Title: When The Siren Calls You Go (To Run With the Wolf), Part Two
Pairing: Regina/Red, Red/Snow
Rating: R
Length: 9, 600
Summary: Red finds herself indebted to a beautiful queen who only asks for her friendship in return.
The winter months are brutally cold, but thankfully short with the flowers blooming so early in the year Snow insists it must be a record. The time had been more exhausting than Red would like to admit, considering she's given up a lifestyle of hard work for that of one in court, where her days are spent meeting with dignitaries and languishing with the young Princess. Red had assumed that since she lived not three halls away from the Queen's chambers that she would now be seeing her more, and while she does see her in formal settings, it's generally with at least one other thorn in her paw. Sometimes the brunette thinks she catches herself actually enjoying her time with Snow, who has begun to single out Ruby as her most favourite of companions, but it only takes an instant for Red to find herself firmly in square one with the girl again.
"Have you ever had a beau, Ruby?" Snow asks as they sit in the unusually warm sun, playing chess in the garden. This game infuriates Red to no end but she desperately wants to learn it because she often sees Regina and her father playing on this very board. Snow, for what it's worth, is an incredibly patient teacher.
"Hm?" Red asks distractedly as she reaches for her rook, only to rethink the move. She hates leaving her queen defenseless but she's running out of options. Rather than make a real move she stalls by placing one of her black pawns on the square ahead.
"I can't imagine you were want for admirers, you're gorgeous." Turn over for the moment, Red can lift her eyes and actually focus on what the other girl is saying, critical of the small flush on her cheeks.
"There was a boy I thought I was going to spend my life with but he… he was in an accident."
"I'm so sorry, I can't imagine." She does look genuinely distraught but all Red can think is how happy Regina had said Snow was when she had found out that Daniel was no longer in the picture. She drops her gaze in return to hide her disgust, attempting to refocus on the game after Snow has put one of her bishops in a compromising position.
"Could I confide something in you, Red? It's about the Queen and… I've never spoken of it before, but I feel as if I can trust you."
Her first instinct is to snap at the girl for even thinking of gossiping about the Queen, but she remembers that it's the whole reason she's here, to learn any and all of Snow's secrets if she can. To placate and assure the girl that her stepmother was as happy as can be. She meets Snow's blue-green eyes and nods across the board, momentarily forgetting about her crumbling offensive line.
"Sometimes I feel as if the Queen… as if she hates me."
"She seems to be kind and generous," Red offers belatedly.
"She is," Snow insists in a way that makes it seem like she feels guilty to starting the conversation at all. "Regina… I owe her my life. And I try so hard to get close to her, but she won't let me. I know she doesn't love my father, but I always thought I could try to make her love me."
Red tries to match her look of despair with as much sympathy as she can muster. "Why wouldn't she love your father? Or you?"
The Princess opens her mouth but closes it again promptly, shaking her head as if to do away with the thoughts inside. "It all sounds silly when I say it out loud."
Red feels like she should pry more, given that this is one of their few opportunities alone without Snow's usual flock of other handmaidens, but there's something about Snow's too-desperate smile that has her feeling something along the lines of pity for whatever reason. She tries to compose herself, lightening her tone and reaching over to do away with one of Snow's pawns.
"I'm surprised your father hasn't made you a match."
Snow's smile turns more genuine at Red's change of subject, though her eyes are scrutinizing the board. "He likes to show me off to those who are desperate for his favour, but sometimes I think he wishes to keep me here all to himself. Not that I mind."
"Certainly better than being married off against your will," Red agrees flippantly, causing Snow's hand to still over her queen. She looks up at Red, who keeps her eyes diverted for fear they'll betray her, and smiles tightly.
"That would be a terrible fate," she agrees, choosing instead to play her knight.
Red actually does sympathize with the girl when she also has to be in the presence of her other ladies in the court, two girls who babble incessantly and lavish endless compliments on the Princess which she half-heartedly accepts as the day wears on. Neither of the girls are particularly fond of Red, nor Snow's immediate attachment to her, with Delilah, the redhead with brown eyes, constantly sending her dirty looks or commenting snidely on Red's fumbles and mistakes.
She's returning Snow's tray of barely touched food to the kitchens when the redhead catches sight of her and hurries to fall in-step with Red.
"I know your little secret," she whispers and it takes everything in Red for her to not drop the food on the ground and keep her pace up.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
"I know for a fact that you're a liar. The woodworker's apprentice lives very close to a certain residence occupied in the city limits. One that a pretty dark-haired girl with a red cloak used to live in with an old woman."
"And why would you be talking to a woodworker's apprentice?" Red asks with the best façade she can put on, her voice dripping with what she hopes sounds like indifference.
Delilah bristles at the accusation, though her attempt at outraged is thwarted by the flush in the cheeks. "You're a common girl posing as noble blood. The King will have your head."
"The King doesn't deal in such mundane affairs as listening to a lady-in-waiting tell false tales." Red sets the tray down on a table in the bustling kitchen and promptly turns on foot to travel back up to the living quarters, leaving the redhead to scramble to keep up with Red's long legs.
"Well, the Queen will certainly be interested," she insists as they climb the staircase to the top floor of the palace. "I know it was you, Ruby. He saw you with us one day in the market and when we met next he told me that you've lived in the village for a year now before you disappeared. Guess I know where you wound up."
She's so impossibly haughty that Red finds herself fed up with over-privileged brats for the day, so she stops abruptly and turns to the redhead, despite her want to just brush this off as something unimportant.
