Queen

Chapter Three

I chose my showiest dress for the feast. It was dark maroon that formed a triangle at the top with a gold leaf chain wrapping around my neck to hold it up. A gold leaf belt was at my waist made to match the chain at my neck. I had a light shawl draped around my arms that matched the color of my dress. My black hair was up in a messy bun with strands hanging loosely to frame my face and a thin band of gold going across my forehead and through my hair. I had my lips covered in a light red gloss and a small tear drop of matching glitter under my right eye. I knew this would make Richard squirm when I picked it out earlier that morning.
"You are a sight to see," Abigail smiled at me. I had chosen her long vibrant red dress for her and convinced her to let her blonde hair to hang loose down her back. It was the first time since we were teenagers I had seen her let her curls free.
"So are you. I'm so glad I convinced you to let your hair down; it looks marvelous," I cooed like I was fifteen again.
"Thank you, but we best be going. We wouldn't want the queen to be late."
"The Queen is never late... Everyone else is simply early," I smirked as we made our way down to the feast. As we entered everyone turned to us but they only saw me. Abigail slipped away and joined the other servants behind the table where I was going to sit with Richard and some of the lords and ladies. I took my place at my throne-like chair and stayed standing to invite in Richard. When he entered the entire room cheered and stood up oblivious to Richard and I staring at each other down the aisle that was left clear of people. I smirked and he looked completely dumbfounded, but none the less we stared and I got lost in space and time. Everything seemed to freeze and it was just me and him until he started to walking towards me and I re entered into reality. Richard took his seat next to me and gave me a side ways glance.
"Let the feast begin!" I smiled and everyone began to eat. At the head table I leaned over and talked to some of the lords about current problems and such; which left Richard alone to talk to the lady in purple who sat next to him. She was staring at him greedily and it made my blood boil but I knew Richard and he didn't like it either. Soon I got tired of talking to the lords and decided to eat my own share of food for the time being. Richard was still stuck in a conversation with the lady to his left so I just ate and didn't care to start a conversation with anyone. I could feel the younger lords' eyes on me looking over my exposed skin hungrily.
"What's wrong my queen?" I heard Richard whisper in my ear his breath hot against my skin.
"Nothing. Why do you ask?" I replied refusing to turn and face him.
"You're tense and I know you don't like it when men look at you the way those young lords are looking at you," Richard said his voice kind in my ear.
"You're right, I don't," I said coldly still staring straight ahead.
"Do you want me to make them stop?"
"Yes... But you have no way of doing that."
"I do have a few ways, but you won't like the most effective way."
"And what way is that?"
"Kissing me," he said and that made me look towards him. I regretted it immediately; he was smirking in a way it lit up his glittering blue eyes.
"That's not going to happen!" I laughed; a real laugh for the first time in a long time.
"Oh come on! Give a man a chance," Richard pouted.
"After your stunt in my room I think not."
"That was just a joke! Remember how we used to actually laugh and have fun with each other," Richard jibed bringing fond memories to mind.
"Yes I do! But I want to know how that was a joke."
"It just was!"
"Not good enough."
"Then I give up!" Richard chuckled.
"Good. I guess I win as usual," I smiled victoriously. I hadn't realized that the entire head table could hear us now and that they were all looking at us like we were insane.
"Abigail!" I hissed over my shoulder.
"Yes your majesty?"
"What did I do wrong?"
"I do believe we were just too loud," Richard commented.
"Richard's correct. All of the lords and ladies have heard your conversation."
"How much did they hear?" I asked scared to hear the answer.
"I believe they heard from 'Remember how we used to actually laugh and have fun with each other' at least that's when the first lord turned to look at you strangely. Well the first to look at you differently then before..." Abigail trailed off unsure of what else she should say.
"Those bastards!" Richard hissed.
"Richard don't say such things! They are nobles!" I warned in case they could still hear us.
"I'm a noble but I don't get that kind of respect!" He seethed next to me.
"I know that. But you chose to train to be a knight, until you're knighted they will not treat you with the respect you deserve. That's just how it is, I'm sorry," I explained softly. My hand reaching out to touch his. He looked at me when I did this, his eyes filled with anger but his expression soft.
"I know."
"Good. Now if we're going to get them to stop eavesdropping for their latest gossip we need to stop talking for a little while. Just eat your food and they'll eventually get bored and stop paying attention,"I said calmly praying my plan would work. So we did as I said and once again the nobles stopped paying attention to us; well all of them except for the young lords who still stared at me with those hungry eyes that made me want to throw them in the dungeons. But still they weren't eavesdropping just watching.
"Richard," I leaned over and whispered to Richard.
"What?" he whispered back.
"Nothing. They just stopped paying attention to us so I thought we could talk again," I replied.
"Okay. So if you want to talk so bad then tell me what game you're playing at. Tell me what you're doing?" Richard asked.
"What do you mean?" I replied pretending to be oblivious to how I had been trying to toy with him.
"I mean first you ignore me, then you wear the dress from the day we first met, now you're wearing well that, and you decided we should have a good old stare in front of everyone. So what are you playing at?" Richard asked again a bit more frustrated sounding.
"I don't know. I guess I just...don't know," I said confusing myself with my reasoning for all that I had done to irritate him.
"That's not a very good answer Rowena," Richard persisted.
"Well I don't have a better one," I countered, "And don't call me Rowena in public," I said angrily.
"So I can call you Rowena when we're alone?" Richard said with a seductive smirk.
"No!"
"Come on. Why not?"
"Because when we're alone I don't change rank. I'm still the queen no matter where I am and who I'm with," I retorted.
"Whatever you say you're majesty," Richard smirked before turning back to his food.
"How dare you mock the queen!" I hissed in outrage. The only thing that currently pleased me was that no one noticed what was happening between Richard and I.
"Alright. I guess I am wrong to speak to you in that manner when in public," Richard smirked. "Now do you wish to continue taking out your anger on me or can we have an entertaining conversation?" Richard continued.
"Let's go with the entertaining conversation," I smiled half heartedly.
"Good," Richard smiled back. We began to talk and I felt comfortable talking to him again. It was as if he had never left. But all good things must come to an end and Abigail did that.
"Your Majesty? I think that tonight has gone on long enough," Abigail whispered in my ear. I nodded.
"Excuse me," I murmured to Richard. "Everyone!" I called out standing up from my seat. "Everybody has had plenty of food and drink tonight. Now it is time for all of you to go home and get plenty of sleep," I spoke clearly to my people. Some of the drunk men groaned but they agreed eventually. Richard seemed to be annoyed that Abigail had told me it was time to end the feast. But I did what I should do as queen not what my heart thought I should do.
"So I guess this is good night," Richard sighed.
"Walk me to my room?"
"If my queen commands it."
"Then I command it," He smiled and with no one left in the halls or the great hall the feast was held in Richard escorted me to my room. When we arrived at my room I expected him to do something sneaky but instead he wished me goodnight and kissed my hand like a proper gentlemen. I was glad yet disappointed at the same time. But I could never tell him that so I stayed quiet and went to sleep.