The Darkness
Regina's heart was full of light as she sat in a booth at Granny's diner with her arm around her son as they read through his story book. The two had been comparing notes for the last half hour on how the two realities had differed.
It was strange how there were now two conflicting lives in Regina's mind. Isaac's reality seemed to have lasted a minute and a lifetime all at once. The one noticeable difference was the absence of Kate in Isaac's Enchanted Forest. It seemed not even the Author remembered the silver haired hand maiden.
"So what was it like living as a bandit?" Henry asked.
Regina couldn't help but smile at her son's ever deepening voice. He was growing up so fast.
"A far cry from living in the summer palace as the Evil Queen, that's for sure," smirked Regina as she hugged him a bit tighter.
"Was it better?"
"Speaking from a materialistic point of view? No. But then I'd grown used to the rustic lifestyle at the same time. Learned to like it even. The forest made me feel safe… To a degree."
"Do you have a little more sympathy for my grandma now that you've sorta lived her life?"
Regina threw her signature glare at her son, who just grinned impishly. He knew her heart wasn't really in the glare.
"Yes, Henry," said Regina in mock annoyance, "I now have more sympathy for chasing Snow White into a life of a banditry."
"What was the best part?" Henry asked.
Regina thought for a moment as she looked down at the book of fairy tales. She could say the lack of guilt she had felt. As Regina the Bandit, she had never killed hundreds of people. She hadn't massacred villages and torn children from their parents. Her heart had been free from the darkness of the Evil Queen. To Regina that was priceless.
Yet at the same time, Regina had been hopelessly sad. She had ached with the loneliness that seemed to fill her every waking moment.
Until Henry showed up. He banished her demons, just like he did when Regina first adopted him.
But her son didn't need to be reminded of her past darkness.
"The best part," said Regina smiling, "Was the freedom to ride whenever I wanted to. When one is the Queen there are so many things that pull your attention and your time. I never got to ride half as much as I wanted to. But as a Bandit… Let's just say I was seldom far from my horse."
Henry grinned and said, "We should all go riding some time. You, me, Robin Hood and Roland."
Regina kissed Henry's forehead and her heart nearly burst with the love and happiness she felt.
"I'd love that, Henry," after a pause Regina added in, "Maybe… Emma and Hook would like to join us as well?"
"Really?" Henry asked enthusiastically. "Awesome!"
Regina nodded. She wanted to give Henry everything his heart truly desired; and as the pure soul he was, he just wanted his family together. Also, if Regina was completely honest, she really didn't hate Miss Swan as much as she once had. The two of them had been through so much together and they shared something so precious that would connect them for the rest of their lives. Henry.
Captain Guyliner the One Hand Wonder on the other hand still annoyed the living shit out of her...The things parents do for their children.
Regina chuckled and looked up in time to see her Robin walk through the door.
"Hey," he said and leaned down to press a kiss on Regina's lips (which made her stomach do flip flops) before taking a seat opposite the mother and son.
"Not to put a damper on the celebration," said the Thief, "But have you checked on Zelena?"
"I have," said Regina somewhat hesitantly, "She's still locked up, still…pregnant."
Robin gave a strained, apologetic smile.
"But…that's something we can deal with," said Regina with a loving smile as she took his hand in hers. "Together."
Robin's smile softened and he said, "Well then, milady. May I interest you in a walk in the moonlight?"
Regina blushed slightly at the almost hungry look in Robin's eyes; and she would admit, she felt the same hunger for him as well. How long had it been since the two of them had been truly alone? Without the worry of resurrected wives and dying wives and psychotic sisters pretending to be resurrected wives and pregnant psychotic sisters.
Regina remembered all too well. Her vault. The first night they had made love.
She could tell from the smoldering look in Robin's eyes that he was thinking the same thing as she was.
She just hoped Henry didn't notice.
Leaving her son with a quick goodbye peck on his forehead, Regina gathered up her jacket, slipped her hand into Robin's much larger, callused one and together they walked out of the diner.
The evening air was crisp and cool. Regina's breath left her red lips in small puffs of white smoke as she had Robin walked down Main Street together. A shiver ran through her body as the cold leaked through her leather jacket. Seeing this, Robin released Regina's hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders instead, drawing her close, warming her up. Regina rested her head on her Thief's broad shoulder and sighed in contentment.
