King henry couldn't laugh at all at the display his wife was giving all of court. True, he had Diane but Catherine was his queen. That meant that he was hers to dance with and his property. The grin that was visible on France's most powerful woman – in name at least - triggered something in the childish king and amorous lord Narcisse.

In Catherine's mind, Henry could have his mistresses but there was still an ache in her heart for him. Her husband was still the one she fell in love with and now allowing herself to be loved by another man meant signing her own beheading since Henry couldn't make quite the difference of a man wanting her or she falling in love. If he would know the difference, they would now probably lead a good life together. On the other side, allowing herself to be loved by the king, meant leaving her already damaged heart open to be hurt once more and it isn't like you could live with a broken heart either. It was choosing two dead hearts but just in another way. She didn't have to fall in love with the lord, did she?

The lord sent the queen twirling across the dancefloor as they were still dancing together. Narcisse smirked at Henry, exactly what Catherine wished her dance partner to do and the gesture didn't go unnoticed by Henry as his eyes darkened. How the hell dare that bastard lay hands on his wife? Something that belonged to the Crown? The royal family? She was worth a lot of money, not that it was ever payed by the pope but that didn't matter in this discussion. Soon the king would teach his wife some lessons to remind her who she actually was. His and only his. She would regret it.

Lord Narcisse on the other hand didn't loose his royal catch for a second. Or he was bringing her wine after they danced, to make her more willingly, or he was again asking for another dance, or he was talking to her and of course joining her on every occasion. By this time, Henry almost turned purple, yellow and green as he watched the two of them. Someone was touching and giving attention to something that was supposed to be his. Supposed to be his indeed, the king sighed. That Italian bitch had turned cold on him years ago. Cold only to his, it seemed as he saw the blush on Catherine's face. Was it from the alcohol or from the lord's presence? He couldn't tell, and he actually started to feel bad that he could read his own wife so poorly and it was a well-known fact that the king Henry of Valois hated it to feel that way. His many wars were proof of that together with the number of women he had brought to his bed over the years. His talents as a lover were even a favourite subject by certain women in court.

Henry had enough of it as Catherine was being way too close to the lord that was HIS guest. In long strides the king reached his wife in no time. "Hello dear wife" The king spoke with a hint of irony in his voice. Catherine on the other hand seemed to be in much better spirits than he had seen her in in years. "Henry, what is it?" She answered in a light voice. Henry scoffed, why was she acting the way she was? Did she accidently poison herself or something? "You, woman" He snorted as a response. Henry however didn't get what he expected, instead his wife turned to him and almost stared him down. The nerve of that woman, honestly. His male ego was bruised and took her wrist in his big muscular hand and dragged her out of the room, to his royal bedchambers leaving the lord in shock. What had Narcisse just witnessed? He couldn't make it all out yet but what a humiliation for the queen of France.

The king was in full rage, he hated the fact that his wife didn't care at all about how she had been acting. Her hair had been loosened from it's confines and some straws were falling against her skin. Normally Henry would have been completely in awe of that little thing, but his anger took over and he smashed her wrist when he closed the doors. "Henry!" Catherine exclaimed as she felt a sharp pain on the wrist he held a few moments ago in his hand. "What?! You did this by yourself Catherine!" He shot back angry. "What the hell did I do now to hurt your damn male ego?" The female monarch spoke. On this point the taller one of them both was pacing around in the room. "You were just flirting with that lord! Not only for me to see but to see to all court! You're mine Catherine, and only mine! You humiliated me!"

She couldn't believe her ears. Did he just really say that? Did that really come out of his mouth? How dare he! He was the one who put her through all humiliation her whole life! Catherine snorted at him, a daring thing to do when he was in the state he was now in. The snort of Henry's wife was too much to take. He walked to her and pushed her with her front and she hissed. If only a corset wasn't enough, now she was completely pressed between the desk and his body. "Henry! Let me go!" she tried to get out of his grasp, but he was too strong. His hands were all over her. First her sides, her lower back, her hips, her upper back, her shoulders and then her neck. It was too much to take in and tears were now forming into the queen's eyes and Henry laughed. "Oh goodness, look at that! The Italian bitch has feelings!" His laugh filled the room, Catherine's form limp. Henry quirked his eyebrow as he didn't get another reaction from her. "Loss of words?" He went on, but the tears became harder to hold back. The pain she was suffering right now was too much to take. His hands didn't touch her body anymore and the king had stepped away, but the queen lay there, on the table, grasping it as it was her lifeline, tears rolling down her ivory cheeks. Henry hadn't seen his wife like that in… in how many years? He couldn't tell. "Catherine?" He said with a calmer voice but nothing… It was only after what seemed to them both a decade that she moved. Gathering her thoughts, she rushed out his chambers.

Catherine ran to her rooms, as fast as her legs would carry her. Once she was in her rooms, tears broke down for real and threw herself on her bed. Sobbing. Broken. Broken by the actions of her husband. Broken by her demons from the past.

So! Long time ago I actually updated but a big thank you to all people who favourited, saved and commented on my story!

Also, great news! This fanfic is been mentioned in an article by .com.

demedicigirl: Thank you so much, I really hope that Cathry lovers like this fanfic and I will absolutely continue this story.

Caty De Medici: Here is what you wanted, I had it in my mind for a while but couldn't seem to write it down until now.

Guest: Indeed!

cattuesmountain: Thank you so much, I indeed wanted the reader to feel sorry for Catherine and reflect her life as such.