The Queen and The Huntsman

Chapter Ten: Enter the Savior

Regina stayed home all day in case Henry came back while Graham went to every place in town he could think Henry would run to. She paced around her house, worried sick about her son. If she had magic in this world, the house would have burned down. She stood in front of the mirror in her foyer staring at her reflection. Abandoned by every man she's ever loved. Now Henry, her pride and joy, was missing and who knew if he would ever come back.

Why would Henry leave? I gave him everything he could ever dream of. Maybe I was too hard on him yesterday when I pushed him to finish his homework before his appointment with Archie. I should have just let him do it when we got home. Or maybe it was the way I yelled at him the other day when he talked back to me. He shouldn't have been so rude, but I know he's just struggling lately. What did I do wrong? Why would Henry ever want to leave?

Regina couldn't handle the pain she was feeling knowing her son would ever leave her. Then she started to panic.

What if Henry didn't leave? What is someone took him?

She froze. The muscles in her face grew tense as she thought of all the people that would ever steal him from her. No one in town knew of their past lives so they no longer had motives to accomplish such a horrible deed.

The Savior.

Regina backed away from the mirror upon seeing the anger that appeared on her face. The Savior was due to return to this land on her 28th birthday. She hadn't realized how much time had really passed until this moment.

28 years.

There was a knock at the door. Regina jumped, startled by the sound. She ran to the door quickly, hoping it would be Henry when she opened the door.

Graham stood there alone. The sun had gone down hours ago so the only sound that could be heard was the crickets. She groaned with frustration and turned back into her home. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Regina angrily paced while Graham remained in the doorway.

"If you haven't come with news about my son, I suggest you leave and continue your search," Regina spat at him.

The Sheriff stared at the frantic woman before him. He felt so deeply for her. He knew how much she was hurting, but had no idea how to comfort her. He stepped forward slightly, but paused mid-step when he watched Regina lean on the table below the mirror next to the staircase. This woman that always exuded strength and independence was falling apart at the possibility that her son was gone forever. He watched as tears rolled down her face yet her face only showed anger.

"Regina," he began as he moved closer to her. She turned to face him, the vein in her forehead pulsating as she stared at him with fire in her eyes. Although this side of her frightened him, he decided to continue his thought.

"Regina, I know you're upset and it's difficult to have hope right now, but as long as we believe Henry will come home, he will. I will do everything in my power to bring him home to you," he placed his hand on her shoulder.

Regina shrugged it away and groaned at him.

"What do you think this is? Neverland? Believing and having hope solves nothing! My son is 11 years old and nowhere to be found. We don't know where he is or why he left or if someone took him! But here you stand with your head held high speaking nonsense to me about 'believing' that he will find his way home. 'Second star to the right and straight on 'till morning,' right Graham? WRONG! My son is gone and the only Sheriff in this town has the nerve to stand in my home telling me everything will be all right. NOTHING is okay as long as I don't have Henry. So do your job and bring him home!"

There was the sudden sound of a car door slamming just outside. Regina looked through the window and spotted a yellow Volkswagen Beetle parked outside her home. She saw a woman with long blonde hair wearing a red leather jacket helping Henry out of the car. Her eyes lit up.

"Henry," she said softly before racing to the door. She swung it open with great force and charged at her son as he walked up the path to the front door. She wrapped her arms around her son so tightly and kissed the top of his head. Her heart pounded out of her chest. She couldn't have been happier to see him.

"Henry, are you okay?" she said, releasing him from the hug. "Where have you been? What happened?" she said looking from her son to the strange woman standing next to him.

"I found my real mom," he said and ran into the house. Regina stood there in shock for a moment. She turned to the woman and looked at her before speaking.

"You're Henry's birth mother?"

"Hi," the woman said with a shrug of her shoulders.

The awkward silence that lingered between the two women made Graham extremely uncomfortable.

"I'll just go check on the lad and make sure he's alright," he said and backed into the house.

Henry's birth mother. Of course. A person with the perfect motive to steal Henry away from me.

Regina was thrilled to have her son home and was thankful that this woman brought him back, but she was not about to lose him to her. Not after all she'd been through in her life.

"How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you ever tasted?"