Previously in the Collar
"Well, I've come to discuss some business before the council meeting," Red revealing the reason for their visit. "Emma, I have no need for you now. Maybe now would be a good time to ensure the slave knows her place?" The wolf glaring at 116, she still did not trust her.
"If you're sure you don't need me?" Emma looking between the two, the herbal infusion Red had given her in her rooms working wonders on her aches, head now clear and ribs barely noticeable, especially since she'd wrapped them when dressing for the day.
"No, council business, nothing you can assist with but thank you. Can you take these two as well?" Red sighing as she waved in the vague direction of Belle and Greta, "I need a break."
Xxxx
"I am unsure if the Queen will attend the meeting," Red pulling out one of the chairs situated around the table Eva had propositioned as her workspace and letting out a heavy sigh.
"Why? Is she unwell?" Eva eyeing the wolf worriedly.
"Physically, no."
"Emma?" Eva drawing her own conclusion and Red nodding to confirm. "They seemed so content yesterday -,"
"Until they weren't," Red snorting as she reached to put herself a goblet of water from the silver carafe on the table, downing it in one before continuing. "I have been reprimanded for my hot headedness and Emma has suffered for her disobedience yet none are happy."
"It worried me, how Emma behaved. I can see the logic behind it but -," Eva shaking her head, "it was imprudent of her to approach things in such a way."
"Agreed, but that's Emma for you. Stubborn as a mule and insistent that everything be as hard as it possibly can be."
"I suppose," Eva musing, "how is she today?"
"In pain but not just from the beating. I have a feeling that she may have rejected our Queen on an emotional level. She's a mess but hiding it and the Queen is absent."
"Oh!" Eva immediately realising the consequences could be far reaching.
"Well, the palace is still standing and Emma is alive so things could be worse," Red letting out a bark of hysterical laughter. "When Emma went missing, after she rescued you and your father, the Queen's temper was foul and many fire balls singed the stone."
"She loves her, I know she does. But Emma -?"
"Emma is damaged," Red exhaling, toying with one of the quills that had yet to see ink and was lying on the table. "She definitely cares for our Queen, deeply I believe. I just don't know if she is capable of love of that type, of expressing it at least. We both know the Queen loved your mother so has the capacity and the experience to understand how she has come to feel for Emma. Emma is stunted, when it comes to expressing herself. She is extremely intuitive but I don't think that comes from a place of personal understanding."
"She shows empathy, she is capable of care and friendship," Eva pointing out.
"I know," Red agreeing. "And I know she has had many admirers, ones who have loved her but none where the feelings were returned."
"What can we do?"
"Nothing, it is not our place to interfere. I told Emma I would not involve myself, unless I am asked to by the Queen that is."
"What if she doesn't attend the meeting?"
"Then we will conduct ourselves as we have been doing the past few days." Eva nodding her agreement, it was all they could do.
The queen's return to the palace was as abrupt as her departure, appearing in the council chamber just as all the other member's had arrived. Red suspecting it was purposeful so that there would be no time for private questioning.
"This will be kept to pertinent points only!" Regina announcing as she took her seat, not wanting to prolong the meeting, her nerves fraught from the day's emotions. "I have individual matters which I will discuss with each of you on the morrow where relevant."
Red noticing how tired she looked, dark circles under her eyes and a set to her body that the wolf knew indicated stress. The queen refusing to meet her eyes so Red focused on the briefing points each member offered although she had already been privy to them all in the queen's absence. As soon as the meeting adjourned she vanished again, all present turning to her for comment.
"The queen is dealing with issues were are not to be privy to," was all Red could add, shrugging.
"Who is the new slave?" Cook speaking up and asking the question they were all curious about.
"The Queen and Emma brought her back with them," Red sighing as she leaned back in her chair, catching expectant glances. "She is apparently experienced and was apparently seeking training with Emma in her absence from her establishment. I have yet to really acquaint myself with her but she has pledged loyalty to the Queen, and Emma." That seemed enough to stem the questions on that matter so Red took her leave, gesturing for Eva to follow her.
"I need to run an errand, I will be back by nightfall. If the Queen requires me she will know how to contact me," Red turning to the faye as soon as they were out of earshot some distance along the hallway from the council chamber.
