Chapter4
Time had gotten away from Emma and the gypsy as they talked about everything under the sun, including Esmeralda's husband and son. They were back at her parent's camp waiting for the dark haired woman and her parents to return. She had convinced her husband to let her join her father in search of her mother. Originally she had come here to simply visit with her parents who had chosen this place to call home. Her folks had never met her young son and she missed them so much.
Esmeralda explained how she, her husband and her son had come here for a vacation of sorts, but it quickly turned into more than they had bargained for. Emma shook her head to herself, she had thought only the day before that no one would come to this place for a vacation, but apparently, she was wrong.
"I think I should start heading back now, besides, I need to check on Papa," Esmeralda said standing up and stretching.
Emma smiled, "Well, thanks for keeping me company."
The gypsy smiled and nodded as she headed back through the doorway that was hidden behind the tapestry, and then paused, "You know, don't give up on your queen just yet. See you in the morning." She smiled and then disappeared.
The blonde stood staring at the large piece of wall art that looked more like some kind of bedding but was beautifully painted. She turned around rubbing the back of her neck with her hand. The gypsy's words were bouncing around in the sheriff's head. The words were just words because the dark-haired woman had not seen the major change in her and the other woman's relationship. The mayor was very unhappy with Emma, but she would be lying if she were to say that it didn't make her heart flutter at the thought of the queen returning her feelings.
No, she couldn't get her hopes up on that one. Esmeralda didn't see the way Regina reacted when she had kissed her, or how angry she had become, or the pain Emma had caused by bringing them back here.
The sheriff rubbed her eyes, she was tired, but there was no way she would be able to sleep right now. She couldn't redirect her thoughts away from Regina, and this room was a little creepy when you were all alone.
She would just mosey on down to the queen's room and at least check on her. Emma couldn't make the mayor talk to her about what had happened, but she could at least assist with a plan to get home.
Emma opened the door and peered out into the long hallway that seemed to go on forever in both directions. It was empty and eerily silent. She could hear herself breathe and it didn't put her mind or nerves at ease. She was pretty sure she had seen a movie where the overly curious actor met a very painful death in a hallway much like this one and no one heard his screams.
"Get a grip Swan." She said out loud as she fought a chill that threatened to run up her spine and make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
It took her a few moments to get her bearings after she took a deep breath she turned west and started for the queen's room. At least she hoped she was headed west. That's how you know a house is too big when you have to use a compass to get around it, she thought.
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Regina sat staring at the bed. She had a maid come in and put fresh linens on it, but she still couldn't sleep, so instead she sat at the vanity, looking at the large intricately carved four post bed. Her stomach churned at the thought of her old self, and the number of bodies that had joined her in that bed.
The queen could hear a muffled commotion outside the door.
"Get your hands off of me, creep. I need to see Regina." Emma's voice came through the wooden door.
"Her majesty requested to not be disturbed." A guard's said.
"I suggest you remove your hand or I will make sure you pull back a nub," Emma growled.
Regina rolled her eyes getting up and quickly making her way to the door. The sounds of a struggle and the rustling of material could be heard, which caused the queen to yank the door open.
To her surprise and relief, Emma had the guard's arm pinned behind his back and his face scrunched in pain. Regina had been worried for a second that the guard had overpowered the blonde, clearly, that was not the case.
"Miss. Swan, assaulting her majesty's guards is frowned upon." The brunette said with half a smirk.
Emma sneered, "Then tell him to keep his hands off me."
Regina stared at the scene before her for a moment longer than necessary, but then motioned into the doorway, "Do come in."
The blonde released the guard who now rubbed his shoulder. She walked passed him, bumping him.
The queen made eye contact with the soldier after the sheriff had walked passed, "That will be all."
He nodded his understanding and walked off. The mayor entered the chamber and closed the door behind her, "Miss. Swan, you do realize it is late."
Emma's back was to her, but she could see she was taking in the room, "You know, its weird being in your room. I don't think I've ever been in your room back in Story Brooke either."
Regina's stomach fluttered for some unknown reason, but she kept her voice steady, "And why would you have been?" It came out harsher than she had planned, but she couldn't help it.
Emma spun around, her eyes wide, "I did not mean it like that, hell I didn't mean for that to come out at all. I just meant that it was weird seeing this side of you." The blonde moved her arm in one giant swipe to gesture towards the whole room, "The Evil queen side."
