Chapter 15
So here is the new chapter! To say I'm worried about the reviews from this point on is an understatement! Please. Just be patient. Trust me. You've trusted me this far. Your reviews are so encouraging and I write at a faster rate than I normally would.
Robin's eyes fluttered open, the morning light bathing the cabin in a soft, yellow glow. He glanced to his left expecting to see Regina there but found her gone. Sitting up quickly, he grabbed his pants, panic setting in. Just then the door opened and she walked in. Relief flooded him, his mind went to the earlier danger, one assassin they had defeated but could there be more? He never did find out why that man was after him or whomever this Rowan person was that she mentioned.
Standing up, he walked behind her, wrapping his arms around her. "Morning." She went rigid. Taking a step back, he waited for her to turn around. "Regina, what's wrong? What were you doing outside?"
Last night had been amazing, better than amazing. It wasn't just sex, hell, he didn't even think it was just love making. Having her in his arms, the real Regina, opening up and giving her entire self to him was the greatest gift he'd probably ever received after Roland.
Now the woman standing in front of him was no longer Regina, now she was the queen. He half expected her to correct him and insist on using her title. Instead, she coldly said, "Just trying to find us something to eat. Nothing looked edible at all."
"You just need to know how to look," he answered, not being able to hide the woodsman he was. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, we just have a lot to do, there's still Rowan out there."
He was confused. "You want to talk about that now?"
Folding her arms, she kept that queenly composure intact. "What else are we to talk about?"
His eyes briefly went to where her satchel had been but it was no longer there. "Tell me, Regina, you didn't take it."
"You can relax," she said, but still very much on guard, "I didn't take a memory spell. It wasn't made for me, remember."
She sure was acting like she didn't remember. He wanted to grab her and shake her. How could she pretend last night meant nothing? He hadn't forgotten her eyes as he had stared into them. It had meant as much to her as it did him. "You never told me who he was and why he wanted me dead." He made sure to emphasize the last part to see if he could get a rise out of her.
It worked. She flinched ever so slightly when he mentioned his own danger. "Larc Rowan is the enemy behind all of this."
"So Rumpestiltskin knew him?"
"No, not personally. Apparently Rowan had been trained as an apprentice by Zoso, the previous dark one. He attempted a coup and Zoso banished him to Toomey."
Robin tried to process what she was saying, but his heartache at her detached reciting of the facts, he could simply be one of her commanders. "Regina, I-"
"Don't!" She held up a hand, irritating Robin. She was now treating him like a servant. She grabbed her cloak and wrapped it around her. "Get dressed and come outside." She started for the door.
He jumped in her path. "So you're scared, I get that. But don't walk away from what happened last night. It was wonderful, don't pretend it didn't mean anything to you-"
"It did mean nothing!" Her voice was laced with ice but those watery eyes gave away her true feelings. Being so close again to her, he leaned into her lips, he was so close to kiss them. But she stepped back. "Robin, please. Put on your clothes and I'll explain more outside. I just can't…I can't do it in here, okay?"
For a few beats he didn't move, just stared at her. That pain she carried was evidently there, stronger than ever before. It didn't make any sense to him, he would have thought being together would have helped bury it. Feeling momentarily lost, he stepped aside and she walked by, slamming the door behind her.
Carefully he put on his clothes, surprised at how his hands were shaking. He dared to imagine it from her point of view. Could she be right? She was a queen. He was merely a common thief. They had obligations that were so different, she had a kingdom, he had his merry men, not to mention his son. Finally, there was the problem of Snow White. This endless pursuit of her was wrong, he knew that, but whatever fed her desire to seek out and kill the princess was not going to just disappear because she had slept with him.
Putting on his satchel and cloak, Robin reached for the door. He stepped outside, preparing himself to pick up the conversation again. But the sight before he made him momentarily forget it. Surrounding the cabin was at least a dozen black knights. Regina wasn't in sight and he took a few steps calling for her. The knights rushed him, pressing his back to the cabin's wall.
