Chapter Text
Rita P.O.V
The decision was made, something inside me was yelling to not do what was about to happen, that it wasn't my happy ending. But I have learned a long time ago to ignore the little girl in me who still believed in happily ever after. My eyes were fixed on the empty glass wines. So simple, so obvious and yet I had never thought of it.
Carefully I spilled one, two, three drops in one of the glasses and with a handkerchief I disguised the poison through the glass of the chalice placing it back to the table full of food and glanced the looking glass once again. There she was. The blonde beauty, the only woman I ever loved. She stood there planning the attack to the palace happening the next morning. If only she knew exactly what I had planned for her. Thought there was one thing I still didn't understand, she knows I spy on her, she probably knows right about now that I'm here, and yet she didn't move away from the war plans. Maybe it's all a distraction, and these aren't the real plans and she is trying to fool me, nonetheless, by tomorrow morning it will all be over.
I moved away from the mirror and went to my vanity and started writing, with the delicate feather, a letter for the one true owner of my heart, my heart broke a little with every word but still it needed to be done. After folded and carefully placed on the table with the name "Gracie" with a delicate handwriting in the middle the only thing left in the room was that letter, with the ending for a tragic love story, hours away from its tragic unhappy ending.
As I left the chamber, I admired it remembering when the two young version of ourselves once dreamed about sharing this room while ruling the kingdom together. So young and happy, a sorrowful laugh escaped my lips, where did the years go. Whipping the tears from my eyes I went to the dining room to have dinner alone, like most nights. At least the food is good, most of my life I usually didn't have these luxuries. I grabbed my glass and made a toast alone. To you, father, wherever you are, you should be proud because I'm about to have everything I want. And I'm about to end this long war. Wherever you are, I hope my misery in this castle as made you proud of your only child. And downed the first glass of wine of that night, after that one many other followed and awaited the blonde to do her grand entrance and finish everything once and for all.
Grace P.O.V
She wasn't looking anymore, she is planning something because the entire day she has been spying, quick glances, but never for long. Tomorrow the new army chosen by the rebellion of the kingdom was to attack the castle. It was bittersweet, approximately thousands of men were about to destroy part of the castle I once called home with the purpose to kill the only person I had left in this world. But after last time, I'm pretty sure whatever we had left, it has been over for a long time, still, I wasn't ready to lose her without a goodbye. So of course, I had to sneak out of the camp and visit the castle. Maybe it was a huge mistake, but I had to try and make her realize she doesn't need to hate me, or at least, if she doesn't listen, I have to say goodbye.
I walked through the same entrance from last time, but this time ignoring any possible memory or any nostalgia, my only purpose was her. But to my surprise I found her halfway having dinner, well, more like drinking wine on the dinner table. Her voice was so playful it looked like she was greeting a friend. The alcohol on her blood was probably showing its effect leaving her more relaxed, her voice was sultry and hoarse, and it was always my weakness.
- Gracie, my dear, long time no see. How are those war plans going?
- You never call me Gracie unless you want something. Since we were children.
- You and that memory of yours. Flawless. Maybe I just want you to have a drink with me. To get you drunk and make you tell me your war plans, or maybe it's because I know that you can't resist me after the alcohol as its effect on you.
- Come on, Rita, you don't expect me to believe that after all these years of hatred, emotional torture, and betrayal. From both parties I'll admit, that you now want to put all that behind.
- Maybe I want to have a dinner with you before your army comes for my head tomorrow.
- And why would you want that?
- You still are the only person I love I have left. And getting ready for a battle alone is so depressing. But if you have somewhere to be, you know the way out, it's just that since you're here I thought you were looking for companion as well. - She was sat at one end of the table and with a wave of her hand another place was set for dinner at the other end of the table. - Do you remember when we dreamed that someday we would be married and live together on this castle, and share this table, chambers and kill everyone that would judge or try to come between us?
- Yes, I remember. - I sat on the table and started eating. - You used to say you wanted to spend the days in the library, since you couldn't do it during the day.
- I do spend an awful lot of time in the library.
- Really? I figured you didn't really have a lot of free time since you spend so much time spying on me and plotting my demise.
- Don't be so angry. Is this because of what happened the other day. What a tragedy.
- Yes, I got to admit what you did to those soldiers was dark, even for you. Not even your mother could save them. - Her expression changed, her eyes showed pain and jealousy. Despite for the fact that I got what she always did.
- You're still in touch with her. - It came as a whisper. - I should admit, of all the things that have ever happened to me, watching my mother, the woman who left me, steal you away from me, was by far the most painful thing I have ever had to endure.
- You and I wanted different things. You can't blame me for going after something I truly wanted. And I came back. Just like I promised you. You just didn't wait or listened to me. You just had to betray me and steal the kingdom for yourself. - I say, remembering the day we were separated. Her mother had told me that I could go with her and learn magic to follow the prophecy and to protect me from accidentally hurting someone I loved.
