Once Upon a Midnight: Audrina
Chapter 01: The Mirror Cracked
Many Years Later: In a Land Created By a Wish
The sun rose slowly outside a small cabin situated in a small alcove just above the midway plateau of the mountain. It was a tiny home, but also tidy and warm, the fireplace lit year round to stave off the chill of the nightly breeze flowing down the mountain. It was, in a single word, cozy.
"Audrey, rise and shine." Regina sighed, approaching her daughter's bed. Her gaze taking in the books and drawings by the young woman's bed as well as the remaining tidbits of the previous night's supper. She tsk'ed. "Staying up late reading and eating isn't good for you."
"Hm." Audrina briefly mumbled something inaudible before pulling a quilt tighter around her and turning away from the interruption.
"All right. Don't blame me when you miss the monthly bazaar down in the village." Regina shrugged and turned to leave the room, lips twitching as her words had the effect she wanted.
"Uh, what..." Audrina sat up in bed, yawning and wiping her eyes. "Morning, mum..."
Regina smiled bemusedly as the young woman's eyes widened at the brightness outside her window.
"What? But...It was my day to make breakfast..." Audrina gasped, realizing by the delicious scent wafting from the other side of the cabin, that her morning chore was already done. "I...l'll..."
"Look at you, all worried." Regina chuckled, gently chiding the young woman. "It's all right. I'm not going to scold you today."
"But...I promised and...with the trouble I caused just four nights ago, I..."
"Yeah, well..." Regina started, tilting her head towards the young woman's arm. A dark band, with embroidered runes, clung around Audrina's wrist. "That there is enough punishment for turning the village squire into a rooster."
Audrina pulled a face, not quite sure how to respond. At least not without a joke or snide comment. "...well, he was being a giant coc..."
"Audrina!" Regina scolded, though she secretly found it funny. And, after garnering the entire story from a witness, also an apt description of the man.
"I'm sorry." Audrina mumbled, her expression turning sheepish like a chastised child. She lifted and flexed her wrist. "You'll remove this, right, so I can make it to the bazaar?"
Regina shook her head, lips pressed thin though not with anger. Just bewilderment. "That may have worked as a child and a teenager, but not now. You're an adult. If you want to make it to the bazaar, you're going to have to walk. After you eat breakfast."
"But..." Audrina started to protest, before falling silent. Though it was just on the tip of her tongue to protest being treated like a child, she knew doing so was childish. Besides, she had agreed, after moving back in with her mother, that she'd follow Regina's rules.
The number one being not to let her magic get out of hand. Something that, though easier now that she wasn't a emotionally hectic teenager, still wrecked havoc now and again. The most recent and serious occurrence being when she burned down her house, forcing her to move back home.
"Now, if you'll get up, breakfast is ready. And," Regina paused, lifting her head for a regal, authoritative effect. "If you behave, I might have a surprise ready for you."
"Uh, um. All right." Audrina replied, biting her lip to keep herself from both scowling and complaining.
"Good, now..."
A loud pounding interrupted Regina, the sound coming from the front of the cabin.
"What? Who's that?" Audrina jumped out of bed, standing beside her mother who bristled defensively at the racket. Her eyes widened when a distantly familiar voice called out.
"Regina, it's me. It's important!" A woman voice pleaded, still knocking frightfully on the door.
"Tinkerbell?" Regina muttered in confusion as headed towards the door, Audrina a few steps behind. "What are you doing here?"
"Please, open the door. It's important. Regina." Tinkerbell replied, her voice sounding more distressed with each syllable. "Something's happened. Something serious."
"What happened?" Regina asked, though she still kept the door shut. Her face lit with alarm, she took a few breaths, her brain shifting through the possibilities.
"Please, let me in, Regina. It's important."
"...wait, doesn't Tink still have..." Audrina started to speak, confused, her eyes furrowing as she glanced at the crystalline bracelet her mother wore. Regina quickly motioned her to be quiet. It was in that gesture, that moment she understood.
"Regina, please."
"Tell me what's happened. Tinkerbell."
"Regina, please."
"Tink. Is it..." Regina, leaning against the door, swallowed and glanced briefly back at Audrina. Her daughter, though close enough to hear the shouting, was just far enough away for her next, whispered words to be secret. "Is it him? Is he seeking...revenge?"
"Regina! Please, I..."
It was at that moment that the sound of glass shattering echoed from the back room. From Audrina's room, with all its books and papers, and flammable tinctures.
"Mum, that smell..." Audrina tensed, her eyes widening at the smell of smoke and the sound of cackling flames reached her senses. "I...my drawings...I..."
"No!" Regina grabbed her daughter's arm, stopping her from recklessly heading towards the growing fire. "Stay by me."
"But..." Audrina protested, tense and confused. "How...this cabin is shielded. How can..." Her question was cut off as the smoke billowed closer, causing her to cough.
