She's had her share of uncomfortable dinners, sat beside Royals that made jumping into an ice lake seem more immensely more pleasurable than having to listen to them drone on for another moment. But for all the wine and extravagant meals Regina has lost hours of her life during, this by far is the most tense, awkward affair of them all. It's cold in the dining hall, why this king wishes to live in an ice dome, she isn't really sure, but the tips of her fingers are beginning to tingle from the chill, a permanence of goosebumps line her skin underneath the velvet gown that barely covers her back.

The monarch is sitting rigid at the head of the table, the yellow orange glow of candelabra's behind him giving off a dark ethereal effect to the silver blue eyes that flicker between herself and Robin. Not that he unsettles her…but the look in his eyes, well it's mildly disconcerting at most.

Her thief (yes he is hers, not that he knows that, but whatever) is faring no better, sitting across from her, the tightness in his jaw beyond apparent, dark heady stare he gives back to the King something Regina has never quite seen before. He is usually so full of light, has perfect blue eyes that sparkle – not these dark spheres that she is sure if he wished, would shoot daggers at his royal brother.

Yes, this is not a happy reunion of siblings, it feels more like a roulette draw, both just waiting for the other to snap first. She can see Robin flex his fist on the oak table, squeezing the silver knife as the King begins to prattle on about his Kingdom, the power he has, how the people fear him, the fact that Robin gave up this lifestyle, to what, become a thieving outlaw? What kind of existence is that?

He's kind of an asshole, she decides rather quickly; correction, he is a complete asshole. Another pompous, arrogant, closed minded man that thinks of nothing but himself. It crosses her mind that he reminds her of Leopold; another self involved bastard.

It feels like those nights suddenly, as she is listening to this King Jonathan berate Robin across from her, those nights where she would wish to be anywhere else but beside him. It never ended, the sneering when no one was looking, quiet snide comments he'd make under his breath to her, aggravated that she wasn't Eva, gripping on how she never would be loved the first Queen. Time after time, no matter how much mead or wine she drank to drown him out, he was there, chipping away at her resolve.

It seems, the conversation is having the same effect on Robin, her heart actually pains for him, understanding just how cruel words can be. If it were her now, she'd snap this idiots neck and be done with it, but not Robin- no, he simply just sits, stabbing his dinner, glaring between his wine and his antagonizer, not a word said. It's rather impressive, she thinks, how he can take hit after hit and not even once say anything back. Well if he won't say anything, Regina damn well will.

"You have a very high opinion of yourself"

The clattering of utensils hit the table as both men turn to stare wide eyed at the Queen who scowls at the other royal.

"I beg your pardon?" Jonathan hisses out – some feeble attempt to what, scare her into submission…he has no idea who he is dealing with. With a dark smirk, she eyes the man up, drawing slow decided patterns on his body before meeting his ice cold blue eyes head on.

They are so different than Robin's beautiful ocean blue…

"It's a simple observation. You seem to be more worried about your own well being than those who are in your kingdom"

"You have no idea what my people live like"

"I walked through the village outside the gates – it's smells of decay and desperation"

If Robin would allow himself – the urge to burst out laughing is threatening. She looks unamused, parted with mild disgust, and apparently unaffected to the fact she is making fun of the King in this realm. Only her – only Regina the Queen would have the damn audacity to even utter such a thought, and it's positively hilarious. Jonathan looks as though he is about to pop a blood vessel, the rouge in his face turning a slight shade of purple around the collar of his neck.

"You know nothing of ruling a kingdom, Your Majesty"

"With all due respect, I'm the Queen of the Enchanted Forest"

"You're the wife of King Leopold, I know the tales of your marriage, you are nothing more than a pretty trophy…not a Queen at all"

The oxygen in the room sucks dry, cracking in bone chilling tight inhales as Regina stamps down the overwhelming impulse to char the man to a crisp. It floods her, burning like wildfire through her veins, the influx of spiking nausea blooming deep within her stomach. Her magic sparks silently in the palm that is clenched against her thigh, squeezing the velvet fabric, she is certain if she removed her hand there would be a burn mark through the material. She's going to kill this repulsive vermin of a man, by magic or her own damn hands, the minutes left in his life are rapidly dwindling.