"He is not to be harmed!" Regina emerged from the right. The glare she was giving the guards who had their hands on him made a couple let go but the other two held on tightly. "Hold him, make sure he can't flee."
"How did you-" he started but a guard punched him in the stomach. That man was immediately dismissed, having been thrown back into the woods. Regina pointed at another guard to take his place.
"I summoned them early this morning. They arrived without you noticing as I put a silence spell inside the cabin so you wouldn't hear their approach."
He struggled but with two men pinning him to the cabin, Robin couldn't do much but talk. "Why?"
Her eyes were still watery but her voice was sharp as steel. "Because I'm the evil queen." She now pulled out the potion. The forgetting potion. Robin attempted to struggle.
"I won't drink that!" He would spit it out if he had too.
She called for another guard to come over. He was to open his mouth on her command. She got it ready. She opened the bottle, pausing while doing so. Maybe she would change her mind. He could plainly see she didn't want to do it.
The guard on the right shifted and Robin tried to take advantage by shoving his right arm as hard as he could but unfortunately the knight was stronger than he looked. He caught Robin's arm and slammed it to the wall. His shirt had worked its way down and he could feel the wood digging into the back of it.
Surprisingly, Regina reached out and caressed it almost tenderly, her attention focused so intently. Turning, he saw her fingers were stroking his tattoo. In spite of everything, the helplessness Robin felt, he couldn't understand why she was so mesmerized by that lion.
"Open his mouth," Regina stated so matter-of-factly you would think she requested they open a door. Pain sprouted on Robin's jaw as he felt the steeled glove pinch it open. Another hand came up and pinched his now. She raised the potion up and poured.
"Are you hungry, your Majesty?" asked a guard. Regina looked through the carriage window and nodded. She wasn't actually but she needed to replenish. She was on her way to meet Rumple to learn whatever his plan against Rowan was and she needed all her strength. Especially after the night before which her mind kept replaying over and over.
The desire lit inside of her, she pushed him hard against the cabin door, kissing him so hungrily. His arms had begun removing her clothing while she clawed at his shirt. In between kisses and bites, clothing were shed, even their boots. Once the feeling of Robin's lips left hers and worked their way down her body, Regina shivered at the pleasure. She pulled him to the bed.
"Here you go, your majesty." Regina blinked out of her thoughts as the servant opened the carriage door, bringing in her food. While traveling, it wasn't like she could have a very warm meal so the best she could hope was fruit and bread. Once the servant was sure she was happy with the setting, he quickly got out. Regina began eating and did her best to try to occupy her mind of anything else but last night.
His lips were doing things that she hadn't realized were possible. Her breathing had become so ragged, her hands on the back of his head. "Rob-" she couldn't even complete his name. However he did pause and she fisted the hair, trying to compel him to continue. It worked and he picked up again, forcing moans out of Regina's lips.
The carriage hit a bump and Regina was shaken out of her daydream. She slammed her hand down on the empty seat next to her. She would conquer this. "How much longer do we have to go?"
"A few more hours, your Majesty!" The knight answered. "We should be there before nightfall."
Regina came down from her high, she reached out for Robin who was still kneeling before her. He raised up and was now eye level. Those blue eyes were so bright, almost fiery. The intensity forced her to look away.
"No!" he turned her face back towards his.
"No?" she repeated, almost a question. Fear overcame Regina. Nobody said no to her when they go this far. What was wrong?
His lips brushed hers and in spite of her sudden worry, she responded and the kiss deepened. When he pulled back, he smiled. "No, don't turn away, Regina. I'm not going anywhere but all I ask if you don't go anywhere either."
Her hands cupped his face, she started to respond but emotion overcame her, forcing her to bite her lip.
"The queen is only someone you have to be with other people. I just want you, like this. Right now. Don't hide that from me. Please."
He kissed her, her arms wrapped around his neck. She needed to feel him. All of him.
"You wanted me to remind you when we had an hour to go."
