Chapter 4

An Empty Tent and an Apple Tree

Robin

Robin woke a few hours later, feeling more at peace than he could ever remember. It seemed as though after a lifetime of fumbling blindly in the dark he had finally found his path. It took a moment before he shivered slightly and his mind cleared of sleep and realized that he was in his tent alone.

He opened his eyes instinctively feeling the empty space on his bedroll where Regina had been when he had fallen asleep. He knew it was a foolish thing to do but he couldn't wrap his head around her being gone. They had laid together for a long while afterwards, talking occasionally but often just laying in comfortable silence listening to the sounds of the forest night around them. After a while Robin had felt Regina's breathing slow and even out and realized that she had fallen asleep with her head resting against his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her.

Shifting ever so slightly, so as not to wake her Robin and gently smoothed her hair back from her face. He had that same overwhelming feeling of wanting to fight beside her for the rest of his days, of wanting to make her always feel this safe and protected beside him. He knew that it was insane and it was much too soon, but looking at her in that moment Robin had not been able to stop himself from saying the words out loud, even though he knew she was asleep and she would never know he had spoken them.

"I love you," he said so quietly it was barely audible and for the first time in his life he felt those words as the promise that they were always meant to be. This time he was playing for keeps and he hated himself for ever settling for anything else.

And now he was lying cold and naked in an empty tent, Robin thought and he almost laughed at the irony of the whole situation. He was the one with a fiancé waiting for him and yet Regina had been the one to slip out on him in the middle of the night. Robin had the horrible thought that she might have someone else as well and felt even the idea twist in his gut like a knife. He thought that perhaps he should have mentioned Zelena last night, but in all honesty, aside from one passing thought when Regina had first arrived in his tent, he had not thought at all of the woman that he had asked to be his wife. Robin knew he should hate himself for what he had done, he knew his actions of last night had been far from honorable or respectful of his fiance, but for once in his life he had followed his heart rather than his honor and now that he had actually met her, Robin knew that his heart would always belong to Regina. Perhaps it always had. Robin resolved the only decent thing to do at this point was to tell Regina the truth and then end things with Zelena as soon as he saw her again. There was a decent chance that they would both hate him, but he knew they both had every right. Even if Regina had truly chosen to abandon him tonight, Robin knew he could never go back to Zelena.

He ran a hand over his face, rubbing the stubble on his chin and resolving that he needed some fresh air. He rolled over and fished around in the darkness for his breeches and shirt and was surprised when his hand seized a handful of fur from the collar of the vest that Regina had been wearing. He felt a little swell of hope as he groped around further and felt two boots much too small to be his own. Perhaps she hadn't abandoned him after all.

Robin quickly got dressed and stepped out of his tent, feeling a palpable flood of relief when he saw Regina knelt down beside the beginning of a fire. Robin stood for a second just watching her hands in the dim light of the moon as she sparked a flint and breathed life into a little nest of dried leaves before placing it at the heart of the fire and watching the flames catch. Robin leaned back inside the tent and grabbed a blanket before crossing the little distance to her.

"I thought you had walked out on me," Robin said, with a grin as he joined her beside the fire.

"Not a completely irrational fear, I've done it before," Regina answered, standing up beside him and letting the statement hang in the air between them for a long moment before sighing and admitting, "but, I'm not going anywhere this time. I said I wanted to give this partner thing a try and I meant it…besides, you are very good in…tent."

"You are quite impressive yourself," Robin said with a little laugh before leaning towards her and kissing her gently, sliding an arm around her waist.

"Sorry, I worried you," Regina added more seriously, "I just got cold and the fire had burned out."

"No need to apologize, my lady. And as to being cold…" Robin wrapped the blanket he had grabbed from the tent around her shoulders.

"Thanks," Regina said, with a slightly nervous smile as he kept his hold on the front of the blanket, pulling her closer, "about this whole 'my lady' business…I hate to break this to you, but I am about as lowborn as they come. Literally, they found me in a roadside ditch…So; you might want to save the noble titles for someone a little more deserving of them."

