A/N: Sorry, had some issues with my file some how getting deleted off my computer and had to rewrite the first part of this chapter again.
After making her way out of the castle, stopping briefly to pick up some supplies, such as a blanket, water and a bit of dry meat, Regina headed out of Midas kingdom. Deciding to stay away from the roads for now, in case the Queen's men are still about, she takes to the forest. Eventually she finds a small clearing, is able to start a small fire and is now huddled next to it, wrapped in the blanket. As she eats a bit of meat, she ponders the night before, slightly smirking as she glances at the dancing flames. "Well Emma, guess old, washed up evil queen's can learn a few new tricks," she chuckles as she points at the fire. As she thinks about the blonde woman she has grown to care for deeply, 'Oh who are you kidding...just admit it, you're in love with her,' her mind goes into that dark place she use to be in. Remembering who she was, how she would use any means necessary to obtain what she wanted.
Drawing her legs up, Regina puts her head on her knees, then looking at the fire, tears welling in her eyes. "Please Emma, don't be your usual defiant self. I don't know if I can live with myself if she does anything to you. I can't loose you like I did...Daniel."
Regina soon looses her appetite and tosses the meat into the fire. "I can't eat. Just the thought of what she...I am doing to you..." Taking a sip from the water skin, she vows, "Emma, I will find you, I promise." Laying down, curling up on her side, she tries to remember earlier in the evening when she had Emma in her arms. With a small smile, she closes her eyes and soon falls asleep.
At first her dreams are of Emma, holding the blonde in her arms, as they dance. The feeling of love floating through out the brunette's body. How stunning the blonde was in that red dress. But soon her dreams turned darker, as fleeting ghosts of victims past floated around in her head. Nameless, faceless people who were tortured, tormented, even falling prey to the Evil Queen's seductive powers, just to later be tossed aside, or worse. Then those faceless victims were replaced with Emma. Screaming, crying out, cowering in fear, or just a cold dead stare.
Waking up suddenly, Regina dashed for the woods before loosing what little food she had in her stomach. After she was finished, she slowly moved back to the fire, wiping her mouth. Grabbing the water skin, she took a few tentative sips, to make sure it stayed down. Assured that the water was not coming back up, she once more huddled next to the fire, shrouded in the blanket. "Please be safe Emma." Eventually, exhaustion forces her to lay back down. As she lays there, Regina is overcome with tears, and sobs openly till she finally falls into an fitful sleep till the first rays of light.
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Earlier that evening, Emma is being escorted by several of the Queen's black knights. She struggles, but they hold her in a tight grip, as they march through the castle corridors.
As they stop in a large room, she glances at a mirror. She is reminded that she does not look like herself.
"Kneel before the Queen." One of the men roughly growls.
"Really?" Emma glares at the man, then sees movement and realizes that the Queen is approaching her.
"Yes, really." The Evil Queen slowly moves towards the mousy looking princess.
The two men force Emma to her knees, as the Queen pulls off one glove, then the other, as she takes in her captive.
"The bandit Snow White. Where is she?"
Glancing up at the dark haired Queen, Emma is a bit taken by her features. 'Play it cool, Em. This is not your Regina'. "I already told your guards I have no idea."
"I don't know what kingdom you come from... Princess Leia," sneers the Queen, "but here, the price for aiding Snow White is very steep." The Queen rakes her eyes up and down Emma's body, then slowly moves around her, "However" She lustfully gazes at the woman, "I could make this very pleasurable," she pauses for effect, "for both of us, if you cooperate." As she says this, the Evil Queen lightly traces the back of Emma's neck with her gloves, then comes full around, to once more, leer at Emma's body.
Feeling the unwanted gaze, and the touch, Emma shudders. 'This is not my Regina' once more bounces around her mind. Taking a deep, settling breath, Emma replies, "Sorry, not interested. But if you let me go, I will help find her."
