I own no one but my own people

Regina hated this stupid charade.

Every so often when she pushed her husband to the limits with her revealing outfits, he would make her watch as he had the guards destroy her wardrobe, both the inappropriate ones and even the more classy dresses that she had bought herself, cutting and ripping the outfits and gowns into shreds while she watched with an apparently horrified look on his face.

The first time she had truly been upset at the king's actions. She actually shed tears over the expensive fabrics and begged him not to, promising she wouldn't wear anything like that again. He ignored her and then, leaving only the gowns he approved of intact, (Eva's old gowns taken in at the waist or the immature unattractive dresses that Snow had picked out for her) he moved onto the second part of his punishment while she wore the 'inappropriate' gown she had been wearing that pushed him over the edge.

After all he couldn't very well throw her down on her bed and force her legs open while telling her this is what she deserved for dressing like a common whore while she wore his wives old gowns. What kind of monster would that make him?

The day after the first wardrobe incident she showed up at her magic lessons wearing some horrid white thing with ruffles and bows, one of Snow's favorites. After laughing at her, Rumplestiltskin taught her how to mend the fabrics and cloth using her magic. Looking back she realized it was more a lesson in her channeling her anger to accomplish something then a genuine kindness he was providing her.

But it had happened several more times since and each time the second he finished his punishment she would snap her fingers and fix her destroyed wardrobe, wear the insufferable clothing she hated for a few days then go back to wearing her own dresses. It's not like he paid enough attention to her to realize she was wearing the same leather pants and corset he had cut into shreds anyway…

Tonight was different though. Regina didn't have time to play out the facade of pretending she was distraught over her husband ruining her wardrobe, she had to get down to the dungeons.

She had seen Robin briefly when they arrived back at the castle. While they went in through the front gate, Robin had been dragged through one of the side doors closest to the dungeons. Their eyes met briefly and he gave her another one of his smiles as if to comfort her, once again filling her with feelings she hadn't felt since her stable boy.

Why was he so concerned with her feelings, with her happiness? Why did he offer to fight for her favor and her honor? If he has just said the same line as everyone else Leopold wouldn't have given two thoughts to him nor studied him close enough to realize who he was.

He was going to be killed because of a moment of defiance, a moment designed to do what, she wasn't sure but it had caused her happiness at Snows expanse so Leopold had to put an end to it as quickly as possible.

"I don't know why I don't just execute your dressmaker," her husband said as they watched his guards take one of her more elaborate gowns and rip it in two, the jewels that had been sown in clattering to the floor. "I don't know why she keeps defying me and making you these disgusting atrocities."

Because I ripped out her heart and keep it locked away and make her do as I say, Regina thought to herself, glancing out the window and wincing at the late hour.

Leopold decided that Robin was to be executed at dawn's first light, an arrow to the chest using his own bow. Not only a cruel karmic justice but they could tell the peasants that he had tried to escape, he had tried to assault and attack their King and had to be put down, and every hour that passed was another hour that she wasn't using on figuring out how to help him.

"You dress like a harlot, Regina," Leopold continued as the guards sword slashed through the last of her gowns, her resolve to continue the role of the meek wife waning. "I wouldn't be surprised if you slept with half the castle. It's a wonder you haven't gotten pregnant by any man willing to pay half a copper for you half a dozen times by now. Not that you could raise a child on your own anyway, your lucky Snow had such a superb upbringing before you came along."

That did it.

He knew how much she had wanted children. Her father told her that even if she didn't love the king or Snow, she would grow to love her children with him. During the first few weeks of their marriage she told him what she wanted; an adorable little prince or princess of her own but he had refused her. He didn't want any rivals for the crown to compete with Snow.

She then begged him to let her adopt a child, saying it wouldn't have to be Leopold's, she would raise it all her own, her child would hold no claim to throne, she wouldn't even give it the White name.

But he denied her that request as well and so her only chance for motherhood was raising the person she hated more than anything.

"Oh please!" she snapped. "The only upbringing that girl had before me was her mother teaching her how to be a spoiled little brat!"

Even Regina knew she had gone too far.

She swallowed hard when she saw his hand clench into a fist. The Queen had done the unspeakable; she had not only insulted Eva, but she insulted Snow in the same breath. If she was a commoner or a member of the staff it would have led to her head on a spike.

The look on his face sent a shockwave of terror through Regina.

"Leave us," he told the guards in a calm and steady voice that terrified Regina far more than when he shouted at her. "Stand guard at Snows door, make sure she doesn't leave her room. I don't want her to hear this."

Even the guards looked apprehensive to leave their Queen but they did as they were ordered and shut the door behind them.

…

Even Regina's magic couldn't make all of the bruises and cuts he gave her disappear. He usually took great care in making sure not to leave marks on her face but tonight he hadn't cared.

She had managed to take away some of the pain, she was now well versed in betting rid of the aching between her legs, but she still winced when she walked.

