Chapter Two.
It was like he was drowning. He would have thought death might have hurt less. He deserved it, he supposed, but it would still be nice if he could just float away. The emotional torment would be bad enough, why add physical as well? Finally, when he decided that the numbness might not come as hastily as he would like, he cracked one eye open.
Well, at least he knew why it felt like he was drowning.
He'd never been a great swimmer, but there were survival instincts that kicked in then - funny, how could one have survival instincts if one was dead? - and he began to thrash, arms wild and legs kicking. There was light just above and he reached for it. Something in his mind said that was dangerous for men like him, reaching for the light, but he did it anyway. Perhaps there was some salvation in self-sacrifice after all.
He broke surface then, gasping and sputtering. The waves crashed against him and threatened to take him back down to their depths. He was already growing tired of the struggle, but he was now questioning the certainty of death. Unless death was an ocean. He didn't think he'd like that very much, but who is really overly fond of death?
"Oi!" a voice called out, startling him and something landed hard against the water several yards away. A rope. The waves were coming off a boat, he saw, so the doubts over his demise were solidifying in his mind. Time for self preservation, he supposed and he reached out for it, fingers grasping tight to the woven rope just above the weight they'd used to throw it.
They hauled him to the side and called for him to hold on. He wanted to yell back that he wasn't sure he had it left in him to do so, but his voice wasn't working properly as he was still choking on the mouthfulls of water he'd taken in. So he just clung as they began to hoist him up and he put his left foot against the weight to balance. He slipped twice and he could hear the men above making noise about it until hands grabbed at his coat and hauled him over the railing.
He slammed into the deck, all strength leaving him and the fight for life washing out now that he was as safe as he might hope for. All he could do was sputter, lungs trying to expel the water now that they weren't busy trying to decide what to do with more of it coming in.
"So what do we have here?" a voice called from further up the deck.
He knew that voice. With a sigh, he was certain he knew that voice. Time to pull himself together, he supposed.
"Where'd you wash up from, mate?" Captain Hook asked in a jolly tone. At least he was in good spirits.
The near-drowned man forced himself to sit up, still sopping wet in his fine-tailored suit. A devilish grin crossed his features and the entire deck went silent as Rumplestiltskin loosed a low, hoarse chuckle. "Storybrooke."
Hook was the first one to break it, a sharp laugh escaping him. "I'll be damned," he muttered. "Looks like we caught a crocodile."
The words held no malice to them and Rumple took a moment to consider the truce they'd struck in Neverland might still stand. After all, Hook was always going on and on about his code and he hadn't proved a terrible ally.
"Truce stands?" the pirate asked, as if reading the hesitation in the smaller man's mind.
"I'd say that would be mutually beneficial," Rumplestiltskin answered with a broad grin and Hook hauled him to his feet.
It was a strange feeling to be in a world with magic and yet not quite be able to grasp it. He hadn't said as much to the pirate captain, but Hook was no fool. When he'd pulled the supposedly dead man to his feet Rumplestiltskin had nearly taken a nosedive when he had put too much weight on his right foot without anything to support it. Hook had caught him without missing a beat and had said nothing about it, merely yelled at his crew to get them to shore as planned, and he had ushered the former Dark One below deck
Former.
Rumplestiltskin hadn't thought it possible to simple give up his dark powers. Granted, he'd never really wanted to either. Magic was power and he needed power. Without it, he was nothing, as he'd portrayed on the upper decks of the Jolly Roger.
"That flag you're flying under," he began roughly, his throat still not forgiving the abusive saltwater just yet. "The one the Charmings used to fly over their castle."
"It is," Killian acknowledged. "Alliances were kept even when we came back."
"Regina broke the curse then. Countered Pan's?"
Hook risked a look in his former advisary's direction. He was leaning heavily, but hadn't taken a seat, dark brown eyes studying every movement the younger man made. He knelt down and began rummaging through a chest. "She did. It came with a high price."
"Which was?"
"Belle and Bae are safe," Hook assured him.
"You're not saying something."
The pirate sighed, pulling out a collection of material and tossing it at Rumple. "Emma and Henry stayed in the Land Without Magic. They have no memories of any of us. That was the price."
Rumple let out a long breath through his nose and held up what had been tossed to him. "What is this meant to be?"
"Well it's not like I stock your normal wear on my ship," the pirate growled, voice bordering on offended. "But if you'd like to freeze, you're welcome to it."
A chill rushed through him, as if the reminder that he'd been plucked from the ocean was all he needed to feel it. He still wore his suit from Storybrooke, tattered and drenched as it was, and though the clothing in his hand felt rough, it was dry. He could always make due when they docked.
"Thank you."
Hook stopped, eyeing him suspiciously until Rumple cracked a wide, devilish grin. "Don't get used to it, dearie."
The pirate snorted a laugh. "So... I take it your curse is gone since you're not... sparkling. Does that mean all your powers with it?"
Rumplestiltskin straightened. "I'm not without my uses, I assure you."
"Right... Comforting. Well, get changed. We'll be coming to port in a few moments and it's rarely an easy trip to the castle. We may not be far, but there are plenty of unfriendly creatures between here and there."