Suddenly, the Queen gets a sour look, as she moves closer to Emma. She moves her head in a snobbish way, then sniffs, then responds, "You're no Princess."
Emma just glances at the Queen.
"I know a dirty street rat when I see one, and I know not to trust such creatures."
Turning, the Queen walks away, then turns once more, "To the dungeon, with the other rats."
Emma is pulled to her feet, and escorted away from the Queen. The guards move her quickly through the corridors, then stop at a room. They shove Emma in, and then toss some raggedy looking clothes at her.
"Change into those, so you look more like the common vermin that you are." One of the men barks.
"Hey! Not till you give me some privacy." Emma glares at the man, who then turns, and just as he shuts the door, he tells her, "Make it quick, else I will do it for you." He laughs as he closes the door.
Emma quickly dons the ugly, thread bare, drab olive dress. She also has a very worn out bluish cloak, she also puts on. "Least there is no damn corset," she mumbles as she knocks on the door, and the men grab her and pull her though the corridors. At the end of one hall, there is a door that leads down to the dungeon. As they pass a small side table, Emma spies some rolls on a plate and snatches a few, quickly hiding them in her pockets of her cloak, she smirks as she thinks 'Street rat smarts. Grab food when the opportunity strikes.'
Once down the stairs, one of the guards unlocks a door, and then tosses Emma in one of the cells, slamming the cell door. The men laugh, as they leave, "Enjoy your little rat friends."
Getting up on her hands and knees, then as Emma stands up, she hears a female voice.
"Are you alright?"
Dusting off her hands, then clothes, "I think so, yea...thanks." She glances toward the voice, seeing a shadow of a woman in the corner of the other cell. Giving a slight smile, "I'm...Leia."
"Wish I could say it's nice to meet you."
"Yea, under the circumstances, I get it. What's your name?"
"I dare not speak it here. The Queen doesn't know who I am and my silence is the only thing keeping my family safe."
Emma gives a cautionary look, "She's pretty ruthless huh?" She pulls out a roll from her pocket, "Here, are you hungry? I swiped it off a food tray on the way down here."
As the woman approaches the cell bars separating the two women, Emma's recognizes the woman.
"What? What is it?" The woman queries, as she takes the offering.
"Oh..uh, I uhm...saw you at the village with the Queen." Looking sadly, Emma continues, "I wanted to help but.."
The woman puts up a hand, "It's alright. If you had tried to free me, you would of ended up here a day sooner."
"What she put you in here for?"
Leaning closer to Emma, the woman whispers, "I know where Snow White was hiding, but I refused to tell the Queen."
Glancing at the woman incredulously, Emma responds, "You gave up you freedom to ensure Snow White remained free?"
"Yes. I believe her to be innocent."
"How long are you in for?"
"Same as you, one more night."
"Seriously? One night? Why? Is Regina going soft?"
The woman gazes at Emma oddly, surprised by the use of the Queen's given name. "No. One night because tomorrow evening, everyone here is to be executed."
Jolting from her cellmates words, Emma moves toward the back wall, leans up against it, then slides down to sit among the dirty strewn straw on the floor. After a bit, she pulls out another roll, and starts to nibble on it, lost in thought.
"You okay?"
"Huh? Oh..yea...yea. I was just thinking about...someone." Emma is worried about Regina. She had no clue what happened to the brunette once she left her to defend against those soldiers. 'I should never have left her. She doesn't know how to fight with a sword..does she?'
"From the look on your face, I take it they are someone special? A boyfriend, or husband?"
Finally pulled out of her train of thought, "What? Whoa..uh...no! No...well he err...he is a good friend, we are just good friends. I am just worried about him."
"That look suggested more than just friends to me," smiled the woman, "What's his name?"
"Reg..errr...Reginald. He was fighting some soldiers while I was going after err...someone. I don't know what happened to him, if he is okay or injured or.."
"Hey, I am sure he is alright. You have to keep good thoughts."
