Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 103 - Cora

One Week Ago

Regina stood on her office by her desk, staring at a golden ring she held between her finger. She gazed at it then pressed it against her lips, her eyes shut.
"Remembrance of things past?" said Mr. Gold's voice from behind her.
Her eyes darted open. "What do you want?" she did to turn to him, but placed the ring into a little box.
"I need a favour." he stood at the door, leaning on his black walking stick.
She turned to him. "You need a favour from me?"
"Well, as you know, there are battery charges against me pending. I really don't relish the thought of spending any more time locked up in a cage. Now, someone with your influence can make the DA suddenly realise what a flimsy case they have." he walked towards the table. "Isn't that right, Your Majesty?" he picked up a ref apple from the bowl on the table.
"What do I get out of it?" she said after a moment.
He smiled. "Help with your Mary Margaret problem."
She raised her eyebrows and sat down at her desk.
He walked to her desk, the red apple in his hand. "You see, I've noticed that no matter how hard you seem to try to stop them, she and her charming friend just keep finding ways to be together."
"What are you suggesting?"
"If you want to inflict pain........." he placed the apple down in front of her on the desk and sat down opposite her. ".........then you must inflict pain....... If something tragic were to happen to David's wife, and if Mary Margaret should take the blame......."
"She'd be ruined."
"And you'd have your victory at last."
"A trial could be very messy."
"A trial? Now, who said anything about a trial?..... Now, once Miss. Blanchard has been incarcerated, you can plant one of your lovely skeleton keys in her cell. And when she tries to leave Storybrooke........well, we all know what happens to people who attempt to leave town."
She leabed forward. "Give me one good reason why I should trust you."
He got to his feet and took the apple. "Because I always honour my agreements........ Do we have a deal." he threw her the ripe, red apple.
She caught it and left a hint of a smile on her face.

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A younger, happier Regina rode a beautiful hazel brown steed through the green grass fields by the stables. Her dark hair was plaited back, she wore light blue riding clothes, boots and she wore a smile on her face. She show jumped over the wooden obstacles on her horse.
Near by her father stood. He too was younger, he had less greying hair, he was wearing fine, royal clothes and he also wore a smile on his face. "Yes." he exclaimed happily as the horse jumped over a high obstacle, Regina beaming excitedly.
He laughed happily as she continued racing around the mud tracked field. Then once she had done another lap she slowed down, her horse neighing as it trotted towards her father. She jumped from her horse and ran towards him.
"Ahh......that's beautiful, sweetheart." he put his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Daddy." she pressed her cheek against the horse's head.
Then an older woman walked towards them, dressed in a dark gown and cloak, with dark red lips, brown hair tyed back and wrinkling skin. Behind her a stable boy followed carrying a saddle. "Beautiful?" she scoffed. "I'd hardly call that beautiful."
"You didn't like it, Mother?" said Regina, her voice a little sterner.
"You ride like a man."
She glared at her.
"A lady should be graceful. You should use a saddle."
"I was just having fun." she smiled.
"Well, you're getting a little old for fun. Who's going to want to marry you when you behave like a commoner?"
Regina's father stepped between them. "Honey, please, leave her alone......." he started to say to her mother.
"Stop coddling her. She's becoming an old maid. All the other girls her age are married." she sighed deeply. "I had such high hopes."
The stable boy walked towards Regina. "My Lady, perhaps this saddle......" he held up the saddle.
"I'm done riding for today." she said walked away with her house and stopping in front of the stable boy. "And don't ever interupt me and my mother again." she glared at him.
Her mother smiled a little and the stable boy fixed up the horse and walked him back to the stables, glaring once more at Regina.
Regina sighed. "Why do you always have to criticise me?" she asked her mother.
"I'm not criticising you. I'm helping you."
She looked up at her and shook her head then walked away.
"Don't you walk away from me." she held up her black gloved hand, blasting magic from it, wrapping it around Regina and lifting her up above the ground, it preceded hard against her body preventing her from moving.
Her father attempted to stop her but she just eyed him threateningly.
"Oh! Mother!" she let out.
Her mother waved her hand and she was pulled towards her floating in the air.
"You know I don't like it when you use magic."
She chuckled. "And I don't like insolence. I'll stop using magic when you start being an obedient daughter."
She scoffed. "Why can't I just be myself?"
"Oh, because you can do so much more. Of you'd just let me help you."
"I don't care about status. I just want to be......"
Her mother clenched her fist and the leather satchels for the horse she was holding wrapped around her body tight. Regina gasped and for air.
"Cora, please." pleaded her father.
"Please, I'll be good." she breathed.
Cora unclenched her fist and Regina slowly let to the ground. "Excellent. That's all I wanted to hear." she smiled.
Tears filled in Regina's eyes as she glared at her fearfully. Then she turned and ran through the fields towards the stable from her parents.
She reached the stable, panting heavily. In the stable, the stable boy stood, bushing her hazel brown steed. He looked around at her when heard her heavy breathing.
"Daniel......" she stepped closer to the stable boy. "........I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"That's all right." he steped closer to her. "You'll just have to find some way to make it up to me." he stared with his blue eyes into her dark ones.
Then she leaded forward and pressed her lips to his and put her arms around his shoulders. They kissed one another in the dim light of the stable. Regina then broke away and stared into his eyes, then touched his lips with hers once more.

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Today

Emma walked from Granny's Diner and accross the footpath.
"Emma, hey." said David, walking towards her, an umbrella over his head.
"David, I don't have time." she said, walking accross the road along with David.
"No, no, I understand. It's Mary Margaret. How's she doing?"
"How do you think she's doing?"
"Well, I think the last time we spoke, she didn't quite get what I meant."
"Oh. You mean that you basically told her you thought she might be guilty." she took the keys from her pocket as she approached her yellow Bug.
"Look, it's this situation......"
Emma opened the door of her car and stood our side it, listening to David.
"........It's been confusing and horrible for everyone. But, Emma, I don't think she's guilty. I need her to know that. Can I see her?"
"She doesn't want visitors."
"You mean me. She doesn't want to see me."
"Honestly, David, I'm sure your hearr is in the right place. But the last thing she needs right now is words of encouragement from you." she stepped into the car.
"What does she need?"
"A miracle." she shut the door and turned on the engine.
David took one last look at her through the glass of the window then walked away through the bright streets of Storybrooke, the rain solfly pattering on his umbrella.