A/N: TRIGGER WARNING for abuse. I promise this story has a happy ending. It also has three chapters so look forward to two more updates. Hopefully completed before tomorrow because I have another fic for the day 4 prompt to finish. Rated M to be safe due to the abuse.
When they met they were both young, about a year or two shy from marrying age in the Enchanted Forest, and they were complete opposites. Regina was shy and Emma was detached. What they had in common was that neither wanted to be forced into marriage.
Emma was happy to be by herself, at least for a number of years to come, and Regina wanted love. An arranged marriage bound two people—strangers, really—together, which kept Emma from her independence, and it had nothing to do with love. The truth about arranged marriages were the only reason Emma and Regina didn't automatically click. It was a forced meeting and it didn't matter whether they even really liked each other or not. If their parents agreed upon and so chose it, they would be wed within the next couple of years. How soon the ceremony would take place depended on each family's standing in the kingdom. The more desperate a family was to ensure a marital bond to another family that could better their position in the royal government, the quicker the marriage happened. If there was no rush, the families explored other options while they decided which match would best suit them and their needs.
While their parents talked, Regina and Emma went off on their own—as expected—and usually when the two people being arranged to marry were alone together, they spent that time getting to know each other. In Emma and Regina's case, they hardly spoke at first. They'd been through the charade a couple times before—meet and greet a potential spouse and try to make even the smallest connection with them—so they used as few words as possible in the other's presence while they each remained in their own heads. Neither of them could get past what kind of things were being said and planned between their parents and no matter how many times they went through it, neither girl appreciated the business of loveless marriages for some kind of emotionless, political or monetary gain on each family's behalf.
As they walked along the beach located behind the guarded palace in utter silence, each princess spared glances at the other in a decision to at least appreciate their appearances. It was about the only thing they had to appreciate about the circumstances of their time together and secretly each had a list of things to appreciate about the other's looks.
Regina was fit with smooth, olive-toned skin and long, brunette hair that flowed around her shoulders and curled at the tips that covered her chest, and intriguing, alluring, dark chocolate eyes. Emma was a little more athletic with her toned muscles. She had fair skin and long, golden blonde hair that stopped just past her own chest. Her hair was almost curled, but not just at the tips. Her hair coiled around itself and shined brightly in the sunlight like it was the sun itself. Emma's eyes looked deceivingly green, but upon closer look they were actually blue. Both were stunning and both knew the other was primped to perfection for an attractive presentation for each other and their families. They needed to look desirable, but pure and good natured. Everything had to be flawless for the arrangement to work. No virtue, no marriage. Damaged goods, and not just in the sense of a woman's virtue, were bad. Insufficient dowries were considered unacceptable. Appearance was important, but there were a lot of different factors into finding a perfect match that had nothing to do with emotions such as love or even mutual liking.
When their parents seemed to be taking longer than any of the times arrangements had been attempted for either of them before, they found something to discuss.
"Things must be going well if they haven't sent for us yet," Regina said while they continued to walk along the shore.
"So it seems," Emma gloomily stated.
"I assume you've been through this before?"
"Yes. Have you?"
"A couple of times," Regina nodded.
"Anyone you like?"
Regina shook her head.
"Me either," Emma admitted. "There was this one guy, Baelfire, but he wasn't a suitor of mine. I met him when our carriage wheel cracked in the middle of a journey back to the palace after meeting with a prince. Never saw Baelfire again, though."
"My stable boy is really sweet," Regina decided to keep up with the topic. "He and I spend a lot of time talking when I go for my riding lessons."
Emma smiled.
"But he's a stable boy. Your parents would never approve that match, just as mine would never approve my match with Baelfire."
"It appears we have something in common," Regina smiled back.
As they continued to talk, they steered further from the subject of arranged marriage and boys they liked and actually did the one thing neither expected they would do that day: learn about each other.
"I love horses," Regina told Emma.
"I bet it's because of your cute stable boy."
"No, actually I've loved horses long before he came along. I find riding to be very relaxing. Freeing, really. The wind in my hair, exploring new places, almost being one with the horse as we ride. In fact, my steed is my best friend. He has been since I was a child."
