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I was sitting at Regina's dining table making my homework, this Saturday afternoon. ''I know you think otherwise, but I don't enjoy these Saturday city council meetings.'' Regina said after she finished doing her makeup and turned around. ''Sometimes they're just unavoidable. Now, you know the rules?'' Henry put down his comic and answered, ''Yes on homework, no on TV, and stay inside.''
Regina smiled. ''Good boy. Under no circumstance do you leave this house.''
''You mean don't see my mom.'' He said to correct her. ''She's not your mother. She's just a woman passing through. Now do as I say or there will be consequences. I'll be back at 5:00 sharp.'' And Regina turned around and left.
I was ready to focus on my history homework, when Henry interrupted my concentration. ''Maddie, do you want some apple juice?'' He asked sweetly. I arched my eyebrow, since when was he so nice? I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. And I was also pretty thirsty. ''Sure, I'd love that.''
A few moments later, Henry came back with a glass of apple juice. ''Thanks, Henry.'' I said as he gave me the glass. I took a sip and the juice seemed to taste normally. I wondered why I mistrusted him. Then my view started to get drowsy, I fell down from the chair. The last thing I vaguely could make out, was Henry running away. Then I lost my consciousness.
The next day I woke when the sun was already setting, which was actually way too late because I had wanted to leave before sunrise.
My stomach growled of the lack of food, I hadn't eaten since last night at dinner. I missed the comfort of the castle and of course I missed my husband too. But something inside told me, I didn't miss him as much as I should. I shook it off, I had to focus on the task ahead. Finding my sisters and bringing them home safely.
I grabbed my stuff and went downstairs to pay the ward who had kindly to let me stay in the tavern so late. No one was standing behind the bar and I peered behind the bar. Robin Hood I presumed stood bend over. I cleared my throat to get the man's attention from behind the bar. He hit his head against bottom of the bar. He looked at her sheepishly. "Sir, I'd like to pay for my stay."
He nodded. "Are you sure you don't want to stay for breakfast, your majesty?" He whispered the last two words.
I was immediately alarmed."Please, do not tell anyone." I begged as I gave him the money. "You're safe here," he assured me. "And please sit down for breakfast, no offence but it looks you need it, your majesty."
I nodded obediently and sat down by the only table which was still free. A woman gave me bowl of porridge and nervously curtsied in front of me. ''It's an honour, your majesty.''
''The honour is all mine, I'm eternally grateful for you letting me stay here, ...'' I struggled with her name. ''Marian, Marian Hood, your majesty.'' I actually wanted to start eating my breakfast but I also didn't want to be rude. ''Marian, why don't you sit down?'' I patted on a spot next to me on the bench.
''So your husband is Robin Hood?'' She nodded fervently. ''He looks to me to be a good man.'' I said after eating a spoon of porridge. ''He is, but wasn't always,'' she hesitated to go on. ''You can tell me, my lips are sealed.'' Marian smiled sweetly at me. ''Robin used to be a thief. He wanted to steal a horse from a family and I made it clear to him that we couldn't survive without the horse. He realized his ways were wrong and soon we fell in love and got married.'' My heart was warmed by this love story.
''That's so sweet, he left his thieving ways to be with you.'' I gushed and I wished I had that kind of love with William. Love that could conquer anything. If I went back to the castle, William wouldn't forgive me for leaving. I probably would sentenced to death.
A blonde man stumbled into the tavern. He looked to be drunk as he couldn't walk straight. And of course, the only spot free was next to me. ''Lucas, are you drunk?'' Marian asked the man while getting up. ''Maybe.'' He laughed as he thought his remark was funny. Marian assisted him in sitting down next to me.
Marian nodded disapprovingly as she left him to get some food. ''And you are?'' He rudely asked me. Before I could answer, a man all dressed into black walked into the tavern holding a wanted poster of me. ''Queen Madeline is missing and I demand all of you to hand her over to me when you find her.'' My heart started beating faster, I considered covering my face with my cloak but that would just draw more attention to myself. Lucas laughed loudly probably at the man's antics. ''Is this funny to you, Hood?'' The last word dripped with venom. ''It is actually funny of you to think that we are just going to hand the Queen over to you, Nottingham.''
Nottingham wanted to remark something but then he saw me. I was in trouble, in big trouble. My rescue mission might come to an early end, right now.
