The forest is, and always has been, her safe haven.
When she was younger, steering Rocinante through the tall, imposing trees — losing the both of them to the woods for hours on end — she had lived for those moments. If she could, she’d have taken her steed and lived alone, surrounded by nothing but trees and animals and
f r e e d o m.
And then she grew up.
Despite escaping one prison only to land herself in another — this one far more extravagant, Regina found that being Queen didn’t necessarily mean being free. She got what ever she wanted, except what she wanted was impossible and what she craved was improbable. The Queen? Galavanting about within bandit infested forestry? How preposterous.
She had stood there, leaning against her balcony and staring in to the distance with longing in her eyes. Lip secured between teeth as she gnaws on plump flesh and finally, she can’t take it any longer. Being cooped up like some animal, brought out and put on display only when needed — she needed something, anything, to ease the pang in her heart. Sneaking from the castle would soon become an art to Regina, made easier only by her lessons with the Dark One but those would come later and for now, she’s trying to steer her steed away from the castle walls without being noticed.
A feat she accomplishes, but only barely.
Wandering the trails in the early morning light has always managed to calm her, sooth her worries and for just a moment, a single second of peace and quiet, she can forget. Until Rocinante startles and rears back on hind legs, forcing her to grasp at his reigns and whisper soothing words in to his ear, chest pressed against his neck, whilst she glances around for whatever — or whomever — managed to spook him.
And she sees a girl.
Head canting to the side, back straightening as her stallion manages to halt his steps and now only his breaths are evident of his previous scare. “… Hello.”
The Princess had never even been outside her Kingdom before, but she was sent by her mother on a week-long journey to a distant Kingdom. She was to marry the Prince of this Kingdom, and they were supposed to live Happily Ever After.
But it had not even been half a week into her journey when her servant turned on her, demanding they trade places, and threatening to kill her if she told anyone. Scared and helpless, Ava switched clothes and horses with the other girl.
The servant then ordered Ava to fetch her some water from the stream they had passed a few minutes before. As she followed the sound of running water, she began daydreaming about escaping and running back to her Kingdom, until the sound of a startled horse pulled her from her thoughts.
“Sorry,” she apologised, embarrassed, “I didn’t mean to spook your horse, I was just lost in thought.”