A/N: Okay I know I promised this like yesterday or the day before. I'm so sorry it was late. I hate transcribing this stuff. I'll try to do better on the next one. Tell me what you think.
We remained like that for what seemed an eternity before a knock broke our silence. "Your majesty? The king wishes you to join him for dinner. May I come in?"
Gods that Belle has the worst timing. My mouth opened for a retort but Emma stopped me. She stood, kissed me knuckles and released my hand. "I will return tomorrow." The woman left the room cold, and my mind blank. That's how Bellea found me. Arms half extended, mouth open, cheeks red.
Belle put a hand to my face, "Are you well majesty? Your cheeks are warm and you're looking a bit peaky."
With Emma's absence came clarity. I am making a scene. "Girl! Does the king wish my presence or not?" She snapped to attention and with a meek "Yes ma'am" Bella got to work. What did Wmma change? I know something was different about that vow. I considered it while the maid bustled about me dressing me for a formal dinner. Ugh look at these clothes. I should be grateful for such a robust wardrobe but look at it! Not a single bold color in sight. It's all a mess of pastels and maiden's dresses with modest necklines to drawing my suitor's eye to my virtue.
My husband must enjoy the thought of raping a virgin. The pig. My maid sensed the tension in my body, and waited until she was in the middle of affixing my corset when she finally found the courage to speak her mind. "Majesty? What happened in the woods?" My limbs locked and my whole body froze. Her next tug on the ties ripped my breath from my lungs.
I tried to turn that huff of stolen air into one of my annoyance. "Belle if you are going to ask me what happened, you must also specify when this incident occurred. " Perhaps you could just shut up. That would sit well with me. I don't need my own maid prying into my doings. Least of all the things I do inside those woods. I'm free there to do as I wish without knowledge of it getting back to my husband. I am free there. Leave it alone woman. I do not wish for your prying.
Belle finished tying the laces on my corset. I had thought the subject dropped when she spoke up. "When you ran away… Y-you seemed terrified, I worried about you majesty."
I took a breath to settle my thrumming heart. Perhaps others do care. How much love has been denied me by the constrictions of my mother, husband, and even my teacher. This child is the only maid do not shriek and run when she discovered the Dark One in my chambers tossing fireballs about. Maybe speaking to her wouldn't ruin anything. Belle began the finishing touches on my dress and hair when I relented.
"I left to find privacy." My voice shook. Where has that confidence from a few moments ago gone. "While I was in the forest a friend took me in. I stayed the night with her. That is all."
"That friend… Was that the woman you asked me to spy on?" Her demure voice became even more meek at the mention of her less than honest dealings. I fixed her with a glare. I was wrong. She doesn't care about me, she just wants to get out of her duties. Love is weakness.
Belle bit her lip and bent back down to her work. What in the world is running through that girl's addled mind? All her time here and I've heard barely a peep out of her. Now when I want silence she's all questions. "Done." She murmured, "Dinner is in the formal dining room your majesty." My heart sank under the weight of old memories. I have not been there since I was married.
"Ahhh, there's my wife. Do you understand me now when I saw she is a jewel Genie? She is a beautiful sight to behold isn't she?" Leopold gestured to a man with skin almost as dark as the bark of my apple trees. Of course my husband would pander to his guest's needs and not his wifes. Whoever taught Leopold manners is in dire need of a helpmeet.
"Yes she is a gem. You sire, are a very lucky man, she is simply bewitching." His soft voice is pleasing, but the way his eyes wandered made me wish to sink into the ground. Being objectified like this, it isn't just unnerving, it's terrifying. I feel all my confidence and control slip through my fingers. How can I feel so powerful and hold the lives of others in my hands, but the moment my husband lays his gaze upon me I become this pathetic child. My only desire is to crawl into a hole and never return from the comfort of darkness. Instead I must smile and speak my husbands words, wishing this guest my good will.
I pretend that I can't feel his arm brushing mine. That they aren't staring at me openly. I pretend with all my heart that I could kill them with a breath. I can. Can't I? Curling in on myself didn't help the situation. Dinner curdled my stomach. Their gazes grew more intense and I prayed with all my heart that I could just destroy them. Consequences be damned. Let them die. Let me die.