- Betray you? - she stood up and got closer to my seat. Her eyes were full of rage and unspoken feelings buried deep in her heart. - You abandoned me, after everything we had gone through, our home, our relationship, our love, our lives. You threw all that away and you expected me to wait for you while you were bonding with the person who abandoned me. She left me like I was nothing and you were the only person I ever felt close enough to share everything and yet you decided to leave me for her. For some prophecy an old man told her. I am sick of everyone around me to follow prophecies or treat me like a pawn for a bigger plan. Out all the people in the world I never considered you to be one of them. But guess what, you were, and you left. And it fucking hurt. Did you expect me to wait for you? I trusted you with all my heart and you broke it like everyone else I know. So, I wanted to break yours, that's why I came here to the castle, and claimed the kingdom to myself and made myself Queen. - The brunette stopped and walked to the window looking at the kingdom. I grabbed the goblet of wine and poured on the chalice in front of me. There was a lingering silence where I tried to think of what to say.
- I didn't have a choice, Rita. You know that.
- Then why didn't you come to me. That's how it always been. When the life doesn't give you a choice, I do. That's what happened when I saved you from your marriage.
- Don't stand there and blame this all on me. What about the fact that you lied, and you kept training with your father dark magic for your plan for getting the kingdom. You did all of that on my back. And even if I had a choice on not going with your mother you can't blame me. I was young, and I had just found out I had powers, that I was like you. I wanted you to teach me, but you were growing darker every day...
- I was never dark, or evil to you. - she said interrupting me.
- That doesn't matter. I wanted to learn with you, but your magic grew dark and I did not want that, and so I followed the woman who offered help, and I came back for you, after a year, but you had killed my parents and took over the kingdom. So, don't stand there all high and mighty, because you also broke me. And you know what hurts more? Is that after all that you're grip on my heart is still just as strong as it was before. - another moment of deadly silence settled again.
- Well, if it makes you feel any better, your grip over my heart is just as strong as well. You were the only person I ever loved. - Her voice changed, it was sorrowful. I wanted to keep the conversation going, show her that our love was still real, but she quickly changed the subject - So tomorrow your troupes will waltz in here and destroy the castle and burn me at the stake, if I'm correct.
- Not if I have a say in the matter. I mean, they will destroy the castle, they're men after all, they're brainless creatures who were raised as brutes, so destroying is basically the only thing they know how to do. But they won't burn you at the stake.
- You're going to let them destroy this place, it's full of memories. I can't walk around without listening to youthful, naive, clueless laughter. - my eyes shot open, full of surprise.
- You can hear them too? - she only replied with a nod of her head. - My room is empty. That place held the most of our memories.
- It was empty when I got here. I spent the rest of that day crying on the empty room on the cold floor. Your father destroyed all of it. Drawings, furniture, the dresses we left behind. Our box full of treasures.
- I didn't think he would be capable of destroying what he had left of me.
- It's the way he dealt with pain. It is what it is. Look at us, we started a war instead of talking like two normal human beings.
- Things don't have to be this way. - I approached her, she stood next to me close to the window. - We don't have to keep this war going. We can leave, run away, and work on us. Heal together. - I hugged the brunette, gently, trying not to overstep any boundary, so she wouldn't run from me again. - I love you. Always have, always will.
- And I you. But we don't work, at least not anymore. We've hurt each other to much.
I knew that I could never hurt her on purpose. I don't know why I even though I would be able to lead a war against this woman. She means too much to me and I would rather burn every civilian than to let them kill her. When I Intended to come here was to persuade her to run away. But now that I stand here finally hugging the figure of the brunette, with my head laid on her shoulder and her hand on my back looking at the kingdom I realized that my love for her was too big, and it finally changed my perspective. What we had wasn't lost. It's buried deep under many trauma and betrayal, but I was ready to work for her, even if it meant selling my soul to the devil. Because it was what my heart truly wanted.
- It's never too late. I'm not scared of the dark anymore, I grew up. I want to be with you, living with the town's people only made me realize that. I would rather live with you in the darkness than to live alone in the light. You once told me. There is as much beauty in the darkness as there is danger in the light, and you are the beauty I never learned to see. But I do now, and I realized you're worth everything. Please, give love one more try, and I promise you, I won't leave you this time. Or ever again.
She never answered, I should have known she was up to something but after I felt her lips on mine, after so many years if felt like a dream. Inside that room there was only us and I had dreamt about this pair of lips for longer than I like to admit. Her tongue slide inside my mouth and the kiss got deeper and deeper and when I realised, I was in her chamber and we were rekindling an old flame from the past.
