Chapter Text
I was listenin' to the ocean
I saw a face in the sand
But when I picked it up
Then it vanished away from my hands, dah
~
Freedom. What a lovely word. But far, far away, somewhere in the abyss, too hard to catch. Regina has never had a taste of freedom. First her mom and now these castle walls along with her husband and stepdaughter.
“Regina!” Snow bursts into her room and Regina flinches. The girl had obviously never heard of the word privacy.
Regina plasters a smile on her face. “Yes?”
“Let’s go out!”
Regina looks down at her book and then reluctantly sets it on the bedside cabinet. “Alright, dear,” she says and gets up like it doesn’t take all of her energy.
No one stops them as they ride out of the palace gates, after all, they are queen and princess. Riding reminds Regina of Daniel every single time, it’s a stab of pain to the heart every single time.
Regina clenches her jaw and rides on, trying to make the feel of the wind whipping her hair drown out the memories of Daniel.
They’re riding through the forest when they’re attacked.
An arrow shoots past them and embeds itself into the tree. Regina comes to a pause, turning Rocinante around to face their attackers. Snow brings her horse to a pause beside Regina as well.
There are five men on horses, their faces covered with hoods. Outlaws. They saw the queen and princess alone and want to rob them. Do they realize that the penalty for that will be death? But she guesses they’re good at hiding and running.
“What do you want?” Regina demands in her queenliest voice.
One of the men shoots another arrow but the man at the very front catches it. He removes his hood. Regina bites back a gasp. It’s Robin of locksey.
He gets down from his horse and bows. “Your grace.”
Regina just stares at him, daggers shooting from her eyes.
Robin continues, “Forgive us.”
Regina’s lips curl up in an evil smile. “You really think your useless apology is enough after you tried attacking the queen and royal princess?”
Robin ducks his head. “Of course not, madam. What can I do?”
Suddenly, Regina feels terrible. He is genuinely sorry. She cannot make him pay for that. “You’re forgiven,” Regina blurts out.
Robin’s head snaps up. “Pardon?”
Regina clears her throat. “I said, you’re forgiven. Now leave before I change my mind.” She says that knowing that she’s not going to change her mind no matter how long they stand here.
The other men turn their horses and depart but Robin keeps standing in place. “If you approve, madam, I would like to buy you a drink in the form of an apology.”
“She’s married,” Snow says loudly.
Regina looks sharply towards Snow and suddenly she wants nothing more than to let Robin buy her a drink — out of spite for Snow and the king. But she can’t say that in front of Snow or she’ll tell the king. Regina thinks quickly. “How dare you? You will be punished for even suggesting this. Meet me here at midnight today and I will personally decide your punishment.”
Robin looks taken aback. “Alright, Queen Regina,” he stammers.
Then Regina and Snow turn their horses and ride off.
At midnight, Regina slips out of the castle. She wears a cloak that has a hood covering her face. She cannot be seen out and about at this time.
Robin’s waiting for her at the same spot. Regina dismounts Rocinante and removes her hood from her face. Robin gets down on one knee and greets her, “Your grace. What is my punishment to be?”
“I buy you a drink.”
He looks up. “I’m sorry?”
“I cannot tell you more. Come, I know a place.”
Regina leads him to a bar that’s the least crowded at this time and they settle down on one of the seats in the corner. Regina has her hood on again.
A waiter comes to ask them what they’d like and Regina asks him to get two beers.
As they drink, Robin tells Regina about his life. Regina keeps her information to a minimum and only speaks when absolutely needed. When they’re both finished, Robin gets up and asks for her hand. Regina doesn’t take it and instead starts walking out of the bar.
As soon as Regina’s out of the doors of the bar, Robin right on her heels, a girl blocks her way.
Regina pauses. The girl removes her hood. She has blonde hair and green eyes. Regina doesn’t look away — could not have looked away even if she tried — the girl is too beautiful.
“Yes?” Regina says, finally finding her voice.
“Uhh…” The girl looks stuck, and suddenly very frightened. “Nothing, I’m sorry,” she says and dashes away, leaving Regina to stare after her in a daze.