Chapter three

Narrowing it down

Once everyone finished their breakfast without any more chaos, King Robin made an announcement. He will spend an hour with each woman to help his decision making. Carol smiled the brightest and seemed to be daydreaming of what her and the King would do during that hour. He picked Alexa to go with him to the royal gardens. Regina's shoulders dropped and she exhaled when she found out she wasn't the first one to be picked.

The hand maiden took Regina and Carol back to their rooms. King Robin linked arms with Alexa as he walked out of the dinner hall. Two guards followed behind him, but not to closely. The King liked his personal space took seriously. Alexa threw many compliments to him which most of them he ignored or smirked at. Alexa spoke about her life, but he took little interest in it. He would comment on every other statement, though his comments were one worded. It didn't take long for Alexa to catch on, so she closed her life story quickly.

"Alexa, are you a virgin?" He asked her without a care about his bluntness.

"Uh, no King Robin…I slept with one man, but he is dead." Alexa hung her head low. She thought, does he really expect someone of my age to be a virgin? Her stomach swirled in knots from him not responding. He watched her bite her lip.

"How long ago was that?" He asked and kept walking through the gardens.

She gaped in shock he did not seem upset. "Two years ago."

"How many children do you want?" He stopped to smell some red roses by a tall fountain. The fountain was a statue of himself. The water coming out of the top of his head, cascading down. People knew The King loved himself deeply. The castle had many statues or paintings of him in varies of poses.

"I always wanted a big family…" Alexa watched each word she chose.

He nodded with a small. "Hmm…"

"Where do you believe women stand?" He asked.

"Under a strong man" Alexa's reply fell out of her mouth fast.

His lips twisted into a smirk by her answer. He grabbed her upper arm pulling her to him. She let out a small grasp before his lips crushed into his. On her end, stunned and frozen, her lips did not move until he pressed harder into her. The other arm wrapped around her waist as he deepened the kiss. Alex unsure what to do with her hands, they stayed at her side.

He leaned back and looked at her. "What would you do if a guard did that to you?"

"I wouldn't belong to him; he would not be allowed to touch me." Alexa explained.

"So, you would not please my guards for me?" He asked.

Alexa's jaw dropped as if she saw the dead arise. He smirked watching her fingers twitched and her eyes focus.

"Uh, if that's what you would want out of me… but I never heard of such things." Her voice cracked at the beginning.

"Good answer, you may walk the garden freely. I'm going to use the outhouse and end our hour early." He waved his hand off to her before taking off south of the castle.

Alexa stood there not knowing what to think about their hour ending early.

Regina sat on the foot of her bed with her head in her hands. Her gaze focused, but she wasn't looking at anything in particular. A little growl escaped from her stomach and it echoed throughout the room. She didn't know if breakfast didn't agree with her, or if her nerves were setting in.

She thought, how do I get the King not to pick me? How do I do that without him getting mad? I know, my mother would tell me, my purpose is to serve a man. I knew there was more to life than that. I wanted to go talk to my shepherd about this. He understood and didn't think women needed to live under men. My mother preached to me one thing and did the opposite. She huffed and then went to the window pushing back the curtains. The glass was cold to her touch and her print didn't last but a few seconds before disappearing.

"I will get out of here…" She whispered.

King Robin had a guard fetch Carol for him. He led her to the library of the castle.

"Can you read?" He asked.

Carol grabbed a book from the closest shelf and began reading straight out of it. He nodded at her and clapped twice.

"Good!" He praised. Carol returned the book to its spot. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"How many kids would you like to have?" He asked.

"Two… twins run in my family." Carol whispered. He rose a brow at her answer while leaning forwards.

"Are you a virgin?" He asked.

Carol nodded her head. "Yes, I'm saving for my husband."

He asked. "Where do you believe women stand?"

"Under their husband." She whispered.

"Come here." His voice rumbled deep from his chest.

Carol kept her gaze down while she stepped closer to him. King Robin was still a few feet away from her. He snapped his fingers at her to come closer. Carol's slow scooting dug into his thin patience. In a blur, he gripped her upper arm pulling her until her chest touched his. She shut her eyes and turned her head away from him. His hot breath trickled down her cheek and she tried to lean further away, but he kept her still.

"Will you not kiss your King?" He asked.

"Is that what you want?" Carol fluttered her eyes open to look at him.

"Yes."

Carol went to close the space between them. He crushed his mouth against hers and grabbed a fist full of her hair. She whimpered from the hair tug, yet she did not stop kissing him. There was no heat between them, both running through the movements. He had enough of her wet kiss, he stepped back and then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Would you pleasure my guards if I asked you?" He asked.

