The Crown.

Author's note: Hello, it is me. A few weeks ago, it occurred to me that I haven't written anything like this in over four years. The last time I wrote for this fandom, and this challenge, OQ Valentine, was back in 2018. Damn, so many things have passed since.

But I digress. Basically, this story is based on true history facts, but without all the shady stuff that happens behind scenes. Pure love, as they say. It is not long and I don't think it has any triggers. I tried to make it an easy read, but if people are interested, I can make this story a longer one.

Enjoy reading it, have a good day, and remember: Love is not meant to be hidden.

The crown was a terrible burden, every day she saw how her father decayed, worse and worse, feeling completely exhausted and if she daresay it, terrified. The Crown was not a blessing, but the worst curse imaginable, put in her family for centuries and centuries. And now, it was hers to take. She could feel the moment coming closer and closer, as her father walked slower, his mind wandered more than ever and his speech slurred. She knew the moment was near and it filled her with absolute dread.

Regina Mills did not want to be Queen. She was the Queen of nothing. The eldest princess sighed, feeling the now constant anxiety in her chest that would not let her breathe. Zelena was the true Queen. A natural Queen. She was gracious and lovely, and had the complete posture of a future queen. Something that Regina had always been jealous of… Stupidly, she had asked father once to please make Zel queen instead of her. She was met with a laugh and a sarcastic response… Regina never tried talking about it again.

She sought comfort in her music, her fingers now were experts at playing the piano, and she enjoyed immensely the sweet melody that the instrument provided. It started when she was five, her teacher had been an old man with kind green eyes and wore a strange scent that made Regina feel a little bit nauseous at time. She guessed that's how old people smelled.

Sir Gabriel Locksley had been a tall, tall man that walked with a cane in his right side and had big glasses propped over his nose. He was kind, but strict. Gabriel taught her for years and years, until Regina was almost 16 and he passed away.

That's when she learned about grief the first time. A sort of pain she had never felt before. The princess's nanny had come over that morning, opened the long blood red curtains, offered her morning tea and when Regina was getting out of bed, Madelyne had taken her hands and softly whispered the news. Regina hadn't been able to stop crying for days. She didn't play the piano for weeks; it had been almost a month when a knock came through the black wooden doors of Buckingham Palace.

"Who is it?" She snapped, her throat felt dry and it suddenly occurred to her that she hadn't eaten on more than twenty-four hours. The trays filled plates and glasses lingered around the room. Big doors opened revealing Samuel, one of her Father's servants that worked as some sort of assistant for Regina.

"Your new piano teacher has arrived, Your Majesty." Regina frowned, glared at Samuel.

"I did not request this."

And so, that's how she had come to meet Robin Locksley. A tall, blonde man with blue eyes that twinkled when he laughed. She hadn't liked him at all, at first. And it felt like he didn't like her either. But slowly, as time passed by, they started to bond over their love for the man that was now resting peacefully. Robin talked about his father with great pride, and Regina listened and pretended that her eyes didn't water from time to time.

… That's how it began. Lingering looks turned into soft touches, which turned in long hugs and sweet caresses. He would even leave late on the weekends; their conversations were always long and never had any awkward silences.

Their first kiss that been a week after Christmas, they shared gifts and between smiled, they also shared the first brush of lips against once another. They were both eighteen by that point, and already in love. It took Regina almost a year to be able to say the words.

When they were twenty, they finally decided to come out with the truth. Regina would face Father and tell her that she planned to marry a commoner, as the Royal Family would put it. She was completely terrified, for she knew that Mother would never approve. She was the daughter of a King, and Princesses only married people on Royalty.

In the Grand room, the Princess had reunited Father, Mother and Zelena. Of course, Zelena already knew everything. The two sisters, even though were completely different from one another, loved each other deeply. They both knew the secrets that hid deep, deep in their hearts.

"I mean, at least yours is a boy…" Z had whispered so many months ago, and her eyes had filled with tears. "If they ever find out about Sarah…"

She shook the mental image of her crying sister and decided to face the music at last. She did not wander around the topic, just vomited out the words.

"…. Robin and I are in love." She had whispered, brown eyes filled with tears that she refused to shed, "and plan on getting married." Of course, the words that she expected were even worse than what she imagined. Her mother had laughed, father had yelled.

"Why are we alive, if not for love?" She had pleaded. "It is my life, after all."

Cora had glared.

"Your life is not yours. It's ours."

She did not see Robin for years after that.

Henry Mills died in his sleep when Regina was twenty-three.

In the funeral, everyone was gathered, hugging her, giving her words that she did not want to hear. A voice she recognized instantly made her heart stutter. She had never forgotten that melodious voice, not once in all these years had she forgotten how he sound, how he felt between her hands. She had not forgotten the laugh that made her chest tighten in pure love. She hugged him, fiercely.

There had never been a single day, since the moment they had met, that she didn't think about Robin Locksley.

That's when she realized, she couldn't keep pretending. She could not, and would not, be slave of her family's rules. She needed him like she needed her morning coffee, she needed him, wanted him, like her fingers craved to touch the cold piano keys. She desired him in every sense, her spirit belonged to Robin.

Why are we alive, if not for love? Love ought not to be hidden from the judging, prying eyes of society but to be screamed into the heavens in complete elation.

A year later, she abdicated the throne. She had tried, fought to be married to the man she loved. They would not have it… And she left the Curse. Love had literally saved her from the Curse that had been bestowed upon her against her will.

"You sure about this?" She whispered that night, as they rode on the black stallion.

"Always."

And so, they fled into a new, happy life.

Isn't that what we all want? To be loved, fully.

Fin.