Regina wanted to respond, but then she saw the green eyes land on the bed, which caused the brunette to swallow.
"Can't sleep either?" Emma asked.
The queen raised an eyebrow, "How can I with you running around assaulting people?" She would just stick with snarky and somewhat rude, it made her feel more in control.
"Regina, you haven't even been in bed yet." She said pointing to the turned down covers that were crisp and unwrinkled.
The mayor was suddenly nervous again. Probably due to the lack of sleep and food. She could not tell the blonde that she hadn't stopped thinking of the other woman, but because she was afraid. She was afraid of the memories of the old her. The memories of all the people she had others kill or had killed herself, all the loveless nights with the king, her mother whispering in her ear, or the fact that she had killed her own father in this very castle.
Coming back from her thoughts she realized the blonde was staring at her. The look in her eye made her feel as if some part of the other woman understood.
"Yeah, I can't sleep either. This place is a little creepy, and you can hear everything through these walls." Emma said as she stepped closer, "Look, I know you're mad at me, but we have to find a way back home and the only way to do that is to work together."
"I know that." The queen said in a whisper. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers.
There was a light knock on the door.
"Yes?" Regina called.
The door opened and the maid that had been dinning with the sheriff earlier appeared, her eyes cast to the ground as she curtsied, "Your majesty. Paul, your door keep said that you would need to prepare for bed."
Regina's heart went in her stomach. That only meant that the guard thought the queen was taking the blonde to bed. By the look on Emma's face, she had not come to that conclusion.
She didn't know how to respond, so she said the first thing that popped into her head, "I thought you were just a maid, not a handmaiden?"
"I am your majesty, but you have not been here in quite some time, so there are no handmaidens. My mother said that out of all of the servants, you would like me best." The girl seemed to ramble.
"Why did she think I would like you?" The queen asked.
"Because I am younger and faster than the other female help, your majesty." She said still keeping her eyes directed down.
Regina was trying to kill time as well, she just couldn't remember why, "Who is your mother?"
The girl's eyes looked up for a fraction of a second then fell back to the ground, "Georgina, she used to be a maid, but now she is in the kitchen."
The brunette knew the name. Georgina had been her personal handmaiden way back when. She was very beautiful, Regina remembered. Dark skin, her hair was so black that in certain lights it had a blue sheen to it, much like that of ravens' feathers. That same beauty had been in love with General Shaw, and back then Regina loved to hurt other people, so she took him to bed and made the maiden watch on a number of occasions.
At first, she had considered letting the maid undress her to a point, only to tease the blonde. The mayor changed her mind after finding out the name of the maid's mother. She wasn't feeling very well.
The queen let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes, "Can we just get this over with."
The girl looked up in surprise, but then quickly walked around the queen to start unlacing the dress. Regina looked shyly over at the blonde, who was trying hard not to watch. The queen wasn't sure why she was so nervous, Emma was still a woman, same as she. They had the same body parts for God's sake.
The only sounds were those of the dressing materials being ruffled and laces being pulled. To break the silence, Regina looked at Emma, "Tomorrow, you will dress in clothing of this world."
The sheriff whipped her head to face the queen, "What's wrong with what I am wearing?"
"Miss. Swan, we need not draw attention to ourselves if we can help it." Regina said feeling the first layer of dress fall to the floor.
Emma kept her eye on the mayor, "Like the Evil queen's return won't turn heads?"
"I am well aware of what reaction my presence will cause dear, but I can use this to my advantage, our advantage." She corrected.
She hadn't been prepared for the bustier to fall right at that moment or she would have been prepared to catch it, but instead, it fell to the floor leaving her standing bare-chested in front of Emma. The blonde gasped but quickly turned to face the opposite wall.
Heat flooded the queen's cheeks and even though Emma fought to give the queen her privacy, the fact remained that she had seen. Why was she embarrassed? It wasn't as if she were unaware of her own attractiveness. She had loved getting a reaction out of her lovers when they first saw her body. However, this was Emma, not a lover. She seemed to have some sort of power over the queen's mind when it came to normal thoughts.
After the queen stood completely naked, the maid slipped a long satin gown over her. The cool fabric falling down over her body felt nice on her skin, except the slight hardening of her nipples, which would be a little difficult to hide, but luckily the maid then helped the mayor into a matching satin robe, which was fastened tightly around her waist.
"Is there anything else her majesty desires?" The maid asked.
