Anything For The Queen

Hector sucked in a sharp breath as the Queen thrust the arrow in, her right brow going up.

The sound of the breaking wood filled Hector's ears and she carelessly released the arrow that had now broken into two, her lips in a straight frown. The broken arrow fell to her feet, between them.

"What do you even think of me? A queen who would kill her subjects to have fun?"

Hector blinked rapidly. He had been too instinctive, and had said things and crossed the line. He wondered what gave him the boldness with the Queen and why she wasn't doing anything to him now.

"I..."

She took a step forward. "You what? You held me twice without my permission, made me lose my target, accused me of all sort of things and what? You? What about you? What gave you the right?"

He took another step backwards to put distance between them, but she quickly covered it, catching him by surprise. He quickly took another, a step too hurried to be calculated and he hit the back of his foot against a stone and lost balance.

The Queen's face grew distant as he fell down and away from her, before she suddenly caught his hand, breaking his fall.

"You are but a servant, Hector." She said, her thumb moving against his rough hand. 'But I would love to make you more,' she thought.

"Act as such." She added.

He nodded, before pulling him to her, till he could stand on his own. She then walked away to her horse.

He stood there for a while, watching as she walked to the horse, her back straight and her head held high.

His mouth has been faster than his thoughts, and he had said things he wasn't supposed to. He was too bold for a servant, a personality trait he couldn't deny, yet, she had let him off with just a warning. Again. This time for sure, he had to apologize till she forgave him. He wasn't sure just how much more he could go scot free after offending her.

The Queen abruptly ended the hunting trip ad decided to ride back home. The ride back was eerily silent, and sometimes Hector felt she has forgotten all about him by her side.

She wasn't obliged to talk to him, but it felt strange that she wasn't. She was angry, and she had every right to be.

When they got to the palace, without so much as a word to him, without so much as a glance infact, she walked away to her chambers.

He followed her up until the door of her room, and she stopped.

"Donald."

The doorman bowed.

"I do not wish to see anyone for the rest of the day." Her gaze was fixed on Hector, before she disappeared behind the massive doors, and the doormen closed it on his face.

He had never seen her this way. He had never seen her get so angry. She always had a small tinge of amusement in her eyes, or sometimes, so much as on her lips, but now, her eyes were cold, her lips set in a frown.

He weng back to the servant's quarters, the thing with the queen not sitting well with him.

"Hector. Where have you been? Is the queen overworking you?"

Lana had run to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He looked up to her curious, warm brown eyes and he smiled.

"No, it's not rhat." He released her hand from around him as he went to his bed. His bed was in the very last bunk, and it offered him a lot of solace and privacy, especially when he wanted to be with Lana. Today, however, he wanted to be alone.

"Is something wrong? Do you want to be alone?" Lana asked.

He smiled. "I find it strange how you understand every single thing, Lana. Thanks for being here.

"We've been together for longer than I can remember. Would I be worthy of your love if I don't understand you?"

He held her hand in his, a small sigh escaping his lip as he looked down to their intertwined fingers.

"What's there to be worthy of?"

"You, of course, Hector. Not just anyone can have you." She moved closer to him, guiding his head to rest on her shoulders. He rested his head, then pushed his head further into the crook of her neck. She smelled of spices and mild kitchen smoke, and fruits.

"You smell like fruits."

"Well, I had to wash some to be made into wine later. You know how much the Queen likes those. It's tiring however."

Fruits. The queen liked grapes too. He lifted his head to her.

"Are there more in the kitchen?"

"Well, yes. Why?"

"I want them."

"You can't...I can sneak some for you..."

"No, they are for the queen. Wait here."

He stood up and left hurriedly, leaving Lana, who had already envisioned how everything between them would go, a little perplexed at his behavior.

He ran to the kitchen and got a bunch of grapes, washed then thoroughly and arranged them on a plate.

He walked to the queen's chamber and walked in, then stopped at the door.

"I am the queen's handmaiden."

Donald looked at him. "I know. The queen does not want to see anyone."

"I am just going to give her grapes."

"She doesn't want to see anyone." Donald repeated.

"Would you risk her anger if she finds out you stopped me from bringing her grapes to her? Are you fine with what?"

Donald looked at him, then at the plate of grapes.

"Be fast about it." He said and opened the door a little soundlessly, offering only enough space for him to go in.

"What do you want?"

The Queen said as soon as she entered. She was partly lying on her bed, her head propped up by her pillow, her eyes cold.

"Your highness...I brought you grapes."

"Like how I would give a servant a piece of land as some compensation for his entire family's lives?"

"I..." He stopped, then walked closer to her and went down on his knees.

"I apologize for what I did earlier, your highness."

She looked at him, then at the grapes he had laid flat on his palm, outstretched to her.

"I apologize sincerely for crossing the lines as your servant. I would do anything you ask of me henceforth."

She collected the plate and kept it on the bedside table.

"Anything?" She asked, popping a grape into her mouth, the anusement back. She could already see how much fun she would have.

"Anything." He affirmed.