Fresh air. It seems like forever since she breathed it in. The palace, even though its vast and spacious, the air is so heavy and the atmosphere, the place wreaks of fear.

A smile lifts her features, the vast open fields and treeline in the distance giving her a strange sense of home. In her other life, she was always pulled towards beautiful scenery and loved her weekly walks through the woods. It always helped her make sense of things, like when she'd feel a sudden sense of loneliness, when something key was missing from her life.

Helen breathes a sigh of relief, her world finally making sense now and that piece missing from her heart finally returned to her. Daniel, that's what the loneliness was, it was her brother. She will mourn him in her own way when shes ready. Her new found friendship with Regina has just began, she wont project her emotional spiral onto the already grieving woman, that would just be cruel.

She briskly makes her way down the hill, a thick fur cloak wrapped around her and trapping out the cool afternoon air. She glances behind, the clunk and clatter of metal following her at a distance. The Queen had appointed armed guards when Helen feels the need to wander off palace grounds. She refused at first, but Regina was very persistent, almost aggressive. She understands, has seen the determination to protect from Daniel many times when she was younger, but even though it frustrates her, she cant help her heart warming at Regina's concern.

Helen approaches the royal stables in the distance, the large barn a jet black and in complete contrast to the world around it. Its the smell first, her smile growing by the second as several horses whinny, a large paddock to her right housing a brood stallion and its trainer. She feels so much joy but tampers back the pain along with it. She needs to be here, she needs clarity.

Rounding the corner of solid oak doors, crystal eyes sweep the stalls and the magnificent beasts inside. She takes tentative steps, her boots crunching loose straw and hay as she makes her way inside. Instinctively, she makes a beeline for a young chestnut, her hand gently combing over course fur and circling the animals forehead.

"Your very handsome."

The chestnut sniffs her palm, nibbling slightly at her fingers and she chuckles. Her attention flickers around the sizable stables, ignoring the black guards at the door and the strange looks she gets from the stable hand. She finally spots her target and quickly snatches up an apple from several in a sack. She flattens her palm, smirking as the horse chomps it in half and guzzles it greedily.

"Hey, leave me some."

Helen takes a bite of the half chewed apple, making sure to bite the none slobbery part, and then gives the rest to the greedy colt.

"You remind me of someone very special, he used to spend all day and all night with you guys. When my parents were still alive, we had a chestnut just like you, I used to sneak him apples every time I saw him, Daniel was never pleased, used to say I'd give him limes disease with all the sugar."

She chuckles, the memory of it warming her heart.

"Helen?"

Helen quickly turns, focus immediately on Regina whose stood apprehensively outside the stable doors.

"Regina, are you okay?"

She quickly makes her way over, her eyes scanning auburn as she grabs a slender hand for comfort. She can see the pain, the reluctance to enter and softens greatly.

"It happened in a stable, didn't it.."

Regina quickly looks away, Helen noting the Queen backing up, ready to flee, so she firmly grasps the woman's other hand and pulls her into a tight hug. Its only fate that Daniel would meet his end in a stable, surrounded by whom and what he loved most.

"Its okay, you don't have to talk about it now. But one day I want you to okay? Its never good to bottle your emotions, and when your ready, I'll be here waiting to listen."

Helen pulls back, smiling weakly at glassy eyes.

"I'd like to tell you a few things about Daniel, fill in the gaps and maybe you can tell me what he got up to on your mothers estate?..That's if your ready, there's no pressure Regina."

Regina frowns a little.

"How are you so calm about all of this? You've just found out your brother was murdered, and by my mother. Why are you even talking to me?"

Helen's hands land gently on the woman's shoulders.

"The sins of our parents are not our own. Ive already told you I don't blame you, and I know Daniel wouldn't want us to drift apart. I'm not a robot, I am grieving but in my own way, so sooner or later I'll make sense of whats happening. Until then, I'll be keeping my eye on you."

A sculpted eyebrow is cocked.

"Oh? And why is that?"

Helen rolls her eyes, a scoff pushing passed pink lips.

"Because your my sister and I care about you."

A small gasp bounces between them, wide auburn eyes filling with more tears.

"Sister?"

"Well yeah. You and my brother were technically engaged, and if things were different, you would have been my sister in law."

Regina quickly looks down, taking a small step back

"But that never happened, we were never married.."

"That doesn't matter, I still love you like a sister regardless. Daniel wanted us to meet, he had me pack so I could run away with you guys, so I'm not abandoning you now. I don't know how this happened but something brought us together. I intend to take full advantage of that."

