10.

No matter how hard she tried to keep them away, she could see images of his face every time she closed her eyes. It kept her wide awake at night. She couldn't feel anything. She was numb, as if she had been inhaling a bottle of chloroform. Nothing made sense when other people were talking to her, nor when she looked around her. What could be her life without him? She couldn't even say his name anymore; her heart had blocked out the way to her brain.

Cora had told her she had to keep the chin up, she had to stay put. After all, a queen wasn't supposed to be weak, was she? People had been told he died suddenly, from a heart disease. But no one was fooled; they all knew who had killed him. They were just too afraid to say anything so it worked for them. Of course, she had to be there for the funerals. He had been their stable boy, the one who had taught her how to ride. So she had gone, her face as cold as stone, not letting anyone see her feelings. That surely contented her mother.

There, she spotted David and his mother, looking sadder than what she expected. When her eyes met David's, she felt like tearing up so she quickly turned her head away, knowing that otherwise she wouldn't be able to hold it together. The ceremony went slowly, too slowly for her sanity but she had to keep it up. And then, just when they were finally about to bury his coffin, Ruth just started sobbing violently, her whole body shaken with spasms. Regina noticed David trying to hold on to her the best he could but she soon got free from his arms and fell on top of the coffin.

"My son! He was my son! Why?!"

The elderly woman was screaming and crying heavily while everybody had started whispering in disbelief. Regina couldn't believe what was happening. Nevertheless, for some reason, moments she had witnessed over the past few weeks clicked in her brain and became all the more understandable. She eyed incredulous over to David but he didn't see her, only caring for his mother and trying to get her out of there. With the help of other people, he managed to get her away and she just stood, holding him while crying with a hand over her mouth.

When at last the funerals had ended and people had left, Regina had remained there, alone, in front of her dead fiance's grave. She had tried to hold on to her courage for so long during the ceremony but now alone, she felt her strength falter away. One tear rolled down her cheek, then another, and another. Soon she was crying her heart out, falling on her knees as her legs couldn't sustain her anymore. This was when she felt two arms resting on her shoulders making her jump. When she had seen David staring at her, she had just fell back on his chest and let herself cry out for what seemed like hours. He never spoke, only wrapping his arms around hers and holding her face on his chest.

Finally, she felt like she had no more tears to shed so she just kept sobbing, hiccuping from time to time which made her chuckle a little. David handed her a tissue and she dried her now wet face and neck with it, still not saying a word.

"I think we need to talk." She spoke bluntly after a moment.

The young shepherd sighed. They stood up and slowly walked away from the grave.

xXx

"So..." Regina started after David and she were sat in an awkward silence.

David sighed then gathered his courage to talk. "I am sorry I lied to you..."

"So, it is true then? D...He was your brother?"

David nodded. "When we talked about it the other day, It was only a suspicion. I didn't know for sure. What I told you about the accident though was true. Daniel -or rather William- was about ten when he disappeared. I was five. I remember one day my mother coming back crying because they had found the corpse of a child his age by the river. He had been so badly hurt that nobody could identify him. My parents assumed it was him...Until the day we met when I first came to see you, we thought he was dead."

"But then...how did you know...Why doesn't...didn't he remember?"

"When both of you came home that day, mother recognized him. She was certain he was his son. When he mentioned Eric, mother decided to go pay him a little visit..." David chuckled darkly. "Of course he denied everything. But my mother is quite of the stubborn type." He smiled. "She didn't let go off him until he finally confessed that he had found Daniel unconscious, next to his own son's body. When he realized the boy had lost his memory, he kept him."

Regina tried to process all the information he had given her. One thing didn't seem right. "How come nobody saw it was not his son? I mean somebody must have seen something!"

"How old were you when he arrived?"

"As long as I can remember, I always knew Eric and...his family." Regina stayed silent for a moment, plunging back into old memories. "Wait, I remember that Eric sent Daniel away. He said it was so he could learn how to take care of horses as it was his dream! He was gone for some years..."

"And you didn't see he had changed?"

"I was young, I didn't remember him from before. Now it makes sense..."

Both kept silent after this conversation.

"I hope your mother will handle it. Losing his son twice...I can't even imagine the pain she must be going through..." Regina finally said, a tear rolling down her cheek that she wiped away just as soon as it appeared.

The shepherd turned his head towards her and smiled at her slightly to which she reciprocated. Then they just held each other's hand and stayed silent each lost in thoughts.

Hello everybody! It's a bit short today, not much happening but i hope you liked it. Hopefully from now on we'll get into the true Evil Charming stuff (should i even say "evil" really? Doesn't feel right at this point haha). I only manage one chapter at a time so i never - or vaguely- know how it will turn out in the next chapter. I also hope i don't hurt your eyes too much with my English. ^^ Oh, and i looooved the premiere! I just can't wait for the next episodes! *_*

Feel free to tell me your thoughts about the story and maybe advice.

Hope you all have a wonderful week! :) Talk to you soon! -Sarah.