from her dark eyes. They must talk undisturbed. Catherine leaned in closer so no one would hear her yell Kenna to meet her outside in the hall. Then Catherine smiled and exited without her presence being deterred and waited off to the side away from prying ears until Kenna made her appearance. Kenna strolled awkwardly toward Catherine as she looked around wildly.

"We won't be heard. Speak freely." Catherine said quietly.

"There is something you need to see in the King's bedchamber." Kenna said nervously.

"Involving?" Catherine asked with a questioning look on her face.

"His activities. Please, I didn't know who else to tell." Kenna said, tears now springing to her eyes.

"Fine then. Let us make fast work of it." Catherine replied as she turned on her heel and started gliding toward Henry's chambers.

Catherine hoped against hope she wouldn't find another dead girl on the cement below her husband's window. Catherine stilled herself before she opened the door, bracing for anything that might be on the other side. Catherine opened the door and was greeted with a dead girl in her husband's bed. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply before going over to examine the body. Handprints as black as night were present upon her pale, dead skin. After instructing Kenna to tell no one, she headed to speak to Henry. This was madness! He couldn't just go around killing women. This would ruin everything. Had the first girl even been an accident at all? Catherine was starting to doubt as she hurriedly walked through his council chamber door and headed inside. He stood calling out names, her presence unnoticed until she spoke his name. A cold chill ran up and down her spine at his words. He acted as if he cared no more to have taken that girl's life than you would squash a gnat. Something was severely wrong and he wouldn't even let Nostradamus examine him.

"My headache will be our little secret. Won't it?" Henry asked her, a dead coldness in his gaze upon her.

Nodding slowly once at him Catherine watched as he turned back around and brought his pointer down upon the table. Catherine couldn't help it as her body jerked in fear before she fled on her heel. Her problems had just magnified.

So next chapter will be what I think would have been interesting to see if Henry had pulled Catherine into his chambers after his speech about showing everyone who the one with the power actually is. Stay tuned! TBC