The Huntsman wandered the halls in search of the Princess. He was on orders from the Queen to ensure she was well. Though he felt amazing due to the touch of magic Regina had bestowed upon him, he wasn't sure if the Princess would fare the same. The sun was high in the sky, symbolizing midday and he was sure she was out and about in the castle. He turned a corner heading towards the kitchen when he nearly collided with someone.
"Pardon me, I-" Snow gasped when she looked into the eyes of the Huntsman. She took a step back and placed a protective hand over her swollen belly.
"Snow." His tone was cold, and he narrowed his eyes at the raven–haired woman, "You look well."
"I…am." She had never learned what had happened to the Huntsman after he'd released her. She'd heard talk of a man at Regina's side, but she wasn't aware he was said man. The description Emma had given of the man who was Regina's shadow was accurate, but many men in the realm were rugged with a dangerous glint in their eyes.
The Huntsman wasn't one to hold a grudge, but he wasn't pleased with the way in which Snow had portrayed their first meeting.
"It has come to my attention that there may have been a miscommunication about the happenings of our first meeting."
Snow inhaled and took another step back; she'd always told Emma that she'd escaped from the Huntsman because it made for a better story. She had assumed that Regina had killed him when he hadn't done what she'd commanded.
"Well…I'm sure I-"
"The Princess is very protective of your honor. I took it upon myself to inform her of the truth. You painted me evil just as you did Regina. I spared your life, and you show thanks by slandering my name. You draw breath because of me, just as the Princess draws breath because of Regina. I find myself wondering just how we are evil."
He held her gaze for a moment longer and then continued on his journey to find the Princess. He could hear Snow behind him, following at a safe distance, though he ignored her presence. He'd never agreed with Regina's hatred for the woman; she didn't seem horrible, but he now wondered what else Snow White had lied about.
The smell of salted meat caught his nostrils as he entered the dining area. Upon entering the room, he saw the Princess sitting next to her father, a plate of fruit and salted meat before her. She looked up and met his eye.
"Huntsman, is she well?"
He nodded and took a seat across from Emma. Soon after he'd settled into his seat, Isla walked into the room from the kitchen and sat a decanter of honeyed wine in front of him. He looked up at her and she smiled down at him.
"Is there anything else you require?"
Though he didn't return her smile, his eyes held warmth and Isla knew it. She poured a healthy serving of wine into a glass for him. His hand grazed the inside of her thigh, out of sight of everyone else and she shuddered and exhaled loudly.
"I will serve myself, but thank you."
She smiled and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder near his neck; her fingers brushed his hairline. They made eye contact for a moment, and then Isla removed her hand and headed back into the kitchen. He watched her go before he plated some fruit and meat.
"Princess, are you well?"
Emma swallowed her mouthful and sighed; she'd hoped he wouldn't ask. Her parents showed concern during breakfast, and she'd lied, contributing her fatigue to nightmares, but she could feel her father's eyes on her, and she knew this wasn't going to end well.
" I am, I awoke feeling haggard, but all is well now."
"Why do you ask?" Charming looked between both his daughter and the Huntsman trying to decipher what he was missing, but it was clear there was something. He looked at his wife, who had just taken the seat next to him but she shrugged.
Emma finished the contents of her glass and sighed, "Regina woke in the night. I heard her….screaming."
Isla entered the dining area once more, placing a decanter of water in front of Snow. Snow smiled up at the woman, remembering the days of her youth when the red head acted as an older sister to her. They'd shared many secrets, and Snow loved her. Isla didn't return the gesture and Snow deflated, knowing that serving the Evil Queen changed people.
"I went to see if she was well, but she was not. The Huntsman had done all he could to help her but he could do no more. So, I allowed her to pull from me. It was some form of transfer of life, I believe. I didn't ask."
Snow nearly spat out her water; she struggled to swallow what was in her mouth as she turned hard eyes to the Huntsman. He met her gaze head on, and there was no fear present. She sighed and turned to her daughter.
"You did what?" The transfer Emma spoke so candidly of was not a simple gesture. Transference was a dangerous act to perform with someone you weren't familiar with let alone the Evil Queen. Though the idea of Regina having her daughter's life in her hands was uncomfortable, the act of Transference is an intimate act which is all the more troubling.
