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Poppy waited, pouting, as her belongings were loaded. It wasn't good! To be sent away from castle meant losing influence over Rollo. Not that she wilded much. The man hadn't even come to say goodbye; but as long as he shared her bed, all was not lost. Fortunately, she'd had the time to make connections that could provide precious information. All she had to do was change tactics. Take a longer path...the result would be the same.

By the time she pulled herself out of her musings, a small group had approached. Two royal guards and … the Queen. Eva. Holding her breath, Poppy stiffened her spine. She was close enough to see Eva's black eyes, eyes that sent icy shivers all over her skin. Oh, she was her father's daughter all right! Poppy tried to hide her unease, to remain calm, unreadable, but than, the realization hit her- had the queen come to kill her?!

As if reading Poppy's mind, a disdainful smile curled the Queen's finely-carved lips. She stopped before the redhead, than moved all the way around, analyzing.

- "Do not look so ... terrified, girl! You are leaving this place alive. My husband seems to appreciate the fact that you're well versed in the skills of your profession."
Eva's eyes kept weighing the other woman, like she was nothing more than a piece of merchandise, of warm meat.

- "... but I'll wager he will tire of you, just like all the others did."

- "And what if he doesn't? Your highness can banish me from court, but it wont keep the King away from me. He simply cannot stay away from my bed. "

The Queen's eyes flashed instantly.

- "Enough! He isn't the reason you lurk around!" Eva's words came out as sharp as razors. "I know you conspire with my father to undermine our rule-" she added, stepping closer to Poppy and cupping her face with cold hands, "-I hear in the wind that you've begun to forge new alliances with our enemies, lords from inland... the same bastards that are financing my shit father as we speak!" Staring right into the other woman's eyes, Eva stood so close that her whispers brushed Poppy's lips. "Do not think that after the damage you cause me, I won't come to collect. I know what you owe me!"

Closing the short distance between, Eva placed a cold kiss upon Poppy's lips, as if casting a curse. Than, still piercing her eyes, she drew away, turned and left, walking slowly without looking back, leaving the other woman shaking.

Hidden from sight, Rollo had been watching the whole scene, ready to intervene. He smiled, seeing that Eva managed to control her temper and put, at the same time, a dreadful fear on Poppy's face. But his smile faded just as quickly, when he saw his Queen dismiss the two guards and head for the stables - on her own. He followed, keeping a safe distance, and saw one of Eva's handmaidens waiting. The older woman helped the Queen change into a riding attire, than left.
All by herself, Eva saddled a horse, quickly fastening the straps, that took the reins and lead the impressive animal out. There, she mounted in a swift move, and set off toward the wooded hills.

Wasting no time, Rollo saddled a steed too and rode, following her tracks. After nearly an hour she drew her horse to a halt and dismounted to continue on foot. Rollo's mind reeled. Why the secrecy? His fingers clenched cruelly into fists. Was she betraying him? Or meeting a lover?
A savage rage suddenly shook through his body and his heart tightened, gripped by the sharp claws of jealousy.

Following a hidden path, Eva was making her way through growing shrubbery, wandering deeper and deeper into the forest. She kept going, determined, until she reached some sort of clearing. There, the waters of two rivers joined and circled what appeared to be an old stone fountain. Eva stopped and stood, isolated by the entangled protection of the wild woodland. She raised her face to the eerie play of light and shadows, filtered by the leaves, and approached the fountain with small steps. She gently brushed her fingers on the moss-covered stone than, hovering above it, stared down into the water.

No one was waiting for her. There was no other! She simply stared into the well, with a sorrowful frown etched on her face. She obviously thought she was alone. Rollo stood, entranced, for a few moments, than turned to leave.

- "I know you're there Rollo." the man stopped and slowly turned.

- "I didn't mean to intrude. I'm sorry - "

- "No you're not. Everyone loves a chance to observe, while being unobserved. Why did you follow me?

- "I assumed you forgot to invite me, so I came anyway."

When she frowned, unamused, he continued.

- "I won't apologize for searching answers! You keep too many secrets Eva!" closing her eyes, the Queen gently shook her head.

- "I suppose you're right. I... do not give my trust easily- but the two of us, we should share more."

- "We should!" he answered, taking a better look around. "Is this a sacred place?"

- "Sacred? Why should it be sacred?"

- "My people consider springs and wells sacred places. Our ancient stories tell that Mímir, the god of wisdom, has a well at the roots of Yggdrasil. Father Odin, sacrificed his right eye, which he threw into this well of wisdom, and in exchange he received the sight of future and the understanding of why things must be. What would you sacrifice to the waters?