"Birth doesn't make anyone deserving of their titles," Robin said, "I've been called the Prince of Thieves," he did his best imitation of a pompous upper class accent when he said this and Regina let out a little snort of laughter. "It's a ridiculous title and one that I'm not at all sure I've earned, but the damn things stuck. No one seems to care that my parents were farmers…not even very good farmers, I can't remember a winter when we actually had enough food to eat. We were hungry, but somehow still happy…what they lacked in farming ability they definitely made up for in love. I remember every year the only way that we survived was that the entire village came together and everyone took care of one another. No one ever got rich that way but it kept us all alive…"

"That sounds nice,"

"It was," Robin said, feeling old dark resentment seize his chest as he added, "until Prince James and his knights rode into to town. The entitled shits ate more than their share, pilfering our winter stores. I remember if a woman interested them...they simply took her from her family, no concern for whether she had children or a husband. It was awful...It tore our little village apart. My parents were some of the only people in town with the courage to stand up and say that what was happening was wrong and as payment his royal highness had them chained up in our barn with our livestock and burned the building down."

Regina covered her mouth with her hand, "Oh my God, Robin, I'm…I'm so sorry that happened. That's horrible."

Robin looked away from her, blinking rapidly trying to clear away the flames that burned behind his eyes and the screams, animal and human alike, that filled his ears that night. The story felt like smoke in his throat and he realized that he had worked so hard to forget about that day that he had never shared the events that had transpired with another living soul…not Will…not Zelena…no one. He had simply packed it away with his paltry belongings when he had left his village that day and carried the burden of his grief silently ever since.

"That was when I realized that something had to be done to right the balance of power in this country. I'm ashamed to say that I spent many days simply stealing to stay alive before I understood that my skills could be used to make a difference. That's how I established the code that my men and I live by: to steal from the rich and give to the poor. It may not be a perfect system but it reminds the high born shits in this country that have done nothing to deserve their power or wealth that they have responsibility to those they rule and if they won't meet it then we shall make them."

Regina looked up at him, a warmth in her dark eyes that he hadn't seen before. She reached up and rested one of her hands on his cheek.

"Do you have any idea how few people would go through what you went through and come out of it dedicated to helping others? You have every excuse to be angry and cruel and fueled by vengeance, but instead you dedicated your life to making this country a better place. You are an extraordinary person and I think the first true hero I've have ever met."

"I'm just a simple thief," Robin said, overwhelmed by her assertion.

"I don't see that the two are mutually exclusive," Regina said with a smirk, before standing up on her tip toes and kissing him. Her hand sliding from his cheek to the back his neck, her other gripping the fabric of neck of his tunic and pulling him closer to her. Robin kissed her back eagerly letting go of his hold on the blanket and sliding a hand into her long dark hair that she had let out of the braid she had been wearing earlier. It fell around her shoulders and down her back and flooded his world with the scent of her.

After a few moments they broke apart, Robin resting his forehead against Regina's before saying, "I call you my lady, because out here we are all equal, highborn or low and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the title…and I know it's presumptuous of me but I…I just enjoy calling you mine."

"Good answer," Regina said, pulling his face to her and kissing him hard, her mouth open against his. Robin allowed his hands to travel over the curves of her body until they slid over her hips and he gripped her ass firmly and lifted her off the ground. Regina let out a little noise of surprise at the sudden movement, but then wrapped her legs around his waist and and twined her arms around his shoulders.

"And you are mine," she breathed out, before kissing him with claiming force as Robin carried her back towards the tent.

Regina

The dull sound of a heartbeat thudded inside Regina's ears and it took a moment for her to realize that that the sound was emanating from inside the stone walls of the staircase. Regina fought to shake off a chill as she remembered the one time she had seen the inside of Snow White's vault. It had been the closest that she had ever come to the death and she still had nightmares about the way that the countless hearts that lined the walls all seemed to beat with a single pulse. Somehow all serving to underscore the Queen's threats as the blank blue eyes of her pet, "Charming," watched seemingly immune to the horrors surrounding him.

Regina squared her shoulders against this old horror. That day had passed and she had survived. She needed to focus on making sense of this strange world she had been thrust into, if she were going to do the same thing now.

At the bottom of the stairs was a long stone corridor lined on either side by rows and rows of glowing hearts in miniature caskets. It looked similar to the Queen's vault, but a different energy seemed to permeate this place. It felt familiar to Regina in the same way that everything in this world had, but this place felt somehow even more ancient. It was as though she had not returned here in years and as soon as she stepped inside Regina was absolutely certain that awful things had happened here. No specific memories surfaced, but she felt suddenly incredibly small and helpless and had an irresistible compulsion to simply run through this hallway as quickly as she could and never return.

