She held her arms close to her cold, shivering body. Walking through the hallowed, empty, overcast, shadowy halls. Her weak arms draped around her like she's hugging herself, trying to prevent the appalling feeling of isolation in her soul now that the one person she had truly loved will never be able to love her again.
I shouldn't be here. What am I doing? He wouldn't want me here.
She told herself as she stopped midway through the dim cave, the feeling of dark magic erupting in her innocent soul. She shook her shivers away and continued her walk to the treacherous one everyone called the dark one,her heart throbbing with every step she took. The sound of rustling from the dried leaves and hay resembled her broken heart. Each crack crumbling her already fractured heart.
She clutched her dress above her chest, displaying the pain her heart was suffering, once she reached the desired destination. She had flashbacks of his smile, his glorious, gracious smile, his soft fingers pushing back her falling strands of hair, her quivering lips once she felt his breath itch on her lips from the closeness of their non-existent distance, his strong arms wrapped her waist, picking her up from the floor as soon as she said yes to his proposal, the numerous nights she'd fallen asleep in his arms, and finally, his soft kisses that drove her to her core.
More memories came rushing back like it was yesterday until the sound of leaves and hay being crushed began to grace her ears. The tear that fell slowly down her cheek, finally hit the ground.
"Now, now, dearie, there's no need to cry." His overly excited voice interrupted her thinking. He walked towards her with a smirk on his face as he brushed back a strand of her hair; it wasn't like how her husband used to brush it back. It wasn't soft or gentle for her pleasure. She closed her eyes as he walked around her in a circle, examining her. "You have a deeply broken heart, don't you, my dear." He said with a shake of his arms pointing towards her clutched chest. She looked at him, her eyes reddened by the water that threatened to fall.
"I need you to take the pain away." She whispered. He smiled harder and turned her around, pushing her hair to one side.
"I can't bring the dead back, dearie." He whispered, knowing what she desired.
"I can't live like this, I feel nothing… I feel empty." Her lowered voice rose as fresh tears wondered her face.
"What if I can fill that hole?" he spoke, already a plan in his mind. Her face dawned with confusion as he walked away from her, giving her his back once again.
"Nothing can fill this hole." She informed him.
"Not true." He smirked and turned around to face her. He walked to her and stopped once he was fairly close to her face. His dirty fingers slid under her chin. "All you think you want is to be loved again by our dear, beloved, fallen king, but what you really want, dearie, is to love someone and to be loved, whether it be him or not." She shook her head away from his fingers.
"No one can replace Daniel." She spoke with determination as she wrapped her arms around herself again.
"Not even his child?" the dark one spoke, as he slipped his fingers on her stomach. She touched her own stomach and shook her head.
"It's not possible… I'm not-"
"Pregnant?" he smirked, turning away from her. "I said nothing about it being your child, my dearie." She stood frozen, not believing his words. Her Daniel would never cheat on her. He wouldn't dare, he loved her. He knew she couldn't give him children but he would never make love to another woman for a child. He wouldn't…
He's not like that. He would never do that. This is the dark one playing tricks on my mind.
"You're lying." She turned around, forcing a distance between them.
"Am I?" he walked closer to her, walking around her in circles. "You know more than anyone that he would do anything for his kingdom, he needed someone to take his throne after him and that was something you couldn't give him, so he took my advice and made another woman carry his child.
"No…" she wouldn't believe this.
He's lying, they'reall lies, but how does he know about her condition? No, this is the dark one, Regina, he plays with minds, and it's his specialty.
"You doubt me, that's understandable, but take a look dearie." With a wave of his hands.
A circular window opened and a picture of a 3 year old boy playing by the stables petting horses appeared, he had similar green eyes to the one she called her lover. She hoped her eyes were deceiving her. It was just a boy; it could not be any boy. Regina would have stuck to her own word that this was a lie had not her husband of 4 years walked to the child and picked him up, placing him on the horse.
"You'll be the king one day, Henry. You'll ride these horses and be the bravest of kings. Once I tell your mothers the truth." He said as he rubbed his hair, and soon the circular window disappeared. Her eyes watered.
No, this can't be true. No, no, this is an illusion… it can't be true.
She couldn't handle this information. Her shattered heart felt even more demolished. How could she have been so foolish to believe she could be someone's only one?
"The boy can be yours only. He will love only you, he does not know who his real mother is. He will love you for you, and you shall love him as well." The dark one's voice echoed faintly.
"I can't even look at the boy, how do you expect me to love him?" The queen said harshly. He chuckled.
"Because no matter how bad it hurts, you have a fairly soft spot for children, Regina. Everyone wants what he or she can't have…" he whispered against her ear. "You can have what you can't have…"
It's not the child's fault he was born. Curse this heart of mine. The need to get to know the boy was rising in the depths of her heart.
"I will get you the boy." He said, knowing she would accept.
"In exchange for what?" she asked, knowing the dark one does not give things for free. He smirked.
