A/N: You were expecting it, it's finally happening! Regina and Robin are reunited at last :D
As always thank you so much for your response to this fic, your reviews make my day people! Thank you for taking the time to read, favourite, follow this story, I hope you're still on for the journey!
Chapter 4: In the eye of the storm
Back to the start, again, one last time, Robin hopes anyway as he makes his way once more to the tavern on the docks.
"You will need a ship", the Dark One said. "And I know just the one."
Robin has spent enough time in the twisted wizard's presence recently to expect the worst. Rumplestiltskin didn't disappoint. Not for the first time, the outlaw wonders if his patron really intends for him to come out of this alive.
It seems his last visit attracted more attention than he had expected and his progress towards the bar is followed by a trail of more or less subtle and discreet whispers. He is almost at the counter when a tall dark-haired man steps directly in front of him.
Robin has stolen enough goods from the likes of him to be able to recognize a prince when he sees one. The golden pin on his cloak representing an octopus woman allows him to identify the man as being from the Maritime Kingdom, and he suddenly has a pretty good idea of just who is standing in his way.
The prince seizes him up with a neutral expression on his face, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Are you Robin Hood?" He asks in a low voice.
"Depends who is asking and why," Robin replies in the same tone.
"I'm Eric, Prince of the Maritime Kingdom. I was told you and I are leading similar quests. I was hoping we could help each other. I loathe to admit that I haven't been very successful," Eric answers, looking down at the ground, an embarrassed flush appearing on his neck and cheeks as he admits his failure.
Robin knows all about royalty and their pride and he smirks slightly at the other man's shame. "What makes you think I need or even want your help?" He queries, curious as to what would bring a royal to ally with a notorious thief.
"I have been scouring the seas for a long time now without getting anywhere. Recently, my ship has been boarded by a ruthless one-handed pirate who planned to ransom my men and I. We managed to escape at the near cost of our lives. I heard you had a run in with this distasteful character too," the Prince explains. "I know who you are of course but in this case our interests seem to align. If you help me, there could be a reward for you and your men," Eric adds, the hint of a taunt in his voice.
This time Robin can't contain his amusement at the idea that this man thinks he has any kind of leverage on him.
"Your Highness," he starts, spitting the title mockingly, "you just admitted that you have no ship to provide and that you have never been able to find any trace of your missing mermaid in years. You're standing in a tavern which is known for being a pirate's lair with very few reinforcements," he nods towards the table near them where about half a dozen uniformed sailors are sitting, observing them. "Of what use could you possibly be to me?"
"Because I plan to take back my ship and you underestimate me greatly if you believe I only have this small party at my disposal. Now, if you want to do this on your own then fine, but given the power of the enemy who stands in our way, do you really think an alliance would be a waste?" The Prince sounds strong and assertive for the first time in their conversation and Robin nods appreciatively.
"Well, that's more like it. Wouldn't want a weakling by my side when I teach that Hook pirate a lesson," Robin states, grinning at the other man's surprised expression as he holds out his hand for him to shake. "You have found yourself an ally, Sir."
"You've got some gall!" Eric exclaims. "Others would have been arrested and thrown in the dungeon for less than that."
"Others can't help you get what you want, I can," the thief declares.
As both men reunite their respective groups and become acquainted, more of Eric's sailors join them, sent by the man's father to make sure a proper retaliation is organized against the pirate crew who dared seize their ship.
A plan is rapidly devised, and when a scout, who was stationed outside, rushes in to inform them their targets are approaching, they are ready.
Robin and Eric sit facing each other, slowly sipping a pint when Hook and his buccaneers enter the place noisily.
The captain freezes as he sets eyes on two of his former victims. Surprise and fear show on several of his men's faces but they don't get time to ponder on how the thief and the prince survived since they are soon surrounded and outnumbered by the whole united troop.
Robin and Eric stand up and approach them.
"Didn't think you would see either of us anytime soon, eh Captain?" Robin jeers at the man before showing him a sack. "Mind if I return the favour?" He asks, but he throws it over the pirate's head without waiting for an answer. "You're coming with us while we're taking back the Prince's property. We never know, you might prove useful."
The crew starts to protest as they leave the tavern but it dies out soon enough when they are disarmed and bounded together. They are abandoned in the harbour and the party sails the ship under Robin's direction, assisted by Rumplestiltskin's compass, with Captain Hook tied to the mast.
