V IS FOR VENDETTA

Prisoners

Lena licks her lips and nods curtly before closing her eyes and peering into Regina's mind where there are a thousand tragic facets of her life that Melaena has always been one of the few people privy to, but she opts to go with one that she won't have to suffer herself. At least, not too much.

Her eyes never stray from his unaware body as he leads Rocinante into the stables that rest atop of the grassy bank she climbs, and she admires the way the sun picks out the blonde in Daniel's fair hair. The heavy satchel dangling across her body reminds her that this is the start of forever for them, that she will finally be free from her mothers clutches.

She stops in the doorway and watches him saddle her prized steed, smiling brightly when he finally notices her.

"You're ready?" He asks, taking her hands in his own that already shake with excitement as she nods enthusiastically.

"I'm ready." She seals her promise with a chaste kiss that sends butterflies awry in her stomach just like it was the first time their lips had met. A light blush that she has grown to adore tints his cheeks and he makes to help her onto the thoroughbred, only for the colour to drain from his face at the sound of her mothers voice.

"You could have at least left a note." Cora tuts as she steps into the barn, far too calmly for Regina's comfort. "I did not make the sacrifices I did in life to get you to the cusp of greatness, only for you to end up the wife of a stable boy."

"But it's my life!" Regina cries, her eyes already brimming with tears of fright.

"You foolish girl!" Cora laughs haughtily "It's mine. After all I had to do... The deals I had to make to get us out of poverty, to get us this life, and you just want to toss it away?"

"Your magic can't keep us apart." Regina insists, taking his hand to anchor herself to his strength. "I love him."

"And I her." Daniel reassures as he steps to his lovers side, curling an arm around her waist.

"And I love her, too."

Regina scoffs sadly. "If you loved me, you wouldn't try to keep us apart."

"And if you loved me, you wouldn't try to run away." Her mother rebukes, but she shakes her head adamantly.

"I'm sorry, mother, but this is my happiness. We're going."

"No, you're not."

"So, what's your plan? You're going to keep us here forever? Because that's what you'll have to do."

The ultimatum hangs heavy in the air for a while, and Regina doesn't notice the sudden shift in her mothers approach. "So, this is... Your decision? This will make you happy?"

Even in the face of her captor, she can't stop the beginnings of a smile from twitching her lips. "...It already has."

Her mother gulps, closing her eyes and shaking her head softly, shoulders sagging with the first signs of relenting. "Then... who am I to stop you?"

A shaky breath of relief escapes Regina and she darts forward into the elder woman's arms. "Thank you, mother."

Cora tenderly touches her cheek and offers a small smile before extending a hand to the stable boy.
"Daniel. If you want to have a life together, a family... Then, there's one important lesson I can impart on you- It's what it means to be a parent. You always have to do what's best for your children."

Within seconds she has used her grip on his sleeve to tug him towards her and plunge her hand into the cavity of his chest, tearing out the beating organ and clutching it tightly between her skeletal fingers.