"What is his name?"
"Rocinante," Regina beamed, happy to talk about her beautiful horse. "He is kind and very friendly. He has dark hair and we're very in tune with each other."
Emma smiled even as she listened to Regina dominate the conversation. Regina looked so carefree and blissful when she spoke of her steed and Emma could tell she loved the animal more than she might possibly have been able to love another human being aside from her own parents.
"I practice with the guards," Emma explained when Regina asked what she liked to do for fun after she confessed she wasn't much for horseback riding. "I've taken down a few of the younger guards in a fight."
Regina's eyes went wide at the thought.
"And your parents don't worry you'll be hurt?"
"Oh, all the time. My father approves more than my mother, but they both fear I'll either injure myself or take a practice fight too far."
"That sounds nice."
Confusion flashed across Emma's features.
"That your parents support what you love to do even though they have their doubts about your safety," Regina elaborated on her previous statement.
"Your parents don't support your riding?"
"My father enjoys watching me because he says he sees that it makes me happy and that's all he wants for me. To be happy. My mother disapproves of the way I choose to ride. As a lady I'm supposed to learn to ride side saddle, but I don't agree that that is even riding."
Emma chuckled.
"So your mother is hard to handle, but your father…?"
"He's wonderful. He and I do a lot of things behind my mother's back."
"Such as?"
"He taught me Spanish and now we speak it with each other when she's not around. Then there are the late night snacks a lady should never indulge in if she expects to wed, according to Mother. My mother also used to deny me bedtime stories because it was 'foolish to fill a person's head with fantasies'. While my father accepts what I want, accepts me and all the choices I make. He's there for me and my mother just criticizes everything I do."
"My mother can be like that sometimes too. My father and I are like old pals. We laugh at each other's jokes and often share similar opinions and my mother doesn't really understand it. I feel close to both of them, and I love both of them equally, but sometimes I think I have a better connection to my father."
"I suppose that's something else we have in common then," Regina asked with a small and adorably cute smile.
"It sounds that way, doesn't it," Emma phrased the question like a statement.
They stopped at a log and sat down in front of the gently crashing waves. They abandoned their heels and stuck their toes in the sand while Regina started to braid a part of her silky brunette hair. It was a small section hidden behind her ear in a place covered by layers of hair to keep her mother from noticing. The motion of Regina's hands caught Emma's immediate attention and the blonde perked up.
"Will you braid my hair," Emma asked. "I love braids, but I hate the ones my maids give me. They only braid my hair for special occasions and they never really fit my style."
"Do you have a hair tie or pin?"
Emma nodded and rolled a hair tie off her ankle.
"You know that will stretch it, right," Regina commented.
"I had to hide it somewhere. My parents would never let me leave my chamber with it on my wrist," Emma explained before she dramatically changed her body language and pitch upon continuing. "It would never look presentable for these kinds of things."
Regina laughed and took the hair tie from Emma.
"I assume that is what your mother said."
"Of course. My father knows nothing of a lady's routines and preparations."
Regina softly laughed and looked Emma over before she started to guide Emma's head one direction or the other with a finger to the blonde's chin. After a moment, she let go of Emma's chin and got to work. The two of them continued to talk about things like how Regina gets a little emotional if she hasn't eaten in a while and how Emma constantly eats. They talked and talked while Regina twisted Emma's hair together with expert fingers and even though they started off in awkward silence, they truly enjoyed themselves.
A fast friendship was easily formed and though they didn't get too far in depth, it was only their first meeting. What they knew about each other at that moment was enough for them to know they liked each other and they were intrigued to find out what their lives could be if they had each other to talk to about things they usual kept to themselves.
The sun was in its early stages of descent behind the horizon when Emma's parents called them back to the palace by way of a guard that delivered the message and walked them back inside.
"It's been a pleasure, dears," Cora said with a big, bright—too bright—smile.
