Disclaimer: No i don't own Reign, Henry's madness, or Catherine's snarkyness. If i did i'd be rich and i'm not, unfortunately.
AN: WARNING: THERE IS A POSSIBLE TRIGGER IN THIS CHAPTER B/C OF A VIOLENT FIT THAT HENRY THROWS AFTER HE TAKES CATHERINE TO HIS ROOMS. READ WITH CAUTION IF THAT BOTHERS YOU!
Catherine readied herself for the day. It had been two days since Kenna had shown her that poor girl's body in her husband's chambers and Catherine had been on edge ever since. She had kept a close eye on him every moment she knew he wasn't in meetings with his advisers. She was up and already dressed as the sun started to peek its way through her windows. She wouldn't have another dead girl to hide if she could help it. Her whole family's security was at stake and she couldn't risk a debacle of the counsel if Henry's strange activities were found out. Glimpsing herself once more in her mirror, she rose from her chair and headed out of her chambers to find Henry. He hadn't been sleeping so she was sure he was already prowling around the castle at this early hour, probably in search of Kenna. Catherine had told her to avoid him as much as possible, but he was the King after all. If he summoned her she would have to come. Catherine didn't have to search long for Henry. As she rounded the corner that led to the throne room, she heard his all too familiar voice filling her ears as he stood with his hands gripping Kenna's face in his, fear present in the young woman's eyes.
"We'll both need our energy. I see a lust in your eyes that won't be easily extinguished." Henry said with evil intent.
"Henry," Catherine said, loudly enough to make him drop his hands from Kenna. She saw his irritation as his stance changed before her eyes as he straightened his back and put his hands on his hips. Seeing her opportunity, Catherine ordered Kenna to go. Not having to be told twice, Kenna scurried away as fast as her doe-like legs would carry her, leaving Catherine to deal with his now foul mood. Surely irritated by her interruption of his plans, Henry inquired about her presence so early in the morning.
"Keeping an eye on you requires vigilance both day and night." Catherine said shortly, as he glared at her with narrow eyes.
"Is that your role now? Guardian of the King?" Henry said smirking at her as he eyed her up and down before turning away from her and walking down the corridor.
Sheepishly, Catherine hurried after him as she inquired of his health whilst Henry taunted her with his announcements of medicines he had received from the village doctor. She was sure none of those would help save any of the women he would set his eyes upon. So caught up in her thought she missed half of his ego maniac ramble.
"…having further isolated the cause of my discontent."
"And what is that?" Catherine asked lowly as he turned towards her making the space between them disappear quickly.
Henry's ego was front and center as he started rambling on about how as King everyone was subject to him and he could do as he pleased because God was on his side. He even spouted jargon about seeing Christ on the cross. Where was his head for God's sake?
"A glorious reminder that I am chosen by God to rule this nation. To bend anyone that I like to my will! To bend them…to break them!" Henry said sinisterly as he turned away once more.
Fear gripping her heart, Catherine tried to get him to see the absurdity of his words by questioning his actions as she tried to keep her voice from shaking. "To throw them from windows and crush their throats?"
Turning around, his dark eyes penetrating her, he walked back towards her getting so close Catherine could feel his hot breath upon her face. "It was a lesson each woman understood in her last moments about who is King," Henry said threateningly as he touched her fallen curl, his finger burning her cheek as he touched her, "And who is not." Catherine dared not move as she met his eyes again. Something dangerous lurked behind them. "Others will learn as well," Henry growled as he brought his lips even closer to her face. "Starting with you, wife."
Trying to step back, Catherine almost yelled as he gripped her arms firmly and kissed her roughly invading her mouth with his tongue. Her heart beating wildly, Catherine tried to pull back from him only to be pulled fully to him as his hands roamed down her back to squeeze her backside. What the hell would people think? Now free of his grip, Catherine pushed against his chest as hard as she could, knocking him back a bit. Trying to turn, Catherine was stopped from retreating as he gripped her arm and started pulling her towards his rooms.
"Henry, let go of me!" Catherine said as she tried to ignore the stares of the people they passed who surely wondered why their King was almost dragging their Queen behind him.
"Your betrayal of me has not gone unnoticed by me or by God. You are my wife and you shall act accordingly." Henry said harshly as the force with which he exerted upon her small form increased, causing Catherine to stumble and fall.
Undeterred, Henry grabbed her around her waist. Catherine did her best not to scream for help as he pulled her into his rooms and slammed the door behind them. Setting Catherine on her feet, Henry locked the door securely as Catherine moved to the other side of the sitting room. Turning towards her, Henry stalked toward Catherine.
"Henry," Catherine said as sternly as she could muster as she held up a hand to try and stop his advance. "Don't do anything you'll regret later. This is madness. The whole castle is surely ablaze with your very public scene."
"Good, they will know I can keep my own wife under control." Henry said heatedly as he threw open the door to his bedchamber and roughly pinned Catherine against it after it banged closed.
"Henry, just calm…" Catherine tried to say as he kissed her forcefully again before trailing his hot breath down her cheek to bite her neck, causing her to scream from the pain as his teeth bit into her tender flesh.
"Henry! Stop!" Catherine cried as his hands roamed over her body as she tried to frantically push him away.
Pulling back from his assault on her, a cold shiver ran down her spine as he looked at her with rage in his eyes before gripping her around the throat and whispered threateningly in her ear, "You are mine, Catherine. I am your husband and King and you will bow to my will."