It took almost two hours before he decided she had been punished enough. After he left she laid there on her bed as silent tears streamed down her face, her voice too raw and painful to scream or talk anymore.

When she looked out the window and saw that the night sky was beginning to lighten she forced herself out of bed and pulled on one of the only gowns of her own that Leopold dubbed suitable, a form fitting white dress with clear crystals lining her bodice and a rather intricate design of vines and flowers, but not the ghastly flowers of Leopold's house, woven in and billowing white sleeves.

He hadn't locked the door this time, confident that the bruises and pain he had caused would keep her from wandering the castle.

Normally he was right. Regina would normally be too embarrassed or ashamed or angry to leave her chambers but this time it was different. She had to venture forth tonight, she had to save him…

She avoided the guards posted outside Leopold and Snow's rooms as she made her way down the dungeons with only a torch to light her way.

They were all empty apart from the last one that had two of the black knights standing in front of it, an honor he gave to only the most ruthless guards.

Shit. Why hadn't she thought of that, of course he would be well guarded.

But, she reminded herself as she straightened out, they weren't just Leopold's guards, they were hers as well and she could order them around just as easy as her husband could.

Putting on her most regal look, she walked over to where the prisoner was being held, clearing her throat to get the attention of the guards.

"I wish to speak to the prisoner alone," she told them in a Queen-like voice. Inside the jail cell Robin was sitting up against the far wall, looking fairly relaxed for a man who was going to be executed in a few hours. He perked up as he heard the Queens voice though.

"For what?" the first Guard, a particularly stupid man named Clyde, asked.

"That's none of your concern," she barked. "I need to speak to the prisoner alone."

"King Leopold gave us strict orders not to leave the thief," the second Guard, a relatively young man named Erich told her. "Sorry, your majesty."

Her temper flared as she glared at the two idiots. "Are you Leopold's personal guards or are you the royal guards?"

"The royal guards," Erich answered. "But-."

"Am I not part of the royal family?"

"You are but-."

"And what happens to guards who blatantly disobey a member of the royal family's orders?"

Clyde and Erich looked at one another before turning back to Regina.

"It's considered treason," she reminded them. "I assume you both know the penalty for treason? Therefore if you both want to keep your ugly heads attached to your scrawny necks, I suggest you do as I say and leave me and the prisoner alone."

With a low bow and muttered apologies both Guards turned and left the Outlaw and Queen alone.

"M'lady, you're injured."

Regina waited until the echoes of the guards footsteps and faded before she turned to Robin who was now standing near the rusted metal bars.

He reached out through the bars, touching the skin nearest the largest bruise on her cheek, the intimacy of his touch astonishing her.

"Did he hurt you?"

In the torch light his eyes were even more bluer if that were possible. They were so soft, so full of warmth and kindness.

Her own husband never even looked at her like that.

Regina shook her head, placing her hand on his.

"It doesn't matter," she told him. "The only thing that does matter is rescuing you."

Robin chuckled softly. "The damsel in distress is going to rescue the dashing rogue… quite a twist in the story."

"I'm not a damsel in distress."

"Forgive me but those marks on your face say otherwise, M'lady."

Regina swallowed hard as she gazed at him.

"Why did you do this?" she breathed. "If you had just done what the rest did and praise Snow White, he wouldn't have even noticed you."

"I'm not one for following the crowds. And I told you why, I didn't want to fight for her favor because she's a child. Quite a bit of a brat if rumors are to be believed." She couldn't help the smile that rose on her face. "You're the Queen, and a beautiful woman at that… winning your favor and honor just once means more to me than a hundred tournaments won for the princess."

Tears filled her brown eyes and streamed down her face. He gently wiped the offending drops of moisture away and she leaned against his touch, never wanting to go without again.

"You don't even know me," she told him with a tremble in her voice. "You had to have known it was going to anger the King when you did that. I'm not worth risking your life for."

Robin shook his head. "I do know you, Regina. This isn't the first time I've been inside this castle, I must have broken in at least a dozen times to steal from the treasury. I've heard what he does to you, I've heard his insults and punishments… I've seen your face when you're in public with him and he ignores you. No Queen should be treated like that. No WOMAN should be treated like that."

He stroked her face with all the tenderness of a lover.

"And you ARE worth risking my life for."

Regina took another deep breath, forcing herself to step away from his touch and remember why she had came down there.

"We can debate that later but right now, I need to get you out of here."

"Regina-."

"No, you're not going to martyr yourself for me, I won't allow it."

He just smiled another one of those comforting smiles at her, reassuring her when he was the one in danger.

"Regina, I'm not going to die."

"I know you aren't because I'm rescuing you."

All of a sudden the sound of footsteps echoed in the damp dark halls and Regina swallowed hard, knowing that it had to be dawn or at least close to the first light of morning.

Her fingers igniting sparks of magic as she debated using magic in front of someone in her household and keeping her secret.

