Eva examined herself mechanically in the long mirror: the emerald green gown did wonders for her complexion but the overall result wasn't what she wanted. She needed to look strong, fierce. Unbroken. Unlike she felt. She needed to be the Queen, not Eva. But inside her chest, an iron fist was still squeezing, making it harder to breathe. It was the thought that she will never be tied to Rollo in the way that Poppy was.
Children were the utmost expression of love ... or the result of utmost stupidity! Eva tossed the green gown.

- " Hand me the red one, Vivian."

The old maid eyed her mistress intently.

- " You are planning quite an entrance, aren't you, my lady?"

- " King Ragnar is my ally. I want to get to know him better. If I can't unite my own allies, how am I going to unite the country?"

- " Spoken like a true Queen, child! Than again, one can never keep a potential enemy too close... Do you fear this Ragnar? Is he a threat?"

- "He's ... unpredictable. Ambitions. Ambition is never good."

Eva slipped into the other dress. The dark red velvet accented her fair skin and it's straight lines made her look taller. The rich material fell from her shoulders, exposing just enough skin.
She lifted her chin - yes, it made her feel right.

A couple of hours later the Queen entered the great hall, where both Franks and Vikings were gathered.

- "My good friends, I welcome you all tonight!" she said, her arms extended welcoming and gracious. Her long, luscious, locks were cascading down the round shoulders, revealed to perfection by the cut of the gown. Although she wore no jewelry, except a slender gold band on her head, she couldn't look more regal. All eyes were on her and her smile was for everyone.
From his place Rollo watched like a hawk, as she made her way through the crowd floating rather than walking.
Ragnar approached her slowly, his eyes never leaving her face.

- " I salute you too, Queen Eva! As an ally-" his grin widened "-and as a sister."

- " Please, seat down. Eat, drink, enjoy the hospitality of my castle, in all its forms."

- " Don't mind if I do!"

Ragnar had the oddest look in his eyes, she noted, as his blue irises jumped from her face to Rollo's, from behind the gold rimmed cup. Nonetheless, she tried to lure him into conversation, hoping he would reveal more of himself. Deep down, she knew the Viking was smarter than that, but still, she had to try.

- " I am glad to see that so many of your warriors accepted my invitation to fight!"

- " They accepted your gold, and your land..."

- " Of which we have plenty! Their loyalty will be rewarded most generously - my King and husband vouches for it."

Ragnar smirked again and Eva could tell that there was something behind that grin, and behind the smoldering look he kept giving.

- " So brother, now that you have a crown, what will you do?"

- " That's a good question."

- " Dazzle me with a good answer than!"

- " I will get to know my adoptive land" he said staring into Ragnar's eyes. "So much is changing...people don't recognize their kingdom anymore, and it frightens them."

- " Not long ago you were frightening them too..."

Sensing the biting undertone, Eva intervened:

" He did. But he soon understood that fear is powerful, and two edged - when someone comes and takes the fear away, you love them for it. That's what my beloved will do- " she continued, cutting her food meticulously, into small pieces. "He will take the fear away, and then, all the talk will be of Lord Rollo! How he understands the suffering of the people, how he is their protector, how he has the legitimate claim to the crown and it's not just another warlord!

Eva's lips curled into the sweetest smile but her eyes remained sharp as daggers. Ragnar dropped back in his chair and took his time in measuring his sister-in-law, searching her face.

- " I knew you were smart but it seems you're also feisty enough to handle my brother."

- " She is a mighty Queen, indeed." said Rollo, lifting his cup in her honor "To the very best of wives!"

Ragnar nodded, lifted his cup too and took a long sip, peaking over its rim, with his piercing blue eyes. Rollo was watching his wife, but Eva's black eyes lowered, deliberately avoiding his. Instead, her gaze slid from face to face, and as she looked across the table, she met a pair of green ones. The redhead girl stiffened and turned away after a few moments, frowning. Ragnar's lips curled impishly; it seemed his brother's marriage wasn't the very best.

Rollo reached bitterly for his goblet and poured himself some more wine. The sight of his wife and his mistress, together, in the same room, strained his nerves. It was going to be a long, long, night! He drank deeply, hoping it would help, but it wasn't enough. He needed to talk to her, but the stubborn woman was ignoring him.

As minstrels played their instruments and candles burned among flowers, people jostled everywhere - drinking, eating, gossiping. Rollo was observing his wife; she had been talking, for some time, with another man. A rather young man, tall and curly haired, elegantly dressed. He didn't recognize him but knew he wasn't just another guest. There was some kind of familiarity between their gestures, and Rollo could tell that the stranger lusted after Eva as much as he did.
It made his blood boil and dropped a red haze of rage over his vision.

