sorry it's been forever since i updated :) trying to get some other stories wrapped up so i can work on some new ideas. this one will be around for a while, though. don't worry. please review!
"I know you're all worried-" Regina stood upon her carriage steps to be tall enough to address the villagers that crowded around. Some looked curious and others jeered, all of them being abuzz with the presence of royalty. The village was a couple hours travel for her from the castle and she'd used the time to mentally prepare what she wanted to say.
"Where's the king?!" An angry villager called out, prompting some of them to second his question and the rest to watch for her reaction. She'd never addressed the people before, she'd barely been seen in public with everything that had went on in her short time as Queen. They loved her husband's first wife and she knew this would not be easy to begin with, but her nerves were on edge nonetheless.
"The King is out leading the men who are fighting to keep you safe," She raised her voice, stifling her fear and mentally stiffening her backbone, "I know times are hard, but I am working to provide you all with rations to hold you until the soldiers come home and we can resume business as usual in the kingdom."
"You think you know what we're going through?" A pale, red-haired woman spoke up from the front of the crowd with a sneer, "Sitting in your castle, in your fine linens, eating grand meals while we all suffer?" The woman smiled sadistically up at her and for a moment Regina was caught off-guard at the look in the woman's eyes.
"It's fine," Regina whispered with a glance at Ruby when she stiffened in anger where she stood at the bottom of the carriage steps, guarding the entrance. There were other knights on horses around the parameter of the carriage to ensure the crowd did not get out of hand, but Ruby insisted she be a personal barrier between the crowd and Regina.
"I'll be honest, I don't know what it is like for you," Regina answered truthfully, looking back to the crowd, "You all work very hard for what you have and I simply married into it. I may not know what it feels like to lack for food or clothing or shelter, but that does not mean I don't understand some things...I too have not seen my husband for months because of this war, I live in constant fear that something may happen," She swallowed hard, seeing the women of the crowd look back at her with softening expressions, "But I must carry on because like all of you, I have responsibilities. My job is to protect this kingdom and all of you, and I intend to do so."
"How is that?" The redhead sneered again, crossing her arms and looking up at her in a taunting manner, "You have very little army left here to guard. What can you possibly do yourself?" She shrugged and Regina could tell she was being taunted.
"I made a trade with our allied kingdoms to obtain rations for you all that should last you through the end of this war. When it is over our trade routes should open again and we will be able to repair our economy, but until then I can at least keep you all fed," She nodded once and heard the people murmur in a tone that sounded slightly more approving.
"But can you protect them from harm?" The incessant heckler smiled wickedly now, bringing her hand up in one swoop of magic, sending the knight's beside Regina's carriage off of their horses and through the air. Villagers gasped and dispersed into a circle around the red-headed sorceress, a path cleared from where she stood that led directly towards Regina. "Doesn't look like it."
"Can I have her now?" Ruby snarled, her incisors instantly growing in length in preparation to turn.
"No, I can handle this," Regina nodded firmly, knowing that Ruby's magic would not hold up against the woman in front of her. She'd done enough studying to know that whoever this was wielded dark magic and the only thing that could combat it would be light magic. Ruby saw the look in her eye, obediently stepping beside of Regina before glaring back at the threat they faced.
"I may be more well equipped to protect my kingdom than you know," Regina replied with a confident smile of her own, raising her hand and procuring a white fireball in her palm. Another collective gasp could be heard from bystanders as her opponent's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"You have light magic?" She growled with a wild look in her eyes, a faint green hue crawling up her chest and neck. "Rumple neglected to mention that."
"How do you know Rumple?" Regina demanded, keeping her palm glowing with the white hot fire, "Who are you?!"
The woman seemed to be lost in her own thoughts before she made eye contact with Regina again, chest heaving and now fully green, "You'll find out soon enough," She cackled bitterly as she pulled a wand from her dress sleeve, throwing a bolt of magic towards Regina.
She managed to block the green bolt of dark magic with her own, deflecting the energy back towards the witch. The crowd scattered in shouts and shrieks as the remnants of magic shot through the air, catching fire to everything it touched. The woman barely dodged the bolt before Regina hurled a white fireball in her direction, catching her in the arm and making her yelp unexpectedly.
