So, this is an idea that had been in my mind for a long time. So I decided to write it as an one shote. I hope you like it and leave me you reviews.
Thanks for reading.
—Come in or leave lady — He heard a plump man, with a big beard and who evidently needed a good bath.
The brunette looked away from the floor and took a couple of steps back, letting the door close in front of her. Seconds later, she walked step by step to leave the alley to the square and in her head she cursed herself for being such a coward. With her hands on her hips she paced from side to side trying to decide whether or not to return to the tavern.
When she was determined to return to the castle, the impact of her body against of a man's body stopped her. She felt the man's arms take her by the waist to prevent her from falling to the ground and it was there when she looked up and could see some worried blue eyes watching her.
—I'm sorry, milady, I didn't see you there. — He apologized.
Regina opened her mouth to say something but remained silent. They were so close that she could feel the smell of beer on the man's breath. Seconds later, she moved her arms to get out of the man's strong arms and then took a couple steps back.
—You should be more careful. — The brunette spoke in an annoyed tone.
—Again, I apologize. I was somewhat distracted.
—It's okay. — She answered without giving much importance.
Regina ran a hand over her forehead and then crossed her arms and turned around, looking towards the treetops that surrounded the square where she was.
—Are you okay? It looks like you are distressed. — The man asked advancing towards her.
The brunette rolled her eyes and turned around to look at the man in a withering way.
—It's nothing that concerns you.
The man grimaced and raised his hands, showing his palms in sign of peace. He just wanted to be nice and all he had got was an annoying girl, very beautiful, but really annoying girl.
—Excuse me for intruding, my intention wasn't to offend you, much less bother you. — The brunette said nothing and just looked away to the ground. — If there is something that you need, I may be able to help. — He insisted.
—I do not need help from anyone...
The man raised his hands again and without saying anything else turned around and started to walk. He had decided to leave the tavern for air and he definitely needed to go back inside for another beer after that rare encounter. When he reached the door of the tavern he stopped and turned his head, looking over his shoulder at the beautiful brunette girl who was running her hands over her face and looked around as if she expected something to happen.
He cursed under his breath for being so weak before a woman in distress and leaned against the wall of the tavern while looking at the woman. Regina turned her head at the feeling of being watched and she met the blue eyes of the man with brown hair. She watched him for a few seconds, he was dressed as peasant: simple brown pants, boots and a white shirt; No doubt he would knew the way back to the castle.
Regina started walking towards him, taking short, hesitant steps. She took her hands nervously playing with her fingers and when she was in front of him, her eyes focused on the floor.
—Actually. — She spoke shyly. — I could use some help.
The man smiled sideways and craned his head back as he crossed his arms.
—You could have said it from the beginning, milady. — boasted him. — Although I'm not sure if I can help you.
—Then, why did you offered yourself from the beginning? — She complained.
—I cannot help you if you don't tell me what you need. — He continued.
—I need to get to a place. — Regina wasn't sure to say that she wanted to get to the castle, because maybe if the man knew who she was, he would want to take advantage of her position and ask her for a juicy payment. — The place is north of the forest, but I really don't know how to get there.
—That is no problem. I know the forest as if it were the palm of my hand.
—So, will you help me? — The brunette looked up and her eyes brightened with some hope.
—It depends…
—Of what?
—The payment. — The man smiled again and Regina rolled her eyes.
—What do you want? — She asked crossing her arms.
—A drink. — He answered with a shrug.
—Of course, when we get to the place, I will give you all the money you want so you can spend it on drinks...
—Don't. — He interrupted. — I want a drink right now. I want you to have a drink with me.
—That is all? — Regina frowned.
—That is all.
The brunette observed the man with some distrust and he just smiled and shrugged.
—Fine.
Robin was laying on both arms at the bar in the tavern, waiting impatiently for the two jars of beer he had ordered. Outside, on a wooden bench, a beautiful woman with dark hair and big brown eyes was waiting for him. He couldn't believe the luck he had had to find her in that place, a woman so beautiful wasn't seen every day by the village and now he had earned, or rather charge, a couple of drinks with her in exchange for escort her to the northern part of the forest. They would take the drink outside because she didn't want to be surrounded by a lot of drunk men, in her words.
The man behind the bar slide the beer jars towards him and Robin dropped several coins into the bar
—Are you going so early? — Asked the man.
—I have something to do, Clause. — Robin took a sip of his beer. — I hope that's enough to pay the bill.
The man looked at the coins on the bar and took them carefully, observing them carefully.
—yours, it does. But I'm not sure about your men.
—That, they´ll take care... They have enough money from today's booty.
Robin took the other jar of beer and started walking outside the tavern. When he began to approach the square, he could see that the woman was not sitting where he had indicated her and he frowned.