As his hands enclosed about her neck, Catherine couldn't help the scream that exited her body as fear leapt into her eyes. All she could see was that poor dead girl in his bed, eyes glazed over, fear forever etched into her cold, white face as dark handprints surrounded her neck where Henry had choked the life out of her. Catherine thrashed about as best as she could, and tried to pull his arm away with her small hands, as she withered under his control. How far would he take this? Was her husband even present in the dark mind of the man that gripped her tighter with his palms? Catherine doubted it as she stared into the rage-filled eyes of the beast before her.
"I love it when you struggle, Catherine!" Henry said deviously as he placed one leg between hers and thrust into her side, letting her feel his growing manhood. "Tell me, my sweet, did you fight against Richard's advances as you are with me or did you just lay down and take him? I bet he couldn't mold you to him as I will." He said as he squeezed her bosom in his hand.
"Henry, I can't…breathe!" She gasped out as he started to pull her skirts up her body.
Catherine's breaths came shorter and her vision more hazy as he continued to feel every part of her. As she grew weaker, her movements slowed causing his grip on her to loosen slightly letting more air fill her panic stricken lungs. Able to think clearer now as the life giving oxygen filled her body, Catherine tried her best to restrain from fighting him. The calmer she appeared, the softer his grip on her neck became. His anger, it seemed, was fed by her resistance. If she didn't fight him, maybe he would become bored of her and let her go? Blessedly, Henry finally let go of her neck long enough for him to reach to unbuckle his pants. If she was to get out of this situation she would have to think quickly.
"Henry, wait…You were right, I haven't…fulfilled my wifely duties in quite a while." Catherine said gasping, trying not to shake as she rubbed her throat where his fingers had been. "Let me pleasure you for a while." Catherine said as she reached a shaky hand to brush his face, hoping he would buy into her plan. "I promise it will… fit your current needs and I would like to apologize properly for my actions…with Richard." Catherine ground out as she stroked her other hand down over his chest, sliding her hand into his unbuckled pants to cup him between the legs. "It must be exhausting," Catherine said breathily as she massaged her hand around his length, causing Henry to moan, "To always have to give orders to everyone. Let your wife take care of your needs, husband." Catherine said, hoping it was in a seductive tone. She had to divert his attention as best she could.
Henry bucked his hips into her hand as she squeezed him harder "It really is… Oh God, Catherine, you understand me so well. There are so many duties expected as a King. I need your support in these times." Henry said as he threw his head back.
Mentally rolling her eyes at him, Catherine kissed down his neck and she worked him faster with her hand. Men, it always worked. His manhood grew with each stroke. Catherine had to get him more under her control. As she looked down at the belt that now laid on the floor, she remembered something she had read of once. Oh yes, that would certainly work and he would learn a lesson in the process as to how she would not be treated.
"Henry?" Catherine said questioningly.
"Mmhmm," He groaned in response.
"I have a little game that you would enjoy, darling. It will bring you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams." Catherine said blissfully as she removed her hand from his pants and pushed them off his hips, leaving only his chest now covered. Catherine started unbuttoning his jacket and also slid it from his chest and began working on his shirt.
"Then do it, wife." Henry hissed as she ran her hands up under his shirt to stroke his chest with her fingernails before pulling it up over his body to be flung to the floor.
"As you wish, husband. Sit in the chair and remove your boots and pants." Catherine ordered, her voice turning stern.
"Oh, I do like this side of you, darling." Henry grinned as he moved toward the chair.
Picking up his belt from the floor, Catherine swung the supple leather against his retreating backside. The leather singing as it met his flesh, causing Henry to gasp from the hit.
"Catherine, what are you…" Henry asked as his brow furrowed.
"I won't stand for this insolence. If I hear another word I shall use the crop on you." Catherine said warningly.
Henry didn't know what her plans were, but he rather liked seeing her standing there in control as he sat and removed his boots and pants, now completely naked.
"Now," Catherine said as she straightened herself to her fullest height and ran the supple leather in her hands, "Here are the rules. You will not speak unless I bid you to. You will not touch me unless I say you are allowed and most importantly of all," Catherine said fiercely as she stared him daringly in his eyes as she walked toward him, "You will not come until I say you may. Disobey any of these and I assure you that you will not enjoy the consequences. You might be the King outside of this room, but here you are under the rule of Catherine de Medici, and she rules with a belt and a crop. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my Queen!" Henry said gleefully as she came closer and ran his belt across his chest. Henry's whole body tingled just from the question of wondering what she was going to do next.
With an authoritative air, Catherine bid him to raise his hands in front of him before she bound them tightly with his belt. Henry gulped as she placed her hands on his shoulders and bent herself forward enough for him to see down the front of her dress. God, how he wished to see more of her.
"Kiss my neck, softly." Catherine ordered as she sat in his lap.
Henry gently started soothing her now red neck where his hands had squeezed. Catherine closed her eyes and rewarded him with a sigh as his tongue came out to lick away her pain as he nurtured her. Henry just couldn't help but to touch her as she relaxed more into his touch. Catherine's eyes shot open as she reacted immediately by pulling away and slapping him across the face.
"I'm sorry, my Queen. I beg your forgiveness." Henry uttered as she turned to leave.
"You broke not only one, but two of my rules. I am leaving you to think of your actions. When I have returned maybe you will be more willing to obey your Queen better, hmm? And if you move from that chair, I will gag and tie you to your bed and you shan't have a release for a day. Do you quite understand?" Catherine huffed.
"Yes, my Queen!" Henry said quickly.
Catherine turned and left the room, not allowing a smile to appear on her face until she closed his bedroom door and made for the corridor. It seemed she had found her way of dealing with her husband's rough, crude ways. She might even get some enjoyment out of it herself.