A/N: I have not read up to the parts of the books that describe the Queen of Louisiana, so I have made her up, so to speak. While I'm sure this is wildly out of character from whatever Charlaine Harris wrote, this is how I saw the Queen, her relationship with Eric, and her view of her life, and it suits the way the story is going. I did look up her age, and while I was going to make her quite old, I was surprised to find she is relatively young at 400-500 years. I have no idea what she looks like according to the books, since I didn't bother to look that part up. I did know she was quite beautiful and young based on the actress they have cast in the part. Other than that, I hope that my faithful readers will tolerate my possibly extreme A/U in this case. The song below is really important to setting the tone for the story.
Paradise Within…Happier Far
Chapter 11
The wolves howled at the moon that chilly autumn night
And cold winds whispered through the scattered leaves.
When the first light from a late, yet crimson dawn,
Shone through the morning mist...She was dead... and so reborn.
Caught in a web of silver beams thrown from an ocean of stars
A sea that from now, always shall haunt her existence.
She exists only in darkness she feeds from the vein of
An innocent child.
Yet she is strong, unbound by the chains of mortality.
Sometimes under the ocean of stars
She gazes at the black horizon wistful thoughts of death
She wishes for sleep. She has no quest
Just an eternal lust for blood.
Always walking alone - eternally!
She is the eye of the raven, she is the ear of the wolf.
She is mockery itself of the Holy Trinity.
She is the pleasure conceived from your pain.
The Empress of Nocturnals…
Thou shalt fear
And thou shalt serve
And thou shalt... die
In her embracing kiss of death.
The Tale of the Nocturnal Princess, Hades
The Queen of Louisiana stood at the window of her bedroom, red velvet and white chiffon covered the very old carved mahogany wood of her bedroom and outer suite. From the open window she watched the stars fade into the crimson dawn knowing soon she would sleep again. She missed seeing the sun, living in the sunlight. If she dreamed, she would remember the heat of the sun on her skin, the glistening of the sun on her hair, on her lover's hair. She would remember the darkness of her skin instead of the forever paleness of her softly scented skin now. Even though she looks but one and twenty, she has become so old now that she smells nothing but blood and the dust of death. She wearied of her life as a vampire, as Empress of Nocturnals, even though she was not very old. She was not as powerful as others thought. She led by fear and cruelty, not love, not respect, and had not enough power to hold her position long. She heard the voices, the whispers of others plotting against her. Many wished her position, thinking it would bring them the power and respect they believed they deserved. But in the end, it just brought unfathomable loneliness and a consuming darkness that was more than the night, but was the ever darkening of her tainted soul. When she was alive, those hundreds of years ago, she had believed in something, God and Christ and hope. Now she believed in nothing, not even her own freedom from mortality. She prayed for the gift of hope in the silence that surrounded her. Perhaps that hope, that freedom from her own immortality came to her tonight.
Tonight, her favorite, her eternal lover, her blond Viking would come to her, bringing his latest pet. The woman, no girl, was considered no real beauty but was quite special for some reason. Men fell over themselves desiring her bed, although the Queen had heard rumors she was a virgin until Eric took her. Vampires rumored of her special blood, although none other than Eric had tasted her, and she knew Eric would never speak of such things to others. Even though Eric and the Queen, when she was just a vampire known as Sophie-Ann were lovers off and on for years, exchanging blood periodically, there was no blood bond with him. Vampires exchanging blood is common, but unlike with humans, no bond is created. Even without the bond, reading between the excessive vampire rumor mill, the Queen knew that Eric's 'pet' as everyone thought of her was no 'pet' to Eric. She was something more. Something more to Eric, something more to the Queen, and something more to the Vampire community. Sophie-Ann would need to spend the next night finding out just what that something more was. Was this girl Eric brought with him simply a decoration for his arm or was she more to him than that? Was she the hope the Queen had privately prayed for even if she no longer believed her prayers would be answered? Was she the answer to the newly exposed Vampire community that was so desperately needed? She would have tonight, maybe tomorrow night to find out. And part of this night she wanted with Eric, craved for him to fill her loneliness if only for a few moments in their forever lives. All of this would be tonight. But for now, as the crimson sunrise turned orange, she drifted to her bed and pulled the rope that dropped the velvet privacy drapes around her and slept once again as the rest of the world awoke and lived their lives.
