"Regina, love. What troubles you so?"
Regina smiled at her father but didn't speak. Her mind was elsewhere, many things troubled her, but at the top of that list was a young blonde.
Regina had stayed to herself, needing space to work out what was taking place and what she was supposed to do about it. The Princess had magic, and from the night of Transference, Regina could tell it was untouched. Her issue lay with what to do with the information. The young blonde had the potential to be powerful; dangerous. The desire in the pit of her stomach to exploit the Princess also troubled her. She'd given her father her word, on Daniel's name to make peace with the White Kingdom, and corrupting Snow White and Charmings' daughter would not cause peace but war. Knowing all that she knew her only thoughts still strayed to feeling that power flow through her, the raw, unmitigated strength that coursed through her gave a high like she had never experienced.
And if her struggles with what to do about the blonde's magical potential weren't enough, the underlying tension between the two women was unsettling. Being in the room with the younger woman was trying at best. The looks exchanged between them while in the south side quarters were tense but meaningful. The air in the room was thick, and Regina had to leave before she did something they would both regret. Her frustrations were pliant; she should be able to control herself. Regina was supposed to be making peace not exchanging heated glances with the Princess. Nothing good would come of the looks they'd exchanged days ago. And she didn't want anything to come of said looks. The Princess was maddening, all snark and sass, with a dash bravery and chivalry. And it was all wreaking havoc on Regina's cold and distance façade.
"What are you not telling me, daughter?"
Her father's words pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up to see him standing next to her. She sighed and worried her bottom lip. She had always been able to tell her father everything and anything, yet this particular thing gave her pause.
"I am not troubled father, I am merely contemplative, I have gained knowledge of something great, but I know not what to do with said knowledge. I promised you I would make peace and I intend to. But there is a part of me, the old me, that would exploit this knowledge, and I find myself in the midst of a battle of wills."
"I have always been here for you, you have always been able to lean on me. Give me your burden Regina, and I will carry it happily."
Regina looked up and smiled at her father, "I fear it is not that simple father. I will have to fight the darkness that has been my companion for many years, and it is proving difficult."
Her father's expression showed his confusion, and he sighed, "I have faith in you Regina, whatever the temptation, you are stronger. "
"You have such faith in me father, do you not tire of disappointment?" Regina continuously failed to live up to the woman her father thought her to be. She'd done heinous deeds, and somehow her father loved her through it. Even when faced with death at her hand, he didn't beg; he told her he loved her, while she held his heart in her hands, poised to crush it. She sighed and pushed those memories away. She reached out for her father's hand and intertwined their fingers.
Her father smiled at her and shook his head, "There is goodness in you dear, you have to stop hiding from it and embrace it. Let go of the darkness; you no longer need it." He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand.
"It is not that easy father; there is so much pain and hatred inside of me." She exhaled and looked off into the distance, her mind flipping through all of the sorrow she had experienced in her life; the loss of her first love, her mother's abuse, Snow's betrayal, her loveless marriage and all the pain. The wars, the blood, the death, and pain, it was a constant in her life.
"Princess."
"Sir."
Regina tensed but did not turn to face the younger woman. She took a deep breath and readied herself to leave, whether by way of magic or her own two feet.
"How are you feeling today, Princess?" Henry asked, he could feel the change in his daughter. Her grip had tightened on his hand, and her profile was tense. He narrowed his eyes but turned his attention back to the Princess.
"Please sir, call me Emma. I am well, thanks to your daughter." Emma looked over at Regina trying to catch her eye, but the woman didn't look at her.
"Oh, Regina healed you?" He looked down at his daughter, but again, she didn't look at him.
"Yes Sir, it's nice not feeling wounded any longer, I'm sure it would have taken me weeks to heal on my own. I am thankful."
Henry nodded, "Well, I'm sure you'd like to speak with Regina now. I'll leave you to it."
