The Seventh Queen (On Hold: Revising)

Memories

"Excited to see your mother?" Anna chuckled when she noticed Anine's disgusted expression in the mirror. "I'd say not."

"Not even a little," Anine replied gathering her dress up and moving over to the vanity.

"Maybe she is here to actually be a mother to you," Anna replied fixing a few stray hairs in her reflection.

The two women were jostling for space in front of the vanity's mirror in Anine's large apartment. Anne worried more about why the queen was coming to the English court then her own appearance. Though she seemed to be vain as she smudged red on her cheeks. Anine on the other hand left herself to her natural beauty and left the cosmetics alone.

"Though," Anna added thoughtfully. "That would require the unseelie queen to have a heart to be able to love with."

"And to think you gave that thought a running chance," Anine said taking the pot of crimson conchineal from Anna and rubbing it on her lips, deciding that her lips needed a little bit of enhancement.

"And you believed that I would honestly give it a run in my mind." Anna cried. "And you once believed that she could."

"True, but that was when I was stupid and nieve," Anine said with a hauteur she knew was a tease.

"Perhaps, but sometimes I wonder if you are still stupid and nieve," Anna said looking this way and that at her reflection.

"And maybe I am,"

"Come now your highness." Anna stood and turned from the mirror. "It was only a jest."

"Forgive me Anna," Anine said glancing at her reflection. Her skin shined with a new sweat as her nerves set in. "You know how I am whenever mother..."

"Anine!" Anna took anine by both shoulders and turned her to face her. "You listen to me. That woman is not your mother and will never be that. She killed your real mother in order to obtain you and your prophecy." Her eyes widened. "Do not, under any circumstances forget that." She went to straightening Anine's silk dress. "Whatever you do, don't forget who your real mother was."

"Do you think me stupid still?" Anine asked.

"I only tend to remind ye," Anna said brushing away stray strands of red hair from Anine's face.

"I am sorry my sweet friend," Anine twisted herself out of Anna's reach. "Come, we are going to be late." with a smile she headed toward the door. "And we all know how the unseelie queen hates when we are late."

It was a heady thing to walk into the astonishing great hall of Craig-y-nos and see the magnificent feast laid with gold and silver plate, the walls hung with Anine's favorite tapestries of dancing angels, musicians beating out melodic tunes, and the ladies and gentlemen in the glittering best. All of this was for the welcoming of her conniving bitch of a pretend mother.

Anna squeezed Anine's hand irritatingly and gently at the sight of such grandeur, yet she was joyous for the evening's festivities Anine had planned out. The music ceased altogether and a crier called out: Her majesty princess Anine and lady Anna. The entire hall went into a deep bow as Anine entered, once inside the feasting hall they stood again and went back to their gossiping and lusting.

She spotted her the Unseelie queen across the hall, standing with Gauge, Gabriel and Drack. All of  who were in deep and unrelenting loyalty to their queen. For a moment Anine felt paralyezed and the smile froze on her face. Anna seemed to ignite though, like a hundred fires lit at once at the sight of the dark group.

Anna cried, "Lord Gabriel." as though she had not noticed the queen next to him and hurried across the floor, all grace and beauty in shimmering blue silk.

As Anine followed her friend across the hall she watched Anna's perfect performance. If ladies were allowed to perform on stage Anna would have been a perfect actress. She curtseyed first to Gabriel, then as though just then noticing the queen, made flustered and curtseying to both the queen and her undead lover. The scene couldn't have been more comedic.

By the time Anna had done her acting Anine had arrived in rather less of a flurry, quite astonished by Anna's dramatics and secretly applauding her. She curtseyed around, receiving respectful bows back. Drack's attention stayed longer and Gabriel almost let a hiss escape his lips.

"You are looking quite well," Maraush said, her brows puckering together as she glanced at Anine. "Such a shame," and just like that she batted Anine away. She turned her attention back to her boring conversation with Gauge about the irish uprising.

There was no way that Maraush Wallace could conceal the ice that flowed through her frozen veins. The abrupt dismissal was apparent to others close at hand making Anine feel slightly embarrassed. Anine saw Gabriel flinch, but he would never dream of interfering with Maraush and her child. Only one person had done so and he was beneath the ground.

"You're looking a little peekish, does Guage's diet affect you?"

Maraush was forced, by protocol, to turn back and face her.

"It seems you are finally starting to pale like him," Anine went on ignoring the dark glare Maraush poised in her direction. "And yet you still do not turn into a vampire."

Irked by Anine's forwardness, Maraush's fingers tightened around her lover's arm. Even though Maraush had centuries of dealing with Anine's personality, Maraush rarely controlled her anger towards it.

"Bite your tongue or I will cut it out for you," Maraush said.

"Why have ye come if ye are going to ignore me- this is, afterall, my kingdom?"

"The matter of my business here will be discussed with you privately,"Maraush said. She glanced around the group, her gaze resting on Anna the longest.

(C) Kelcey Winn