Just a short one this time, but I didn't want to leave you hanging any longer than necessary. Regardless of word count I hope this is still satisfying, and THANK YOU all for reading and reviewing. It really is what keeps me writing! Enjoy.

Chapter 6

Regina looks around assessing just how dire the situation at hand is while Snow and Charming stare daggers at her. She can count at least five others with them. Two have casually come up on her left, one stands to Charming's right, and two more have come up on Regina's right side. She wonders if there are more coming from behind her, but it matters not, she is caught, she doesn't have her magic back, and there is no way she can evade them all.

Regina is mentally berating herself for causing yet another crack in the timeline, but is pulled from her mental scolding when Snow speaks.

"Regina," she says cautiously, eyeing the queen from her shorter hair down to her broken and peculiar shoes. "You look...different," and the way Snow says the word different has Regina smothering a chuckle. Her amusement does not go unnoticed, but is clearly mistaken for contempt as Snow visibly stiffens her stance, tenses her face, and continues speaking with a newfound glare for Regina.

"We received word that you have been traveling with some of your black knights to the summer palace, miles from here. This is certainly an unexpected surprise, but explains the smoke we saw rising in the sky earlier. You must have a camp with your knights just ahead." Snow then looks at her with suspicion and confusion warring in her gaze and says, "Tell me, why are you so far from your palace, and why are you leaving the safety of your camp to go for a run in the early hours of the morning?"

Regina debates whether to stick to the same tale she told Robin and his men, a tale somewhat close to the truth, or if she should bluff and play the evil queen. The people in front of her do not know she doesn't have access to her magic. Maybe, just maybe, she can fool them into thinking this is all a trap, and if they are nervous, scared, searching the darkness for her black knights, she might actually have a chance to escape them.

Making her decision, she opens her mouth to speak, but it is not her voice that fills her ears. From behind her comes a very familiar, perturbed and winded sounding Robin, "I believe I can answer those questions for you. Snow White I presume?", and Regina lets out the most distressed sigh she has ever heard escape her own lips. She wonders what more damage to the past she can possibly still cause. Robin has now come to stand beside her wearing no cloak, just a thin cotton tunic and a pair of tan slacks, and as she chances a glance in his direction, she feels her skin stinging with the anger and frustration flowing from his eyes.

"And who would you be?" Charming questions, stepping forward, using his own body to offer Snow a semblance of protection from this unknown man. They are not supposed to meet like this, Regina thinks to herself eyeing the men before her carefully.

Robin nods his head just slightly, he never has been the type to bow, not to anyone, but before he can speak Snow takes a step forward and stands beside Charming placing her hand on his bicep.

"Robin Hood!" She states with a mild giddyness that makes Regina want to vomit. "I would recognize your face anywhere. Your portrait has graced many a tree throughout the forest." Snows excited expression dampens as she turns her eyes back to Regina and says, "It seems you are just as hunted by the evil queen and her knights as I am," she finishes her statement to Robin with her eyes glued to Regina's.

"Aye," Robin states calmly, but Regina can tell that his irritation with her and her escape attempt has not faded. "I am Robin Hood, and my merry men and I have made camp just ahead. In fact," Robin turns to Regina as he continues speaking, "we came across the queen in the forest and thought it pertinent to bring her to you." Turning back to Snow White, Robin continues, "I have heard that you have always been a kind and compassionate princess to your kingdom. My men and I were bringing her to you, with intentions of handing her over, trusting you will be just in any judgement that befalls her."

By now the others with Snow and Charming have come closer, still on edge, still on the defensive, but listening intently to Robin. Regina can see clearly now, with the sun just starting to bleed some light into the sky. When a red cloak comes into view, she knows instinctively it is Red, but she is rather disconcerted that she can not identify the others yet.

Regina reluctantly takes a step forward. All eyes turn to her, hands move to weapons, and Robin halts the rising trepidation by stating, "The queen no longer has her magic, at least, temporarily," and Regina levels him with the harshest glare she has ever sent 'this' Robin before finally opening her own mouth in her defense.

"As I have already told this...thief," she says gesturing toward Robin, "I am not the evil queen. I only resemble her." The looks of disbelief and puzzlement she receives in response cause her blood to boil. She is so sick of this situation. Naturally they won't believe her, but it still grates her nerves, and she must truly look the part of the evil queen with a powerful scowl painting her expression.

"Right! You aren't the evil queen, just her twin sister right?" Grumpy's voice questions from beside Charming, and now she wishes his identity was still unknown.

Regina frowns even more if that is possible, straightens her shoulders, tensing at the soreness she still feels from her earlier injury, then replies, "Of course not. It is far more complicated than that. Certainly nothing a dwarf could grasp."

"Well, you certainly sound just like the evil queen," Snow states taking a step toward Regina, studying her face, and Regina has never faltered under Snow's scrutiny so she won't start now. "This has all gone on long enough Regina. Your reign is over." Turning to Robin her tone turns from stern to her usual sweet, "would you mind taking us to your camp? We have a couple miles to travel north before arriving back to our own, and we could use the rest."

Robin, never one to deny help to someone in need, answers with a resounding, "Yes." Then placing his hand on her bicep, he guides Regina close to his side, "why don't you lead the way, your majesty." He must be able to feel the tremble that travels through her body at his touch, but he says nothing. Her feet move of their own accord, back through the twisted roots, rocks, and dirt she traversed not long ago in the other direction. Robin never once removes his hand from her arm, and the feeling of his grasp grounds her somehow, stabilizes her, when her head is swimming with anxiety.

A new plan, she needs a new plan. Now she has to alter even more memories, worry about even more changes. She has already been here more than a day. The longer she remains, the more risk she is taking, more changes altering the timeline. She is so scared. What if she has already changed so much that Emma is never born, that Henry, her Henry never exists. She will fix this, she has to fix this. Tears pool in her eyes, and she rapidly blinks her eyelids, turning her thoughts back to her plan, her non-existent plan.