Chapter 6

Cora watched thru her mirror as Regina and the stable boy held each other. They had gotten very close, apparently. She kept an eye on them when she could, but as usual, the mirror image started to blur and eventually blinked out entirely. That happened when ever Lorelei came into the picture. The older the siren got, the more she interfered with Cora's magic. But, as long as she was with Regina, there was no worry that Regina would be able to do anything to damage her value to a king.

The boy was a problem now that Regina was sixteen. It was time for her to become the queen Cora had bred her to be. She had nearly all of the plans in place and it would only be a matter of days before they were set into motion. She had decided to give Regina a chance to do the right thing. If her daughter chose not to, well, then Cora had a few other plans that she would set in motion.

….

Granny looked worried as Red stepped into the kitchens. She took a seat at the stool and waited for her breakfast. "Granny? Why do you look so worried?"

Shaking herself back to attention, the grandmother quickly put Red's food on a plate and gave it to her. "Something happening around here. I can feel it."

Red ate slowly but nodded eventually, "yeah. I can feel it too. Lorelei has been pacing and biting her nails for a week, so I think she feels it too."

Granny nodded and decided to push ahead. No need to coddle her grand daughter anymore, she was old enough to handle change now. "We're leaving soon."

Red dropped her biscuit and stared at the woman, "what do you mean leaving?"

"It's getting tense around here, dangerous. Every bone in my body has been telling me to get away from here for awhile now. It's time we took our leave Red."

Shaking her head, Red stood and looked her grand mother in the eye, "I'm not leaving them. I can't. If you want to go, that's fine, I understand. But, granny please, I can't leave them."

Sighing, she knew this was going to be tough for the girl, "Red, they will be fine. One way or the other, they will be alright. Hell, I would take Lorelei with us if I thought she would leave Regina. But, you know she is bound to her. Those names on their hearts tell me they won't ever part ways."

Red shook her head again, crossing her arms. "No. I may not have a magic tattoo but they are my friends and I am just as bound to them as they are to each other. I won't go."

Taking her hands, Granny tried once more to make her grand daughter see reason. "Listen to me, you are free to do whatever you want Red. They were born for tragedy, since the day I laid eyes on them as infants I have known that. You are not, Red. You can leave this place and we can go live a decent life somewhere far from Cora. That mad woman is setting up a perfect storm. I don't want you to get caught up in it. If we don't leave now, I don't think we will be able to avoid being swept up in all of their lives."

Red squeezed the older womans hands in comfort, "I know. I do. But I'd happily be caught in a storm than be without them."

Granny sighed again and resumed her cooking. It was no use, but she did try. "Fine. Have it your way pup. But don't come crying to me when it all blows up and singes your fur."

Red smiled and left the kitchens. She shifted as she hit the tree line, following Lorelei's scent. She could always find her friend, no matter where she went. She ran until she was close then shifted back so she didn't startle Daniel. He didn't know about the wolves at the manor house and she didn't want him to know.

Regina and Daniel were sitting off by a creek, cuddling and whispering. He only had about a year left before he had enough savings to start their life together. Lorelei could hear their plans, but didn't disturb them. She just leaned against a tree and watched them. The more she saw how happy they were, the more she wanted to be happy with someone too.

Red quietly sat beside Lorelei and took her hand to hold. Regina had told her if she didn't do something soon, she would simply tell Lorelei about Red being in love with her. She didn't know what to do though. Her friend seemed oblivious to any flirting she tried. She tried winking at her once and Lorelei had spent the better part of ten minutes pulling her eye open because she thought a bug must have flown into it.

As they sat and watched Regina and Daniel, Red felt her heart swell with longing to hold Lorelei like that. To kiss her like that. She finally decided it was time. She was gonna do it. Right now…

Lorelei turned to Red and jumped a bit. Red was staring at her in a creepy predatory manner, frowning and nearly growling. When she met her eyes, Red blushed and quickly looked away again. Confused, Lorelei squeezed her hand and said, "they are leaving in about a year. I want you to come with us. You can bring Granny too, but she's not allowed to yell at me anymore if she comes too."

Red giggled and leaned against her side resting her head on her shoulder. "She isn't going to stop yelling at you until you stop sneaking sweets. I don't know if she will come too, but of course I will."

Lorelei grinned at her and leaned her head against the wild hair of her friends head. "Does that mean you'll marry me?"

Red jumped back and stared at her wide eyed, "what?!"

