A/N: Seriously. I'm getting antsy to post more often. You don't mind?
~Unexpected Horses~
Snow was standing as patiently as she could, David pacing behind her. She couldn't help her nervous tick, twisting David's mother's ring around. It was a small thing, but it brought her comfort. Her husband's pacing did not.
They were waiting for Regina in the stables, having been alerted to the arrival of the horses Emma and the Captain had taken, without Emma or the Captain. Her nerves were on fire, but she was fine. There was a reasonable explanation. She just knew it.
She had to.
She was trying to remain hopeful. The return of the riderless horses could mean anything, she told herself. Her daughter was strong, and smart, and that Captain of hers seemed like he knew a thing or two about surviving. He was a pirate after all, a very successful one to have reached Snow's ears.
David's incessant pacing was wearing on her frayed nerves, making it that much harder to convince herself all was well.
"David, please. She'll be here any moment."
"I realize that I missed much while I was away, but the fact that you now trust Regina is not something that I find is easily digested."
"Then trust me. I believe she's changed."
He nodded slowly, making his way to his wife to face her. "But if she's still evil, I am absolutely saying I told you so."
They shared a sad smile, their foreheads coming together.
They looked up when she cleared her throat. "Sorry for the delay. I was busy stealing babies, and pushing over grandmothers, you know, the usual."
Snow looked between the two. "Regina, he didn't-"
"Stop, Snow, I wouldn't trust me either. I was saving you two for last in my long list of amends to make. I honestly haven't thought of a decent way to make up all those years to you two. That's why I stayed when Emma accidentally summoned me." She breathed deeply. "I figured if I could be useful, it might chip off a little of the past. So, why am I here?"
David spoke up. "The horses Emma and Hook took… They've returned on their own."
"We were hoping you could find out why." Snow finished, holding back her emotions. Poorly.
"Well, that's easy."
They pointed out the horses to her, and she examined them by simply placing a hand on their muzzle, each in turn.
"Good news. According to these two, they were compelled to leave."
"Um." Snow looked up at her husband before turning back to the witch. "Would you elaborate, please?"
"Emma's magick is all over this. Compel means to… well. Heavily suggest. Not an easy thing to do to another human, but with animals, it's a fairly simple thing."
"So… in a way, she told them to return home?" David asked, confused. "But why would she do that?"
"All I can tell you, is they were already spooked by an unfamiliar presence. Emma didn't need much to compel them, which is good for her since she's still learning her magick."
"They must have been a distraction." Snow smiled, relief filling her heart. "Clever girl."
"But now she's on foot." David supplied. "Her journey just got extended."
"If they're anywhere near a reflection, I can find them for you." Regina suggested. "You can see how they're doing."
"Spy? On our daughter?"
"I see why you keep her around, Snow."
"We are not spying on our daughter, David."
"Mind if I do?" They looked at the sorceress. "If they get in trouble near a reflective surface, I can tell you about it."
Snow sighed. "You'll do it either way, won't you?"
She smiled coyly. "Only a little."
Thank you for reading!