Is this what happiness felt like?
They walked around the block and cut through an alleyway. Despite Robin's invitation to "walk in the moonlight" the offer was confounded by a thick covering of clouds that gathered and blocked out the silvery moon.
One part of Regina's mind was secretly relieved, as the silver color never failed to remind her of Kate.
Kate.
Why was she thinking about this particular past demon so much lately? Would the young girl forever be a shadow hanging over Regina's head? The brunette wouldn't be surprised, for Kate was the biggest sin that Regina, as the former Evil Queen, had ever committed.
But the girl would have wanted Regina to be happy right? That had always been Kate's mantra as well as life objective. To ensure Regina's happiness. Nothing could change that. Could it?
"Hey," said Robin as the couple paused in the alleyway. He angled their bodies so that Regina had her back facing the right wall and the street lamp light coming from the end of the alley shone on her angelic face.
"Where did you go?" Robin asked as he cupped her face with one hand and caressed her soft cheek with a callused thumb. His other large hand rested on Regina's left hip.
Looking up into Robin's blue eyes all of Regina's worries and concerns faded from her mind.
Reaching up to cover his hand that caressed her cheek with her own much smaller one, Regina said with a smile, "I was actually right here."
Robin smile encouraged her to continue.
"I was wondering," Regina said as she lowered her eyes in slight embarrassment, "If this is what happiness feels like. Because I honestly don't think it can get better than this."
"Well," said Robin with a teasing smile, "Let's see if we can't make it better?"
Regina's smile blossomed into an eye crinkling grin and her head titled flirtatiously to the side as Robin lowered his head to capture her lips with his.
Regina's head immediately turned fuzzy as Robin's mouth moved with hers. A soft groan of desire left her throat unbidden. Upon hearing this, Robin's hand tightened on Regina's hip as he urged her backwards until her back hit the rough wall.
Now that she was braced against something solid with Robin's body pinning her there, Regina felt her legs almost give out as Robin's tongue caressed the seam of her lips, begging entrance to her mouth.
The Queen obliged the Thief's unspoken request and moaned as their tongues fought for dominance. Robin slipped his leg between Regina's whose head began to spin at the feel. Feeling that Regina's legs no longer held her weight, Robin untangled his fingers from Regina's raven locks before he reached down and grabbed her below her thighs. He proceed to hoist her up and stepped in between her legs, bracing her body against the wall. Regina quickly wrapped her long legs around Robin's waist and gasped as she felt exactly what she was doing to him. Regina wrenched her mouth from Robin's when her lungs indignantly reminded her that they required oxygen to continue functioning. Robin's mouth never left Regina's skin as he left a fiery trail down her neck with his oh so talented tongue and mouth.
Regina's chest rose and fell rapidly when Robin pressed himself more tightly against her. Regina reached up her hands to grasp Robin's soft hair and gasped when he hit a particularly sensitive spot on her clavicle. She bit her lower lip and her head fell back against the wall as she closed her eyes and reveled in the sensation of Robin's mouth on her. Regina's breath hitched and her heart skipped a beat when Robin hit that same spot on her neck that drove her wild. Regina felt the corners of his lips curve upwards in an evil smirk, but before she could address the issue, Robin unleased the full force of his very talented tongue on the spot and the stern words died in her throat. The roughness of his stubble just added another layer of pleasure and Regina couldn't help herself as she a pleasured cry tore itself from her throat and her hips started to rock steadily against his. Robin emitted an animalistic growl as he grabbed her hips and pressed her tighter to him, increasing the friction.
"Robin," hissed Regina breathlessly, her voice huskier than usual, as the Thief hit a very sensitive spot, "Oh, gods."
Robin looked up at her, his normally sky blue eyes, a deeper sapphire hue now. Regina looked down at him with equally lust filled eyes as she gently removed one of her hands from Robin's hair to caress his cheek.
Robin's eyes softened suddenly as he reached up to cup Regina's face between his hands.
His eyes searched hers for a moment before he whispered with all the conviction of a zealot, "I love you,Regina Mills."
Regina's eyes misted as her kiss swollen lips stretched into a watery smile. She bent her head and pressed a soft kiss to Robin's mouth.
"And I love you, Robin Hood," she whispered back. She leaned down so that her mouth grazed his ear. The Thief shivered as Regina breathed into his ear, "Until my heart stops beating."
