11.

Days were passing by yet the pain didn't seem to lessen. Regina spent most of her time in her bedroom staring through the window or in the garden, sat at the edge of the fountain. She wouldn't talk to anyone. She -who used to be so spirited and lively - was now quiet and subdued. Prince Henry was saddened to see his daughter in this state. Therefore he decided to get her out.

He knocked on the girl's door that day, waited for a moment and then entered the room as no answer came. His eyes had to adjust to the poor lighting of the room as the heavy curtains were drawn and blocked out the light that was supposed to come through the big windows.

"Regina, love? Are you awake?" Prince Henry asked as he came near his daughter's bed upon which she was lying.

The only answer came from a slight sigh, almost inaudible, that would have gone unnoticed if not for her shoulders that shrugged a little. Prince Henry came to sit on the bed behind her.

"Regina, please. You can't stay in that state forever. I know you hurt...but you can't let yourself waste away like you are doing."

Regina sniffed, wiping away her tears from the tip of her fingers but still didn't turn towards her father.

"Come on!" Prince Henry stood up and went to open the curtains. A bright ray of light came through the now uncovered grand windows, illuminating the whole room. "Get up! We are going out in fifteen minutes!"

"I don't want to go out...," came out from Regina's hoarse and sleepy morning voice.

"I don't want to hear it. If you are not ready in fifteen, you will have to go in your night gown it doesn't matter."

Regina finally looked up at her father standing in front of her side of the bed. She narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't do that..."

"I would not bet on it if I were you. Be in the living room in fifteen minutes."

On those words, the prince left his daughter's room. Regina looked over to the horse-shaped clock that was on top of her bedside table. It showed 10:32 a.m. She let her head fall back on her pillow, not wanting to move and closed her eyes as she felt tears rising up again.

Next thing she knew, she was being lifted from her bed by one of her father's guards, and brought towards the door.

"What is this about?! FATHER! You...", she snarled addressing the guard, "What the hell are you doing? Set me down immediately! Argh! FATHER!" Regina was screaming while struggling with the impassive guard to set herself free from his arms.

"I told you not to be so sure of yourself," Prince Henry told her appearing at the door, clearly containing a smile.

"And this is your way of cheering me up?! Seriously?!" The girl was mad now.

"This is all your fault love. Now come on." The prince made it to the door again and disappeared behind it.

Regina had her eyes wide with incredulity and shock. "FATHER! TELL HIM TO LET GO OFF ME!" Seeing as the guard kept walking forward and no answer came from her dad she called out again, "FATHER!"

Finally, Prince Henry reappeared with a wide grin on his face. "Did you change your mind?"

"I told you! I don't want to go out! Can't you just leave me alone?"

"I cannot. So make up your mind," he said frowning.

As her father was about to turn away once more she called him up. "Ok! Ok! Just let me go get changed. Please?"

Prince Henry looked at her for a moment, judging if she was serious. When he saw her upset look, he made a gesture to the guard who let go off the girl. "You have ten minutes."

Regina glowered at the guard, then at her father when she heard him, and stormed in her room, closing the door violently. Once inside it, she screamed internally, stomping her feet furiously on her carpet and went to get ready.

xXx

"Are you going to make that face all day long Regina?"

Prince Henry and Regina were sat across from one another in the carriage. At her father's words, she shot a glance into his direction, narrowed her eyes and went back to watching the landscape from the little window, her hand resting underneath her chin.

They had had lunch by a beautiful spot, - she couldn't deny it- on a hill, from which they could see hundreds of butterflies of every shapes and colors flying around. Despite the beautiful area and the delicious meal the cook had made them, Regina hadn't said a word since they had left the mansion. They were now heading somewhere secret: her father had refused to tell her where they were going to and actually she hadn't even asked, refusing to lower the mute treatment she was afflicting him.

When his daughter didn't bother answering, the prince just sighed. "Stubborn like her mother," he thought.

They finally reached the place they had been heading to and got out of the carriage. When Regina recognized where he had taken her, she turned her head towards her father and eyed him in disbelief. He smiled sheepishly at her.

"I thought you might as well enjoy this more than your old father's presence."

"Prince Henry? Regina?" David called out when he saw the pair form the distance. He was smiling as he walked towards them.

"Why are we here? And how did you even know this place?" Regina asked her father in a hushed tone.

"Are you forgetting who am I?," he said rolling his eyes. "Besides, I thought you would be happy to see your friend," Prince Henry added with a nervous smile.

"I told you father! I didn't want to see anyone...", she whispered hurriedly, "Wh-"

"Good morning!" The shepherd had reached them and greeted them with a bright smile. He was holding a lamb on his shoulders.

Regina couldn't help but smile timidly at him when their looks caught each other's.

"David! How are you boy?", the prince asked the shepherd more animatedly after he caught sight of his daughter smiling. "Finally".

"Very well sir. May I ask you the same question?"

"I must say that I am very well as well, thank you."

"Regina?", David asked her with a gentle smile.

"Good," the young girl replied, avoiding his gaze by looking at her feet.

Both David and Prince Henry frowned at her short answer. They fell into an embarrassing silence that was cut off by the young shepherd, "Well...to what do I owe this honor?"

"I...well, we were just in the area and thought about greeting you and your mother," Prince Henry replied smiling yet clearly uncomfortable.

"I see...," the boy replied with a frown, "my mother is currently out but you can come in and wait if you would like to."

"I don't th-," Regina started but was cut off by her father.

"Oh! Thank you. If it is not bothering you."

"Not at all. Come!"

After a small smile from Prince Henry to his daughter and Regina rolling her eyes at him, they started walking behind the shepherd.

xXx

They were silently drinking a cup of tea in David's house when suddenly Prince Henry stood up, startling the two teenagers.