- "Nothing. This place received all the sacrifices it needed. You can see it, in the water. It moves as if it were alive. Come, come closer, take a look and let me tell you a story too. One of Kings and Queens...

You see Rollo, not all queens are born princesses. Some, rise from the ashes ...
A long time ago, there lived a fair maiden. Hair as black as a moonless night, skin as white as snow. And the maiden, beautiful and peaceful, only held love in her heart. For the sun, for the moon, for the stars and the winds; for the mountains and for the deep, blue, seas. One day, exploring new lands, an evil king stumbled upon her, staring down into the waters of the well. Bewitched by her beauty, he promised that all the world would be hers, if she'd give herself to him. Seeing the king's black heart, the maiden refused. And though she wept, and begged, the king took her with him, to his castle." Eva paused and searched his eyes.

- "Do you know what's the worst part about becoming a Queen Rollo?"

- "What is it?"

- "It often requires marrying a king." she smiled that bitter smile of hers and went on.

- "So did the fair maiden - she married the evil king and became Queen. And her nights turned into a consummation of joy and pleasure; unfortunately, none of it belonged to her. Night after night, she felt one monster crawl on top of her and another grow inside. She glimpsed in the waters what the poor soul from her belly was becoming, she saw what it was destined to endure ... and in her despair, the poor maiden's heart turned gray as ash. She tried to take her life before the babe was brought into this world, but the evil king stopped her. Enraged, he locked the maiden away, in the highest tower, until the birth. And only after his little girl was born, only than, he punished the ungrateful maiden- he took his hunting knife and cut out the young mother's heart. After that, he rode into the woods and threw it into the waters of the same well, which had witnessed their first meeting."

By the time she finished , Rollo was standing by her side. He'd listened quietly, as she poured her sadness into words. And although her eyes held a silent acceptance, a tear slid down her white cheek. Rollo brushed it with his thumb, felt the coldness of her skin, and all his instincts urged him to take her into his arms. But before he could act, her sylph-like body slipped between his arms and rested her forehead against his broad chest.

- "We are, past and future, our fathers' children Rollo. And we cannot control who they are, nor the way they shape us."

- "That's not true." he cradled her closer and stroked her hair, "we make ourselves who we are Eva."

- "Father never forgave himself for what he did to mother; and he hated the remnants of Naia, which he discovered in me."

- "Naia was your mother, was she not? Is that reason you hate Athanaric so much?"

- "That's... another story... For some other time. Now, we should head back." she touched him lightly, fascinated, pressing her fingertips on the patch of skin that his tunic left exposed. "There's a storm coming."

- "The sky's clear Eva-"

But he wasn't looking at the sky, he kept staring down at her, his knuckles gently brushing along her cheek.

- "Can't you feel it in the air around you Rollo?"
All he could feel was the tension between them; his entire body, every muscle, tensed in her proximity.

- "You are woman of many skills, aren't you?"
Hearing him, she looked up and saw a hint of lust gleaming in his eyes.

- "What's wrong Rollo? Does your whore leave you wanting?" she stood motionless, waiting, while Rollo sifted his fingers through her hair and lightly grazed her lips.

- "If all I wanted was to take you again, I could do it, right now, and you couldn't do a thing to stop me." his hand glided down to her collarbone. "-not one single thing."

- "But you're smarter than that."

- " I want more than that. I want a woman I can relate to...and the two of us Eva, whatever our souls are made of, yours and mine are the same."

A terrible sadness filled Eva's eyes.
Her soul ... her soul had been torn apart, and what little remained, was blackened by hate. Still, if need be, she would sell that crippled soul, bargain with the devil for revenge. She would not rest until the deed was done.

- "What are you not telling me Eva? What is this pain, screaming in your eyes?

- "You'd do well to remember that my pain, just like my body, is mine alone.. Let's head back to the castle Rollo, before the storm reaches us."

A loud thunder rumbled off into the west as two men were standing face to face.

- "She is not to be harmed. In any way. Do you understand?"

The man was in his fifties, tall and slender, with broad shoulders, clad in armor. An unflinching gaze enhanced his overall powerful presence. He had black eyes, deep and ominous.

- "She is merely confused this daughter of mine. Gripped by fleeting madness. She'll come round. She always does."

- "Of course my Lord Athanaric! I shall carry out your orders, prudently.