So, be warned...this may count s fluff in The Collar's world... also another longer one for you all and on schedule for those who asked.
Been busy few weeks but will keep the updates coming as often as I can. Thanks for all the messages, they are always appreciated :)
Enjoy and let me know what you think!
Xxxxxxx
Previously on The Collar
Regina looked down to see her slave had fallen asleep, not something that had ever happened before, unconscious yes, asleep no. Her pet was usually so dedicated to her role.
"Oh, my dear. Life is hard at the moment isn't it? Hmm?" Regina looked down on the slave, face relaxed in sleep and looking so much younger when the guarded look that was almost constantly etched on her pet's features.
The queen kept up the steady combing of her fingers through silky blonde locks, knowing she found the action strangely soothing, maybe it was as Red had said, that Emma grounded her stray magic? Maybe, but Regina acknowledged that she had found such time with Red to be the same, quiet company in a world where she had always been so alone. Through choice of course, since she had murdered Leopold that is and her mother, well -. Regina's stomach turned as it always did when she thought about such things, not for the acts she had committed but for the things that had driven her to such extremes, the others that had suffered at their hands.
This is why the mysterious beast was preying on her mind, it stank of cursed magic, that never boded well as it was usually connected to one of the darker magic users and that meant trouble would not be far behind, But who though, the imp? The genie? Regina was on good terms with most of the more questionable characters because they feared her actions if they were not, but this, this was worrying.
"We shall figure it out pet and then that beast will be sorry it ever laid a paw on my wolf!"
xxxxxx
Emma watched the queen reading at her desk, taking the morsels of food fed to her as the monarch, frowned, swiping a hand across her eyes before turning her attention back to the small text.
"You're restless." Regina stated, her pet having sighed for the fifth time in as many minutes. Emma's recovery was taking it's toll on the slave who was not used to the enforced rest her mistress insisted on. "Maybe an excursion?" Emma straightened at the suggestion, thoroughly sick of the inside of the palace, she was not even permitted to go outside less she re-open her wounds.
After falling asleep, literally on the queen, two days ago Emma had been confined to the royal chambers until her mistress deemed her fit enough to resume her 'normal' duties. But, with Red's unsuccessful mission to track the still mysterious beast the queen was preoccupied with ensuring the safety of the kingdom's populace and had only been visiting her chambers to sleep.
"Any change of scenery would be appreciated, Mistress," Emma replied evenly , trying not to seem too eager. She was going fucking crazy staring at the same walls all day, even watching the comings and goings of the palace's inhabitants from the balcony had not helped much. But it had given her lot of time to think, too much time if Emma admitted it to herself.
Red had been just as absent, Emma's only company had been Greta and the young amazon who had both been pestering her for tips on how to improve their service to their respective mistress. But, as Emma had not been given permission by the queen to offer proper instruction until she was fully healed the slave had been forced to refuse even that avenue of 'entertainment'.
"Then come, I have business to attend to!" Emma followed the queen as she swept through the palace and out into the small courtyard that opened out next to the kitchens. Emma frowned as they slipped through the unobtrusive gate in the far corner of the space which she had noticed but never used. It brought them out onto a small trail that took them through a copse of trees and then into a large clearing, right on the edge of the thickening forest.
Emma jumped as a shrill whistle rang out, emanating from the queen who had two fingers between her lips and, it seemed, a whistle to shame all whistles.
"Now stand very still," Regina cautioned her pet, the slave nodding her understanding. It didn't take long, a fraction of a candle mark for the queen to straighten and stare at a particular spot in the forest. Emma strained her eyes but saw nothing, at first. Then the forest started walking towards them, foliage pushing forwards and -. Emma blinked as the forest formed the shape of two stag-like creatures, they didn't seem to be made of flesh and blood, but of the forest itself, beams of sunlight piercing their loosely formed bodies of interwoven branches and vines.
A glance from the queen showed that Emma hadn't moved a muscle.
"Greetings," Regina bowed before majestic creatures and her bow was returned by both, a dip of large, antlered heads and a pawing of the grass beneath organic hooves the response. "I have a journey to make, to The Moors. Will you take us?" Emma held her breath as she was scrutinised, glowing amber eyes turning towards her. "This is Emma, forgive her as she does not know our ways." The slave gasped as warm, sweet smelling air was blown at her in a playful reprimand re-enforced by a chuckle from the queen.
"You may socialise later, I have places I need to be, come pet." Emma nodding, marvelling as the queen's magic formed a sled from a pile of brushwood lying on the leaf covered ground. "Well?" Regina sighed at the sight of her slave looking dazed but pleased that it was the magical feat that had captivated her pet. "Come!"
