Thank you for following! I am up in the air about where to take this, so after you read this I fully welcome suggestions on story directions, particularly where Zelena is concerned. Let me know what you think!
The first thing Regina did was send a raven to the Black Kingdom. She instructed them to send several wagons of food immediately. Even the kitchen in the castle was nearly empty.
At first Regina was worried about possible repercussions from the death of King Robert. But not long after she had his body taken back to the Gold Kingdom her emissaries returned with news. Apparently his son Baelfire had taken over reign of the Gold Kingdom, and received Regina's message loud and clear that she was not someone he wanted to cross. She figured he was so happy to be crowned King that he wasn't all that worried about revenge for a man he probably knew was a villain.
Regina set her men to start making repairs to the courtyard and marketplace. She knew it was atypical for soldiers to be doing carpentry and masonry work, but until she could convince the villagers to start coming back to the castle to find work, it was her only option. And in order to do that, she had to give them something to come back to. But as always her men were eager to please, and did all they could to put the place back together. Regina was anxious to go out and welcome people back to the castle, but there was much to be done before that would be possible.
Most of the White soldiers that Robert had seduced into helping him jumped right back into loyalty for Regina, and this no doubt concerned her. These men were clearly confused and had no clear sense of loyalty to anyone. She wasn't certain that they could be trusted. Instead of keeping them in the same unit, she split them off and placed them into different battalions of her men that she knew were loyal. She knew they would keep an eye on the turncoats and let Emma know if they started to cause trouble.
Regina was quick to exile everyone who remained alive from the Gold Kingdom. Although she was going to try and win over Snow's people, the last thing she needed was to deal with those loyal to her would-be rapist. Once the were gone she started to assess who was left. Most of the court had either fled or were killed by Robert. As far as Regina could tell, only one of Snow's former advisors was left of the royal court, a woman who called herself Blue. It was clear that she didn't like Regina one bit, but claimed that she wanted to stay and help the new queen as much as she could. Although Regina decided to keep her eye on her, she had hope that she could win her over just like she had done with Emma. Well, maybe not JUST like Emma. But she knew having someone in her court that the people knew would surely be helpful in gaining trust.
What did cause Regina some concern was the kitchen staff. She had gone down there to survey the place in the first few days after she arrived. From the second Regina stepped foot in the disorderly place she could feel the distain from nearly every worker in there.
Regina looked around, flanked by Phillip and one of his men. Pots and pans were everywhere. On one countertop sat a half butchered pig, flies buzzing about. Moldy bread sat on the other, mice scurrying to safety. Regina looked to the back entrance where she saw a puff of smoke appear.
"You there. Are you the cook?" She saw as a person stood, stepping into the doorway. Regina looked into the grey eyes of a tall red head, sharp features and a dangerous glare. She took one last drag of her cigar and dropped it, slowly stepping into the kitchen.
"I was Snow's cook. Then I was Robert's slave. I'm not sure if I can handle working for the third monarch in as many months. Especially not the likes of you."
Regina gritted her teeth and swallowed. She was by no means intimidated by kitchen staff, but the hatred she could feel exuding from the woman across the room was a bit off putting. Of course, she would never let the red head know that. "What is your name?"
The woman shifted and leaned heavily on one foot, crossing her arms and looking defiantly at the queen. She said nothing.
Regina heard Phillip clear his throat behind her and whisper something. "Zelena," Regina said harshly. "What an odd name."
Zelena's hands went to her hips. "I beg your pardon. Gods forbid someone have a sense of originality around here."
"Well, what does it mean?"
Zelena scoffed. "Here I thought the Evil Queen might be well read. Don't you speak any other languages? It means green."
Regina raised an eyebrow. "Your mother have a bad case of jealousy?"
Zelena's glare bored holes into Regina. "She loved the forest. She thought it was the source for all the beauty and magic in this world." Zelena gripped the small green rock that hung around her neck. "Her most prized possession was this emerald."
Regina was growing tired of this conversation. "Miss Zelena, as you know I have taken control of the White Castle. What ever once was Snow's now belongs to me. That includes your employment. Is it your wish to continue on running this kitchen? Because I have to say, judging by the looks of the place I am seriously questioning your abilities."
Zelena's lip curled. "That crippled bastard killed off my kitchen staff! It's nearly impossible to feed an entire castle all by myself. My apologies that it has gotten away from me a bit. I can only imagine what's in store for me now that the Evil Queen has moved in. What would you have me serve? Raw hearts and skinned kittens?"
Regina gritted her teeth. "I realize people in this kingdom have been fed many lies about me thanks to the LOVELY Snow White, and for that I shall give you leeway. Do not mistake my understanding for weakness, however. Although fair, I will by no means permit continued insolence. You'd do best to remember that. I said I now own your employment, not you. Now I will ask you one more time. Are your intentions to remain the cook in this castle?"
Zelena met Regina's glare, but this time faltered a bit. She certainly didn't want to end up being whipped or tortured in some other way. Who knew what this witch was capable of. Besides, being the Evil Queen's cook provided all sorts of possibilities for revenge. "I would like to remain. Highness." She added the last part sarcastically.
