Wow, positive reception to the last chapter so thank you all for reading :) A bit more here to round things off in the history lesson but then right back to Swan Queen.
To answer the questions I have had on this and to put things into perspective for this story Red is approximately 14 when Regina rescues her, making Regina 24. That was six years ago so Red is now 20 and Regina is 30. As previously covered Red does not ask to become sexually involved with Regina until she is around 16. For my purposes Snow is now 24, the same age as Emma so is 4 years older than Red.
Next chapter won't be as quick I don't think as I have other writing needing attention.
This chapter is part flashback, part current story.
As always get in touch with any q's!
Enjoy, Lil'D
Xxxxx
Regina blinked, momentarily forgetting where she was. Oh!, The queen looked up only to be caught by incredibly blue eyes, the colour of the southern seas in their vibrancy. No words were exchanged but the woman extended her arm so it lay on the rug that bridged the gap between them, hand relaxed and open before closing her eyes and returning to sleep.
Brown, they were the richest shade of brown Ruby had ever seen and she stared at the woman until dawn approached and the girl's own eyes grew heavy and she slept. When she awoke she was wolf, she was wolf and hungry and alone, the woman had left but it was day now so that was not strange.
xxxx
The scent of fresh bread drew Ruby out from her den. Regina froze where she was seated on her day bed as a massive dark shape slowly emerged through the doorway, snout growing into the wolf's head. The queen inhaled as she caught sight of the beast for the first time, she was magnificent, standing at least as tall as the queen's waist, coat long but dull and lacking condition. Their eyes met for a second time and Ruby's chest rumbled in a warning growl, the queen holding her hands out in a gesture of goodwill.
"Eat," a nod indicated the food was freely given. "You are safe here, in my kingdom." Ruby froze again, eyes sweeping over the woman. Who was she? Where was she? She had heard the old lady-wolf talk about the queen as she cleaned and took away dirty dishes and how the queen protected the wolves. Apparently there were lots of wolves like her here. "I can help you, teach you to choose whether to be girl or beast at will." The wolf didn't retreat but neither did she advance towards the food Regina knew she needed, "I can also help you when the moon is at its peak, help you control the beast," the woman pledged.
Ruby's ears twitched as the woman spoke, she didn't seem to be a threat but -. The queen frowned as the wolf withdrew out of sight. A sigh but she did not follow, instead returned to her book. Ruby went back to her den but didn't sleep, instead keen ears listened to the dark woman go about her business, mostly the rustle as pages turned but there was movement here and there, No-one else appeared and an hour later Ruby decided to investigate again, this time venturing further into the other room and coming to stand opposite the woman.
"Eat," the woman pushed the platter towards the wolf and this time Ruby did not resist, rapidly clearing the plate of everything it held, including the fruit. She particularly liked the apples, the woman smelled like those apples. When the wolf was done she sat on her haunches and observed the woman who was reading again, a twitch of the ears as she began to read out loud, a tale of adventure and intrigue. Ruby liked her voice, it was soothing and soon she found herself curling up on the rug by the woman's side, eyes closed but ears alert and indicating that she was listening.
When Regina paused she was delighted to see the wolf's head pop up and look at her questioningly.
"I just need to stop for some water," the queen explained with a smile. "I enjoy reading reading but it is nice to have such a receptive audience." They spent the rest of the day like that, sometimes the queen read, sometimes she was silent but it was a relaxed companionship that was not disturbed until evening began to draw in. A knocking on the queen's door startled Ruby and she darted back to the bedchamber and the safety of her den.
"My Queen," Ruby heard the old-lady wolf speaking to the woman. So that was the queen she had been talking about? The wolf was surprised but pleased that her woman was the queen, it meant that what the old-lady wolf had said was true, Ruby was safe here and nothing she had seen in the many days she had been here had yet proved otherwise.
"Lucy, thank you," her woman spoke, "I am sure that this will be appreciated. Regina gestured to the evening meal that her seamstress had brought.
"I smell that you've had company today?" Lucy queried, detecting the girl's scent around the queen.
"Yes, I have been reading to our guest," the queen murmured. "You scared her off," the monarch teased.