"Alright, do you need company? You know it is it as safe as it could be outside the walls," Eva cautioning, golden eyes lit with worry.
"I will be fine. I need to do this," Red sighing but meeting the faye's gaze head on. "If you have anything for Emma to do it may distract her. Unless she is with the Queen, then leave them be."
"I would not interrupt their time together, not today," Eva snorting at the thought.
"Then I will see you this eve. Farewell."
"Safe journey," Eva raising her hand in goodbye as Red jogged off down the hallway.
Red was at the end of her tether! The queen was still absent and untrackable and Emma was moping around all whilst pretending to be fine and refusing to speak to her. All very frustrating when the answer was so obvious! So she ran, this time taking two members of her pack with her for safety and after ensuring another two of her most able stayed close to Belle.
This time when she approached the Amazons she stopped and howled on the border, waiting to be waved through by the sentries stationed above the narrow pass. This time she transformed before entering the village, gesturing her pack-mates to stay behind, she had business to attended to.
"Where is the Conqueror?" Red asking the first woman she came across and was pointed in the direction of the training yards, Red having a basic knowledge of the village's layout so knew where she was going, on arrival it was not hard to spot the woman she sought, she was surrounded by at least ten Amazons all trying to best her with their various weapons. Red loitering in the shadows, knowing she had been seen but waiting.
"Red," the greeting abrupt but neutral as the warrior subdued her attackers and approached the wolf.
"I need to speak with you." The two eyeing each other up now they were without their respective queens.
"Do you have time to fight first? I've wanted to see you in battle many times but the chance has never presented itself," blue eyes glinting but not with malice.
"I have a few moments," Red acquiescing with a bow of her head and following to the railed off area where the sparring took place, glad that the queen's amulet allowed her to keep her own weapons on her when she transformed to wolf and back.
"To first blood?" The Conqueror querying as she stood, long sword drawn and tip in the dirt.
"Yes, as long as it's not a mortal first blood," Red warning as she drew her own finely balanced weapon and earning a bark of laughter from the warrior.
"Agreed!"
The two facing off, similar in height, both dark haired, one piercing eyes of blue the other green, one dark skinned the other pale.
Neither moved for a time then the blows were but a fierce flurry of movement as they dodged and parried. Red was not holding back, not underestimating her opponent as she had done with Emma. She knew she was fighting someone more than human, part god, if the tales were to be believed, so she drew on every ounce of skill, wit and strength as she fought. Senses extending along with her teeth and claws until she and the wolf were one fighting machine. Neither saw the crowd that had gathered around them or that Gabrielle was among them, watching and fascinated, knowing how Red had decimated her warriors even half crazed with poison but this was truly magnificent to watch.
A feint and a duck and Red had her teeth against the warrior's throat, the tableaux frozen as she scratched the skin before pulling back, making a show of licking her fangs clean as she stared with narrowed, yellowed eyes at her opponent before throwing her head back and letting out a howl of victory that was echoed by the stomping of Amazonian feet and clashing of weapons as they acknowledged her accomplishment.
"You realise first blood does not mean final blood?" The warrior acknowledging with a single raised brow as she straightened her armour and sheathed her sword.
"I do which is why I would never challenge you to a death duel," Red chuckling and clasping the proffered forearm to seal their camaraderie.
"Well," Gabrielle sidling up (after shooing her personal guard back to a respectable perimeter to prevent eavesdropping) and wrapping her arm around her consort's waist, "I'm extremely glad you won that bout, Red. I do not know what we would have done had you been injured a second time on my territory!"
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Red huffing. "It was not my idea." Green eyes turning to the warrior who just shrugged and feigned innocence, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she grinned down at her mate.
"What brings you here? Do you carry a message from Regina?" Gabrielle curious as to what had earned them an in-person visit rather than the usual mirror based communications.
"I have business with your warrior, Your Majesty. Personal business," Red adding for clarity.
"Oh!" Gabrielle extremely surprised at that but nodding and after pulling her lover down for a kiss she bid Red farewell and left to tend to much more mundane business of her own.
"I need to bathe," the warrior stating bluntly.
"You really do stink," Red agreeing, she'd already noticed but hadn't commented.