"Well, I suppose you feel obligated to take this story to her then. Come along."
The older girl makes some sputtering sound as Red starts on the path to the Queen's chambers, hustling to keep up with her ostentatious dress. "Don't think I won't tell her. I will."
"As you should if you believe it to be true." Red is nearing the door to Regina's room but slows upon the odd sound that comes from her room down the hall. A weird, mischievous laugh – more of a giggle really, and it certainly wasn't Regina's. Red's never heard it before, or the lilting voice that accompanies it. When she knocks on the door it disappears upon Regina's command to enter.
She's standing alone when they come through the door, dressed in yellow with her dark hair piled high on her head. Regina smiles when she spots Red but it disappears when Delilah ambles in behind her.
Red curtsies before speaking. "Your Majesty, Delilah wishes to report something to you."
Regina doesn't respond, just raises an eyebrow and looks at the redhead expectantly until she eventually finds her voice. "Your Majesty, I'm afraid I have troubling news to report. This girl isn't who she seems – she is from the very village inside, not a girl of noble blood from Midas' kingdom."
Regina looks at each girl critically before she turns to look out the window. "Princess Abigail vouched for Ruby herself, brought her to her castle to present her to Snow and her father. And you implying that Princess Abigail is a liar?"
"No, of course–"
"Or perhaps you just think I'm an idiot, as I am in charge of the King's wards."
"No, I wouldn't ever–"
"Surely you must have proof then?"
The young girl looks like she's about to pass out under the Queen's questions, glancing around as if she was expecting an ally to appear out of nowhere and save her. "The woodworker's apprentice has sworn he's seen this girl before, living in the village on the edge of the kingdom with an older woman."
"So I'm to trust the woodworker's apprentice who's sleeping with my stepdaughter's handmaiden over my close friend and princess who's to inherit the midlands?" When it's clear that Delilah has no response Regina continues, "Leave now. This insolence will not be tolerated."
She leaves in a hurry, the heavy doors closing behind her allowing Red to relax her stance.
"Did you give anything away?"
Red shakes her head. "No. But I feel like this isn't the last time she'll bring it up. She has it out for me because she's unbearable and even Snow can't put up with her."
Regina steps up to her, nodding slowly. "I'll deal with her."
"What about the apprentice?" Red asks nervously as she leans into the hand Regina places on her cheek. Regina stares at her for a moment before dropping her hand to rest it on Red's shoulder.
"Seek him out the next night Snow gives you an early leave. Deal with him however you see fit." Her fingers dance over to tap against Red's pulse. "Do you have to go?"
"Her Royal Highness has requested I sit with her this evening. At least she's in the middle of a book so it'll be a quiet night." Regina smiles as Red's hands come up to her hips and her forehead drops against the shorter woman's. "She won't notice me for a few more moments."
"Good." The Queen hums and brings her other hand up to rest opposite her first, thumbs brushing along Red's collarbone. She looks at Red with such fondness now that it makes her feel as if she's walking on air. "I've missed you these last few days. Seeing you with her certainly doesn't count."
"It certainly does not," Red agrees after the warm kiss she receives.
"Is it getting easier? Being around her?"
"Barely."
Regina laughs quietly against her lips and bestows them with another sweet kiss. "Has she said anything interesting?"
"Mm." Red doesn't allow her to pull away so easily and Regina doesn't resist – never resists. And nothing has ever made Red feel more powerful. Eventually she gives Regina the answer to her question, though her words come out between kisses she places along the other woman's jaw. "She says she knows you don't love her or her father, like that's any news."
"What?" Regina pulls away from Red's searching lips and holds her gaze. "What did she say exactly?" When Red tells her about their brief conversation Regina listens intently, stepping away once again. "This isn't good, Red."
"She said it sounded silly to herself when she spoke it."
"But she doubts me, Red. So much so that she felt the need to share it. It means she knows something's wrong. Or that something could be wrong." Regina taps her fingertips against her lips, looking back out the window.
"I'll talk to her, keep her happy. Alright?" She reaches for the raven-haired woman again, grabbing her hand to press her lips against her knuckles. "How much longer do we have to put up with this?"
"Not much. I just have to wait for the right time."
"You still haven't told me what you'll do."
Regina gives an amused look. "I'm still not sure myself. You should go now, she'll be missing you." She allows one more kiss before Red walks away, making it to the door before Regina calls out quietly. "Oh, and Red? Don't forget about that apprentice boy. With Abel training, it'll be up to you to sort this out."
When Snow gives her the night off she goes to see Granny for another cold evening of family bonding. Granny makes no secret about her disapproval of Red's rise in station, and under a false name no less, which is apparently the most offensive of her crimes, though she can't help but wonder what difference the shade of red made. But she's stopped bringing it up at least, so Red has the night to think about what she's going to do.
She knows the woodworker's boy by his appearance, had seen him hauling lumber to the shop down the street every once in awhile and occasionally walking home at nights as she was leaving for her sessions with Abel and Jackson. She knows what she has to do about him, and for some reason it doesn't bother her. And that is what's giving her pause at the moment – her total lack of anxiety or disgust with what was expected of her.
Red likes to think she's just come to accept that death was a part of life, especially in political intrigue. She isn't stupid; she knows what is going to happen to Delilah, that the pretty handmaiden's body would undoubtedly show up somewhere unsuspicious within the week. Like Abel, she accepts that this is a part of her life now. Or maybe it's just the absence of any sort of connection to this man, her bond with Regina, or her desperate need to see this through to save herself and her grandmother. Or maybe all three.
