Regina's Choice - Chapter Three
Regina sat through all her royal duties the following day, with a polite expression and demeanor, anxiously awaiting the night activities. She had felt this anxiousness almost every day since she had started visiting the tavern, but today was worse. She would see the man that the pixie dust had said would be her true love. Was she ready? She had to be. She was nervous, but hopefully, she would relax soon.
When the king finally dismissed her, she hurried to her private chamber first. There was a risk in her leaving earlier than the other nights, if anyone came to her room, they would be straight to the king. Then she would have a lot to get through when she came home. So she enchanted her door, it won't open for anyone, and if anyone asks, I'll say I was asleep and... the door was jammed? She'll worry about that when the time came.
With butterflies in her stomach, and her mind buzzing with what ifs and maybe I shouldn't go's, she teleported herself to the tavern once more. It was 7pm, Marnie said they usually started a lot earlier than this but this was as early as she could make it. The crowd was out the door. Marnie was outside, serving stew to the locals who couldn't fit inside. Marnie noticed her and waved her over with an excited smile. When Regina reached her Marnie took her hand and start pulling her through the crowd.
''Marn, there's gonna be no seats left in here, look at the crowd?''
''Yes well working here does give some privledges'' she said as she gestured to what seemed like two seats in the front row of a circular shaped gathering.
Marnie pushed her way through the crowd confidently and took one of the seats, and Regina, the other. There was a large group of men in the centre of the circle, all huddled together, facing away from everyone else. It looked like they were preparing something. Realising what was happening, and who was in front of her, Regina's heart start racing and she could feel the blood racing through her cheeks.
Any one of them could be him! I'm going to get to see him. Hear him speak. I wonder what he sounds like. I wonder what one is him. No time to change my mind now.
Suddenly everyone was cheering. The men had turned around with triumphant looks on their faces. There was a large chest behind them. Regina felt a sudden push behind her as everyone in the back rows strained to see the men. Regnina examined the men, one was very large, and wide, with long dark brown frizzy hair. His garments were ratty and brown, it looked like he had been wearing them.
The man standing beside him, was much smaller in comparison, but still, larger than Regina. He had brownish gold hair, and he was quite tan. He was dressed a bit more stylishly than the previous man, his clothes were more clean and his cloak was fastened with a gold emblem that she couldn't make out. He was extremely attractive and Regina couldn't help but notice. But the thing that struck Regina the most was the eyes, warm eyes, that Regina couldn't help but stare at. It was only after a few moments passed that Regina noticed that the eyes were looking straight back at her and smiling slightly! Oh my gods! Regina looked away quickly, looking at her twiddling fingers on her lap and feeling the blood rush to her cheeks. What am I doing? I'm here to find Robin Hood, with the lion tattoo.
She looked up once more, determined not to look at the smiling man again. She looked around at the other men, she tried to notice every little detail of the other men, but couldn't concentrate. She felt the eyes of the smiling man on her face at all times. She risked a glance back in his direction when the large man started to speak about what glories they have for the people this week. When she caught the eyes of the man again, his smile got larger, exposing glistening white teeth. The large mans speech, who apparantly was called Little John, according to Marnie, was just a thing in the distance at this stage and Regina was barely listening.
The man was staring at her. Had he no shame? Regina tuned back in to the speech. The large man and the others, except the smiling man, had started handing out little bags, about half the size of a loaf of bread. That's what was in the large chest in the centre of the gathering. Suddenly, there was a bag right in front of Regina's face. She looked at it for a second then reached out gingerly and took it. She looked up, expecting to see Little John or one of the others, but to her shock, it was the man who had been staring at her. He smiled at her once more and moved around handing out bags to others.
''Pass them back to people who havent gotten a bag yet!'' the man called. ''Make sure everyone gets one! Especially the old and frail.''
He had a sweet voice, he genuinly seemed to care about those in need. He had an accent that Regina had never heard before. Before she knew it, the crowd was clearing out with everyone having what they came for, and going back to their jobs, or their homes. She turned around and the men that had been giving the bags, had gone. Regina felt light headed. I missed my chance! I was foolosh, I should have kept my concentration and focused on what I had to do but now it is too late and I have to wait for next week! Regina felt defeated. She had let herself down once again.
''I have to go for some fresh air.'' she told Marnie, who was too busy talking to a regular, called Samson, to notice Regina's distress.
She pushed her way through the crowd in pursuit of the front door. A lot of people called to her, to ask her to come over, but she just waved them off absentmindedly. She was almost at the door. Not too far now. She made one final push through the crowd and was outside. Suddenly, she sensed herself falling, her shawl had caught on something sticking out of the door. She heard a loud ripping noise and she tripped and fell. However, before she hit the ground, she felt two strong hands wrap around her and pull her to her feet.
She looked up at the hands that had saved her fall. Him! He looked down at her and laughed. Is he laughing at me? Did I do something? Is there something on my face?
''Why are you laughing?'' She couldn't help but ask.
''I-I'm sorry, I don't mean to seem rude. It's just, I couldn't help staring at you in the tavern. You are the most beautiful young maiden that I have ever seen, and now you seem to have just fallen into my lap.''
Regina stood up straight. She blushed. What do I say back to that?!
The man looked at her torn shawl. He shrugged his own cloak off and handed it to her.
''My apologies miss, I realise how forward that might have sounded, I assure you I am not always that rash. Here take my cloak in replacement of your shawl. It troubles me thinking of you travelling home in the cold.''
''I couldn't! I promise I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me.''
''No, no, take it, I assure you it's no trouble at all miss, it's an honor.''
Regina threw the cloak over her shoulders and fastened the clasp, the emblem, was a golden sigil of a lion... It couldn't be... could it?
''Oh, I'm sorry. Let me introduce myself. I'm Robin Hood.'' He said sticking out his hand to shake, revealing the tattoo that had starred in Regina's dreams for the past week.
