Gone but never forgotten 10
We kinda jump in head first at the end of the chapter but \_-_-_/ it's Valentine's Day and I'm feeling the love so.
Xx
The crowd murmured but said nothing else on the subject so Regina turned to the woman and child and nodded to her.
"Our crops are dying your majesty, the raids have increased and I fear for our safety."
"Raids? What raids?" Regina asked and looked to Snow who shook her head and shrugged. "Who's is attacking? Do you know?"
"It's been going on for weeks... raiders from the north burning our villages, stealing our crop, well what hasn't been taken by the blight... we tried to tell the king! But he wouldn't listen to us! Said he had more important things to do..." she looked away, ashamed as Regina winced at the thought of what he was doing while this was going on in their kingdom.
"I had no knowledge of this... I'm very sorry..." Regina said and stood shakily from her seat. The pain was a dull throb now rather than a searing burn since her mother had helped her. She leaned heavily on her cane and walked toward the woman and her small child. She reached her hand out and the woman took it.
"We will aid you." She said looking into the woman's eyes. Then she looked up at the rest of the crowd. "We will aid you all!"
They cheered loudly and she beamed.
Xx
After getting a complete list of all that was lost and all that had been going on from the villagers Snow and Regina made their way back inside.
"Regina do you want to have dinner? I could have the staff whip something up for us? Or we could go to the sitting room and play a game? Or we could-"
"Snow... I'm very tired..." Regina said, weariness nearly dripping from her voice, it had been a very long day.
Snow looked down sheepishly, "Right of course.. I'm sorry..." and she began to sulk off but Regina stopped her.
"Snow... I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you but-" she didn't even know what to say, she'd already said it. She was so tired.
Snow smiled at her, "I know, you go rest and we can hang out tomorrow... oh and Regina?"
"Yes Snow?"
"Thank you for coming after me..." Snow smiled.
"Think of it as making up for you coming back for me." She kissed Snow on the cheek then and turned down the hall heading for her room.
Xx
She walked slowly down the hall, alone now, as she rounded the corner to her bedroom she stopped and looked at it. It had been only two months since she'd been in her own bedroom, in all the time before being rescued she was forced to stay in Leopold's room, on the floor mostly. Except when he wished for her in the bed, but even then it wasn't for sleeping. She shuttered at the thought and continued to her room.
She opened the door with a creek and light filtered in. The room was covered in a thick layer of dust. As she looked around she sighed... she thought about the first night he dragged her from here. It was after Snow had left, but not long after, he'd had the healer take her to her room from his to deal with the wounds, only a few days later he came back, demanding to know where she had hidden Snow from him.
She looked around again, her bed was still unmade and her night dress still lay on the floor. She shook her head and turned around. A new room, she decided, somewhere on the other side of the castle would be good.
Xx
Regina walked slowly into the kitchen where Granny was talking quickly with a kitchen staff member.
"Granny..." Regina called, getting the woman's attention.
"Oh dear, hello, what can I do for you?"
"I wondered who I could speak to about changing my room. Or rather, moving my things, I don't know..."
Granny gave her an understanding look and walked closer.
"I will clean out a new room for you right away Your Majesty." Then she clapped her hands and two younger maid followed her out of the room.
Regina took a deep breathe and sat herself down on a tall chair in the corner of the kitchen. Her stomach growled loudly and her cheeks burned red when the cook turned to look at her.
"Can I make you something your majesty?" He asked.
She blushed again and said, "if you wouldn't mind, maybe just a fruit salad or something light?"
He nodded and got to work.
Xx
As she sat at the table and ate her fruit salad Emma entered also looking for a snack.
"Hello miss Swan."
Emma jumps at the voice, not expecting her.
"Oh Your Majesty! You scared me!"
"I've told you Miss swan, call me Regina. Please..."
Emma laughs, "well I've told you to call me Emma."
Regina smiles and thinks for a moment, "I think not, Miss Swan suits you."
