Storytelling (K.Hook)

1.8 The Stable Boy

Flashback. At the magic forest. 

I was still on Blue Jeans who was still running like crazy. 

I cried out, yelling "Help!! please help me! Help!!"

Suddenly i heard a voice next to me "Give me your hand!!"

The person reached out to me and i grabbed their hand and they pulled me over to their horse. 

The horse stopped and i fell off the horse to the ground. I cried out. 

The woman rushed over to me and helped me up "It's okay, dear. You're safe"

I looked at her shocked "you saved my life"

She asked worried "Are you all right?"

I tried to calm down "Yes. But i'll never ride again"

She chuckled "nonsense. The only way to overcome fear is to face it. To get back on that horse as soon as possible"

I smiled "Thank you"

She smiled "Regina"

Me "I'm Echo"

Then i hugged her.

At the stalls.Night. At Regina's castle.

I walked into the stalls and saw my future step mother kissing the guy who worked at the stables. My father had proposed to her after i had told him that she saved my life. 

My jaw dropped "oh my god!"

Regina turned to me shocked "Echo!"

Me "what are you doing with him?"

Regina "Echo, i can explain. "

I shook my head and started to run away. 

Suddenly i tripped and fell to the ground. I cried out. 

Regina rushed to me and helped me up "are you okay?"

I shook my head "No. No. Why were you kissing that man in the stable? You're to marry my father. You're to be my mother. "

Regina " Oh, Echo, please. Listen to me."

I shook my head, looking down.

Regina she put a hand on my cheek and made me look at her " Hey. Your father, King Leopold, he's a kind and fair man... But I don't love him. "

I asked confused " i don't understand. Why not? "

Regina gave me a soft smile " Love doesn't work that way. Love, true love, is magic. And not just any magic – the most powerful magic of all. It creates happiness. "

Me " And that man in the stables... You love him?"

she nodded "With all my heart. "

Me " Then you must marry him. I will go tell Father right away. "

she shook her head "No, no, no, no. You can't."

I asked confused " Why not? Surely he'll understand. "

Regina "Perhaps. But not everyone will. My mother, for one. She'll stand in the way. "

Me "That's why you're running. "