Royal Blood

Chapter Nine: Set Up

There was something more to her. Robin could see it. She was so meek and polite. Never one to speak unless spoken to. Never one to voice her opinion, even if it meant her suffering in the end. Never one to disagree or make a point. Regina was very shy. It had taken her two days just to speak to Robin directly and not in a hushed voice.

But there was something more.

She was strong.

Robin saw the way she watched over Roland with the eye only a true mother could posses. She handled his son with such great care, almost more than what she revealed for herself. Robin saw the way she observed her surroundings, the twitch in her jaw matching her searching eyes as she made a mental note of new territory. The way her eyes flickered wen someone said something she didn't agree with.

The strength of a woman was inside of her but it was locked away by the fear of a girl. So, Robin invited her on his next journey with his men.

Initially, it had been so he could focus more on work and not looking after his son. Robin loved Roland with every fiber in his being, but sometimes he found himself staying behind on important trips because his son was too young. With Regina, he could attend to both his men's needs as well as the needs of his child.

Deep inside though, Robin knew it was more. Ever since he had first set eyes on her, he knew he would fall for her. She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen in his life. Regina looked like no woman he had ever seen.

Her cream cored skin was so smooth and it completely contradicted the dark black waves that cascaded down from the widows peak on her forehead. Her chocolate brown eyes were so bright and full of life, making him want to stare her down every time he saw her. Regina was healthy, which caught his eye and got him thinking. She wasn't skin and bones like most of the women he knew. Regina seemed to be well kept. She was strong with enough muscle on her bones to be sufficient. He mannerisms were something he'd never seen before.

He wanted to spend every second he could with her.

***

"What's this?" Regina asked, slightly befuddled by the bag she was now holding. Granny stood in front of her, hands on her hips in her usual stance.

"Clothes for your journey back home." She snapped, the response not quite what Regina had expected. "You are going aren't you?"

The young girl sighed, setting the heavy bag down beside her. It was awfully nice of Granny to give her this, but Regina wasn't quite sure.

"I... I don't know." She stammered.

Granny shook her head, leading Regina down into the empty tavern. It was almost time to open and Regina was surprised the busy woman was taking time to speak to her about such personal manners. "You should go back home. You can't be stuck here for the rest of your life like I am. It'll do you no good. Go home, be free. Fall in love and live." Granny instructed, turning to watch Regina wait on the last step.

Hesitation.

Regina hadn't realized that Granny had cared so much about Regina's life. How she ended up. But the truth was, if Regina was to return to the palace, she would be trapped and unhappy. Just as Granny was here.

"I appreciate the thought but-" Regina was cut off by the door to the Tavern opening, their first customers of the night bustling into the small room. Granny smirked, heading to her place behind the counter.

***

Music thumped loudly, making it hard for Regina to hear the orders slipping out of drunk mouths. She had gotten used to this work: cleaning and taking orders. Never had she ever had to wait on someone else, let alone clean up their mess. But it wasn't so bad when she had nothing else to do. It kept Regina's thoughts occupied. Tonight was no different.