AN: Hey Guys here's the next installment, and thanks to my story followers/favorites, you guys keep me writing and motivate me to improve myself as a writer..Also a special thank you to SukieWookie for sticking with my stories for better or worse and for the helpful feedback, really appreciate it dear :)

So without further adue I'll shut up now and let you read...

Trigger Warnings: Mild Violence...

Enchanted Forest, A Long Time Ago:

A white and golden carriage rolls along common dirt, its place not befitting the endless expanse of trees and shrubbery closing in from all sides. Its wheels spin too fast, currently in a hurry to reach its destination without delay. Following closely, two royal guards in proud white and silver armor watch for any who intend to threaten their undisclosed journey.

Miserable, alone and again being shipped out to another royal engagement as per Leopold's wishes. The few years of marriage to the king has been filled with nothing but bitter disappointment, hatred and loneliness. She wishes she could run, run into the forest and disappear never to be heard from again, but no, he would hunt her, punish her like last time. Regina spent the better part of a month confined in her bedchambers "resting" from the flu, that's what his precious daughter was told anyway. The guards who brought the one meal a day she was allowed, would enter but never spoke, never acknowledged she was there and would quickly leave the Queen to her anger and despair.

Regina sighs heavily, eyes sliding shut and trying to think of better memories, happier memories..of Daniel, His smile, his smell, his kiss, but no, even those are tainted..The image of her mother ripping his heart out flashes in her mind. She frowns, Snow White! That insipid child ruined everything, destroyed my chance at true love and true happiness!..Anger and hatred replaces misery and grief, her heart that used to hold such light and love is slowly being replaced with darkness and vengeance, I will get my revenge, if it is the last thing I do..

A cry and metal crashing to earth draws Regina out of her disturbing thoughts, her panic rising as another cry from behind and a thump on the dusty road has alert brown eyes frantically scanning the dense forest rushing by. The carriage launches forward, its driver frantically whipping two white steeds and Regina's forced backward into her seat, her heart thumping wildly, manicured nails gripping fine leather while shes tossed and thrown from bumps under the speeding wheels.

Bandits! But this road's supposed to be quiet, only a handful know I'm traveling this way so Leopold must have a traitor in his court..Typical..The faint sound of metal piercing flesh followed by a pained cry from her driver has them slowing considerably, I will not be killed or held prisoner by such vermin in these dirty woods..Alert brown eyes dart to the dense tress a few meters away and Regina weighs her chances. It looks to be clear but the sound of rustling and heavy feet draw closer, so with panic and fear driving her forward, Regina swings the carriage door open and leaps out, almost tumbling to the floor but her quick feet finally find themselves and shes dashing across the forest floor towards denser brush, If I can just get further enough into the forest perhaps they wont see me and I can find help..Inevitably shouting and bellowing is heard not far behind and she sprints as fast as her restricting dress and two inch heels permit.

She pushes harder, heart bouncing against her ribcage, feet avoiding bushes and branches that try snagging on her already muddy royal gown. Despite her best efforts, her silk skirt rags her to an abrupt stop from the underbrush and shes forced to rip the delicate fabric. After a few good tugs shes finally free to run only to be grabbed from behind by strong arms, her cries instantly silenced by a plump and dirty hand.

"Well well, what do we have here?"

The grubby man, his filthy clothes tight against his heavy set body stretch when Regina's head is wrenched back and his nose takes a hefty whiff of raven tresses.

Tears gather in petrified brown eyes as Regina's squeezed firmly against the wanting body behind, No not again, isn't Leopold enough!..She struggles, shaking her head frantically until she can bite down on the foul smelling limb. The man flinches back, yelping painfully as his hold around Regina slackens. Before he knows it, a harsh knee launches itself into his groin. He stumbles backwards almost collapsing to his knees, groaning and clutching his crotch as Regina bolts in the opposite direction without a backwards glance.

A body suddenly barrels into Regina's side sending them both tumbling to the earth in a pile of struggling limbs. The newest bandit grabs her flailing arms and pulls them away from his face to pin them at the small of her back. Another man shrouded in green and black quickly rushes at them and together they pull the protesting Queen to her feet.

"Can you two handle her or do I have to send for backup."

A tall well built man strides forward confidently, his hair short and dark, a black leather vest unceremoniously tucked into dark brown trousers, black leather cuffs protect his forearms and matching knee height boots finish off a guarded look. He folds his arms over his muscular chest, grinning and staring with piercing green eyes at both of his man.

