The next morning, Regina takes Emily to the stables, where she plans on getting the woman to go riding with her. Even though, she knows Emily is wary of the animals.
"So, I was thinking" she says seriously, as she pets her horse and looks to Emily. Who is standing well away from the horse. "Its a lovely day, and I would like to go riding"
"Oh" Emily mutters back, with a frown.
"Would you join me?" Regina then asks softly, whilst looking over to Emily.
"Um, Well" Emily eyes widen, before adding "You know, I've never rode a horse before. I wouldn't want to slow you down"
"You wouldn't slow me down dear. I'd really like you to join me and well, if you do not want to ride by yourself. We could ride together, I won't let anything happen to you"
Emily swallows thickly, at Regina's words and earnest look. Her heart picks up its pace and she's not sure if its the thought of getting on a horse or because of the way Regina's looking at her.
"Please come over here" Regina then asks softly, and Emily slowly steps forward, until she's standing next to the queen.
She eyes the horse, which is just standing there, nudging Regina's hand.
Regina then, moves her free hand to take Emily's, and she places it upon the horses neck.
"He won't hurt you, I promise" Regina tells her softly, and lets go of Emily's hand.
Emily then tilts her head, and starts rubbing the horses neck.
The stand in silence for a long moment, whilst Regina watches Emily.
"He seems to like that" she then remarks, and Emily smiles.
"Yeah, maybe his not so bad after all" she replies seriously, and Regina smiles back. She's hoping, that by getting Emily used to her horse, she may venture out with her.
"Do you want to feed him an apple?" Regina then asks, and Emma looks to her, unsure.
"He doesn't bite" she smiles, and reaches for an apple. Whilst Emily can't say no to that smile.
"Okay"
Regina then hands her an apple, and she shows Emily what to do.
The blonde reaches her hand out slowly, and the horse sticks his head out and begins munching away on the apple. While Emily watches with wide eyes and thinks, please don't eat my hand.
Once the horse is done, Emily looks to her empty hand, and counts her fingers.
The Queen chuckles at this and Emily looks over to Regina with a shy smile.
They then end up staring at one another for a long moment, before Regina steps back and takes a deep breath.
"So" she says cheerfully. "Now, that You've petted him and feed him. Do you think you may feel up to taking a ride out with me? I promise I won't go fast"
Emily then bites her lip, and looks to the horse, then back to Regina's hopeful gaze.
How could she say no to that look? even though, she was kind of scared about falling off or making a fool out of herself.
She then takes a deep breath and nods.
The wide beaming smile she receives in return, makes her swoon and think, whatever fate awaits me, it will be worth it for that look alone.
Ten minutes later, they are ready to go. The horse is saddled, and Regina gets upon it with ease and elegance.
Emily is slightly wowed by it. Before, she see's Regina reach her hand out to her.
"Get the stool, and I'll also help you on dear" she says, and Emily swallows thickly, whilst reaching for wooden stool and places it next to the horse.
She then pauses, before stepping onto it. She wonders, how she is going to manage to get on the saddle behind Regina.
However, she doesn't think much more about it, as the queen takes her hand and helps her on with ease.
Who knew Regina was so strong! Emily muses impressed, but she then realizes, that she is pressed against the woman's back.
Oh god, she thinks to herself, as all breath leaves her at the close proximity.
"Are you okay?" she hears the queen say in concern.
"Ye-ah" she squeaks.
"Are you sure? because I don't want to force you into something, that you really don't want to do" Regina then says softly, and Emily's heart melts a little.
"I know, I'll be okay once we get going. It will be nice to share this with you" she replies, and Regina ducks her head, with a small smile
"Okay" she replies softly, as she holds the reigns more tightly, before giving her horse a little nudge in the belly and he begins to walk.
This causes Emily to yelp, and she instantly grabs hold of Regina's waist and wraps her arms around her tightly.
This causes the queen to take a sharp intake of breath, as Emily clings to her.
She can feel the warmth and softness of the other woman against her, and she couldn't be happier about it.
While Emily feels embarrassed.
They then go out into the fields, but Emily doesn't pay it much attention. As she is just realizing, that she is literally hugging Regina from behind.
She begins to blush, whilst enjoying the feeling of the queen against her.
"This is not as bad, as I thought It would be" she says out loud, and Regina nods.
"Maybe, you would like to do this again sometime?" she asks.
"Yeah, maybe" Emily smiles.
"We could have a picnic" The queen suggests, and Emily's eyes widen and she swallows thickly. She would love that.
"That would be nice. Can we have cake?" she asks and Regina chuckles.
"Of course. Don't think, I haven't noticed your love for food"
Emily beams.
"Yeah, I have a bottomless pit of a stomach" she chuckles, whilst holding Regina a little tighter again.
"That you do" Regina chuckles back, with a pleased look upon her face.
Twenty minutes later, they make their way back to the stables.
Where a middle aged man, in a cloak is waiting for them.
"Mr August" Regina says in surprise, as the man pulls his hood down, and Emily's blood runs cold at the sight of him.
She's knows this man.
Mr August, then looks from the queen to the blonde woman, and his eyes widen in surprise. He then gapes at the blonde for a long moment.
Regina doesn't notice however, as she's trying to help Emily dismount the horse.