Sookie had slept off and on all day beside Eric's body. At first it was strange, both to have him next to her in her bed during the day, and to feel the utter coldness, utter emptiness that was Eric during the day. Then as she had almost all things vampire, she accepted and went about what needed to be done, returning to him throughout the day to nap, held in his arms.
The night before Pam had packed most of her outfits for her, placing everything, jewelry, shoes, stockings, even underwear to go with each outfit together. The outfit for the plane flight was already hung on her closet door, along with the suits that Eric was bringing. Eric had asked her to run out and buy a few last minute items, which she did of course. One was something she was not familiar with and made sure he wrote down exactly what he wanted. Turned out she had to drive to Shreveport to pick one up. He wanted a no-name cell phone, which is easy enough to buy at your local 7-11. But he also wanted it with no GPS chip and he wanted it to have international capabilities. That was a little more specialized. She had seen enough TV shows to know he wanted something completely untraceable for some unspecified purpose of his own. She took Sam with her and just in case, she sent Sam in to buy the phone with cash. She really was getting paranoid. There were not cameras everywhere recording her every move and purchase. Really, she must be going crazy with all the secrecy and need for security.
By the time Eric arose, Sookie was showered, her hair curled beautifully and hanging down her back. She stood in the bathroom in her black lacy bra, lacy thong (Pam lectured her forever on panty lines under this dress in particular), and black silk thigh-highs. Sookie had never worn thigh-highs before and she was doubtful that with any movement at all they would stay up and not sag at inopportune times. Pam assured her that would not be a problem, even without a garter belt ('garters are for the bedroom, Sookie, not for underclothes'). She'd been wearing them most of the afternoon with the high heels Pam insisted on and she was doing well not snagging or sagging the hose and not breaking an ankle wearing the shoes.
Eric raised the window blinds automatically and followed the floral scent of Sookie to the bathroom. He stopped at the doorway, leaning against it naked as he had gone to bed, watching her. As many times as she had been naked in front of Eric, being partially clothed and him staring at her becoming quite aroused was very embarrassing for her. And while he was clearly in the mood, she was definitely not. Her nerves were shot to hell, her makeup and clothing were coming together nicely, and everything would just get messed up and they'd never make their flight.
"Just wipe those thoughts from your pretty mind, Eric Northman. There is no way we are having sex right now. I'm nervous, my hair is finally perfect. My makeup is even done well enough I think Pam would approve. And forget the clothes, nothing can be ripped or torn. And there is no time for me to take another shower. Forget it, lover."
Eric laughed and gave a big sigh. "I didn't say anything, lover. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind."
Sookie looked back at him in the mirror, her eyebrows raised. "Uh, huh. You didn't have to say anything for me to know, and besides Eric it crosses your mind about every five seconds you are around me. Your own body betrays you this time, plus I can read your thoughts now, or at least a lot of them, and I can feel you through our bond. You can't play all innocent with me."
Eric laughed again at her spunk, even through the fear she felt. He walked to her and turned her towards him. He gently bent to kiss her, his arms wrapping around her completely. She could feel his length pressed against her and she moaned slightly into his mouth, forgetting her earlier arguments. Eric broke away carefully. He was serious now.
"I love you, Sookie. I will never be apart from you. Whatever happens tonight, know that."
She gave him a soft smile. "I will follow where you lead, Eric. I love you too."
He smiled and as he passed her to turn on the shower water, he spanked her backside and laughed as she jumped and then giggled. Their moment had passed, and both knew they needed to focus on the evening and night ahead of them and not on their eternal, or was it infernal passion, Sookie mused as she fixed her lipstick. She'd have to look up the difference between those two words.
An hour and a half later, with Eric at the corvette's wheel, they made record time getting to the airport and boarding the private plane. Eric wore a navy blue pinstripe tailor made suit with a navy shirt and solid navy tie. His hair was tied back in a leather thong as he had worn it years ago. He looked stunning. Sookie dressed in the Chanel black sleeveless chemise that Pam had chosen for her with a double strand of pearls and some large, pearl drop earrings. Being dressed in the expensive clothing and jewelry, surrounded by beauty and wealth, made Sookie feel more beautiful and a part of Eric's world than she ever had before. Even though this was a completely new experience for her, she adopted a look-and -see, but don't ohh-and-ahh over what she saw. That would embarrass her, possibly Eric, and definitely Pam.
