OQ One Shots (#OQPromptParty)

Prompt 54- Dark!OQ Take In An Abandoned Baby

The Queen

I awoke to a sharp slam on the castle doors, making me jolt awake and shove Robin who was slumbering beside me. He hastily jumped to his feet and fumbled for his bow and arrow before following me down the staircase and into the main hall where the large wooden doors sat. I watched the heavy rain come down and even the stone floors chilled my bare feet.

"I'm coming!" I shouted, racing towards the door while Robin stood guard behind me, I flicked my wrist and watched the heavy wood swing open, revealing nothing, just a small wooden box sitting on the step, dry as a bone despite the pouring rain. A small and helpless cry came from inside the box, making me gasp and immediately reach inside and scoop the small baby into my arms, rushing back inside where Robin gazed at me with a stunned expression.

"Put the arrow down and light the fire." I demanded, both of us scurrying upstairs into my chambers where I immediately pulled the flannel off the bed and sat down in front of the now crackling hearth.

I gazed down at the little girl in my arms and began to peel off the cold, thin cloth from around her and bundle her warmly in the soft blanket, rocking her softly. I looked up at my husband helplessly and began to chew on my bottom lip, taking in how tiny she actually was.

"I went back down and found this note." Robin offered nervously, both of us completely terrified with this small human who was relying on us so greatly. 

I quickly scanned the contents of the note, telling me that she had been born earlier that night, and that the mother had traveled far to leave her on this doorstep, claiming that this wasn't the life she had pictured for her baby, or herself. A disgusted feeling began to fill in the pit of my stomach, my head reeling on the fact that this woman found an excuse to abandon her newborn baby, and never look back. Rage and disgust now filled my veins, and I knew I needed to find this woman who had done this to her.

"Regina." Robin immediately warned, causing me to snap my head over towards him and swiftly hand the baby over. "Just hold her, I need to do something." I sharply muttered, storming off in my robe to try and formulate a plan to find this sorry excuse of a woman.

"Regina! Wait!" He now called, but I deliberately ignored him and continued to make a b-line towards the front door, stopping as an arrow shot millimeters beside my head, landing in the door that I went to open. "Robin! Stop that!" I screamed at my husband who was rocking the baby in one arm, holding his bow in the other.

"I'm coming, just calm down for a bit." I sighed in annoyance and motioned towards the squirming bundle in his arms. "You have to stay with her, it's too cold for her to be out." I instructed, watching him adamantly shake his head at me and hold her out to me helplessly.

"All you have to do is rock her, feed her this if she cries, and change her diaper with these." I instructed, making a box of diapers, wipes, and bottles of formula appear. "Regina I can't handle this." He begged, but I shook my head at him and ducked out of the house, anger racing through my veins as I slid into a carriage, feeling the driver take off and race me through the kingdom.

I knew she couldn't have gone far, leaving me to scour the outskirts of my castle grounds, telling the driver to stop once I laid eyes on a young girl, stumbling through the rain, a trail of blood following her in the dead grass.

My footman presented me with an umbrella as I stepped out, ordering my guards to gently bring her to me. I watched as they nodded and caught up with the young girl, who was trying her hardest to get away from me.

They dragged her soaking wet body to me and threw her at my feet, taking their post at her side once more. "Your majesty." She wept, hiding her face with her dirty cloak, fear filling her voice.