Chapter 17

The Queen couldn't believe that she was holed up in a small cottage in the middle of nowhere. They had to take shelter because of this horrible storm that had raged on and off through the night. She looked over at Ian who was lying on the floor, still asleep. She shook her head. What had she gotten involved with?

Ian and Bastian were two of the best Guardsmen in the bunch, and Roland kept them close to him at all times. They were handsome gents and she was able to seduce both of them, separately, one never knowing about the other.

But it was Captain Flynn Rider that she'd wanted from the beginning. Flynn was gorgeous and was wanted by every courtier at the castle. He was a prize, a big prize, but she didn't want him for her collection, no sir. Greta wanted him by her side to rule Corona forever.

But it was not to be. Flynn rejected every one of her advances preferring to be footloose and fancy free. He loved the ladies, just never wanted to make a commitment.

And he would never go against King Roland, not as long as he was alive.

But he hadn't come to her after Roland became ill and Bastian seemed to cool off as well, so she reduced Bastian Smyth to groundskeeper and caretaker while she banished Rider altogether, at least from the castle. Then she raised Ian up to her bodyguard and protector when she got rid of the Guards permanently.

Now Bastian was gone and all that was left was Ian and her bodyguard and protector had disappointed her, big time. He was a lazy, a good for nothing has been that just wasn't worth her time and effort anymore. He wasn't as exciting as he used to be and he just didn't turn her on anymore. In fact, nothing seemed to these days.

All she wanted was that flower and the elixir and right now she had neither. She didn't have her tiny magic mirror; the demise of the carriage took care of that. The weather was preventing her from traveling anywhere and she wasn't even sure if Rapunzel was alive.

She stood up, but it was getting harder and harder to move these days. She wasn't as lively as she used to be and she seemed to be more tired these days. Greta was beginning to think it might be her and not Ian who was at fault here, but she couldn't be sure.

She had no idea what her actual age was, the years just seemed to blend together. She'd stopped counting when the flower came into her possession and along with the mirror, she'd never need to worry about that again. She was assured she was beautiful and young. No one else could replace her. No one.

Until Rapunzel grew up, that is. Now she had to worry about the competition.

She didn't know who robbed her of her flower and elixir, but she knew she'd have to get it back. And soon.

The Queen stood up. She stepped over the sleeping Ian and walked around the small cottage. It was a one room affair with a bed in a corner of the room and a small kitchen area in the other. A fireplace in the center of the room heated the room in the winter and a double door kept the room cool in the summer. A small tin tub was next to the fireplace and some cooking utensils hung from the ceiling. The cottage had everything, even a stream out back to bathe and wash clothes in.

Greta shook her head. It was well stocked for a simple pauper out in the middle of nowhere, but there was nothing fancy, no silver or gold, nothing that would make it seem that any one else of note was hiding out there. No, she decided, it was just a simple cottage in the woods.

What it did lack, however, was a mirror. There was nothing that she could admire herself in.

With one last look at Ian, she opened the wooden door and moved outside. She noticed that there was no barn, only some firewood stocked up in a pile. The cottage itself was not in good shape. It was more like a cabin than a cottage, she decided, having grown up in a small cottage in her native Prussia. Her idea of a cottage was a few rooms and nicer furniture. This just wouldn't do.

There was nothing out here for Gothel's use, nothing at all. Time to wake Ian up and get moving, she decided. The rain had let up and they were wasting time here. She was about to move inside when she saw something lying on the ground, something that she missed the first time. Greta picked it up; it looked like a flask. How she missed it the first time was beyond her. She picked it up and shook it. Apparently, there was liquid in there.

She quickly unscrewed it and sniffed at it, but she smelled nothing. Curious, she raised it to her lips and took a small sip. She smiled as the liquid coursed through her body reviving her. She felt young and alive again.

The elixir, she thought, but how did it get way out here in the middle of the woods? And who the heck was living here or had been?

Greta's smile turned angry and she shook her head. No, it couldn't be the King, not Roland. He was dead; she had poisoned his food, made it look as though as though he had been sick. She buried him, then burnt the ashes. She was there, she watched it all.

Unless….

She shook her head again to rid herself of the memories. No, she decided. He was dead, gone, she wouldn't think about him anymore. She looked back down at her find and took another sip. There was a little bit in there, but she would need it until they found her stepdaughter. It would last for a while. She screwed the cap back on and placed it in the bosom of her dress. She was sure it would hold.

With a last look around, Greta turned and walked back inside the tiny cottage to wake Ian. She'd find her stepdaughter if it was the last thing she would do.