The sky is heavy with low and dark clouds, strong winds rush into the sails. Eric's sailors look on worriedly, knowing how to read the signs: a storm is coming, they can only hope they will be done by the time it hits.
While the Merry Men struggle to keep their balance, unaccustomed as they are to this mean of transportation, feeling a lot more comfortable on solid and unmoving ground, their leader seems unaffected. Robin may feel uneasy about the storm but he knows there is a bigger threat coming.
Prince Eric asks him details about his plan to find and free their mermaid saviours but the outlaw only shares the minimum with him. They stay silent for a while but Robin notices out of the corner of his eye the way Eric observes him curiously.
"Just ask your question already," he grunts.
The Prince coughs, embarrassed that he was caught staring. "I was just wondering what your story was. You seem so determined to find your mermaid. I heard your men say you went to the Dark One for help, it's not a trifling act."
"I was certain that my final hour had come when this pirate –" Robin replies, nodding towards Hook. "– threw me overboard. I was drowning, thinking that this was it, that I would die a petty, selfish, drunkard thief, that this was how I would be remembered. The thought was unbearable but there was nothing I could do. Suddenly, this marvelous creature came out of nowhere and offered me a second chance at the cost of her own freedom. What kind of man would I be if I didn't try my utmost to help her in return?"
Eric acquiesces thoughtfully. "It seems you and I have more in common that one would think. I found myself in a similar situation. It is strange, I grew up hearing the worst of things about the merfolk, and yet it seems they are more capable of offering second chances without judgement than most people."
"That's why I intend to do whatever it takes to help her, to help them," Robin vows ardently.
"You and I both," Eric approves.
The silence that follows is much more comfortable
Before long he recognizes the area where he was thrown overboard and goose bumps erupt on his skin. He walks to the ship's bow and leans on the wood railing, his gaze settling on a large rock where two figures sit.
He doesn't need the spyglass he is holding to know she is there. She is not alone of course, that would be way too easy, and nothing about this whole adventure has been simple.
A faint melody floats towards them and he feels an unnatural pull towards it, clouding his mind slowly.
"Men, earplugs now," he orders loudly before doing it himself. The relief is instantaneous and he shakes his head to clear it completely.
They stay on course, heading straight towards the two mermaids. Robin observes his saviour's companion through the spyglass and notices how the redhead's expression turns from furious at their absence of reaction to her powers to aghast at their continued approach.
He gestures towards two men holding a net, and when they are close enough, he makes the ship veer and the men throw the net over the red headed mermaid and hoist her on board.
Regina feels her heart hammering in her chest as Zelena's smirk turns evil, her resemblance to their mother in that moment is so uncannily disturbing, it sends shudders running down her spine.
She knows what's about to happen, and this time she is powerless to help the man she has grown to feel so strongly about despite their very short acquaintance.
She closes her eyes as her sister opens her mouth and starts to sing. She doesn't want to watch the disaster that's about to ensue.
Zelena growls a few moments later, sounding incensed and Regina's eyes snap open.
"Why isn't it working?" Her sister screams. "What have you done?" She demands, turning towards Regina who is just as clueless and shakes her head dumbfounded. "If I find out you have anything to do with this, it will be the end for you, sis!" Zelena threatens, grabbing her sister's chin roughly.
She releases her and spins back towards the approaching ship. The sisters wear twin expressions of bewilderment as the ship slows and swerves gently to the side in front of the rock they are sitting on. Neither of them has time to react as the net imprisons Zelena.
Regina watches as a rope ladder is rolled out along the boat's hull and the man she saved descends it carefully until he takes her sister's place by her side.
"You, Milady, are not easy to find," he declares, smiling widely at her, dimples on display and Regina can't stop her own grin in response.
She raises a hand timidly to his face, seized by a sudden need to make sure that he is real, that this is real and not a trick from her mother.
"You're really here," she mouths in wonder, cupping his cheek, her mind flashing to their first meeting as she does.
Her smile is dazzling as he leans into her touch.
"I could not bear the thought of you being hurt because you saved me," he whispers, closing his eyes as she strokes his cheekbone with her thumb. She tilts her head to the side causing her hair to move and bare her torso.
