This is what you've been waiting for patiently all these years...thank you for sticking with me, still plenty to go, not sure how many chapters but we are in the final act with a few plot points to wrap up.
Previously in The Collar
Now she was able Emma was cataloguing her injuries, nothing too severe but she may have a cracked rib on her left side where Red had hit randomly harder, so actually pretty severe but she's had worse.
She'd wanted worse,
She'd wanted oblivion.
She'd wanted a way to deal with the conflict in her head and in her heart.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What's wrong with her?" Red voicing her concerns once she had followed the queen to her bed chamber and closed the heavy door behind herself.
Regina didn't answer immediately, standing in silence as Red began to undress her in a routine of familiarity and comfort to them both.
"It was not unforeseen. She's unsettled, it is a significant change for her to return here, to this role. I did not exaggerate when I spoke of her standing. There are no nobles in her land, wealth dictates social standing it seems. Wealth and reputation, Emma holds both in abundant quantities. She is as a noble woman would be here and holds a great deal of influence in her sphere. I believe the punishment was sought to aid her re-subjugation, a foolish pursuit for now she has incurred physical injury but I could not let it stand."
"We could not let it stand,"
"Yet your temper got the better of you. Had you not reacted so violently I could have dealt with her myself. I-. I made Emma a promise which I have now broken," Regina confessing softly and her pain genuine, it had not been a blood oath but that was not the point, she needed to do better by Emma and not fall back on old ways. "You must learn to control yourself better. Lives lie in your hands now, dear," Regina chastising, turning to face her wolf and Red hanging her head. She felt extremely guilty now, having caused her friend so much pain for the sake of her pride. She was ashamed of herself and one look at the disappointed gaze of the queen made her whimper like a pup.
"It is done, she will survive and you have learned a lesson. She knew what she was doing and the only acceptable outcome from a discipline standpoint," Regina pausing and exhaling as they studied each other. "You can be a better ruler than I, for I am the first to admit I have a darkened heart and have taken lives in my fury. Forge your own path, my wolf."
"Yes, My Queen. But you must recall that many love you for the aid you have given, many more than fear you I would say, within the kingdom for certain. You must take credit for the improvements enacted since your rule began," Red reminding her, it would not be possible to rule such an assortment of races with only an iron rod. "You look well," Red adding as she stood back to admire the now naked queen and sensing a change in topic was due. Dwelling on the past always made the queen morose and it had been dark for them both, best to look to the future, together.
"I am," Regina acknowledging the switch with a nod and knowing look, appreciating Red's sensitivity to her moods. "As I said, Emma took very good care of me. She ensured I had clothes suited to my station and the food was exquisite. I must ask her to teach Cook to make pan-cakes, they were delicious. I accompanied her to many places; a restaurant - a fine dining hall," filling in to assuage Red's confusion. " a club where the dancing was extraordinarily sexual and we chose a young woman as our pet for the night. I saw first hand how charitable Emma can be when she rescued a street urchin from some ruffians and found her a safe place to live, a place she funds from her own pockets."
Red was entranced by the information and also the tone with which her queen spoke of Emma as she removed her jewellery by hand, placing it on its designated storage on her vanity piece by piece.
"We spent our final night at her establishment, it was extremely exclusive and catered to the most debauched tastes but in such a high-class environment. That is where we chose the new slave, she stood out and we made her ours for the night. Such a strong one that I arranged with Emma's adviser, a competent young woman, to have her attend Emma's residence. She chose to join us and I anticipate her being able to handle Emma's darkness without the instruction Greta would require. Indeed, I had hoped her presence would circumvent an incident such as occurred just now."
"I understand, My Queen. It is unfortunate she baited me so and I have heeded your wisdom. But the cane?" Red questioning but already knowing the answer.
"If she was to be punished it was to be extreme, nothing else would have sufficed," Regina sighing as she removed the pins from her hair and placed them on the vanity. "She will be freed when I see fit."
"Yes, My Queen," Red deferring as she stepped closer to the queen's naked body.
"What do you need, wolf?" Regina reaching out to cup Red's cheek.
"I need to feel you," Red whimpering and leaning into the touch and accepting the kiss. "I missed you so much."
"I understand, we are linked you and I. Undress for me and join me abed," Regina sliding into the bed, sitting up against her pillow and frowning when she realised how the mattress compared poorly with the one she had become accustomed to the past few days.
"What troubles you?" Red immediately noting the queen's annoyance as she approached the bed, feet sinking into the fur of the rugs laid next to it on both sides.
"Emma's world is far in advance of ours in the comforts it provides, her mattress was like sleeping on a cloud," Regina sighing as Red joined her, the wolf settling low in the bed with her head in the queen's lap and enjoying the fingers stroking through her hair as they had done thousands of times before. "Indeed, I only now comprehend how much Emma has sacrificed."