Doing it herself however, actually plotting and planning it, should be harder than this is. She stands at the corner, hidden in the shadows for a long time until she hears the raucous laughter of a group of young men. Red watches them all break away from the group, heading to their individual homes, and that's when she begins to follow him. Knowing your prey was half the battle and she knew hers; short but stocky with muscles derived from years of manual labour and drunk to the point where he's stumbling along the cobblestone streets.
She should at least give him a chance. "Excuse me." He jumps and spins around on unsteady legs visibly calming when he only sees a pretty, unarmed girl in shining jewellery. "You're the woodworker's apprentice, aren't you?"
"I am, I am. And who are…" He steps closer, all shadows in the minimal lighting, but she can see his smile despite it. "You're the girl who used to live down the street. Handmaiden now, aren't you? How'd you manage to swing that?" Red doesn't speak as he looms closer, listening for any sounds that would warn her to someone listening in on their conversation or approaching their location. His breath reeks of drink but she doesn't pull away as he steps up to her. "Delilah says she knew there was something off about you. I guess I could be a gentleman and let you pay me off."
"Oh?"
He cracks a smile and reaches for her wrist, inspecting the gold bangle before dropping her hand once more and looking over her body critically. "Well that trinket wouldn't hurt. But I'm sure you could be a little more creative."
The sound his neck makes when it snaps echoes through the alley before her footsteps do, leaving her to clench and unclench her hands as she walks back to the castle. She can still feel the scratchy hairs of his unshaven jaw pressing into her palms; hear the confused start of the word he never got to finish. But Red doesn't feel a thing as she returns to her bed at the castle that night – she falls into a soundless sleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.
The royal party barely has time to be announced before Abigail pushes past the guards into the courtyard. The blonde looks as distraught as Red has ever seen her, but remains emotionally contained and cool as she approaches the royal party, the relatively small party of guests around them kneeling at her entrance, though she pays them no mind.
"Abigail, I must say, this is quite a surprise," Leopold begins jovially, the crown on his head impossibly bright in the early spring sun. "You are, of course, always a welcomed guest."
"Your generosity is too much, your Majesty," Abigail replies brusquely, and Red can see from her spot at Snow's side a few feet away that the blonde is pale and clearly shaken. "I hope not to impose too long, I just wanted to see my dear friend Regina as promptly as I could."
Red watches as the King excuses himself and the two women begin walking towards the gardens, arms linked and their conversation clearly on hold until they pass the many ears surrounding them. She turns to Snow, who looks back after tearing her own eyes away from the retreating form.
"You were quite close with Abigail, weren't you?" Snow asks and Red nods immediately. Lying has come to her far more easily than she ever could have imagined and it was starting to make her wary of so many people around her. The Princess, however, seemed to be an open book. "You should go after her and ask her what's wrong, I'm sure she'd love to see another familiar face."
Despite being somewhat self-absorbed and impossibly impervious to the true horrors in the world, Snow is, at the very least, compassionate. Red reaches over to squeeze her arm, legitimately thankful to the younger girl for the idea, and in return she receives an earnest smile that would be cute if this Princess weren't the bane of her Queen's existence. She's fast walking through the small crowd, only mildly aware of the eligible bachelors who are getting their first look at the Princess's newest handmaiden – a pretty girl from a family no one's ever heard of from a kingdom whose greatest resource had little to do with the bloodlines outside of the royalty that reigned over them.
Red walked gracefully until large hedges hid her from view and she found her long legs speeding her through the garden as she tried to distinguish the scent of Regina from the overwhelming scent of the flowers. How she hates walking through the gardens. She finds them though, easily enough hidden away amongst the tulips. The young girl holds back, staying behind a corner rather than interrupt the women talking, but allowing herself to peek a look at their faces; Abigail's flushed and distraught, Regina's composed but sympathetic.
"Regina, there must be something you can do."
Red falls back to her hiding spot when Abigail spins suddenly to face the Queen, feeling uneasy about spying on Regina. Which she wasn't – she was just waiting for the right time to approach. Perhaps. The Queen takes her time with her reply; Red can't hear a thing from either woman for so long that Red almost thinks they've disappeared, but in time, she hears Regina's whispered reply.
"There's nothing–"
"How can you know that?" Abigail's harsh voice comes back viciously. "What good is that magic if you're going to do nothing with it? He's a statue, Regina. You're the only one I know–"
"There is nothing I can do, Abigail." Regina's tone matches the Princess' in iciness and clarity. "As you know damn well."
Someone lets out a breath (presumably Abigail), and Red dares to peak around the corner. Both women are still stone-faced, though she can spot a flush creeping up the visiting monarch's neck. She thinks Abigail might actually be on the verge of tears but in an instant, pale blue eyes have snapped up and met her gaze and the blonde squares her shoulders at the sight of Red.
"It seems your pup found your scent, Regina." It's Red's turn to flush, especially when Regina doesn't immediately smile and welcome Red over. If anything, she looks a little annoyed to see her there and the mood has the shapeshifter's stomach turning. Abigail seems less slighted, however, sighing impatiently and waving her over. "Well, don't just stand there all day, Ruby. I suppose I should check in on the imposter charge I sent here."
"I didn't mean to–"
"Spy?" Regina interjects.
"Get caught," Abigail offers.
"…Either."
