"I'm heading out now, Graham. I will not be long" Regina says, as she grabs the reins of her beloved brown horse.
"I should hope so, you have a meeting with your advisors at midday" the young man calls out, as he watches the Queen, mount her horse.
"I have not forgotten" Regina replies with a huff. Before, guiding her horse out and on, into the fields. Where she can get away from her troubles for a while.
She had never felt more alive, than when she is riding out and with the wind in her hair. It was freeing. Freeing from her responsibilities, that she never wanted to have. It was an escape. Even, if for only a short time.
And after a while, Regina comes to the edge of one of the fields. Where she looks into the dense forest beyond it.
There is nothing there, but trees and the smell of damp.
Not a place she wishes to venture into, especially with the wolf packs residing within them.
However, just as she's about to turn her horse around and head back. She see's movement beyond the trees.
She leans forward, trying to see what it is and it takes another minute, before she can see the outline of a person.
The person, seems to be staggering about and then abruptly stops and falls to the ground.
Regina's eyes widen, as she watches, what looks like a woman fall to the ground.
She then, thinks about turning back, and leaving the woman to whatever fate comes to her, but something stops her.
She takes a deep breath, and demounts her horse.
"Wait here Roc" She tells her horse, and then flicks her wrist. Making her disappear into a cloud of purple smoke, and she appears next to the woman on the ground.
She's wary of her surroundings, as she approaches slowly and looks around to make sure this is not a trap.
It makes another minute, before she is satisfied, and then leans down, moving long blonde hair out of the woman's face.
She then checks for a pulse, and its a steady one.
She must just be exhausted and lost, Regina thinks to herself with a huff and she stands up to looks around again, before deciding to take the woman back to the castle with her.
"Do you know what time it is?" Graham snapped, as he saw the Queen approach the stables. It had taken longer for the queen to get back, as she had put the woman over her horse saddle, whilst she walked beside her horse back.
"Is it midday already?" she sasses back, annoyed.
"Yes, your advisors are getting restless"
"They can wait. This is not the first time, I have made them wait" she replies seriously and rolls her eyes.
"I know you are not fond of these meetings, yours majesty, but they are necessary" she replies sternly, whilst thinking, that is an understatement.
Graham then notices a woman, draped over the Queen's horse.
"Who's the girl?" he asks.
"I haven't a clue. She collapsed just beyond the field. I did think about leaving her there, but here we are" she sighs and pats her horse's neck.
Graham then tilts his head, and looks at the Queen curiously.
"Get her to Mrs Lucas and seen too. I shall be in the hall" The queen then tells him and she then flicks her wrist, disappearing into a cloud of purple smoke. Leaving Graham to deal with the woman.
It is a few hours later, when the woman opens her eyes and immediately sits up, ready for a fight.
However, she is greeted by an old woman, who is looking at her with wide eyes.
"There's no need for that child" the woman says, gesturing to the other woman's raised fists.
"Oh" she lowers her hands and looks around. Noting, that she is in a grey room, with what looks like medical items scattered around.
"So, what shall I call you?" the older woman asks.
"Um, Emily" she lies, as she doesn't want anyone to know who she really is.
The older woman looks at her curiously.
"How did I get here?" Emily then asks.
"Apparently you collapsed, and the Queen brought you here"
Emily gasped.
"The Que-en?" she stutters.
"Yes, what other Queen do you know around here?" the older woman chuckles.
Emily then goes quiet, and looks down, whilst whinging her hands together. She doesn't know if the Queen recognised who she really is, and if she did, she's in big trouble.
"How are you feeling now?" the old woman asks, which makes Emily look up.
"Okay. I am a little hungry" she replies. Its an understatement. As she hasn't eaten in two days, and had got lost in that damn forest.
"Yes, I suppose you are. Come child, can you stand up?"
Emily's eyes widen.
"I think so, why? where are we going?" she asks in concern.
"To the kitchens. You need to eat, to build your strength up"
"Oh" Emily begins to get up, but stumbles.
"Here, take my arm child. We shall have you feeling better in no time"
"Thanks, um, what is your name?" Emily asks softly.
