A/N I can't thank everyone enough for the support and positive support this story has been getting, you're all awesome ! OK so this was supposed to be two chapters but couldn't decide where to break it, so what the hell enjoy the double length chapter ! Keep the follows and reviews coming, it makes me update quicker ! (This is for you Evil Regal Tease !) DM x
It was well into the night when Regina returned to camp, tents were up, fires were lit and the smells of roasting meat drifted through the air, the angry growl from her stomach reminding her that she hadn't eaten anything since the day before yesterday. When Regina reached her tent she was surprised to find it empty, she had half expected Emma to come back here, to her, once the camp was set up. She felt both worried and yet relieved by the blonde's absence, she knew Daniel would take care of her but they didn't part that morning on the best of terms and it left an uneasy feeling inside her. That conflictedness was in fact why she was relieved, she still didn't know what to do about Emma and the situation she now found herself in.
On the other side of camp, Emma was also lost in her thoughts but unlike Regina she had resolved her inner conflict and knew what she had to do. Now all she had to do was tell Regina, she needed to see her but she had no idea if Regina had returned yet. It wasn't long before she noticed a few guards arrive at their makeshift stables but felt deflated when she realised Regina was not with them, so continued brushing down a good tempted chestnut mare, who was one of the horses that pulled their wagon, as a means of distraction but it wasn't really working.
"Do you think she'll even give me a chance? After this morning I doubt she will even hear me out, let alone accept that we belong together. I just don't know. What do you think? Think I've got a shot?" Emma mused. The horse just snorted distractedly and Emma let out a small chuckle. "Yeah that's what I thought !"
"Making friends I see, not sure she's got all the answers though" Daniel said as he led a large black stallion into the stables.
"Maybe not, but at least she listens without judgement" Emma replied happily. Both of them laughed when the mare was the first to respond with a loud snort as she threw her head in the air distastefully. "Or maybe not" Emma laughed out.
"At least she can't tell anyone, that's always a bonus" Daniel replied lightheartedly. "The Commander has returned by the way, I believe she's already in her tent" Daniel said as he settled in the stallion.
"How do you know ? I didn't see her arrive back with the others" Emma asked in confusion, she could of sworn Regina wasn't with those men dropped the horses off a little while ago. Daniel stepped back and gestured to the big black stallion in front of him.
"Emma meet Rocinante, Regina's horse. Rocinante this is Emma" Daniel said as he gestured from the horse back to Emma. Emma could of sworn that the horse was giving her the once over and found she couldn't meet his judgemental gaze. This is stupid Emma thought it's just a horse! And turned back to Daniel who had an amused look on his face.
"Yeah, he's not the friendliest horse I've ever met but he's loyal and Regina has had him since he was a foal, sometimes I think he's the only thing Regina truly loves" Daniel said thoughtfully and Emma turned back to the horse with a questioning gaze of her own.
"You should go, Regina will be expecting you" Daniel said pulling Emma's attention away from the horse once more.
"Yeah, I should. I need to see her" Emma said affirmatively and started to head out In search of Regina's tent but suddenly stopped as she reached the doorway "Erm where is the Commander's tent ?" Emma asked nervously suddenly realising she had no idea where she was going. Daniel let out a gentle laugh and joined her in the doorway.
"Eager are we ?" Daniel said humorously causing Emma to blush at her own enthusiasm. "Come, I'll walk you besides Regina would probably skin me alive if she found out that I hadn't" Daniel said gently as he'd led her into the mass of tents that lay out in front if them. It wasn't long before they reached their destination and Daniel bid goodnight to the young blonde woman who he had become so fond of in just one day.
As Emma stepped into the tent, she looked around nervously for Regina but she was nowhere to be found. The tent flaps suddenly opened behind her as Regina and two guards walked in loaded up with various plates in food and silently left them on the table before leaving the two woman alone for the first time since their argument.
Regina was the first one to break the silent tension that was beginning to thicken the air in her moderately sized tent as she walked over to the table and gestured for Emma to sit.
"You're just in time. Please sit, you must be hungry" Regina said almost chivalrously, as Emma made her way over to the table and sat down. Both woman ate the majority of their meal in silence, Emma tried to engage Regina a few times but she simply nodded or provided single word answers and avoided any sort if eye contact with Emma completely. So by the time they were finished, Emma was about ready to explode, she was beyond annoyed by Regina's behaviour and it confused her to hell. This beautiful woman who had rescued her, cared for her and made Emma fall in love her was now acting like it was the biggest mistake ever and yet refused to completely let go. As Regina moved to clear away the plates Emma finally found the anger induced courage she needed to speak her mind.
