Quinn looks up in surprise when Queen Santana enters the library where she's studying. It's the middle of the day and Quinn fully expected her lover to be in some kind of important meeting.
Santana smiles at Quinn as she walks over to her. Quinn stands up and leans in for a kiss. She intends it to be a short peck on the lips, but they're alone and it soon turns more passionate. Mr Martinez is once again taking Eduardo through the castle, past the portraits of all 76 Lopez ancestors, learning their names and accomplishments.
Finally, they have to let go to take some air. Santana licks her lips and grins at Quinn. "So, how are you doing, pretty lady?"
Even though she's been at the palace for quite some time now, and has shared her bed with Santana for just as long, the compliments still make her blush. "I was preparing my visit to the Fylingi in a couple of days. I just studied the message sent by Count Burt Hummel about his men's exploratory visits. The Fylingi seem wary, but not hostile."
Santana studies her feet, looking for the right words. Quinn knows she's trying to find a way to say what's on her mind without hurting Quinn. That's new to Santana - she never really cared whether her words hurt anyone before. "Are you absolutely sure about this, Quinn? After all, we don't know anything about the Fylingi."
"You'd be surprised how much knowledge we have of them in the forbidden works in the Royal Library, my queen. The knowledge is not passed on as it is forbidden by royal decree, but it is there."
Santana nods. "I'll have Abrams look into that, or maybe Martinez knows how that came about. I knew about their existence, of course, but I never studied them. They're not part of the Royal education, and if it hadn't been for you, Eduardo wouldn't have known about them either. I still worry, though. After all, our information on the Fylingi dates back to centuries ago. They might have changed and be more unpredictable than we think. They might hate us, and I wouldn't blame them. After all, the first queen of Kinleysia is the one who banned them to Sarthinger Forest. They might very well not know that a different dynasty has been at power for centuries."
Quinn smiles. "Then I will tell them. I'll tell them that you are good, and you are wise. I have observed them for years and they are a gentle people."
Santana shakes her head. "You have observed a select group of them for years. You have not observed the court, if they have one. You do not know about their politics. If a Fylingus observed your father and were to conclude that all of Kinleysia were like him, that would not be the truth either, would it?"
Quinn bites her lip. "No. But Burt Hummel's men have been there and they tell us that the Fylingi are not hostile. They prefer to keep to themselves, yes, but they're not going to start a war against us. I'll be fine, Tana."
Santana looks at Quinn in wonder. "Tana?" she asks, a smile gracing her full lips. "I like it." She sighs and then says: "I'm sending my best men with you, and I know how happy it would make you, so I won't stop you. But I will be sending you messages regularly, and I expect an answer so I know you're okay. Can you live with that.
Quinn grins and nods. "Yeah, I can live with that."
00-0000-00
The day before she leaves, Eduardo comes to find Quinn in the late afternoon. He's not smiling when he enters the room, unlike his other visits. Quinn frowns and puts down the book she was trying to read.
She immediately senses something's wrong and invites Eduardo to sit on her lap. She wraps her arms around him and he allows her to pull him into her, his head resting in the nape of her neck.
"What's wrong, little man?" Quinn asks softly, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind his ear. "Why are you so sad."
"Mommy said you're leaving tomorrow and you'll probably be gone for at least a week, maybe two. And mommy will leave to visit stupid Schue and Sylvester because they're fighting again. I don't want you to go, Quinnie. I don't want to be all alone and I don't want to draw alone."
Quinn shakes her head. "I told you about this, Eduardo. I told you I would be leaving as soon as I knew when."
"Yeah, but it came so quickly and I'm... just... what if you don't come back, Quinnie? What if the Fylingi get like super angry with you and they kill you?" He starts breathing more heavily. "What if you don't come back, Quinnie?"
"I promise you that I will. Your mommy told Sam to protect me, and he's taking all the best and most loyal and the strongest men in the guard and they'll protect me with their lives. But I bet the Fylingi are really nice and they won't hurt me one bit. And maybe you should ask if Brittany can help you with drawing?"
Eduardo pouts. "Brittany doesn't draw as nice as you, Quinnie."
"Then you can show her how to do it," Quinn winks. In the distance, a bell sounds. "Dinner's ready, little man."
00-0000-00
Santana finishes her dinner as quickly as possible and hurries to Quinn's quarters to join her for the last of dinner.
When she enters the room, she is suprised to find the pork she ordered untouched. She ordered it especially for Quinn, because she knows her lover's craving for the meat. She briefly wonders if dinner was served late, and if so, for what reason.
She joins Quinn at the table. "Should I have commanded another meal?" Santana asks. "I thought pork was your favourite..."
Quinn frowns. "You know, it used to be, but lately I can't seem to stomach it. Just the smell of it makes me feel sick."
"Get this out immediately," Santana orders Tina, then she turns to Quinn again. "You should have said something! Is it the quality of the royal swines? Should we get another breeder?"
Quinn shakes her head. "I don't think it's that, Santana."
"Strange, very strange," Santana mutters. "Well, what do you want for dinner instead?"
Quinn licks her lips. "I would love to have chicken with grapes and that new product - what's the name - the product made in my county, with seeds from those trees only found in Sarthinger Forest."
"You mean chocolate?" Santana asks disbelievingly. "You want chicken with grapes and chocolate?" She makes a face. "That sounds horrible."
"It sounds delicious to me," Quinn says. "And you asked what I wanted for dinner instead..." she pouts, knowing that it always works.
"Fine, fine," Santana smiles, a glint in her eyes. She turns to Tina, who has just entered the room. "Go and tell Mercedes the lady wants chicken, grapes and chocolate."
Tina makes a face as well, but follows her queen's orders.
"Why are you grinning like an idiot?" Quinn asks nervously. "Am I missing something?"
"The strange cravings... they're... familiar," Santana says mysteriously. "And that's all I'm going to tell you for now, I need more certainty first."