"You have nothing to give me now, my dear, but you will in the future. For now, you can take the boy and live your life like you have nothing to offer me." He said, and banished into the deep of the cave. She closed her eyes and sighed.
I shouldn't have come. I knew I shouldn't have.
Present day.
He rushed through the halls of his castle, denying any help from any of the staff, his feet hitting the ground, his weight that hit the floor causing hard thumps. He rushed past his mother's room, and slammed the door to his room.
His mother heard the faint commotion going on outside his room. She sighed and placed the book she was reading down by her beside drawer. Her son had been like this for the past year. Feeling isolated and misunderstood. His coronation day was near and he didn't yet know how to wield a sword or ride a horse.
Teachers and tutors came and left, none benefitting the prince. He was set to be king on his sixteenth birthday. No teacher seemed to satisfy him. Regina wondered why he would not let anyone in, but she understood why, for she was the one who raised him. Taught him not to trust anyone so easily. Yet she wished she hadn't done that, things wouldn't have been so difficult.
As the years passed,she grew to love the boy that once caused her so much pain. One look from his innocent green eyes dug through her skin, she couldn't let him be. Even if he was the result of an unwanted affair, he was still a child.
Regina raised him with love and care. Every part of her body extruded love to the prince, and the prince did love his mother unconditionally, she was the one person he had ever loved deeply and willingly.
She left her room and walked to his, outside his room stood his servant, knocking on his door.
"Prince Henry," he said loud enough for him to hear through the thick door.
"Go away!" the prince yelled back. The servant was about to knock on the door again had he not noticed the Queen approaching. He took a step back and bowed down for her.
"Your grace." He said, still bowed down. The queen's elegancy drove anyone to their knees; she was so gentle it managed to make everyone go insane. She waved her hand for the servant to straighten himself.
"It's okay, I'll deal with it." She spoke softly as the servant nodded and began to leave. She sighed. Such a stubborn little boy he was. Persistence was a trait he inherited from his father. She knocked gently on the door.
"I said go away!" he yelled louder, irritation slipping through his voice.
"Henry, dear, open the door." His mother's soft voice echoed gently through the door of his room. A breathy sigh was heard and the shuffling of someone walking towards the door. After a few seconds, the handle of the door bent down and the print stood aside, opening the door for the queen.
Regina took the invitation and closed the door softly behind her as Henry walked to his window, staring at the sky.
The queen always felt for her little prince, everything he felt, she felt it twice. His anger at himself flew through his veins and Regina felt it magnified. He had easily become everything to Regina and whenever he seemed the slightest bit upset, she would feel upset too. "Henry…" she called his name softly. He avoided any eye contact, his hands clenched into fists and his knuckles pure white.
"I am not fit to be a king." He simply said, staring at a bird flying away from his window, wishing he could have the power to just thrust his wings and fly away from his problems.
"That is nonsense, Henry." Regina said. Walking to the teenage prince, she gently put a hand on his shoulder, but he brushed her away. Though the move hurt Regina, she knew her son was upset and he didn't truly mean to reject her.
"It isn't." He looked at his arms and hit the wall roughly. "I can't do anything right!" he yelled, the anger in his voice rising. Regina rushed to wrap her arms around his waist. His figure was now much taller than he was 12 years ago. She held him away from the wall.
"Henry, please." She pleaded, knowing he would do anything for her. She looked up to his face; he looked into his mother's eyes and saw the reflecting pain. He sighed.
"I'm sorry, mother…" he whispered, looking away, ashamed of his actions. She let him go gently and reached for his cheek.
"Don't hurt yourself, Henry, you are all I have." She spoke gently. He leaned into his mother's touch. She always calmed him down so easily. Her presence always made him feel better. "Come on, dear." She said as she pulled him to his bed and let him sit on the edge. She opened a drawer beside his king sized bed, taking out a supply of cloth and cleansing herbs.
She sat next to him and took his bleeding hand. The bruised bleeding was result of the hard blow to the wall of his bedroom. She grabbed one of the small cloths, rinsing it with the cleansing herbs then pressing it gently on his wound. He winced slightly, trying to take his hand away, but soon relaxed once his mother's tender touch graced his hand. She then carefully wrapped his knuckles with a bandage.
"Thank you." He whispered, staring down at the floor. Regina smiled softly, his manners were a sky rocketing trait about him. She was proud of herself for that. She brushed his short hair, trying to comfort him. She saw the slightest hint of a glimmer in his eyes and moved to place his head on her chest. She rubbed up and down his arms as he closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of his adored mother.
"I need a new tutor again. I will do my best this time, I promise." He said into her chest.
"It's okay, I'll ask Hook for the best Knight he has to train you." She said, and then moved slightly to get him to look at her. "How does that sound?" she asked with a soft smile, causing him to smile as well.
"Sounds great."
