Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon A Time or any of its characters. If I did Robin never would have died. Everything belongs to ABC.

Trigger Warning: This is rated M for a graphic scene near the end of this chapter. Do not proceed if you have an issue with violence or sex scenes.

Regina's POV

I was trapped. I felt like a prisoner and essentially, I have become one. My mother agreed to this marriage and it was said to give me power. But how is it possible to have so much power being queen, but to have no freedom? I am trapped in this marriage, a prisoner in the castle because my mother wanted me to have her life. I did not want her life. I wanted my life. I shut my eyes, attempting not to cry, thinking about the life I could have had with Daniel. We could have been together and though we would have had next to nothing in the eyes of my mother, we would have each other. The love we shared was all we ever would have needed. And at least with a life like that, I could have been free. And now here I am, a queen, trapped in my castle with all this power, but no ability to go anywhere without the king. He married me and I feel no love in this marriage. Of course not—the woman he loved died years ago. The only love in his life now is his daughter, Snow. The only happiness left in his life is the girl whom had completely destroyed mine. And now I am utterly alone.

I paced back in forth after attempting to open the door. I was locked in. I couldn't leave. I felt like Rapunzel. I can't believe she didn't go insane with how long she was locked in. This seemed barbaric. I attempted again, pulling on the door with everything I had, as if that would make a difference.

I was not going anywhere unless the king allowed it. I am a prisoner in this marriage.

I sat in front of a mirror and then stood up at hearing the sound of the door being unlocked. My father came in and one of the palace guards left us alone. I ran over to him and he embraced me in his arms; maybe I'm not truly alone.

"Daddy," I said with relief that it was him and not the king. A few tears escaped my eyes. "Please,"

"Regina, what happened?" He asks as one of his hand moved, cradling the back of my head. "Did you try to leave?"

"Daddy, you know I don't love the king." I reminded him. Not once had I been interested in this marriage. It was always mother that was insistent that this was to be my life and my happy ending. I didn't see how a loveless marriage is a happy ending.

"So you tried to run?" He asked and I looked away briefly.

"I just wanted some air. I just wanted to go outside." I sighed. It seemed even stepping outside without the king was a problem now. Even after sending mother to Wonderland to finally get away from her did absolutely nothing. I am still a prisoner, just to a different warden. "Is that wrong?"

"No, but you know with your mother's spell and the king is just concerned about your safety." He said and I shook my head.

"He doesn't want me to run. I guess he truly has caught on." I stated, pulling away from my father.

"Can you blame him?" My father shrugged.

"No, but that doesn't change a thing." I said, "I don't love him. He doesn't love me. Why can't he go find another person to marry? He is only marrying so his daughter can have a mother. He isn't capable of loving anyone else. Why does he insist on keeping me here?"

My father struggled to find words. He couldn't not come up with answer.

I was to be Snow's mother; that was the purpose of this marriage. Though I didn't see how the girl truly needed a mother. They are overrated. I speak from experience in that department. She was there, but I wouldn't call her a mother. And I could never truly replace Snow's mother. Surely the king had to know this; this was just cruel to all of us.

"I am truly a prisoner here." I added. "They might as well throw me in the dungeon with the actual prisoners who committed crimes."

"I know it seems bad right now—" I cut my father off.

"Seems bad?"

"It will get better." My father continued, "It feels really bad right now because of what happened with Daniel."

"You mean when mother murdered him?" I questioned and was only responded with by a shameful nod. "I don't see how. I am in a sham-of-a-marriage and am the stepmother of the girl who managed to kill the only person I loved—the only person that loved me."

"I love you Regina." My father said and I smiled slightly.

"I know you do, daddy." I said. But it wasn't the same as I felt with Daniel. I couldn't even put it into words how Daniel made me feel. When I had Daniel, no matter what happened—what my mother did to me, I at least had Daniel. He was my everything. He made anything and everything bearable. Anytime my mother would insult me or use magic on me, I would remember running off to the stables in tears and once Daniel embrace me, I felt better. I felt safe with him.

I don't have that here. I don't have the love where I felt instantly safe. I am alone.

"But it's not same." I told him honestly. He didn't seem to be hurt by my candor. Likely because he knew it was the utter truth. The love he has for me is not the same love Daniel had for me. "And you can't protect me here."

"But I am here for you." He hugged me. I smiled slightly, relaxing slightly into his arms. But then I let go mostly, still keep him close as I heard the door open and saw the king standing there.

"Leave us." Leopold told my father; he wasn't asking. I did not let go and I looked at my father pleading, for him not to leave me alone with him, though I knew he didn't have a choice. "Now."

My father kissed me on forehead before leaving. The guard escorted him out and shut the door. As soon as the door was shut, the king slapped me across the face. In response, I placed my hand over the spot and looked away from him.

