Chapter 8

Mood Song: Mercy By Hurts.

One month later…

Crystalline serene waters encompassed the right side of the Charmings castle, an evergreen long pathway stood between the Castle's wall and the on the edge of the stream. The snowy summits could be seen at a great distance. Next to the castle's gardens were the stables; where Emma was feeding her beloved steed one of Regina's red apples.

"You are going to love these…" The blonde said to the blue eyed stallion.

"My childhood horse used to adore them" A now very familiar voice said from behind the knight.

Emma rapidly turned. Her eyes widened and her heart began to race quickly.

"Regina…!" The knight smiled and took Regina's hand swiftly pulling her behind a nearby wall then embraced her Queen alluring her into a kiss. Regina placed her hand on the blonde's cheek and smiled in the kiss. They gently parted.

"What are you doing here?" Emma asked delighted yet cautiously eyed their surroundings.

"I wanted to see you…" The Queen said placing her arms around the taller girl's neck. "But I can lea-"

Emma quickly shut Regina up with a deep kiss, pulling her closer to her body, provoking the older woman to release a lavish moan.


Emma held Regina's hand as they walked in the deeper parts of the castle's gardens.

Emma looked over at Regina; the fresh wind blowing on her long blond locks.

"It is stranger than I thought it would be…" Regina said looking around.

"What is?" Emma wondered.

"This… being here" Regina admitted.

Emma smiled "Well, welcome to my home…" The princess said humbly.

The Queen smiled, her simple dress blowing along the wind, this afternoon she wore very light makeup and her hair down, a simple braid birthed behind her temples tracing around the crown of her head and merged in the back with the rest of her long hair. The brunette shivered lightly; causing Emma to embrace her.

"You are cold" Emma said pulling her closer. "We should go inside" She offered gently.

Regina stopped on her tracks, and smiled placing her fingers on the knight's chin "You… - you are so"

"So what?" Emma searched the Queen's eyes.

"I- Beautiful… you're beautiful Emma." Regina voiced peacefully, admiring the blonde's selfless personality.

Emma's hands rushed to the sides of the brunette's face gently; she pierced the older woman with her green eyes, she knew what was bothering the brunette.

"Regina, regardless of anything I want you to please know that I am here… This you… me… I want it, I want you" She said so sincerely and confidently. Regina's eyes reddened with threatening tears.

The Queen smiled serenely and honestly, relishing the warm feeling that built up in her heart. Emma leaned in and kissed the woman softly on her perfect lips. They parted gently.

"I should go dear…" Regina finished honestly. "Will I see you tonight?"

Emma smiled "Of course you will… I will be there" Emma said glowing, still embracing her Queen.

"Regina?" James said in disbelief.

Emma quickly turned and looked over her shoulder. Regina gasped gently and clenched her jaw; she stood there in Emma's arms and sighed.

Emma gently broke the embrace and faced her father leaving Regina a couple of steps behind her in a protective manner.

"Dad…" Emma said looking into her father's eyes bravely, ready for anything.

"Emma wh- what are you doing with this woman?" He said visibly upset. "And you! Who do you think you are? Coming to my home and- What is it you were doing?" He shouted to Regina then Emma.

The tall knight stared into his eyes fearlessly, blond locks blowing along the wind.

"Answer me!" He shouted placing his hands on Emma's arms and shaking her. Emma immediately removed his arms from the tight grip; the blonde now clearly pissed.

Regina tried to walk up to them and Emma held her arm out to stop her.

"James… don't do this." Regina warned from behind Emma; anger threatening to bubble up to the surface, her breathing patterns began to increase.

"Excuse me?" He smiled sarcastically. Slowly turning obstinate "you- what is this? Revenge? Didn't you have enough with all the torment you caused us for years? You had to- you-" He tried sullenly.

Regina walked around Emma and faced the man. Her patience now clearly gone.

"Yes James" Regina said scowling "This is exactly what It looks like, but not for the reasons you-"

"Oh shut up! Regina!" He said hostilely

"Like hell I will!" Regina shouted over him; Regal and imposing.

"Stop this!" Emma said. Neither one paid attention to her.

"You've gone too far Regina you'll pay for this" James tried.

"You're not really a threat kind of guy James that was pathetic even for you!" Regina said wryly.

"And you are deceitful snake with very limited life expectancy!"

