Regina was in her room when she first heard the screams. She looked out the window and saw the flames shooting from the forest surrounding her land. Her servants were running franticly about, desperately trying to douse the flames that were quickly spreading to the grass and were eating through her lawn. She watched in horror as the flames caught up to one, two, three of her servants. The queen ran from her window, down to the foyer. She burst through the doors and was paralyzed on the stone roadway. Her stables, her horses, all engulfed in flames. Her heart caught in her throat as she thought of Cyrus. Then she saw the doors fly open as Graham set them free. Cyrus led the way out of the burning building and the horses trampled the fencing around the paddock, their hooves leaving tracks of dust behind them. Regina saw that the servants were desperately trying to quell the flames devouring her land. She ran out to them straight through the brush, ignoring the path. Her dress caught on the rocks and roots that sought to trip her. When she arrived to where her servants were franticly running around, she raised her hands to stop the flames with her magic, but nothing happened. She shook her hands and desperately tried to bring the familiar power it to the surface, but no matter what she did, nothing happened. A black figure appeared in the middle of the flames and began to walk toward her. Regina shook her head and started to run toward the stables. She looked back every few seconds to see where the figure was. When she made it to the paddock she looked back and saw nothing but darkness. Her heart beat in a frenzy as she heard a piercing scream in the distance. Her fear went to her feet and they halted. She looked up to see a blood-red moon exposed in the black sky. She screamed internally - and woke to a crash outside her door.

Regina sat upright in bed, drenched in sticky cold sweat, thankful for the interruption, yet furious because someone undoubtedly had broken something. She looked outside and saw the pale tendrils of dawn beginning their ascent over the horizon. She threw on her robe and opened her bedroom door with a flourish. There she saw her father bent over a pile of books, a metal vase next to him.

"Daddy," Regina said, squatting down to help her father, "What are you doing?"

Her father's cheeks reddened, as he said, "Oh, Regina, dear. I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" He quickly tried to gather the books. Both he and Regina reached for one at the same time, The Hounds of Culann, Black Annis, Medusa and Other Tales.

"What's this for, Daddy? I haven't seen this since I was young…when mother used to tell me she would call the Headless Horseman or Medusa to dispose of me if I didn't behave. Why in the world would you bring it out now?" She looked at her father, confused.

"I was thinking about the tale of Baba Yaga the other day and there were some details I had trouble remembering, that's all dear. The rest of these are to bring to my study, as I've read most of the books in there already."

Regina looked at her father, her brow wrinkled. "Alright. Well, be careful on your way down, Daddy."

She helped her father up and watched him walk down the next flight of stairs before she returned to her bed. The queen was determined to stay awake until the sun had risen fully, but it was remarkable how deftly exhaustion stole over her. Before she could stop herself, she had already slipped back into sleep.

The Queen awoke, restless and drained before her day had even properly begun. The memories of the nightmare that plagued her last night hung on the edge of her consciousness, threatening to come back to terrify her. She rubbed the last remnants of sleep from her eyes and walked to her mirror. Regina looked up and saw the face that resided within it staring back at her and jumped, startled by its sudden presence.

"Damn it, Mirror. Don't sneak up on me like that again, or I will smash you to pieces."

"Of course, my queen. My deepest apologies."

Regina waved her hand. She turned around and began pacing the room, unusually restless for how weary she felt. She couldn't stop moving. Her mind was going in a thousand different directions, but they never failed to land back on that accursed nightmare that kept haunting her dreams. Behind her, the mirror snickered. Regina turned around and glared at him.

"And what, pray tell, is so amusing?"

The mirror's eyes widened, "Oh. N-nothing my Q-queen."

Regina marched over, a fireball ready in her palm. "What was so funny?" She asked again, her eyes flashing dangerously.

The mirror was noticeably frightened as he said, "You just bear a striking resemblance to the White Knight at this moment, that was all, my queen."

She narrowed her eyes at the mirror, "Show me," she demanded.

The mirror rippled and showed the White Knight, rapidly pacing in her small cell. She threw her arms to the side and stretched them, clearly aching for some sort of movement. She jumped on top of her bed, then off, landing in a low crouch. Just as she was about to jump again, the mirror rippled and the image was gone.

"She's quite restless, isn't she?" The mirror asked.

