Enchanted Forest: 50 years earlier
Another day in court, another day being a trophy. Regina quietly sighed to herself as she sat, once again, at Leopold's side. She had no reason to be there other than Leopold wanted to show off the young beauty he had for his second wife. Even then the only reason she was there was because Snow White was off in her lessons at the moment. Snow or Leopold. Snow or Leopold. Those seemed to be her only options these days. The few times she had anytime to herself were late at night when all the castle was asleep, when she could allow her mind to wander to simple times, of times of what if.
"Regina, my dear?" Leopold leant over to her to quietly talk in her ear. Breaking from her thoughts, Regina suppressed the shudder that threatened to run down her spine at his breathe ghosting her skin.
"Yes, your highness?"
"I would like you to take leave of the courtroom and greet our visiting guest down in the main hall. I am afraid there are more villagers that need my help, and I cannot leave as much as I would like to greet our guest myself."
Elation coursed through the young brunette queen. She would take having to greet a visiting dignitary over being beside her "husband" any day. Being sure to keep a calm look, Regina inclined her head to the king saying it would be her pleasure before taking her leave from the room. Once she was out of the courtroom, the queen leant against the doors for a moment breathing a sigh of relief. Being in court was always a sore spot of hers since mother had started training her. She wouldn't mind it so much if not for the fact that she was rarely allowed any input during the precessions, and even when she was those were never taken seriously. That and the dresses she was made to wear.
She never had an issue with dresses, but the ones she was made to wear by mother, Leopold and Snow were torturous. All of them too tight, too heavy to be comfortable. All of them made as if for a doll. And that is what she was, wasn't she? Just a doll to be shown off and played with. To be dressed up however SOMEONE ELSE wanted, to be paraded around as if she was a possession and not a person. To be treated as a replacement for the former wife who would forever hold the love of the man old enough to be her father turned husband. This was her life now. All because of one ten-year-old brat, who couldn't keep one small secret and ruined her life forever.
Pulling herself away from those thoughts, Regina smoothed out any wrinkles from her powder blue-jeweled dress (Why they thought that powder blue was a good color in general let alone on her was still a mystery, especially since she had repeatedly told both Snow and Leopold that she didn't like the color), she began her walk down to the main hall. Along the way she passed a few servants, all who acted as if she wasn't there, which is honestly how she preferred it. She hated the attention she got in the castle. It was always looks of pity, suspicion or leering.
Arriving at the main doors of the castle, she saw that Bernard, the only person in this castle that treated her decently, was awaiting the sound of the incoming carriage.
"Afternoon, Bernard. How is Vivian and the baby?"
Turning, the man gave a small nod to the young woman with a smile. "Hello, your majesty. Vivian is doing well. Little Robert has been keeping us up at night a bit, but otherwise we couldn't be happier."
"That's wonderful. If there's anything you or Vivian need, please let me know and I will do what I can."
"I think she would love if you came to visit, if possible. She misses your chats when she worked in the stables." Bernard replies with a small chuckle.
Bernard and Vivian were the only people, besides her father, that Regina really had a connection with. Both had been in their mid-twenties when the young queen was wedded to the King at the age of eighteen. In their eyes they saw not someone trying to gain station or power, but a young girl whose life was not her own to decide. They could see in her eyes that she was unhappy but could not voice their thoughts for fear of wrath of the king, not upon them but of the young bride. So quietly, they befriended the girl. Making small talk, learning her interests, just giving her someone to talk to in a castle that seemed to ostracize her. Over the 3 years since the queen's arrival, the couple had become confidants of the young girl and dare they all say friends, though they had to be discreet. Though Regina had a gaggle of court woman to keep her company, she much preferred being in the stable with Vivian or having Bernard "escort" her around the grounds, just having idle chit-chat.
Nodding her head, Regina agreed to visit her friends at their home on castle grounds soon. After finishing the conversation, the two occupants of the room heard the herald call "Presenting Baron Samdi Facilier, witch doctor and voodoo priest."
Witch doctor? Now why would Leopold invite a witch doctor here? Regina thought to herself, eyebrow raised slightly in intrigued. As she stood tall, as Cora trained her for a queen never slouches, she began to speculate who she may be coming across. Perhaps some old, frail man. Whom the wind could take away on a brisk day. Or some haggled being, almost unrecognizable as human, Regina thought to herself, giving a silent chuckle at her own thoughts. Any further thoughts were stopped and all previous were proven false by the man who approached her through the doors that next second.