Regina's expression changed to look the exact opposite of her mother's. She looked to her father who faked a few smiles as he shook the King and Queen's hands. When his part of pleasant and polite goodbyes was over, he looked to his daughter and he seemed a little worried. By the look on Cora's face, Regina figured he had a good reason to seem worrisome.
"We'll be in touch," the King promised, and Regina saw her mother's eyes shine with predatory delight.
Regina felt dread weigh her down like an albatross secured to her body. She collected herself long enough to properly say goodbye to the entire family then went home with her parents and a sickening gut feeling things wouldn't be as simple as being Princess Emma's friend while they endure more arrangements attempted on their behalves.
When Cora Mills revealed the plan she had for the White Kingdom, Regina knew for sure it would never be that easy.
Their parents had remained in contact after their first meeting, but it wasn't until a year later that Emma and Regina saw each other again. Emma was newly seventeen and Regina was three months into her eighteenth year of life. A gathering at the White's Summer Palace brought Cora and Regina back to the family of three.
Emma's hair was about the same length, still as golden blonde as before, but Regina's hair was slightly shorter and a little curlier than last year. Her curls were natural and Emma's were more wavy than curly that day. Both were still very stunning, but they looked just that little bit older and more mature.
"Where's your father," Emma asked right away when she noticed the man's absence.
"He unfortunately couldn't make the trip," Cora answered for her. "His health has become a bit of an issue in the past year. The carriage ride would have been a little too exciting for his body to handle."
Regina trained her eyes on the floor and dutifully remained silent.
Emma kindly ushered Regina away from boring talk they each knew their parents would eventually get into and once they were alone, the blonde showed Regina a look of concern when she didn't see the brunette's smile or twinkling eyes.
"Is everything alright?"
Regina hesitated and slowly contorted her face from one of indifference to one of tamped down bitterness.
"Everything was fine until I was forced back here to make more small talk with you," Regina growled.
Emma frowned and her expression changed to one of confusion.
"I thought you would be happy to return. After our last conversation I thought we could be friends."
"The last time we spoke, my stable boy was still my stable boy. He was excused from his position and replaced with a much older man who yells constantly if I ride…like a man."
"No, you can't possibly ride like a man," Emma grinned. "I think you would be captivating to watch when riding."
Regina almost blushed at the double meaning, but cleared her throat and stood stiffly before the other princess.
"Regina, tell me what's wrong. This isn't like you."
"You don't even know me! We had one conversation a year ago," Regina shouted.
"What is going on here," Snow questioned as she stormed in with her husband and Cora, even more displeased than the Queen, hot on her heels.
"Nothing," Emma lied. "Regina's a little hungry and she gets cranky when she's hungry."
"No amount of food will make me change my attitude toward you," Regina spat.
Emma looked hurt and still so very confused.
"You cannot give our potential family a future. There would be no family," Regina continued. "I want a child and with you I cannot bear one. Marrying you will rob me of everything I so desire. To wed you would be a mistake."
"I will not have you speak to my daughter that way," Charming yelled and advanced toward Regina.
Emma shook her head and stepped between the two of them.
"It's okay, Father. She needs a little time to get used to the idea. Bearing an heir has been all of our recent concerns as well, remember?"
"As true as that may be," Snow started to say.
"Worry not," Cora cut in. "If you'll still have us for supper, I will reteach my daughter the manners she's so foolishly forgotten."
Cora shot Regina a glare full of non-existent daggers that would have sliced Regina up if Cora had used real daggers with her magic to accompany that glare.
Snow and Charming didn't seem convinced.
"Please," Emma spoke up. "Let them stay. They just arrived and it has been a year. There is much to catch up on and if they stay here as planned, Regina and I should have plenty of time to warm up to each other."
"Very well," Snow sighed.
"We'll have one of the handmaids show you to your chambers," Charming grudgingly said.
"Thank you," Cora responded with a simple and effortlessly faked smile. "I truly apologize for my daughter's behavior."
Cora aggressively hurried Regina up to her temporary chamber at the White's Palace as they followed the handmaid to their new dwellings. Before Cora could be shown to her own chamber, she shooed away the handmaid and said she would find her later for directions.
