A/N: Everyone is being so lovely! I'm glad everyone's enjoying it, I'm having a lot of fun writing it. Since the show has crashed and burned, it seems only fair that I give Regina and Emma a chance at happiness, even if it is AU. So sorry about the familiar male face here; I don't like him either, but I thought his inclusion would be beneficial for our ladies.
Seriously, you guys make me so happy. Hearing what you think makes this whole thing worthwhile (and less like I'm just talking to a wall).
DISCLAIMER: Still don't own Once. I mean, Elsa?! Come on, really? (They're getting desperate)
Chapter 21:
Regina could feel the thorns of the bush they were hiding in pushing determinedly through the material of her dress, now having seen better days. She could feel the heat from Emma's body, crushed against her own and making the position ever the more uncomfortable. Their erratic breathing sounded like thunder in the tense silence. Emma's grip on Regina's forearm was bruising. The day was warm, and she could feel herself overheating, panic setting in, and yet she remained as silent as possible as the footsteps got closer.
There were a lot of them by the sounds of it, and Regina's stomach churned at the memory of the wolf attack. She didn't know if it made her feel better or worse that these were undoubtedly human footsteps. They'd had to do this before; hide when they crossed paths with someone else. Emma had said that they were close to the town that acted as their next pit stop. Regina was tired of eating rabbit.
As the group emerged, Emma hissed at her to not make a sound. The thief scanned the faces of the group from whom they were hiding. They were not guards, unless the King had gotten desperate enough to start hiring spies. They were all male, eight of them, all dressed in practical, grubby clothes the colour of the forest. One at the back was massive, with a thick beard and head of dark hair. There was a smaller, mousy one in the middle, a strong-built brunette with stubble peppering a square jawline, and a lanky, boyish blonde at the front, who was grinning. They all carried equipment and bags, several had weapons, many seemed in mid-conversation. Emma sighed silently; outlaws, some of her own, not a threat. They'd probably just keep to themselves and move on.
As they continued passed the bush the Queen and the thief hid in, Emma's grip on Regina's arm loosed marginally, breathing still heavy, palpable in the silecnce. As the band of thieves passed back into the trees of the forest, the stubbled brunette paused for a minute, hesitating at the back of the group, appearing to be thinking...or listening...
The blonde boy noticed and stopped as well, questioning. "Everything alright?"
The brunette appeared not to hear him, but continued concentrating, turning his head fractionally towards their hiding place. Emma's hand inches towards Regina again.
"What is it?" Asked the boy, probably no more than twenty.
The other man sprung into action so quickly that Emma thought perhaps she'd imagined it. He pulled his bow off his shoulder, loaded it, and had spun to face them, weapon taught and ready, all within seconds. Had Emma not been frozen with panic, she may have admired it.
"Show yourself!" He demanded, voice rough and earthy.
Emma glanced at Regina, who looked more angry than fearful. She took her hand, just for a moment, for reassurance. Regina swallowed and nodded.
As they both sprung from the bush, Emma loaded her own bow, pointing it straight at the man's heart. There was shock evident in hazel eyes; he seemed to be fighting back a smirk of appraisal. Emma was surprised she was still alive, had someone pulled a weapon out on her from nowhere, she wouldn't have hesitated in shooting them through the temple.
"Who are you?" He asked, unflinchingly. The rest of his group had gathered, some twitching to reach for their weapons, but were unsure whether to risk it or not. The big guy had his hands raised in surrender. Emma could almost feel the magic crackling off Regina, but she knew, well she hoped, the Queen wouldn't be stupid enough to show her ability just yet.
"Passers by." Replied Emma after some consideration.
"Good." He said. "So are we. Just passing through, we don't mean you any harm."
"I've learnt not to just go on the word of outlaws." Said Emma icily.
He looked sincere, but didn't lower his bow. A man behind him unsheathed a knife.
"It looks to me like you are one." He said.
"Exactly. I know how they think."
The man raised an eyebrow, then apparently noticed the other woman for the first time. Regina tensed as the attention of the group shifted onto her, begging that none of them would recognise her.
Emma was fully prepared to let loose her arrow if they showed any unsavoury attention towards her companion, but surprisingly, the look on the brunette's face as he observed Regina was not hungry, but rather politely appraising. He slowly lowered his weapon.
"Where are you heading?" He asked.
Emma frowned. "Why would I tell you that?"
He shrugged. "You have nothing to fear here, you clearly have nothing worth taking, and as I said, were merely...passing through..."
"We're going to the town. It's not far from here."
He shook his head. "I'd advise against it. We only just made it out. The place is crawling with Royal Guard, searching for the lost Queen. It's a rat trap for people like us."
She fought the immediate desire to glance towards Regina. The last thing they needed was these thieves to know about the very real, very royal presence in the group. She would have doubted the honesty of the thief, had his claim not been so feasible. Of course the Guard had been stationed in all towns, it would be the first place the King looked.