"I somewhat doubt she would have done differently, now the two of you have bonded the way you have. Does she know? Eva told me it is magical bonding, a faye marriage and unbreakable," Red knowing that there was never going to be a good time to broach that topic so she figured she would attempt to take advantage of the queen's admission that she had missed her company during her absence and hope for the best.
"Yes," Regina staring down at her wolf as she plotted her words, "I confessed before we returned. Had the bond not existed I would have allowed her to stay." Regina confirming softly, eyes briefly staring at the doorway, towards Emma, before returning to her wolf.
"Really?" Red turning her head to look up at the queen, astonished.
"Indeed. She is of much value there, more so than a warmer for my bed."
"We both know she is more than that to you. Did she comport herself honourably," Red suddenly realising how truly vulnerable her queen had been and a growl rumbling free.
"Yes, I challenged her at first and she refused to obey. We agreed to treat each other as equals and I believe she genuinely enjoyed out time together."
"Like Elizabeth?" Red questioning, wishing to fully utilise the queen's uncharacteristic openness and hoping her position as heir (and loved one) would protect her from any wrath.
Regina freezing before glaring down at Red, fingers tightening in her hair but not causing pain.
"What are you asking?" The queen growling but no physical or magical punishment was forthcoming (as had been pledged) so Red decided to go all in.
"Eva has shared a little about her mother's relationship with you, only how much you cared for each other and her father's role in protecting her from the King. I know she must have been older than you for Eva to be the age she is and Asher is greying now," Red summarising her very limited knowledge of the queen's lover, only small pieces of information picked up from Lucy over the years, the old wolf the only one to have known the queen since her youth.
"Yes, she was some years my senior, she took me under her wing when my mother forced me to those abysmal balls," Regina shuddering at the memory. "I did love her but for her own safety we never saw each other after I came to the palace, not until -."
Not until the King died, Red assumed. Another thing she had never heard the full truth about, from anyone.
"You are becoming close?" Regina querying with a shift of focus, brow raised, it seemed a lot had changed in her short absence.
"Yes, I was surprised but she is much more than she seems, especially for one so young."
"She is closer to your age than mine, wolf," Regina reminding her fondly. "She really does take after her mother," another sigh as she studied Red's features, always so open and trusting when they were alone like this. "And yes, as for Emma maybe. She took me on a 'date', a dinner engagement for courting," Red nodding as she understood the explanation. "She was highly respectful when we copulated and I was able to enjoy the experience without fear. I had no magic."
No protection. The unsaid rattled between them.
"My Queen," Red tightening the hold she had where her arms were wrapped around the queen's waist, cheek pressing into her stomach and Regina's other hand coming to rest over Red's shoulder, holding her closer, the wolf only the third person in her life she had been unafraid to show affection to. "Emma would never hurt you, even without your bond."
"Not intentionally no, but we have never discussed it openly."
"I'm sure she understands, she is not naïve."
"No, she is far from it and I now understand why. Her world is harsh on its weaker members, as much as the other kingdoms who do not value their children and I believe Emma was not valued."
"Cursed Snow White!" Red snarling at the thought of how Emma had suffered because of her parents' actions. The queen also held some blame but would have cared for any child that fell into her care. As she had the wolf herself.
"Be still, it is done and cannot be changed. It is fated that she found her way to us."
"Maybe so. Let her down?" Red sitting up and requesting, her silky dark hair cascading over her shoulders and partially obscuring her breasts. "It was the right thing to do for discipline's sake but for no other and we both know that, she did not deserve such pain."
"I realise this, and that you and I are both at fault. I shall release her, she has served her time," Regina acquiescing and also releasing the new slave from her bonds trusting that even in Emma's abused state she would offer the girl instruction. "I find myself ready to sleep," Regina announcing abruptly, shutting down to avoid the guilt that was crawling in her belly.
"May I stay?" Red pleading softly having sensed another change in the queen's mood.
"Of course, my wolf. I would like you close tonight but we will see to your needs when rested."
"Thank you," Red sighing as she lay back down on her side, facing the queen but curled into her body, the position familiar to them both and the presence of the other lulling each to sleep.
Regina waking in the night and unable to settle, a pain in her side niggling away at her but she put it out of mind and tried to gather what was causing her insomnia. It wasn't Red, she was asleep next to her and her aura was extremely content, light puffs of air gently stirring the queen's hair as she breathed in and out. She looked better now, the tension gone from her brow, muscles relaxed as she lay curled up on her side and Regina recalling many, many nights spent like this through their time together. She had missed it more than she realised.
Emma.
