Hi! This is my first Outlaw Queen story so don't be so bad with me. I hope you like it and leave your comment.
Disclaimer: I owe nothing. Once Upon a Time characters are not mine.
The only she could see through the window of her bedroom was the bridge leading from the castle to the town she had not visited since the day her husband, King Leopold, decided that the Queen had no reason to be there.
Regina hadn´t resisted the wishes of her husband, because without Daniel, her great love, she held no desire to return to the town. She stayed in the palace, most of the time in her room; she just went out when the King asked for her and for her meals.
The Queen can't hide her sadness since her mother turned Daniel's heart into dust and all thanks to the King's daughter, Snow White.
Regina could barely see the girl's face without wanting to rip her heart and turn it to dust like Cora had done with Daniel.
"Regina, dear "her mother had entered the room whit the same superior attitude she always held "you should be in the dining room for breakfast. The King is waiting for you."
The Queen took her eyes from the window to look at her mother.
"I'm not hungry" Regina's voice was just a whisper. Her beautiful brown eyes lacked luster and her red lips shacked as she pronounced the words "I am not in condition to get down, I'm not feeling good."
"Feeling good or not, you have to come down with your husband and be the queen you have to be, Regina" Cora answered getting close to her "You're not going to ruin all the hard work we have done for you to be here, to make your dream come true…"
"My dream? Mother" Regina interrupted approaching Cora with determination "this is not my dream, it´s yours… my dream was getting married with Daniel and have a happy life with him…" her eyes filled with tears and she felt how a lump in her throat was forming "but that was not in your plans."
"For God´s sake Regina! Stop whining for that boy that isn't worth it and be the queen you have to be. Dry those tears and come down immediately, sit down beside the King, smile and make him believe that you're happy with him" Cora smiled blatantly "It's not so hard."
Regina looked at her mother with hate while she turned and left the room. She took a deep breath and walked to her mirror, looked for a handkerchief and dried her tears.
When she walked down the stairs the King came up to her and give her his hand, both walked to the table and Leopold helped Regina to sit down.
"How are you today, honey?" He asked.
"Fine" Regina answered with a smile.
"Good morning" greeted Snow White, the King's daughter.
Regina turned her gaze to the fruit plate in front of her. She didn't want to turn to see that teenager and remember it was her fault Daniel was dead.
For the King, Snow White was the apple of his eye; she was the perfect daughter and princess. For Regina, she was a brat who got every whim fulfilled and she didn't know how to respect the privacy of others.
"My girl" the King said with a smile "it´s your dress for tonight ready?"
"Of course, father, everything is ready."
"Tonight?" Regina asked confused "What's happening tonight?"
"It's my birthday ball, did you forget it?"
"But your birthday it's in three days."
"We know that, but we decided to celebrate it early because I can't be here that day" the King says.
"I remember now."
Regina grabbed the fork, took a piece of fruit and put it in her mouth. Great, what she needed, a ball where she had to dance with every Gentleman, Prince and King that asked and talk about things that held no interest for her. But such was the life of the Queen.
After breakfast, were Snow and the King talked about every detail of the ball, Regina decided to get back to her room and keep looking through the window with the memory of Daniel in her head, with the memory of the moments they lived together.
That night the Queen took her place beside the King to get down the stairs. After they were announced, Regina and Leopold got down slowly whilst everyone bowed before them. When they were on the floor everyone applauded. The King made a signal and the music started to play.
Regina danced following her husband and with the better smile she could paste on her face. The royal couples started to join them. The party began to take shape, everybody was dancing or talking with a glass in hand.
The King was intercepted by King Midas and Regina decided to leave them alone, she walked to the garden where few people would bother her. These greeted her with a bow and seconds later withdrew.
The Queen leaned on the balcony and watched the Kingdom with a sigh of longing. Her life had been definitely so much better before she married the King and became an exemplary woman and wife, before Daniel died.
"Regina, Leopold is looking for you" Cora reported "you better get back inside."
"Can you give me a break, mother?" Regina claimed, annoyed.
"A Queen has not breaks, you should know that by now… Now get inside to your husband´s side."
Regina started to walk to the entrance of the hall and before entering she forced a big smile on her face.
When Leopold saw her come in, he extended his hand and waited for his wife to reach his side.
"I asked for our song" the King said with a smile.
"That's great, dear."
They started to dance, everybody looking at them. Leopold watched Regina adoringly and smiled for having her by his side, while Regina was trying look as happy as possible.
That night the Queen looked radiant in a red dress that showed off her cinnamon skin color, the neckline of her back and long sleeves made her look so thin and small, be watched and treated with great delicacy. Leopold knew he had a beautiful woman beside him and he was envied by other Kings for having such a young wife.
The quiet of the night was ruined when an arrow passed inches away from the head of the Queen. All the guests screamed, Leopold hugged Regina to his body and the guards ran in all direction looking for the shooter.
"There he is!" A guard screamed, pointing to the balcony.
All guards ran over the archer trying to catch him.
"Are you okay, darling?"
Regina was in a state of such shock that barely heard Leopold´s words, she just nodded and allowed the King and her mother to take her to her room.
"This can't be possible!" Cora was outraged, walking back and forth across the room.
"Calm down, Cora, nothing happened" the King said, sitting over the bed beside his Queen.
"What if it had happened…? They wanted to kill her… we need someone to protect her."
"Cora, that's what the guards are for."
"The guards are not enough, Your Majesty. Being here the guards can´t protect her."
"Your Majesty" the chief of the guards came and bowed "the archer ran away, we couldn't identify him."
"Now you see?" Cora approached the King and looked at him in the eyes "Leopold, you have to understand. She is my only daughter and being here with that killer on the loose she is in danger."
Leopold nodded and looked at the guard, stoop up and walked towards him.
"I want you to strengthen the security in the room until we find the archer."
"Yes, Your Majesty" the guard bowed and left the room.
"Leopold, I have an idea" Cora commented, fearful.
"Tell me."
"Regina should leave the castle and take refuge elsewhere with someone who takes care of her."
"It's a good idea…she can stay in the cabin near the mount, guarded by my best men."
"No offense, dear, but if she stays there it will be very obvious to anyone who tries to kill her and I don't trust your guards… but I know the best man for the job."
"It's okay, call him and tell him to be here tonight… Regina must leave the castle in the morning as unobtrusively as possible."
Cora left the room with the security that characterized her.
"Everything is going to be fine, darling" Leopold hugged Regina and she responded to him. Who wanted to kill her? And why?
An hour later Cora appeared followed by a man dressed in green and brown with a bow in hand and arrows in the back. His face was covered by a hood and he smelled like a forest.
"Who is this man?" Leopold questioned.
"Robin Hood" Cora introduced him.
"The thief?" Regina asked incredulously.
"Excuse me, milady, but I am not a thief" Robin clarified.
His voice was deep and severe. When he took off the hood Regina was surprised by the man, he was quite attractive.
"It's Your Majesty for you" Leopold clarified "Cora, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"He's the best man I know for the job. In addition, he is an archer and can protect Regina."
"The best, may I say" Robin bragged "I promise you I´ll take care of her with my life."
"If anything happens to her, Hood, it will fall on your head" Leopold left the room not entirely happy.
"I guess it's decided" Cora said with a smile "Be prepared, Mr. Hood, you'll leave in the morning."