Eric had been on the untraceable phone since he had gotten dressed and put the bags in the car. Sookie closed the house down, putting it in its most safe, unoccupied mode, double checking everything. She tried to listen to what Eric was saying but it was entirely in a foreign language that she had never, ever heard before. For all she could tell, he was speaking in his ancient dialect to another. Soon she just listened to the lilt and sound of his voice as he drove to the airport, their bags and coffins were stored, and they entered the plane. Whatever his conversation was, it was urgent enough for him to take care of all these details while still talking on the phone. By the time the plane took off, he was off the phone and relaxing in one of the leather seats, sitting across from Pam and next to Sookie holding her hand. As they took off, he quickly wrote on a piece of paper: 'There may be bugs or cameras. Be careful what you say or do. Give nothing away.'
Sookie squeezed his hand nervously. "How long is the trip, Eric?"
Eric sighed. "Hardly worth the trouble. It's only about 30 minutes or so. By the time we've gained altitude, it is time to come down again."
Sookie looked at him surprised. "All this," as she moved her hand around the plane's luxury, "for 30 minutes? That seems excessive. And why are we bringing the coffins? I thought we would be back by morning."
Pam answered this time, her voice purring, "Vampires never leave home without them, honey. The problem with plans is that something always goes wrong. A vampire never wants to be caught bare, so to speak, without his handy coffin nearby."
Eric snickered at Pam's purr. She was truly going into her element at Court, and while Eric was certainly comfortable there as well, Sookie would likely not be, so having Pam lightening things up and helping lead Sookie would be helpful.
The small group landed without incident at a special hanger owned by the Queen where the coffins and bags were downloaded and Eric, Sookie, and Pam were whisked away in a nearby limousine.
Eric and Pam played tour guide for the short time they were in the limo. Sookie's eyes were as big as half dollars as they approached the French Quarter. She could smell the aromas of the food that spilled from the hundreds of bars and restaurants they passed. She was creeped out by the cemeteries they passed where they buried people above ground. Eric explained that most of Louisiana, especially near the coast like New Orleans was below sea level and if a body was buried below ground it just floated to the top. Sookie made a face at him, which caused Eric to laugh out loud. Even Pam could hear the joy that the simple bar maid from Bon Temps had brought to her Master. She was happy that he had found happiness finally. She only hoped it didn't end tonight.
The Queen of Louisiana's mansion was located just passed the French Quarter. She had taken over a Civil War era mansion and had it completed renovated. The mansion was painted stark white set against the magnolia trees, redbuds trees, dogwoods, and crepe myrtles. Camellias and roses covered everything. Moss and kudzu also draped from all the trees making the entire area in the darkness look surreal and haunted. But Sookie knew when she saw it in the morning, if she did, it would be stunning. The limo stopped in front of a set of huge mahogany front doors with round stone steps leading between the stunning columns that lined the entire front of the mansion. A man dressed as a butler opened the door for them and sent others out to unload the baggage and coffins. The man didn't introduce himself but knew who they were and signaled for them to follow him to their rooms.
The man first stopped at a beautiful room all in white with flowers on every table, welcoming the guest who would be staying there, in this case Pam. Pam nodded to Eric and Sookie and entered her room and closed the door. A few doors down, the butler opened a set of double wood doors that led into a two-bedroom suite. Eric and Sookie entered. The room was this time beautifully decorated in red and gold, with white accents and covered in flowers. There was a dining and living suite separating the two king sized bedrooms with attached baths. Sookie thought this must be what staying in a 5-Star hotel would be like. The butler turned to leave, knowing Eric had been here before, but before he left the room completely he turned back to address the couple.
"The Court presentation will begin in one hour. You both, along with your guest, will be presented to the Queen and the rest of the Court. I am afraid the Court is not in session right now, so there are only a few guests present. Dinner will follow, and for the humans among the guests there will be human fare for dinner. There is a small mini-bar in your room with sodas, water, and snacks along with some True Bloods if you require them. Should you need anything else, please just pick up the phone and someone will oblige you. Good evening." And with that he turned and closed the doors behind him.