Robin's lips stretched into a huge grin that Regina could not help but return before their lips returned to each other. But it wasn't long before the hunger returned to the kiss and it once more grew heated.
A chilled wind blew through the alley causing an ominous shiver to trickle down Regina's spine. Robin must have felt it to, because his lips stilled and he lifted his head slightly. Regina looked around them and felt a sense of foreboding fill her gut. Something wasn't right. Something was watching them.
Regina flexed her hips ever so slightly and Robin, always in tune to her thoughts, immediately stepped back and gently placed Regina back on her own two, slightly shaky, legs.
"We should head back," said Regina still eyeing the darkness around them.
"Yeah," agreed Robin, who was also surveying their surroundings. He reached out and grasped Regina's hand before she led them out of the alley.
The soft glow of the street lamp fell on the couple as they exited the alley onto Main Street in time to hear Emma yell frantically, "Did you see where it went?"
The Savior came running from Gold's shop with her Pirate puppy hot on her heels.
Regina saw Snow and David standing in the middle of the street, Snow with her bow drawn and an arrow notched and Charming had his sword drawn.
Oh for the love of…thought Regina angrily, What now?!
Seriously, was one night of peace too much to ask?
"I don't know," said Snow in a bewildered voice, "It just disappeared."
Time to step in, thought Regina wearily as she tugged Robin behind her and joined the group.
"What's wrong?" Regina asked.
"The Darkness," explained Snow, "The Apprentice drew It from Rumpelstiltskin and tried to contain it in the hat. But It was too strong, It escaped and attacked the Apprentice. Probably would have killed him if Emma hadn't blasted It with her Magic."
Seriously, thought Regina in a miffed tone, I leave you people alone for ten minutes and you go releasing the Darkest Magic in history.
"Well, were did it go?" Regina asked warily.
"It didn't go anywhere," said Emma with a horrified expression on her face as she came to a sudden realization.
"The Darkness," continued the Savior with a tremble in her voice, "It's all around us."
Regina looked around the darkened town, looking for… well she wasn't exactly sure what the darkness was supposed to look like.
But then the Queen felt it. The cold tingle down her neck, the uneasiness in the pit of her stomach. She looked up at the sky. The heavens were blanketed in a thick cover off clouds, but there was one spot just above Regina, that was darker than the rest…
What the hell? Was all that Regina was able to think before the Darkness swooped in out of nowhere, separating her from Robin and surrounding her in a vortex of dark magic.
"What the hell is It doing?" Robin yelled back as he looked helplessly at Regina who was encaged in the center of the Darkness.
"What darkness does best," whimpered Emma as she looked back at Regina with sorrowful eyes, "Snuffing out the light."
And Regina could feel it. She could feel the darkness drenching her soul once more. The Evil Queen within her gave a victorious laugh and stretched out her arms to welcome the invading Darkness. But Regina fought it. She fought the hate and the lust for power building within her. But it was all in vain. The power of the Darkness was too strong. She felt the light that had gathered since she adopted Henry and fell in love with Robin begin to fade as the Darkness spread like a cancer through her limbs, filling her with unimaginable power… and Fear. The brunette looked up to see her son arrive on the scene, his face filled with horror.
No, thought Regina brokenly, My son. Send him away. Please don't let him see this.
"We have to help her!" Robin yelled as he stormed the vortex. But as soon as Robin touched the vortex it emitted a blast of energy that hit Regina's love square in the chest and sent him flying backwards onto the hard asphalt.
"Stop!" Emma yelled as she stepped forward the wind created by the swirling vortex whipping her blonde hair into a frenzy. "That won't work on this thing."
"We can't just do nothing!" Robin yelled back as he got to his feet.
"We have to do what the Sorcerer did, we have to tether the Darkness to a person so that it can be controlled!" Emma shouted. The blonde then stepped closer to vortex and for the first time Regina noticed that Emma held the Dark One's dagger in her hand.
"Emma!" yelled Snow.
"NO!" yelled David and Hook at the same time.
Emma turned to her parents and said in a choked voice, "You found a way to get the darkness out of me once, you can do it again. Remember what the Apprentice said. You have to find Merlin."
"Emma," Regina gasped out in a strained, haggard voice, "There has to be another way."