"You do realize she could have killed you, Emma. Why would you do such a thing?" Charming chimed in as he watched the play of emotions on his wife's face. He too knew what it could mean to offer one's life source to someone. And by the look in Snow's eyes, he knew she was thinking the same thing.
The Princess scoffed and rolled her eyes at her parents as they sat at the table eating salted meat, fruit and ale bread. This was the reason she'd avoided the conversation.
"It was you who told me she had changed and only wanted peace, mother. You told me she could be trusted."
"Emma, you misunderstood me. I never once said she could be trusted. I know Regina, I know she is incapable of not pressing an advantage once one is presented to her."
"Well, here I sit, alive and well," Emma mumbled, her annoyance clear. Her parents were reading too much into what happened. She did what anyone decent person would do. Nothing more.
"Her Majesty is thankful for what you've done," the Huntsman chimed in, though he knew his input wasn't wanted or required. He thought the blonde should be aware she was appreciated. There was tension in the room due to the relationship between the Charmings and her Majesty, though he knew there was much to consider because of what happened the previous night. The Princess was none the wiser, and it was not his place to enlighten her.
Emma nodded at him and turned her attention to her parents.
"She saved my life, risking her own in the process. She slept in a way similar to death for five nights time because she was trying to save me. She removed snake's poison from my body only to take it into her own."
Words seem to escape her parents as they sat, staring at her with shock written across their faces. Snow did not like how adamant her daughter's belief was in Regina. She needed to understand from where this new fondness for Regina had stemmed. She was once that girl, wide-eyed and in awe of the raven-haired woman, but that was many years ago. Regina was not that woman anymore and the fact that her daughter experienced a change of heart in such a short span of time gave her pause.
"I've lost my appetite." Emma stood from the table and left the room before her parents had time to speak. Her parents' behavior unnerved her. They forced her to ride there, to make peace with Regina, and now Emma was trying to do just that, but her parents faulted her for it. She owed the sorcerer her life. Nevermind the intricacies of the attack and the culprit (who was still unknown), Emma couldn't imagine Regina going through the trouble of trying to kill her only to save her life.
She wandered through the corridors of the unfamiliar castle; she didn't know where she was going, only that she needed to go somewhere to think, and above all, she needed to be away from her parents. Emma wished she was home. She would go riding but being that she'd been shot with a poisonous arrow and her wound had yet to heal, it didn't seem wise to go riding, and in the open at that.
"Lost?"
She turned at the sound of the voice but saw no one. She briefly wondered if she was hearing things until she heard the voice again.
"Look here, Princess."
Emma turned to look at the wall and saw a mirror with a man in it. She'd heard rumors of the Evil Queen and her magic mirror but she never quite believed it. She knew Regina used mirrors as a way to communicate and spy, which was why there were very few in the White Castle and the ones that were present were enchanted.
"It's true," she muttered looking at the face in the mirror and received a chuckle in response. She narrowed her eyes at the glass, the chuckling ceased.
"Are you lost?" He inquired once more.
"Well I'm not looking for anything, and I'm not trying to get anywhere so no, I wouldn't say that I'm lost. I'm merely exploring."
"I only ask because you were nearing an area of the castle that the Queen does not allow anyone but herself to go. It would be wise to explore in another direction."
Emma raised an eyebrow but did not protest, she just turned on her heels and headed back the way she'd come making a mental note to ask her mother what could be in that particular area of the castle.
She moved through the labyrinth of winding hallways but found nothing of interest. She'd decided to give up and find her parents when once again she heard a voice.
"Is there something you seek, dear?"
She turned to see Regina coming out of a door she hadn't noticed. The woman wore a black gown that was far from modest. The material clung to Regina well, and Emma found herself admiring the sight before her.
"Princess?"
Emma cleared her throat and looked away, confused and embarrassed by her reaction.
"No, I only desired a moment of reprieve from my parents. It was my every intention to go for a ride, but I thought that would be in bad taste since I was shot with a poison arrow and my wound has yet to heal."
"The arrow was venomous. Poison is something you ingest."
Emma rolled her eyes at being corrected. She was not fond of being wrong, and even though the woman standing before her had saved her life, she was still not altogether fond of her, however appreciative and uncomfortably drawn to her she felt.
"Poison or venom, it would be unsafe for me to attempt to ride." Regina nodded in agreement. It was quite obvious that the Princess did not like feeling weak. The least Regina could do was help remedy that.