"I was told you attempted to leave." Leopold stated.

"I just wanted some air." I defended myself. I received another hit. This one harder and it caused the corner of my mouth to bleed.

"You are not allowed anywhere without me." He reminded me.

"I apologize." I said. I gave him what he wanted to hear.

"You cannot abandon your family." He said. I wanted to roll my eyes. Family? He and Snow are not my family and they will never be my family. The idea of ever having a family died the same day that Daniel did. The only person I have is my father and I know one day he will be gone as well. I truly have no one. This marriage does not make the king and his daughter my family.

"Look at me." He said and I did. "Do you understand?"

"Yes." I agreed, only to please him.

"You should go help Snow. She is getting ready for tonight." He ordered and I nodded, standing up. "Regina," He said as I was about to leave, "Clean yourself up first. A queen should look her best for the kingdom."

I nodded and once I was out of his view, I eye rolled. Another party for the kingdom. Another night where the king praises himself and his daughter. Another night where the king talks about his dead wife and how he misses her. Another night where I sit in the back and smile when people look at me. There isn't enough wine in the kingdom to get me through tonight or any night.

I did what I was told. I went to find Snow and helped her get ready for tonight. After she had her dress on, I put a necklace around her neck; it was one of her mother's. Then I helped her with her hair.

"Do I look beautiful? Do I look like the fairest of them all?" Snow asked.

I nodded, "Yes dear, you do."

"Are you excited for tonight?"

"I'm excited for you. Surely, you'll enjoy it." I replied. I was not looking forward to it. I was being forced to attend the event by the king. Though, I guess, it would seem better than being locked up, but it's not. I would much rather not go to this. I did not want to sit in the back of the room while my husband talked non-stop about Snow, his dead wife, and whatever else he could possibly say about the kingdom. I was not looking forward to having to force a smile while no one even notices I'm there; no one ever really does. I may be the queen, but nobody sees me. They only see the king and his princess; I'm nothing. I would much rather be locked up alone. But the king thinks it would look bad upon him if his queen does not attend.

As I helped with her hair, she went into one of my boxes and again pulled out the chain with Daniel's ring on it; my engagement ring.

"This is pretty." Snow complimented it again. She had, for some reason, taken in an interest in it. This was probably the third or fourth time she has looked at this. "Can I wear it?" She asks and I frowned, but took a breath; I had to remain calm. And I couldn't take out my grief and anger over Daniel on Snow, even if she is to blame for his death. And god forbid if the king heard me become angry with his precious daughter.

"I think one of your mother's pieces suits you better." I replied, kindly. I forced a smile as she looked in my direction.

"Well you're my mother too now." Snow said and I sighed. "I like this. Can't I wear it?"

"No, Snow." I told her, my face shifting slightly so she knew I was serious.

"Why not?" She asked, not looking pleased. "I like it."

"Well…" I tried to think of a legitimate response. I was drawing a blank. I just didn't want her wearing my ring—the only thing I had left of Daniel. I liked to keep that ring close. I wouldn't take it off if I weren't afraid of the king seeing it. God knows what he would do if he saw me wearing someone else's ring. I then smiled and picked up another one of her mother's pieces. I had seen it before, it was a gift Leopold had given to his wife specifically; it was engraved. "I think this suits you more. It was given to your mother by your father."

Snow seemed pleased. "You should give me something of yours to wear." She added and I nodded after putting the ring away. I looked down at my hand and took off the ring the king gave me that was on my finger. I didn't really care to wear it anyways. I put it on Snow's finger.

"You don't want to wear it tonight?" Snow looked at me oddly.

"I do, but it couldn't hurt to have you wear it for a bit." I smiled. "And you, Snow, are an important part of our marriage. So it only makes sense for you to wear the ring your father gave me when I married him."

Snow smiled and hugged me. "You're the best, Regina. You're the best stepmother."

I forced a smile when she looked at me. I continued helping her get ready until it was time for the event. And at like most events, I sat at a table in the back, which was set for me to sit at with the king. Though, the king rarely sat down for long at these things. He is usually up front talking. That is to be expected with being the king and most of the kingdom were attending these events for a reason. But it just made me feel even more unimportant than I knew I was. I occupied the time at these events, by refilling my wine glass. But even then, like I said before, there wasn't ever enough wine to get me through these events.

After it was over, I retreated to my room.

"You were in a hurry." The king came and found me, shortly later.

"I wanted to get out of those clothes. I am tired." I told him. It wasn't a lie; I was. I was tired of sitting there, forcing a smile in that gown. I was tired of being the queen with no freedom. I was completely tired.

He then grabbed my hand and placed the ring I gave Snow to wear back on my finger. "I saw Snow had it on."

