A/N: Wow, I've come this far in the story in such a short period of time! I must really like this one since it usually takes me a while to update stories. Thanks to all of you who have read this story and like it. Most of the credit goes to you and not me, since you're the ones who wanted to see it progress and grow. Thanks again! R&R. Enjoy!
Rage
He knew that this was not going to go well, not at all. From the way people were running about and talking in panicked voices, trying to sooth the beast's rage, he could tell. Currently, he was standing outside the throne room, or whatever the Queen preferred to call it. He wanted to wait and listen for a few seconds just to see how bad it was, and from the looks he got on his way here, he could tell that it was pretty bad.
"STAYNE!" Her majesty's voice was all the motivation he needed to proceed inside.
Opening the doors, he walked into the room, head held high, and a strong façade in place. Why should he look guilty if he wasn't guilty of anything? He had thought about it on this way here of what deed he could've done that would have offended the Queen, but his conclusion was a blank. So, he just had to wait and see.
Everyone stopped what they were doing the moment he stepped inside. It was almost as if time froze, if it weren't for the ever moving eyes that followed his every move. Taking a deep breath - for he knew that this was going to be bad and time consuming - he looked up at his Queen. Sure enough, she was red faced, fuming, and more angry than she'd been for a long time now. This was a serious matter.
And a ridiculous one, if his judgment was anything to go by.
Like a predator stalking its prey, the Queen paced around her throne seat, glaring daggers at him. If looks could kill he would most certainly be dead by now. He might end up dead anyway. Once he approached the few steps leading up to her throne, the Queen stopped pace, she merely glared at him and pointed one of her little fingers at him.
"You." Her voice, for the first time in years, sent ripples of caution through his body. He'd have to tread very carefully or he'd lose his head. "Stayne it has been brought to my attention that you have been sneaking around my back. With Um!"
So that's what sent her majesty off on the deep end. Someone must have seen him with Um, probably one of her fake big-nosed followers that her highness kept around in court. Really, she didn't need them around, since they're pretty much useless.
"Your highness, if I may be able to explain-" He started but was stopped by the Queen's angry voice barking at him.
"No! You may not explain! How could you do this to me, Stayne? How could you?!" If possible, her face got more red than it was already. He was afraid that it would explode or something to that nature if she was pacified quickly. And no one else but him could successfully do that and manage to come out alive.
"Leave us! Go away, all of you!" Her voice was sharp and held no room for arguments. Silently, as if they were relieved and happy to be alive, everyone filed out of the chamber, voices softly whispering to one another. Once everyone had left, the Queen started up again, this time in a defeated voice, her insecurities practically throwing themselves out into the open before him.
"How… How could you do this to me Stayne?" She sat down on her throne, her legs nearly giving out. Although she was still red faced and angry, she also looked sad, on the verge of tears.
"Your majesty, I did nothing-" He tried to sooth her, to calm her down to the point where she could think a bit more clearly and rationally. In truth, he did not hold any deep affection for her, except fear at times, for he didn't want to lose his head like the King did, and pity. And currently, he felt pity for her more than anything else.
"You did so do something! Don't lie to me, Stayne! Don't lie. Not to me." Her voices cracked under the pressure of her restraining the tears in her eyes. Her breathing was deep, like she was panting, and the hands that gripped the arms of her throne were shaking.
"Tell me…Stayne. Tell me the-"
"Majesty, I haven't done anything wrong. You have been misinformed. Haven't I told you about those people you keep around you?" The Queen acted as though he never spoke a word.
"Tell me Stayne…. Tell me what I want to hear. Tell me, so I can have peace of mind. So that I won't be forced to kill you like I did the King."
"Majesty-"
"Tell me! Tell me Stayne!" She got up from her throne and stepped down to him, grabbing his cape and forcing him forward, her grip pulling so much that it hurt, if only just a little.
"Tell me that you aren't interested in her! Tell me that she forced herself on you! Tell me that you love me and only me and that no one else will ever come between us! Tell me! TELL ME STAYNE! SAY IT!" Her voice was a shrieking cackle of a sound, and it echoed through the great chamber. Everyone outside the room probably heard it.
Still, he had to try and calm her down. Talk to her in a gentle voice, like he would if he were talking to a child, and guide her to a safer emotional state then the one she was in right now. Placing a hand carefully on top of hers, he squeezed them reassuringly. Hopefully, she would be calmed just a little by the gesture.
"Please, just listen to me your majesty…"
"Tell me, Stayne! Tell me, or it's off with your head…" She practically seethed with jealousy, anger, and hurt while speaking. He had no other choice than to give her what she wanted, he knew that, but it would mean Um's death. There was some time between the arrest and the actually execution. Perhaps he could devise a plan. However, he doubted that; given the current situation, it'd be unlikely that Um would be left unguarded.
Taking a deep breath, trying not to gag on the words he was about to say, he gave into the Queen's wishes and gave her what she wanted.
"Your majesty… I have no interest in your new favorite." The Queen snorted at that. "It was not of my doing. She forced herself on me." He could tell that his efforts at pacifying her were working. For the time being. "My heart belongs only to you. There is no other in my life."
She stared down at him with a blank expression, but he knew her well enough to notice that her eyes were twinkling and that her shoulders lifted, as though a heavy weight had just been removed from them. Narrowing her eyes, the Queen stood up so suddenly that it almost made him jump.
"OFF WITH HER HEAD!!!!"
