Notes: Helloo, how are you?
Since this chapter is too long, I divided it into two parts. I will post both now. You can immediately proceed to the next section.
Robin is in the palace! Let's go!
Regina and Snow found Leopold sitting in the great hall. The queen sat on the arm of the chair while the princess stood with shaky legs opposite her father's chair.
"Dad, Regina told me about marriage."
"I'm curious about your decision, honey." Leopold said.
The princess turned her eyes from her father to her stepmother. The queen was watching her intently as she sat in all her majesty. Her eyes were fixed on her, as if she could control everything she said. Seeing that Snow wasn't speaking, she nodded slowly, warning she to continue.
"I want to meet the prince you see fit." The girl said at once as if she had received an order.
The king sprang cheerfully to his seat, closing the distance between himself and his daughter and taking her hand. "You don't know how happy you make me, dear." Then, without letting go of his daughter's hand, he took a few steps towards his still-sitting wife, grabbed one of her hands in her lap, and lifted her up. "I couldn't be happier, our daughter is coming out of childhood. Isn't it great, Regina?"
She is the furthest thing from being my daughter! She wanted to scream. How could someone only eight years younger than her be her daughter, for God's sake? She might have been a witch, but she was still too normal to have a child at the age of eight. No sane person would call this relationship a mother-daughter relationship.
She also had a two-year-old son when the queen was her age, though his father had given the princess the grace to emerge from the new childhood. The fact that this brat had all the luck she didn't have, made the brunette woman even more angry.
"It certainly is." She pressed everything she wanted to say between her lips and smiled broadly. She hated this lie life with all her cells.
Robin was relieving the tiredness of the day by enjoying his meal, when a knight from the palace visited his friend's house. The man said that the king had invited him to dinner the next evening, and left as quickly as he had come.
The prince was pleased with this invitation. Whatever job he was here to do, he wanted to get over it immediately and find the woman he couldn't get out of his mind. He gently held the piece of cloth he had taken out of his pocket, as if it were a piece of her, between his palms. Maybe it was the first time in his life that he felt this way, and it was driving him crazy not being able to put a name to his feelings, because Robin was not a person who believed in love at first sight. Until he meets Regina. He wasn't even sure if it was love or not. All he knew was that she never left his sight, he would do anything to see her again.
"What's it in your hand?"
He hurriedly stuffed the cloth into his pocket as his friend sat next to him. "Nothing."
"It didn't seem like nothing to me. It felt like Regina." He patted the man on the shoulder, but the prince did not move an inch from his place.
It was no use hiding it from his best friend, he trusted him even with his most important secret. "I'll find her, Will. Even if I have to go through hell, I'll look into her eyes again."
While making all these plans, there was not the slightest regret or sadness in her. Everyone would get what they deserved. It should have been just that… But it wasn't. Everything she did would somehow affect the last person in the world she wanted to upset. Watching herself in the mirror, she donned her ice heart mask, controlling the outward part of her emotions. Inside, a mother's heart was pounding, filled only with the desire to run to her son.
When she entered Henry's room, she found her son awake, as she had expected. She couldn't help hugging longer than usual when the boy was in her arms. As drops began to form around her brown orbs, the little prince, who had all his wits from his mother —thank God—, realized that something was wrong.
"Mom, is everything okay?" His small eyes looked at her with concern.
"Yes." Regina said, when she managed to push back the tears in her eyes. She couldn't control her feelings, which she had hidden towards everyone, in front of her son, and she didn't want to do it anyway. She wouldn't let all this evil spoil the one good thing in her life. She would not have a false relationship with her little prince, adorned with lies. "I just had a bad dream, hugging you makes me feel better."
Henry wrapped his arms around his mother's waist again. "I love you." He said. "And I won't let anything get you down."
"Oh, we switched roles now?" ' Regina said, giggling.
"I just want to protect you like you protect me."
Ah, her beautiful child with a heart of gold. How did he turn into such a young man… She separated from her son and took his face in her hands. "If I do something to upset you one day... I want you to know that I'll do it because I have to, Henry. You're my everything."
"I know. But you wouldn't do anything to upset me."
Regina just smiled. If he knew what she was planning, what she was doing and what she could do, would he still look at her with such love?
"We have a guest tonight. Do less mischief than usual, will you, little man?" She said while laughing.
"Don't worry mommy, I'll be fitting Queen Regina's son." Henry said, laughing too. "And who is our guest?"
"A prince." She touched her son's nose with her index finger. "Just like you."
After the queen left her son's room, she reluctantly went to her stepdaughter's room, wanting to make sure everything was under control. Luckily she was the perfect magician. For all her unhappiness, Snow was not objecting to anything, nothing but words of approval came from her lips.
