#queenandquinn

[ffskalice]

The Queen & Quinn - part twenty-three

Queen Santana sat down with Guhr Turar and together with her most trusted advisors, they worked out a strategy. Queen Santana has to admit she's very impressed by the Sautori army - they think so differently from them that Queen Santana knows this means they also think very differently from the king and the king-lord's army. Their weapons are amazing as well and for a second, Santana actually feels pity for the soldiers they're fighting. The Sautori are definitely not like any of the Fylingi they've met so far. The Sautori are as war-orientated as the Fylingi are peaceful folk - as Queen Santana understands, Sautori children are raised with the idea they will die on a battlefield - both girls and boys. Those children who are deemed too weak or unfit for battle are trained for other tasks necessary - gathering and making food, nursing soldiers back to health, etc. - both boys and girls.

Now, a few weeks after their arrival, they've already advanced more than they had in the recent year. King Temyr of the Sautori has definitely trained his soldiers well. Which brings Queen Santana some ideas about the new country she will rule once all of this is over.

One night, having moved forward after winning another battle once again, she sits down with Guhr Turar, who has taken it upon him to represent both his King Temyr and his fellow Guhrs when talking to Queen Santana.

"King Temyr understands I will rule Limahio?" Queen Santana asks, once again. She's asked this countless times before. "I want to make sure that when this war is over, we are prepared to bring peace back. I wish to avoid any claims for the crown. I understand King Temyr is a good king and his people have a lot of respect and admiration for him."

Guhr Turar nods once, not showing any signs of impatience or annoyance. "King Temyr is a good king, but as all of the Sautori's kings, he is a war king. We know nothing about ruling a country in peace. You are better suited for it."

"I'm afraid this war has taken a lot from my soldiers," Santana admits, shaking her head at the guilt she feels. "They are weary, even the staff. But your soldiers are energetic, fierce, eager. This fresh blood, combined with your knowledge and skill will definitely be a defining factor. You actually enjoy this, don't you?" Santana asks, not judging him at all.

Guhr Turar can see in her eyes that Queen Santana is genuine. "It's all we know. For all this time, we have been training for this moment, building our lives around this. The Sautori left the Fylingi because the way the Fylingi were living their lives, we knew we would never get our forests back. But because of your declaration of war, the moment is finally there. We want nothing more than to fight."

Queen Santana nods thoughtfully. "Won't it be so strange when it's over, though? For you? An entire people preparing for this for so long… have you ever thought about when it's over? When you have your forests back? What is your plan after that? What kind of lives will you lead when there is no imminent war to be prepared for?"

Guhr Turar seems bewildered by this question. "I… we… we always envisioned winning our forests back, but having to defend our rights. We imagined we'd have to fight the army of Carmeltonia and once we had reclaimed what was ours, we'd have to go on fighting to keep it. We never expected the Lopez dynasty to attempt to restore Kinleysia and Carmeltonia to Limahio and give us our forests back peacefully."

A small smile plays on the lips of Queen Santana. "As I said, both our staff and soldiers are weary. I think they've had enough of the army and of war for a long time to come. Of course, even when Limahio is united once again, we will not be the only country in this world. Limahio will be too vast a kingdom to leave undefended. Would you kindly talk to your King about considering to form Limahio's Army? I imagine King Temyr would lead the army and you could keep the structures you have and that work so well."

Guhr Turars eyes light up with glee. He swallows and nods. "I will make the suggestion."

Queen Santana can see that Guhr Turar is feeling many more emotions than he's letting on. She can almost sense the future he envisions, and it makes her happy. It had been plaguing her for a while - how would she defend the large Limahio? Those of her soldiers left would be tired, unlikely keen to join a new army. And of course she could command Carmeltonia's warriors to join the combined army, but how could she ever trust them fully when she would after all be the queen who defeated them? She has to be able to completely trust her army. She's had this same conversation with Quinn, when she was visiting the family. As much as she trusts her advisers, sometimes it's a good idea to discuss these things with someone who isn't part of the military world. She knew she could trust Quinn to find a solution with her that would make people feel good and happy. And she knows now that she will definitely be able to trust a Sautori army.

All of this thanks to her Quinn. Her heart almost spills over with love just thinking of her lover, and her smile, her eyes, the way she feels pressed against her, the way she plays with the kids - she could go on and on.

Queen Santana and King Temyr decide to give their soldiers some rest before advancing on the capital for the final battle, allowing them to regain their strength. Of course, there is a rotating system for the soldiers to stand guard. Queen Santana decided to take this time to spend with her family again and travelled back to the palace Quinn and the children are.

Quinn was beyond happy to see her Queen and the night of her arrival, they spent hours making love, over and over again, going on long after they felt sore and tired. Eduardo proudly showed Santana his many drawings of the battles, giving his mother heroic poses and attributing many victories to her prowess. Quinn tells Santana how often Henry will sit with Beth, Beth reading every book she can get her hands on while Eduardo draws. Beth impressed Santana with her extensive knowledge of just about everything. Henry has taken a shine to joining Mercedes in the kitchen and is apparently become quite the talented cook. Little Amalia, intent on not being referred to as little, is adored by all. She runs around faster than she can be followed and is overly curious. She wants to know everything about everyone and has a knack for remembering things to get things done. But she's so adorable nobody holds any kind of grudge. She's a very brave little girl, courageous even when she's fearful, and always manages to take care of herself. Queen Santana thinks she strongly resembles Quinn in this regard. Santana keeps cuddling Amalia, holding her, playing with her, cuddling again - she feels so guilty that she's missing out on so much with the war going on.

Later, Queen Santana discusses the conversation she had with Guhr Turar with Quinn, who raises a new question. "The Sautori are this way because they are raised this way. They know nothing else. Do you plan to have the soldiers raise their kids this way so they will go into the army? Will that not be difficult to maintain, when they can see how many different other ways of life there are? Or are you planning to keep them sheltered from the rest of the country, when you fought so hard for their freedom?"

Santana raises her eyebrows. "I… well, I don't think any of the Sautori will have to join the army. We could give them the choice, just as we could offer any citizen the choice to join the army when we've just formed the country. As time goes on, we can give everyone the choice whether they join the army or not. It will take a long time for the Sautori to change the way they think, if they ever do. They will be part of Limahio, but live in their own forests, as they choose. I don't want to force them into anything."

Quinn smiles. "I guess that's for the future. But I love how you really are trying to find a way to give everyone a fair choice. We can work out the details of how to run the country later, can't we?"

Santana nods. They share a loving kiss and soon lose themselves in it, Quinn finding herself in Santana's lap, grinding into Santana's growing erection.

They are interrupted by the door opening loudly, and Santana is about to blow up at whoever has the audacity to disturb this intimate moment, but then she sees Blaine's face and she knows something important happened. Her heart stops for a second - what if it's bad news?

"Someone… someone's here for you, Queen Santana. A big man, says his name is Guhr something. The guards won't let him pass the outer confines, but he's very adamant he be brought to you."

Santana jumps up, proud of her guards for stopping anyone they aren't absolutely certain of. She smiles at Quinn. "Come with me."

Quinn's eyes shine with pride as she joins her lover, feeling honored that Queen Santana is taking her with her to receive military news. When they've finally reached the outer confines, Guhr Turar looks as if he's about to explode with anxiety, but he stops dead in his tracks when he sees the queen and her lover.

"Your wife is very beautiful, Queen Santana," he says solemnly.

Santana chuckles and wraps an arm around Quinn's hips. "She's indeed superbly beautiful and insanely smart, but sadly, not my wife yet."

Guhr Turar grunts. "Very soon, she will be. The King of Carmeltonia surrendered. They wish the capital to be unharmed. They know they stand no chance when we have conquered all of their kingdom."

Queen Santana blinks. "Do you mean…"

Guhr Turar nods. "You are now Queen Santana of Limahio."

Santana grabs Quinn and spins her around, then kisses her passionately. "My queen-lady," she grins. "The war is over!"

[ffskalice]

The Queen & Quinn - part twenty-two

Santana arrives in the dead of night at the palace her family stays at. She decided to ride by herself, choosing not to be slowed down by anyone. She only has one guard joining her. Her heart is racing in her chest - she's beyond excited to see her family again.

At the gate, she is stopped by two guards. They're surprised when the queen reveals her identity by showing her face - they were expecting her to arrive late the next day. They ask her the required questions to make absolutely sure this is their queen standing before them and then one of the guards goes to warn the others that it's safe to let Santana through. Santana grins proudly at the way she's being stopped, even though she's the queen. It tells her that her family really is safe.

Once inside, she makes her way straight to Queen's quarters. The guards standing at the entrance to her corridor and at the door to her chambers have both been warned and greet their queen quietly. Once again, she answers the required questions.

Finally inside Quinn's chambers, she takes off her clothes and gets ready to slip into the bed behind her lover when she is struck by her beauty. The pale moonlight falls through the tall windows and Quinn looks so peaceful asleep. Santana bites her lower lip as she takes in the gorgeous sight of her soon-to-be wife, unable to believe her look. For a minute, she's overcome by emotion. She has missed her Quinn so much and she finds it hard to believe that she's finally here, before her.

She swallows and lifts the covers, slipping in behind Quinn, wrapping her arms around her lover. She buries her face in Quinn's hair, deeply inhaling her scent, then moving to kiss her neck. Quinn stirs in her arms and when Santana starts nipping at her skin, Quinn's eyes flutter and she opens them. Her first instinct is to pull away and start screaming, but then that familiar smell hits her nose and even though her brain tells her it's impossible, she just knows it's her very own queen.

"Santana?" she whispers, her heart hammering in her chest. "What are you doing here?"

Santana smiles and leans in for a deep kiss. "I came as fast as I could. I didn't want to wake up the kids, but I couldn't wait to hold you for a second longer."

