Enchanted Forest

Many Years Ago

Its days like this she wished she was dead. Sat in the royal carriage with a young Snow White who was talking away at her about the small township they had just visited, Regina drowned the girls annoying voice out of her head as she thought about her last lesson with Rumpelstiltskin. The Dark One. She couldn't wait for the day she would enact her revenge on the girl for telling her secret.

She just had to wait.

Watching the countryside go past them as they made their way back to the castle for the evening made the time pass quicker, it made her long for the sense of freedom as they passed fields of horses and sheep until her view came to abrupt end as one of the guards blocked them from her sight just as she saw a herd of wild horses running across an open field.

The young Queen let out a huff of annoyance as offending guard finally got out of the way. The last year had gone quicker than she thought, but she couldn't wait until she get rid of the King and her stepdaughter once and for all.

The carriage suddenly jerked as they picked up speed Regina had to hold onto the windowsill as the wheels ran over some rocks in the dirt road making the taira on her head hit the roof of the carriage as she grimiest in annoyance. The guard in the window answered her grievance at the driver. He lifted his helm and revealed his face to the Queen and Princess and bowed his head "Apologies Your Majesty, we've had to take an alternative route back to the castle"

"Why?" she asked the guard her annoyance only rising

"The Kings Road was blocked, your majesty a tree has fallen across, and the guards could not move it quick enough"

"Then, I would had rather waited until you could, if it saved us from all the- "the wheel went over a particular large rock in the road making the Queen bump the top of her head on the roof. Again

"Apologies again my Queen" he replaced his helmet and rode on in front of them.

"Stepmother? Are you okay" Snow asked her step-mother

"I'm fine" she spat out

"I wonder how long it will be until we get back, its starting to get dark" Snow worried outload

"I'm sure the driver knows where he's going dear" Snow nodded watching as they went deeper into the woods. After fifteen minutes Regina didn't recognise where they were. Something was wrong, they were riding away from the castle not towards it. The Queen leant out of the carriage to see the guard on the horse she spoke to earlier

"Guard!" she called after him. He stopped his horse until the carriage caught up with him and continued when her was next to the window. He bowed his head and lifted the helm up again

"Your Majesty?" he asked

"Where are we going? I don't recognise these parts of the forest"

"the trail takes us away from the castle for a while, but we'll be heading for the castle again soon my Queen" he shut his helmet again and rode off again.

He was lying. She knew he was. He couldn't meet her eyes. She had a bad feeling about this.

"Step-Mother?" Snow asked with a worried look

"Whatever happens you stay near me" she told her in a hushed voice

"Why what's happening" she asked panicked, her voice raised a little too much as the driver turned his head to hear the young princess. Regina quickly covered her mouth. And raised a finger to her lips to tell her to be quiet. Snow nodded as Regina let her go.

They were suddenly directed off the road and into a small clearing that was surrounded by tall tree's the carriage rocked unsteadily over the grass before finally coming to a stop. Peering out she could see her guards lined up in front of them with swords in their hands like they were about to release a monster from it's cage

"Your Majesty, Princess step out of the carriage" demanded one of the guards

"Stay behind me" Regina reminded Snow again. The latter nodded with tears in her eyes.

The door was wrenched open and the Queen and Princess was met with twice the guards they had left the township surrounding them with crossbows aimed at them and swords drawn. Regina stepped down from the carriage. Snow White with the help of her step mother, stepped out onto the grass.

"What's the meaning of this!" Regina bellowed keeping Snow behind her.

"My apologies Your Majesty" the guard that she spoke to twice before had his helmet off and stood in front of the other men holding a broad sword

"For what exactly, what is this!"

"We don't want to" he went on "But we don't have a choice"

"Answer me!" she started to get scared as the 'guard' put his helmet back on and walked away, he turned back to face her

"Ready!" the 'guard' with the crossbows raised their weapons at her and Snow. Snow started to cry as she held onto her step-mother from behind.

"Please let the girl go" Regina tried to plead with the guard, but it went ignored as he shouted out another order

"Take Aim!" he raised his arm and made a fist in his gloved hand. Regina closed her eyes ready for the bolts to hit her body. This wasn't how she imagined she'd go. With Snow White of all people. The guard took in a deep breath ready to make the final order when one of the archers fell to the ground. Regina's eye's snapped open to scene in front of her. His head snapped to the fallen guard and lowered his arm to look at what happened.

On closer inspection he watched as his guard choked on his own blood as a small knife protruded from his neck. While he inspected the now dead 'guard' another behind him fall dead again.

"Assassin!" he shouted to his guards "Fan out! Find him and bring me his head!" Regina's eyes snapped open to see the guards had started to take cover under the trees at they searched for something that took out two of the guards. Regina pushed Snow back into the carriage and shut the girl in as she screamed bloody murder. Regina looked up in the trees as she saw something, or someone jump across the overhanging branches. Leaves fell from the branches as the figure moved making them rustle.

"Come down coward! Face me like a man" Regina crouched down next to the carriage as the guards started to shoot wildly into the branches above her. Another guard across the clearing fell down dead.

Three Dead. Four to go.

