Chapter Three: Nightmare

''Y-Your Majesty!''

Horror was written all over the jester's face as he fell down on his knees and plead before the queen. ''Your Majesty, please spare the little princess' life.'' His forehead hit the marble floor of the throne room.

A girl, wounded and weak, was lying down at the throne's feet but he can't look at her because he is afraid to find out something his heart couldn't accept.

Is she alive? Or dead?

''Your Majesty? Call me 'My Queen.''

Queen Vernon demanded as she stand down from her throne, kicked aside the girl's body, and walked towards him. The gold tassels adorned with gems on her hips swayed as she walked, her body was clothed with pure elegance and beauty. Not only the way she dressed but also how she carried herself.

The jester could stare at her all day without getting tired of it. He was completely enamored by her. But there was something that made him so worried, his body shuddered at the thought of it.

''Your Majesty! S-She's your sister,'' the jester said. His heart broke for the little princess.

''Yes, but...she's my rival.'' Her voice was almost a whisper while looking at him as if he was the only one she had in the whole wide world.

The jester looked at his queen with wide eyes, glistening in tears.

The queen looked terrified when she saw the jester's teary eyes.

''Shhh...w-why are you crying? You're a jester!'', the queen said as she gently wiped his tears.

''Y-Your Majesty, I...I am a jester. It's my joy to make little children laugh,'' he choked as tears rolled down his face.

The queen clenched her jaw. ''You are my jester, aren't you?'', she said in a raspy voice. Her purple eyes reflected his very image as he gaze at his face, engraving every detail of his features in her memory.

''Y-Yes, my queen.'' Queen Vernon smiled when she heard the way he addressed her.

''Oh my beloved jester, no one should smile at you other than myself or else...'', then she looked over at the girl lying down on the ground. Her eyes were wide open but deprived of the very vibrant life that was once there. Her lips started to turn blue and bubbles came out from her mouth.

Poison!

With fear and a quivering heart, the jester finally looked at the girl's body.

''...or else they will end up worse than my sister.'' The queen said with complete nonchalance. He couldn't hear an ounce of guilt from her. She just made her little sister eat a slow-acting poison!

That poison could only be produced by Queen Vernon. It was like her, ruthless and merciless. The poison would make anyone wish death is better than to live. It would keep the person alive but it will make them feel the pain from their flesh to their bones for a lifetime.

He blamed himself. If he didn't approach the lovely little princess that day. If he just left her alone crying. The queen wouldn't get mad and harm her little sister.

Suddenly, the little princess' body trembled. She looked in his direction. She tried to speak but no voice came out. She then mouthed words. He understood and they haunted him forever since then.

''Help me.''

But for the jester, it gets louder and louder. ''Help me!'', he will never forget how her eyes reflected the indescribable pain she was feeling.

Help!

Help!

Help me!

Help, please!

It hurts...Help!

Once the dawn broke in the sky and the owls started to fell into a deep slumber, the jester opened his eyes.

Breathless, he abruptly sat up from his sleep.

''Nightmare,'' someone spoke, its more on a statement than a question. He looked around to find the owner of the voice. It was the ice queen, wearing a long white dress matched with a ground-length white cape, standing at the window of the room unfamiliar to him. The queen seemed like looking over at the rising sun on the horizon.

That's when he remembered he was still held hostage in Atarah.

Silence filled the room for a moment but he broke the ice. ''Yes, a haunting nightmare.''

The queen turned around and looked at him. The sunlight coming from the window hit her pale face. If not for her poker face and stoic expression, just a little smile and she would surely glow ethereally with her kind of beauty.

The jester wanted to take back calling her an 'old hag' for a moment but her face just gave him the feeling that she is mad.

''Painful memories,'' she said. The jester looked puzzled and when he remembered that the ice queen seldom complete her sentences, he facepalmed.

''Ah yes, Your --'' He stopped because he couldn't bring himself to call her just like he addressed his queen.

The queen felt his reluctance. But he is a court jester and a beloved to the dark queen. He has a right to choose whom he called his queen.

''I'm a queen.''

"I know.'' He sighed as his eyes move sideways, observing every corner of the unfamiliar wide and dull room. But every piece of furniture is of high quality embedded with diamonds.

He shuddered when he remember the name the ice queen wanted to give to him.

And then his back broke sweats, as he felt the same kind of feeling the one he was used to, back home.

''Her obsession is terrifying.'' She knowingly said.

''H-How did you--'', the jester was quite amazed but feel alarmed as well.

''An owl could see even in the darkest night.'' She implied but he could understand the meaning behind her words.

''So, it's true that the ice queen of Atarah could see through dreams,'' he laughed because he used to whenever he heard about the Queen of Atarah. The stories about her were like fairy tales told to entertain children.

''Yes. It's a curse. I can't see beautiful dreams. Only nightmares.''

''I see.''

''You're her weakness.'' Her eyes glowed as she looked at him with interest.

But the jester stayed silent. He frowned and his heart was dipped in sorrow.