Quinn turns around in Santana's arms and uses both hands to cup her lover's face. She crashes her mouth into Santana's, their lips desperate for one another, their tongues passionately getting reacquainted. Quinn grabs Santana's butt with one hand, the other grabbing her package, massaging it softly.

Santana moans into Quinn's mouth and kisses her way to her clavicle again. She moves until she lies on top of Quinn, her face buried in the nape of her neck. She licks and sucks, leaving a trail of red marks along Quinn's skin. She just can't get enough of her taste, her smell, how soft her skin is. Santana bucks her hips into Quinn's hand, her own hands tugging at the hem of the nightgown her lover is wearing, desperate to get it off. Quinn lifts her body to assist Santana and soon enough, they're both naked, skin flushed, panting heavily.

Quinn feels so light, trembling a little under Santana's intense gaze. Her lips part slightly in amazement at the love and passion she finds there, the need in those eyes overwhelming her. Santana pushes her back and kisses her neck again, moving slowly to her sternum as she guides a hand between their legs. Quinn wraps her fingers around Santana's hardening dick and smiles when she feels it pulsating in her warm hand.

Santana slips her finger between Quinn's slick folds, grinning when she feels how wet her girl is for her. She drags her finger from her entrance to her clit and then starts circling the rising nub, carefully applying pressure where she knows Quinn most needs it. Quinn's breathing is hitched and Santana continues kissing her chest, moving to her breasts now. She makes sure to give each nipple an equal amount of attention, wrapping her lips around them and sucking hard, teasing with the tip of her tongue and then licking.

Santana groans when she leans back to admire her handiwork. Quinn is panting heavily now, her chest rising and falling, nipples hard, erect and wet, her legs clenched around Santana's hand. Quinn's own hand is tugging at Santana dick with long, tight strokes, her thumb circling the head.

"I love you so much, Quinn," Santana whispers hoarsely.

Quinn leans up to capture Santana's lips in a searing kiss, gasping as she feels Santana's finger slipping inside her entrance. The kiss is raw and needy, Quinn biting Santana's lower lip so hard it starts bleeding a little, and not long after, they can taste each other's tears on their lips - tears of pure happiness and relief at finally being together.

"I missed you so much," Quinn whispers back against Santana's lips. "I love you with all my heart, Santana." She moans and falls back on the bed when Santana starts fucking her with her finger, her thumb rubbing her clit. "Please… inside," she begs, her voice high-pitched. "Fill me up!"

Santana isn't one to deny the love of her life anything. She pulls her hand back from Quinn's pussy and uses it to line her dick up with her entrance. She lets out a long, satisfied moan when finally, she sinks her hard cock inside Quinn's warm, tight pussy, pushing through her throbbing walls. She leans down to kiss Quinn's neck again, allowing herself to be overwhelmed by her scent and the feeling of her pussy squeezing her rock hard dick in all the right places.

Quinn grabs Santana's butt with both hands, pushing her in deeper. Their breasts touch, their nipples brushing against one another. Santana gyrates her hips into Quinn's, pushing and pulling, pushing and pulling, then pushing again until she's buried her shaft so deep inside of her girl that her exposed clit hits Santana's pelvis. Santana keeps her dick sheathed inside and just circles her hips to rub the entire surface of Quinn's clit.

Quinn is cursing silently and Santana kisses her way to her mouth, finally covering it with her lips. She slips her tongue inside as she slowly starts pumping again, making sure to rub Quinn's clit every time she pushes back inside.

Slowly, Santana lifts her body, adding more power to her thrusts. High-pitched noises are leaving her throat and she bites her lower lip as she feels Quinn jutting her hips upward to make Santana go deeper. The thrusts are longer and more powerful now, but Santana's knees buckle for a second when Quinn reaches up and wraps her lips around Santana's nipple - sucking, licking, biting, then healing with more sucking and licking. When she's done with one nipple, she moves to the other.

Santana focuses her attention on making Quinn feel good, but it's hard to coordinate her thrusts when her girl is doing that to her breasts. Finally, Quinn lets go - only to wrap her legs around Santana's waist and dig her heels into her lower back, urging her to go faster. Santana promptly follows the clear command and starts fucking her hard and fast. Santana yelps as she feels Quinn clamp down around her, those hot walls squeezing her pulsating member so hard it creates a delicious friction.

They're both moaning so loudly that it's a very good thing these palace walls block out all sound. Santana keeps pushing, her balls slapping against Quinn's tights, her hands on her butt. She keeps her hips still and is now pounding into her so hard and fast she feels like she barely controls it. Just when she feels her first load of cum shoot out of her dick, deep into Quinn's tight tunnel, Quinn's walls clench around her and trap her entirely. Santana empties her load as the tightness of her girlfriend's pussy renders her unable to move her dick. They ride out their orgasms, their bodies spasming against each other.

Santana loves filling Quinn up, which is just as well because Quinn absolutely loves being filled up by her queen. When Santana's dick finally starts to soften, she pulls out gently and lies down beside Quinn, wrapping her arms around her lover and leaning in for a soft kiss.

They want to speak of their love, but fall asleep before they can utter a word.

.xxx.

The next morning, a loud knock on their door wakes them up. Santana is just about to yell something nasty, but Quinn can read her face in time to shut her up with a kiss and whisper: "It's probably the kids.."

A giant grin breaks out on Santana's face and she nods. Quinn puts on the nightgown she wore when she went to bed last night and throws Santana another one, as well as her special undergarments that conceal her package. Both nightgowns belong to Santana - Quinn is wearing her lover's at night to feel her close.

"Come in!" Quinn says loudly, and a few seconds later, the door opens.

A bunch of kids run inside and Brittany is carrying little Amalia. Everyone seems stunned to see Santana in bed beside Quinn.

"Mami?" Eduardo whispers, rubbing his eyes. He turns to Henry and asks genuinely: "Am I dreaming?"

Brittany shakes her head. "You're not, little man."

Another second passes, and suddenly their bed is full of kids fighting to get the first hug. Santana laughs and hugs them all tightly to her chest. She fluffs their hair and talks to them all elaborately.

"Hi, Allison," Santana greets Santana's daughter lovingly.

Allison frowns and pouts, making Santana blink. Yep - definitely her mother's daughter. "I'm Beth," she says seriously.

Santana shoots Quinn a confused look and Quinn quickly explains: "Her full name is Allison Elisabeth. She decided she doesn't want us to call her Allison anymore because she has a new family now. She wants us to call her Beth."

Santana smiles. "Hi there, Beth Lopez," she winks. "I like it!"

The night guards have clearly informed the present staff that the queen has arrived that night, because when they do make it out of the bedroom, the table is set with an elaborate breakfast. Santana looks around and her heart is warmed at the scene. This is what she wants most - to be able to have breakfast with her entire family. She can't wait until she can call this beautiful woman sitting by her side her wife.

After breakfast, they go out for a walk. It's not as private as Santana would like with all the guards around them, but she'd rather have the guards watching them and be safe than lose any of these perfect people around her.

They settle in a lovely field, Henry and Beth playing with some of the toys they brought. Eduardo has taken his things to draw and Santana cradles Amalia in her arms, talking to her little girl excitedly. Every little noise or movement Amalia makes seems to amaze Santana. It makes her wish she could spend more time with her and to see her grow every day. It's unbelievable how much she's changed since the last time she's seen her.

After a while, Amalia falls asleep. Santana stands behind Quinn and wraps her arms around her waist, kissing her neck lightly. Her hands are resting on Quinn's belly and Quinn loves feeling those strong arms enveloping her.

Blaine, Brittany and Mercedes, who joined the royal family, are watching them from a small distance. Their pose, the way they look at each other - it says it all. Santana whispers something in Quinn's ear, then nibbles on her earlobe softly, and Quinn looks down to her feet, giggling and blushing. They're completely unaware they're being drawn by Eduardo, who is watching them intently.

Blaine sighs. "Well, if that isn't true love, I don't know what is."

[ffskalice]

The Queen & Quinn - part twenty-one

A/N: This is a short chapter, but an important one for the progress of the story.

Quinntana Week 2014 is coming soon (quinntanaweek2014 on tumblr) and I've decided to participate for the AU theme. It'll be a one shot with Santiago as a successful professional soccer player, married to Quinn who has a career of her own. It's a lot of smut, basically. Hope you guys will give that a chance!

Santana rubs her face, sighing in frustration. She glances at the drawing Eduardo made of Quinn and her heart clenches. She misses her family so much and if it weren't for her responsibility to her country and her people, she'd just leave it all behind to go be with them. There is nothing she wants more.

She looks around the tent. She supposes it's nice enough, especially compared to the tents of the soldiers, but it's a far stretch from the Royal Palace. They tried to decorate it, probably to try and make her forget where she is. But no amount of tables, maps and tools, chairs and drawings can make her forget she's in a tent, fighting a war she feels closer to losing every single day.

She looks up when Mike enters the tent, admittedly glad for his company. He's one of the few people she completely trusts. "How are things?" she asks, not caring about formally addressing him with his title or sugarcoating her words.

He seems to share the sentiment. "Morale is low. Soldiers are wondering what the point in these fights is. Our men are tired and growing desperate."

Santana sighs. "What did I get this country into, Mike? Did I make a big mistake?"

He raises his eyebrows. "Do you want my honest opinion?"

She gives him a look, stretching her legs and getting herself more comfortable.

He scrapes his throat. "I don't know. Maybe. I mean - I do think it depends on how you look at it. There's no denying that right now, we're losing and there's no real hope for winning this war. But you couldn't know that when you declared war. You had very good reasons to hope for a different outcome."

"Did I act too rash? Was I so blinded by the prospect of finally getting to join the countries and of finally marrying Quinn that I lost sight of just how weak we are?"