In fact, while the queen was moving away from this environment of hatred, she went out to the garden with her father to meet the prince. The prince, displaying an excellent example of punctuality, dismounted when they reached the reception area. He was examining the imposing palace as he bowed politely to the king and princess.
"Welcome Robin." Leopold shook the young man's hand.
"Thank you for your kind invitation, Your Majesty."
"Thank you for coming," He put his hand on his daughter's waist and made her take a step forward. "Meet my daughter, Snow White."
"Welcome." The princess' lips curled into a small smile. The man was handsome, very much. Just not as much as David. Unfortunately, she had to forget about him and focus on her future husband.
Robin kissed the princess's hand gently. "I'm glad to meet you."
The prince wondered where the queen was as the palace staff led Robin to his room. He had heard so much about her that he wanted to meet as soon as possible. He didn't think she was as beautiful and charming as she was told. No queen would be like that. Her power would blind people. That's what made everyone shy away, afraid. Power brought beauty to people. He was perfectly sure that Queen Regina was, too.
Her duties under the name of Queen also required her to make sure that nothing was missing. What was the point of being a queen if she was going to control everything in this damn palace? Wouldn't the one you call the queen have a happy, prosperous life? That's why her mother cared so much about this title, but obviously Cora was wrong, as always.
She finished her work and retired to her room. No matter how much she wanted to throw in the back of her mind, everything was tiring her out. She just wanted to get some sleep and everything would be better when she woke up.
"I said that I'd see you again."
Her dark world suddenly brightened as Regina parted her lashes. She was standing in the middle of a garden, facing the apple tree that she had planted with her father when she was little, and which she had taken from her childhood home and brought to the palace after her marriage. She could sense the owner of the familiar voice a few steps behind her. She turned her back in a controlled way when she received danger signals.
Forest smelling man?
"You?"
"I guess you didn't believe me." He smiled smugly.
"How did you find me?" Regina took a few steps towards him, trying to make sure he was real. Like their first encounter, they were in the middle of the forest, but she was absolutely certain that this wasn't the Enchanted Forest. The only thing that looked familiar was the apple tree, which she can swear was planted in the palace garden.
This place was much nicer, with a stream next to it. The sun was shining directly overhead. Bird sounds and newly bloomed flowers heralded spring. Flowers, spring... But how was that possible? Weren't they in November? The last trees Regina saw were shedding leaves to prepare theirself for winter.
"It's not how I found you that matters, Regina, that I found you." There was no space between them as his blue eyes pierced her. The Queen was silent, as if someone was interfering with her speech.
"Regina?"
She wanted to say something. They were in danger, that she had to get out of here. But the voice echoing in her mind distracted her.
"Regina, wake up."
She was in her room when she opened her eyes with fear suddenly. Was it all a dream? That beautiful forest, warm weather, flowers, birds ... She found herself again in autumn, in the winter palace. How peaceful she was just a few seconds ago.
"Are you okay?" The worry in the blonde woman's eyes was visible from miles away.
"Yes. Yes I'm okay." Regina said as she got out of bed, trying to convince herself she was really okay.
The blone woman knew she would tell her what had impressed her so much, but obviously that was not the moment. Regina would only tell something when she wanted to tell it, insisting would only tire the other side. "You have to get ready for dinner." She said as she changed the topic.
Exasperated, Regina opened her closet and looked at her clothes. "I don't want to wear anything."
"Leopold goes into a fit of jealousy and kills the prince, war breaks out, everyone kills each other, and in the meantime Leo dies. You would have your happy ending."
"What?" Regina turned to her.
"This is exactly what happens when you come down naked." She said, shrugging.
"Stop kidding." The brunette woman went back to her closet. "I just don't want to put up with all this."
"I know." She walked up to her and looked straight into her eyes. Yes, she knows. She knew everything about the Queen without even saying it.
Regina took her black dress with red embroidery on the inside and wore it in seconds. As she moves her hands over her bun, the hairpin glided through the air and landed on the table, her wavy hair falling down to her waist. She was completely ready for chaos when she finally fixed her makeup.
She could hear the conversations from inside as the Queen gave her final orders to her servants from outside the door of the great hall. The three different tones that she couldn't understand what they were saying, were also somehow familiar. She was sure that one was Leopold and one was Snow. The third voice must also belong to the prince, but why was it familiar?
As the embroidered doors opened for her to enter, the people inside stopped talking and turned their eyes to the door. She went in with all her nobility. Although she is not cared for the prince, it was her custom to make a strong impression. Well, if you ask if she has been successful, there are some rough spots. Because the queen was only able to take a few steps after entering the view of the hall. She stood there as her eyes met with the prince.
Robin?
Notes: Who do you think the blonde woman is? She and Regina seem to be very close.
You can immediately proceed to the next chapter! 💃