When he left the alley completely, he could see her standing with her hands out to stop the man who was trying to get close to her. Robin didn't take more than two seconds to react and began to walk with long and hurried steps; He placed the jars on one of the wooden tables and continued walking towards the woman.
Immediately, he placed himself in front of her, blocking the man's way and throwing him with his hands on his chest.
—What do you think you're doing?! — He said frowning and with a high tone of voice.
—I just want to have some fun. — The man replied dragging the words, he was clearly drunk.
—She's with me. — Robin felt how the woman was hiding behind him while the man was watching them.
—And you don't want to share her? — The drunk man smiled and licked his teeth in a disgusting way.
Robin punched him in the face and the man staggered back, putting his hand on his cheek.
—I told you she's with me. — He said emphasizing every word.
The man spat the blood in his mouth and looked at Robin with some resentment.
-Okay... I do not want trouble.
Robin continued protecting the woman with his body while the man turned around to get away.
—Are you okay milady? — He asked turning around to observe the frightened face of the brunette. She just nodded and took her arms looking at the ground. — I'm sorry this happened. I should never have left you alone.
—Luckily, you arrived on time...
—Calm down, while you're with Robin Hood, you will not be in any danger.
—Robin Hood? — She asked raising an eyebrow. — You're Robin Hood? The thief.
—At your service. — Robin smiled and bowed to make a small bow.
—You are one of the most wanted thieves in the whole kingdom, do you know what would happen to you if the royal guards found you?
—But that will not happen. — He hastened to say — because this will be our secret.
Robin smiled and observed that the woman was still watching him with some surprise and she just looked at him, standing there, realizing how handsome the thief was.
—Can we go now? — She asked shaking her head.
—We can´t... You owe me a drink, don't you remember?
—Fine. — The brunette rolled her eyes — But be quick, I'm in a hurry.
The thief nodded and they both started walking towards the table where Robin had left the beer jars and they both sat on the wooden benches facing each other.
—I think we're at a disadvantage milady. — Robin took a drink of beer without taking his eyes off the woman.
—Oh yes? What disadvantage? — She answered taking the jar between her hands.
—You already know who I am, but I don't know who you are.
The woman smiled and played a little with the jar between her fingers. She hesitated a bit before answering, but she did.
—Regina, my name is Regina.
—It's a pretty name. — Robin commented with a half-sided smile.
They both looked at each other and took a drink from their beer jar. Regina made a face at the taste of the contents. She had never drank beer before, she had only tasted the finest wines in the enchanted forest.
—Then Regina, why do you want to go so urgently to the northern part of the forest? — Robin asked raising an eyebrow as he left his beer jar on the table.
—There is where I live. — She answered by laying on her arms on the table.
—A very wealthy part of the forest... Very close to the castle.
—Yes it is. — The brunette didn't gave much importance and drank another sip of beer, this time making a lighter grimace at the taste.
—Then you must attend many dances, incredible and fun parties, as everything that they do in the palace.
—Well, they are not so fun. — The brunette complained while shrugging her shoulders — People just go to criticize the food or what you're wearing.
—Come on! Have you never enjoyed any of those parties? — Robin asked incredulously.
Regina shook her head and took another sip of beer, this time she didn't make a face and even kept the liquid in her mouth for a few seconds. She was getting used to the taste.
—All boring.
—How about the dances? No doubt you should enjoy when you dance.
—Not much, I don't dance very often. — The brunette looked at the table.
She had not danced for fun for years. The king always danced with his daughter and the men who invited her to dance were so boring that everything became monotonous.
—Well, that's about to change. — Robin drank all the contents of his jar in one gulp and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt before getting up from his seat.
—What are you doing? — Regina frowned as she looked at the thief.
—Let's Dance.
He smiled and extended his arm towards her. Regina watched him with an open mouth and incredulity. The brunette let out a small smile and shook her head as she took the thief's hand.
—There is not music here.
—We don't need it. — Robin took Regina's other hand and led her to the middle of the square. — Listen to the crickets and the branches of the trees. That is our music.
Regina smiled again and watched as the thief bowed. She responded in the same way and let Robin took her hand and waist, bringing her to his muscular body.
He smelled like forest and beer; his touch was warm and delicate; her movements were slow and measured despite the lack of music and she just followed him. Regina looked at him at those blue eyes and curled her lips in a small smile. The man was quite attractive, with that skin a little toasted by the sun and that tender smile that didn't fade from his face. He looked at her with such intensity that she responded with a sigh and suddenly felt that the world vanished around them.
Robin looked at her, and couldn't stop smiling. She was beautiful, her brown eyes, which were on his, her sharp cheeks, her small nose and full lips made no woman more beautiful than her.
