Due to its length, I've only done the povs once and also, it felt like a good place to end.
Obviously the prophecy isn't a canon thing yet I've always felt that there should be one. It's inspired by Cersei's prophecy from Game of Thrones since I was reading the book when I started planning this and I always wanted to include something similar so here we are.
This is where the episodes and flashbacks will come into play so the whole Rumple/Regina interaction has came from 2.22. I'm trying to change it up a bit so you're not just reading the script but the premise will be there.
On an entirely different note, for all those reading Secrets of War, I've decided to go on a little break with it and just work on some other multi-chapters and some prompts since we're at a stage now were I have to think things through but I won't do a Forbidden on it and get to chapter ten and just abandon it, I will go back to it.
Now all that's said, I hope ya'll enjoy this and please tell me what you think, nothing makes me happier than reading your reviews :)
"You're going to do what now?"
It was late. Very late. These people weren't probably sleeping. Why couldn't she have decided to do this earlier, in daylight? Robin shakes his head, unbelievable.
"Snow White has been found to be hiding in a cottage in that village," the Queen says, doing up her buttons on her coat and watching Robin through the reflection of the mirror. "The brat isn't as clever as she thinks she is."
"And you didn't think to do this earlier? When it was still light outside?"
She'd called him into her chamber about an hour ago, a cheerful and smug look across her face as she offered him some wine and told him to sit. Robin had taken the glass (not one to refuse alcohol after all) but eyed her and the liquid suspiciously. He'd been hesitant to drink it at first, unsure what was in it but with a roll of her eyes and a firm, It's not poisoned, he'd brought it to his lips, savouring the taste and allowing him to fill up with warmth.
He'd been a bit unsure as to why he was here. They're argument hadn't gone down well after all yet she seemed to have cheered up since then, even humming a little tune to herself. They'd sat in silence (well, apart from the tune) until Robin had finally asked what he was doing here and why she was so happy.
"Do I have to explain everything?" Her happiness wavering now. "The bitch will be asleep, making it easier for us to take her without her fighting back much."
Huh, the sneak upon method. "That's a bit unfair don't you think?"
She gives him a look. "Yes, says the one who shot a man, unarmed because they stole their deer."
"Okay, he wasn't unarmed," Robin says, offended. "He had a bow and that was deer, I saw it first."
"Shut up!" She turns from the mirror to face him. "You're like a child. If Snow White is still in the cottage, we take her, we don't wake anyone up." She turns back to the mirror then, smoothing her clothes out. "Let's just hope she's there." she mutters, more to herself but loud enough for Robin to hear it.
"I'm sure she'll be there tomorrow. Can't we just-" He tries to speak but his voice is gone. He brings a hand to his throat, shocked, his voice box is still there but no sound is coming out. The bitch took his voice!
"Finally, we can have some quiet for once." She moves away from the mirror, walking towards him. "You're coming with me," He tries to shout No but all he can do is make the 'O' shape. "Yes!" she says firmly and Robin stops trying to get sound out, closing his mouth completely and trying to use facial expressions to protest. "You're coming with me so you can see how to really get people to talk."
There's a click and Robin feels his voice come back and sighs happily. "Much better," he grins.
Regina only rollers her eyes with a threatening, I'll take it again if you don't shut up.
He hangs back as the black knights boot the door down and the Queen dismounts. It doesn't look like anyone's home, Robin observes, and his theory is proven when Regina exits the same, a sour look across her face and looking ready to have a tantrum. That doesn't matter, however. Instead she turns to the nearest guard and says,
"Wake them up. They must know where she went."
The knight nods, signalling the others around him to follow and they bang against the doors, even knocking some down. Robin's eyes catch Regina's and he shakes his head. It isn't fair, he thinks. Most of these people are probably unaware Snow White was even here, with an exception of the old woman and she clearly didn't look like she wanted to talk about it. The Queen just glowers at him, turning away and heading to the centre of the village.
Robin trots forward, he may not agree with this but he'd be lying if he didn't say he was curious. Perhaps someone might speak up, seeing the queen and how many knights surround her, they might give into fear.
The peasants wander out of their homes like zombies, dressed for bed, some clutching the hands of their small children and even carrying babies. Robin's stomach twists, they shouldn't have woken the children.
"Snow White has betrayed you," she begins and Robin finds himself smirking from the sidelines, out of sight. "She poisoned her own father and is now running around, terrorising villages as an unlawful bandit."
