As sunlight began to brighten their little sanctuary, Robin found it hard to release his sleeping partner, but he knew it had to be done. They had to end this winter, there was no time to figure out what he wanted. Still, Regina's words haunted him. She was giving up on him again. She was pushing him away, back to Marian and a life that seemed to chafe, where before it had been a perfect fit.
The ease with which she had disposed of her heart had unnerved him greatly. He knew that she could feel without it, but watching her toss it into the savior's hand had been a shock. As soon as she had left the diner, he had moved to speak to Emma, ensuring that the younger woman would not follow Regina's orders. Instead they agreed that Emma would take the heart out of town, but put it somewhere safe where they could retrieve it when the battle was over.
"I can hear you thinking," Regina said, suddenly bringing him back to their less than innocent situation.
"Excuse me, Milady," he replied, untangling himself and moving to stoke the fire. "I didn't mean to interrupt your slumber."
"It wasn't interrupted, I told you I wanted to get an early start. It looks like we are already losing time. Don't bother with the fire, we will eat on the move."
In a cloud of purple, she was up and dressed for a long day on the frozen trail. The bed head that had been present a moment before was now styled immaculately. Another wave of her hand made a thermos of coffee appear, as well as two cups of oatmeal.
"Anything else?" she questioned.
"I think we can make do," Robin replied shrugging on his coat, but she clearly disagreed, as a moment later he too was decked out in the finest cold weather gear money could buy.
"I can't have you catching a cold and slowing me down," she said by way of explanation, grabbing her breakfast and stepping out into the blistering cold. After hours of walking through the snow covered forest, finally, they saw something. A small cabin, made completely out of ice.
"What's the plan, Milady?"
"I go try to capture some of the strongest magic in all the land, and you stay out of the way," she replied. He looked at her confused for a minute, but when he tried to step into the clearing where the cabin sat, he realized his feet were stuck to the ground.
"Someday I am going to stop falling for that," he sighed.
"It's for your own good, Robin," she said stroking his cheek, but staying out of his reach. "If anything goes wrong in there the spell will release you. If that happens, run back to town as fast as you can and tell Emma and Rumple where I am. Do not under any circumstances try to come after me. I cannot have your blood on my hands."
"I won't leave you," he insisted, still trying to get his feet to move.
"You will, because Roland needs you more than I do," she smiled grimly, moving toward the cabin.
Regina didn't even have time to knock, before the door to the cabin was thrown open.
"What are you doing here? How did you find me?" asked the woman with hair as white as ice.
"I'm the one who asks the questions around here," Regina replied in full Evil Queen mode, a fireball forming in her hand. "You are in my town, putting my loved ones in danger. Give me one good reason not to torch you and this little Popsicle stand."
"You need to back up, or something bad is going to happen," Elsa warned even as she took a step back herself, trying to distance herself from the strange fire wielding woman.
"Something bad is going to happen, sweetie," Regina bounced the fireball to her other hand before tossing it toward the ice queen. Before the ball could hit its mark, it was hit by an ice blast causing the flames to disappear.
"I warned you," Elsa raged firing again this time striking Regina in the chest, but while the ice queen expected her opponent to fall, Regina just smirked.
"That all you got Queen Forstine?" she taunted.
"My NAME is Elsa of Arendelle!"
"Well, MY name Regina Mills, and unless you want spend the rest of your existences in your bottle," she said drawing the golden urn from her bag. "I would suggest you end this little tantrum and bring back summer."
Elsa's eyes widened for a moment in recognition, before rage contorted her face.
"I will not be concealed," Elsa growled, a flick of her wrist shooting sharp, dagger like icicles at Regina.
"Just end the winter!" Regina screamed back, a wall of fire separating her from the dangerous projectiles.
"I CAN'T!" Elsa shrieked, the heat of the flames nipping at her skin.
In an instant, Regina dropped her hands. The wall of fire gone as fast as it had appeared.
"You can't?" Regina asked a little surprised.
"I can't. I killed my own sister, because I can't control my power," Elsa admitted shrinking back into her home. Regina followed her in. As she entered the small cabin she was amazed by its beauty. She was never a big fan of snow, but the crystal like sparkle of the cabin was breathe taking. Not to mention it was surprisingly warm, given that it was lacking a fire in the ice hearth. As her eyes met that of the young queen, she recognized the look of utter despair.
"I don't want to hurt anyone, but I can't go back to that prison," Elsa hiccupped between weeping sobs.
"Hey, it's alright. We can figure something out," Regina soothed moving to join Elsa on her chase, and wrapping her arm around the weeping woman. God, Snow must be rubbing off on me, she thought trying to come up with a new plan.
"Were you born with this power?" Regina asked.
"Yes, the ice and snow have always been a part of me, but after the accident… after it became much worse. I cannot touch a thing without it turning to ice. I had thought I could go away, somewhere I would not hurt anyone, but Hans captured me as I was trying to leave."
"And you have no idea how to reverse your magic? Were you trained at all?"
"My father took me to a shaman once, but he just told us that I needed to control it and that fear was my enemy."
"Fear, eh? That must be what fuels your magic. Are you afraid to touch things?" Regina asked patiently.
"Of course, I'm afraid. Everything I touch is ruined," Elsa cried helplessly.
"I know it feels that way, but you have to try not to be afraid. Rage used to fuel my magic. With it I could do almost anything, but my teacher also showed me how to put the rage away when I didn't need it. He said you need to focus on a moment of happiness to reign in the rage, or in your case fear."
"What do you think about?" the ice queen asked.
Regina hesitated for a moment, the memories she used to calm herself were always very personal. First memories of her time with Daniel, later private moments with Henry, his first smile, the first time he said I love you, but lately images of a certain thief were what came to mind. Remembering Robin reminded her that he was still waiting outside for her and while she had set a warming charm around him, he was probably very cold and worried at this point.
"Elsa, there is someone very important to me waiting outside. He is not like me. He has a heart, so you could hurt him, but if I leave him in this weather…"
"I understand, but I'm afraid…"
"I promise you have nothing to fear from this man. He is the gentlest soul you will ever meet. You just need to trust me, and think of a happy memory," Regina promised. Once Elsa seemed ready, Regina headed back out into the snow. Already the air felt warmer. The minute she came around through the trees, Robin's eyes lit up.
"Have you done it? Have you captured the cause of this winter?" he asked. Feeling her spell release, he took an unsteady step toward her.
"It's more complicated than I thought, but I wanted to come check on you. If I let you come with me you have to promise to stay behind me. Elsa doesn't want to hurt anyone, but her magic is raw. Her parents never saw fit to train her and so she is a bit of a loose cannon. Fear is what causes her magic, so try not to set her off," Regina explained.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Robin smiled, following her toward the little ice cabin in the woods.