SOLVED. Queen in the title, white or grey horse with dark haired rider [s]

[Kerry]

I think it had the word "Queen" in the title. It for sure had a purple smoky misty looking background and a dark haired (might have been vaguely Asian looking) woman in dark clothing riding a white/hrey horse. It wasn't The Mists of Avalon though because the horse and rider were facing almost forward.
It was a fiction about a dual crown kingdom. Princess orphaned at a young age has to go into exile and and how she gets her throne back. She eventually gets her kingdom back and marries her childhood friend (hints at an arranged marriage but her parents died before they could really set it up) and I think his name might have been Benjan or something similar.
I think she was an orphan because her father was killed by an assassin and her mother died during childbirth (not hers, she died from blood loss after a stillborn boy, the main character's brother). I'm pretty sure her aunt (the mother's sister) had something to do with at least the father's death.
I know it was a fairly thick book and there were elements of magic in it as well.
I remember one part well. She's traveling with her cousin and they're ambushed. She uses a flock of geese/swans to distract the attackers.

[Margaret]

Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey? I don't remember the book very well, since I read it many years ago, but the cover definitely matches your description!

[Kerry]

No that's not it. The main character IS eventually the queen. Thanks though.

[Michelle]

This is a long shot, but I came across the cover (and title) and thought ... maybe.

It seems to be part of a series, so it's possible that some of the elements you described come later (?) - based on the reviews, the princess in this story is motherless, but her father still lives. Anyway, I figured I'd mention it, and I'll keep looking. :-)

The Queen's Key

[Michelle]

Here's the link to the Amazon page, which is what made me think of your post (the cover is quite similar to what you described):

http://www.amazon.ca/Queens-Key-Mary-...

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

The Hidden Queen...even if that isnt strictly speaking a horse.

[Tess]

When did you read this or do you have an idea of when it might have been published? was it YA or adult fantasy?

[Kerry]

I read it when I was in 7th or 8th grade, so around the late 90's. Not sure when it was published. I don't think it was YA even though I got it at school, I started reading The Earth's Children series around the same time so I've never reallly stuck to the age group things.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Kerry, are you still looking for this book?

[Kerry]

Yes I am.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking?

[Kerry]

I would love to find it. I try and remember as much as I can and search at the library all the time. I've stopped short at stopping by my old school though lol

[Lsophia]

The plot reminds me of A Princess of the Chameln by Cherry Wilder.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

The cover looks promising.

[Michele]

Another vote for A Princess of the ChamelnDual-crown kingdom, heroine in hiding, heroine and younger co-ruler take back the crowns from the bad guys, arranged marriage, magic, the works. I seem to recall of the two co-ruling lines the heroine's line was dark-haired and the younger co-ruler was of the fair-haired line if that rings any bells.

[Kerry]

That's it!!!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Fantastic.

[Lsophia]

Whoo-hooo! Glad I/we could help. :)