Regina scoffed "If I didn't know better I'd say the shepherd's getting cocky" She mused tauntingly.

The man was clearly becoming Irate and turned more frustrated with Regina's taunts.

"You are as selfish, and spiteful as ever! You are toxic and you will stay away from my daughter!" He shouted.

The man hit a soft spot and Regina lost it.

"Do you truly want to hear it?" Regina said glaring viciously at the man, narrowing the gap between them "Emma and I are very much together and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!" She glared and smiled wrathfully.

Emma stood with her arms crossed annoyed at the two 'adult's' absurd behavior, she shook her head.

"This is ridiculous" She said to herself dropping her hands to her hips.

By now Regina was trembling with rage; a choleric glare across her face. She brought her hand up to her forehead, James observed her expecting one of the Queen's dramatic moves.

Regina felt the earth around her move and nothing near by to hang on to. She had to rely only on her own two now failing legs; and within seconds before she could even arrange her thoughts in a logical manner everything went black.

The brunette fell to the ground passed out, Emma tried to run to her but James quickly seized the opportunity and shouted to the soldier that stood right behind the blonde.

"Hold her! That's an order!" James shouted. The man nodded and placed his arms on Emma's capturing her, The blonde was taken off guard since she had tried to run off towards the fallen unconscious Queen.

"No! Regina wake up—Dad—wha-" Emma said quickly losing her breath as she saw James Reach for his sword.

"Dad!" She shouted "What are you doing - No no no no no." She said dreadfully "Let me go you bastard!" She screamed wrestling desperately with the man holding her.

David raised his sword and looked down at Regina, breathing heavily and gathering the will to kill the unprotected woman on the ground.

"Let go of me!" She continued to wrestle tirelessly …. Regina!" Emma screamed and cried soul wrenchingly.

The Queen laid on the green pasture still passed out and completely defenseless.

The strong knight maneuvered and freed her right hand swinging it back over her shoulder punching the man then elbowing him with force. Once she managed to escape his grasp the blonde desperately ran to Regina and fell on her knees putting her arms over the brunette and on the ground shielding her with her body. The knight looked up at her father challengingly with tears in her eyes. The expression on her face now dark and threatening.

"Come on dad!" She screamed "Do it! If you are going to do this do it right – go on" She taunted him while guarding her beloved Regina with her life.

"Emma…" David managed while putting his sword down, clearly gaining his awareness back.

"If this is who you want to be, then so be it… but before you kill her you have to get through me" Emma said clearly unarmed.

James walked away from the princess and the Queen. Hands on his head. The man was dumbfounded and confused.

Emma sniffed and held Regina In her arms, placing a hand on her cheek.

"Regina…" Emma said gently. "Come on wake up…" She said kissing her lightly on the lips. The older woman simply laid in the blonde's grasp like a rag doll.

Emma looked up and saw the soldier staring at them.

"You! Give me your wineskin!" She said firmly to the unmoving man "Now!" Emma shouted startling him.

"Yes your majesty"

He ran to the princess and handed her the item with water. She quickly opened it and poured water on her hand then she placed it on Regina's face, the Queen began to open her eyes slowly; Emma smiled and sniffed.

"Regina…" Emma said softly while caressing her face. The brunette tried to focus her blurry vision.

"What happened" Regina said coming back to reality.

"I don't know you made yourself sick I believe, - You fainted" Emma mused.

"What?" Regina said quizzically.

"Everything's ok let's take you home"

Emma helped the brunette up.

"Where's James?" Regina asked sourly.

"He's gone, don't worry about it. I'll handle this later; let's go back to your castle so you can rest."

"Get my horse!" Emma ordered the slack-jawed soldier.

He nodded and rushed towards the stables.

"Don't- it's not necessary" Regina to Emma softly trying to regain her strength while relaying on the taller girl for support.

"Regina you're too weak to use magic" Emma tried.

"I'll be fine." Regina said still peeved at the encounter with the man.

"I am not leaving you like this" Emma said protectively.

Regina rolled her eyes and sighed; placing a hand on Emma's face piercing her with her dark eyes.

"Emma I am fine. I 'll be ok."

The blonde acknowledged the brunette's choice and nodded.

"I'll go find him and I will see you tonight" Emma said decisively.

"Alright" Regina accepted now a bit more calmed.

They looked at each other; the tall woman was quickly left alone as the cloud of dark purple smoke enveloped Regina making her disappear.