Pilot

Katerina Elizabeth eyes opened as she felt the carriage slow to a stop. She looked around at the four other excited girls, Lola, Greer, Aylee, and Kenna, that she shared the carriage with. "We're here." Kenna said, a smile plastered on her face. "We're in French Court!"

Katerina smiled as she straightened herself up before the five girls exited the carriage. They were amazed at what they saw. People lined the walkways, trying to get a glimpse at the new arrivals. Aylee was the last to leave the carriage, when she exclaimed, "There's Mary!"

The girls all looked and saw another carriage coming towards the palace. Katerina smiled, not wanting to wait another minute before seeing her sister again. Katerina was seventeen, older than Mary, but not in line for the throne. She was her father's illegitimate daughter from an affair, two years before Mary's birth. Katerina loved her little sister with all her heart, and was the only bastard child to live in the Scottish palace because it was her father's wish. She grew up in the customs of royalty, but would never be able to use them.

Mary's carriage came to a stop and Mary got out. Lola, Greer, Kenna, and Aylee quickly ran over to her, giving her a curtsy, before hugging her. "Oh Kenna, Greer, Lola, I'm so happy to see you." She cupped Aylee's cheek. "Aylee, we're all together again."

"What about me?" Katerina asked. Mary looked over at her sister and smiled, before running over to her. The two embraced, and Mary seemed to want to cry out of joy.

"Oh Katerina! I have missed you so much!" Mary exclaimed.

"And I have missed you little sister."

"How are you here?" Mary asked, releasing the embrace.

"Your mother thought since she needed to send your ladies, it would be the perfect way to get rid of me." Mary laughed, knowing her mother's hatred for her older sister's beauty, charm, and importantly, her illegitimacy.

"Oh Mary, you're hair!" Greer exclaimed, starting to fix Mary's long black tresses. "Didn't the nuns teach you anything?"

"Oh, Greer, those can't all be clothes." Mary said, noticing the many trunks that were being pulled out of the other carriage.

"There's jewelry and silver, too." Greer responded with a smile. "I'm making up in volume for what I lack in station, I suppose."

Just then, the sound of horns interrupted their reunion. And a guard shouted, "His Royal Highness, King Henry II."

The King walked out as the servants and onlookers bowed to him. Beside him walked a tall, thin, pretty woman with brown hair, but no crown on her head. "That's King Henry," Mary started. "But is that Catherine?"

"No littler sister." Katerina said with a smirk. "That's Diane de Poitiers, the king's mistress."

"So the rumors are true." Kenna softly said.

"Unlike her, you'll have no trouble finding husbands here." Lola chimed in.

"We'll certainly enjoy the hunt." Katerina said. "What about you?" she asked Lola. "Oh, don't tell me. It's about that boy from Aberdeen."

"Colin said he'd wait for me."

"Till when?" Greer asked. "We might never be back on Scottish soil, not if it all works out and Mary reigns here."

"What do you mean, "if"?" Aylee asked.

"What she means is make no mistake." Katerina started. "We're here now to get my young sister in the game. Alliances can shift, and before they do, Mary needs to win the prince's heart."

As she said that, a boy walked up beside the King. He had brown hair, and even from far away, Katerina could tell he had piercing, beautiful eyes. "Is that Francis?" Kenna asked, walking over to Mary. The others joined them. "He's gorgeous."

"No, that's not Francis." Mary said, disappointed. "I know it isn't."

The girls then looked at Katerina for his identity. "His name is Sebastian." She said, his name, rolling off her tongue. "He's the King's bastard, Diane's son. I hear the king favors him."

"A bastard, huh?" Kenna asked, looking at Katerina with a look that said, "You know you want that". More horns blew and a guard yelled, "Her Majesty, Queen Catherine."

Mary seemed intimidated by the woman that walked out. Katerina remembered her from the first, and last time she had visited French Court when she was younger. Kenna suddenly hit Katerina on the side as a tall, blonde, young man in all leather walked up to them. This was Francis. He had to be.

The five girls gave him a curtsy, and he gave them all a slight smile. He bowed to Mary. "I can't believe it." Mary said.

"Your Grace." Francis said to her.

"No, call me Mary, please."

"Francis." He replied.

"The castle seems bigger." Mary started. From the look on her face, Katerina knew her sister was about to start on a rant. "Is that possible? And you, too, of course." The girls snickered behind her.