Being alone in a room with Cora, no matter who's palace or what their surroundings, was never anything good. Regina never looked forward to private time with her mother and if anyone ever saw what Cora did to her behind closed doors they would understand why.
Cora geared up her magic as soon as the door closed and in the time of a single inhale, Regina hit the far wall with a heavy thud. Immediately, Regina's eyes filled with fear and she tensed just before Cora's first blow. Tensing was always a mistake, but it was instinctive and she had yet to train herself to relax into each hit.
That time, Cora found use—yet again—for a belt she summoned from a nearby location. It was made of a tough leather so it was thicker than Regina predicted considering Cora only had access to what was in the room at the White's palace and not Cora's own personal supply of toys for punishment. Between magic and man-made objects, Regina had no reprieve during the abuse. Each crack of the belt left red marks over her thighs and stomach. It was customary for Cora to hike up her skirts or remove her outfits completely to hurt Regina where no one would see. It was common practice to have whipping boys or mead out simple spankings or even use wooden sticks to the arms, but Cora seemed to take immense pleasure in Regina's pain, pain created from the imaginative mind of a powerful and insane woman willing to do anything and everything to move her way up the royal ranks.
Three smacks of the belt to her exposed stomach happened in less than two seconds of each other. Invisibly bound to the wall by her mother's magic, Regina whimpered and tried her hardest to bite back sobs ready to tumble past her lips.
"I thought you understood what was to happen," Cora said with notable fury in her dark eyes. "Please the girl and her parents and ensure the wedding happens."
Cora adjusted her magical hold on Regina and lifted and pinned the brunette's hands on either side of her head. She squeezed and pushed them hard into the wall then slapped the belt against the outside of Regina's thigh.
Regina gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. She fought back even the tiniest noise of pain, because her expression revealed how she felt well enough. Another crack of the belt against Regina's stomach and the sting of multiple hits to the same area had Regina cry out.
"Why must you ruin everything," Cora asked. "This is a good deal for you, Regina. She's much closer to you in age than anyone else you could be paired with and I'm sure your wedding night will be more enjoyable with the princess than the brute you could otherwise end up with if this should fail."
Regina's chin almost wobbled due to the tears she continued to hold back.
"Or are you a filthy wench who likes it rough," Cora asked before she whipped the belt against her hip.
Regina squeezed her eyes shut and a little sob escaped past her lips.
Cora smacked the belt in the valley between her breasts.
Regina let out a choked whimper while she tried to keep her mouth shut so she wasn't too loud. A tear hurriedly fell down her check.
"Do you understand what needs to happen now," Cora asked while she kept the belt at the ready to hurt her, but refrained while she awaited an answer.
Regina nodded.
"Tell me the plan so I know you really do understand."
Regina took a deep breath then responded with, "Get the family to favor me over anyone else, marry the princess, make their deaths look like an accident, obtain control of the throne."
"Good girl," Cora said and cased all magic use.
Regina dropped to the floor in seconds just as the lack of magic had the same effect on the belt.
"Now redress yourself and meet us all downstairs when you're presentable."
Cora swiftly left the chamber with her head held incredibly high while Regina ached and curled into herself on the floor.
At supper, Cora intently watched Regina who was tense but on her best behavior. The brunette was seated beside the blonde while Cora sat across from them and Emma's parents were at either end of the table. Their meal was eaten in silence and the tension in the air was thick. It was awkward and not at all how Regina saw the evening going.
When Cora's attention was on something other than Regina, Emma grabbed the brunette's hand under the table. She gave it a supportive squeeze and kept her focus on Regina even though Regina kept her eyes down, fixated on the edge of the table, and avoided eye contact.
Dinner seemed to stretch on and on and while Regina didn't mind, actually even appreciated, the hand holding under the table, she wanted to flee from the room. She wanted to get as far from Cora as she could and she didn't want to play nice with the Whites. What she really wanted more than anything in that moment was to go home and see her father. Her father who had finally stood up for her against Cora and paid the price.
