Gone but never forgotten 8
Warning for violence
The romance begins.
Xx
When Regina woke the first thing she noticed was the lack of pain. She sat up without wincing and looked around. That's when she noticed her mother unconscious on the floor next to her bed.
She gasped, "mother!"
"HELP!" She called as loudly as she could muster. She could tell her mother had healed her but she was still exhausted. She shoved the blankets off and scooted to the edge of the bed. "Someone! Please!" She called again. No one was coming. She swung her legs off the bed and her feet touched the soft rug. "Mother?" She sighed, and stood from the bed. Immediately she cried out and crumbled to the ground, her knee throbbed with pain. Clearly Cora wasn't able to heal everything.
"Mother!" She called again, now sitting on the floor next to her, she shook her shoulders.
"Snow! Emma!" She called again. The thick walls of the castle prevented anyone from hearing her. She knew this all too well about castles... She looked around the room, in the corner was a wooden staff that had been left for decoration but if she could get to it she could use it as a walking stick to go find help. She used the chair next to the bed and pulled herself up, careful not to use her left leg she held the chair tightly then reached for the wall and leaned on that sort of hopping to the corner. She grabbed onto the stick and used it to hobble to the door. The large wood door was heavy but she pulled it open and made her way down the hall looking for anyone to help her. After a few moments of searching slowly Emma rounded the corner.
"Emma!" Regina called, slightly out of breathe.
"Regina!" Emma called back and ran to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist and helping hold her weight.
"My... my mother.."
"Regina what are you doing out here? You need to be resting!" Emma said as she began to lead her back to her room.
"My mother she healed me but she- now she's passed out on the floor. I called for help but no one heard me..."
Emma looked shocked. "Lean on me and I will help your mother."
Regina smiled at the woman. "Thank you...
Together they walked back to the room. Emma help for Gina back to bed before helping Cora to the chair next to the bed. Emma checked her over as Regina watched with worry.
"How is she?" Regina asked.
"She seems ok, just tired from healing you I think."
Regina breath a sigh of relief.
" You know she hasn't done a lot for me in life but this was a big deal for her. Using her magic to heal me like this... I wonder why she did it..."
Emma shrugged, "I'm not sure, maybe she just came to her senses."
Regina thought for a moment before looking to Emma. "Where is everyone?"
Emma looked away from her gaze.
"They're... dealing with some official business right now."
"What does that mean?"
"Your kingdom... the officials want to know what to do now, with no ruler things are becoming a little... chaotic I guess."
"I- well... I must get back to them! My people they need me!"
"Regina you're in no condition to travel that far right now."
"Well who else will lead them?"
"Snow left this morning."
"Snow? She's only a child! She can't lead them on her own! She has no idea what she's doing! Emma!"
Emma sighed, "I tried to tell her this myself but she refused to listen, Red and my men accompanied her."
" Emma the people are angry with snow from running away. You and I know that it was for her safety for the best but they don't understand. Dealt her in on her before she even has a chance I have to go after her. Will you help me?" Regina asked.
"Regina..."
" Emma please, I haven't known you very long I know you'll do right by her and I know you'll help me please."
Emma thought for a long moment, shuffling back-and-forth.
"Fine. We'll go. I can't believe I'm saying this..."
Regina beamed. "Thank you so much Emma."
"We'll have to inform the king and queen we can't just leave without telling them."
Regina agreed and Emma went to find them.
Xx
Cora moaned softly from the chair Emma had placed her in.
"Mother?" Regina whispered.
"Regina... are you okay?" Cora asked standing and moving to Reginas side.
"You look much better... I'm so glad."
Regina looked confused at her mother's words, she seemed to actually... care?
"Why did you heal me?"
"I was wrong before, you never deserved this... this treatment... I am so sorry my love..."
"Snow... did she actually?"
"Yes... my heart is back where it belongs now... and I love you with all of it, I'm so sorry for all the things I've done to you, for all the ways I've hurt you..."
Regina let out a soft sob and hugged her mother tightly.
"How are you feeling?" Cora asked, looking Regina up and down.
"I'm good mother. You healed almost everything... Just my knee remains wounded..."
"Well here I'll heal it now" Cora said and raised her hands again but Regina stopped her.
"You can't." Regina said, "you can't fix this one mother..."
Xx
*1 Month ago*
In the center of the castle courtyard Leopold walked in circles dragging Regina behind him on a chain. She wore nothing but a pair of underwear and a tank top undershirt. She was crawling on the stone, her knees and palms covered in scrapes. People were gathered around watching, though they seemed less than entertained, maybe look uncomfortable seeing their queen in such a position and other seemed down right disgusted.
Leopold laughed and yanked on the chain.
One man had enough. A kindly looking older black man pushed through the crowd, "stop this! This is cruel! She's done nothing to you!"
"Oh? And what would you know of it?"
"I know nothing could ever be done to warrant this treatment of another human being!" The old man shouted.
"Well why don't I tell you what she did then! This woman drove my darling daughter away, into the forest, she forced her to leave so she could kill me and take the throne." The crowd murmured, not believing his words.
"Maybe the princess ran away to protect herself!" One woman shouted.
"Or maybe she was just abandoning the queen." Another man grumbled.
"Stop!" Leopold shouted and pulled Regina to a standing position. She stumbled and tripped but eventually stood.
"This woman is not your queen, she is a traitor and a prisoner."
The ground murmured again, growing restless. The knights behind Leopold tightened their grip on their weapons.
He grabbed Regina by the back of her head with a fistful if hair. She cried out.
"You will obey me, your true king and you will watch this punishment with no more interruptions." He shouted then pushed Regina to her knees, her left knee cracked when it hit the hard stone and she screamed in agony. The older man yelled again and tried to run at them but the knights stopped him before he had a chance, pushing him back roughly into the arms of the crowd.
"You won't get away with this forever!" He shouted before the villagers led him away to safety.
Xx
"It was done over a month ago, it's already begun it's healing improperly. It won't ever be the same..." she whispered.
Cora sighed, "but I can dull the pain." She said and waved her hand over Reginas knee.
Regina smiled at her mother. "Thank you mother..."
Cora waved her hand once more a metal can appeared, it was silver and beautiful with a carved crown as the handle. She handed it to Regina.
"Fit for a queen, should you still wish to be one..."
"I may not have wished for this title, but mother, those are my people and I must care for them as I swore to do." She said, standing up with her new cane. "I'm going back. Will you help me?"