"Leave my kingdom!" Regina barked angrily, adrenaline coursing through her. She didn't notice the way the citizens started to shift more towards her, facing off with the wicked woman in solidarity.
"You'll regret this," The witch's eyes glittered angrily as she held her injured arm before vanishing in a puff of green smoke.
The village around them flamed and Regina was finally able to focus on her surroundings once the sorceress was gone. Women cried, children clinging to their legs, and the older men who did not go to war ran to try to put out the fires. Her heart pounded in her ears as she gathered her skirts and stepped from the carriage, making her way through the crowd towards the burning structures.
Without hesitation she brought her hands up, wielding her magic towards the flames and with one swoop put out the fires until there was nothing left but cold smoke billowing up from the burnt homes and taverns. It would tire her but she knew she could repair the damage done. The people depended on her and this was not something she could walk away from. She turned to see eyes watching her with a mixture of awe and respect, the villagers collectively looking to her for answers.
"Gather the injured over their near the fresh hay, the rest of you who are able tend to the buildings to ensure the fires don't start again and see what needs repaired," She instructed, seeing them all nod in solidarity before scattering to follow her instructions. Her heart still pounded and she didn't know what her encounter with the angry sorceress meant, but at least she'd proven herself to her people.
"There's a village not far from here, the men will want to celebrate," David nodded, glancing at Thomas from his horse as they trotted at the head of the path with the knights following them. The evening was evolving into night, fireflies and crickets glowing and chirping in the cool forest air. Not to mention it was the first night in months David felt he could actually enjoy it.
"Let me guess, you're going straight home to your Queen?" Thomas grinned, causing him to chuckle and nod.
He was dog tired. He was sore. He was bruised and beaten. He was ready to celebrate winning their battle and making George surrender. Except his idea of celebration was not the same as the men who already sang and drank from flasks atop their horses behind him. He did not want to spend another breathing second with these crude, smelly men. He wanted to celebrate with his wife.
"You're not coming to Ella and your child?" He perked an eyebrow at his friend. Ella and the baby being with Regina was something that comforted him a great deal and he knew his friend was just as anxious to see his own wife as David was to see the Queen.
"Course I am," Thomas chuckled and gave a tap of his reins for his horse to pick up the pace. "Let's get these men somewhere they can blow off some steam and get home."
"It's just a up ahead," David smiled and nodded, seeing the glowing lanterns and campfires of the small town as their horses trodded the narrow dirt road. He had to hold himself back from nudging his horse into a full sprint to get home to his wife faster, knowing their animals were just as exhausted as they were.
"What the hell?" He frowned quickly as they approached the parameter of the village, squinting as he slapped the reins to pick up the pace.
"Is that one of your carriages?" Thomas questioned and David's heart began to pound and a rush of anxiety shot through him.
"Yes," David swallowed hard, "Hah!" He yelled and kicked his horse into a gallop, taking off ahead of the group to reach the village faster. Had the castle been destroyed in his absence? Did looters or renegades invaded and taken over? What had happened to his family?
The worst possible scenarios played in his mind like a horror story as he approached the village, hearing Tom's horse galloping not far behind his. He pulled the reins hard and his stallion skidded to a stop as his stomach churned with worry. He practically jumped from his horse when he dismounted, unsheathing his sword as he stormed into the village, ignoring the way Tom tried to catch him in protest.
He jerked open the carriage door to check inside, seeing it empty and the horses unbridled from it. Whoever had brought it here had been here for a while, at least long enough to settle in. A fiercely protective rage bubbled within him at the thought of whoever it was harming his wife or daughter, causing him to storm through the village, pushing past citizens who gasped and stared at the sight of the king stomping towards where the bonfire roared.
"I demand to know who took the Queen's carriage!" He bellowed as he approached the circle where the fire was, seeing citizens gathered around socializing and relaxing. The people looked up in surprise from their food and drinks, causing him to glance around for a moment with a frown. There was a grand table set up with a feast similar to those he'd seen in castle parties and barrels of wine and ale beside of it. It seemed to be a celebration of sorts, nothing like what he'd imagined he'd walk into.