Standing to his right, Bjorn watched Rollo carefully. He'd seen enough and knew his uncle was in a foul mood.

- " I do not understand you uncle: you married the most beautiful woman here, a woman you obviously like and desire. Why are you sitting here with me?"

- " Because I don't know a damn thing about hearts - except how to break them! I'm a bloody fool ! And she's one stubborn woman! But I swear on the Gods, she won't have it her way!"

Rollo got up and strode to his Queen with decisive steps. He caught her arm with a firm gesture and pulled her aside, leaving the people around agape. The young man on the other hand, watched the whole scene intrigued and a little amused, to Rollo's disappointment, who would have loved a reason to punch him.

- " What do you think you're doing?! If you're trying to get back at me, at least choose a man, not a boy; you might find he's lacking important skills!"

Eva jerked her arm trying to get free, but Rollo evidently wasn't about to let that happen.

- " Let go, you crazy oaf! That boy's army and fortune can tip the balance in our favor!"

- " And what favors would you be granting him in return?" he hissed, lowering his face to hers.

Eva smiled, but the look she gave him could have turned water to ice. Beneath all her coldness a white-hot anger was raging. How dared he? He, who had reveled in filth...

- " What's wrong Rollo? You can't stand for someone else to have something that belongs to you?! Well I'm not your property, you fool! I'm not something to stick your cock into whenever you feel like it!"

Rollo forced his anger to subside when he met the intense hurt and anger from her eyes.

- " How ... how much longer are you going to you punish me? I wish I'd made a different decision! I regret having sex with her."

- " Which is as close as a man like you comes to an apology..." she sighed. "I have decided to spend the winter away ... I need some time alone, to adjust to everything that's happening."

-" Do not do this! I know things are a bloody mess between us, but we can make them work. Just ... just, don't give up on us so soon."

She remained cold, unmoved by his words and the more he struggled to control his anger, the hotter his blood boiled.

- "So this is it? You do not want me anymore? You wish to live separately?"

She crossed her arms and turned away from him, shrugging

- " It's what any woman would feel!"

- " Very well than! Leave! I will not stop you! I want you, with me, with all my heart- I won't deny it - but I will not beg you!

She couldn't believe her ears! After all that had happened, it was he who persisted in being proud?! She turned on her heels and met his eyes angered.

- " Than it is settled - we've both made our choices. Now we must live with them!"

Eva stormed away, unable to face him anymore. As she hastily turned a corner, she almost bumped into someone. A woman. Poppy! The Queen pulled back, wincing, and lifting her chin defiantly.

- " Your highness!" Poppy made a low reverence, than straightened, her arms cradling under her already showing belly. "I needed a few moments of quiet. Sometimes expecting mothers tend to get a little sick in crowded places."

The girl's smile was as poisonous as venom. "This child is wearing me out... it shares the vigor of his father and I must say, your husband is quite a good lover."

Eva tried to remain unaffected. She wouldn't give the skank the pleasure of seeing her humiliation.

- " Be careful girl! You don't want your foolishness to overshadow your usefulness! You live because I allow it; you breathe only because I wish it!

-" I think not! I think you're bluffing. Just an empty threat - you wouldn't dare kill me! I am the mother of the king's child!"

Although Eva squinted her eyes in anger, her tone was calm and forceful.

-" You are a little whore that bedded my husband! There's nothing I wouldn't dare to do, so hear me well: if you defy me again, little wench, horror awaits you! Unimaginable and infinite pain."

A short, half-suppressed, laugh interrupted the two women. The intruder was the young man to whom Eva had been talking earlier.

- "I would heed her warning if I was in your place ... our Queen here.. is driven by extreme passions. It makes her capable of an exquisite cruelty."

A little over six feet tall, slender, the man had wavy brown hair and a smile that made you week in the knees. He carried himself elegantly, his male confidence glossed with a sheen, unmistakable, arrogance. The blue of his eyes on the other hand, was cold; it held something threatening and baleful. They were the eyes of a predator and they were fixed on Eva.

- "I came to find your royal highness because we haven't had the chance to finish our conversation. And I am eager to do so!"

He smiled his disarming smile, as he drank in the sight of Eva, avidly. He was looking down at her, intently, his eyes narrowed and piercing.

- "Let us finish it than, Sebastian. I will make sure we are not rudely interrupted again. Come, follow me."

Pam-pam-pam! Enter the Devil !

So what do you guys think? What is Eva doing? Scheming? Cheating? Drowning her pain?

I think the story's dynamic could use another character. I hope I get to shape him well.

PS: Thanks to all my lovely followers, reviewers, and everybody that shares the love.

XoXo