Sookie let out a huge sigh and walked into one of the rooms, sinking onto the bed. "An hour Eric! I think they must have forgotten humans don't move at vampire speed. But wow! This is a beautiful place. I never knew any place could ever be so beautiful. Do you think we can turn my house into something stunning like this?"
"Lover…we can do anything you want. And as delicious as you look right now, you need to start to dress. Pam will be here soon to help."
Sookie looked at him lying beside her on the bed and turned to him. "Eric? Don't you want to feed from me first? You haven't since you woke."
He smiled slightly at her, brushing a finger through some of her loose curls that had covered her face. "My Sookie, thinking of me always before herself."
"Eric, you know that isn't true… you're just asleep during most of my foot stamping tantrums when I am definitely not thinking of your best interest."
Eric nuzzled her neck laughing softly, just barely a breath over her skin. "Then perhaps it is best that I sleep through that. Your tantrums when I am awake are quite enough I think. And yes, I wish very much to feed. Do you mind that it is not accompanied by sex this time?"
"I don't mind only because we don't have time for it. This Queen of yours seems intent on keeping the time we share short." Sookie's voice held a slight but careful tone of disrespect.
"We only have the night, my love. There is a lot to accomplish in just a few hours. She is not necessarily doing this on purpose." Eric sounded fond of his Queen, raising Sookie's jealousy which he felt immediately through their bond.
He leaned close to Sookie's ear, making her think he meant to take her blood, but he just whispered very low. "Do not be jealous. We have been lovers, but we are no longer. You are my only one now. Regardless of what you think goes on tonight, remember that."
Eric slid off the bed and onto the floor at Sookie's feet. He spread her legs gently, sliding his hands up her Chanel dress lifting it up and over her hips, exposing her black lace thong that covered virtually nothing. He never understood why women bothered with them at all, although he did like the effect. Perhaps that was why. Her thigh-highs were lace topped and there was about 4 inches of skin between the top of her thigh-highs and her core. He felt Sookie raise herself up on her elbows so she could watch, and he met her eyes, holding them as he moved his mouth to her very upper leg. The scent of her arousal and the dampness of her curls tickling the side of his face gave her away as his fangs extended the entire way. She blinked a long moment and then opened her relaxed body to him, craving the invasion of his bite. They watched each other, never breaking their gaze as he licked first the spot he would bite, and then leaned his head back, bringing it forward and piercing her artery, causing her to gasp and explode in an orgasm. He drank his fill of her blood, then tore the thong away and drank his fill of her other gifts until she released again. He sucked and licked her until there were no more extra fluids and pulled away from her, her body completely relaxed and satiated with barely a touch from him. Eric pulled Sookie into a sitting position and opened his shirt completely, tore at his chest so she could drink from him as well. Everyone, including the Queen, would know they had just exchanged blood in the ritual of bonding. There was no point in denying it. The only part they had to be careful of was letting on how deeply they were bonded.
Forty-five minutes later, Sookie was dressed in a blood red velvet, very fitted dress that fell to the floor and ended with a short train following her as she walked. The neckline was low-cut and tight in front, displaying her ample bosom to its best advantage. The dress was shamelessly backless dipping to something just shy of obscene. It was held on her body by two thin spaghetti straps that started at the top of the dress, went over her shoulder and followed her back line to the V where the dress came together in the back. The dress actually was very secure on her body, even if it looked like it might slide right off. Pam had outdone herself on hair and makeup. Her hair was wrapped in a stunning bun, for lack of a better word, that looped in and out making a wonderful Celtic design. She used diamond and ruby studded bobby-pins to hold it all together. There were slight tendrils of loose hair hanging carefully around Sookie's face and neck. Her eye makeup was heavy, but done with such a careful hand it looked natural. Her lips were painted with a wonderful shade of red that matched the dress and accented Sookie's perfect skin.
When Sookie left the bedroom with Pam carefully following, Eric was waiting looking out one of the many windows overlooking the lights of the French Quarter in the distance. He was deep in thought, and Sookie wondered what about but declined to invade his thoughts. Eric turned upon smelling the floral scent Sookie wore so lightly but with such wonderful results. He was awed by her beauty. He would not have thought the blood red would have been a good color for Sookie's peaches and cream skin touched with the sun but as Pam had insisted, it was perfect. She was perfect. Sookie nervously walked towards Eric at the window, hoping she would make him proud tonight.