Had this been at any other moment before yesterday, she may not have thought twice at that statement. However tonight, it made her blush.
Regina cleared her throat, "No that will be all."
"What about Lady Emma?" The maid asked.
Emma called out over her shoulder, "Not tonight, thanks, spent a lifetime dressing and undressing."
Regina rolled her eyes again, "Good night…" Regina was at a loss, she wasn't sure what to call the girl.
"Sarah," Emma said, her back still turned.
"Good night, Sarah," Regina said with a smile.
The girl curtsied and then scurried out of the room. Regina watched her leave and her thoughts momentarily went back to the girl's mother. The woman probably hated her and she had every right.
After a while she realized the blonde was still facing the wall, "It is safe to turn around now, Miss. Swan."
Emma cautiously turned, "Just wanted to make sure." Her cheeks were now a nice red shade as she asked, "Why didn't you just use magic to change?"
Regina swallowed, and came up with the best explanation she could, even if it were a lie, "Well, the girl needed training in how a handmaiden undresses her mistress."
Emma choked at the words, "She would call you mistress?"
Regina's eyes widened when she realized what Emma had related the title with, "Miss. Swan, please get your mind out of the gutter. Here, servants call their superior's master or mistress, it is not necessarily a sexual thing."
"You tell me to get my mind out of the gutter and then you say, 'It is not necessarily a sexual thing?' What does that mean?" Emma said confused.
This only caused the queen to sigh, "Sometimes the mistress or master may bed their servant."
The sheriff narrowed her eyebrows, "Did you?"
Regina was taken back by the question. Even the look on the blonde's face made her uncomfortable, "That is none of your concern."
Emma kept the look but didn't say anything else. It made the mayor even more uncomfortable. She felt as though she were the suspect on one of those law and order types of shows.
"Emma, you said you wanted to talk." Regina cursed herself for slipping up with the first name. Using it made her feel vulnerable and weak.
The blonde walked over to the bed and plopped down. She then let her body fall back leaving her to stare up at the ceiling, "I know I keep saying that I am sorry, but the truth is I am only sorry for hurting you. I am not sorry for kissing you or for my feelings. I just wish I was better at hiding them. Oh yeah, and I am truly sorry for bringing us here."
Exhaustion was taking its toll on Regina. She walked over to the bed and sat down next to where the blonde lay, "You know I am with Robin, right?" She looked straight ahead.
The blonde let out a huff of air, "Yeah, I know. I also know that he and Henry are hitting off."
Regina slowly lay back onto the bed, her shoulder brushing the sheriff's, but both of them continued to look up at the ceiling, "Yeah they are."
There was an awkward silence before the blonde spoke, "I should have kept my mouth shut, and my lips to myself."
Regina wanted to tell her that it was okay. She wanted to tell her that she actually liked the kiss, but she couldn't. Robin was waiting for her back in Story Brooke, "Miss. Swan, I think we should just forget…"
Low snoring was coming from the blonde beside her. She smiled at how peaceful the other woman looked. Gently she reached up and moved a lock of blonde hair away from the sheriff's face. They had to hurry up and get back to Story Brooke before the new feelings inside her grew too much more.
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Emma's eyes flew open to the sound of the drape hooks raking as they were yanked open. The morning sunlight flooded the room causing the blonde to squint her eyes.
"Good morning my lady," Sarah's voice rang high and chipper.
The sheriff suddenly remembered where she was and in whose bed she was in. Regina was no longer beside her and she was now positioned correctly, with her head on the pillows. Emma didn't remember changing her clothes or taking her boots off, but she noticed she was now wearing a gown.
"Where is Regina?" Emma asked.
"I am here, Miss. Swan." The queen's voice called from behind a screen that had been placed close to the center of the room.
"Her Majesty is having her morning bath," Sarah informed her as she pulled the covers back to assist the older woman.
The blonde followed the maid's lead and slipped from the warm bed. Her cheek reddened when she heard water splash from behind the curtain. She cleared her throat more to distract her mind, "So, umm, what is the plan for today?"
More water splashed, "First I will speak with the dungeon jailer for news of your friend's mother, and then we will have breakfast."
The way the mayor said the sentence let the blonde know she didn't like the dark-haired, green-eyed woman, but couldn't quite put her finger on why, "Okay, and then what?"
