I'm sorry for not updating on Friday - I was very ill and I had a ton of social engagements that weekend. The chapter is here now, and I hope you like it! And no worries, there will not be any Stablequeen romance in this fic.


CHAPTER FOUR

"You can wash yourself in the washroom next door," Regina explained as she unlocked the door with the key that Daniel had just provided them with. "It is the maids' washroom, they won't mind, just be quick."

Emma lingered in the doorway, watching as Regina moved with familiarity across the small room that was Daniel's private space. "Really?" She bit her lip, imagining Regina sneaking away from her mother to hang out with Daniel in his room at night.

Regina pulled a small closet open and turned to shoot Emma a supportive smile. "Go on. I'll find you something of Daniel's to wear while you do so."

The other girl's demeanor and personality was so supportive and kind that Emma could do nothing but obey. She was sweeter than any friend Emma had ever had in the system, and there was not one part of her that didn't believe that Regina wanted what was absolutely best for her. It was just strange – being in this land and trusting someone else the way she was so clearly trusting Regina – it wasn't something she had tried a lot, but perhaps being in a new place was the perfect opportunity to really shake things up.

She slipped into the room next to Daniel's, and she wasn't surprised to see that there was only a bath – not a shower in sight. Somehow, she had expected this, given everything she had learned about this land so far. She didn't have time to take a real shower anyway, she just filled a bowl with water and used a bar of soap to wash off sweat and grime from the past days. She couldn't do much about her hair, but she'd probably keep it in a neat bun or something. She had a feeling that Regina's father wouldn't mind too much – it was more her mother that Emma was worried about, if she was going to decide whether or not Emma could be a stable girl.

Once she was done, she returned to Daniel's room. She had her sweater draped over one arm, her boots dangling from the other. She'd taken them off to quickly wash them in the water before she left; they were old and filled with holes, but at least they weren't dirty anymore.

Regina stared up from the chair as Emma entered. "Wonderful," she said, her eyes running down Emma's form as she did.

Subconsciously, Emma shifted slightly to let the sweater cover her stomach, even though she knew that logically, Regina wouldn't be able to see anything yet. "So how do we do this?" Emma asked as she dropped her boots to the floor and the sweater on the bed. Regina had laid out an outfit for her there; pants, a leather belt, an undershirt and a tunic very much alike what Daniel was wearing this morning.

"You should change into this," Regina said as she stood up and moved to the bed, a sheepish smile on her face. "I hope you have your own brassiere, because Daniel did not have that in his closet."

Emma snickered. "I'm good, thanks."

Regina blinked at her. "I don't believe you can fit in mine, but we'll have to see about getting you some if you're to stay here." She reached for the undershirt and handed it to Emma. "This goes underneath," she said as she eyed Emma's pale arms quizzically. "I'll turn around for a moment while you change."

"I don't care," Emma breathed, and she pulled her tank top over her head in one smooth motion while Regina stared at her with wide eyes. Emma was used to changing in front of a lot of people – group homes would do that to a girl – and she had a feeling that she'd have to get used to that here, as well, if she were to share a washroom with a lot of maids.

Reaching for the pants, Regina said, "Oh. I wasn't sure what the customs of your land were. Here, I am quite used to having help getting into my dresses," she explained as she held out the pants. "You put these on, and then the belt."

Emma slipped into the pants easily, relishing in the soft, but thick material, and the way the pants were a lot looser than her jeans. They were quite big around the waist too, which would work wonderfully for her with a growing belly. At least she'd be able to hide it until she figured out what else to do. "Thank you," she breathed as she tucked the belt around her midsection and did it in. She did a lunge, testing the movement. "I'm really a fan of these pants," she said with a grin, meeting Regina's eyes.

The brunette stared at her, a look of slight confusion marring her face. "Now the tunic," she next explained, and she helped Emma get the brown material over her head and onto her shoulders. "Wonderful," she murmured, and her eyes swept over Emma's features critically. "I'll have to braid your hair."

"What," Emma said, eyes going wide beneath her glasses.

Regina pulled the chair out and motioned towards it. "Sit," she demanded lightly. "We have to braid your hair, so it doesn't get in the way. Thankfully, I did bring my brush."