Dark eyes watched him leave and Rumple sank back again. Exhaustion pulling at every inch of him. Slowly, stiffly, he began to work his coat off, injuries that he hadn't thought had lasted pulled, not quite healed.
He felt the weight then, as if it had appeared only then tucked away in the inside pocket. His fingers wrapped around the hilt, the knife not dulled by blood or age. It was smooth where his name had been etched into the metal for the past three centuries, so much so that he could see his own reflection there.
So he was free, if he wanted to be or not. Relief and dread mixed together deep in his chest and as the cries came from above deck he thought dread was better suited.
Word reached the castle that the Jolly Roger had been seen coming in to its usual docking grounds just down the shoreline. Said word was brought to them by Robin Hood that had been out scouting with some of his men. The rest remained back near the Dark Castle where they held their base. He had met Snow and Charming upon their arrival back, but other than quick introductions and a low and meaningful conversation with Baelfire over loyalties, expectations, and a few needs on both ends, he'd sent any news needed by his men. This was the first time that he himself had stepped foot into the castle, and it was quite a welcome when he was nearly toppled over by a fairey, not bothering with the small size of her kind, rounding a corner.
"Pardon, m'lady," Robin excused himself and reach a hand down to her to help her off the floor.
"Sorry, I didn't see you… there…" Green eyes blinked as Tinker Bell stared at him. Blond hair, blue eyes, ruggedly handsome. She'd seen this man before, in a tavern in the middle of bloody nowhere. Her jaw went slack and she felt her eyes standing wide open. "You!" she managed, and Robin had opened his mouth to question, only to close it again in shock as she tugged his sleeve up, revealing a lion tattoo there.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?"
"No. No you don't. That's okay though. You don't need to know me. I'm not the one you need to know. Are you here to see Regina? Did she finally take the step to-"
"Who?"
All at once everything in her deflated. "Oh. So you're not?"
"I'm sorry, Miss, but I'm afraid I don't even know who you're referring to. I'm here to speak to the king and queen. The Jolly Roger was spotted."
"Hook's back then?"
"He is."
"Well that's something. Maybe he'll have something of use for once." She brushed of her skirts and turned. When he didn't follow her immediately she shot him a look. "Are you coming?"
Robin, who prided himself on having a fair amount of courage in his reserves, couldn't seem to find enough to deny this fairey what she wanted. He followed behind her, thankfully led into a room he'd only heard described. In it stood a round table, only a few occupants sitting at it, but two looked ready to do battle then and there. He recognized the queen, who was currently not holding back her offence at what the other woman had said. Baelfire stood to the side with the king, both looking none too eager to hop into the middle.
"Sending a whole party in is begging them - and Hook and his crew - to be annihilated!"
"I'm not arguing that point, Regina," Snow growled, standing with both hands pressed flat against the wood of the table. "I'm arguing the idea of you leading them."
"I can get a few people down directly to them. No one dies, isn't that what you like?"
"Then I'll be part of that party."
"No."
"Give me one good reason why not."
"Because sooner or later you're going to have to decide if you're going to trust me. Now's the time. You want my help in this insane quest then I'll do it - for Henry - but I will not be second guessed every step of the way. I've been nothing but good since we came home. I gave everything to do what was right. This is it. This is when you make your choice to trust me or I'll go at this on my own."
The younger woman stopped, looking as if she were trying to find a way to counter the statement but could not. She sank down into a chair and massaged the bridge of her nose, looking utterly exhausted. "You're right," she admitted softly. "You're right, and I'm sorry. It's just… Hook has been our best chance to cross over and get to Emma. With more ogres than usual in the way… I just don't want to lose our chance. If I'm not there and something happens... I don't want to risk anything."
"Then I'm not sure what the argument here is."
Snow looked to her husband and Charming crossed the space between them, putting a hand on either shoulder. She leaned into his touch, sighing heavily. "There isn't one. You're idea is the best we've heard."
"Thank you," she said.
"I'll go with you," Baelfire offered.
"And you should take Robin here. He's an expert marksman, aren't you?" Think volunteered.
Robin, having been silent since they entered and watching the whole thing spilling out before them, looked startled to have the attention swing his way. "I… Yes? I'd be happy to accompany you down to the shores. My men are waiting for me down there and I'd only come up to make sure you had the news. What is your mode of travel, Lady….?"
"Regina."
"Ah. So you're Regina."
Regina bristled, shooting him a glare that might have cut through steel. "Whatever you've heard is grossly exaggerated. And I've turned over a new leaf."
"I hadn't heard anything, m'lady," Robin chuckled. "Though I'd say if you fight your physical battles with as much spark as you do your verbal ones, I should count myself a lucky man indeed to have you on my side."
Tink beamed at his words and nearly skipped to Regina's side. "So it's settled. Regina will take Bae and Robin down to the shores to bring back Hook and his crew and we'll see you as soon as you get back."
The former Evil Queen risked a question glance at the fairey, but said nothing to her about it. "Fine then. Let's get going before the queen changes her mind."
If Snow shot a retort back, the three of them didn't hear it as they disappeared in a swirl of magic.
TBC
Notes: So, it was actually the second time through the series that I saw the lion tattoo on Robin's arm. I love the pairing now, but I think Regina would be so fixated on everything else that she would, again, overlook what's right in front of her. We shall see.