hello lovely readers! Just a short bitter-sweet chapter. We are currently working on Regina's character development so this will help her with her relationship with Robin. Hope you like it, as always R & R! Xx
Enchanted Forest, the Castle.
Regina stood in the hidden annexe within the library she had left Robin Hood in. The annexe was the only place it seemed Zelena had not touched. It was intentionally hidden however, and nobody except Regina herself knew it was there, so to find it just as she had left it was a relief to Regina. The annexe held all of Regina's most personal possessions, minus the ring she had sacrificed in Storybrooke in one of her attempts to remove Emma Swan. As a tear rolled down her cheek, she wiped it away thinking herself so foolish to give up that ring. She walked over to a beautifully crafted chest, which had dancing horses embossed on the lid in gold and silver. Opening it, Regina flashed back to when the chest had arrived at the palace following her wedding to Leopold.
Enchanted Forest, post-Daniel.
'Your Majesty, there is a delivery for you. I am told it is a late wedding gift', Elspeth addressed Regina as she served breakfast. Regina looked up from her plate. 'Could you fetch it for me Elspeth? I do believe my Father may have been sending some items over for Leopold and I.' Elspeth set the serving tray down. 'Of course, majesty. I shall fetch it now.' She exited the room leaving Regina to pick at her food. The baby was not liking what Elspeth had served that morning, and without Maria's remedies, Regina was struggling to keep what little food she could swallow in her stomach. She knew sooner or later she would have to confide in Elspeth. She couldn't hide her pregnancy once she began to show...and if she couldn't keep her food down. At least Elspeth had served her in her former home, someone she could trust, almost a friend. She would never tell her everything of course, never tell her about Daniel. Regina rubbed her abdomen absent-mindedly, waiting for Elspeth to return with whatever it was that had been sent to her. A door slam startled her out of thoughts. 'Majesty?' Elspeth, breathless, hauled a medium sized chest from the servants door towards Regina. 'Oh! Elspeth, I am sorry. Had I known it was so large I would have asked the guards to bring it up. Set it down on the table and go fetch yourself some breakfast, rest until I call for you. Thankyou.' Regina smiled at Elspeth, truly grateful the girl had managed to haul the thing up the servant staircase by herself. 'Thankyou Majesty.' Elspeth set the chest down, and quietly exited through the servants door as Regina watched her go. Once alone again, Regina stood up, enabling her to examine more closely the fine decor of the chest. Gold and silver horses danced across the lid, and she knew immediately who the gift was from. Carefully opening the box, she looked at the contents inside, tears coming to her eyes. Beautifully knitted and embroidered baby clothes, a tiny music box in the shape of a horse carousel and a knitted toy horse. On top, a note. Regina picked it up, wiping away the her stray tears to clearly read it. 'My Dear Regina, I am at a loss for words on what to say to you. The grief I feel is horrible, but yet I feel that you have suffered more pain than I know. I want you to know you are always welcome in my home. You have become a queen, but you will always be that beautiful and humble girl that I watched grow up with her love of horses and my son. I have sent you this gift so you can raise the baby the way you wanted to with Daniel. With love, Maria'. Regina folded the note, and gently picked up one of the tiny outfits Maria had sewn. Staring at it, Regina suddenly found herself wishing she had her baby in her arms, wanting to dress the infant in Maria's gifts. Daniel would have loved this. She picked up the music box, twisting the key to make it play. Regina smiled as she recognised the lullaby. Daniel's lullaby. She looked down to her abdomen, rubbing her hand in gentle circles on it. 'You hear that baby? That's your Daddy's song.' For the first time in three days, Regina felt soothed. She put the items back in the chest, locking it and called for Elspeth.
Enchanted Forest, the Castle.
She held the soft baby clothes between her fingertips, her eyes squeezed tight shut trying to hold back her tears. She'd never even been able to use them. Snow White had made sure of that. Regina would have told Leopold within the week she was so close to being through her first trimester. Regina opened her eyes, and used the back of her hand to wipe her damp cheeks. If she'd had these in Storybrooke she wouldn't've even used them on Henry. She knew she would only have ever used them on a child from true love. She loved Henry, but he wasn't really hers, and certainly not the same as if she had had Daniel's child. The thought made her feel guilty, and she dropped the clothes, slamming the lid shut. 'Why did I think that?' She whispered to herself. Deep down, Regina knew why. If Snow hadn't caused her miscarriage, her baby would have been the thing that stopped her becoming evil and casting the curse. Regina would have made her child the centre of her world, to the point where she didn't notice Snow White or Leopold's existence. She knew that as long as she had her child, Daniel's death was no longer so painful to remember each time she looked into the eyes of Snow. That was why it was different loving Henry. He had characteristics of his grandmother that reminded Regina of what was taken from her.