"It's the king!" He heard one of the young children squeal as they ran around playing and he began to feel foolish for stomping in with his sword drawn.
"I want an explanation. Why is the Queen's carriage here?!" He scanned the eyes that looked back at him before seeing one of the more fearful looking lads step to the side, bringing into view the fire and who was on the other side of it.
There Regina sat on one of the log benches near a couple of village women, her eyes as wide as saucers when they met his. She didn't appear to be harmed in anyway, in fact she held a goblet of wine and had seemed to be in conversation with the peasant women she sat with. His heart threatened to burst out of his chest when he saw the cup fall from her hands as she shot up off of her seat, prompting him to drop his own sword as he practically ran to her.
"Regina!" He scooped her up, lifting her off of the ground in a tight hug as he buried his face in her neck and inhaled her sent, "Thank god, are you okay? I saw the carriage and I thought-"
"I'm fine, I'm okay," Her hands carded through the back of his hair and she pressed her lips to the side of his head before tilting her own back and capturing his mouth in a deep kiss. He moaned into it, momentarily forgetting they had an audience of villagers as he held her in his arms. He stirred when she sighed into his mouth, causing him to slowly put her feet back on the ground and reluctantly break the kiss.
"The war is over, we won the last battle and George surrendered," He smiled at her as he set her down, bringing his hands around from her back to her waist. He bit his lip as he took her in, still in awe that she was finally in front of him. His gaze traveled down her frame to see her riding jacket rounded out near her midsection in the same moment his hands felt the tight swell of her abdomen, "Regina...are you?"
When his gaze lifted again he found worried whiskey eyes looking up at him and his heart constricted as she gave a timid nod. A baby. He was going to get to experience raising a child with this woman. He let out a laugh as his eyes welled with tears, falling onto one knee as he ran his hands over her bump, "When do I get to meet them?" David asked and smiled through watery eyes, seeing the relief that flooded her own.
"About three months," She replied softly before biting down on her bottom lip with a warm smile. He straitened to stand again, still so overcome with emotion that all he could do was cup her face and kiss her gently. He'd missed her so much it hurt.
"I am so happy," He whispered as he pressed his forehead to hers before remembering where they were, tilting his head up, "The kingdom is going to have a new prince or princess!" He announced as he gave a quick glance around, looking back at her with a grin at the way the villagers cheered.
He noticed she looked tired around the eyes despite her honest smile and he decided to save the specifics on why she was here for later. She leaned into him and he hugged her tightly, glancing over her shoulder to see Ruby and Thomas standing back with proud grins and a mug of ale, "Let's go home, My Queen."
Ruby's eyes shot open and she sat up in bed when she heard the scream echo down the hall of the castle. She nearly knocked over the potion Regina had perfected to prevent her from transforming into wolf form at night as she scrambled to get out of her bed, bumping into the nightstand in the process. Something was definitely wrong and she feared for the safety of everyone in the castle. It was likely they would have renegades and enemy stragglers making last effort revenge attempts for a couple of months still yet even though the war had ended.
It was late when they got back from the village after David had arrived, but she wiped her eyes and shook her head in an attempt to rid the sleepiness. The trip to the village had resulted in her assisting Regina all day while she healed at least a dozen people and repaired homes with her magic. It was exhausting to say the least, but she couldn't afford to be tired now. Stifling a yawn, she grabbed a sword from the corner where it was propped and took off down the corridor tracking the source of the noise. She heard cries and a slamming noise coming from one of the wings, prompting her to practically run towards it.
The candle's were low and the corridor dim when she reached Regina's wing, her heart pounding with fear at what she may find. She raised her sword, quickly pushing on one of the doors that the noise was behind, unable to tell which one was her bed chamber with how dark it was. Her heart stopped when the door cracked and the dim light from inside of the room allowed her to see.
Well, she'd certainly misinterpreted what was happening. Regina's hand was stretched above her head, pressed against the wood of the headboard and causing it to bang against the wall as she threw her head back and let out a loud moan. David was on-top of her with her legs hiked up by his rib cage, tucked under his arms as he pressed his hands into the mattress beside her. Her free hand scratched down his back as she moved her body under his, curling her hips up to meet his as he rutted inside of her.
