Chapter 6

So this chapter wound up being way longer than I envisioned. I almost broke it in two but I know most of you looking the most forward to the Robin/Regina interaction and that isn't until the end. So this time I'm going to skip saying thank you to all my reviews, there were many on the last chapter and I am so overwhelmed. Please thank you for your kind words and sentiments. The most important thing to me is to stay true to the characters. I want this to be as believable as possible (for a show based on fairy tales). I am so happy to think many of you seem happy with how they are written. Hopefully you will enjoy the chapter and the longer wait was worth it.

By the time the dungeon commander, Johnson, appeared in Regina's chambers, she was seething. Unlike the other men in her army, Johnson actually showed little fear, at least around her. That was partly why she had selected him for this duty, his lack of conscience rivaled hers and she thought at the time, that was a good thing.

"Yes, your Majesty," he said, standing at attention.

"Explain to me how I caught one of your guards forcing himself on a female prisoner?" She might have started her question out calmly but by the time she got to the end of it, her voice had gotten enough edge that most soldiers would be shaking. But Johnson wasn't like most soldiers.

"If you recall the only female prisoners we have is the one related to Snow-"

"I know why she is here! What I don't understand is why any soldier thought he could get away with that type of conduct?" She was in his face and surprisingly he wasn't backing away.

Looking her straight in the eyes, he answered. "Simple. You told us to torture to get the information you needed, there are many forms of effective torture."

He said it so simply like he was describing how to lace up his boot. It took Regina a full beat to absorb that not only was he fully he aware of this incident but he condoned it. "Are you saying, you ordered that man to-"

"Not ordered. But if the women want to save themselves, they simply have to tell us what you want to hear." He put an emphasis on you.

With a flick of her hand, he was on his knees. He hardly batted an eye at the change. Regina was beginning to wonder if he felt anything at all. "When I said torture, I never said to do anything like this."

"Beg your pardon, your Majesty, but torture is torture and you did say 'whatever it takes to find Snow White, do it.' and that's precisely what me and my men have done."

"Well, it's worked fantastically! We've searched for her for years and yet she's still free!" Regina began pacing.

"So if we had caught her, the tactics we used would be acceptable then?"

With enough force she could crush him, and she almost did, but she managed to reign herself in and simply threw him up against the wall. "You know damn well that is not what I meant!"

The pain from her throw was evident in his voice but he didn't back down. "I can only know what you tell me, your Majesty."

He was a few feet higher than her so when she walked up her magic lowered him down the castle wall so he would be at eye level. She made sure it was as painful as possible. His groans made her smile. "Well let me tell you now, Commander Johnson, sexual torture of any kind is no longer permissible."

To her own horror, he smiled. "Even when we catch Snow White herself?"

She almost broke his neck at that. She wanted to. Instead she surprised herself at her answer. "Especially Snow White."

She walked away and she heard him fall the ground hard. It took him a few minutes to get back onto his feet, at attention. "Is there anything else, my Queen?" He almost spit out the last part.

Regina stared at him. He was actually angry, furious. Not only was he not scared of her but he was enraged that she would dare tell him how to do his job. Robin's words came to her then, "Perhaps then her majesty should take a closer look at her guards." Is this what he meant? Regina felt a sickening feeling at the thought that the knights performed similar actions outside the dungeons. This…that…it wasn't what she wanted.

"Is there anything else?"

Regina's eyes snapped back to the commander. "There is," she stepped towards him. "Tomorrow you will be taking on a new assignment."

He had been expecting that. At least he was aware now she was unhappy about the situation. "As you wish, your Majesty."

"I still have to work out the details, but I will you to head up a regiment and march to Tripp's Landing." She smiled at her plan. This would be fine.

"Tripp's Landing?!" His attitude was breaking rank. Upon eye contact with her he remembered his place. "Of course, I serve at the pleasure of the queen!"

Or at the pain, she thought.

"Is everything in place?" Robin asked as Little John walked up.

