Chapter 1
Crash!
The book flew straight into the mirror and dropped with a heavy thud to the ground alongside pieces of the mirror, its sound sticking out amongst the clinking of glass.
Time was running out, she seethed as she saw the first rays of sun peeking out from the distance. Reminding her that in a few hours she ancient spell would come to life, sweeping her away to the unknown. A deal made in a time when she was still weak and powerless, it was her late husband's last damnation on her. Even from beyond the grave he tortured her, trapping her once more. Her hands curled until her nails dug painfully into her palms and closed her eyes, focusing on the pain and let out a shaky breath. Her face twisted and the breath she tried to take got stuck in her throat, her face began to contort in and a sob escaped her lips as she hunched over before gravity pulled her to the ground her blue skirt pooling around her like waves during a storm. She desperately tried to regain control to swallow the unrecognizable noises that were escaping her but she could not. Her arms wrapped around her midriff as though she was trying to hold herself together as she came undone but they offered no comfort and so she kept on breaking. How was this, her life? How did she came to be here so alone so horribly, wretchedly alone.
Time passed.
And she sat there, in the middle of the navy ocean as sun began to rise. Its rays bounced off the broken shard causing her eyes to fall onto the image she created within the few broken pieces still within the crooked frame. Her hair was in disarray, her eyes blood shot and her face seemed to have anguish etched on her face. She almost looked exactly as she had the morning after her wedding. A shudder went through her. That night she had little idea of what to expect and her too drunk husband had been everything but kind and gentle; rough, mean and clumsy he had used her, called out for his dead wife and had the dropped onto her. She had cried out at first, begged pleaded, even had tried to escape. A heavy hand had greeted her and sent her into shock, she spent the rest of the night and the next morning like a statue as he snored with his heavy weight on top of her, trapping her in more way than she had realized at the time. when he had stumbled out she had barely moved until the door clicked shut and it had been the clicking which had broken her trance. Had caused her to breakdown until she had laid on the floor at the bottom of the bed pray for the gods and the fates to take her and end her misery right then, they had not answered. So when he came again the following night worse off than the night before she promised never to pray again, she had kept that vow.
She should have known that something was amiss when he stopped visiting her chamber a year and a half into their marriage. Should have suspected something especially since none of his mistresses had been young as her. She had felt insulted by his lack of attention, without his visits she had become invisible to everyone but that brat of a girl. The loneliness made her crave his visits as much as she abhorred them, and that craving made her disgusted with herself.
Now she understood, he hadn't left her alone by choice, No! His household had been chosen to supply the next huntress before her daughters 25 birthday; his daughter, his precious virtuous daughter to play the part of a masked goddess of fertility alongside a hunter, a masked man chosen by the fairies and oracles who read the stars and the earth. She had read the diary of his most trusted advisor, learned of how he had pleaded and bargained but his household had been chosen and so he had offered his young wife, only, there had been one problem he had already stolen her virtue and that's where the imp had apparently came in. A potion that would cleanse her and make her be deemed a maid once more in the eyes of the oracle, so long as she remain chaste. She had no idea what the trade had been nor had the advisor, who had been informed after the deal had been made and the king given the instructions to pour it in her cup. She had never even known, he had kept her locked up after that and apparently placed a repellent charm on her one which she could not even break now.
When she had first learned the truth she had tried to take one of her guards to bed, he was seasoned enough not to ask questions and seemed willing enough. It had started out well but, he had flown off across the room the moment his hands tried to make contact with her more intimate areas. He had sat up dazed and had become the first person in almost a decade to catch the queen looking genuinely shocked; he had scurried out after her uncharacteristically quite dismissal.
She had thought her lack of appetite was due to her horrible experience with the king, or even her heart grieving for her love, never had she imagined that her husband had been so twisted.
She slowly got up and waved her hand to clean up the mess the sun was now high in the sky and while she would fight what was to come with everything she had to leave things in order. She may in her weakest moment last night, have thought of sending a note to snow and offering a deal, her substitution in exchange of being left alone but now the idea made her mad. That meddling brat would pay, once she came back which meant that she had to leave herself a fighting chance. Waving her hand she summoned eight birds each carrying the same message, she was going to the winter castle to investigate a new power source that would wipe out her enemies without her having to be near them, fear could be such an effective tool, she couldn't help but smirk, and peoples imagination and gossip would take care of the rest. One of the birds was bound to get captured on its way to her soldier's forts and the uncharmings would be left chasing a figment which gave her time. The winter castle was isolated she noted as she opened her window and the let the birds go, and abandoned since she had come alone, no one would be able to break in, the magical shield she place ensured that which meant that even that reptilian imp would be left out, leaving her in to deal with all that was to come, alone.