So that was exactly what she did. She ran along the corridor as fast as her legs could carry her, trying to ignore the strange pull of the pulsing hearts and the way something deep within the center of the room seemed to be trying to draw her in, to keep her here trapped forever. Regina forced herself to focus all of her energy on reaching the staircase at the other end that was awash in light from the outside world. When she finally reached it she threw herself up it, in such a rush that she stumbled twice and had to fight to keep her feet underneath her. Finally, she burst through the opening at the top and out onto the manicured lawn she had seen from the window above.

Doubled over and struggling to catch her breath she glanced up at the window she had looked through and realized that there was no logistical way that the tunnel she had just run through had actually existed. Before she had time to try and make sense of this latest strange revelation she heard the sound of footsteps approaching her. She looked up and saw a man walking towards her from the direction of the apple tree. When he saw her his face broke into a warm, relieved smile and he hurried to her side.

"Regina," he said, putting a hand on her arm, "Thank God, you're alright."

As he did this she caught a glimpse of a black tattoo on the inside of his wrist. It bore the shape of a shield with a lion on it. She recognized it as the same one as she had seen on the man who had helped her escape from the Black Guard. She reached out, firmly gripping his hand in hers and turning it so that she could get a better look at his tattoo.

"This...I've seen this before,"

"I should hope so," the man said, looking confused.

"You're him," Regina said, "You're the man from the road. How do you know me? Who are you? Why did you help?"

"Regina, my love, what are you talking about? What road?" he questioned, looking genuinely worried as he reached out trying to take her in his arms, "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine..." she said, taking a step away from him, "Why did you just call me that? I'm not your 'love.' I'm not your anything. I had never seen you before last night...Why are you talking to me like we know each other?"

The man studied her face silently for a moment, a strange sadness in his expression. He motioned towards a bench beside the tree.

"We seem to have very different recollections of the past..." he paused searching for the best words to say what he needed to say, "I've learned that this town often does strange things to people's memories...Perhaps...would you? Could we sit and maybe you could tell me about what happened on the road yesterday when you remember us meeting?"

Regina considered him carefully for a second, telling herself firmly that he was likely an insane person and she should probably put as much distance between them as she could, but something in his green eyes made her hesitate. She remembered how close he had come to dying for her the night before and she supposed that bought him a few moments of her time. Finally she nodded at him and the crossed to the bench and sat down. Regina instinctively perching on the edge of the lacquered wooden seat just in case she needed to bolt, still not entirely sure how she felt about this stranger.

She looked him over, studying the stubble that covered his strong jaw and hint of lines starting to form beside his eyes that spoke of someone who smiled often and easily. Like most of the people she had come across since searing the wound on her leg his clothing appeared to made out of fabrics that she couldn't easily identify. Even though he didn't appear to be armed he still wore a leather strap across his chest almost as though he was longing to be wearing a quiver. Regina wasn't sure why, but she found something about this oddly charming. It felt as though he had made some concessions to living in this strange world but still longed to be roaming the woods that were her home. This realization made her feel a sense of kinship to him. Regina noticed that he rested his arm on the armrest of the bench and that his injury seemed to have mended itself as well.

"Your shoulder seems to have healed up nicely," she volunteered, a little awkwardly.

"Indeed," he responded, raising an eyebrow at her curiously, "was it injured?"

"You really remember nothing about last night then," Regina said letting out a sigh.

"I do, but I think I remember a different last night than you do. Why don't you tell me what you remember? Perhaps start with how I hurt my shoulder..." he suggested.

"Fair enough," Regina said, turning more completely towards him, still not entirely sure what was compelling her to stay, but having the strangest sensation that she had to make him understand. "You were injured during a swordfight with one of Snow White's Black Guards. I was trying to rob a carriage bound for the Queen's castle. It turned out to be a set up and I was ambushed and captured. They were going to kill me and carve my heart from my chest, but you saved me...I have no idea why, but you did. Even still, I just barely escaped...I had to leave you there, injured and still fighting...I'm so sorry...I should have..." Regina's voice died in her throat as she thought of the way that she had just left him behind. It had been such an easy thing to do in the heat of the moment, but actually having to say it now to his face...the guilt felt like a lead weight in her chest. He had risked everything to help a perfect stranger and she had ridden away from him without a second thought.