Emma turned to Regina and said with tears in her eyes, "You've come too far to have your happiness destroyed."
Regina felt a lump form in her throat and in that moment she felt her loyalty, her…love for Emma form. One that would not be easily broken.
"Damnit, Swan," yelled Hook in an agonized voice, "You can't do this!"
Emma looked back at her Pirate and the tears spilled from her eyes as she sobbed, "I love you."
Then, without further thought, Emma plunged the dagger into the vortex.
Regina was thrown free into Robin's waiting arms as the Darkness eagerly began to consume the Savior. Regina watched in horror as the Darkness swirled around Emma who groaned in pain as her light magic was consumed.
And then with a flash, the Darkness disappeared…taking Emma with It.
There was a metallic clang and Regina looked down to see the Dark One's dagger clattering on the asphalt.
The name on the blade was clear and undeniably terrible.
Emma Swan.
"How could she be so stupid?!" Regina hissed.
"Regina!" yelled David.
"But there had to be another way!" insisted Regina as she felt the guilt wrap around her gut like a vice.
"There wasn't" Snow sobbed her voice choked with anguish and anger as she clung to her True Love, "That thing was going to kill you."
Snow looked up at Regina with a dark look and added with a harsh tone, "She saved your life."
"Don't you think I know that?" Regina snapped back, but the sting of her words was lessened by the guilt in her voice. Another life destroyed because of her.
"And now she's the Dark One," said Henry as he stepped forward with a shell shocked look on his face.
"Now she's a problem for all of us," stated Regina irately. Irritation was, after all, better than guilt.
"She is still good," Snow insisted heatedly.
"I hope so," said Regina sarcastically, "It's not like she rode off on a unicorn. She got sucked up by a vortex of evil."
"But where is she?" asked Robin, "Where did she go?"
"Doesn't bloody matter," said Hook with a dark look of a man who has just lost everything he cared for. He stalked forward to the dagger.
Robin stepped forward to intercept the Pirate, grabbing Hook by the arm.
"Mate, don't," Robin started to say.
Hook pushed the Thief off and hissed, "You get out of my way."
Robin took a step back with his hands raised in surrender and allowed Killian to pass. Hook then picked up the dagger and said, "We can't find her, I can damn well bring her to me."
Then in a loud voice, "Dark One, with this dagger I command thee, return."
Hook's voice faded into the darkness. Emma did not appear.
Hook tried again, "Dark One, appear!"
Regina rolled her eyes at the Pirate, "Put that down before you hurt yourself, Guyliner. I thought you knew the rules of the dagger?"
Hook turned his dark glare on the Queen, "Aye, with it I can summon the Dark One from any corner of the world."
Regina gave him a petulant smile, "Well, there's your answer. She's not in this world."
Moron, thought Regina. She really didn't know what Emma saw in him.
Emma.
Regina's heart gave a painful squeeze and the guilt returned.
"Well, then," said Hook, "Let's go see the man who unleashed this monstrosity on us."
"Apprentice!" Hook yelled. He threw the door of the pawn shop open and led the group through to the back room.
"The monstrosity that took Emma," Hook continued, "Where did it take her?"
The Apprentice lay on the bed looking old, weak and frail.
"She is now where all darkness is born," rasped the Apprentice, "In your realm."
"Then take us there," Hook demanded.
"I am…too weak," insisted the Apprentice. "But this," a wand materialized in his wizened hand, "Will help. It was a gift from the sorcerer, from Merlin," the old wizard chuckled, "I still remember the day he gave it to me."
"And…this can help us find our daughter?" Snow asked.
"No," the Apprentice shook his head weakly, "In order to cross realms, it must be wielded as it was forged. It's both sides of the coin: the light…and…the dark."
The Apprentices words faded as he slipped out of the conscious world and the wand dropped to the floor.
Regina quirked her eyebrow and said, "Well, I guess that's my cue."
Regina stooped and picked up the wand. She immediately felt a tingling in her fingers as the magic of the wand mingled with hers. Regina raised the wand in the air and called upon her magic as she twirled the wand in the air. She felt the magic rise in her, she struck the air with the wand and…nothing happened.
Frowning, Regina tried again. Again nothing happened.
Letting out a growl of frustration Hook said, "Enough. You're gonna embarrass yourself and waste our time."
Regina glared at him from the corner of her eye, her arm still raised holding the wand.