Robin is frozen, caught watching the mounting rage on Regina's face begin to break from behind the regal mask. If she snaps and her magic is known, there is no doubt in his mind his brother will burn her at the stake, even if they ran, Jonathan would hunt them. If he can just get her to look at him, for a second to convey, no beg that she not do it. He knows of Leopold; Regina has told him near everything that happened during her "imprisonment" as she called it; with that wretched man.

Clearing his throat slowly, he silently begs for her eyes to move to his, but they don't even budge; not for a fraction of a second does her deadly stare move from the King's.

The hot huffing laugh that breezes from him, burn his entire body; the repugnant arrogant sound that echoes around the stone wall room make Robin see red. It's different if Jonathan wishes to beat him down, but Regina…no – that is a step too far.

"I'd advise you brother to not question the motives of marriage when your own dissolved so sinfully"

"And whose fault is that?"

"Maybe if you weren't such a wretched old pig, Eliza wouldn't have begged me to help her escape"

The hall goes dead quiet, a sharp inhale from a maid in the corner the only wash of noise as blue eyes met blue eyes – she can see it now (that her own rage has momentarily taken a back seat due to Robin's invasion in the conversation) the family resemblance; mirrored clenched jaws, snarling curled lips, dagger filled eyes. Her sudden curiosity takes over, given the fact that Robin apparently "kidnapped" someone long ago…someone she figures caused this rift between Locksley's.

"Who was she?"

"That is none of your business" the King snaps.

"Are you embarrassed John?" Robin sneers darkly, squaring his shoulders to his older sibling with a goading arched eyebrow. "Do you not wish for people to know what really happened to your beloved fiancé?"

"Shut it – or I will have your head"

"You can't"

"Watch me"

"Ah, but that's the thing, brother. The people have seen me outside – they know I am sitting here eating your bread and drinking your wine. From the bustle that my mere face created, I take it, your loyal people…maybe still have old allegiances"

Regina jumps as the King slams his fist down onto the table, his chair screeching back with a high pitch as it clatters to the floor, the expanse of his broad chest looming down over Robin who sits with a cocked grin on his face. She isn't really sure whether she should be worried about Robin's lack of response or not, the King looks as though he is about to stab him with a knife; not that she would let it come to that…

"Would you like to know, Your Majesty? About the girl my brother bought" He turns, smiling brightly at Regina who lets a mischievous smirk part on her face as she shrugs, sipping down the last of the red wine in her goblet. It seems Robin has the upper hand, the past she has yet to discover about Robin of Locksley prevailing in strength as the King does nothing but growl hard. It's somewhat pitiful, really- all that huff and puff from the royal.

"It's a lie" Jonathan seethes through his gritted teeth.

Robin's eyes don't break from Regina's, her heart momentarily fluttering at the fact they are having this strange little devious moment together, knowing damn well they are playing with fire, but it's kind of fun- doing it with him.

"Well you see, Locksley is a high born family – descendants of Royalty for centuries here in Sherwood. My father was a kind King. Respected and Respectful. My mother, she was pure as sunshine, gold of heart, and fierce as a lioness" he swirls the red wine in his cup around, the small crinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening as Robin smiles softly at the memory of his mother.

"My life growing up was prosperous, I wanted for nothing and was given everything. But that is where my brother here and I differ"

The King clenches his fists as he sits back down, folding his hands across his chest as though to try and stop himself from connecting with Robin's jaw. It's rather bizarre really, the sudden power shift, but who is Regina to complain when she is on the upper side of it.

"You see, while we were considered royalty – I preferred to be in the village, live amongst real people, learn who they were, what they needed. Most of my life, I gave things away, there was no need for the massive accumulation of goods that were thrust upon me"

"You were soft; you still are" Jonathan snaps from the side, earning a disdained glare from Regina, and yet Robin just simply shrugs, brushing off his brother's outburst with a bored maybe, and he catches Regina's eyes once more, continuing on as though never interrupted.

