Chapter 7

Cora had forced Regina to convince Lorelei and Red to wait in the kitchens for the kings visit. The two women were incredibly irritated, but in the end Red agreed to keep Lorelei there with her. Regina thanked her and rushed to the main room where her mother and father were waiting. She was nervous, but mostly she did not look forward to playing the part of perfect princess for the kings visit. As they waited for the king to arrive, Cora was picking at Henry's clothes, never happy with his appearance.

Finally, a servant rushed in to announce the king arrival. Regina smiled and waited, but Snow rushed in just behind the servant and threw herself at Regina laughing and giggling. "Regina! I'm so happy we got to come see you again! I was worried that I wouldn't get to meet you properly. I was scared earlier and I apologize. I want to tell you all about everything!"

King Leopold entered shortly into his daughters rambling excitement. "Now Snow dear, why don't you go chat with Regina in the other room and I will talk to her parents about what we discussed."

Snow beamed at him and took Regina by the hand, leading her into the sitting room talking fast and gripping Regina's hand tightly. Cora gave her a toothy smile, silently telling her to impress the child. She then turned to the king and he was shaking hands with Henry. "Your majesty, did you say you needed to discuss something with us?"

"Oh yes! Perhaps we could sit and speak freely?" The king suggested.

Cora nodded enthusiastically and gestured to the chairs near the fire. She sent the servants to bring drinks and snacks for everyone and they made small talk while they waited.

"Now, Henry, you and I go back quite a ways so I feel I can speak openly to you." The king took on a somber tone as he leaned back in the chair with his liquor. "My Snow, well, she hasn't been very happy since her mother died. She spends a lot of time just wandering around the gardens alone with her servants. I haven't heard her laugh honestly for years." The king finished his drink and sighed before sitting up and looking at Henry directly. "Until today. Today after your daughter saved her from that horse, she didn't stop smiling and laughing. It filled me with more joy than you can imagine."

Cora leaned in to speak to the king, "Regina has never been happier either. She simply couldn't stopped going on about how adorable Snow was." Cora ignored the confused look from Henry at her lie. "She was so excited waiting for you to come visit."

The king smiled and nodded, "well then maybe this will be easier then I thought. Snow is my entire world. I can admit I spoil her, but she is my little girl and the heir to the kingdom. So, when she asks for something, I use any means necessary to make it happen for her. Today she asked me to give her a new mother. She's lonely and a girl needs a mother. She asked that Regina would be her mother, so I am asking for your daughters hand in marriage."

Henry was staring in shock at the king, "but, Leopold, my daughter is barely older than your own!"

Cora waved her hand behind her back so no one could see and put the usual compliance spell on her husband. "But still, I imagine she will make the perfect wife for you, and the best mother for Snow!" She looked to Henry who nodded and smiled at her, agreeing. "Regina will be thrilled, of course."

The king smiled, accepting the agreement. "I don't want to force Regina into anything, so as long as she accepts my proposal, we can begin making arrangements."

Cora smiled and felt herself beaming inside and out. Regina would accept. She was quite sure of it.

Regina sat and listened politely as Snow went on and on about her life and her pets and all of the wonderful things in her palace. Regina smiled at this carefree child. She was so happy, and obviously lacked any kind of discipline. She didn't mind though, Snow was excited and obviously very happy to be talking to someone. Someday, Regina hoped to have a child even half as happy as Snow.

Something the child had said caught Regina's attention though, "Snow, what did you say about your father?"

Snow seemed to think a moment but then realized what she had said, "oh, it's supposed to be a secret until papa talks to your parents. Please don't tell I told you."

Regina felt her heart racing, maybe she had misheard… "No, Snow, it's fine I promise I won't tell, but tell me again?"

Snow smiled and sat on Regina's lap to whisper to her, "my papa is going to marry you so you can be my new mother."

Regina trembled and felt tears sting her eyes. "Oh, Snow… I uhm… I don't think I can accept that…"

Snow's face fell and she stood again, looking so very sad. "What? Why not? Wouldn't you like to live with us in our palace? You could be my new mother, I love you so much already!"

Regina was thinking hard, trying to figure out how to soothe a child. "I am sure that your palace is magnificent, but…"

"You don't want to be my mother? Do you not like me?"