"I forgot! I have to go...somewhere."

"What are you saying father?", Regina asked him with a suspicious eye.

"I have a very important meeting. I have to go, I am so sorry." He got up and started walking towards the door.

"Wait for me," Regina told him standing up.

"Won't you wait for my mother then? I don't think she is going to -," David started, standing up as well.

"No, no, I am very sorry David. Greet her for me, will you?," the prince told the blonde-haired who nodded. "Regina, love. You can stay here with your friend."

"But-"

"Really, it is fine! You will come back when you are ready. I trust David to return you safely home. Good bye David. And thank you for the tea!"

"Y...You are most welcome Prince Henry."

Prince Henry nodded to the pair and then walked away. After a few moments of astonished silence, David chuckled which made Regina raise an eyebrow at him.

"What is it about?"

"Tell me I'm not the only one who found this whole situation rather odd?" When Regina frowned, David rolled his eyes. "Your father is really, really not good at lying. I get where you took it from," David simply answered, smiling genuinely at her.

Regina couldn't help but smile back and chuckle too. This boy really had the knack for brightening up her mood even when she didn't want it to be.

xXx

"What is bothering you Regina?" David asked the princess after they had stayed silent for a ridiculous amount of time. They had just leaned against an enormous oak while the sheep were grazing in the meadow.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh please. I know you. I saw that you were not particularly pleased to be here..."

"I...It's not true..."

"Really?"

Regina finally looked up into those blue eyes that made her heart skip a bit. He looked hurt and his brows were furrowed. Regina sighed but still she couldn't bring herself to talk. It had been so long.

"Why did you come if you didn't want to?" David insisted.

"I...didn't have much choice actually...My father kidnapped me...in a way."

"Pardon me?" He had raised an eyebrow at her, confusion written all over his face.

"By the way! Did you really not know we were coming?"

"No...How would I have known?"

Regina studied him but he looked genuinely confused so she sighed and shook her head slightly. "I...I didn't want to...go out actually...," she said nervously, putting a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"Why?" Seeing Regina's raised eyebrow he added, "I mean...I know why... But, wait, how long have you been in that room of yours? I hope it is not since the last time we saw each other..." It was over a week ago.

"I...haven't...Not technically..."

"Regina..." David sighed.

"What now?!," Regina suddenly exploded and got up. "Can't I mourn in peace now?"

"Wh... I didn't say that but-"

"Why can't you all just leave me alone! I don't need your pity! I didn't think I could say that one day but for once my mother is even better than all of you! I just want to be alone!" Tears were already falling furiously through her eyes and she started to walk away.

David grabbed her by the elbow and before she could protest he pulled her into a hug. She struggled for a moment before giving up against his chest.

"Why...can't you just..leave me alone?," she asked between sobs.

"Because we care about you. Because we love you...I love you." David answered her, putting his head on top of hers and hugging her tighter when he felt her tense against him.

"He did NOT just say that. Just ignore it Regina...You just lost "him"... You can't let anything happen...Plus he is his brother!" Regina's mind was working at full-speed and it had made her stop crying. She moved back so that she could see him in the eyes, "You don't know what you are saying...", she said in a whisper.

"I know what I am saying...But If you are not ready to hear it then I won't push it."

"You can't love me.

"Huh?"

"Haven't you seen what happened to...him? I cannot love you...I can't let it happen to you as well..."

"Nothing will happen to me Regina."

"Of course It will!," she was feeling her tears threatening to fall again. "I am no good for people who love me..."

"What..? Wait...Don't tell me you blame yourself for what happened to Daniel?" Seeing as she didn't answer and looked at the ground he said, "Regina?"

"Of course I blame myself!," she snapped. "It is my fault! If I had not loved him, if I had not told him we needed to leave, he would still be alive!"

She was crying for good now as they were looking into each other's eyes. David wiped away her tears with his thumbs, and let his hands linger on her cheeks. His hands felt warm against Regina's skin and she was cursing herself for feeling so weak in front of him. Their faces had begun to get closer and, just when she thought she was going to feel his lips on hers, she felt his lips on her forehead instead, kissing it gently. She then put her head on his shoulder.

"I understand Regina and I respect your feelings. I won't push you or anything. But promise me...promise me you won't blame yourself anymore. And promise me you will stop hurting yourself." David asked her, his cheek against her hair and his eyes closed. Regina sighed against his shoulder but didn't reply. "Do you promise?"

She nodded. "I promise," she said in a hushed tone.

He held her tighter and she just stayed there, in her friend's arms, listening to his heartbeat. After a while, she just forgot about everything. When David finally broke the hug, she realized she was bothered not to feel his strong arms around her anymore. Why was it even bothering her? The simple thought of it annoyed her even more. She must have made a face at that moment because when she looked up, David was frowning and a little smirk was playing around his lips. Regina just frowned as well and nodded towards him. He shook his head at her and chuckled.

"I think we should head back now, before it is too dark. Are you ready princess?," he held out his hand -palm facing the sky- and smiled teasingly.

Regina rolled her eyes and put her hand on top of his. When she saw his smile turn into the one that melted her heart, and his eyes shining, she couldn't fight the smile that appeared on her lips and also felt her cheeks turn red. Once they gathered the few things they had brought with them -still holding hands,- they walked away, following the sheep back home.

At some point during the walk, Regina realized their fingers had intertwined unconsciously, she wondered if the crazy thought running through her mind could possibly be happening. Was she falling in love with David?

Hello everyone! I hope you are all fine and enjoyed this new chapter. I am really curious to know your thoughts about this story so feel free to review. ^^ Btw, I am looooving the new season! :D haha. I wish you all a lovely week! Take care and i'll talk to you soon! Bye!