"Is that so?" Francis asked. "Is that such a surprise?"

"No. Especially since your legs were always longer than mine. You know I hated that when we were young—I was always chasing after you—but now….now it suits you."

It became silent between the two and Francis motioned for Mary to join him, to reacquaint her with the King and Queen. "I believe she handled that quite well." Katerina said. The girls snickered again, before walking off behind the couple. This was going to be an interesting stay in court.

Once they were settled in the palace, the ladies were supposed to be shown how to act properly at tonight's wedding. Katerina, not being a lady, decided she wanted to explore the castle and its grounds. She wasn't in line for the throne, so she could do as she pleased and go where she wanted.

Katerina walked through the palace, servants acknowledging her as she walked by. There were also many men there for the wedding, noble men. They all stared at her as she walked by. She was looking at a group when she suddenly ran into someone. "I'm so sorry." She said, turning to see who she ran into.

"It's quite alright." Sebastian said. He looked her up and down. "I've never seen you before. You must be one of Mary's ladies."

"Hardly. My name is Katerina."

"Oh. Katerina. Mary's bastard sister."

Katerina looked at him with a look of shock. "And you're Sebastian. The King's bastard son." She put emphasis on bastard.

"Well excuse me for telling the truth."

"And I am doing the same." Katerina turned to leave.

"Wait a minute!" He called after her. "Aren't you going to burst into tears and cry, saying that I hurt your feeling? That's what most girls would do."

"I'm not most girls."

"Indeed." Sebastian mumbled. Katerina stopped, hearing him. "Maybe we got on the wrong foot." Katerina sighed and turned. "I'm Sebastian. Nice to meet you." He said, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Katerina." She replied, giving him a curtsy.

"So what is a lovely girl like you doing running around the castle grounds."

"I was exploring. I haven't been here since I was small and want to see what's changed."

"Well, if you wouldn't mind, I would love to show you around."

"I don't know….."

"Come on." He paused. "Give a bastard a chance."

Katerina and Bash, which he told her to call him, walked through the grounds. "You know I remember you now from when we were children." Bash replied. "You were always forced to be by your stepmother's side."

"Yes. She was always afraid I would mess something up and she would get blamed for it. She thought people would say, 'Why do you let that bastard live? Why do you let her cause trouble?' She would barely let me play with Mary when we were younger."

"The same with me and Francis. Catherine despises me." The two laughed.

Suddenly they heard a dog bark. "Stirling?" Someone yelled. They looked and saw Mary running after her dog, Stirling, towards the woods.

"Mary!" Katerina called. "Mary!" Bash yelled. He ran after her, with Katerina on his heels. He caught her just as she was about to enter the woods. "Mary, wait." Bash said, grabbing her. "Young girls—royals, queens—do not leave the castle along."

"But my—my dog…"Mary started.

"Let him go. Do not go into those woods. Do you hear me?"

"Why not?" Katerina and Mary both asked at the same time.

"What's in those woods?" Mary asked. "Besides my dog, who I might've caught if you hadn't stopped me."

"He'll find his way back. There's food and warmth. Who wouldn't want to be at the castle?"

"Not you." Katerina said. "Mary what is wrong?"

"You'd rather be at the convent, huh?" Bash asked. "Eating porridge and trudging through mud?"

"I quite like the way mud feels under foot." Mary exclaimed.

"Maybe you'll be sent back to the nuns. For misbehaving."

"You're cheeky, you know that?" Katerina asked, putting an arm around her sister. "And you're upset about more than Stirling." She said, giving her sister's shoulder a squeeze. "What is wrong?"

"You should ask his brother." Mary said.

"Ask him what?"

"Why he's such a moody, arrogant ass."

"Mary!"

"We're half-brothers, by the way." Bash explained. "Nothing in common but our father really. But I'll mention your discontent to Francis.

"Don't bother."

"And I'll find your dog." He paused. "Katerina, I quite enjoyed our talk. Let's finish it again, sometime." Katerina raised an eyebrow and led her sister back towards the castle.

Katerina took Mary back to her room and then retreated to her quarters were servants bathed her fixed her hair for her. She dressed in a black gown to match her sister. It had off the shoulder sleeves and a tight bodice, with the skirt long and flowy. She wore a head piece of diamonds and a necklace to match.

