Thirty Years Later...

The door opened quietly.  Christine could hear the guard introducing the woman he had brought into the room.  Christine did not turn to look at her, not with the guard in the room.  He would be able to see the pain and emotion in her eyes.  He would know the second he looked at her.  She found the strength to dismiss him and waited to hear the door shut.

Nancy was standing behind her.  Her Nancy was in this room, after thirty years.  Christine's heartbeat was roaring in her ears.  She slowly began to turn, afraid she would faint if she moved too quickly.  Slowly, slowly, her gaze moved about the room.

Her eyes passed by the window.

The table next to her.

The picture of her husband on the wall.

A decorative vase holding roses.

And then her eyes rested on the only other person in the room...Oh God, she is still so beautiful!

Oh God, she is still so beautiful, Nan thought.

They said nothing, just stared at each other.  The emotion filled the room.  Christine felt she would faint at any moment.  She had to say something.  She couldn't take the silence any longer.

"How have you been?"  Christine's voice was shaky, but she was happy she had finally been able to speak.  Then immediately she regretted the words she chose.

"Still missing you."  Nan's voice was quiet but unwavering.

Oh God...Christine couldn't take it any longer. The tears fell from her eyes in a sudden storm. The suppressed emotions from years filled with loneliness, the pain of missing the other half of her soul, and self-hatred for what she had done.  But then, Nancy was there to catch her as she began to fall.  Her warm arms wrapped around Christine, holding her with love.

"Christine," Nancy's soothing voice whispered in her ear, "it's all right.  I'm here now."

Christine wrapped her arms around Nan.  They stood in the middle of the queen's private chambers holding onto each other, two lovers reunited after thirty years.

Nan never wanted to let go of Christine.  She could have held her in her arms forever.  Her beloved was still so beautiful.  Her face was only a little older. Age had not withered it.  Her hair was still a dream of ringlets and golden blond.  If there were any grey, Nan couldn't see it.  She suddenly felt self-conscious.  Her hair was almost over taken with grey.  Very little brown remained.  Did she look beautiful to Christine still, Nan wondered.  But just like when they were lovers, Christine seemed to read her thoughts.

"You are so beautiful," Christine whispered languidly in Nan's ear, "So beautiful, my love."

They pulled away slightly from their embrace to look at each other.  Nan caressed Christine's face, sliding her fingers over the soft skin.  Without thinking, she moved closer to Christine and kissed her.  Their lips lightly brushed.  They looked into each other's eyes as if searching for permission to continue.  Their lips met again with a sweet intensity.