Sarah had walked around the sheriff and started lifting the nightgown over her head. Her first instinct was to fight the girl off, but then she remembered what the girl's actual intentions were and let her. She had never had someone dress her, or undress her before, well not in this type of situation anyway.
"After that, we will be waiting for General Shaw to return. I was told he would be back this afternoon." Regina called.
Emma watched as Sarah retrieved clothing and laid it out on the bed. It was a white linen shirt, with laces on the chest and what looked like black leather pants, boots that matched and looked as though they would come up to the knee were sitting on the floor.
The sheriff looked at Sarah, "I thought I would have to wear a dress or something."
"Woman wear pants here too, Miss. Swan." Regina said.
Emma was relieved, "Oh thank God." She said not really meaning to say it out loud.
The blonde could hear the mayor chuckle and it made her stomach flutter again. Regina was still behind the screen, but Emma was standing naked this time waiting for the maid to dress her. After a few seconds, she took the shirt the girl was trying to loosen the laces on, "I really can dress."
The maid released the shirt, but then picked up the pants. Emma's skin was covered in goosebumps. A large fire was roaring in the fireplace, but somehow the room was still drafty and a bit cold. The blonde quickly pulled the linen shirt over her head. The shirt helped with the chill, but only slightly. Because the blonde was not wearing a bra, the thin linen did little to warm her chest.
The pants were a little tricky to get on because they were very tight. In actuality, once they were on, they fit similar to her jeans, the fact that they were leather made them feel tighter. And the way they laced instead of buttoned or zipped was a little weird.
Sarah made the sheriff sit on the edge of the bed as she started assisting her with her boots. The blonde's thoughts were on the General, "So what's the story with you and this General Shaw?"
Emma could hear that the queen had stood by the sound the water made as it cascaded off her body. The blonde felt her mouth go dry and she tried to lick her lips hoping it would offer some sort of relief.
Regina appeared from around the screen, this time she was fully clothed and looking her Evil queen self, "There is no story."
Emma looked at her suspiciously, "You're lying." The blonde could sense it.
The maid seemed shocked that the sheriff had said that to the queen. She would have assumed in this land that you could probably get put to death for such things.
The queen sighed, "I do not wish to talk about it."
Emma tilted her head, "You slept with him, didn't you?"
Regina seemed to grow more annoyed, "Miss. Swan, it was a long time ago and I was a different person."
"I knew it!" She said as if she had discovered some deep dark secret, and was now awaiting her reward.
To Emma's disappointment, Regina frowned and said, "I'm going to meet with the jailer. I will see you at breakfast."
Before Emma could say anything or ask what was wrong, the queen was gone in a puff of purple smoke. The blonde chewed on her lower lip, how was it possible that she kept upsetting the queen? Maybe she was causing more of a problem then she realized. She rubbed her face in frustration, maybe when they got back to Story Brooke it was time she went on her way.
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Regina descended the long and dark dungeon stairs one by one. They were very narrow and it was a long way down if you were to fall and because there was no railing she could imagine that there might have been a lot of people who had.
Her thoughts were on Emma. She wanted the blonde to understand that she was not proud of the choices she made back then, she was ashamed in fact. She wanted her to know that if she could do it over she would not have done the same things.
The queen held a torch in her hand which lit her way down the long swirling staircase. She couldn't just tell the blonde how she felt, even if they were friends or whatever. She could never show anyone this weak side of her.
The pungent aroma of urine, feces, mold, and death suddenly filled Regina's nostrils. She almost gagged. Her stomach rolled, threatening to empty the contents. She quickly regained her composure and continued the last few steps before she had arrived at the dungeon.
Even with a torch, it was difficult to see. There were moans, grunts and in some cases low whispering from everywhere. As she turned to follow a stone path in the elaborate maze, she almost bumped into the jailer. He was sitting on a stool, leaned back against the wall asleep.
Regina rolled her eyes. Was everyone here useless? "Wake up," the queen snapped.
The guard jumped, falling off the stool and onto the floor. He quickly got to his feet drawing his sword and pointing it at the mayor with sleep still in his eyes.
"I suggest you sheath your sword unless you wish to be impaled with it," Regina growled.
His eyes grew large, "Your majesty! I didn't realize it was you." He fell to his knees and lowered his head.
"Yes, yes. I don't have time for this, get up." Regina demanded.
He rose to his feet, and the mayor wasted no time, "I am looking for an old gypsy woman who may have been brought here a few days ago."