"I suppose I'll leave you to your catching up then." The raven-haired woman dressed in lavender smoothes out her dress and turns to Abigail again. "He'll be missing me today. If you want to skip the festivities this afternoon, Leopold will surely understand, but I expect you'll be wanted at dinner after such a dramatic entrance. We'll talk later, Abigail. I'll… I will try my best to find a solution."
Regina breezes past Red without so much as a second glance and the cold shoulder has her feeling like an arrow is lodged in her chest. She wants to reach out and stop her, but Abigail's presence stops her. How much has she told the other woman? Surely not enough to implicate anything inappropriate between them. Well, more inappropriate than a few murders and a political coupe.
"Don't mind her, dear, she's under a great deal of stress," the blonde says diplomatically after a shuddering breath, any semblance of her previous state gone before the words she spoke. Red wonders if she would ever be so good at this game – able to put one a stoic face after a near tragedy. It strikes her, when Abigail approaches and takes her arm, that she's already done this. Over and over again. Abigail just makes it seem more regal.
"Regina… has magic?" Red asks slowly as the blonde leads them slowly back to the party.
"Regina is very powerful, though I suppose she doesn't want people to know just to what extent. Her mother was quite powerful as well."
"And her father?"
"Henry is about as useless as nipples on a breastplate, unfortunately. He's sweet though, Regina loves him dearly. What of your father, Lady Comstock?"
Red blanks at the sound of her fake name. "My father's health is failing him, but I doubt he will be leaving us any time soon. The mountain air keeps him as spry as can be."
In the corner of her eye she sees Abigail give a faint smile, one that seems joyless but still genuine as they find themselves once again surrounded by strangers. "Good girl," she murmurs at the false answer.
"What do you mean they haven't returned yet?" Snow asks, her face an angry red that the werewolf has never seen before. For all her haughtiness and selfishness, she is, Red will admit promptly, a generally well-tempered young Princess. Red glances around at Snow's other handmaidens, Delilah's replacement looking particularly taken aback at the outburst as they remained lounging on the comfortable seats in the solarium. "They promised me they would be here for the summer solstice."
"Snow, I am sure they've done everything you can, you know how much your father was looking forward to this party, but it's up to you now, dear, to be a true princess and welcome the lords and ladies of this–"
Before Johanna can finish, Snow is storming away from the room, leaving the four women staring after her. Red can feel their eyes shift to her as she listens to the echoing footsteps and Anna, Delilah's replacement and the only one Red can find remotely bearable (possibly due to her lack of interest in speaking), looks at her imploringly with wide, violet eyes and she already knows she's lost this battle.
"Lady Ruby," Johanna begins, glancing at the other girls before giving a defeated shrug as she seemed to struggle to find the words she wanted. "If… if it wouldn't be a bother… I don't think she'll want to talk to anyone else, you know. And there's nothing to be done about the King and Queen's return, the rivers are uncrossable, there's just–"
"It's fine, Johanna," Red replies as she rises from her seat, smoothing out the front of her dress as she tries to keep the look of frustration off her face. "It is why I'm here, after all."
She doesn't mind that much, really, being Snow's go-to friend, and not just because it is the reason she's in the castle at all. What really frustrates Red, what really is starting to bother her is that very fact. That she's not bothered by Snow anymore. She actually kind of doesn't completely hate her and that terrifies the shapeshifter, the nagging realization that she might like Snow a little, despite all she knows about the girl, all the selfish and annoying traits that are on display as the future ruler of the kingdom runs about the palace as if she didn't have a care in the world.
Even after all of Red's best efforts to villainize the girl as Regina does, the many days they've spent together has had a horrible, humanizing effect on the Princess. The future queen wasn't as terrible as the first grating impression Red caught of her – she was just a girl. A silly girl sometimes, yes, but no worse than any other teenage female she had met. Worse in some categories, better than most in many.
"Snow," Red said in a lilting voice as she came to the heavy oak door that guarded the Princess' room. "It's me. Re… Ruby." She can hear her in there; hear the sniffling, the shuddering breaths Snow takes, the elevated heart rate that appeared at Red's voice, her silent shuffling footsteps. The door opens with a great groan that echoes down the hallway. The Princess is pink-cheeked and red-eyed, but she lets Red in without a word.
There's a few moments of silence as Red walks in, standing at the center of the room as the Princess stays back, leaning against the once more closed door and looking at the ground. Her chamber is impeccably clean save for her bed, where it looks as if she had thrown herself when she first arrived.
"You must think me a silly, spoiled child, Ruby," Snow whispers suddenly with a hollowness that has Red's eyes snapping back to the younger girl who continued to stare away.
"Of course not, Maj–"
"Snow." Red's mouth snaps shut again when the Princess's eyes found her own, their shade having turned to a bright and vibrant green due to the red surrounding them. All at once she looks hurt, angry, and pitifully desperate as her voice cracks. "Don't… aren't we past titles, Ruby? Aren't we friends?"
"Yes," Red whispers at once, though she doesn't move or immediately follow-up, despite Snow's imploring look. Her tongue feels thick and her thoughts are muddled, and despite a genuine, comforting mention of her own fondness for Snow on her lips, she can't make it come to pass. Just because the past few months with Regina had been tense and tiring, while her time with Snow sweet and getting easier every day, Regina was… Regina. And she had her loyalty. And with that loyalty came Red's absolute sweet nothings. "I know… it can't be easy for you, but… it's not for me, either, Snow. You are my closest friend, but you are still the next ruler of this kingdom."
