Blue's words rang in Regina's ears as she and Daniel rode closer and closer to the White palace.

Your mother was wrong. Clip clop, Clip clop. You'll be a great sorceress. Clip clop, Clip clop. I would be happy to train you. Clip clop, Clip clop. The thoughts almost mirrored the syncopation of Rocinante's hooves under her.

When Blue had spoken to her at the stable, she'd been too shocked to do anything but turn and walk away. It was simply too much to wrap her head around, especially after…whatever had happened when Sapphire had tried to "get a feel for her magic" as she put it. If Regina couldn't even do that, how could the fairy expect her to become a sorceress?

The brunette churned this over in her mind as the castle began to loom larger and larger over her and her fiancée. Her mother would loathe her for admitting it, but she was glad her magic hadn't worked. If she weren't able to summon it, she certainly wouldn't be able to use it. She could finally put her worries about those blasted spells twisting her into her mother's clone behind her for good.

And then Blue had to go and offer to train her. What was she supposed to say to that? Regina shook her head; it seemed no matter how much she tried to sort this out and ignore the fairy's sentiments for her; she always came back to one very disturbing thought. Something told her that if she didn't take lessons with Blue…well, she just knew there would be dire consequences; she could feel it.

And it scared her witless.

"What are you thinking, 'Gina?"

Regina blinked, it seemed she had been off in her own world longer than she thought. The castle was now mere feet in front of her and Daniel's hand was placed atop hers, looking intensely at her worried, perplexed features. "I'm sorry my dear," she apologized, "I was just-" Suddenly their horses came to an abrupt, jarring stop. Rocinante whinnied wildly.

"Who goes there?"

Daniel and Regina glanced up to see a fearsome looking guard standing squarely in front of their horses, blocking the gates to the palace. He was a broadly built, muscular man with an intimidating scowl as what seemed to be a permanent fixture on his face. He crossed his arms and eyed the riders suspiciously. "Sir," Daniel spoke up, "We are here to see Princess White. I am her new literature tutor, Vince Anderson," he bowed with his upper body and then gestured to Regina, "and this is her new riding instructor, Ms. Re -er- Deirdre Garcia."

Regina did her best to curtsy from atop a horse, "Pleasure to meet you."

The guard eyed them suspiciously, "Yes, the King told me he was in need of a new tutor for Snow, but that was only hours ago…how did you get here so soon?" his voice was laden with skepticism. He looked extremely eager to catch their bluff and throw them out. Regina shifted in her seat and looked to her stable boy.

"Word was brought to our village by the royal page this morning at dawn," Daniel lied smoothly, "We were told the princess had heard of our reputation back home and asked for us personally."

"We couldn't disappoint the King," the brunette continued, "We rode off immediately."

The guard raised an eyebrow and grunted.

"Please sir," Daniel implored. Regina could tell by the hint of superiority in his voice that he had a plan. "We were instructed to be here by noon and it's already," he looked at his watch, "eleven fifty," he looked pointedly at the guard. "What would the King think if we were to tell him that his guards wouldn't let us pass?" he wondered aloud. Regina hid a smile.

The guard's eyes widened slightly. He still wasn't sure he believed him, but no one wanted to double cross His Majesty. He stepped aside and opened the gate, "You may pass," he grumbled begrudgingly, "but be warned, if I come to find you are not who you say," he let the threat hang there as he patted the heavy jewel encrusted silver sword at his side.

The pair gulped inwardly, but did their best to appear calm and confident as they thanked him ad rode through the majestic gates.

The process repeated itself again at the stables as well as when they reached the caste doors. Each time they were met with another obstacle, Regina would tense; afraid their story would fail. She was able to take the lead when talking with the stable hands, but again counted on Daniel to charm the seemingly stricter guard at the palace entrance. Finally though, after much persuading, they were inside. Regina's breath came out in a long whoosh when they stepped over the castle threshold into the massive foyer.

"We made it," she sighed, relived.

Daniel squeezed he hand, "Yes we did. You were amazing back there 'Gina," he smiled.

Regina blushed, "I didn't do anything. You did all the talking,"

"Nonsense," Daniel assured her. "I'm talking about what you did with Blue this morning. That was really brave."

Regina cleared her throat and looked down at her feet. She didn't want to focus on that right now. "Yes, well…" Regina looked up at her fiancée silently begging him to change the subject. "What do we do now, do you suppose?"