"Yes, sir. We have covered the ditches."

Robin nodded. "So the stakes at the bottom are sharp and stable?"

John nodded, "Oh yes. We can expect dozens of orcs to be skewered once they go through. It's a great trap, Robin."

Not good enough, Robin thought. He and his merry men had arrived barely days ahead of what was obviously going to be a battle. At least 1,000 orcs were marching towards their position as they spoke. The estimated time they would arrive put them at best 10 hours away but they could be there within 6.

Robin wasn't sure what to expect when they got here but he wasn't expecting this. Orcs were rather stupid creatures and were unable to organize hardly anything. How did they raise such a vast number and coordinate them into a moving force? It was terrifying and Robin wished he had this information when he had gone to plead with the queen.

Thinking of her however made him tense up when he was already stressed as it was. Her nonchalant attitude at her own people being attacked disappointed him so greatly, he could barely listen to Roland ask about her when he visited the last time at camp before they headed there.

Little John reached out and patted his friend's arm. "You've done all you can, Robin."

"No, I think we…there could have been more-"

"You can't make her send troops. The fact you went to see her at all is more than anyone else would have done. She's not known as the evil queen for nothing."

"I thought-" Robin started but stopped. What did he think? He didn't dare finish the sentence.

The larger man finished it for him. "Thought you could get her to do the right thing? To help those that need helping? To not be evil?"

Robin shut his eyes. He just thought maybe she wasn't as evil as the stories went. She was bold, audacious and very rude, but she hadn't seemed all that evil. At least not in the carriage. He couldn't stop thinking of her eyes before he climbed out. Hell, right before he slid away from her window sill her eyes seemed so contradictory to the woman he spoke to mere minutes earlier. The woman who seemed to value the squirrel cone like it was made of diamonds.

Friar Tuck came inside their makeshift headquarters. "Robin, Little John, we have made some lunch. Are you hungry?"

Always up for eating, Little John nodded eagerly but then realized he should wait for Robin, prompting the outlaw to laugh. "Go ahead, Little John, I'll be along shortly."

Not having to be told twice, the large man bounded out of the tent nearly knocking the friar down. Soon Robin was left alone and he walked out and scanned the area.

The good news was they were on higher ground. And though the merry men weren't accustomed to army strategies, some of their forest tactics when attacking a heavily armed caravan proved useful. When the orcs arrived, they would come up a large field. To the sides the field was forests where the merry men would be stationed. The orcs would march up focused on the men they thought they would simply be fighting, the men of Tripp's Landing, who were stationed just past the disguised trenches. The orcs would charge, as they always do, but before reaching their targets, they would fall through the trap flooring and with any luck many would be killed immediately. Those that weren't dead would be wounded and probably trapped for a time. The orcs behind them would also be forced to stop as the result produced a bottleneck. That's when Tripp's army and the merry men would converge on the creatures. Robin was hoping the confusion would be enough to allow them to be triumphant. If they had equal numbers between them and the monsters, they'd have a chance.

Unfortunately to the enemies forces of 1,000, Tripp's army was around 300. And out of those, many were barely men and most had never touched a sword in their life. The trenches at best would stop maybe a few dozen. As if that wasn't depressing enough, the merry men who were good fighters had never fought anything like an orc before. Charging in with swords drawn was as foreign to them as the land they stood on. It was going to be a slaughter.

When Robin first came, he tried to convince everyone that their best course of action was to pack up and go. But the people of Tripp's Landing were proud of their homeland in spite of being ignored by their mother country. They insisted they would stay and fight. What could Robin do? Leave them to their fate? Would Roland accept that? No.

The strong aroma of meat and bread reached Robin's nose. Deciding he was hungry after all, Robin chose to join his friends. As he was making a plate for himself, he heard shouting outside the food tent. Turning towards it, he recognized one of the Tripp men coming up over the field to the south of them. He was too far away to understand what he was shouting but he looked excited. Tuck looked at Robin, fearful. "Do you think the orcs are already here?"