Mike purses his lips. "Well, I don't know. Sure, we could have done more extensive research on the Fylingi. But would they have appreciated that? Wouldn't they have felt offended? Also, the queen-lady - I mean, the former queen-lady Rachel… she wasn't going to sit tight for much longer. I think she was very close to doing something that would have blown everything up. She couldn't stand Quinn and I'm pretty sure something was cooking in her mind. She didn't want this marriage any more than you did by the end of it and she would have found a way. At least you had the time to prepare. Just imagine how bad it would have been without preparation and without the Fylingi."

Santana frowns. "I have to be honest, I hadn't taken that into account. I think we would have had to surrender, and I'm not sure Rachel would have let either me or my family live. If she had, it would only have been in a most humiliating way."

"I think you're strong and brave, Queen Santana," Mike suddenly blurts out. He blushes, suddenly aware of himself. Then he swallows and continues. "You're doing the right thing. After all these centuries, finally, you're fighting to make Limahio one country again. You're giving freedom to the Fylingi. You're restoring the way things were before."

Santana lets out a long sigh. "I just wish there was a way to stop this senseless loss of lives. We need something - anything - to either get the upper hand or to get out of this. But I just don't see it. I keep imagining I was just a citizen of Kinleysia, and that Quinn would be sent to war and I'd lose her and know her loss would be senseless because we can't win this. I would… I don't know what I would do. All these people who have lost their loved ones, it must be so incredibly terrible."

Mike gives her a small smile. "Quinn really got to you, if I may be so free, my queen. I'm sure that before you met Quinn, you never would have seen things that way."

Santana doesn't know what to respond to that, except to admit that it's true. Then Sam enters the tent and announces: "Holly brought a visitor, my queen. Permission for their entrance?"

Santana gives a curt nod, curious who Holly will have brought. Santana has to admit that Holly has been a real asset, very involved in everything.

Santana's a little startled when Holly enters the tent, followed by a very large, very scary-looking man. He has to bend a little to fit in and his torso is just… giant is the only way to describe it. He has markings all over his body and seems to be carrying weapons in places she never would think of.

"Queen Santana," Holly states proudly. "May I present you Guhr Turar."

Santana knits her eyebrows, racing through her brain in an attempt to recover any memory of having heard that name before. She comes up blank.

"Guhr Turar is one of King Temyrs five Guhrs. They're the highest ranking warriors of King Temys' guard. King Temyr of the Sautori. All Sautori are descendants of the Fylingi."

Santana's eyes grow as wide as saucers. They're the tribe Holly told that story about - the Fylingi who didn't agree with the Great Friend's style of ruling and who moved away to form their own kingdom.

Santana gets up and makes her way to Guhr Turar, not sure how to greet him. He just looks at her with his fierce, dark eyes. He doesn't greet her, and when he speaks, his voice is low and his words almost incomprehensible because of his accent. But she hears him very well. "The Sautori heard of the war. You're losing."

For the first time in a long time, Santana blushes. "Unfortunately, we are." She's thinking on her feet now. "Would King Temyr be interested in joining the war. It is being fought for a just cause."

Holly smiles. "I explained the specifics of our cause to Guhr Turar. The Sautori know their history very well, as well as ours."

To Santana's surprise, the giant Guhr Turar falls to his knees in front of her - still towering over her. He casts his eyes to the ground when he speaks again. "We have heard of you, Queen Santana. The ruler with the mind of a woman and the ability to both make and feed children. We admire you greatly."

Santana frowns. She supposes that's true. "Fight with us, Guhr Turar, and we can offer you the woods of Carmeltonia that were once yours."

Guhr Turar looks her straight in the eye and Santana has to admit it's quite frightening. "King Temyr is ready. I shall send word for his army to march on Kinleysia. Together, we will win this war. We have been preparing for it for centuries."

Santana has to restrain herself from hugging this giant man. She knows that first, she has to discuss the exact terms and the plan of action, inform the soldiers and set out a new strategy. But she resolves to write Quinn about this new development as soon as she possibly can.

"How long will King Temyr's journey last?" Santana asks Guhr Turar.

"Ten days, Queen Santana."

Santana smiles. She knows something better than writing Quinn - she's going to visit her family. Finally see them again, and finally hold Quinn in her arms again. Kiss her and make love to her. She knows if she leaves Mike in charge, things will be run the same way they would be if she stayed.

She immediately sits down to write Quinn about her plan to ride out for a visit the very next day.

[ffskalice]

The Queen & Quinn - part twenty

A/N: I know it has been ages since I updated this story and I'm truly sorry for that. I have less time to write since I finally found a fulltime job and have been more inspired to write "A Thin Line". But until I explicitly state so, I haven't given up on this story. That goes for all of my fics - unless I explicitly stated they're one shots, I will continue updating them. But it might take a while and it might take a long while. I love writing fanfiction, but it's not my priority in life. It's a hobby and I need to be inspired.

I wanted to say a big thank you to the anonymous reviewer on my one shot "Love Is All You Need". In their review, they alerted me of the fact that someone thought it was okay to plagiarize my work. If you follow the link anonymous posted, you can see that they took my story, changed the names and just a few words but that their work is a verbatim copy of mine, with no mention of or reference to my original story. I never would have known about it without this reviewer, so whoever you are - thank you so much for letting me know!

Finally, this chapter is a belated birthday gift to LaurenKnight13, who has been an inspiration and a big help to me.

Quinn's with Henry, Eduardo, Allison and Amalia. She's reading them all a story, little Amalia in her arms. Amalia is one and a half years old now, but every single day it still amazes Quinn that this is their little girl. Amalia is hers and Santana's and it really does show - she physically resembles them both, and at times, they discover little things about her that reminds them of the other. She has both Santana's confidence in knowing exactly what she wants and how to get it, and Quinn's gentleness when interacting with her siblings. They know it's very early to be assigning her personality traits, though.

Quinn takes the book and tries to focus on the story, but she can't stop the though creeping into her head - if only she were here. She wishes so intensely that Santana would be here with them to enjoy their beautiful children and just be happy together. She wishes this war would be over already. Quinn knows what winning the war will mean to so many people, but that doesn't mean she has to like her lover being so involved in it.

At that moment, Blaine enters the room, holding a piece of valuable parchment in his hand. Quinn immediately perks up and the kids react exactly the same way - they don't even mind that Quinn stopped reading the story, they know that a piece of parchment means a message from Santana. Henry and Allison have come to grow just as fond of Santana as Eduardo is, and Santana has admitted that she wouldn't want to ever be without them again. It's crazy that this queen with the ice cold reputation is such a softie for these kids.

"A message from the queen, miss," Blaine says, his announcement completely redundant. He looks just as excited about this as she feels. Blaine has become quite a close friend over the time she's spent away from the castle.

Quinn takes a deep breath and then smiles at him. "Thank you, Blaine. I'll finish reading the story first."

"I can take over for you," Blaine offers. "I'm - if I'm not being too forward, that is. You could read the letter and then come back and tell the kids what she says to them?"

Eduardo firmly nods. "A splendid idea, Blaine. Go on, Quinnie. Read the letter so you can tell us what news mother brings of the war!"

Quinn shakes her head, smiling. The way Eduardo talks sometimes… he's so adorable, but Quinn can tell he'll make a good king one day. "I'll be back later, guys," Quinn says as she hands the story she was reading over to Blaine.

He hands her Santana's letter and she takes it to her own room which, after all this time, still doesn't entirely feel like her room. She opens the letter and seeing Santana's graceful handwriting brings tears to her eyes. She misses her lover so incredibly much. When the war with Carmeltonia broke out full force, Santana felt like it wasn't safe for Quinn and their kids to stay at the Royal Palace. So Quinn, the kids and most of the personnel had moved to one of the less known residences of the royal family. Quinn understands that Santana can't be with them all the time, that she has to be at the palace and with her army. She knows that Santana has troops to lead, decisions to make, moral support to give. But that doesn't make it any easier, being so far away from her while she might be in danger.

Santana does try to visit them, but more often than not she's called back to the troops because of problems arising. Every single day, Quinn is scared. Scared that Santana won't survive this war. She can't bear to think about it, but at the same time, it's all she can think about. Every day, she thanks her lucky stars that she has the kids here with her and some friends like Brittany, Mercedes and Blaine.

The piece of parchment is trembling in her hands as she reads the letter, trying to keep her tears at bay.

My dearest, sweetest Quinn,

I miss you more than you can imagine. I miss the kids' laughter and their stories, I even miss their bickering and their crying. Please, always remember that I love you guys so much. You're my family and it's killing me that I'm out here, fighting this war, so far away from you.

The war… I contemplated reassuring you, telling you we're moving ahead and this will all be over soon. But I don't wish to insult your intelligence, and I certainly don't wish for you to find out from others that your wife-to-be doesn't respect you enough to tell you the truth. The truth is that we underestimated our enemy and overestimated the element of surprise the Fylingi and their warfare would bring. They cannot be blamed - they haven't fought a war in hundreds of years, after all. You can train every day, but the battlefield is never predictable.

The Carmeltonian army is strong, very strong - and so large in number. We expected to be outnumbered, but I honestly do not know where they keep finding soldiers. Every day, we lose soldiers of our own in this bloody war, and I wish there was a way to stop it. I wish there was a way to bring all those boys and girls back, all those fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and lovers.

It pains me to write it down, but right now - we are losing, Quinn. Rachel finally fled to Carmeltonia. I feel it is my fault that we know so little about Carmeltonia. All those years of marriage to her and I didn't find out anything about the current state of the kingdom and their army. I never expected to fight them in a war and I quite honestly didn't care enough. I feel that if I had been a better wife to her, I would have known more and not lost so many lives. I don't understand why she didn't go back home sooner, but I suspect Finn might have something to do with it. His family has been serving the royal family for generations and he seemed keen on staying on. But now she had to flee - people were truly turning against her, blaming her for the loss of their loved ones, and I'm sure she didn't feel safe staying. Finn joined her to Carmeltonia. I have to admit that stings a little. I knew about his attachment to Rachel, but I always assumed his sense of loyalty would be stronger. But this war has shown me I've been wrong about a lot of things.