Carol gasped from the question. 'I don't know why you would share your woman…"

"Answer my question!"

She winced when his voice got louder. "If that's what you wish, yes."

King Robin looked her up and down. He did not respond, went over to a chair by an open window and sat down. Carol stood where the King left her from the kiss and question. Her hand went up to her mouth wondering what he thought of her lips. She didn't have much experience with men, her mother kept her sheltered and to save all the romance for a well-meaning suitor. Carol looked towards him.

"What are you looking for in a woman?" She stepped closer but kept out of reach. He did not look at her when he replied.
"Obedience, beauty, and someone with a personality." King Robin waved his hand with each trait he wanted.

"That sounds simple enough." She smiled at him. He slammed his hand that turned into a fist in mid air down on the chair's side. POP! The echo made Carol jump.

"You think this is simple? Finding a spouse simple enough then why haven't you done it already? Why are you here… Do you think I would have already claimed another for my own if it were merely simple?" His voice grew louder with each breath. Carol stepped away from the red-faced king.

"Wrong…choice of words my King." Carol's voice shook as she stepped back again. He marched forwards at a slug's pace. She backed up several feet, her back touched some shelfs and she held her hands close to her chest.

"Yes, at least you can admit your faults." He stood right out of reach from her.

"Of course, my King." Carol nodded her head. Her voice cracked and her breathing remained shallow.

"Are you scared of me?" King Robin asked.

"Yes…" The word barely slipped past her lips. He tilted his head to the side while he crossed his arms over his broad chest. Moments had passed by with an agonizing ache. Her breathing went back to normal and she watched him watch her.

"You may be dismissed." King Robin walked out after he informed her their hour ended short. Carol didn't move from the library at first. She took her time studying all the books. New, old, damaged, polished and some in languages she didn't know. The shelf reached so high that there was a ladder in the corner to be used. Carol took a guess, she thought, there must be a thousand books in here.

He walked down the hall took two left turns and scoffed to himself. His mind spun in circle, maybe the next woman would be the one. Regina gasped hearing the two knocks echo though the room. She walked over to the door and opened it. King Robin stood there looking at her.

"It hasn't been two hours yet." Regina bit her lip in regrets to her statement.

"You're correct, but I ended them short. Let's go to the stables." King Robin offered his hand.

Regina took his hand fast knowing she would be around her favorite animal.

. If their hour didn't go well at least she would have horses to visit. She heard stories of the royal stables, so she smiled happy to go with him.

"Do you ride horseback?" King Robin asked her.

"Yes, my King. My mother would have to drag me out of the stables back at home… She said, I couldn't live there." Regina's voice grew lighter as she thought of good memories. King Robin smiled at her.

"I'm sure you ride in different styles then?" He asked.

Regina nodded her head to his question. She couldn't help but wonder why the hours with the other women ended short. Even though her curiosity held up strong, she bit the urge to ask the question. The walk to the royal stables held charm and allured Regina deeper than she already was. She didn't think that was possible.

The grass so bright and lush like the Amazon rainforest. It hasn't rained in weeks; how did it stay so green? All fences painted white, three panels and looked white as snow. The paddocks close to the main path to the stables, it looked like half the paddocks connected to the stalls and horses of all colors and sizes filled them. Never more than two in the small paddock. Over further in the hilly pastures were more horses together.

He tugged her along into the stables and Regina's eyes widen as her jaw fell open. Twenty-five stalls in each side, staff moving in and out as they cared for the horses. The smell of sweet grain and hay filled their nose. Regina used to the smell; loved the smell actually.

. She watched the stable hands go back and forth with buckets, lead ropes, water or blankets. One tall black horse stood out to her, the piebald horse had stunning blue eyes and a pink upper lip. She broke from his arm and hurried to the horse. Fingers stretched out and her palm facing up, she waited for the horse to sniff her hand before she stroked down the bridge of his nose. King Robin walked up behind her. "That's my Stallion, Night." He whispered, hot breath tickled down her neck and she tried not to tense up her shoulders.

"He is stunning." Regina whispered.

"Yes, he is… We ride on the night of the full moon monthly for a wild hog hunt." King robin said.

Regina kept a soft smile on her sweet lips. King robin's hand crept up and down her back. "Do you want to feel that between your legs?" His lips graze the edge of her ear. Regina inhaled sharply and curled her lower lip in between her teeth.

((Thank you all for the favorites, follows and reviews. I really am grateful for the reviews, hopefully I'll see more for this chapter. I got a request, asking for longer chapters, so I won't be posting as often due to giving at least 2k for word length.

What is King Robin's plan for Regina?))