Storybrooke 34 years later:
They were sitting around the Charming's square table, arguing of course. The Ice queen had taken over their land and it was frustrating since none seemed to know what she wanted or why she was here. "Look 300 years maybe you pissed her off is all I'm saying" Charming stated casually rubbing a hand over his worn out face, he was tiered, they all where. "Honesty mate we've been over this, I have never met this ice queen, as you can see she leaves a lasting impression" he pointed to the window where ice had covered the glass thickly Grumpy grunted none too pleased and opened his mouth but a cane hitting the ground caused him to slam it quickly "If you utter another nonsense about me bringing her here dearie your pick-ax is going to be looking for a new owner" "Rumple!" Bell admonished but said nothing further to correct her husband. The fire crackled and the wind howled outside they were all tense and winded, like a bow drawn with an arrow that was guaranteed to go astray, Robin thought. Such odd collection of characters all here united and for a moment Robin felt that he was part of something so much bigger, united what a thought.
"You're wasting your time" a voice to his right snapped and Robin closed his eyes and swallowed he already knew what the voice would say next and wished that universe or fate would once just once be on his side, but once more he was not sparred. "The evil queen has done this how can you not see that" Marian's voice was firm and righteous as she stood her head held high as though she was beginning a well rehearsed accusation. "She has bewitched you.." A loud groan emitted from grumpy surprising everyone as he plunked himself in his seat "not this again sister," he groaned "We all know what she's done we're not stupid, but could you give the speech a rest" he plucked his mug off the table and took a sip making a face at the now cold coffee. Robin glanced at Regina, his que- the queen, he corrected himself. She had sat back her arms and legs cross and had not uttered a word since the beginning of the meeting, occasionally scoffing and muttering but she had sat back for the most part like the regal queen she was and watched the show play out in front of her and when Marian had begun her speech she had simply raised an eyebrow which had almost cause him to laugh, for even he was exhausted from hearing this speech.
When his wife had returned he felt as though he had been given the moon on a silver platter, and ashamed as he was to admit it; it was Henry's alteration with his birth mother that had made him realize that Regina had gone completely stiff. He always knew he was no master at creating word or expressing his thoughts through them; But never before had he stood at a spot his mouth opening and closing, eyes darting between two figures. A moment later Regina had opened her eyes and took a strong step toward Marian, eyes only on her face. , she then proceeded to welcome her to Storybrooke, apologize and compliment Roland while patting the boys head who in turn beamed at her. His eyes followed her form as she bid them goodbye and watched her approach her boy; who quickly rushed to her "mom I'm so s-" she grabbed her boys cheeks in her hand and leaned her forehead to his the boys hands grasped at her mother's wrist and he could see her lips barley moving, his ears caught a few words "all...ever...little prince" the boys shoulders sagged a bit but a second later his back straightened as he entwined his fingers with his mothers "let's go home" he stated, Regina had nodded but before he could move she gave her boy a pointed look. Like the teen he was becoming the boy rolled his eyes and groaned before turning to the savior who looked as crushed as he felt. The women embraced the boy and sentences he could not hear were shared, before the boy nodded and a kiss was planted on his cheek. Emma hugged her son once more and from above his head looked at the queen with gratitude and regret mixed together but the queen simply stared back. She had closed herself once more he realized and in that moment Robin of Locksley felt the loss of a good chunk of his heart. They walked past them and it was then that he smelled her rich perfume of apples and jasmine, the scent attacked his senses, causing his eyes to close as images of their body entwining only hours earlier assaulted his senses; it was only Marian calling his name that had finally brought him back to the dinner.
He had not seen her for 41 days now.
Well, he had seen her but from a distance, she had thrown herself into her work it seemed as new meetings had been held, budgets handed out plans made for expansion of the dinner for almost three weeks he had seen what routine what might look like in Storybrooke. His son had been enrolled in school and he himself and the merry men had been place in charge of construction, he helped design and later build with his men the new places that were popping up. That is until the snow storm had hit, in the middle of May; Ice had appeared and life had began to diminish in all forms. The ice queen had been seen once, by his own son and while his son would never fully tell what had happened the day he had taken off by himself; Robin knew that the pirate was not, could not have been the one who had saved his boy. At least not alone and since the savior and the dark one had been in his company only one other candidate remained as a possibility.
Regina.