The young guard rubbed his head in thought, "I don't recall an old woman coming in here for quite some time your majesty." Regina let out a loud sigh but the boy continued, "You could check with Captain Drake, all prisoners have to go through him first before they ever come here."
Regina slowly nodded her understanding, "Where do I find him?"
"He accompanied General Shaw, your Majesty. He should return sometime today." He said.
Regina was trying to fight the urge to vomit from the smell, and it was causing her eyes to water. She looked further down the hall at all of the cells, "How many prisoners are down here?"
The young guard turned to a leather-bound journal that hung from the wall and opened it, "Ummm, there are thirty-three, your majesty."
Regina grabbed the journal from him and pulled it off of the wall. She slowly looked through the names. Beside the names, were the prisoners' ages, sex, and offenses. One was a sixty-year-old man who had been arrested for falling in the road causing the royal carriage to stop. She clenched her jaw as she continued to read.
A twenty-four-year-old woman had been arrested for refusing one of the royal guards hand in marriage, "Are you kidding me?" She said out loud.
Every offense listed in the journal was preposterous and Regina would not have it, "I want them all release and fully pardoned for their crimes."
The young guard looked up, "But your majesty, General Shaw gave me specific orders that I was only to watch the prisoners until his return."
Regina narrowed her eyes as she flicked her wrist magically grabbing the young guard by the throat, "I will repeat this only once, release all of the prisoners."
The guard tried to nod and say yes, but the grip the queen's magic had around his neck made it hard to breathe let alone talk. She released him making sure he fell with enough force to fall to his knees.
"As you wish, your Majesty," he choked out as he slowly climbed to his feet."
Regina was angry. She was angry with who she used to be. She was angry with Shaw trying to be her, she was just angry. How could she have let herself get that heartless and cruel? Tears were welling up in her eyes, and instead of letting the young guard see, she vanished into her infamous cloud of smoke.
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The morning seemed to drag on slowly. Emma had gone back to her room in hopes of seeing Esmeralda, but the other woman was nowhere to be found. So instead, she decided to explore some of the castle.
As Emma found the library, or at least that is what it looked like, she walked in looking around in amazement. The room was huge, to say the least, and bookshelves lined the walls and went from floor to ceiling. They had to be an easy twenty feet high. Long wooden ladders were attached to a wheel and rail system that could be used to reach anywhere you wanted.
She walked past the books and let her finger gently slide over the spines. Emma was never really the kid who loved school. She hated it really, but not because of the educational aspect, but for the other kids who liked to pick on her for her hand me down clothes and generic shoes, and for the teachers who like to humiliate her in front of the class for not knowing the correct answer. In fact, the sheriff secretly loved books, maybe not as much as Belle, but she had her interest in them.
"It is pretty amazing, don't you think?" Esmeralda's voice echoed from behind her.
Emma casually glanced over her should, then looked back to the books, "Yeah, it is."
She could hear the gypsy's feet on the stone floor as she came closer, "So, I went to your room this morning and you were not in your bed."
Emma swallowed but didn't look back, "Umm yeah, I kind of passed out in Regina's room."
The gypsy walked around the blonde and looked at her face giving a smile, "Ah, I see."
"No not like that." The sheriff said putting her hands up, "We talked a little, but I passed out while we were talking. When I woke Regina was already up." The sheriff blushed remembering the queen's bare breast, but then she shook her head and tried to change the subject, "She went to talk to the jailer and see if she can find your mother."
The dark-haired woman stared at her for a moment reading the blonde's face and then smiling she said, "Well that's excellent news."
The woman attempted to keep her voice calm, "I know that you have feelings for this woman, but I do not see how you trust her so blindly. I have seen the things she is capable of."
Emma looked hard into the other woman's eyes, wanting her to not only hear her words but feel them, "I know some of what she is capable of, I've seen it and I have heard many horror stories, but I am telling you, the woman you see today is no longer the woman from then."
Esmeralda stared back at her, but then let her eyes look away, "I hope you are right. The people in this land, especially the gypsies will not be that easy to convince."
Without thinking the sentence through she said in a low voice, "Hopefully we will be back in our land soon and not have to worry about that."
The other woman's face dropped and her eyes saddened, "You can't leave this place as it is."
At first, Emma wasn't sure what the dark-haired woman was referring to, but then she started to catch on as the other woman continued, "The queen cannot leave General Shaw in charge, he is as bad as she was if not worse."
