Thanks for all the responses!

Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Blinking in awe while gripping tightly to the branch, the blonde princess watches as the mystery brunette moves out of view, clearly frightened.

"Emma?!"

Shaking her head back to reality, the young woman manuvers herself around then carefully steps down to the lower branch before skilfully climbing back down and facing the confused and impatient redhead. "I..I just.."

"Did you see something?" Zelena questions while becoming increasingly concerned over Emma's behaviour.

Managing to nod, the blonde clears her throat. "There's someone up there..a girl..."

"What?!" Peering up at the vacant window, the redhead then trails her eyes down to the stone wall as she begins to move around the building to find the door in which her mother appeared from. "We need to get inside, I need answers"

Following, Emma grabs at the door handle and tugs roughly. "Your mother's definitely made sure it's locked tight..but why would she keep someone locked inside?"

"I don't know. I mean I've heard stories of her past and her abuse of magic but..never anything like this" Zelena comes to stand beside the fellow princess and tries the door herself.

Bolting back round to the front, the blonde glances up to the empty space and shouts. "Excuse me?! Hello!" Sighing at no response, Emma deflates. "She looked petrified..."

Feeling bad for the girl, the redhead bites her lip as she peers around the forest. "It's beginning to get dark..we need to return home"

Rubbing her neck at the prospect of leaving the lonely brunette behind, the blonde nods slowly. "yes..of course.." Trailing behind Zelena as they head back to her horse, Emma peers over her shoulder at the high window to see a dim light glow out against the trees.

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"Now you must remain quiet at all times, do I make myself clear?"

Staring towards her stern looking mother, Regina sighs. "Yes mother..I won't make a sound, they shall not know that I am here"

"Good girl. Hopefully it will only take a couple of hours. It better..." Scoffing to herself, Cora looks unimpressed. "The price I had to pay to prevent any questions as to why I needed to block a door was unbelievable"

"Will it ever be open again?.." Daring to ask, the brunette lowers her head at the disappointment she may receive. "When..." Swallowing hard, the young woman glances towards the window. "Will I ever be allowed outside?"

"Regina!" Beginning to pace the floor in annoyance, the older woman rubs her temples. "How many times do we need to go through this?!"

"But...I.."

"Enough!" Glaring angrily, Cora grips her fist. "So help me god if you do not shut that mouth of yours"

Stepping back in fear, Regina trembles but remains silent.

Noticing the shift in her daughter's expression, the fellow brunette offers a small smile while relaxing her stance. "Regina..dear..I just want to keep you safe. I didn't mean to frighten you. You just need to learn to accept what I say. I know what is right for you"

Biting her lip, the brunette moves forward and up to her mother who opens her arms into an awkward hug.

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Pushing through the tall foliage, Emma steps quietly as she approaches the tower. Ever since her visit with Zelena the previous night, it had plagued her mind how there was a girl clearly trapped up in the stone prison. A girl who should have not been locked away but in the princess' eyes, shown off to the whole kingdom. She could not get those deep, dark eyes out of her head and it began to haunt her because she was yet to do something about it. Moving around the back, Emma stumbles back in shock as she bumps into another figure, causing her to gasp.

"Watch-" facing the blonde princess, Zelena raises an eyebrow then whispers. "What are you doing here?"

Sniggering, Emma crosses her arms in defence. "I could say the same about you"

Frowning, the redhead gestures to the tower. "This is my mother's tower and there is a girl inside?"

Realising that the other woman had more of a purpose to be there, the blonde stutters. "Yes..well..I was curious..I couldn't stop thinking about..well about if she was okay, whoever she is"

Dropping her frown, Zelena smiles a little at the princess' care. "I get it..but it would appear that the door is gone"

"What?" Turning towards the tower, Emma's eyes widen at the freshly placed stone. "Maybe the girl is no longer there?"

"I hope not..."

Becoming increasingly concerned, the blonde purses her lips as she glances towards the tree she climbed the day before. "I guess we find out"

Following Emma's gaze, the redhead chuckles nervously. "Yes..like I am ever going to climb that"

"Then don't.." Shrugging without care, the blonde repeats her previous movements up the tree.

Taking a deep breath, Zelena watches conflicted before looking around her surroundings warily. "Oh for god sake!" Moving towards the tree, the redhead looks up. "A little help please?"

Rolling her eyes, Emma leans down and holds her hand out as the fellow princess grabs at it and begins to pull herself up.

