The Evil Queen's Daughter - SEQUEL

Chapter 5

"Remind me again why we're walking? Couldn't we just, you know, poof there?" Her mother scoffed, "Walking is good for you. And so is vitamin D." They continued their journey in silence until Regina added, "And you were the one who convinced me to spend some time with you." She was right, the girl had been very excited to spend some one-on-one time with her.

"Don't get me wrong. I love the fact you and my dad are together now, like we're one big family. But..."

The queen stopped and nodded, as if she knew what Nila was trying to convey. Looking into her daughter's eyes, she smiled, "Don't worry, you're still my favourite."

"I thought a mother wasn't supposed to have favourites."

"They're not."

The sun was shining ever so brightly that day, and just made Regina wonder why she'd ever want to leave such a land. Yes, Storybrooke had its own benefits - flushing toilets, bottled water etc.- but it would never have the same natural beauty. And while the weather was warm and sunny, Nila couldn't help but feel an unexplainable chill. But her mother looked so happy, she didn't want to bring it up.

"Should we stop here?" The queen's voice rang loud and clear in the grassy fields, and her daughter couldn't help but notice how much younger she looked at that moment. Since defeating Zelena, the lines on her forehead had disappeared and she dressed in much less threatening outfits. Regina dropped the picnic basket onto the floor and used her magic to lay it all out in a very fancy-looking spread. Nila had never seen so much food.

There were all different kinds of berries, finger sandwiches made with freshly baked bread, ice-cold lemonade and even a lemon cake. "Woah." She gasped.

The queen smiled, "Just a shame we haven't got room for my lasagna." The girl wasn't exactly sure what this 'Lasagna' was, but it sounded fancy. She nodded as if she understood.

Nila sat down gracefully and tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ears, looking intently at the spread. The queen smiled, realising they'd skipped breakfast, "You don't have to ask, you know. Just help yourself." She hovered her hand over the plate of sandwiches, not knowing which to try first. When she had lived in the forest with Robin, they'd only eaten whatever the merry men could catch. Which usually meant a meal of pheasant, or a soup with vegetables in the winter. The food they'd had at the castle was totally delicious, yes, but at least the girl had understood what was in them. Anyone from their land could recognise mutton.

"What's in them?"

"Try one, and tell me what you think."

Nila nodded slowly before selecting one from the side nearest herself. There seemed to be some kind of orange-coloured substance inside, and it smelt rather like the jam she had tried at the castle. Cautiously, she brought it up to her mouth and took a small bite. It tasted sweet, like a desert, and she quickly associated it with fruit.

Regina noticed the smile that had crept over the girl's face. "Do you like it?" She asked.

"Very much so!" She replied, still chewing the sandwich.

"It's called marmalade." The queen explained. What a funny word! It made sense, the fancy name suited the food quite well. "It's made of oranges, and the strips in it are caramelised pieces of orange peel." She picked up one for herself and ate it within seconds. Noticing her daughter's shocked expression, she laughed "Sorry, I don't think I realised how hungry I was!"

They sat in the long grass for what felt like hours, constantly chatting and eating. Regina had to explain most of the foods to her, but when it came to the selection of berries, it seemed Nila had the better knowledge. It seemed growing up in the forest had its benefits, and so did living in a foreign land where the most exotic things existed.

"I wish I'd been brought over in your curse. Everything sounds so... different! And maybe I'd have found you earlier too."

The queen sighed, "I think it was for the best. The person I was then, it wasn't me. I was different, and not in a good way either. I wasn't in any position to accept you into my family." She paused, "No offence."

"None taken. I know it's a lot to take in. You know, the long-lost-daughter thing.

Regina was always amazed at the way Nila could understand her, and even forgive her after all the horrible things she'd done in the past. This girl had grown up hearing only the horrific stories of the great and terrible evil queen, and yet she still found a way to love her.

"Mum. Are you okay?" She snapped out of her trance, "What were you thinking about?" The girl asked her, looking at the queen with love in her eyes.

"Oh. Just. Henry." She lied, darting her eyes down to the floor. Suddenly, she felt a small hand on her knee. "You will get back to him, mum. I know it. And we can all be a family."

It was all the queen had wanted for a long time, to be a family. She wondered how Henry would react to the news about his new sibling - and more importantly, how he would react to Robin. She could almost see the scene in her mind: Roland walking into pre-school for the first time, surrounded by his brother and sister who were headed off to 7th grade. All while she sorted out town affairs in the mayor's office and Robin headed off to his first day down at the animal shelter. God, it sounded so perfect.

That was when they heard the sound of a portal opening. Well, Nila didn't immediately recognise it but her mother sure did. "Nila. Stay back." The queen instructed, her hair blowing around in the wind. "Stay behind me. We don't know who could come out of that portal. It could be anyone." The girl hid behind her mother and closed her eyes, she'd never seen magic this strong before, but it had a certain chill to it, like the one she'd experienced earlier that morning.

A woman emerged from the portal, tall and elegant. When Nila heard her mother gasp in fear, she suspected the worst. She conjured up the image of a monster, maybe a dragon, with flames shooting out of its mouth. But the girl was instantly disappointed when she opened her eyes. "Who is that, mother?" She asked, as Regina protectively wrapped her arms around her waist.

Nila watched as fear flashed across her face. "Someone I never wanted you to meet."

*Author's note - Who do you think it is? Remember to leave a vote and comment below x