"Regina Mills!" The cold voice sent my body into a frozen state, chill bumps rising on my arms. No, no, no... Dang it. "Regina Coralline Mills, what were you doing out at the stables without your Father? I specifically told you not to go out without him."

"I'm sorry, Mother. I-" I started, but suddenly my voice was gone, the breath in my lungs knocked out. Mother's hands glowed a dark, blood red color, her magic digging into the flesh of my arms. I tried not to scream, but with such great pain, a small whimper slipped.

"How dare you disobey me. When you're told to do something, you do it. You do not ignore orders. Do you understand?" The rope like grip around my body seemed to grow tighter with each word, making it nearly impossible to speak. "Ye-yes, M-Mother..." I breathed out, gasping for air. I began to struggle against the magic, but I knew better. Struggling only made it worse.

Mother finally released her control, and my body dropped to my knees in a coughing fit. "Get up, Regina," She hissed. I got to my feet, my lungs burning as they tried to gather as much air as they could hold. "There will be no more riding lessons, unless your Father or I are present. From now on, I will be sure one of us is present."

I was about to retort with the typical 'but' or 'Mother...", but the magic still tingling at the tips of her fingers kept my lips zipped up tight. She raised one of those fingers, and I flinched until I saw she was pointing behind me. My eyes dropped to the floor, my feet shuffling, and I followed the nearby maid to dress for bed.

What would I do? No more riding lessons...without one of them around... What about Daniel? I'd never be able to speak to him again like we had on my last few visits.

The upsetting encounter with Mother didn't allow me to get much sleep that night, and waking up to the maid's voice wasn't pleasant. I dressed quickly, letting one of the women brush through my hair. Mother hated when I was late for our morning meal, and after last night, I didn't want give her any more reason to scold me today.

Something was off. I could tell by the look Daddy gave me as I entered the dining hall. I took my seat, eating in silence. Mother was nowhere to be seen. That wasn't normal. She was always the first one at the table.

"Daddy...Where's-" I was cut off mid-sentence by the opening of the large wooden doors. My Mother wasn't a large woman, but the power her presence carried made her seem ten feet tall. Everyone fell silent. The butlers, the maids, my father, and I. She was the only one to speak, still fiddling with one of the flashy, dangling earrings hanging from her ears. "I'm sure your Father's already told you, Regina, but I'll be gone for the day. Something urgent has come up," Urgent. I knew what that meant. My Mother didn't save the wrath of her magic just for me. "Stay inside with your Father. I've instructed the maids to leave you the books I've chosen for you today in your room."

With that, she was gone. Already turned and half way out the door. There was no time for my ifs, ands, or buts. Not that I would have tried... I was in Daddy's watch now, and I was sure he had firm instructions never to allow me down to the stables on my own again.

I made sure to wait until my Mother had gotten outside the castle walls, into her horse-drawn carriage, and on her way. Then, dabbing my lips with the cloth napkin that I'd flattened in my lap, I looked up at my Father. "I know what you're going to ask me, Regina..." He knew, he could always tell when I wanted something. "I'm sorry, my sweet daughter, but I have to say no."

"But Daddy..." I pleaded. Things were much different with my Father. My Mother's harsh ways seemed to fade away with him. Daddy's princess as many of the castle workers liked to name it. "Please..."

He starred back at me for a long moment, unable to resist the begging gaze of his little girl. "Alright, Regina. I'll accompany you to the stables. But only for a little while."

This just wasn't good enough for me. He'd given in so easily...and I wanted to see Daniel alone. "Daddy... May I please go by myself? I'll return before supper. I promise. Please?" He shook his head, worry in his eyes, "Regina, I can't allow that." I poked out my lip ever so slightly, "I don't even have to change... I just want to go see Rocinante." He sighed heavily, and I knew I had won, "Okay, my daughter. But you must return before dinner. I don't know when your Mother will be returning."

I smiled almost instantly, "Yes, Daddy."

Still fully dressed, hair down, and curls blowing in the slight breeze in the air, I went straight down to the stables from the breakfast table. Daniel had smiled the moment we locked eyes, always happy to see me. "Regina," He pulled his work gloves off, though he was still hesitant to pull me in for a hug in the elegant dress, "Where are your Mother and Father? Why...are you in a dress?"

I giggled softly, my cheeks flushing slightly at the boyish admiring gaze, "My Father's in the castle... Mother is...away. I'll explain later, I just needed to see you. I don't have very long."

