Eirwen

Red

I was currently sitting down across from one of the most powerful and beautiful women in the country and the looks she was giving me were seriously making me question my life decisions. I came to the conclusion with the look she was giving me that my food was much more interesting. Not that she was glaring or anything but that women's eyes I could swear stared straight into your soul searching for something and didn't stop until it found what they were looking for.  This wasn't exactly great for me as I like everyone else have secrets that I would like to remain that way. So I stared at my plate of tender steam rice and peas.  Finding that I could keep myself quite amused that way, but I did not want the lengthy trip I took to be all for naught so I best try and concentrate. So I cautiously looked up at the queen through my long red lashes. She too was studying her plate but not as I was not as an escape from the present. She yet again seemed to be looking for something new what secrets she hoped to uncover from inanimate food I don't know. Thougb it seemed as if she had given up and instead took up her glass of wine. Letting the liquid disappear into her Ruby red lips and into her mouth.
"Your Majesty, " I started.  Her eyes went up and met mine immediately. A smile alight on her face,  kg seemed almost out of place. Almost.
"Now Red i do recall inviting you so that we may forsake formalities did I not?"
"Yes your majesty," I paused. She simply smiled at me.
"Good I want us to be comfortable with each other. So simply call me Regina. "
"Okay then,..Regina you wanted to discuss my offer?" I prompted a bit. She looked as if I had surprised her, as if that wasn't at all the reason we were having dinner together. She quickly composed her reaction and nodded.
"Right well,  let's see what can you offer me?" She said it aloud but it seemed that she was inquiring to herself. She put a dainty finger to her chin, and looked at me. As if trying to gauge my countries worth by looking at me. Her finger drooped from her face and her back straightened.
"Your Maj- er Regina, have you thought of something."She looked up to me said nothing.  This made me slightly nervous.
"When you entered my castle did you notice the east wing?" she asked instead of answering. I shook my head no.  Very confused in how the two questions relate. She nodded. "Well good then, it really is quite terrible. " my confusion must've still been showing my confusion and after sharing it she looked at me and questioned, "Have you never hear the tale of my castle before? I thought everyone had heard it by now. it happened so long ago..." she trailed off and she seemed to drift somewhere else. her eyes on me but they were unfocused and she seemed to be a million miles away.

"Regina?" i asked. she jumped as if she had completely forgotten i was here at all. she focused on me again and smiled. i suppose it was supposed to be reassuring, but it gave chills. that smile seemed to be hiding something. something bad and sinister that laid just beneath the surface. i pull my eyes up to hers hoping they would reveal something to find them just as guarded.

"Would you like to hear it?" her voice startles me, but i find myself nodding. "Very well, it happened sixteen years ago, just before I was crowned queen, "
Sixteen years ago
Long ago when the king was still fairly young he was enamoured with a women.  She wasn't royal nor nobility and in all and all she was just like everyone else nothing special about her.  All anyone could remember about her is that she had dark chocolate skin and that she was very beautiful . Of course the king couldn't marry her. He was arranged to marry another more suited to the title of queen. The woman pleaded with her love to chose her, but her cries fell on deaf ears. The king did as was arranged and married the noble girl. After that it became apparent to her that the king did not truly love her and never intended to wed her at all.  This caused the dark skinned beauty to lash out in anger. If she could not have him then no one could. She wasn't right in the head. She burned down the castle and everyone in it to get her revenge.
Back to now
"She died of course. They say that part of her lives on to haunt the castle and if you listen you can still hear her tears." Reginas' words took me off guard. She picked up our conversation right where it left off.  Her sudden topic change startled me, and took me off guard. She had looked at me with a look as if waiting for something. I cursed inwardly she must've asked me something.
"Pardon?" she sighed and mumbled something under her breath.
"You want me to ally with you then so be it, but how could I benefit from it.  Why should I sign this agreement? I don't need money and my affairs are in order the only plausible gain for me is , " she paused as if rethinking what she was about to say. "I want something only you can give me." I nodded encouragingly.
"Yes?" I say urging her on.
"I need you to restore my country's reputation." her request took me off guard, mostly because I had no idea how I was going to do that. I unknowingly said that aloud and she answered.
"there is only one way, " she paused again her ruby lips turning up into a smile.
"I want you to marry me. "