After some debate, they went back to the guard at the door and, with his help, were able to locate the servant's corridors of the castle. Or rather, under the castle. They wandered around. Regina was just about to ask for directions as to the procedures of becoming a new employee of the palace when something startled her.

"Excuse me," said a booming female voice. Daniel and Regina whirled around to see a stern faced woman in purple maids apparel with a large pile of laundry under one arm. She was scowling at the couple and stalking determinedly down the stairs. "Who-" she spat, inches away from Regina's face, "do you think you are and what are you doing in this palace?"

Regina's eyes widened and she took a cautious step back. "We are here to see the King," she said, finding her voice. It didn't sound as authoritative as she would've liked, but she sounded like herself, for which she was relieved. Ever since the night she had seen Snow at the stables, Regina had been worried that she and Daniel wouldn't be able to do anything for the little princess. She did not wish to see the selfish, cruel man who called himself Snow's father, but saw no other way.

She'd made it through that night, when she saw that brave little girl nearly take her life for Daniel's safety. She'd faced her biggest fear only hours ago. She was so close to Snow and no one, not the King, and certainly not this general-like maid, was going to stop her.

The maid raised an eyebrow, "The King?" her eyes narrowed, "And what business do you have with His Majesty?"

"We are here to tend to Princess White," Daniel interjected. "I am her new literature tutor Vince," he stuck his hand out for the maid to shake, which she took warily.

"And I am her riding instructor, Deirdre." Regina curtsied, the maid grumbled hello.

"Very well," she said begrudgingly. "The guards informed me there were new recruits on the grounds. The pronouncement for open positions was only hours ago, so it struck me that you got here so quickly," she let that statement hang there for a moment, eyeing them.

"Nonetheless," she continued, after staring them down for what seemed to be an eternity. "Our security is the finest in the kingdom, naturally, so if they trust you, I am inclined to do the same."

The pair unconsciously let out relieved puffs of air.

The maid, however, was not through with them. "But for the reputation you claim to have around your village, I am surprised at your… ignorance."

Daniel and Regina glanced at each other, wondering what that meant. "Pardon me ma'am," Daniel interjected, "but in what way are we ignorant? We've only just arrived here."

The woman scoffed, "Exactly," she confirmed, "And yet you expect an audience with His Majesty," she laughed, as if it were the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"Why is that so amusing?" Regina fumed. She was getting tired of this authoritative woman acting as if they were children, "Surely if we are to care for his," she paused for the briefest of seconds, hating that she had to associate her beautiful Snow with the rat who called himself a King, "daughter," she emphasized at last, "so directly, he will want to meet us, will he not?" her penetrating gaze showed authority she did not feel. She dared the maid to question her, just as Daniel had done with the guard at the front gate. Her fiancée squeezed her hand and gave her a small, proud smile.

The woman grumbled something unintelligible," Very well," she conceded, glaring at Regina. "I will see what I can do. In the meantime, make yourselves useful and start learning the castle protocol." And with that, the military sergeant of a maid turned on her heel and marched out of the room, her shoes echoing across the tile with every step. Regina and Daniel burst out laughing as soon as the door shut behind her.

"She's…something, isn't she 'Gina?" the stable boy asked when he finally caught his breath.

Regina's smile grew wider, "I'll say," then she looked around at the bustling corridor of servants, "Well," she said shrugging, "guess we should introduce ourselves."

The quarters were practically a miniature village. It was alive with happy conversations, jokes, and songs as the daily chores were done. Each servant had his or her own area, a room that he or she shared with four or five others, though each had their own bed. Ten people were to a bathroom, but each had multiple showers and toilets. There was a large, communal kitchen, nearly as big as the one upstairs. And all the servants took turns preparing meals and helping each other with their own chores. Many were also gathered in what the servants referred to as the Community Room, which had books and games, things for the servants to occupy themselves with at night. Regina was surprised by the vastness of the quarters because surely a man who beats his own child would not provide such things for his household help. No, this had to be the late Queen Eva's doing. She said a silent prayer of thanks, because no matter whose idea this was, Regina had no idea how long she and Daniel would be here, hopefully not long at all, but at least they could be relatively comfortable. "And" Regina mused; "Perhaps Snow could stay here at night." If only until they could take her away for good.

