Scrabbling backwards on all fours Emma barely took a breath before yelling "What the fuck?! What the? Regina what the fuck did you do? You tricked me". Pulling herself up to her full height she was now advancing on the seated form of Regina, shoulders rounded ready to attack...
Regina, keeping one hand on the book in her lap raised the other and flicked her wrist. Emma slammed to a halt. Invisible ties seeming to hold her in place.
"Miss Swan! I suggest you take a breath, and engage your brain, as hard as that may be. Although I must say I am touched by your obvious trust in me.."
Regina took a deep breath, and pushed up from her armchair, taking care to tuck the book between the cushion and the armrest, and stood in front of the blonde.
"If you would allow me to explain, I will release you"
Emma huffed and shook her shoulders against the invisible restraints. Looking up at the darker woman she sighed "Fine."
With an almost imperceptible flick of the wrist, her bonds disappeared and Emma had to stop herself from falling forwards onto the brunette.
"Make it quick" Emma said, stepping around Regina. Eyes scanned around her taking in that they were in Regina's mansion. In the study she'd been lead into the night she returned Henry from Boston. She did not have fond memories of this room.
Ignoring the gesture Regina made towards the sofa, Emma stalked to the other side of the room to lean against the door jamb. Regina returned to her armchair and sat.
"You're in pain" she said. Staring intently at the blonde. Emma took a quick inventory of her body, flexing her fingers in clenched fists and replying as though Regina's statement was a question. "Nope".
"Not here, in the mine. You joined your magic together with my magic. And the diamond is so strong that it's painful to fight it. Agony in fact. You're in pain. That's why you're here"
Seeing incomprehension on the blonde's face, Regina ploughed on. "To protect the mind from the...effects...of the pain, seasoned practitioners of magic create another place for their mind to go whilst their body endures elsewhere".
"Seasoned practitioners? Then why am I here? I didn't even know about this protective ...whatever" the blonde says wafting her hand as she finished her sentence.
"No, well, as you were rather rash in plunging your hands into the diamond's field without warning, I wasn't able to advise you about the foolhardy decision you were making. I had to er, I had to improvise and so now you're here with me"
"Improvise how?" The blonde tried, and failed, to keep the suspicion from her voice.
"Well, this is my place. My, er, safe place. Your unthinking actions left me with little choice. Rather than see your novice magic fry your tiny little mind I pulled you in here with me". Catching the disbelief on her face Regina continued "If you do get out of this, I think it wise if Henry's remaining parent doesn't have a brain like mashed potato. Or at least no more addled than your mind is already".