The Dark Queen of White 1.29

Snow White met the dwarfs

29.

Gaerth heard his name was called by the servants. He had hidden himself in the stables, and induced himself to his drink of the fermented oats. He had never been himself for many seasons. He had become a shell of his old self, with the drinks, and neglecting his tasks. If not for the Queen, he would had been dismissed or sent to the borders, but he had been kept at the castle. His task as the Huntsman was overtaken by more capable guards.

“Gaerth, the Queen had asked for you.” The servant had discovered him. He walked to the water trough and took a wash before he was to see the Queen. He passed the Princess chamber and saw her cleaning her own chamber. The Princess had not been given any servants but do her own chores by the Queen.

“It’s for her good.” The Queen told the servants.

Gaerth knocked on the Queen’s chamber before he walked in. He walked in and saw the young guard leaving the chamber. He knew the Queen had taken on lovers for herself since the King’ demise. She had not been discreet with it, but no one dare to voice it.

“Come in, Gaerth.” Queen Clarity got up from the bedding, holding the bedding covers over her body while she walked to the screen. Gaerth looked away but she commented back.

“There is nothing much change since you last …..seen it. Maybe some had sagged.”

Gaerth felt odd standing there. He smoothed over his leathers but she had appeared.

“Don’t be, Gaerth. I am sure that you still look good inside beneath those leathers.” Queen Clarity had stepped out in a green gown with the yellow roses sewn on the hem. She walked to the tree trunk with the mirrors. It caused the huntsman some blushing moments, and yet he thought they were true what she said. There were fleeting images of him and her, and yet he knew it could not had been. He may had been drunk most nights then, but it was unlikely that he was her lover.

“Gaerth, tell me am I still beautiful?” Gaeth was taken aback by the question asked by the Queen.

“Yes, my Queen. You are.” Gaerth replied in a haste. “There are no beautiful Queen than yourself.”

The Queen turned to smile at him. She remembered him well, and his charming personality, naïve yet forceful with love. She missed his touch, but the span of time since her wedding to the King, the demised of the King, and having heard that he was a drunk, made her sad. She could not find herself to approach him, but indulged herself with the younger studs among the guards. Yes, she was getting amorous with her frustration to be widowed at such an age, and reluctant to served another King. She looked at him and smiled.

“Fetch my servants, Gaerth. Have them prepare a bath for …me now.” The Queen commanded the huntsman. “You shall remain there, until I tell you otherwise.”

Gaerth looked down to the ground and nodded. He felt embarrassed when the servants came in with the buckets of water to fill the double man-sized tub, and then pour in the fragrance that would scent the water. They then left the chamber with him and the Queen alone.

“You may strip and get into the tub.” Queen Clarity commanded him.

“I ….” Gaerth tried to protest but the Queen had repeated her order. He did as he was asked, and stepped into the tub of warm water. He sat down and remained immobile. He then felt the pair of hands that touched his shoulders, and then kneaded the flesh there.

“My Queen…” Gaerth whispered out for fear of being reprimanded again.

“Hush, Gaerth.” Queen Clarity told him. She then whispered into his ear. “You used to like this.”

Immediately, Gaerth stood up and turned to face the Queen. He turned away in embarrassment, as the Queen was dressed only in her chemise, and it was wet showing the outline of her body.

“I can’t be doing…..this.” Gaerth spoke out but the Queen laughed.

“Whatever happened to your memory obviously did not affect him.” The Queen smiled on and reached for him. Gaerth stepped back but slipped on the slippery surface of the tub. He fell and knocked his left shoulder.

“Aargh!” Gaerth cried out. The Queen stepped over and held him up to set in the rub while she rubbed his sore shoulder. He felt her touch and fleeting memories rushed through him, with his body responding to her touch. He leaned back onto the side of the rub while she soothed his pain.

“Gaerth, I missed you.” The Queen whispered into his ear. He wanted to reply, but he could not. The words would not come in the voice, but he knew inside him, he had loved her. Before he was to understand her, she had climbed into the tub, and straddled him. He resisted but with the fluidity f the water, the resistance was weak. He felt himself immersed into her and then her lips on his. He pulled back but she was forceful. He finally let go and return her kiss.

At that moment, the spell that Merlin placed on him began shattering with more images of the past flooding his mind. Gaerth saw the scattered images of the days at the forest with her, and then the warm nights. He got scared inside him if those were the works of witchery but inside him, he knew he had re-discovered her.

“Gaerth, I am sorry.” Queen Clarity shattered his dream like state. “I …”

Gaerth looked into her eyes and knew that she was once his Clare. He moved forth and kissed her back while his hands hugged her. He stopped her lips from speaking with his tongue that met hers in the mouth. He then pulled her up and leaned her back on the other side of the tub, while he climbed onto her. He held her face with his hands, and kissed her deep again. She responded to his kiss and felt him looking for her. She moved her legs wide and accommodated him once more. It was like when they first made love at the stream in the forest, while the animals watched her offered herself the first time.

“Yes, Gaerth. Give me our child!” The Queen screamed out her wish.

Gaerth stopped and then looked at her. He remembered it all then; the love, the warmth and the child she had in her.

“What happened to our child?” Gaerth asked her. Queen Clarity stopped and looked at him.

“It died.” Queen Clarity told him. “It was not meant to be. We could try once more.”

“No! The child did not die. It was …..removed by you.” Gaerth pulled away and stepped out of the tub. “I knew everything now. Merlin saw me and made me forget you. Also our child.”

Gaerth glared at her.

“How could you? It was our child.” He looked at her for an explanation.

“It was ours, but never meant for mine. I had to be Queen. The child would had changed my journey….. to be one.” Queen Clarity told him.

“Queen? You removed our child so that you could be Queen.” Gaerth raised his hand to strike at her.

“Gaerth of the Huntsmen. I am your Queen. I am not one of the wenches or ladies of the farms that you could strike to show your manhood. I am your Queen, and respect that.” Queen Clarity stood up on the tub. “Bring me my robe now.”

Gaerth held his hand high and then lowered it to picked up the robe for the Queen. He then reached for his own clothes and dressed in silence. The Queen having put on the robe, then looked to the man she once loved.

“You may leave now, Huntsman. I shall call on you if there is a service to be done.” With that Gaerth left the chamber, and walked to the stable. He found his personal space and his jug of wine. He drowned himself in it, and slept a dreamless sleep. The Queen saw him walked dejectedly to the stables and she then went to her bedding. She slept on it and cried out her pain of lost love.