Lorelei stared back at her, surprised at the reaction. "I want you to marry me. Then we can be married and Regina and Daniel will be married and we can all go do things together and be happy."

Red frowned at her and shook her head, "so you want to marry me because they're going to be married?"

Lorelei shrugged and said in a whimsical tone, "well, no. I want to be married to you so you will stay with me forever. I don't want to lose you to somebody else. And, I also want to kiss you and…"

She didn't get to finish her sentence though because Red finally found her courage. Lorelei fell over from the force of Red pouncing on her, their lips pressed together firmly. There was a moment of shock, and then Red was wrapped in her arms and they had their eyes shut, lips moving against each others tenderly.

When finally they remembered they needed to breath, they broke this kiss and stared into each others eyes. Red was fully on top of her and had her hand on either side of her face, her hair fell around them, making a sort of curtain around their heads. Red smiled down at her and was proud of the flushed look on her face. "Okay."

Breathless still, but not willing to let her go, Lorelei stared into her eyes like she was hypnotized. "Okay what?"

Giggling, Red kissed her again before answering, "I'm going to marry you."

Lorelei's eyebrows shot up and so did she, managing to pick Red up and cradle her like a child. She ran to where Regina was and before Regina could question the sudden outburst Lorelei shouted at her, "SHE IS GOING TO MARRY ME!"

Regina was laughing but managed to stand up and hug her friends. Red had finally gotten out of the hold and was standing on her own again, still blushing furiously. "I kissed her!" She whispered to Regina as they hugged.

Regina laughed again and shook her head, "it took you long enough."

They spent the rest of the day celebrating just being in love. As the sun set that day, they didn't think anything could ever be bad again. Red ignored the increasing pressure in the air, after all, she had her Lorelei now. No matter what happened, they would handle it together. That was good enough for her. Regina was counting the days until they could all run away together. She had worried her mother would stop her, but Lorelei and Red would be with her. They would protect her and Daniel from Cora. Nothing could stop her as long as they were with her.

…

Regina was dressing and preparing for another long day of lessons when her mother came thru the door of her chamber. Regina looked confused as her mother smiled sweetly at her and seemed to be checking her from head to toe. "Mother? Is something wrong?"

Cora shook her head and gestured at her daughters dress, "I don't think this is appropriate clothing for riding dear."

Regina looked at her dress and frowned harder, "I'm not going riding, I have lessons."

Cora smiled again and waved her hand dismissively, "oh dear, you work too hard sometimes. I cancelled your lessons. Go riding, I know how much you love it. Have fun darling."

Regina looked skeptical, "you want me to go riding?"

Cora nodded and reached into her wardrobe, removing her nicest riding outfit. "Yes dear, and wear this. It looks so good on you. I recommend the west fields today dear. The southern fields are flooded from the rains and the wood trails too."

Regina took the clothes and watched as her mother left the room. Maybe she was really allowed to take a day off? She bit her lip and smiled as she hurriedly changed into the riding outfit. If her mother changed her mind, it would be too late because Regina was running for the stables. Lorelei was already there, holding Red's hand and talking to Daniel. When Regina approached they all stepped away from each other and the two girls ran off giggling.

Regina watched as they ran off until Daniel caught her off guard and hugged her tightly, whispering in her ear, "the horses are ready. Come ride with me?"

Blushing at the feeling of his breath on her ear Regina could only nod and mount Rocinante. Together they rode off in the opposite direction as her friends. She figured Daniel wanted some alone time and her friends probably did too.

They rode until they were on a small hill with a single tree in an open field. Daniel tied the reins to the lowest branch and they stood just looking at each other. "Why have you gone thru the trouble of being alone with me?" Regina asked him.

He grinned at her in a manner that said he had a secret. She felt herself inhale sharply and tears formed in her eyes as he slowly lowered himself to one knee, pulling a small box from his pocket. "Regina, I know we already agreed we want to marry, but I wanted to do it properly. Your friends helped me find this for you…" He opened the small box and there was a tiny golden ring with a small diamond mounted crookedly onto it. He cleared his throat as she stared at the ring, "um, well… I couldn't afford to buy you one, so Lorelei went hunting for a stone. She brought back all kinds of rocks and gems, but Red said it had to be a diamond. Eventually she did find one for me. Then Red took me to a man in the village who had apprenticed to a jeweler once a long time ago. It's not the prettiest stone, and I can see why the guy never finished his apprenticeship, but…"

Regina stopped his rambling by dropping down and kissing him passionately. When she pulled back he wiped the tears off her cheeks and she said, "it's perfect. Completely perfect. I will marry you, still." They laughed and Daniel slipped the ring on her finger. She stared at it and they stood up, embracing each other again.

