"I want her gone when I get back" Elena overheard Galtero say as she began to wake in the morning. Elena rolled over and saw Paola approaching her. She went to sit up but her body ached. She let herself drop back down to the bed and closed her eyes again.
"Are you ok?" Paola asked, truly caring about her new queen.
"Fine" Elena said, shrugging, trying not to reveal just how disgusting she felt. She thought about what her parents or grandparents would say if they knew what she had done and she felt even worse. She knew what she was giving up when she made her decision but she didn't realize just how severely it would effect her. She really didn't want to talk about it. She really didn't want to admit how naive she had been. She felt Paola sit down on the bed next to her and she opened her eyes to see her maid's expression. When she did, she saw Paola's left eye and cheek bone swollen and bruised.
"What happened?!" Elena asked quickly sitting up face Paola. She winced momentarily from the pain but her pain didn't seem to be as bad as what Paola's was.
"He knows I told you about ending the fight" Paola said as if it were no big deal and unlike Elena, she seemed to mean it. Elena stared at Paola with concern and Paola just shook her head. "Don't feel sorry for me. This is nothing. He's caused worse. Like if I don't get you out of here before he gets back... it could be worse. So lets get you over to your own tent and you can get cleaned up. Maybe take a nice bath. relax maybe?"
Elena nodded but relaxing was the last thing she wanted to do. She was queen now and had work to do. She needed to size up her new army and come up with a plan.
"Where is Gabe?" Elena asked, realizing that she had never gotten confirmation that he was ok after the fight.
"He's right outside. Standing guard. Just as you asked" Paola answered.
"Good. I need to talk to him" Elena said, pulling her legs from under the blankets and hanging them over the edge of the bed. Before she could get up though, Paola stopped her.
"That's probably not a good idea right now" Paola told her. Elena was confused. "You have feelings for him?" She asked.
Elena was surprised by the question and she hesitated before answering."Whatever it is I feel... it doesn't matter anymore. I have more to worry about than..."
"Love?" Paola asked and Elena stared at her, again shocked at not only the boldness of her maid but at the fact that she was absolutely right about Elena's feelings. "You two are pretty obvious" Paola continued. "And it's obvious to the king too. If he suspects anything then he will find a way to get rid of one or both of you. That's what he was already trying to do with the fight yesterday. Just because you're safe right now, doesn't mean it will stay that way. You need to be cautious."
Elena thought for a moment and she agreed. It would be best for both of them if they kept their distance from each other for awhile.
Elena got up from the King's bed and Paola wrapped a robe around her. Elena thanked her and slowly began to walk towards the door. She was hunched over from the soreness of repeated and unwanted intercourse on her wedding night but she wouldn't allow herself to appear weak. Before she pulled the entrance of her tent open, she straightened herself up and lifted her chin high. Galtero would not tear down her spirit. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Walking as tall and regal as she could, she stepped out of the tent with Paola at her side.
When she exited, she caught a glimpse of Gabe, exactly where Paola had said he'd be. He had never been one to have the ability to hide his emotions, they always read clear as day through his facial expressions and with that glimpse, Elena saw his hurt and concern for her. She wanted to immediately turn to him, for them to find comfort in each other's arms, to reassure him that they were moving toward their goal of getting to Avalor and that was a good thing. She didn't though. She kept her face forward, her tent the only thing in view. She could feel his eyes on her as he followed closely behind, begging her to turn to him but she didn't oblige.
"Elena?" Gabe finally spoke softly as she reached her destination. There was so much pain in his voice. Elena paused and tried to fight her feelings. It was easier to not face him or open up to him right now.
"I'm fine Gabe" she reassured him, never turning around. She knew that if their eyes met she wouldn't be able to keep up such a strong front.
She entered her own tent, closed the flap and hunched back over again. She allowed Paola to help her over to her wash tub and get in the water that had already been prepared for her.
"Why don't you go lie down for a bit" Paola told Elena when she had finished her bath.
"Lie down?!" Elena said, surprised "I've been lying down all morning after sleeping most of the night! Why would I have to lie down? I have things to do!"
"Where are you going?!" Paola asked as Elena, feeling much less sore now, got herself dressed and headed for the exit.
"I need to size up my army, analyze their strengths and weaknesses and figure out a way to get back to Avalor. Do you have a navy here?" Elena asked, getting far too ahead of herself.
