Chapter 6

Running from fear

Light Regina

Waking up and finding herself lying in a strange bed gave her the shivers. Even more so there standing besides the bed a man glistening with gold. The only thought Regina at that moment was to hightail out of the house and far away from this man named Rumpelstilskin.

In desperation Regina search for her horse that she had come with which was strange as if she came here to Rumples house on her own why flee. But every fiber in her body screamed RUN. With no horse in sight all she could do is walk and fast.

Seeing a castle in the distance gave her a shiver and panic set in. This panic is like someone grabbing hold of her and squeezing it. A thought came 'This is not the place to run to.'

All thoughts were to her unborn child, she needed to protect this child at all cost. Moving away from the place that gave off a feeling of unease and fear she briskly move away from them.

Speeding down the road a passer by greeted her in the strangest of manners, "Your Majesty."

Taken a back from the passers by's greeting, "Excuse me, were you addressing me?"

"Yes Your Majesty. May I be of any assistance?" he asked.

Regina feeling flustered by the passer by's words of been of Royal standing. She was Regina Mills of Duke Henry and Lady Cora Mills and not a Queen. Playing the part of the Queen and needing to the passer by leave her alone, "Your assistance is not required. Thank you for asking."

The passer by bowed and she reciprocated with a nod of her head. Moving a way from the passer by she need to go some where safe to plot her next move. Remembering that she had a home to go to she made her way to the Mills Estate.

Ever so often a passer by would greet her in the same fashion as the first. For her this day got stranger and stranger with every passer by greeting her 'Your Majesty'. Regina decided that there must be some truth to this greeting and knowing that there is a castle behind her she turned. Immediately the same sensation that she had looking at that when she came running out of the house gripped her. That feeling of some ones hand around her heart and squeezing it.

As she thought 'There should not be anything to fear but there is.' She needed to test the theory what she was feeling and what is the truth. Taking a step forward towards the castle the feeling of that hand around her heart intensified and the fear increased.

'This is ridiculous.' In disbelief on how she was feeling and taking another step towards the castle again. Feeling of more fear and nausea came over her. Turning 180 degrees and placing a foot away from the castle the fear subsided and nausea remained.

A lingering thought came to her, 'That is not right', until it dawned on her, 'I'm pregnant.'

With no carriage or a horse it took two days of brisk walk to make it to the Mills Estate. See the front door to the estate came as a great relief to her but the estate looked different to how she remembered it. Running to the front door and calling out, "Mother, daddy I'm home."

There was no sound. Raising her voice again, "Mother, daddy where are you? I'm home."

Pushing the front door open to gain access but the door stood firm. All this frustrated her even more and raising her voice for the third time, "Hullo anybody there, mother, daddy I'm home. Open the door please."

No Reply. Circling around the mansion and peering into the windows all she could see that there were dust covers covering the furniture and the house felt empty. Activity in the house that she remembered was gone and the house looked closed up for some while.

Panic set in, banging on the windows and screaming again and again, "Mother, daddies are you there is anyone there."

Alfred the now caretaker of the Mills Estate heard the commotion and came running to where the noise emanated from. Turning a corner he came across a very tearful Queen Regina.

"Your Majesty" he said.

Regina's face lit up slightly seeing a familiar face.

"Excuse me Alfred, why Your Majesty?"

"Your Majesty, you are…"

Regina interrupted him, Its either Regina or Lady Mills"

Yes Lady Mills. Lady Mills to answer your question you are married to King Leopold White of the White Kingdom."

Turning herself towards the direction of the castle and focusing on it, fear immediately invaded her again. A thought came to her, 'There is a monster living in that castle that inflects fear and pain. I am still in the White Kingdom's land and need to live somewhere else.'

"Alfred."

"Yes Lady Mills."

Regina's decision to leave the White Kingdom made, "I need you to get me a horse, supplies for a long journey, a bow and arrow and a dagger."

Still confused to why Lady Mills needed all these items and why she insisted on called Lady Mills and not her Royal title. Arguing with the Queen would not in his best interest, "Yes Lady Mills I will have these items ready for you in the morning", reaffirming the orders given.

Satisfied with that she had one more order to give Alfred, "And Alfred no must know that I ever came today, not even to me about it when I leave."

This was a strange request but Royals and other nobility had strange request on odd occasions, "Yes Lady Mills I understand." He left Regina and went to gather the items that had been requested.

She had a feeling that there was something amiss. She needed to think where she needed to travel to. She started with the nearest kingdom away from the White Kingdom. Turning around and focusing on the castle that feeling of fear and pain came back. She did the same to the next kingdom and the next. The only kingdom she felt comfortable was the Yellow Kingdom. Their rulers are King Edwyn and Queen Eugenia.

The next day Alfred packed up what Lady Mills had requested onto the horse, "Are you sure about this?" Making sure that her decision was final.

"Yes Alfred and Alfred I remind you that no one but no one must know that I ever was here including me."

Alfred reaffirmed the request and promised not to tell a soul about his encounter with Lady/Queen Regina Mills.

Her journey to the Yellow Kingdom took a couple of months and her tummy started to show her pregnant bulge. Entering the kingdom Regina knew that she had to find a place to raise her child and a midwife to help her to give birth.

Roaming from village to village trying to get that feeling of home sensation. A month later entering a village she noticed on the hill a large tower. The tower was round with a round red-pitched roof. That home sensation immediately fills her heart. This is where she would raise her child.

Regina needed a good look inside the tower before a definite yes to it. She made her way up to the tower and entered it. Taking one of the torches out of her saddle and lighting it she climbed the stairs to the top of the tower.

Looking through the rooms on top of the tower she imagined what each rooms function is and smiling seen the room where she would make as the baby's room. That sensation of home overwhelmed her. She needed to speak to the town's people on purchasing the tower. She found the person that would help purchase the property but since she had no money she barted her skills as manager for the town.

D-day came to give birth to her child. Holding her in her arms she looked beautiful with wispy blonde hair, green eyes which Regina had no clue where those features came from but assumed that it must be from her fathers side. There were features that were hers; the baby had her rounded face, nose, plump lips and light olive skin.

"Regina what will you name her?" the midwife enquired.

With a smile, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel Mills."