Regina sat her back to the window as the slight breeze blew, always loved sitting next to the window but this time she's been ordered to read and write to take care of some business for Leopold, the bastard. Regina had been "reading" the same page over and over, but her mind was elsewhere. The lump on the back of her head made sure she wouldn't forget the green-eye girl or that handsome man who has the same color eyes as the young girl. She couldn't be more than 16 years old; I believe.
"REGINA!"
Regina looked up quickly at her husband, who sat meters away from her. The last thing she wanted to do was aggravate Leopold. He wore a scowl on his face, one she was very familiar with. "I called you twice!"
"I'm sorry, my King," Regina replied quietly. "I was just thinking."
King Leopold grunted and went back to sign some papers. "Did you hire a maid, as I told you to?" He asked, not looking up from his work.
"No, Leopold," Regina replied.
King Leopold stopped what he was doing and looked up to Regina. He took off his glasses and held them in his while not breaking eye contact. "Why don't you ever listen when I tell you to do something?"
"I don't want a maid."
"You need one."
"We have servants…"
"Hire a maid," Leopold repeated interrupted Regina before returning to study the report in front of him. "Why didn't you tell me about the rock being thrown at you?
"I didn't think it was important," Regina replied quickly. "You had your hands full."
"It could have easily been a weapon," Leopold chastised Regina. "You are are too causal with the villagers."
"I don't …"
"Next time something like that happens, your guards have orders to kill," King Leopold said and went back to his notes. Had he looked up he would have seen a very dark look being directed at him by Regina.
"Leopold, it was a simple case of a girl throwing a rock."
"Go to my room, Regina," Leopold muttered.
"Yes, My King," Regina picked up her book and got up rather stiffly. Her back was aching, and she gingerly began to cross the room. Muller watched her over the top of his glasses. He pursed his lips, walked over to her in concern with his arm around her, "what's the matter?"
"Nothing, Leopold, it's just a little stiffness," Regina replied as the ache in her back sent dagger-like pain shooting down her spine and down to her legs. It made her sick to her stomach, but she wasn't going to admit any weakness in front of him.
"I'll wait for you, My King," Regina shook her head when Leopold requested to call Nurse Blue, "No, I'll be fine." Regina kisses him gently, but her stomach feels disgust, "don't be too long, Leopold."
Leopold watched Regina leave the room, and for a long moment, he stared at the door. He decided it was time to contact Cora, to discuss her daughter with him. It had been long awhile since Leopold had the talk with Cora about Regina. He scribbled a note to himself and absently tapped the ink against the papers he held in his hand. His musing was cut short when Captain Hunter entered, saluted and waited for his commanding officer, "Did you read these reports?" King Leopold asked, indicating the pile of papers on his lap.
"Yes, sir."
"How reliable are they?" Regina looked at Captain Hunter over the top of his glasses.
"Well, the informant gave us that information, so it is reliable"
"That doesn't tell me anything, Captain."
"I think they are reliable."
Muller looked down at the papers in front of him. "Let them."
"Sir?"
"Are you deaf, man?"
"No, sir."
"I said, let them. Get the troops out first, of course. Then have a reception awaiting the dogs."
"Yes, sir."
"You can go." Captain Hunter turned to leave.
"Captain don't kill them. I have other plans."
"Yes, sir." Captain Hunter saluted and left. King Leopold sighed. He was tired of the war, tired of the Resistance movements. He picked up his wine and sipped it, contemplating life after the war, and a life with Regina, the most beautiful wife. She's my pride and joy, rescuing my daughter, only have the memory of Snow White when she's younger.
The command was followed by the sound of screams and abuse emanating from the dirt roads when the band of soldiers are slicing their heads. Emmett was disoriented at first when the sound alerted him and notices the band of soldiers abusing citizens. The scene he saw before him made his blood run cold then remembered she's still Emmett. A man lay on the road, his blood already staining the dirt, his life ebbing away with his head few inches away. Evil Queen's militias stood above a middle-aged man then Emmett jumped when the soldier was about slice him. She roughly fought with them, 5 against 1. He has no idea what he's going to do, but he was determined to save his people, and the soldiers were defeating themselves with surprise because no one ever stood up to them. There were few close calls, stole his sword from the second person. Emmett ordered the citizens to run while holding them back. Panting and sweating until all drop dead but one.