"I'm sure you can tell the separation between siblings now. I gave away and Jonathan kept for himself. It's not hard to understand how the people in this kingdom began to talk, and for years it never really mattered, not until my father's death when I was coming of age 25" Sighing sadly Robin downs the last of wine "Jonathan is older than I, technically the next in line to the throne…but years of his blunt greediness led to a rebellion with the people. They began demanding for him to vacant the crown and for myself to take his place"

Well, that she wasn't really expecting…not from Robin Hood – the Prince of Thieves. He was a royal, in line to rule a kingdom? The man who sleeps in a tent and steals from her carriages? It's an amused baffling conundrum as she stares back wide eyed at the outlaw. Robin can see the myriad of emotions flickering across Regina's impeccable face, she looks stunned yet strangely giddy over his tale.

"So it he—" she nods her head over to the King who sits dead silent "was jealous of you?"

Robin shrugs, "I don't know, were you?"

"Not for a single second in my life. You are a disgrace to this family"

"Yes well, opinions are your own. Anyway M'lady, It was a dark few years for us, I didn't particularly want the throne, but at the same time, how could I leave it in his hands"

"So who was Eliza?"

Robin's face falls just slightly, an opposite to the flare of tension in Jonathan. "Princess Eliza was from Emerald Gardens, a rather large abusive horrid kingdom on the outskirts of Sherwood. It had come to attention that the Princess was coming of age to wed soon, and my dear brother here, decided that the only way he could keep the Crown, was to marry and bind Sherwood that blood lust lineage"

Arching a confused eyebrow, Regina shifts slightly, running her palm up the frozen skin on her arm "You've lost me-"

"My brother traded Sherwood Forest in return for the Emerald Garden Army. Our kingdom became nothing but a slave community, a puppet on a string if you will. The marriage between Jonathan and Eliza secured Emerald more land, more people to command and there wasn't a thing anyone could do"

"That's why everything is now black and red banners, instead of green and silver…this isn't really Sherwood Forest anymore is it?"

"No M'lady – Technically speaking you are in the Emerald Gardens Kingdom"

"So not only was your family's entire heritage traded, but I assume something happened with the Princess?"

"Yes, Robin kidnapped her! Ruining my name in the process" the King spews angrily, slamming his hand onto the table so hard the glasses and plates shake "You want to know why the village looks like it is suffering, it's because of him" a thick finger points directly at Robin who is now scowling. "He condemned us! Ran off without a second thought"

"I was saving her life, you bastard"

"She had nothing to be saved from!"

"The girl was barely 18 for Christs sake! You were double her age; she was being handed off like some paid for goat from one snake to another."

Her heart skips, a painful piercing stab that sends a hard shiver down her spine, the air draining from her lungs as she stares caught between the urge to vomit and tear apart the royal that is burning with rage across from her. The tremble in her hands pulses as the sweat beads down her back, the parallel to her own rise to the throne is far too close for comfort. The Child Bride, that is what they called her, married to a man three times her age. It's wrong, so ungodly wrong and screw her magic, she wants to punch this man in the face, break as many bones with her bare hands as possible.

Robin knows by the sudden stiffening that Regina is battling herself once more. He probably shouldn't have let it get this far…knowing what he knows of her life. A sudden flare of guilt blooms in his heart as the faintest of tears shows along her long dark eyelashes. Running a hand along his face, he sighs "It was maybe three years after their marriage, I couldn't let her pain go on anymore. She begged me to help her. And I did…."

A beat of silence goes by as Robin bites down sorrowfully on his lower lip "We had it planned, they were on a hunting outing and we ran. I wasn't really sure where we were going to go, but it didn't really matter at the time"

"What happened?"

"He married her"

The statement is littered with poison as Regina struggles to breath. Surely she hadn't heard the King correctly…there is a mistake, it's impossible…isn't it? But Robin's eyes look beyond sad as he watches Regina attempt to comprehend.

"My Marian..."

Whiskey chocolate brown meet bright blue eyes as the finality of the tale comes to a halting close. She doesn't know whether to fly into a thousand questions, or demand why he never told her, maybe she should just poof herself out of this awful dinner, something to get away from the rush of emotions.

"You know the rest"

"She died" Regina stutters as she holds onto his gaze, the anger and deviousness gone, just sad pain left behind as he smiles at her. If only she could reach across the table to touch him, caress his face, do something to take away the heartbreak in his eyes.

