Every Rose has a Thorn

WANTED

WANTED, Snow White, for crimes against the Queen. MURDER, TREASON, TREACHERY.

Heals clashed against the tile of the grand hall. A poster Rose had come across on her afternoon horse ride clutched in hand, knuckles turning white. It was painfully obvious a guard was following behind Rose as she nearly raced to Regina's chambers. It was after all their orders from Regina, follow the princess, no matter what. It wasn't in till Rose reached the chamber door that they decided to make themselves known. "Princess! The queen is not seeing guests!" The guard dressed in black barked, Another placing himself between the brunette and the door. Coming to a stop. "She will be seeing me." demand the girl, the two men seem to look at each other, probably deciding who to be more afraid of. "move." she demanded once more, the guard before Rose shuffles away, using all of her strength to push open the heavy wooden door herself.

"You-"  The rest of the words hang in the air, knowing what would leave her mouth wouldn't be as pleasant as she was taught to be. Regina sat at her vanity, chocolate eyes watched her step daughter through the vanity mirror. The two knew each other well, unlike many other people. Rose had always been different in Regina's eyes, special even. There was no preconceived notion of a mother for Regina to compete with, as Rose hardly remembered her mother. Rose was only six when Regina married the king. The already thin line between before and after her mother died started to dull and eventually disappeared.

Rose knew mostly everything, about the past. Regina was in love with Daniel, Regina told Snow. Snow told Cora, and in an attempt to make her daughter the queen, Cora killed Daniel. While most mothers say they would kill for their children, this isn't what many of them mean. It was clear, there was an underlying layer of resentment between Snow and Regina. But accusing her of murder and treason was a bit extreme.

"You're a liar." Rose growled, holding the flyer in the view of the mirror for her to see. Regina's gaze slowly fell to her hands that rested on the top of the vanity. Her long black hair slicked up into a ponytail, and she wore a black evening dress. "Snow did not commit treason against you or anyone, and she most certainly never murdered anyone." Rose said plainly. There was no warning to her sister's departure, if Snow had been in trouble, the first person she would have told was her sister.

"Rose.." Regina started slowly, her motherly tone slithering into her words as she spoke. Regina's voice wasn't filled with concern, more likely filled with annoyance. Rose wanted to reach out and strangle it. Regina slowly stood from her chair, turning to face her step daughter. Rose loosened her grip on the flyer as it floated to the ground, landing softly on the ground. "There is much more to this then you know." Brown eyes drowning in another set of brown eyes. Rose searching for an explanation, anything. Regina stepped over the poster that laid on the ground. Closing most of the space between the two of them. Her pointer finger traced Rose's cheek, it was cold. Like a foreign object she no longer found comfort in. Rose turned her head, leaving Regina's hand raised in mid air. She covered her shock well, letting her hand fall with a disappointed sigh. "I was a fool to think you'd understand."

"Snow left because of you.." Rose's voice was quiet. Regina didn't acknowledge Rose's revolution. She turned and found herself making a cup of tea. Her back facing Rose as she did so, although it was clear she was still watching. "You did this" Rose learned over and picked up the flyer, her sisters face above the word TREASON didn't make the slightest of sense. Rose circled the room at a wide angel, placing herself once again in front of Regina. Many people were afraid of Regina, especially after the king had died. Regina was vile, mean, and many other words, but never to Rose. If anything, Regina protected Rose to lengths she had never gone to protect anyone else but herself.

"I did what I had too." Regina said with a raise of her eyebrow. Her voice lacked emotions, her body calm. This was just another day for her, another passing moment. As if Snow running away was just passing gossip in the castle, as if it didn't matter.

"Is this about Daniel?"

Rose was adding gas to a fire, and it caught Reginas attention. Her head shot up. Eyes filled of rage, her grip on her cup tightened. Rose watched intently, but it looked like her stepmother needed more of a push. "She was ten." Rose swore she could have seen Regina roll her eyes.

"Get out." Her voice was somehow still calm. Rose was almost shocked, she knew she was standing on thin ice. Rose straightened out her ruby colored dress, before clasping her hands back together. Rose didn't remember much of Eva, her mother, she was so young when she passed. Regina was her mother in a way, they shared the same feeling of being second, and sometimes third, to Snow White. They became their own unit.

Standing still, Rose let the silence linger. Regina had seemed to move on, taking a sip of tea. "If I leave, I'm not coming back.." There was more silence. Regina wasn't thinking, she wasn't deciding if she was going to tell Rose to stay. She was waiting for Rose to go, to do as she said. With a flick of Regina's wrist, the door to her chamber flew open. An invitation for her to leave. Rose watched as Regina set down her tea before walking back towards her vanity.

Abandonment filled Rose's chest, as if she was just the shell of a little girl. Without another word, heals clicked against the tile as Rose exited from the room. Looking back over her shoulder, wondering if Regina felt even just the slightest hint of sadness. As she looked back, the doors closed before she could get one last look. As her eyes flashed between the guards and the door there was a rush of adrenaline, fear, anger. Rose wondered if her head would be placed next to her sisters on those wanted posters.

Rose found herself in the stables an hour later. Changed into her best riding clothes, something durable, as she didn't know what was ahead of her. Her horse, Amis, was already prepared for a long journey. Food, water, and one of the best saddles in the stable was placed on his back. Rose didn't question it, she simply mounted, before running out of the castle gates as fast as her young horse could carry her. For a second she looked back, her long raven hair flowing freely as she raced towards the forests. She could see a figure, watching her from a balcony. In her heart she knew it was Regina, but she couldn't turn back. She didn't want too, she needed to find her sister.