A/N : Apologies for the late updated, I should be able to update more frequently soon. This is extremely short as I really just needed a filler to have them meet. Enjoy.
Sitting dreamily upon her favorite oak tree, Regina Mills stared out at the kingdom beyond. Whenever the Miller's daughter needed time to think and escape from her exhausting mother, she came to the tree. When she looked out she could see the King and Queen's castle, shining beautiful as ever. She liked to imagine she lived there, roaming the halls and sliding down banisters.
Having parents who loved her and actually cared about her future. Instead it seemed she was stuck with an alcoholic mother and an ill father.
Regina lay her head on the trunk of the tree and let out a sigh, her eyes wandering over the horizon. The greens of the forest and the blues of the sky meshed just perfectly on days like this. It was calming. As the Miller's daughter swung her legs absent mindedly, a thundering of hooves disturbed her daydream. A familiar white stallion carrying a man in a hooded cloak sped by towards the farm. A knowing grin spread across the brunette's face as she hurriedly climbed down from the majestic oak. She mounted her own chestnut coloured horse and set off, her smile not once faltering as she headed for the stables. The wind stung her face but she didn't care one bit for the prize at the end of the line was too much.
As she climbed down from the horse her father had given her before he got sick, Regina felt a million questions replace what had once been a pit of anxiety. "Daniel!" She called excitedly to the hooded figure who was currently guiding his own horse back into it's rightful place.
Regina rushed towards the man but stopped quickly when the figure turned to face her for the face she saw was not Daniel.
A dark skinned man with deep brown eyes and sullen features stared back at her almost as shocked as she. "Who are you?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he took one heavy footed step towards Regina, his hands clasped firmly around what was clearly a sword.
"I-I'm, where's Daniel?" The teenager swallowed and took a retreating step backwards, the dread returning. "Where is he?"
"He did not mention a sister."
"I'm not his sister."
"Ah." A look of understanding flashed in the man's eyes as he pulled down his hood to reveal a head of thick black hair. "I'm afraid he shan't be returning here or anywhere for that matter."
"He's dead?" The familiar feeling of anxiety returned along with the heavy weight of dread.
The man nodded solemnly and began to speak but his words never reached Regina's ears. She was already mounting her horse and bolting off into the woods before anything could be said. So many regrets and so many things she could never regret filled her mind. She never told him all she wanted and she never would be able to, all the stolen kisses and secret meetings were all for naught. All the times she had forced herself not to say I love you for fear of going to fast were now meaningless memories of something that never was. Regina jumped off of her horse when she reached her house and ran inside, tears blinding her. On the ride home she had made a decision, something she had been thinking about for a very long time. She now had a reason to go through with it. She truly had nothing to stay for.
"Regina?" Came her mother's shrill cries, "Is that you?"
Regina promptly ignored the words and grabbed an empty sack that was supposed to be filled with potatoes. She shoved in the bare essentials before running out of the house again. Once more she was on her horse and away in under a minute. The last thing she saw was Cora, her mother was standing at the door yelling a mixture of curse words and demands that would never be met.
She had been travelling for days with absolutely no purpose but to get away. The escape from the Dark One had been surprisingly easy and she couldn't help but be suspicious. After all the rumors she had heard from the guards she wasn't quite sure what to believe. After living with Rumplestiltskin for four months, Emma finally gathered up enough courage to flee the wretched little barn he had been keeping her in. Why should she slave away and be trained up like some fool whilst he sat at his spinning wheel spouting a bunch of nonsense. What little she had acquired over the months now had a home in a satchel she had managed to grab.
It held a few spell books she had never read and a various types of cheese and bread for that was all she needed. As the princess rested against a tree she closed her eyes for a moment, letting herself wonder what her parents were doing. Most likely still worrying and hoping she would return to them but she wouldn't. Not ever.
The blonde didn't stay still for long. She stood up after a few minutes and continued, ignoring the tiredness and burning thighs. As she wandered up a dirt road she rubbed her eyes and turned around to see a horse heading straight for her. With a desperate yell she jumped out of the way just in time, landing in a muddy patch of grass. "What the hell!?"
The horse has stopped and it's owner dismounted looking rather flustered. "I'm sorry! Are you okay? Crap, I'm really sorry." A young woman stepped towards Emma, a worried look evident on her face.
"It's fine." Emma muttered standing up and dusting off her clothes as she looked up at the young woman.
"Did I hit you?" The brunette asked worriedly, fidgeting with her hands habitually.
"No." The blonde muttered. "I'm okay." She was trying to get away as soon as possible.
"You look familiar.." The horse rider said, studying the princess' face carefully, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
"Have a nice day." Emma said, walking in the same direction she had come from.
"You look lost." The brunette called. "I could give you a ride."
Emma turned around, cheeks pink in a mix of embarrassment and anger. "I'm not lost."
The brunette raised an eyebrow before walking towards the blonde with a stretched out hand. "Regina Mills. I could take you where you want to go."
The blonde didn't look convinced but shook hands with the stranger anyway. "Emma." She glanced sideways for inspiration. She needed a name, Nolan was too obvious. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a flash out white feathers. "Swan. Emma Swan."
"Pleasure to meet you Miss Swan."
A/N2 : Is this too fast? Should I have better pacing? Reviews are appreciated. They really help.