The wedding had gone well and it was time for the party. Katerina watched as Phillip and Elisabeth danced together for the first time as husband and wife. She looked so beautiful in her gown and couldn't help but hope that that would be her one day.

"You look radiant." A voice behind her said. She turned seeing Bash. "Milady." He said, bowing to her.

"You just show up, don't you? When knew one expects you, you're just there."

"You really know how to reject a complement, don't you?"

"I have my ways." Katerina smirked at him, before turning back to the couple dancing. She sighed.

"Are you jealous?"

"Me? Jealous?" She scoffed. "Hardly. Elisabeth is being sold to Spain for an alliance, just like my sister. I don't envy either of them. If I do get married, I want it to be for love. Not status or allegiance."

"Well I don't think you'll find that in French Court." He said, with a certain hesitation in his voice. Katerina was going to ask him what he meant, when Mary rushed over to her.

"Katerina, come. I want to dance." She said as Phillip and Elisabeth had finished theirs. Katerina smiled as Mary and Aylee pulled her over to Lola, Kenna, and Greer. "Girls, come dance with me. Come on, take off your shoes." The girls did as they were told and all ran onto the dance floor. They began dancing and spinning in circle, enjoying every minute of it. Katerina and Mary spun around in a circle, before releasing each other. When they let go, Katerina stopped, her line of sight right at Bash. He looked at her lovingly and she smiled at him. Just then, feathers feel from the sky.

That's when Katerina remembered being younger, probably eight and running through the castle with a boy about her age. He had brown hair and piercing eyes and a laugh that always made her smile. She remembered running and hearing voices and laughter coming from Mary's room. They both went inside to find the two jumping on the bed, feathers flying as the pillows broke and released their cushion. They then joined them.

Being pulled from her memory, Katerina looked again at Bash. It had been so long, she hadn't remembered him. He was the one she played with in French Court. He was the one she had been with that day. Katerina smiled again at Bash and began to walk towards him, him doing the same. They had almost reached each other, when the wedding party walked right in between them.

Katerina looked to her left and saw Mary, and then across the group of people over to Francis. They seemed to be doing what she and Bash had done. "Phillip and Elisabeth are leaving." Kenna said. "It's time for the consummation." She grabbed Mary's hand. "The ritual, the ceremony. Aren't you curious?" And that's when Kenna pulled her away, the four other girls following.

They went into a room, Katerina shushing them as they giggled. If they were found, they would be in big trouble. "We can't actually watch them….you know." Aylee said.

"It's a tradition for royals." Greer said.

"Well we're not allowed."

"Don't you want to know what you're in for someday?" Katerina asked her sister. "With your Francis?" Kenna pulled a curtain back, revealing a giant bedroom. Elisabeth's ladies were helping her get into her night clothes while a group of men looked on. A bishop walked around, blessing the room.

They all turned when Phillip entered the room, everyone bowing to him. He put his hands on Elisabeth's waist, moving her towards the bed. Elisabeth hesitated, looking over at the group of men watching them. Phillip cupped his hands around her face, blocking her view. "We're the only one's that matter here." He told her. He kissed Elisabeth, the two laying on the bed. There were moans heard from behind the canopy of the bed as the two consummated their marriage. Aylee gasped lightly.

"Let's go." She said, and walked out, the others following.

"Go, before anyone sees us." Mary said. And the girls split up.

Katerina ran through the palace, trying to find her way back to the throne room and the party. The rush of what she just saw coursed through her as she ran. She looked back to see if anyone was following her and ran smack into someone. She turned, seeing Bash.

"We have to stop meeting like this." Bash said, smiling at her.

"If we didn't, how could I keep you on your toes?"

"Maybe if you did something like this." And that's when Bash kissed her. At first Katerina was surprised, but soon she let her lips move in sync with Bash's. He cupped his hand on her face and deepened the kiss, which sent a jolt of energy through Katerina. She put her hands up and softly pushed him away.

"That would defiantly keep one surprised."

Bash lifted her chin with his finger. "I want to see you tomorrow." He said. "Give you the rest of that tour." Bash walked up, but not before kissing Katerina's hand, leaving her speechless.

Katerina went to bed that night, still on a high from her kiss with Bash. She could still feel the way their lips melted together, even as she slept. But her dreams were interrupted when she heard screaming. She woke up, sitting up right in bed, before immediately getting up and running to her sister's room, knowing her scream.

