Pride of Kings and Queens
Snow was yanked roughly from the horse. Disoriented from the upside-down ride, she stumbled and fell.
"Get up and move. The king is waiting for you." the gruff voice commanded.
So, these were not Regina's soldiers, but George's. Snow's heart sank. She hoped it would be Regina who captured her, and maybe they could end this once and for all. No matter what Regina said, she had been afforded multiple opportunities to kill her and yet Snow was still alive. Red told her it was because Regina wanted her alive, so she could torment her. Snow refused to believe that. Surely, all those years spent together as mother and daughter had not been a lie. Regina must have loved her once. The little girl inside her held out hope that the Regina she remembered was still in there somewhere.
George, on the other hand, held no such feelings for her. He had not killed her when he had the chance because it had been part of his plan. He simply wished to break her and Charming's love. It nearly worked. After the king had released her, she contemplated what to do. How was she going to tell Charming? Would he still want to marry her knowing he could never father a child with her? What would happen once they won back the kingdoms if they couldn't produce an heir? Would the commoners' revolt? Would the nobility maneuver a takeover? Would their story end up like George's?
All these questions were left unanswered when Lancelot appeared to tell her that soldiers were on their way to Ruth's cabin to kill her. Things had escalated so quickly, and she had followed her heart without thinking. If she was honest, that was why she was keeping their wedding a secret. She was plagued by the guilt that she had married him under false pretenses. Yes, the curse had been lifted. She would bear him children - a daughter - if the necklace was to be believed. But she didn't know that when she had said her vows. Lancelot had called their love strong, true, and eternal; she was very quickly learning that none of those words equated to easy.
She was led through the castle halls to a small sitting room. They untied her and removed the hood. George was standing next to a large table in front of a burning fireplace. His personal guard stood nearby ready to run her through with their javelins if she attempted to escape.
"Snow White. You must learn to be more careful, my dear. it seems you have been once again captured by my knights."
"It matters not, this war will be over soon. You're going to lose."
"Such brazen confidence. Yes, this war will be over soon, I'm afraid though that I must disagree on the outcome."
"We shall see. Why am I here? You've already cursed me, what more can you want?"
"I want what I've always wanted, a son. I thought with you cursed, and his mother dead, that the shepherd would find my offer more appealing. Seems I underestimated his love for you. Tell me, if you were to win this war, what do you two plan to do about having no heir for the kingdoms?
Snow was not about to tell him that she was no longer cursed, or that she had never told Charming what the king had done to her. She silently stared him down, refusing to show any weakness. He saw it though. The unconscious twisting of her ring gave it away.
"Or have you not told him yet? Worried about how he will take it? I don't blame you. There are some things even love cannot overcome. I told you how my wife and I were in love once, but our love couldn't survive her barrenness."
"Mine and Charming's will."
"It's a shame you won't live long enough to find out."
"You said yourself you can't kill me. He would never forgive you. You would never have his loyalty."
"Which is why I have no intention of spilling your blood with my own hands. I shall let Queen Regina do my dirty work. If in the aftermath, it is found out that you had been cursed to never be able to bear a child and had neglected to inform the Kingdom, I shall do my best to assure the people that I would never lie to them in such a way."
"Only you already have. Charming will never let you get away with it. Even if we lose this war, people will learn that he is not really James, but his brother, David, and that you are without an heir as well."
"Would he? I notice you have not yet informed the kingdom that he is merely a poor shepherd boy, that no royal blood flows through him. Could it be because you yourself don't want the people to know? That you plan to keep up the ruse and pretend that he has a right to rule my kingdom?"
"When we defeat you, he will have every right to rule your kingdom. But I am not without a heart. I understand grief and I am willing to forgive you. Peaceably hand over your kingdom and Charming and I will let you live."
"You forget which one of us in this room is the prisoner. You are in no position to negotiate a surrender. Even if you were, do you think I would trust you? I have cursed you. It is a curse which will leave a hole in your heart forever. Yet you wish me to believe you could honestly forgive me?"
He studied her and suddenly he knew. Her eyes did not hold the pain of someone who had lost all hope of a child.
"You have found a way to break my curse. How?"
Snow considered for a moment telling him that he was wrong, that she was still cursed. But maybe, if she was honest with him, if he could see that hope was still possible, he would reconsider her offer.
"I was healed by the waters of Lake Nostos."
"I sent dozens of men to that lake; none were successful in getting past the lady of the lake. How did you manage it?"
"Maybe that was your problem. King Midas made the same mistake…sending others. Maybe if you had gone to the lake yourself your love could have defeated the Siren and broken her curse. Charming went to that lake and faced to face the temptress because it was the only way to get back to me. Ruth sacrificed the drop of water that would have saved her life for the lives of her future grandchildren. Their motivation was not duty to a king, it was love. Love was the magic that broke the spell of the Siren and the magic that broke my curse."
"You make it sound so easy."