"Grab the Queen and Princess!" the 'guard ordered'. Regina looked to her right to see one of the guards with a sword running towards her. She stepped back about to flee just as the heel of her shoe caught the bottom of her dress making her fall backwards on to floor as the guard got closer. But he was stopped as a rope dart embedded itself in the guard's neck. The Guard began choking as he flew up in the air. A slender hooded figure landed on the ground in his steed holding onto a rope. Regina looked up to see the rope the figure was holding was wrapped around a tree branch hanging the 'guard' while he choked on his blood.

The figure let go of the rope and bent down and held out a slender hand towards the Queen. She tried to see her saviour under the hood but only say a lock of fiery hair fell from the hood. Regina took her saviours hand and stood up. Regina watched as the assassin as the 'guard' called the figure, reach for something behind her.

The figure drew out a strange looking weapon and pointed it out to her side. The figure pulled on a trigger and the strange weapon let out a load bang as white smoke bloomed out of the top. Regina's ears rung from the load noise. She closed her eyes as she felt herself being pushed sideways. She landed on something soft as she heard a voice come from the outside and the door closed on her.

"Stay in the carriage" a feminine voice came from the hooded figure as, yet another load bang came from the figure and a guard screamed out in pain and fall to the ground dead. Regina's ears settled down as she sat up and looked out the window to see the hooded figure gracefully fight the remaining guards with two cutlass curved sword. Snow continued to cry and whimper behind her.

The figures hood fell from her head as she cut open the guard's stomach, he fell onto the ground dead. It was a woman. She couldn't be at least a couple of years younger than herself. Regina saw the woman easily disarmed the final 'guard' the one that Regina had spoken to earlier. He fell to the ground and tried to crawl away from the woman as she stepped towards him dangerously sheathed both her swords.

"Please have mercy" he begged the woman. The red-haired woman flicked her right wrist as a blade rushed out of a leather gauntlet. She tore his helmet off and took a hold of his uniform with her left hand and placed the blade against the man's neck.

"Who wanted the Queen and Princess dead?" he didn't reply so the woman pressed the blade further into his throat "You're dead either way, tell me, who wanted the Queen dead!" she shouted in his face Regina could make out what he said as he stumbled through the answer. The assassin listened intently before she nodded and shoved the blade into his heart. Killing him quickly.

Snow had finally calmed down as the woman whispered something to him before placing him on the ground and wiped the blood on his uniform. She searched his body until she found a small leather bag. She opened it and poured out a handful of coins fell into her hand. She placed the gold coin back in the purse and took it for herself. Why was she stealing from them?

The woman looked up to the carriage and saw the Queen watching her. She took something else from the man's person before standing back up and headed towards the Queen. The figure pulled her hood that covered her fiery shoulder length hair and thin face.

She opened the door and saw the Queen and the terrified girl. "Are you alright?" Snow nodded weakly as she sniffed. The woman turned to the Queen. She was pretty for a woman that could kill.

"Your Majesty?" her eyes scanned the Queens body looking for any injuries

"I demand you tell me who you are" she demanded out of the woman

"Your Welcome" the woman rolled her eyes as she stepped away from the carriage and went to the bodies that surround them and hung from the tree. Regina stormed out of the carriage following the woman holding her long skirts up.

"How dare you speak to me like that, I demand an answer from you"

"I'll answer your question as you search the other bodies, I need to find out who sent them" she answered as she crouched to one of the others.

"I will do no such thing; how dare you order your Queen" she said in anger.

The red head snapped her head up for her green eyes to meet Regina's brown. "You're not my Queen" she answered calmly without missing a beat. Regina didn't realise Snow came out the carriage before she spoke up.

"What do you need?" she asked the assassin as she sniffed again. The girl held her head up high clasping her hands in front of her.

"Focus on their belts, bring me everything that might help" Snow nodded and went to work for their saviour.

Regina went to speak again but was stopped by the assassin "Are you going to whine all day or are you gonna help, we need to leave before more come"

"How the hell I'm I supposed to get the one hanging from the tree?" the woman checked on Snow before throwing something towards the rope and the 'guard' fell onto the grass with the thump. Regina huffed and walked over to the dead body started to search it.

Amelia couldn't take her eyes off the woman as she swore under her breath kneeling to search the man. She was stunning yet elegant and carried herself like a Queen. She was a great a beauty. Even the scar that sat on the top lip fit blended into her face. She wasn't ashamed by it what so ever.

But she could see a dark aura around her. She possessed the gift of magic, and it wasn't light magic.

"Well Assassin aren't you going to answer my question" the Queens voice brought Amelia's thoughts of the Queen. She cleared her throat as she checked on the princess again from her spot.

"what was the question again" she teased the Queen she heard her huff in annoyance.

