A single plume of smoke rising above the tree line.
That was what began the debate guaranteed to make their task take twice as long as it usually would have.
Regina was out on one of the monthly patrols with Prince Charming, their recently formed cadre of knights, and the woodsmen. One of the security precautions they took to make sure her wicked sister stayed away.
The knight who spotted the sign had come over to inform her and David. As Charming set to questioning the knight the other members of their party, who had been combing the woods in a close spread, began to drift in to see what was happening.
"Does anyone live in this area?" Charming asked, turning to Robin Hood.
"Not that I'm aware," Hood answered, "My men and I rarely came this close to the castle when the Wicked Witch inhabited it. No one did. The danger of flying monkeys was too great. I cannot imagine anyone living in these woods."
"A drifter maybe?" his hulking second in command suggested, "Come into the area now that it's safe?"
"We ought to go see who it is," Charming said.
Regina sighed, "We're investigating forest dwelling hermits now?"
"We don't know who it is," the shepherd argued, "It might be the Wicked Witch."
Rolling her eyes she pointed out, "The Wicked Witch wouldn't just light a fire that could be seen from a distance...not unless she had a motive for doing so. Something more than just staying warm! If that is her, it's most likely a trap that we'd be walking right into by investigating!"
"It might be someone who is in danger," he argued, "And if it is a trap isn't it better that we know?"
She sighed, but agreed, "Fine."
Grouping together they tracked the fire to across the river that ran along the west side of the estate. Luckily there was a bridge less than a mile from their location, but, as they arrived, they found that it was old a rickety as anything.
Pushing his way to the front of the group, Prince David Nolan carefully put his boot out on the first slat, pressing down with a few namby-pamby steps.
"It's pretty unstable," he stated the obvious as he pulled his foot back, "We ought to try it with the lightest person in our group first."
At the suggestion, he glanced not so subtly in her direction. Crossing her arms she stepped up to study the mess of ropes and wood.
"Are you going to actually say that you mean me, or are you hoping I'll be noble and volunteer?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow. She didn't wait for an answer, though, before turning to the bridge and gripping the edge of the rope.
"Wait," Robin Hood jumped in, "One of my Merry Men can go instead."
Turning to the group he motion to a young man at the back. He was nearly as tall as Hood himself, but the smooth, paleness of his cheeks belied his youth. He couldn't have been any older than 14.
"Young Peter is quite adept at climbing, and at getting into spaces the rest of us cannot," he explained, "Nor can he be much heavier than you, m'lady."
She had to admit that he was probably right about the last part. The boy was so skinny he looked like he'd be knocked over by a gentle breeze. However, if there was anything she needed less than the "charming" prince, it was a would-be white knight.
Frowning, she drew herself up, "I don't require the assistance of thieves...or children!"
Young Peter looked quite indignant at the declaration, but Hood took the barb with the same aggravating serenity he always did.
As she turned back to the bridge David jumped in, in a show of last minute chivalry, to suggest that they should tie a rope around her waist just to be safe. Her only response was to send both of them a glare that could freeze the sun itself, toss her cape out of the way, and began across.
The bridge swayed and creaked under her, but she was determined not to show any nervousness.
Moving slowly but steadily to keep her balance, she ignored how her spike heels sunk into the soft, water-damaged wood with every step. A breath of relief did escape her, however, as she got to the last few steps. Unfortunately, it was at that point that her weight put too much strain on one of the moldy, moss covered ropes that held the bridge to the wooden posts at the other end. It groaned and creaked right before snapping. Luckily, she'd seen the frayed bit and was immediately ready with her magic to re-tie it before the bridge could tilt and dump her off the side. With two quick steps she hopped onto solid ground and turned back. On the other bank their entire group of a nearly two dozen men were staring at her wide-eyed.
Smirking in triumph, she stepped over to the edge of the bank and hit the bridge with a blast of magic that restored the rotted ropes and wood to a like-new condition.
"Safe enough for you?" she called across the water sarcastically.
Rolling his eyes, David began making his way across the bridge followed by the rest of the group on his heels. She laughed as the rope bridge stirred and bounced under the plodding footsteps of so many graceless men, causing them to grip the railings in alarm and knock into each other.
David and Robin Hood were just weaving their way to the edge as she turned to begin climbing back up the bank. It was only a gentle slope down to the edge, but then it quickly gave way to a 6 foot drop. She made it only one step before the ground shifted under her feet. Realizing what was happening, she called her magic to poof herself up to safety. Before the smoke surrounded her, though, the edge of the soggy bank gave out sending her plummeting into the water below.
The cold hit every inch of her body even through her leather clothing, and the river was so muddy she could not even see her flailing hands in front of her face as she clawed at the water. Feeling herself being dragged under, her lungs burned as she struggled to hold her breath. Just as a scream escaped her lips, a hand grasped her arm and began hauling her up. She scrambled to grab onto it, digging her nails into hard muscles and pulling herself up.