"No way they could have moved that fast. Besides, they are coming in from the north." Robin put down his plate running towards him. Many followed with him. By the time he caught up to him, the man was too out of breath to really speak. "What is it, friend? What are you so excited?"

When he saw the smile on the man's face, Robin dared to wonder if maybe their luck had changed? The man pointed behind him. By now, some others had ran past Robin and saw what was so excited. "Look, Robin! Look!"

Robin took off, wondering what was going on. When his eyes found the answer to his confusion, he felt weight was lifted off of him. John eventually caught up with everyone, he wasn't known for his speed. "What is it? Wait, is that what I think it is?"

"Soldiers!" Robin said. Down the road, flying the colors of the queen's army was hundreds of men. It looked to be a whole regiment. Considering what he did for a living, Robin never thought he would be so glad to see so many black knights coming his way.

Without a second thought, he slapped Little John on the back. "I knew it! I was right!"

"About what?" Little John asked.

Robin didn't answer, it was probably better not to say anymore. But with the amount of men headed their way, Tripp's Landing was saved.

Robin could swear if he dropped an arrow, you could hear it hit the ground. The orcs were in sight now and everyone in position, including the soldiers. When the troops finally had reached them, Robin was so relieved and joyous, it didn't even occur to him that technically they should put him under arrest. He was still a wanted fugitive. Fortunately the queen had already thought of this and given him a pardon while on Tripp Landing's soil. In fact, he was surprised to find out the regiment's commander, Johnson, was actually under the outlaw's command.

After he recovered from the shock, Robin got to work and caught the troops up to the plan. Now with so many properly trained soldiers, Robin knew it was very likely the plan would ultimately succeed. The regiment numbered 1,000 men making the ratio 1 to 1. Robin was also relieved he could take the local people out of the calculation completely, farmers attacking alongside soldiers they'd be more in the way. That said, Robin wasn't sure how well skilled the unit he had really was. Since orcs were bigger and stronger, in hand to hand combat a below average soldier would probably die immediately in direct combat. An average soldier may be able to take one down. And with any luck, there were better than average men there.

Regardless, because of the ditch trap, they had a clear advantage. Placing 500 men for the orcs to charge against, Robin split the rest of the men to hide in the woods and attack the flanks when ordered. He hoped now his merry men could stay out of direct fight but Robin had planned on charging anyway.

The orcs were roaring now as they kept their lines. They hadn't broken rank yet and he knew they were trying to intimate their targets. Since they thought they outnumbered their targets, they had no reason to think they weren't going to win, especially since orcs weren't known for their intelligence.

What could only be described as sounds like barking, the orcs shifted and began charging, Robin went into stage B. He got an arrow out and on the other side he knew his merry men were doing the same. As soon as they hit the ditch and fell in, arrows would be sent into the orc flanks. It wasn't just a technique to thin out their numbers, the orcs had armor and their thick skin, an archer would have to be precise in his shooting. Of course Robin's arrows always hit their mark, it was doubtful the rest of his men could do much damage. But it also served another purpose. Once the quivers were emptied of all their arrows, the signal would be called for the rest of the soldiers on the flanks to attack. The orcs would be attacked on three sides and the timing of everything should confuse them.

Everything was going well, at least to plan. The men in the center were holding their own though that was probably due to the ditch making the orcs easy targets. Robin had instructed Johnson to place his weakest men there and the more skilled warriors on the flanks. His quiver empty, he looked down at Johnson who gave the order for the men to charge. Robin quickly climbed down the tree, thankful that at least he killed a good many orcs with his arrows.