We thought bringing the Fylingi in would be enough of a secret weapon. I so badly want to stop this war and just marry you and be happy with our family. But I have a duty to my country - all those lives lost… I can't bear them dying for nothing. I have to keep doing this, even though it tears me apart.

Luckily, not all hope is lost. Holly has been hinting at a piece of Fylingi history that they don't willingly share. She has proved to be the most loyal and honest ambassador, truly keeping the end goal in mind when making her decisions. She has been hinting at this history that Emma, the Great Friend, did not discuss with us. I'm not sure, but it sounds like a certain group left the Fylingi clan a few decades ago. They didn't agree with the way the Great Friends, rule their tribes. They thought the Fylingi had become too gentle and peaceful, too naive too. Apparently, some of the Fylingi have family in this clan that separated. There might be hope of reuniting with them, so they can help us win this war and stop this loss of lives. I'm not sure, though - this is just what I've put together. I will talk to Holly about it very soon.

I cannot wait for the war to be over. I'd marry you right this instant, now that Rachel is gone and the marriage effectively over - but I want to give you a beautiful wedding on a beautiful day without fear. I don't want to marry you in the middle of this war. I cannot wait for the war to be over so I can marry you the right way. All our children will be there, and I really do consider them all my children - Eduardo, Henry, Allison, and little Amalia. God… little Amalia. I can't believe that in her short life, there has been more war than peace. I want her to grow up in peace. Our perfect little girl… she is on my mind always, as are Henry, Eduardo and Allison, and you, of course.

You're on my mind every second of the day and it's what gets me through. I think of your beautiful smile, I think of your warm love, of your kind words and your soft hands, and it gets me through. You make me strong enough to do this. I know that without you, I would crumble. I love you with all my heart, Quinn. I would do anything for you. You are truly the love of my life, I mean that. I cannot wait to be with you again, to hold you and kiss you and make love to you again. To feel your soft breasts and hard nipples, our groins joined, making us one. I miss your company and I miss making you feel how much I love you.

I want to visit you soon. Discuss some of our tactics with Eduardo, because that boy is so smart and interested and invested in his future role as a king. I want to talk to Henry about the purpose of it all, the grand idea behind this horrible war. He's such a gentle little boy, a dreamer as well. I want to dance and play with little Allison. I want to hold my perfect little Amalia and hold her close to me and breathe in her smell, and just watch her be. I want to sing songs with all of you. I long for it so much that it makes my heart ache and brings tears to my eyes. Me - Queen Santana Lopez of Kinleysia… who would have predicted this?

I have to leave now, Quinn. Please know how much I long for you and our kids, and know that you are on my mind always. I will try to visit you as soon as I can. I need to be with all of you. I need you.

My eternal endless love,

Your very own Santana

Quinn can't stop the tears anymore and lets them flow freely. She misses Santana so much and reading that the war is proving harder to fight than they had expected just breaks her. Maybe this is my fault. Didn't this war start because she wanted to marry me? Maybe, if she's the reason this war started, she can also end it?

Her eyes fall on the bottom of the parchment, and she chuckles through her tears when she sees Santana's extra message scribbled down there, added after she finished the letter.

And honey, know this is not your fault. This war is one that needs to be fought, to bring peace and give people back what is theirs. You didn't start the war and you can't end it. Don't you dare feel guilty. So much love, Santana.

Quinn really does need a moment to compose herself before she can go back to the kids. She puts the letter away in the chestnut box where she keeps all the other letters Santana has written her and takes a deep breath. She looks up when someone knocks on her door and smiles softly when she sees it's Mercedes.

"Come here, girl," Mercedes says gently. Quinn walks over to her and Mercedes envelopes her in a hug as Quinn cries her heart out.

"I miss her so much," Quinn sobs.

"Shh, I know, I know," Mercedes soothes her. "Why don't you come down for a cup of tea and then go back to spending time with your wonderful children, telling them what their mother wrote about them?"

Quinn nods. "Yes, thank you. Thank you for everything, Mercedes."

Mercedes smiles sadly. "I want this war to be over as much as you do. Sam wrote to me, you know. He says he wants to marry me when the war is over. That it made him see just how much he needs me to be in his life."

Quinn smiles genuinely. "That is wonderful news!"

"And Brittany received a letter from Mike, saying something very similar. So at least we have something to look forward to, don't we? We're luckier than most."

Quinn nods, thinking of her own wife-to-be. "That we are."

[ffskalice]

The Queen & Quinn - part nineteen

Quinn opens the door to Santana's chamber and closes it softly behind her. She smiles as she sees her so relaxed - leaned back, an air of satisfaction surrounding her. Quinn rests her hands on her protruding belly - she will be giving birth very soon.

Santana notices the love of her life and makes her way over to her. She rests her hands on top Quinn's and gives her a beaming smile. "I'm so excited for the baby to arrive into this world," she says softly. She tucks a strand of blonde hair behind Quinn's ear and kisses her on the lips with all the love she has in her. Quinn kisses her back and soon, they completely lose themselves in each other.

"So am I," Quinn admits. "Are you making any progress with the Fylingi?"

Santana nods. "Having an ambassador at the court helps massively. Holly is trustworthy and very honest. She doesn't cower because I am the queen - the Fylingi seem to have a very close relationship to their leader and treat her as a friend, an equal."

"Hmm," Quinn muses. "Is it something you'd like to have in your own Limahio one day? To have people see you as their friend rather than fear you?"

Santana chuckles. "No way. It's too much fun this way, and besides, it would never work in such a large country. I can really see our plan working out, though."

Quinn bites her lip. "Are you sure we can't do it without a war? People will die, Santana. Sons, fathers, brothers - and daughters, mothers, sisters. Maybe if we tell the King and King-lord what we will do if they don't allow you to divorce Rachel in peace…"

Santana sighs. "We've had this conversation before, Quinn. We risk too much. For one, we'd lose the element of surprise, and that is too important to be at stake in any way. Secondly, they'd never agree and perhaps even start a war before we are ready so they can overpower us. And finally - this is about more than my marriage to Rachel, and the marriage I want with you. I love that it will be possible, I love that I will marry you and you will be the queen-lady. But this is also about bringing peace, about living without the constant threat of a bloody, senseless war. I don't want the safety of my country depending on a marriage to a woman so fickle, a woman I don't love. But for so long, it was the only way. Now, we can make a difference. The Fylingi will have their forests back, and the people of Limahio will live in peace. The country will be united, it will be as it once was. As it should have been forever. I don't want to take any risks. I know you dislike the violent aspect of this all, but sometimes violence is necessary for the greater good."

Quinn purses her lips. She wishes she hadn't brought it up again, but she has strong feelings about this. The tension is filling the room. They will always disagree on this. Santana has changed a lot, but there's still a proud warrior inside of her. She is still a Lopez, of that same dynasty famous for its absolute ruthlessness. "I don't like it when you talk like that," Quinn says. "After all, who decides what 'the greater good' is?"

"I know you don't, but I am still the queen of this country and I have to make decisions that are unpleasant. You could only ever understand if you'd had my upbringing and my experience as a queen. But you don't, so don't tell me what to decide. I was raised to be queen. Sometimes, things just need to be done. Can we please talk about something else?"

Quinn is about to answer, but frowns when she feels a warm trickle of fluid running down her leg. Santana looks confused at the lack of a reply - as shy as Quinn was at first, she doesn't usually step down from a discussion this easily anymore. Santana follows Quinn's line of sight as she looks down, but is still none the wiser.

"Quinn? Are you okay? Is something wrong with the baby?"

Quinn's voice sounds strained when she replies with a soft smile: "Last time I felt this, it meant I was about to hold my baby girl in my arms after having carried her for nine months."

Santana's eyes go comically wide. "You mean…?"

Quinn takes Santana's hand and nods. "I think you should go fetch the midwife."

A few hours later

Queen Santana feels completely and utterly helpless. It's not a feeling she's used to and it's definitely not a feeling she likes. Everything is going so slow, much slower than when Annabelle gave birth to Eduardo. She flinches when Quinn squeezes her hand - she's using so much strength that it feels like she might flatten it. Quinn's moans and screams of pain hurt Santana's heart.

"Are you sure this is normal?" she asks for the millionth time. "She's in a lot of pain here, isn't there anything you can do?"

The midwife sighs - the same woman who delivered Eduardo. "We have done everything we can. Every baby just comes into this world in a different way. Eduardo's birth went exceptionally well, this baby just needs more time. Don't worry, my queen. Everything will be fine. You can trust us."

"H-how are Henry and Edu-Eduardo?" Quinn pants.

Santana shakes her head. So much pain, and still her lover thinks to ask about the boys, who are clearly perfectly alright. "They're with Charlie and Brittany," Santana says in a tone she hopes is soothing.

"Don't just stand there!" Quinn snaps. "Do something! This is taking too long, I don't want the boys to worry."

"But I don't know how to help! They're with Charlie and Brittany, I'm sure they will explain what is happening and the boys will understand," Santana says, weakly defensive. She wants to touch Quinn's forehead and wipe away some of the sweat, but Quinn swats her hand away.

"This is why the father - or other mother - is usually kept outside of the birthing chamber," the midwife butts in, shaking her head. "There is nothing they can do to help. I told you this last time, my queen."

Santana huffs. "I am standing beside my love as she gives birth to our baby. I am not going to sit around in another room while Quinn does all the hard work. Even when I can't do anything, I would rather hold her hand and let her feel I'm with her than to be completely absent."

Quinn's next howl is harrowing and Santana curses under her breath as her hand is squeezed again - it must be bruised all over by now. "I think the baby's coming!" Quinn says breathlessly.