Names begin to blur together as Daniel and Regina talked and laughed with what only appeared to be a small amount of the castle's many servants. They were actually quite a kind, friendly bunch, save for Matilda. That, apparently, was the name of the drill sergeant the couple had had the displeasure of meeting only a short time before. Everyone warned her of the head housekeeper's serious ways and strict schedule, and neither Daniel nor Regina had any trouble believing it. A few times, the couple had tried to bring up the topic of Snow's relationship to her father, but all they got in return were uncomfortable glances around the room. Regina and Daniel weren't sure if the servants were really unaware of what the King often did to their princess, or if they simply chose not to acknowledge it. The thought made the brunette's blood boil, but she somehow knew no one would step up to help her sweet Snow, whether or not they were aware of the abuse that may be happening as they spoke, just one floor above them. They were all too afraid of opposing the King.

All save Regina.

After roughly an hour, the heavy door swung open again and the click clack of the head housekeeper's shoes echoed throughout the Common Room. She made her way over to them, her lips puckered like she had just sucked on a lemon. Regina watched her expectantly, unsure if her expression meant good news, or bad.

"The King," she seethed through gritted teeth, "will see you now."

Regina squeezed Daniel's hand, both out of nervousness and excitement, meeting King Leopold, repulsed as she was by the idea, meant they would be within reach of her little princess in a matter of hours. She had to bite her lip to keep from smirking at the older woman.

Matilda led them back upstairs and through the winding halls of the magnificent palace. All the while, the couple's hands were intertwined. Regina only prayed they'd be able to fool His Majesty with their story. Finally, they reached two large, ornately carved, gold plated doors marked THRONE ROOM. Matilda turned around and held her hand up sternly, "Wait here," she instructed before cracking the doors and stepping cautiously inside.

Regina squeezed Daniel's hand a bit harder. If Matilda had to be cautious… They waited anxiously for the woman to summon them inside. The brunette wasn't sure how long they stood there, shuffling their feet outside the doors like nervous horses, but finally, the head maid cracked the door. "You may come in now," she said briskly.

Daniel and Regina marveled at the grandness of the room. The ceiling was carved in the same overdressed manor as the doors; beautiful panels of scenes from what could only be the lives of past White kings. Twelve sparkling columns gleamed around the room, seemingly made of real gold. They approached the King's throne and stood there waiting as he critically eyed them. Regina gulped, hoping Blue's change of clothes and hair were enough to keep the King from recognizing her.

"I'll leave you to your business," Matilda said as she turned to leave, "Report to me at the end of the day and I'll show you to your rooms." With that, the heavy door slammed shut behind her, it's loud echo making the walls vibrate slightly.

Regina and Daniel were officially, utterly alone with the King.

"State you're business," he slurred, looking at them blearily. It took everything Regina had not to strangle him then and there. The empty wine bottle slowly slipping from his hand indicated that he was obviously drunk. She did not want to think of what may have happened, what this man may have caused to happen to little Snow when in such a state. Blue said she was sick. Regina only hoped that they weren't too late, that the servants knew enough to keep her away from her father, at least until she healed, even if they could do nothing more.

Seeing his fiancée at a loss for words and struggling to contain her emotions, he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder then stepped forward, and bowed before the King. "I am Vincent Anderson, Your Majesty. I heard of your plight and have come to tutor your daughter in her literature."

"And I am Deirdre Garcia, sir," Regina said, swallowing her emotions as she curtsied, "A friend of Da- Vincent's. I have come to teach your daughter to ride."

"Ride?" asked the King.

"Yes, sire," the brunette gritted her teeth, "you know, on horseback."

"Ah yes." he looked up at her for the briefest of moments before picking up a cigar sitting on the side table and proceeding to light it with a match from his pocket, "She's been such a nuisance since her mother passed. I do hope riding will help her exert some of that troublesome energy." he sneered disapprovingly.

Regina wanted to pounce him, but her fiancée held her back, "Yes sir," he said instead, trying to play along. "We'll make sure of it." When Leopold wasn't looking, he mouthed to Regina, 'I hate him already.' She nodded and gripped his arm.

"Good," Leopold said drowsily, closing his eyes turning away from them in the chair. The couple stood there for an awkward moment, unsure what to do.

"Why are you still here?" the King asked after a minute. "Go tutor the little brat, or whatever it is you're supposed to do with her," he waved them away like flies.

Daniel scurried out of the room, pulling his fiancée along.