"Ah yes, well riding while within the castle gates would garner you no harm. I placed a protection spell at the gates this morning. You are welcome to the stables at anytime Princess. There's only one horse that I allow no one to ride, and the stable boy knows which I am referring to."
"Thank you, but I can't ride until I am well," Emma said, motioning to her wound. Regina closed the space between herself and the blonde and motioned towards the wound. "May I see it?"
"I would have to remove my tunic, and while I am not modest, I can only imagine the horror of my mother or father walking down this very hall, seeing me so exposed. And if the sight of my undress doesn't cause discomfort, then discovering me undressed in your presence would surely do the trick. I do believe that is something you eluded to this past night."
Regina nodded her understanding, a coy smirk in place. " While the thought is rather appealing, I do see your point. Follow me."
She led them further down the hallway, passing a couple of mirrors along the way. The man appeared, a perplexed expression on his face. His constant watching unnerved Emma, but she ignored it.
Regina soon paused in front of a door and opened it. It was a small room, not as lavish as the chamber that Emma slept in, but it was nice. A mirror sat on the wall and there he was once more. Emma raised her eyebrow and scoffed. Regina looked at Emma, and the girl motioned to the mirror.
"I didn't realize there'd be an audience."
Regina waved her hand, and he disappeared, "Is that better?"
Emma shrugged. She didn't like feeling like she was being watched. She didn't need anyone looking after her; she could care for herself. Emma stood facing the mirror with Regina at her back. She could see Regina's face over her shoulder, though the woman's eyes were downcast.
"Your tunic, dear."
Emma reached around to untie her tunic and pulled the soft material over her head. She placed her arm across her chest, though she felt ridiculous doing so. She'd never been modest. In battle, there was no place for that. She'd spent the last four years with her father's men, and modesty wasn't an issue. The few women that were a part of her father's army were the same, comfortable with themselves and their bodies.
The desire to cover herself baffled Emma, but as she looked up at the mirror through her lashes, she noticed that Regina was focused on the task at hand.
Regina took in the sight before her. There was a bandage covering the wound that went around her upper half, falling between her breasts before coming around again. Regina appreciated the blonde's posture though it wasn't a surprise; she was both a Princess and a knight. The choice was not her own.
"Are you well?" Emma asked. Emma hadn't seen much of the Queen that day, and she couldn't quite place why it bothered her, only that it did. She didn't expect any accolades or praise from Regina, from all that she'd heard and everything that she'd seen since being in the woman's castle, it didn't seem like behavior she would exhibit.
"I am. Are you?"
She shivered, and her breath hitched when she felt the brush of Regina's fingertips against her bare back, moving her hair to sit over her shoulder. She attempted to keep her breathing normal but found the feat quite difficult. She cleared her throat hoping that the woman wouldn't call attention to her physical reaction.
Regina looked up and caught sight of Emma in the mirror. The Princess' cheeks were tinged pink, and she held her bottom lip between her teeth. Her skin was pale, and her chest carried a slight blush. Her left hand palmed her right breast, and her forearm covered her left. Regina was surprised; the Princess didn't strike her one for modesty. Regina could see the slight change in color from smooth skin to a dusty pink through the blonde's fingers. She internally shook herself, not allowing such thoughts to continue. But she couldn't seem to look away. She watched as the young woman slowly released her lip from her canine like grip. Her eyes slide up and their gazes locked. Regina averted hers. Emma cleared her throat and answered Regina's question.
"Rested. I felt both drained and energized after I left your bedchambers," Emma replied, wringing her fingers, unable to stand still any longer. She looked up in the mirror hoping to catch Regina's eye again but failing. The raven-haired woman was staring very intently at her wound.
"Well, the transferring of one's life essence can be a rather intense experience."
Emma didn't say anything because intense wasn't quite the word she would use to describe what had happened when she'd allowed Regina to pull from her. She felt as if she was floating, a sense of everything and nothingness all at once. She felt a deep burning inside, something churning and brewing inside of her. It felt heady and amazing and yet terrifying. She felt connected to a woman she'd been taught to hate, and she found that the thought wasn't as bothersome as she would have originally thought, which is quite bothersome in and of itself.
"…..and I'm quite sure that I would have, once again, succumbed to the darkness between life and death had you not come to my aid."