He turned to his daughter, and she was looking up at him, her eyes begged him not to leave. He kissed her forehead, and she exhaled. She let go of his hand only to wrap him in a hug. He smiled and returned the gesture.
"I love you."
"I love you, daddy." She held him close and appreciated that he didn't rush her. He never did. She sighed and let him go, taking a step back. She watched him walk away and took a deep breath, preparing herself for whatever was to transpire.
"You've been avoiding me." It was a statement; Emma had avoided many people in her life, she could recognize the signs. She had only seen glimpses of the woman the past four days. The fact that she knew exactly how many days had passed was problematic, but she decided it was better to ignore that and deal with the issue at hand. "Why?"
Regina sighed and lowered herself onto the bench near her apple tear, "I have not been entirely well since siphoning the venom from my veins. I grow weak quickly, and I need more rest than I am used to."
The fact that Regina felt the need to avoid the Princess told her far more than she was willing to accept and so she ignored it and attempted to ignore the Princess. Though she'd failed miserably. The young woman had plagued her thoughts frequently during her forced absence. When she wasn't thinking of the Princess, she was using Sidney to locate the woman throughout the castle.
"I don't believe you."
Emma's words were harsh. Her tone and stance proved that Regina's absence was not welcomed. Emma's response was troubling to the Queen. There should not be angry words due to their lack of interaction. The Princess, much like her parents, she merely tolerate Regina, not long to see her. The fact that the Princess was apparently upset by Regina's intentional absence spoke to exactly what was taking place between them.
"It matters not if you believe my words or not dear. This is my home. I would not allow a child to keep me hidden in it." Though the words tumbled from her lips easily and with the intended amount of bark, she knew they were false. The problem was she wasn't sure if it was just due to the magic the woman possessed or the draw she felt
Emerald eyes narrowed at the words, "Child? I am far from a child; I am a Knight in my father's army, I am—"
Regina arched an eyebrow and chuckled, "You are the child of a Sheppard and a liar. Your Knighthood means little to me, Princess. You ride a horse and play sword fight, but that means nothing, you have nothing to show for your time in your father's army, who have you bested? Who have you defeated that is worthy of mentioning?" Regina spat the words with such vitriol she almost felt bad. The color had drained from the Princess' face, and her ears had reddened.
Emma was seething, and she tried to keep the anger at bay. No one had ever spoken to her in such a way, and she could live her entire life and be fine if it never happened again. "You will not speak of my parents in that way—"
"I will certainly—"
"You will let me speak!"
Regina froze when she saw the blonde's eyes flash golden. Color rose in pale cheeks, and her nostrils flared. Regina could feel the energy radiating off the Princess in waves. It was just beneath the surface. Waiting, like a caged animal to be released. Regina took a deep breath and felt a prickle along her spine. A feeling she hadn't felt in quite some time. Fear.
"You will not speak of my parents that way!" Emma took a step closer and noticed Regina's straighten her spine and level her with an angry glare. It would appear the Queen wasn't accustomed to anyone speaking out against her.
"My father was a Sheppard, yes, but he is far more now. My mother is one of the most honest women in this realm. I do not simply ride a horse and play sword fight, many have fallen at the end of my blade, and it was you who wanted peace, you who commissioned us with a treaty so you would avoid a war with my father's army."
Regina laughed, and the look on the Princess' face only caused her to laugh harder. This young woman, though she is brave, was naïve and Regina could not allow the ignorance to continue any longer.
"You speak with such power and conviction, and yet you know nothing. Your mother is not honest; she is a manipulative liar. It was not I who wanted peace…it was your mother. She and my father have been conferring for many moons, him subtly pushing me towards a decision of peace, feeding Snow with terms that I would agree to."
Regina watched the confusion play out across her face. The Queen almost felt sorry for Emma. Her entire world was falling apart. She could see the seeds of doubt behind defiant emerald eyes. The blonde wanted Regina to be lying.
"You don't believe me? Ask your mother."
And with that Regina disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke, leaving Emma speechless and confused.