The cook walks up and asks Emma what she would like.
"Oh I was just looking for a snack, you don't have to make me anything!"
Emma grabs a snack from the pantry and takes a seat next to Regina.
They sit in silence for a long moment, both eating quietly.
"So... the men and I will be heading off tomorrow I think, gotta get back to it you know?"
Regina looks up, shocked and just slightly heartbroken. "You're... you're leaving?"
"Well I don't really have any reason to stay..."
"Joint my court!" Regina shouts. Emma looks at her startled.
"What?"
"Y-yes... um.. you're very strong and smart and I could use someone like you on my court... after Leopold was removed some of the court members left as well so I need replacements.. you would be perfect."
Emma smiled.
"Robin and John are welcome to stay too of course, they could be guards or whatever they feel they want to be I'll find a place for them..."
Regina looked at Emma hopefully. Emma smirked at her and leaned closer. There breathes mingle as Emma stares into her eyes.
"Thank you" she whispered finally and took a step back.
Regina swallowed hard and took in a shuttering breath.
Before anything else could be said between the two women Granny entered the kitchen.
"Your majesty, I've had a new room set up for you in the south wing, if you'll follow me." Granny walked over to Regina and lent her an arm. Regina took the older woman's arm and followed her out of the kitchen. Emma watching carefully as she left with a small smile on her face.
Xx
Granny lead Regina to a large room that was much more open and airy than her last, the fireplace was roaring and glass doors to a balcony were shut tight but let in plenty of the setting sun light. Regina takes a seat in front of the fireplace and motions for Granny to sit as well.
"Thank you..." Regina says looking to Granny who smiles.
"Of course. I understand you're not wanting to stay in the other room."
Regina looks away, sighing.
"I don't want this to hang over me for the rest of my life... but being here, I still see him wandering the halls... I know he's not but I can't help but feel his presence..." she takes a shuttering breath and whiles away a tear. Granny stands and walks to her side, pulling her into a tight hug.
"You will not live this way forever my darling, of that I'm sure." She tilts Reginas head to look up at her. Eyes watering Regina meets her gaze and Granny smiles, "I can already see a young love blossoming."
Regina blushes. "Granny... she's not interested..."
Granny scoffs, "and how might you know this? She seems mighty interested to me. You're beautiful and kind and a wonderful leader Regina. You deserve the most and best love and Emma will give that to you, I know it."
Regina shakes her head, "she'll never see me as more than the broken queen she had to rescue... disgusting..."
"Regina Calysta you are NOT disgusting! You are a survivor! You are a queen and a wonderful caring thoughtful ruler! You are beautiful and brilliant and I will not stand by and listen to you talk about yourself this way! Miss swan would be LUCKY to love someone like you!"
Regina laughs dismissively.
"She's right. I would." Emma's voice sounded from the doorway. "And I do..."
Regina gasped, "wha—"
"Love you I mean... I love you Regina..." Emma blushes. "I know we've only known each other a few days but I— well I knew it the moment I saw you... I knew you were my one, my true love. That magic I used to save you, I didn't even know I had that... I'd never felt it before. It was warm and bright and it reached out for you, it wanted to protect you before I even knew who you were..."
"Emma..." Regina stood shakily from her chair and Granny gripped her waist. Emma moved closer and placed a hand gently on Reginas cheek. Granny slowly stepped away, leaving the women to have their moment.
"You hardly know me..." Regina whispered. "I know you. I know you in a way I've never known anyone, my heart, it knows you... it reaches for yours... I thought... maybe you felt the same way..."
"I do. I feel it. It's like it's pulling me to you... like if you were to go... it might just shatter into a million pieces..." Regina said and leaned even more into Emma's hand.
Their eyes met for a long silent moment before Emma leaned in close and their lips met in a gentle kiss. Wind rushed and a bright light shone from them. True loves kiss.
Xxx
love you please review what you thought