Regina let out a frustrated scream as soon as they were out of earshot. "Did you see him? He was completely drunk! He doesn't even care about his own daughter!" she fought back a sob. She knew he was mean; she'd seen it with her own eyes, after all, but how could anyone not have a single care for their daughter? Especially one as sweet and innocent as Snow White?

Cora had been ruthless, beating her and scolding her constantly…and yet, somehow, Regina couldn't bring herself to fully hate the woman, she was her mother after all. And, in her own, twisted way, the brunette knew everything Cora did had been out of a strange kind of love. But this man? She didn't know what to make of the King. When everyone else would call him benevolent and kind, she would say cruel and deceitful.

"I know my love, I know." The stable boy pulled her to him, seeming to read her tangled web of thoughts from only her face. "What shall we do now?"

She looked at Daniel, her expression hardening with determination. "Now? Now, we find Snow."

They wandered around aimlessly before finally asking a fellow servant, Suzan, to help them locate the princess's chambers, which she was only too happy to do. When they reached the door Regina paused, listening. Two voices rose from the room. One, a young girl, laughing happily, if a bit reserved; the other, an older woman, who seemed to be telling the young princess a story. Regina beamed at Daniel and he pulled her close. Finally, they would see their little princess.

Snow sat up in bed, laughing contentedly as Johanna entertained her with stories from her childhood on the farm. "It took me nearly the whole day to get those chickens back in their coop," she was saying. "By the time I was finished, I was covered in so many feathers my mother wondered if I was a chicken myself."

Snow chuckled hard at the image of her maid as a young girl covered in fluffy, white chicken feathers. She was feeling much better, not perfect but certainly getting there. This made her both happy, because she hated being sick, and nervous, because getting well meant facing her people and facing her people meant facing her father.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, jarring her from her thoughts. Johanna got up from her place on Snow's bed and went to answer the door. When she opened it, the princess craned her neck to see a beautiful auburn haired woman in lime green riding clothes, accompanied by a handsome man in an attractive blue suit.

"Hello Miss," the woman said, "we are here to see Princess White." Snow's ears perked up, not at the sound of her name, but at the voice. There was something so familiar about it. "I am Deidre, her new riding instructor. 'Riding instructor?' Snow wondered, 'Since when do I need a new riding instructor?' "And I am Vincent," the man said the new literature instructor. Again, the princess felt she knew that voice. She had only heard it a few times before, in the stables… Snow fought back tears at the memory and quickly shook the thought from her head, it couldn't be. They were long gone by now.

"I am Johanna," said her maid, "Her Highness's nanny."

"May we come in?" Deirdre asked.

"Of course," Johanna said, stepping aside. "Snow," she called, "There is someone I want you to meet."

Snow stood and went to the door, curtsying before her new teachers, "Pleasure to meet you," she said. She stood up and looked at the woman, Deirdre, and was surprised to see the familiarly warm smile gazing down at her; the chocolate brown eyes glistening with tears.

"Snow," the woman whispered affectionately. Snow had an urge to hug her. Looking in her eyes, she looked so familiar. The look she was seeing now was the same look Regina had given her that night in the stables. One full of compassion and affection and… love. Something she seldom felt since her mother died. Johanna cared for her, and her for the maid, but it wasn't the same. She shook her head again, blinking rapidly and turning to the man. He had hair as black as midnight. But the moment his eyes met hers…there was just something about them…

"Johanna," Snow requested abruptly, trying to contain her emotions, "Will you leave us? I would like to get to know my new…instructors before we start our lessons."

The maid looked at her strangely, but obliged, seeming to sense the desperation in her eyes. She stepped out quietly and shut the door behind her.

Now alone in the room with…well she didn't know who they were, but she had a feeling. It was insane to hope but... she had to know. She cast her eyes down to the floor and said in the smallest of whispers, "D-Daniel? R-Regina?"

There was no sound in the room. Snow expected them to look at her like she was crazy. She looked up to see tears streaming down their faces as two pairs of arms wrapped around her and hugged her for all she was worth.

"Y-Yes dear," Regina murmured through her sobs, running her hand through the princess's hair, "We're here, baby. We came back for you."

Snow started crying then too, hugging them tighter than she had hugged anyone since her mother. She couldn't believe they were really here. "You, you came back!" she sobbed, burying her face in Regina's shoulder. Regina's heart broke, hearing the uncertainty and hope fighting for control in her voice. But she knew Snow believed them when she said, "You found me."