Grabbing his sword, Robin ran in but due to his previous position was coming in from the rear. Jumping over wounded soldiers Robin attacked and got two orcs easily. After the second fell, another large one appeared behind him and swung his ax at Robin who ducked. The good thing about orcs was the bigger they were, the slower they were. Robin easily got behind him and slit him up the back. He didn't wait to watch him fall to the ground. Turning he managed to cut the neck of one who was standing above a soldier, saving the man's life. Just then a blow hit Robin on the side, making him tumble. He wasn't stabbed, just stunned, and managed to get his weapon in a defensive position to block the orc's swing. This orc kicked him though and Robin fell flat on his back. This time he was done for as he saw the orc raise his weapon above his head, he swore the orc was smiling.

But death was averted when the orc froze, gasping for air. Falling down, Little John appeared swinging his preferred weapon, a giant ax. Though he just saved his life, Robin was unhappy to see his friend. "I thought I told you to stay back! You are to return back to Sherwood when it's done!" Not to mention return to Roland.

"Yeah, like that's going to happen!" John said smugly. Offering his hand, Robin took it and was pulled up. Together the two of them joined back to back and fought.

Robin cringed as he heard the orc scream. He didn't think orcs could scream, but whatever Johnson was ordering his men to do, it was apparent that they could.

The battle had been won. Of course there were many casualties, the most recent count was 212 soldiers. However on the orcs' side only a dozen were left alive and right now it was imperative to find out what the hell was going on. How did they come together? Why so many and with a plan? What were their targets? An enemy was out there that had connections to the dark arts and it would be foolish to take this lightly.

Johnson walked out of the tent where the orc was being tortured. He actually looked like he'd been enjoying it. "He's close, he'll be talking before long!"

"Swell," Robin cringed as he heard another scream from the tent.

"What's the matter with you?"

Robin sighed, he didn't like Johnson and he barely knew the guy. But then, he hadn't met many black knights he did like. "I know it's necessary, but I don't enjoy the suffering of any living creature."

The officer snorted. "No wonder the queen put you in charge, you have so much in common."

"What do you mean?"

Washing his hands and face in a water bucket, the officer didn't stop to answer. When he got done, his hair dripping, he shrugged. "Just that apparently her majesty expects us to get the same results but restricts the techniques to do them."

The man spoke with such venom, whatever he was talking about he obviously was angry about it. "What did she do?"

"Well, when it comes to types of torture, one form is no longer acceptable"

Robin didn't like where this was going. "What type?"

Scratching his head, the commander looked bewildered at the memory. "She came upon one of my men taking liberties with a woman prisoner. A prisoner she wanted information from and had said earlier to get it anyway possible. Apparently we were supposed to read her mind-"

"Wait," Robin stepped in front of the man, wanting to make sure there was no confusion. "He was what? Raping her?"

Again, Johnson acted like he was the victim. "He tried, SHE happened to be coming by and put a stop to it. Not only did she put a stop to it but she k-"

"This was under your orders?" Robin got in Johnson's face.

"Oh come on!" Johnson sneered. "Are you telling me, Robin Hood, with your merry men, that when you saw a pretty woman you liberated from us black knights, you didn't take advantage-" Johnson stopped once Robin's fist hit his mouth.

Once on the ground, the knight, while rubbing his chin began shouting obscenities. At least Robin thought they were, they was too much blood to be certain. What was certain was he had gotten up and started towards Robin who ducked out of the way at the last minute. The commander whirled around though and tried to catch Robin but he was quick enough to deflect. Before the commander had another chance to hit him, Robin struck again and flattened him back on the ground.

The men had gathered around, both merry and knights and Robin realized that nothing good could come from this. But it may be too late to stop it. Luckily fate was on his side.

A puff of purple smoke appeared making everyone scatter. Within moments the queen stepped into their circle and everyone, including Robin jumped back. Her eyes went to Robin to her regiment's commander laying on the ground. With an air of dignity and poise, she looked at Robin and said, "Well, I see you have met Commander Johnson and found him as charming as I have."