Apparently, she'd been predicting this, so Emma took a seat and bit her lip as Regina pulled out her old scrunchie. Her hair was dirty and grimy, but there was nothing she could do about that – and she also wasn't used to anyone doing anything with her hair. She'd never had parents to teach her how to, no one had brushed her locks before tucking her into bed, so having Regina's gentle brushstrokes against her back and scalp was something else entirely. "Do you know how to braid," she asked, thinking that she had to say something to fill this silence.

Humming, Regina's warm fingers brushed against Emma's ear. "Yes. My handmaiden has taught me since I was little. It is not usual to be taught, since there are always people on hand to do it, but I wished to know more, I wished to learn how to control my hair." She ran her fingers through Emma's locks softly, murmuring beneath her breath. "I never much cared for the long locks I have."

Emma stared at the wall, shoulders tense as Regina started dividing her hair into sections. "Why don't you cut them off then?"

Regina gasped. "Me? A girl? Mother would never allow that," she whispered, and her skillful fingers starting crossing locks of hair and making two braids from the top of Emma's head. "Once I am able to leave her house, I will cut it shorter so I don't have to spend so much time caring for it," she told Emma as she worked, "I think right above the shoulders will do. Once I'm older."

"You'll look pretty no matter what," Emma let slip past her lips before she even thought about it. She dug her front teeth into her lower lip and groaned inwardly.

"You're too kind," Regina said, but Emma could hear the fondness in her voice. "I have decided that we will go talk to Daddy about your future here. Once you are dressed more appropriately, I am sure he will not be able to say no to you. Daddy has a soft heart, he will want to help you."

Emma was tense, still not quite believing that it could even be possible to stay here with Regina and Daniel; it felt too good to be true, that it would work out like that. But perhaps luck was smiling her way for once. She really did need it most right now. "Are you sure?"

Regina nodded, snapping the scrunchie as she finished off Emma's braid. "Yes. Daddy is the most wonderful man I have ever met."

Tilting her head backwards, Emma stared up at her. "What about Daniel," she teased.

A faint blush rose on Regina's cheeks. "Daniel is kind to me. He is the only true friend I have ever had." She sat down on the bed, her white dress falling around her legs in soft cascades, a contrast to the rough material of Daniel's bedcovers. "The royal girls… They are not for me," Regina revealed.

Standing up from the chair, Emma patted her head to figure out what the braid looked like. There was no mirror in Daniel's room, and she had not seen one in the washroom either. It was very strange. "I can promise you, I am definitely not a royal girl," she grinned at Regina. The braid started in two braids from the top of her head and was woven together and into big braid that rested against her back.

"You are most definitely not like them, no," Regina said, and it was clear that she was amused by Emma's attempts at figuring out the braid. "Do you like it?"

"Very much," Emma quickly assured her, stuck her hands into the pockets of her pants. "The braid is awesome. I'm a fan of how no hair is going to get in my eyes." She swung her head around, attempting to mess up the braid even the slightest, but nothing happened. Regina had made sure it stuck.

Regina giggled; her light laughter ringing through the room like bells, and it made Emma want to laugh, too. "You say that a lot," Regina murmured, curiosity written on her every feature.

"What?"

"That you're a fan…" Regina trailed off, brow furrowed, eyebrows knitted together. "What does it mean to be a fan of?"

Pausing, Emma stared down at her, wondering. "Uhm," she licked her lips. "It's… to like… really care for something. Like, like it a whole lot," she eventually settled for. She met Regina's eyes and shrugged.

Nodding her head, Regina stood up from the bed again. "Then I am a fan of you," she decided easily, with determination, and before Emma could correct her, she hurried on. "We should get to my father's office. Mother is away on an errand, we should use this opportunity to talk to him."

Emma blinked. "Okay," she said, a hand coming to rest upon her stomach once more. "You lead the way, Regina."

Regina smiled beatifically and hooked her arm through Emma's. "Follow me."

They waked through the halls and across the open courtyard. Emma could make out Daniel in the paddock next to the stable, exercising the horses. He had a smile on his face, giving out orders, and she made out Rocinante's form easily; the black stallion shining beautifully in the afternoon sunlight. As a contrast, the halls inside the mansion were empty and cold, only a sole maid scampered down the hall with her arms full of bread.

Knocking on the door to her father's study, Regina poked her head inside. "Daddy?" she queried innocently, and at Henry's faint hum, she pushed the door further open and stepped inside, Emma following nervously behind her, chewing on the inside of her cheek. She had had a good feeling about Henry Mills yesterday, and Regina seemed to believe that her father would be on their side, but she couldn't help being nervous. She didn't exactly have the best track record with trusting adults; it always came back to bite her in the ass.