"Who are you?" Regina repeated her earlier question

"We were sent word of an attempt on your lives, a day or so back. I was sent to intercept the men sent"

"Just in time" Regina commented "Who's 'we'?" Regina was engrossed in her search she didn't see the woman kneel beside her

"The Brotherhood of Assassins" Regina's eyebrow quired recognising the name and jumped at her sudden presence in front of her "I take it you've heard of us"

"I have. Only stories. My father used to tell me them. You work in the shadows to serve the light. Merely bedtime stories told to children" she scoffed

"We are not bedtime stories meant to frighten children. Your father's a knowledgeable man. And yes, we do, but we observe mainly, rarely interfere in the events of the Enchanted Forest only to observe and write about them"

"Was I the exception then?" Regina faced the Assassin. Amelia saw on closer inception a scar the Queen held on her top lip

"Yes and no. The group that planned this is an old enemy of ours, they seek to disturb. We simply put things back on track" Amelia caught Regina's eye and locked on her gaze for a second before the princess interrupted them coming back with what she found. Amelia faced the girl with a gentle smile.

"Good work Princess. Thank you for helping me"

"No thank you, you saved us from those men"

"Your very welcome Princess"

"What's your name, mines Snow and this is my step-mother Regina" the princess told her. Regina. The red head thought to herself. She liked the name. it suited her.

"Amelia" the red head turned to Snow "But call me Lia, only special friends call me Lia"

"Did I find anything useful Lia?" on the ground sat several pouches full of coin. And a couple of maps. And another letter. It looked like the same one she found one the leader. She took the first piece out and laid It out on the grass. She did that same with the second. It was a letter to a woman named Wynonna. About a field East of the Enchanted Forest. Amelia used her sixth sense and saw that letter glowed and lifted off the page. Regina saw her eyes slightly glow and change shape as she stared at the page. She tried to decipher the message, but she would need to take it back home.

"Anything?" Snow asked

"It's encoded I'm afraid not my expertise. I will need to take it home to be broken. But seeing how much coin they had and the calluses on their hands, they were mercenaries. They were paid to harm you" Amelia reached back into her robe and pulled out a letter and handed it to Snow. "I need you to do a special task for me, do you think you can do it?"

"Yes anything"

"I will take you and the Queen back to your castle, and you are to take this straight to your father King Leopold, no one else, straight in his hand, can you do that for me?"

Snow almost snatched it out of the Assassins hand "Yes of course, what's it about?"

Amelia gave her a sad smile "I'm afraid someone might be wanting to harm him as well, this is a warning for him, I need you to guard it with your life, do you promise" Regina was left confused she didn't ask her with the task.

"Of course, you have my word Lia" Regina couldn't help but roll her eyes. Snow promises meant nothing.

"Good, thank you Princess" she said with a smile and picked up the coins that the mercenaries held

Snows eyes widened with the amount of gold Lia held "What will you do with all that coin?" the girl asked

"It's a shame for it to go to waste princess, even if it is blood money, half of the gold coins would be able to feed a family for a month. I will take it to the next village in need and give it to them"

"Do you promise?"

"Of course," Regina could hear the lie in the Assassins voice "now go to the carriage and I'll take you both home" Snow nodded with a sweet smile and ran to the carriage

"Why did you lie to her?" Regina asked Amelia

"If I gave this to a village someone will think its stolen and more harm would come to them then if were to give it to them. It's a harsh reality. I'm sure you understand Your Majesty" She didn't really she never had to worry much about money when she was younger. "My brotherhood will be able to use this gold to more use"

"If any return for them they will attack the carriage" Amelia unsheathed one of her long daggers by the blade in a leather sheath and gave it to the Queen "Can you use one of these?"

Regina simply nodded nervously "If we are attacked I need you and Snow to go on with the message. There are a few areas to aims for" Amelia reached out with an hand and touched her ribs through the dress she was wearing she dug her fingers into her side so she felt were aim "Get the blade in-between the ribs and tilt it up, push until you hit the hilt, you've got more of a chance of hitting a heart or nicking the lung, slower death that way. Or if it comes to it" Amelia reached up to the Queens throat and stroked the skins near the base "stab the neck here or go straight for the eye, do you understand?"

Regina nodded in understanding "Why not go straight for the heart?"

"Too much bone in the way for a dagger I find especially for killing a man for the first time, but I don't doubt you haven't broken a few hearts before" Amelia said with a wink before she walked away towards the carriage.

"Come, I'm not sure how much more time we can waste here, for all we know they were supposed to report back to someone with both your heads" Amelia pulled the hood back over her head and, climbed up and sat with the reins in hand.

Regina followed Snow into the carriage hiding the dagger in a garter belt on her calf and closed the door as Amelia ordered the horses forward "I'm afraid we won't be able to make back to the castle before nightfall, they took you out further than I thought"

"Its fine Lia" Snow replied "My father will understand"

"I'm sure he will Princess" she whispered to herself "YAA!" this pushed the horses into a brisk trot.

Amelia had stopped at a watering hole for the horses, they had worked extremely hard to get this far. The assassin could see the large shard like towers of King Leopold castle in the distance, they were close at least. Amelia was singing to herself as she attached the horses back to the carriage to continue their journey. She sound herself humming a tune she remembered her mother would sing to her while she was trying to fall asleep. It seemed to help whenever she had to think about her next move.

"What are you humming?" Snow asked interrupting her thoughts making her jump "its lovely"

"Snow" Regina scolded the child for interrupting the woman making the princess look at her step-mother

"Its fine Your Majesty" Amelia reassured "I was singing something my mother used to sing while I was younger. She learnt it during her journeys before she met my father. It helps me clear my mind"

"It's a beautiful song, does she still sing it?"