"What are you two doing in here?" Sarah's voice echoed through the room even though she was whispering.
Emma turned to look at her, "We were bored and decided to explore the castle."
Sarah had a serious look on her face, "General Shaw doesn't like people to wonder the castle un-escorted, and there are many guards here who are loyal to him."
The blonde thought that was very suspicious of Shaw. She already didn't like him because he seemed to rule similar to how the queen had, but also because she was pretty sure he had slept with Regina. She wouldn't lie to herself, she knew it was jealousy.
"But the queen is back, so the guards are now under her orders," Esmeralda said.
The girl looked nervous as she continued to whisper, "Some of these guards will choose the General over the queen if it came down to it, so you cannot trust them, and you should let the queen know this as well."
Suddenly voices were coming closer from outside the door further down the hallway. Sarah's eyes widened in fear as she motioned for the other two women to hide.
Emma was straining to listen to the voices as her heartbeat was drumming in her ears. It sounded like two men talking and by the way, metal jingled as they walked she was pretty sure they were guards.
"Did you hear what that bitch did?" One guard asked.
"I don't ever hear anything where my post is, so what did she do?" The other asked.
"She made Samuel release and pardon all of the prisoners from the dungeon." The first man replied.
"What, you don't say. The General will not be happy about this. I wouldn't be surprised if he has her executed when he returns." The second man said as they passed the door.
Emma clenched her jaw. There was no way in hell she would allow anyone to hurt Regina. She wanted to run out in the hallway and kick those two idiots' asses.
"Yeah, last night Paul said the blonde one attacked him and the queen did nothing. She allowed the woman to enter her room and she did not leave until this morning sometime." The first guard continued.
The second guard laughed, "Paul is such a puss, he got his ass kicked by a girl. I am not surprised by the queen taking the blonde to bed. I would bed her myself and I know the whore has bedded half of the army."
Emma lunged forward only to be grabbed by surprisingly strong arms. When she turned her head she saw it was Esmeralda. The blonde was so mad, she was literally seeing stars. All she could imagine was knocking the sorry ass smirks off the guard's faces. Even though she couldn't see them, she could tell by their tone, they were smirking.
After a few minutes, the soldier's voices had faded out, indicating that they were gone. Esmeralda released the blonde with a glare, "Are you trying to get us killed?"
Emma anger remained, "Who the hell do they think they are? I will kick the shit out of them for talking about Regina like that."
The darker haired woman wiped her hand across her own face, and gave a tight-lipped smile, "You have to control yourself. I understand your feelings for the queen, but that is not the worst thing people around these parts say about her. I don't trust the queen, but you do, so I am going to give her the benefit of the doubt and we will tell her what Sarah has said about Shaw and see what happens next."
Sarah seemed shy to interrupt, but did anyway, "Breakfast is ready in the dining room my Ladies."
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Regina sat at the large table along with the old gypsy man. Emma and the dark haired woman seemed to have disappeared, together. The mayor was not amused by that idea at all. What could they possibly be doing?
Before she could think too long on it, the maid walked into the room, followed by the other two women. At first she somewhat thought they would enter the room looking suspicious or smiling at one another, because the queen's thoughts allowed her to think the worst of what they might have been doing, but instead the gypsy woman's expression was focused and Emma's was one of, anger, hate, she wasn't sure. The only time she had seen that look was when the blonde had thrown the guy up against the wall when they were looking for Lily and then when she was going to shoot Lily.
Regina kept her eyes on the blonde hoping she would make eye contact with her, but she didn't. She found herself overly concerned with Emma's current state.
Esmeralda was led to a chair on one side of the table by Sarah and then she led Emma to one on the opposite side. The table was filled with different foods, such as meats, eggs, and fruit.
The blonde didn't even make eye contact with the dark haired woman. An old man carrying wine went around pouring the liquid into each person's chalice, as he came to Emma, she watched as the woman attempted a smile and thanked him.
Regina picked up her fork and started to take a bit when a guard who had entered the room only a few minutes before the other three women said, "Hey you, wench." He was talking to Sarah who stood up against the wall waiting for her next orders, "Taste your queen's food to ensure no one has tried to poison her."
Regina had forgotten how things had been before and the threat other posed on her. She watched as the girl slowly and fearful approached her, the mayor could tell that the girl would do it, but before she had a chance to reach for the plate Emma spoke up.