"Still, a big step, Majesty," Lucy pointed out and Regina nodded.
"Yes, a long way to go but we have time. Please bring me any documents I need to review tomorrow and have our meals sent here. I do not know when I will resume my normal routine but not this seven days I believe."
"Yes, My Queen," Lucy replied as she gathered the dirty dishes from the previous meal. "These things take time and are not worth rushing, the rest will do you good and Braxas has things under control. All the wolves wish you both well."
"Pass on my thanks for their loyalty and understanding. I know they are keen to meet the girl but that will only happen on her terms." Regina warned, knowing how enthusiastic and impatient her wolves could be.
"Of course, Majesty. They understand," Lucy nodded her agreement and gave one last look around the chamber for any stray items she may have missed before leaving the queen alone.
"She has left, we are alone" Regina called out and waited to see if the wolf would reappear. The wolf did not, this time it was the girl that edged around the doorway. "She brought us cheese, pastries and fruit," the queen informed her guest. "Come sit with me if you wish and I will read to you after we have eaten."
Ruby hesitated. This was different. She was the girl and when she was the girl she could not fight them off.
Regina looked up and caught blue eyes watching, the girl's body hidden behind the door, the queen stood, lifting the tray of food and drink and walking towards the girl whose eyes went wide before she fled back to her den. Ruby hid amongst the furs, thinking that her woman would eat alone and she panicked when her woman entered the bed chamber. Was she going to force Ruby out to eat? Regina placed the tray down on the floor next to the bed and reached for the pile of books that were on the table nearby, when she had everything she needed she sat in her own furs that were still on the floor and pushed the tray so it was part-way under the bed. Next a plate was pushed under and then two goblets, one holding water and the other a juice pressed from her orchard.
"Take whatever you need," her woman urged. "I can get more if we need it. I suggest the round pastries, they are sweet but not overwhelmingly so." Ruby hesitated but took two off the tray as well as a round of familiar looking cheese and two apples. "If you like the apples, try the juice but also drink plenty of water. Your body needs it." The girl tensed at the mention of her weakness and although Regina could not see her she sensed it in the girl's magical aura.
"You are safe with me here, little one," her woman spoke again. "I rule this land and nothing is ever going to hurt you while you are in my care. This I promise." Nothing more was said until her woman began to read again, this time a tale about a brave knight, the story holding the girl's attention until Regina heard the deep breaths of sleep from her charge. Deciding it was late enough she took to her own 'bed', arm once again outstretched towards the wolf girl.
This went on for many days, Ruby would sit with her woman in whatever form she was in, as a wolf she listened to stories, as a girl she was given her choice of books as the queen worked away at her desk or sat in one of her favourite seats. After a time the girl stopped running when Lucy came into the room after being reassured many times that she would see no-one else until she was ready to. The old-lady wolf brought her clothes but Ruby never wore more than the shifts for fear of shredding them each time she changed forms but her woman never commented on this or pushed her to do anything different.
Regina continued to sleep on the floor, the furs making it surprisingly comfortable, smiling the first time she woke finding a hand in her own after the night terrors had struck the girl. It wasn't always a hand, sometimes an enormous paw would be underneath her hand, the wolf careful never to cause discomfort. As the nights wore on the body gravitated closer and closer to the queen until either the wolf or girl was curled up to her when the sun rose each morning.
One night Regina simply climbed into her bed and patted the free space by her side, the wolf hesitating but jumping up and after a few moments of restless turning and pawing at the furs deemed it acceptable and curled up to sleep. In the morning it was the girl laying on top of the covers and Regina reached out, concerned that she may be cold but a touch assured her that the girl was wolf to the core and actually radiating heat.
"You like those apples so much you'll turn into one, Red," Regina teased as she noted the bowl that had been refilled only that morning was nearly empty. Ruby liked the nickname but her only reply was a shrug and watched as her woman, shake her head, smiling and returning to the documents she was perusing.
Later that day her woman sighed and looked to the girl.