"No, she passed away when I was a child"

"I'm sorry, my mother died too" Amelia crouched in front of the child and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder in comfort.

"I'm sorry to hear that princess, it hard losing a parent. In my culture death is not the end. It's more of a stepping off point. You reach out with both hands and the great eagle will lead you into a blue sky where, you can fly forever. Both our mothers will be waiting for us when we are much older. For you princess when you are much, much older" Amelia poked Snows nose making her giggle "your mother would not want you to be sad for too long, she wouldn't want you to dwell on the past, I know it hurts, but it will get better, you have to want it to get better" Amelia was looking at Regina as she spoke to Snow about dwelling on the past.

Did she know?

"Thank you" Snow whispered and engulfed Amelia into a hug, which the assassin returned the hug. Amelia lifted the princess up and placed her back into the carriage.

"We must continue Princess; your father will be worrying about you" she closed the door to and turned to climb back to the driver's seat. Regina followed her and looked up to speak to the assassin while she took up the reins again

"Did you mean that? What you told Snow?" the Queen asked the younger woman. The assassin turned to her with a hard look of knowing as she stayed silent.

She does know. Amelia broke eye contact with her and turned back to look at the road ahead and pulled up her hood.

"Get back into the carriage Your Majesty, not long now" Regina did as she was told and re-entered the carriage with Snow as Amelia whipped at the horses to go.

The three stayed in silence as they heard horses' hooves behind them. Amelia glanced back and saw several men with weapons on horses charging for them. Amelia swore to herself as she commanded the horses with a "Yaa!" to go faster, they did, causing the carriage to bump violently for the Queen and Snow.

"Snow huddle in the footwell and stay there" Snow nodded and did what Amelia told her, she huddles into the floor of the carriage as she heard men shouts behind the carriage as they get nearer.

"Your Majesty are there locks of the doors?" Amelia called back through the window to the Queen

"Yes"

"Lock them" Regina did just that and sat back holding onto the carriage as Amelia sped up. She suddenly heard heavy footsteps on the roof, making the assassin look back to see a mercenary holding a broad sword making his way towards her with anger in his face.

Amelia looked back to the Queen and made eye contact with her "Take the reins" she ordered the Queen

"What?!"

"Take the damn reins, just keep them straight the horses know where to go"

"I know how to ride a horse!" Regina argued back

"THEN TAKE THEM!" Regina shook her head and pushed herself forward and stretched her arms out of the carriage and took the leather reins from Amelia as the assassin was picked up by the scruff of her neck and thrown onto the roof of the moving carriage. The red-head stabbed a knife into the roof to stop her falling off completely. She pulled herself up and landed in a crouch as she reached for her guns and fired it into the man, making him fall from the carriage. Something told her to reload them when they stopped.

She stood back up balancing herself as the carriage rode over the bumpy road. One of the men rode up next to the carriage and used his sword to cut towards the Queens outstretched arm making her lose control of the horses for a split second making the carriage jerk to the right making Amelia stumble. The assassin righted herself and ran off the roof and leap onto the horse's back stabbing the rider in the neck with her hidden blade, killing him. She threw him off and urged the horse to continue next to the carriage. Maintaining her speed on the loose horse she brought her legs up to crouch on the saddle and leapt back on to the carriage she must has mistimed it as she was sent crashing into the locked door her arms scrambled to catch herself in the window.

She held on as Regina looked to the side to see the female assassin clutching onto the side of carriage. She saw her eyes widen in panic. "You okay!" Regina asked the assassin

"I'm fine happens all the time" she replied she grabbed another one of her guns and fired it at another man gaining on them sending him to the dirt floor, but her face dropped as she felt the door swing move, it didn't stop as her back hit the carriage wall. She was trapped as a mercenary, jumped from his horse and jumped into the open carriage. Snow's scream's filled the air as Amelia pushed her leg against the wall to push the door back into place and threw herself through the window. She used the momentum to tackle to mercenary going for Snow, jumping on his back and leant him back to stumble away from the screaming Snow. Amelia leapt off his back and turned around to plunge a hidden blade into his stomach and out of the carriage. Amelia wretched the door back closed and went to lock it again but saw the lock had broken.

Probably broke when she crashed into it. She would need something this but strong to keep it shut. The dagger she gave Regina.

She held onto the door as she deterred the next mercenary with her gun. She turned to face Regina as she used her leg as leverage to keep the door shut. "Where's the blade I gave you?!"

"In my garter belt, why!" Amelia blushed slightly as she reached for the Queens leg and felt up her leg until she got to her thigh until she found the hilt of the blade and pulled it out making the Assassin neck flush.

"Hey!" Regina cried out as she felt Amelia's gloved hand make it way up her leg and thigh

"you're gonna kill me" Amelia groaned to herself as she pulled it from its sheath and slotted it through the lock holding the door in place as she climbed out of the widow and back onto the roof were there was only two remaining mercenaries after them. taking out another rope dart from her pack she swung it around until it got enough momentum for her to let it go and imbed itself in the chest of the man. She pulled up he was unseated from his saddle. As she was jerked back from a blade that landed in her shoulder. She pulled it out to see the last man climbed onto the roof holding a large sword in both his hands. Amelia pushed down on the open wound on her right shoulder with her left hand.

