![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
katleept.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
tamingthemuseTitle: Furtive Glances in the Woods
Fandom: Once Upon A Time
Prompt: #399: Threadbare
Warnings: Het, SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!! FOR New York City Serenade
Rating: PG/K+
Summary:
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters mentioned within belong to their rightful owners, not the author.
"He smells like forest." Regina stole one more look back at the dashing Robin Hood before pointedly refocusing her full attention on the path to her castle. She might call it their castle when speaking, but she would always think of it as being hers. After all, she might never have wanted it, but she had had thrust it upon her by her mother. What had happened at and because of that castle and the title she had worn in order to have it had marked her life forever.
Of course, she had not told Snow any of that, and she wouldn't. She also would not tell her that she liked the scent of the forest, that its deep, husky smell so full of earth and greenery reminded her of Daniel and of happier days. She had ridden through this very forest alone many times, remembering what had been taken from her and aching to escape into its bowels. She was certain there was places in the woods into which she could disappear and never be found again. The thought was tempting even now.
She had told herself she wouldn't look back again, but she did as they turned another corner in the path. Snow White noticed her glance back and smiled to herself, but her eyes were already refocused on the pathway when Regina turned forward once more. The Queen mentally shook her head at herself. She knew better than this. Robin Hood held nothing for her, but yet . . .
Yet, she could not seem to stop herself from watching him, let alone thinking about him. There was something familiar about him, something upon which she could not yet place her royal finger. There was something beguiling about him, something that continued to lure her mind and eyes back to his body time and again.
He was a simpleton, she reminded herself, a simpleton and a thief and a scoundrel, all things she had never looked for in a potential mate. Furthermore, she did not need a mate, and there was not a man on this earth or in the time ahead from whence they had just come who was worthy to kiss her boots, very much less take her hand. Her soul mate was dead. He had died twice before her now. She would never see him again. He was gone for good, and her heart still ached for him every night.
She should have left her cursed heart back in the forest. Snow was wrong. There could be no happiness for her, not without Henry and without Daniel. She had no chance at a happy ending. She glanced over to Belle and Baelfire, who were whispering urgently back and forth. Rumpelstiltskin, as evil, wicked, powerful, and dead as he was, had a better chance at attaining his own happy ending than she ever would.
She pondered that that thought did not bother her as much as it once had. She could never be happy, and for the longest time, she had not wanted any one else to be happy because she could not. Yet now she almost wished that the Dark One was amongst them, celebrating his happily ever after with his true love and son. Regina scowled darkly. The rumors were right: She was getting weak.
But yet, she knew her son would call it a strength if he was here. He would be glad that she no longer wanted to take revenge on those responsible for ruining her happy ending, and he'd be happy that she no longer hated Rumpelstiltskin. Snow was right, too: Henry would not have wanted her to have buried her heart. That had been the only reason why she had kept it.
Now, however, that damned thing would not shut up. It still ached for Daniel, her father, and Henry most especially with each beat, but when she looked at Robin or he brushed near her, it really acted funny. It was almost as though it forgot to beat for a split second. She would have thought she might have done something wrong when she'd placed it back inside of her chest had she not been so adept at removing hearts.
She had done nothing wrong. It was just a stupid organ. Her dark eyes glanced furtively about her from underneath her lashes. No one knew she was being bothered. They all thought she was simply tired from their journey, missing her son, and furious that she had been forced to leave him behind for his safety. That was all true, but there was much more going on inside of her than any of them could ever know.
She watched Robin's men and considered each. John was still glowering at her. Why they called him "Little" John was beyond her conception. He was definitely anything but small. The men were all raggedy, their clothing threadbare, and their mannerisms quite surly. Regina told herself their leader was no better. Indeed, he wasn't, but yet when they changed their route, after finding her castle taken by another Sorceress, one whose power she was disturbed to admit could possibly rival her own, Regina found herself still watching him.
She liked the way he walked. His stride was full of power and confidence. His legs were built of strong muscles, but she reminded herself that they had grown in running from the law, probably, given the fact that he and Snow had both had wanted posters out at the same time, from her law. That thought was enough to finally make her stop watching him, but still she wondered.
She recalled Tinker Bell telling her that, even without Daniel, there was a happy ending out here for her. There was another who could be her true love, who could make her happy. She scoffed now as she had then. There was no happiness for her, not without Daniel and without Henry, not after all she had done. Rumpelstiltskin was right: Villains simply did not get happy endings, golden lions notwithstanding.