The villagers stay quiet, only the shuffling of feet can be heard and perhaps the stray cry of a baby. Robin shivers, a cold passing them. It's freezing, what are they doing?
"But I know she's been here." This strikes noise, the people murmuring together. Robin catches sight of the old woman, standing in the middle, eyes cold as she stares at the queen, not joining in on the whispers. "Now, for anyone who steps forward to say where she's gone, my son, King Henry, will pardon them for their misguidance and they can live out their days in another Realm."
The villagers fall silent, nobody stepping forward to say where Snow White has gone and Robin really isn't surprised that nobody has spoken up. This must be the village that supports Snow White's story, he realises. Makes sense why they'd risk their lives to keep her here.
"Really?" Regina says, sounding annoyed and frustrated and slightly bewildered. "Nobody has seen her? You mean to tell me that she lived here and not one of you saw her?"
The villagers are still silent and the queen takes their silence as their answer.
"Well then, if Snow White life means that much to you, perhaps you'd be willing to sacrifice your own." Robin watches, his eyes widening as his heart beats a little faster.
Regina turns to the knights around her. "Kill them all, no mercy." It's loud enough for one of the villagers to scream about King Henry's mercy in which the others around then begin screaming the same. Children begin to cry and shout, shouting for help and Robin feels his insides start to churn. She was really doing this. Was really about to slaughter an entire village but not knowing that Snow White was here, for not knowing where she had gone.
He grips the reigns of his horse and wonders if his heart was in chest, would he hatred he feels for this woman be stronger than it already is? The likely answer is yes.
The strides towards him, a smirk across her face as she nears her horse.
"What are you doing?" he whispers through grit teeth.
"Teaching them a lesson."
"By killing them all?! What for?"
"My revenge."
Robin resists the urge to run her over with his horse. There's too many guards, too many people who'll fight him for killing their Queen. He's weapon-less, they'll never stand a chance. Instead he sits, gripping the reigns tighter and seethes in his anger and mortification at what this woman has just condoned.
"You're son's reign will be built upon the blood you've spilled."
She pales at that, looking shocked as she stares at him while the screams before them carry on.
"What did you say?"
"You've ruined Henry's reign." It's a final word, he speaks no more.
When he gave away his son, he did it for his child's own good, a selfless act made by a selfish person. The only act of good he has to his name. He, for some reason, though the queen was the same. That her child was above everything, even this absurd revenge, but it seems that's not the case. She is just selfish. A selfish evil bitch. The Evil Queen.
"All I do I do for Henry."
Robin can only laugh.
What is she doing for Henry apart from ruining his reign?
Robin doesn't ask, he says silent, allowing her to think that, letting her think that.
They say in the village until morning. Through the night, they listen to the screams of the dying and with each scream, more hatred grows between him and the queen. She's silent, looking far away. Robin doesn't care. He hopes she's regretting her sins.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.
Henry's reign will be built upon the blood you've spilled...
She's not scared. All the creatures that live in the Forest at night are just stories, they're not real. They're just stories, they're just stories, they're just stories...
Yet Regina still clutches onto Anya's hand. Her heart thumps as they make their way through the woods, eyes scanning around in the darkness, unable to see anything but her own two feet and her friend's silhouette in front of her.
It's ridiculous, completely irrational that she should feel scared. The Forest is her home, she's still here for ten years now and she's lasted this long. There is nothing to be afraid of.
"I think we're here," Anya whispers and Regina bites her lip, wanting to turn back, run back to the castle like Mary did and no- No, she won't run back, she's not scared.
"Are you sure she's even real?" Regina whispers back, trying to keep the quiver and the hope that this thing isn't real out of her voice.
But Anya's nods, certain. "All the small folk say she is."
"Small folk lie all the time." There was one little village boy who once told Regina about the vampire ghost that lived in the North Woods. One bite and next you'd be a ghost alongside him. Regina had pushed him away, not believing him and the boy just laughed, telling her not to go into the North Woods at night.
Now they were in the North Woods. And it was night.
It's just a story...
"Well, we have to be certain ourselves," Anya tells her. "Don't you want to know your future?"
Truthfully, the answer was no. Mother once told her that the future couldn't be change, that regardless the journey you take, the destination will always be the same.
"But what if we know our futures and we don't like it? Mother said-"
"Who cares what your mother said!" Regina could tell her friend was getting annoyed now, she was restless.
(She was always reckless, too, Regina remembers. Always preferred the thrill over rationality. That's what had gotten her killed in the end; her recklessness)
"Besides, all I want to know is when Damien will be mine. And what about you? You heard what your mother said about being the queen one day, don't you want to know if that came true or not?"
