The food was absolutely exquisite - incredibly rich and flavorful, ever bite was like a little ball of happiness. Eilonwy liked the food all the more, considering how hungry she was.

Sensing Eilonwy's hunger, the queen wisely chose not to try and make conversation. The two sat there, slowly eating what they desired from the table, occasionally taking sips from their goblets of read wine.

Finally, when Eilonwy set down her silverware, Regina spoke. "I assume you enjoyed the meal?"

Eilonwy nodded, politely thanking the queen.

Regina set her elbow on the table gracefully, letting her chin rest on her fist. "Hmm. Very good." Her eyes carefully scanned over Eilonwy's body, narrowing slightly at the heavy black dress. "Black really isn't your color, is it?"

Eilonwy glanced down at the dress, before looking up once again. "I...have never really paid attention to those sorts of things."

Standing, Regina gestured for Eilonwy to do the same. "I think light colors would suit you better," she mused, pursing her lips. She continued staring at Eilonwy a moment longer, before she whirled around, making her way to a door different from the one Eilonwy had entered. "Follow me."

Queen Regina was rather quick with her walking, so much so that Eilonwy had to rush to keep up.

Eventually after roaming through more expansive white halls, Queen Regina stopped, opening a door and quickly entering. Eilonwy hesitated, before following the woman in.

The room was quite like the room Eilonwy had awoken in - it was large, but the darker shades of furniture and wall colors made it seem more cosy. It was not a bedroom, though, but an apparent fitting room, with three mirrors surrounding a slightly raised tablet.

"Undress," Regina directed nonchalantly, as she began to rummage about in one of the various crates scattered throughout the room.

Eilonwy's eyes widened. Not hearing the younger woman move, Regina's green eyes darted up to meet hers briefly. "Go on."

"I...I'm sorry, your highness, but I...I can not..." Here, she blushed deeply. "...disrobe, in front of you!"

Regina raised an elegant eyebrow, turning back to her work. "It's not as though I haven't seen you naked."

Eilonwy sputtered for several moments, as her hands nervously fussed with the soft fabric of the dress she was wearing.

Regina snorted. "Oh, don't seem so surprised, dearie. Who did you think undressed you, when you were wearing those awful wet and dirty riding clothes?"

At the realization, Eilonwy clamped a hand over her mouth in apparent disgust. "I...I apologize, as deeply as apologies may run, that you had to go through that!"

Regina not only snorted at the sentiment, but all-out laughed. "I didn't have to go through anything! I willingly chose to make sure you did not catch a sickness on top of the one you already possess." She sobered up once more, pulling forth several pieces of cloth from the crate. "As it were...you need not apologize...for your body was not something I felt disgust at. Quite the opposite, truth be told."

Eilonwy had no time to formulate a response, for once again she was ordered to undress. This time, Eilonwy complied, albeit hesitantly.

After she had undone the buttons of the dress, she let it pool around her thin ankles, leaving her only in the velvet bloomers and the awkward clunky shoes (which she then discarded as well).

She bit her lower lip, feeling her face heat up. Her hands which were settled at the waist of the bloomers, instead came up to cover her chest. "I...if you don't mind...may I please keep the undergarments on?"

Queen Regina tilted her head, her eyes raking over Eilonwy in a way that was now starting to seem familiar. "I suppose. They seem to fit, so when I fit you with proper bloomers, I will merely take the measurements from them."

Eilonwy quickly bowed. "Thank you, your majesty."

"Stop talking to me with such formal language," Regina muttered waspishly, before motioning for Eilonwy to step up on the platform.

Regina was quick and efficient with the measuring. She never touched Eilonwy unless it was absolutely necessary, allowing her magic to guide the utensils instead.

Finally, Regina nodded to herself, waving the equipment away. She seemed to hesitate, though it lasted very briefly. And then, Regina strode forward, her long and beautiful fingers dancing down Eilonwy's sides, the tips barely grazing her skin.

Eilonwy shuddered at the sudden unexpected contact, her blush deepening further. "What-"

"Don't speak," she was ordered roughly. The queen's eyes were half-lidded, an indistinguishable emotion swirling in their depths...or maybe her eyes were merely narrowed in concentration.

The queen continued to lightly run her fingers over Kelcia's sides and abdomen, slowly working lower until they grazed her hip bones. "You're very sick, aren't you?"

Eilonwy blinked, confused at the sudden change. However, she shook herself, and answered. "I'm...not sure. I felt absolutely dreadful back in my kingdom, but I feel a little better now." Remembering the dizziness and other feelings she had experienced earlier, she added, "For the most part, anyways."

The queen nodded. "I sense the curse. It is rather horrible, how it is working at your body. I imagine we must work swiftly to cure you."

Suddenly, Regina's words came rushing back to her: How the woman said she would cure Eilonwy, for a price. How she stated that the price would be Eilonwy's beauty. How she had existed for...centuries?! like that. Centuries?! Was that even possible?

Regina must have sensed the onset of questions that suddenly flooded Eilonwy's mind, for she pulled away, stating, "It is becoming too late to discuss such morbid affairs. This conversation, as well as our arrangement, shall be discussed tomorrow, should you feel up to it."

"I will," Eilonwy stated firmly, quite ready to find out some answers.

"Very well. Then I bid you goodnight. Also, your new clothing should be in your wardrobe by the time you wake up."

Eilonwy quickly retrieved the heavy dress, putting it back on. She then thanked the woman once more, before venturing off to find her room.

A/N I ship them too much.

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