"Can we please stop, just for a minute?" The blonde asked. They had been walking for hours and the sun that had just been rising upon their departure from the inn, was now high in the sky. The brunette traipsed off the path to settle in the lush grass beside the river they had been following. Emma followed her and flopped down. She eased off her boots and socks before sticking her hot, blistered feet in the cool water.
Emma hated begging, hated caving in. But the pain in her feet left her with little choice. Some of the pockets had ruptured and stung as she submerged her flesh. She glanced to Regina who sat fanning herself in the sun. "We should begin looking for a campsite in a few hours."
"Campsite?"
"Yes, we're in the wilderness, there are few inns or rest-stops out this far. It looks like we'll be under the stars tonight, Miss Swan."
"Can't magic us a tent or something?" Emma tried to keep the frustration from her voice.
"Imagine if someone from this world happened upon a tent." Regina said.
"Sleeping bags?"
"Sleeping rolls." She said then pinned the blonde with her dark eyes. "I'm not thrilled about sleeping on the ground next to you, Miss Swan. But if we are to make it to Kiamo Ko unscathed and with as little delay as possible, we have to follow the rules of the land."
"I don't see how using magic can-"
"No, you wouldn't see." Regina cut her off. "In a land such as this, where magic is built up like static on a dryer sheet, any small amount of energy expended leaves a large signature behind." She sighed when Emma continued to stare. "Imagine a dark room full of candles. Blow one out or light one and you would hardly notice." She lifted a hand. "But imagine a dark room with two or three candles. If you light one, someone is bound to notice."
"So we're in the room with the fewest candles." Emma said, finally understanding.
"Precisely. So little magic is used here that it is glaringly obvious when it is used."
"So we only use it in emergencies?"
"Yes."
"Like if we're attacked by a lion, or tiger, or bear?" Emma jested.
"If we're accosted by an animal, we will run." Regina stood back up and Emma began to pull her socks and shoes back on.
"You can't outrun a lion, Regina."
"I don't have to outrun the lion, Miss Swan. I just have to outrun you." Her mouth lit in a wicked grin and Emma thought she was mostly joking…mostly.
"Then you best hope you grow several inches, because my legs were made for sprinting."
"Yes, but you're so terribly clumsy. All I really have to do is remain upright."
Emma opened her mouth and then shut it again: the woman had her there. "Regina, if you let me get eaten by a lion, so help me god, I will haunt you the rest of your days."
"I think you would rather enjoy that, wouldn't you? I could imagine that last night would be the first of many times you watch me bathe."
Oh Jesus. Emma thought and felt her stomach flip. "I would do more than watch." She surprised them both by saying and then strode ahead of the brunette, presenting her back to her confidently. She missed the look of appraisal and challenge that lit the older woman's face.
Would you now, Miss Swan? The brunette wondered mischievously. She sized the blonde up as she strode behind her quick pace. The brunette had certainly bedded less attractive women (naturally, they had something she wanted) as well as women that were physically stronger. But Emma Swan seemed to be a breed all her own. She considered that the blonde was probably more than suited to fulfilling her needs…The brunette shook her head; no, that was a terrible idea. The only way to make things more complicated would be to sleep with Emma Swan.
The sun began to sink and Regina motioned them away from the river and closer to the tree line. Emma helped her to clear out a sleeping spot and then they built a fire. Luckily, Regina decided this small amount of magic would not draw significant attention and Emma's night was made easier by not having to gather firewood constantly.
She sat down on a stump and took off her shoes gingerly before hissing through her clenched teeth. "Jesus Christ." She swore as she considered the blisters on her feet.
Regina turned her head and caught sight of the angry, inflamed skin. "Why didn't you say something?" She went to her but Emma held out a hand.
"You're joking?"
"You can admit when you're hurting."
"Says the woman that sustained life-threatening electrocution because she was too-"
"That's different." Regina waved a hand and reached out again, taking Emma's ankle in her palm and inspecting the ruptured flesh. "This looks terrible."
"Well, it doesn't feel so great either." Emma said drolly and made to snatch her foot back but realized that Regina's hands were soothing her throbbing feet. "What are you doing?"