"Oh, um, thanks Regina" Emily mutters, as she clumsily gets off the horse. Before, watching the queen dismount with ease.
Regina then faces August.
"So, what do I owe the pleasure of your appearance?" she asks, with a smile.
However, August is still staring at Emily in shock.
Emily meanwhile, wants a hole to swallow her whole right now. As she puts her hands up slightly. Gesturing for August not to say anything.
Regina frowns, at the man's expression.
"What is going on here?" she then asks seriously, as she looks between him and Emily.
This snaps him out of his musing, and she stands tall and addresses the Queen.
"Nothing is going on your majesty. This woman here, is just very beautiful. Please forgive me"
This makes Regina's body stiffen. Whilst thinking, Yes, Emily is very beautiful. More than beautiful really, and she can't help but feel a little jealous, when someone else is making doe eyes at Emily.
"Fine. What brings you here?" she then asks, a little harshly. Which makes the man look at her a little strangely.
"I have news, it couldn't wait until our next arrangement. You will want to hear this"
Regina nods in understanding, before turning to Emily.
"I'm sorry dear, but I have to talk to August in private"
"Okay. I understand" Emily smiles slightly, whilst she has a terrible feeling about this.
"I have enjoyed this morning very much" Regina then tells her, whilst looking at her with soft eyes, and this makes Emily smile back. "Me too" she replies truthfully, and the Queen nods, before walking off. expecting August to follow, but he stays rooted to the spot for a long moment.
"Emma?" he whispers.
"Shhh, Please August" she begs "I'm Emily now. Please don't tell Regina, don't tell my parents that I'm here"
"I don't understand" he replies in confusion.
"Please" she begs, and then hears Regina shout out "Mr August, you are here to see me and me alone" in that harsh tone again, and August quickly follows after the queen, not wanting to anger her more.
Emma meanwhile, watches them go with a horrible feeling in her stomach. She begins to shake, and worries her time with Regina is coming to an end. That thought alone, makes her fall to the ground with a sob.
When the Queen and August enter the hall, she turns to him unimpressed with the mans behaviour.
"Spit it out, what you got to tell me?" she huffs, and he frowns.
"Your majesty, may I speak freely?" he asks.
Regina sighs.
"Go ahead"
"Before I met you, two years ago. I was told how terrible a person you are, by my then employer the whites. Who I may say, are awful people. However, upon meeting you. I realized it was not true. I then agreed to be a spy for you, and we have come to have an understanding. A confident even. Today however, you are acting coldly towards me. May I ask why?"
Regina then takes a deep breath, and looks away briefly.
"I don't mean too. I suppose, I just didn't like you making eyes at Emily"
August's eyebrows raise.
"The blonde woman at the stables?"
"Yes. She has become a friend of mine, and I am rather protective of her"
"Oh" he replies in surprise.
"Anyway, tell me what you've come to say" The queen changes the subject, not wanting to give away, that she feels more for the woman.
"Right. Well, as you know their princess has been missing for a long time now"
The queen nods.
"Well, they have always believed she was kidnapped. Which I don't believe for one minute" especially, since she is here of her free will, August then adds in his head.
Regina scoffs.
"They have always been controlling. No doubt they controlled her every move. I wouldn't blame her for running away" she then remarks.
August nods.
"Well, they now believe, that she is in your kingdom" he then tells her.
"Why would they think that?"
"New information"
"What has this got to do with me?" she then asks.
"They are going to send in their army, in five days time to find her"
"WHAT?" She shouts, now looking furious.
"They are going to search every village, until they find her or not"
"They can't do that, without my authority" she snaps.
"They know you won't give it to them"
She scoffs.
"Of course I wouldn't" she paces and adds "When the princess first went missing, they reached out to me. Thinking, I had something to do with her disappearance. They fretened to send in their army then, and to avoid a war, I had to invite them into my home, to convince them she wasn't here. And I know, for a fact, that they have sent their huntsmen, to look for her in a few of the villages since. But I overlooked that, as I didn't want to have to deal with those fools for another minute.
She then growls, and August takes a step back. As he had never seen the queen so riled up.
"I could crush their army in seconds" she then snaps, but then deflates "But what will that do? prove to everyone, that I am the evil queen, even though I'm not"
"As I see it, it is either have a bad reputation and start a war, or have them undermine your authority within the kingdom"
"War is the last thing I want. My people have suffered enough"
"May I suggest a third option?" August then asks, and Regina nods.
"Get in there first. Say, you are willing to let a handful of their men come and look for the princess. Then it is on your terms"
"But what if they find their daughter?" Regina frowns.
"Your concerned about her safety?" he asks in surprise.
"No, of course not" she looks away and adds "But I know what its like to be under the thumb. I pity her really"
Said the woman, who is actually friends with the princess, August muses to himself.
"Oh well, I will find a way" Regina then says with a sigh, and August steps back and bows.
"I am in your service" he says.
"And I appreciate, your dedication to your queen" she smiles back at him, and he nods, before taking his leave. Leaving Regina to stew in her thoughts...
Thankyou for following, favouriting and reviewing my story.
Next chapter, August gets to speak to Emma before he leaves and Emily has to Tell Regina who she really is...