She breached the surface with sputtering coughs, grabbing onto her rescuer frantically. The two bobbed for a second before slamming into a rock. Instinctively she squeezed her arms around his neck as tightly as she could.
"Careful!" a voice choked out.
Realizing that they had stopped drifting thanks his having grabbed onto the rock, she turned her head and found herself staring right into Robin Hood's face, watching muddy water run down from his hair.
Eyes widening in mortification, she quickly summoned her magic. When the two of them landed in the middle of their group they were as dry and put together as if nothing had happened. Quickly pushing away from him, she brushed herself off. Ignoring the inquiries as to whether they were alright, she started storming toward the tree line.
"If we want to be back before dark we should get on with this!" she stated, clenching her firsts to hide the fact that her hands were shaking.
* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *
In the end they found a smoldering campfire, but no signs of who it belonged to. The discovery, along with the incident at the bridge, made for a tense and sober trek back to the castle.
Regina was certain she'd hear all about what happened from Snow within an hour of getting back. With so many witnesses, no way would the gossip would fail to spread.
However, at dinner the younger woman acted the same as always. She still couldn't see how the princess would have not heard about what happened, so, Regina surmised, she was simply choosing not to mention it.
Later that night, after she retired to her chambers, she laid in bed fitfully, sleep evading her as thoughts drifted around her mind.
She kept flashing back to being surrounded on all sides by dark muddy water, and being unable to escape it. Until Hood pulled her to the surface, she hadn't even had the chance to think of calling on her magic. Moreover, the fact that he got to her so quickly told her that he must have jumped in almost immediately.
Turning back over to face the other side of her chamber, she tried not to think too deeply about that one.
It did bother her, however, the he had dealt so adeptly with something that she hadn't been able to handle.
She sighed in dismay at such an unexpected feeling of weakness as she let herself sink into her pillow.
* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *
Regina took a deep breath as she watched across the courtyard where Hood was discussing something or other with his men.
Honestly, what did they do all day?
She faced the other side of the courtyard as the men started to disperse. The big, dumb, blond one standing at Hood's shoulder caught sight of her before she turned away. Thankfully, he was very dumb, and didn't seem interested in doing anything besides glaring suspiciously.
Narrowing her eyes, she returned the glare as she looked away. Holding her head high, she stared resolutely at the wall on the other side of the courtyard. Around her the woodsmen drifted off one by one, tramping across the stones in muddy boots, and chatting animatedly with one another.
When she glanced back over Hood was standing alone with his son. Her breath was shaky as she drew her next one.
Regina clenched her fists and started making her way across the cobblestones.
Her heels clicked loudly as she approached, but Hood remained facing away from her.
She cleared her throat loudly.
"Something I can help you with, Your Majesty?" he asked.
Hood languidly turned to face her. He had his usual open, easy, and vaguely prideful look on his face. It annoyed her so much.
Drawing herself to her full height she began to speak, "It only seems fair that I...acknowledge what you did yesterday."
Hood raised his eyebrows, a smile spreading across his lips, "Was that a 'thank you'?"
Regina gritted her teeth and grudgingly answered, "Yes."
"Well, I appreciate that," he said, "Though, it was no trouble."
She rolled her eyes, "You're taking your pride a bit far, thief."
"My pride?" he asked in amusement.
She drew a breath, "I came here to thank you for risking your life by going into the river after me, that's all."
"No thanks are necessary for that," his words stopped her.
She nodded stiffly, starting back across the courtyard.
"Perhaps, next time, an outfit more suited to scouting would be wise," Hood said.
Whirling around, she blinked at him indignantly. Had he really just had the gall to criticize her clothing?
"How dare you?" she growled, "Who do you think you are?"
He sighed, "I simply meant for the sake your safety-"
"I don't see how a wardrobe change would save me from drowning!" she snapped angrily. Hood, however, simply looked at her in confusion.
"Surely you cannot think that all of your..." he motioned slightly awkwardly to her leather garb, "Is easy to swim in?"
Regina blinked, and, to her own surprise, she found herself answering, "I wouldn't know. I don't swim."
"Ah," he nodded understandingly, "Well it's a good thing I was there, then."
She rolled her eyes as his arrogant side came out, "Yes, very lucky you've chosen to live in the woods like an animal."
"Papa?" a small voice interrupted. Glancing over she saw a pair of dark eyes staring at them apprehensively. Regina sucked in a breath as any feelings of satisfaction at her barb having landed disappeared upon realizing that she'd forgotten the presence of his son. His son who was now looking between her and his father wide-eyed because he was scared of her.
Of course, he was scared of her. All children were scared of her...all except one, and even he had been at one time.