By an impulse, Robin took the brunette in his arms and lifted her off the ground giving a little twist and she let out a laugh, and the thief couldn't help but smile at the melodic sound of her laughter and he looked into her eyes, feeling their breaths mingle; Seconds later, he left Regina on the floor, slowly and delicately, and took her by the waist causing her to surround his neck with her thin arms. Both kept moving rhythmically and Regina looked away when she felt her cheeks flush and she could see how the few people who passed by the place looked at them as if they were a pair of crazy people. The brunette smiled shyly and hid her face in the shoulder of the thief, laying on her cheek. Robin replenished his head on hers and inhaled her delicious scent, feeling the warmth of her body. They were so close that their bodies moved like one.
Regina felt too comfortable in the man's arms and realized they were not dancing anymore, they were just there leaning on each other. The brunette slowly separated from the thief's body only to look him in the eyes. She wanted to say something to him, but she couldn't, she was lost and hypnotized by that man; which was quite odd, because she barely knew him, she had run into him by accident while searching for her supposed soul mate and now she didn't want to leave his side. But, she knew she had to do it. Robin smiled at her and raised his hand to stroke her cheek with the tips of his fingers. The brunette replenished her face in the hand of the thief with a tender smile and her look under to the arm of the man where a mark caught her attention.
It was him. He was the man with the lion tattoo. He was the one she had seen sitting, glowing with green light. He was the man she had not dared to meet. And suddenly everything made sense; the tickling in her spine and stomach, the need to sigh while he was embracing her and not wanting to be apart of him. According to Tinkerbell, he was her soul mate and although she had not dared to look for him, he had found her.
—It cannot be... — She whispered, still with her eyes on the tattoo.
—Is something wrong? — The thief asked regretfully.
—No, there's nothing wrong. — Regina slowly pulled away from him, sliding her hands down his strong arms. — I think we should go now.
Robin grimaced and nodded reluctantly. He was having a really magical moment with the beautiful brunette, but he knew that a woman like that, not in a thousand years would be with him.
—It's okay.
Regina realized that the thief's attitude had changed and she felt bad for having ruined that moment, but she had become so nervous to see that tattoo that she couldn't think of anything else to do but say she had to leave. The strangest thing to her was the sensations she had begun to feel without knowing that the thief was in her destiny.
Robin ran his hands through his hair and indicated the brunette to start walking. Regina advanced with slow and hesitant steps and waited until the thief was at her side to look up at him.
—Thanks for accompanying me.
—It was a deal. — He answered with a shrug.
—It was an amazing night. — She confessed shyly and extended her arm looking for Robin's hand. The thief was surprised at the gesture but he didn't stop it; he just smiled and looked at Regina who smiled at him in such a beautiful way that his smile grew even bigger.
—I think it was a very beautiful causality to meet you. — The words came out alone, without permission and the thief wanted to curse himself for having said that.
—Or maybe it was destiny. — She answered.
They both looked at each other and smiled. Destiny or Causality? It depends on which angle you see it. Because maybe that encounter was in the destiny, but it was a causality that happened at that moment.
They walked through the woods in silence, looking at each other and smiling shyly. They were holding hands and the moon shone on the road. Both walked in the same direction and not only by the direction of their steps.
The road became short and in a matter of minutes they reached the northern part of the forest. They could see the castle in the distance and the small village that surrounded it. Regina stopped and looked at Robin who gave her a small smile. She couldn't contain herself and hugged him effusively. The thief wrapped her tightly with his arms squeezing her body and burying his face in Regina's long dark hair.
—Where have you been all my life? — He whispered.
—I was a little busy. — She answered and separated a bit from the thief to look at him — although, being honest, I don't understand on what.
Robin smiled at her and stroked his cheek causing his tattoo to show on the sleeve of his shirt. The brunette cleared her throat and stroked the arm on which she had her tattoo.
—Can I tell you something? —The brunette asked.
—Go ahead.
—Today, a fairy told me that I could find my soul mate with her help. So, she casted a spell that took me to the tavern where we were. — Robin frowned without understanding what Regina was saying. — The spell pointed to a man who was sitting drinking a beer and he shone under a green light... I was very scared and I couldn't enter the tavern, I was afraid and I didn't have the courage… That man, my soul mate, had a tattoo on his arm. — Regina took the thief's arm where he had the tattoo and lifted it a bit while she bitted her lower lip — He had... He had a lion tattoo.
Robin looked at her and opened his eyes wide; He moved his mouth a couple of times trying to pronounce a word and the brunette just smiled.
—It was me? — He talked even surprised.
—It's always been you.
Regina smiled at him and stood on the balls of her feet giving him a short and sweet kiss on the lips. Robin was so surprised that he couldn't do or say anything and just stood there, watching her walk away.