Hi Everyone. This is my idea of what happened to Cora's mother. I hope you enjoy reading it! In the first chapter you will get a little sneak peek of not just Cora's childhood, but also the origins of Regina's beloved apple tree. Like I said, I hope you enjoy reading it and let me know what you think.
Chapter 1: Once Upon A Time
It was a sunny, spring afternoon in the Enchanted Forest. The sky a bright robins egg blue everything was peaceful and calm. Over the many hills and valleys lay a large estate owned by the Mills family. The Mills family was well known in the Enchanted Forest, because Henry's father had been the king many years ago. Henry, the youngest of five older brothers, was last in line to succeed the throne. Henry; however, was not too upset by it. He preferred to live a more quiet and solitary life something in which his wife, Cora, felt the complete opposite.
Cora did not have the easiest of upbringings. Being the daughter of a miller was something she did not like to recollect. Her father had been a heavy drinker and it was Cora who'd wind up doing most of the labor. Working hard was something Cora was use to, but she was not about to let that hardship fall upon her daughter, Regina.
Cora would watch her daughter like a hawk. No matter where Regina was or what she was doing, Cora could not take her eyes off of her for more than a second. The girl was a lot like herself when she was eight: independent and headstrong. Cora couldn't help but smirk at the thought when her own mother would scold her for wandering off.
Cora letting out a deep sigh as she wandered through her rose garden; Regina, who had been walking beside her in silence, glanced up at her mother. Noticing the sadness in her eyes, something Regina rarely ever saw, she gave her mother's hand a comforting squeeze.
"What is it, my love?" Cora asked softly.
"Oh," Regina started to blush. She had not expected her mother to speak (Cora's rule for walking in the gardens were two big things: no running and absolute silence). Regina swallowing thickly, unable to come up with any words to say, she quickly averted her eyes over towards a pair of white roses.
"Regina, haven't I taught you it is impolite not to answer someone when they are speaking to you?"
Picking up the sternness in her mother's voice, even though it was rather gentle, Regina slowly drifted her eyes back up to meet her mother's hard gaze.
"I-I was just wondering..." she swallowed again, finding her throat quite dry. Those eyes. Those hard, focused eyes.
Quickly dropping her gaze, Regina felt a knot forming in the pit of her stomach. Why had she even bothered to open her mouth?! Wanting to kick herself in the rear, she felt her mother return her squeeze. Surprised by this, Regina came to a sudden halt as her mother stopped in front of a purple flower.
Cora releasing Regina's hand, she bent down taking in a long inhale of the gorgeous flower. Regina curious as to why her mother seemed interested in this particular flower, she leaned her head close to it as well.
"What is that, Mother?" she asked in a small voice.
Cora smiled, allowing her daughter a chance to take in its scent.
"It's called, Lady Luck. It is quite a rare flower here in the Enchanted Forest. Did you know the petals are used to create magical elixirs that can heal any kind of infection?"
Regina unable to smell any difference between that flower and the roses, she wasn't about to tell this to her mother. Standing up straight, Regina stared at her mother, continuing to notice that sad look in her eyes. Had she done something wrong? Or was her mother just tired from all the traveling she had done all last week?
"Regina, are you listening to me child?" Cora snapped harshly.
"Yes, Mother," she said, unconvincingly. Her mother could always tell when she was daydreaming.
"Then what did I just say?" she said, placing her hands upon her hips.
Regina's shoulders dropping, knowing she could not answer her mother's question; Cora let out a sigh, shaking her head.
"Honestly, Regina."
"I'm sorry, Mother," she muttered, feeling like a complete fool.
Regina hating to let her mother down, she desperately wanted to redeem herself. As the two continued around the garden, Regina began to point out different flowers, explaining what they were used for and where they originated. Cora nodding her head occasionally, even allowing a smile to appear on her face: Regina's spirits, and confidence was once again lifting.
"...And that right there is Poison Tongue. Although its name may deter people from using it, it is actually quite useful to ward off pesky mosquitoes."
"I'm impressed, sweetie. I see you have been keeping up on your reading." Regina smiling happily at her mother's praise, it quickly faded when Cora continued: "I shall see to it your father buys you the next volume in the collection. If I recall there are nearly twenty in total."
"Twenty?" Regina said, her eyes bugging right out of her head.
Cora grinning down at her, Regina felt as though her mother had just pulled the rug right out from underneath her. The truth was Regina hadn't read any of the boring flower books. The only reason she knew about the Poison Tongue was from her personal maid, Agatha. Agatha, an older woman with white hair, had given Regina some of it before she had gone outside the other day. Agatha also told Regina about the different flowers she had spotted roaming around the garden.
"Yes," Cora mused. "I think that will keep you busy for a few months to come."
"Yes, Mother. Thank you," she replied cheerlessly.
Regina silently following her mother once again, feeling rather guilty for lying, she also felt slightly angry that her mother always seemed to be able to see right through her. Was it possible she knew exactly what she was thinking? Could Cora perhaps know what she was thinking at that very moment?
"Regina," Cora's voice cut through the air like a knife, causing Regina to jump about ten feet.
"Y-yes, Mother?"
Cora suddenly stopping, spinning right around on her heels, she raised her hand into the air. Regina flinching at the action; Cora surprised her by gently placing her hand down upon the top of Regina's head, tucking a few strands of her hair behind her ear. Having momentarily closed her eyes, Regina glanced up at her mother perplexed. What was going on with her today? Regina only knew two sides of her mother: waspish and gregarious. Cora's mood was nothing to trifle with, and if she was ever in a foul mood: watch out! That being said, Cora could also show a caring side.
Continuing to run her hand through her daughter's hair, Cora's eyes started to glaze over as her thoughts drifted to her own mother.
