Hey everyone, sorry this took so long to get out. For a long time it just didn't feel right, but I'm pretty sure this is where I want it.

Like the title says, this is the new chapter 1, and I hope you all enjoy it.

One last thing, you've all been telling me about my spelling and I'm stumped. My microsoft word processor spell check doesn't pick it up, and I can't find them when I review it or use this website's spell check. So if you could, I'd like you to list those words(completely unnecessary if you don't want to). And exclude 'melancholically' since I know its right despite this website's spell check.

Chapter 1:

“Catherine’s supper is ready,” called the head chef, his hand cupped around his mouth as a magnifier. The kitchen was bustling with cooks, who were preparing the other meals for the banquet. Roasted ducks marinated in the finest of wines, suckled pig trimmed with a variety of herbs, savory white pudding, and a plethora of other fine dishes were put together like masterpieces and placed carefully upon silver trays. The aroma was enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

Anna looked up from her soap soaked dishes. Her hair was tied back and she was elbow deep in sudsy water. “Be there in a minute,” she said, drying her hands on a stray towel.

She walked over and picked up the tray. It was filled with a bit of each food they were serving that night and a bottle of wine as well. That’s a rare opportunity for Catherine, for the doctor had told her not to drink much alcohol. Anna smiled. She’d like that.

“Don’t be long,” the head chef said as she turned away. “Our king said he wants you there.” There was a hint of jealousy in his voice.

“King Bartholomew said that?” Anna asked incredulously. He’d shown his gratitude for helping in his birth time and time again, but this was quite an honor.

“Yes, so don’t be late.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Anna said, taking the tray away. She walked out of the kitchen and into a wide, richly decorated corridor. She could hear the invited nobles talking amongst themselves in the other room, waiting for Bartholomew’s speech. It was hard for her to believe that she’d be joining them.

She went up the staircase leading to Catherine’s room. The door at the top was oaken with a golden knocker at its center. She knocked with it three times to announce her presence and then walked inside.

Catherine was sitting in her bed, buried in blankets, propped up by pillows for she hadn’t the strength to do so independently. Her skin was pale to the point of nearing albino and her white nightgown practically matched it in shade. She was so tired she didn’t even notice Anna walk over.

“I’ve brought your supper, my Queen.” Anna said happily, trying to lighten Catherine’s mood. “And look! Wine!”

Catherine looked up, her face scarred with remnants of sorrow. “You know as well as I do that my title as Queen ceased when Bartholomew succeeded his father. Just call me Catherine… Like everyone else.” She raised her hand as Anna took a step forward with the tray. “And I’m not hungry.”

“Very well. I won’t call you Queen, but you need to eat something,” Anna snapped as she set the food down on the side table. She took the wine bottle, uncorked it with a satisfying pop, and poured it into a crystalline glass. The red fluid swished around inside until it was passed to Catherine, where it settled.

She looked at it distastefully, but took a sip nonetheless. Some of the color returned to her face.

“Now isn’t that better?” Anna asked as she prepared some of the food. “Would you like anything else?”

Catherine’s eyes rolled lazily towards the tray. “I think I’ll eat the cheese…”

Anna picked it up right away and began cutting slices. Catherine ate slowly, knowing all too well that if she did so too quickly, she’d loose control of her stomach. After only three pieces she announced that she was full.

“If that’s all, I’ll leave the food here in case you get hungry again,” Anna said disappointedly. She‘d hoped Catherine would have eaten more. “If you need anything else just send for me.”

“Don’t worry. I think I’ll be…” Her face contorted as she suddenly dropped her glass and coughed into her hand. Blood seeped through her fingers and onto her lap. She pulled her hand away slowly and looked at it in self pity as Anna rushed over with a handkerchief, trying to wash away the blood and wine.

“I think I’m getting worse,” Catherine said melancholically.

“Please don’t say that,” Anna said as she put the freshly stained handkerchief away. Catherine had been ill ever since the death of her husband, King William. No one, not even the kingdom’s best doctors and apothecaries, could discover what ailed her, let alone cure it.

“You’re right,” Catherine sniffed. “I’ve lied to everyone else, so why not do so to myself.” She sobbed to herself quietly.

Anna knew immediately what she was talking about, and it tugged at her heart to think about it. The old lady who’d helped with the birth was long dead, so Catherine and Anna were the only ones who knew about Mathias. It was a heavy burden to bare, but she did so loyally for both Catherine’s and Mathias' sake.

“I think I need to tell Bartholomew,” Catherine said more to herself than to Anna. “He deserves to know about his brother.”

“I wouldn’t,” Anna said, “We‘ve kept it from him for so long. Don’t you think he‘ll do something foolhardy?”

Catherine bit her lip in consternation. Then she spoke hesitantly, “Yes, but it’s his own brother. For all we know he could save him!” A hopeful gleam sparkled in her eyes as she gazed off in the distance.

Anna still wasn’t in agreement. “I’ll leave it for you to decide, but I beg you to keep in mind the consequences. What if Bartholomew goes charging into Noxwood to find Mathias and gets him killed? You remember what that horrid dwarf said.”

This hit Catherine hard. It all played out in her head over and over until the thought of it made her sick.

“I-I’m not sure what I should do,” she said, pulling at her hair nervously. “What would you do?”

Anna had had a bad feeling that the Queen would eventually ask this. She’d hoped she could make the decision herself, for if Anna decided wrongly, she’d experience a fierce guilt. “I’m not sure.”

“Then I must think about this alone,” she sighed. “You’re dismissed. I just need some… time.”

Anna bowed gratefully and said, "Thank you." She turned around and left through the door, taking extra care to close it silently behind her. She leaned up against the door and put her hand to her head. "What a burden you have," she whispered, not even daring to imagine how it would feel. She would have remained like that for much longer, but she knew she had to get to Bartholomew.

As she walked, she unconsciously began to ponder the consequences of the choices Catherine could make. Bartholomew seemed to have a good heart, but even with the best of intentions he could get his brother killed. On the other hand, wouldn't the risk be worth it? Who knows how terrible living with Rumpelstiltskin could be.

She stopped by a window and gazed outwards. Through it she could see the town surrounding the castle with people bustling along with their lives. Beyond that, a wide, open plain that stretched for miles on end, the only real distinctive feature a rolling river in the distance. Beyond that were rocky hills that stretched high and formed a network of caves towards the bottom. Even farther, just barely within her sights, was the dark green outline of the monstrous trees of Noxwood. It’s said that the leaves are so thick that no light is let in, and supposedly, a small demon lives there that won’t let you leave. She’d seen a drawing of what this demon supposedly looked like, and, shockingly, it was very similar to Rumpelstiltskin.

“Is that where he keeps you?” Anna asked the invisible Mathias. The idea of living in such a terrible place with such a terrible creature made her shudder.

It was then she came to a conclusion. “If Bartholomew can do anything, then we have to tell him.” She turned around and started back up the stairs to tell Catherine. She couldn't let Mathias stay there any longer.