Chapter 3: Escape or Capture?

Regina watched Hansel and Gretel station themselves outside of the witch's gingerbread house to wait for nightfall. Then she turned to walk back through the forest to her waiting carriage. She would watch this little drama play out on the mirror at home. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard murderous shouts of "Witch!" echo through the forest. She was unceremoniously knocked to the ground when someone suddenly sprang from the greenery, barreling right into her. Before she could do much more than snarl at the body on top of her, a hand clamped over her mouth. "Please... I'm begging you to be quiet."

Regina paused out of curiosity. The young, female voice sounded very familiar, but she couldn't place it. The sound of men running and shouting other colorful, rude names passed them by. The pursers had lost their prey. The young woman slid off of her and Regina sat up. It took a few moments of staring at her before Regina realized who the girl was. She had blood smeared across half her face and the rest of her looked like she had been dipped in several years of filth. Her eyes were filled with weariness and pain. Despite her obvious youth, the eyes made her look old. Regina remembered her name. "Belle."
Belle's eyes widened in shock. "The Queen."

Regina recovered faster than Belle.
"Well don't just sit there gawking. You knocked me over, now help me up." Regina snapped at her.
Belle scrambled to her feet and reached out a tentative hand as though she was afraid Regina was a cobra that might strike. Regina grabbed her hand and glared at her. Belle flinched, but helped pull her to her feet. Regina dusted herself off as she tried to regain some of her dignity and poise while Belle watched her with wide eyes. Regina glanced back up at her suspiciously. "I thought you threw yourself off the tower."

"That's what my father told everyone." Belle confirmed.
"Why?" Regina asked, exasperated.
"I suppose it's to save face. He doesn't want everyone to know I actually escaped. But he's still sending hunters after me." Belle shrugged her shoulders, and then winced as the movement brought pain.
Regina's sharp eyes didn't miss a single detail. Though she was revolted by the blood and dirt covering the girl, she stepped forward and pulled Belle's cloak off to reveal her wounds. Belle watched nervously as the Queen emotionlessly studied the burn marks and whip lacerations that were visible on her shoulders even under the nasty layer of grime. "The rumors were true then. That your father had you tortured while you were locked in the tower."

Belle looked at her hopelessly. "Are you going to turn me over to him?"
She knew the Queen was a witch. Even if she tried to run, she wouldn't get far.

The Queen pondered Belle's question for a moment, analyzing how to best use the situation for her own advantage. Reaching her decision, a deceitfully charming smile spread across her face. "No, of course not, my dear."
Regina put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "You should come stay with me."
The hope that Belle had started to feel, died quickly at the Queen's words. The last statement had sounded like a command rather than a suggestion. The Queen wasn't going to hand her over to her father because she had something more devious in mind. The Queen tugged on Belle's shoulders to get the girl walking in the direction of her carriage. Belle reluctantly allowed herself to pulled along, deciding that for now anything was better than being returned to her father's less than gentle care.

When the Queen reappeared from the woods with a filthy peasant glued to her side, the guards were startled and surprised. The Queen ignored them and ordered one of them to help Belle into the carriage. The Queen settled inside the carriage on the seat next to Belle and signaled her driver to return to the castle. The carriage set a bumpy pace on the muddy forest road. Belle tried her hardest to stay awake and alert, considering the predator that was sitting right next to her, but she had reached her limit. Her head slipped sideways, landing on the Queen's shoulder. The Queen sighed and instead settled Belle's head in her lap to keep the girl from falling off the seat. The Queen stroked the girl's sleeping face. "If you weren't so filthy, I might have actually enjoyed this."

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