Ruby's mouth nearly hit the floor and she froze in fear of being noticed, eyes close to popping out of her head. Luckily Regina's own eyes were closed and she was babbling incessantly, making her stomach stir when she heard a few of the words the Queen said. David's mouth devoured his wife's neck as he began to pound into her, causing Regina to press her hand harder against the headboard, breasts pressed up against his chest when her back arched.
For a moment she almost lost herself while she witnessed the passion between the couple. She'd never had that for herself and it made her yearn to have that connection with someone. They'd been home for many hours now and it was clear what the King and Queen had been up to despite the fact that they were both exhausted.
"I'm-bout-come-ah-gin," Regina moaned syllables and clamped her legs higher up David's ribcage, snapping Ruby out of her trance. She heard the way Regina's voice lilted and she had to get out of there. Careful not to clang her sword off of the stone wall, she reached forward and slowly pulled the door shut just as the couple began to really talk dirty to each other. She nearly jumped when right as the door latched the Queen screamed out again in climax, making her think she'd been caught.
She groaned quietly in aggravation at how stupid she'd been as she padded back down the hall to her own room. Not only did she witness her best friend having sex with his wife, she was reminded of how sexually frustrated she was in her own life. Regina was going to have to concoct a potion to help her sleep if they were going to be that loud.
"Morning," David grinned when his eyes opened and he saw Regina already awake, sitting up beside him in bed inspecting his bruises and cuts from battle. She was still naked from the night before and he was sure she'd never looked so beautiful. Her hair was halfway down her back, breasts slightly larger and small rounded tummy. She was still just as thin as she normally was, but softer and rounder, glowing from carrying his child.
"Some of these should've had stitches, you know," She raised a scolding eyebrow at him when she glanced up from looking at one of his cuts, "Sit up against the headboard a little and I'll heal them."
"They'll be fine," He smirked as he snaked an arm around her waist in an attempt to pull her on-top of him. They'd depleted each other the night before but he still couldn't get enough of her. "Come here."
She gave him a testy look and he sighed with a chuckle, letting go of her and pressing his hands into the bed to scoot himself into a reclined sitting position against the pillows and headboard. His heart constricted with love for her when she smiled at his obedience, turning it into a compromise as she slipped a leg over his and straddled his lap, "No funny business until I'm done, you got it?"
"I will be an absolute gentleman," David grinned boyishly up at her as he held up his hands in mock innocence before settling them on her thighs. Regina only smirked and shook her head as she lifted her hand to heal a cut that had scarred his chest, making it appear more faint. His muscles were more defined since coming home from battle, his arms bigger and his abs sculpted deliciously. He'd always been in shape before but the war had given his body a rougher appearance that appeased her pregnancy hormones in the best way.
"Why didn't you tell me about the baby before I left?" He asked her as he tilted his head to the side curiously, seeing her glance up from what she was doing rather quickly, "I just mean...you would've been about three months along, right? Did you know?"
She bit her lip hesitantly, not wanting to ruin what had been a perfect morning, "I did.."
"Were you not happy?" His heart sank slightly, the inkling that she may feel too young for all of this lingering in the back of his mind.
"I was happy and terrified," Her lips parted in a smile that did not reach her eyes, "..and then you said you were happy Emma was an only child," She admitted softer than she'd wanted to say it, her vulnerability showing in the slight cracking of her voice. Her pride prevented her from looking him in the eye and she tried to shift from where she sat on him back to her side of the bed.
"Hey," He gripped her arms gently, keeping her where she was until she looked back at him, "I was under a lot of pressure and being horrible. I told you before that I would love to have a family with you and I still mean that. I'm sorry I let you think differently."
"Are you sure? I mean you even said you wanted to wait for children," Regina swallowed at the lump in her throat.
"You have no idea how much you mean to me, do you?" David shook his head in awe, running his hand up to cup the side of her face, "You make me happier than I've ever been. You changed my life for the better and made me believe I could start again. Without you I'd still be miserable...my daughter would still be miserable...I cannot wait for this child with you."