Emma didn't move, processing this information, unsure of her next move. She caught Regina unclench her hand.
"You're not from this part of the forest." She stated.
The man chuckled. "No. We're not. Is it that obvious?"
Emma shook her head minutely. "I know these woods like the back of my hand. I know most of the outlaws in it, and yet I don't recognise a single one of you."
The man nodded. "Aye, you've got us. We're not even from this kingdom, driven out of our own by the ogre wars. We're from Sherwood."
Sherwood. That sounded familiar.
"Why are you telling me this?"
He shrugged. "How could it hurt me?"
She loosened her grip on the bow slightly.
"We still haven't been properly introduced." He announced. "I am Robin of Locksley. And these are my Merry Men."
Regina frowned. Emma's eyes widened in recognition.
"Robin Hood?"
He smiled and bowed his head. "Aye. At your service."
Going on his reputation, she relaxed slightly. The thief of the rich and benefactor of the poor, kind and good-natured, but tough and indisputably an outlaw.
There was a moment of contemplation between the two parties. Hood looked from Emma to Regina to the bow to Regina again. The women simply donned a mutual mask of indifference as they rapidly thought through what to do individually.
"Look, it's getting late, and like I said, the town's not safe. We have plenty of food. Camp with us for the night, we'll part ways in the morning. It's been a while since we've had an outsider to talk to."
Emma tensed once more. "I think we should just be on our way..."
"I insist. We've held you up here. These woods can be dangerous and there's safety in numbers."
"No. I don't trust you." She said bluntly. "And we've been managing fine on our own in these woods for the past few weeks. Our gender doesn't make us incapable."
Hood raised his hands in a display of surrender. "I never suggested anything of the sort. But we do have food, and supplies, something you appear to be lacking, and it would certainly make your night more comfortable. I have no doubt you two could do some serious damage to my men, and I won't force you into a position that makes you vulnerable."
Emma narrowed her eyes, her super power coming into play. Hood didn't appear to be lying. Then again, her sense had been fooled a few times before...
"Please. Let me do this for the two of you." He implored.
Emma glanced over at Regina. It had been a while since their last proper meal and it was starting to weigh on them both. What harm could humouring a notoriously good and apparently truthful fellow outlaw do, especially for only a night? He might have some valuable information to divulge, that's where an outside perspective always came in handy when it came to keeping up to date with the way of the woods.
"Fine." Said Emma. Regina glanced at her, but her expression gave away nothing. "We'll spend the night with you. But just the night, and then we'll part ways."
Hood beamed, he was the very embodiment of what Emma had always expected him to be; kind, concerned, strong-sensed and handsome. She felt like she should trust him, but a niggling doubt in the back of her mind made itself known. She'd have to remain on her guard constantly, without exception. She'd sleep for only a few hours, if that, beside Regina and as far away as possible from the outlaws without seeming suspicious and while still feeling the group security. She'd not let her bow out of her grasp, and keep her knife hidden as a surprise last resort.
"I'm delighted to have you in our company, miss...?"
"Swan. Emma Swan." No harm could come of them knowing her real name.
"Ah, the Emma Swan?"
She shrugged. "Yes, unless there are two of us."
Hood smiled. "Got a bit of a ferocious reputation yourself there, Miss Swan."
She raised her eyebrow and smirked. Hood glanced over to Regina.
"And you?"
Emma tensed with panic, yet Regina's expression was calm stoicism.
"Helena. Helena Daniels." She said confidently.
Hood smiled again and approached to shake her hand, apparently deciding that she was the more amiable out of the two. "A pleasure, my lady."
"We don't do informality. I refuse to be patronised. You will address us by our first names." Said Emma, leaving no room for manoeuvre.
"Fine by me, Emma." He said, preceding to introduce his "Merry Men", as they were hilariously monikered. Few names stuck with Emma; the younger blondish one was Much, and giant-like man was ironically dubbed Little John.
"We shall camp just over there." Announced Hood, indicating to the riverbank beyond the trees. "The stream is a good source of fresh water, and it's easy to protect."
Emma shrugged as if to say 'lead the way', and he did. She fell into step alongside Regina, slightly separate from the group.
"A free meal's too good an opportunity to pass up, if what they say about the town is true. They're outlaws like me, so I suppose I should trust the sense of comradeship, but I don't. We leave early tomorrow morning. We sleep a distance from them, we stay alert and on our guard at all times and if anything happens, let me deal with it."
"You and your bow against a group of strong men?"
She glanced over irritably, not liking her chances questioned in such a way, yet conceding.
"If I give you a signal, use your magic. Don't hesitate. Take them out like you did the band of thieves you ran into before we met."
She paled slightly at the memory, but Emma thought she had perhaps imagined it. The Queen nodded, understanding.
They followed the Merry Men to the tree line, water bubbling peacefully along in the stream, and stood by, apprehensively and wary, as the camp was constructed.