Regina had serious reservations about this woman preparing her meals. She would have to make sure she put someone else in this kitchen she could trust. "Very well. Very soon I will be taking a band out to bring some workers back to the castle. First on my list will be to find you some workers. In the mean time, I will send whomever I can scrounge up to help you clean this place up."
Zelena smiled exaggeratedly large and curtsied. "Much obliged, oh, majesty."
Regina glared and raised an annoyed eyebrow before turning and disappearing from the kitchen.
Zelena glared after the queen and slammed her fists down on the counter, sending the rotting pig blood splattering all over her clothes. "Well, well, Regina. You're just going to make it too easy, aren't you?"
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Tt was a week after the incident with Zelena in the kitchen that Regina was finally able to start preparing to go out into the kingdom.
"I just wish you would consider taking more guards. That's all I'm saying. Why are you leaving Phillip behind? I was already pissed that you sent Will and a whole battalion back to the Black Castle, but now you're leaving behind the only other man you know you can trust! You're leaving yourself vulnerable!" Emma was perched on her elbow, leaning over Regina in the warm bed. Both women were naked.
"Exactly. I trust him. There are people here in this castle that I DON'T trust. I need him here to keep an eye on things," Regina said as she leaned over and nipped at Emma's forearm.
Emma ran her hand down the side of Regina's face and sighed. "I know, I'm just worried. We're about to go into the wilderness looking for people that hate you. It's going to be dangerous."
Regina smiled, appreciating Emma's clear concern for her. She reached up and gripped the back of Emma's neck, pulling her down for a sweet kiss. "It'll be okay, babe. I trust you and the men with my life. I know you'd never let anything happen to me. This is something I need to do."
Emma smiled meekly. "I know. And you're right, I'd die before letting anything bad happen to you."
Regina's breath caught. "Well, it won't come to that. It will be fine." Suddenly her face turned seductive. "You know...this is our last night in this bed for a while..."
Emma bit her bottom lip and quirked an eyebrow. "Yeah? So, what, you saying we should get a good nights sleep?"
Regina smirked and pulled Emma on top of her, making sure to align their bodies fully and deliciously. "I'm saying quite the opposite, dear," she sighed the last word as Emma let her leg slip between Regina's and put impossibly perfect pressure there.
Emma let her body melt into Regina's as her lips and tongue fell to the queens neck. She felt Regina's hand go behind her neck as she worked her tongue up along the woman's jaw. She felt herself moan as Regina listed her hips up, her thigh brushing perfectly against Emma's sex.
Regina hissed as she felt Emma pull a taut nipple into her mouth, her core throbbing as simultaneously the blonde slipped her hand down her body. Regina arched her back and thrust her hips up, desperately trying to encourage Emma's hand to where she needed her.
Emma smiled against Regina's chest as she heard the brunette moan. Emma inched her fingers down until they met the wet folds at Regina's core. She moaned as Regina gasped, just the feeling at her fingertips causing a bolt of arousal to shoot through her body. She circled slowly a few times, enjoying the reaction as Regina thrust up and gripped tightly to her.
Regina ground her fingertips into Emma's shoulder blades as her body involuntarily thrusted upward at the feeling of Emma's ministrations. She leaned into Emma and licked the outside of her ear, stopping to nip at her lobe.
At feeling Regina nip her ear, Emma reached down further and thrust two fingers into the brunette, smiling and gasping at the woman's cry of pleasure. She methodically thrust in and out, meeting the demanding pace of Regina's hips. She started to become short of breath at the effort, her forearm burning. But the grunts and gasps coming from the love underneath her kept her going strong. She twisted her fingers until she hit that particular sweet spot, and used her hips to accentuate the pressure of each thrust. With a swift movement, Emma curled her hand, allowing her thumb to press firmly against Regina's clit.
The pressure of Emma's thumb thrust Regina to the precipice, and with only a few thrusts she was screaming her release, clinging to the sweaty blonde above her. She convulsed and sighed as Emma left her fingers inside, kissing Regina down from her high. When finally Emma pulled her fingers out, Regina collapsed into a boneless pile of flesh.
Emma kissed all over her face, shirking her body down to the bed so Regina could roll onto her. Regina threw her arm around her and sighed in satisfaction.
"Mmm...I...hmmm...you," Regina mumbled.
Emma chuckled and leaned over to kiss Regina on the head. "No, I'm good, babe. Just rest. We have a big chapter in our lives coming up. Just sleep," Emma whispered again, hugging the queen tight.
Regina smiled sleepily as she kissed Emma's chest. She was already starting to fall into slumber, but didn't let the feeling of happiness and safety escape her. "I love you, Emma Swan," Regina whispered as she dozed.
Emma smiled and kissed the love of her life on the head one last time before she sensed Regina drift off. Emma looked up toward the ceiling and sighed deeply. Her abilities as Captain of the Guard were about to be tested. In a land riddled with enemies, her queen and lover was about to expose herself to bitter enemies, with no one between them but Emma herself.