"Serves her right" The King scoffs

Regina has heard quite enough. "What did you just say?" – her tone low and dark as she rises from her chair, waving off the shake of Robin's head to ease her off as she stalks around the table, squaring up the monarch toe to toe.

"She was nothing but a common whore, a pretty thing to have on my arm and warm my bed, much like you and Leopold I imagine"

The echo of the slap that Regina delivers to the King booms, ricocheting off the walls as he reels a few stumbles steps back. "You'll die for that" he screams back, launching himself at Regina, but Robin is faster, colliding with the other man's body as they slam into the ground. Guards from all sides of the hall burst into action, grabbing Regina from behind, others hauling Robin up off the King roughly, swords drawn in tight to their necks. Swallowing thickly, she struggles, growling at the flash of pain in her awkwardly twisted shoulder. Robin is across from her, huffing heavy breaths as his brother rises back to his feet.

"I should have killed you both the moment you stepped foot inside this castle" He sneers, wiping a trail of blood from the corner of his mouth. "Something however has been brought to my attention and I feel almost thrilled that I have spared you till this moment"

Regina's heart freezes as the King turns his malicious gaze to her. He must know. The dark vile grin he stalks towards her with, surely can mean only one thing. He knows she has magic.

"You see; I have eyes everywhere. What you may call abuse of power, I simply call obedience" He is not two feet from Regina as his hand reaches up to clutch her around her neck, the banging of chains from Robin leaves the King only smiling more. "One of my pets, has suggested that maybe the Queen and the Thief are in love"

That's not the revelation she was expecting…but it almost seems worse as her throat runs dry, a quick flick of her eyes over to where Robin is being bound back by three armed guards.

"You don't deny it, You're Majesty?"

Regina stares hard at the monarch, attempting futilely to draw herself up her to full height, the sharp press of a blade into her back, halting her quickly, but she doesn't not break contact with Jonathan.

"My my my…such poor standards you set for yourself" his cold clammy hand running up to smooth against her cheekbone. "You are a beauty to behold Regina…such a beauty shouldn't be wasted on an Outlaw". The bubble of nausea lumps in her throat as the king leans in close, a sickly deep inhale against her temple has her blinking back a flurry of angry tears.

"You know; Robin stole something of mine long ago…I wonder if it is time to repay the favor"

He turns away from her, moving back to where Robin stands bound and chained, his heart beating a mile a minute, thundering hard against his chest as his brother closes the distance between them.

"Would that ruin you Robin. If I took your lover away. Tell me, if you lost her, would you survive? Or is it just in your nature to move on to the next woman that comes down your path hmmm?"

Robin's blood boils as he writhes and struggles against the guards, the anger rolling through him, internal promises that once he gets out of the chains, there will be no stopping the pounding of his fists into his sibling's face, it's all he see's just pure red at the threat to Regina…. Regina…tearing his eyes away from Jonathan, he finds hers once more. His heart stammers at her expression, crossing between fear and what looks like longing. The realization she didn't deny the proclamation that they love each other hits him. She could easily have said no, refused and brushed off the questioning statement without pause. Yet she didn't.

"I think though, instead of simply taking her away, I'd rather just kill you"

The pain spikes through his abdomen as the blade pierces his skin, hot sticky blood dripping out in waves as the King wrenches the knife to the side, tearing as much muscle as possible. Vaguely Robin can hear Regina scream, but his vision is gone blurred, knees weak and unable to keep him upright as he crashes to the ground. It's blinding, nauseating and overwhelming as his body curls into the dirty stone floor, the loud clanging of what he thinks is armour beginning go fuzzy in his hears. He can't really see anything, not with the black dots that invade, but he can feel some sort of external heat on his skin, a warmth that surrounds him as his eyes dip closed.

xxx

xx

The flames flicker as she strokes them, adjusting the coals slightly with her magic before settling back against the thick tree trunk, the fur blanket she conjured wrapping snuggly around her shoulders as she sighs heavily.

It's black as night out, silent beyond comprehension, a slight chilled wind that rustles through the leaves around her. It's oddly comforting, sitting in nature like this…it reminds her of him, his forest smell, the easy tranquility of his soul – sitting like this, well it's like she is sitting with him.