"Princess," Henry greeted them, and his eyes moved from Regina to Emma, never losing their warmth. "And Emma," he chuckled, "I had a feeling that you might still be around here somewhere."

"Yes, Daddy," Regina determinedly said and took a seat in front of Henry's desk. Her arms were crossed, shoulders squared. "As I informed you yesterday, Emma is from the Land Without Magic, thus she has nowhere to go. We can't just let her fend for herself." She turned her head to the side and patted the spare chair next to her, "Emma, sit," she demanded with firmness.

Emma squandered to take a seat next to Regina, almost falling over her own feet in the process.

Henry's eyes crinkled with something akin to amusement, and he folded his hands beneath his chin. "And what might you girls suggest we do?"

Regina simply said, "We thought Emma might be a stable girl and help Daniel tend to the horses," she informed her father.

He hummed, "Mr. Colter has been rather busy with everything after he took over."

"I agree," Regina nodded, "so it's perfect. Emma stays here, safe and sound, and she works with the horses."

Henry turned his gaze away from his daughter and towards Emma instead. His hands dropped to the table, still folded, as he pondered. "And you are quite certain you want to care for the horses and not serve as a maid or down in the kitchens?"

Emma jutted out her chin. "Quite certain. I don't know much about horses, but I'm a quick learner."

Henry sighed and turned his eyes towards his daughter. "Regina, you do realise that your mother will not like this," he said. It was not a question at all, but a statement.

Regina nodded, back rigid in the chair next to Emma's. "I know, Daddy," she lightly said, and her warm hand came to rest upon Emma's thigh. "But Emma has nowhere to go. We must give her this job. I'm sure she'll do wonderfully." She squeezed her fingers and retracted her hand.

"But where would she stay?" Henry questioned. He clearly wanted to please his daughter; Emma could tell by the look in his eyes that he'd move heaven and earth for Regina, and that was good for her at the moment. "She can't very well stay with the stable boy."

After a soft hum, Regina suggested, "Didn't Tamara from the kitchens just lose her bed-mate? I seem to remember that one of the maids left after she got married. Emma could stay with her."

Brown eyes searched Emma's face again, and Henry folded his hands beneath his chin and gave a curt nod. "Very well. I do not like to send young women into the woods with nowhere to go. I will give word to the maids, and after you have helped Daniel with the horses today, Regina can take you to your quarters. We expect you to be on hand for Daniel every hour of the day, and you will receive food and shelter and a small allowance. Is that agreeable with you?"

Nodding eagerly, Emma said, "Yeah. I mean – yes, Sir. Thank you."

Henry's face softened slightly as he said, "Good. You best get to the stables, and Regina - I seem to recall you had some reading assigned by your mother, is that correct?"

"Yes, Daddy!" Regina quickly said, eager to agree with him now that he had helped them. She rushed around the table and placed a lingering kiss on his cheek. "I will get to it at once. Thank you."

"You are welcome, my Princess," Henry said, and Regina smiled brightly as she shoved Emma out of the room.

As the door closed behind them, Emma broke into a giant grin and Regina squealed happily. "See! I knew Daddy would help you." Her features softened, and she brushed her fingers across the back of Emma's hand. "I will see you tonight, Emma?" Her eyes shone happily, her pink lips straining with the red scar protruding against her dark skin.

"Yes," Emma agreed, and she stuck her hands into her pockets and reluctantly left Regina to find Daniel in the stables.

Working in the stables was hard, but not bad at all. Daniel had her mucking out the stalls for a start, and he was generally very good about teaching her how to act around the horses. She even got close enough to Rocinante to touch him and stroke his back. She had to admit, she was frightened by those big animals, but if she had to choose between them – being free, being outside, using her body – and making food or cleaning, the horses would win any day. She was even pretty sure that she might grow to like them.

Once she was done mucking out, she watched from the sidelines as Daniel trained one of the younger horses. It was another stallion; this one the colour of sand and with a dusted tail and white legs, and Emma laughed as the horse did whatever it pleased, barely listening to any of Daniel's commands or directions, completely doing whatever it wanted to. It reminded Emma of the old Volkswagen Beetle she and Neal had lived in all through their relationship; untrustworthy, temperamental and prone to doing whatever it wanted.