When she got their, guards were dragging out Colin, the boy Lola had eyes for. She looked from him and then to the bed, were her sister sat scared and in distress. She ran over her, sitting down, and throwing her arms around her sister, who collapsed into her. She cried and cried, still scared. "What happened?" Katerina asked.

"He tried to…he tried to…" Mary cried, not being able to get her words out. But Katerina knew. Colin had tried to rape her.

"Where were the guards?" Aylee asked as she, Lola, Greer, Kenna, and Katerina sat in Mary's room. Lola hadn't stopped crying since she heard the news. After what happened, Mary wouldn't sleep unless Katerina stayed with her, which she did. "Why didn't they stop him?"

"I hope Mary did if they didn't." Greer said. "They'll question her virtue. If she's not a virgin, she'll never be the queen of France, and our chances at court will be over."

"She did." Katerina informed them.

"You don't know what happened." Lola said.

"Tell me." Mary said, entering the room.

"I've spoken to him." Lola said. "He's being held. I bribed a guard. Colin's a good man; a boy still."

"What did he say?" Mary asked in a stern voice. "What possible defense could he have given you?"

"He said he was forced. He wouldn't say be whom, he couldn't. He was so afraid. But he said there are people, powerful people, behind this, and he had no choice."

"What people?" Katerina asked.

"Here, in the castle. He wouldn't risk saying more."

"Do you believe him, Mary?" Aylee asked.

Mary thought for a second. "He looked so surprised that I would fight back." She said. "That I would even wake."

"That you'd wake?" Kenna asked. "He attacked you."

Mary looked over at her dressing screen. "The wine." She mumbled. "I was told not to drink the wine. I was warned."

"Warned by whom?" Katerina asked.

"It doesn't matter know." Mary said. "I believe you. I believe Colin."

"Please help him." Lola said.

Mary went before the King and Queen after that, but they informed her that Colin was executed. Lola was devastated when Mary told her. "There was nothing I could do. I was too late."

"He wasn't a traitor." Lola said, he eyes filled with tears. "He wasn't a rapist."

"They said he was involved in an English plot. I don't know who to believe or to trust. I…I am so sorry, Lola."

"You're the reason he's dead." Lola said, standing. "Anyone who is close to you lives in constant danger. We're disposable. All of us."

"No, you're not." Mary said, a hurt look on her face. "I need you. You're my friends."

"Kenna is my friend. Greer, Katerina, and Aylee are my friends. You are my queen, and we're your subjects. We're here in service to you, whatever that means, whatever it costs us."

"I will protect you/"

"You can't even protect yourself."

"I'll do better. I promise." Lola looked at Mary and then sat back down, breaking into tears, Kenna, Greer, and Aylee hugging her. Katerina looked at her sister, who seemed on the verge of tears as well.

Mary walked out of the room and Katerina followed her. Mary began crying and Katerina put her arms around her sister. That's when she heard the scratching sound of paws hitting wood. The two sisters looked up and saw Bash walk up with Stirling at his side. "Stirling!" Mary exclaimed. "You found him."

Mary took Stirling from Bash and wrapped her arms around him, petting him. "Thank you." Katerina whispered, taking Bash's hand.

"Oh Stirling. What did I do?" Mary asked the dog. She looked up at Bash. "I'm sorry. It's just been so hard."

"I know." He replied.

"So much harder than I thought it would be."

"You're not alone here." Bash said, looking at Katerina.

"I have my friends."

"I'm not talking about your friends." Bash looked up. Katerina followed his line of sight and saw a woman standing in the shadows. "What I meant was, I want you to be well, Your Grace."

Mary stood up and took hold of Stirling's leash. "Thank you, Sebastian. Truly." And Mary took Stirling downstairs.

"Thank you." Katerina said. "My sister has been through a lot and she's having a hard time adjusting. I know having Stirling back will make her feel better." Katerina kissed Bash's cheek, squeezing his hand before walking away. But Bash still held on to his hand.

He brought her back to him and kissed her on the lips. "It wasn't just for Mary." He said. Katerina took in a breath and walked away, leaving in a daze.

So what do you think? This idea has been rolling around in my head for a while. I would love fellow Reign fans to tell me what you think. Read and review!