"Give up Assassin!" he growled at her

"No" she stated as she reached for one of her swords and quickly unsheathed it letting go of her wound go. The mercenary lifted his sword and brought it down on the woman as he roared at her. She used her sword and hidden dagger and pushed it away from her for the sword to hit the roof of the carriage making Snow scream as the sword imbedded itself in the wood. He struggled to pull it out do the wood as Amelia pushed him away from the sword making him stumble back to the edge. Amelia was ready to finish him when the carriage was jerked suddenly. Making her lose balance and fall into the mercenary. Unknown to her the mercenary had taken out a dagger, as she fell into him she also fell into the blade.

The blade imbedded itself into her side. Her eyes went wide as it took her by surprise as it slid into her flesh. The mercenary pushed her off making the blade come out of her. It was covered in her blood, she dropped her sword as she bent over and covered the new wound with both her hands. She looked down to see her red covered hands and blood dripped onto the roof. The mercenary advanced on her as the carriage jerked again making the mercenary step on her blood and slip onto his back in a heap. Amelia used this gift to plunge a hidden blade into his stomach and pushed him off. His body hit the ground hard as it hit the ground she heard sickening crack come from him. She bit a scream as the wound on her side flared in pain.

She turned to see they were at the castle. But the horses where going too fast as she saw the courtyard get closer with each passing second. She jumped down grabbed the reins off Regina and sent her back inside the carriage and took out her other sword.

She started swinging at the leather that attached the horses to the carriage

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!" Regina screamed from inside.

"Saving us!" Amelia replied as she made the horses take a sharp right as she cut the last bind. Regina dragged her back into the carriage with Snow. As the horses went right the carriage fell onto its side going the opposite way skidding across the stone flooring. Amelia took hold of Snow and held her close as the carriage fell onto its side and skidded into the courtyard loudly, alerting courtiers to move out of the way.

King Leopold ran out of the castle as he heard the commotion from inside the great hall, followed by two of his guards. "What's the meaning of this!" he demanded but everything went silent as the broken carriage finally came to a stop. Suddenly the door burst open nearly tearing it from its hinges and fell back against the outer wall of the carriage, the guards surrounded the carriage with the weapons out ready to pounce. Suddenly Snow was seen climbing out of the upturned carriage with a pair of hands around her waist helping her up.

Leopold saw his daughter come from the carriage and ordered his men to stand down as he ran towards her and helped her down from the carriage. Inside the carriage Amelia scanned the Queen for injuries she had a few bruises and the cut on the arm from the attack. Amelia reached into her pouch and took out a small glass bottle of medicine and uncorked it with her teeth before spitting it out of her mouth into the carriage. There was barely any left. She looked at the Queen and handed it to her. The Queen saw this and hesitated and looked at her saviour for the second time that day.

"Take it Your Majesty, it will help you feel better" The Queen scanned the assassin and saw the blood on her shoulder and side

"You need it more than me" Regina saw the patch of blood that was only growing by the second on her side as her face became paler.

"It won't help me, there's enough to heal your wound" Amelia panted. The Queen still hesitated to take it so Amelia pressed it into the hand of the Queen. "My job was to protect you, let me. I can't leave knowing they hurt you" Amelia breathed out as she pressed further, she locked her gaze with the Queen.

The latter finally nodded and took it and quickly drank it. The Queen felt the effect as it went down her throat, the cut on her arm closed to only show an angry red line. Amelia gripped Regina by her hips, their faces where only a breath away and eye's locked in a gaze that made their hearts thump against their chests "Jump" Amelia told her and she did.

Amelia lifted her up so she sat on the edge of the carriage doorway. Regina looked down at the woman below her who gave her a sad smile and nodded. Their eyes locked again; she didn't want to look away from the red-head, not just yet any way's.

"Regina!" the voice of her father took her out of her head as she turned to see her father run towards her. Her legs were pushed up and she was forced to climb out of the carriage. She was helped down by a guard who handed her to her father

"Regina are you okay?" he asked worried

"I'm fine Daddy" she tried to reassure her caring father as he guided her away from carriage.

"I was worried when you and the princess didn't come back on time"

"I know Daddy, something happened, but we're back, we're safe" her father nodded in relief.

While Regina was climbing out of the carriage. Snow was quickly explaining to her father what had happened, from being nearly killed and saved by a woman in a hood and them being attacked again on the way back to the castle. Snow took out the note and pushed it into her father hand "She told me to give you this, she said someone wanted to hurt you and she needed to warn you"

Leopold's took the letter with a furrowed brow as she saw his wife being greeted by her father. Saw the wax seal on the letter and recognised the seal instantly. He broke the seal and opened the letter and quickly read through it. He was deeply concerned with the information he read.

"What does it say father?"

Her father looked at her with a reassuring smile "do not worry about it Snow I will deal with the matter, tell me did the woman who gave you this bare the same symbol on her person?" Leopold pointed out the arrow symbol that ended the letter

"Yes, father it was on her belt and robe" Snow remembered the odd symbol on her belt bucked and it was embossed on her robe

"Where is she?"