"Was that your way of saying thank you?" She looked up into the mirror and caught Regina's eye. A smirk danced on the woman's full lips.
"Take it how you will Princess." Regina returned her gaze to the wound.
Emma sunk her teeth into her bottom lip once more and took a deep breath to calm the heart that was hammering away in her chest but to no avail. Her chest rose and fell quickly, and she was sure the brunette behind her noticed. She could feel the heat from Regina against her back, and she shuddered.
When she looked in the mirror, she did find Regina staring back at her. She held her ground, watching the other woman. Regina, not one to be one-upped held her own, watching Emma intently. Emma passed her tongue across her bottom lip and fought the urge to look away. The look in Regina's eyes was penetrating but unreadable. She couldn't quite figure out what the woman was thinking, and that was frustrating.
"You risked your life to save mine. I saw fit to give you the same courtesy." Emma held Regina's gaze as she spoke.
Regina didn't respond; courtesy was not something she was often granted, or ever. Her good deeds, though they were few and far between, were overlooked, so she'd adopted a 'why bother' mentality. But this peace with the White Kingdom was bigger than her. She'd made a promise to her father, but more importantly, she'd made a promise to Daniel. The Princess could not die on her watch. At least that's what she told herself was the reasoning behind saving the Princess.
"My parents were very concerned with my decision to aid you." She said it in a matter-of-fact way, but secretly, she wanted to get some reaction from the stoic woman. Though she was sure they were overreacting, she wanted to know if maybe there was something to what happened in Regina's chambers.
"Oh?" Regina smirked to herself knowing the blonde was fishing. Of course, Snow was bothered by her precious Princess being a part of Transference with her. The act of Transference was not taken lightly. It was a rather self-sacrificing act. If the person pulling did not know when to stop, it could lead to death. More importantly, or rather, what most likely bothered Snow and Charming more than anything, was the level of intimacy involved in Transference. The thought of their daughter being intimate with the Evil Queen had to be shudder-worthy, which amused Regina.
"Why are you smiling?" Regina looked up to see Emma staring at her through the mirror. A blonde eyebrow was arched which made Regina shake her head and clear her throat.
"When you have a moment, you should go to the library and read about Transference." And that's all she said about the subject. She turned her attention back to the reason they were in the room on the south side of the castle, away from most of its other inhabitants.
Regina's fingertips began to glow a light purple as the Princess' heart beat hard in her chest. She took a cleansing breath, tamping down the all-too-strong desire to feel the strength of the younger woman's heart in her hands. Knowing the power that lay dormant within the woman caused Regina great conflict. She'd promised to be better. She didn't allow herself to dwell on that thought. She waved her hand, and the soiled bandage disappeared. She glanced at the wound and saw that it had healed some, but it would take weeks for it to heal fully without her help.
"I'm going to touch you now, Princess."
She placed her palm over the wound and allowed her magic to flow gently. She recalled how far the arrow had embedded itself and wanted to ensure that the wound healed from the inside out. She could feel her magic flowing into the Princess. Could sense it wrapped around her punctured lung as it slowly continued to heal.
Emma hissed at the new sensation. Regina's touch was gentle and warm. She'd thought of the Evil Queen as many things, but gentle and warm were not among them. As Regina's magic entered her, it ignited something in her. She bit her lip to keep from exclaiming. Her hands were closed into tight fists, her fingernails biting into the palms of her hand. Regina looked up, catching sight of the Princess' twisted scowl. She admired the younger woman's tenacity.
Flesh mended and soon the only thing left was the dried blood that had surrounded the wound. Regina used her magic to summon a damp cloth to wipe the blood away. Emma gasped and flinched at the feel of the dampness against her skin. Regina pulled the rag from pale skin. "I should have warned you."
She looked up and saw Emma watching her. She poised the cloth over the bloody area. "Ready?"
Emma nodded, and Regina began cleaning the area where the wound once was. Once she was done her eyes again were drawn to the scar that puckered on the pale flesh of the Princess' back. Her fingers hovered over it but she fought the urge.
"Thank you." Emma's words were a whisper as she reached up to tie the tunic around her neck. She took a deep breath and smiled as she realized that there was no pain.
"Is there a way I—" Emma turned to find that she stood alone in the room; the only evidence of Regina was the purple remnants of her magic. Emma sighed and moved her hair back over her shoulder. She took another deep breath and smiled before making her way back towards her parents.