"No boss, but this ones scrappy." The blond haired man tilts his head, showing off four angry red lines trailing down his neck.

Their leader looks at the scratches with fake concern.."Those scratches look painful Luke, do you want to lie down? You look a little pale."

The other bandit chuckles weakly but the mans smile slips when Luke throws him a deep scowl.

"I don't mean to break up your little hand holding session but what the hell do you want?!"

Green eyes refocus, their leader staring at an angry Regina a long while as if trying to work out a complicated math problem. A moment later and his grin suddenly drops, a spark of recognition flashing in wide eyes and Regina immediately senses the shift. Unlike a few seconds ago the man's now more reserved, his muscles ridged and the way his arms tuck in further to his chest suggest he's uncomfortable, Does he not know they've attacked their Queen? But that would mean they were expecting someone else in the carriage..She glances at a cautious Luke who also seems to sense the shift and tightens his grip on her arm.

"Well? I asked you a question, and you'll answer your Queen bandit!"

"Queen?!" Luke's eyes almost pop out of his skull and the man quickly refocuses on his boss, but deep green eyes continue staring, the bandit leaders arms crossed and jaw sealed.

"What kind of bandits are you when you don't even know what your stealing, or in my case kidnapping?!" Regina keeps narrow eyes on their leader, never faltering and attempts to keep her rising panic from exposing itself, I cannot, Will not appear weak in front of them..

The tense stand off is suddenly broken by the fat bandit from earlier bounding into the clearing in a huff. At the distraction, Luke and his fellow bandit loosen their grip allowing Regina to rip an arm free and grab the sword from Luke's belt. She slashes the steel, backing away from their futile attempt to regain control.

"Stay back! I may be Queen but I'm no stranger to a sword."

She slashes at a man attempting to flank her as cautious feet continue to edge forward. Brown eyes frantically search for a way to escape but fear betrays her and the idea of just returning to her jaded prison seems bleak.

Their leader steps forward, pushing back on Luke's chest to stand confidently in front of his men.."So what now your majesty? You think you can take us all on single handed?" He advances as Regina matches his steps backwards.

"I'm warning you!"

"Even if you did manage to get passed us all,, what would you do? Disappear into the forest alone with no food, water or sense of direction?"

Regina remains silent, pinning him with a cold leer and aiming the tip of her sword at his heart. Shes oblivious as another bandit slowly flanks her from behind as the rest cautiously fan out preventing any escape.

"Put the sword down your majesty. There's nowhere to go and nowhere my men can't find you."

He stops his advancement and Regina pauses, her sword dipping slightly, no! I won't surrender to a bunch of forest filth! I want to be free, I want..Her conflicting heart tugs painfully, I'm not sure what I want anymore..There's a crack behind her and she freezes, They've kept me talking, kept my eyes on that leather clad fool!..

Regina whirls only to have someone grab her sword and attempt to rip it free. Luke pounces forward as she loses her grip and the weapon thumps to the floor uselessly. A firm hand rives her shoulder and pulls at her arm but in a flash she flicks her head forward and headbutts Luke square in the nose. He reels back painfully, hands covering his bloody face as she stumbles slightly from a wave of dizziness. A harsh slap has her stumbling as someone desperate fool attempts to get her in a head lock. He fails miserably as pearl teeth bite down on his arm..hard and a scream echos around them, the man stumbling away with his arm cradled but before long more bodies are lunging at her. Soon she's overpowered and a dirty cloth is being pushed into her mouth, her hands being roughly bound.

"Enough!"

The bandit leaders strong voice booms over the scrap of bodies and Regina calms her struggles, panting heavily through the bloody tasting fabric but still has the need to shrug unwanted hands from her body.

"Luke?!" The leaders dark green eyes glance at the gushing blood from under Luke's hands.

"Fine."

"Good, then prepare to move, lets get this royal pain in the ass back to camp and get you cleaned up."

Ripping a piece of fabric off his shirt and placing it under his nose, Luke moves towards his men who continue to hold a struggling Queen still.."You heard the man ladies, lets get her royal highness back to our fine establishment."

My life has officially hit rock bottom, not only am I miserable and alone but now I'm going to be sold by a bunch of animals or killed in some filthy pen..Regina glances at the weighty man who grabbed her earlier, the predatory look in his eyes unnerving her before brown eyes flicker over to a smirking Luke and a black sack is thrown over her head, Bastard..