"She was in the carriage with us. I hope she's okay she looked hurt" Leopold looked up to see a slender figure limp away from the them. the figure fell onto the floor as Regina called out the assassin's name

"Amelia!" she rushed to the injured assassin side and turned her on her back and saw fresh blood weep out of her side. Her skin was deathly pale, and she tried to fight the darkness surround her vision. Regina threw herself onto the ground not caring for her already ruined dress as she clutched the Amelia's hand that was resting on her stomach lacing her fingers in between hers despite the fresh blood that already covered the Assassin's hand. She felt the Assassin lightly squeezing onto hers as she fought off the darkness that was quickly taking over her mind.

"Guards take my wife and daughters saviour into the castle for treatment and call the physician" Leopold commanding voice boomed across the courtyard

"Yes, My King" one of the guards replied as he shouted orders to the other

"Please don't leave me" Regina whispered to Amelia as she was moved away by her father as the guard took her away from her and into the castle.

The whisper was the last thing she heard until she finally let the darkness to consume her. Amelia wanted that voice to carry her into the next life. But she didn't want to go, not yet. Not until she saw the person whose voice that belonged to again.

The Queen and princess had cleaned up since they returned to the castle when the doctor overseeing Amelia's treatment was updating the royals on the assassin's condition. She had heard several of the guard had been arrested and sent to their hardly used dungeons accused of treason against the King. Snow and Regina at upon their thrones next to Leopold as the doctor spoke.

"What news do you have of my family's saviour?" Regina sent a small glare towards her husband at his comment. Amelia saved Regina as his daughter screamed.

"Your Majesties" he bowed his head towards the royals "the young woman sustained several injures protecting the Queen and the princess. A number of shallow gashed as well as a deep stab wound in her side and one in her collar bone-"

"Will she live?" Regina asked in trepidation

"I believe so, but there is risk of an infection in the wounds I personally closed them, but I won't know until she starts showing the signs of one"

"I am relieved to hear that" Leopold spoke up next to her "please continue your work with her, you have our recourses at your disposal" Leopold dismisses the healer

"Sire" he bowed again but he didn't walk away

"What is it?"

"I'd rather disclose this information away from the princess's innocent ears" Leopold nodded and turned to his daughter and sent her to bed. The king told him to go on once Snow left with the nanny.

"My King, on closer inspection of the young woman's injuries I found a number of disturbing discoveries"

"What?" Regina pressed

"I found evidence of old scar tissue on her body. The majority come from blades and such but some on her back I believe came from a whip and a small brand in her finger, my Queen" Regina nearly fainted hearing this she had to grip onto her throne to stop. By Leopold didn't seem disturbed from the news.

"I wouldn't be too alarmed" King Leopold spoke up calmly "She belongs to the Brotherhood of Assassins" Henry's eyes light up at the name, he had only heard stories of such people existing. He couldn't believe one of them could be upstairs.

"If they're hurting her, we shouldn't let her go back" Regina told her husband

"I'm afraid that's out of my control" he sighed sadly and dismissed the doctor to return to Amelia as a nurse came to fetch him.

Leopold went to leave but was stopped by his wife "We can't let her go back" he turned to his young wife

"I am sorry Regina, but we can't let her stay, she will want to leave once she's well enough" Leopold left her with her father, without more of an explanation which left her with more questions than answers

"Regina" Henry called out her daughter's name gently

"What!" she shouted in frustration, she wanted to run after the King and demand he put's a stop to any attempt Amelia made to leave.

"The King is right my dear, you can't make her stay"

"then explain why?"

"I will, I'll take you to Amelia and I'll explain everything" Regina nodded as she wrapped her hand around her father arms as he led her out of the hall.

For the rest of the night Henry explained to her daughter about the organisation Amelia belonged to as she watched her sleep.

Her father had told her everything she knew about the creed Amelia belonged to. Or what he knew. He repeated what Amelia had told her the day before. A few times in the night Amelia's eye tightened and she whimpered as if she was having a nightmare. Each time Regina would touch her shoulder to wake her up. Each time Amelia calms down and slept soundly until the next terror. Regina had finally let sleep consume her after she nearly fell asleep in Amelia's room. The next afternoon the King and Queen were summoned to Amelia's room with great haste by the doctor.

Once they entered they were greeted with a worse for wear Amelia. She was sweating profusely and shaking violently

"Doctor what is it?" Leopold asked the doctor

The doctor and nurses surrounding the assassin stopped what they were doing for a second to bow at the royal couple and got back to work. "I'm afraid she has taken a turn for the worst the wound in her side is infected"

"Then do something" The Queen demanded

"I can keep her comfortable, some sleeping drought's will keep her asleep as well as something for any pain, but she'll have to fight the infection herself"

"And if she doesn't?'" Regina swallowed

"She's in the hands of whatever higher being she prays to. If her fever hasn't broken by this time tomorrow she won't see the next"

Leopold bowed his head in sadness for the young girl. He looked back at the doctor "Do what you must I will inform Snow of the development, she's grown quite fond of young Amelia" the doctor nodded as he left the room, leaving the Queen to look at the you woman. She wanted to help her. Maybe magic was the answer. She would have to ask The Dark One had the answers to the questions she had at their next lesson later that day.