"I'm going to ask your parents for permission to marry you."

Regina pulled back and stared at him in disbelief, "no! My mother would skin you alive, are you crazy?!"

Daniel stood his ground, "if she tries, Lorelei will defend me, I asked her for permission first and… well… eventually she agreed. Then she told me when I spoke to Cora and Henry, she would go with me to make sure your mother didn't throw me out a window."

"Lorelei gave you permission to marry me?"

Daniel laughed at the memory, "yes. I figured your parents won't approve, but I'm going to marry you no matter what they say. Lorelei however is your guardian and I feel like she gets to decide whether she will let me into our marital bed sooo…"

Regina laughed with him, "well, I'm certainly glad she said yes so easily."

Daniel snorted and looked at her with an exhausted sigh, "oh it was not easy. She bargained for you." Regina cocked a brow at him so he went on, "well, she said that if she allows me to marry you, then she probably won't be allowed to sleep next to you anymore because you will want to sleep with me. Now, as you can imagine, this is a big loss on her part. I had to find Red to assure her that she would sleep with her instead and once Red agreed to sleeping with her every night, not just sometimes like they do now, mind you, Lorelei agreed to allow it. Then, I had to swear that I would let you bathe with her because she can't reach her own back."

Regina was laughing as he spoke. "Did she not consider that Red would bathe with her once they are married?"

Daniel shook his head, "never occurred to her. Is Red sure she loves her? She seems really difficult."

Regina put her arms around Daniels neck and put her forehead against his, "she can't help but love her, and I can't imagine anyone being more perfect for Lorelei."

They were about to sit and cuddle more when they heard a loud, piercing scream ring out. They pulled away from each other and looked around the field. Regina spotted it first; a white horse was tearing thru the field at full gallop. She could see someone on the back of the horse, hanging on for life. It was a girl and she was quite clearly not in control of her horse.

Regina reacted immediately, mounting Rocinante and heeling him to race off across the field. She laid low on his back, letting him really open up. She was gaining on the white horse, no beast had ever beat Rocinante. Well, except Lorelei and Red of course.

As she raced next to the horse, she realized the rider was a small girl, maybe ten at most. She was crying hard and barely hanging on. Regina shouted to her, "Jump over to me!" The girl shook her head and Regina tried again, "you have to jump to me, I will catch you, I promise!"

The child finally looked Regina in the eye and decided to go for it. She stretched and reached out, Regina took her arm, pulling her onto Rocinante as she reined her horse in, slowing them down. Once they had stopped, Regina slid off and helped the little girl down. The girl was still crying hard and Regina held her close trying to soothe her. As the girl calmed down, five horses came galloping towards them.

Regina hadn't felt afraid this whole time, she knew horses and she knew she could save this girl. But now, now there were armed men racing towards her and she was terrified. There was a crack like lightening beside her and the girl screamed again as Lorelei looked around wildly, "where the hell am i?!" She met eyes with Regina and looked down at the girl clinging tightly to her. "Regina? Who is that? How did I come here?!"

Regina was at a loss and could only hold the child and shrug as the five men reined in in front of them. Lorelei turned and focused on them immediately, staring them down. She was unarmed, but her magic would protect Regina from anything.

The man in the lead slid off his horse and rushed towards Regina and the girl who had her face buried in Regina's now tear soaked clothes. Before he got within arms reach though, Lorelei shot between them and stared him down, a threatening noise coming out of her throat. The man, who was clearly very wealthy based on his attire, stopped and backed up a few paces. The four armed men were his guards and they drew their swords, prepared to fight.

Regina realized this must be the girls father and told Lorelei to stop. The siren didn't move from in front of her, but the girl looked up when Regina yelled and went running to her father's arms instead. Regina put a hand on Lorelei's shoulder, silently telling her it was okay to calm down.

The girl was holding her father tightly and he told his men to sheathe their weapons again. He looked from Lorelei to Regina, looking incredibly relieved. "Which of you saved my daughter?"

Regina stepped beside her guardian, but Lorelei wouldn't let her pass her. "I did. Her horse was at full gallop, she had dropped the reins. My name is Regina."

The man smiled at her, "thank you. On behalf of the entire White kingdom, thank you."

Regina gasped and suddenly took in his clothing and the guards and the sigils on their breast plates. She immediately dipped into a deep and very respectful curtsy, "oh, your majesty! King Leopold! Please forgive me for being rude, I was just in a bit of shock from the rescue. Please, forgive me for not recognizing you!"