The mention of queen makes anxiety swirl around Regina's stomach. I don't want to be queen, she thinks. Why does nobody seem to understand that?
"Well, yes but-"
"Then come on!" The girl grabs Regina's hand, pushing away the bushes and yanking Regina through. Her skirt catches on a sharp twig, tugging but Regina doesn't realise, not before she hears the ripping noise and looks down to find the hem torn. She looks back up to Anya, a panic in her eyes. Mother's gonna kill her...
Anya only sighs, rolling her eyes. "It's just a night dress, you have plenty more." She tugs Regina forward once more and Regina falls quite, just focuses on the moon lost in the trees and not the dark house that stands in front of them.
"She could've done a bit more with the place," Anya says casually as if they were just inspecting a nearby castle. Regina hums, not wanting to look in front of her.
She smacks into Anya when the girl suddenly stops and the action makes Regina turn, to catch a look at the house this witch apparently lives in. It's all black, looking like it's been made of the slab of a nearby swamp and peeling. Regina squeeze Anya's hand, holding tightly.
"Do we knock?"
No, we turn around and run away, far away and pretend we were never here. But Regina knows that's not the answer so she shrugs, not trusting herself to speak least she say those words.
Anya turns back around and Regina hears her take in a breath, reaching her hand forward to knock against the door.
Then they wait.
They wait for what means like a lifetime for Regina before there's a sudden cold wind and it ruffles her robe, making it flap slightly. The air escapes up her night dress, getting trapped and sending a shiver through Regina. She looks around. They're in a clearly, surrounded by the bushes and trees and Regina thinks back to that boys story, the vampire ghost, and she feels another chill run through her.
"Anya, I want to go back." Regina whispers, still holding on to her friend's hand.
"We'll be fine," the girl says, yet with her other hand, Regina can see she's holding on to her light brown locks, twirling it around in her fingers. She's scared, Regina knows, so what are they doing here?
"Anya-" Regina begins but the door to the black opens, cutting her off and Regina has never wanted to repel so much before, never wanted to flee and never come back. But Anya's hand is gripping hers now as tightly as Regina was holding hers before, stopping her from leaving.
"Who is it?" Her voice is sweet but also slimy, each word said slowly but Regina isn't paying much attention to what she's saying, she's distracted by the witch's eyes- or lack of- there's a layer of skin where her eyes should be, sown in place with a dark brown thread- or is that blood?- Regina can't tell.
"Um..." Anya's the first to speak, is always the first to speak but it's got none of that confidence, none of that certainty anymore. "I- I'm Anya and th- this is...this is Regina, w- we want our- our, um, future...told."
The witch smiles, open mouthed yet it's empty, no teeth, only gums.
"Why don't you come inside?" The witch moves out of the way and Regina feels Anya move, still holding hands, Regina has no choice but to also go.
There's a smell that hits her nose- sweet and sugar. There's also the smell of something baking yet the stove in the corner isn't on and there's no sweets or sugar lying anywhere. There's nothing, nothing homely about this place at all, it holds just a broken bed in the corner and a table with a chair.
The witch makes her way to the chair, moving as if she can see and there's a thought that enters Regina's mind that maybe she can, maybe she only fakes being blind so she can receive sympathy and help- she wouldn't be the first.
"So," the witch begins, once she's seated. "Who would like to go first?"
Regina looks to Anya, placing a hand on her back and moving her forward. Perhaps it's mean but Regina wants to see what happens, what the process is before she decides to leave Anya and make a run for it.
"Lovely," the witch says when Anya just nudges forward a tiny bit. "Stand here."
The girl moves forward, hands lacing together as she stands before the witch and Regina moves to the side a little, trying to get a better view.
"Hand." the witch commands and Anya looks back towards Regina, fear across her face. "Now, don't be scared," the witch says as if she knows what Anya is thinking.
Anya turns back, offering her hand out to the blind witch and Regina gulps, her heart beating faster and faster as she watches the scene unfold.
The moment the witch touches Anya she begins to laugh, a hideous cackle that hurts Regina's ears as she grimaces.
"What?" Anya says, worry in her tone. "What is it?"
"Oh, silly girl," the witch says, calming down. "You have no future."
"What?" Anya says and even Regina is intrigued by this. Everyone has a future. Everyone.
"There's nothing but a blank slate for you."