It started heated and raw, but as the night went on it got slower and loving, discovering the changes of our bodies after so long, enjoying eachother while pretending in a few hours an army wasn't going to enter the palace ready to kill the love of my life. We went on until both of us were exhausted and laid each one in her side, on the bed that we once planned to share. I tried calling her, but she was fast asleep, with a smile on her face. I turned around ready to fall into a peaceful slumber when I saw a letter laid against some books that said "Gracie". I tried calling for the brunette, but she wasn't waking up, so I got up and grabbed a night gown laid on some chair and went to read. The handwriting was her's, those royal and majestic black letters would bring the worst news I was ever going to receive, and I wasn't ready one bit.
Dear Grace,
My love, if everything went well you're probably in my chamber right now, and I'm lying on our bed fast asleep. That is if you were as predictable as I expect you to be. The reason why I am writing this is because I have things I need to say to you that I am not brave enough to say to your face. The power you have over me is too much for that and I wouldn't be able to tell it to you while looking into those eyes, those bright, blue, alluring and hypnotising eyes. Our love story begins with two naive young girls, a princess and a witch, and it developed so much ever since. I have loved you every moment of my life, and even in the difficult times I would always go to you for comfort. Even when were apart. I would revisit memories, or I would spy on you through the looking glass, only because you are the only person to bring me peace and the only person I have long realized that I simply cannot live without. I can't imagine a life where I can't look at your eyes, or you're smile, or your blonde hair and snow-white skin.
But the thing is, I have grown to dark, we have hurted eachother too much, and I have had too much lessons from my dear father to simply let it all go. I wanted to run away with you, but I can't let you win, I want you to suffer like I did. So, if you're reading this now, I'm sorry to tell you, but before you arrived I used a poison on my chalice, so when we were drinking we could finally have one last talk and have one last night together before I took everything from you. Me. Because if your love for me is as strong as mine is for you, I am you're everything, and that's why you haven't killed me yet, you also can't picture a life without looking at my eyes, or my smile, or my hair and skin._ _I'm sorry it had to be this way, I'm sorry I am this way, I really did try to forget, but maybe my mother was right, it is too late for me, because I would never be at peace knowing I let you win. But I couldn't kill you, I still don't have it in me. So, this way I get know that I won by giving you the same pain you gave me when you left, but I won't be alive to experience a life where I am not by your side. I get to have everything and finally rest in a dreamless slumber. But I can't go without saying goodbye, that's why I wanted to have one last night by your side. I love you my dear. I really do, somewhere in my complicated dark heart, the love I feel for you is the thing that kept me sane and happy for most of my life. And I hope somewhere in the afterlife we'll meet again, but for now this is a goodbye. And know in your heart that, even after everything, if I could go back and do it all again, I would still climb up your balcony and go through it all again, because I would rather live a shorter life knowing I loved you than to have a longer one without having you by my side.
Goodbye, my love.
Sincerely yours,
Rita
I read the letter and with tears rolling down my cheeks, I slowly turned around to face the brunette realizing now why she wasn't waking up. She couldn't have done this. Not after everything. The dinner, our talk, it all seemed pointless now. She had already drunk the poison and all that time she knew this night was the ending. I ran to the bed and tried to wake her up, but it was pointless because she wasn't breathing anymore. I laid my head on her chest like I used to when we were little when I was scared of the dark, I would listen to her heartbeat while she caressed my hair. But now there wasn't a heartbeat, or caressing, there was only the corpse of the love of my life on the bed we'd promised we share. After the dinner, after the kiss, all my fears were gone, for once I was truly happy to be back in her arms only to lose everything for her.
The tears were now followed by sobs and a hysterical crying. She couldn't do this to me, she couldn't give up, but she did. And now I felt empty without hope that anything would ever be better. No more looks through mirrors, no more plans to have her come back to me, no more lingering looks, no more kisses, no more hugs, no more caressing, all I had were memories and now they burned my chest with pain. I lost the woman I loved, and there was nothing I could do, what good is magic if I can't save the one person I love.
And suddenly I was brought to the first memory I have of her, a clumsy ten-year-old who sneaked into my room. And I thought that I wouldn't have done it the same way, if I could go back, I would find the moment things went wrong and make sure they didn't happen again. I would keep that brunette safe from her father, I would have never followed her mother if I knew I'd end up here. But I can't change the past, and now I'm left to mourn the loss of the one woman I once swore to love and protect.
- Rita come back, please. - The sound of my own voice surprised me. It was hoarse and broken and it made me realise I never even went through a pain like this to hear it. - It's not fair, I didn't get to say goodbye. You can't give me hope of a future and take all from me like this. I love you. I can't lose you like this.
I kissed her lips one last time, they were cold and dead, and only made it more real. She wasn't coming back, this time it really was over. But as a last favour for her, I decided that I could not go on without giving her a funeral, and I would not let those brutes destroy the last place I ever shared with her. And if I have to kill every single one of them to protect this palace full of ghosts, I would. So, at the sight of sunrise I looked through the window and there they were. Marching with torches and pitchforks. I looked at the figure of the dead body lying on my bed and left to end a war that should never have started.