Eric's voice left little doubt of that. It was deep with emotion and barely contained passion. "Sookie…" he whispered and then found himself at a loss for words. Pam smirked at that while Sookie did too. Eric was never without something to say, usually acerbic to others, and almost always kind to Sookie. Instead of speaking he held out a large rectangular velvet box and handed it to her.
She was surprised at finding the box in her hand, and looked up at Eric and then back at Pam and back at Eric who smiled slightly and nodded his head in encouragement. She quickly opened it and gasped. The box contained a necklace made of black gold. It was a representation of what could only be a Viking sword, complete with tiny etchings of the power gods of the Norse myths. The letters 'E' and 'S' intertwined and were covered in deep red rubies winding their way down the vertical part of the sword. It was amazingly personal and amazingly expensive. There were matching earrings made of larger rubies and black gold. This time it was Sookie's turn to be speechless.
Pam broke the spell clearing her throat. It was time they left so as not to be late. With vampiric speed Eric placed the necklace and earrings on her unmarred neck. She smiled up at him, and he place his hand at her bare back leading her to the door just as the knock came from someone to lead them to the Court arena.
Once in the Court receiving room, Eric, in his black Brioni tuxedo with black silk shirt and black wide cravat tie that was all the rage in Europe, walked slightly ahead of Sookie as they had practiced. Pam followed Sookie, not because of position of rank, but because Pam was her own vampire and while Eric was her maker, she was not subservient to him at all. As they approached the Queen, Sookie schooled her face to something she hoped looked completely neutral, her head slightly bowed and her eyes not meeting the Queen's. The three of them bowed or curtsied deeply in respect to the Queen of Louisiana.
The Queen rose from her throne and walked down the three steps to where her guests were. As she rose from her chair, the three of them straighten as well. Sookie was glad, she was sure she couldn't remain in that contorted position any longer. The Queen walked directly to Eric, putting out her hand for him to take and to kiss. In recognition of their past relationship, Eric kissed both her ring designating her as Queen and then turned her hand palm up and kissed its center, lingering there longer than Sookie liked. The Queen was very beautiful and very powerful. She could feel the Queen's power thrumming around her. But Eric had promised her fidelity and she trusted him. In response to Eric's kiss, the Queen took Eric's hand and held it to her cheek and kissed his palm as well. Sookie took in a quiet breath and kept her eyes forward and down. Calm and patience came to her from Eric through their bond which she absorbed and concentrated on.
The Queen then went around Eric to Pam and received her, without the palm kissing but much the same way. She then walked slowly to Sookie, taking in her beauty, youth, and the surprising amount of power she held despite being human.
Eric spoke up, "Your majesty, may I present Miss Sookie Stackhouse."
The Queen stood directly in front of Sookie. "Look at me Miss Stackhouse. I want to fully see the woman who has captured Eric Northman's heart so thoroughly." The small Court gasped at the statement. Eric tensed but otherwise made no move. Sookie remained looking down for a few seconds and then raised her eyes to the Queen. The Queen saw curiosity, fear, pride, happiness, and surprise in Sookie's eyes. Sookie saw much the same in the Queen's eyes. The two women seemed to connect on some other level, beyond their shared love of the same man, but the Queen definitely knew more about Sookie than she let on, and by looking into the Queen's eyes, Sookie knew more about the Queen than the Queen may have known. Sookie felt even more than saw the overwhelming sadness that surrounded the Queen behind the stilted Courtly behavior. Instead of the happiness and joy the Queen saw in Sookie's eyes, there was only loneliness and sadness in the Queen's. The Queen presented her hand to Sookie, and as instructed Sookie kissed the hand slightly, distaste for the act held tightly in her head. Although she showed no reaction, the Queen read her hesitation.
"Miss Stackhouse, you dislike kissing your Queen's hand? Is it not clean? Manicured? What possible reason could you have for your reluctance? Surely your Master has taught you Court manners."
"Yes your majesty, Eric and Pam have taught me well I believe."
"So what is your reluctance then?" The Queen looked thoughtfully, even shrewdly into Sookie's eyes. "You are free to speak your mind, Miss Stackhouse."