The Princess nods, but drops her gaze anyway, hands still tucked behind her while she leant back against the door. "I am a silly, spoiled child though, aren't I?"
"Snow–"
"Your honesty would be appreciated, both as my lady-in-waiting and my friend," Snow interjects quietly.
"...A little, your Grace."
Snow lets out a snort, looking as if she's unable to keep the smile that's blooming on her lips off her face and Red is immediately relieved at the shift in atmosphere.
"The other girls would have lied, you know," she states as she pushes off the door and begins to walk, collapsing on the featherbed she had been in previously and sighing. She pats the mattress and Red follows, sliding up and leaning back against the headboard, a large slab of the same oak that made up the door with hundreds of flowers of all types and sizes carved into its grains. "I'm not mad because I think the party is ruined."
"I know." Snow glances over at her. "You want your father and Regina here, I know you miss them."
"If it were only that, I wouldn't be so off-centre. I do miss them, more than anything but… do you know how exhausting it is to be the host of a party with dignitaries from all over the lands? Keeping track of their names, of our history with them, of our current trade agreements, of new children and grandchildren. Pretending I'm thrilled to be strapped into a corset and put on display so I can prance and preen around them in the hopes that they'll think me everything a princess should be." She lets out a long-awaited breath, sighing as she reached up to rub her face. "It's as if I'm an actor playing a role I don't recognize anymore."
Red understands what she means, far more than she'd even like to admit to herself. She feels the same way whenever she goes home to visit Granny, trying to be Red and shed Ruby, but it's all become a mixed muddled mess that she doesn't know how to sort out anymore. She doesn't remember who Red even is, but she's pretty sure she died that night in the woods with Peter.
"This life…" It's Red's turn to glance away as she struggles with her words. "At court… There's so… so much more to it than I ever could have thought. You have to watch everything you say and do, the politics are just way too much, and the rules, gods, it's impossible to keep track of them all. I feel…" She's treading on dangerous ground because she's talking to Snow as Ruby but giving her Red's insights, when Regina was the only one who should. "I feel like I don't know myself when I'm here. I think I could, if I could just… think again, but…"
"There's nowhere in the palace where you can," Snow finishes for her and Red lets out a relieved breath. "This… this isn't what I want… I want to be a good ruler to my people, but I always imagined… there'd be a bit more adventure in my life. I've seen amazing places and things but… I keep trying to find meaning in all of this and I don't know where it is. I don't think I ever will in this palace. I suppose when everything's sunny you start to miss the shade."
"...And there I go being a silly spoiled child again." The Princess laughs hollowly but relaxes back against the pillows lined up behind her. And for a moment, while they lounge back on Snow's bed on a lazy day and silently revel in a new unspoken understanding of the suffocation they feel in their respective fake roles, Red feels the most normal she's ever felt since the day she discovered what she was. Their reverie is broken, not unpleasantly, by Snow's voice once more. "Where do you feel the most at peace, Lady Comstock?"
"In the woods, Your Highness. I love walking in the woods. The mountain where I grew up… my father's hold, it was in the middle of a great forest. I didn't even know how expansive they were until the day I left them."
Snow smiles and lolls her head to the side to look at Red, lifting up her hand to hold it out to her. "I feel as if it would be best for both of our states of mind to endeavour to take more walks in the woods, if you would indulge me such an honour."
Red laughs and accepts the out turned hand.
When Regina does return, it's with a more than renewed exuberance for Red. Her smile is immediate and brilliant as she steps out of the carriage, and surely Snow, who stood in front of Red, thought the gesture was for her. But Red knew better, felt her chest tighten and her breath quicken as the vision in blue that was home once again. The whole crowd was charmed, and it was if the sun was burning brighter in the kingdom as the cheering audience welcomed the Queen and her husband home.
It doesn't take long for her to find herself back in the Queen's arms, hidden away in the back of her chambers to her dressing area, pressed back against the wall and receiving her most favourite of Regina's kisses – the ones that are tantalizing languid and so incredibly teasing. There is no rush though; no need for hunger when they have their chance to enjoy themselves, to reacquaint themselves after nearly a month's absence from each other's presence.
Red couldn't explain herself if she tried, the way she feels when Regina's smiling against her lips and daring to pull away from the young girl, but with one last parting brush of her tongue against Red's upper lip that has the werewolf leaning in for more, only to be placated with another, chaste kiss before the Queen manages to get her intended space.
"I've missed you so much, Red. Gods, I daresay I almost missed Snow if only for the fact that she diverts her father's attention." Red lets out a laugh and finds herself rewarded with another kiss. "Your nameday is fast-approaching, Little Red. I'm at a loss for how to celebrate such a monumental day."
"Liar," Red whispers before jutting forward and stealing Regina's lips once more, not allowing the Queen to escape quite so easily as she had before.
"We've known each other for more than a year now," Regina muses, looking at Red fondly as one hand rests on the brunette's hip, the other reaching up to brush her fingertips across Red's cheek. "One day, it will be like this all day, Red. I promise you."
Red felt herself beaming, feeling both utterly at peace and shockingly alive at Regina's touch, at her words, at the tone of her voice and the way her brown eyes stare at her as if she was the most important person in all the lands. She brings her own hands up to wrap around the shorter woman's neck, bringing her forehead down to rest it against hers, content but still desperate for more.
"All I want for my birthday is for you to follow up on that promise," Red whispers before giving another enthusiastic kiss. Their stolen moment can't last forever, at least not today. So she intends to make her time with Regina count.