Regina exhaling finally letting her guilt surface. If she had challenged anyone but Red -. But that had been her intention, that much had been abundantly clear. Was she finding it so hard to adapt to her role again? No, she had seemed content up until she targeted Red. She reached out to her pet -.
xx
Not much after the queen and Red had retired for the night Emma found herself being lowered to the floor by the chain she was suspended from, tendrils of glowing purple manipulating the links. 'Rest. Sleep.' The words ghosting in her head and she winced, muscles flaring in pain as the tension was released and she collapsed to the floor, not able to withhold a groan as she did. The noise waking 116 and the slave watching as Emma stumbled to her feet, stretching her limbs to loosen them; each being shaken and falling to her sides but the stab of pain from her ribs confirming her suspicions that a bone had probably been cracked.
116 was also released from her bonds, a more sudden action. First she was suspended then she was standing on the floor unrestrained.
The two slaves exchanging a look before Emma retreated to her chamber beckoning 116 to follow, stripping and washing off any dried blood and sweat before collapsing onto her bed still naked. Before she could even think about instructing 116 to do the same the slave was also using the basin, movements concise and methodical, no comment made about the constant (magical) refreshing of the water. After sharing a glance Emma tossed 116 a blanket that had been folded at the foot of her bed.
"Sleep on the rug, it's not so bad," Emma nodding towards the thick fur laid out on the floor beside her. "You've done well today," the credit freely given.
"Thank you," the acknowledgement polite, the blush involuntary. 116 dropping her eyes as she readied herself for sleep, curling up on her side facing the doorway and away from Mistress Swan to give her privacy as she slept.
Emma had been laying there long enough for the dawn to begin its creep upon the palace but still sleep did not come; grabbing the heavy woollen blanket from her bed she wrapped herself to hide her nudity and snuck back through to the main room and to the balcony overlooking the courtyard all without without waking the slave asleep on her rug. She took a seat on the stone balustrade; back leaning against the castle wall, feet balanced on the wide stone caps, and looked out over the palace grounds, it was lit only with a scattering of torches, more so near the barracks and the castle gate always burned a brazier on its top to warm the guards and light the approach to the palace.
It was very peaceful, the horses slept as did the majority of the palace's inhabitants so she all she could hear was the light wind and smell the smoke of the still lit fires.
Xxx
"Go," Red murmuring softly, eyes cracking open and blinking with sleep. "Your thoughts are loud," she complained.
"I will return. Sleep, my wolf," Regina placing a kiss on Red's forehead and brushing a stray lock of hair from her cheek. Red watching her queen climb out of the bed and walk barefooted through to her outer chamber, to Emma.
"Pet." The queen's greeting startled her, she had been too focused on the outside world to pay attention to the inner.
"Mistress," Emma stood, still wrapped in the blanket as she faced the queen.
"You are a fool!" Regina hissed a she stepped forward, emptions rising as they always did around Emma. "Why? You know I could not let a slight to Red go unpunished, not now she is fully recognised as heir." Emma didn't answer, instead looked out over the grounds once more. "And you know it had to be the cane, anything else may have caused enjoyment and that was against the point." That garnering a tilt of Emma's chin in acknowledgement but nothing else.
"Emma!" Regina was angry now, her magic boiling.
"I thought it would make it easier," Emma shrugging but not turning to face the queen.
"Did it?"
"I'm not sure yet," Emma sighing and eventually facing her mistress.
"You must promise me not to do such a thing again," Regina warning darkly as her eyes roved over stoic features.
"Why? Don't you enjoy it?" The question laid out, boldly and with another challenge.
"No!" Regina surging forward to grab Emma's chin in her hand, forcing eye contact but did not speak for a long moment. "Not any more," the queen confessing honestly and leaving a void of emotion between them.
"What do you mean?" Emma needing clarification, confused.
"I will beat you if you derive pleasure from it, as you often do, but not that. Not again. Not you."
Emma standing, still held by the queen, staring into magic filled eyes and lost in them for a long moment.
"Why?" She had to ask although she felt she knew the answer.
"Because I care for you," Regina releasing her grip and turning away, staring unseeingly over the grounds.
"I care for you," Emma admitting, stepping closer as she studied the queen's profile, allowing a darker shadow to slip unseen along the palace wall.
"I know this," Regina huffing. "The way you tended to my welfare in your world proved this to me. The way you ensured my comfort and respected me when you bedded me -. Not since Elizabeth -." The words cut off by an abrupt exhale.
Emma herself inhaling sharply at the admittance before starting an internal panic as she realised what she was being told. Care, yes -.
"You love me?"
"I do."
The words hanging, weighted with truth and utmost vulnerability.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
*mic drop*
Finally! I hear you all say...