City of Starlight

Chapter 27 (II) - Her Majesty

Previously, in City of Starlight Chapter 26 (II) - Haunted Nuptials...

Upon Hades' instructions, Leopold, Lena and the Huntsman kidnapped Regina and took her down to the caverns beneath the Underworld. Leopold raped Regina whilst the others watched on as 'entertainment'. Graham was more or less forced to do so, because he was the Sheriff whilst Leopold was the Mayor of 'Underbrooke'. When the others left, Graham refused to hurt Regina, but he was afraid of punishment from Hades/Leopold so he left her in the tunnels. 

Aurelie found Regina and the pair talked. Aurelie found out that she had been killed by Lena, not Regina or Daniella. Distraught, she allowed Regina to comfort her. When Aurelie returned above ground to seek help, she met a lady who seemed to know that Regina had been hurt. Unknowingly, Aurelie led Queen Eva (Snow's mother) to Regina who fainted upon seeing Leopold's first wife. 

Meanwhile, Graham regretted his decision and returned underground. After finding Daniel and Hook, he untied the chains binding them. Daniel knew in generic terms what Regina had experienced due to a visit earlier from Hades. He figured out that Graham was connected to the rape, and was prepared to kill Graham. 

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(3rd POV) Flashback, Enchanted Forest, many years ago

Unable to sleep, Queen Eva left her chambers in hopes that some exercise might tire her muscles. In reality, she was unable to think of more ways to prevent her husband from arranging a marriage between young Snow and a Prince from the neighbouring kingdom. Of course, there was one argument she could raise, but she was frightened of its implications. 

Eva could reason with Leopold that as Snow was the only heir to the kingdom, such a significant decision should not be rushed. At the same time, mentioning these words would only remind the King that Snow was the only heir. Every physician the royal couple sought had confirmed one thing; Queen Eva would be unable to carry another child; not unless they wanted to risk the Queen's death. Every few months, more tests would be conducted but the same disappointing result eventually left the couple sleeping in different rooms.

Eva tiptoed to her husband's chambers, hesitating by the entrance where two nervous-looking guards were standing. They let the Queen in without hesitation but Eva sensed that they weren't entirely at ease. Eva checked every room but found each one vacant. Frustrated, she approached the servant who tended to the King's chambers. The maid merely gave her a tight-lipped negative response in return. Sighing, Eva slipped inside his chambers via the interconnected passageway between their rooms and waited inside his bedchamber for him. She was hoping that she could convince him that they should try once more. 

After minutes of waiting, Eva perked up at the familiar creak of the door in the outer chamber. She untied her nightgown and let it slip past her shoulders. She bunched up the sheer fabric and held it against her naked chest. Slowly, she sat down at the edge of the bed. However, she froze mid-smile when she heard a feminine giggle. Too confused to react, she remained unmoving as footsteps disturbed the quietness of the King's chambers. 

The first thing Eva noticed was the woman's blonde hair. Then, her wide uncovered hips. Eyes trailing further upwards, she caught sight of the woman's plump breasts, now covered by quivering hands. Eva was unsure whether she should have screamed or shouted but whatever curses she had on her tongue disappeared when she spotted the woman's face. Lena, her handmaiden. Naked. Holding Leopold's hand. Eva's eyes flicked up to her husband whose shirt was unbuttoned and belt unclasped. 

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Eva did not have much time to dampen her anger, nor did Leopold have much time to explain his plan to make her raise Lena's prospective son as their own. None of these things occurred because of two tragedies. First, Lena mistakenly drank a specially prepared tea one morning. If she had known who prepared the tea, she wouldn't have consumed it. Second, Eva also mistakenly drank a specially prepared tea one morning. If she had known who prepared the tea, she wouldn't have consumed it either.