"She wanted to wear something of mine. It looked beautiful on her." I told him.

"It did." He agreed. "But what if someone noticed you without it?" Of course, he was worried about status. The last thing he wanted was someone raising a question about this marriage.

"I couldn't say 'no' to her." I said with a smile, acting innocently. "You worry too much. Anyways, when Snow eventually gets married, she might end up taking that ring so it's only fitting she try it on." He seemed to understand and I hoped that was the end of this discussion. Much to my dismay, it was not.

"What is this?" I look at him and he holds Daniel's ring. I blanched and then attempted to take it back from him; he kept it away from me.

"Where did you get that?" I asked.

"I found it in your stuff." Leopold answered. "Snow went on about how pretty it is after I asked her why she was wearing your ring."

"It's not what you think." I told him. I knew where he was going; he was going to accuse me of cheating. I had done no such thing. The only person I ever loved was dead. And I honestly wasn't sure how the king could believe I was doing such things when he kept me prisoner here.

"I never thought you would betray me." He responded.

"That means nothing to me." I lied. He needed to hear this; he needed to be reassured I would not stray.

"Really?" He questioned and I nodded, praying that he bought into the lies.

Leopold then threw Daniel's ring into the fireplace.

"NO!" I screamed, but it was too late and I was not going to use magic on him. I couldn't. As much as I wanted some control, I would rather have none than risk becoming anything like my mother.

"I thought so." Leopold stated as I went towards the fire and watched as the only thing I had left of Daniel, my first and probably only love, melted. He destroyed the only thing I had left of the man I loved and lost. "Who is he?"

"No one that matters." I replied, with tears streaming down my face.

Leopold was not satisfied. He pulled me up by my hair. I yelped out as he kept hold on it and looked at me, with such rage in his eyes.

"Who is he?" He asked again, "Do not lie to me."

"Nobody that matters, that ring, holds nothing but memories." I told him and he let go of my hair and then slapped me across the face. "He's dead. He's…in the past."

"I believe you." He finally said.

"You do?" I asked as a few more tears escaped my eyes. He then grabbed me by the jaw and pulled my face closer to him.

"I do." Leopold smiled devilishly as he gripped my jaw harder for a moment. Before kissing me. I shut my eyes, praying for it not to last. "You're my wife and you would never betray me, right?"

"I'm loyal to you. I love you." I said. I wondered if he truly believed I loved him because I knew he did not love me. If anything, I thought he would be able to understand my attachment to ring because of my lost love. He should understand nothing better than a dead loved one.

"Good, now prove it." Leopold said and I blanched as he let go of my jaw and then started to remove his clothing. Oh hell. Not that. Not again.

"I really don't feel up to it tonight." I said. I did not want to have sex. I certainly did not want to have sex with him tonight.

He punched me. "You're my wife." He said as he then began ripping my clothes off. I attempted to stop him and get out of his grasp, but he was too strong. I tried to stop him and he would hit me again. He ripped off my clothes and then threw me onto the bed.

"No, please…" I begged, I pleaded.

I heard him throw the clothes across the room and then got onto the bed. I tried to move away, but he pinned me down. He got on my back and started kissing me on the neck as he removed unhooked my bra strap. I flinched away and he then grabbed my ear.

"I have every right to do this with my wife. Whenever I want." Leopold said as he then flipped me over. I attempted to kick him off of me. I managed to hit him in the face, but it did no difference. He hit me again and then sat on me, with his knees on my thighs. He pinned me down. I could not move, though I knew, I should have known by now, that the king will get what he wants and that it would be pointless to fight. It would just be more painful for me. But I really did not want this. It would be easier to lay there and take it, but I was desperate. It did not want it. Leopold bit my breasts and neck. I struggled. A part of me had this feeling that a part of him liked the fight I put up. I realized since he had me constellate the marriage that he likes it rough. He laughed as I struggled. "Oh my queen, when will you learn?" He laughed as he pulled my hair and forced his tongue down my throat. "You're mine. No one else's." He whispered as he went inside me and humped. I tried not to make a sound as I cried, tears streaming down my face. "No one else will want you." He whispered before he went in deeper and harder. "You're mine forever."

It hurt badly. The sex and his words.

From what I was told and what I knew, I am a prisoner. I am his prisoner. I am a prisoner to this marriage forever; I have no escape. There is no hope. There is no love. Everything until death do us part is what he wants and I get no say. My life, from here on out, is hopeless. I have no freedom. That I believe. And I also believe he is right, I am to be his forever and I will never love again; I will never be loved again.

A/N: I have never written a scene graphic like that before. It just happened and I kind of looked at it like, what the hell just happened. But here it is. So Regina's marriage is not only loveless, it is abusive and she seems to have no escape.

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