Hood rested his hand on his son's head reassuringly, "It's alright Roland, Her Majesty and I were just talking."
Leaning against his father's side Roland asked curiously, "You don't know how to swim, Your Majesty?"
Hood cleared his throat uncomfortably, "Roland, what have I told you about eavesdropping on adult conversations?"
A sarcastic speculation that it was a good skill for his future career as a thief jumped to her tongue, but she repressed the urge to voice it.
"Sorry, Papa," Roland looked down.
Hood stroked his hair in thanks, but didn't let the boy off the hook yet, "Also a question like that isn't appropriate."
"Why?" the boy asked.
Regina bit her lip at the aggravated look on the outlaw's face. She remembered when Henry was that age, and that question had also been his favorite one.
"It just isn't," the archer answered, "I think you owe Her Majesty an apology."
"Sorry, Your Majesty," Roland said obediently, but then continued on, "I was just surprised someone so old wouldn't know how to swim. Papa taught me when I was only three!"
"Roland!" Hood hissed. This time she couldn't stop the chuckle from escaping her lips as he glanced back at her nervously. A flush was even spreading across his cheeks.
She was surprised, though. A three year old child learning how to swim? That seemed so young.
The thought brought her back to memories of Henry again. This time it was a memory of long ago when he was about four.
That summer she'd been given a gym flier by one of Storybrooke's many busybodies, and informed that children's swim lessons were starting soon. At first, she'd thought simply to throw it in the trash, but reconsidered.
It hadn't been on her radar because swimming was certainly not something that she'd been taught as a child.
Although she could recall walking along the countryside during warm summers, and seeing children from the local village playing in the lake; running naked into the water and splashing each other freely, the older ones diving underneath, only to pop-up from the water like sea monsters and startle their playmates. It looked like so much fun, but, by then, Regina was old enough to know, even without Cora's hand firmly guiding her along the path, that she would not be allowed to join in something like that.
Those children were peasants. Beneath her. Such a display would be inappropriate.
Things were very different in the Land Without Magic, though, and, after extensive research on the internet, she'd come to the conclusion that her child knowing how to swim was far safer than not.
She'd signed Henry up for lessons the next day.
A smile spread across her lips as she remembered standing waist deep in an indoor pool trying to coax Henry off the edge with promises that she would catch him...then, finally, the determined look on his face as he leapt into her arms, both of them giggling as she pulled him up out of the water.
The memory tugged at her heart, re-opening wounds that had barely begun to heal. As she tried to ignore the painful lump in her throat, another memory from that day drifted to the front of her mind. The moment when she'd first stepped into the pool herself.
The swim instructor had assured them that they wouldn't be venturing into any sections deeper than 4 feet, and it was far from the first time she'd ever been in water. In fact, she'd totally submerged herself on a few occasions. It was the first time she had without the aid of magic, though. It had given her pause, but, for Henry's sake, she pushed the nervousness aside.
Since then she hadn't made any effort to learn to swim herself. It hadn't seemed necessary. She would have said that magic made up for the skill...though, the previous day had very much proven that assumption wrong.
"When I was your age, Roland, little girls weren't taught to swim," Regain explained.
"Why?"
"It's not lady-like," she answered, repeating her mother's words.
"That's silly," the boy giggled.
Hood sighed resignedly, "Roland, why don't you go play over by the apple tree?"
Smiling, he immediately began skipping off toward her tree, waving his toy sword as he went.
"Sorry," Hood muttered when he was out of an earshot.
"No, actually, he's right. The idea that a girl's worth would be harmed by learning a skill she might actually benefit from is silly," Regina said ruefully. Noticing the outlaw's surprised expression she explained, "Things were very different in the Land Without Magic."
"So I've heard," he nodded.
She smirked. Yes, she supposed he would have. For a group that was ready to tear her limb from limb when the curse broke, those who had lived in Storybrooke certainly spent an inordinate amount of time complaining about how much they missed it.
Regina swallowed hard. Even though she knew it was pointless, she tried not to let memories of Henry cut too deeply.
"You know..." the thief began, but slowly trailed off.
Turning to him, she raised her eyebrow, "Yes?"
"If you wanted to learn it's not too late," he commented.
"Learn...to swim?" she questioned.
As he nodded in the affirmative, Regina turned to him, "Are you..."
"Yes?" he repeated her inquiry.
Drawing herself up she asked steadily, "Are you offering to teach me to swim?"
He waited for a long moment, meeting her eyes before finally responding, "If you wish."
She looked at him. An offer like that would have been a little unusual even in Storybrooke, but here...it stretched the bounds of propriety so much as to completely eliminate them. Of course, perhaps that shouldn't be surprising coming from the most infamous thief in the land.
Before she really even realized what she was saying, the words fell from her mouth, "Alright."