"Yes, Mistress," Emma responded, snapping to attention at the queen's harsh tones.
"Well, get in then!" Regina was exasperated with her pet. Surely, the slave had never seen anything as marvellous as the forest spirits but still -! Emma could practically see the waves of annoyance issuing from her mistress, taking hasty steps towards the vehicle it appeared that they would be travelling in. "Sit!" Emma withholding a whimper at the harsh command.
When her pet was finally seated Regina cracked the reins and visualised her destination, the reins more of a formality than a requirement.
"What are they?" Emma whispered as she balance close enough to the queen's seat to speak to her mistress.
"They, as you so crudely put it, are the soul of the forest and by far the fastest way of passing on those paths not usually apparent to humans," Regina sniffed at the blonde's ignorance. "But do us a great honour by transporting us today." The slave simply nodded and sank back into her seat as the pace increased.
Emma leaned forward as the sled sped through the forest, not wanting to miss anything, the queen expertly handling the vehicle as she navigated through the forest. As they travelled the trees became denser and the light from the canopy above so filtered by the foliage that they journeyed in semi-darkness. Regina took a moment to observe her pet, trusting the beasts drawing the sled to keep them on the correct path, the slave's face engaged and fascinated by the strange flora and fauna that inhabited this area of the forest. The home of the Faye.
"What -?" Emma's head was snapping from right to left, eyes catching the merest glimpse of -? Every time she thought she had a lock on whatever it was darting through the forest, there was nothing there. This continued on for at least an hour until Regina witnessed the blonde pinching the bridge of her nose and scowling.
"What ails you, pet?" Emma blinked, her head was splitting from the half caught visions.
"My eyes, I think I either need my glasses or I am seeing things," Emma sighed, screwing up her eyes which were now aching.
"Seeing what 'things'? Regina questioned, the slave not noticing the queen's raised brow.
"Nothing. I apologise, Mistress," Emma shook her head as the sled continued to race on. Regina let it drop and in time she called out to their steeds to slow the pace as they reached a clearing on the edge of a glassy pond. The slave straightened, hoping they were almost there, wherever there was.
"I come in peace," Regina spoke as she stood in the sleigh and released her magic into the air around them in a gesture of goodwill. Emma gasped as the air around them shimmered, the effect akin to a holograph and now Emma could see what had previously evaded her, mouth open and eyes wide as she absorbed the sights of the new world that had been revealed to her.
Small but brightly coloured creatures flitted around at great speeds, dipping and diving through the heavily scented air as they shrieked in glee. Everything was brighter and had more colour, the tress were not just trees but living sculptures of bark and moss. Where had all this been mere seconds ago?
"Magic," an unknown voice spoke as the air rushed past the couple in the sled. " The Moors offer their welcome to my friend Regina and the one made from magic." Emma whirled around so fast she almost fell, her vision eclipsed by massive dark wings, beautiful feathered wings sprouting from the back of an incredibly beautiful -, woman?
"Thank you Maleficent, it has been too long since I have visited but my life has been unusually busy of late," Regina smiled and stepped gracefully from the sled, beckoning with a finger that Emma should follow.
"Then we shall talk, I have been informed of the troubles visited upon your kingdom. Perhaps I can be of assistance?" Maleficent offered and Regina exhaled, extending her hand as she was helped down from the sled, now with the only other being in her world that held an equal power and responsibility as herself.
"I would appreciate any insight you may have to give. Pet!" Emma placed her hand on the edge of the sled and boosted herself out as she was summoned. "Maleficent, I present Emma of the White Kingdom." Emma stood there not sure whether to speak, or bow or what -. Maleficent looked nothing like the witch from the fairy tales she had read but much more like the most recent movie incarnation, that is to say stunningly beautiful, young and those wings -.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Emma of the White Kingdom," Maleficent greeted the slave with a bow of her head.
"Emma Swan. Just Swan, I'm not a princess," Emma mumbled, looking down, suddenly feeling extremely awkward and out of place.
"Royalty is not a birthright, Emma," was the fairy's cryptic reply. "Come, Emma may explore with Aurora whilst we speak of your troubles, Regina," Emma suddenly noticed a young blonde woman, maybe Red's age sitting on a log in the background. "Show her the ponds, my princess." The girl rolled her eyes at the remark.
"Hello, I'm Aurora," she smiled. Approaching the small group. "Queen Regina," a curtsey towards the dark queen who acknowledged it with a dip of her head, brown eyes fixed on the girl. "Come, let's leave the old ladies to their talks," a laugh as Aurora darted off, Emma uncertain of whether she was permitted to follow.