"If your feet get infected it will slow down our progress."
"But healing magic-"
"Runs under the radar, so to speak. Most people pay little attention to magic used to heal as it poses no threat." The woman rattled off matter-of-factly and Emma fought to focus on her words as Regina's hands healed her feet.
The blonde leaned back and watched the woman stroke down her ankles and across her toes gently. "Good thing you're not squeamish." Emma said with a dark grin. "My feet stink."
"Indeed, Miss Swan. I'm not half the prude you are." The magic traveled up her ankles and eased the tension in her sore calves as well.
"I'm not a prude, woman. I just have certain boundaries: we aren't all as free and easy with our bodies as you seem to be."
"Seem?" The brunette laughed. "You forget where I grew up. Things were different in the Enchanted Forest. Magic was power, but sexuality was more subtle."
Emma could feel the tingling massage creep higher to her thighs. Is she doing this on purpose? The blonde wondered as the sensation caused her to shudder imperceptibly. Regina's magic was having a rather interesting effect on her indeed. Namely, it was arousing. But Emma found herself between a rock and a hard place. She didn't want to admit the effect the healing magic was having on her.
However, when the first tendrils of the magic glanced her clit suddenly, Emma bit down on her lip. "Regina, I think that's enough."
"I believe I'll decide when you are healed, Miss Swan." The woman didn't glance up but merely continued to work on her feet that were sporting pink, new skin where the blisters had been.
"No, I think I'm good to go." The blonde squirmed as the magic furled over her center and moisture found its way between her thighs.
"Really, Miss Swan-" Regina began but looked up in surprise when the blonde jerked her feet out of her grasp.
"You have to stop now."
The brunette took in the flush on her face and the quick rhythm of her breathing as the blonde pulled her feet up to her and stared at the woman warily. The air around them hummed with tension. "What is the matter? Did I hurt you? I haven't healed in quite-"
"No, you didn't hurt me." The woman stood and dusted off her backside, leaving Regina crouched on the forest floor. "It was just intense."
"How so?"
"Never mind." Emma mumbled in embarrassment.
"Miss Swan-"
"I said forget it!" She spun around to find the brunette nearly nose to nose with her. Emma took a step back but the witch followed her with curious eyes. "It's not important."
"If something is wrong with my magic it is important." The woman said with concern. "I need to know that if the time comes, I will be able to get us out of here." She threw a hand about the forest. "Now, tell me what your problem is."
Emma looked down. "You said yourself that magic is stronger here." She mumbled and felt her face burning. "What else do you use healing magic for, Regina?"'
"What?" The brunette had not been expecting this. "What do you mean?"
"It's obviously different from the other magic you use for conjuring and fireballs and transportation."
"Right, as we discussed before, magic is like energy; it is transformed but never lost or created."
"Yes, I remember." Emma said mustering her patience. "But what other sort of magic do you use the healing form for exactly?"
Realization hit Regina and she stepped back suddenly and inhaled sharply. "I see."
"I don't."
"I think you do." The brunette adopted a business-like tone. "The form of magic that is required for healing mandates that one become in-tune with another's body. It allows one to satisfy that specific body's needs physically. The same form of magic that is used for healing is also used to bring sexual satisfaction." The brunette turned to hide her own chagrin. "That is what happened, is it not, Miss Swan? My magic brought you-"
"Yes." Emma cut her off quickly; unwilling to hear the woman say the words again. "That was because magic here is stronger?"
"I would assume so." Regina turned back around when Emma continued to look at her suspiciously. "What are you implying? That I meant to bring you physical pleasure?" She stepped forward again and the blonde held her ground. "That it was my intent to arouse you? That I wanted to turn you on?" She grinned wickedly.
"That's not what I said." Emma growled. "I just wouldn't put it past you to try and manipulate-"
"Miss Swan, had I wanted you in my bed, you would already be there." Regina flipped back her long braid with a casual hand. "Furthermore, if I were going to use my sexual prowess to subdue you, you wouldn't have known what hit you." The brunette turned and headed back to the fire, leaving Emma stunned in the darkening forest.