He wasn't ill, though his body probably couldn't withstand the trip to the Summer Palace with them as Cora had told everyone. The only difference in her story was that she forgot to mention he laid on his bed in terrible shape because of her unholy dark magic. Regina would also soon join him if she wasn't careful.
As soon as the meal was finished and Regina could finally and properly excuse herself, she darted out of the room and hurried up to her temporary chamber. During her almost sprint toward the stairs, she missed Emma's concerned expression and the way she eased her parents' fears about the odd and unlikable behavior before Emma excused herself and followed after the brunette.
Regina was about to shut the chamber door, but a kicked out foot stopped it from fully closing.
"Regina?"
Regina gasped and spun around to face Emma who looked deeply concerned as she stared straight into Regina's eyes. The intense eye contact made Regina gulp under Emma's scrutiny.
"Please," Regina quietly begged. "Leave me, Princess."
Emma shook her head and wedged her way through the door's opening and entered the room. She closed the door behind herself and Regina sighed before she crossed the chamber then sat on the edge of the bed.
Emma took a few steps closer to Regina when the brunette sat down, but she still kept half a room's worth of space between them.
"I know this isn't what either of us really wanted," Emma started to say, and she looked sad as she spoke the words, her voice slightly cracked and wavered. "But even if we don't love each other, we can be friends. A marriage between friends is better than any of our other options, isn't it?"
Regina knew she was right. She wouldn't mind being married to a friend because she could trust a friend with her life and her heart, but it wasn't the point. If Emma was indeed her friend then she definitely had to get out of the arrangement. Friends didn't let friends suffer the way Emma would if they bound themselves together.
"Maybe…maybe you still need some time to adjust," Emma continued, "but don't push me away. I will give you all the time you need to come around to the idea of our union and I want you to know…I just want to be your friend."
All the beatings Cora had doled out before dinner and Regina felt more hurt, ached in new and excruciating ways, by Emma's smallness as she professed her desire to keep Regina around even though she had no idea how much trouble the girl really was. Daniel knew. He figured out that Regina was a dark spot in his life, but he told her he understood it was because of her mother. He stuck by her, but one night when she tried to run away with him Cora had caught them. Her mother was displeased and before the woman could do anything to the stable boy she'd fallen for, she pleaded with him to run as fast and as far as he could from her.
"I love you, Daniel. That is why you have to leave. She will never stop and I don't want anything to happen to you. Go!"
He refused at first, but Cora approached and she had a twisted, sinister glint in her eyes, her lips curled into a crooked grin. Then Daniel truly feared the woman. He feared her enough to give Regina one last look with apologetic blue eyes and touched her arm as the only physical contact they could and did have before he disappeared into the forest in the dead of night.
"I don't want to leave you with her," Daniel said before he left.
"It is the only way," Regina sadly said. "She will let me live. She needs me. She doesn't need you. Please. Go."
"I love you."
Then he was gone, ran off and left Regina with a surge of cold air as he whooshed past her. Alone with her mother once again, she was strung up in the stable where she normally would tack Rocinante. She still had a scar on her upper lip to serve as a reminder of that dreadful, painful night and as a reminder not to go against Mother's wishes.
As Emma stood there a moment after her confession, Regina realized she had a choice to make. Should she tell Emma she wanted to be friends too and give the blonde princess hope that Regina didn't absolutely detest her? Or should she keep Emma at arm's length to ensure things didn't end badly for Emma and her family like things had ended bitterly the night Daniel ran?
I have to protect her, Regina thought, and her mind was then made up.
"Okay," Regina simply responded. "You want to be friends? I can't do that just yet. When you give me time to accept our betrothal, with it may come my friendship, but not before. Not just yet and maybe not ever."
Emma flashed a small but strongly hopeful smile.
"Okay," Emma agreed with a nod. "See you tomorrow."
Emma spun around and gave Regina the night to herself as she left the brunette's provided chamber.
The look on Emma's face before she left, that spark of hope, burned into Regina's mind. She would never forget that moment. No matter what happened next, she would always remember the moment Emma fell for the possibility of something that should have been good with Regina. Because Regina couldn't guarantee Emma wouldn't regret it.