Robin's face broke out into a smile, whether it was because she clearly sided with him or he was quite pleased to see her, he didn't know. Johnson jumped though and immediately began explaining, "Your Majesty, I want to place this man under arrest, he viciously attacked a knight in your army without provocation and clearly laws dictate-"

"You don't have to tell me the laws of our lands, Commander, I'm well aware of them," she returned but her eyes remained on Robin. "Furthermore I am certain there was provocation and he will not be put under arrest. Is that clear?"

"But your Maje-"

"I SAID IS THAT CLEAR?!" Other than Johnson, every other man including Robin jumped back a couple of feet at her outburst. Robin's smile grew wider. This woman was a good head shorter than almost everyone who was around her but she had enough fire in just her voice to make them jump.

Johnson knew the matter was closed and stood at attention. Regina's eyes went to him and she asked for a report of the battle. Johnson answered. "We won the day, your Majesty. We are holding the few orc survivors now and are questioning them about how they got here."

Regina nodded, thinking she was through with the knight but he chose to add one final comment. "That is to say, approved questioning that falls under the queen's new policies."

She stopped and glared back at him. "I'm sure it's quite a challenge for you to restrain yourself, Johnson, being so close to an orc yourself it would be no doubt you would find yourself attracted to them."

The merry men snickered at the comment and Johnson glared back at her, hate in his eyes. While Robin was glad to see her admonish him easily, he didn't like the way he was glaring at the queen. She turned and walked around the men. Clearing her throat, she asked, "So this is Tripp's Landing, is there a…mayor of this area?"

Robin was surprised. She wanted to meet the mayor? "Um, yes, Mila-Your Majesty. He shouldn't be far." Indeed, the man who was elected to be in charge of the area's citizens was already on his way, apparently had heard the queen was now here.

"Your Majesty!" Immediately he fell on the ground. She gestured for him to get up. He smiled at her, he was an older man and more educated than many of the others. Probably why he was given this title. "I can't begin to thank you for sending us help-"

She cut him off. "Yes, but I wanted to know from you, not someone in battle who might inflate his performance…" at that she glanced at Robin who narrowed his eyes at her. Inflate his performance indeed. "How the battle went. Do you know the casualties?"

"Yes, my Queen," He again bowed. "There were 1,000 orcs to your 1,000 soldiers plus the merry men. I believe we lost 20% casualties."

Robin looked down, he hated to hear men's deaths reported in statistical numbers. For the queen however, she seemed pleased. "Really? So few?"

The mayor nodded. "Much of the credit is in Mr. Locksley, err, Robin Hood." From there, the mayor explained the traps Robin put in place and much to the outlaw's chagrin actually started talking him up far more than he felt he deserved.

If the queen was impressed, she didn't look it. She just took the information and walked back over to Robin. "May I speak to you in private?"

"Of course, your Majesty!" Gesturing for her to head to the tent he used for strategizing, he let her lead the way. He couldn't help but notice the look Little John gave him but he ignored it for now.

Inside the tent, Regina pulled off her gloves and took a seat. On the table in front of her was the plans he used to draw out the attack for Johnson. She perused it, and Robin allowed himself to gaze at her form. Her outfit, as ostentatious as ever at least this was a pants outfit so it fit in better on a battlefield. When she was done, she looked over at him. "Congratulations on the victory."

"Your Majesty flatters me. The real credit goes to you for sending your army."

"Yes, it does," she said flatly.

She was trying to bait him, and he really didn't want to quarrel with her. He approached her and got as close as he felt was permissible given both her knights and his merry men were just outside. "Seriously, you have my utter thanks in changing your mind. I'm very honored you listened to me."

"I didn't do it for you," she said quickly. Too quickly. She shifted in her chair. "I just realized I had a chance to get rid of this god forsaken land. Let it become someone else's problem."

"You did?" Robin's heart sank.

"King Geoffrey wanted us to send more coal but doesn't have the funds to pay for it. We negotiated, he owes me a favor plus he has to take Tripp's Landing as well."

"Your Majesty may wish to keep it now," Robin said.