She looked deep into his eyes before he could make a move to stab her in the back then she sliced his head just as he did to that man. She split onto his faces, "fuck you," dropped the sword and ran back home.
The light streamed through the window and woke Emma, who had transformed back into a woman and fallen asleep on the wooden floor. She felt dazed and confused when she looked at herself, feeling strangely sore, what's the fuck happened then remembered the previous evening's horror come flooding back. She remembered she has to to work at the White Kingdom, quickly dressed mechanically and walked out of the ticket because she doesn't want to believe the night before is true. She wanted it to be a nightmare, like the others she had about her family. Unfortunately, just like the other nightmares, this is very real.
She became angrier at the devil spawn; Regina and she didn't care at all. She did fucking nothing! Emma closed the door behind her and listened to her own footsteps echoing in the quiet of the early morning. As she was walking, she spotted the figures on the ground and the soldiers hasn't picked up the bodies and leaving it out. She ignored it and walked towards the White Kingdom to kill the devil spawn, fuming mad.
Emma rounded the corner and slammed into Father Henry's ample figure, which caused her to drop her weapon and bag. Her sword fell at Father Henry's feet. "I am so sorry," Emma said as she knelt to collect her bag and the sword. Father Henry looked around and helped Emma up. "Where are you going, my child?"
"Eye for an eye – isn't that you said?! Fuck magic," Emma spat trying desperately not to scream after the nightmare of the previous night and her family and friends dying.
"No, I certainly didn't say that, my little one," Father Henry replied.
"Don't. Call. Me. That!" Emma looked into Father Henry's eyes and ground out the words, regretting losing her temper to him. The child in me is gone, I am … I wish I'm dead.
"I apologize, Emma. I won't call you that anymore. You're a woman, well a man too, I believe," Father Henry said with a twinkle and small laugh on his face. "Come with me."
"No."
"You want to stay outside? You can if you wish, but I am old and I don't think I am getting any younger by standing outside with you."
Emma mutely followed Henry into his church. She halted for a moment then crossed herself, more out of habit than belief, before going inside. Father Henry watched her in silence for a few moments.
"I see there's small part of you still believe."
Emma looked at Henry, a kindest man walked on earth, so sweet and looked after her ever since she's a child. "No, I do not!"
"Are you trying to convince yourself that you hate good magic, what it can do for you while you're denying in your heart?" Henry asked quietly, watching the young woman wondering quietly as she thought about her parents.
"What do you care, Father? You're wasting your time. Everyone is dying. Don't you hear them? You sit there and you preach all about goodness, love and good magic and yet you do nothing. Who do I forgive?"
"We all do our part, and we all need forgiveness."
Emma flailed her arms in rage, thinking about her people, "You can't know the loss of husbands and wives or children for that matter! You don't know what's liked to wake up and find out your loved one has been captured by the enemy. They … You just fucking don't!" She shared at Father Henry and looked through the window, shaking her head in disgust.
Father knew that Emma is taking it hard today, mad and depressed, and he doesn't blame her for feeling this way. Emma continued, "Will you be able to forgive them? Their blood has stained the ground, stained Enchanted Forest. How can you forgive the animals for killing my people?!"
"Sometimes it is best if our left-hand does not know what our right hand is doing."
"You need to do more, Father. You need to pick up the weapon and fight!" freeing Enchanted Forest, take back my kingdom.
"I am doing my part, and now you need to do yours."
"I already am, actually. You say those who don't believe in magic are fools. You are right, Father. I am a fucking fool, but I am the fool who is going to save my kingdom."
"Killing is not the answer, Emma!" Father Henry quietly reprimanded as he watched Emma.
"Yes, it is! Killing is the only answer. Killing is the only way to get through them and take back our Enchanted Forest!"
"If you get killed, what good will it do? Your people need you, Emma!"
"My only reason for living is to kill that fucking bitch!"
"Emma, what did I say about swearing in my house! Don't swear, please," Father Henry gently admonished. "You can't kill innocents."
"Innocent?!" Emma yelled, "That fucking bitch isn't innocent! The Evil Queen's militias aren't innocent!"