A traitorous blush creeps up on her neck and cheeks under his heated gaze as he takes her in, and for a second she wants to squirm away but his voice is gentle, his smile soft as he tells her that she is a true wonder and he has dreamt of seeing her again ever since she fled away. She frowns as he trails off, as if wanting to add something at the end of his statement, and then realization dawns on her.
"Regina," she articulates, placing her hand over her heart.
He beams at her and repeats her name out loud, uttering each syllable in a reverent tone.
"I am Robin, at your service Milady," he introduces himself before furrowing his brow, contemplating whether or not he should ask his next question it seems. "May I be bold enough to ask what happened to your voice? It looks like your companion doesn't have that problem," he asks, pointing towards the ship where they can hear Zelena's vociferations as she struggles against the net's hold.
The corner of Regina's lips lift up slightly at his dry remark but she soon looks away sadly.
"She took it. My mother. To teach me a lesson," she mouths and sighs in frustration as the effort becomes more and more taxing.
Robin's jaw clenches in anger at the awful notion.
"She imprisoned it in a pendant," Regina adds slowly. "She wears it around her neck to mock me."
"I swear I will get it back for you," Robin promises, bringing their foreheads together and closing his eyes, breathing her in.
They stay like this for a moment but an urgent call from the deck breaks it.
"Hood! Now may be a good time to put your plan into action!" Eric says and Robin and Regina both hear the changes in Zelena's screams.
"She is calling for Mother," Regina realizes and Robin's eyes widen. He hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
"Listen to me Regina, I have a way to stop your mother but I can only use it if she is above the surface. Do you think there is a way we can manage that?"
Regina looks beyond Robin's shoulder to see the sky has turned pitch black, the threatening clouds having regrouped together in a compact mass, bolts of lightning start to flash and the sound of thunder reaches her ears.
"You won't need to do anything," she tries to say. "Mother is on her way." As soon as she has finished her sentence, Zelena laughs hysterically on the ship and Regina can see the men move away in fright at the sight. She can't blame them, she imagines how much Zelena is relishing the situation now that she is about to gain the upper hand.
The wind suddenly dies down, the sea becomes placid. Calm before the storm they say, and the next moment they understand the expression in its full meaning.
Regina clutches Robin's arm and points to a forming whirlpool. It grows and grows until they distinguish a huge shape rising from it.
A terrible voice fills the air all around them.
"You filthy humans, how dare you put your hands on my daughters?"
A larger than life mermaid emerges from the maelstrom, they all have to crane their necks up to try and glimpse her head.
The wind picks up again and the ship shakes violently at the force of the waves crashing against it.
The giant mermaid comes closer to them, flicking away in an irritated gesture the arrows fired at her by the Merry Men. She laughs as she catches one pointy stick between her thumb and forefinger and snaps it without strain.
"Your efforts are vain. You are on my domain. None of you can stop me," she sniggers.
"You are wrong about that, Witch," Robin yells, attracting Cora's attention to him. He arms the bow Little John has just thrown to him and aims towards her necklace. He releases the arrow and this time Cora can't stop it. It pierces through the shellfish and a golden light leaves it, rapidly flying towards Regina.
She inhales sharply as the light hits her throat and warms her vocal chords. She presses a hand against her neck, gasping a bit at the odd sensation. Robin turns back towards her and her smile is radiant.
It drops quickly however when Cora screams in fury and leans down to grab the offending thief.
"ROBIN!" Regina cries out as he is brutally separated from her. He extends his hand towards her, and when she thinks he is trying to hold on to her, he deposits a vial of liquid in her opened hand.
"Do it, Regina, use it," he hollers before disappearing from sight as Regina's mother throws him violently in the raging sea.
"Let him drown," Cora huffs, looking down at her youngest daughter.
"NOOO! This has gone on long enough," Regina declares. She swims rapidly towards the area Robin has fallen in, clutching the vial in her left hand.
She looks around for him, her blood running cold as she finally spots him. He is unconscious and she struggles to bring him back to the surface.
When they finally break through, Cora is busy throwing bursts of water towards the boat, the mast is broken, several men have jumped.
"Stop this madness, Mother!" Regina shouts.
Time seems to stand still as she opens the vial and projects the liquid it contains towards her target, silently praying that it works.
Thoughts? (rating should go up in the next chapter, if anyone is interested)