Forbidden

Restless:

Regina and Maleficent continues to see one another as often as they can.

Which is not often enough.

Of course, Regina is sometimes prevented because of her royal duties, and the magic lessons, they are more important than anything, but suddenly the weekly visits from Maleficent turns into monthly instead.

And the four times Regina has made the journey to the Forbidden Fortress, she has been met by no answer and a completely empty castle.

Regina tries her best not to let that get to her. So, Maleficent has found something else to do with her life, something that doesn't involve Regina. What's the harm in that?

None. The thing she had with Mal was just a distraction anyway. Something that pulled her attention away from the most important thing in this world:

Her revenge.

This is for the best. Now she can concentrate whole heartedly on studying magic and avoid Rumplestiltskin's wrath.

Except she can't. She can't concentrate. She's frustrated, and no matter how hard she tries to deny it, her focus is so much better when she's… well taken care of. And now that her greatest source of pleasure seemingly has found something else to do, she can only rely on herself and her own hands to bring her pleasure.

And that is nowhere nearly as satisfying. Her hands don't quite measure up to Maleficent's skills.

But it would appear that that is a finished chapter.

So Regina despairs quietly. But not for long. Her despair soon turns into anger. She should have seen this coming. Everyone leaves in the end, so why shouldn't Maleficent? You were just her plaything. Nothing more than pretty little thing that could keep her entertained for a short period of time. A fancy toy she could mold and bent to her will until she tired off it.

Regina tries her best not to think about how she willingly let the blonde take her to bed for the first time. That's just another thing she'll add to her ever-growing list of regrets. There's already enough regrets to fill a lifetime on that list, so why not add another one?

And Regina is done. She's done being a pretty little plaything. There will be no more wine and sweet words. No more promises of caresses and forbidden kisses in the hallway. She won't get tempted by Maleficent again.

But unfortunately, it's not that easy. Maleficent seems to be permanently out of her life, and Regina grows more and more frustrated. But she's not about to make the journey to the Forbidden Fortress and ask Maleficent why she's not coming to see her anymore. She's not about to beg. She can take of herself.

Except she can't. No touch is satisfying enough.

And the missing element in her life is affecting everything she does. She snaps at her chambermaids, her smiles to the king and Snow White are even more forced than usually. She feels like a ticking bomb, ready to explode at any minute.

And then there's Rumplestiltskin. He's even more malicious and taunting than usually, and he constantly comments on "how terribly frustrated" she seems to be these days.

And Regina does little to deny it.

She's completely at her wits end and ready to scream the whole castle down in pure frustration, when something suddenly happens.

Johanna knocks on her door and tells her that she's getting a new chamber maid. The nursemaid gently asks if "Her Majesty could find the time and wait while she will fetch the girl."

Regina nods in affirmative and waits while Johanna leaves her chambers to find the girl and present her for the queen.

Regina rolls her eyes. The king constantly changes her chambermaids. Sometimes they're young, sometimes they're old, sometimes they're quiet, and sometimes they're chatty. Regina prefers the quiet ones. The ones who simply does as they're told and then leaves her alone. To Regina, they're all the same. Just a horde of blurry faces. Why should this one be different? Just another puppet-like chambermaid, handpicked by the king.

There's a knock on her door. "Come," Regina snaps and puts the hairbrush down.

Johanna walks in, and she's followed by a young woman who seems in complete awe over being here.

Regina takes a second glance at the young woman. Well, she's rather... pretty. Maybe even beautiful.

"Your Majesty, this is…"

Regina holds her hand up to silence Johanna, and then she motions to the girl to step closer, so she can see her properly.

The girl stumbles into the faint light and Regina offers her a little half smile. She is beautiful. Olive skin, dark hair and light brown, almond shaped eyes. She looks shockingly like Regina herself, and Regina finds this to be both amusing and a little sad. The king has presented her with a chambermaid who looks exactly herself. Is that supposed to a hidden message of how little he truly thinks of his queen?