Sookie looked quickly at Eric who nodded slightly. "Your Majesty, my reluctance is certainly not in your hygiene. You have beautiful hands, covered in beautiful jewels. My reluctance stems from what the kiss represents. I am not a vampire. I am a United States citizen, as are most of the people in this room even if they are vampires. I was born to that right, while the vampires have been granted that right. Centuries ago, we rid ourselves of the feudal system of Kings and Queens to rule us, and instead implemented the democratic system of government. We honor our Presidents and leaders, usually, but we do not kiss their hands or bow and curtsy for them. I honor you for what you stand for in the Vampire community, but as with Presidents and other leaders, respect must be earned. And sometimes it is not."
The Queen stared at Sookie as Sookie looked back at the Queen unrepentant of her words. Suddenly, the Queen raised her hands and applauded. "Eric, you have finally found an honest person, whether human or vampire. And that honesty is combined with intellect and the ability to use it. You are a lucky man indeed. Sookie Stackhouse, you will sit beside me at dinner. Eric will sit on the other side of me. I shall for a change be surrounded by intelligence and wit."
The Queen once again raised her hand, lifting it to Sookie's neck careful not to touch her skin as one would have thought, thinking of the blood pulsing behind her smooth, unmarked skin. Instead, she ran her delicate fingers along the necklace that Eric had given Sookie moments before. Everyone remained perfectly still, waiting to see what would happen. As if in a trance, the Queen ran her fingers across the intertwined letters, understanding what they meant and Sookie could feel her sadness increase. Once she had finished her slow trace of the letters of the necklace she broke her trance and took Sookie's arm as well as Eric's and led them to the dining hall.
The hall was huge and could be set for hundreds of people to enjoy dinner. However, as this was a somewhat more intimate crowd, it was set for a mere fifty. Even so the laughter and enjoyment was evident in the loudness of the crowd. The Queen sat on a dais with her guests of honor surrounding her. Sookie was the only one among the dais crowd eating, but she had long ago gotten past the discomfort of eating in front of vampires. She was offered blood and refused it politely.
The Queen asked curiously, "You have surely had blood before. You do not wish to partake here?" It was not a condemnation of her behavior, just an honestly curious question.
"Your Majesty, I have obviously taken much of Eric's blood, but have no wish to sample human blood or any other vampire's. And Eric does not share me with others as well."
"Of course he would not share you. Something about you is special and he would not wish that to be widely known. He would spend all of his time fighting off would be suitors or marauders for that matter if he did share. I had hoped to take a small taste for myself, but I will honor his wishes."
"Thank you your Majesty."
There was small talk and reminiscing between Eric and the Queen that Sookie listened to with interest. They talked of their time at Court, particularly the Court of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth. The Queen was still human serving as a ladies maid to Queen Catherine and then to Anne Boleyn before the Queen was turned. The conversation was fascinating to Sookie. Two people who had actually witnessed the tremendous tides of historical change of a country. Sookie soaked up their first person accounts as she silently listened.
The Queen suddenly turned to Sookie, asking, "Miss Stackhouse, may I call you Sookie? I think we might be good friends one day and it would be nice to start on that ground."
"Of course your Majesty."
"Sookie, have you ever heard the story of the great love of Queen Elizabeth?"
"I have read of it in books, but I don't know any of the real details. Were you there at the time?"
"Yes, I was. Elizabeth was an outstanding Queen. She was a leader of her people, called for peace among the Catholics and Protestants, brought an end to the slaughter on both sides, and led her country into what is now called the Enlightened Period. She brought musicians to court. She encouraged poets and playwrights, like Shakespeare. She was truly a Queen with a vision. And she did it all without a man at her side."
"Your Majesty, that sounds like a very strong woman although she must have been very lonely."
