Chapter 3
Time passed so slowly while Regina waited for Robin's return. In the mean time she had finished the bread and water he had left her with mentally scolding herself afterward. He had probably slipped more of the root into her food and drink, and now it would even be longer before her magic would be under her control again.
"Milady, we will be leaving shortly." Robin stated as he joined her in the tent. Regina moved to her feet quickly finally able to control most of the discomfort and pain she was feeling from earlier. He studied his surroundings and picked up a few necessities for travel before turning back to her. He passed her a green cloak and then gathered the flask he had given her. "The cloak will help keep you warm since night in the forest can be quite cold. I am afraid you will have to travel in your peculiar footwear. We have no boots that would fit you" Robin states while looking at her high heels with wonder and confusion.
Before she could say anything or even think about what he was doing he knelt before her and removed her shoes from her feet almost knocking her over in the process. "Hey, what are you doing?" Regina braced herself on Robin's shoulder to keep from tumbling toward him while he rose with her shoes and headed to the small table in the tent. Grabbing a blunt tool from a box lying next to it, he set her heels on the side of the table and immediately slammed the tool down onto them. Both heels sheared from the soles of the shoes and he turned back returning her footwear with a proud grin. "There, now you'll be able to keep pace with us. Follow me" Robin said turning toward the opening where he had entered moments before. Regina released an aggravated sigh as she placed her 'fixed' shoes back on her feet and trailed Robin.
Regina stepped from the tent a moment later and took a moment to absorb her surroundings. She let her eyes flutter shut as the familiar scent of the forest overcame her, and the light breeze blew her hair gently across her face. Regina opened her eyes, pushing her hair behind her ears as she was drawn out of her temporary calm by the sound of Robin's men clambering about preparing for their new venture. She could only imagine what they must be thinking. It had been clear during the missing year that his men did not look kindly on Regina, but over time they had come to look at her with less unease and anger, being replaced by, at worst indifference, at best respect. Now, his men glared at her with the same contempt she had grown used to during the first few weeks of the missing year.
A light hearted giggle shot through the air, carried to her ears by the same wind she had enjoyed moments before. Looking to her left she felt her heart jump in her chest as she saw a little boy, maybe two years of age, running through the camp without a care in the world. "Roland," Regina gasped in a whisper as she watched the boy laugh, recognizable at any age with that mop of brown hair and dark eyes gleaming playfully.
"What did you just say?" Regina jumped slightly and quickly tried to regain her composure as she met Robin's eyes searching hers curiously as she turned to her right. "Nothing!" she responded immediately causing Robin to look at her with even more distrust. "I..ah..just was admiring your camp…" she said cringing at how ridiculous she sounded. Seriously, get yourself under control, she thought to herself as she took a couple strides away from the tent.
Robin seemed unfazed by her ludicrous attempt at a compliment and continued speaking, "half of my men will be joining us on our journey. We only have a handful of horses available so they will be carrying supplies and a few travelers that are too young to travel a great distance on foot. I trust your majesty is capable of such a trek, or has a number of years being carried from place to place by carriage made that impossible?"
"I can most certainly handle myself thief," Regina said tensing after realizing her use of that particular title. Again, Robin seems unaffected by her words, "Good, we are ready then. You will accompany me until we make camp this evening. Come." Robin states with no difficulty dictating commands to his queen. She thinks if she had met him at this point in their lives it would have been a recipe for disaster. He, in his grief, has no fear, patience or tolerance for her, and she at this point, if memory serves correctly, was as ruthless as ever. She had felt threatened by the power Snow and Charming had been taking in the kingdom, not that she would ever admit that. Before following Robin, Regina risked another glance toward her left and was rewarded by witnessing one of Roland's full dimple smiles while being placed on a horse with another one of Robin's men. So, he'll be joining them, she muses to herself. It makes sense that Robin would not want to leave Roland after recently losing his mother, she wonders just how recently they suffered the loss.
"And why is it I'll be accompanying you through the woods if I may ask? Are your men not capable of containing the prisoner?" She questioned simply trying to retrieve the banter and flow of conversation she shares with the Robin she knows so well, but she regretted asking the question as soon as he answers. "Because none of my men want to be within arms length of you, let alone hike through the woods next to you, your majesty," he says with a false smile donning his face. The emotion in his eyes unsettles her, or rather the lack there of. She has not seen such a phony response from 'her' Robin ever, and the way he tries to force feeling into his expression is almost frightening to her. "Of course, lucky you," she states sarcastically following him toward the forest sparing one more look behind her to the beautiful boy that she knows will be this man's saving grace soon enough.