The sisters bonded quickly, Zelena was eager to make friends and drew Regina out of her shell so she had little time to mourn Daniel's loss. Every night though, when she was finally alone, Regina would try to imagine a life where she had been able to marry her stable boy.

Zelena was introduced to everyone as Regina's cousin. They took trips, escorted by Cora, to the best dressmakers in the kingdom. Light picnics were packed for them to wander the Mills estate at their leisure. When it rained, they amused themselves indoors with games Zelena had never had a chance to play before – being brought up alone.

There was even a brief afternoon spent at the White palace. Snow missed Regina, and sent a courier with an urgent request for her return. Zelena was allowed to accompany her, with Cora's permission, and they spent the afternoon with the princess. Seeing how close the two were when they arrived, Snow found little things to keep Zelena at a distance, sending her on errands so she could spend time alone with Regina. After the third 'errand', fetching Snow's 'forgotten' shawl from her room, Zelena took her time returning through the gardens. Finding a wooden bench between bushes blooming with white flowers, Zelena sat down and closed her eyes. She could hear faint voices, and recognised Snow's laugh.

The princess was certainly a lucky child, she told herself. Her father's gardens were never as bright and cheerful as these, and the hallways had been so quiet and lonely. Her mother wanted her to become Queen, to live in this palace and rule this kingdom. There were only two ways that would happen: overthrow the current monarchy, or marry into it. King Leopold only had the one heir and he was too old to marry. She couldn't believe her mother intended that life for her, and even if she did her father would oppose it.

If Cora killed Leopold, she would have to kill Snow too. Zelena had read enough history books to know what happened when there were other claimants to a throne. She wasn't sure how Regina would react to the princess' death. Even if their mother made it look like enough of an accident to fool the people, she knew Regina would always suspect otherwise. Regina seemed to like the princess. From what she had seen, Snow wasn't the perfect little princess everyone thought. She was spoilt, she knew she could get whatever she wanted and she didn't hesitate to demand it. Look at the way she had summoned Regina to the palace!

Zelena smiled as she heard Regina's voice drawing closer. Her sister was coming to find her, despite Snow's protests.

"What if she's lost?" Regina was asking.

"Then we'll send servants to find her," Snow responded. "I don't know why you bothered to bring her."

"She's my… cousin, and she has come to visit me."

"Well let her visit with your parents next time. I missed you. Riding isn't any fun when you're away."

"I'll come back soon and we can go riding together, how does that sound?"

"Just the two of us?… No cousins?"

Regina laughed, "Zelena can't ride. Though maybe you could help me teach her?"

"How long is she staying?"

At the click of the latch on the garden gate, Zelena leapt from her seat and stepped back onto the path. Regina looked surprised as she opened the gate, but the princess just glared at her.

"I found your shawl, princess," Zelena smiled and held out the green-laced item.

Snow barely glanced at it before telling them she was no longer cold. She laced her arm through Regina's, and headed back to the palace. Regina shot her sister an apologetic look as Zelena trailed behind them, and reminded Snow that they were expected back at home.

"Why? I wanted you to stay the night. In the morning we can go riding."

"The ball celebrating Regina's birthday is in a few days," Zelena explained as she folded the shawl and placed it on the edge of Snow's bed, "there is so much to prepare."

"I know that, I've been invited."

"Zee, why don't you check if the carriage is ready. The driver may be in the kitchens," Regina suggested.

Taking the hint, Zelena curtseyed to Snow and hurried away.

Left alone with the princess, Regina tried to explain that she really did have to go, "but I'm really looking forward to seeing you at the ball. You'll finally see my home and I can show you the tapestry…"

"The one depicting the battle that made my ancestor ruler of the Enchanted Forest?"

"Exactly. Maybe once you've seen it for yourself you'll remember the details for your next history lesson a little better."

"Before I have to leave? Even if everyone is still dancing?"

"It'll be our secret. We'll slip away when they're too busy to notice. I'm sure I can convince Zelena to provide a distraction for us."