"Would you join me in the bathing pools? It's a good place to talk, the guards will keep any eavesdroppers away."
"Yes, I would," Red contemplating the offer before nodding her consent. She ached and she was her own wolf now, not beholden to the queen, bodily at least.
They continued the walk to the caves that housed the hot springs the Amazons bathed in, being saluted by the guards as they passed.
"One thinks they should follow us to ensure I do not tempt you to cheat on Gabrielle," Red chuckling as she listened to the frantic whispers.
"Would you?" The warrior methodically removing her training armour piece by piece and placing in on one of the wooden shelves that lined the cave. Red also began stripping but had less buckles and layers so was standing naked much sooner.
"You are a very attractive woman but you are neither the Queen nor a wench to bend to my will so I will pass," Red laughing at the raised brows that comment garnered. "Have I offended you?"
"I don't think I've ever been turned down before," the warrior pondering for a moment before shaking her head and stepping into the pool. "Although there was a time when I did not take no for an answer," she finished darkly.
"Then it is good you have changed, I could not be civil to one who still practised those ways, indeed I would take mortal offence," Red growling and, in the dimly lit cave, appeared to grow and shift, the air around her darkening as her aura altered.
"As do I, it was a different time and my mind as not wholly my own. I will carry the guilt for eternity." A nod was given, acknowledging the change of path and silence fell, Red slipping into the water and groaning as the heat hit her sore muscles.
"The Queen has provided me with a heated bath in my chambers, not as large as this but it serves its purpose. It's been a stressful time with her being away and I've not had the time to indulge."
"Is that why you wish to speak with me, has the Queen need of assistance?" The warrior reaching for a handful of soap and cleaning herself.
"Yes and no," Red biting her lip, unsure of how much to reveal. "She took Emma back to her world, they arrived back yesterday. All was well until -," a sigh, "Emma rebelled, purposely, and was punished and I believe the Queen may have confessed her love for Emma in the early hours of the morn. Emma has rejected her, things are fraught and the Queen has been mostly absent from the palace.
"And what has this to do with me?" Blue eyes intrigued but confused. "Surely Gabrielle is better suited for consultation?"
"Emma is broken, I know she cares for the Queen, a lot. It is demonstrated by every action, however she does not know how to show her feelings well. She has confessed as much to me. She is conflicted and I wondered how you felt when Gabrielle pursued you?"
"Oh!" A bellow of laughter let rip and it was Red's turn to express confusion. "You have that wrong, I pursued her, doggedly for many months until she fell for my wiles."
"Fell for your wiles?" Red snorting. "If that's how you referred to your seduction then I'm not surprised it took you months!" She began laughing at her own joke until she met steely eyes and a curled lip, the two staring intently at one another before a grin was cracked and a chuckle let loose.
"She was having none of the warrior routine, women usually fall in to bed with me, but not Gabrielle," a shrug.
"She made you work for it, hmm?" Red teasing. "I've never had that problem," the wolf sniffing then grinning cockily as she stretched arms out on the smooth stone of pool's rim.
"Then you are truly blessed," the warrior shaking her head at the the wolf's hubris.
"I am but I must not linger here," Red realising the swift passage of time. "I wished to ask for your advice on how to help Emma understand her feeling, it seemed you understood her when you were at the palace. You did not speak of it but your eyes followed her."
"Yes," the warrior sighing heavily. "She carries a weight but then many do," a shrug. "The Queen must choose the path and I believe Emma will follow of her own accord, given time."
"You believe that to be true?" Red searching her companion's face for the answers she sought.
"I do," head nodding solemnly.
"Then I will return and keep the palace running while they come to their senses!" Red groaning loudly but allowing herself another few minutes to relax in the water before preparing for the run home.
xxxxxxx
Next in the Collar
"Emma told me you would like to speak with me?"
"I would, if you would permit?" Belle straightening and standing a little taller as her mistress stood in the centre of the room, unbuckling her sword belt and placing it down carefully on the table.
"Do I scare you?" Red coming to stand before her slave, close bit not touching, and looking down into her eyes. Belle shaking her head but seeing a hint of yellow in the iris which usually meant the wolf was close to the surface. "No? You smell afraid."