"I think I can see the baby's head," the midwife's assistant says excitedly. She's a young girl learning the trade and it was only begrudgingly that Santana allowed her to assist. She doesn't like the idea of someone in training having anything to do with the birth of her baby. She had protested that failure, which is part of a learning process, was not an option here and only skilled people were good enough. But the midwife had convinced her that this young girl needed experience in delivering a royal baby, if she was to work at the royal court one day. This brought Santana to reason - not knowing that the midwife had taken advantage of her knowledge of the queen since birth. After all, a royal baby is still like any other baby to deliver. "Yes, the baby is indeed on its way!" the midwife says, sharing her assistant's enthusiasm.

For Santana's liking, it takes entirely too long after that until she can finally hear their baby's cry. She immediately reaches out to hold her, but the midwife insists on washing her first. "Congratulations! It's a beautiful baby girl," she tells Quinn and Santana with a beaming smile.

Santana is beside herself with happiness and immediately leans in to kiss Quinn passionately, not caring about the presence of others. "I'm so proud of you, baby," she mumbles against her lips.

The midwife comes over, holding their baby gingerly. Quinn reaches her arms out and the midwife hands over their little girl carefully. "Do you have a name?"

Quinn is too amazed to speak. She's completely enthralled by this little creature lying in her arms - her and Santana's baby. Their baby. Their little baby girl.

Santana's voice is hoarse and strained with emotion when she speaks. "Welcome to this world, Amalia Lopez."

[ffskalice]

The Queen & Quinn - part eighteen

Quinn still feels exhilarated when they go on their way to the Fylingi. It still feels strange to be back in these familiar surroundings, to remember every spot. It doesn't feel like part of her anymore, but she knows that she can never ignore the past. The confrontation with her father had made that very clear.

It's a long journey through Sarthinger Forest, following the official roads and inventing new ones where the official roads stopped in the middle of nowhere. The Fylingi leader lived very deep in the Forest according to Burt Hummel's men - it had taken a lot of time to find her. The people Quinn had seen when she was younger probably lived on the outskirts of what they considered their land.

„Quinn?"

Santana's voice wakes Quinn from her thoughts. She raises a brow in question and smiles when the queen leans in for a soft kiss. After all these months, her soft lips still feel so good, exploring her own so lovingly, their tongues tasting each other.

„Are you okay?" Santana asks quietly, genuine worry etched on her beautiful face.

Quinn nods. „I was just thinking about the Fylingi. I'm excited but also a little bit scared. After all, I only saw a few of the. I have no idea what they'll be like, and I don't want to disappoint you."

„Whatever happens, none of it is your fault. I need you to remember that. You cannot possibly disappoint me."

Quinn sighs, but then smiles again. „Thank you so much, Santana. This has been my dream for so long - to really meet them, talk with them. I could never have imagined this would ever happen."

„Anything for you, Quinn."

Quinn's heart starts beating faster when the carriage stops and she hears a melodious voice speak a language she hasn't heard in ages. Fylingi.

„Royal Convoy of Kinleysia?"

Before anyone can stop her, Quinn gets out of the carriage. She doesn't hear Santana's protest and makes her way to the man standing before the guards of the Queen. She curtseys, more out of habit than anything else, and can barely contain her excitement when she introduces herself in her best Fylingi. „Hello, my name is Quinn. I am with Queen Santana."

The man bows his head. „My name is Carlos. Friends call me Carl. I will take you to our Great Friend."

Quinn remembers that they call their leader their Great Friend. Burt Hummel's men gave them this information. „Thank you, Carlos. Am I needed for translations?"

Carlos smiles and shakes his head. „Please, call me Carl. And no, our Great Friend and her advisors speak your language fluently."

This surprises Quinn, and it must be visible on her face. „Then I shall join my queen again. Thank you, Carl."

He nods shortly. „I will see you later, I am sure."

Carl and a few other men guide the queen and her guards further through the Forest. They encounter a few camps, where people seem to lead a peaceful life. Quinn can see men stirring through big bowls of what looks like food, while women are feeding children. It reminds Quinn that she is actually hungry.

They ride past camps where men and women are making weapons, singing, gathering wood and making fires, doing the daily tasks it seems. Quinn feels fear build in her heart when some of the Fylingi hiss when seeing them, shouting angrily, or merely giving them foul looks. Carl reacts most of the time, reminding them of ‚The Great Friend's wise words'. She understands that the Fylingi are still not fond of the Kinleysians, even after all this time. But who can blame them?

Fifteen minutes later, they come to a halt again. Quinn can hear loud voices, Fylingi arguing. She sticks her head out of the carriage. Carl is talking to a group of men and women who block the carriage's passage. They don't speak the way she is used to hearing - their words are fired rapidly, sound harsh, short. One of the men gives her a look so burning with hatred that she quickly goes out of sight. Clearly, these people do not forget.

A little while later, they are stopped again. This time, they're only at a standstill for a minute before they move again. Finally, their carriage is opened by Blaine. He rode a horse all the way and looks like he's aching badly, but he smiles nonetheless. „We have arrived, my queen," he says with an air of relief. „The Fylingi leader is expecting us."

Santana gives Quinn a beaming smile before exiting the carriage. When they meet outside, Santana takes Quinn's hand and brings it to her lips for a kiss. „I love you," she whispers softly. Together, they follow Carl, who gives Quinn a friendly wink. Quinn is surprised when she hears a hiss and notices Santana's frown.

„I don't like him," Santana mumbles. „Too friendly."

Quinn quickly kisses Santana's cheek. „It's nothing, Santana. Remember what's at stake here. Don't let unnecessary jealousy get in the way of history in the making."

Santana hesitates, but then nods and tries to look less like she wants to kill the man in front of them. Those trainings in diplomacy she underwent as a young girl - and that were so much needed - luckily seem to pay off. Finally, they reach a tent. It's filled with smells neither of them knows, but that are a true pleasure to be surrounded with.

The tent is relatively empty. Quinn sees rocks that seem to be arranged in certain patterns lying on the ground. Flowers are hanging in rudimentary baskets, forming a path that leads around a corner. Quinn is surprised by what she sees next. The walls of the tent are covered in weapons of various kinds, made of different materials. Some look straight-forward - axes and knives, bows and spears. But other weapons look so complicated that Quinn has no idea what they possibly do. She's sure she doesn't even want to imagine.

She notices the surprise on the guards' faces as well. But when she turns to look at Santana, her queen has admiration written in her eyes - pure and utter wonder and delight. It reminds her of the queen's reputation with the people of Kinleysia, of that famous side to the queen that Quinn so rarely sees. She has to admit that it scares her a little.

Everyone is so preoccupied by the decorations that all look like they might very well be taken off the wall instantly and used without hesitation, that nobody notices they've reached the most important part of the tent. A soft scraping of a throat catches their attention.

A redheaded woman with very pale skin and a peaceful smile is sitting in the middle of the room. She is surrounded by cushions and various plants Quinn has never seen before. She actually has to squint her eyes a little to see the woman. She has to admit her surprise that this is the leader of the Fylingi - a small, even petite, woman who looks like she's never held a weapon in her life.

Queen Santana seems to recognise another leader when she sees one. She curtseys politely, which elicits a hearty chuckle from the woman in front of them. The queen looks surprised.

„We don't have the habit of curtseying. We pay our respects by making eye contact and conveying our trust in one another," the woman explains, her voice high-pitched and melodious. Quinn notices that this woman speaks their language fluently. Apparently, Carl was right.

Queen Santana gathers her composure. „Of course. My sincerest apologies. I should have known."

The redhead in front of them bows her head, as if to accept the apology. „Force of habit, I am sure. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Emma Pillsbury, 178th in the Pillsburian Dynasty, Great Friend to the Fylingi."

Santana wants to nod, but then remembers what Burt Hummel's men had told her and what Emma Pillsbury had just reminded her of - make eye contact. She can't believe that she really forgot, but she is still impressed by the weapons. She looks right into Emma's green eyes until the other woman nods. „I am Santana Lopez, 77th of the Lopez Dynasty, Queen of Kinleysia. I come here in peace."

Emma nods. „And who is the beautiful woman you have brought with you? Is she your queen-lady?"

Quinn is about to answer, but Santana doesn't give her the chance. „No, Great Friend," she starts, remembering that the Fylingi don't use titles like ‚Majesty' or ‚Queen'. „This is Quinn Fabray of Benningwood. She is a commoner who came to live with me a little over a year ago. She is my lover, and I hope that one day, I can marry her and make her my queen-lady."

Emma tilts her head. „What stops you?"

To say Santana is surprised by the informal conversation is an understatement. But then the Fylingi aren't like any other people she's ever had to negotiate with. „I am married to Rachel Berry, daughter to the King and King-lord of Carmeltonia. She is my queen-lady."

Emma frowns. „Does she agree with your bringing your lover here on an official mission."

Santana is momentarily stunned. She chooses her words carefully. „I am the queen. She is the queen-lady and has no say in my political decisions."

„So your marriage is not equal?" Emma asks, her voice still calm and peaceful, but her eyes fierce. „You promised this girl your eternal love and then betray it?"

Quinn decides now would be a good time to interrupt. „Allow me to explain," she says quickly. Emma turns her eyes to her and she feels momentarily stunned, realising that she is actually talking to the leader of the Fylingi. She coughs, then gathers her courage again. „The King and King-lord made the Queen choose: marry their daughter or start a war. The Queen married their daughter, to avoid a war that would cost numerous lives. The Queen was married before to a woman she loved deeply, a woman who gave her the son she loves so much - but queen-lady Annabelle passed away. Queen Santana was grief-stricken and convinced she could never love again. She married queen-lady Rachel Berry to save her inhabitants a war, convinced a marriage out of love was not in her future anymore."

