New chapter up,
Thank you to all that commented - as for a few that said they would have preferred to see RedQueen rather than Stablequeen - I am just giving her a few choices.
I would have made a poll on who should Regina be with but for the life of me I have no clue as to how to do that so I merely have to ask who you all think would be the perfect choice as we all know there is still one more to come before she has to pick.
I will for my lovely readers - try to incorporate a chapter where Regina and Ruby are together in a way, hopefully please some of my more RedQueen wanters - but its all down to you, so if you have a preference please tell me so I can count.
Happy reading, :)
I don't own OUAT
Whatever Maleficent had insisted when Regina told her about the plans that King George had come back to bite her firmly in the ass weeks later. The war had progressively heated up; with each day more of the other Kings men had reportedly been sighted crossing the boarders. Leopold was furious at the gall the other man had and sent his own to stop them from entering, resulting in fights in which they came back bloody, bruised or some not at all.
It seemed that George had been steadily trying to take over little by little the outskirts of his territory by having his men make camp in towns that straddled the edge of the lines. The castle's atmosphere was steadily going from jovial to moody to morose with each day that passed. Even Snow was lacklustre in her efforts to cheer everyone up.
Regina and Ruby – on her pleas had visited near enough everyday but the raven haired woman soon found herself more caught up with what was happening in the battle rather than playing dress up with the princess. She had seen Jeffery running around, sending his men out, reading mission reports configuring with the King about further actions they could take and just being pulled from all sides.
She felt sorry for the poor man who she had found one night leaning over the outside balcony reflecting on the stress all this was taking on him. She stood next to him and after a few words of encouragement – proceeded to get cheerfully drunk with him down in the local inn as a way of reducing his worries.
Well she said drunk – she had far worse than whatever this Kingdom had to offer and so just watched as he passed out and carted him off so he could sleep somewhere in peace. He may have a killing headache come morning but she figured half the fun was getting it before left him snoozing. She had caught up with the stable master – he had been wanted to know how the horse was to which she smiled and stopped as they talked.
The horse – now titled – Thalaquin, was already the king of the castle. He had taken to his new home like a mongoose took to fighting snakes. She had already seen him encroach on Seraphim's favourite places to go and the little Unicorn was not happy. On getting ready to meet Ruby she had seen the small animal glaring at the large horse that was as normal, paying no attention to his murderous stares.
She chuckled as his face seemed to go through a mixture of expressions until finally it rested on begrudging resignation that made her laugh out even louder as he turned to look at her – she – the one who had brought the leggy menace into his abode and turned all his pony ire on her as she opened her eyes to see his stares.
Doubling over she took no notice of his fury as she tried to stop her laughing. In the end it took five minutes for her to stop as she rested her hands on her knees and lifted her head.
She found him not in the place he had been – but a few feet over as now Thalaquin had taken over and was munching on the patch of grass. She turned to his new location and found that he was giving them both a look that said he allowed the horse to eat there.
She scoffed. "Like you had a choice"
That didn't sit well with him as he reared up onto his legs marginally making him that little taller and snorted angrily, a puff of hot air billowing out as she shook her head and stood taller she quirked her brow at him as he shook his head out – mane flapping two and fro before rolling her eyes and turning to her horse.
"Be good…" He lifted his head a tiny bit and looked at her, noting the pointed look he was getting he to snorted and went back to eating before she turned and made for the door, as soon as she got to the entrance a neighing had her looking back to see Thalaquin moving on – grass now eaten he was on to his next spot as the tiny Unicorn watched him go for a moment before resolutely trotting off after him.
Watching the confusing scene she shook her head never even faking her bafflement about his tiny mind before she went inside.
That was five days ago and it seemed as much as he liked to give the larger animal his best scowl and dark stares, he also would follow on bounding after him once he saw him move away, it had the blonde perplexed as she took in her Unicorns odd behavior but Regina calmly stated that he had found his first pony crush.
Needless to say the older woman wasn't happy, her own ally betraying her for a roll in the hay.
She simply told him that he had settled in much better as they both agreed that maybe the open was a far more suitable place for him to be before they departed, he getting back to work and she back inside the castle. As she wandered the halls the sound of her name being called had her turning back around. Without realizing she had walked past the royal study room and in doing so, had caught the Kings attention.
He beamed as she double backed and stood hesitantly in the doors entrance. Another thing she had started noting on their visits to see Snow – which she never ended up doing, was that the King seemed to be around a lot more often than what he normally was – now being in the middle of a fight that was standard, he was after all a leader and so needed to be at the forefront in order to protect the people.
But the looks and the slight lucky touches he managed to give her… not so much and she was fighting the urge to rip his hand off, shove it down his throat and make a break for it – but couldn't as it would just bring a lot of trouble for Ruby who she would have no doubt left in her escape.