(Regina had come to know what this meant later on. As was stated, Anya's recklessness what was what her killed in the end, when they were older and Damien had been married off to some plump little girl named Cleo, it hadn't sat right with Anya so the girl had snuck off to the stables to get what she wanted. Damien had told her to lock the door but the idiot had said that it was more fun, more thrilling worrying about being caught. Well, that's what had happened. Cleo had walked in and in some crazy jealous rage, took a pitch fork and stabbed Anya with it. It had been Daniel who'd found Anya, and Daniel who'd told Regina the news.)
Anya snatches her arm away. Worried, scared, and angry at what any of this could mean she screams, "You're lying. You can't tell our future. You're making it up!"
The witch only smirks, saying, "If you believe so, girl." Before turning to Regina and Regina feels her heart stop. "What about you, Princess? Do you believe me?"
Anya looks towards her. "I did it, so you have to. There's nothing to be scared of, it's all lies anyway. It's all just a came." Anya walks away from the witch, heading to where Regina was standing.
"Come on, I haven't got all night."
Biting a lip, her hands clutching her robe, Regina makes the slow, torturous steps towards the woman, only stopping when she's stood right in front of her. She takes her hand out of her pocket, offering it to the witch as Anya did and as the woman touches her arm, she feels a little sting go through but fists her hand into her pocket, nails digging into the skin.
"Oh, yes, yes..." the witch begins and Regina waits, waits to see if there's anything there, or is it the same as Anya's, just an empty slate.
"Darkness will cover you, girl. Turn your once red heart to nothing but black, leaving you miserable and stuck in an endless loop, unable to leave to move on." Regina frowns, her breath deepening, growing heavy. She thinks she'd after have taken the empty slate now, yet as she pulls away the witch grabs her back. She isn't done, Regina realises. Why isn't she done?
"A girl," she continues, her sown sockets looking into Regina's eyes. "A girl...born in snow...She'll take everything, everything you ever held dear: Your love, your happiness, even your freedom. And your son-" Regina's eyes widen. She'll have a child? With who? "He'll wear a golden crown and smile proudly but when he sits, he'll sit upon a throne of bones, drink the blood of those dead, bathe in the ashes of those slaughtered-" A horrible picture enters her mind. A faceless child sitting in a literal throne of bones, drinking their blood and asking for more. When asked for bubbles, he replies with ashes. She's created a monster...
(The ten year old girl thought she'd raised him wrong, that something had happened, maybe she became like her mother and the boy became to resent her, it turned him evil.)
The witch lets out a little laugh, readjusting her grip on Regina's arm. "His reign will be built upon the blood you've spilled."
Regina feels a dread run through her, tears forming as she stares at this witch. She tries to regain her voice, to speak, to ask what any of it means but Anya's snatching her hand away, breaking the contact between the two.
"That's enough!" the girl says, her voice firm. She takes Regina's hand, pulling her away. "Don't believe it, Regina," she looks towards the witch as she says once more, "it's all lies anyway."
The witch only cackles once more, murmuring Silly girl! but not stopping the two from leaving.
"We'll see if it's all lies, when you're gone and she's lost in her darkness."
She's never forgotten that day. Can remember every detail now to the smell of the place. She'd tried believing Anya's theory, told herself every time she woke up from some twisted nightmare used by the prophecy that it was just a lie, the Blind Witch was just a woman, who probably wasn't even a witch.
She told herself that every day, until Daniel had found her and broke the news of Anya's death. Her heart had stopped cold and she remembers letting out a cry. Daniel had thought she was crying over Anya and while, yes, she was sad, she and Anya had been friends since they were babies, yet she was crying because Anya's prophecy had come true; she had no future because she was dead.
His reign will be built upon the blood you've spilled.
He'll sit upon a throne of bones, drink from the blood of those dead, bathe in the ashes of those slaughtered.
A girl will take everything you hold dear.
You're once red heart will turn to black.
Leaving you miserable, in an endless loop.
She couldn't deny it anymore. Couldn't ignore it any more. Her own prophecy was coming true. Just one last piece to fill...
Her eyes flitter over to Henry sword fighting with one of the guards. It's just a coincidence that everything that witch said happened, once her revenge is complete, once Snow White is gone, she'll be happy and Henry will have his reign full of peace.
Yet even Regina couldn't quite kid herself.
"You called?"
She sighs, the child-like voice momentarily going through her before turning away from Henry and the window.
"Yes," she says with a smile. Then it drops. "About an hour ago."
The Imp giggles. "Well, I said you could call but that doesn't mean I'd answer."
