[PAST] ``the first page of the story {oswin!}

[Regina Mills]

Another suitor had visited their estate today - a lord from some far-off land of which Regina hadn't even heard of before. He was wealthy, powerful, and respected - and also a controlling, self-centered, womanizing pig. In short, the ideal sort of person her mother seemed to be hell-bent on marrying her off to. She scowled at the thought of him now, just as she'd scowled right to his face - her unruly behavior had been sent him off fairly quickly in a disdainful, haughty huff. That was the problem with the noblemen and royals of these lands. They thought so highly of themselves, and expected to think others to think so highly of them as well, and why? Because of their status? Were they above earning likability and companionship and love like the rest of the world? Evidently they were, and it was for that reason that Regina would never - ever - marry one of them, despite what her mother would say.

Cora, in fact, had been none to pleased with her daughter's behavior earlier that morning. As she always did when Regina was 'disobedient', Cora showed no hesitation in retaliating through magical means...though Regina suspected her punishment of being thrown into the air and left to levitate there helplessly would have been a lot worse had her father not been present. She gave a quiet, frustrated sigh, pulling the various clips out of her hair that had kept it styled in some ridiculous updo, and letting it fall freely down around her shoulders as she stormed off towards the stables. The long, light blue dress was going to be a problem, however - she'd been in too much of a hurry to get out of the manor and away from her mother to stop and change. The corset was too tight (how was one even supposed to breathe in these things?) and the stupid thing was so long that she had to lift it from the ground as she walked. No matter - she'd rip it if she had to, if it kept her from riding.

The stables were really the only means of escape she had, though she had no riding lesson scheduled today and Daniel was required to spend his day off doing work around his own farm. She almost wanted to ride off and find him - he was really the only person she could talk to around here, the only one that made things seem better - but she knew that simply showing up at his home would be far too suspicious. It was with that in mind that she approached the stall that held her favorite horse, grabbing the bridle from a nearby hook and giving him a smile. "I guess it's just you and me today, Bree." she murmured, giving him a quick kiss on the nose before fitting the bridle and reins, opening the stall door, and leading him out of the stable. They'd forgo the saddle today - Regina preferred riding without it, and it wasn't as if anyone was around to stop them.

Once safely outside, she began to lead Bree down the dirt road that lead through the grounds of the estate and out towards town. The urge to get on her horse and just run as far as she could was as present as it always was, but Regina wanted to make sure she was well out of sight of the manor before beginning to ride. God forbid Cora see her riding bareback and have one more thing to accuse her of, after all. On the bright side, it only took her a few moments after beginning her walk for her spirits to lift somewhat. She could feel the anger and frustration from earlier melting away as the autumn winds swept a few fallen leaves past her feet. She'd scared off her latest 'potential future husband', she was in the company of her dearest four-legged friend, and for now, she was free. There was really nothing to be angry about - and with a light sigh, Regina allowed herself to relax.

They'd be coming up to a fork in the road soon - with one way leading into town, and the other towards the Enchanted Forest she'd heard so many stories about. "Imagine running away and ending up there," she remarked to Bree with a light laugh. "We could hang out with a few trolls - or maybe some dwarves. Could even find you a nice unicorn lady friend." Bree nickered, most likely only in response to his rider's voice than to her actual words - but the timing of it made Regina laugh again, and it was in considerably higher spirits that she continued on down the road.

[Oswin Oswald]

First of all, we're going to make one thing perfectly clear. Oswin was not lost. Oswin Oswald, former Junior Entertainment Manager of the Starship: Alaska, current companion to the tenth regeneration of the Time Lord known as the Doctor, did not get lost. Ever. This was just a temporary ignorance to where she was at this moment. Right. That was it.

In any case, she wouldn't be ignorant for long. They had to have signs here, right? Or, at least, something for travelers. Maybe it would have been better to stay with the TARDIS, but honestly, did the Doctor really think he could just leave her there, even for something quick? Oswin wasn't about to be told to stay put. Besides, she knew exactly where the TARDIS was. In a general...that way direction. Yeah.

At least she was on a path. That had to lead to somewhere, right? Briefly searching the pouches on her belt, Oswin came up with the scanner she'd just repaired yesterday, holding it up and letting the screen flicker on. Hopefully, no one was about. The consequences of someone seeing such an advanced piece of technology was great, she knew that. But, it was the only thing that would help her.

The sound of hoof beats and a vaguely horse-shaped hit on the scanner told of someone riding nearby, and Oswin quickly tucked the device away, looking over at the path adjacent to hers, separated by a thin line of trees. And, indeed, a horse and rider were coming down the path towards her. Brilliant.

"Hey!" Oswin called out, quickly moving through the trees once the rider had slowed to a walk. "Hey...hi." Aware that she most likely looked out of place in this world, she gave the woman that was riding a somewhat breathless smile. "D'you think you could tell me where I am? Haven't really traveled this part of the Forest before."

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[Regina Mills]

At the sudden movement from the side of the rode, Regina instinctively tensed - only relaxing when she'd ascertained that this stranger was neither her mother, her father, nor anyone who looked like they might try to drag her back to the estate kicking and screaming. Slowing Bree to a halt, she allowed the tension to ease from her shoulders and gave the woman a curious once-over. How strangely she was dressed! Perhaps she was some far away, distant kingdom - like one of the lands Regina had only heard about in various travelers' tales. She brightened at the possibility; a traveler who'd already seen so much of the world. She probably had so many stories to tell - but she was also probably off somewhere in a hurry, and Regina thought it probably wouldn't be polite to hold her up by bombarding her with question after question. Instead, she merely offered a smile in return. "Good afternoon!" was her uncertain but friendly greeting - before she paused to consider the woman's words.

She was lost, it seemed, which would explain why she most certainly didn't look to be from around here. How long had she been traveling? Certainly she couldn't have come too long a way on foot - Regina looked around, but there didn't seem to be another horse in sight. With an inward shrug, she decided the least she could do was answer the stranger's question. "Oh, well - this is a part King Leopold's kingdom, just bordering the Enchanted Forest - there." She motioned to the forest on the other side of the road. Her mother was always speaking so disdainfully of the King - how he was far more concerned with his daughter than ruling the kingdom now that the Queen had died, but from what Regina had heard Leopold was a kind and noble ruler. ...Though his guards didn't seem to often patrol these roads. Perhaps that was why people kept getting lost.

But if this woman happened to continue on in the wrong direction, well...Regina wasn't exactly certain that her stumbling upon their estate would end well. Cora was coldly suspicious of strangers, at best - especially strangers who in any way stood out from the rest of society. She had a feeling that that particular warning might go over a tad...strangely, though. 'If you keep traveling down this road you're going to have to deal with my horrid mother'. Right. Maintaining her smile, Regina quickly spoke again. "Are you by chance looking to travel into town? That's where I'm headed - we could walk together, if you'd like." As if to emphasize, she swung her leg over and hopped down from Bree's back, landing with a soft thump and giving the horse a pat. Bree'd probably be all the more content to trail behind them, sans-rider, anyway.

Although...her gaze trailed back to the road that branched to the left, dipping further into the Enchanted Forest. She'd almost worked up the nerve to start exploring - but perhaps this was for the best. There were all sorts of tales of what went on in there...creatures that did not abide by the King's laws, beasts that preyed upon travelers, spells meant to ensnare those lured off the road...if something happened to her, her mother would probably bring her back to life just to kill her again.