Chapter 3

It had been a couple of weeks since their meeting in the kitchen and although Emma continued her work at the stables while Regina rode her horse every few days, she found herself sneaking to the kitchen in the early hours in the hope of catching the queen eating cake. It never happened. For Emma this meant one of two things. Either she had found a way of sneaking her cake to her chambers or she no longer wanted the blondes company. Emma was hoping it was not the latter.

Trying to rake up the last of the horse hay into a pile, Emma was far into her thoughts to realise she had caught the rake on the stone floor and got it stuck making the blonde fly backwards at her sharp raking action and landing on the pile herself. Ready to curse, Emma manages to sit herself up right at least before hearing a uncontrollable laugh. Looking over Emma goes a bright shade of red noticing Regina hold her tummy from laughing.

"Oh Emma!..." Trying to compose herself, Regina walks over unhooking the rake before holding her hand out to Emma to help her up. An act that Emma still could not get over but glared at the queen for her response. Regina bites her lip calming." I'm sorry it's just you have hay everywhere"

Emma brushes herself down grabbing the rake." I know I know..ill pile it again your majesty"

Regina shakes her head for Emma using her titled name and takes the rake." No..you can finish it tomorrow..besides they are horses Emma they will just make more mess anyway. You are coming with me"

Emma frowns giving a tiny pout looking at her." You have another job for me? I thought you tried to limit your staff to one assigned job"

Regina smiles at her face and reaches up to remove a strand of hay from the blondes hair. " that I do however if I were to hand out another job it would not be to you, you work hard enough as it is"

Emma grins. "so...where am I going?"

Regina takes a breath." It's a surprise..a favourite place of mine that I think is time to share and considering your my only friend I want you to see it"

Emma looks at her a moment finding it hard not to notice the 'only friend' remark. "I..yes..that I would like to see.." Seeing Regina pick up a saddle, Emma starts shaking her head again."...another time!"

Regina puts on a sad face to guilt her." Emma what did I say to you before that would happen if you did not do as the queen says?"

Emma bites her lip." Well..I have lost count to be honest but I'm guessing locked up or I lose my head?"

Regina nods passing her the saddle placing a hand on Emma's hair." And it's such a pretty head"

Emma gives a little smile then drops it remembering a similar comment she received before." That is more or less what that captain said..I was a pretty girl and belonged in the gutter with him"

Regina grits her teeth clenching her fists. "what..."

Emma's eyes widen seeing her angry look and grabs her hands." And it's not a big deal..you dealt with that already"

Regina calms and looks at Emma glancing at their hands. Emma looks down also and let's go quickly.

"Emma...just because I'm the queen does not mean I can never have anyone close or be touched, it's you not a random villager"

"But I was...why do you trust me..I stole after you helped me"

Regina takes her hand again." Again the guards tend to take it too far..you didn't steal from me personally and you are the only one that sees past the crown and believe in me"

"Regina what happened?"

Tapping the blondes hand, Regina smiles." Why don't we leave that conversation for when we reach where we are going?"

Emma smiles back and starts to saddle the horse." You are really not going to tell me are you?"

"No I'm not" mounting the horse, Regina looks down watching Emma move to another horse." Emma?.."

Emma looks over seeing her hold her hand out, looking nervous, Emma takes it managing to get on unfortunately for her in front of the brunette so she has full view of how high up she is. Gulping, Emma looks through half open eyes.

"Emma open your eyes, how else are you going to learn to ride?"

Opening her eyes slowly, Emma inhales sharply at the feeling of Regina's arms wrapping round her taking the reins with her hands on top of Emma's to guide.

After guiding Emma with the reins, both women reach a hill where a lonely tree stood. Emma looks around curious then grips the reins tightly feeling the loss of contact as Regina gets off. "Regina please don't leave me up here"

Regina looks up at the blondes trembling voice and petrified face and looks serious." Emma I will not let you fall I promise"

Emma nods a little and moves her leg over to get down gaining a stable landing as Regina holds her sides to steady her. Regina gives the horse a slight stroke of thank you then walks over to the tree taking a much needed breath. Emma stays still by the horse watching as Regina sits down on the grass leaning against the bark looking towards Emma she pats the spot next to her. Emma walks over and sits down next to her.

Regina looks down a moment." This..place is..special..I used to come up here with my..fiancé..it was our place away from prying eyes so we could just be us"

Emma looks awkward feeling sad for her." What happened?"

Regina looks to her." He died..he was killed"

Emma frowns thinking." Oh..is he the one that everyone was saying you..."

Regina nods." That I killed yes..but I didn't..my mother did..she had this plan for me to become queen so she got rid of the one standing in the way..only she did it in front of me so she could summon the guards in showing the king how dangerous I was and what I was capable of doing if he didn't marry me. So he did and then he died of old age but of course mother was going to make sure that everyone knew it was my fault, the only problem by then was that she had also decided to teach me magic and I was the only ruler of the kingdom with the power, I knew how to get rid of her so I banished her and from then on I've been known as the evil queen. For killing..Daniel, the king and even mother" taking a choked breath, Regina wipes a few stray tears that had fallen looking ahead not wanting to see Emma's reaction scared of what it would be.

Emma teary herself leans over turning Regina's head to face her. "Do not blame yourself..why have you not told anyone put it right?"

Regina sniffs." If I did..they would all say I've cast a spell to make them believe"

Emma looks straight at her." I believe you"

Regina bites her lip to stop it trembling and hugs Emma quickly leaving her shocked taking a few seconds to hug her back. Emma holds the back of Regina's head letting her compose herself. Pulling away, Regina stands realising what happened and straightens herself out seeming perfectly normal." I'm sorry that is no way for a queen to act, we need to get back so you can finish your job"

Emma frowns at the sudden regal form standing in front of her and rises to her feet. " of course"

Settling the horse back in the stable, Emma finishes her job feeling very distracted by what Regina had revealed to her and the sudden change in the queens behaviour. Locking up, Emma heads back to the castle, walking past the main hall Emma takes her chance to glance over at the lonely queen once again eating dinner alone and heads to her room. Sighing, Emma grabs what item of clothing she has and pins a note to her bedroom door racing back to the stables, taking out a horse. Looking up at the animal, Emma gulps taking a breath." You need to do this..come on Emma do this for the queen..for Regina" pulling a face, Emma manages to lift herself up and yanks at the reins making the horse neigh loudly and charge out the stables and off to the pathway.

Having found Emma's note, the guard chuckles to himself knowing that it means she will not have her head much longer. Walking to the main hall, he enters handing the note to the queen." She is gone your majesty though the note makes no sense"

Regina frowns placing her cutlery down and taking the note from him.

Your Majesty,

I am sorry for my departure but I have to help I cannot let this go.

I also hope you can forgive the fact that I have taken a horse which will be returned as soon as I have found what I am looking for.

Please do not see this as any betrayal, I respect you as my queen and you will understand soon enough.

Emma.

Placing the note down on the table, Regina looks down a moment speechless before noticing the guard still hovering over her. Looking to him, she gestures for him to leave her be. Standing, Regina retires to her chambers with Emma's note pondering on what to do.

Author's note: is Emma too stubborn and too much of a saviour for her own good? Wonder where she is going... Let me know what you think! :)