"No! I do like you, very much, but I can't marry your father…"

Both heads turned to the door then as Cora entered, beaming from ear to ear. She saw the sad look on Snow's face and knew there would be a bit of trouble. "Snow, darling, your father is ready to go. But don't worry, he is bringing you back in a week to stay here with Regina until the wedding."

Snow looked at Cora confused, "but Regina said she doesn't want to marry my papa."

Cora smiled tightly, glaring daggers at her own daughter, "oh, she didn't mean that dear. She just meant she can't accept until your papa asks her himself!"

Snow clapped happily, "oh! I'm sure he will when he brings me back to stay!" She hugged Regina, not noticing the dazed face on the woman. She then skipped out of the room to join her father.

Cora replaced her smile with a stern face and approached the trembling Regina, "Regina…"

"No! Mother, no! I will not marry that man. He is old enough to be my father and even if he weren't… I've already promised my hand in marriage to someone else."

Cora scoffed at that, "the stable boy?" She shook her head at the shocked look on Regina's face. "Yes I know of him. I have graciously allowed you to play with him, but Regina, you are to be a queen. Not the wife of some filthy peasant!"

Regina was crying and getting more angry by the second. "I am going to marry him, mother. You cannot force me to wed the king."

Cora smiled sweetly at her and sighed, "you're right Regina."

"What?"

"I said you're right. I can't force you to marry him, he wouldn't have you by force. You will accept his proposal, or refuse it. It's your decision." Cora made her way to the teacup she had set down earlier after making it. She used a bit of magic to warm it back up. "Here, have a cup of tea with me and we can discuss this like adults. After all, you're old enough to make you own decisions."

Regina was shocked and took the offered tea cup. She took a few sips to buy a few moments to restart her thought process. She sat down and began telling her mother why she wouldn't marry the king… but it was very late. She had a lot of stress today, she was pretty tired. Her mother was speaking, but she couldn't understand her so she just nodded and smiled. Her mother urged her to finish her tea and she did, it was very good. Sweet, but with a sort of tang to it. She leaned back just to rest her eyes for a moment on the back of the chair…

….

Red was picking at a tiny sandwich that she had snatched off the tray headed to the king. Lorelei was watching Regina thru a crack in the wall. "My god that little girl can chatter…"

Red sighed and threw her remaining bite at Lorelei, "stop spying. If anything goes badly, you'll know."

Lorelei caught the bite of sandwich and ate it, leaving her crack in the wall to wrap her long arms around Red instead. She kissed the top of her head and squeezed her from behind, making the woman let out a long breath and lean back into her. "I just worry… Cora is up to something, I know it."

Red closed her eyes and just enjoyed leaning against the other woman. It wasn't very often they stopped to stand still long enough for moments like this. Lorelei was always running around. "They are just talking. If the king proposes marriage, Regina will refuse and Cora will get mad. But, she isn't stupid enough to try and force her. She knows you wouldn't allow it."

Lorelei released her and turned her stool so she could look down into her eyes with her arms on Red's shoulders. "I don't like waiting here, but at least I have fine company." She smiled and leaned down to kiss her soundly.

Red was getting a bit too into the kissing and was nearly about to pull away for the sake of her sanity, when Lorelei pulled back. She looked up at her, but she wasn't looking at Red. She was staring at the wall, as if trying to see thru it. "Lorelei? What's wrong?"

The siren shook her head very slowly, as if in a daze. She stumbled a few steps towards the door, but Red caught her as she nearly fell. Her pupils were large and her lids half closed. "Lorelei?!"

She didn't answer though, she was too tired. She guessed it had been a long day. Very stressful. She should sleep. Here was fine. She closed her eyes.

…

Red was in a panic as she called for Granny. The older woman came running and immediately picked up Lorelei and carried her to Red's chambers. The room Regina and her shared was up stairs and too far away. Granny peeled open her eyes and listened to her breathing, but she couldn't wake her. "Red, go get Regina! I can't wake her!"

Red nodded and bolted out the door. She threw open the door to the sitting room Regina had gone to only to find Cora standing over a sleeping Regina. Cora looked at her and smirked, "well, it must have worked if you're here and the damn guardian is not."

