Her Knight in Shining Armor

~Three~

We rode and rode for hours, giving me the impression that I hardly slept before Emma bursted into my temporary room. Eventually we allowed the horses to catch a breather and led them to a paced trot before our riding ends all together.

In the middle of the forest, deep in the forest, is where we ended up. The smell of moist mud and morning dew disgusts me and puts my hairs on end, but I keep quiet and on alert of my surroundings; so does Emma.

"Here, drink." She offers a sheep skin canteen that I am quick to decline. "Ugh, you didn't eat supper....You won't drink, you'll die Regina."

"I'll take my chances," I repeat in conclusion. Emma casually rolls her eyes and downs the life saving liquid before offering again. It was her way of saying its no trick. With an encouraging nod and a shake of the skin she urges me to take it so I do aggressively.

"Where the hell are we going?" I ask firmly after a swallow. Emma sighs and looks up to the starry sky.

"Just away. We can't be there, it's not safe."

"What about my castle?"

"That's the most obvious place. They'll turn that castle upside down looking for a us." What? Not my beautiful empire! And why does she keep saying us?!

"What is this us ? There is no us," I spit regally motioning between us. "I hardly know you."

"Whether you like it or not, there is an us. Our fates determined that already which is why I was locked away for years, trust me." I'm completely confused at the whole matter and simply shrug it away because I hardly care.

Instead, I hold out my wrists and frown at Emma. "If you want there to be an us, how about you remove these."

Emma stares as she thinks and quickly shakes her head no. No?! "Why?! As you said I have no where to go and this whole fate ordeal, you seem really invested to."

"I'll take my chances," she mocks with a smug grin, earning my darkest snarl. This Charming bitch! "Your second chance is just beginning Regina, baby steps."

I tilt my head curiously as she mounds her horse once more. The sun is finally beginning to rise along the horizon so we really should get a move on if we want to be somewhere safe.

"Second chance?" Ive never heard of a second chance; never given one. It's either I make a mistake, take the consequences or do things by everyone's expectations. The term 'second chance' is heavily foreign to me.

"Yup," she says with a big smile. "If you can change, anyone can."

The whole idea of changing is scary. This is me, the young woman who I've come to know and adore. She isn't scared or shy. She has the world in her palm being one of the most powerful beings alive. She's more courageous and smart; gets things done no matter what the cost. I like me, I don't want to change, but I won't tell Emma that if it means getting these damned bracelets off.

"Our best bet is Sherwood Forest..."

"Sh-sherwood?!" I scoff with disgust. "A forest full of repulsive rebellious men? Disgusting!"

"You'll get used to them after a while." She shrugs.

"You know them?" I gasp. And here I thought that this blonde was oblivious to the world. I stand corrected.

"Yes, I'd sneak off from time to time when my parents were away on trips. As you know, Guards are sworn to secrecy so it's fairly easy." She shrugs.

I wish my mother were easy to slip by. I would've ran away long ago. I would've been gone with...him. Nothing ever seems to work in my favor except my magic so I've accepted that as my life.