"Regina, will you just stop for a moment" Emma said irritably as she grabbed Regina's wrist as she reached for Emma's plate. Regina looked at Emma for the first time that evening with a pleading look in her eyes, willing Emma to understand she wasn't ready to have the conversation that Emma wanted. Emma's irritation softened a little at the look in Regina's eyes, she understood but refused to back down, they needed to have it now for both of their sanity.
"You can't keep avoiding me, or whatever this ..." Emma said as she gestured between herself and Regina. "I know you feel this connection too, its to strong not too but what I don't understand, is why it frightens you so much ?" Emma said frustratedly although her tone was almost pleading. Regina turned away from Emma so she could not see the frustrated tears that now welled in her eyes, but could still feel Emma's longingly stare burning holes into her back.
"Emma, I don't know what to say... I ..." Regina mumbled solely, she still didn't have any answers.
"Just talk to me" Emma said pleadingly. "Just tell me that you feel this too, tell me I haven't imagined it all. Do you feel anything for me at all?" Emma's voice started to break with emotion as she voiced her desperate plea. Regina still couldn't bring herself to face Emma, she knew what was left of her strength would dissolve as soon as she saw tears in those emerald eyes that were already tattooed on her soul.
"I won't deny our connection Emma" Regina said trying and failing to keep the emotion from her voice. "And I do care about you, but that is what makes this so dangerous. Their is too much in my life that I will not let you endure, I will not watch you suffer, I won't. That's why I can't accept this. I'm sorry Emma but i cannot give you what you want. You deserve better than that, better than me" Regina said with as much finality as she could muster and finally turned to face the young woman she was breaking her own heart for.
"No, you don't get to do that" Emma shouted angrily, she knew she was going to be faced with resistance but for Regina just to dismiss her like that was unacceptable. She promised herself she would fight for this and that's exactly what she intended to do. "You can't dismiss our destiny like that without even trying. I refuse to accept it" Emma said challengingly.
"Do not tell me what I can and cannot do. I'm trying to do the right thing, accept it or not, that's your choice, it will still not change the outcome" Regina said frustratedly, both woman now glaring at each other angrily from either end of the table. The silent tension swallowed up the oxygen in the room almost instantly as both women refused to back down. That tension was suddenly broken by the sound of commotion just outside the tent until one of the posted guards came stumbling through the entrance, shortly followed by a slightly taller man, Emma hadn't seen before.
"I'm sorry Commander, Captain Jefferson insisted he speak with you immediately" the guard paused and looked at the floor before finishing weakly "I told him you weren't to be disturbed but I could not stop him". The other man just grinned wickedly in Regina's direction.
"I knew you wouldn't keep an old friend waiting, Commander." Jefferson sneered. "Besides your mother sent me and you definitely don't want to keep her waiting now, do you?" Jefferson added a little manically. Emma took an instant dislike to this man who turned his attention from a very rigid Regina to herself as he eyed her with curiosity and dark intent. Regina finally found her voice when she felt a surge of protectiveness flow through her as Jefferson's crazy eyes devoured Emma like prey.
"You overstep your place, Jefferson" the commander growled dangerously. The was no love lost between the too, in fact Regina despised this vile man, but he was one of her mother's favourites and also Captain of the Queen's personal guard. Her mother took great joy in their shared hatred of each other, and pitted them against each other in many things like prized fighters for her own entertainment. Jefferson turned back to look into angry brown eyes with a smug grin on his face.
"Now, now there's no need to get defensive" he chuckled manically enjoying the moment as he pushed Regina's buttons. "I'm just here to inform you that The Queen has issued you with an immediate summons back to the Dark Castle". He said as he pulled a parchment from inside his jacket marked with the Queen's seal and held it out. Regina snatched it from his hand with angry yet concerned eyes but before she could read it for herself, Jefferson snatched it back.
"There's more, the Queen also has a personal message for you and I quote, 'and tell her to bring her blonde whore with her !' The Queen expects you at the castle by midday tomorrow. " Jefferson added gleefully watching as the Commander's rage turned into something akin to fear.
"What does she want with Emma ?" Regina asked with a slight hint of fear in her voice. Jefferson laughed at her with gleeful delight, it was rare to unnerve the commander but Jefferson relished those moments, he always felt victorious in those moments.
