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“Are you alright?”
Snow blinked, trying to get her bearings. Taking a deep breath she felt a twinge of pain along her lower back - the beginnings of a bruise.
She was laying flat against the forest floor. A moment too late she’d heard a horse galloping towards her, and fallen after tumbling backwards in an effort to clear the path.
It was clumsy, Snow knew. But she hadn’t expected so swift a rider, not in this part of the woods.
As she looked up, her gaze met that of a young woman - probably only a few years older than Snow herself. Her hair was dark, eyes impossibly darker, and her brows were creased in open concern.
Snow swallowed and felt her face warm.
“I’m fine.” she said.
The woman reached for her, helping pull her to her feet. Their hands touched as Snow stood and righted herself.
Better than fine, she thought as she took a better look at the woman before her.
A smile pulled at her lips.
“You’re sure?” the woman said again, brows furrowed “Rocinante and I didn’t see you. This trail is usually empty.”
Snow’s attention went to the large brown horse standing behind the woman. Steam puffed from his nostrils in the autumn air.
“Truthfully, I’m not even supposed to be out,” she continued “My mother will be furious.”
Snow’s gaze shifted back to the woman.
“Don’t you mean worried?”
The woman froze. Then, abruptly, she shook her head and nodded.
“Yes. Worried. After all it was not so long ago that the princess went missing.”
Snow laughed.
“Missing? How do you know she’s missing? Maybe she knows right where she is.”
The woman’s eyes went wide.
“You mean ran away?” she said in an almost scandalized whisper.
“Could be” Snow replied.
The woman turned, hands wringing. But when she looked back there was a spark in her eyes.
“Do you really think she did? Just left? Got away from it all?”
Snow’s smile widened. She liked that spark. She wanted to see more of it if she could - see if she could get it lit and burning until fire flared between them.
“Perhaps,” she said with a shrug. “Maybe she didn’t like being a princess. All those etiquette lessons and dress fittings?” She scrunched her face in a look of distaste.
It had the desired effect and the woman laughed.
Snow’s chest went light at the sound, her stomach pulling tight.
“Can’t blame her for that. I think we all have a limit of how much we can play at being the perfect noble before we want to disappear.”
“So, um, I caught your horse’s name, but I don’t think you gave me yours” Snow’s voice became softer as she spoke, feeling unexpectedly shy.
“Oh!” The woman smiled and held out her hand, “I’m Regina.”
Snow took her hand and shook it lightly. For a moment she remembered the storybooks back in the palace library - the ones that told epic tales of knights and maidens and romances started by pressing gentle kisses against knuckles.
She swallowed and looked away.
“And what should I call you?” Regina asked as their hands fell apart.
“What?”
Snow felt a moment of panic wash over her. How long had it been since she’d spoken with someone new, someone who didn’t know her, someone she wanted to know.
“Oh um Mary- I mean Margaret!”
Regina tilted her head and quirked an eyebrow.
“Hmmm, I see.”
Snow went rigid at her slip wondering if Regina would press her or maybe decide to make a polite exit and avoid this part of the forest moving forward. She didn’t like either option. She didn’t like any option that meant she wouldn’t see Regina again.
But Regina’s eyes narrowed and lit up with the same spark as earlier.
“How about I just call you Mary Margaret?”
A wide smile spread over Snow’s face and she nodded.
“Yes! Perfect! I’m Mary Margaret. It’s very nice to meet you, Regina.”
Regina smiled. “Nice to meet you too. Though I’m afraid I really do need to be getting back.”
She started to turn away, already reaching for her saddle.
But Snow felt a flash of desperation at the thought of Regina leaving. Though the woods had been a freedom for her since she’d snuck out of the castle and away from her position as princess, it seemed for the first time that they would be lonely if Regina left now.
“Wait!”
Regina turned back to face her, brows raised at the sudden outburst.
“Do you come here often?” Snow asked eyes darting from Regina to Rocinante to various trees around them. Her face burned, though the forest air was cool and crisp
“Do I come here often?” Regina repeated slowly as if she didn’t understand.
Snow inwardly cringed but pressed on.
“Yes, I uh, was wondering because if you do, maybe I could start coming her often too. Maybe we could even come here often at the same times…if you wanted…” She trailed off as she spoke growing more uncertain with each word. Regina still looked confused.
A moment passed in silence.
Then, though Regina’s confusion did not entirely fade she smiled.
“I’m not allowed to ride alone very often.”
Something in Snow’s chest stretched and burst in wave of disappointment.
But as quickly as it came the disappointment vanished, because Regina’s smile grew more certain, and Snow could see the spark in her eyes flashing.
“But when I am, I suppose I could find my way here again.”
Then without another word she turned, mounting Rocinante and trotting off and away down the path. And as she went she shot a few stray glances over her shoulder where Snow White remained on the now vacant trail - already imagining their next meeting.