thanks so much for the favorites, follows and reviews! I usually start a story based on emotional inspiration and make up plot as I go but for this story I have a lot of ideas of how I want it to play out and what I want to happen. I'm going to weave some of the true scenes from the show in with my story, to keep some authenticity to Regina's past. It's still stemming from the same initial event - Daniel's death...but I want to explore what would happen to her if she had someone intervene and keep her from being fully consumed by the darkness and of course the twist of her being David's Queen...let me know what you think! Your reviews make me want to update faster :) xxx
Regina was bored as she often was in the castle with no companionship. Her days were often spent thinking of her happy memories with Daniel, however painful it was. She'd known true love once and she made herself replay their good times over and over so she'd never forget the feeling that she'd never have again. It was the closest she'd ever been to happy and the only time she felt she really had someone to depend on, so now in her isolation she clung to the memory.
She and David had made some progress, though. She wasn't foolish enough to think they'd ever truly be husband and wife, but they had agreed to become friends and he did not avoid her now. Conversation was becoming easier with him and things were less tense now that they'd gotten more comfortable with each other.
He was rather intuitive and a good listener for a King, something she hadn't expected out of a man who had everyone catering to him. Their conversations stayed light, though. She hadn't asked him about his late wife and he hadn't spoken of her.
Regina grew more and more curious as to what was so special about her to still hold the heart of this man after her death. The more she found out about David the more she realized he was a good man. He was in his early thirties, the age gap between them minimal compared to most royal couples of this realm. Still, he had not touched her in any way other than friendly and innocently.
Most men would not think twice before claiming what they thought was theirs after marriage, and she was thankful that he had not made her feel as if she owed him anything. She found herself wondering if he had a mistress or a friend that he saw for that sort of thing, like many other distinguished men did. It was common for these men to even be seen out with their mistresses, for it was perfectly acceptable. Regina couldn't imagine ever being all right with a man she loved being intimate with someone else, but it seemed to happen so often.
She meandered down the empty hall of the castle, often finding herself wandering the wings of it in exploration while her mind attempted to make sense of everything. Her grief over losing Daniel had become tolerable now; something she could compartmentalize away for the time being. Her life was so different compared to then, she could almost pretend like her past wasn't real. That everything bad that had happened to her was a bad dream.
Her attention was drawn to the sound of the royal guard opening the gates outside, making her way to the small veranda on the side of the castle to see who it was. As she leaned over she saw David sitting tall on his horse, entering the castle with a few of his guards by his side. He looked handsome, wearing a simple shoulder armor that showcased how broad his chest was.
She hadn't an idea where he'd been that day for Mrs. Lucas said he already left when she came down for breakfast that morning. Much to her chagrin she'd shared breakfast with her bratty step-daughter who threw daggers at her every time she looked up from her plate. The mystery of where David had been was quickly solved though when her eyes looked past him and his hold on an additional tether, a tether leading back to a mare following behind his own horse. A mare that looked familiar and made Regina squint her eyes to make sure she was seeing clearly. Rocinante.
Regina covered her mouth with a hand instinctually at the cry that escaped her lips, apparently loud enough for him to notice when he looked above him towards the balcony where she stood. She saw him smile a little and lift a hand in greeting, but that was all she had the patience to witness before she was racing down the hall for the stairs.
He had already dismounted and the guards that were with him had taken his own horse to the stables by the time she burst through the large castle doors. She was shock and overjoyed all at the same time. Breathlessly and smiling from ear to ear, dress disheveled and hair falling from the elegant updo Mrs. Lucas had done.
"Rocinante!" She cried as she ran towards the horse who gave a whinny at the sight of Regina. The mare muzzled her face against her back when she flung her arms around her strong neck, to hug her tightly. "I've missed you."
Having her best friend here already made her world feel less lonely, and she had David to thank for that. She suddenly remembered he was there, pulling away from her mare with tears in her eyes, "How did you get her?" She asked with eyes wide and full of wonder. Normally she would have attempted to hide the raspy emotion in her voice or the gloss to her eyes, but this truly meant so much to her.
He was standing silently and smiling as he watched her react, "You were always bringing her up in conversation, I thought she must mean a lot to you. So myself and a couple of guards went to your parents' estate and retrieved her for you."
"My mother let you take her?" Regina's lips parted in surprise.