Red tried to run back to the kitchens, but something cold and metallic locked around her wrist. She immediately felt completely drained, and weakened. "What is this? What did you do?"

Cora walked over to her and nodded to the men who had put the shackle on her, "take her away. At least two days hard ride. Don't hurt her though, we wouldn't want an angry Lorelei on our hands. Leave her there. By the time she makes it back, being so weak, it'll be too late."

Red was about to throw herself at Cora, even weak and unable to shift, she could at least hit her, but one man hit her over the back of the head and her world went black.

Cora made her way to the kitchens and to Red's chambers but no one was there. She searched the rooms, all of them. But she didn't find the two she was searching for. She chewed her lip then, getting worried. If the old woman found a way to wake the siren too soon, well then Cora's plans would be ruined entirely. She sighed and headed back to tend to Regina. She just had to move things along a bit faster is all…

…..

Granny had heard the second Red made it to the sitting room and knew it was too late. Red was a strong girl, and smart. She would figure out a way to get back quickly, even with a wolfsbane shackle on. Picking up the unconscious woman, she headed out into the night air, walking quickly but with purpose to the tree line. She couldn't save anyone by herself. She had to wake this guardian up before Cora put whatever plans she had into place. Red would know where she went by her scent, so she wasn't worried about her grand daughter. She had learned very well had to hide and travel at night.

It was midmorning before Granny finally laid the sleeping woman down on the cot. This house was barely more than a shack, but no one ever came near it. More importantly, Cora didn't know of it. She busied herself building a fire and checking the stock she had been smuggling out of the manor for two weeks time. Mostly sealed jugs of vegetables that were kept for the winter time and dried meats.

She finally stopped and sat next to Lorelei. "Oh, how am I going to wake you up? Without you, I fear Regina is in very big trouble. And here I am trying to save the day!" She shook her head and began preparing her own cot against the far wall. "I'm too old to be getting into this nonsense, but here I am. Granny Lucas to the rescue I suppose…"

…..

Red awoke in a carriage that was traveling very swiftly down a bumpy road, she groaned and tried to reach up to her head, but she was tied down to the seat of the carriage. She could barely move around at all. She tried to see out the curtains, but they were shut well. She couldn't do anything except pick at the shackle on her wrist. She didn't know what it was, but she knew it locked her wolf away. She felt weak and defenseless. She managed to wrestle around enough to reach her hair at least. She had several pins in it to keep her wild locks out of her face. She dropped the first one she managed to peel out, but the second one she held well. She began picking at the lock with it, hoping beyond all hope that she could get this thing off.

She didn't know how long she had been digging at the tiny lock, but the sun had come up a while ago. The carriage never slowed as it shot down the road. She couldn't smell anything but the dirt of the road. Apparently, her wolf sense of smell was locked away too. She kept picking at the lock though, because she knew that somewhere, Regina and Lorelei were out cold. Completely defenseless to anything Cora had planned.

She thought it must be mid day when the carriage slowed and then stopped. She was sweating heavily and still digging at the lock. She heard the men outside speaking…

"Cora said two days."

"Yeah, well she didn't take into account that I need to piss did she?"

There was some laughter and the sound of a man walking away. Red kept picking. The man walked back to the carriage. The door was pulled open and Red winced at the sudden sunlight that hit her face.

A tall man with a scar on his nose smiled toothily at her, letting his eyes roam up and down her body. The bindings holding her down made it so she couldn't have adjusted her dress which had gotten pulled up to her knees. She felt her face heat as he stared at her bare legs. He licked his lips then leaning back so the other man could look in. That man examined her much the same way and he smiled too.

"Too bad Cora said not to hurt her…" the second man said.

"Well, she said that Lorelei would get pissy if we hurt her little bitch here. But, who do you think that freak would blame? Certainly not two guards she's never spoken to. I'm betting she'd go after Cora." The first man smiled at her while taking off his heavy riding gloves.

The second guard looked around outside the carriage, making sure no one was around. "You sure that cuff sapped her?"

The first man seemed to consider this and he reached into the carriage, stroking Red's bare leg. Red tried to kick at him, but the ropes held her down. "Don't touch me!"

