Everything Has Changed

Chapter 18 - I Cross My Heart

The leaves and the seasons changed and everything began to run as it should in the kingdom. Regina embraced her magic completely. Using the Light and acknowledging the Dark, she was able to maintain a sense of balance in herself that she hadn't had before. Her kingdom was thriving, her daughter was happy and she dared to say that she had fallen for the outlaw, one hundred percent, heart and soul.

Everyone knew that the Queen was spoken for. They assumed that one day they would have an outlaw as a king, but very few had been expecting what had happened on that fateful morning, the one that changed everything.

She was holding court, an open session in which she allowed anyone in the kingdom a brief audience with her. There were farmers and merchants and people from all walks of life that entered the palace on these days. She found that it was helpful for them to bring their problems straight to the Queen. It made them feel like she truly cared for them. And in truth, she did. She took their words to heart, and spent hours with her council after each session trying to decide what they could do to help.

But on this particular day it wasn't a merchant that caused the biggest reaction, it wasn't even a farmer, instead it was a young steward. He had come to the palace, not in search of the Queen, like everyone else, no, he had entered her throne room and called to speak to Robin Hood.

"Your Majesty." The steward bowed before her. "I have come from one of the northernmost parts of your kingdom, and I am here in search of a man that has been rumored to be a part of your household."

"Oh? And who may I ask are you searching for young man?"

He met her eyes and he saw that she was smiling. It seemed that the rumors of the beautiful and kind queen were true. "I believe here he goes by Robin Hood Your Majesty."

"Ah." She waved a hand and a man appeared in a cloud of lavender smoke.

He coughed and looked around him, trying to find her. "Regina!"

She laughed, "Yes?" Her reply sounded so sweet and innocent, but it was laced with the flirtatious edge everyone at court had come to expect from the two of them.

"Must you use your magic to transport me from there to here? You couldn't have simply sent someone to find me?"

"I'm afraid not. For you see this young man has come here to see you, not me, and I didn't think he should be kept waiting." She directed his attention to the man standing before her.

Robin's eyes grew wide as he stepped forward to embrace the young steward. "Will?"

"Aye, Rob, it's been a long time. I didn't know if I would actually find you here, but there have been many rumors flying around back home that our outlaw has found his place with the queen." He inclined his head respectfully at Regina before he continued. "I need to talk to you, sir."

Robin smiled at him, "Don't ever call me sir. You should know better Will. What do you wish to talk about?"

Will looked around and his smile faded a bit. "Not here, Rob. There are too many people, I think you'd rather here this in private."

Robin turned to look at Regina and she nodded. Ever so gracefully she stood, and the blue silk of her dress seemed to slide along her figure like water as she dismissed the court and led them down the halls into her private chambers. She turned to look at the young steward, "Will this do William?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Please, in private, it is Regina."

"Of course, Your Majesty." She smiled at him, but let it go. There were some things that just weren't worth the argument, and this was one of them.