The queen grunted in agreement. She strode to the doors, stuck her head out and barked for her head guard. He quickly arrived, breathless.

"Yes, my Queen?" Graham asked as he bowed.

"Graham, it seems that our prisoner has grown restless. Take her out around the grounds, will you? Before she breaks something? But if you let her out of your sight, if she finds a way to escape, well... You know what I hold in my hand," she threatened casually.

"At once, your Majesty." Graham ran off to take care of his queen's wishes.

Regina dismissed the mirror, and turned around, unable to see his smirk before he disappeared. She changed into her riding clothes and headed down to the stables.

When she arrived, Cyrus poked his head out of his stall and whinnied. Regina's face lit up. She'd had Cyrus since he was a foal and he'd been devoted to her ever since then. She walked to his stall and placed her hand on his neck.

"Hello, handsome." Cyrus replied with a gust of air that tickled her face.

She unlocked his stall and let him out. He immediately pranced over to the door, ready to be saddled. Once Regina had finished fastening the harness, they were ready to go. She placed a boot into the stirrup and climbed into her favorite seat. In an instant, they were off. Cyrus galloped through the paddock, through the opening, and into the forest. The moment the cool rush of air kissed her skin, Regina instantly forgot any worries she had held prior to walking to the stables. She was free, at least for a few hours.


The knight loped out of the doors and was greeted by a blue sky and brilliant sun. She paused, closing emerald eyes, and inhaled the damp, earthy air. Graham chuckled next to her.

A low moan rumbled in her chest. "You have no idea how fantastic this feels," She said quietly, reverently, as if speaking in a temple.

"I suppose not," Graham replied.

The knight's eyes gave away her happiness, and she maneuvered herself in between the hedges to the manicured lawn. She did a few tumbles and rolls, testing herself after being cooped up in a small, cold cell. Graham watched from the path eyeing her closely. The knight attempted to do a flip, but hadn't timed it right and slammed into the ground. Graham moved quickly, worried that he had allowed the knight to harm herself. She sat up wiping some dirt from her clothes, waving him back. Her eyes continued to hold a mirth that put the man at ease.

"I'm fine," she said calmly. She sprinted back to Graham, crashing through the hedge, enjoying the stretch her legs were getting.

"Wanna race?" She challenged, her eyebrow raised.

"I don't know if that's a good idea, prisoner…the Queen would not approve of my cavorting with captives." He replied sternly.

"I don't see your Queen watching us anywhere," she taunted. "We can say it was training."

"I don't train with prisoners," he said firmly with a touch of pride and a hint of disdain.

"Afraid of losing to a woman, Guardsman?" she fixed him with a playful challenge in her steady gaze.

A responding smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth, "To the stables then?"

"GO!" She shouted, getting a head start on the guard.

The knight sprinted ahead, feeling the wind blow through her flaxen hair. She leaned forward, giving herself more speed, reveling in the freedom of the open. Glancing around, she saw Graham hot on her tail. Her legs cried from the abuse, but she pushed herself harder; she always pushed herself harder. Each time her foot struck the ground, her heart soared with delight. She closed in on the stables. Ten feet, nine, eight, Graham was right behind her, seven, six, five, she heard him panting and she dove the remaining distance, tucking her shoulder beneath her, she rolled to her feet. With her hands in the air, she crowed with victory. Graham laughed, his hands on his knees.

"Well done," he said.

"Glad to see your pride isn't too wounded, losing to a woman."

"Yes, well, next time you won't get a head start on me," he teased lightly.

She shook his hand and walked into the stables.

"I didn't know Regina liked horses," she said, admiring the creatures in their stalls.

"Oh yes, they're her pride and joy. Cyrus, her prized stallion is by far her favorite, but she loves them all."

"Where is he?" the knight asked, looking at his empty stall.

"I'd imagine the queen took him out for a ride." Graham said, kicking a stray piece of straw on the floor.

The knight seemed to ponder this for a moment, then she walked toward a stall holding a white mare. She whinnied as the knight approached and tossed her head about, hoping to get her attention.

"Hello there!" she said, patting her forelock.

"That's Cyrene. She's another favorite of the queen's, second only to Cyrus." Graham said, walking up to the stall, still eyeing his charge watchfully.