Regina blinked back tears and nodded once, biting down on her lip to reign in her emotions as she glanced back to his chest and ran a glowing purple hand over it, "I think you're just trying to distract me from healing you," She joked to lighten the mood, making them both chuckle.
"How am I supposed to make all those knights that stare at you fear me if you heal all of my battle scars?" He grinned playfully, running his hands up her thighs to her bottom, pushing it down on his lap more firmly. There was nothing but her naked form and his separated by a thin sheet that was draped over his lap and he was getting impatient.
"Jealous?" She grinned, healing one of the bruises on his stomach and noticing the way his groin tensed under her touch.
"Don't get me wrong, I trust you," David sighed, massaging his hands over her bottom as he watched her, seeing the way her nipples hardened from his ministrations. She wasn't as unaffected as she pretended to be. "And I respect that you are your own person and I cannot claim you..but...you also bring out a possessiveness inside of me that I didn't know I was capable of."
"You hide it well," She smirked at him, her stomach coiling at the look in his eyes. His hand slipped from her bottom down to between her legs, his finger swiping through her folds, "I thought we agreed, not until I'm finished."
"Why can't I work on you while you work on me?" David grinned and brushed his fingers through her slit again, fingertips pressing against her clit that was still a little swollen from their late night.
"B-because," She half moaned, half groaned in frustration as she tried to narrow her eyes at him, "I need to concentrate when I do magic, uhhhn-" Her head fell forward when he began massaging quick circles on her clit.
"Well I can't concentrate on anything but the thought of being inside of you," He groaned as he played with her, watching her head roll to the side and lips part, "Do you know how many nights I went to sleep hard with the thought of you? Just wishing I could taste you and take you and hear you do that little whimper you do right before you come..."
"Mmm," She moaned when she opened her eyes, running her hands up over his shoulders, "I might have an idea," She almost panted now with arousal, rolling her hips with his hand as his fingers penetrated her. His words made her stomach swirl and she practically dripped on his hand already.
"Did you pleasure yourself at the thought of me, Regina?" David questioned her as he pulled his fingers from her, lifting them up to run his tongue over the tips of them to taste her.
Regina throbbed desperately as she watched him, reaching down with her hand to pull the sheet from between them and let him spring to life. She watched him smirk as she held him by the base and lifted her hips, taking him before he even had time to respond. A whimper escaped her when she sat on him fully, feeling him stretch her again as she let her head fall back, lifting slightly and sinking back down a few times to get used to him.
"You never answered me," He bit his lip as he ran his hands up her sides to cup her breasts, massaging his thumbs over the nipples and making her moan, "Did you pleasure yourself like I taught you to when I'm not here?"
"Yes," She whispered breathlessly, pressing her forehead to his and smirking at the noise he made, "I woke up from a dream about you and I was so wet," She explained, starting to roll her hips forward on his cock. He was deliciously hard and thick, making just the slightest movement provide enough friction to satisfy her.
"Fucking hell," He murmured as his eyes locked with hers, gripping her ass fiercely to help her grind on him harder and deeper, "I will never tire of this. I only want you," He groaned and leaned in to kiss over her neck, feeling her begin to roll her hips harder.
"Me too," She gasped and wrapped an arm around his neck, threading her fingers through his hair as the other hand gripped his left bicep for leverage, "David!" She cried out when he sat up straight from the pillows, wrapping his own arm around her hips and taking her deeper with the angle. Her pregnancy had intensified every sensation for her during sex and she had turned into a babbling fool, "I-oh-mmm!"
"That's it baby," David groaned when he felt her find the rhythm that worked from her, feeling her hips working greedily for friction, "Chase it," He groaned lifting his head to see her own tilted back, watching her face as she started to unravel. He kept his arm locked around her hips helping her move in hard, quick humps that had their arousal soaked skin slapping.
He groaned loudly when her mouth opened in a silent scream and her body contracted on him, clenching his cock so hard that he let himself go deeply inside of her. She shuddered for a few moments as she came down from the high, letting her forehead fall against his own as they both tried to catch their breath. There was a boldness in her that had blossomed during his time away and it excited him to hear about how she'd reigned and the confidence it had brought her. If they worked this well together in the bedroom, imagine what they could do with this kingdom.