Helen delicately wipes a tear from Regina's cheek, slipping her hand through the younger woman's and slowly guiding her back towards the palace. She may not get the answers she needs yet, but shes willing to wait if that means Regina will let her in. Daniel loved this woman deeply, so she sees no better way of honouring his memory by helping The Evil Queen simply become Queen Regina of the White Kingdom..


Its been a few weeks since shes regained her memories and things have progressed immensely between her and Regina. The Queen had been hesitant at first, wary to let anyone in and closed off in discussing Daniel, but after many days of subtle persuasion, Helen had managed to get the guarded woman to open her heart again. Granted its only to her and still at times she finds the royal reclusive and angry when the topic of Regina's mother crops up, but its a start, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Helen finds herself outside in the gardens, spending the majority of her time sat under a glorious apple tree when Regina is in court or out on official Queenly business. Luckily she has managed to pull Regina's focus away from Snow White, the woman's search for the bandit princess has decreased dramatically and Helen couldn't be happier. Regina's eyes are lighter, her temper not as short as when they first met. But Helen knows shes got a long way to go before the Queen will be happy with herself, will let go of her past and her hatred for Snow White.

"Regina?"

Helen wanders into the Queens open lounge, the woman shes after sat at a vanity table writing on parchment with a black feather quill. The royal looks up, a genuine smile gracing ruby lips.

"Helen, how are you this morning?"

Helen heads towards the woman, legs and backside leaning against the fine wood in front of the Queen.

"I'm good thanks. How are you? I haven't seen you in days."

Regina sighs weakly, dropping her quill and leans back in her throne type chair.

"I know and I apologise. Recently trade negotiations with Midas have been..difficult. Seen as I haven't left the palace in weeks, a few trade stops on my boarders have revolted and refuse to allow Midas's troops to acquire their annual stock of granary. I think perhaps its time I show the peasants that the food they grow is for me and my kingdom, not for their own personal use."

Helen shakes her head weakly, placing her hand atop the scowling royals.

"You know that's not the answer, you cant just go down there and kill them."

"And why not?"

"Because that's bad remember. You need to show them that they'll be rewarded for their hard work, maybe then they wont be so reluctant to keep the grain."

"And what reward do you suggest I give them? My jewellery? They are there to work and provide for the kingdom, it is their duty to their Queen!"

Helen feels the room lower in temperature, the scowl on Regina's features deepening so she slowly bends down and places both hands on the woman's knees, a small smile beaming up at the woman.

"I know, and they should help out the kingdom, I get it. But what if you were ordered to tend apple trees all day for months, and then suddenly someone you don't even know takes away all of it and gives you nothing in return. How would that make you feel? Because I sure as hell wouldn't be singing rainbows and sunshine."

Helen grins, squeezing Regina's knee when the woman's cold exterior warms a little and red lips pout.

"They get a percentage of the crop."

"And how much is that?"

"Two percent, as long as the annual quota is reached."

"Regina..."

Helen subtly scolds the Queen, two percent of all of that grain is not even enough to live off, no wonder the people are revolting.

Regina looks away sighing and it reminds Helen of a child being told off by their parents.

"If I raise their fee they will think I'm weak."

"Not weak, gracious. You said you wanted the people to consider you as their Queen, to love you, well this is a start. You've already done so well lately with the lack of patrols for Snow White, this will only help the people more."

"I'm not a child Helen."

"No, your a Queen, but your also Regina..And of course my sister."

She chuckles, alleviated when Regina's features soften and a blinding smile creeps onto red lips.

"Now, I was wondering if you would like to go on a ride with me."

"Oh? Once around the palace grounds?"

Helen bites her lip.."Actually, I was kinda hoping to go into the forest and maybe visit my old home, if its still standing."

Helen watches the Queen look away, the woman's hands fidgeting slightly with the arms of the chair. Its a lot to ask, but she really wants Regina with her for this, it will be good for both of them.

"Will you come with me? Please?"

There's a pause, Regina almost avoiding her answer until a shaky breath is pushed passed red lips and a small smile is directed downward.

"Okay. I will have the guards saddle the horses in an hour, I have to finish and..amend these trade agreements."

Helen smiles brightly, pushing herself into an awkward hug with the Queen.

"Thank you Regina."

She pulls back smirking.

"So they get ten percent?"

There's a scoff and roll of brown eyes as they refocus back on the parchment.

"They get five percent and I'll shorten their work hours by an hour, that should be sufficient enough to stop their complaining, if not, I'll burn the place to the ground and find more willing peasants."

"See, you'll have them singing your praises in no time."

"Hardly."

Helen chuckles, heading back to her chambers to prepare for the day..


After arguing for a while about whether the Queens knights should accompany them, Helen finally won the vote and so, she and Regina are alone and well on their way towards Helen's old home. Its bracing to finally be back in the Enchanted woodland, the smells, the sights are just as she remembers.