"Red?" Blue eyes gave her their full attention but no verbal answer, the girl had not spoken since she arrived, except for pained cries when in the throes of a nightmare. "Come here," Red obliged and came to stand before her woman. "I wish to speak with you about your future here in my kingdom." That earned Regina a panicked look. "No, dear," the older woman reached for the girl's hand and held it gently in her own. "Do not worry I just wish to let you know that I know why you ran away," Regina tightened her grip as the girl tried to pull away. "No, focus like I showed you," the queen urged as she saw that a shift was imminent. "That's it, breathe," her thumb caressed the back of the girl's hand until the moment had passed. "Well done, I'm very proud of you!" Her woman praised and Red blushed.
"I wanted you to know that you will always be safe here, no blame is held to you for your past actions. When you are ready one of my most trusted wolves will help you learn to control your changes better than I, but the full-moon is approaching and I would offer you this to suppress the wolf on that night, or whenever you wish." Regina reached onto her desk and took hold of an open box.
Red looked down at the pendant she was being offered, then to her woman, warm brown eyes waiting for her decision.
"Here, let me," Regina released the girl's hand and unclasped the pendant. "Move your hair, dear," she instructed and waited until the now silky, healthy locks were moved aside and the pendant lay cool on her chest as her woman fastened it. "Now, I will activate it with my magic so it is in tune with your own, innate magic. This may feel warm but it won't hurt. Alright?" A nod as Red gave her permission. Her woman had explained that she had magic but Red had yet to witness it being used for more than the pretty light displays her woman would give when it was the middle of the night and Red couldn't sleep after one of her dreams.
The girl gasped as a heat emanated from the pendant and spread throughout her body before concentrating around where she knew her heart was.
"All done," a smile from her woman, one that Red tentatively returned and Regina once again cursed the ones who had hurt this beautiful girl so badly. "Now, the pendant will do two things. It will suppress the violence in your wolf when the moon becomes full allowing you to stay in control of your actions. But, it will still allow you to be wolf if you wish, I would not take that option away from you as I know it is how you feel safest. All you have to do is will it, and it will be so. If it does not come at first simply touch the stone and it will happen."
Red was overcome by her woman's thoughtfulness. To have control like this -. Regina was thrown back in her chair as Red lunged forward, wrapping her arms around the queen and rubbing her cheek against the older woman's in an unprecedented show of affection.
"Thank you." Regina was almost as stunned as Red by the gesture and the hoarse words.
"I need you to be safe, to feel safe," the queen clarified, with a clearing of her throat. "Now, it is time for you to leave here with me, your wolves wish to meet you and their patience is wearing thin." Regina shook her head, recalling the constant hopeful looks she received from each wolf she encountered whenever she left her rooms. "Change to your wolf, the pendant will be hidden but always there, unbreakable unless you choose to remove it."
Red baulked at the request and stepped away from her woman. Even though it had been explained to her that she was an alpha wolf she had no comprehension of what that really meant.
"Come, it cannot be delayed forever," Regina urged, standing and moving to the centre of the room. "Let us show them what a strong wolf you are. You are safe with me, little one," Regina smiled as a look of determination crossed the girl's face, closing her eyes and willing the wolf into existence. The queen applauded as the transformation occurred, seemingly effortlessly, leaving Red standing there, head held high, glossy coat flowing around her with every movement.
Regina led the way from her rooms, Red on her heel, quickly traversing the halls of the palace. Red was nervous but she saw the way each person they met deferred so respectfully to her woman, bowing or curtseying and she began to have more confidence in her woman's ability to protect her. She also observed the way eyes lingered on her, faces filled with awe as the largest wolf they had ever seen walked by their queen's side.
"Ready?" Regina questioned as she paused by a set of doors. Red rubbed up against her woman in the positive, the queen's hand falling to the wolf's massive head, fingers tangling reassuringly in the thick fur, waving her free hand and opening the doors.
Together they stepped out onto a raised area of the courtyard. "Easy, my wolf," Regina murmured as Red hesitated. "I'll protect you, little one," her woman murmured as Red came face to face with a sea of wolves, the courtyard packed with a milling mass, hundreds of lupine bodies, nearly every wolf in the kingdom having come to see their alpha. Regina smiled as she picked up the shocked thoughts of the assembled wolves as Red appeared by their queen's side, the main focusing on Red's size, still only a child and already the largest wolf there, the only ones approaching her size were the other alphas present.