Chestnut eyes were the first things to draw her in. Eyes that told a thousand stories, seen more lands than she could imagine, took in the room in which her entered. His dark skin a contrast to the light colors that gave the "White Castle" its name. His beard and mustache drew the eyes to his smooth facial features. Head adorned with a top hat, decorated with a few trinkets most notably a large red feather. Looking over his outfit, the young queen saw that it matched the color of the ribbon encircling his hat, a deep magenta accented with black and hints of silver. Around his neck going down towards his chest, a string of… alligator teeth(? Regina thought curiously). And in his right hand a simple cane, used more for display than actual use Regina noticed. As his eyes finally fell upon the queen, he seemed to falter for but a second before continuing his stride, a smirk adorning his (if Regina were to be honest with herself) attractive face.
Upon reaching the stair where Regina stood Bernard quietly, knowing that she preferred small not grand gestures, announced her presence. "If I may introduce her highness, Queen Regina of the White Court."
"Queen?" Baron said with a slight amazed tone in his voice, before dropping into a low bow then lifting his head. "I apologize, your grace. Had I known you would be the one to welcome me, I would have brought a gift."
Nodding her head Regina replied, "Quite alright, Lord Facilier. His majesty sent me in his stead as court has run a bit over schedule today." Holding out her hand in greeting, she was expecting a lift of the hands. What she got however, was a kiss to the back of her hand, and then two warm palms covering hers.
"Nonsense, your grace. My mother taught me more manners than that." Turning her palm over and removing his own, Facilier revealed a single blue rose in the queen's possession. "and despite what my name may lead you to believe I am no lord, grace. Baron is my first name, my mother dream of something more for me she used to say."
Slowly bringing the rose to her nose, Regina gave a small chuckle. "I understand the sentiment." Staring into her guest's eyes, Regina felt an emotion… she couldn't quite put her finger on. Something that she hasn't felt since that fate full night when she lost Daniel. Shaking herself from her own thoughts, she gave the witch doctor a smile.
"Well, Baron, if you would follow me, I will take you to the meeting room. I'm sure his Majesty will be with us soon."
Offering his arm to Regina, Facilier gave the queen a genuine smile. "Only if you would allow me the honor of being your escort this evening, your grace?"
Stunned at the gesture, Regina could feel her cheeks heat in a light blush before accepting the proffered arm. "Only if you will call me Regina."
"I believe that can be arranged, Regina."
The voodoo practitioner Facilier ended up staying for many months on the behest of the King. After almost four years of marriage, he could not figure out how Regina had not yet given him an heir. While his Snow was his world, he wanted a son whom he could pass his kingdom to. So, he enlisted the help of the witch doctor, in hopes he could "cure his young wife of what ails her" so that a male heir could be given to the kingdom. However, everyone knew it was not Regina but Leopold whom was the problem. With his age he was not as… spry as he once was. Of course, no one would tell the king it was HE who was unable to provide. And so Regina was left the blame, called the Barren Queen for lack of child. So under the guise of helping the royal couple, Facilier stayed. Day in and day out he would spend hours with the queen, figuring out ways to "cure her" when really, he was getting to know her. Of course, Regina hadn't made it easy.
When she had found out Leopold's reasoning for bringing Facilier, she immediately wanted nothing to do with him. She had stormed out of the meeting room, going to her chambers and locking everyone out for the rest of the day. The rose that she had been gifted, was thrown into a seldom used chest in the corner of her chambers, with the intent to writhe away and be forgotten. Over the course of many weeks, under orders of the King for "the wellbeing of the kingdom" she spent in company of the voodoo practitioner. And over that time, he proved to not want to follow the king's orders, but to just be in her presence. Every meeting her would have a new gift or trick to show her. What had finally gotten her to realize he wasn't just another one of the king's lackeys, was a simple gift of an apple.
The king had recently returned from a diplomatic trip to a neighboring kingdom, and as gift for his wife he brought back their national fruit.
"I know how much you love pears, as you have a tree in the courtyard, so I brought you some home my dear."