"How are you, have you lost Snow again?" Another of her happy little tales – she liked to lose the Princess at times – be it when she was hungry and so made her way down to the kitchens under the pretense that the other girl sent her and then absconded somewhere with the food, she felt like doing something other than be made to sit and watch the tedious things that the others liked to do.
When she was pestering Jeffery for information that he wasn't supposed to give but did anyway – in return for her helping him as well, quid pro quo in sorts and so she lost Snow for that or just generally didn't feel like being the royals presence which was why she feigned getting lost to her chambers most times even though she could have found it without the tour guide first day she got there.
"Yes something like that… just can never seem to find way around such a huge and impressive palace." He smiled, preening a bit under the complement which she inwardly rolled her eyes at he was looking at her the way he had been doing which told her no good was going to come from this small meeting, and she was right as he went to speak.
"But now that you are here – how about me and you have a drink… talk a bit, get to know each other some more?" He stood from his chair behind the desk and was about to make his way around as she gaped stupidly – she had many excuses for a lot of things but right now none was coming to her, he smirked at her expression thinking her awed and was about to step closer when her savior in the form of Geoffrey arrived.
"My lord" Leopold looked at the other man who had bowed his head with a mixture of slight contempt and unhappiness at being disturbed which had allowed Regina the opportunity to slip back out and flee the corridor as the other man moved into the room and closed the door.
Breathing the biggest sigh of relieve when she made it back into the large entrance she closed her eyes. The man was a bloody pest, she wanted nothing more than to leave but she wouldn't leave Ruby in the lurch and so had taken to moving from place to place in a bid to avoid the King and his less than appraising eyes. She shivered at the look he gave her and knew if it wasn't for the information she was taking back to Maleficent, than she would never set foot back here again.
She opened her eyes again just as Jeffery came from the study and walked past her. He stopped on seeing a person at the side and turned to see her; she met his gaze and spoke.
"Thank you." He gave her a tilt of his head. "Think nothing of it… I can always see when a person needs rescuing, the King does leave a lasting impression on those he takes an interest in."
She crinkled her nose a little. "You're telling me."
He nodded and smiled as they fell into silence. He looked back up the way they had both come before turning to look into the entrance hall. "I'm to go get something to eat now… if you like you can always join me."
She looked at him and nodded, happy to be away from the other man and grateful to him as she pushed from the wall and walked down the corridor to the kitchens.
She could never say no to food.
When she got home later that night she wandered her way the halls content to just go to bed. But only if the screams of pure agony would stop first – she might be able to actually get some shut eye.
Wait – screams? Somebody was being tortured… spinning she moved quicker to where the cries could be heard and without waiting or stopping to look at the small group of helpers who had gathered she pushed on the doors, what she saw had her mouth dropping open for the second time that day as at the other end, Maleficent was sat – perched in her throne chair like always, but in front of her in a giant vat of something was a trio of men who were trying as hard as they could to escape but were held fast.
They yelled, cried and screamed with more pain as she quickly came to her senses and shut the doors so the others couldn't see. The sound of them closing had the older woman looking up from her entertainment to see Regina moving forwards.
"Didn't realize we were expecting guests?" The Faerie chuckled and gestured for her to come stand next to her as the younger woman did so and leant on the side of the chair taking in the scene in front of her, if this was a few years before than she would have most likely run the other way and to her room but as it was this wasn't her first foray into the art of torture that the blonde was accustomed to giving trespassers.
The first time she had thrown up – unable to stomach the screams and sheer amount of blood that had been spewed across the room when the blonde delighted in making her victim suffer to the fullest. But as the years went by she got used to it… never taking part, until she had killed her own group that day she fought the Sheriff.
"I found these making their way up the side of my mountain." She looked down at the relaxed blonde who was tapping the sides of her chair. "It seemed they came here on the orders of King George himself."
That had Regina's attention as she looked sharply from Mal to the boiling men who had a small respite as their torturer got the newcomer up to speed. "It turns out you were right my dear, they had orders to scout the castle out – look for weak points of entry and how many people resided here. It seems that the good King is indeed making good on his plans."
She glanced up to the younger woman whose face was Stoney but could detect the alarm in them. "It seems that he plans to storm our home in the hopes of capturing bait he could offer his allies."
The two witches cast each other looks that mirrored what both now knew and what Regina had been dreading, the Whites war now affected the both of them. Keeping the men still bound to the large boiling vat they moved away to try to figure out what they could do as Regina rounded on the other woman.
"What did I tell you? I said we should have been more ready for when he struck… but did you listen?"
Maleficent lifted her hand and waved off her slightly angry protest, "When have I ever led you wrong?" Regina leaned over a little from where the blonde had sat as she had chosen to stay standing.
"What was it that you said only weeks ago? That his plans were nothing more than a mad man's storytelling? That they would amount to nothing? Well I hate to break it to you dear, but that mad man has more balls than you gave him credit for."
