City of Starlight

Chapter 25 (II) - Living Hell

Please note: mature themes in this chapter (violence, rape, sex)

Flashback: Six years ago, Enchanted Forest, prior to the curse...

Daniella winced as she sharply drew her hand back from the thorny rose bush. Meanwhile, a pair of golden pliers fell from her grip and onto the grass with a thud.

"Careful there, my little Firefly. You should have worn a pair of gloves if you wish to cut those roses," the Queen called as she snipped off a blood red rose and placed it in the basket around her arm. Then, she beckoning Daniella over to her side, with her hand fingering another rose. Regina gripped the stem right underneath the flower and raised the pair of pliers in her hand. "Here, if you snip it near the heads, you wouldn't have to touch the thorns on the stems. Even if the thorns don't end up scratching your hand, it might snare the lace of your sleeves if you're not careful."

Daniella copied her mother but when she held a blooming rose in her fingers triumphantly for the Queen to see, the quick patter of a guards' footsteps disrupted her joy and made her bristle. They only ever came running like that if there was something wrong. The Princess bit her tongue as the knight who dared interrupt the Queen in her private time began to explain how the Huntsman failed to obtain support from the nobility in the surrounding lands even despite the generous offers that Regina had been prepared to give them. A shudder crawled up the young Princess' spine as her mother barked with fire in her eyes, "Where is he?!"

"Awaiting your attention in the war room."

Regina hissed, "Tell him to wait in my chambers. I will not have him fail me again!"

To Daniella's surprise, the knight didn't leave after her mother's crystal clear orders. Instead, he took a step forward bravely with his hands clasped together. "Your Majesty?"

"What is it, Headley?" Regina asked as she tossed a rose into her basket with a huff.

"If I may, I don't think it was wise to send the Huntsman to negotiate."

"You dare question me?"

The knight promptly dipped his head, but he knew the Queen would be interested in his input so he explained, "What I meant was, this operation might require more than peaceful negotiations. A show of strength has worked in the past and it may continue to work."

Daniella looked up worriedly but she didn't say anything as her mother stated adamantly, "As much as it pains me to remind you, you know well enough that in these changed times, burning manors to ash isn't the answer. I need support from those with power and I cannot get that if the nobles in the land are dead."

"Your Majesty, perhaps it is prudent to take what's yours, rather than-"

Daniella shuddered as her mother screamed, "When have I ever NOT intended to take what was mine, hmm?" Pausing only momentarily, the Queen continued, "You think you would be so worthy of being tasked with the Huntsman's job, do you? Well, you might have been useful in the past when I wanted the villages levelled but now, you will do well to improve on strategy. Force isn't the only tactic out there; perhaps your belief that this was so is why George and I lost our kingdoms to those two idiots!"

Headley dipped his head and murmured with his hand across his chest, "Apologies, Your Majesty. I am merely acting in the course of my duty, with the interests of helping you regain your power."

A silence hung in the air, as the knight stood awkwardly in the beautiful royal gardens beside a pacing Queen and a Princess who was replaying her mother's words in her head. Sir Headley eventually pulled Regina out from her thoughts when he inquired after a cough, "Your Majesty, should I inform the Huntsman to wait in your chambers as expected?"