"Can you get me into the castle without being detected?" Robin asked knowing he had to see the Queen one way or another.
"It won't be easy but there is a secret service entrance and I might be able to get you in that way. Come to the north side of the castle tonight by the big apple tree." Mildred said.
"Thank you Mildred." Robin said as they both went their separate ways. Robin upon arriving back at the camp he and his merry men had made recently. Robin had moved out of the cabin he and Marian shared as it had been to painful to be there with his memories of Marian and himself. And now to find out about Marian's deceit, he loved her but in some way he understood why she did the things she did. He would never bad mouth her, and this reveal would stay with him so that the rest of the world would think for now that Marian was Roland's mother.
"Robin, is everything alright?" Little John asked as he saw his friend return to the camp.
"Yes John, I've just had a very long day." Robin said. "Where's Roland?"
"He's with Arthur, ah here they come now." Little John said as they saw Arthur coming with little Roland in his arms.
"I think he's been missing his papa." Arthur said as he handed Roland to Robin who took him gladly. The men had talked among themselves how Robin was a born natural with a baby. They felt bad for Robin because he was now having to be both a father and mother to his little boy but they knew that Robin and themselves would be all the family that Roland could ever want for.
"Hey now little man, you're safe now. Your papa is here and you will never know what it is like to be without me." Robin said as he walked off to himself with Roland.
"I don't know how to tell you this little man but its seems like your mother, your real mother is a Queen. I'm not sure how it happened but I know for you to be here this Queen and I had to have feelings for each other to create such a handsome little lad." Robin said as he smiled down at his son who was looking back at him as if he understood every word he was saying.
"I just wished I could remember what happened, but fear not my boy I will. But also know this, the woman who I thought was your mother did love you. I know you two didn't bond well but she did love and want you very much ." Robin said. "But your real mother she is a mystery to me, I know she has not always been a good person but there is good and bad in all of us, even your old man just don't tell anyone I said that."
Robin took Roland back to his tent and fed him milk from a goat and Roland being the good natured baby that he was drifted off to sleep quickly. Robin looked at his son sleeping in the over sized basket one of the men had made for Roland to sleep in. He leaned down and saw the birthmark and brought his head down and kissed the mark.
"I have to go talk to your mother Roland. I want you to dream sweet dreams." Robin said as he left the tent and went and found Little John to tell him his plans.
"John I need a word with you." Robin said as Little John stood up and the two men walked off away from the camp site a bit.
"Robin what's going on?" John asked knowing it was very serious.
"I have to leave the camp tonight and go on a mission." Robin said. "What I'm about to tell you is to stay between us." Robin said as John nodded that he would keep what ever it was that Robin was about to tell him.
"It seems that the Queen not too long ago and I had an encounter, now I have no memory of it but there is a reminder of what happened between us living and breathing as we speak." Robin said as seeing John's look of confusion continued. "Roland, Roland is the Queen's and I son it seems."
"But I thought Marian was Roland's mother? Robin you mean the Evil Queen? That's not possible, there is no way you and her. I mean she's... and you are... what? how? what?" John managed to stammer out.
"I don't know the details but it appears to be true. You remember Roland's birthmark?" Robin asked as John nodded again. "The Queen has one as well, identical to Roland's it seems. Marian was not able to have offspring and she went to the dark one and made a deal with him to get a baby."
"When do we leave?" Little John asked as he was always available to help his oldest friend.
"Its a solo mission John, I have to do this on my own." Robin said. "But I need you to watch over Roland tonight and if I don't come back I want you to raise him for me."
"Robin you are coming back, you always do." John said.
"Thank you my friend, good journey." Robin said as the two men shook hands and departed. Robin made his way to the castle without any of the guards seeing him so far then he made his way to the apple tree and waited for Mildred to help him into the castle. Mere minutes passed and Robin saw Mildred making her way to him.
"This way." Mildred said as she waved Robin to the secret entrance way. Robin followed Mildred down the corridor until they reached the kitchen.
"I'm so glad you made it, I was worried you might be caught." Mildred said as she handed Robin some linens to carry in his arms, high enough in them so his face was hidden as they made their way through the castle.
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around this crazy tale." Robin said, his mind had been going wild for hours now thinking that he and the Queen had made Roland. How could he have feelings for her? Did she have any for him?
"I just am not sure how we are going to get her to remember you and her son." Mildred said.
"Technically he is half mine, so you are sure she never mentioned anything about the father?" Robin asked.
"You have to remember she was very upset over what ever it was that happened between you two when I say this. But she didn't want you to know about the baby and felt like you had no right to know about him." Mildred said hating to tell him this knowing it was going to hurt him.
"I had no right to know about my son? What sort of mother would do that to the father?" Robin asked very hurt and angry over this news.