"Watch it! I know what I'm doing," she snapped.
"Well, that's not enough!" argued Hook heatedly, "You heard the man; it needs darkness. You've gone soft."
Regina lowered her arm and turned to him with a royally pissed look on her face.
"You wanna see soft?" the Evil Queen hissed, "How about I use your hook to show you your intestines?"
"Well, you've got fire, love," smirked Hook, "But not the blackness. How's this for irony? You've done too much good. No, we need someone wicked."
Regina eyes widened, "No! No, no, not my sister. That witch is more than wicked, she's deranged."
"For Emma it's worth the risk," Hook yelled and took a step into Regina's personal space. "She sacrificed herself for you, Your Majesty, because she believed that an Evil Queen could be good. Don't you think you owe her to return the favor?"
Regina's heart constricted. Hook's word struck a chord in Regina. She finally lowered her eyes and nodded her consent. Hook once again led the way out of the room, but Regina was there in body only. Hook's words had reminded her of Kate once again. Another person who had sacrificed herself daily because she believed in Regina. As Regina followed the group from Gold's shop she lightly touched the scar on her lip, the memory of the day she got it flashing before her eyes.
It was two days before the Summer Festival. A bright clear day, warm and inviting and for once no responsibilities called Regina's name. Her mother and father were away visiting Regina's grandfather's court and would not return until the next morning.
The wind whipped through Regina's hair tugging the strands free from her braid as she thundered down the hill of her family's estate. Her gorgeous horse, Rocinante, easily cantered through the small brook, splattering Regina's pants with water and flecks of mud, before reaching the dry bank on the far side.
Regina looked ahead and saw the fence that marked the boundary of the stables drawing nearer every second. The young girl smirked and urged her horse to fasten its pace. Rocinante responded to her will and thundered forward. Regina braced herself at the last minute as Rocinante suddenly went airborne. Her heart and her stomach was left behind for a moment, before her trusty stead's hooves met the hard dirt once more than a jolt.
Rising in her stirrup Regina let loose a carefree laugh before she slowed Rocinante to a slow trot.
"FIFTEEN MINUTES AND TWENTY EIGHT SECONDS!" cried a voice from Regina's left.
Regina laughed and trotted over to Kate who clung to the picket fence with a wide grin on her cherub face.
Kate was joined by the young stable boy, Daniel, who stood behind the girl with one hand braced against the fence on either side of Kate, ensuring she didn't fall.
"You did it, Regina!" Kate said excitedly when Regina reached her. "You are gonna win this race, I know you are. Right, Daniel?"
Daniel smiled and turned his blue eyes to a breathless Regina as she dismounted Rocinante gracefully.
"If she rides like that, definitely," said the stable boy.
Regina blushed and looked down, suddenly very interested in her mud flecked boots.
"She'll ride better," insisted Kate.
Regina turned and leaned back against the fence her arms crossed.
"The royal track will be far more complex," said Regina worriedly.
Kate rolled her big brown eyes in the most adorable way Regina had ever seen before saying, "You didn't see yourself, Regina. Rocinante was practically an extension of your body. It was incredible!"
"It's true," Daniel agreed, causing Regina to blush again, "I've never seen anyone ride like that before."
Daniel held Regina's eyes for a long moment before Kate chose to break the moment.
"I'm hungry," said the girl, "What about a picnic?"
Turning her attention to Kate, Regina said, "A picnic sounds like a lovely idea. Go and tell Cook to make up a basket for us."
Kate nodded then stared at Regina as if waiting for something else. Regina quirked an eyebrow asking a silent question. Kate rolled her eyes again before flicking them in Daniel's direction.
"Oh!" said Regina, suddenly remembering her manners.
"Would…Would you like to join us, Daniel?" Regina stuttered.
Daniel blushed and also started stuttering.
"Oh, I'd…I'd ah…"
"Oh, for heaven's sake," muttered Kate, "Of course, he wants to join us, Regina."
With that the silver haired girl spun on her heel and made for the Manor.
"She's sometimes a bit to tenacious for her own good," Regina smirked affectionately as she watched the girl walk away.
"She's a little fireball," Daniel agreed.
Regina's eyes flicked to him for a second before she pushed away from the fence and walked over to Rocinante.
"He's a fine specimen," Daniel commented after he had jumped the fence to come and stand next to Regina.
