Μany thanks to Lupineborn for her beta! I promise the next chapter will come sooner that this. It's already half written . Please leave me your thoughts.
Robin had run as fast as his legs could carry him. He mentally thanked himself for spending time every day for exercising, building a very healthy muscular body that had the stamina that someone needs for running fast for hours.
The only thing he was doing was running and running faster, passing by trees in order to go by untraced, or at least to confuse the guards who had been running after him.
After what seemed like hours, he got far enough from the castle and he stopped for a moment in order to catch his breath and get some rest. He was safe. He knew that they had lost him for sure, and if they got too close to him he would hear their footsteps so he was calm enough to sit behind a tree and drink some water.
His thoughts though, they had a face, a beautiful young face. And they had eyes too, two brown orbs that made his breath hitch every time he looked at them, and a pair of marvelous red, soft lips that he would be happy just to touch them with his thumbs for his whole life. His thoughts had a name.
Regina.
His love, his life, everything he had ever dreamed of was this woman, who had been taken away from him in the cruelest way. He misses her so damn much, he only wants to hold her close, to assure her that everything is going to be okay, that he is by her side no matter what, that he loves her more that life itself. He wants to hold her tight in his arms, to calm her fears, to kiss the tears – that, he is sure, are running down her cheeks, since that bastard whom they called their King, separated them in the most awful way. He wants to breathe her scent and feel her against him and keep her safe forever, keep her happy forever.
If that bastard lays a finger on her, Robin will kill him. He doesn't give a damn if Leopold is a King, he will end his life in front of everyone if he dares to touch Regina, if he dares to hurt her more than he already has.
Anger rises in him, his blood is pumping like waves in his veins, his fists are clenched together and finally he makes the decision. He is going back to the castle. He is going back to take Regina out of there, he knows that she thinks he is dead and it's killing him.
Fedra makes the trip back to her kingdom much earlier than expected. The minute she arrives at her castle, she rushes inside and heads to her bedchambers where she keeps the one thing that can summon Tinker Bell.
Taking in her hands the small green jewel that Tinker Bell had given to her, she whispers her name three times and a few seconds later, Tinker Bell is in front of her.
''Oh, Tink,'' Fedra smiles relieved, ''I'm so glad you came.''
''Of course I did,'' Tinker Bell replies happily. ''I told you I will always be there if you need me.''
The two friends give each other a tight hug, enjoying their meeting after all these years, until Fedra takes a step back and takes a serious but pleading gaze.
''I need your help, Tink.''
''Anything,'' the fairy replies seriously.
''I want you to help Queen Regina to escape her tower…''
Regina is sick. She does nothing more than staying in bed all day, vomiting every morning, she doesn't eat anything for the next few days and cries herself to sleep at night. The same routine every day.
The guards inform the King about Regina's condition and he even lets Carmen to visit her and check her health.
Carmen had grown to be everyone's nurse in the Castle, so they don't even need to bring healers unless the condition is too severe.
When a Knight informs Carmen that she is allowed to check the Queen, the old woman runs as fast as her legs can take her in the tower, where Regina is being held.
She gets inside and what she sees makes a single tear run down her cheek.
Regina is curled on the bed with her arms wrapped around her knees, her eyes are closed shut and her mouth is half open. She can tell that Regina is having a not-so-pleasant dream, as her eyelids flutter every single second. Her forehead and cheeks are glistening with sweat and she is pale as a ghost.
Carmen takes a few steps closer and touches Regina's forehead. The old woman flinches as she realizes how cold Regina is. She caresses her arms up and down, trying to wake her as smooth as she can, but Regina just murmurs Robin's name weakly and remains in the same condition.
''Regina?''
Nothing.
''Regina dear, I need you to wake up,'' she tries once again but Regina just stirs, murmuring Robin's name one more time and remains asleep.
Robin came back to the Castle the day that he escaped, and looked for every exterior entrance and every hidden corner where he could sneak inside without being caught.
He does the same thing for days. He has camped a few miles away from the castle, and he has been very careful at every sound of footsteps or horses that could be heard around. He has managed to go back to the castle, during the night time.