"Audri!" Regina cried out, her eyes widening in horror. She quickly pulled the young woman toward her, and muttered that Audrina should stay close to the floor. Her heart pounding, her gut twisting at the sight of the daughter she raised for decades choking on the smoky air, Regina opened the door. She knew it was a trap, had known the moment Tinkerbell had insisted on being let in, but Audrina's safety was all she thought about.
Audrina drew in a deep, gasping breath the moment the fresh air hit her. It wasn't until she heard her mother's voice, frustrated and on edge, that she glanced up. There was, what appeared to be a small army, surrounding them. She recognized the crests on their shields and armor. It was the emblem of the kingdom that had banished her mother when she was a baby.
"...what...mum..." Audrina mumbled, her voice hoarse from the smoke - too much for those around them to make out her words.
"Why are you here?" Regina growled, angry. Her eyes livid at how these people had endangered her daughter's life. "Did you finally decide to finish me off after all these years? Hm? What happened to your decision to show mercy and just banish me?"
"Silence!" The head knight growled, his voice younger than what Regina had expected. "You, the Evil Queen, shall answer for your crimes against my family. And kingdom."
"Your kingdom? A..." Regina tensed, realizing who the knight was. Though why he was here was beyond her. "You're the grandson. Well, this is surprising. Is this your initiation quest for joining the knighthood? Hunting down the 'Evil Queen' for kicks? Though I must admit it is flattering thinking I still inspire such terror that you need an army to..."
"Silence!" The prince seethed, brandishing his sword against Regina's throat. He took of his helmet, his eyes full of hatred. "Seal the rest of her magic and chain her. Both her and her..." He paused and stared at Audrina, trying to figure out who she was. The young woman didn't seem to be a slave to the Evil Queen, but he couldn't fathom anyone being an ally of hers. "Who are you?"
"I..."
"She's no one. Just a maid I forced into service." Regina interrupted Audrina, her gut twisting as she read the vehemence in the prince's eyes. It was a look she recognized, one that screamed danger not just for her, but anyone helping her. It was a look she'd worn much of her time while hunting down Snow White. The use of Tinkerbell's voice to lure her suddenly seemed much more sinister.
"Why am I not surprised?" The prince scowled, the next moment sitting up with a lordly mien. "She's free to go. After the execution."
"Execution?!" Regina tensed, her eyes lit with a mix of indignation and fear. Though the fear was hardly noticeable. "My punishment was banishment, you can't just waltz in and change it!"
"This isn't about your crimes back then. It's for what you did a year ago." The prince replied, hatred in his eyes.
"...what are you talking about? A year ago? I was just living here, minding my own business. Growing a garden." Regina gestured towards the small fenced in garden just a few feet from the smoldering cabin.
"Don't lie. You know what you did. You returned to the Enchanted Forest, killed my grandparents and kidnapped my mother."
"Wait...what?" Regina gaped, not sure if she was more confused or shocked or bewildered. "I haven't even met your mother nor have I seen Snow or Charming in over three decades."
"Don't you ever stop lying? I saw you standing over my grandparents' dead bodies after crushing their hearts."
"..." Regina gaped, closed her eyes briefly, before responding. "As...satisfying as that would be...I didn't do that. I haven't even attempted to return to the Enchanted Forest since I was banished." She took in a breath, calm despite the thumping of her heart. "Whoever it was you saw, however disguised they were, it wasn't me."
"Lies." Prince Henry shook his head. "Throw her in the prison wagon. And keep an eye on her maid."
"Wait!" Audrina, recovering from the shock of her mother's denial of their relationship, protested. Even as Regina shook her head, attempting to shush the young woman, Audrina continued. "She's telling the truth! If you don't believe her, there's a verity amulet said to be hidden in some ruins to the west. Or you could use a truth potion. Both will prove she's telling the truth."
"...for a maid who was acquired against her will, you seem awfully protective of the Evil Queen." Prince Henry leered at Audrina before shifting his gaze to Regina. Then back.
"I'm not a maid. She's my mum." Audrina declared, attempting to rush forward to free Regina only to be held back by the other knights.
"Your...mum?" Prince Henry scoffed, his gaze shifting to Regina. "Grandma said her stepmom, the Evil Queen was barren. Completely unable to have children." He studied the two women, a sliver of pity in his eyes at Audrina's shock and disbelief. He turned to Regina. "What poor family did you steal this woman from? How old was she?"
Regina swallowed but didn't respond, her mind shifting through so many if's and 'what then's. Even if Audrina hated her, she couldn't endanger her. What she'd seen in the prince's eyes, that anger, was enough to question his 'goodness'.
"Mum?" Audrina stared at her mother, for the first time in her life shocked by Regina and unsure.
"No answer? Really?" Prince Henry shook his head, his expression reflecting his disappointment. "No matter. We'll seek out this verity amulet. In the meantime, you, Evil Queen, and your...'daughter' will be held prisoner in the royal dungeons."