Daniel came to a halt in front of where she was sitting on the side of the paddock, and he breathed heavily as he slid off the horse, letting it run free to blow off some steam. His brow was sweaty, but he was grinning. "I'm having some real troubles with him. He barely listens to me."

Emma laughed, eyes following the stallion as it playfully ran around. "I can see that. He's stubborn."

Whistling, Daniel leaned against the fence and said, "Yeah. We just got him a few months back. No one wanted him because of his temper, but Regina – she loves horses." He smiled wistfully, tilting his head back to stare up at Emma with bright blue eyes, "She couldn't leave him behind, and she convinced Mr. Mills to buy him for a small amount."

"And now you're training him," Emma chuckled.

Daniel shook his head, fond. "Yeah. I think I'd do anything to make Regina happy."

Emma eyed him silently, chewing on the corner of her lip. She wasn't entirely sure what she was supposed to reply to that, so instead she just said nothing. She couldn't really get a read on Daniel and Regina's relationship. It seemed beyond that of a stable boy and the employer's daughter, and it was clear that their common love for horses had founded their friendship – or whatever it was between the two of them.

"So how are you finding the Mills family so far?"

"I'm not sure," Emma honestly replied. She was more comfortable than she had been in months; the sun had warmed her all day, she was in clean clothes and she knew that she had a bed to sleep in tonight and a meal for dinner. "I'm still not entirely sure I'm not making this up in my head, you know?"

Daniel furrowed his brow. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

Emma wasn't sure she knew either. "I fell, you know? And the place I was? It wasn't too great." She paused, continuing to gnaw at her lip. "So maybe I'm just knocked out somewhere, making all this shit up because it seems better than anything else."

Pushing himself away from the fence, Daniel replied, "Well, all I can tell you is that it is very much real. I am real, this is real. And why shouldn't it be?" He grinned at her, "I'm sure Regina can tell you much more about that though. However, she isn't too fond of magic, but I have a feeling she's fond of you."

"You think?" Emma eyed him quizzically.

"I am almost certain," Daniel grinned. "And," he added and motioned behind her, "here she comes now, running from her classes. I'm going to nap, but I will see you at dinner down in the kitchens later."

Emma whispered, "Okay," and Daniel took off running towards the huge building, brushing past Regina as she ran across the yard. Emma spun around on the side of the paddock, careful not to tilt, and watched as she came closer; her ponytail bounced in the wind, and she was dressed in a light blue dress and flats, looking like a true fairy tale in every sense of the word. Emma really loved how pastel colours brought out her skin tone.

"Hi," Regina giggled as she came to a stop in front of Emma. Her eyes shone brightly, and her chest was heaving up and down beneath the intricate lace pattern that made up the front of her dress. "Have everything been to your liking so far?"

Not able to stop herself from grinning at the other girl, Emma nodded eagerly. "Yeah, it's been awesome! Daniel is really great. I think I might like it here. I am sure I'll wake up at some point, but might as well enjoy it while it lasts."

Regina shook her head at her, looking up at Emma from where she was positioned in front of her. She was not as tall as Emma, and with the blonde on top of the fence, the height difference was even bigger. "You are silly. This is very much real," Regina promised her.

Emma shrugged. "So, uh? Do I get to see my crib now?"

"I assume you mean your room?" Regina questioned, one eyebrow raised. At Emma's nod, she continued, "You will be staying with Tamara. She is one of my favourite handmaids. You could do worse."

"Sure thing, boss," Emma joked and hopped off the wooden fence, landing with her feet firmly against the ground. "Lead the way."

They continued up the field towards the courtyard. Emma noticed that Regina was walking peculiarly slow, but she said nothing to it, just matched the other girl's pace. Darkness was settling around the grounds, and Emma couldn't believe that she had already been in this weird place for more than a day. It was odd; she'd never felt more out of place, yet at the same time she felt strangely at home.

The silence was jarring, and Emma could tell that Regina was thinking hard, so she nudged the brunette's shoulder gently and said, "So your dad said something about studying? What are you studying? You don't have school or some shit?"

Regina tilted her head to the side. "School? No, I have different tutors. I have learned Latin and Spelling, of course. Mother demands for me to read up on potions and spells already. She is rather wishing for me to have magic like herself, but I don't much care for it."

