Chapter 21

Greta Gothel was not used to being alone; she always had someone watching her back, whether it was the King, the Guards, Ian or Bastian. The Queen shook her head. Right now, she'd even settle for either Roland or her stepdaughter, that's how desperate she was for company.

It was her fault too, she knew it. She kept the remaining elixir all for herself, even though she knew that Ian needed it as well. Bastian and Ian never carried any around; she always supplied the liquid to them. It was the half the reason that they began to brew up the elixir in the first place.

The real reason was that she didn't want to share the flower's incantation with anyone else. She kept the boys on a need to know basis and the cousin's didn't need to know. Why, they never needed to know. This was something that she wanted to keep to herself. If they knew everything, they'd want the flower for themselves and she wasn't sharing that, especially that.

So she started brewing the elixir and hid it from everyone. It was only to be used when needed.

She couldn't trust anyone, never did. This was the reason that Bastian and Ian went everywhere with her. And the less the King knew, the happier she was. The more he tried to get her to become familiar with the castle and its staff, the more she stayed away.

Despite her husband's insistence, Gothel refused to meet with Captain Flynn Rider. She'd never seen his face or wanted him near her. She'd heard he was gorgeous and sent her ladies down with invitations to come to her quarters. He never responded, never showed up. She forbade this Rider person to be anywhere near the castle period. The Queen was so overjoyed when she heard that Roland removed Rider from the castle and had him installed in the King's private quarters as his own personal bodyguard, keeping him away from the rest of the guards. He gave her Ian and Bastian to do she liked with them and kept Flynn Rider or whoever he was to himself.

The situation worked out perfectly, she kept to herself and he kept his own council. Everything was good.

Besides, Bastian was her lover, had been for the longest time anyway. Ian was just a double, they looked alike. It fooled the King. He had never even known she had been cheating on him with Bas. Ian was always there to cover for her. Roland never knew there were two Guards, just one. It worked and she was proud of herself.

So now everyone was gone. Bastian had gone off with the twins and she had no idea where they were or what happened to them. They should have been back by now; her stepdaughter should have been dead as well as the Stabbington boys.

She still wasn't sure what do with Bas though. He'd been by her side for years; actually centuries was more like it. She'd have to keep him alive as well and she wasn't sure she wanted to share the flower and the elixir with anyone.

Greta would have to think about it.

Right now, she was hungry and tired. She hadn't even realized that Ian had materialized into a pile of dust. The only thing on her mind right now was her stepdaughter and the twins, but the elixir and flower were first and foremost. If she secured that, she'd worry about the other stuff later.

The Queen was close to her stepdaughter now, there wasn't too much to go. The Seven Dwarves was so close now, she could see its thatched roof in the distance. She guessed it was about 15 minutes away and it was a good thing. She needed food, drink and a bed above all. Then she'd start snooping around for the stuff she needed. She still had the elixir; the flask was right in her…

Greta felt around for the flask, and then panicked when she couldn't find it. Hadn't she placed inside her bodice where it could be easily reached? She was sure she hadn't left it back at the cottage or was she sure? No, it couldn't be gone, she couldn't have lost it. There was no way….

Well, Gothel couldn't go back to look for it now. It was gone, that's it. Been there, done that. Now she had to keep moving and placed her faith and trust in the fact that she'd get back her two most cherished possessions in the entire universe.

But right now she concentrated on her hunger. With no cloak to keep her warm, she was getting cold. The inn would give her a room where she could sleep, have a bite to eat and change her plans.

Greta would deal with what she had to in the morning. She would find Bas and the twins at the appointed place with her stepdaughter and everything would perfect. He would present her with the elixir and the flower, then they'd take care of the twins and move onward.

Her role as Queen would be untouched and she'd rule forever with no heirs or relatives in the way. She could count on Bastian; she had relied on him for over 400 years. He had never questioned her judgment and done whatever she had asked of him.

And of course this time he wouldn't let her down. Bastian knew what would happen if he ever had. She'd made it clear that there were to be no slip ups.

The inn was minutes away now, but she found she had to stop to catch her breath. She sat down underneath a tree and found herself staring at an apple dangling from a low branch. She grabbed at it and stared it, turning it around and around it her hands.

The apple was perfect. It would hold her hunger off for a while and she might even come back for more once she was settled inside.

Greta smiled to herself as she peered at the apple. Everything was going according to plan.