Snow smiled and hugged Regina, "and I want to meet Daniel. Will we have to go to the stables or will he be at the ball?"

Regina couldn't move, she felt as though her veins had turned to ice. Snow was still chattering away, asking if Regina would dance with Daniel - even if he was a servant.

"You have to dance with me too," Snow added as an afterthought.

"Daniel won't be there. He's…. gone," Regina finally choked out the words.

"Who looks after your horses? Will they mind if we go to visit them?"

"Snow, how did you know Daniel worked in the stables? I never told you that."

"Oh, I was talking to your mother and she said he was the messenger who brought you the letters, and that he worked in the stables. Do you like him?"

No. It couldn't be.

Regina looked at Snow's innocent face. She couldn't believe Snow had told her mother about Daniel, after all she had never told Snow that she was in love with him. Still, she had to know.

"Did you tell my mother I liked him?"

"No. I was really clever, I just asked about you and told her how wonderful our riding lessons are. She told me Daniel is your instructor, and I wondered if it was the same Daniel sending you letters – not that I asked her, of course. Why, did he leave? Did your mother find one of the letters and send him away?"

Regina moved towards the door, "the carriage will be waiting." She curtseyed, leaving Snow with a brief goodbye and: "I'll see you at the ball."


Four days had passed since Zelena arrived, and the next was to be Regina's birthday. Everything had been planned down to the last detail. There would be a ball, to which the King and Princess had been invited, and Zelena would finally be presented to His Majesty. Cora spent the entire morning fussing over her daughters, reminding them that everything had to be perfect for their royal visitors. By mid-afternoon Regina was longing to run away and desperately wishing that it wasn't her birthday. Unfortunately, she was stuck in the company of her mother and sister constantly. With two hours to go until the first guests were due to arrive, their hair and clothes perfect, Zelena grabbed Regina's hand and snuck them out of their mothers room while Cora was busy berating a servant over some minor mishap.

"Where are we going?" Regina asked.

Zelena shushed her, grinned and kept moving. Regina struggled to keep up, though she had more experience with the small-heeled shoes that Zelena, the weight of her dress hindering her steps. Finally Zelena took a quick look around, before opening a door and pulling Regina inside.

It wasn't a room Regina had been in before; this part of her home was usually kept locked up and only used for visitors. Today though, it had been readied for some of her guests – ones from further away who would find a journey home after the ball too exhausting. There were turquoise curtains, and matching silk bedding. Zelena sat down on one of the armchairs near the window and pointed to the other for her sister.

"Mother will be so angry," Regina warned her.

"I just wanted some time alone with my sister. I'm sure she'll understand."

Knowing that this and similar excuses had been accepted by Cora on several occasions over the past few days, Regina acquiesced, smoothing her dress out so that it wouldn't wrinkle when she sat down.

"Now, there isn't much time but I wanted to talk to you before the ball and we haven't had a moment to spare since we returned from the palace," Zelena continued. "How much has mother told you about her plans?"

"Nothing," Regina gave a rueful smile, "I don't think she trusts me enough."

"Hmm, and the princess – Snow White – she doesn't like me, does she?"

"She can be a little possessive… jealous. She's an only child, and heir to the kingdom. I'm certain once she gets to know you… after all it took her a while to like me too."

"Yes, you said that before."

"Is everything all right? You seem a little nervous. Is it the party? I know there will be a lot of people, but once you've been introduced to them…"

"Actually I wanted to talk to you about…" Zelena quickly closed her mouth as the door opened and their mother stepped inside.

"Mother, I'm sorry," Regina began apologising immediately.

"It's my fault," Zelena interrupted, "I asked Regina to come with me. I'm not used to all this fuss with the hair and clothes…"

"I understand," Cora smiled, "but remember darling that you are a Lady and now you are both to come with me and promise not to run off again this evening."

"Of course, mother," Zelena rose from her chair and allowed her mother to fuss over her dress, though when she tried to look at the back of the skirt she couldn't see anything wrong with the folds.