Paola just stared at Elena, her jaw dropped. "Thaaat's probably not a good idea. The King is not going to be ok with you referring to the army as yours. I know it's different in Avalor and Cariza but here, the women don't have much say in anything. Not even the queen. And a navy? We don't have ships. We have small row boats that we take across the way to the market place. That's it. The Fuerza don't leave this island Elena"
"Well that's just going to have to change!" Elena said, confident in her task. She walked out of the tent, leaving a skeptical Paola behind.
Once outside, Elena looked around, scanning the village.
"What are you looking for?" Gabe, who was standing behind her at his post asked.
Elena glanced back at him but didn't meet his eyes. She looked away quickly before answering. "Galtero" She said coldly.
Elena finally found Galtero surrounded by his men. Many were tending their horses, some were practicing sword tactics and there were a couple of warriors wrestling as others goaded them on. Elena started to make her way towards her King but stopped short when she spotted her jaquin friends. They were by the stables and were trapped inside a cage. They looked miserable as they all huddled together. She picked up her pace as she trotted over to them.
"Migs! Luna! Skylar!" Elena shouted as she approached the cage. "Are you ok? What's going on? Why haven't you been set free?"
"We've been locked in here since we arrived Princessa" Skylar informed her.
"I'm starting to think the King had no intentions of setting us free" Luna added.
"You think?" Migs told them sarcastically.
"Don't worry guys! I'm going to fix this!" Elena said and hurried off to Galtero's side.
"King Galtero!" She yelled, demanding his attention. Galtero turned around, fury filling his eyes at the sight of Elena approaching him, unattended by her maid or her guard.
"WHAT do you think you're doing?!" He asked her through gritted teeth.
"Why are my friends caged?" She counter questioned.
"I said I would let them live. That is all. They have food, they have water. They are not suffering in any way. You all should be thanking me" He replied.
"Thanking you?! That's absurd! I want them released now." She then turned towards The Beast, who was standing near his the king and who she assumed to be a second in command. "Release them!" She ordered and The Beast looked over to his brother with shock.
"My warriors do not take commands from you" Galtero said, approaching Elena.
"I am their Queen!" She insisted. "They are just as much my warriors as they are yours. They will do as I say!"
Galtero laughed at Elena from the depths of his torso. He looked at The Beast along with several other warriors who were near by. "Do you all hear this? My wife has a sense of humor! She certainly has spirit doesn't she?" He told them and they all joined in the hysterics. Elena however, was not amused in the least.
"We talked about the army. We talked about them helping to take back Avalor" Elena argued.
"No" Galtero said, ceasing his laughter quickly and becoming very serious. "You talked about my army helping you. I simply told you that I would consider it." He then paused as he bent down to Elena's level, now looking at her face to face. "I've considered it" He said with a cruel whisper. "I don't give a shit about Avalor. My answer is no. My army will not help you. You have no need to go back to Avalor. You are my queen now. Your jaquins will stay caged as to not give away your where abouts. This is your home now. You are Queen of the Fuerza people now and that means that you sit quietly by my side during public gatherings or celebrations. You obey me. I do not take commands from you. I do not need to discuss my business with you. I don't even ever want to see you unless I need to. Your only role here is to bare my children. The heirs to the Fuerza throne. Do I make myself clear?"
Elena did not serve him with an answer of any kind. She was too furious to even move. She simply glared at him. He gave her a smile that sent a chill throughout her before he turned and walked away, getting back to his business. He then remembered one more thing and glanced over his shoulder
"And tell your maid and your guard to keep a better eye on you or there will be consequences" He finished.
Elena stormed back to her tent, her fists clenched and her mind racing. Gabe was waiting at the entrance and stared at her with sympathy, wondering what had happened. His eyes begged her to talk to him. She paused near him, never looking at him though.
"The King has requested that you not allow me to wander the village alone again" She told him, her voice lacking any emotion.
She entered her tent to find Paola, who wasn't at all surprised at Elena's anger. She had already known that Elena's efforts would not end well.
"I can't believe I was so stupid!" Elena vented "Why did I think that I would have any power here? Any influence at all? I'm not a QUEEN! I'm just a prisoner!"
"Guess we're not all that different are we?" Paola said and Elena knew that she was right. She slumped down on her bed and Paola joined her.
"What do I do now?" Elena asked, feeling defeated.
"I guess that's up to you?" Paola replied.