hello lovely readers! This is one of my longer chapters, but I may not be able to update as frequently as of next week. Starting to see Regina's walls coming down for Robin, but still a long way to go. Might I add I am officially excited for September for S4! Happy reading lovelies xx
Enchanted Forest, Daniel's death.
Cora gave her daughter time to get to the stables before she made her own appearance there. Time to let Regina think she was safe. Foolish child. Cora thought back on her own past. She would die with her secrets, but she would not live if Regina repeated history. Not that the girl would know it. She took herself to the stables, startling Regina and the boy, Daniel. 'I do hope you're not foolish enough to think I did not know, Regina dear', Cora sneered as Daniel wrapped his arms protectively around Regina. 'Mother you can't stop us. I love him' Regina cried, holding tightly onto Daniel. 'And I love her' Daniel spoke up. Cora laughed. 'You foolish children. There is no such thing as love. Love is weakness. Regina you will never be who you are meant to be loving a peasant as this.' Regina pulled away from Daniel, taking a bold step towards her Mother. 'Mother. I don't want that life. I want this. I want to be happy. Don't you want me to be happy?' Cora took her daughters' hands in her own. 'Regina, I am your Mother. Of course I want you to be happy...' Cora started. 'Then don't make me marry the King! Let me be with Daniel!' Regina gripped her mother's hands, pleading with her eyes. Cora let Regina's hands go. 'Sweetheart, if it is what you want I can't stop you.' Cora smiled at her daughter. Regina's eyes lit up, and she embraced her mother in a hug. 'Thank you Mother.' Regina let go, wiping away the tears she had tried to keep from her mother. She never thought this moment would be real. Cora hid her wicked smile behind her mask of seriousness, taking Daniel aside. 'Daniel, if you are to have a life together, a family, then there's one important life lesson that I can import on you. It's what it means to be a parent' Cora began. Behind her, Regina locked eyes with Daniel, silently praying that her mother didn't know she was already pregnant, hoping that what she was saying to Daniel now was simply some wisdom for their future. 'You always have to do what is best for your children' Cora told the boy. He was so plain, she didn't know what Regina saw in him. Daniel smiled at Cora. 'Thank you, I understand. Because that's what you're doing now.' Daniel looked to Regina, and back at Cora. Such a foolish boy. Cora stared into his eyes, suddenly cold. 'Yes, it is.' She shot her hand out, plunging it into Daniel's chest, pulling his heart out as Regina rushed forward screaming trying to catch him as he collapsed. As Cora crushed the life from Daniel's heart, Regina cried, cradling his lifeless body in her lap. 'Why would you do this Mother?! I loved him! I thought you wanted me to be happy!' Regina's tears spilled down her cheeks. Looking down at her daughter in disgust, Cora coldly replied 'This is your happy ending. I told you, love is weakness. Now clean yourself up, wipe away those tears, because now, now you're going to be a queen'. Cora disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke, leaving her daughter to grieve over the stableboy. She'd send Henry to fetch her. Now that was taken care of, there was nothing stopping Regina from being the queen she was born to be. Well, perhaps the brat, but Regina would learn in time to deal with her. For now, Cora could smile as her plan was mostly complete.
Enchanted Forest, the Castle.
'You have lost your mask your Majesty' Robin said when Regina finally emerged from the library. She looked over at him, removing her long black gloves. 'Exactly what is that supposed to mean?' She sneered, and headed towards the room where the cauldron keeping the shield around the castle was emitting a bright green beam of light. Robin followed, hoping Regina wouldn't do anything else harmful before Snow White and Charming arrived with the rest of the Storybrooke refugees. 'Majesty, I just meant when you entered that library, you were holding your pride. When you came back, you appear to me as the woman who is grieving for her son. And yet you stand before me now as this woman who not long ago wished herself dead. You puzzle me so, I do not know what to believe of you. I have seen you so kind, made yourself vulnerable, and here you are now telling me you seek to destroy another as that is a purpose to live?' Robin stood behind Regina, hoping as he spoke she wouldn't turn around and kill him. Regina stopped, her gloves folded neatly over the crook of her arm. She didn't turn, but took a deep breathe in, absorbing the words from the thief. 'You speak out of turn, thief. How I live my life now without my child is not your concern. If you want shelter from the Wicked Witch, then you must let me do what I must so the Charmings can protect the rest of your people.' Regina said, coolly, and continued her way to the cauldron. Robin hesitated behind a moment before following her, catching a glimpse of Regina's cheek. The shiny streak told him that he'd made her cry.
Enchanted Forest, pre-curse.