Helen rides her Grey mare down the beaten track, the Queens black stallion striding alongside. Regina rides with her chin lifted and back ramrod straight, but Helen can see the woman knows how to handle her temperamental horse. It seems Regina is just as good with horses as Daniel was.

"Almost there."

They both shift in their seats as they round a small hill and spot a rugged cottage in the distance. Helen inhales deeply, steering her and Regina up the small windy path. They stop a few meters from a rotted wooden porch, a desolate planting plot, once full of life but left unattended for many years situated around to the left of the decaying cottage. Slowly Helen slides from her mare's back, tying the reigns to a wooden pole out front and cautiously makes her way towards the splintered front door.

Now that shes here, all of her nerves are returning, her heart speeding in beat and she can almost feel Regina's anxiousness from a few feet behind her. Slowly she pushes the cottage door open with a creek and steps inside. The room is musky and cold, windows are broken, the small table and two chairs are overturned and broken. Her focus immediately finds the black hole charred into the floorboards next to half a bed. It looks as if the other half has been severed but she can find no sign of it in the small one bedroom cottage. The dingy kitchen is in ruins, the fireplace caved in and the roof ripped open on one side.

She frowns grimly, circling the place she grew up in, the place where some of her fondest memories were created. Crystal eyes spot a mass of wool in one corner of the room, next to it several bags packed with clothes and supplies that have rotted over the years. She approaches, picking up a woolen cloak and pushes her face into it. She inhales, a tear leaking down her cheek at Daniels musky scent. Even after all these years, his memory lives on.

"This was Daniels. My mother made it for him before she passed away. He left it here for me because I used to tend to my vegetables in the harshest of weather.."

She chuckles weakly, glassy eyes finding an apprehensive Regina.

"..He used to say I was mad for going out when it was so cold. But he never complained when I made him the best vegetable soup he ever tasted."

Helen gently pushes the woollen cloak into Regina's shaky hands, the woman's emotions creeping through years of trained hardiness. Helen watches the moment heartbreak consumes her brothers fiancee, Regina hugging the fabric and sobbing for a past she can never have. This is what Regina needs, she needs to release all of this heartache and realise the fact Daniel is gone. He wouldn't want her to be miserable for the rest of her life.

Helen reaches out, intending to give the woman a hug but to her surprise, she collapses forward through a cloud of purple smoke. Her focus sweeps the cabin, her surprise melding into a tired sigh as she takes one last look at her family home before heading back to the horses. Regina will need some time alone, she knows that well now, the woman seems to run away from emotion, to hide herself away, afraid of showing weakness. But love is not a weakness, its what drives us, keeps us alive and helps us live.

Helen pulls herself back onto her grey mare, grabbing the rains of Regina's black stallion and heads back in the direction of the castle. Perhaps this isolation is good for her too, shes done the hard part, confronted her past, now its time to move forward and help Regina do the same..


A legion of Black knights atop ebony horses thunder into the courtyard outside the Dark Palace. At their epicentre, a slender body riding a small grey blob.

Helen slides from her mares back, her armed escort returning to their duties and a guard taking the reins from her. She had made it halfway to the castle before a stampede of dark knights had found her and escorted her back to the palace under the Queens orders.

"Helen!"

Her attention is quickly refocused on the frantic Queen rushing down the entrance steps.

"I'm so sorry!"

Helen's hands are quickly grasped, the panicked royal looking Helen up and down for injury.

"I just..I left but I went back and you weren't there so I thought something must have happened and.."

"Regina I'm fine, calm down. I know why you left and its okay, I understand you needed space."

"I never should have left you there on your own. Something could have happened."

Helen smiles weakly, gently squeezing the woman's hands for reassurance.

"But it didn't. You needed time to think things through. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push you like that."

The Queen frowns weakly.

"You didn't, I just needed a moment to think that's all. I assumed you would have still been at the cottage, but when I returned.."

"I guess I needed a little space too."

Regina nods weakly, Helen smiling and picking up on the slight fidget of slender fingers within her own. She knows Regina must be feeling a little raw, this has been enough for one day. At a quick glance, she notes the many armoured guards and decides its best if they continue this in private. Regina is still a Queen, and keeping up appearances seem to impact this world greatly.

"I'm a little hungry, if its okay with you, should we take supper early?"

They both link arms, Regina nodding and the royals spine straightening. All visible signs of distress on porcelain features is swept away, replaced by a cool confidence.

"Indeed, we have both missed lunch due to our..excursion. It would be prudent to have supper early."

Taking the lead, Regina guides a smiling Helen back up the stones steps and into the Palace, both oblivious to the guards around them watching curiously..