She scoffed. "Whatever for? Did you see their mayor? I've seen beggars dressed better." She then smiled at him. "Excluding present company."

"He was dressed for battle, Milady. The people here are proud of their land. They would defend it with their lives."

She set her arms on the table, doing so allowed her cleavage to be fully displayed. She was distracting him but Robin would not let it work.

"Why did you call for him anyway?" he asked.

She shrugged. "The same reason I appeared without much warning. I get a more accurate report on the results of battle if I surprise everyone and I look to the locals for information."

"Your Majesty, you are wrong about the people and land here. They are worth something. Remember what I said about loyalty?" He sat down beside her. He wished he could get her to see how the people were truly thankful for the troops.

Regina's eyes flashed at loyalty and he could sense she was about to evoke the evil queen again. "Tell me, thief, what about your loyalty? I had scouts here before the army arrived. They told me your men were going to fight with the locals. If you had, you would have died."

"So?" Robin asked though he could guess where she was going with this.

"You would bring your men here to die for strangers?"

He placed his hands on the table too. He wanted somewhere else to look. His eyes fell on the good luck charm Roland had given him. He'd quite forgotten about it until now. "They didn't have to come. I made it clear they were undo no obligation."

"What about your obligation to your son?" she hissed. "You would die and leave him an orphan."

"We aren't to avoid danger when lives are at stake! I like to think…" Robin had to stop, did she really think he wasn't scared to death of Roland being alone in the world. "I have to think that Roland would be proud of me." He wanted to say more but he could feel the tears forming in his eyes, stopping him.

She averted her gaze. He was relieved, he couldn't bear to break down in front of her. Her eyes looking at the table came upon the unusual item. Pointing at Roland's good luck charm, she asked, "What is that?"

"Um," he wasn't sure what to say. "Roland made it. When he heard I was going into battle he wanted me to have a good luck charm."

"So it's a pine cone again?"

"It was," Robin sighed. "It's something else now."

She studied it closer. "What is it?" He cringed at her question. When she saw his reaction, she realized. "You don't know what it is!"

Shaking his head, Robin confessed. "He thought I knew! He said I would be needing something to help me into battle, so of course I needed one of these!" He dared to look at the queen and her look of satisfaction made him roll his eyes.

After a beat, she continued. "Why is it on its side?"

That he knew. "Because that's the way it should be. He laid it out just like that." He wanted to stop there, but Regina kept staring at him, clearly sensing there was something else. Eventually he gave in. "But whichever is front and back, I don't exactly recall."

Her reaction was startling for Robin. She laughed for a brief few seconds. He was so shocked she had recovered and gotten up before he had realized. It was a pity, he honestly wished to hear her laugh again.

"Here," she waved over his table and a bucket appeared. "Give this to Roland."

Confused, Robin looked up at her and opened the bucket. Inside was a soft, mud like substance. She explained. "It's clay. With a little water he can make it softer and hopefully make more accurate figurines with it."

Robin was shocked. She was giving his son a gift? "Thank you, your Majesty. Roland will love it."

"Fine, Mr. Locksley," she said his name with punctuated emphasis, "I must be going. Send Johnson in here, I need to have a word with him."

Robin watched as she put her gloves on and was back to all business. Walking outside, he called to Johnson and told him the queen wanted him. Standing outside, he couldn't see or hear what was going on. Little John ran up. "Are you alright?"

"Perfectly fine, why?"

"She's the evil queen!" Little John said.

"Stop calling her that!" Robin said, his eyes never leaving the tent.

Whatever they were speaking about, things were getting heated. After a few minutes, a flash came out of the tent and a thud hit the ground. Regina emerged still looking exemplary. She walked by Robin, and said, "I need you to do me another favor."

Robin desperately wanted to go check on Johnson but knew he better find out what she had in mind. "Yes, Majesty?"

"Find out of the remaining troops that are alive, pick the new commanding officer. I'm afraid Johnson will no longer be able to fulfill his duties."