The King throws a tourney in Snow's honour to make up for his unexpectedly prolonged departure, a quickly thrown together event for the lords, diplomats, and knights of the court. It's a welcome way to welcome the changing leaves that litter the tourney grounds so thoroughly that it seems as if the dirt itself is a sea of flames until the crowds and commotion do away with them gradually as the day progresses. Regina had warned Red that these could be tiresome affairs, but the young girl finds herself as enrapt as Snow is as they watch the barbaric ritual.
Throughout the day they've picked their favourites, but early on, Red finds hers. She almost doesn't recognize him, he's changed so much in his months spent training, but Abel's green eyes are as recognizable to Red as Regina's brown ones. She absolutely brightens when she spots him, shining in black armour on a matching black horse, his shoulders now broad and his arms strong enough to balance a lance in one hand and his shield on his other arm. Regina catches her eye and winks from her spot seated next to the King, glittering in sapphires that are weaved into her bodice, drawing the gaze of the crowd at every lull in the entertainment.
Abel approaches their stands on horseback as his match nears, helmet and shield passed off to a squire near his starting point. His face has filled out, his jaw squaring, and it's as if any doubt of his likeness to his father is erased from her brain. He's, gods help him, the spitting image of what every knight should be, and the women in the stands take notice. He only looks at Red though.
"Your Majesty," he murmurs his deference to Snow before his attention is back on Red, a charming smile on his face. "Lady Comstock."
"Abel," Snow says warmly as she glances at the blonde (his hair has grown out now, just a little), "Sir Connington informed me before the tourney that you're to be knighted soon."
"If your father sees fit," Abel replies, resting his hands on the horn of his saddle. His armour looks brand new, undoubtedly a gift from his benefactor the Queen. All Red wants to do is catch up with her old training partner. She misses Abel, far more than she realized now that she was looking at him again. His name is announced, by some man off in the distance, and then his competitor's, and Abel is gone after a bow of his head towards the girls, his departure resulting in an immediate burst of discussion. It's silenced after he walks out to greet the crowd and give them a face to his name, only to return to his previous spot, lance raised and waiting.
"Would you do me the honour, Lady Ruby Comstock of Crestmore, of giving me your favour?" His voice sounds uncertain, and for whatever reason, that shakes Red enough that she's blanking on an appropriate reply to his question. To her right, Snow presses a ribbon into her hands, one the colour of blood Red notices as she mechanically reaches up to tie the silk fabric around the lance. Abel neither drops Red's gaze nor seeks it out when it leaves his, but when she's finished, the corner of his lip turns upwards as if he intends to smile.
"Ruby," Snow begins slowly, squinting after Abel as he trots off to retrieve his helmet and shield before getting into position, "What was that all about?"
"I have no idea," she replies honestly, tearing her own gaze away from the shining black armour, eyebrows raised.
"When did you even meet Abel?"
"The same day I met Regina… and you. At Midas' castle." Sloppy, Red.
Snow smiles at her, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes, another confusing thing that Red simply cannot try to decipher at the moment. Her teasing tone is perfectly on point though. "Ruby, he's clearly infatuated with you."
"We're just friends," Red replies, her words almost getting cut off by the sound of the match starting. Her heart almost stops as she watches Abel gallop towards his opponent, lance raised. There's a loud crack that echoes through the grounds as they meet, his black lance colliding with the center of his target's shield, shattering but sending the other man flying off his horse. Red's favour remains wrapped around the base of his ruined weapon as Abel approaches them once more, trotting around the cheering crowd but only raising his visor to nod at Red as he goes by.
Even now, when she's in control of her powers and has been for quite some time, full moons set her on edge, especially on the nights when the moon is at its highest. It chills her spine and causes her way to bounce in such an insufferable way that not even Snow or Regina have the patience for it. Some nights are worse than others, the week of her birthday proving to be especially trying for all involved.
"Ruby, you're pacing around as if you've gone mad," Snow drones as she glances over the edge of her book, relaxing in a riding hood against a rock. The crisp autumn air wasn't enough to keep them from their new routine of walking in the woods, but their trek was delayed today by rain and then giving the ground time to settle so they didn't come back caked in mud. The sun has almost set, but Snow seems to be in no rush today.
"I feel as if I'm about to go mad," Red mutters as she walks in an oval shape near the riverbank, running a hand through her tousled brown hair. Truthfully, she wants to go for a run, but that, unfortunately, is not something ladies do.
Snow gives an amused smile and drops her book, standing from her spot on the ground and brushing off the back of her cloak. "I'm going to return to the castle. I'd recommend that you take a walk around the forest a few times to get rid of some of this energy of yours. You know the servants gossip when they see you walking around the castle halls at night."
"Are you sure you want to walk back by yourself?"
"The guards are waiting at the road, as always. I'll tell Sir Harris to wait for you."
"Thank you, Snow, I will be back before you finish your supper, I swear," Red gushes as she takes Snow's hands in her own and squeezes them. She thinks she sees her then, Regina, or perhaps her mind is just intoxicated by the Queen. When she looks again, there's no one around her except for Snow's retreating form, Regina's scent nowhere to be found as Red starts into the woods.
The woods surrounding the castle were relatively safe, as far as forests go, routinely scoured by guards and hunters from the palace. The young girl plays with the knot holding her cloak around her after she slows, pacing around a small clearing as she waits for the fading pink sky to give way to the darkness overtaking it. She senses the person behind her before she can hear or smell them, whipping around and bracing herself as she took in the sight of an odd man.
