The Pirate's Princess

Chapter 1 Ride

"Regina, don't be late to the stables, and don't ride too far from the castle," Cora says. "Yes mother," Regina nods, obediently. "I don't want you late for tea," Cora adds. The young Princess has reached 17, and wishes so many things for herself. Her mother has her own ideas for what Regina should be doing with her life. That day, however, Regina will meet two people, who will change her life for the years to come. 

Regina gallops through the fields, traveling a bit farther than she should have. She loved feeling of the air sweeping across her face, and the soft pollen scent around her. As Regina makes her way through the grass, feeling the horse under her, she comes to another clearing, and around the side of a tree, rides a man. 

She stares at him, jolting the bridle on her horse back, to halt him. He's older, with bright blue eyes, dark hair, and some scruff on his face, he doesn't seem older than 30, though his age was actually buried in his soul, while his visual appearance retained a youthful glow. He halts his own horse, and quirks his mouth up looking at the young beauty before him. "Well, pardon me," He says, with an accent. Regina shifts in her saddle looking at him. She stares at his clothes, he has a long leather jacket, draping over behind him. A red velvet vest, that opens towards the top of his chest, with necklaces hanging down across his chest. 

He possesses one earring in his right ear, and in place of his left hand, is a steel hook. Regina thinks for a moment, after drinking in his attraction, that he is certainly of no Royalty, but more, a Pirate. His sword on his hip hangs downward onto one side of the horse. "Apologies if I startled you lass," He says. "Oh, you didn't," Regina defends, letting out a sigh, he is indeed distracted by her beauty. 

Regina gets off the horse, signaling him she's not about to run off. He hops down, and shifts his sword on his hip, and she watches his swagger a bit towards her. She hasn't experienced this feeling before looking at a man. She felt nervous, but felt herself smiling at him, as she held the bridle of her own horse standing before him. 

"You're a ..... a...." She isn't certain she should call him what she was thinking. "I'm a Captain, first and foremost," he smiles. "A Pirate," she states. "mmm," he nods his head a bit, tilting it downward to look at her closer, "And I'm guessing you're of more noble birth," he says. "I'm.. daughter of King Henry," she says, nervously. "Well, a Princess then," he softly bows, "Captain Killian Jones," he says. Regina struggles to find the correct words, even though it's simply her name. "I'm... Regina," she breathes. 

He smiles again, "Are you supposed to be this far out and talking to strangers?" He asks. She smiles, "Well as long as I return in time for tea," She says. "Ah, Tea..." he smiles again. "Are you heir to the thrown, Princess?" He asks. Regina's thoughts travel to worry, she knows her mother must intend for her to marry someone of royal birth. She shakes her head gently, and looks up into his blue eyes, "You must travel all over, being a Captain," Regina says, "Mmm, I do," he nods. 

"How old are you?" Regina asks, "Well, that my dear is a difficult question to answer," he smiles at her. She looks at him curiously, "I'm a lot older than I look, 30, plus 200 or so," he smiles, honestly. "Oh," Regina's eyes widen, not understanding how a 30 year old man visually, could be 200 years old. "There are lands my dear, where you don't age," he says. "Oh," She smiles, wanting to know more, and suddenly in the distance, she hears a young girl screaming. 

She sees, not to far, a horse, running out of control, and the young girl holding on to the horse, "Help me!!!" She yells. Regina quickly mounts her horse, kicks her heels against him and gallops quickly off, following the screaming girl. Killian, while he may regret it, gets atop his own horse, and follows Regina. 

"Take my hand!" Regina yells at the girl, as she catches up to her and rides alongside, she pulls the girl onto her own horse. Killian gallops past them, as Regina slows with the girl. "Hyah!" Killian yells and catches up to the loose horse, he grabs the bridle and slows him, "Woah.." he says. 

"It's alright, you're safe now," Regina says, brushing off the young girl gently, "You.. saved my life, but I'll never ride again," she shakes her head, "Nonsense, the only way to overcome fear is to face it, and get back on that horse as soon as possible," Regina smiles. The girl stares at her, no more than 11, "Regina," she smiles at her, "I'm Snow, Snow White," the girl smiles and hugs her. 

Killian trots up, holding the reigns of Snow's horse, "Alright there lass?" he asks, "Yes," Snow nods. "I should take her back to the castle," Regina said. "Now?" Snow asks, "Sooner you get back on. I'll trot beside you," Regina smiles. Snow sighs, but trusts her. Killian hops off his horse, he helps Snow get back onto the horse, and Regina holds the reigns so the horse doesn't move. 

Killian steps in front of Regina, "I enjoyed talking with you," he says. "Are you leaving?" Regina asks, "In what sense?" Killian smiles at her, "Sailing away," Regina shrugs. Snow watches on, as the pair talk quietly, Regina shifting nervously in front of the Captain. Snow may be young, but can sense their attraction. "I am not due to leave this port for a while," Killian smiles. 

"Will you ride again out here?" Regina asks, "If I am to ride by a beautiful young Princess again, I would like to," he smiles. "Tea is at 4, I will be riding at 2," Regina hints, and smiles up towards him. He nods, "I'll be by that tree," he nods in the direction where they crossed paths first. Regina smiles, "Until then, Captain," she nods. He gently takes her hand, and kisses the back of it. "Princess," he smiles. 

"And Princess," He nods to Snow, and mounts his horse, flashing a grin once more at Regina, "Hyah," he rides off. Regina takes a deep breath, watching him ride off, his coat waving against the back of the horse, as he leaves her sight. Regina gets on her own horse, and rides Snow back to where she belongs, anticipating seeing the Pirate again, the next day. 

A/N -- Very excited to do this story, you'll see new dynamics between Snow and Regina in this and a lot of fun surprises. Long live Hooked queen.