"I'm sure she has her reasons and to be honest I don't really care. What surprises me though is that you obviously do and I know the Queen will definitely be interested in that development". Jefferson replied with a shit eating grin and an evil glint in his eyes. Regina's blood started to boil, not only was he threatening her but Emma as well, her eyes darkened over as she took a firm grip on the hilt of her sword although it remained in its sheath. She knew she couldn't let her rage make this situation any worse, Jefferson had already seen too much.
"Look Jefferson I know, we haven't always seen eye to eye but ..." Regina started to say, hoping to reason with him but Jefferson abruptly cut her off with a delighted chuckle before filling the tent with his disinterested tone.
"Save it Commander, your actions are own. I just enjoy watching the consequences" he sneered. He turned to Emma then who was still stood by the table like a startled rabbit caught in a snare as she silently watched their interaction. "I do hope you like the castle, I look forward to having you around" Jefferson leered at Emma with a wicked grin.
"Jefferson, please" Regina pleaded in a near silent whisper. Jefferson merely waved her off disinterestedly,
"Goodnight Commander, the Queen expects you by midday" and with that he turned and left, relishing in his victory and leaving the two woman now shocked, silent and both staring at each other with a scared and desperate looks in their eyes.
The silence seemed to last an eternity as both woman stood motionless, both their minds trying to process the startling new development to their current situation. Regina was the first to break the silence as she finally managed to put her brain back into gear.
"If we are to make it to the castle by midday tomorrow we need to leave immediately and ride through the night" Regina said as she started to move around the tent gathering up her amour and weapons. As she neared the table, it dawned on her that Emma hadn't moved or spoken she was still transfixed and frozen by this new information. "Emma" Regina said gently trying to bring the young woman back to the room.
"Emma, please" Regina pleaded, they didn't have time for this. "We really must get going" Emma's glazed over look finally found Regina when she felt Regina take her hand as she spoke, she saw fear and concern in Regina's eyes and that's when it all clicked. She was going to see the Queen and not a single cell in her body felt like it was a good thing. What did the Queen want with her, and why now. Emma felt as it the world was turned on its head, she started to tremble as fear and panic rushed through the veins. She was totally freaking out. Regina saw the emotions play across Emma's face as it escalated towards hysteria and in a preemptive move took a firm grip on the young woman's forearms and gave her a small shake and gave Emma a direct order.
"Do not do this. Not now, not here. I don't not know what mother wants with us but we cannot worry about that yet" Regina gently ordered. "I must go and inform the generals of our departure and summon our horses. You do ride, don't you?" Regina asked gently watching as Emma struggled to pull herself together. "Emma?"
"Ugh, No I never learned" Emma blurted in a near inexistent mumble as her eyes looked away sheepishly. Regina was right she couldn't do this now. She new Regina probably felt scared as well and yet she held it together and that filled Emma with a sense of shame. "I'm sorry" she whispered apologetically. Regina leant into her personal space and cupped Emma's cheek gently.
"I must go, we will talk on the road, I promise" Regina said sincerely and smiled gently. She needed to be strong, she needed to be strong for both of them, no matter how much she was terrified. Emma managed a small smile of her own and gave Regina a gentle nod and just like that Regina was gone and the commander strode authoritively out of the tent.
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Thus had been riding hard for about three hours now and Emma was feeling very sore, numb and uncomfortable and let out a small hiss when she tried to readjust herself in the saddle. Regina noticed Emma's discomfort and gradually slowed Rocinante's pace gown to a gentle walk then was rewarded by a small sigh of relief from the young blonde in front of her.
"We are making good time in you need to rest for a while?" Regina asked compassionately. She still remembered how sore she was, when she first learnt to ride and knew it was worse for Emma as she didn't have the recent injuries that Emma has.
"I'm OK, just a little sore. We don't have to stop" Emma replied obviously wanting too but unwilling to be a burden. Regina took the subtle hint and veered the huge black stallion of the road an into the trees.
"There's a stream just ahead, we should probably rest the horse a while, we have been riding hard and he's unaccustomed to the added weight" Regina said with a playful smirk as Emma shifted again in front of her.
