Another pointless and boring meeting, in which I wasn't allowed to speak, or sit the wrong way, or even breath in a way that Mother didn't approve of. I held back my deep sigh as she and the man across the dining hall table continued to talk. I hadn't paid enough attention to learn his name, let alone what they were speaking of, but I sat straight, making it appear as if I were deeply intrigued in their conversation. My thoughts were elsewhere...

It had been three days. Three whole days! Reading lessons, dress fittings, shoe fittings, etiquette practice, and even ballroom dancing lessons, which I'd decided were the worst of all. I'd spent days drowning in all things Mother deemed 'necessary', and not once had she even mentioned a riding lesson, and I didn't dare bring it up.

My eyes widened as I heard what sounded like my name from Mother's lips, "Yes, Mother?"

"Regina, my darling," She placed her hand over mine. Her voice was terrifyingly sweet, "Prince Harold and I have some very important things to discuss. You may go for the afternoon." I didn't believe I'd heard her correctly. She was letting me go? "You may go, Regina," She repeated.

I stood all too quickly, overly excited to be released from the boring conversation. An afternoon to myself, she'd given no instructions or things to do.

"Regina!" Her voice called just as my hand had met the door to leave. I'd thought too soon... "Regina, dear. If you're planning to go to the stables, take your Father with you." Mother always seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. My smile faded a tad but I nodded, "Yes, Mother." She nodded once in return and gave me a stern glare before I turned to go. It was an order, and I knew better than to ignore her orders.

"Daddy?" I called as I trotted down the hallways, searching for him.

"In here, my girl!" I smiled wide as I stepped into his study. He was only ever in here if he had official business to attend to, or wanted to hide away from Mother. He sat at his desk, writing quill in hand, "I thought your Mother wanted you with her while she spoke to the Prince?"

"She told me I could go," I explained. He didn't look up from his paper as I sat down in one of the creaky wooden chairs opposite him. "Mother told me I was allowed to go to the stables." This got his attention. He finally looked up from his paper. His eyes looked as if he'd had no sleep, his grey hairs more prominent. "But only if you go..." I breathed out the words, hoping he'd agree to Mother's conditions.

He placed his quill down, leaning his head into his hands, "Regina, I'm sorry. I have so many things to do... You can go without me. I'm sure Daniel will make sure you're safe." I shook my head, "Daddy, she said I have to bring you along. You know how upset she would get." He sighed, "I can't, darling. I have to finish these papers for the Prince before he leaves." I nodded sadly. The wooden chair creaked again as I stood to slump to my room.

"Regina. Go down to the stables. It's nice outside. Don't spend the rest of this day closed up in this castle. I'm sure Rocinante would love an apple or two."

I replied, "Yes, Sir," and slipped out into the hallway to return to my room. Mother would never let me out of the castle again if I went without him. I couldn't risk never being allowed down to the stables without her by my side. She'd never agree to go...

But it had been three days...and it felt like an eternity since I'd been able to share more than a few whispers with the new stable boy...

Daddy would cover with Mother for me. He would tell her he was busy and wasn't able to come. He had told me to go without him.

I cheerfully made my way down to the stables. Once I'd gotten outside the castle walls I attempted to push any other thoughts away, thoughts of Mother, the Prince she was speaking to, Daddy being busy, the trouble I could get in. Daddy had told me to come down here, and that's what I was going to do. My smile only grew wider as I entered the stables, "Daniel?" The boy came out as soon as his name was said.

"Regina!" He cheered, moving quickly toward me. "I was beginning to think Madam Mills wasn't going to allow you down again." He had obviously taken in the fact that I was alone, because his arms wrapped around my shoulders, squeezing me gently. I gasped, not offended, but surprised. I hardly ever got such affection from Mother, and Daddy's hugs had never felt like this. My arms moved to rest around his lower torso, relaxing in the comforting embrace, but Daniel pulled back. "Sorry... I...shouldn't have done that. That was...out of line." He looked down at his shoes, brushing a piece of hay from his trousers.

"Daniel, it's alright," I laughed, secretly wishing the hug had lasted longer. "I'm here for the afternoon," I smiled, and he mirrored my happiness. "Let's go then!" He turned, already releasing the horses from their stalls. He'd remembered, no saddle, which made me smile even more. I helped him get Rocinante and another horse out, letting him help me mount Rocinante before the two of us headed off.

We were back in our spot, under the old tree in the middle of the pasture. I'd sat down, my back against the cool tree bark, and Daniel closer to me this time. If Mother or Daddy had been with me, this would've have been impossible.

