Regina Mills was lucky in a lot of ways, being the daughter of a prince from another land. She got her olive toned skin, dark hair, and chocolate brown eyes that looked like liquid amber in a certain light, from her father. Her smooth, silky voice could charm even the hardest of hearts- apart from her mother's. Regina had also been born with the gift of magic, something her mother had always tried to manipulate for her own benefit. Regina was a daddy's girl through and through, they had always been very close. As Regina grew up and Cora began to make plans for their daughter and Henry did not agree with them.

Cora Mills had been merely a miller's daughter until a foreign prince had visited the Enchanted Forest and she had found a chance to climb up the royal ranks by marriage. When their daughter grew into a beautiful young woman, Cora was admittedly a little jealous of Regina- even more so when Regina began to show signs of having the gift of magic. It was unusual for their family, though not for people of the Enchanted Forest. Not happy with marrying a prince, Cora had begun to plan ways to force her daughter to marry higher than she had- no matter the cost. She had made a deal with the Dark One- Rumpelstiltskin- to teach Regina how to become more powerful. That was part of her plan.

Regina thought she had things almost perfect. She could just barely stomach dealing with Rumpelstiltskin, he was a slimy imp and made her skin crawl. But learning magic was pretty amazing. She had also found what she believed to be true love at a young age. Daniel was madly in love her; the only problem was Regina's knew mother would not approve of her being in love with a stable boy. For this reason, she had to meet Daniel in secret and the strain was starting to wear on her. For a long time, Regina had been thinking of a way that they could be together, without her mother's intrusions. There was only one option she she could see working.

"Daniel?" Regina whispered as she peeked around the stable door. "Daniel?"

"In the back, Regina." A huge beautiful smile split across Regina's face when she heard Daniel's voice call back to her.

"Are we alone?"

"Yes we are." He answered as he came towards her. He was met halfway by the brunette, who launched herself into his arms.

"I have missed you, darling." Regina said into his neck.

"I have missed you too."

"My mother has been watching me like a hawk. I am so tired of have to sneak around all of the time." Regina sighed.

"I know. I am too. But I have been thinking. I want to ask your father for his blessing." Daniel hoped Regina understood his meaning.

"Are you crazy?" Regina exploded. "My mother would have all three of us killed. The only way we can be together is if we leave, get as far away from her as we can."

"I do not like the idea of running." Daniel said resolutely.

"Neither do I. But you do not know my mother. Look, I am going to have to go or she will ask questions. I love you." Regina quickly kissed him then left.

Regina had been interrogated when she had returned home but she managed to deflect her mother's questions and hurried off to her room. That night, she found sleep hard to come by. The idea of Daniel wanting to marry her was thrilling; but the fear of her mother continued to disturb her. The following day, the only friend who knew about Regina's relationship with Daniel.

"How are you, Regina?" Snow asked energetically, hugging her friend.

"I am lost, Snow. Daniel wants to ask my father's permission to get married."
"That is amazing!" Snow exclaimed.

"I know... but you know what my mother is like. If I tell her I want to marry a stable boy, she will have him killed." Regina said, her voice strained.

"Maybe you underestimate her. If she sees how happy you are, maybe she will be happy for you." Ever the optimist, Snow tried to cheer her up.

"I know it in my… bones, that is not what will happen. The only was we can be together, is if we run away." Regina said, already resigned to the fact that this was their only option.

"Well, if you do, let me know so I can come with you." Snow said sardonically.

"Are you still having problems with the king?" Regina asked sympathetically. Snow's father- King Leopold, had never been a nice man, even to his own family. He was well known for his foul temper and extreme impatience. After Snow's mother had died, he had become impossibly worse. Nasty rumours about some sexual incidents with female servants at the castle had also arisen since then.

"Yes, he is horrible to me. I think I remind him of my mother. He is even worse with the servants he is… despicable."

Regina squeezed her friend's hand. She didn't like to see her like this. Snow White had always been optimistic that things would work out for the best. She always had a smile on her face and was willing to do anything for anybody. It was only with her father she lost her energy; he always had this negative affect on her.

"How are things with David?" Regina tried to distract Snow from her troubles.

"They are good. It is still early days, but things are really good." Snow gave her a small smile, which Regina returned.

Over the next week, Regina only managed to see Daniel a couple of times, when she went horseback riding. But soon her world would be turned upside down. Cora had summoned Regina to her study and that was never a good sign.

"Yes, Mother?" Regina asked politely as she entered her mother's study.

"Regina, there is something we need to discuss." Oh no, Regina's heart dropped through the stone floor but she just nodded. "It is time that you marry and I have found the perfect man for you. King Leopold is looking for a new wife, since his first wife passed away. I believe you are friends with his daughter." Cora spoke nonchalantly, as if they were discussing the weather.

"What?" Regina objected. "He is older than Father and he is a horrible man. I do not want to marry him! I want to marry Daniel. I love him."

"Oh no. That stable hand you keep flashing your eyes at? I will not have you marrying a peasant."

"It is my life, Mother. I should be able to choose who I marry." Regina argued which was unusual, she usually just agreed with her mother and quietly and moved on.

"You are my daughter and I know what is best for you. Marrying a king will afford you a better position in life." Cora argued back.

"You want me to fulfil your own missed delusions of grandeur. I want to marry a man I love."

"Enough!" Cora's shout echoed through the room. "I do not care about the stable boy. You will do as I say and be grateful for the fact that I want what is best for you." Cora shouted.

Regina ran away, crying. She had known her mother would do something horrible like this. She found her father in the library. Judging by the grave look on his face, he was aware of Cora's disgusting plan.

"Daddy, you can not let her do this." Regina pleaded, throwing herself into her fathers arms.

"I am sorry, mija. She is not listening to me. I have been trying to fight this since I found out but she is not budging." Henry tried to soothe his distraught daughter, who continued to sob in his arms.