A Chance To Mend

Chapter 3: New Faces

Morning could not of come any slower for Regina. She got out of her tent going off of no sleep. "I'm starting to miss the coffee maker right about now." She sighed to herself and stretched her arms.

David came out of his tent next and had his hand on his neck trying to work out a knot that had formed over the night. When David's eyes were brought up the first thing he saw was Regina. They wouldn't say a word to each other.

Time went by and everyone began to wake up and bring down their tents. With Regina's lack of sleep she was in a very bad mood, and it felt like everyone was going in slow motion. "For goodness sake." She muttered.

"Someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" Snow asked walking by Regina. Regina clenched her fist holding back the rage that had built up over night.

"Don't. Not today." Regina simply said.

Snow paused looking at Regina, even though she wasn't looking back at her she could tell that she was being serious, and needed her space. Snow simply kept walking and began to help with the other people to get packed up.

Once everyone was all packed they began on the journey again to the castle. Regina walked a ways a head of them, keeping her distance. She could feel their eyes on her, watching her, just waiting for her to use magic, to turn into the monster she was before. Regina was fighting with herself over the matter. What if she didn't follow threw with her plan once she reached the castle. What was stopping her from reforming to what she was once before.

I believe in you.

The small voice played in her head. Henry's voice. That's what, she told herself. That's what convinced her not to go back to the person she was so long ago. She had to stay strong for him.

"Regina!" Snows voice got her out of her thoughts and she looked up at the beast flying towards her. "Run!" Snows voice carried in her head, but she didn't move.

"I don't run from monsters," Regina said to herself. "They run from me." A fire ball formed in her hand. She pushed her hand in a movement towards the winged beast and shot her fire at it. Her attempts fell short as the beast moved just in time. The animal shrieked at Regina and flew down towards her. Regina brought her arms over her head trying to protect herself but the beast clenched its claws around her arm and pulled her off the ground.

David drew his sword and began to run towards to beast. Before he could even reach her the beast had fallen. It had been shot. There was an arrow in its chest. "Milady" David heard a voice approaching Regina.

Regina looked up at the man in front of her holding his hand out for her to take. "You're injured." He said and Regina looked down at her arm where the beast had grabbed her.

"I'm fine. I'm not some damsel in distress. I had it under control." Regina said lifting herself off the ground.

"Clearly." The man nodded his head with a smirk.

"And who are you." David asked putting his sword back in his belt loop.

"Robin of Locksley, at your service." He said turning to David with a bow of his head.

"The thief." Regina sounded from behind him.

"If we're going to be throwing labels around." Robin said turning on the balls of his feat to face Regina. "Aren't you technically known as the evil queen?"

"I prefer Regina." She said lifting her chin and eyeing the thief.

"What was that thing?" Snow chirped in.

"I don't know." Robin said giving Regina one last smile before turning around and walking towards Snow. "I've never encountered the likes of it before." Regina gave him one more look down before she brought her eyes down to the winged beast behind her. It was nearly twice the size of her. She shook her head of the thought of it and walked over to where Robin was speaking with Snow and David.

"It doesn't likely matter as of now, does it? All that matters is getting these people back to the castle, back to safety." Regina said.

Snow looked at her shocked with the sudden change in her caring for the people who she used to terrorize when they were her villagers. "Right..." Snow said looking at Regina. She soon saw her arm. "Regina your arm!"

"It's just a scratch" Regina said pulling her arm away from Snows vision.

"No it's not," Snow said grabbing her hand and pulling her arm back towards her.

Regina flenched at the pain it caused.

"This is serious." Snow said inspecting the wound.

"Here," Robin said pulling something out of his belt. "I always bring some healing herbs with me. I'll rap Regina's arm, you go and explain what just happened. I'm sure they are probably terrified." Robin said looking towards the shaking villagers.

"Okay." Snow said nodding her head and turned to the villagers. David eyed the thief once more before turning to help his wife.

The thief brought Regina over to a fallen tree branch and had her sit down, sitting down himself after her. Robin was able to pull off the rest of the cloth from the sleeve of her dress from where the beast had ripped most of it off.

"And you're not?" Regina asked.

"Not what?" Robin said pouring some water from his canister to her wound.

Regina winced at the cool water. "Not terrified."

"Oh what I said to Snow before," Robin said putting his canister back in the sling he had around his shoulder.

"Yes, so why- wait how did you know her name, she never gave it to you" Regina asked.

"There was a time when our faces glanced wanted posters side by side. Your wanted posters to clarify." he said spreading the herb on the wound.

"Well I'm sure you deserved it." Regina said stiffening herself.

"Yes well to answer your previous question," Robin said grabbing and then rapping a piece of cloth he had tucked away. "I'm not terrified because I'm not." Robin said tying the fabric off in a knot. Robin stood up off the log and began to walk back to the group.

"But how?" Regina asked, because in all honesty she couldn't help but be a little scared herself.

"I don't allow myself to." Robin said and walked away.

Regina sighed, something about this thief got under her skin, just enough to irritate her.

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