He is about to start walking to the castle again. He is waiting impatiently for the darkness of the night, as there is much less visibility, when he hears a soft female voice.
''I wouldn't recommend you to go there tonight.''
He turns around immediately, pissed off at himself because he didn't hear the footsteps, being too distracted in his thoughts to get Regina back as soon as possible. He is about to grab the bow and arrows which he stole from a villager a few days ago, when he looks at the front and sees nothing.
''Look up.''
He hears the same voice again and this time, he sees a tiny figure with wings hovering over him, with a smile on her face.
''Who are you?'' He asks suspiciously, preparing himself for anything that could surprise him right now.
''I'm here to help you,'' the green fairy says, approaching him.'' My name is Tinker Bell. Queen Fedra told me everything about you and Queen Regina. She sent me here to help you get her out of there,'' she continues smiling.
''And how can I trust you?'' He asks coldly, tilting his head up in order to check the green fairy carefully.
''You just have to trust me, Robin,'' Tinker Bell says sympathetically with a soft voice. ''I'm a fairy. This is what I do. I help people, especially the ones who love truly and deeply each other.''
Robin frowns. He is about to ask how she knows that he loves truly and deeply Regina but the fairy gets there first and answers his unvoiced question.
''I'm watching you since yesterday. You keep going to the castle every night, you are searching every entrance without thinking the danger that you put yourself into every time you go there. What if someone sees you? If they caught you anywhere near this place, Robin, believe me, it would be the last thing you did. These things are only befitting to a person who loves truly and deeply,'' she finishes, smiling softly.
Robin listens to her carefully but he doesn't find himself regretting a second going back there every night. He can't just hide forever and leave Regina in this hell. He can't live like this.
''I can't leave her there. I have to go back, I have to find a way to get her out,'' he says stubbornly.
''That's what I'm here for. We will make a plan and we will get her out together.''
The moment Tinker Bell's feet touch the ground, she becomes a normal seized woman and Robin takes a step back, looking at her with wide eyes and his mouth half open.
''Come on,'' she says, sitting back on a log.'' Close your mouth and come over here, we have to get your love out of there.''
Robin nods, he gives her a thankful smile and sits beside her.
''Do you have someone in the castle on your side?''
''Yes. My best friend John, he is a Knight… and my godmother, she is a cook,'' he explains shortly, ''they both knew about my relationship with Regina.''
Tinker Bell nods. ''Good then. We will need their help...''
After more than a couple of hours of planning Regina's escape, Robin ends up feeling more impatient that he has ever felt in his life.
He has a good feeling about this plan.
It's not going to be easy, he is very well aware of that, but he will do everything in his power to take Regina out of there.
He has to thank Queen Fedra if he ever sees her again, for sending Tinker Bell to help him.
The first part of the plan is on Tinker Bell. The green fairy has to enter the castle and find Carmen.
According to the description that Robin gave her, it won't be difficult for Tinker Bell to find her.
At least these are his thoughts when Tinker Bell leaves him alone and flies to the castle.
''The sooner we start this plan, the better,'' she had said and he couldn't agree more.
She has to find Carmen and inform her about what they are all going to do.
Tinker Bell flies carefully above the big entrance of the castle, checking for the right moment to sneak inside. Robin told her where she can find Carmen. She has to sneak inside, turn to her left and go down the stairs to find Carmen's bedroom.
Tinker Bell manages to sneak inside as the guards change their shifts. They are too busy discussing about the sick queen and, thanks to the fairy's good luck, no one saw her sneaking in.
SICK?
They have to get Regina out of there tonight.
She heads downstairs when she hears voices echoing from the end of the corridor. She stops her footing and almost stops her breathing, trying desperately to hear the conversation that takes place.
She has to go closer. She checks behind her for a second. She sees no one so she takes a few steps forward.
Now she can hear clearly.
''What do you mean she doesn't wake up?'' She hears a whisper in a man's voice.
''I mean what I said, John,'' a female voice answers in a whisper too.
