-When Destiny Decides To Strike-

1.

The sky was the purest and brightest blue on this cool morning of spring in the Enchanted Forest. The breeze was moving the leaves of the tallest and most majestic trees peacefully. The birds were singing and everything was at peace. This was the most beautiful morning since the beginning of the year.

At her balcony, a young lady with hair and eyes as dark as the moonless night was contemplating this wonderful sight. She smiled and inhaled deeply as she closed her eyes. She loved nature, she loved feeling the sun on her skin and the breeze in her hair. She felt such a peace, she felt so much love in her heart, the life in her limbs...Nothing could ever alter this moment.

"Regina!" Her mother's voice broke the silence behind her.

"There it goes..." Regina thought sighing before opening her eyes. "Mother?"

"Get ready. We are to leave in an hour."

"But mother", replied Regina, "I was thinking that I could probably ride Rocinante today. It is such a beautif..."

"Enough." Cut Cora sharply. "You won't become a queen by riding a horse all day long. You shall do as I said. Be prepared." And on that, she turned heels and walked away.

Regina was left frustrated. As per usual, Cora had succeeded in breaking her peace. Her mother never understood her. Nor listened to her for that matter. She frowned in discontent, let out an annoyed sigh and went to get dressed.

xXx

The young girl was now wearing a deep blue velvet vest with golden buttons, matched with beige fitted trousers and some black boots. Her long and beautiful black wavy hair was assembled into a big bun at the back of her head.

Cora despised the way her daughter dressed and conducted herself; she found it too simple, too peasant-y. Regularly she told her daughter how pitiful she looked with her lack of fashion sense and ambition. She was nothing like herself at her age and it frustrated her terribly!

They had arrived in the castle of some king that Regina didn't remember the name and actually she didn't care. She felt like the forest and the wind were calling her name and it distracted her, much to her mother's irritation. Nonetheless she had received a good upbringing and didn't fail the etiquette, being her charming self as always.

The king they were visiting had two sons: Paul and Gary, in their early twenties. Regina wasn't stupid, she had understood long ago that her mother was in search of a husband for her. "A young man who someday could be king!", as she said.

"But", Regina thought, "what mother doesn't know is I don't care if any man is to become king! I already know who I shall marry and be with."

Oh yes she knew. One name: Daniel. He was the only one she loved. The only one she would ever love. The one who she'd marry and be with for eternity. Her true love.

Daniel was their stable boy and she had known him since the age of eight. When she was with him, nothing else mattered. She knew he was her one and only. Daniel...Only the thought of him made her smile and she was not paying any more attention to the conversation taking place in front of her. Her eyes wandered beyond the grand window of the ball room. Far, even beyond the grand pompous garden. Far, deep in the forest...

"...all set then. Send our regards to Prince Henry.

" I will surely do that. He will be delighted to know we agreed on this alliance." Cora spoke with a voice which reflected her underlying joy and feeling of victory.

"Which alliance?", said suddenly Regina rousing from her torpor.

King Brutus (she had heard her mother say it multiple times) and her mother laughed at her question and confused face. The former walked towards her and took her hands into his.

"Dear, we are most delighted to welcome you into our family. I am sure my Paul will make you happy.", he said with a big smile.

Regina was staring blankly at him, eyes wide in astonishment. Had she heard correctly?

"What is King Brutus talking about mother? Is this some kind of joke?" The young girl asked turning to Cora.

"Surely it isn't sweetheart" Her mother smiled. But underneath her smile, Regina could sense her mother's underlying threat.

"It definitely IS a joke. A very bad one!" Regina retorted while backing away from the king in horror. "This is not happening. I must be dreaming...no no.. not dreaming...I'm having a nightmare!"

Cora was now really angry whereas King Brutus' eyebrows were frowned.

"Regina! Behave yours.."

"NO MOTHER! How dare you? How could you?...I'm not some object you can sell as you please! I have feelings you know!" Regina shouted. "I refuse this union."

"Oh no young lady. You will not..."

"I'm sorry King Brutus. Truly sorry that you had to deal with my mother and be lured and fooled by her. I cannot oblige, I am sorry." Regina said with determination and a calmer voice. "Prince Paul, I apologize to you as well. This wedding is not happening."

On that, Regina started walking towards the door in front of three astonished pairs of eyes and a furious one. She didn't get to reach the door that she was caught at the elbow by her mother and turned around. In a blink of an eye she felt her mother's hand on her cheek. Tears started escaping her dark eyes as she put a hand on where she had felt the slap. She looked up at her mother with fury in her look. Without waiting she ran as fast as she could towards the door and outside towards the deep forest. She ran as if her life depended on it! She could feel the warm tears falling on her cheeks as they blurred her vision.

When she felt she was far enough from her mother and the deepest possible into the forest, she fell on her knees and into the grass, and then all hell broke loose. She let out all her frustration and pain, and burst into tears.

She was having difficulties to breathe since her sobs were shaking her body uncontrollably. Tears kept falling on her cheeks and hands. She could feel the wind around her blowing in the trees, could smell the forest, all those things that she normally loved and that could soothe her. But nothing worked this time. She couldn't control her emotions anymore and she truly began to struggle to breathe. She was starting panicking when she heard steps not very far in the distance. She rose her head up and saw a silhouette walking towards her, but as she did, she felt dizzy. Everything lost shape and she slowly lost consciousness, falling on the grass.


Hello everybody! :) My name is Sarah. I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. This is my first fic and I'm French so sorry if i made any mistakes. Let me know if you liked it and think i should better up some things in the writing. Also, i think i'll be uploading maybe once or twice a week because i don't write very fast as it's been a looong time since i've written in English. Talk to you soon! :D