A/N Hey all, sorry for the delay. I've been focused on school but had a little time to map out the rest of the story. This should mean more regular posting. Thanks for sticking with me and happy reading!
Enchanted Forest. Three days before the curse.
Regina sat across the fire from Winn and watched as the girl added sticks to the small, hopefully undiscoverable fire. Seeing as how the path was not safe anymore, Winn had offered to accompany Regina back to her home, worried that trouble seemed to follow her.
"Trouble follows me?" Regina had asked, feigning disbelief.
"Well, you had a run in with knights of the kingdom. Then you met me. Knights are trouble. I'm trouble. If I leave you alone you will definitely be dragon food," Winn had joked. They had walked a few hours until the sky started to darken, stopping for water and to share what food Winn kept in her pack. They barely spoke to one another but both had been comfortable with the silence.
Regina's body ached from her fall and despite the fire's warmth, she felt a constant chill. Her head burned intensely where Winn had bandaged it and she did her best not to fuss with the dressing. She gazed up into the night sky, many of the stars obscured by a thin layer of clouds. The kingdom had not had rain in weeks and a storm was due any day now. They had blamed her, the villagers, for the dry season that had killed many of their crops and livelihood. She remembers scoffing at the idea that someone could control the weather in such a way and yet, the girl sitting across from her had done just that.
Regina let her gaze wander back down to Winn. Regina caught her eyes before Winn looked down quickly; alerting Regina to the fact she had been staring. Regina smiled and rested her chin on her hand.
"What?" Regina asked with a sickly sweet smile.
"Nothing, it's just…you look like someone I used to know," Winn replied, tracing Regina's face with her eyes. She smiled then shook her head and looked back down, into the fire.
"Someone from your home? Where did you say you were from again?" Regina pried lightly.
"I didn't," Winn shot back, her smile disappearing as her eyes met Regina's again. Regina knew then not to press; the girl was better made a friend than an enemy.
"Fair enough," said Regina. "What about your parents? They must be worried about you out here on your own?"
"No, they—they definitely aren't worried," Winn said, her eyes drawn back to the fire.
"Why would you say that? All parents worry about their children," Regina said comfortingly as if hearing this would spark Winn's desire to go home. Regina knew that so few mothers were like her mother and maybe the girl before her was just a runaway, unaware of how lucky she was.
"Because they died when I was little," Winn said, matter-of-factly.
"Oh. I—I am so sorry," Regina said softly, embarrassed she had tread into such emotionally deep waters. Winn noticed Regina's face fall and offered her a smile and a shrug.
"It's alright; it's not your fault. I left after they died and haven't stopped moving since. Traveling from place to place—" Winn started.
"Conjuring wind storms here and there to help strangers," Regina interjected.
Winn laughed and threw a twig playfully at Regina, who caught it and threw it into the fire.
"Well, you're not a stranger anymore," she said. "But you are very, very strange."
Regina laughed at this. It had been a long time since she had not been called a name in malice but in jest. As she thought, a violent chill shuddered through her body and she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Are you cold?" Winn asked, standing up to grab her pack. From it she pulled a wool blanket and made her way to Regina, squatting next to her and wrapping the Queen in the warm embrace. Normally, Regina would have shied from the action but she was feeling weaker by the moment and she found Winn's presence calming. Winn pulled back and furrowed her brow.
"Regina, you're burning up," Winn said concerned, her hands gently moving over Regina's face. Regina removed Winn's hands.
"I'm probably just sitting too close to the fire. I assure you, I am fine," Regina dismissed.
"It's probably the cut. Let me," said Winn as she removed the bandage above Regina's eye. Regina winced as every minute movement sent sharp pins shooting across her forehead where the gash resided.
"Oh, Gods. It's infected. You need a healer. Where is the nearest healer?" Winn spoke, her voice quick and direct.
"He won't help me," Regina said, another chill racking her body.
"What? Why not?" Winn asked confused.
"No one in that village will. I assure you, I am fine," Regina repeated.
"Regina." Winn started to protest.
"I said I am fine," Regina shouted, causing Winn to flinch.
Winn looked hurt and it hurt Regina to look at Winn. Then Winn's face changed as she became strangely calm. She raised a hand to Regina's forehead and closed her eyes.
"Trust me," said Winn and with that she gently pressed her palm into Regina's cut. Regina's arms flew up in protest, reacting to the pain the gash seemed to explode with. Suddenly, she felt as if a lightning storm existed in every breath she took and Winn's hand was guiding the charge through her. She looked up at the girl as Winn's eyes flew open. Regina gazed into her eyes, it looking as if a green flame danced inside them. Her hands rested around Winn's arm as little by little, her pain disappeared. When all that remained was a dull ache, Winn's eyes closed and her hand fell away as she sunk to her knees.
Regina felt for the spot where her head had been cut and found nothing but a few flecks of dried blood on her smooth porcelain skin. Regina knew it was good magic. The best magic actually.
"It's capable of undoing a violent act with an act of sacrifice. Dark magic will never know this kind of power, but we make up for it in other ways," Regina remembered Cora lecturing.
Her mind was torn from her mother when Winn's eyes fluttered open, their pale color but not their focus had returned. Regina reached out and placed a hand on the side of the girl's face, mirroring Winn's own actions moments before.
Winn's head fell against Regina's outstretched hand. Then the rest of her followed.