"My Father gifted him to me on my thirteenth birthday," Regina said with a fond smile as she ran her hand over Rocinante's chocolate colored neck.
Daniel reached up at the same time to touch Rocinante's main and his hand collided with Regina's. Blue eyes flew up to meet startled, dark brown ones.
"Beautiful," he murmured staring at her intently.
Regina's eyes widened and her mouth opened to say something when…
"I've got the basket!" Kate called as she struggled to carry an alarmingly large basket towards them.
"Oh, dear, let me help you," Regina said, grateful for a break from the tense moment with Daniel.
"Thanks," Kate huffed as she surrendered the basket to Regina's stronger arms. "Where should we eat?"
"There's a beautiful spot down by the lake, if you don't mind a bit of a hike?" suggested Daniel.
"Can we take Rocinante, please, Regina?" Kate turned her big, pleading brown eyes on Regina, who was helpless to refuse anything the child wanted.
"Of course, sweetheart," replied Regina with a smile. Turning hesitantly to Daniel the princess said with a blush, "Would you like to saddle a horse for yourself…Daniel?"
Daniel nodded eagerly before practically sprinting to the stable.
Kate giggled and made her way over to Rocinante. The horse affectionately nuzzled the girl looking for any hint of the sugar cubes that Kate generally kept in her cloak pocket for him.
"What are you laughing at, Little One?" Regina asked suspiciously.
"Daniel," Kate giggled as she stroked Rocinante's nose, "He likes you."
Regina blushed and sputtered, "No, he doesn't!"
"Yes, he does," said Kate turning towards Regina. The girl giggled again before adding, "And you look at Daniel like Rocinante looks at sugar cubes."
Regina blushed furiously and gave the girl a playful bop on the nose with her fist which caused even more giggles to erupt from Kate.
Kate's laugh was infectious and Regina felt herself joining in for a moment.
Until a shadow crossed her mind, causing the laughter to die in her throat.
"You must not say such things, Katie," said Regina quietly.
Kate frowned at her Lady's tone before asking, "Why not? You do like Daniel don't you?"
"My mother would kill us both if she ever found out Daniel and I were involved in anything remotely resembling a romantic relationship," Regina tried to explain. "He's a stable boy and I'm a…princess."
Kate frowned. "But you are also a person. Don't you deserve to be happy?"
Regina smiled at Kate's naivety. She brushed a strand of silver hair behind Kates ear and said, "My mother has a different view on what my happiness looks like than what I do, Katie."
Kate then threw her shoulders back and stood as tall as she could her silver braid slipping from her shoulder to hang down her back.
"Then I pledge from this day," said Kate as she took Regina's hand into both her tiny ones, "I will protect your happiness from anyone who is a threat to it. Until my heart stops beating."
Regina's eyes filled with tears. She sometimes thought that this little, silver haired, orphaned girl loved her more than her own family. Regina could have just played along, but she sensed Kate was dead serious. Even for a ten year old. And that warmed Regina's heart like nothing else.
Regina grasped Kate's tiny hands in her own before she knelt before the girl and looked into her eyes as she said, "And I promise that I will always be your friend and you will always have a place at my side."
Kate's eyes filled with tears as her stoic expression dropped. She rushed forward and threw her arms around Regina's neck. Regina slipped her arms around the tiny child and hugged her back.
"Am I….interrupting something?" Daniel asked.
Regina looked up to see the handsome young man standing over them.
"Not at all," Regina said. She didn't let go of Kate as she straightened and proceed to lift the girl up onto the horse.
"Are you ready?" Regina asked Daniel as she secured Kate's legs.
"Yes, your Highness," said Daniel with a smirk.
Regina flashed a playful glare at him and said with a smirk as she mounted Rocinante behind Kate, "Then please lead the way, Master Stableman."
Four hours later, Regina and Kate stumbled into the manor laughing hysterically and dripping from head to toe. They had had a wonderful afternoon with Daniel. They had eaten their picnic under a willow tree beside the lake. Afterwards, Kate had whispered something in Daniel's ear. The Stable boy's responsive evil smile caused Regina to narrow her eyes in suspicion. However, the pair continued the conversation as if nothing happened. Regina gradually forgot about the moment and returned to her lunch. Of course, that's exactly when Daniel pounced. He leapt from his seat and scooped Regina up in his strong arms. Regina squealed and Kate laughed hysterically as Daniel proceeded to dump Regina in the lake. But Regina was smarter than that. At the last second she grabbed Daniel's shirt and pulled him into the lake with her.