"You mean you can learn magic?" Emma gaped at her.

"Some of it. Potions and some spells," Regina explained with a shrug of her shoulder. They turned onto the courtyard then, their feet crunching against the small pebbles. "Great magic is inherited though; something you are mostly born with or prone to do. Most magic is emotion." She stuck her hands into her pockets and added, "I don't want to learn. I have seen what magic can do."

Emma mumbled, "It's bad, huh?"

Regina reached for her hand suddenly, fingers clasping around her wrist and brown eyes meeting Emma's. They shone with emotion, deep and heartfelt, and her fingers clenched painfully. "Certainly, all the magic I have experienced," she whispered, and there was something dark and desperate looming right beneath her eyes.

Emma just stared at her.

The grip loosened around her wrist, Regina's hand dropping to hang limply by her side. "Mother wants me to study, so I have to study. But Daddy teaches me Spanish, and he lets me have my horses." She started walking again, briskly across the courtyard to the help's entrance.

Hurrying to catch up with her, Emma breathed, "Is your mother in charge?"

"Very much so," Regina solemnly replied as she pushed the door to the smaller building open. "Daddy picks his battles. Like he did for you. Mother wasn't happy."

Biting her lip, Emma followed Regina down a narrow hallway. They went past Daniel's room and a couple of room's further down and to the left. The door was open, and Regina stepped inside, Emma awkwardly following her. A young black girl – probably around Emma's age – was sitting on one of the beds with a book nestled in her lap, finger pointed on the page. She looked up upon their entrance, brown eyes growing wide as they landed on Regina.

"Ms. Mills," she quickly gaped, book snapping close and falling to the side with a swoosh.

"No rush, Tamara," Regina quickly assured her with a kind smile, "I have not come because I need you. I am merely bringing you the new stable girl. She will be rooming with you." Regina motioned towards Emma who awkwardly stepped closer, waving at Tamara.

Tamara's shoulders sagged. "Oh. Stable girl?"

"Yes," Regina nodded. "Father thought it important that we hire another person to help Daniel care for the horses. Emma is that person."

Stepping forward, Emma reached her hand out and shook Tamara's. "I don't snore," she said.

With a nod, Tamara said, "Fine. I reckon having my own room was nice while it lasted."

Regina shifted awkwardly on her feet. "Alright then. Emma, I assume Tamara will make sure to bring you to dinner and show you where everything is located. I reckon, you would probably like to bathe at the next opportunity."

Emma rushed back to her side, merely forgetting Tamara for a second. Panic rose in her throat, heart beating wildly against her ribcage. She had assumed that she would have more time with Regina now that the day's work was finally over, but she was already leaving? "When will I see you again?" she whispered, very aware that Tamara was watching them from the bed.

Placing a warm hand on Emma's arm, Regina gave it a light squeeze. "Tomorrow after noon. I have my tutors before lunch. I shall see you there?" There was something brimming in her eyes, like hope and promises, and something wonderful, and Emma trusted her every word.

"Okay," she whispered, ducked her head and stepped back. "I will see you, Reg-" she cut herself off, remembering Tamara's presence once more, "-Miss Mills," she finished.

Regina's cheeks tinted a light pink. "See you, Emma. Tamara," she added, before she stepped outside of the room and closed the door behind her.

Emma fell onto the spare bed with a huff and groaned, "When's dinner. I'm starving."

Tamara laughed and threw her pillow across the small room. "I think I like you already. On a first name basis with the mistress, I see." She arched an eyebrow when Emma turned her head to stare at her with an open mouth, "You've got gumption, huh?"

"And you're not just a boring handmaiden," Emma stated.

"You got that right," Tamara said as she reached for her book again and offered Emma a pointed look. "Wait until you meet Mulan from the kitchens. She's not just the cook's daughter either."

Emma furrowed her brow and watched the other girl bend her head to look into her book again. If she was making this up in her head, she was seriously beginning to question her own sanity. And if she wasn't – and she was slowly starting to believe that that might actually be the case – this place was more magical than Emma could have ever dreamed of.


A/N. Tamara is supposed to be Tamara from the show, but her backstory is not the same, i.e. she is not some evil anti-magic person from the Land Without Magic set out to destroy Regina. She is merely a handmaiden in this universe. I'd just rather use one of the many characters from the show than make one up myself.