She scowls, turning away to look back out of the window over to the Forest. She can't see the villages, they're hidden by the trees, but she can imagine them. Imagine them getting on with their work, harbouring Snow White.
"I don't understand them," she admits, more to herself but loud enough so Rumple can hear. "I offer these peasants everything and they still protect Snow White. Why are they loyal to her, and not to me or Henry?"
Regina turns back around, expecting, wanting an answer.
"Well, Henry's a ten year old boy and you...well, you did just slaughter a whole village. Maybe that's why they call you the Evil Queen?
It had to be done, Regina tells herself, looking away. They needed to know the consequences of their actions.
"I'm not evil," she says. "I'm just maintaining order." She points towards the window, to the villages below where Snow is hiding. "She's the evil one, raiding villages."
Yet that doesn't sway the Imp. "They're her people, dearie. You'll just have to be content with their fear." He pouts as he says, "They'll never love you."
They're not her people, she thinks. They're Henry's, but Henry has no right to them yet so they're mine.
She turns away again, walking towards the mirror, straightening her posture and holding her head up. "They will love me," she says, certain, believing. "Once she's gone, they'll see my kindness."
"Yes, through the charred remains of their homes."
His reign will be built upon the blood you've spilled.
"In time it will be," she says, catching eye contact with the Imp. "Her death will allow it." She smoothes a hand over her clothes, feeling the sudden urge to catch Snow White there and then, to prove the Imp and everyone else who's ever doubted her, wrong. "I'll fine her. And apparently I have to do it myself."
The thief had proven unable, her guards had proven only to be able to point out the obvious. Gods, she should just get rid of them all, she'd work much faster.
Rumple laughs. "Yes, it that outfit, finding her should be easy."
He's right. She's too noticeable, she stands out too much, she needs to blend in, she needs...her mother's shape shifting spell.
She spins suddenly, startling Rumple who was busy inspecting the things on her vanity.
"Teach me my mother's shape shifting spell," she says suddenly. "Allow me to hide."
He places the hair brush down, giving her that look. "It look your mother months to learn that spell," then he glances at her up and down and she suddenly feels like the apprentice all over again, getting judged for not being able to make a fireball (How times have changed, she thinks) "You...Well, in a week you'll be able to, uh, change your hair maybe?"
Regina sighs, defeated, searching the floor for an answer until one comes to her.
"If I can't do it, you put it on me."
It's a risky thing, trusting the Imp. He could put the spell on her and leave her that way forever. Everything she's worked for would be lost, she'd lose Henry, and that's something she swore she'd never give up. Yet for her revenge, for Daniel, she had to trust this creature.
"Hmm, you won't control it, and you won't have any magic."
Her heart deflates a little at that. She was sort of depending on her magic yet they'll be something else, a sword or an axe or, anything.
"But I can see that that won't be an issue." He moves away from the vanity, standing in front of her. "Once the deed is done, call upon me and I will turn you back to your regal self."
She's about to nod when she realises something. She knows his phrase more than she knows her own, magic always comes with a price with Rumple and he'd yet to tell her what that price was.
"Oh, a boring matter of state. King George's kingdom."
Regina frowns, the hell would he want with King George of all people?
"Why?" she asks.
"Because I want him bankrupt, what's it to you?" he almost shouts and Regina jumps back a little, wishing she'd never bloody asked.
"Okay, okay," she says. "Just do it."
It's a click of his fingers and...nothing. She doesn't feel any different, just like a normal self except...She looks down, finds the red coat and leather pants replaced by layers and layers of dirty old rags.
"I don't feel anything," she says, looking up at the Imp for answers. "Just these ghastly rags."
The Imp giggles, telling her to turn around and when Regina does, she startles at the reflection staring back at her. The Imp's magic had changed her; her hair no longer fell in thick dark locks. Instead, it was replaced tattered, knot-filled, mousy hair. In fact, everything about this new identity was mousy; from the face, to the plumpness, even her height had changed.
"That is what the world will see." Rumple tells her.
Usually, she'd be repulsed that he'd dare make her look like this but this...this was perfect. She smiles, pleased with her appearance.
"Careful, dearie," Rumple warns. "I queen striding amongst peasants might not like what she hears."
Yet Regina is paying attention. She's still a queen, even if she looks as regal as a potato, nothing these people can say will hurt her.
"It won't matter," she tells the Imp. "When I'm done, these people will be singing their praises over her smouldering villainous remains."
The prophecy will never come true. She'll have her revenge and the loop will end. And Henry will have a long lasting reign.