"She was very hurt, I think something went very wrong between you two. I just hope for all of you it can be fixed." Mildred said as she saw a look on his face. "You do want things to work out between you two don't you?"
"I'm not sure of anything, she has done very bad can I be with someone like that." Robin said.
"She also was made into that, she was not born that way. The anger and pain she has was created by others to change her into the person she is today." Mildred said as they entered Regina's bedchamber. Mildred walked to the bath chamber and took the towels from Robin and placed them down.
"She was a very sweet and caring young lady, her mother changed her and from what I hear took someone very important from her. And I don't mean to speak bad of the dead but the King practically ignored her except when he..." Mildred said as she lowered her head but Robin saw the look on her face and knew without being told what had happened to Regina. And Robin knew that if he was still alive that he would make the King pay for what he had put Regina through. Where was this coming from, the way he was protective of her?
"I would never do something like that to any woman." Robin said disgusted that some men in this world saw nothing wrong with treating a woman like that.
"I know you never would, so I've been thinking that perhaps a true love's kiss might bring back both of your memories." Mildred said.
"Then we have a small problem, neither of us is in love with the other." Robin said.
"I think you might be, I have to believe what ever it was that happened between you both. It had to be magical." Mildred said.
"When do you expect her to come back to here?" Robin asked.
"She will be back right after sunset. What are your plans?" Mildred asked.
"I'm going to see what her reaction is when she sees me. I just hope she doesn't throw a fireball at me." Robin said.
"Well it might be best if I stay here then." Mildred said.
"I can't endanger you as well." Robin said not wanting to risk her being in danger as well.
"Nonsense, if you can help her remember then I want to help as much as possible." Mildred said.
"It might be best if I try this alone with her for awhile, no sense in us both ending up charred to a crisp." Robin said as it was decided that Mildred would stay back unless it was necessary to make her appearance. Mildred feared on what her majesty's reaction would be from finding Robin Hood in her bedchamber to if by some miracle Regina remembered him. To also finding out about her little boy and the fact she had given him away basically to his real father.
They didn't have long to wait because a soon as the sun was going down the door to her bedchamber opened and Robin saw through the crack of the door Regina walk in and walk to her table and sit down and start to remove her jewels. He took a moment to just look at the beauty that was the Queen and his heart skipped a beat for a second as he watched her. He took a deep breath and then silently opened the door and walked up behind her. He saw the moment she knew someone was in the room with her as her eyes went bigger and she quickly stood up and turned around to face him.
"How dare you break into my castle!" Regina yelled clearly outraged.
"Apologies milady but there is a matter we have to discuss between us. I do hope you keep me alive before this mistake might cost me my head." Robin said.
"The only thing we have to discuss is your execution." Regina said with a sinister smile on her face.
"That is something that can wait for a later day." Robin said with a smirk on his face. Why did all this feel familiar?
"Why should I even be listening to you? You're a thief and you are not to be trusted." Regina said as she raised her hand and made a choking motion with it and Robin felt like her hand was at his throat and choking the life out of him.
"Milady, if you do this you will leave our son without a father." Robin managed to get out barely.
"Not only are you a thief but you are very delusional." Regina said as she tightened her grip on his throat.
"If you would let go of your grip on me and listen to me I will explain." Robin barely got out.
"The only thing I want to hear from you is your last gasp of breath." Regina said as Robin's eyes started to close and his last thought was going to be of his little boy who now would be fatherless.
"Your majesty please stop it!" Mildred yelled as she could not stay hidden any longer for fear that Regina would kill Robin. Regina let him go as she turned to look at Mildred. Robin fell to his knees as he struggled to catch his breath, his lungs filled with the much needed oxygen.
"You know this thief?" Regina asked as she walked to Mildred.
"Your majesty he speaks the truth, you two do share a child." Mildred said.
"Even if what you said was true, how do you know this?" Regina asked.
"Because I was there throughout your pregnancy, I saw your body change and I was there as you gave life to your son." Mildred said.
"You and this thief are working together for what reason?" Regina yelled at Mildred.
"Your majesty I had no idea Robin Hood was even the father of your child until very recently. You found out about your baby and you were so upset because you didn't want your child to turn out like you. You were afraid you would become your mother and treat the child like she did you." Mildred said as in Regina's mind she heard the faint cry of a baby. Shaking her head as if to clear it she let her anger build that the woman who had been working in her castle had betrayed her.
"Lies, all lies and you shall pay for these lies." Regina said as she summoned a fireball in her hand and Mildred cowered knowing she was about to die. Just as Regina was about to send the fireball at Mildred, she felt arms surround her.
"You don't want to to do this, she has not betrayed you." Robin said and as Regina struggled in his arms and fight back against him, her eyes caught sight of something out of the corner. It was on his right arm, it was the lion tattoo. The same one she had seen that night in the tavern the night that blasted fairy had taken her to.
