Companion

Chapter 1

Author's Notes: This is a two-shot that I meant to be a one-shot but got too long. It was supposed to be just a pure smut piece but it turned into something else. I was going to work on Cerres today but I had this one mostly done and I spent the day with my Aunt so I really didn't have time to write Cerres as I wanted to. But fear not; I will be home most of tomorrow and that should give me time to do it. This one is going to take a backseat to Diary, Cerres, and the others but it'll get done. Most likely when I feel like writing smut. Anyways if you feel so inclined, please let me know what you think and as always I appreciate all the support! ~ Scarlette

The Queen shifted on her throne. When her parents died, she never imagined that she'd have to deal with so much at the same time. She was suddenly a Queen, a leader as well as a grieving daughter. She had to shed her tears in private late at night and then put on a strong face to help the transition of her parents death. In true love style, they'd died with hours of one another. Truly they weren't meant to be without one another it seemed. But it made the new Queen an orphan even if she was fully-grown in her own right. Still the Kingdom had to run but she quickly realized how ill prepared her parents were for such things. Her parents though goodly people were rather horrible at money management and punishing the wicked.

They were almost on the brink of economic collapse. They had borrowed money from the neighboring Kingdoms to keep the vaults full and their people fed but it was still not enough. Emma had been forced to raise taxes to pay them back, an unpopular decision as well as sort through the dungeons. Half the so-called wicked people in the cells were those that spoke out against the crown for their behaviors that were going to cause them to starve. Those she'd released and sent back to their homes with a promise of cut taxes until they were on their feet. The other half had to be executed. That would free up a bit of gold that it took to feed them and that would go towards paying off the other Kingdoms so that war wouldn't be declared.

She reached up and touched her temple with two fingers to try and release a little tension that was starting to form. It was because of this that she missed the hush that fell over the courtiers and some of the paling faces of the older crowd that knew just who was bringing brought before the new Queen.

Emma looked up as the guards stopped at the foot of the steps leading up to her throne. She blinked as she looked down at the little ragamuffin that had been shoved down. Her shoulders were bowed, long black hair matted with dirt and grime fell forward covering her face. The rags that covered her body were ripped in places, showing yellowed skin that hadn't seen sunlight in quite a while though the skin was covered in dirt as well. She frowned with a soft sigh.

"What is her crime?" She asked, assuming it was a young woman.

"Treason, your highness. High treason to be exact; she plotted to kill your late parents and take over the Kingdom."

The Queen looked down at the thin bundle. "Is this true?"

"Does it matter?" A deep, sultry voice answered. The girl, no woman lifted her head. The hair fell from her face and large beautiful eyes stared up at the new Queen. They were totally hollow; there was nothing there. She moved her hand forward slightly to push herself up and that's when Emma caught sight of the leather band wrapped around her wrist. Her brow furrowed, it seemed out of place somehow. The leather was clean and seemed brand new.

"What's your name?"

Her advisor went to open his mouth, intending to cut off the prisoner but Emma held up her hand and he fell silent.

"I…" The woman looked down, fidgeting slightly before she looked up once again. "I don't know."

"Did you commit the crimes they say you did?"

"I…I don't know."

"You don't remember?"

"No…" The woman shook her head. Emma's inner lie detector didn't ping. The woman was telling the truth. She didn't know.

"Your highness…she did commit treason…I was here when this took place." Her advisor offered.

"It doesn't matter…she cannot remember." Emma said softly. She rose to her feet.

"Take her away."

"Back to the dungeons your majesty?" The closest guard asked.

"Yes, back to the dungeons."

She watched as the thin woman didn't fight. She just allowed them to pull her up. She hung between their meaty hands like a little ragdoll. They weren't gentle with her as they jerked her along her head flopping back and then forward. She didn't even look up as the doors to the opulent white and blue throne room were opened and then closed.

"The woman from earlier, the one that couldn't remember. Bring her to me." The Queen commanded as she was undressed and pulled on a bathrobe.

"Your highness?"

"Have the guards go down the dungeons and bring the woman to me. They'll know which one I want."

Her lady-in-waiting frowned but dipped into a curtsy doing as she told. Emma sighed glad for the silence for a moment before she moved forward and grabbed a goblet from the small table nearby and filled it with red wine. She took a sip and moved to settle in the overstuffed chair near the fireplace. The cold was beginning to seep in and she hoped the Kingdom had enough food stores to survive the winter.

She looked up as the door to her chambers was pushed open and the woman once more dangling from the guards meaty hands was brought in. She didn't look up, her shoulders remained hunched as though she was trying to curl into herself.

"Leave us."

"Your majesty?"

"You heard me. Leave."

The two guards shifted and then moved to do as they were told.

"You too." She said softly as her lady-in-waiting stepped to the side.

"Yes, your majesty." The girl dipped into a curtsy just as the guards had dipped into bows before they left.

"I intend to release you." She said softly as she lifted the goblet and took another sip.

"I have nowhere to go your majesty."

"I know your name."

The woman looked up at her, brown eyes showing a small spark. "You do?"

Emma nodded, "I do. Do you still not know what it is?"

"No," The woman frowned.

"What do they call in the dungeons?"

"Bitch, whore, slut…anything like that."

Emma sat forward. "Your name is Regina."

"That's a pretty name. I don't think it's mine though."

The blonde cocked her head, "Why would you say that?"

"It doesn't sound familiar your highness."