"Mrs Lucas"
Emily nods, and is then lead out of the dark room.
Emily sighs in contentment, after having a big bowl of broth and bread. Followed by a small piece of cake.
She hadn't eaten this well in some time.
"Feeling better child?" Mrs Lucas asks, whilst stepping over to pick up Emily's empty plate.
"Much"
"Make sure you drink up" Mrs Lucas points to the cup of water.
"Thanks" Emily smiles slightly, and picks up the cup to take a sip.
"So, um, what shall happen to me?" Emily then asks, whilst her knee begins to move up and down in a nervous action.
"What do you mean?"
"What will the Queen do with me? I have heard stories about her burning down villages and killing families and children"
Mrs Lucas scoffs.
"You shouldn't believe everything you hear"
"Really?" Emily tilts her head.
"All that wasn't her doing, not directly"
"Then who's was it?"
Mrs Lucas sighs.
"I shouldn't be telling you any of this, but I do not like people thinking bad of her. You see, she loves and feels things so deeply. That sometimes, she can be taken advantage of and that's what happened" she shakes her head at the memory.
"Taken advantage by who?" Emily asks in curiosity.
"Have you ever heard of a woman called Mallory the dragon lady?"
Emily shakes her head. Although, she had heard her parents mention the name.
"She was a whole lot of trouble that one. She made the Queen believe she was something she was not. Very good at it she was too"
"But you saw who she really was?"
"Of course. The Queen wouldn't have a bad word said about her though and that woman really did a trick on her. Especially mentally. It took years for the Queen to get back to some kind of normal, after that woman disappeared. Everything that happened was on Mallory's orders, as the Queen had handed her control of ritually everything, after her mental episode, of which Mallory caused"
"She sounds like a real piece of work"
"That she certainly was, and do you really think, if the Queen was that evil, she would of brought you back here and have you eating in her kitchen?"
Emily blinks and thinks, she's got a point. Whilst watching, as Mrs Lucas busy herself about the kitchen.
Upon nightfall, Emily is lead to a room by one of the castle guards, and she looks confused.
"The Queen, says you may rest here tonight, and that you are free to leave upon sunrise" the guard informs her.
"Oh, right. Thanks" Emily frowns, and watches as the guard then turns and leaves.
She then takes a deep breath, before stepping into her room for the night.
There is big windows, a bed with blankets, a dresser and chair. It's rather nice.
She then, steps over to the window and looks out, and is wowed for the view of the grounds and forest.
She then jumps, upon hearing a knock upon the door. She instantly turns around, watching the door open and a young girl in a maids uniform appears, holding a large jug of hot water.
"Hello miss" the girl timidly says, and Emily is confused.
"I'm violet. The Queen has requested, that I fill the bath for you" she then walks off, towards what looks like a side room but must be a bathroom.
Emily is surprised by this, and stands for a good minute, wondering what the hell is going on.
Violet then reappears with a soft smile.
"It is ready for you now. There is also a set of clean clothes within the dresser if you wish to change" she then goes to leave.
"Wait" Emma calls out and Violet turns around expectantly.
"Um, tell the Queen thanks for doing all this for me"
Violet then nods and leaves.
Emma then shakes her head in amazement. The so called Evil Queen, was not so evil after all.
She heads over to the dresser, and is surprised to find a pair of pants and a white top made of the finest cottons.
How did she know? Emily thinks to herself, and then looks down at herself and thinks duh, I'm wearing pants.
She then, quickly moves into the small bathroom and instantly smells lavender.
She wonders where the smell is coming from, but then see's a few scented petals in the bath tub.
She then shakes her head in amazement, before quickly striping off and jumping into the warm tub.
She then, sighs in contentment for the second time that day, and she can't remember the last time she had a decent clean. Having had to go into lakes and rivers, for a wash these last few months.
She sits there for a long time, until the water goes cold. Before then, jumping out and picking up a white cotton towel.
Its so soft, and she hugs it close to her body and smiles. As she had missed these little comforts.
She then gets dressed, before heading back into the main room and to the window.
Where she contemplates on what to do next...
Thanks for reading my new story everyone and I'm hoping to update regularly.