A howl went up, welcoming Red to the pack. It startled the wolf and she pressed closer to the queen, ears back as every single shifter joined in, much to to the distress of Regina's eardrums.
"They are welcoming you, little one," Regina scratched behind her wolf's ear to reassure Red until the wolf took a tentative step forward and stood before the queen, head raising in a very impressive howl of her own. It was then the packs broke ranks and swarmed to greet their newest member, Regina standing firmly by Red's side as she allowed them to approach, each individual wolf coming to welcome their alpha as Red stood by her queen.
Xxxxx
Regina felt her wolf loitering outside the door.
"Excuse me," the queen rose and left the room, surprising her guests and leaving them alone with Emma.
"Here," Emma looked blankly at the piece of cloth as soon as the door closed behind the dark queen. "It's distracting," the amazon queen murmured as she gestured towards the blood still staining the slave's face.
"No." Emma refused the cloth. "If my mistress does not wish to see me this way then she will tell me," the slave retorted with a pointed glare, holding her position by her mistresses chair.
"Are you not supposed to treat the Queen's guests with respect?" The amazon queen challenged.
"Not if anything they request goes against my mistresses wishes, Majesty," Emma bowed her head, words too polite to be considered rude despite her refusal to obey the visiting monarch. "Or if they lay a hand on me without the Queen's permission," Emma flashed the amazon a smile that was verging on feral.
"You are outspoken for a slave," the amazon narrowed her eyes at Emma who returned the stare coolly, not gracing the comment with a reply.
The amazon queen had a lot of questions for her friend. Who was the slave who did not behave like a slave, like one who had not been broken but who deferred to her mistresses every command, who was obviously incredibly strong to take the queen's brutality yet still seemed to enjoy her mistresses company.
"Where are you from?" The warrior joined in the questioning but Emma was not stupid enough to be drawn into their games.
"Another land," was the slave's blunt reply.
"How did you come to the Queen? She is a hard mistress," the amazon queen continued.
"My mistress values my discretion," was Emma's cool retort to her interrogators.
"Pet?" Emma's head snapped around when the queen called to her, re-entering the room.
"Mistress?"
"I may require you to entertain our guests tonight, be prepared for any eventuality," Regina decreed.
"Yes Mistress, of course," the slave replied with a smirk that earned a chuckle from the queen, not a reprimand.
"Good girl, we'll show these amazons, won't we?" Regina enjoyed her pet's humour and willingness to aid her schemes, plus teasing her friend was also amusing, dark eyes missing none of the interest her guests were showing in her slave.
"Yes, Mistress," Emma nodded before stepping forward to refill both the queens' and the warrior's goblets, Regina reaching forward, fingers hooking in the stitching that joined the cups of the blonde's top and pulling her forward so their lips met, the slave moaning as she was kissed and a hot tongue cleaned her face of the blood.
The amazon queen watched, things suddenly making a lot more sense. The slave liked pain, enjoyed what Regina must do to her. Suddenly a lot of what she had seen made sense. It didn't explain everything though, she had seen how Regina was with her previous slaves, collared or not. For example the smith, Alexis, her friend had regularly abused the young woman who seemed to crave Regina's attention but the dynamic had not matched what she was seeing now. Food for thought, the amazon mused before Regina caught her attention with a tale of the exploits of one of the young nobles from a neighbouring kingdom.
Emma listened idly to the queen as she entertained her guests but was ignoring the inquisitive looks she was being given. It wasn't until well into the afternoon that the party broke up, the dark queen beckoning Emma to follow so she assist her mistress dress for dinner
"We shall play some games with the amazons tonight, pet," Regina announced as Emma waited for the queen to apply her make-up, dark and dramatic. "You will wear the outfit I gave you for the last banquet and use whatever you deem fit to make a lasting impression."
"Yes, Mistress," Emma smirked and it was met with one from the queen.
"Go dress." The slave was dismissed.
Xxx
Next on The Collar
"Where did you find her?" The amazon queen murmured as she watched, fascinated by the blonde slave's skill and showmanship.