Regina had been distracted during her whole lesson with Rumpelstiltskin. She was worried about Amelia. Would she be dead when she returned?

"Penny for your thoughts dearie?" she heard the Dark One ask her

"You could say that" she replied as she tried the new spell he had taught her that day

"I heard that you and the young princess were attacked by a group of mercenaries, you survived I see"

"We were saved actually" she threw out her hand to attempt the spell again, but it wouldn't work.

"Ohhh interesting, and who was this gallant knight in shining armour to save two damsels in distress"

"She certainly wasn't a knight. She was an Assassin. Part of the Brotherhood"

The Dark One froze as Regina mentioned the Brother Hood. Regina saw this, he almost looked shaken "Are you sure you said the Brotherhood of Assassins"

"Yes why? You know them?" she asked her teacher. The Dark One forced himself to relax in front of the young witch and giggled to himself

"Yes, they've been around for a very long time. There are rumours that they were the first people discover the Enchanted Forest"

"Really?"

The Dark One hummed to himself as he contemplated to himself his next move, they had been a pain in every Dark One's arse for centuries. They've even tried to get the dagger. But failed numerous times. There're rule for no magic had failed them when up against The Dark One's.

"So where is this assassin now, returned to her little hideout?"

"No, she was hurt during the journey back to the castle. Leopold took her in had her treated by the royal physician, her wound got infected the doctor says she won't make it"

"Oh dear, well one less assassin to bother me then" he giggled in glee

"No, I want to help her, she saved me I think magic may be the answer. I can save her"

"Why would you want to do that" just the thought of saving an assassin or anyone made him feel sick, he started to walk away by Regina followed him.

"There must be something, I can't let her die"

'The Brotherhood would owe him a favour for saving one of their own' he thought. He couldn't let this opportunity go. The Dark One turned on her stop "There is something dearie, but all magic comes with a price"

"I'll pay if I have to"

"No, of course not the price would be on me just this once" he waved his hand and as the dark red smoke disappeared from his had a small glass bottle of green liquid appeared in his hand and gave it to Regina, she reached for it, but took it away from her.

"Save your assassin, but I need her name"

"Amelia"

"Amelia" he tested the name on his tongue. He knew that name. He giggled hysterically and threw the bottle at Regina which she caught and left the young Queen in the clearing he was teaching her in, abruptly ending their lesson for the day.

Regina returned to the castle and headed straight for Amelia. When she entered she saw the girl was sleeping more peacefully than she once did, but the sheet of sweat remained, she looked worse than when she left for her lesson with Rumpelstiltskin. She was alone.

Regina checked the hallway and closed the door behind her. She approached the bed and uncorked the small bottle she was given, and gentle tipped its contents into Amelia's lips, she was cold to touch despite the blankets the nurses had given her. Regina stroked the women's soft neck to encourage the liquid to go down. Once the bottle was empty. Regina watched as nothing happened. Maybe it needed time to work?

"Come on, come back to me" Regina lifted the covers to look at her wound, gently removing the bandages that covered the injury she saw the angry skin that surround the cut began to calm down and turn back to her natural pale skin. Regina covered her back up in the blankets and watched as the colour Amelia's cheeks come back and her eye's start moving behind her eyelids as she began to breath a little easier.

Amelia took in a deep breath of air through her nose. They had been shallow and few and far between since the doctor treated her. Amelia's eyes opened for the first time as she woke up in a place she didn't recognise, she started to panic before a gentle hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked over to see Regina looking over her.

She had the greenest eye's. She had never notices that before now…..

"Regina?" Amelia croaked out

"Yes, it's me"

"Where?" she breathed Regina reached for the pitcher of water sat next to the bed and poured a glass of water for the red-head.

"You're at the palace. You blacked out from the pain as you were trying to leave"

Regina encouraged her to sit up in the bed and handed her the water, which she greedily took, choking on the liquid as the liquid hit her dry throat and gave the water back to Regina as her head tried to catch up with everything. Suddenly the door opened to reveal one of the nurses that had been tending to the assassin carrying new dressing. She dropped the tray she was holding as she saw the red-head awake and sat-up in bed with the Queen stood near her as the fresh dressing's fell onto the floor

"You're awake" she exclaimed "Your Majesty I thought you were still out riding?"

"I was but returned early to visit" Regina lied. Amelia looked up at the dark-haired woman knowing that she lied

"I'll go fetch the doctor and inform the King and Princess they'll be so pleased to hear you're awake" the nurse left before Regina could stop her as she left.

"Why did you lie to her?" Amelia asked Regina

"I didn't" the young Queen quickly defended herself "I was out riding, it the only way I can get away from Leopold and Snow"

"I can guess by your clothes" Regina was wearing boots, riding trousers and a blouse covered by a green and brown waistcoat. Her hair was tied in a single long plait. But a hair wasn't out of its place and her boots and her pants were covered in dirt. "What else did you do"

"That's none of your business assassin" she spat at her the door burst open to reveal a man who she presumed her healer approach her bed and started to look into her eyes and lifted the bed sheet to look at the wound on her side as more people entered the room.