David gave a grin she'd never seen on him before and it stirred something in her stomach, "Regina, when the King goes to someone's house personally demanding something for his Queen, it is not a question of whether this person will let him or not."
His Queen. He'd called her his Queen and it made emotion well within her. He'd met her mother and stood up to her. No one had ever done anything so nice for Regina. No one had ever defied her mother and lived to tell of it, either. But what Cora respected was power, and David had more of it than her mother did and her mother knew it.
"I bet she was so angry," She looked up at him with a mischievous grin before biting down on her bottom lip to try to stop it. He was grinning back at her and she was suddenly aware of how handsome he actually was. His jaw and chin were perfectly chiseled, with a little scruff to them. His eyes were a striking blue, his lips full but masculine.
"You're pleased, I take it?" His smile turned softer and she shook her head, stepping up and wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. It was the first time they'd ever touched like this, but she hugged him without hesitation. His arms came around her waist and he squeezed her back. He was big and warm and strong and it felt good to be so close to him.
"Thank you," She whispered near his ear as she clung to him for a moment before pulling back a little embarrassed, looking down before tucking a strand of hair that had escaped during her excitement back behind her ear, "No one's ever done something so nice for me."
"You're welcome," He reached out, tipping her chin back up to let her know she needn't be embarrassed, "Go for a ride, I know you want to," He smiled playfully at her, causing her to grin again with girlish excitement.
"You've grown fond of the new Queen, haven't you?" Leopold approached David as he made his way out onto the balcony facing the back meadow behind the castle.
David looked up from where he leaned against the stone, watching Regina ride Rocinante as she galloped across the open land. He frowned at the smug look on Leopold's face, giving a shake of his head, "She's a nice girl, she didn't want this anymore than I did so there's no reason she needs to be miserable."
"She's your wife now David, it is okay to become fond of her," He let our a breath as a frown drew his furry brows together, "The people are talking…"
"About what?" The King frowned at his former father-in-law, crossing his arms as he leaned his back against the stone ledge behind him.
"About how the Queen has been here nearly five months now and you two are never seen in public together. They think that she is not making you happy, the word is that she is cold and distant and undeserving of her new King."
"What the hell? Neither one of us wanted this, why is she getting the blame?" David shook his head irritatedly. The whole kingdom was full of gossips that had nothing better to do than spread rumors. Regina was shy and reserved, but never cold and distant with him. They both had their walls for different reasons, but if anyone should be blamed for being distant, it was him.
"Because you're their beloved King, David," The older man sat down in one of the outdoor chairs with a sigh, "They'll always blame her over you. There's also other talk…I believe it originated with your chamber maids."
"Spit it out," David demanded, his frown drawing deeper across his forehead.
"There's word that you and the Queen have not consummated your nuptials yet. One of the chamber maids confirmed that there has been no…sign…of it. If you get my drift."
"What makes them think it is any of their business?!" He roared angrily that they would talk about his and Regina's relationship that way. They barely new each other, while these prying idiots were looking for blood on the sheets.
"All I'm saying David is that your kingdom is growing unsure of her, she is their Queen after all," He nodded, "If the people do not feel they know their Queen, they grown uneasy. Snow was a natural with her people and they adored her. Regina is up against much."
"Regina and I will figure it out on our own time, I don't give a fuck what the people think. And let it be known that if I catch word of any more chatter from the people in my own castle, I will make some changes to the staffing."
"I did it!" Regina smiled brightly at the frozen creature in front of her, blue magic radiating from it's still frame. She had managed to purposely summon her magic in an controlled action and achieved her intended result. It was a huge step for her and she wondered for a moment if Rumple was proud.
"How does it feel, Deary?" He propped his thin frame up against a nearby tree, "Using magic…"
She stared at the magnificent unicorn standing above her, circling it slowly in wonderment of what she had done. Excitement coursed through her veins and a small amount of guilt at how good it felt, "I love it….but this can't happen again. I don't want to turn into my mother, I just want to learn how to control my own power so I don't hurt anyone else."
"Which is exactly what I'm teaching you to do by showing you all of this," He pointed his hands to the unicorn, "By doing exercises like this you recognize the extent of your own power. That's all, Deary. Let me guide you."
"What's in it for you?"
"Someday, you will do something for me."
"And I won't become like her?" He seemed genuine enough, so Regina believed him. There was no one in the realm that could teach her more about magic than the Dark One and she wanted to make sure that she could control hers.