But the girl is beautiful, without a doubt.

"What's your name, child?" Regina asks.

"G-Gabriela, Your Majesty," the girl says and curtsies clumsily.

Regina feels tempted to laugh. "And how old are you, Gabriela?"

"I've just turned eighteen last week, Your Majesty."

Eighteen. Eighteen. So young. So wide eyed. "Congratulations."

"T-thank you, Your Majesty."

"You may leave," Regina tells Johanna, and the older woman curtsies and puts a reassuring hand on Gabriela's shoulder as to say "You'll be alright".

Then they're left alone, Regina and Gabriela. The young chambermaid looks positively afraid. Like a young deer stalking away from a huntsman, but clearly bound by her good manners: "D-do you want me to do anything, Your Majesty?"

"Yes, you may brush my hair," Regina says and hands Gabriela the hairbrush. She can feel the young girl's hand tremble as she brushes Regina's dark locks. And she keeps shooting Regina curious looks every so often.

"What is it?" Regina asks plainly. "I can almost see the wheels in your head turn."

"It's just…" Gabriela blushes, evades her eyes and concentrates on brushing Regina's hair. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, I'm forgetting my manners."

"Just spit it out, child," Regina insists and raises an eyebrow.

Gabriela blushes and Regina can't hear the nonsense she quietly mutters.

"You will speak up when you're talking to me!" Regina snaps. "And you will look me in the eyes."

Gabriela blushes harder and looks up, looks into the mirror to meet Regina's eyes. "I just hadn't expected Her Majesty to be this… young." She blushes again and looks at Regina's hair.

Regina chuckles dryly. This is something she has heard before. Gabriela isn't the first one to except King Leopold's wife to be older. "And how old do you think I am, Gabriela?"

"Nineteen? Twenty?" Gabriela guesses as she brushes through Regina's locks.

Regina laughs again, dryly still. "Close."

Gabriela laughs too, and Regina immediately notices that she has a very sweet laugh. Not that horse like excuse for a laugh that Snow White has, but not the false, unkind one Regina has recently adopted. No, Gabriela's laugh is genuine, a bit naïve, but very sweet.

"I don't think my hair needs anymore brushing now, Gabriela."

"Oh! Of course not, Your Majesty," the girl blushes again and almost drop the hairbrush.

Regina almost rolls her eyes. What a nervous little thing. "I assume you know how to braid?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." The girl is quick to get Regina's hint, and she immediately begins braiding Regina's long hair.

"Of course you do," Regina nods. "You've braided your own hair?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"It's very pretty," Regina says plainly, and she could have sworn she heard the girl inhale at that.

"T-thank you, Your Majesty."

Regina doesn't say anymore. She just watches as Gabriela braids her hair. She has pretty hands, Regina notes. Slender, delicate fingers. Regina tilts her head a little and wonders. Wonders what this nervous little bundle of nerve is capable of? Eighteen years old and as innocent as a little lamb. How would she react if Regina touched her? If Regina stole a kiss from those pretty lips? She would probably be delightfully flustered. Maybe she would even apologize.

"Is this alright, Your Majesty?"

"Yes, Gabriela. That is very pretty." Regina says and rises from the chair. "You may go."

The girl leaves in a flurry of curtsies and "Your Majesty".

Once Regina is left alone, she immediately begins to wonder. What could sweet little Gabriela be hiding underneath all those layers of clothing? She had a beautiful body, Regina is already certain of that, and she's also certain that she would enjoy peeling off all those layers of clothes one by one and expose the girl's skin, inch by inch and hear Gabriela moan and say her name like a prayer.

Sweet, innocent Gabriela with her pretty smile. How heaven sent she seemed to be.

Regina smiles to herself. What was the harm in having a little fun? Why not enjoy the pretty things that were send to her? Why not count the many ways she could make Gabriela blush before the girl caved in and begged "Her Majesty" to kiss her?

To Be Continued?...