Maria was in the village when the warrant for her arrest came. A prison wagon with several of Snow White's guards halted in the middle of the markets. She saw Elspeth already locked in the wagon. Maria knew better than to run. She knew Snow White would never have the heart to execute them, but she knew she would suffer greater punishment if she tried to escape. She let the guards take her and lock her in the wagon next to Elspeth, who Maria had come to know better after Regina had married Leopold. Maria quietly whispered to Elspeth as the wagon was pulled through the village. 'Do you know why Snow White would arrest us?' Elspeth, scared shook her head. 'When they came for me Regina had already dismissed me from service. But they said something about my service and loyalty to Regina...though they called her the 'Evil Queen'...'Elspeth was cut off by a guard, who smacked his sword against the side of the wagon aggressively. 'Quiet!' He commanded, and Elspeth hung her head shamefully. Maria felt sorry for the girl. Elspeth was a gentle and loyal girl, she had served Regina since before she'd married Leopold. She still had family who relied on her. Regina had told Maria about dismissing Elspeth. Elspeth didn't know it, but Regina had done it for protection, bringing her father back from Wonderland to replace Elspeth so the girl would be safe from Regina's enemies. It was different for Maria, by now she had lost her family, she didn't have anyone to return to, anyone who would be left behind if she was executed. Her husband and Daniel had died all those years ago. Later, a few years after Daniel, she'd lost Jack, out of his stupidity. The boy had been tricked by an imp, swapping their dairy cow for a magic bean. Jack had foolishly climbed the resulting beanstalk, lured by the imp's promise of gold and riches at the top. He had never returned. She held out her hand to Elspeth, who took it, holding it tightly as they were taken away from their village towards Snow White's castle.
Enchanted Forest, post-Daniel
Regina's plan to visit Maria failed as soon as the young princess learned she was going out riding. Snow White, all excited had invited herself on the ride, and Leopold was only delighted to see his beautiful new wife bonding so well with his precious daughter. For once, the sickness Regina felt was not because of her pregnancy. She was furious the brat was coming, and it made her sick to see how pleased Leopold was when Regina had no choice but to tell the girl of course she could come. 'Elspeth, I will not be needing a lunch, please inform the kitchen. I will not be going to my father's land today as Snow White will be accompanying me on my ride. Has my horse been saddled?' Regina addressed her maid as she pulled on her riding boots. Elspeth handed her her hat, the ostrich feathers fluffing out the top. 'Of course your Majesty, I will inform Cook immediately. Johanna passed by me on my way here, she told me that both horses have been prepared for yourself and the Princess Snow. Is there anything else your Majesty?' Elspeth asked, waiting for Regina to dismiss her so she could do as she had been asked. Regina fixed the feathered hat on her head and stood up, making sure she looked presentable in her mirror. 'No Elspeth, that will be all. You may have the afternoon for your leisure, but I will require you to be back to prepare my bath before dinner with the King.' Regina straightened her jacket and left the room as Elspeth rushed down the servant corridor to get to the kitchen before the lunch that had been prepared was taken out. In the palace square, Regina waited on her horse, wishing for Snow White to hurry herself. The horse was just as impatient as Regina, stamping his hooves and chomping eagerly at his bit. It didn't bother Regina, she knew the horse well, he was one of her own that her father had sent to Leopold's stables as a wedding gift. She rubbed the gelding's neck gently as she sat in the saddle, breathing in the scent of horse and leather. The scent that reminded her of Daniel. The horse snorted, throwing his head up suddenly. Regina rolled her eyes. 'It's just a pigeon you silly boy, you better behave in the village.' She scowled her horse, just as a pigeon flew out in front of them. Regina turned her head to see what had scared the bird, and saw Snow White finally coming towards them. 'Oh Regina, I hope I have not kept you waiting for long' the princess began as she was helped onto her horse by the stableboy. The young girl looked over at her stepmother, so regal and beautiful on top of her bay horse. She hoped some day she could ride horses as well as her stepmother could. Regina smiled at Snow, praying that the brat would not want to make conversation as they rode through the village. She wasn't in the mood for small talk. Now on her own horse, an elderly dappled grey mare, Snow wished she could have ridden Regina's gelding, he was so beautiful and elegant, much like the other horses Regina had brought with her, but that one was her favourite. 'Regina?' Snow asked as they started to walk out from the palace grounds. 'Yes dear Snow?' Regina was already hating this. All she had wanted to do was visit Maria. 'When may I ride your horse? He seems a quiet mount.' Regina pursed her lips, holding back laughter at the young girl's question. 'Sweet Snow, I cannot let you ride this horse. He seems quiet as I am his rider and I know how to handle him, but he is quite flighty. He is terrified of birds. If you were to ride him I fear he would throw you if he was suddenly startled by so much as a feather. I am sure your father told you why you cannot ride my other horses?' Regina looked over to Snow, casually holding her reins in one hand, as Snow held hers tightly with both. 'My Father told me they are special, and I do not yet have the experience to ride them. I just thought that one is different to your other horses.' The girl said to Regina. Regina looked forward again, gathering her reins in both hands readying to urge her horse into a canter. 'Your father is right Snow. And this horse is no different from my others. With his fear of birds, he is probably more dangerous.' With that, Regina used her crop to urge the gelding into a canter, which he did so, encouraging the princess' mare to follow. It was mean, because Regina knew Snow was still not confident going faster than a trot, but Regina wanted to have some enjoyment, and feeling the wind in her hair beneath her hat felt like she was back with Daniel racing him along the hills of her Father's land. She looked behind her to make sure Snow was still following. To Regina's surprise, Snow must have learned what Regina had taught her. Snow had let out her reins, and the mare was delighting in the freedom it had given her. Regina reined her horse in, slowing him to a walk as they entered the village.
