The ball was not quite the stuffy formal affair that might have once been held in this castle, but there were many people who lived here now that would never have attended that kind of ball in the days of old King Leopold. The Prince and the Princess were hosting, honoring the first winter wheat and breaking the bread that had been milled from it. Robin let Roland stay for a bit, dancing in the circles and enjoying the music until it was past his bed time and the littlest merry man needed to be taken to bed.
He could still hear the music reverberating through the castle after he tucked Roland in and whistled to himself heading back to the party until he saw a light from a sitting room in one of the other towers. Curious, he found his way there, after getting lost only a few times in the maze of this strange castle.
The Queen was sitting in a chair in front of a fire, colored smoke formed a young boy's face. He looked perhaps twelve, with a mop of brown hair and a mischievous smile.
"He looks like his mother," Robin said.
The Queen jumped in her seat and the magic smoke portrait of the boy disappeared.
"Why aren't you at the ball?"
"I was setting Roland to bed. His first royal ball without a Queen, he was excited to dance with you."
"I rather doubt that." There was a bit of fallen lace work and shuttles on the side table. Lady's work that he hadn't expected of her. One didn't think of evil sorceresses being ladies.
"Well, he danced but I'm not sure one could really have called it coordinated. And he is fond of you." He sat down. "Why weren't you at the party?"
"No one wants an Evil Queen overshadowing their celebration."
"You know," Robin leaned forward, "The Princess slapped a man for calling you that the other day. No one else in this castle would dare."
"Snow is protective." She said somewhat guiltily.
"She loves you like a sister. You must mean a great deal to her for it to survive your pasts."
The Queen shrugged, "Snow is a possessive person. She doesn't let go of people. For the Charmings it's a lovely romantic motto 'I will always find you.'"
"Hard when you've lost so much?"
"Didn't I threaten to light your head on fire the last time you tried this, thief? Why do you care?"
He shrugged, it was a question he couldn't answer himself. "Perhaps I like the danger. And perhaps I think if you didn't want to talk you would have burned me to a crisp long ago."
She looked at him carefully and exhaled, sending the ridiculous cleavage of her dress draped in jewels up and Robin castigated himself for noticing it. Getting to know the monster was one thing... being attracted to the monster... "True."
He nodded to the fire, "That was Henry?"
"Yes."
"The others say you gave him up to save everyone. I can't imagine how hard that must be."
"Only one person has ever really mattered in my life, thief. And yes I gave him up because that was the only way to save everyone."
"And still they don't want you at the dance," he finished.
"One act of sacrifice doesn't make a hero, Locksley. I'm still a villain."
"That's not quite Robin but I'll take it," he grinned and she rolled her eyes, "It seems to me you were a villain but what you are now is entirely up to you."
"People don't change, they only fool themselves into thinking they can."
He laughed, "If that were true I'd have been dead several conversations ago and so likely would Snow White. You've changed, Your Majesty. Perhaps the last person to see that is you."
She gave a huffing grunt at that and he laughed even harder and she looked indignant. "What is so funny, thief?"
Oh so they were back to that, but still Robin smiled, "I'm just imaging you as someone's good witch fairy godmother. In fact I think you are... her name is Snow White. You run this kingdom and she and David take the credit."
"The people love and respect them."
"And fear you." He added.
"They aren't quite as stupid as they act occasionally."
"Is that praise." Robin teased.
"It's more than I've given you. Shouldn't you be getting back to the drunken revel downstairs."
He shrugged and a stupid idea came out of his mouth before he could even think about it, "You could come down and revel with us."
She shook her head, "No. I've had my full of being the forgotten and unwanted at balls in this castle."
Robin frowned and wanted to know what new mystery that comment was about, but the queen had picked up her lace work and he sensed that he'd gotten as much as he would from her tonight. "Very well, m'lady. Perhaps a dance another day."
As left her in the sitting room he heard the magic of the fire again and something told him that the boys image was back for his mother to watch in the flames.