The End
Fandom: Once Upon A Time
Prompt: #399: Threadbare
Warnings: Het, SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!! FOR New York City Serenade
Rating: PG/K+
Summary:
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters mentioned within belong to their rightful owners, not the author.
"He smells like forest." Regina stole one more look back at the dashing Robin Hood before pointedly refocusing her full attention on the path to her castle. She might call it their castle when speaking, but she would always think of it as being hers. After all, she might never have wanted it, but she had had thrust it upon her by her mother. What had happened at and because of that castle and the title she had worn in order to have it had marked her life forever.
Of course, she had not told Snow any of that, and she wouldn't. She also would not tell her that she liked the scent of the forest, that its deep, husky smell so full of earth and greenery reminded her of Daniel and of happier days. She had ridden through this very forest alone many times, remembering what had been taken from her and aching to escape into its bowels. She was certain there was places in the woods into which she could disappear and never be found again. The thought was tempting even now.
She had told herself she wouldn't look back again, but she did as they turned another corner in the path. Snow White noticed her glance back and smiled to herself, but her eyes were already refocused on the pathway when Regina turned forward once more. The Queen mentally shook her head at herself. She knew better than this. Robin Hood held nothing for her, but yet . . .
Yet, she could not seem to stop herself from watching him, let alone thinking about him. There was something familiar about him, something upon which she could not yet place her royal finger. There was something beguiling about him, something that continued to lure her mind and eyes back to his body time and again.
He was a simpleton, she reminded herself, a simpleton and a thief and a scoundrel, all things she had never looked for in a potential mate. Furthermore, she did not need a mate, and there was not a man on this earth or in the time ahead from whence they had just come who was worthy to kiss her boots, very much less take her hand. Her soul mate was dead. He had died twice before her now. She would never see him again. He was gone for good, and her heart still ached for him every night.
She should have left her cursed heart back in the forest. Snow was wrong. There could be no happiness for her, not without Henry and without Daniel. She had no chance at a happy ending. She glanced over to Belle and Baelfire, who were whispering urgently back and forth. Rumpelstiltskin, as evil, wicked, powerful, and dead as he was, had a better chance at attaining his own happy ending than she ever would.
She pondered that that thought did not bother her as much as it once had. She could never be happy, and for the longest time, she had not wanted any one else to be happy because she could not. Yet now she almost wished that the Dark One was amongst them, celebrating his happily ever after with his true love and son. Regina scowled darkly. The rumors were right: She was getting weak.
But yet, she knew her son would call it a strength if he was here. He would be glad that she no longer wanted to take revenge on those responsible for ruining her happy ending, and he'd be happy that she no longer hated Rumpelstiltskin. Snow was right, too: Henry would not have wanted her to have buried her heart. That had been the only reason why she had kept it.
Now, however, that damned thing would not shut up. It still ached for Daniel, her father, and Henry most especially with each beat, but when she looked at Robin or he brushed near her, it really acted funny. It was almost as though it forgot to beat for a split second. She would have thought she might have done something wrong when she'd placed it back inside of her chest had she not been so adept at removing hearts.
She had done nothing wrong. It was just a stupid organ. Her dark eyes glanced furtively about her from underneath her lashes. No one knew she was being bothered. They all thought she was simply tired from their journey, missing her son, and furious that she had been forced to leave him behind for his safety. That was all true, but there was much more going on inside of her than any of them could ever know.
She watched Robin's men and considered each. John was still glowering at her. Why they called him "Little" John was beyond her conception. He was definitely anything but small. The men were all raggedy, their clothing threadbare, and their mannerisms quite surly. Regina told herself their leader was no better. Indeed, he wasn't, but yet when they changed their route, after finding her castle taken by another Sorceress, one whose power she was disturbed to admit could possibly rival her own, Regina found herself still watching him.
She liked the way he walked. His stride was full of power and confidence. His legs were built of strong muscles, but she reminded herself that they had grown in running from the law, probably, given the fact that he and Snow had both had wanted posters out at the same time, from her law. That thought was enough to finally make her stop watching him, but still she wondered.
She recalled Tinker Bell telling her that, even without Daniel, there was a happy ending out here for her. There was another who could be her true love, who could make her happy. She scoffed now as she had then. There was no happiness for her, not without Daniel and without Henry, not after all she had done. Rumpelstiltskin was right: Villains simply did not get happy endings, golden lions notwithstanding.
The End