Dinner continued. They spoke of the kingdom, how happy and well behaved the people are. It makes me sick. How does Leopold lie through his teeth like that? Or does he even know what he's speaking about? He hasn't seen his people in years, he never leaves his precious daughter and after her accident as a child she isn't allowed to go riding. I know more of the kingdom's state than he does. The people may love him but they suffer under his neglect. Just look at Emma, working in the gardens and poaching in the forests. "Regina!" Leopold slapped his hand on the table hard enough to bring an instant flush to my face.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to steady myself. I'm safe. He won't hurt me with a guest to witness the abuse. I looked up to him without really moving. His cheeks were red with frustration and wine, but he didn't look angry enough to hurt me. Yet. "Yes my lord?" I whispered, "Forgive me I drifted off."
He glare at me from across the table, his guest was too busy ogling me to notice the tension. "My guest asked if you had any interests outside your queenly duties." I glanced at this guest and had to wonder just how he had managed to be invited here. Obviously he has no respect for another man's claim on me, and so few visitors ever gain entrance these days. I miss the times when Leopold courted me. Not his slimy hands on me, but the parties and displays of power kept us in the public eye, and him on his best behavior. Whatever this genie did, he must have stroked my husband's ego quite a bit.
My lip slowly escaped the confines of my teeth. "I am not overly engaged in any hobbies sir. At the moment, most of my time is exercised in the improvement of my mind. Should something happen to my husband I need to be prepared to rule in his place."
Leopold interrupted swiftly, "Until Snow is old enough to take her rightful place. She is the rightful heir to the throne." Oh yes he loves reminding me of my place. A stray dog lucky to have a bed to sleep in and a bone to gnaw. My fists clenched in my skirts, wrinkling the delicate fabric. It's times like these when I would happily remove his skull from that fat neck of his. Maybe his little peon will help, it certainly looks like this 'genie' is more interested in my cleavage than the king's power.
Said genie took my hand in both of his and kissed it, "Oh my queen, I am sure you are already a quite capable ruler. I am sure you have captured the hearts of the people just as surely as your husband has. Surely you don't spend all your time in deep thought? His majesty mentioned that you are quite the horsewoman?" He sounds like he's offering me a covert midnight ride. Does no one respect the sanctity of marriage anymore?
I yanked my hand back and set my glare at Leopold. He has no right. I swear I will kill him. I hate him. With all my heart I promise the king will die at my hand. "My husband speaks too highly of me. I haven't ridden a hore for pleasure in a very long time. It is not a sport I enjoy any longer." Leopold raised his eyebrows but made no comment.
My husband seems to have found his brother in this genie. I swear it. If one didn't refute my words, the other did. "Majesty, might I venture a guess that this sudden dislike stems from a lack in quality partners? After his majesty was rendered unable, peradventure the lack of companionship drove the pleasure away?" Oh yes sir you are right, I thank you so much for your condescension to read my poor lowly thoughts. How could I have ever had an opinion before you? You've found me out. I have no will of my own. I swear, I have never been more insulted, nor humiliated in my life. His manners wouldn't be welcome in a barn.
This insufferable man is not worthy of the effort it would take to spit on him. Through gritted teeth I replied, "Indeed your grasp of my true feelings is only surpassed by your eloquence. I have been searching for an adequate partner ever since my last was rendered… impotent." I flashed a smirk at my husband. I'll suffer for it later. He slammed his cup down on the table and I winced in response. The price of that little allusion will cost me more dearly than I first thought.
Leopold wiped his jaw clean and stood, "My queen I have need of you in our chambers. Genie please excuse us, we will meet here again for an early lunch service."
The dark skinned man raised a hand in protest even as my husband levered me from my chair with his painfully tight grip. Fear choked any attempt I could have made to escape. "Wait, wait need you leave so soon I-"
"Yes we do. My apolo-"
"At the least let me meet with the queen at breakfast? We can continue our conversation where it won't offend your-"
"Yes! Later Genie!" He snapped, yanking me from the room. The only hope I had left was that Leopold would be forced to leave no bruises. I needed to be presentable for my breakfast meeting. This is why the gates never open. We wouldn't want the people to realize their precious king likes to hit his women.
"My queen you look ravishing." The genie took my hand and kissed it. I assume he is trying to seek my favor. Why else would his grip continue so long past propriety's demands? The compliments too! How long does he stand before a mirror rehearsing his compliments until the sound sincere to his ears? However long it is, it's not long enough.