In the meanwhile, Regina had gotten home from her ''council meeting'', she found Madison on the floor and Henry was nowhere to be seen. Regina was furious, that stupid girl had just fallen asleep while her son was out there somewhere with Emma Swan. Regina tried to wake up Madison by shaking her gently but Madison didn't even budge slightly.
Regina then noticed the apple juice on the dining table, Madison was under a sleeping curse and wasn't going to wake up anytime soon without her true love around. Regina realized the right thing to do, was to bring Madison to the hospital. Everyone would just think she was in a coma.
''I never thought I'd find you this easily, your majesty.'' Nottingham said with an cunning smile like he had already won this battle. But I wasn't going to give up this easily. The people in the tavern had gone silent and were watching the spectacle play out in front of them.
Lucas stared at me with wide eyes, he hadn't realized who I was. I got up and walked up to Nottingham. ''You may have found me but I'm not going with you. At least not without a fight.'' I drew my sword and pointed it as his throat. I saw a flash of fear in his eyes before he pulled himself together.
''Very well.'' He grinned and drew his sword quicker than I anticipated. I slightly stumbled when our swords clanged together. I quickly recovered and attacked. We circled around each other both attacking and defending. He had the advantage of being stronger but I was quicker.
Someone yelled at me, I was only distracted for a moment but Nottingham took advantage of the moment and cut me in the arm. Because of the adrenaline, I didn't feel any pain. ''Are you ready to give up, your majesty?''
''Never.'' I spat, I had to analyse his fight patterns. He was left handed so that made him a more difficult opponent because he weak side was across from mine but the same applied for him. What I also noticed that his eyes moved to the spot he wanted to strike a few seconds before. I could use that to my advantage.
I saw that he wanted to go to my left so I dodged to my right and I cut him in his lower abdomen in the progress. The cut wasn't deep but it was enough to throw him off balance. He stumbled and fell backwards. I put my foot down on his chest and held my sword pointed at his throat.
The wisest thing was probably to take his life but I knew I wasn't capable of that. ''I'll spare your life if you do not report back to the soldiers of my kingdom.'' I said in the most intimidating voice I could manage. Which wasn't that intimidating, I might add. Yet, Nottingham seemed to shaken but that was probably because of the sword I was pointing at his throat.
He nodded, still shaking of fear. I took my foot of his chest, he scrambled up and left as he quickly as he could. ''You know, he's going to betray you, right?'' His voice came from behind me. ''Of course, I do. I'm not stupid.'' I spat, starting to feel the pain of the wound on my arm.
''Your wound needs stitches, your majesty.'' Marian said whilst inspecting the wound. I brushed her off, ''It isn't that deep besides I have to go, I haven't got much time before Nottingham spreads the word about where I am.''
But Marian wasn't going to give up this easily. ''At least, let me bandage it.'' I nodded in agreement and sat down on a bench. Marian left to find a piece clean cloth and came back with Robin who was carrying a bottle of whiskey. ''This is going to sting.'' I nodded briefly, mentally preparing myself for the pain.
Robin poured the alcohol over the wound, and I clenched my teeth as it definitely stung a lot. Subsequently, Marian quickly wrapped the cloth around my arm. ''You can't travel alone in your state, sadly I can't leave here so that's why I propose my brother to go with you, your majesty.''
Lucas was clearly indignant by this proposal, ''Do I have a say in this?'' He didn't want come with me and I was not going to force him. ''You don't have to, besides my mission might be to perilous for you anyway.'' I said with a smile and got up.
Lucas scoffed, ''Too dangerous for me, never.'' God, the guy was really arrogant but I preferred to roam the enchanted forest with someone then alone. And I felt that I could trust the Hoods. ''It's settled then, let's go.''
Regina had taken Madison to the hospital and found Emma and Henry at the hospital. ''Why are you here?'' Henry asked her. ''I found Madison unconscious on the floor, she was sleeping but I couldn't wake her up so I thought it would be wise to take her to the hospital.
Henry looked at her in shock. ''So is she going to wake up again?'' Before Regina could answer, Mary Margaret came storming into the corridor of the hospital. ''What happened to her, Regina?'' Mary Margaret asked accusingly. Dr. Whale emerged from Madison's hospital room. ''Mary Margaret, she's stable, she seems to be in some kind of coma and we've tried every possible way to wake up but she doesn't want to.''
