Chapter 1: The Lion Tatoo
"You can be happy again." Tinkerbells words echoed around her head whilst she tossed and turned in her empty bed. An empty bed to match her empty heart. The thought of that emptiness being replaced by love, again, just made her sole physically ache. The question was: in a good way or a bad? Regina was tired of revenge, tired of being angry at Snow, tired of being depressed over,
"Daniel," she said, barley in a whisper. The truth was she felt guilty, like she was replacing him by even believing in the chance of love and hope. Daniel was her true love, but maybe she did have a soul mate out there. Maybe she didn't have to be a Queen with all the glamour after all that was her mother's dream, not hers. Maybe her dream was living in a tavern with a man with a lion tattoo. Maybe she could have a second chance, maybe she could be happy. Maybe... if she hadn't had walked away from the man, from her happiness.
Regina, pull yourself together, if you want something so badly go get it, she thought to herself whilst sitting up on her bed and slipping into something a little more comfortable: a brown dress from her old wardrobe, nothing too extravagant, and her black hair down in a natural wave. Regina looked in the mirror and couldn't help but smile at her reflection. She looked like herself, her old self that was happy and free. She wondered how long that self would remain.
The streets were dark, only lit by the candles from awake villagers, but at the end of the street was a tavern lit that was bright and buzzing. She could hear laughter and music that invited her inside and she searched the room for a man with a lion tattoo. This is ridiculous, it's been over two hours, that man, her soulmate must've gone home by now. Regina dropped her head and walked out of the tavern. She had just left the door when a tight grip on her wrist pulled her against the brick wall of the nearby ally. Regina tried to scream but her mouth was covered by his gloved hand. She could smell his whiskey breath warm against her lips as he leant in. Her struggling body was shaking in nerves and the man removed his hand, and just before he was leaning in to kiss her she screamed from the top of her lungs. He reacted by pinning her harder against the wall and Regina felt a tear roll down her cheek but suddenly the man fell limp on the floor. Regina let out another scream of relief, took a deep breath in, and burst into tears. A man emerged from the shadows with a rock in his hand,
"Are you alright milady?" He asked.
"No, no I don't think I am, leave me alone," Regina replied feeling like she couldn't get any smaller.
"A simple thank you would suffice," he said and reached out his hand. She took it and pulled himself up and wiped her flustered cheeks.
"Thank you, um…" she said,
"Robin of Locksley, milady." He pulled up his sleeves and put his hands on his hips. Regina smiled as the Tavern doors to her left opened again, realising enough light to show her saviours face. His chiselled chin which held a cheeky smile and his eyes had a sparkled could've distracted her from anything in all the realms. But Regina was distracted, she was staring intensely at the man's lower arm where there was a recognisable feature she would never forget: A lion tattoo.