"She was not always so. When she was a girl, she was raised with a boy named Robert Dudley. The boy and the girl grew up together, and when she acceded to the throne Robert Dudley was raised various stations until he was just shy of becoming a suitable rank to marry the Queen. Robert Dudley was the greatest love of her life. He was her only lover, and they carefully flaunted it to the rest of the Court and other ardent suitors from various countries. She had no intent to marry anyone but Robert Dudley. Ultimately, at great risk to his own life William Cecil told the Queen that Dudley was already married, secretly to an Amy Dudley. Elizabeth was beyond crushed. She refused to leave her room for days. She had been humiliated because most people knew of the marriage and did not tell her, and mostly she had been betrayed by the man she trusted most in her life. Soon after that, Amy Dudley died under suspicious circumstances, perhaps she just fell down those stairs, perhaps she threw herself down them, perhaps one of her servants did it. But Dudley, thought that with Amy out of the way he would be forgiven as he always had been by the Queen and would be raised to that last level that would allow him to marry her. He was greatly mistaken. The Queen never forgave him for either the betrayal or the taint on both his and her reputations in the death of Amy Dudley. Her dreams were impossibly crushed. From that time on she believed in the treachery of men. Her mother had been murdered by her father, her lover had betrayed her in so many ways, there were countless plots against her, all led by men. She declared she would never again have a man, and she would never share power with a King consort. After several days of retreat to the solace of her rooms and a few trusted friends, she exited her room and called for her advisors and most of the Court. She declared, in no uncertain terms, that she was a virgin once again, and a virgin she would remain until her death. There was no more talk of marriage, of heirs, of the joining of power between countries. She became the wonderful and loved Queen she was meant to be, but she lived in a tomb of silence, forever without her destined love and forever without hope."
Sookie's eyes were filled with unshed tears, for both Queen Elizabeth and for the Queen of Louisiana. In the telling of this story, the Queen had shared a piece of her own loneliness, the loneliness of the Supreme head of a community, an area, a country. She had shared her own passionate love for Eric and how she understood her dreams would never be fulfilled. Sure, the Queen could easily kill Sookie, but she knew that by breaking the bond Sookie and Eric shared would only bring a horrible death to Eric, which surely she would not do. Just as Queen Elizabeth refused to have Robert Dudley killed and protected him always, she would always protect Eric, despite the decimation of her own dreams.
Sookie looked at the Queen with her sadness oozing from her pores. Tears streamed down Sookie's face, as the Queen went into yet another reminiscing trance. When the Queen pulled herself back from the past, she looked at Sookie and at Eric. "Come walk with me. Eric, I would like to speak with Sookie more, but I realize you may want to follow us to oversee my actions towards her, that I will not try to taste her blood."
"I will follow far enough behind to protect you both but leave you to your privacy, your Majesty."
All three got up from the table and wandered out the double French doors, down the steps and into a lovely garden maze.
"The Vampire community is troubled Sookie. There are many struggling for power. It has always been that way, but now that we have outed ourselves, it is even more imperative that we form better coalitions, develop a strong leader who can bring us into the 21st century, bring us into this democratic way of life as you put it, rather than continue to rely on outmoded and dated ways of life that will not support us in the long run."
"I agree your Majesty. But what is it that I can do about this? I am human, bonded to a vampire who may or may not share your ambition. My experience is tending bar and serving food. Political issues are not anything I know about."
"You underestimate yourself. Or perhaps you underestimate me. I am aware of how powerful the bond between you and Eric is and the gifts and curses that come with that gift. It is far back in my memory banks and long ago forgotten, but I do remember that there is something important about it. You and Eric have a difficult road ahead of you."
"If that is true your Majesty, we will need trusted allies to participate in what you propose. Are you volunteering to be one of those allies?"
"Do you believe in God Sookie?"
Sookie swallowed and brought her eyebrows together in reaction to the confusing segue. "I am not sure, your Majesty. I was raised Catholic in the midst of Baptists and Pentecostals, traveling Bible thumpers who spoke of fire and brimstone. As I have grown up and have the ability to use logic in my natural assumptions I simply have no idea in my belief in God. Why do you ask?"
"It is an important question for anyone. Believe it or not, it will get us back to where we were."
Sookie thought about what to say and then answered the question. "I believe in good and evil. If there is a God, I hope He cares about our prayers and answers at least some of them. But there is so much evil in the world, I find it hard to believe in a God that interferes in our lives. Perhaps He cares, and cries tears for our pain and the terrible things that happen. And perhaps He has created this world and moved on to other worlds. If I believe in good and evil, which given my life and what I have learned I certainly believe in, I suppose I must believe in a God if I believe in good and evil in people."
"Do you believe vampires are evil?" The Queen asked bluntly.
"I believe there are good vampires and evil vampires, and like humans there are those who live in shades of gray."
