The Chance Encounter

part seven

Chapter 7

Emma’s POV

Fast forward to 2 weeks later

Every night I return to the same spot at the Tavern, hoping and praying she’d return. It’s not until today where I’ve been graced with the gorgeous brunette’s presence. I was by the lake in front of the tavern with Cookie, so she could get a drink of water after the long ride here. Shortly after I heard the galloping of another horse getting close, that’s when I realized it’s her.

“Regina?” I questioned, dumbfounded after not seeing her for so long.

“Emma!” she sighs in relief.

“What took you so long? I wasn’t sure if I should even be coming back here after waiting so long for you to return.”

“Well, I’m glad you did. I am surprised that you have continued to show after I haven’t turned up.”

“Let’s just say I was hopeful that you would. So, um, What made you finally decide to venture out here after so long?”

“I realized I could use a friend after all.”

Great, we haven’t known each other that long and I’m already in the friendzone. I’ve managed to turn straight girls, and yet Regina is bisexual, and somehow I’m friendzoned.

“Well, I’m happy you thought about me,” I said defeatedly.

“I don’t think I have much of a choice. I have shared more with you about my personal life, than I have with my own mother.”

“The one that… um. You know.. Killed your fiance?” I say with a stutter, unsure of whether it’s too sensitive of a topic to make jokes about.

I could see the slight pain in her eyes. “Yes, but she wasn’t always like that, you know. She used to be nice. Especially when I was growing up. I wasn’t short of anything I wanted. She was just always busy, though. My mother had her own dreams and expectations for me. She wanted me to live the life that she wanted for herself, but didn’t have. I didn’t share that dream with her. So, I started to rebel, and that’s when she began to control my every move.”

I hold her arm and give it a light squeeze, reassuring her that she has my support.

“She wanted me to marry a King that was 40 years older than me for power. She set her plan up so perfectly, to the point where, when the daughter of the King was riding close by to us and made her lose control of the horse. She knew I was in the stables close by and would run to save the girl, which I did. I didn’t know who the girl was or who her father was. However, now that she was saved by me, her father was indebted, and when he saw a glimpse of me, he wanted to marry me. Before we could go through with the wedding, I made a plan with Daniel to run away with me so we could get married, however Snow White, the princess, caught us. She promised to keep Daniel a secret, but my mother manipulated her into telling her my plans. She found out that I was in love with Daniel, my fiance, who she insisted that I would never marry. She couldn’t accept him because he was a mere stable boy, and we were supposed to be royalty. Eventually, she got her wish” I said softly.

“Regina, I am so sorry you had to go through this. I can’t imagine the pain you’ve gone through.”

“Emma, I’m not a good person. I think if you learn more about me, you might hate me.”

“I could never hate you, Regina. Nothing you say would make me feel that way. Wait, does this mean, you, you’re the Queen?”

I watch her nod her head giving me a shameful smile. I cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb across her cheek for comfort.

“Every day of my marriage, I was abused” she whispers. Her eyes become glossy as the memories come back. “He wanted me to give him an heir, but I wasn’t getting pregnant. After months of going through this, I made up a fake affair and started writing about it with hopes that he would divorce me for cheating. That wasn’t the case. He was going to kill me. He almost had, until a guard saved me, by killing him.”

I pulled her into me, hugging her tight. “None of this is your fault, Gina. You were suffering. You needed saving, and then you were saved.” I say softly into her ear. I feel her shaking and her tears begin soaking into my shirt.

“Thank you, Emma. It’s getting late, so I can’t tell you more. Tonight we part, but I promise you’ll see me again. Soak in what I’ve told you, take some time to decide if you still want to speak to me. If the next time I come and you aren’t here, I’ll know my answer. Just know, I won’t hate you if you feel the need to distance yourself from me.” With that she kisses my cheek and we part for the night.

“I’ll see you again” I whisper into the cool night air.