Chapter 22

Sorry this one is so short. It was a lot harder to write than I thought it would be. Please keep reading. The next couple of days are going to get busy so I hope to have something for you as soon as I can. I will say that Robin's background comes from chapter three of my story "You were Missed." It's not necessary to read it but if you are curious, please go check it out.

Robin sat staring at the fire, trying to act like the queen leaving didn't bother him. The sun was just about to come up and they would set out and hopefully pick up where Snow's tracking had left off. He needed Regina's head to be in trying to find Roland, not in trying to hurt her nemesis.

But that wasn't what was bothering him at that moment. Right now his first urge was to follow the queen and see what was wrong, to check on her and make sure she was alright. It was extraordinary how natural it felt to try to take care of her. Extraordinary that a mere thief like him could truly take care of a queen, one with magical powers to boot.

"Thank you for what you did before," Snow whispered. She had kept her distance from Robin, sensing that whatever was between Regina and the outlaw was more than just concern over a small boy. Now that the queen had stepped away, she took the time to thank him.

"Of course," Robin said. "I meant what I said, if I didn't need the queen to save my son, I'd still try to stop her from killing you." He took the last bite on his plate and checked to make sure Snow had finished her meal, which she had. "Unfortunately I don't believe I'll be successful."

Snow shook her head. "You did more just now than I'd ever thought possible. What did you say to her when you spoke privately?" Snow never thought anyone could talk Regina out of anything.

He shifted a bit on the log he was using as a seat. "I told her if she killed you now, then I didn't want her help in saving Roland."

"And that worked?"

Robin leaned back to stretch, more out of partial deflection than needing it. "Yes, she cares very much for my son."

Snow's mouth fell open but she quickly closed it. "The queen cares for the son of Robin Hood?"

Robin had to chuckle at that. "Yeah, when you say it like that…it's crazy."

"It certainly is." Snow stared in the direction of where Regina went, her mind considering what he just shared. Robin was staring at the princess, debating if he should ask but knew this was probably the only chance he would get. "What happened? Why does she hate you so much?"

Sighing, Snow shook her head. "When I first met Regina, she saved my life."

"She did?" This was news to Robin.

Snow nodded, her eyes glassy from the memory. "I was young and my horse I had been riding lost control. She caught up with me and saved my life. Regina wasn't that much older, but I thought she was amazing."

Robin took a deep breath. He could imagine the scene very well. "Did she save you with magic?"

"No, I don't think she had her powers back then," Snow said. "My father was compelled to thank her, and her mother, Cora, was pushing for the match. I had been excited for it, I missed my mother so much and I thought Regina could be a big sister type. But even as a girl, I could see her heart wasn't into it."

Robin's eyes darted as he heard footsteps. Both he and Snow straightened, thinking Regina was returning but it was just Tuck. Had he been talking to Regina? Robin looked the friar in the eyes and he smiled which was a good sign. The man had good advice, perhaps he shared some with Regina.

Since she hadn't returned, Snow continued. "Regina confided in me, she was in love with someone else, the stable boy, Daniel."

"Daniel!" Robin said rather loudly. He hadn't expected this.

"She mentioned him before?" Snow was surprised.

"Yes, she had," Robin answered, his hands going through his hair. She'd not just mentioned Daniel but Rumple had too, the dark one's taunt now had new implications and Robin had to bite back from swearing. Then there was her dream. Because of Snow White he had forgotten about it but Regina's pleas for Daniel were now fresh in his mind. "What happened?"

Snow placed her plate down. "She was going to run off with Daniel, he was her true love. She was going to give up her chance at becoming queen and run away from him. She asked me to keep it a secret, specifically from her mother, Cora. But Cora told me she wanted nothing but happiness for her daughter and being young, I believed her. I missed my own mother so much and Regina choosing to run away from hers was unimaginable to me. I was sure she was wrong. So I told Cora."

Robin breathed in as he absorbed this new information. Things were becoming a bit clearer now. "Not all parents care about their children's happiness." He knew that far too well thinking of his own father.

"I guess not. When Regina returned and agreed to marry father I admitted what I had done. Regina didn't say anything other than Daniel had ran away." Snow's voice was growing softer.

"But Cora killed him," Robin added.

"What?" Snow exclaimed. "Daniel was killed? She told you that?"

Robin moved in closer, his eyes checking to make sure Regina still hadn't returned. He felt on thin ice discussing this with Snow White of all people. "No, but she had a nightmare earlier, that's how we got to you first before the others, her nightmare had woken her up. She was calling for her mother not to hurt Daniel. The anguish in her voice…" He stopped, nervous at how much sense this all made. "She only mentioned Daniel's name once yesterday but the sadness in her voice sounded like how one speaks of a lost loved one." His throat became dry. "Like how I speak of Marian, my wife."

"It never occurred to me…" Snow said out loud, feeling foolish. "But it should have. Thinking over it now while on the run, I guessed that Cora had paid off Daniel but I wondered why that would have led to Regina hating me so much. But if instead Cora had killed him…"

Robin nodded, he was beginning to understand too. "And the way she woke up, the fear in her eyes and the heartache upon her face, I have no doubt she witnessed it."

"She's still having nightmares…all because of me." Snow shut her eyes, shame washing over her. Regina might have taken things too far since then, Snow never meant any harm to come to anyone, but at the same time she never took responsibility for her part in this. "And then living in the castle with my father wasn't exactly storybook love either."

"He was unkind to her?" Robin had always heard the king was a kind man, probably too kind when it came to some of his policies, but Robin knew far too many nobles with a good reputation that was truly undeserved.

Snow made a face, she hated to speak ill of her father. But now looking back she knew the marriage was more of an imprisonment. "My father regretted the marriage. He didn't hurt Regina but he did insist she keep to the castle and make taking care of me a priority. Given my part in Daniel's downfall, it was obviously hell for her."

Robin started to say something but Little John made an announcement. "Robin, the sun is up and I think it's best we get going. We're all ready though I guess someone should check on the queen." He put emphasis on "queen" and the look he gave his leader left little doubt on whom he expected to go.

Standing up, Robin went down the path she had taken. She was standing in a field of lavender and the light was bouncing off her hair. He stopped and took a moment to watch her. The information Snow just relayed made his heart so heavy, the loss and tragedy of her life. But he couldn't let her kill Snow White either. At least she agreed to wait until after they found Roland, he trusted her to keep her word. He took a step towards her and this time she must have sensed him as her shoulders tensed up and she moved her head a bit in his direction. Her gaze was still directed up to the sky, Robin glanced upwards and found the moon. "It's always so interesting to see the moon sharing the sky at the same time as the sun," he uttered more to himself than her.

Her voice had a huskiness to it. "When they both appear in the sky like this, I like to think they are former lovers who are getting the privilege of seeing each other again."

Robin's heart almost broke at hearing her words, now that he knew what propelled them. He ached to ask about Daniel but it had to wait. It had to. For Roland's sake.

"I take it we're ready?" she said, her eyes still cast high. "Let's go find Roland."

Again I'm so sorry for the shortness. Please forgive me. All of you guys are aces for reviewing. Leannie, AnotherOUATwriter, Emilie, Luna, mcookieme (hopefully it takes your name this time), liliesandroses, foreverjulie, murina, amara24, Joy Booth, LauraRosalinforever, cherbear7897, dakota1979, jlc63, buffypurple, Rogersmeed, phnxgrl, evilregalcatalist, thekween, vampress2802, all the guests, just thank you! I hope you keep reading. Some have asked how many chapters this will be. I expect I should be done in about ten (give or take). THANK YOU.