He would risk it for me, she thought as she raised her hand, a particularly bright ball of flames erupting in her hand.

"You're not taking him anywhere!" she yelled at the intruder as he stepped into the light from her torch.

It was a large man, towering over her with shoulder length brown curls with a rather scruffy beard holding a bow with an arrow pointed at her heart.

"Regina, don't!" Robin warned the Queen, reaching out through the bars and grabbing hold of her wrist, effectively extinguishing the flame in her hand.

She whipped towards the prisoner, ready to lay into him when realization struck.

"...You were never planning to die, were you? You knew you would be rescued."

"My Merry Men are rather loyal," Robin told her almost apologetically. "I'm sorry for frightening you, M'lady."

"Why are you apologizing to her considering she's the reason you're in this mess," the man with the bow demanded.

"She's the reason you were spared watching me die on the tourney grounds," Robin told him with fierceness that surprised even the Queen. "You should be grateful to the woman who saved my life, Little John."

John just simply glared at Regina, still refusing to lower his bow. "What's she doing down here then? Come to take him to his execution?"

"I came down here to save him," the Queen snapped. "If you had a little less girth you might have gotten here earlier and fulfilled your purpose."

"Save him? No, I'm saving him."

"Can we debate the semantics sometime after I'm out of this cell?" Robin asked, knowing that the guards would return to bring him to the gallows sooner rather than later.

Regina and John looked at one another before John finally lowered his bow and grabbed two pins out of his pocket.

"What are you doing?" Regina demanded as John went to work on picking the lock. "It's almost dawn and you're wasting time on hair pins?"

"If you shut up I could concentrate and get him out of here," John told her as he continued to work the locks.

Regina rolled her eyes at the large man.

"Move," she demanded, pushing him out of the way. The Queen took a deep breath as she put her hand in front of the door, willing all of the magic she possessed, all she had been taught on the metal lock.

"Come on…" she muttered to herself, a cold sweat breaking out as her concentration steeled. "Come on…"

"M'lady, perhaps it'd be better if you allow John to-."

The sound of a lock clicking open had never sounded so sweet to the three of them.

Regina smirked at the curly haired man as she opened the door.

"You were saying?"

Another smile and another half bow. "Apologies, M'lady."

"A simple thank you would suffice," Regina told him with a rather devilish grin.

"Of course. A gentleman never forgets his manners. I believe this would suffice as a 'thank you' however."

"What would?"

"This."

Without warning he leaned in and kissed her. His lips were soft and gentle, unlike the chapped bruising ones that belonged to her husband, moving expertly across hers.

She froze for a moment before she relaxed into the kiss, his scruff pleasantly scratching her face as he ran his hand through her long jet black hair while she wrapped her arms around him, pulling the outlaw closer to her.

Neither one paid attention the sounds of the voices getting closer.

"Robin, we have to go," John told his leader. Robin paid no attention to his friend and instead just deepened the kiss. "In twenty seconds this place is going to swarming with guards, we need to get out of here."

The urgency in his friends voice finally gained his attention and he reluctantly pulled apart from his Queen.

"Come with me," he breathed, unwilling to take his hands away from her. "Leave this place, Regina."

"Robin, we need to leave."

"I can't."

"I know I'm just a thief and I can't give you the life of a Queen but-."

She shook her head desperately. "No, you don't understand. I would give ANYTHING to go with you but my mother she cast a spell, I can't leave the castle unless the king is with me."

"The guards, Robin!"

It pained her more than anything she had ever done but she stepped away from him. "You need to go. If they catch you…"

"I know."

She took his face in her hands and gazed at him, trying to memorize everything about his face, memorize the love in his eyes.

One last kiss and she pulled away again. "Go. Out the south doors, they never patrol them."

With one final look Robin ran down the hallway. John gave her a curt nod, one of respect and admiration before he followed his fearless leader with the Queen looking after the two outlaws as tears ran down her bruised cheeks…

A week later Regina sighed heavily as she made her way into her chambers after one of her magic lessons with Rumplestiltskin. She convinced Clyde and Erich that she had nothing to do with his disappearance, that she had gone down there to chastise him for not fighting for Snow Whites honor at the tourney.

Then she had told Leopold that he and John had overpowered her and that was how they escaped. Rather or not he believed her Regina couldn't be sure but he hadn't brought it up to her again

Truthfully it worked out for the aged king. He told the peasants he had released Robin Hood of his own volition, that Leopold know he was a hero despite his crimes.

The Queen sighed as she sat at her vanity, unpinning her hair and magicing away her makeup. Regina just started to undo the laces on her corsets when something laid on her pillow caught her eye in the mirror.

She turned around and walked over to the bed, gasping softly when she saw what had been laid on her pillow.

A single white rose.

There was a note next to the flower and she picked it up tears running down her face when she read the words written.

"My name is Robin of Locksley, and I compete for the honor and favor of our beautiful Queen, Regina Mills."

Please Review