"That is entirely up to you," He smiled coyly, causing her to let out a breath, "Ready for the next step?" He asked, watching her nod and turn back to the beast.
"Take it's heart," Rumple gave an animated shrug. All of the pride she'd momentarily held in achieving her task of freezing the creature plummeted with his simple order. She was playing with fire when it came to him.
She didn't have any friends at the castle aside from David and Mrs. Lucas who was slowly warming up to her. David was gone half of the time and she tried not to cling to him or depend on him emotionally, for she knew he would never love her the way he did Snow. He was merely being friendly with her and she appreciated it, but she did not expect it to lead anywhere.
So when Rumple showed up incessantly, she caved, allowing him to begin teaching her how to control and conjure her magic. It wasn't like she had anything else to fill her days. It scared her at first, learning the power she possessed her small frame. Power she never knew existed until she felt the pain of loss.
Regina looked at him coldly, "Like what my mother did to-"
"Ahh, to your true love, indeed! Then you already know how it's done!" He gave her a greasy smile that made her stomach turn as she looked away from him.
The memory of what her mother did to Daniel surfaced in her mind, sending it into a turmoil. Hurt and rage bubbled within her, only letting her emotions out in moments like these when she needed to harness them. She turned to the black unicorn, bracing herself, bringing up her hand.
Rumple was rambling on about something in the background but she wasn't listening. Her entire focus was on the beast in front of her. His explanation had made sense; how was she supposed to know the extent of her capabilities unless she exercised them? She summoned all of the darkness inside of her, bringing up her hand near the unicorn's heart, trying to will herself to take it.
"I can't!" She turned back to him breathlessly, admitting defeat. "It's innocent!"
"Nothing, is innocent," He said with a bite to his words before turning and jerking the heart from the unicorn's chest, "Now it belongs to me. See, when you take a heart, it becomes enchanted, stronger than normal. You're not hurting the beast, you're controlling it. Now, show me you know what to do with that power," He tossed the heart towards her which she caught with a startle, "Kill it."
"What?" She looked at him in disbelief.
"You've seen it done, now do it yourself. Show me you can take the next step in your training. Crush it," He clenched his fist with a menacing expression.
She stared down at the heart in her hands as she turned to the beast. Her own heart was beating in her ears as she felt the palpitations coming from the strong one she held. Something didn't feel right. Why would Rumple want her to kill a living thing?
He said the choice of whether to use her power for bad or good was entirely up to her. Then why was he trying to make her do this? Her mind kept going back to his explanation of her training; that she had to exercise her magic to know her limits and her strengths.
She desperately wanted to learn to control her power, so she began to squeeze. Her own eyes closed and welled with tears when she saw the beast lay down with a pained noise. Her hand shook, her heart lurching in her chest before she let go of her squeeze on the heart.
"Deary, deary, deary…And I had such high hopes for you," Rumple shook his head with a disgusted look at her. His tone reminded her of Cora's and the way she used to express her disappointment in her constantly.
She finally found her voice again, thick with emotion, "I didn't sign up to kill unicorns."
"Magic is power, until you can take power, you're not learning anything! Do you want me to teach you or not?"
"Yes," She agreed with an adamant expression. She wanted to learn but she did not want to become her mother. There was a fine line she had to be aware of.
"Then there's one question that you need to ponder….what's holding you back? Do you really think that you have a friend in that King of yours? He doesn't want you Regina. Nobody does. Your true love is dead, your husband is in love with a ghost, your parents pawned you off like an object and your stepdaughter despises you. Who are you trying to preserve your heart for?"
"I heard she's awful to your poor Father, a true ice queen."
"King David was lonely since your mother passed, that's the only reason she got her claws in him."
"You've nothing to worry about, Emma. The kingdom is a buzz with nothing but bad things to say about her. Your mother's memory is alive and well."
"She's right, Regina isn't wanted here."
She stood in the shadows of the hallway, stopping when she'd heard Emma and her friends coming down the intersecting hall. Her throat tightened at the girls harsh words, making her shrink back behind the corner and hold her breath as they passed the hall she was in.
It was true she never wanted to be Queen and never wanted to be here, but to hear just how much she wasn't wanted made her feel sick to her stomach. She was an outcast, wanted by no one. Her own family pawned her off from one home without love and into another.