Emma settles against the wall, burrowing into her cloak, thoughts flooding her mind. 'Regina, please be safe. I don't know what I would do if I lost you...before...I...'
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The next morning, Regina is up, putting out the fire, after her restless sleep. 'If I would even call it that.' She admonishes. Running her hands through her hair, "I need help to find Emma."
Suddenly Regina hears a commotion nearby. There is a small shout, then some unintelligible mumbling as she stealthy makes her way closer. Hiding among a small group of trees, she peers around one, her eyes going wide. In front of her, she sees Prince James talking to an ensnared Snow White.
"I told you I'd find you. No matter what you do, I will always find you."
Regina can't help roll her eyes, as she continues to watch the scene unfold.
As James moves closer to Snow, who is hanging from a large net, he crosses his arms as he smirks up at his captive.
Snow, peeking through the netting, "Is this the only way you can catch a woman? By entrapping her?"
"It's the only way to catch thieving scum."
"Aren't you a real Prince Charming," chuckles Snow.
"I have a name you know."
"Don't care. Charming suits you." Glaring at Charming, Snow demands, "Now cut... me...down...Charming."
Charming laughs, "Now why would I do that," as he pulls out a wanted poster, "Snow White."
Realizing she could be in serious trouble, Snow bites back a retort.
"Relax, I'm not going to turn you in. All I want is the ring you stole."
Snow shakes her head, "Not the jewelry type."
"Indeed, I noticed."
"I don't have your ring."
"And why don't I believe you."
Regina sees this as her cue to reveal herself. She steps out from behind the trees. "You should. She is telling you the truth."
James starts to pull his sword as he turns to toward the male voice. Snow is also looking at the man who hired her to steal the ring.
Regina puts up her hands to show she has no weapons, that she doesn't want a fight. "Prince...Reginald," she introduces herself. "Snow White doesn't have your ring, but I can tell you who does. My, uhm..princess does."
Snow is confused, as she asks Regina, "Wait, I thought it was her ring?"
James intercedes, "It's my mother's ring."
Regina glances at both, then showing an apologetic face, "My apologies. Seems we were misinformed of the whereabouts of my princess's ring. The one she picked up, that you dropped," indicating Snow, "was not the one she was seeking."
"I need your help," Regina pleads to James, "to get her back. Please."
"She has my ring?"
Regina nods.
Looking up at the sky, James snorts, "That's two women who have stolen from me. Where is she?"
"That's the problem. The Queens' castle."
Snow interrupts, "Actually, that's not a problem at all. I know it well. It use to be mine." Glancing at both men, "I can get us in there, but not from up here. So if you let me down, you," looking at Regina, "get your princess, and you," looks at James, "get your ring, and I never have to see your charming face again." Snow smirks at the handsome prince.
James pulls his sword, while grinning up at Snow White. He slices through the rope holding the net, and it drops to the ground.
About an hour later, after obtaining a wagon from a local farmer, the three headed down the road towards the Queen's castle. Regina is up front driving, while James sits in the back with Snow, who is ducked low to keep from being seen.
As they hit a large bump in the road, it jars the wagon, making Snow growl out, "Ohmph!"
"Sorry, I am not used to driving one of these things." Regina smirks, then turns back to keep an eye on the road in front. She can't help but listen to them.
James chuckles, as he grins at Snow's discomfort.
"You're really enjoying this aren't you...Charming." Snow glares at the man.
"It is not my fault your face is plastered on every tree in the forest."
As Snow looks away, Charming spies something around her neck. "What's that around your neck? Thought you weren't the jewelry type."
Giving him an annoyed stare, Snow grumbles, "Don't worry about it."
Charming rushes forward, grabbing the necklace from her neck. Snow makes a grab for it, "Oh...no! Don't ..."
"Dust?"
"It's fairy dust. From a dark fairy. Be careful."
Regina startles at this, wondering which dark fairy.