Leopold entered with a wide smile and Snow running inside the room in glee at seeing her saviour healthy and awake. Amelia's ears rung as she could hear voices, but they were getting muffled in the chaos. Amelia saw the healer talking to her as well as Snow who had jumped on her bed. The king was speaking her, but she couldn't hear. They were surround her and Regina retreated from the room. Amelia could only watch as the Queen left her to the wolves.

A few days after Amelia woke up from her fever, she was encouraged to get outside into the fresh air and walk. She and King Leopold were slowly walking around the courtyard as Snow played around them.

She was careful walking with her hands clasped behind her back beside the King. "Do you have any idea who would want to hurt my daughter" he asked her

What about your wife? She wanted to ask but left it. "No sire, my investigations were halted when the Queen and Princess were attacked. We had intelligence from our sources that are loyal to the Brotherhood and yourself about your threat to Your Majesty, but the attempt on them wasn't seen, until I saw The Queen and Princess in the township. The guards with them were too nervous for a kingdom known to be peaceful and kind. So, I followed on horseback. When they turned down a road the carriage I took the trees"

"Well I am ever grateful for the Brotherhoods helping hand. The Brotherhood helped me many years ago, since then the Assassins have always been welcomed here" Amelia stopped hearing he knew her father

"You know the Brotherhood?"

"Yes. His name was Romeo Montague. He saved me when my father was King. He was your age when we met. He is like a brother to me. And I'm glad to see you are still saving my family after all these years. He was loyal with his creed while still cared about other people. He's even Godfather to my Snow. Do you know him?"

"He's my mentor Sire"

"I see. He and I wrote letters over the years, despite not seeing each other we stayed close friends. He wrote about his adventures across the realms while I became King and had a family. He wrote of a woman with fiery spirit, but as stubborn as a mule. I told him he sounded like he was falling in love" he chuckled to himself as he recalled the letters "I didn't hear from him for a few years, I wasn't too hurt from it I knew he did important work. Then he told me of the woman's death, but he assured me he found a new love. When my Eva passed, I found that new love he wrote about in my daughter"

"Then I'm sure she knows how much she is loved by you"

"Thank you, for everything you've saved my life, I don't know what I would do if she had been taken away from me"

"Your Welcome Your Majesty" Leopold motioned them to continue their walk

"I was thinking of a way to reward you for saving Snow and My Queen. I know you must return to the brotherhood when you fully recovered, so I've had my tailors created a cape for you. It'll allow you to do your work without being stopped by the guards. But be warned if you are doing anything illegal in front of them you will be stopped"

"Of course, Your Majesty"

One week after she arrived at the castle, she was ready to leave. Amelia left the palace with the mercenaries' sword that was left in the carriages roof and a cape, to ensure that her work with the creed wouldn't be challenged within his Kingdom. But she felt she needed a conversation with the Queen before she left for good. She was sat on Regina's balcony waiting for the Queen to return.

The assassin stood from the railing a she heard footsteps enter the study. Regina was wearing her riding clothes headed straight for her vanity.

"Good ride Your Majesty?"

Regina jumped back in fear placing a hand on her chest and saw the red-head stood in her balcony wearing the same set of robes they had met in a week ago. The Kings tailor had personally seen to its clean and repair. The assassins long red-hair sat on her shoulders as she stared the Queen down.

"What are doing here?"

"To say good-bye. You've been avoiding me since I woke up"

"I've been busy" she snapped at the Assassin as she continued in the room and removed her riding gloves from her hands.

"I don't doubt that Your Majesty, practising magic is a tiring task" Regina froze at Amelia's words "..or so I've heard"

She turned on the assassin "How?"

"Some Assassins possess an extra sense, it's how I was able to see the coded letter. Its how I was able to see the mercenaries in the woods, it's how I saw your magic. Its powerful, but it's different. And I think I know why"

"Go on"

"I don't know the details, but it surrounds Snow White, you hate her and the King. You were forced into this marriage, it not hard to see that. Especially how he treats you from time to time compared to his daughter. He should've never married you"

"So, what, are you here to save me?"

"You need to save yourself Regina, it's not too late, you showed your light side when you helped me, I know it was magic, but you're not that powerful yet, if my Brotherhood found out I'll be stripped of my title, I'll possibly be banished. Where did you get it?"

"I…can't tell you"

Disappointment etched Amelia face as she turned away from the Queen and leap onto the edge of the railing. And turned back to Regina, perfectly balanced on the railing "You need to have more faith in yourself Regina, things can get better, if you let them get better. There are two paths in front of you, take a leap of faith" Amelia outstretched her arms to her sides, bend her knees and leapt backwards off the ledge and fell.

Regina ran to the balcony and caught herself on the railing and looked down to see Amelia fall into a cart full of hay parked inside the courtyard. Amelia disappeared for a second before jumping back out unharmed brushing hay out of her hair and outfit. The red-head turned to see the Queen watching her in disbelief and bowing lowly at the waist at her before walking out of the palace.

Neither knew that this wouldn't be their last encounter with one another. Neither knew how both their destinies intertwined in one another. They would each have to go down their own dark and long paths.