"Where have you been?" He asked, wanting to know, "I thought for a while you weren't coming back." In a way he seemed more relaxed that it was just the two of us, but I could also see that he was nervously moving his hands about his lap.

"Where haven't I been," I tried to joke, "She's had me in reading lessons, dress fittings, shoe fittings, more reading lessons, proper walking practice, etiquette, and ballroom dancing. She would hardly give me a break."

"That all sounds pointless," He said plainly and I giggled, something I rarely did. He grinned, happy to hear the laugh he'd gotten out of me. "Dancing? Why do you have dancing lessons?"

I began to tell him what had happened the night after Mother, Daddy, and I had all came down to the stables,

"Regina?" Mother asked, her voice softer than normal, which always made me cringe. She'd sent the maid off and decided to tuck me into bed herself. "Regina, do you love me?" The question had caught me off guard and I didn't know what answer to give her, "Yes, Mother, yes I love you."

She had caressed my cheek with her cold hand, her nails brushing against my skin, "Then you'll go to this ball. You'll act like the proper lady I've taught you to be." I couldn't argue, what she wanted always seemed to be the way things went. I nodded my head, laying back on the pillow the maid had fluffed before being shooed away. Mother pressed a kiss to my head, one that seemed meaningless and cold, "Goodnight, my child. Get plenty of sleep, you'll have another dancing lesson tomorrow." I had returned her goodnight, and turned over to try and sleep.

"She's making you go to a ball? With like Princes and Kings?" Daniel asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "Yep. A ball with Princes and Kings and all the good looking men of the kingdom," I joked, but Daniel frowned, taking my words more seriously than I had meant them. "I'm kidding. They're not that great."

"Why do all the fancy guys think dancing is so important?" He asked, his question seeming serious. I shrugged, tracing my name in the dirt underneath me, "I guess all the fancy women think it makes them look handsome, so they do it to please them." Daniel watched my hand for a long moment, the twinkle of his blue eyes catching in the sun, "Do you think it makes them more handsome?" I laughed, "Why? Do you want to learn how to dance to make women think you're handsome?" Daniel looked up at me, "Maybe..."

I laughed again, but pushed myself up to my feet, holding my hand out to him. A sudden boldness had overtaken me. "What are you doing?" He asked, staring at my outstretched hand. "I'm teaching you how to dance, silly." Daniel laughed, shaking his head, but eventually took my hand.

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I felt his rough, strong hand in mine, but I tried to hide it. I pulled him closer and saw that he was blushing too. "This hand," I said, taking his other hand and moving it down to my hip, "goes here..." Mother would kill me... Daniel's hand in mine, his other on my hip, "This hand stays in mine." I explained, giving his hand a gentle squeeze to show him what I meant as my other hand moved up to his shoulder.

"Regina..." He murmured nervously, his cheeks now rosy. "It's okay," I tried to encourage him, "Now just move your feet like mine." I slowly shifted my right foot forward, waiting for him to pick up and move his adjacent foot backward, "Back, back, side, step." I explained slowly, his feet matching mine with each step. I began the next pattern, but his unpracticed, two left feet soon got the better of him. He laughed nervously, quickly moving his foot away as it nearly stepped on mine. "It's fine," I grinned, "You're doing better than I did when I first started."

"Oh please, I'm sure you looked like a princess." I blushed as I caught his blue eyes staring straight at me, biting my lip as I looked back down at our feet. Both suddenly childishly embarrassed we dropped hands, "Now you'll have something to practice until the next time I see you."

"I hate that you have to go so soon. Do you know when you'll be back?" He asked, walking beside me back to our horses. I shook my head, wishing I did, "No... I'll try to be back as soon as I can, but with Mother you never know." He nodded.

I wanted to enjoy my last few minutes of freedom, Rocinante galloping alongside Daniel's horse as we rode back to the stables. He helped me down once we came to a stop, and I helped him put the horses away, feeding Rocinante a few apples. "I'll see you soon," I smiled at him. He nodded, a sweet gaze in my direction, "I'll see you soon, Regina."

I skipped happily up the castle, my afternoon with Daniel leaving me wanting another. The freedom I felt while out of the castle, only he and I, was something I'd never imagined before. I could still feel his hands in mine, rough, callused, and strong, but still gentle and soft when they held my own. And his hug... The small gesture that had swept feelings through me that I couldn't explain. If only it had lasted a moment longer...

My attention was jerked away from my thoughts as I heard a sharp voice call my name.