I smiled at him through the soreness permeating my whole body. "Please dear, you are no subject of mine. Call me Regina. I have so few friends in this place." Not for lack of trying. If only they weren't so loose-lipped. Between mother and Leopold I may never have another friend. I wonder how long Emma will last. The look of glee on his face made it seem as if I offered a peek under my skirts, not the use of my name. Gods above why are all the men in my life lechers?
The genie quirked his head, "But majesty, you are the queen of my heart. Indeed, how could the any of the people in this place do anything but love you?" If it weren't for my mind's occupation with being polite, my knees would have begun trembling from the pain. We're still standing, and his words are worthy of no response more than an eye roll.
I set my free hand atop his hands still clasped around my right, "Please, let us sit and eat while we talk." He nodded, pulling my chair out for me. At least he gains points for chivalry. It is a pleasure to see even a touch of the gentlemanly attitude still in place… How can I be so strong around Emma and that imp, but the moment my husband becomes involved I am just grateful to have a gentleman pulling out my chair?! I nee to rid my life of these poisons. These people. But how can I do that when I am just a coward?
Genie sat scross from me and gazed at me enraptured. "I know you protested the idea before your king, but would you do me the great favor of going on a ride with me? I will do my best to be an appropriate partner." He took my hand once more and pleaded with his eyes. Can he not even attempt some subtlety with his innuendo? Gods above.
He's going to take this the wrong way no matter how I answer. I squeezed his hand, "of course. I couldn't insult my husband, but I would love to go riding with you." Over my dead body. I'll fake an injury before I get on a horse for anything other than necessity.
The genie smiled, obviously he is not attuned to guile, and released me to eat. The meal smelled almost as excellent as it tasted. My husband was known for pulling all the stops for his guests. We chatted and spoke of many topics. I doubt the genie really heard me say anything. He was readily observing all my features except the ones that mattered. He even went so far as to spout compliments about how flattering my clothing was. It's obvious he's trying to court me. I guess my husband draws in people of his own ilk.
Finally he pulled himself from his little world, where women are just toys and marriages are just contracts to be broken at will, and offered me his arm. We went on a tour of the grounds. From the courtyards, to the greenhouses, even the flower gardens with their strong scents designed to wake a maiden from a swoon.
The ache growing in my legs reminded me of just how much I didn't want to climb a horse. There had to be something that would distract him long enough for me to complain of being late to our lunch. I took every chance, I even took him to the old orchard. A churned up bed of ash and roots now, but I had hoped he would at least consider the possibilities of the next thing to be planted there. After every method at my disposal was used up, and I feared that I would have to go through with my promise; the genie pointed out something I had never seen before in all my wanderings of the grounds.
He tugged my arm, "My queen, what is that?" For the love of all that is holy find a new name for me.
I turned, praying with all my heart that it would be something interesting. A smile replaced my grimace in that instant. "It appears to be a bench waiting for that sapling to grow. Let us take a closer look. I've never seen this here before." The genie's grip loosened enough that I could escape his grasp and I moved away from him with a bounce in my step. Blood pounded in my ears. For once it was associated with something other than fear; a new sensation that pricked at me eyes and perhaps even played with my heartstrings. Someone had saved one of the saplings from my father's orchards. Honeycrisps don't grow anywhere else in the kingdom.
"My queen!" Genie took my hand back like it was his own posession. The motion startled me. Somehow I expected the hand to be smaller, more feminine. It made him all the more repulsive to me. I thought it would be a more intimate touch, a hand on the shoulder, or an arm around the waist. This rough treatment of my body shocked the tears from me better than anything else could have. "Are you quite all right majesty?" He tried to force me to sit down.
I sniffed, wiping away the few tears traveling down my cheeks and shook my head. "No, no I simply remembered something I had to finish. This was lovely genie, perhaps we will do this again someday." The look on his face spoke of childish disappointment. He must have expected me to stay with him all day simply to pander to his crushes. I have better things to do. I forced myself to kiss his cheek and whisper, "Thank you." Joy replaced the disappointment in his features, but the last thing I saw as I rushed in the castle sank into my heart and weighed it down like a stone. Emma's look of betrayal from the bushes she had been trimming. I think I know who planted that sapling.