"Dinna mean to startle you, dearie. Please, take a breath," he says in a weird, lilting accent she can't quite place. His skin looks as if he's scaled, the colour an odd mix of bronze and green that has Red second-guessing herself. He's not very big though, and it sets her at ease as she assesses her threat. This seems to amuse him, resulting in a queer, high-pitched giggle that she feels like she's heard before. "The Queen said you take instructions well."
The comment has her bristling again, but she doesn't give into the questions on the tip of her tongue. He, whoever he is, wants her to ask, she knows that. But she has no intention on playing this game. The man – if he was a man at all, she was starting to suspect that he very well could be a monster of some kind – once more found amusement in her reaction, or lack thereof, smiling an untrusting smile and tittering once more.
"Rather a quiet one, aren't you, Lady Ruby of Crestmore." Rather than delude herself into a denial at his knowing tone, she accepts that he, who or whatever he may be, knows. He knows far too much. Where had Red heard his laugh before? "The strong silent type isn't usually one that suits a lady, especially one of… noble blood, but you, dearie," his hands move about gaily as he speaks, flourishing in a way that gives his speech as much intricacies as his tone. "Well, it works for you. I've always found girls who gossip to be a bore."
He walks around her, his circle giving her a wide berth, and she's at least thankful for the space. He's dressed in finery more rich and opulent than she's ever seen, even more so than anything she's seen the King himself wear. But the rest of him – his scaly skin, his nails like claws at the end of his hands, his dark and murky brown eyes; whatever his wealth may be, it seemed to only save him from so much. Finished with his assessment as he nears his starting place once more, he smiles at Red.
"Quite close with the princess now, aren't you? I see you two walk these woods often now, it's a shame the winter months are coming. I fear her constitution may not be quite as strong as yours when it comes to… harsher weather." He waves his hand as if to dismiss the thought, his grin bright despite the darkness that has now overtaken the woods as the night sky becomes littered with stars. Red glances up at the moon in the eastern sky and the man seems to follow her gaze. "A full moon," he muses, brown eyes once more finding her own, "there's no more lovely a sight, wouldn't you agree? I hope Her Majesty is faring well out here in the deep, dark woods with that as her only light…"
He's turned away from her since he started speaking again, his back now towards her, his intentions to make her speak clear, but his message even clearer. Red hates this, this thing inside her that is so desperate to know, but so mad for caring about the answer as much as she does.
"What have you done to her?"
"Me?" He asks, turning on foot to meet her once more, a look of fake innocence on his face, to which he now points towards. "I wouldn't dream of it – big fan of the royal family," his amused tone switches to one that is dripping with sarcasm. With a breath he turns once more, only halfway this time to keep both Red and the castle in his gaze, waving towards the capitol almost fondly. Directing her. "But there are others out there, out here, who may not be quite as enamoured…"
Red doesn't think as she pushes past him and into the thick of the woods, hearing the distant laugh he gives but paying no mind as she tears through the bushes, surely running faster and harder than she ever has before – feeling more in tune with the wolf inside her than she ever has before. She would call Snow's name if she could think clearly, if any of her faculties were at all cognizant, but she's moving on instinct, ducking under branches and hurtling over rocks before they've even registered in her mind.
There's a yell somewhere in the distance that has her turning so sharply she nearly collides with a great redwood. Before she can decipher if it's Snow's, the coppery smell of blood catches her and she forces herself to attend to it first, to ensure that it's not her friend. Red finds the body and stops only for a moment, taking in one shuddering, violent breath as she recognizes Sir Harris' red hair under his helm, the blood pooling around him still being fed by the cut across his neck. She's moving again, Snow's scent mixed somewhere among the crisp smell of the autumn breeze and the metallic tinge that the blood gives.
Snow is struggling in the woods, the smell of Harris' blood losing its potency as someone else's takes its place. A man's voice – more than one, three at least; they're all talking at the same time, one louder than the rest as he tries to quiet the princess. The sound of a smack, the smell of more blood though less strong than the others, and a roar from one of the men, another yell from Snow, this time cut short.
Red sees them amongst the trees, and Snow sees Red immediately, her eyes widening in alarm as she watches the girl rush towards her. The blonde man holding the struggling princess down in an attempt to control her, has three vicious scratches across his cheek that are bleeding profusely, staining her green dress crimson as it dripped off his jaw. The two other men hear her coming and shout, not before Snow yells, "Ruby, no, run–"
She tears at the knot holding her cloak together and before the black haired man closest to her can raise his sword or widen his eyes at the sight rushing towards him, her canine teeth are ripping at his throat. A bolt from a crossbow whizzes past her head and she turns in an instant, swivelling around and rearing on her hind legs, one great paw batting away the weapon while the other swipes broad marks down the man's chest and stomach and he falls back against the ground with a thud.
Snow and her assailant are both equally stunned, having not moved from their position and both sporting a matching terrified expression as all of Red's paws come in contact with the dirt once more. She bares her teeth as she stalks towards the two, powerful jaw snapping once and dripping with the first attacker's blood, her keen gaze set on the blonde man who immediately scrambles to get off Snow, shuffling backwards and whimpering at the sight of the wolf. The moment he turns to get up and run she springs on him, tearing the life from him until the only sound left in the woods is her own breathing.