Thank god she does actually have magic though, or starvation and hypothermia surely would have taken over. Apparently the Queen isn't made out to be an Outlaw. Whatever she needs, all it takes is a flick of the wrist, Robin would have laughed, poked fun at her surely. Closing her eyes, she leans back, inhaling the crisp clean air of the night, exhaustion flickering through her body, but there is no real safe time to sleep out here. Not when she is certain they are still out there hunting.

What she wouldn't give for a hot bath right now, a thick stone tub to soak in, get this bloody grime off her finally. Magic can do much, but she still feels dirty, needs a long scrub and could probably sleep for a week. She needs to get home, wherever home is, but staying here is certainly no option. Blinking her eyes open slowly, the minutes tick past as she watches the stars, twinkling gently in the black diamond sky. So peaceful they seem, just shining brightly, without worry, simple in their nature.

Sitting in the forest, it's probably the first time in weeks she has had to herself, to just think; about everything really. Not a lot makes sense what with the ever present fog in her brain, thanks to the God of the Underworld apparently…but slowly certain images have melded in and out. Almost like memories, though they are fuzzy and hard to see. She knows their voices though, the babbling little chuckle of Robin's son, a lowering warmth of the other body Henry that calls her mom, and Robin's heart glowing tone; they play like music in her ears.

It's been a picture here and there, in a park with them, sitting in a diner with Snow White and a blue eyed baby staring up at her as the blonde does something off to the side. They feel real, tangible almost, just constantly a fraction out of her reach. She is damn frustrated by it.

Exhaling heavy, the voices slowly fade away, it's the middle of the night, and the need to sleep is overwhelming – she can afford maybe an hour or two, the tent is invisible and protected thanks to her barrier spell, as well as the fire at her feet. Slowly she clambers to the thick mattress of furs within the canvas flaps, a greedy moan escaping her throat as she curls deep into the warmth.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine M'lady – are you?"

"Yeah, just tired"

She hums slightly as her hand comes into contact with his arm, her fingers curling around the thick muscle, as her body subconsciously scoots closer to him. Her head lands on his chest, ear pressed to hear his heartbeat, ensuring that he is still alive with her.

It had been a blur, she remembers Robin getting stabbed and falling to the ground…and then it's jumbled, bits and pieces here and there, though she is certain by the exhaustion that plagues her body, the castle the escaped from is most likely flooded with damage. The second she had flung the guards off her, she fell to Robin's side, fear and panic bubbling through her at his lack of response to her screams. It has only taken a second, as her eyes caught the shocked gaze of the Kings, did Regina realize, she blew her cover…she had thrown 10 men out of her path without even thinking. The Royal had hollered, grabbing a sword and swung blindly at them, cursing and thundering he would kill them both, the next thing she knew, they were lying in the forest, and Robin was bleeding out.

It had taken every last drop of her energy to heal him, angrily begging him to stay with her, threatening that if he died, she'd bring him back just to kill him all over again. Her palms glowed with golden white magic, a color she hadn't seen before, and it flowed so smoothly, a gentle river of energy that staunch gushing blood, healed vessels, and stitched skin back together with ease. With his breathing returning to normal, the color of his skin blooming back, she left him to sleep, quickly creating a small protected camp away from prying eyes and hunting guards.

She nearly lost him, and it would be an utter lie to say she was completely shaken by it. Seeing the life drain from his body, the way his knees gave way as he slammed into the hall floor, the once white tunic stained in dark cherry red blood. She is not new to death, but there is something about seeing Robin laying there like a statue, that has her heart burnin still. She can't lose him, is becoming more and more certain that this thief, has truly stolen her heart.

Breathing in his woody spice smell, her fingers move across his lower abdomen, finding the new pink scar that drags from the lower of his hip bone to near his belly button. She'll heal him fully tomorrow- scars like these aren't something he should be forced to see everyday. She feels safe, being here with him like this, partially tucked into his side, reveling in the hand that slides up and down her back in absent smoothing patterns. He is safe. Its nice to feel safe – it's something the Queen hasn't had in many many years.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing really, it's just comfy, and safe"

Robin smiles sleepily, leaning to press a kiss in the crown of her long chocolate hair, a breathy chuckle escaping him as he hears her sigh heavy, sinking down into the crook of his arm.

