Disclaimer: I don't own The Goose Girl.

"Now go along, and get to herding those geese," Raphaela watched her daughter hurry out the door.

She gazed after her with a sigh. Regina deserved a better life than this. She was no mere commoner, yet day after day she was forced to do back-breaking work. It would not be as bad for Regina; she'd lived her whole life this way, but what it had done to Raphaela, well, she knew she would die young. It was probably only a matter of time. She'd never fully recovered from that drastic change of lifestyle.

It would not be so hard on Regina, having grown up this way, but still. Regina knew not what she was missing, but Raphaela did. She could remember the silky dresses, the grand balls, the delicious food. It had been so easy. Then it was all taken from her. Her life, her love, everything. But in the midst of her suffering, Regina was born.

Regina gave her hope. Even when she was sobbing because she'd seen him and that semi-apparent flash of almost recognition in his eyes, then he'd just walk away again. She hoped that one day, Regina would be able to have a better life, and know her father.

Regina ran through the rugged foothills, as fast as she could. The geese were all squawking and running about, scattering in their fluster from her running through them.

"Hurry up, Alex!" she called loudly to the boy far behind her. Alex and her herded the geese together. With their way of doing it, one would wonder how in the world they kept track of them all, but somehow they did, all the same.

She stopped at the cliff that overlooked the lake, marveling at the way the wind blew across the water, making the waves bob up and down. She loved wind. And water. She loved everything that was wild and free. When she saw things like that, there such a yearning in the very depths of her soul, but she knew not for what.

Seeing that Alex was beginning to catch up to her, Regina scurried down the more gradual side of the cliff, down to the sandy shore of the blue lake. Alex was a moment behind her.

"I won!" Regina said, as they stood catching their breath.

"You cheated!" the boy replied, indignantly.

"Did not!"

"Did too! You started way before me!"

"Well, you never said we had to start at the same time," Regina said, tossing her head around.

Alex shook his head at her. They began counting the geese, to make sure they had left none behind.

At twelve, Regina was still a child in many ways. She had the innocence of youth untouched by sorrow. Alex was a few years younger than her. They were much like brother and sister, arguing about everything, but they cared for each other still.

"Looks like we have them all," Alex said.

Regina nodded and looked at him.

Alex gave a toothy grin and ran into the lake. Regina followed him, and they were soon splashing each other back forth, seeing who could get the other the most wet.

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Here tis, my new story. Not sure if it came off quite the way I wanted it, though. Also, how old does she seem like? I was going to have her be a bit older than I said, but someone said she sounded younger, so I dropped it a few years. It's might kind of throw off the timeline a bit in the first few chapters. But it might be ok...anyways, tell me what you think!