My Cora. You're going to leave this rundown old mill one day and become known throughout the land. The people will kneel before you, and kings will wage wars to win over your heart.
Really, Mother? You think so?
I do. I believe you will rule your own kingdom where there will be talking flowers; a cat who is quite clever, and can also disappear and reappear out of thin air; and a mad man who will have tea parties all day, everyday.
A mad man throwing tea parties all day?!
That's right, dear. And there will be all kinds of celebrations and parties just in your honor.
"Mother?"
Cora coming back to her senses, noticing Regina was staring up at her with a troubled look, she quickly released her hand from her daughter's hair.
"Come along, darling. There is something I must show you."
Regina quite curious at this, she remained by her mother's side as they finally exited out of the large garden: into a small open field. Half expecting to see her father standing in the field with a horse (Regina had overheard her parent's talking about purchasing her a horse for her next birthday), she was surprised to see a large apple tree. The apples redder than any tomato or strawberry, Regina followed her mother right up to it.
"Is this for me?" she finally asked, watching her mother examining a few of the apples.
"Yes, sweetheart. This tree had grown close to where I lived when I was a little girl. Believe it or not it once produced magical apples that, when wished upon, would grant anyone their utmost desires. Unfortunately, the magic has long since dried up. The apples that now grow from the tree are commonplace."
Regina beginning to reach for an apple, Cora swiftly caught her wrist in midair.
"You must not be careless when you pick an apple. You must twist the apple off the branch with care. If you were to yank it from its branch you'd kill the root, thus causing no other apple to grow from it," Cora explained, releasing her grip off Regina's wrist. "Watch how I do it."
Regina watched closely as her mother gingerly twisted the apple from its branch.
"Now you try," she said.
Nodding her head, Regina imitated the same movement as Cora had just done. Staring at the flawless apple with wide eyes, Regina placed it right up to her nose. Taking in its sweet scent, Regina was fully tempted to take a bite; however, she stopped herself glancing over at her mother to see if she had eaten hers.
"Go on, Regina," her mother encouraged, noticing her hesitance.
"Aren't you going to eat yours?" Regina asked, still a bit unsure about taking a bite.
Cora chuckling at her question; causing Regina to blush a deep pink, Cora then took a bite from her apple. Never once taking her eyes off her mother's face as she chewed and then swallowed; Regina slowly sunk her teeth into the apples flesh. Never before having eaten something so sweet, Regina devoured her apple (only to receive a reprimand from Cora for eating it in a 'unladylike fashion').
Regina circling around the tree, wondering how old it was, she occasionally eyed Cora: who kept her hawk-like eyes upon her. Quickly averting her gaze back up at the tree, a thought suddenly registered to her.
"Mother, how did the tree get here?"
Cora responded instantly: "Magic."
Realizing she should have guessed that, Regina rested her hand upon the base of the tree. To her surprise it was quite smooth, instead of being bumpy and hard. Running her hand up and down it, she jumped slightly to feel the tree quiver. Unsure if it was the wind or perhaps her imagination, Regina's eyes rested upon the spot where she had plucked her apple. Noticing a new apple had already taken its place; she couldn't help but start to giggle.
Cora pleased to see her daughter seemed to like the tree, she started to walk over towards a small, white bench. Taking a seat, she let out a deep sigh, staring up at the cloudless sky. Not noticing Regina quietly take a seat beside her, her daughter then rested her head upon her shoulder. Cora looking down at her, Regina remained silent, staring right up into her eyes.
"My Regina," she said, with a small smile. "You're going to leave this estate one day and become known throughout the land. The people will kneel before you, and kings will wage wars to win over your heart."
"Really, Mother? You think so?" Regina replied with a yawn.
"I do. I promise you, you will rule this entire kingdom one day and become the greatest queen there ever was."
Regina just smiling at her mother as she started to close her eyes, Cora began to stroke her hair, her expression stately. There were no two ways about it. Regina would become queen, no matter the cost. She wanted only the best for her child, and to be queen would give Regina everything. Just as Cora's own mother had hoped for her.
Father? Father what's going on? Where's Mother? Has she gone to deliver the flour? Father?
Cora, we must leave now! Hurry and pack only what provisions ye need.
Father, please tell me what's going on? Why must we leave? Has something happened? Is it about Mother?
Hush now, child! Hurry and pack ye're things! We must leave at once, ye hear me?! At once!
Feeling a gentle breeze blow straight against her face, Cora took in a deep, shaky breath. Why were all these blasted memories resurfacing? Knowing it couldn't have been the tree, for she had been around to visit it on numerous occasions, Cora was feeling increasingly worse as the minutes passed.
It had been a very long time since she had thought about her mother, Emily. Her father had never told her exactly what had happened to her mother, but whatever it was had brought on his drinking problem. The man had always been drunk on a daily basis, and Cora had to endure his wrath. If she were to step out of line or fail to finish a task he would give her a good beating. Children are like animals. He would say. By correcting the problem with force, they will not make the same mistake twice. Cora indeed never made the same mistakes twice. She had learned much from her father, and in order to survive one could not be weak. This is what she wanted to instill in her own child. In order to survive, one could not have any weaknesses. By allowing oneself to give in to their emotions, their goals to achieve greatness would only end in failure. Cora knew her daughter was weak, and the time was quickly approaching that she would need to teach Regina how to be strong.
The girl, like her father, was far too kind. She preferred peace over conflict and was much too forgiving. Peace and forgiveness. Those two words made Cora cringe.
Regina resting her hand upon her mother's, Cora was half tempted to push her away. Staring down at Regina, who was now sound asleep, Cora found she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Perhaps she, too, was still weak. After all, she was only human and there was always room for more growth.