Lorelei didn't care who he was. She didn't care if he was King Leopold of the White kingdom. She didn't care if he was the wealthiest man in all the realms. If he came near Regina, she was going to blast him back to his childhood. The guards had their hands on hilts, still very wary of this silver marked creature.

They had seen her appear in a flash of light and magic wasn't something the White kingdom took lightly. The king looked at Lorelei and cleared his throat, speaking to Regina, "my dear, I want to thank you properly, but it seems your friend doesn't approve of us…"

Regina sighed but she knew Lorelei wasn't one to be talked down easily. "Please forgive her majesty, this is Lorelei, my guardian. It's her job to ensure no one harms me."

The king seemed to nod in acceptance. "Well, she certainly seems capable. But I must insist on thanking you properly. I trust you dwell with your parents?"

Regina nodded and cursed herself mentally for not announcing her family sooner. "Yes, majesty. My father is Prince Henry…"

She was interrupted by the king clapping his hands happily, "Ah yes! Of course, I should have made the connection! I know Henry well, we played together as children in his fathers court when my family would come to visit." He laughed and shook his head, obviously remembering fond memories. "how about this? I will give you time to calm your… ah… guardian, and meet you later this evening at your parents manor house? It would be good to catch up with Henry."

Regina nodded and watched as the king mounted his horse and placed his daughter on the horse with him securely. He glanced across the field where the white horse was still trotting around scared. Regina saw his glance and told him, "majesty, I can retrieve the horse for you. I can have her ready for you to take again this evening."

The king grimaced and shook his head, "no. I couldn't possibly trust the beast after today. If you would be so kind as to dispose of the creature though, I would very much appreciate it."

Lorelei finally spoke, "you want to kill it? It was obviously spooked, there is nothing wrong with that animal."

The guards tensed on their mounts again, forever wary of her. The king turned away, dismissing them. "No sense chancing it to happen again. Horses are cheap enough anyway. That one needs put down."

They rode off and Lorelei ground her teeth, turning to Regina angrily, "we are not killing that horse."

Regina gripped her arms firmly and spoke in a soft voice, "no no, of course not. But he will be extremely displeased if he finds out we didn't. Where's Red?"

Lorelei shrugged, but was visibly calmer, "I have no idea. We were chasing each other in the woods and then I felt something in my chest, like an ache and then I was here."

Regina thought on it for a bit as she watched Daniel approaching on his horse. He didn't want to interrupt the meeting between Regina and the mounted men. "Hey, what was all that?"

Regina hugged him and told him everything that had happened. "So, now we have to get that horse somewhere safe without the king finding it again."

Daniel snapped his fingers, smiling brightly, "I know what to do. I can sell it to a trader in the village. He cares for his horses very well, but he travels across the realm. I doubt the king would ever speak to him as he sells pins and pots in the villages. If I give him a cheap price, he won't question it."

Regina agreed and kissed him before he headed off to catch the horse. She mounted Rocinante and her and Lorelei headed home again. She had to alert the house of the impending visit as soon as possible so they could be ready.

On the way home, Red joined them, shifting to yell at Lorelei, "where did you go?! I was running for nearly an hour trying to catch your scent!"

Regina quickly explained to her that it wasn't Lorelei's fault, it was actually hers for sending out some kind of panic alarm that caused Lorelei to appear by magic. Then she told her about the king.

Red chewed her lip, all too aware of the storm still brewing. "Regina, do you think it's wise to invite an unmarried king to your house?"

Regina sighed, "normally, no of course not. My mother would have me wed before I could blink. But, King Leopold used to play with my father. They're practically the same age. His daughter, Snow, is only six years younger than me. Even my mother would not try to force me to wed him. Besides, I wouldn't accept the proposal."

Lorelei nodded happily, "that's right. And if she comes at you, I will filet her like a snake."

They laughed quietly and hurried to the manor house. Red and Lorelei went to the kitchens for food and Regina told her mother all about her days events. Cora seemed unusually calm about meeting the king in her own home, as if it were to be expected. As Regina spoke, Cora made a tea over her small fire and nodded in approval once she smelled it and it seemed done.

She set aside a cup of her tea and told Regina to quickly go put on her finest dress. Regina of course did as she was told, no matter how odd she thought her mother seemed. She was going to accept the thanks of a king and soon, she would be far away from her mother and all the royal nonsense entirely.

…..