Robin felt the change in her instantly and saw the line of her head, it was zoned in on his arm. She seemed to be entranced by it, not moving and barely breathing. He let his arms go slack as she just stood basically in front of him.
"What is it milady? Why do you stare at my tattoo?" Robin asked as he saw Regina's left hand raise up and reach out as if to touch it but she pulled back at the last moment as if afraid it would burn her. Her fingers found their way near it again and this time she did touch it and felt a wave of magic pass through her as she turned quickly and looked at his face.
"Does this mean something to you?" Robin asked as he slowly brought his hands up to grab her shoulders gently. He could see something was going on behind those beautiful eyes, that were surrounded by the fullest eyelashes he had ever seen in his life. Full and flush as they lay against her face as she looked back at him, her gaze never wavering from his.
"Your little boy, where is he?" Regina asked knowing she had to see for herself if this was true.
"He's back at my campsite." Robin said.
"I want to see him." Regina said.
"I am not sure until we talk about this some more, to begin with my tattoo and why it is affecting you like this." Robin said.
"Once I see him, then I'll tell you." Regina said as Robin nodded.
"I'll meet you by the old water well in an hour." Robin said as he exited her room by the window.
"He's telling you the truth your majesty." Mildred said.
"I know he is. I saw it in his face." Regina said.
"What are you going to do?" Mildred asked.
"I have to see the baby then I'll tell him about the tattoo." Regina said.
"Bless you your majesty, you should know I could tell how much you regretted giving him away." Mildred said as she saw that Regina needed time to recover from everything she had learned today.
"I'll leave you alone your majesty." Mildred said as she left the room. Regina walked over to her bed and sat down as she let her mind wander and the same cry her mind had heard earlier sounded again. And something inside of her started to beat faster and faster as she felt something she hasn't in such a long time. Love, this love for her little boy who she couldn't remember but was going to see very soon.
An hour later Regina appeared at the water well and waited for Robin to appear, she didn't have long to wait as she heard a twig snap and Robin was there carrying a precious bundle in his arms.
"Is that?" Regina asked as she rubbed her hands nervously.
"This is Roland," Robin said as he walked up to her with Roland in his arms and let Regina look at him. When she laid eyes on the little boy something in her once again and she knew in her heart that she had thought was so black for so long had fallen in love with little Roland. He looked like Robin to her, he had small dimples like Robin and his eyes were like hers while his hair was dark like hers.
"Is he healthy?" Regina asked as she put her fingers out and Roland grabbed one of her fingers with his little hand. Robin watched a huge smile break on Regina's face as she looked down at Roland.
"He is very healthy, he sleeps well at night and has a good appetite." Robin said. "Do you want to hold him?" Why was he asking her to hold his son? Why did he feel comfortable with the Evil Queen holding Roland?
"Yes, yes very much so." Regina said as Robin carefully handed Roland to her. She rocked him slightly in her arms as she held him and Roland never took his eyes off of her after being handed from his father to her. Robin watched as his son seemed very content to be in her arms, here was this Evil Queen that she was called holding his precious son.
"I think he likes you milady." Robin said as Regina then raised her eyes to look at him and smiled. Robin felt something in him shift after that smile she gave him. Was it really possible for him to feel something for her? "Now about my tattoo milady,"
"A few years ago I was very sad and lonely and one night a fairy came and said I could love again and she told me I could love again. Then she led me to a tavern to a man she said I was destined to be with, only I never saw his face but I did see his tattoo." Regina said as Robin looked down at his tattoo then back to her face.
"It was me?" Robin asked completely stunned.
"Yes, at the time I was just too scared to approach you." Regina said as a smile grew on his face as well.
"Well maybe it was all timing and we were not destined to meet back then." Robin said.
"But you think we were now." Regina said
"Yes, I do believe we were." Robin said actually believing in his heart they were.
"Where is his birthmark?" Regina asked wanting to see it.
"Its here on his right arm." Robin said as he moved the blanket a bit to show Regina where Roland's tattoo was. She smiled as she looked down at it.
"It looks just like mine, only smaller." Regina said as few tears rolled down her cheeks as she smiled down at Roland. Regina moved her sleeve back to show him her birth mark.
"So now do you believe that he is yours?" Robin asked.
"Ours, not just mine." Regina said as she nodded yes. She leaned down and brought her lips down to Roland's arm and kissed his birthmark and as she did a gust of magic swept through her and around them. Robin felt it too as he had to take a step back as it went through him as well, in a flash he remembered everything from the time of his capture by her to him being forced to be cruel to her to their making love and obviously conceiving Roland.
"Do you remember now?" Robin asked...