Snow continues to explain, "It transforms the most fearsome adversary into a form that is easily squashed." Snow grabs the necklace back, tucking back into her belt. "I'm saving it for a special someone."
Regina can guess who it is for, as she sets her jaw.
"The Queen?" James asks, as he is pretty sure that is who Snow is referring to.
"Those charges on her posters are all lies, but that didn't stop her from trying to kill me." Snow moves to a more comfortable position as she continues, "That's why I am trying to get out of this kingdom. That's why I tried to steal from you." Snow gazes at James. "To secure passage on a pirate ship."
"What did you do to incur the Queen's wrath."
As sadness forms on Regina's face, she knows what is coming, as she listens.
"She blames me for ruining her life."
"Did you?"
A moment of silence, then, "Yes. Yes I did."
Quietly gasping, Regina was not prepared for that admission from her once sworn enemy.
The group continue on in silence, till finally Regina pulls to a stop. "We are here."
Snow gets up, "We're going to need help to get past her guards." She jumps out of the wagon, glances back, "Wait here. We go at night. I'll be back with help." James and Regina watch as Snow moves off into the woods.
"Well I guess we wait then." Regina moves the wagon off the road.
James smacks Regina on her shoulder, "Yep, my friend...that's how it is, always waiting on a woman," he chuckles as he moves into the woods to find a suitable place to wait.
Rolling her eyes, Regina then silently agrees with a smirk 'that we do.'
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Later on, after night has fallen, Charming and Regina are sitting on a log, with a small fire to keep them warm.
Regina, not really one for small talk, decides to break the silence, just to keep her mind off Emma. "So, you excited for your upcoming nuptials?"
Charming, gazing into the fire, "I'm marrying King Midas daughter. What's not to be excited about," in a not so enthused tone.
"You don't sound excited."
"Yea, well I always thought I would marry for love. But here I am, about to enter into, what amounts to be a business transaction." He tosses a stick into the fire. "A merger of two kingdoms."
"I know how you feel," Regina actually sympathizes with the man, as she knows all too well about the subject.
"I don't know, this whole ordeal makes me wonder if there is such a thing as true love.
"There is. I once felt that way, for me, I thought I had true love, then I lost it. Went into a very dark place, and it took me a long while to crawl out of it. But with the help of others, especially two special people that came into my life," thoughts of Henry and Emma enter her mind, "I was told to have hope, that I could learn to love again. All it takes is meeting that certain someone."
"Princess Leia? The one we are rescuing?"
With out hesitation, Regina nods, "Yes. I would go to the ends of the world," 'and time, apparently' "for her."
"She for you, I take it?"
Regina thinks back to all the times Emma has been there for her, the fire at Town Hall, the mine, saving Regina from that wraith. "Yes, she wouldn't hesitate, but.."
"What's the problem?
"It's sort of complicated. We haven't quite approached the subject."
"Family? Because my father is making things quite difficult for me."
"Well there is that. I mean her parents and I didn't quite see eye to eye. We had some history. Though we seem to have settled our differences, they both seem to approve with how I feel about...their daughter...I think. Regina remembers some words from the last conversation with Snow, 'If loving my daughter heals your heart, then maybe that is why things happened for a reason.'
"Given the lengths you've gone to save her, they'd be crazy not too." Jame smiles at Regina.
Quietly to herself, Regina smirks, "Hope you remember that."
Suddenly, a noise is heard among the trees, then a large shadow moves quickly past. Both jump up, with Charming pulling his sword, "What the hell was that?"
"I think we are about to find out." Then Regina's eyes go wide as she recognizes the person approaching.
As the woman emerges from the woods, wearing a red cape, approaching slowly, Charming calls out, "Hey, who the hell are you?"
"Names Red. I'm a friend of Snow's" Red comes to stand in front of the other two. "She sent me to help get you into the castle."
"How?" Charming glances unsure.
Red slowly removes her cape. "You'll see."