So, again a multitude of reviews for which I thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Yes, it was a horribly intense chapter but was needed for the story to progress. Here I hope everything is explained, hopefully to your satisfaction but as always q's are welcome and I will answer what I can!
Enjoy x
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"Put her on her bed," Regina gestured to Emma's open doorway but Red just shot her a look.
"No, your bed, we both know she will end up there anyway," Red growled, calling the queen on her recent sleeping habits. Regina was startled by the wolf's audacity but let it go with a curl of her lip and an inclination of her head, following the pair through to her bedchamber where Emma was carefully laid out on top of the furs.
"Pass me my medicine box," Red hurriedly grabbed the ornate wooden box that housed the queen's special healing potions.
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"She's lost a lot of blood," Red informed the queen as she hovered behind her mistress, who was seated on the bed next to the slave.
"Has she now?" Regina looked up at her wolf, expression unreadable.
"Yes!" Red gesticulated towards her friend, wounds still oozing Emma's life force. "Heal her!"
"Shhh, my wolf. Did you not say that you trusted me?" Red stopped fidgeting and glared at the queen, eyes yellowed.
"I did." Was the wolf's abrupt reply. "I do." A sigh but she kept quiet and watched as the queen selected a small bottle, uncorking it before sliding her hand under Emma's head, tilting it slightly so the slave wouldn't choke as a golden liquid was poured down her throat then carefully lowering the blonde back down.
"Here," Regina reached for Red's hand, the wolf allowing it to be taken and pressed palm down over where Emma's heart lay, safely ensconced in her chest. "Concentrate, breathe," the queen urged and Red focused, reaching out with her magic to sense the slave's life force. It was strong, much stronger than it should be after the day's ordeal.
As Red held her hand there a subtle change came over the slave. Emma's complexion lost the grey tinge and became much closer to her normal colour, pale but with an underlying flush. The blood from the wounds stopped seeping, wounds still angry and raw but no longer bleeding.
"A glamour?" Red pulled her hand back with a gasp.
"Partially," Regina smiled and looked up at her wolf. "The pain was mostly real, the injuries are real but much less severe than they appear, the knives enchanted to seal the wounds." The wolf frowned, recalling the tingle she had felt when removing the blades.
"But her hands!" Red carefully lifted Emma's right hand, the one closest to the edge of the bed, the knife had gone straight through, the entry and exit wounds clear.
"Have you any idea how much energy it takes to move bones and tendons at the speed that damn amazon used?" Regina huffed, now having a pounding headache from the sheer concentration it had taken to part the blonde's flesh and bone around the blade as it had entered her pet's hand.
"I-," Red blinked, mouth open as she looked down at Emma who now seemed much further away from death than two moments ago.
"You trusted me but you questioned me," Regina stood to be on a more even footing with the wolf but Red noted the queen's hand stayed in contact with the slave, fingers gently stroking the blonde's calf. "You have grown and I am proud of you, my wolf," the queen smiled. "You've grown enough to challenge me and that is what gives you power."
"But I trust you, I love you," Red whimpered, hanging her head, the last words a mere whisper.
"And I you, my wolf," Regina admitted, startled yellow eyes darting up to meet the queen's soft brown, the wolf leaning into the hand that cupped her cheek. "But you have outgrown me and need to step out and become the alpha you were born to be, by my side not in my shadow."
"I understand," Red nodded, finally getting it. She wasn't being rejected by the queen, she was being set free to become her equal, or as close as her mistre-. As close as her queen would allow anyone to be except -. Regina noted the wolf's gaze switch to the slave lying on the bed.
"She will make a full recovery, Emma can deal with pain like no other I have ever met. It served us well today," Regina joining her wolf, looking down on her pet.
"I know, she understands what needs to be done. But still -," Red bit her lip at the thought of her friend's ordeal.
"But she will make a full recovery, the potion will replenish the life energy used today so that her body can heal. I'm not going to completely heal the wounds, the surface is needed for show but they will not leave her disadvantaged for long," Regina pledged to the wolf. "Now leave us, send a light but nutritious meal to my quarters and see if Gabrielle is still around, I saw her lurking in the courtyard."
"Yes, My Queen," Red turned to leave.
"I will progress the pup's training, it will benefit us all. As soon as Emma is stronger," Regina answered Red's unspoken question then nodded her dismissal, Red leaving the queen's chambers, heart much lighter than she had entered with.
Regina waited until the outer door clunked softly closed and she was alone with her pet. The audacity of Red to place the slave directly into her bed! A snort, Regina finally acknowledging that she did sleep much more deeply when the blonde was there to warm the furs.
"Oh Emma," Regina sighed. "I am sorry that it had to come to this," the queen murmured as she began to examine each wound and preparing dressings. The slave was roused as she felt the bed dip and a gentle touch probed abused flesh. A hiss of pain and the blonde cracked an eye.
" -over-?" A harsh whisper startled the queen.
"Yes, my pet. It is over. You did well." Regina acknowledged, leaning forward to brush a stray lock of blonde hair from sweat soaked skin. "But rest and let me heal you." A nod and Emma exhaled, too tired to think but soothed by the gentle touch of her mistress. Her memory of the day was a little foggy but -.
"So?" Emma frowned as she faced her mistress. "What would you do?" The queen questioned, eyes focused on her slave.
"I would free her, Mistress," Emma eventually replied, her answer causing the courtyard to erupt in a murmur of voices, the slave holding out her hand expectantly."I trust you," the slave projecting her thoughts to her mistress.
The queen glanced down at her pet's outstretched hand before lifting her eyes, green orbs staring right back at her. A nod of understanding and the queen's hand was enveloped in purple smoke, when it cleared the contents was passed to Emma. The slave had been shocked by the sight of the knives, expecting a whip or cane, items that Emma knew how to prepare for. Knives though -.