Emma nods slowly. „So the King and his husband married their daughter off, knowing very well it would be a loveless marriage? They forced a life on her in which she could never be happy?"

Queen Santana nods. „That's correct. But Quinn - I love her. I thought it was impossible to love again after my beloved passed away, but I do love Quinn. She bears my child, and I wish for nothing more than to marry her. I would not harm Rachel and gladly allow her to go back to her country, but her fathers have made it very clear that that would be a declaration of war. A war we could never win, given that our country is so much smaller."

Quinn is surprised that all of this is being spoken about on an official meeting between leaders. She thought they would talk about leadership and forming an alliance.

„I understand the difficulty of your situation. Love is sacred and should not be treated this way. What exactly is the reason of your visit?" Emma asks.

„We know what the dynasties before us have done to you," Queen Santana explains. „How they have driven you from your lands, banned you to this far corner, where you are forced to live in such a smaller space. We want to form a bond again, make peace. We know almost nothing about your people, Great Friend. We wish to know more."

Emma nods. „We have changed. We are still a peaceful people, but the treatment we have received have forced us to become masters of weaponry, hunters, even. There is too little food and space for us to make sure that everything we take from nature is given back. This hurts us deeply. I can forgive you for what those before you have done - but many of my people are still deeply hurt. You must understand."

Quinn looks at Santana, sees how she is thinking, millions of ideas firing through her mind. When she speaks her next sentence, Blaine looks so surprised she knows that this was not spoken about at length before they left. „I want peace, Great Friend. I admit that I have been a ruthless Queen in the past, but it has not been easy to live with the constant threat of war. The King of Carmeltonia is known to be fickle, and we know that our weapons and army is not advanced enough. It has also been our wish, mine and that of my forefathers, to reunite the country. Kinleysia and Carmeltonia to become one Limahio again. But I do not trust the King and King-lord to treat us well. If I could be certain to win the war this would cause, I could marry the woman I love and set the queen-lady free to love the man or woman that holds her heart. I must admit that we had no idea about your people's hunting skills, and your weapons. But seeing this, and thinking of peace and love, I have to make this offer: help us win this war, and we give you all your forests back. All the forests the Fylingi ever lived again. The freedom to live life as you wish to live it once again, after centuries of being forced to compromise on your beliefs."

Quinn must admit Santana is good. Seeing the weapons, and hearing how important love is, the Queen formulated a plan that would make everyone the happiest in a matter of minutes.

Emma tilts her head. „That sounds alluring. I must consult with my advisors. But yes, that sounds very alluring indeed."

Quinn swallows. She could marry Santana. Limahio would be one again. Queen Santana would rule over the entire country. The Fylingi would have their grounds back.

„I invite you to eat dinner in the tent we have set up for you," Emma continues. „You are free to stay as long as you wish. I will answer to your proposal soon. I imagine you must now write to your own advisors to inform them of this plan. I will speak to you soon, Queen Santana."

„Thank you for your attention and kind heart, Great Friend."

They have turned around already when Emma speaks up again. „Queen Santana, I can see that loving this young lady has softened you. Queen Santana, Quinn - congratulations with your little girl. She will become a very great woman."

Quinn gives Santana a look of confusion, but Santana also looks like she has no idea what's going on. How does Emma know it's a girl?

[ffskalice]

The Queen & Quinn - part seventeen

A/N: In the author's note of the latest Naughty Girl update, I asked which story to update next. The Queen & Quinn had most votes, so here's the update! The next one will follow soon.

When they arrive in the centre of Benningwood, the Queen is received royally. A large table has been set up in the market square, where she receives the best food Benningwood has to offer. Quinn feels strange being here with the Queen. Two years ago, she would have been one the girls hurrying to serve the Queen, or been in one of the kitchens preparing the food. And now she is treated just as royally, by the people who looked down on her for carrying a child not so long ago.

Queen Santana smiles, but Quinn can see that it is not heartfelt. Finally, after their dessert, Santana pulls Quinn closer and kisses her. She then whispers in her ear: „I see these people and I think of how badly so many of them treated you. It makes me wish to crush them one by one."

Quinn swallows. She thinks she'll never get used to this cruel side of the queen - admittedly the side of her that is most famous in her country. „Well, nobody was going to cheer for a young girl, not married, to have a child. This is how people think."

Santana just grunts. „Don't defend them," is all she says. „They did not defend you. In any case, I shall have some form of satisfaction today."

Quinn quirks an eyebrow and wants to ask what she means when Blaine comes over to them and whispers something in Santana's ear. When Quinn told the queen how good Blaine had been to her when she first arrived, he instantly received a promotion. Mike has taken him under his wing and taught him how to support and advise the Queen. He's still learning, though. Apparently, he needs a better way to bring bad news to the Queen.

„I don't care if you drag him here by his balls! If he isn't standing in front of me in five minutes I will personally ensure he receives the most cruel death I can think of!"

Everyone looks up, most people cowering in fear. The entire square is silent.

Santana is absolutely seething. „Who does he think he is?" she asks nobody in particular. „Filthy piece of scum! Nobody is too busy for the queen."

Quinn wonders who this man who is so stupid as to deny the queen his presence when she requires it, when she hears a familiar voice that sends chills down her spine. „Let me go! I will come with you, but keep your hands off me!" her father's voice sounds through the silent square.

Quinn wants to crawl under the table and hide. She hates this man, she hates him for everything he has done to her. But Santana takes Quinn's hand and squeezes it as softly as she can.

Russell finally notices his daughter seated next to the queen. He makes the obligatory bow and addresses the queen, his eyes still trained on his daughter. „I am Russell Fabray, faithful servant to my Queen."

„Liar," Santana almost spits out. „Tell me why I brought you here when you didn't have the courage to come here on your own accord."

Russell looks around, but everyone looks away from him. The queen is raging, and nobody wants to be associated with him. „I see you have my daughter. I was heartbroken," he says, seemingly addressing the crowd, „when one day, she had disappeared. I was so afraid something had happened to her. I looked for her everywhere, but she seemed to have vanished."

Quinn is worried about Santana - she seems to have almost gone purple with anger. „Spare me the lies, Russell Fabray. Tell these people what you did. Tell them what you did to your daughter after prostituting her!"

Murmurs go around the square, but everybody is now focused on Russell. He swallows. „Please, my Queen, my kind Queen, you must understand the predicament I was in at the time - I had no choice -„

„Explain!" Santana bellows.

Russell seems to shrink a few feet. „I... I gambled, and I lost. My debts were too great to pay, and instead I offered my daughter for one night. I forced her to go to his room, this man I owed my debt to. He impregnated her and never looked at her again."

Most people seem genuinely shocked. Quinn feels her cheeks burn with shame, especially when he continues. Tears are prickling behind her eyes. „When our farm burned down, I was ruined. The queen's birthday required a present, and I had nothing left. I knew how my daughter is the type the queen likes, and I sent Quinn to the queen, telling her to tell the queen she was a virgin, and to offer her virginity as a birthday present."

„You used her," the Queen says, eerily calm now. „Twice you used your own daughter as some sort of coin. You used what was to be sacred to her, you used her purity! The only reason you are not dead now is your daughter, Russell Fabray. She begged me not to take your life."

Russell sighs in relief and smiles broadly, filling Quinn with a passionate loathing. „Oh, thank you, Quinnie, I knew you'd understand your dear old father never meant to harm you, that I never -„

„I don't understand," Quinn speaks for the first time, her voice trembling in anger and shame. „I don't understand why you did any of it. I only know you cannot love me. The Queen - she loves me. She loves me so much that she wanted to erase you when she learned of what you did to me. She loves me with all her heart. She loves me so much that she listened when I told her not to kill you, but to make you suffer a long life instead."

„You are a coward, Russell Fabray," Queen Santana spits. „And I hate you. I hate you more than I have ever hated anyone. You are a liar and a pig. Everything you ever owned now belongs to me. You have nothing left. You will only receive enough to feed your wife."

„But - but my little boy!" Russell begs. „Please, I have a son!"

„Henry is coming with us," Quinn says. „I am taking him to the palace. You don't truly care, you don't have the ability to love."

„Enjoy your freedom, Russell Fabray. You will be a poor man. Everything is mine now. And every day, you will wonder if it will be your last in Benningwood. Because one day, perhaps soon, perhaps years from now, my men will come and take you. They will take you to the palace and throw you in an empty well, where you will be hungry. A doctor will watch you. Whenever you are about to die, you will receive just enough food to survive. You will suffer for the rest of your life."

The square is silent again. Everybody has heard how cruel the Queen is, but this hatred goes very deep. She must care a lot about Quinn Fabray. Even Russell doesn't know what to say.

„Undress him," the Queen continues. „Russell Fabray, you will now crawl around this square on hands and knees, naked. Then you will crawl to your daughter's feet and kiss them. My men are now going to your house to gather Henry. If he wishes to say goodbye to his father, he will get that chance. He will then go to Charlie Fabray until we return and go back to the palace. You will be locked up until such time as I return to gather Charlie and Henry and go back home."

Russell shrinks as she is being undressed. „My wife!" he tries, desperately. „What about my wife?"

Queen Santana looks at Quinn. „Don't treat her the same," Quinn whispers.

Queen Santana nods. „Your wife did nothing to stop you or shelter her daughter from you. She will live in poverty with you. When we come and gather you to throw you in the well, she will have a chance to start her life anew, here or elsewhere. Then she is on her own again."

Russell is now naked, and after Santana commands him again, he starts crawling. Some men kick him, knowing this will be approved by the queen. Others don't let him through, bully him. Pull his hair.

„Hypocrites," Santana sighs. „First they make fun of you, now they turn against him. Why are commoners so fickle?"

Quinn knows it's a rhetorical question, but answers anyway. „They have no choice, Santana. They do it to survive."