Hiding a grimace, Regina gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes she said "How gracious of you, my lord." After Leopold left, she had given the basket of pears to Bernard asking him to send it down to the nearby village. "I'm sure they will enjoy it more than I will." Regina was highly allergic to pears, and this wasn't the first time the king had gifted them to her. Most would think it was malicious, but really the king just did not care enough to pay attention to small details about Regina such as food she couldn't eat. She left the foyer to go to her apple tree, which do to it being out of season, was not bearing any fruit.
Having watched the entire exchange, Facilier made his way up to the young queen.
"Quite the observant one, the king."
"Hmm." Was all that Regina responded with, continuing to look at her precious tree, wishing that she could see it in bloom. She suddenly felt her hand being taken. While she had slowly began to trust the voodoo practitioner, physical contact from anyone was something she was not used to so it startled her a bit. Looking down at their joined hands and back up, she came face to face with the gentle eyes of Facilier, a look that she was becoming accustomed to as of late.
"It is a shame that the one whom he should be observing, is the one he seems to neglect however." He says with sympathetic eyes.
Blushing the young queen responds with, "I tend to prefer it that way. I would rather not have any attention on me."
"Ah but sometimes, even the smallest bit" He says with a wave of his hand over their joined ones. "can mean a great deal."
As he lets go of her hand and walks away, Regina felt a small weight. Looking down she sees a ruby red apple, they same as what her tree would produce. This one however she could see was made of a jewel. Turning it in her hand she sees a small inscription on the leaf. A beautiful jewel for a jewel overlooked.
Looking up, Regina see Facilier give her a smile and tip of his hat before continuing into the castle. With a small smile on her own face, Regina returned to her chambers for the night. As she laid down that night, looking at the jewel apple, she thought to herself perhaps a bit of attention isn't a bad thing.
Time Skip
Over the next few years, Regina and Facilier got much closer. Eventually, Regina realized that her feelings were more than just companionship. She had developed romantic feelings for him. When she had finally confessed her feelings, the day that the king "died", Facilier had told her that he had loved from the moment they had first met. After that night, their affair started discreetly. Facilier knew about how she had gotten the genie to kill the king, but he couldn't blame her for it. After witnessing the way that his queen had been treated for 3 years, he had wanted to do the deed himself. About a year after the death of the king, Facilier went missing. At the same time, Regina found that she was pregnant with his child. Having not heard any word from Facilier, Regina was convinced that he had left her and once again closed her heart, for what she thought was for good. A few months after, came the incident with her mother and the potion. The rest of her days in the Enchanted Forest were spent trying to get her revenge on Snow White.
When she created Storybrooke, she found a trunk in her vault that she didn't think made it over. Going through it, she found old journals, trinkets and something that caused her breath to catch. A single, perfectly intact, blue rose. Gingerly lifting it from the trunk, the queen marveled at how it said in such condition. Looking closer at it, she realizes there is a note attached to it. A rare rose, for a rare beauty, that will never wilt, no matter the darkness. That one simple note, brought back ten years worth of tears. Since the day he "left", Regina could always feel a hole in her heart, much the same she felt as she watched Daniel die in her arms. As much as she wanted to throw the rose out, there was some part of her heart that told her not to. So, that night she took the flower home and placed it in a small vase in her bathroom; where it had stayed since.
Storybrooke Present Day
Shaking herself from her thoughts, Regina wipe away the lone tear that had traveled down her cheek. Turning to the oven, she took out the lasagna for dinner before calling for her guest.
"Evie, darling. Dinner is ready if you want to come down."
"On my way." Came a faint reply from upstairs.
As the two sat down to at the kitchen island to eat, neither were aware of the small portal opening up in a secluded meadow on the other side of town. Through the portal a sharply dress man stepped out. His dark eyes taking in the faint lights of the town he could see. Looking down at the necklace in his hand, he breathed a sigh. "My queen, after all these years we have been separated. I have found you once again." With a slightly darker tone he finished, "and dark one, your day of reckoning will soon be here." And with that, Baron Samdi Facilier made his way to town, ready to be reunited with his love after over forty years being apart.
A/N: HEHE hi guys. okay i know i said i would have this up for the anniversary on the 30th but stuff came up in my personal life that prohibited me from being able to do that. but here it is some back ground on Regina's story. The last couple parts aren't completely up to what I Wanted but I didn't want to keep you guys waiting so ill probably come back and edit this chapter later on. Hope you all enjoy it.