"Emma! Don't swear in my house."
"I can't sit on my hands and do nothing. Someone must pay. An eye for an eye and I want to be the one to pay them back," Emma said bitterly.
"It is not for you to judge and not for you to be the executioner."
"Why not? Because you say so?!"
"Don't start killing," Father Henry took the weapon from Emma and prayed that Emma doesn't fall from the weapon. Her goodness depends on it, her life depends on it. It will destroy her goodness and magic.
"You're wrong, Father. I have killed and I'll kill again. My parents knew how to stand up to her and they won. I am going to do the same, stand up to tyranny."
"By killing an innocent woman? Is that how you are going to win this war?"
"That's how I win my war. I am fighting my own war and I am going to win it," Emma replied as she sat down on the floor and crossed her legs. "This is my war, and there will only be one winner here."
"It won't be you"
"What would you have me to do? Lie down and let them do what they want?!"
The door flew opened and a young man raced in. He knelt and crossed himself and then went hurriedly to Father Henry. "Father, Father!" The young man was breathless. He bent forward trying to catch his breath.
"Take it slowly, Gabriel."
"They are rounding up everyone and sending them to the town square! They posted an announcement that our brothers were caught last night will be hanged! I was told to come here and tell you. Hurry, Father!"
"No! Do something!" Emma got up from the floor and yelled at Father Henry.
"I can't do anything, Emma."
"Hurry up, Father, please! They want everyone to be there or else they will start killing people."
The three of them hurried out into the busy street as the people were herded towards the town. The sounds of grieving and of babies crying could be heard, Emma looked around and froze when four soldiers passing by, flanking three shuffling men. She hardly recognized the prisoners – their faces were severely disfigured by bruises. Father Henry held Emma in his arms to hold her back from fighting. He tried to smile at Emma, but the attempt turned into a grimace. The soldier coming up from the rear pushed several town people and some of them nearly fell onto the mud.
They slowly climbed onto the platform of the scaffold. The crowd fell silent; only the sounds of a dog barking and a child crying could be heard. King Leopold walked through the crowd, his guards pushing people aside, and stood next to the scaffold then looked out into the crowd.
"Last night, five of our men died and one of you will step up or," pointing at the slaves, stating the obvious.
Father Henry held Emma's hand little harder when she wanted to save them when he looked in her eyes and shook his head. King Henry looked through the crowd to wait if one of them will show their hands, but they didn't.
"This is a warning for any who wish to defy me," King Leopold raised his voice and lifted his arm, then dropped it. The executioner saw the hand signal and pull the level as the scaffold ropes creaked as the three men hung lifelessly in the plaza. Emma closed her eyes and began to cry, Faither Henry holding her. A tiny voice was heard singing. It was soon joined by all those assembled in defiance of the Evil Queen and King Leopold.
We knew thee of old,
Oh, divinely restored,
By the lights of thine eyes
And the light of thy sword
Emma looked up, her face tear-stained, and realized the villagers were singing to honor her parents and her former kingdom, the hymn to freedom, the soul-inspiring Enchanted Forest song, is their only way to be defiant. She began to sing with them.
Their voices swelled as one while King Leopold looked on, his face set in a scowl. He turned to walk off, then stopped and faced Captain Hunter. "Leave them up there."
"Yes, sir!"
Captain Hunter saluted as the villagers continued to sing in open defiance.
No storm we can't outrun
We will always find you.
A new beginning will be ours.
There's powerful magic will beat the hearts as one
Powerful magic bright as the sun.
Seeking Freedom or Death
Go forth to the fight
In the blood of the Northuldra
In the blood of spirits of nature
Hail! Liberty! Hail!
The breeze coming through the window caused the curtain to brush through Regina. The strains of the song washed over her as she leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes and prayed for the souls of the men who has been abused and killed by the hands of her mother. Yet, even more, bloodshed. Her tears ran down her cheeks for the men she never knew but whose pain she felt. She listens to their song being passionately sung by the defiant people. Regina stared out into the sky. Seeking Freedom or Death… there is no other option, is there? Regina thought. Her musings were cut short by the noises downstairs of Leopold returning from the town square and yelling orders.