Hook happened to be the only father figure Henry had known. Ever since he was a child, he would run to the docks just to see him sail his Jolly Roger. The first time he was ever on a boat was when he was 10 and he had to cross the sea with his mother for a royal ball in Camelot. Hook had taught him how to sail his boat when they were on their return to the enchanted forest. The prince was always fascinated by the Ex-Pirate's adventures. They grew to become close friends. Regina didn't mind it, for Hook was a close friend of hers as well.
"Why don't you get some rest as I send a letter to tell him to come over?" Regina said, earning another smile from him. He nodded gently and got into his bed for a well-needed rest. The queen helped tuck him in. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
"I love you, mom." He whispered, closing his eyes. She loved whenever her ears had the privilege to hear that, especially knowing that she could've never had the chance to hear that had she not accepted the dark one's offer.
"I love you too, Henry." She whispered, before quietly leaving his room. She closed his door gently and sighed to herself. The boy was a handful but she wouldn't have it any other way.
She left for her room to begin to write a letter for Captain Killian Jones, informing him that she needed his best knight for her son's training.
The next day
Morning came, the rays of sun shining through the already open window of the queen's room. Regina was always an early riser. Something about being awake before the sun rose gave her a sense of power. She loved being awake to see the sun rise as much as she loved being awake to see the sunset. The view so beautifully etched across the sky. It made even the most hopeless of people find hope.
After her usual morning ritual, the queen made her way to her sacred garden. She walked along the isles; each row bred a different type of flower. The queen would usually get lost in the essence of the alluring garden she worked hard to create. Ever since Henry came into her life she made sure she and him planted flowers daily, effortlessly becoming a part of her routine, but it didn't last long. Sadly, as the boy's male interests began to surface he had failed to find interest in the garden like he used to. Despite the lack of enthusiasm, he would still join his mother whenever she asked him.
The mother-son bond they shared was one to envy, they shared everything like best friends, stood up for each other like loyal knights, and respected one another like family, they brought out the best in each other and were always constantly available for one another. They had an unbreakable bond.
As the queen watered the divergent plants in her garden, she heard the faintest sound of carriages and horseshoes stomping on the ground. The louder the sounds the closer she knew her visitor was. She placed her watering can down and smelled the last flower before making her way to the main hall where she intended to meet with most of her guests.
She reached the hall a few minutes before Henry did as he came rushing in breathless to stand next to his mother, his hair a bushy mess, his chest heaving up and down as he tried to stand as elegantly as he could.
Poise and composure of a King Henry. Poise and composure.
He told himself this as his chest heaved hard. His mother smiled lightly at him, a faint chuckle escaped her lips, and she tidied up his hair and the state of his clothes.
"Sorry I'm late." He said with a flustered smile. The queen shook her head and pointed a finger to his chest.
"What do I always tell you, Henry, a royal is never late-"
"Everyone else is just simply early." He spoke with his mother, earning him another smile. "I know, mother." He spoke with determination in his eyes.
"Why, only Regina would say that." A thick, accented voice said from behind them, as it entered the hall through the open doors. A larger smile appeared on the young prince's face as he saw his friend entering the hall.
"You've grown tall, haven't you, mate." Hook ruffled his hair as he stood next to him. The boy jerked his head away from the sailor's hands and chuckled. The queen smiled at their slight interaction before she noticed a figure behind him; covered in a hardware mantle, layers of iron and ingot housing the still silhouette. The heavy armor added approximately 10 pints, she assumed, on the man's shoulder. The individual behind the burdensome attire held his composure in place, impressing the queen.
"You've asked for my best knight," Hook began, refocusing the queen's attention to him. She looked at him and he smiled, "I present to you my best knight, Ser Swan." He held his hand out for the former, unmoved, physique.
The knight pulled the heavy armor off of his head, only to surprise the queen, as it wasn't a he at all. She locked eyes with the queen's astonished eyes. The knight smiled softly before she bowed down.
"Your grace," she said, before standing up again, her poise unfazed. The queen was still in an unsettled state, her heart pounding for an unknown reason.
"SerSwan?" the prince asked, the shocked expression clearly present on his face. "But you're a girl…" he said in question.
"Henry!" His mother finally averted from the knight's gaze to look at her dumbfounded son. "Manners." She schooled him. The knight chuckled slightly.
"Woman, actually." The knight spoke as she looked at the boy, who was still in a dumbfounded state.
"You're going to be training me?" he questioned.
"I can assure you that my gender will not be an issue." She stated simply.
"But I can't hit a girl; it's wrong." He said. His facial expression dawned in bewilderment.
"That is assuming you do have a chance to hit her." Hook placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'll let you in on a little secret, mate." He began edging closer to his ear as the two ladies exchanged another glance. "She slayed a dragon." The ex-pirate whispered in the boy's ear, causing the boy to gulp and look wide eyed at the knight.
"I believe a schedule is to be set, then?" Hook smiled mischievously as he looked at the astonished boy, the frazzled queen, and the unwavering knight.