The Queen thought for a few minutes as they walked. "I was raised Catholic, and as a matter of expediency in difficult religious times I converted to Protestantism. I figured, as did Queen Elizabeth, that it was the same God we prayed to, so it didn't really matter what religion one practiced. God remains a presence in my life. Even as a vampire, I pray, I go to church, I go to confession, I take communion, and still I have no hope of salvation."
"Your Majesty, whether or not I believe in God, the loss of hope must be one of the greatest of sins, a sin against your heart and a sin against your soul." Sookie whispered to the Queen given the seriousness of the conversation.
"Yes, I believe that to be true. But when one is surrounded forever by silence despite the gossip and people and business surrounding one, it is easy to give up hope. I plan to meet the sun tomorrow. I have been considering it for a while now. I am tired of being wrapped in a cocoon of silence and loneliness without hope of ever having the relief of freedom from these immortal chains. The only man I have ever truly loved is tied to the death to another. I have no hope to ever find another such as him. No, to die with the sun warming my skin would be my choice."
"Your Majesty, I am sorry Eric is no longer available to you. But if what you talked about before is true, the need to unite the vampire community, to bring it into the 21st century, the community will need you and your leadership. Eric will need you. If you need something to believe in, to have hope for, that is it. Be our ally. We will surely need one if what you predict happens. You can only be a useful ally alive. You have no value as a pile of ashes. Hope is created when you believe in something bigger than yourself. Can you find it in your charming heart and your great intellect to believe in something like that?"
The Queen looked at Sookie curiously, somewhat awed by the simple message she had been praying for for decades. And here, in this not-so-simple barmaid her answer came to her. The Queen smiled a real smile at Sookie. "You are truly an answer to my prayers." The Queen looked at her bejeweled hand and chose a ring made up of rubies and diamonds in a simple but very expensive design with her crest on it. She pulled it off her finger, lifted Sookie's hand and placed it on her right hand ring finger. It fit perfectly. "Take this as a token of my affection for you, as being someone I believe in. It will open many doors for you."
Sookie was speechless at the gift. When she regained her voice, she asked practically, "Thank you your Majesty. Does this mean you will not meet the sun in the morning?"
"I will not. You provide hope within the silence. I will take your words to heart and lead in a way to help you. I will forever be your ally. You are welcome here and you are forever under my protection." The Queen then called for Eric who had been leaning against a pillar in the garden silently watching (and listening) to the exchange. Eric approached, bowing slightly as he came before the Queen.
"Eric, I had plans for us tonight, but your beautiful and powerful Sookie has changed those plans. Instead, she has offered me an even greater gift than even your most prodigious gifts." The Queen and Sookie smirked as Eric kept his face neutral. "I give you my large ring with my crest on it. You and Sookie embark on an adventure none before us, at least in memory, has ever been on. This crest will protect you, my greatest love. Wear it always. Dawn will be here within a few hours. You need to prepare to leave to reach your home. Eric, it has always been a pleasure to spend any time with you. Sookie, I feel as though I have made a friend, perhaps my only one for centuries. I look forward to our next meeting."
Eric spoke up before they said their final goodbyes. "Your Majesty, my yearly sojourn to the North lands is coming up. I plan to move it up and leave tomorrow. I will be taking Sookie with me, and leaving my second, Pam, in charge of things while I am gone."
"Is this for two weeks as usual?"
"That is my plan, yes your Majesty."
"Very well, my love. Be careful of yourself and of your bonded. Au revoir mon amour éternel. (Good bye my eternal love)." And with that she kissed Eric again softly on the lips, regret and pain flowing from her. "Sookie, ma petite, peut Dieu vous porter dans des ses bras et te donner l'espoir et la force de faire ce qui est nécessaire. ( Sookie, may God carry you in his arms and give you hope and strength to do what is needed.)"
"Your Majesty, si nous espérons ce que nous ne voyons pas, nous l'attendons ardemment avec la perseverance. (If we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.)"
The Queen responded automatically, "Romans 8:25. But how do you know French, ma petite?"
Eric and the Queen were looking at her in complete surprise, but neither were as surprised as Sookie. "I have no idea…"
TBC
A/N: This is the length of a publishable short story (7600 words). Hope you stayed with it till the end! And Alice fell down the rabbit hole, screaming "What have I done?? Oh dear! Oh dear! Review, review, review…"