The two men laughed at that and the first man started climbing in the carriage, "yeah, she's as weak as any other whore. Plus, she's all tied down."

The second man grabbed at his crotch and bounced a bit, "yeah, alright. You go first I'll keep watch. But don't tear her up too bad! I hate bruised meat." He laughed and shut the carriage door, leaving Red trying to pull away from the first man.

"Now now, little girl. Don't fight it, just relax and it won't hurt as much. I promise to show you how you should take it." He started untying his trousers and Red could clearly see his manhood was ready for his plans.

She was shaking now, and crying. She jammed her pin into the lock as hard as she could and as she heard a click, her eyes flashed yellow. The shackle hit the carriage floor as her teeth sank into the mans throat. He hadn't even had time to call out to his buddy.

She kept herself quiet, not wanting to alert the other man too soon. She waited until she was sure this man was dead, and then she nipped thru the ropes still around her legs. Her wolf was angry, hard to control. It wanted revenge on the other man who was going to rape her.

She heard the other man call out, "are you gonna get to it or not? Hello? Hey man don't choke her out, it's more fun when they're awake for it!" He laughed but when no sound came back to him, he walked back to the carriage door and unlocked it, immediately finding massive paws shoving him backwards. He landed on the ground on his back with the weight of a wolf holding him down. He opened his mouth as if to scream, but no sound came out as the wolfs jaws locked around his throat and snapped in in a single move.

Red didn't shift back to her human form, she couldn't. She had the taste of blood in her mouth and the wolf was so very angry. She turned her snout to the air and sniffed long and hard before finding her own scent and then sprinting back the way she had come.

…

Rumple watched as events played out in the manor house that night. Of course his magic was far stronger than Cora's but even he had trouble seeing the siren thru the mirrors. They became quite clear though once she passed out. He smirked at Cora's haughtiness. As if she could have cooked up a potion that would knock out Regina and the siren.

He had harvested a very rare flower called a black thistle and had made the potion for her. It had one use only, to be drank by Regina with the purpose of knocking out Lorelei. Cora could easily manipulate Regina, but the siren would stop her. So, once Cora was sure Lorelei wasn't coming to help, she simply had to put Regina in her bed and then use simple masking magic to make herself look and sound like her own daughter.

Rumple giggled as he let the mirror clear. He had offered to help her take out the siren for a short while. After all, a happily married peasant Regina wouldn't cast his curse. She also had the antidote, but by the time she woke the siren and her daughter, Regina would likely be married to the king.

He giggled as he resumed his business, happily awaiting the outcome.

….

Snow was so excited! Her father said Regina had sent word that she wished Snow to join her sooner. She wanted to accept the proposal this very day, only two days after Snow had seen her last. She was bouncing up and down in the carriage when they finally arrived. Regina was waiting for them outside the house, smiling brightly.

Snow rushed to her and wrapped her arms around her staring up at her new beautiful mother. "I am so happy you decided to accept my papa's proposal Regina!"

Regina smiled at her and said, "well of course I did! He's a king and he has the greatest daughter I could ever think of!" She looked up to face the king himself as he approached her.

The king smiled back at his soon to be bride, she seemed plenty happy with the choice which he was relieved for. Snow wanted Regina to be her mother very much, he would hate to disappoint her. He hadn't thought to get remarried, but how could he tell his daughter no? "Regina, you have accepted my proposal?" He waited until she nodded and looked down at Snow shyly, "Good. I'm sure you will be very happy living with us in the palace."

The king then walked past her, effectively dismissing her as he began chatting with Henry. Henry looked confused still, but his daughter seemed happy enough with the proposal, so he would be too. Cora hadn't bothered to wait though, she left word that she had gone to make wedding plans already.

Cora fawned over the giddy little girl as if she were so special to her. Of course, as soon as Regina had wed the king, she would produce an heir and Snow could be disposed of. Regina wouldn't just be this mans trophy, oh no. Cora was building a legacy.