It takes her a moment to turn to Snow, the girl having pulled herself back against the tree, the left side of her face sporting a nasty welt that will surely bruise for weeks. She's taking in shuddering breaths, eyes frenzied and disbelieving as she stares at the canine, flinching when Red moves to approach her. Red whimpers in return, ears turning back and head cast downwards but she has to get away from the corpse underneath her, choosing instead to lope to a spot in front of the Princess.
"Ruby." It's barely even whispered, let alone said, and if her hearing weren't so acute as the wolf, Red surely would have missed it. Her muzzle is still dripping with blood but when she looks up, Snow is leaning over, still looking just as frenzied and in a great deal of disbelief, but not unsure as her arm extends. Her delicate hands are shaking but they calm as they come in contact with Red, her fingers running through the thick fur of her mane, blue eyes following their movement as if she can't believe them to be her own.
Red changes back, not particularly sure as to why, but she wants to see Snow, to be with her and take a relieved breath that a bruise was the Princess' only takeaway from the encounter. She reaches up, her own hand shaky as her fingers brush against the darkening wound. The gentle touch seems to cause Snow to crumble and in an instant her arms are thrown around Red's shoulders, hugging her as if she's afraid Red will leave.
"I owe you my life," the Princess whispers, a hint of amusement in her tone on top of the desperation and urgency layered in her words. She lets out a breath and rests her head against Red's, laughing quietly. "Ruby, you… you're amazing."
There are at least a hundred men and women packed into the throne room, all dressed in expensive jewels and clothes, the knights in gleaming, polished armours and royals in their crowns, all staring at her. She has a terrifying flashback to her trial, the oppressive gaze making her chest tighten. If the Queen would only smile, she would be able to breathe properly, she thinks. But her corset – new, as was everything else she wore, save for the gold necklace Granny gave her that hangs around her neck and Regina's bracelet – felt as if it was draining the life from her. She had to look her best, though. On today of all days. She was a werewolf with the gaze of an entire kingdom on her shoulders.
Anna's hand pushing at her back starts her walking from her spot at the beginning of the long rug stretched out to the thrones, the crowd a few feet away on either side. She's walking alone, a solitary death march, but she keeps her hands folded and her chin high as she approaches the monarchs set at the center of the great room. Snow, still luminescent in the bright sun that the windows let in despite her black and blue cheek, is standing next to her father, Abigail – the representation required from Midas' kingdom – to Regina's left, while the monarchs remain seated in their opulent chairs. When she reaches the steps up to the thrones, Red begins to kneel.
"Stop." There's a small murmur among the crowd as Leopold rises from his chair. Red straightens as the King makes his way down the stairs, his steps echoing in the once-more quiet room. When he reaches Red he stops, staring at her for a moment with a look she can't quite place, before he's kneeling before her, taking her hand in his own. "Once more I find myself the one to bow to the saviour of my beloved daughter."
Red would look at Regina, but she doesn't dare – not here. Leopold rises once more, both of Red's hands now in his own as he stares at her now with an open look of admiration. "There is no honour in this kingdom that I could bestow on you that would in anyway truly compensate you for what you have done for not only me, but my people. You will receive the most beautiful estate my lands have to offer for when you should marry, a home of your own in this, your new land."
"Lady Ruby is a hero," he says, now turning to address the crowds, giving Red the chance to breathe as the attention is diverted from her for only a moment. "A girl of eighteen saving my daughter from three bandits in the woods when two of my own knights could not even do as much. How such a feat is even possible…"
The King laughs a little as he trails off, and Red can see Snow's smile turn to one of a girl with a secret.
The Queen is silent, has been for a long time, standing at the window, a glowing silhouette in the dark. She doesn't forget how beautiful Regina is – how could she? But it takes her a back every time she catches her in a moment like this. The perfect lighting reminding her just how stunning this woman is. Red stays back though, afraid of this set-up. Regina is rarely silent with her and she doesn't know how to take it when she is.
"I shouldn't have changed, I know–"
"Red–"
"But there were three of them and they were armed, Regina–"
Brown eyes turn to meet hers. "Red–"
But she presses on, "And I couldn't let her die–"
"Red." It's not said above a normal conversational level, but Regina could be as commanding with a whisper as she could with a yell. She was truly born to be a Queen. "I wish… I wish you hadn't shared this particular side of yourself with the Princess, but what's done is done and… I am quite glad you saved her life."
She gives herself a moment to collect her thoughts, thankful for the return of Regina's eyes on her, truly on her once more. When she doesn't respond, Regina holds out her hand to beckon her over, turning back once she's arrived so they can look out at the woods, the quiet sounds of the forest drown out by the revelries below. Ruby Comstock of Crestmore had warranted a party, apparently. Red wonders how many people are toasting to a girl who doesn't exist.
"Do you not wish Snow dead?" Red asks, her own voice a whisper. It seemed she was wondering about a very many things at the moment.
"Somedays," Regina admits, sighing tiredly and leaning on Red. "Not every day." It's more of a relief than she dare admit to herself, and Red tries to remain composed at the confession. Regina turns to press a kiss against her shoulder, repeating, "I'm glad you saved her," before turning away and beginning to rid herself of her jewellery. "She needed a reason… a real reason, to solidify her fondness for you, and now she owes her life to you, Ruby Comstock." Regina smiles brightly over her shoulder, sliding a large opal ring off her delicate finger and collapsing onto the bench in front of her vanity, continuing on almost distractedly, "And that is a debt that is awfully hard to repay."
Red almost replies that she knows this all too well.
Almost.