"I'm not that heavy !" Emma said with a playful pout of her own. "But a little rest sounds nice" Emma said with a politeful thankfulness that melted Regina's heart a little. It wasn't long before the stream came into sight, and when they came to a stop Regina made a swift dismount whilst Emma was made an awkward attempt before Regina helped her gingerly out of the saddle. Emma stumbled a little, her legs felt like jelly and she was definately thankful for Regina's firm grip on her elbow. Once Regina was sure Emma had firm footing, she let go and moved to untackle her horse. Emma went to help her, just like Daniel had shown her earlier but with a firm toss of rocinante's head, Emma found herself shoved a few feet back from where she stood whilst the horse let out a short of defiance. Regina couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the offended look on Emma's face.
"Don't take it personally, there isn't many people that he likes" Regina said with an amused tone. "Why don't you collect some firewood whilst I finish off" Regina suggested hopefully.
"I can do that" Emma said with a small smile, glad she could be of some use before disappearing into the brush. About twenty minutes later the horse had been feed and watered and both Regina and Emma sat either side of a small fire finishing up thier small meal of bread and cheese. An awkward silence had formed both woman knowing they needed to talk about the Dark Queen's summons but neither knew were to start. The longer the silence continued the more Emma's brain ran off with assumptions until she just couldn't bare it any longer.
"What do you think the Queen wants?" Emma asked nervously as green eyes sought brown through the flickering flames.
"I honestly have no idea, Emma. It could be anything" Regina said trying to keep the worry from her tone, but seeing Emma's eyes fill with fear she knew she had failed. "I doubt its anything good" Regina said ashamedly.
"Why do you think she wants me?" Emma asked in a fear laced tone.
"I don't know. I don't even know how she found out about you and that concerns me, but I'm more worried about what is she's going to do. That's why I wanted to send you away, I wanted to protect you from this, from her". Regina said defeatedly as she poked the fire angrily with a stick.
"Then leave me, leave me here, you could say I ran off or something" Emma said as the panic started to set in.
"We both know I can't do that Emma. I don't care what the Queen would do to me, but if she wants you then she would hunt you down and torture you for trying to flee. Besides there is no way I'm leaving you in the middle of nowhere, I can't do that, I won't" Regina said firmly. How she wished she could do as Emma asked but what she said was true, and as long as they were together, at least Regina could protect her as much as she could.
"I don't want to go to castle Regina, please don't take me there. I heard people say that most people who enter the Dark Castle never come out again and those that do, come back battered and broken" Emma said her eyes now filled with tears and hysteria in her voice. Before she had even realised what she was doing, Regina found herself the other side of the fire pulling Emma into her arms as she sat down.
"I'm so sorry this is happening to you Emma, I never wanted this for you" Regina whispered into blonde hair as a silent tear rolled down her own face.
"I'm scared Regina" Emma mumbled into Regina's chest. Regina didn't say anything just held Emma little tighter. Slowly Emma's sobs started to ease as she relaxed into the safe, strong arms that encompassed her. As Emma began to settle, Regina pulled back slightly,
"Emma" she said gently, waiting for tear soaked eyes to meet her own. Once she had them she released Emma taking her hands as she turned to kneel in front of the scared young woman.
"I can't promise you everything will be okay, but I can promise you this" Regina said, allowing a brief pause to make sure she had Emma's full attention. "I will protect you from whatever it is, that my mother wants from us, from you as much as I can. I do not wish any harm to come to you and would do anything to save you from my mother. I care for you Emma, maybe too much and I fear that maybe why we have been summoned" Regina said with a heartfelt sincere honesty that she never knew she was capable of. But the reality of the situation was that Regina was truly scared of her mother and what her plans were, and even as her daughter, the commander and everything else there was only so much Regina could do. Emma saw the fear and honesty in Regina's eyes and her chest filled with an expanding warmth that smothered the fear she felt. She believed Regina, she believed Regina would give everything she had to save her from her plight at the hands of the Dark Queen and it made her feel safe and loved. Like destiny was reminding her that no matter what happens they were safer and stronger together. Emma sat forward taking Regina's face in her hands as she stared lovingly into uncertain eyes,
"I believe you" Emma said with absolute belief and kissed Regina gently. That brief kiss was full of so many promises and Regina meant all of them, even those she hadn't said aloud. Regina pulled away and smiled at the woman she silently vowed to give her life for, the woman she had fallen in love with as Emma returned the smile with a shy one of her own. She had never kissed anyone before and was now feeling a little embarrassed as she had not intended to do so.
"And I you" Regina said with certainty. "Now come, we must get going it will only make things worse if we were to arrive late" Regina said as she gently pulled Emma up onto her feet. Emma nodded gently, they were in this together now and maybe, just maybe things were going to be okay after all.