"It's not easy, but it is possible. I'm offering you an opportunity to put the pain of the past behind you, to be able to grieve your losses and move forward. Let go of your pride and admit defeat."
"You still have so very much to learn Snow White. I gave up my son to save this kingdom from ruin, and now you want me to let it go without a fight? My son is gone, and I'm never getting him back. You can't even understand my grief. You're not allowed to lecture me until there comes a day that you're forced to sacrifice your own child for the good of your kingdom. Let's see if you're still giving out hope speeches then."
George turned to his guards, his facial expression a mixture of fury and pain.
"We are done here. Take her to the dungeon and lock her up."
Sitting at King Midas' dining table, Prince James rubbed his temple in an effort to quell the ache that was forming there. He wasn't sure whether it was caused by the light relentlessly reflecting off the shiny gilded dinner plates, or the ruthless questioning of his battle plans by King Midas. Abigail gave him a half-smile, half-grimace, as if to say I'm sorry. James took a deep breath and attempted to refocus on what the king was saying, when a young page entered the banquet hall. The boy bowed before the King.
"Excuse me, Sire, but a messenger Hawk just flew through the courtyard with a note for the Prince tied to his leg."
The page presented a tiny scroll tied with a small red ribbon.
"Thank you Merek."
The young boy handed the scroll to Prince James, who untied it and began reading.
"Shall I send a reply sir?"
The boy's inquiry went unanswered. The chair the prince had been sitting in crashed to the ground as James jolted to his feet, bumping the table and knocking over the golden goblet of red wine. His face paled as he observed the wine slowly seeping into the white linens, like blood oozing from a wound. His mind filled with images of his wife, dressed in her trademark white, covered in blood.
King Midas stood. "Is something wrong?"
"I must go. Snow White has been taken."
"Taken? By whom?"
"It doesn't say. I must find her."
"Of course." Midas motioned to the servant boy, "Have the Prince's horse readied immediately."
The page ran quickly from the room to do as he was told.
James forced his gaze from the crimson stained tablecloth to meet that of the King.
"I need an answer before I go. Will you help us?"
"I know that we are in your debt, but I don't think we can join in a war against multiple well-armed kingdoms, not to mention Queen Regina's magic."
Abigail threw her napkin on the table. "Father this man saved Frederick's life from your curse. How can you even think about not helping him?"
"I would be putting our entire kingdom at risk. George and Regina would destroy us for siding with their rebellious children. What are the two of them risking? Kingdoms that do not yet belong to them."
"They are risking their lives, father. The same as James risked for us - twice. When he battled the dragon and when he cured Frederick. It's not always about kingdoms, sometimes it's about doing what is right."
Midas took a moment, running his hand along his chin, before nodding at his daughter.
"Alright, you have our support." He held his gloved hand out to James who clasped it firmly.
"We will win this war. Good always wins."
Abigail stood. Prince James took her hand and bowing, kissed it. "Thank you, my lady."
"You must make haste and save Snow White. Frederick shall rally the troops and meet you at the aforementioned place in two days time."
James rushed from the palace straight to the stables where his horse awaited. Grabbing the reins, he heaved himself astride the animal and leaning into his neck drove his boots into its side. As if understanding the familiar urgency, the horse took off, racing through the woods at breakneck speed.
Scouts from her black knight force trembled in front of her as Regina slowly circled the two frightened men. Sitting regally atop her steed, back straight, chest jutted forward, jaw clenched, she exuded the prideful arrogance of a madwoman with no idea just how far down the dark path she had strayed.
"What do you mean you had her in your sights and you lost her?" Her fake jovial tone did nothing to conceal the rage that simmered in the Queen.
"N-n-not lost her, exactly."
"Then what exactly?", the Queen snapped, allowing her anger to boil over.
The second knight bravely stepped his horse forward. "King George's knights, they captured her."
"And you just let this happen?"
"There were four of them, my Queen."
"A-a-and there are only two of us," the first knight added.
The queen reached out her hand to the stammering knight. Magic flowed from her fingertips lifting him from his horse. With a flick of her wrist, his body careened through the air, cracking as it crashed into the trunk of a tree. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground, a distorted pile of broken bones.
"Now there is only one of you."
Fearful for his life, the remaining black knight groveled in front of the Evil Queen. "I'm am so sorry for having failed you, my Queen. Forgive me and I promise it shall never happen again."
"Make sure that it doesn't." The queen clicked to her horse as she guided him around with the reins. "Let's go."
"Where are we going, Your Highness?"
"To King George's castle to take possession of my step-daughter."
Regina's horse took off at a steady trot. The knight shuddered as he took one last glance at the twisted body of his former companion. He wasn't sure whether he was happy to be the one left alive, or if it was better to just have it over with and finally be at peace. For a moment, he imagined himself being brave enough to defy the evil queen, but the heavy beating of his horrified heart was a reminder that he would very much like to keep it inside his chest, so without further hesitation he quickened his pace to catch up. He didn't allow himself to even hope that Snow White and her prince could actually defeat the Evil Queen.