"Ophelia."

The gentle, sorrowful, voice hardly registered with the young woman. But she did pause and turn away from the brook to face the Queen.

"M'lady."

"You will not get far."

"I must go anyway. You of all others should know how insane the court has become."

The lady glanced down. "I do know. Which is why I brought you this." She offered up a small bundle. A quick glance told Ophelia it held a heavier coat than what she currently wore as well as shoes. A second bag undoubtedly contained food.

"Your Majesty?"

"I cannot ask you to stay when there is nothing but grief for you."

"How did you know I was not truly mad?"

The lady smirked. "My son attempted the same ploy and plays it now. I have learned to discern the truth. I have neglected him and that has brought grief. I will not do the same to you."

There was a stiff silence as Ophelia accepted the gifts.

"What will you tell them?"

"That you drowned."

"And when they ask why you did not try to save me?"

"Should they ask, it will because you were too far from the bank and I feared my skirts would drag me down to death as well. And should they ask why I did not call for help, I will let out a cry of sorrow for forgetting in the terror of the moment that guards should have always been within shouting distance from me."

"And if they ask for a body?"

"Before I will reveal your death, I will inquire discreetly at the undertaker for a body similar to yours. Should there be none, I will organize a search, but then assume you were dragged out to sea. It is plausible, though highly unlikely."

Another stiff silence reigned.

"You've thought this out well."

"I once considered escaping myself." She lifted a hand as if to touch the young woman's shoulder, but let it fall back down to her side. "What of your brother? What of Hamlet?"

"They will live. Should this finally come to peace, I shall return."

"Is there nothing in the castle I can fetch for you?"

"There is one thing, though its location and nature I cannot confess. I had decided against taking it until you met me. Perhaps, your disclosure of my 'death' could be the distraction I require to retrieve it?"

The lady nodded. "Hurry. Hurry there and hurry away. The faster you escape this net the better." Ophelia turned and quickly slipped back towards the castle. "Hurry," she whispered. "Before the net puts blackened spots on your soul so that you cannot bear to see your reflection."