Robin's mouth dropped open at that. She walked on. Her carriage had arrived some time while she and the outlaw were talking. She walked to it and it was clear she was ready to leave.

Robin kept his eyes on her, many the local people had gathered around her carriage and she was doing a good job ignoring them. Little John came to his side. "You were saying?"

Robin could tell Little John had checked on Johnson. "I take it he's dead?"

"No." Little John answered which did surprise Robin. Robin looked at his friend. "What-"

"From the way he's holding himself, I'd say he's not going to be getting with the ladies anytime soon."

Robin cringed but realized it could have been worse. Her majesty's punishment for Johnson was standard for rapists in general. And right now Robin didn't have a lot of sympathy for Johnson.

The queen had went to open her carriage door but someone shouted for her to wait. She whipped around, obviously in no mood to listen to peasants. Robin ran towards her without thinking. She was clearly misunderstanding what was driving them. "Your Majesty, they are anxious to see you!"

She turned her face away from Robin. "They always are anxious to watch the evil queen leave!"

Is that what she thought? "That isn't it at all."

Just then, a girl came running up. She bowed before the queen. "Your Majesty, we want to thank you for your generosity and that you came and checked on us personally!"

"You do?"

"Allow us to give you this gift!" She held up some exquisite silverware.

The queen was surprised at the value they had. "This is…beautiful. Where did you get it?"

The girl bowed and another man appeared. "My Queen, over the years we have had to pawn our possessions to make a living but some of this silverware was forged by our forefathers back when silver was on this land." Robin snuck a glance at the queen, wondering if she was catching on. "Though most of it has been sold over the years, when we saw the soldiers you graciously sent, we pooled our resources and we are proud to give you a full setting."

Emotion overcame her face and it stayed there, she was unable to will her usual mask to cover it. Her eyes at the plates, platters, and everything else. Eventually she got her voice working. "This…I can't accept this."

The man bowed again. "We know your Majesty, this isn't as fine as what you no doubt serve but perhaps you could find a place for it at your castle. Even if it belonged to your servants we'd be so honored for you to take it."

Robin's eyes were still on Regina. He knew as well as she did that this was not poor quality. These items had been passed down in generations as treasures and legacies and they took great care of their prized heirlooms. Given their age, the items here could be considered worth a small fortune that rivaled Duke Norrington. Regina, still unable to really speak, gestured for her servants to take the gifts. She reached out and shook the man and girl's hands who had tears in their eyes.

Robin followed Regina to her carriage, he noticed when she reached for the handle her hands were shaking. Without a word, he reached out and took it for her, opening it up. She was about to climb inside when the man shouted "Long live the Queen!" From there all the citizens chanted it together. She looked back and there were tears in her eyes now. She glanced at Robin who held out his arm, she was needing help to climb inside.

As he shut the door for her, the window was open and his heart filled as he saw the complete sadness on her face. He guessed this was the first time she had heard anyone shout this to her sincerely. Clearing his throat, he wanted to get her attention before they left.

"Your Majesty." She didn't move. "Regina."

Her eyes now went to his. "Don't give them to King Geoffrey. They want you to be their ruler."

She started to say something but then stopped. She crossed her legs and just like that her mask was up. "Until next time, Robin Hood."

"Until next time, My Queen."

She knocked on the side and the carriage went away. Robin watched as it went down the road. He felt sadness because he had no idea when or if he would see her again.

I really wanted Regina to kill Johnson, LOL, but doing what she did was probably crueler in her mind.

I do hope that the folks from Tripp Landing didn't seem too OTT with their support. My thoughts are Snow White never stepped a foot anywhere near them. All the stories of the evil queen were just stories. As far as they knew, she was like every other ruler they had who basically just ignored them and expected them to fend for themselves. Nobody had ever tried to do anything for them, much less send in troops. They would see her a benevolent queen rather than an evil one.

Please keep reviewing. I read each and everyone. And they help push me to not just finish the story but improve it!