"A sword fight? No wonder I was injured. It's a miracle I didn't lose my head...swords have never exactly been my weapon," he said shaking his head with a self deprecating laugh before asking, "Wait...Snow White was trying to kill you?"

"She's been hunting me for years," Regina explained, thinking it was odd that this was the part of her story that should trouble him. He sat for a long second in silence, clearly trying to make sense of everything that she had told him.

"You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, my lady," he said with a kind smile. Regina felt a deep confusing swell of emotions at him calling her this.

"Did you not hear me?" Regina questioned indignantly, "I just told you that you saved my life and I abandoned you to die."

"If the situation was as dire as you just described then I guarantee I would have wanted you to do exactly as you did. To get the hell out of there...to get yourself some place safe. It wouldn't be much of a daring rescue if you got killed or recaptured coming back to save me. Plus, I am very resourceful and clearly not that easy to kill," he said with a grin, indicating the fact that he was still sitting there.

"Why?" Regina demanded, "Why do you care what happens to me?"

"Regina," He reached out and gently took one of her hands in his and Regina surprised herself by allowing him to hold it, "Our stories have always been tied together, no matter what world or time we end up in, that is always true. We've been torn apart more times than I can count... but we always find a way back to each other...I know how this sounds...do you believe in magic?"

"Of course," Regina said, thinking that was an odd question, "you have a witch try to tear your heart out enough times you can't help but believe in it."

Robin shook his head at this, "It's so strange to hear you talk like that."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing...I just," He cleared his throat and then continued, "what I was saying before, the Regina I remember, well, a long time ago someone showed her a glimpse of the person that she was destined to be with and this was what they showed her," he let go of her hand and pushed up his sleeve and turned over his wrist to better reveal his tattoo.

"That was all that I saw of the man who helped me on the road..." Regina breathed out, "are you trying to tell me that you're the person I'm destined to be with...like what...my soulmate or something?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow at him.

"I know how it sounds and that it's a lot to take in," he said, a shadow of hurt traveling across his face at her cynicism, "And you don't have to believe me...I just thought you should know."

"If what you say is true then I'm afraid you got a very raw deal indeed," Regina said shaking her head, "I am not someone that you want in your life. You need to get as far away from me as you can and just forget about me...what?" she asked at the sad smile on his face.

"This is not the first time that you've told me to do that."

"I'm guessing you didn't listen to me then either...what's your name?" Regina asked, realizing it was probably strange that she had not asked this question before now. So much about him felt familiar that it had simply not occurred to her to press the issue until now.

"Robin."

"Wait...Robin Hood?"

"Finally," A cold female voice said with what was clearly an exasperated sigh. Both Robin and Regina looked up to a see a woman standing beside the apple tree in an ornate crimson and black brocade gown, with a high black feather collar that hid much of her face.

"Snow..." Regina breathed out in fear, quickly getting to her feet.

"No, you idiot...And since when are we afraid of Snow White?" The woman said turning to face them, revealing features much sharper than the deceptively soft curves of Snow White's face. For the second time that day Regina had the unsettling feeling of looking directly into her own face. This time it was heavily made up and wore a cruel, superior smirk, but once again it was undeniably herself. "And what the hell are you wearing?"

"What am I wearing?" Regina questioned arching an eyebrow at the other woman's ornate gown and jewels.

"Oh, yes dear, poke fun. At least I'm not the one who's completely forgotten who I am. Honestly, sleeping in a hollowed out log, running around the countryside like an unwashed ruffian, and hiding from the likes of the two idiots. I'm...excuse me, we're... a queen for god's sake."

"Wait, What the hell is going on? How are you here?" Robin asked stepping between the two versions of herself and addressing the more finely dressed version.

"Robin, my love, I'm sorry but I think you've done all that you can do here," The more regal version of herself said taking a step towards him, before lifting her hand with a little flourish, "This is between us," with that she flicked her wrist and Robin fell to the ground in a heap.

Regina let out a little cry of fear and instinctively rushed to his side pushing him onto his back and shaking him by his shoulder, "What did you do to him?"

"Relax," the version of herself claiming to be a queen said dismissively, reaching up and plucking an apple from one of the branches of the tree, "I didn't hurt him. I would never do that to us. He's just unconscious. Now, you and I need to talk." With that she tossed the apple at Regina who instinctively raised her hands and caught it right before it hit her in the face.