The ice queen sensed he didn't want to talk about it further so she intentionally changed the flow of conversation. Unfortunately, she was not a social being. She often dreaded long talks.

''Natalia.'' The queen walked closer to him. He was still sitting on the cozy bed with a fur cover he assumed made of the wolf's skin.

''Who is Natalia?''

''Me.''

''Huh? So...'' he gawked at her.

Her stoic face is staying strong, ''Diamond, call me Natalia.'' Once she reached his side she leaned forward.

''Just what are you thinking?'' He exclaimed as her face was just an inches away from his.

He felt his cheeks start to get warm in embarrassment. Who wouldn't be?

She might have silver hair as the old lady's. Her face might be always dull. Her presence could be intimidating but she has a beauty that could take anyone's breath away.

Eyes with hues of blue and green just like the deepest part of the ocean, oval-shaped face, straight nose, colorless lips yet dewy like a wet rose petal, and silky skin, white as snow.

''I...I...couldn't call you that. You are a queen!''

''Then call me, Your Majesty.''

''Natalia.''

''I can't!''

His voice rose in a sharp tone. He trembled and prepared himself to meet death for he just screamed at the ice queen literally in her face.

But, in contrast to his expectations...

'' Fine. ''

The queen leaned closer.

''Hey!'' The jester was startled but he didn't make a move and stayed glued, sitting on the bed.

''Can you move now?''

''Eh?''

''You just slept on my book.''

''What?'' Maybe, he was just sleepy but he could hear how disappointed he sound. For what?

What did he just expect to happen between them? He is just a jester and the ice queen's hostage anyway.

''Uh, Okay.'' But when he was about to get down on the bed his foot struggled to find a firm stand. It's like there were tickling energy and thousand of needles piercing his legs. He gasped in surprise and unintentionally pulled the queen's wide sleeve causing her to fall over his body.

Their faces were close enough for the tip of their noses to brush against each other. If the queen didn't support her weight by instinctively putting her hands on his chest, their lips would meet.

But her weight sent him deeper on the cozy bed. His blue eyes widened in complete surprise and his ears turned red like a tomato in embarrassment. The queen was as surprised as him, a low gasp escaped from her lips.

At that moment, maids started to enter the room. ''Your Majesty, rise and--!''

But when they opened the door they saw a scene that could create different thoughts and stories - most of them are provocative and quite scandalous.

One of the maids, who was once praised for having the skill to read situations quickly, reacted first.

''Your Majesty, we apologize for disturbing your...ah...uhm, time?'' she coughed. ''We're leaving.''

''No. Don't leave,'' the ice queen said as she helped herself stand. She didn't forget to offer her hand to the jester to help him up.

The maids nodded in agreement but they sent meaningful glances at each other.

The queen felt their sneaky gazes and sent them her icy death glare. ''It's not what you think.''

The maids sighed in disappointment when they heard what the queen said.

''But Your Maj--'' The maid glanced at the jester and then looked back at the queen with hopeful eyes.

''No buts. Help him to dress up,'' The queen cut her off. Not only her words but their hope for a queen to open up her heart, if possible.

''No! I do not want to. I'm a jester,'' the jester frantically took them down. ''And I am your hostage, what are you doing to me? Where the hell I am? I am supposedly in the coldest dungeon in the whole world!''

''Sir, the queen is worried about you.'' The maid who walked closer at him instantly responded.

''Don't sugarcoat my actions.'' The queen's cold words made her flinch. ''I am using him.''

He emphasized her last words, sending him a message that he was held hostage and would use him to bring down her enemy.

Her words were like a stone, making his heart heavy.

''Diamond, from now on you'll sleep in my room.''

''Eh? Why? So, this dull room is yours.'' He was completely surprised. A hostage sleeping with his capturer and a queen? It's unheard of!

She looked at him as her maid started to undress her.

''Hey! Hey! I am still here. Don't...''

''Are you a man?'' The queen asked but he didn't know if he was just hallucinating or not. There was a little trace of amusement in her eyes.

''N-No! I...I am a mere jester.'' Internally, he was troubled and it affected the way he speak.

The queen was no fool. She could sense his inner conflict at this moment.

Slowly, the corners of her mouth formed a beautiful curve. The jester silently cursed in his mind.

'Goodness! A perfect smirk in a perfect face.'

The queen didn't really undress in front of him. And he felt like the queen was teasing him. He was annoyed, usually, he was the one who would go around, pranking others. How could a jester be pranked by someone! It was a complete humiliation in his profession.

The maids just removed some layers of her dress and changed them with dark blue ones.

''Same.'' The queen suddenly spoke, her eyes looking distant. She then gestured to her maids to leave.

''What was that mean for?'' he asked with sincere interest. He didn't know why but he started to become comfortable around her.

It's true she was cold as ice, just like what everyone said about her. But he could sense under those thick layers of ice is a golden heart.

Her sincerity is visible and that's what a jester like him could never have but something he was fond to see on people. Too bad, he is not the queen he is bound to serve.

His own queen was like her before but not anymore.

''I am neither woman nor man. I am just a queen.''