Regina jerked towards the knight about to reprimand him for startling her but quickly changed her mind, afraid her voice would betray her thoughts. She nodded to show she heard him and thankfully he turned and rode away from the carriage window.
Leaning her head back, she cleared her throat, and fisted her hands in the pillows. Unfortunately the image of that brought even more memories back. "Dammit!" she muttered.
Her eyes opened slowly. She could feel his breathing to her side. As she lifted her head, she noticed only traces of light were coming through the cabin's windows. Sunrise must only be starting.
Her eyes fell on the outlaw practically beneath her. His naked form right next to hers. She wanted to trace her fingers up and down his abdomen but knew it would wake him, after last night, he probably should sleep a bit more. She then grinned, realizing she had a chance to do something she had denied herself for too long. She could ogle him.
Shifting a little to get a better look, her eyes roamed him up and down. There were scars here and there making Regina frown. She couldn't help but wonder, where did they come from? Some were recent, others were fairly old. Maybe childhood scars? She hadn't even thought about his early life. She had to fight the urge to wake him up and ask.
She slowly disentangled herself from his arms, getting up off the bed. She knew he had a water flask and she was thirsty now. The cold air hitting her body, she wrapped his cloak around her, she told herself it was only because it was closer than hers. But she paused while taking in his scent that was attached to it.
She grabbed the flask and drank. As she put it down, she looked back towards him, enjoying the view from this new angle. Her eyes did fall on his arm which had moved a bit when she had gotten up. What looked like a shadow she could now see something distinctive on it: A tattoo.
Her breath left her, she tightened her hold on the flask. It couldn't be! But her eyes weren't deceiving her. Getting closer, there was the lion tattoo! THE LION TATTOO! She dropped his flask at the sight of it and Robin stirred. She froze, waiting to see if he would wake up. Luckily he didn't. Backing up, she moved to the door, her hands shaking.
Her foot hit her boot which helped her recover a bit. She grabbed her clothes, shedding his cloak. She opened the door carefully, she didn't want to wake him.
Outside she got dressed slowly. Each item of clothing reminding her of the life she had wanted. She chose to have. She would be the queen. She paid her dues. Living as Leopold's wife, step-mothering to Snow White and enduring the lessons she received from Rumple and Cora. How dare fate show her the other path now?
Not to mention he had moved on too. He had married, he had Roland. Regina was positive he would have thanked his lucky stars she had ran away from him back then. Finally putting her boots on, Regina recognized last night was a mistake. A bad mistake. But a correctable one. Using one of the windows, she hardened her heart and looked past Robin's sleeping form to her satchel on the table. Where the memory potion lay.
"Well, well, dearie, did you take care of your thieving pet?"
Regina jumped at his voice. He appeared in her carriage without warning. She wanted to yell at him, but they had more important things at hand. "Don't make me put a bell on you so I can hear you coming."
He snorted. "I'd like to see you try."
Maybe she would. "Have you found Rowan's camp?"
"Of course, while you were playing footsie with Hood, I was actually getting things done."
"How do you know-" she stopped, realizing Rumple had just been making a general comment and didn't really know what happened.
But now he did, he giggled. "Oh, so he is your new pet."
"Not anymore." She couldn't do this. She couldn't fight about Robin with Rumple. The carriage came to a stop and she darted out of it while placing her gloves on.
Rumple was right at her side though, practically skipping. "So you gave him the potion did you? I take it his love for you was just one sided."
"Of course it was," Regina said, she had perfected boxing up her emotions, it was practically an art form, so this time would be no different. "Love is weakness."
"You have become your mother's daughter." She wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult.
Turning to Rumple, she steeled herself. "Let's just go take care of this Rowan."
Don't hate me! And don't worry. This story is going to work out. But I felt it was completely in character for Regina to do something like this. She's self destructive whether as mayor or the queen. And the real important thing to remember is Robin may not remember her but Regina still has her memories. May I also remind y'all that another Hood remembers Regina. :D
So if this chapter didn't turn you off perhaps you could do me the honor of reviewing. Please?