Not liking her tone the Faerie shot her a dark look but it was lost as she had run her hand down her face and stood. "So – any idea on what we can do?"
They spent a good hour going over plans on how to tackle their problem of the warring King, each idea shot down by the both as the air grew heavy with frustration. Regina sank into the nearest chair after an age of pacing as Maleficent snarled under her breath as the last plan was thrown out the proverbial window. Both witches stayed silent – both to annoyed to try to talk lest they lashed out.
"Why don't we just use them instead?" From her spot with her head resting on her arms Regina glanced over to her, "What do you mean?"
"Think about it, instead of outright killing them like I had planned. I think we can find better and… beneficial, uses for them to our ends… we can't just let them go without some sort of message – never been like that and I won't be now – but if we can turn them into little puppets perhaps"
Across from her Regina smirked now fully getting what she was saying, and not one to be left out she added her own contributions." We take their hearts and set them free… back to our friend next door, we can get all sorts from them that way."
The older woman nodded her head humming idly. "Hmm yes, what better statement to send then having his army fall apart from the inside."
"It will also serve to remind others stupid enough in thinking of allying with him to think twice."
With the plan firmly in place they didn't take long for the men to break. They had been in agonizing pain sitting in the vat that was still bubbling – not as scorching as before but still enough to keep them in discomfort. Once they was brought out however they wished for death – begged their holders to kill them as Regina had taken over from the other woman who sat back and watched her little progeny take their bodies to their very limits before pulling them back to stop them giving out naturally.
Once their nightmare was over they lay splayed out in front of them as she nodded and Regina had descended on them once more – not one to get messy unless it was necessary, she watched the younger woman dig her hand deep into their chest ignoring their yells of pain before pulling it out, along with their hearts that beat rhythmically in her hand.
It had confused her the first time she had shown her that. As it was one she had never taught her in their lessons and so was slightly perplexed as to where she could have learnt it, but as it was she very rarely dwelt on things for long unless it was revenge… that for her could last forever, and so just let her enjoy her new party trick.
Regina finally plucked the last of their hearts from their chests before standing to her feet. "Rise"
One by one they stood on shaky feet as they rose from the floor, their bodies no longer their own as it was seen it the fear they had on their faces making her smirk.
"As you can see I literally hold all your hearts in my hand. And as such means you now belong to us to do with what we please. Forget George as he will soon be dead and any along that choose to stand with him."
They all watched the hearts in her hands as they beat and grew in color showing the fear they felt. "You can be among those" She squeezed one for show as he bent over doubling in pain as the others watched wide-eyed.
"Or you can be smart and do exactly what we tell you." They turned back to look at her once he had lifted himself from his bent knee. "What do you say?"
It wasn't like they had any choice. The power of life and their death was in the hands of a young woman they knew now to be as sadistic as the blonde behind her smiling proudly.
"You'll be going back to George's camp. You'll tell him all that you know and ideas that you may have on how to break in – if he sends more men which he is most likely to, make sure you are with them… bring them here and you might just get these back."
She held up their life organs teasing them by stretching out her hand. "But fail us, and I'll make sure your families are to be given these… as ash in a box, along with your lifeless bodies, do I make myself clear."
They nodded vehemently making her smile wider as her teeth made an appearance." Very good, also whilst your there you are to get any and all information you can in regards to this silly war – where he is going, which people he's trying to get on side what he plans to bribe them with anything like that… and don't think for one second that you can tell him and try get out of this, because I will know and I'll make sure to crush these in front of your very eyes."
Once more they nodded completely regretting ever making this trip as Maleficent lifted her hand and sent them flying back near to the doors. They landed heavily but scrambled to their feet as Regina spoke once more.
"Now go – and don't do anything to attract attention until we say so." The door nearly came off its hinges in their haste to escape as they pushed the people outside to the sides and ran down the hall, back inside Regina lifted her head at the open door before spinning on her heels to look at Maleficent as the blonde mock sniffed and placed a hand on her chest.
"My little girl is all grown up."
She chuckled and kept the scene going by bowing. "I only learnt from the best. "The blonde nodded her approval at the compliment but found it slightly double standard as she had never in her life taken the heart from a person's body before… not unless they were dead beforehand.
"George will know never to mess with things far bigger than he can imagine once he loses with style." The younger woman nodded her agreement as Maleficent stood, she in a rare show of affection – must have been the show and the excitement of torture but she moved and kissed Regina's cheeks before sweeping as she always did from the room and to her chambers as Regina did the same.
She found she was tired as she smiled pleasantly still ignoring the server's looks as they took in the glowing red stones in her hand… lucky for her they didn't have enough time to see more as she moved down the hall.
On reaching her room she dug out a small box and dropped them in – forgetting that they could feel whatever happened to them and kicked it under her bed before flicking her wrist and changing clothes… she crawled up her bed and burrowed under the covers waving her hand once more as the candle went out and the door closed as she shut her eyes and smiled in contentment.