"Yes, but please do not get too dirty, That girl -!" Regina gave an exasperated sigh, a wave dismissing her slave.
"Who? Me, Mistress?" Emma raised a brow as she offered an almost mocking bow before taking her leave, jogging towards where Aurora had vanished into the forest.
"It seems we both have a fondness for the children of our greatest enemies," Maleficent chuckled, the sound warm and rich, vibrating through Regina's body and the forest around them.
"A fondness you say?" Regina sniffed at the mere suggestion.
"Ah! You cannot lie to me my friend, for I know everything about the appeal of such vibrant, refreshing companionship."
"I am not here to discuss my staffing issues! " Another sniff from the dark queen.
"Despite how comely and well put together she is?" Maleficent teased her friend, they were equals and treated each other as such. "And I do not refer to just her looks, she has an inner strength rarely seen."
"She does, and it suits my needs perfectly," Regina acknowledged as they climbed on a narrow path through the trees, coming to a stop on an outcropping that gave a spectacular view over The Moors. Maleficent waving her hand to conjure them seats to recline in, seats that just happened to overlook the pond where Emma and Aurora could be seen talking. "But she is not at her full strength at this moment in time and gets very unsettled being confined to quarters," Regina scowled as she recalled the disruption in her pets aura over the past few days. It was very distracting.
"Serves you right, the 'punishment' was extreme for even a magical creature to bear, she did well to survive," Maleficent commented as an odd but friendly looking troll brought them some of the faye mead, a incredibly intoxicating brew that could easily incapacitate the unaware.
"I was monitoring the situation closely," Regina retorted as she raised the goblet to her lips, the first taste always a shock but a pleasurable one as the liquid reacted with her magic, and because of that the only liquor that really affected her.
"Yes, but there are always outside variable to consider, Regina. Even I cannot control everything," Maleficent laughed, the sound carrying down to the blondes below, Emma shielding her eyes from the sun and looking up towards their locating, quickly spotting the two queens. "But heed my warning, sometimes you do not know how much you will miss something until it is gone." The words were heavy and a silence fell, well a lack of words as the forest around them was filled with chatter and noise, this was a happy, content place.
"Then I shall heed your warning, Emma would be a hard pet to replace." Maleficent shook her head, even the fairy queen could not surpass her friend's denial. She cared for the White's offspring, in what way it was hard to tell but she did or the girl would surely have been dead by now.
"But enough of this chatter, I need to know what this creature that plagues my kingdom is!" Regina opted for a quick change of subject but her eyes were fixed on Emma as she let Aurora lead her around the large pond, the younger girl stopping every few feet to show her new friend a creature, a plant or something in between.
"It is not a threat, it is borne of dark magic but not inherently evil. Your subjects are safe and not at risk unless you hunt the beast. My advice would be to let fate take its course,"
"Seriously? That is all you are going to say on the matter?" Regina growled, glaring at the smirking faye.
"To say more would irritate fate," the fairy queen grinned mischievously and Regina rolled her eyes. She knew her friend had more information to share but was just being contrary. However, Maleficent would never knowingly allow innocent lives to be taken and this Regina saw as a very positive sign that things would indeed run their course.
Emma had easily spotted her mistress and the fairy queen, they seemed relaxed and in no hurry to leave so she allowed Aurora to lead her around. The girl was genuinely friendly and it was hard for the slave not to smile at her enthusiasm as she gave Emma a 'tour' of the pond's banks.
"So, what is she like?" Aurora questioned.
"Who? The queen?" Emma raised a brow, slightly confused.
"Yes, I know some people call her the Evil Queen as she killed the old king but she helped Maleficent get her wings back and she has always been kind to me, even as a child."
Emma blinked at the onslaught of information. Aurora had told her about as much in one sentence as Red or the queen had let slip in four months. The dark queen was an enigma and Emma was going to take every opportunity to gather intel.
"So?"
"She's a hard mistress, but fair. I have a place to sleep, nice clothes, food and a roof," Emma shrugged, not sure what the girl wanted to hear. Aurora nodded at the slave's words. "But I serve her and she can be brutal," narrowed green eyes surveyed the younger blonde, she seemed so innocent.
"Oh, so can Mal if I annoy her but it's always worth it in the end," and with a coy wink Aurora darted off leaving Emma's mouth gaping. After a mental shake Emma jogged after the girl, catching up by the edge of a waterfall, its peak invisible up in the canopy.