"What's so funny?"

"It seems; we always are in a forest together"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well-" Robin shifts slightly, shuffling down the fur blankets so his eyes can catch hers "We first met in the Enchanted Forest"

"Right the flying monkey"

"Mhmm, and then in storybrooke, you kissed me for the first time in the woods"

Regina smiles sadly, wishing she could remember that moment, what it would have felt like to have her lips pressed against his.

"And then in the twisted realm, I saved you from Snow White"

"I still don't believe that one"

Robin chuckles, at Regina's disbelieving scowl, his fingers brushing a lock of hair behind her ear .. "you made a fine bandit, Your Majesty". She scoffs, rolling her eyes heavy, but allowing him to continue on, "I think the moment I knew I was falling in love with you was in the forest"

"Tell me about that night…I want to try and remember" She sits up slightly, leaning against her hand on a bent elbow and Robin rolls gently onto his back, holding her free hand to his heart beat. For a moment he just smiles at her, raking in the perfect details of her face, the almost shy smile behind the pale pink lips sending a warm flare through his soul.

"You had just defeated the Wicked Witch in the clock tower, outsmarted her really by leaving you heart with me, and I remember sitting there, holding it in my hand, the heart of the so called Evil Queen, and I was completely mesmerized by it. The darkness was there, but there was also the most stunning pure red"

Well that can't be true, her heart is only dark…there is no light in it, she frowns down at him, "I think you may have lost to much blood, your memory must be fuzzy".

"I sat on that log for hours, and there was this incredible feeling that pulsed through my body. It was warm, and soft, buzzing and fueling in the same stroke. I've never felt anything like it to be honest. And all I could think was, why the hell would the Evil Queen leave her heart with a common thief like me". She does laugh at that, biting down on her lower lip as her eyes trace his features, a bubbling heat pooling in her stomach as her mind slowly gives way to the long barricaded emotions that are bursting to pop.

"You had come back later and asked me to keep ahold of it for a little while longer, and I asked why, why you would trust me of all people, a thief, to guard your heart" Robin inhales deep for a moment, floating back to that moment when her eyes met his, the second his entire world tilted over.

"What did I say?"

His fingers lace with hers on his chest as they both smile at the other, "You said I couldn't steal something that had been given to me".

"Poetic" she muses, her heart skipping a beat, fluttering impatiently as his blue eyes lock onto hers. Has she always noticed they have specs of green and gold, and it's not just blue, but like a sapphire jewel.

"I kinda just knew as you were walking away, that my heart was yours. And then I asked you for a drink".

She snickers, rolling her eyes playfully with a smirking Of course you did.

"Had we known each other for long?"

"No not at all really, maybe 3 or 4 weeks?"

"And you loved me that quick?"

"Well, in truth, I think my heart remembered you from the missing year. I can't really explain it, but whenever I did see you, my heart would jump out of my chest, and drag me to where you were. In every realm, I have loved you Regina, my heart finds you no matter what."

It's clear as day, though maybe it has been for a while now, the thundering of her heart, feeling of butterflies in her stomach, the fear of it all racing through her like a tidal wave.

She loves him, she actually truthfully and honestly loves him.

Her eyes drop from his, focusing down on the way their hands are linked together on his chest, rising slowly up and down with each steady breath he takes, her teeth coming out to bite down the sudden tremble of her lower lip. Maybe she can be happy… he makes her happy…it's really all she has ever wanted, for someone to care about her happiness.

"Regina, you okay?"

Her breath shakes for a second as two fingers come up to tilt her chin to him, the beautiful blue of his eyes drowning her in an instant. She can see him ready to question her again, but there is nothing wrong, not a damn single thing.

His words are cut off, by the one thing he has waited months to feel again.

Her lips against his, pressing and molding softly as she kisses him, a hand holding against his cheek, securing them together.

It's a pulse of energy that floods around them, a warm blanket of magic that can only be from one thing, the purest form of magic in any realm.

Pulling back slightly, Regina opens her eyes, inhaling sharp as his crystal blue comes into view.

"Robin?"

"Hi My Love"