Regina who was still looking at Marian with one raised eyebrow and now was biting her lip, the flash in her eye Robin knew, like he knew his name, was from amusement. He needed more coffee for his 'wife' sermon today. He felt a twinge of guilt as he got up and approached kitchen and poured himself a fresh cup but the guilt went away when he saw snow white roll her eyes in exasperation as she approached the kitchen with a tray. She caught his eyes and guilt passed over her gaze but once gone she starred at him as if asking him to contradict her or defend his wife. But, when he simply raised his mug to his lips and took a sip while he leaned against the counter with one arm on the surface, she seemed unsurprised. They stared at each other for a moment before she went about her work "I expected you in here sooner" he muttered under his breath to the pirate who entered the kitchen just as his wife began her speech on Hooks involvement " … they took my son and god knows did what that he won't even talk abou-" the pirate let out a breath as he poured himself some of that heavenly dark liquid. Hook shook his head "had to convince my lady that your wife meant no ill" he said calmly "They are villains" Marians voice was sharp and robin looked down feeling drained, was she always so vindictive? Had he been blind? "Just toss her toward the ice queen best case she'll use the bastard and drown the whore"
Whore. Bastard. Whore.
The cup slipped from his fingers as the word echoed in his ears taunting him. Bastard whore, whore. He was dimly aware of his friend freezing in place, or snow's gasp. The floor began to shake and while everyone's eyes, including his, flew to Regina, who looked just as surprise, her eyes darted across the faces until it landed on the new comer. Appearing almost out of nowhere the young women looked years younger than the savior and everything about her features seemed to slip Robins mind except her smile. Brown hair, brown eyes she was as ordinary as they came except perhaps the curl of her hair but, oh that smile. One unlike Robin had ever seen before; all knowing and full of mischief, secrets promises and so much more. He would even dare say there was at times a hint of unhinged seduction to the girls smile, a few of his younger boys had been entranced he had heard one of them swear that death was worse a night with the girl. She seemed only a decade if not less older than Henry; Henry who believed she was a sort of cat that from a conversation he had overheard that belonged or had to do with a girl named Alice. But, she was not Alice. No, she had introduced herself, Cheshire, and in small terms had allied herself with the 'villains from the get go. Her Eyes were on Marian who now sat with her eyes wide with fear and her mouth half agape. The girl twisted her head to one side and then other as though studying Marian, she wasn't smiling, hadn't been smiling and in that moment he realized that while she smiled ordinarily from time to time, her signature smile only made an appearance only handful of times, she would look mad, Robin supposed, if she had the wicked grin on her face all the time. Slowly the corners of her mouth turned up and her eyes held a glint in them and robin felt pity for Marian.
Oblivious to the girl the savior jumped to her feet and slammed her hands on the table causing many including his wife to jump a hand going to her chest. "Call either of them those names one. More. Time." she grounded out, daring Marian, looking about ready to tackle before a right arm snaked its way around her waist and pulled her back and Robin hadn't even realized that the pirate had moved "easy love us 'villains' have heard far worth and if we fainted every time someone called us name we would not have been here, isn't that right your majesty" and its only then that the queen took her eyes away from the new girl who was still looking at his wife with that damning smile. Regina's eyes fall onto the pirate and his lover before she snorts, with only the air making a noise. No one moved and once more the bow is drawn "Well" the pirate began once more "since us villains seem to have done nothing worth of note what say you your majesty that we go see what we can find of this Ice queen, from the library, The librarian may be bed ridden with child, it does not mean we can't bring books to her" Regina opens her mouth to speak but Gold is on his feet in a second " best idea you've had in your existence" he mutters darkly and he begins moving toward the door "you can't go Gold" Emma's voice stops him in his track "Bell needs you here" she elaborates as she moves to get her coat "and who said you were welcome Ms. Swan" Regina asked as she too got up and headed for her coat "last I check you were a hero" "actually love I'm pretty sure she was pirate in her past life" Hook calls out and with that banter the trio leave.
No one else moves and Robin watches with utter fascination and horror as the girl takes three deliberate steps forward and drop gracefully down in Rumple's old seat smile still in place, right across from Marian and Robin has a clear view of both their faces "You want to know why they forgave her?' she begins calmly leaning forward resting her elbows and palms on the table utterly relaxed "why even after everything; she still has a son who loves her, a family that supports her, a town that depends on her and men who still lust after her" her voice takes on a husky undertone at the end and the word lust has never sounded so revealing to robin as it does then. He forces his eyes to remain open instead of sliding shut as knows, knows that if they do she will be there. Waiting to greet him as their last and only encounter which he has replayed in his mind over and over again will overwhelm him. He will not think of that or how his scarf which she had nicked for a day still smells of her, or how she wakes at night from dreams of alabaster skin and raven her and red, red lips. no, instead he will think of the stricken look on his wife's face And how the girl simply shakes her head a laugh almost visible on her lips "Its really simple" she begins at last "no matter how many life time you live , how many good deeds you do and how famous you become;" she pauses, lets her word sink in "You, Will never be, half, the women, Regina is."