JOHN?
God, this must be Robin's best friend.
''Carmen, we have to convince Leopold to let us take her to her room and call a healer. Regina hasn't responded to anyone for days…'' The male says with concern.
'' Do you think I don't know that?'' the woman answers in the same tone.
Oh right. She has to go there now. She is pretty sure that these are the people she is looking for.
When she is about to take a few steps forward, the man turns around and looks at her with wide eyes, taking a few steps back.
''Who are you?'' He asks shortly.
''Shhhhh,'' Tinker Bell hushes instantly. ''I've been trying to be quiet for too long!''
Both Carmen and John frown and take a few steps forward.
''I'm Tinker Bell,'' the young fairy says with warm voice. ''I'm a fairy and I'm here to help. I talked to Robin and we made a plan about getting Regina out of here, but we won't be able to do that without your help.''
''Did you meet Robin?'' Carmen and John ask with one voice.
''This is no time for questions. Yes I met him and he is okay. He is not far away from here and I have to tell you about the plan.'' She says quickly, looking around all the time to make sure that no one else is walking around. ''We don't have much time.''
''Okay, what do we have to do?'' Carmen asks first.
''Is this a safe place for us to talk?'' Tinker Bell asks alarmed.
''Absolutely. No one comes here at such an hour. The maids are preparing dinner and I'm supposed to start cooking for everyone, so be quick before someone notices I'm not in the kitchen.''
''You have to put the guards of the tower to sleep. Robin told me about this thing you poured in the food and helped him get out when they locked him,'' Tinker Bell says simply. ''And we need John to guard the rear entrance. The one that is hidden. Robin informed me about this one. He will sneak inside there, and he will head straight to the tower. If you put the guards to sleep, he will steal the keys and get inside. He takes Regina, and leaves through the same entrance. That's why we need John back there. Can you do that?'' She asks, looking at John before taking a deep breath.
''Jackson is guarding the rear entrance tonight, I think I can arrange to be there too,'' John says with a nod. Before Tinker Bell has the chance to ask anything about him, John tells her that Jackson knows and he let Robin escape that night.
''And what if someone sees Robin?'' Carmen asks, pointing out what they are missing.
Tinker Bell smirks before taking a few steps closer to them. ''Why, do you think I am a fairy with no magic?'' She jokes for a second.
''I'll give Robin a magic necklace. With that, he will be able to take the form of a guard he wants to at this point. No one will ever know he is Robin, so if someone sees him, they won't recognize him.
Both Carmen and John nod, breathing relieved.
''Back to work now,'' Carmen says after a few seconds. ''I have to help many people sleep,'' she smirks to both John and Tinker Bell before walking to the kitchen.
''I'll see you all at the rear entrance,'' Tinker Bell says encouragingly, and leaves quietly and carefully.
Tinker Bell flies back to Robin within minutes. She finds him walking around nervously with his hands covering his head.
''You make so much noise,'' she comments when she gets closer. ''I could hear your footsteps from far enough.''
Robin looks up instantly. ''How did it go?'' He asks breathlessly.
''Relax, everything is working. We have to start walking to the castle in a while.''
She considers telling him about what she heard back in the castle about Regina being sick, but she forgot to ask about what Regina is sick of. So she decides to keep it to herself for now until she knows what exactly is going on.
God, he will be with Regina in a few hours. He can't believe that. He will be able to hold her close and keep her safe. They run away from this hell. They will start a life together, the life that they were both dreaming of for a long time. Just them and their love. He knows it will be hard, with so many people chasing after them but he knows they will manage to stay safe, and if they are together, they can overcome everything. He just wants her to be okay. For his good luck, Leopold had better not laid a finger on her, cause if Robin learns that he did, he will kill that son of a bitch in seconds. Even if it means he will be hunted for the rest of his life.
''It's time to get going,'' Tinker Bell interrupts his thoughts.
He takes a deep breath. ''Okay, let's get Regina out of there,'' he says with a clear voice before starting pacing to the castle, praying to the Gods to allow this plan to work.