Daniel pulled Rocinante out of his stall, saddled him up and helped me mount him in my long dress. He let me sit in front, reaching around to control the reins. Mother would've killed me...Daddy might have even nagged me about it. But in those moments, we were both free. Even trotting slowly, the light breeze blew my hair, my cheeks turning an even darker shade of pink every time I felt Daniel's arm brush against my own.

We'd gone to our usual spot, the old tree now a familiar sense of comfort. Daniel sat down, I beside him, and I started explaining the story of the previous night. "Then how did you get down here by yourself? Didn't your Mother tell Sir Henry not to let you out?" He asked as soon as I'd finished the story of the previous night.

"My Mother left to...attend to business...and Daddy's a little easier to convince. I think he knows that this might be my last chance to be down here on my own...without sneaking around at least."

"Regina...maybe you should be more careful... Your Father told me your Mother has... powers... dark magic."

I nodded, looking away from him to my feet. "She does."

I could feel Daniel's eyes on me, but I didn't want to look at him. Everyone was always afraid of Mother's powers. She could hurt people...kill them...and when someone discovered that they always ran. The castle workers, of course, didn't have much of a choice. Stay or be killed... Mother wasn't easy on them. Daniel was hesitant to ask questions, sensing I didn't like the subject. "Has she..." He whispered, "...ever used her powers on you?" Of course she had...it wasn't uncommon. My Mother was known to use her magic at any time that she didn't feel in control. I nodded softly, still refusing to meet his eyes, although I could see the corners of his lips turn down. "I'm sorry, Regina..." He whispered again.

I turned my head toward him. I'm sorry was a response I'd never heard when telling people about Mother's magic. A soft smile formed on my lips, "I've dealt with it my whole life...I hate them. As long as I do as she asks, she usually won't use it on me." He nodded, leaning his head back we both starred out into the open pasture, our little place of freedom.

"Why is she so strict on you...?" Daniel asked after a long moment of silence. ...Another question I hated answering.

I sighed softly, hoping he wouldn't take the answer in the wrong way, I answered simply, "She wants me to be a Queen."

"A Queen?" His eyes widened in disbelief. Once I had nodded he grew quiet, looking down at his lap as if he suddenly felt inferior.

"I don't want to be a Queen..." I whispered. I had never spoken those words to anyone other than my Father, who had once told me that I shouldn't say that. "That's all my Mother ever wanted of me. She wanted her daughter to marry into royalty, so that I could lead the life she didn't get to have."

"But you...you don't want it?" His voice slowly began to lose its hesitance. Daniel was slowly realizing I would answer anything he asked.

"No, I don't." I shook my head, dropping my eyes. "It's what she wants...so I don't have much of a choice. But it's not what I want."

I returned well before super, giving the maids time to ensure that I was perfectly prepped for Mother's return. Daddy sat across from me at the dining hall, both of us eating in silence with the other. Mother hadn't returned yet.

My mind continuously traveled back to my afternoon with the stableboy, the easy conversation, the horse ride, the closeness I felt with him. Daniel made my worries fade away, giving me a small sanctuary away from the castle. Being with him was...fun. He talked to me like no one else, always easy going and smiling happily. I'd started to let him in, and tell him more than anyone else. He knew about Mother's dark magic and my disliking of the future she had planned for me. Daniel's presence brought a carefree feeling that was irreplaceable.

I'd told him so much about myself, but as I thought of him more I tried to think of what I knew of him. A topic we hadn't gotten to in the short times we'd had together. Would I ever be able to ask him...about everything? So much I wanted to know...

Daddy had excused himself from dinner early, and I left soon after him, returning to my room. I looked out at the stables before climbing into bed, the same thoughts still clouding my mind.

A maid turned out my light, igniting a small flame in the fireplace to keep me warm throughout the night. I tossed and turned, sleep evading me, but my muscles tensed as I heard the familiar creek of my bedroom door.

My eyes squeezed closed, trying to keep every muscle still. The cold fingers that glazed over my arm were immediately recognizable.

She moved her touch from my arm to my hair, and as if I were still a child, she tucked my hair behind my ear, whispering in a nearly inaudible voice, "Sleep well, my Regina... Good things are to come."

She left, without trying to wake me, with no other words, closing the door behind her. Leaving me with my thoughts.