Santana doesn't look like she understands, but says nothing. Quinn doesn't think she ever will. She watches her father crawl, but it doesn't bring her pleasure as it seems to do for Santana. Quinn feels sad, that this man is her father. Pity for how pathetic he is. By the time he reaches her, the anger has resurfaced. The bitterness, the hatred. And when he leans in to kiss her feet, she kicks him in the face. Queen Santana looks a bit proud.

Russell is carried away and a few minutes later, the people in the square part. Quinn is just about to ask what this is about when she sees his face. Henry. She feels instantly filled with joy at seeing her baby brother again. She has missed him so much.

He looks confused, but as soon as he sees his sister, he screams: „Quinnie!"

He runs to her, she stands up and opens her arms. He jumps into her arms and she holds him, burying her nose in his hair. „Henry, my little Henry!"

„I thought you were gone!" Henry says, his voice almost bursting with excitement. Tears are streaming down her face. „Please don't leave me again, Quinnie!"

„I promise," she murmurs, taking in his familiar scent. „I promise, baby boy. God, you have grown so much. Do you want to come with me?"

He nods. „I missed you so much, Quinnie. You weren't there to hold me when daddy was angry, and mommy was so mean that she had to do everything herself without you. Where did you go, Quinnie?"

„I went to the palace," Quinn explains, catching Santana's eyes. Santana looks absolutely overjoyed to see her lover so happy. All the anger she displayed earlier is gone. „I went to the Queen," Quinn continues. „And the Queen loves me very much. We're gonna have a baby together."

A woman standing close to them overhears them, and she immediately starts spreading the word. Quinn Fabray of Benningwood is pregnant with the Queen's baby. Everyone stares at Quinn in admiration, and Queen Santana looks extremely proud.

They leave the square and bring Henry to Charlie. He doesn't want to say goodbye to his father, and is excited to go to Charlie. Quinn still can't believe she has her little brother back. Everything will be okay now. She has never felt so relieved and happy in her life - her brother with her, the Queen loving her, pregnant with a baby she already loves so much. Life doesn't get much better than this.

[ffskalice]

The Queen & Quinn - part sixteen

I'm also still writing A Thin Line. If you have any scenes you want for that, feel free to let me know! For those who read Primitive - I want to update, but I have no idea where to take it so I need some ideas for that.

I added a second chapter to 'Naughty girl'. I don't know how you guys feel about more updates for that. Let me know what you want :)

It's been great to receive so many messages and reviews for this story despite the absence. I want to say a huge thanks to all of you! Feel free to review or PM me. You can also follow me on Twitter ( skalicethomas) and on tumblr (ffskalice dot tumblr dot com) and message me there, or tweet me.

Quinn watches the houses of the town by the palace in wonder. Last time she was outside of the palace, she was a scared girl who felt robbed of what little she had ever had – her hopes, her dreams, and her family. Her little brother Henry, and the beautiful baby girl who was taken from her after birth. It feels like another lifetime since she last saw him, and she's sure he must have grown so much. She wonders how he remembers her. Does he still cherish his own memories of her, or has their father succeeded in corrupting his mind? Is he growing as the compassionate boy he was when she last saw him, or is he turning into their father?

It's been almost a year since she was gathering courage to present herself in that inn. Almost a year since her eyes met those of the queen and something magical seemed to happen. She is sure that if anyone had told her back then that the queen would make her pregnant and she'd feel happy – if anyone had told her that next time she went back to those woods she'd be saying goodbye to prince Eduardo and he'd be crying because she had to leave, she'd have declared them mad. She misses the outside more than she realised. All this time, she has told herself how lucky she is that the queen is so blatantly in love with her, and that she treats her right. She has banned every thought of her brother, of the woods, of being outside surrounded by the woods. She looks at the woman next to her. It's still so surreal: she's in love with the Santana Lopez, Queen of Kinleysia, seventy-seventh of the Lopez dynasty.

"What are you thinking about?" Queen Santana asks, taking hold of Quinn's hand and rubbing it reassuringly. The queen decided not to hide her presence after all. "You look worried, love. Have you changed your mind about going?"

Quinn smiles softly and kissses her hand. "No, not at all. I'm excited to go. I just realised that I haven't been out of the palace for almost a year now." She looks away again. "I'm also nervous. I understand the journey takes us through Benningwood?"

Santana nods. "We will meet Count Burt Hummel there. Unless you rather not pass through your hometown? I understand if you don't wish to see your father or be reminded of him."

"No, I want to pass through," Quinn says. "I don't want to see my father, but I'm not scared of him either. I feel safe with you. I do want to see my brother. I spoke of him very little because I tried to think of him so very little, but I miss him so much."

Santana bites her lip and frowns. "I shall arrange for your brother to be brought to the carriage. And Quinn – if you want me to, I can arrange a position at the palace for him so Mr Martinez can teach him, or in the town school at least. He can have anything you want him to have."

Quinn smiles happily. "Do you mean that, Tana?"

Santana nods, smiling at her lover's excitement. "Of course."

"I'll ask him," Quinn says, overjoyed. "It has to be his own choice. He would need someone familiar with him, though. I won't be able to spend every minute of the day with him and I want a familiar face there for him."

"Did you have anyone in mind?"

Quinn sighs. "Well, my cousin cares for him a great deal. Charlotte doesn't have any siblings of her own, her parents were very lucky to even conceive her. It wasn't easy. But she's my age and we were always good friends, before I pushed her away with my pregnancy. I was so scared she wouldn't believe me, so scared she'd mock me, that I decided to turn my back on her before she could hurt me. But I hope she can forgive me, and I know how much she cares for my brother Henry. And I know how much she longs for life in a greater town."

"Then she will come with Henry."

"Only if they want to. How I hope they do."

Quinn rests her chin on her hand as she watches the shaky landscape through the carriage window. They've been on the road for five days already. She still feels so happy that she will see Henry again, and Charlotte as well. She wonders how she will react to the news that she's pregnant, but happily this time.

The further they travel, the bumpier the roads become. The queen is not prone to sickness from being in the carriage for too long, but Quinn knows she's worried about the baby, and they make regular stops. Quinn doesn't mind – she loves the different smells in the air, and she loves to walk around and stretch her legs.

For Santana, it's the first time she has seen so much of her country all at once. She usually doesn't visit most of the people she has already met. When the queen rides out, she visits the large towns and the important earls and counts. But she has decided to visit the regular people to make sure there is still rapport with them. She wants the people of her country on her side – something that surprises Quinn. Quinn thought, like most of the people, that the queen was not worried about such things.

The next stop is for lunch, and the Queen orders the royal tent to be set up. She wants to provide shelter for the scorching hot sun. They watch the men and women put up the tent together. Santana takes hold of Quinn's hand. "If this mission is succesful, Quin, I will be so proud of you. Can you imagine Eduardo's great-grandchildren learning about the history of Kinleysia, and having my name mentioned as the queen who brought the country peace with the Fylingi?"

"Who would have thought Santana Lopez would get excited about peace with a foreign people rather than considering invading them and taking their land," Quinn teases.

The queen shrugs. "It's what you bring out in me, Quinn. Besides, as you so cleverly pointed out, our intelligence on the Fylingi is not nearly complete enough to even consider an attack. I don't like surprises, as you may have noticed. With the exception of my birthday," she winks. "Besides – I will need to find a way to thank the Fylingi for bringing me such great pleasure."

"What do you mean?" Quinn asks.

Santana wraps her arms around Quinn's waist and pulls her closer. She kisses her softly before whispering into her ear: "It was from them you heard about pleasing my member with your lovely mouth. I know you heard from it as a cleaning method, but I can assure you that the pleasure is unbelievably thorough."

Quinn blushes and looks away. "Oh, look, I believe the tent is ready."

"Are you not worried about leaving the queen-lady behind in the palace? What if she goes behind your back and acts against your wishes? And do you trust her when Eduardo is around? Aren't you scared she's going to hurt him?" Quinn asks as they're finishing their meal. They'd been talking about their experiences on the road and the people they have met.

"First of all, I'm queen Santana Lopez. I am never afraid," she says, straightening her back a little. "Secondly, have you ever known me to be uncareful when it comes to the queen-lady's scheming? I have left Mike in charge and I trust him 100%. I would trust that man with my life. I ordered him to accompany the queen-lady at all times. She will not communicate with anyone where Mike can't hear it. As for Eduardo, the queen-lady knows very well not to hurt my son in any way. It was part of the wedding agreement. All the same, I have put Sam up as his personal guard. I also told Sam to select a team of five other guards he trusts with his life to protect my son at all times."

Quinn nods. Santana is right – she never would leave the queen-lady or her son back in the palace and go out into the country herself without taking the sufficient measures to protect her queendom and her son. Santana puts down her cutlery and orders the servants to remove everything from the table and then remove themselves.

When they're left alone, Santana pushes her chair back. "Come and sit with me, Quinn," she invites her lover. Quinn stands up and goes over to Santana, bunching the skirt of her dress up so she can sit on Santana's lap.

Santana puts her hand on Quinn's stomach. "You have a small bump already," Santana smiles widely. "You really glow, Quinn. You look so beautiful."

Quinn looks around, but all the servants have gone outside. She leans forward until her lips almost touch Santana's. "Why don't you show me just how beautiful you think I am," she asks teasingly before kissing her lovingly. And kissing her again. And again. She puts her hand on Santana's neck as the kiss grows more passionate. Santana slips her tongue inside Quinn's mouth, Quinn's hand moves to Santana's chest.

Santana moans into the kiss when Santana cups her breast and involuntarily pushes up her hips. Quinn in turn grinds down on her, and soon they are bucking into each other, Santana's dick quickly hardening. Quinn can feel it through Santana's trousers.