The knight stroked the horse's mane, and Cyrene nuzzled up to the knight's face. She smiled at the animal's affection.

"I think we should be getting back to the castle, prisoner." Graham said. The knight reluctantly said goodbye to her new friend, and scuffed her feet as she left the stable.

Just as they exited the building, they heard hoof beats coming from the forest. Regina appeared on Cyrus, her hair wind-blown, and eyes alight with exhilaration. She slowed in front of the knight and her head guard. The blonde looked the Queen over; she had never seen her so wild, so beautiful, and the freedom glowing around her made her swallow thickly. Something stirred in her core, and she quickly looked down before her crimson cheeks gave her away.

"Graham, Knight," she nodded her head in their direction, "out for a stroll, I see?" she said, a smile playing at her full lips.

"Yes, my queen, we were on our way back to the castle now," Graham replied, head bowed down.

"No need, dear. I'll escort the knight back myself."

Graham looked at her in surprise. The knight backed up and placed one foot behind the other and tensed, sure that a trap was being laid.

Regina raised an eyebrow, smirking, "Dear, do calm down. I'm not going to hurt you. We must get rid of the lies your precious queen filled your head with."

The knight relaxed slightly and brought her feet together. She eyed the Queen as she graciously slid from her mount, feeling the stirring in her core renew. The Queen handed Cyrus' reigns off to a servant, patting his neck goodbye.

"Shall we?" Regina asked, smiling. The smile didn't reach her eyes, but her face seemed somewhat relaxed after her time spent with Cyrus.

The knight followed Regina up the path toward the castle.

"Did you enjoy your time outside, dear?" the Queen asked.

"Uh, yes. It was nice to feel the sunshine. You don't really have that privilege in a dank dungeon," the knight shot Regina a look.

"Well, that would be the point," Regina replied smoothly. "You break down the prisoners by giving them small slices of freedom that they can view outside the bars, but never let them have it. It's really a quite exquisite, slow form of torture"

"Then why did you let me?" The knight stopped.

"Well dear, Snow White obviously filled your head with thoughts of a monstrous Evil Queen, so I must rid you of those. I am not evil, simply misunderstood." She kept her demeanor calm, but sharply watched her companion for her reaction.

"You murdered hundreds of-"

"-As did your queen, Knight. We've had this discussion." Regina calmly stated.

The knight pursed her lips and followed the Queen as she began walking again. She took the knight through an enclosed walkway that led to a courtyard lit by the afternoon sun.

"I'd like to show you something." The Queen said, regarding the White Knight slyly.

She walked to the center of the courtyard to a beautiful garden surrounding a pristine apple tree. Regina reached her hand up and plucked a luscious, red fruit from its branch. She walked back over to the knight and offered it to her. The knight put her hand up in refusal. Regina chuckled and took a bite.

"It's not poisonous," she said with a chuckle, purposely closing her eyes when she licked the juice from her lips. The knight looked down, her mouth suddenly dry, slightly embarrassed at her conclusion.

"Come," Regina said, and strode through the courtyard.

A howl sounded from the forest surrounding the property, and the knight froze. Regina turned back, noticing that the blonde was not behind her.

"This land is protected by my magic. So long as I have that, nothing can enter without my permission." she said, and beckoned for the woman to follow her.

The pair walked in silence back to the dungeons, no sound between them but the steady thump of the knight's boots and short clacking of Regina's heels. When they arrived, the guards bowed to the Queen, and she escorted the knight back to her cell.

"Graham will be back tomorrow to walk with you again around the same time as today."

The knight looked at the queen, utterly baffled.

"You're letting me go out again?" she asked, incredulous, her brow furrowed in disbelief.

"Yes, dear. That is what I said, do try to pay attention," the Queen replied with a smirk.

The knight rolled her eyes and sat down on her bed. "Thank you."

Regina was struck by the second gracious comment uttered by the knight. "You're welcome, Knight." She said tersely, and turned to walk out.

"Emma," the blonde said. "My name is Emma."

The queen turned to look at Emma, nodded, and walked out.


AN: Hey everyone! Thank you again for reading! A few people have asked me if Snow is Emma's mother in this story. No, she's not. Emma was basically just Snow's champion.

Thank you again to my beautiful betas. Don't know what I'd do without you gals.

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