"No, you taste the food." She said glaring at the guard.
Regina looked to the guard who was glaring back at the blonde. He snapped, "It is not my job to taste the queen's food."
"It is not Sarah's job either," She growled.
The guard stepped forward, "You do not speak to the queen's soldiers in that tone, wench."
Emma rose from her place at the table and Regina could see and feel the magic in the blonde's fingertips. She wasn't sure what was going on, but this was serious.
"Emma." The dark-haired woman said in a warning tone, which made Regina want to scream. She had no reason to speak with the sheriff as if they were besties.
"Enough!" The queen said in a stern voice.
"Miss. Swan, you need to calm down, and as for you", the mayor said towards the guard, "How dare you speak to my guest that way." She let her eyes fall between Emma and the guard who were both staring hard at one another.
"Why don't we both taste the queen's food? We can see which of us is more loyal?" The blonde said.
"Emma." The dark haired woman warned a bit louder causing Regina to glare at her.
Why did this woman insist on speaking to the blonde as if she knew her the same way the mayor did. She had known her for a day, Regina had known her for several years and only she had the right to speak to her like that. Not to mention she was not about to let Emma Swan test her food for poison.
"I am a guard of her royal majesty's army. I took an oath to protect the queen," he said puffing out his chest and holding his head up.
Emma raised an eyebrow, "Then prove it."
The man looked from the blonde to the queen who was still unaware of what had caused this situation to even arise. The queen did not know what this man had done to Emma, but there had to be a good reason as to why the younger woman was reacting this way, so the queen watched.
The guard stepped slowly towards the queen. She could see that the blonde's eye had never left him. He then looked to Emma again before he took the plate from in front of the mayor. He bent his head down and first smelled the food. After a second, he took a fork that was lying on the table and stuck it into a piece of egg. He let his eyes fall on Emma and then he took a bite carefully chewing.
Regina could tell that the guard was nervous, by the sweat that was beading up around his nose through his helmet. After his bite of the egg, he then bit into a piece of the meat, followed by a piece of fruit. The guard placed the plate back down in front of Regina and then walked back to his place by the wall.
For a moment, the mayor thought that the situation was over, but Emma was still standing. She continued to glare at the guard. He gave a smirk, and Emma rolled her eyes and then looked at the brunette, "I'm not really hungry. I think I need some fresh air."
Regina was dumbfounded. She desperately wanted to know what was going on and why the sheriff was so upset, but she didn't want to cause a further scene. She watched As Emma gave a questionable look to the dark haired gypsy and then locked eye with the queen for a brief moment before exiting the room.
SQSQSQSQSQ
Emma knew the scene in the dining room would leave Regina with questions. Questions that she would want to be answered. All Emma wanted to do was stomp the two guards that had said what they did about the mayor. When she had gone to the dining room, the only reason she knew the soldier there was one of the men who had been in the hallway was that of his voice. She had to smile a little to herself that the guard had wanted to prove her wrong about his loyalty to the queen so much that he had tasted her food, the only downside was Emma had hoped it had been poisoned so she could see the look on the traitor's face.
The blonde was standing in the center of her room clenching her fist. The words they had spoken kept repeating in her mind and she could not control the anger that was welling up inside of her. She wanted to scream out and curse, but what good would that do?
A knock came from her door and she called out, "Yeah?"
Sarah entered the room carrying a tray with food, "I brought you some food since you did not eat your breakfast."
Emma curled her lips in an attempt to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes, "Thanks, but I'm really not hungry."
Sarah made her way to the small table and sat the tray down, "Her majesty thinks differently."
Emma gently rubbed her forehead but didn't say anything. She did like that Regina was worried enough to have food sent to her room. Why did this woman affect her so much? Well, to a degree, she knew the answer to that.
"Miss. Swan, I would like a word with you." Regina's voice said from the doorway.
Emma turned to look at her. She felt as though she were about to get scolded, "Sure."
Sarah curtsied to the queen and then hurried from the room, closing the door behind her.
Emma could see the concern on the mayor's face, "What was all of that about?" Regina crossed her arms over her chest waiting for an answer.
"Before I tell you that, I need you to be aware that there are several of the guards that are convinced that Shaw will have you killed for releasing the prisoners."
Regina swallowed and raised an eyebrow, "I am not a moron, Miss. Swan, I have eyes and ears. I will not know the whole situation." She tilted her head at the blonde, "There is more to why you were so angry with the guard."