"Let's get naked," Santana pants. Quinn stands up and undresses as fast as she can. Santana does the same. They can't wait to go back to kissing and feeling each other. Quinn sits back down on Santana's lap. Santana leans forward and takes a pink nipple into her mouth, sucking on it lightly. Quinn hisses and arches her back, her hand blindly grabbing for Santana's dick. She closes her hand around it and starts pumping, her thumb flicking over the head, scratching it ever so lightly. She knows it drives Santana wild.

She feels Santana's breath on her wet, erect nipple – then Santana's mouth moves to her other nipple, and her hand starts massaging her breast, her fingers tugging at her nipple lightly – on the edge of pleasure and pain. Her nipples are so much more sensitive now too, and she doesn't hesitate when she feels how wet she's becoming. She guides Santana's dick to her pussy and rubs it against her hard clit. Santana lets go of her breast, kisses her neck, holds her hips. Santana sucks on her neck, then moves her mouth to Quinn's ear and starts sucking lightly on her earlobe. It's one of Quinn's most sensitive spots and she swears under her breath as she guides Santana dick inside of her.

She moans loudly when she feels Santana's dick stretching her walls. Santana is big and Quinn loves the friction when her pussy and Santana's dick adjust to each other. She puts her hands on Santana's shoulders and grunts while she pushes her hips forward. Her pussy squeezes Santana's dick, sucking it deeper inside. Quinn moves one hand to Santana's balls and she starts fondling the first one she finds. Santana's breath catches in her throat and her hips jerk upwards, filling Quinn completely.

Quinn lets go of Santana completely and instead plants her hands on the back of Santana's chair. She cants her hips and rubs her clit against Santana's pelvis, Santana pushing up into her, moving her hips in circles.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Quinn mutters. "Fuck this is good."

Santana pulls back and then carefully enters Quinn again, but Quinn swiftly lets her know that she needs it harder. "The baby," Santana barely manages to utter. "Must be careful for the baby."

"The baby's been handling the bumpy road for five days now, I'm sure this won't kill her," Quinn says, almost rolling her eyes in frustration.

Santana stops what she's doing and looks Quinn in the eye, smiling widely. "Her? Do you think it's a girl? How do you know?"

Quinn bites her lip, almost drawing blood. "Just a hunch, I'm not sure, now please just continue and we can continue that conversation later."

Santana nods and slams herself into Quinn. "Yes!" is Quinn's only response, that familiar fire in the pit of her stomach building up.

Santana brings her hands to Quinn's stomach, then her back, pushing her chest into her face. Quinn hops on Santana's lap, feeling her orgasm and approach. When Santana lets one hand go and starts rubbing her clit, Quinn throws her head back. She's so very close when she feels Santana catch her breath and then shoot her load inside of Quinn, jerking heavily. Quinn follows close behind, thoroughly enjoying that tremendous feeling of being one with Santana.

Another three days on the road later, they finally arrive in Benningwood. They stop at the first inn they see, at the queen's command.

"Have the people in this inn been kind to you, Quinn?" Santana asks before they step out.

Quinn looks at the building and frowns. "I don't recognise it. It must be new."

Santana nods and they get out of the carriage. Santana sends Blaine to announce the presence of the queen. The queen and Quinn wait patiently for him to return. To Quinn's surprise, someone very familiar is walking behind Blaine.

The blonde girl looks up and their eyes meet. "Charlotte?" Quinn asks, not sure how her cousing now feels about her.

Charlotte has disbelief written all over her face. Quinn looks at Santana, who looks very determined and very ready to defend Quinn when necessary. It's only when Quinn looks at the queen that Charlotte seems to really notice her, and she promptly attempts to do a curtsey, failing miserably. Charlotte blushes, her cheeks beet red. "This is my cousin, Charlotte. I talked about her? She never had practice," Quinn explains.

Santana nods, but says nothing.

Charlotte looks at Quinn, wide-eyed. "You talked about me?"

"A discussion for later," Santana finally speaks. "Can you offer us food and drinks?"

"Naturally. Yes. Of course," Charlotte mumbles shyly. "Come in. My Queen."

Quinn and Charlotte are sitting at a table in the corner of the inn. Quinn has asked the queen to excuse her so she can talk to Charlotte.

"So… you're here with the queen," Charlotte says, admiration clear in her tone. "How did that happen?"

Quinn looks at her, surprised. "My father didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"About the queen's birthday?"

"No? All we in Benningwood know is that you were just gone one day. Most people assumed you'd run away. It was widely accepted that you got pregnant again, or met a boy and had fallen in love, and had run off in the middle of the night. The market had just passed through town, perhaps you had taken up with one of those boys. Other people thought you'd gone too deep into the woods and were attacked by an animal. People went looking for you, or for your body, but naturally they never found you. They then assumed you'd gone into the woods even further than any of them dared."

Quinn shakes her head. "Of course he wouldn't admit it, the bastard. You remember the fire, of course."

Charlotte nods. "Yes. People admired your father for being able to save his family from royal execution by sending the queen a suitable birthday present, even though his property had just burned down and his daughter had just disappeared."

"He sent me as the queen's birthday present. I was to… present myself to her. I was to tell her I was a virgin and my virginity would be her present. She accepted immediately. Apparently, I look a lot like the late queen-lady Annabelle."

Charlotte gasps. "So the queen doesn't know about your baby? You lied to her?"

"I had no choice, Charlotte. I had to. But then some things happened, and the queen found out anyway. She was so angry, as you can imagine. But in the end she understood."

Charlotte takes Quinn's hand. "How did you get pregnant? I never understood, Quinn. Why didn't you tell me you had fallen in love? Who's the father? Why didn't you talk to me about any of it? I have so many questions, Quinn. I never understood why you turned on me. I wanted so badly to be there for you, but I couldn't reach you, and when we did meet you ignored me."

"I'm so sorry," Quinn says softly, tears rolling down her cheeks. She tells Charlotte the same story she told the queen a few months ago – the truth. Charlotte listens to her, wide-eyed and completely shocked. Quinn then goes on to explain why she turned her back on her. "Please don't be cross with me, Charlie," Quinn pleads, using the nickname from their childhood. "I never meant to hurt you, but I was so scared to lose you. I knew I wouldn't have been able to handle your anger or contempt, it scared me so much that I preferred not knowing your thoughts."

Charlotte wraps her cousin into a warm hug. She notices the queen looking over to them, worry etched on her beautiful face. "So, you're here with the queen now. What happened after her birthday?"

"Well, she accepted the present and… consummated it. As I said, apparently I resemble the late queen-lady greatly and the queen really took to me. She asked me to stay at the palace after that first time, and she's the queen, you know? I had to say yes. So I stayed, and the queen gave me Annabelle's dresses and jewellery. She gave me her quarters. She asked her son's teachers to teach me to read, and to teach me about the history of the country. I met prince Eduardo, who is a total sweetheart, and I'm teaching him how to draw. He's really very good. The queen has fallen in love with me, and she doesn't see me as a second chance with Annabelle anymore. And Charlotte… I've fallen in love with the queen as well. We're expecting a child together," she smiles widely.

"Oh my god!" Charlotte shrieks, drawing the attention of the others. She whispers: "You're pregnant again?"

Quinn smiles happily. "But this time, I'm pregnant from someone I love with all my heart. Santana has treated me kindly, she has been so good to me. She's so incredibly clever. She acts very tough and she's not afraid to speak her mind or take hard decisions, but I know she has a good heart beneath the anger she can display, or the arrogance. She's also changed quite a bit."

"So you're happy now?" Charlotte sighs dreamily.

"I am," Quinn nods. "I missed you, and I missed Henry so much, and the woods. But I just forced myself not to think about it, because I knew it'd hurt too much."

"That's such an amazing story, Quinn. So how come you are back in Benningwood now? Are you visiting your father? Is the queen coming to hang him like he deserves?"

"She sure wanted to," Quinn admits. "But death is too kind for him. I want him to suffer instead. And actually, we are on our way to visit the Fylingi."

"No way! The Fylingi, in Sarthinger Forest? How… what? They might be dangerous! And how will you speak to them?"

"Yes, those Fylingi. I know their language a bit, and count Hummel has been in contact. They know of our visit. You mustn't tell anyone just yet, but we want to make peace with them and perhaps learn from them. We also want to expand our knowledge of their history, their culture, their political life, their society, everything."

"You have such a good life now, Quinn. And here I am, serving at a local inn."

"Is this place new? I'd never heard of it."

"Graham, from Wells' bakery – he started it. He's a pig, but he pays me well. He says my good looks attract the customers." Charlotte rolls her eyes. "Of course the customers are pigs too."

Quinn knows she should speak to Henry first, but she can't contain herself. She can't bear to see her cousin like this. "Why don't you come with us when we return to the palace? You could live in the town, or in the palace, you could do whatever you want!"

Charlotte laughs. "Don't make a girl dream, Quinn. I want to get out of here, I really do, but little Henry is here."

"I'm going to ask Henry to come with me anyway," Quinn admits. "It'd be good for him if you came along. A familiar face, you know? And I've made some really good friends at the palace. Brittany is Eduardo's nanny and she's lovely, I'm sure you'll adore her. Blaine is the one who announced the queen, he's really nice. Mercedes, the cook, is so talented, and she's a great singer! And Sam, he's one of the best guards, he's a really good guy. I'm sure you'll love Kurt, he knows all about nice clothes and such."

"I would love for you to join us back to the palace, Charlotte."

They both look up in surprise – they hadn't noticed the queen approaching their table.

"I…I…" Charlotte stutters, completely flusters. "How can I refuse both my cousin and the queen?"

"You quite simply cannot," Santana says, deadly serious.

"Please?" Quinn pouts.

"Oh, alright," Charlotte smiles. "I'll come. Now, have you been to see Henry?

Quinn swallows, almost crying at the idea of seeing him again. It makes her feel nervous, scared for his reaction. "No, but I can't wait."