*Characters do not belong to me*
*Please excuse any flaws. I'm not a professional.*
Regina
I didn't know if everything that Henry and Emma had told me was the truth, but a small part of me wanted to believe. I wanted to believe that the world I lived in was indeed fiction. That I didn't wake up every day with this cloud over my head, wondering if today would be the day I was captured by Snow White. I wanted to believe in love and that there was this man out there that I was destined to be with. Apparently, I had found that man. Robin Hood. I only had to storm into his wedding and profess my love for him, share "true love's kiss", and save the entire realm. It was a lot to ask anybody to do, but when I saw the tears in Emma's eyes as she told me about the love she had lost, I knew I had to try. What did I have to lose anyway? If he didn't feel the same I would be embarrassed. Yet, the repercussions of not trying outweighed the pain I would feel from being rejected.
The task at hand seemed simple enough, but I should have known it wouldn't be. Nothing in my life came without struggle and this would be no different. Just as I had gained enough courage to enter the church, the Light One had arrived. He was supposed to be good; a hero, but his only purpose that day was to kill me. Everything had taken a turn for the worst by the time I had reached the church doors. Emma had been knocked out by Rumpelstiltskin's magic. Henry's sword had been knocked to the ground and he was now defenseless. So, a decision had to be made. Stop the wedding, or save the boy who claimed to be my son. I chose the latter and with one swipe of the Light One's sword I knew that it was over for me. My back hit the forest floor with a hard thud, and I placed my left hand over the wound of my stomach.
The boy was kneeling beside me crying. "Mom, why didn't you go into the church?", he asked. I saw the sorrow in his eyes and how much he loved me although I didn't know him. I can't explain it, but something within me just told me that Henry was important to me. I had made the right decision.
"I couldn't let you die.", I whispered through the pain I was feeling. More tears were shed.
I was fading in and out of consciousness as the aching from the wound was becoming unbearable. Faintly I could hear Emma calling my name, the sound of a bell ringing, people exciting the church. Then in a moment I was surrounded, but only one face mattered. His face, as he nealed beside me with worry in his eyes. Robin had placed his left hand just beside my head. His right hand was rested over my own. The same hand that I had placed over my bleeding wound, and I couldn't help but smile as we gazed at each other. He cared about me.
"You're going to be alright." he said, but I understood that it was more of a question rather than a statement.
"No...I'm not.", I cried as the admission suddenly hit me. I'm going to die.
"Then I can assure you that you won't die alone."
A peace had come over me even as there was chaos all around that I didn't quite understand. I just kept staring into his eyes as a silent understanding was passed between us. It's ok to let go. And I did. I slipped away peacefully and that should have been the end… only it wasn't. I don't know how much time had past. All I know is that I was opening my eyes again. I was met with Robin's eyes which were full with unshed tears and something else I couldn't quite place.