AU: Believing to be on the heels of Snow White, the evil queen is thrown from her horse during a dangerous and strong storm. She is found by Robin Hood who takes her to a cabin he and his son are using as a temporary shelter and nurses her. Outlaw Queen. Thank you to beta Slynn6776.
Chapter One
"Did you not hear me, Captain? Your queen gave you an order!" Regina yelled, dumbstruck at the incompetence of her army's leaders.
The captain was not ignorant of the queen's wrath but he knew the coming storm on the horizon was to be a powerful one, heading off into the forest now would absolutely get his men injured or killed. "Your Highness, please look over the hills, that storm will be here right after sunset. You can see the lightning flashes from here-"
"That storm will be nothing if you choose to disobey me." Regina glared into the man's eyes. He waivered and looked away. She sneered, she could practically smell his cowardice. "Fine, give me your horse."
"You-you're majesty?"
Without anyone helping her up, she climbed up on the captain's mount. The horse buckled a bit but her time with Daniel allowed her to know how to deal with a skittish horse. Daniel. His memory registered and she was going to be damned rather than let Snow White get away. "Men, draw your weapons and listen!"
The other men glanced at each other, obviously not wishing to do what she commanded. She vowed to get their names later as they would be punished severely. "Reports of an outlaw bandit have come to me and I am positive it is Snow White. Finally, we can catch her and I'm not going to let a little rainfall stop me from this!"
Looking over the group of them, she could actually see shuddering at her words. One of the soldiers looked at the captain for help. Regina pointed at him and a blast of magic knocked the man to the ground. "Anyone else wish to hesitate?" Immediately the men got into formation, including the cowardly captain.
"Now boys, follow me!" Taking her horse, she rode off with the men running behind.
An hour later, the rains were on top of them and it was difficult to see anything. Though sunset was still several minutes away, the dark clouds completely blocked out the light. Regina used magic to keep her face clear, so she could see into the rain. Glancing back, the men were lagging some distance behind. Creating a fireball, she threw it just in front of them and they jumped back. "Come, we are getting closer!"
"Your Majesty" came a voice from the group of men. They were too far away to pinpoint exactly who. "We must turn back. The storm is getting worse. Please!"
Regina fought back the urge to throw another fireball. She stared out ahead of her. The trees were getting thicker and the trail she was on becoming quite muddy. The horse was struggling. Perhaps they were right after all.
Just then a lightning flash lit up the area and she saw something dangling from a branch about 20 feet away. Using her magic, she commanded it to fly to her. Upon catching it, she looked it over and her lips curled in a triumphant sneer. "You see, you cowards! Leather from a hooded cloak! Just like Snow wears! She came this very way. How dare you try to stop me just as I'm about to finally catch the princess!" She didn't wait for an answer from them. She took off into the darkness. The men watched as her form shrank in the distance. While they knew the queen might have their heads for disobeying, she'd have to wait and kill them after the storm had passed.
Meanwhile the horse was not happy about the journey. It fought her as the forest closed around them. Her eyes scanned the trees but the wind was pushing them so hard they were practically bending over. The noise of a tree falling set her on edge and using another fireball, she looked ahead of her path. Cursing, she saw the fallen tree was now blocking the path. Turning around, she planned on telling the guards to follow her, but they were nowhere to be seen. Eyes narrowing, she realized the cowards had retreated. They would regret it.
Maneuvering the horse, she worked around the edge of the tree, it was bigger than she thought. Branches were scratching her but she paid little attention. Finally a lightning strike mere feet away took her by surprise as well as her steed. The horse leaped up and because she wasn't expecting it, she was thrown off. Her body came down at an awkward angle and she felt her head hitting bark, not to mention the rest of her body hitting several branches. She looked in the direction of the horse but it had already galloped away.
"Stupid animal," she cried. Standing up, she tried to walk but dizziness overtook her. Reaching towards her head, she felt blood and she attempted to heal her wound. But because of the amount of magic she had already used that night, and healing was never one of her strengths, she was unable to do so. Fumbling around her, she tried to look for a drier place but now the wind was hitting her straight in the face making the rain strike like pellets. As she stepped, she stumbled and felt herself falling. She rolled down what must be a hill and landed painfully on her side.
Laying there, she thought maybe it was time to just let it go. She could die here. Nobody would miss her, and the forest would be a place that her mother would hate so that was fitting. She relaxed, allowing her body to give into the fatigue. Just as she was to pass out, she heard some noise, and wondered if any large animals hunted on such a night.
Strong hands picked her up and she could make out a voice…a man's voice. She felt herself lifted and some sort of fabric being skirted around her. She made a half hearted attempt to tell the stranger to unhand her, but she was so tired and the noise of the storm drowned out her words.
"Roland, get out of the way, son." Robin came into the cabin, soaked to the bone, the woman in his arms.
"Who is it, Papa?" his son asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
Robin didn't know, so he didn't answer. Lowering her to the bed in the corner, he unwrapped her. The torn leather cloak had provided little protection to wear normally, but it was still useful to shield her from the onslaught of the hard rain. Robin had never seen such a storm like this.
Kneeling down besides the woman, Robin tried to get a look at her injuries. He could barely make out her form in the darkness when she disappeared and then he knew she had fallen. The tumble she had taken down the hill had to have hurt but luckily, for the moment, none of her injuries jumped out as serious. When he touched her head, he felt the warmth of the blood and cursed under his breath.
"Roland! Grab those linens over there!" His son ran quickly to the other corner. The cabin they found to take shelter hadn't been lived in for awhile but many domestic objects had been left behind. Taking the fabric, Robin dipped it into the water he had placed over the fire. He was going to have to take care to stop her bleeding.
She flinched as he touched her. Roland ran over and asked what was the matter with her. "She fell out there in the woods. You were right when you said you heard shouting, my boy." Roland smiled proud he had been useful. Of course Robin couldn't tell him he dared to leave the security of the cabin to verify there was no immediate danger from whomever was outside. The cabin provided protection from the storm but it would offer little protection against an enemy.
The woman flinched under Robin's touch and he was glad to see she was partially conscious. His eyes took notice of her wardrobe. She was wearing clothing tailored very specifically for her form in expensive fabrics. She was a woman of means. Reaching down to his pocket, Robin checked to verify the jewelry was still there. He hadn't planned on stealing from her, well not yet, but her bracelet had been rubbing his shoulder as he carried her and he chose to remove it. Pulling it out, he gasped, the item was very opulent, probably one of the most expensive items he'd ever seen in a long, long time.
"Papa, her feet are wet, we need to warm them!" His son had ran to the woman's boots and tried to pull them off. Robin smiled, his son had learned how to properly warm in front of a fire and was trying to help the lady along.
"Easy, Roland, here let me." Removing her boots, Robin placed them near the fire. Standing up, he let his eyes gaze on her face. She was a noble woman, no doubt. But why would she be this far into the forest on her own? She was shouting so perhaps she became separated from her riding party. Roland approached her and pointed at her hands which were gloved. Nodding his permission, he watched as the young lad removed them carefully. She shuddered but did not wake.
Robin took them from his son and was shocked when he got a closer look. Sewed into the sticking was pearls, actual pearls. Tailored attire was one thing, but to embed jewelry right into the cloth was usually the hallmark of the richest and most notorious woman of the realm. With horror Robin realized he had just rescued the evil queen!
Curious to see how much response this gets. I know Roland is probably a bit too old for the timeline but it's an AU anyway so why not. Please review as comments help me write faster (and more often).