"If I die..you have a lot of explaining to do"

"Yeah..yeah.." Biting her lip to prevent a laugh at Zelena's disgusted face as she climbs, the blonde stables herself onto a branch then moves towards the edge as much as she possibly can towards the window of the tower before whispering in a shout. "Hey! Anyone in there?!"

Sitting herself carefully against the tree trunk, the redhead looks in disbelief. "Real subtle.."

Glaring at the woman, Emma allows her stubbornness to get to her by persisting in her task. "Hello?! We're here to help!...I think..." Waiting for a moment, the blonde slumps back as she peers over at Zelena who is currently struggling at being up a tree. "Maybe she has gone.."

Appearing slightly disappointed, the redhead holds her head at the lack of answers she was hoping to get.

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Jumping at a call from the window, Regina looks towards the open hatch at the only light shining through the room. Trying her best to ignore the two voices she can hear from outside, the brunette buries her head into her pillow as she attempts to sleep after going to bed early out of boredom.

"Hello?!"

Sighing, Regina sits up and bites her lip. She could continue to ignore and please her mother come morning or she could respond to the voices and actually gain some company. Knowing deep down that it would mean defying her mother, the brunette begins to wonder if that was a bad thing. If she never stood her ground, maybe she would never get out.

Swinging her legs out of her bed, Regina checks that her braid is in tact before reaching for her wrap to hide her nightgown. Approaching the window slowly, the brunette then slides up onto the stone ledge as she stares out into the night before coming into contact with bright green eyes.

Slapping the redheads arm lightly, Emma gestures with her head towards the girl as she watches her come into view. "..hi.."

Hugging her arms protectively, Regina silently clears her throat before responding as she stares intriguingly at the blonde. "..hello.."

Peering across to the redhead, the blonde decides not to push, witnessing the woman simply watching in disbelief. Turning back towards the window, the curious princess gives a smile. "I...I didn't mean to scare you yesterday..I just..well we didn't know that you were here.." Finding herself blush, Emma tries her best not to turn red "..I'm Emma..by the way..and this is Zelena..we saw that your door has gone. Are you trapped?"

Hitching her breath in fear, the brunette looks panicked.

"It's okay. You don't have to answer..we just wanted to make sure you were okay.."

Glancing down, Regina clasps her hands tightly together. "I..I'm very well..thank you.."

Smiling more at the positive reply, the blonde questions again. "What is your name?"

Briefly pondering over whether she should tell, the brunette gulps. "Regina.."

Offering a wave, Emma grins adoringly. "It's nice to meet you"

"You..too.."

Peering around the forest, the blonde princess gestures to Zelena to move closer to which she receives a worried head shake. Sighing, Emma carefully lifts herself up to stand and balances along to the edge.

"Careful!"

Looking up to see Regina stood from her position and her hands stretched out in concern over the blondes welfare, the princess smiles reassuringly. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing..do you mind?" Signalling to inside the tower, Emma waits before she attempts to jump over.

Instinctively stepping back, the brunette then curses herself as she is more or less encouraging the strangers death if she falls. "Hold on..."

Hearing the young woman's shaky voice, the blonde freezes before watching in amazement as Regina approaches the window again, this time lifting her ever growing braid up and swinging it towards the tree branch.

Raising an eyebrow at the action, Emma takes hold of the braids tail then stares wide eyed over at the brunette, realising what she is insinuating. "Won't I hurt you?"

Chuckling nervously, the brunette shrugs uncertain. "Possibly? I..I've never...but I'm going to have to..at some point.." Trailing her eyes down awkwardly, Regina confesses quietly. "It's my only form of..contact now"

Feeling her heart break at the confession, the blonde princess takes a deep breath before making sure the redhead behind her is okay. Finding the woman watching in shock, Emma closes her eyes briefly through worry. Gripping the young woman's hair, the blonde manages to swing and hit her feet against the stone wall before climbing up and reaching the window seal. Moving over the ledge and releasing her grip on the braid, Emma slides down to the floor then straightens up before coming face to face with the brunette named Regina who simply stares in amazement. "So..." Taking in her surroundings, the blonde tries to hide her sadness. "This is your home?..."

"Yes..how did you find me?"

"My friend back there..she was following her mother..it lead her here.."

Frowning, the brunette appears confused. "There is never anyone around here..I only ever have one visitor so I'm assuming she lost her way"

Shaking her head, the blonde princess finds herself needing to smarten up and smooth down her jacket. "No. She followed her mother here..to this tower"

"But..." Looking even more confused, Regina hugs her arms once again. "Who is her mother?"

"Cora Mills..."