Cora looked up to see Daniel watching from the stables, she remembered she hadn't spoken to him since taking on the form of Regina. Well… she decided maybe just this once she would enjoy herself before getting back to business. She waited for Snow to bounce over to her papa and snuck away to the stables. She was greeted by the handsome young man her daughter was so enamored by. As Cora allowed him to wrap his arms around her she could see why Regina was so fond of him.

He was sweet and gentle, and very strong. Fairly handsome too. She decided to enjoy just a bit more of this ruse. She whispered to him to wait for her this evening, that she would come see him after night fell. He kissed her passionately and swore he would. She laughed as she left the stables to rejoin the royal gathering. He was so sweet, she almost felt bad for what she had planned for him… almost.

….

Granny sat and watched over the siren, worrying as the days slipped by. Red should have been able to get here by now. Maybe she couldn't handle herself as well as she had thought. Just as she started doubting herself again, there was a quiet knock on the door. She readied her crossbow, prepared to kill anything that came thru. After a few moments, the door eased open slowly.

The first thing Granny noticed was the smell of days old blood. Then she saw the tear streaked face of her grand daughter. She dropped the bow and rushed to help Red inside. She didn't speak the whole time Granny washed her face and hands. She looked as if she had ran thru hell to get here.

Finally, Red spoke, "what's going to happen to Regina?"

Granny shrugged, "I don't know. I have no way to know what's going on in the manor house."

Red nodded and looked over to where Lorelei was sleeping. "She still hasn't woken up?"

Shaking her head, granny watched as Red carefully crawled onto the cot with the siren and nuzzled in close to her, silently crying herself to sleep. She took a deep breath and resumed her seat to watch the door.

…

Three days had passed since Snow came to stay with Regina. She had free reign of the house, of course, except for one bedroom she was told was full of webs and dust. She mostly just followed Regina around, practically worshipping her new mother.

Cora sighed as the child rambled on and on about the most mundane things. The wedding plans were in full effect, the kingdom had been told of the marriage and it was time to stop playing her daughters part. Just one final touch and she would wake her to her new life.

Cora snuck away while Snow was eating dinner. She went to the stable and found Daniel. She let him paw at her hungrily and kiss her passionately. She chuckled, remembering when she had urged him to go further. He was so shocked that Regina wanted more. Her daughter was rather prude it seemed. Well she took care of that, after all, this wasn't really Regina's body he was defiling. She stopped him before he could push her dress up and smiled at him sweetly before flicking her wrist and watching him fall to the floor of the stable. She admired his form just a moment longer and then used magic to make herself appear to have been manhandled by a filthy stable boy.

She waited for the footsteps of the child as she knew they would come before picking up a board and pretending to be overcome with emotion.

"Regina! What happened?" Snow cried out.

She turned to her and collapsed in tears, hiding her face. Snow rushed to her and hugged her, "tell me what happened Regina please!"

"This boy attacked me! Oh, Snow, you shouldn't see me like this, I'm so sorry."

Snow looked at the boy on the ground and realized Regina must have knocked him in the head with her board. She hugged Regina again and shouted for the guards loudly until they rushed in, swords drawn. "That boy hurt Regina!"

The guards took in the woman and the boy, coming to the obvious conclusion and snatched him off the floor. Cora awoke him just as they drug him out. The king and Henry rushed into the stables, Henry falling beside his daughter to hold her close.

The king demanded answers as he watched the stable boy struggling and calling Regina's name. "Oh, papa, it was horrible! That boy attacked Regina, but she hit him in the head. Please don't let him get away papa! He hurt her!"

The king cleared his throat and asked quietly, "Regina, did he defile you?"

Cora shook her head quickly, "no, my king. He tried to force me into the stall, but I fought him. He did not manage much."

The king nodded, "he shall be put to the death immediately."

Cora spoke up quickly, "please, my king, wait until morning? I wish to see him pay for his offenses."

The king nodded and took Snow's hand, leading her back to the manor. Henry was in a daze, as Cora had kept him for several days now. He frowned and was clearing up though, "Regina, I don't understand. Where has your guardian been? Should she not have saved you…?"

Cora smirked at him. She put the spell on him again and he went back to being his usual, dazed self again. She walked away to go to bed. In the morning, her daughter would awaken to find herself very nearly married and with a dead stable boy. Cora smiled.

….