They lay in bed together, the last night before the ball. Tomorrow everything would change and Regina was struggling to sleep.
"Are you sure this is what you want," Regina had asked Snow before the princess could close her eyes. "If we have to go, we'll be leaving the only home you've ever known. This is really your kingdom, your crown…"
There was still time to back out, to avoid telling their people.
"You're my One True Love, Regina. If they can't see that, I don't want to rule them. I only want to be with you."
Snow had snuggled up to her, an arm and one leg over Regina. It was a comforting warmth, though she wished she had left the window slightly ajar.
"Is your bag packed? We may only have time to take horses, if a carriage will slow us down."
"You're worrying too much. Everything will be fine."
"Johanna has shown me the passageways to sneak out of the ballroom. Do you remember where they are?"
"Of course. I used them as a child to play hide-and-seek with the servants, the only way to get out of the boring royal duties because they couldn't find me."
"You seem to make a habit of running away."
"I'm not running from you," Snow assured her. "Never ever."
As the Queen, and someone who hated having to mingle with those she didn't like, Regina had spent most of the ball sitting on the throne watching her guests dance. Part of her regretted not being able to dance with Snow. There would be time for that later, but it wasn't the same without the music. As the party got into full swing she slipped away, climbing the private staircase to the royal balcony for some fresh air. The small balcony was directly above one for the ballroom, though to anyone looking up it would appear as part of the outer walls decoration. Regina allowed herself a smile as she listened to the music and laughter. Soon it would be time for the big announcement.
"You're certainly in high spirits tonight, your majesty!" a voice carried up from below.
Curious, Regina listened and quickly recognised the voice of King George in reply.
"It looks like the boy won't be such a disappointment after all."
"Really? Despite… you know…"
"Hush! If anyone hears you…"
"My apologies. Are you referring to the way he's charming the princess tonight? They've been dancing and talking as though they're old friends, yet they've never met before."
George chuckled, "not officially. Not in one of these social settings, anyway."
"When? Where?"
"When the girl was playing peasant in the woods," he whispered, "and now that she's back home I can approve the match."
"That's why you're so happy. You'll let him marry the girl? What about the Queen? Snow White is old enough to be married, but she'll want the best…"
"James has brought enough gold to the kingdom to prove himself a worthy heir. We may not be as prosperous as Midas, but several generations will live comfortably with the right investments."
"And the Queen?" his companion prompted.
"We'll buy her hand from Regina. It's well-known she has little affection for the girl, I saw that when Leopold was alive. Yes, with the right amount of gold we'll set up the engagement and my grandchildren will have royal blood in their veins. Who knows, if Regina fails to produce an heir then my grandchildren will inherit two kingdoms!"
"Maybe you should consider courting the Queen yourself? Then you might not need James…?"
"No, I'm patient enough to wait for grandchildren. Now, tell me about these rumours..."
Regina, who had been unable to move during the conversation, finally found the ability to back away from the balcony and fled down the staircase. At the bottom step she paused. She couldn't face the ballroom just yet. Her mind replayed images of Snow and James dancing. She had only allowed herself glimpses of Snow during the ball, knowing that if she looked too long she would be distracted and people might suspect her true feelings. Now she worried that she had missed something important. Was Snow interested in George's son?
She wanted to sit down, but knew that she couldn't sit on the steps; the stone was too cold and dirty for her dress. Snow had mentioned meeting David, the prince's real name, while she lived in the forest as George had said and made him out to be simply a friend and nothing more. Was it possible her feelings would change now that she was home and living as a princess again? James would be seen as a more suitable match by the kingdom. King George appeared to approve.
What was she supposed to say when he came to offer her money? Would he wait until after the ball? Regina needed to see Snow. She needed to know whether the princess might change her mind. Making an announcement and having to withdraw it would be so humiliating.
Unless that was what Snow had planned?
Announcing that she was courting Snow (something she wanted to do properly, with gifts and little love notes and private horse rides) only to have her kiss James… the humiliation would force her to abandon the kingdom. Regina raised a hand to her forehead as a headache began to grow. She couldn't believe this was all a plot by Snow. The goodness in the princess' heart wouldn't allow it. She had to believe.
It was a long time before she was able to return to the ball, though she didn't return to her throne immediately, preferring to watch unobserved from the side for a little while first.
"There you are."
Regina stopped searching the ballroom at the sound of Snow's voice, "are you enjoying the ball?"
"I'll enjoy it more when we can have our first dance… You will dance with me after the announcement, won't you?"
"If we can."
"What's wrong? You sound upset."
"May we go somewhere a little quieter?" Regina requested, wanting privacy for the conversation she had been trying to prepare for.
"Of course."
Their own rooms were too far, so Snow led her out of the ballroom, down the hallway and into a small room, which had been used to store the extra chairs for the party and was now empty.
"Has something happened?" Snow asked.
"I want you to tell me about David, exactly how you know him, and not just that you met in the forest."
"Is this because we were dancing together? I told you nothing happened in the forest when I ran away…"
"Snow, please."
"Fine," Snow rolled her eyes, but realising that Regina was really upset agreed, "we're friends. Nothing more. We met in the woods, we talked and he told me that his twin brother was adopted by King George and that when James died he made a deal to save his mother by taking James' place. I think he liked me, but I explained that I wasn't interested. Before I left the forest, after I received your letter, I spoke to him about it. He said he understood and that's why I have been dancing with him instead of any of the other nobles. You don't need to be jealous."
Regina wanted to reply that she wasn't jealous, but that would have been a lie. Instead she decided to tell Snow the truth.
"I overheard King George talking. He said he approves the idea of an engagement between you and David. He thinks you and the prince fell in love in the forest. Apparently he is going to offer me gold to let you accept."
Snow looked surprised. She stepped towards Regina and took the Queen's hands in her own.
"I don't love David. I love you and we're going to tell everything that tonight, aren't we?"
There were tears in Regina's eyes as she nodded. Snow brought Regina's hands up to her lips, kissing them as she looked into Regina's eyes. The older woman blinked back the salty drops of water and tried to smile.