Emma chewed her lower lip, "I overheard him and another one talking."
Regina crossed her arms over her chest, "And?"
The blonde didn't want to say. She didn't want the other woman to know the things people said about her. The sheriff really didn't want the queen to know how much she meant to Emma, it would only push her further away.
Emma ran her fingers through her hair, "They were just running their mouths and it pissed me off, okay?"
"Did they say something to you, or threaten you?" Regina asked with a glare.
Emma could tell that the queen was getting angry at that thought, she said, "No."
Regina looked confused, and stepped closer to the blonde, "Emma, tell me what happened."
"They're not all loyal to you." The sheriff blurted out.
"What?" The queen asked.
Emma took another step forward. She was only a couple of feet from Regina, "Some of the guards are loyal to Shaw, not you."
Regina tilted her head, "The loyalty of the guards is not surprising. They have been under Shaw for quite some time, it is to be expected, and as for Shaw, you let me worry about that." The mayor took another step forward with a look of suspicion, "What are you not saying? I know you, Emma, and there has to be something else that would upset you that much."
The blonde clenched her jaw glancing down to avoid eye contact, "Just stuff, okay, it's no big deal."
"No big deal? I would beg to differ after the scene in the dining room. Just spit it out, Emma." Regina said.
The tone of the queen was irritated, but the look in her eye and the way she said the blonde's name was something entirely different, "They were disrespecting you, okay." Emma's cheeks were burning from the embarrassment of her behavior earlier, "They pissed me off because they called you a whore. The one said you were sleeping with half of the men in your army."
Regina looked surprised, "You got upset because they called me a whore?"
Emma swallowed, "Well, yeah." She didn't know what else to say at that moment, plus she was still a bit upset about it.
Regina smiled and then shook her head slowly, "How do you know I'm not? You didn't know me back then, Emma."
The blonde was not expecting that answer. She looked into the brown eyes for a second then stepped forward without thinking, "I don't care who you were or how you used to be, they have no right to talk about you like."
Emma wasn't sure what happened next. As soon as the words left her mouth she realized how close to the other woman she was. She could feel Regina's breathe on her own lips, and then it happened. They kissed. When their lips parted, the two stood looking at each other for what felt like forever.
"I told you couldn't trust the qu…" Esmeralda pushed passed the tapestry as she spoke, but as her eyes landed on the two women, her words died.
Regina took a couple of steps and looked from the dark haired woman to the blonde. Emma could tell she was not happy to see the gypsy, "I will leave you to your guest." She turned and headed for the door.
"Regina, wait," Emma called but the mayor did her usual disappearing act and was gone.
The sheriff let out a loud sigh. Regina had leaned in and kissed her. She couldn't believe it, but why? This only left her more confused.
"Well, looks like that went well." The dark-haired woman rolled her eyes.
Emma shot her eyes at the woman, "It was."
The gypsy smiled, "Sorry about that."
"Yeah, sure you are." Emma deadpanned.
Esmeralda's face sobered, "No I really am sorry for interrupting, but she hasn't told me anything about my mother."
The sheriff narrowed her eyes, "You heard the guards say she released the all of the prisoners. If your mother were among them, then she would have said something."
The dark haired woman put her hands up in the air to signify surrender, "Okay. You're right. But Shaw has to have my mother somewhere. We should be looking for her. As for you and your queen, I don't think you two should stay here."
"I agree." Sarah's voice said from the doorway.
Both women looked up. The worry on the young maid's face was cause for concern.
"What's wrong?" Emma asked.
"The guard that tasted the queen's food is dead." She said with wide eyes.
Emma stepped closer to the girl, "What?"
"The guards are accusing my mother, and if they find her they will kill her." The maid said.
"Did she do it?" The dark haired woman asked.
"No, of course not. My mother would never do something like that. Shaw will not be angry that someone tried to kill the queen, but that one of his men got killed for her. To him, it is the same as the queen killing him herself. We must leave."
"I need to talk to Regina first." Emma's eyes grew wide as she realized something, "Oh my God! Did Regina eat any of the food?"
Esmeralda shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, I didn't watch."
Sarah agreed, "I didn't see her either."
Without warning, Emma sprinted from the room. Her mind was on Regina and how she was praying to whoever was listening that the queen did not eat her breakfast. Her mind kept playing the image of the brunette lying dead in her room.