"So you're -?" Emma left her words hanging, unsure how to broach the subject.
"She revived me with true love's kiss, the rest came in time," a soft smile followed. "I am loved and cared for, my parents -."
"Gave you away to be raised, I know your story," Emma fell silent, eyes glued to the falling water, searching in vain for its origin.
"We have a lot in common, when you think about it," Aurora spoke, her tone one of brevity. "Sent away for our own good. Unwanted princesses who found their home, their place in the world with the ones who wished them harm." Emma didn't respond, the girl's words resonating with her and the slave's features hardening as she absorbed their truth.
"Pet!" Regina called to slave and when her attention was caught gestured for the slave to come to her.
"She treats you like a slave," Aurora mumbled.
"Because I am one. Excuse me," Emma muttered, leaving Aurora standing alone as she walked swiftly towards the queens. "Fuck!" The slave tripped over a hidden root, pain shooting through her ribs as she fell to her knees.
"Emma!" Regina was beside her pet in a flash of purple smoke, eyeing the crimson seeping through the slave's shirt.
"It's nothing," Emma climbed to her feet, hissing as the muscles stretched around the re-opened wound and fighting the urge to bat her mistresses hands away from her as the queen pulled up her shirt to view the site.
"It was too soon for you to be outside, look at what happens when you become impatient and peevish!" Regina scolded, slightly mollified when her pet made an effort to look the tiniest bit apologetic.
"Why are the wounds not healed, Regina?" The air moved around them as Maleficent opened her wings and glided down to where the small party stood. The dark queen frowned under the questioning, not something she was used to or tolerated.
"Because," Regina hissed. "Because she was becoming addicted to my potions and my natural magic is not good at -, healing." The words rang with a surprising resignation, the queen hovering with her hand pressed against Emma's skin in a half-hearted attempt to stem the slow trickle of blood. It was then Emma noticed how tired her mistress looked, worn down and the feint lines around her eyes more pronounced. So lost in her own self-pity and childish sulking that the slave had not noticed the strain the queen had been under the past few days.
"I'm fine, it's healing underneath, I just pulled the scab," Emma murmured, smiling reassuringly at her audience, neither wanting or feeling comfortable being under such scrutiny.
"No, Emma," Regina sighed. "You put on the perfect show for me. Let Maleficent heal you, if she will?" The fairy queen nodded and smiled.
"But of course, girl. My friend values you. I will help, however I can," Maleficent replied graciously, holding Emma's eyes with her own, a light golden colour, not as amber as Eva's, the faye girl. "Let me?"
Emma bit her lip, hesitating as she looked to her mistress for permission.
"Do it!" Regina nodded, the fairy queen humming as she stepped forward, replacing the dark queen's hand with her own.
Emma braced herself, unsure what to expect. The sensation wasn't unpleasant but it felt different than the dark queen's magic, that was seductive and thrilling. This -, this was lighter and Emma felt the niggling aches and pains that always plagued her from a catalogue of old injuries disappear as she exhaled.
"Better?" Maleficent queried, smiling softly at the slave.
"Yea -, uh yes. Thank you," Emma smiled back, grateful for whatever the fairy queen had done.
"I owe you a debt, you may reclaim what and whenever you choose," Regina sniffed but truth be told she was grateful to her friend. Perhaps now her per would stop moping around her chambers?
"And I will claim it when I see fit," Maleficent replied with a gracious bow of her head. "I think you should return, the hour grows late and Red seeks your council." She did not add that she thought that Emma should rest, magical healing still took its toll on the body and spirit. Even on one as resilient as the White princesses. Life had a strange way of pandering to the fates, Maleficent mused as she saluted her friend and launched into the sky, shadowing the sled from her arial position until her guests once again entered the realms of the humans.
"So?" Aurora looked up as giant wings beat slowly above her, Maleficent low enough to touch the young woman.
"So, the match is obvious but they are both so blind!" The young princess sighed.
"As was I, Beastie. As was I," Maleficent smiled.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Next on The Collar
"Enter." The Queen was at her desk and Red saw Emma kneeling opposite her, she was actually dressed for a change but not in very much. Red liked it though but now wasn't the time to be admiring her friend's body.
"What?" Regina looked up, raising a brow, slightly concerned by her wolf's dishevelled appearance.
"Snow White's coming, with Prince James," the wolf blurted.
"Then I shall return, I have much to take care of," the dark queen made her excuse to leave but the suggestion was brushed off with another laugh.
"We both know that time travels more slowly here, you will be back in your palace before nightfall and I know that your wolf will handle any upsets until then,"