It was a day like any other, Regina wakes up in her new prison. Most girls would kill to be queen. Her? She just wants freedom, adventure, love, /true/ love to be exact. The most powerful magic of all. Although she hated magic with a passion, 'twas magic that ruined her life. But, now she's learning it, from the dark one at that. The one who started it all, who taught her mother the darkest of magic. Rumple had plans for Regina, he thought that we would be teaching her all that e knows so that she could cast the dark curse. But, Regina has other plans. It wouldn't be easy, she knew that, but she had to try. She thought that she could bring her first love, Daniel, back. After the attempt with the doctor, it didn't seem likely anymore. She was heartbroken once again, but that isn't going to stop her. No. She's going to break out of this prison, she knows she will. She's going to break out of here, she's going to rub away, be free, won't have everyone telling her how to live her life. She's going to finally be free.
She decided to skip today's class with the imp, apparently that upset him. (Like she cares) "The darkness has tasted you, dearie, and it likes the way you taste. It doesn't mind the bitter." Those were his words. Just who the hell does he think he is? She's not dark. She's not her mother. She just wants out. She can't take it anymore... People constantly breathing down her neck, having to live under the same roof as that insipid child who caused her misery. A dreadful husband. She just wants out. Now she's hitting against the her balcony, thinking about maybe if she just falls, she'll finally he free. The screws are squeaking, now she's falling, falling... Free.
Or so she thinks, if it were for a spunky fairy. Tinker Bell. She's dressed in a green dress, her curly blonde hair, and her wand helping Regina back to what the fairy thinks as safety, but is really just a prison. Regina explains to the fairy her problems over a drink at a pub. She forgot what it felt like to be away from the castle, right now she's drinking an ale of some sort, conversing with this silly fairy who thinks she can find Regina her soul mate. Is she crazy? The young queen is now laughing. But, this fairy swears that she can indeed help her. And Regina can't help but to think that maybe she can... Could she really be free? Free from the shackles of a farce people call marriage, free to be happy, free from the responsibility she didn't ask for? Could she be happy?
A few hours pass and now she's walking down a dark path with this fairy who just used pixie dust to lead her to her soul mate. A tavern. Out of all the places her soul mate could be, he's in a tavern?
"Look! There he is! The man with the lion tattoo!" The fairy whispers.
Regina's head tilts as she narrows her eyes "That's him?" She asks before the smiling fairy grabs Regina by the shoulders and says "You can do this Regina. You can be happy again. You can let all of that anger go."
That thought was frightening for Regina. What would she be without all that anger and rage? She felt like she would just float away. She would be weak. Then her attention is drawn to the glowing fairy again. "Regina, you can be free." Tink says like she knew what Regina was thinking. She could see the doubt the young queens eyes. Regina exhales a long breath. "I'll never be truly free.." She says sadly and Tinker Bell shakes her head "Regina, you can be happy. You know that and that's why you're scared. You can't hide from love forever. If you walk away right now, you're not just ruining your life, you'd be ruining his as well."
That'll catch Regina's attention. She couldn't bare the thought of ruining someone's life for her own selfish doubt. She nods and takes a deep breath. "Tink, what if the king finds out? What if this man doesn't even like me? What if he finds out that I'm the queen and then just takes me back to the castle for an award? What if-"
The fairy stops her with, "What if you fall in love? What if he's an amazing man? Regina, the possibilities are endless. Now go in there or I just risked my life for nothing."
On that note, Regina finally opens the wooden door to the small tavern. Before she could turn around and run away, Tink pushes her in. Regina went tumbling towards the man with the lion tattoo. *thud* The men at the table, half buzzed, start to laugh. Except for the man with the lion tattoo. The innocent queen's face lit up to the shade of a rose in her garden. "Enough." He commands the men as he stands up, the mystery man turns around, and holds out his hands. "Apologies, M'lady. Once these muttonheads get a drink or two in their systems, I believe they turn arrogant."
Her dark, brown eyes look at this man for a minute as he speaks. He had the most beautiful, blue eyes. They were as blue as the Caspian Sea, yet clearer than a crystal ball. His arms were strong, the scruff on his face made her wonder what it would feel like scratching against her skin. His hair was light, yet not as light as Tink's. His smug smirk began to show when he realized, she was taking in his presence with awe. She shakes her head and takes his hand to be helped up. "No, my apologies are in order. I'm very clumsy." She says with a nervous chuckle.
What she saw was nothing compared to what he saw. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. His heart skipped so many beats, it nearly stopped. He cleared his throat and began speaking to her, "So, what is a beautiful woman such as yourself doing in a tacky old tavern filled with the likes of me and my men?" He asks as he guides her to the bar.
She bites her bottom lip and chuckles. "Depends, how drunk are you?" She laughs a bit and he tilts his head with a furrowed brow. She could tell he was confused. "I don't think you would believe me if I told you."
"Well, there's only one way to find out. And I would much rather spend my time in this dreaded pub with you than those snockered imbeciles." He says with a smirk.
For the next hour or two (she lost track), she tells him everything. From her time with Daniel, to his death, to the horrid king and her mother forcing her to marry him, she told him of Tinker Bell and the lion tattoo. She told him everything. Him fitted her through the tough trials with Daniel and her mother. His eyes widened when he found out her title as queen. After she was finished, he grabs her hand, and takes her to the back hallway quickly. She was scared and he could tell.
"Are you completely mad? You're the queen?" He asks baffled.
She swallows thickly and looks down "I'm sorry, I- I shouldn't have dragged you into this. I shouldn't have listened to that stupid fairy." She says quickly and nervously. She just knew that all of the things she was worried about, would come true.
He shakes his head and lifts her chin with his finger. "You think I'm angry with you?" He asks in a soft voice.
She wasn't used to this kindness. "Well, aren't you?" She asks confused, she fidgets as she awaits for him to strike her with his hand as the vicious king does.
"Regina, or your majesty, whichever prefer.. I'm not angry with you." He explains softly. He noticed her flinch at his touch when he places his hand on her shoulder. He looks closer and notices finger marks on her neck. "M'lady? Did you have any harm come to you on your journey here?" He places his hand gently on the marks, stroking them with his thumb. She jumps and blinks rapidly. "No." She whispers.
He look back to her eyes "Did the king do this to you?" He asks.
"Yes." She whispers shakingly.
Just as she labels herself as broken, unwanted, and damaged. He pulls her to him, holding her there as he hugs her like no one has ever done before. She rests her head against his chest, her ear placed directly where his heart is. She listens to it as he presses his lips to the top of her head. That was the most loving kiss she ever had, yet it wasn't even on her lips.
He pulls back and cups her cheeks "You don't deserve to be abused in anyway. Not verbally, emotionally, and especially not physically. You will never have to go through such terror again if you come with me." He whispers. "You can runaway with me."
She looks at him in awe, could she really be free? Could she be happy? Tears pooled in her eyes as she listens to him intently. "If the king ever found us, he would kill you." She says.
"You're worth dying a thousand deaths. I would be happy to lose my head if it meant you could be free of such misery." He states proudly.
Regina finally crashes her lips onto his. That heated kiss turns into the most passionate night of her life.
Author's Note: Next chapter will be smutty, so beware. I hope you guys enjoy it, please review, follow, like, comment, favorite, and most of all, enjoy.