"That is your name. Do you know why you wear that cuff?"

The woman touched the leather wrapped around her wrist and shook her head. "No, I've had since I can remember."

"What can you remember?"

"The dungeons…they said that I tried to kill the Queen and the King…but I don't remember. I don't remember anything before waking up there. The cuff was around my wrist then."

The Queen sat back studying the grimy woman for a moment before nodding. "I believe you."

The woman looked up. "It doesn't matter. I can't take the cuff off. So whatever it does, it's there permanently."

"You've tried to remove it?"

The woman nodded, "A few times but it never comes off."

"I know why you wear it." Emma offered. She noted the furrowed brow and the way the woman began to nibble on the inside of her sunken cheek. "It binds your magic."

"I don't have magic." The woman offered in return.

"But you do and that binds it. Keeps you from using it. That's also why you can't take it off."

Regina looked down at her wrist in wonder and then back up to the Queen. "Is that why I forgot?"

"I don't know. I think it's a safe assumption."

She frowned and then nodded, "Perhaps that's for the best. I don't know that I should remember."

The Queen sat forward once again. "That's your decision but I'm afraid I cannot have that cuff removed. Magic is dangerous not only for those on the receiving end but you as well. I won't take that chance."

"I don't expect you to your highness. I will wear it if it means I don't have to go back to the dungeons."

"You won't have to." Emma promised. "For tonight, you'll stay in the guest chambers nearby. A bath and some food are in order I believe."

"A bath?" Regina's eyes glazed over for a moment as though the very thought of a bath brought her immense pleasure.

"Yes," Emma offered her a small smile before she stood up and called for her lady-in-waiting. When the girl finally appeared, she spoke softly but with authority. "Take the Lady to the chambers I had prepared for her. Help her with anything she needs and once she's had dinner, bring her back to me."

Regina blinked but didn't say a word as she was led away, Emma noted that though she seemed a bit less…hollow…she still hunched her shoulders and tried to make herself appear as small as possible.

Emma was reading a scroll when a knock sounded on her inner chamber doors. She looked up as the doors were pushed open and her lady-in-waiting stepped inside. She closed the scroll and offered the girl a small smile as she stepped aside to reveal the dark-haired woman. She was dressed in a soft lilac colored gown. Her dark hair fell to her waist, clean and thick. Her skin was still yellowed from the lack of sunlight and without the thick layers of grime and dirt, the Queen was able to see how thin the woman actually was.

"Did you eat?" She asked as the dark haired woman to which she received a nod.

"Good; leave us."

Regina glanced back watching as the Queen's lady-in-waiting dipped into a low curtsy before she left without a look back.

The Queen slipped to her feet. "Well you look like you're feeling better."

Regina took a moment before she nodded, "Much better." She offered.

"Did you get enough to eat?"

"I did; thank you your majesty."

"Good," the Queen smiled softly. "I didn't realize you'd be so lovely."

A blush covered the smaller woman's cheeks for a moment as she offered the blonde Queen a hesitant smile. "Thank you."

Emma licked her lips and stepped forward, holding out her hand. "I have a proposal for you. And you don't have to say yes because I'm the Queen."

Regina's brow furrowed but she nodded and waited the other woman's words.

"You said earlier you have nowhere to go. You've been in the dungeons a long time. I can only assume that even with your magic bound it kept you from truly aging."

"I suppose your majesty."

"I…Ruling is very lonely and very time consuming. Sometimes I just need to relax around someone that is putting no expectations on me. Do you understand?"

"I…I think?" The smaller woman blinked owlishly.

"You can stay here in the palace, in the rooms you were in earlier in fact if you'd like. Or I can give you another set if that would please you."

"What must I do for such a kindness?"

"Whenever I…require you…if you would share my company for the night…and my bed…I will give you whatever you need to survive."

"So I'm to be your…Mistress?"

"If that's what you'd like to call it yes. You'd be my consort if that's what you want."

"How often would I share your bed and who else would be there aside from me?"

"Maybe twice a week if that. You'd be free to come and go as you choose during the day. I only ask that you be easily found at night in case I want your company. If I'm gone, you're welcome to do as you choose as long as when I return you're here. And no one else would share my bed but you."

"You said I didn't have to agree. What happens if I don't?"

"Then I'll provide you with the means to get where you want."

"But if I choose to stay then I am to share your bed and your company whenever you choose."

"That's the idea. Will you accept my offer?"

Regina stayed silent for a few moments before she nodded. "Yes, your highness. I accept. I'll share your bed for as long as you choose for me too."

Emma smiled softly. "Good."

The dark haired woman swallowed before her hands moved and she undid the ties at the back of her dress. It fell to the ground at her feet, leaving her bare before the Queen's eyes. She was thin, her ribs showing through but she was still lovely despite the concave curve of her stomach and her collarbones that stuck out through the thin skin covering them.

Emma swallowed and shook her head. "Not tonight."

"I don't understand…I thought I was supposed to share your bed?"

"You are but not yet. I'd like for us to know one another. To feel comfortable before we get to the other parts of our arrangement. Will that be all right?"

"I cannot remember anything your highness."

"We'll work on it. Together…if you'll agree with that."

"If her majesty finds that acceptable then I do as well."

"I do; I don't just want you to share my bed Regina. I want you to be my companion."

"I don't know that I've ever been a companion to anyone before your highness."

"Then we'll figure it out together."

"All right." Regina offered her a small smile. "Together."