[ event: Flashback ]

[clocktowering]

Once upon a time, the people of Storybrooke were characters from the fairy tales we all grew up with. Then the curse hit and everyone was trapped without their memories in the town we know quite well already.

We all know that story, of course, but what about before the curse? Well, that's where this post comes in. There are untold stories from before the curse that we would like to investigate and these flashbacks posts are where you tell them. Post with your character (with a location or plot idea if you wish) and tag others, as long as they are in their fairy tale forms. Sorry Henry and Emma players! We ask that you warn for spoilers in your subject line if you intend to use knowledge gained from tonight's episode (1x16: Heart of Darkness) in your scenario. Thank you!

Remember, everyone: play nice and have fun.

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[friar_trip]

What had she done?

Charlotte stood in one of the windows of the castle, her castle, asking herself that question for no doubt the thousandth time. If only she hadn't let Tuck talk her into going to meet her parents and find out who she really was. If only she could have found a suitor she agreed with before Aragon had attempted to force the issue. If only she hadn't given in to her own selfish wants and married Will when it was offered as a reward for defeating Aragon and his giants.

She would give anything to be back in Robin's camp, a simple friar again. At least there, she could pretend Will loved her, despite what he often insisted that it was nothing. Now, it would probably never happen, especially since she couldn't bring herself to tell him the true. Will hadn't loved him as Tuck, why would he love her as Charlotte?

She sighed and leaned against the window frame, looking out over the kingdom for which she was the crown princess. At least she had secured her people a good king, for she could think of no one better then Will to rule wisely.

[scarlock]

There were days when Will wished in the Sherwood with Robin and the rest of his band of thieves. Today was one of those days as he had up until a few moments ago been forced to sit through another lecture on the politics and state of the kingdom. While he had no problems listening to it normally, today it had been too much for him thanks to the newest tutor treating him as if he was nothing but a child and using nothing but his birth name instead of calling him Will like everyone else did. So he had left and was trying to hide from the people probably looking for him until he feels like dealing with them.

He almost walks past Charlotte, but it's not hard to notice her standing in a window, so he stopped and looked at her for a moment before walking up to her, unsure of what to say. This whole situation with them being married was awkward for Will as he loved someone else. He still thought about leaving to continue his search for the youngest Tuck, unaware of the fact that he was actually the princess Will was married to, but he isn't just going to run out on Charlotte like that. He's not a dick like that, after all.

"I apologize, I didn't expect you to be out here, Your Highness," he starts, giving her a slight bow. Nothing was ever going to stop him from being ridiculously polite around her. "I thought you would be busy with affairs appropriate to your station. If I'm bothering you, I can go elsewhere if you so wish it."

[friar_trip]

The voice behind her caused her to start slightly and a smile to come to her face. Charlotte couldn't help herself, his voice and his presence did make her happy under all of the selfish guilt. But it was tempered to a more polite express before she turned to face him.

"Hello, Will." She said softly as she gave him a small curtsey, doing her best not to flinch at being addressed as 'Your Highness'. Just as he had asked people to call him Will, so had she asked him to call her Charlotte, even if she would have preferred another name all together. "And you are not bothering me in the slightest. I am afraid I am doing the same as you, avoiding those who would bore me to tears and just became lost in thought."

[scarlock]

"So that means that if they find us, we will both be in trouble for skipping out on our duties, though I believe we would be in less trouble if we were to be found together." Yes, he is planning on staying here with her for a while. He stands next to the window and leans up against the wall, looking over at Charlotte as he makes himself comfortable there. "I'm afraid that if I was found, I would be in far more trouble than you. I left in the middle of a lesson and I would not be at all surprised if they were angry at me."

Letting out a sigh, he ruffles his hair in slight annoyance. "They were constantly treating me like a child and decided to refer to me by the wrong name. I have not been Gamwell in years and I have no plans to change that now, no matter what anyone else wants."

[friar_trip]

It pleased Charlotte to no end that Will seemed content to stay with her, making himself comfortable against the wall. Even if their situation was awkward, it was nice to know that they could be friendly with each other. "Of course. We are husband and wife. We could always convince them we were just off doing what married couples do." There was a note of teasing in her voice, even if she really had no idea what that meant. She'd never been around married couples until recently.

But her mood darkened slightly as Will revealed why he'd run out on his lesson. "The tutors here are not the most tactful, I will admit. I have had my...issues with them in the past as well, making me feel like a stupid little girl. But I thought they'd gotten past the name. I can speak with them if you wish?" It had been a simple request, or so she thought. She would never understand the importance nobles held in a name, especially since she'd been forced to give up hers. Both Tuck AND Charles. She would not let the same happen to Will.

[scarlock]

"Now if only I knew what married couples did. I don't remember how my father was towards my mother and the situation with my cousin isn't exactly a normal marriage." Only Will could make this situation sound like it was perfectly normal. He then smiles slightly and looks over at her. "We could always just guess and see how that works."

He shakes his head a bit at what she says and sighs. "No, I can understand why they would use my birth name. It's safer for them to have me be the missing son of an earl from a distant kingdom than a bandit fighting against a corrupt prince. They do tend to forget that I was missing because I was wanted for murder, but that's nothing that can't be erased." There's a hint of bitterness in his tone and from the way he speaks, it appears that he has some familiarity with the topic. "It's just very political. I'm sure if there's unrest towards the crown, they will start referring to me as Will Scarlet so that they can twist the opinions of the populace. But it does not matter as long as you refer to me by the name that I wish to be called, Charlotte. The others are not important in the long run."

[friar_trip]

Her smile stayed fond, being careful not to betray that she knew any of this already. But then she lowered her voice, conspiratorially as she spoke. "I am afraid I am just as in the dark. I was not raised in the castle, as they felt it was not a safe environment, so I have not a clue. I'm sure we can muddle through together." The best lies had a kernel of truth but her heart hurt all the same and she said a silent prayer of forgiveness.

As much as she tried, Charlotte's eyes flinched slightly when Will mentioned his being wanted for murder. It was one of the reasons Charlotte had allowed herself to marry him besides the selfish. Being married to a princess would afford him some protection. But it was all forgotten as he called her Charlotte and her smile was nothing but beaming. "It is my pleasure and honor to call you Will. But I still apologize. For what it is worth, you are handling all of this far better I would would our situations be reversed."