The water was chilly, but the day was warm, so it was wonderfully refreshing. Regina's head broke the surface at the same time Daniel's did. She looked up to see Kate take a running start before she jumped in after them.
Regina laughed as the resulting splash caught her directly in the face. Looking over to see if Daniel was laughing as well, the princess realized that she still had her arm around his neck and his arm was still around her waist, holding her close. She blushed furiously and released him as she pushed back in the water. Kate's head surfaced with a grin as she swan over to Regina and wrapped her own arm around the older girl's neck.
The trio had spent a solid hour in the lake. Racing around and splashing each other. Afterwards, they all lay on the blanket and allowed the sun to warm them and dry their clothes. Regina had lain on her back while Kate lay with her head on Regina's stomach and Daniel lay with his head next to Regina's.
The young princess was so thoroughly happy in that moment, that she forgot all her troubles with her mother. The sun turned the inside of Regina's eyelids bright red. Her lips curled up in a slight, shy smile as she felt Daniel tentatively entwine his fingers with hers. Keeping her eyes closed as her smile grew wider, Regina gave his hands a gentle squeeze to let him know she was okay with this.
By sunset the sky had become grey with heavy clouds. Regina, Kate and Daniel mounted their horses and headed back to the Manor, the princess and the stable boy sneaking glances at each other every few seconds.
When they arrived at the stable, Daniel helped each of ladies down from Rocinante. As Regina's feet touched the soil she looked up at Daniel's handsome face. Her breath caught in her chest as she realized how tall and broad shouldered he was. How muscular his arms and how blue his eyes were. After realizing that they had spent the better part of ten seconds staring at each other, Regina felt color rush to her cheeks as she looked down and stepped away from Daniel.
Kate then grabbed her by the hand and began to lead her towards the Manor. Regina glanced over shoulder every five seconds to see that Daniel still stood in the same place watching them leave.
The two girls were about twenty metres from the front door when the heavens opened and dumped a torrent of warm summer rain on them. Kate giggled and ran towards the Manor with Regina hot on her heels.
They burst into the entrance hall, breathless from laughter and dripping wet. Regina was so happy that she failed to notice that the Manor was dead silent, until it was too late.
"Regina!"
"Mother!" Regina yelped as she spun around to see her furious mother standing in front of her. Regina's father, Henry, stood a little behind Cora with a fearful look on his face. Regina also noticed a handsome young man standing next to Henry. His hair was dark and curly and combed back and his royal blue coat and tan breeches screamed money and quality. The young man was appraising her appearance with an amused expression and a raised eyebrow.
"I-I-I thought you wouldn't return until tomorrow?" stammered Regina.
Cora rearranged her face into a polite mask, but Regina could see the tempest stirring below.
"We came back early, dear," replied Cora.
When Cora failed to say anything else Regina stuttered, "I'll-I'll just go freshen up before dinner."
"Yes, I think that would be appropriate," said Cora in a cold voice.
Swallowing thickly Regina gave a shallow curtsy before fleeing up the stairs to her chambers. The princess was vaguely aware of her hand maiden trailing behind her.
Regina's heart pounded in her throat as she quickly stripped off her clothes once she was safely in her room. Kate had wasted no time in drawing a hot bath for her mistress before running to her closet to select one of the finer dresses in residence there. Regina rushed through her bath, scrubbing the smell of horse and leather from her body. Kate returned in record time to help Regina wash her hair with lavender scented water.
Kate had not said a word since they had entered the house. She knew there was going to be hell to pay.
Kate helped Regina out of the bath and slipped a silk chemise over Regina's head before lacing up her corset. The girl then made Regina sit, before she dried Regina's long, ebony locks and brushed them until they shone. Kate the proceeded to gather Regina's hair in an elaborate twist that showed of Regina's graceful neck and collarbone.
"How bad do you think it is?" Regina asked fearfully.
Kate was silent as she placed one more pin Regina's hair.
"I cannot say, my Lady," whispered Kate, "I've never seen Cora that angry before."
