This is my first story, so please review! I don't own anything, copyright blah blah blah, I'll put them all back when I'm done.
"Regina! Come for supper!" Cora shouted through the large estate.
Regina dried her tears and sat up from her bed. She had been thinking about Daniel again. Daniel was her true love and fiancé, who was killed by her mother two weeks ago. Regina came down into the kitchen, and sat down to join her mother and father for dinner.
"Regina, it's been quite a few days since you've gone riding," Regina's father, Henry, said with concern.
"I've given up riding Father," Regina said softly, as the maid placed her plate of food in front of her.
"Is it because of Daniel?" Henry said quietly.
Regina looked down at her food and said nothing.
"Oh Regina, would you quit moping around already? You will soon be wed to the king in less than a months time. There is no more time for this foolishness. It's time to grow up. You will be the queen soon," Cora said, all too happily.
Regina suddenly got up from the table without eating a bite, and stormed off to her room. Henry shot Cora a look.
"Cora... You need to be more understanding and sympathetic with her," he said.
"I was only trying to help. She's going to have to get over it eventually," Cora said, digging into her dinner.
Regina slammed her bedroom door behind her, and burst into tears. She missed her Daniel so much. She didn't want to marry the king, she didn't love him. She loved Daniel. She couldn't believe how her mother could be so cruel, to kill her true love and then force her to marry someone she had no feelings for. She was only 18, and she didn't understand why all of this had to happen suddenly. After she had stopped crying, her father came into her room.
"Regina, are you still hungry? Your food is still out on the table," he said.
"No father, I'm fine," Regina said.
"Ok then, tell me if you change your mind," he said, and left.
Regina didn't feel like eating. Lately, she had been throwing up nearly everything she ate. She had felt nauseous this morning, like she had every day for the past month or so. Regina feared that she was pregnant with Daniel's child. She could never let her mother find out, she would kill her. Regina sighed. A part of her hoped she was pregnant, but another part of her told her it would only bring trouble. She couldn't hide it from her mother if she were pregnant, so it would be inevitable that she would find out and give her the punishment of a lifetime. As much as she didn't want to face her mother's wrath, her child would be the only piece of Daniel left. Regina wanted to have children, just not this way. She had imagined it happening when her and Daniel were married, and had a house of their own. Regina sighed and laid down on her bed. Regina needed to find out for sure. She knew of a witch in a neighboring village, who could tell if a woman was pregnant or not. Regina closed her eyes, planning to go in the morning.
The next day, Regina woke up before her mother and father. She jumped out her bedroom window, and ran to the stables. She couldn't help thinking about how the last time she did this was the last time she saw Daniel. She tried to put that out of her mind as she mounted her horse and set out to ride out of the village. The journey took an hour or so. By the time she arrived, the sun had come up and everyone in the village was busy going throughout their day. Surely her parents would have noticed her absence by now. Regina sighed and kept going. When she reached what she thought was it, she tied her horse to a tree, walked up to the door of the cottage, and knocked. An old woman opened the door.
"Why hello dear, what brings such a pretty young lady to my house today?" She said in a straggly, shaky voice.
"Are you the witch?" Regina asked.
"Yes... Indeed I am," the old woman answered.
"Is it true you can tell if a woman is pregnant?"
"Yes. Why don't you come in dear?"
Regina came in and closed the door behind her. The old witch sat in a chair near the fire.
"Did you bring payment?" The old witch asked.
Regina tossed a leather pouch onto the table next to her. The witch took it and opened it, looking at all the gold coins inside it.
"Yes, this will suffice. Come here dear," the witch said.
Regina came closer to her, and the witch put her hands on her stomach.
"Yes, you are pregnant dear. About one and a half months along, actually," the witch said.
Regina let out a small gasp, and clutched her stomach.
"Do you want to know who the father is?" The witch asked.
"Uh... No, I know who it is," Regina said quietly, still shocked.
She had only ever been with Daniel, and it was only one time, so she was certain it was him.
"Do you wish to know if it is a boy or girl?" The witch asked.
"No, I'm fine... Thank you. I really must be going," Regina said.
She ran out of the cottage and mounted her horse, and began the ride home. Upon her arrival, her father ran up to her.
"Regina! Your mother and I have been worried sick! Where were you?" He asked.
"Father... I have to tell you something, but you mustn't tell mother," Regina said worriedly.
"Anything, Regina. What is it?" He asked.
Regina sighed, and tears came to her eyes.
"Daddy... I'm pregnant. With Daniel's child. I went to see the witch in the next village and she said it was true," Regina said with worry, a tear running down her face.
"Oh Regina... You know you can't keep this from your mother forever," Henry said.
"Keep what?" Said a cool voice from behind them, as Cora appeared out of nowhere.
Regina and Henry exchange looks of worry.
"Nothing, mother..." Regina said softly.
"No, Regina, obviously it's something. Tell me," Cora demanded.
Regina sighed, and wiped a tear off her face and braced herself for her mother's reaction.
"Mother... I'm pregnant," Regina said.
"Regina... How could you!" Cora yelled, slapping her daughter in the face.
Regina whimpered at the sudden sharp sting on her cheek.
"That filthy stable boy is the father, isn't he? You disgraceful whore! The king must not find out about this! I swear... Regina if you ruin this... This will be the end of you." Cora said, and disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.
Regina started to sob, her father hugged her tightly as she cried into his shoulder.