"Come, girl," She jumped at the sudden realization she was not alone, but her shoulders sagged in relief when she felt Mrs. Lucas' hand on the small of her back. Regina glanced back at her with tears welling, seeing sympathy in the older woman's eyes. "Let's draw you a nice hot bath."
Regina didn't have the strength to argue as she gave a small nod, letting Mrs. Lucas lead her down the hall towards her own chamber. "Why do they hate me, Mrs. Lucas?" Her voice sounded small to her own ears, but she was so tired. Tired of being somewhere she wasn't wanted. Tired of pretending she was happy for the eyes of onlookers. Tired of not being enough to make anyone love her.
"The people don't hate you, girl…they just don't know you," She said gently, wrapping an arm around Regina's narrow waist in an unexpected comforting nature, "They loved Queen Snow, but to them you're a stranger. I know you didn't want this life but if you want to be accepted by them, you must show them who you are," She led her into her chamber, nudging her to sit down on her large, empty bed.
"I don't know how, I don't know who I am," Regina admitted, feeling a tear roll down her face as she swallowed hard at the knot in her throat. She felt so lost and unloved and unwanted. She stared into her lap, fighting the tears that were coming before she felt Mrs. Lucas' hands cup her face and tilt it back up.
"Enough of that, girl. You're gentle and kind, you have a lot to offer," The gray haired woman's words shocked her, never having anyone speak to her in such a maternal way, which only made the tears come faster. "I've seen the way David has begun to look at you. I think you two will be good for each other."
"He only pities me," Regina muttered, shifting her eyes away from the woman in front of her, "He loves his late wife and I can't blame him, for my heart still belongs to my late fiancé."
"Fiancé?" Mrs. Lucas looked at her with her brows knitted together, taking a seat beside Regina on the bed, "Girl, I didn't know you lost someone you loved."
"Nobody does, only my mother," She smiled weakly, "But she was behind it all. Nobody mourns Daniel but me."
"I'm sorry, child," The older lady ran a hand over Regina's hair and pulled her against her chest, and she let her. She crumbled under the woman's maternal touch, letting out her tears in the shoulder of the simple cotton dress she wore. "I'm so sorry."
"Good morning, boy," David groaned as he heard Granny's voice and felt the bright sunshine invade his room when she threw open the curtains. "Time to get up."
"It's Saturday, what do I have to get up for?" He complained, rolling over onto his stomach and burying his face in the pillows. "You're a pain in my arse, Granny."
"Always have been, always will be," She retorted, going over to his wash basin to freshen up the water. The woman had been a friend of his mother who was now gone, and had helped look after him since he was a little boy. She wasn't his actual grandmother, but she was older than his own mother and had always been referred to by the children in the village as Granny Lucas.
When he married Snow he invited her to come live with them as part of the family, but she insisted that she have a job to do. Since then she had practically ran the show around the castle, bossing the chamber maids and even David when he needed it. And he usually did.
"You and the Queen are attending a ball tonight, you need to get fitted for last minute adjustments to your suit," She said matter of factly, going over to open his wardrobe and rifling through the outfits he'd not worn since before Snow had died.
"A ball? I never agreed to go to a ball," He rolled over, sitting up with a frown as he raked his fingers through his wild bed hair.
"I know, I accepted the invitation on your and the Queen's behalf," Granny gave a shrug before pulling out a suit she must've liked and bringing it over to throw on the bed in front of him.
"Granny," David groaned through his teeth, "Why would you do that?" He hated royal balls and gatherings since Snow died. It was a disgusting reminder of how happy he had been before, how alive their own kingdom had been with the many events his wife had planned and attended.
"Because you and your Queen are not old people yet and I will refuse to let you act like it," She chided, making her way over to the bed and jerking the covers off of him, "I know you didn't choose it this way but your bride is young, she deserves to dress up and be taken to balls and made to feel special."
"Our relationship isn't like that Granny, we're friends and nothing else," He frowned, jerking the sheet back up over his lap being in only his breeches.
"You're both much too young to be so sad and lonely," She leveled with him over her glasses, "You're not the only one in the marriage who has lost love. You have more in common than you think. I've also seen the glances you two steal at each other," She raised an eyebrow, "Don't be a fool and let something good go to waste."
He stared at her with a frown before grumbling as he started to scoot towards the edge of the bed, knowing Granny wasn't going to budge, "Who's damn ball are we going to?"