A knot of dread fastened itself in Regina's gut as she tried to swallow down the bile that had risen in her throat. She dutifully held still whilst Kate slipped the light blue dress over Regina's head and fastened the stays.
"Are you quite finished keeping us waiting?" said a sharp voice from Regina's door.
Regina spun around startled and said, "Ye-yes, Mother."
Cora narrowed her eyes at her daughter before they flickered to the hand maiden. Not for the first time, Cora was astounded at the steel, the fire, in the silver haired girl's eyes.
"You girl," snapped Cora, "Go fetch the perfume from my room. Now."
"Yes, madam," said Kate with a slight curtsy. She cast one more worried glance at Regina before she hesitantly left the room, taking all sound with her.
"Where were you today, Regina?" Cora asked in a low voice after several long moments of heavy silence.
"I was out riding," explained Regina as she wrung her hands, "Kate and I ended up having a picnic by the lake and we got caught in a cloud burst on our way home."
Cora nodded her head and Regina breathed a sigh of relief. He mother understood. Everything would be okay.
"I see," said Cora as she walked over to Regina's dressing table and began rummaging through the jewelry box "In that case you will no longer be permitted to ride that damned horse."
"Mother!" screamed Regina in horror.
"It is unbecoming of a princess to ride like a man!" yelled Cora as she spun around to face her daughter. "And I will no longer tolerate it!"
"Riding is the one thing I love in this life," pleaded Regina, "Please, don't take that away from me."
"You are my daughter and you will do as I say," hissed Cora.
"Then I no longer wish to be your daughter!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Regina knew she had made a horrible mistake. Her mother's eyes turned hard as stone and her mouth pressed into a thin line. Cora lashed out with the back of her hand and struck Regina across the left side of her face. Regina yelped as the large diamond ring on her mother's finger sliced through the delicate skin on her lip. Cora then held out her hand and suddenly a whip appeared in it.
Regina gasped as the first lash hit her on the arm. She yelled when the second lash hit her on her back as she turned to protect her bleeding face. She groaned in pain on the third lash and curled into a tiny ball on the floor. On the fourth, fifth and sixth lash, Regina thought she might pass out from the pain. Her dress hung in shreds from her body and her neatly twirled hair had pulled out from the pins Kate had painstakingly put in. She begged every deity known in every realm to please make it stop.
As she waited for the seventh lash, Regina distantly heard a horrified gasp and the sound of breaking glass. She then heard the whistle of the whip as it descended in the air. She heard the snap as it made contact with skin. And she felt…nothing.
Cora seemed to be in a frenzy now. There was no break in between lashes and Regina soon lost count of how many lashes were doled out. And yet, there was no pain. Well, no new pain.
After what seemed like years, Cora seemed to have spent her rage.
"Now," said Cora as she rolled the whip up before she magiced it away. "You, my daughter, will clean yourself up. I will inform Prince Tristan that you are unwell and you will greet him on the morrow. Be sure you are suitably attired."
Cora spun on her heel and walked to the door. There she paused with one hand on the knob and said, "I trust you've learned your lesson, Regina."
Regina stayed as still as possible, barely daring to breathe lest she bring her mother's wrath down upon herself again.
Cora gave a long suffering sigh before she said in an irritated voice, "And for god's sake, Regina. Clean up this mess!"
Then with a resounding boom, Cora left the room, shutting the door behind her.
Regina released a shaky breath as a few tears slipped from her eyes. She tasted blood on her lips and her body ached, though she knew there would be no marks. Cora enchanted all her instruments of torture so that wouldn't leave a mark on her beloved daughter.
Regina took a steadying breath before she attempted to uncurl her stiff, aching body. As she brought her knees up underneath her a groan filled the air.
Regina paused. That wasn't her groan.
The princess then became aware of a weight covering the entire expanse of her back. Sitting up more quickly now, panic filling her stomach. All Regina saw was red.
Regina turned to see Kate's body slide from her back and crumple on the floor.
Regina's hand flew to her mouth in abject horror as she beheld the bruised and broken flesh of Kate's back. The simple grey gown was torn to shreds and covered in bright red blood.
Blood.
It was everywhere. How can there be so much blood outside such a small body and life still remain in said body.
Regina's mind was too numb to come to the final conclusion quickly. But staring at the tiny, broken and bleeding body of her hand maiden, Regina finally realized.
Kate had taken the beating for Regina.