"Trust me," the thought entered her mind as she locked eyes with the queen.
"Mistress," Emma offered a half bow, accepting her role, before leaving the queen and walking the short distance to Thera, taking the two shallow steps in one stretch of her long legs.
The pain had been unpleasant but bearable, a sharp pain each time a blade entered her flesh before a warmth had spread from the site, numbing the flesh to such an extent it acted as a sedative, Emma falling into a soporific state of consciousness for most of the ordeal. Panic had set in when the queen had ordered her hands to be pierced, Emma having no idea how that was going to end well, until a gentle brush against her thoughts had reassured her that the queen was aware and in control of the situation. The strange sensation of her tissue moving of its own accord almost masked by the pain but again the enchanted knives spread that welcome tingle through her abused body.
"Lie and rest, my champion, my swan," Regina murmured, hand placed on the blonde's brow, seeing that her pet was exhausted. Yes, she had done her best to quell the pain but even thought the wounds were less severe than they had appeared it had still taken an enormous toll on the slave. "We have achieved all out goals," the queen purred, fingers gently closing heavy eyelids. "Sleep."
Emma barely heard the words but did not feel the kiss placed on her forehead, already taken by slumber.
Red found Greta and Belle waiting outside the queen's rooms, the two young women standing to attention as soon as the wolf slipped through the ornate doors.
"Pup, the Queen requests food for Emma, a light but nourishing meal. Please also inform Cook that the Queen will be dining in her chambers with the amazon queen and probably her consort. See enough food for four is sent up," Red gave Greta her orders, assuming that she may also be eating with the queen tonight. If not, the food would not be wasted and could be returned to the kitchen.
"Yes Red. How -." Greta had to know how Emma was.
"She will heal," Red's answer abrupt. "Ask your mistress if she wishes you to attend Emma when you return with her food."
"Yes Red," Greta failing to hide her smile now that she knew Emma was not in serious danger.
"Go!" A nod and the pup scuttled off to carry out her orders, leaving Red alone with her own slave. Belle waiting on her mistresses command.
"I have no need for you now, go see your amazons. They are leaving tomorrow," Red dismissed her slave, not wanting to deal with the girl tonight. "Stay out of my way until then," the wolf growled, tense and tired.
"Yes, Mistress Red," Belle replied as the wolf strode away, leaving the girl alone.
"The Queen requests your company for her evening meal," Red informed the amazon queen who she had tracked to their designated suite,on the opposite side of the palace to the queen's but on the same floor.
"And if I do not wish to see her?" Gabrielle growled as she faced the wolf.
"Then your years of friendship will be missed," Red shrugged, not wanting to inform the amazon that her fears had been unfounded. If the queen wanted her friend to know about the ruse then it was up to her to say so.
"Alright," Gabrielle sighed, her temper was well known but also fleeting. But, the invitation would give her more time to work on her friend and check on the poor slave's health. But Red -. "How is Emma?" the amazon asked as red was about to leave the room.
"She lives." Was all Red offered, a nod of her head before she left the blonde queen alone.
Regina was relaxing on her day bed when Red returned looking weary.
"The amazon will come, I have also arranged for dinner to be sent up when they arrive," the wolf informed her queen before letting out a sigh, there was no sign of Greta so she must still be sourcing food for Emma.
"Sit, rest with me," Regina gestured, indicating that Red should take her pick of the available seating. Although it was a strange position for her to be in Red accepted and sat opposite the queen, sinking into the soft upholstery. A click of the queen's fingers and a small goblet of apple brandy appeared on the low table by the wolf's side. "I need to provide you with more fitting chambers," Regina murmured distractedly as she studied the beautiful young woman that was her heir. Red was leaning back in the chair, those long, strong legs stretched out, booted feet crossed at the ankles.
"No, mine are perfectly adequate," Red frowned.
"You need somewhere for your pet, I know how you value your space but you have needed an aide for some time now. You run this palace but only I can appreciate the effort that takes," Regina smiled at the wolf. "She is smart and is already infatuated with you," Red scowled which brought a chuckle from the queen. "Do not tell me the girl is unattractive? Even after Emma had her bound so beautifully?" Red turned her eyes to the queen. Yes, they had often shared quiet moments like these over the years but today the lilt of the conversation was different and Red was not kneeling by her side enjoying intimate attention from her mistress. No, that was now Emma's place.
"My wolf seems to like her," Red admitted with a curl of her lip. "But I find her presence annoying and claustrophobic," she answered honestly.
"She needs training, a good slave should be unobtrusive," the queen sniffed. "Have you claimed her yet?" The question so casual.
"No, like I said, she frustrates me, but not in a good way," Red took a sip of the brandy and enjoyed the burn as it slid down her throat, relaxing tired muscles.
"Her magic will make the experience satisfying for you," Regina added, seeing her wolf unconvinced. "If not you may choose your own pet." Red sighed and shook her head.
"I prefer the quiet life," she murmured. "You spoiled me for anyone else, My Queen," Red admitted, ruefully.
"Oh, I'm sure I can provide assistance should it be required," Regina smiled at the disgruntled wolf, the comment ambiguous but their discussion interrupted as Greta slid into the room carrying a large tray of food.
"Go through, give her whatever she needs," the queen ordered and Greta continued on towards the queen's bedchamber, seeing the slave's bed empty.
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Next on The Collar
Emma was woken by the sound of dishes rattling and a soft curse that announced the pup's presence.
"Sorry!" Greta muttered as she saw that she had disturbed her friend. "I'm glad you're not dead," followed by a wide smile.