Author's Note: Hello everyone! You have missed us, right? We hope you did. Well… we are back.
We are really, really, sorry for the delay. The thing is that we had a hard (really hard) time looking for a permanent beta, but thanks to the Gods we finally found one. We are (and you should as well) really grateful to RichelleBrinkley, without her… we wouldn't be here, writing the AN. So, THANK YOU :)
This time, we are not making any promises about the next update because the last time we did… well, you know what happened. What it's certain is that the next chapter is already written. Our dearest beta only have to take a deep dive into it.
In this chapter we introduce you two mysterious siblings that are physically inspired on Legolas and Tauriel from "The Hobbit".
Read, enjoy, and if you're in a good mood, review. It really help us to keep our hopes high and continue with this story.
Long way to happy
CHAPTER 4
"What happened to her?" Henry asked worriedly when he saw Robin entering the castle with his mother in his arms.
"Shh..." he soothed, "She is just asleep. Follow me. I'll tell you later, boy."
Robin crossed the tall wooden doors, then a great hall full of ancient portraits, and headed straight for a giant staircase. "Come," he commanded. Henry did so.
They left Regina in a room on the second floor. The room had a king-sized bed and the biggest wardrobe Henry had ever seen. There was a desk with a giant, dirty mirror near the door. The walls were a soft white, with not a portrait nor frame adorning them. Another door led to what he thought was probably a bathroom. The balcony was smaller than the room and had nothing on it, just the railing.
The room seemed empty and lifeless to Henry, as if no one had been there for decades.
When Robin laid Regina in bed he finally spoke up. "What happened to her?"
"Your mother slayed some hideous monster using a stolen sword–mine, as a matter of fact. She has used a great deal of magic and run out of energy." He stood, approaching Regina. Henry looked cautiously at him, but Robin did nothing more than press a hand to Regina's forehead.
"She put on quite a show," the archer made himself smile at her.
Henry pulled Robin's hand from his mother's forehead. "What do you think you're doing?" he hissed in a low whisper, trying not to wake Regina.
Robin frowned. "Taking care of h-"
"I can do it. She's my mom," Henry said hotly. "I can see what you're doing," he nodded knowingly. "She won't lay an eye on you."
He looked Robin straight in the eye, both standing face to face next to Regina's bed. "Stay away," Henry warned the older man, "or-"
"Or what?" Robin raised his voice. He then smiled ruefully and shook his head; he was not going to argue with the boy, at least not about his intentions with the Queen.
"Me and The Evil Queen? Not a chance, boy. Besides... she's not even that beautiful. She's no match for me." He winked at Henry and left the room, laughing silently at the boy's unfounded protectiveness.
Henry was red with anger. Maybe now he understood how his mother felt sometimes.
But it did not take too long for the hatred to be appeased. He thought in Robin's words: his mother had slayed a devilish creature, maybe a dragon or a troll, with a sword.
A sword, he marveled. He looked at her again and grinned as if he was in the presence of some comic hero. Henry felt proud of her.
He did not know that besides conjuring magic his mother could swing a sword. Maybe there were other things his mother could do and he had never been interested enough to acknowledge them.
For a moment, he realized that he did not know many things about his mother at all; the thought saddened him. He had never had taken the time to ask, to care.
Henry lay in bed with her and took her hands in his.
"I'll care now. I'll ask. I'm not leaving ever again," he promised, in a whisper.
She did not hear but it did not matter. He was going to keep that promise; she had earned it.
Regina woke up next morning good as new. Her energy was a hundred percent recovered.
After spending a few minutes lying in bed, she suddenly sat up, trying to understand what was going on. Memories came back to her all at once.
Henry, she thought, rising to her feet. In doing so, she found his backpack on the floor near the bed; she searched for the toothbrush her son had given to her. After cleaning herself, she stepped out of the room.
The castle was bleak; abandoned in regards to materialities. But to Regina, the castle was full, almost overflowing with memories; from good to bad, to terrible.
Regina felt as if someone was squeezing her heart. She tried to calm herself down, but as she was walking without any particular destination she found herself remembering instead of forgetting.
She remembered every lesson that Rumple had taught her, easy and challenging. She also remembered particular nights when he would bring her into his castle, heal her and stayed– sat next to her in bed until she finally fell asleep. The next morning she would wake up in her castle again. A bird trapped in a King's cage.
She shook her head and stopped in her tracks.
Breathe Regina, she commanded herself out loud. Breathe.
When she calmed herself down she found that she was on a wide balcony overlooking the Dark Garden, she remembered. Only now there was no darkness– just green, and three people practicing archery. She froze; a particular lesson invading her mind.
"Concentrate, dearie. If this arrow so happens to pierce your heart, you will be dead."
"What?" Regina stood tied up against a post, wide-eyed with panic. "You can't do that," she said, almost pleadingly to him, "I don't want to die."
"Then... stop being such a foolish and naive girl and focus. It has been over a week since you have tried to learn how to... magic-smokeyourself, let's say. Perhaps you need a little motivation; your life."
Rumple took a few steps towards her, and covered her eyes with an old rag. "Focus, Regina."
"No! No, no, no. Stop. Stop it! How can I focus if I cannot see the arrow coming?! Stop!" Rumple was moving backwards now, bow in hand.
"Stop crying!" he yelled. This time he was not mocking her, Regina could tell. This time he was not using that mocking voice and the childish tone of his. This time he was being serious.
"I don't... want to..." She let out in a choked sob.
"But you will," he ordered. She heard Rumple tense the bow. "You will not need your eyes to see, Your Majesty. Someday you will thank me. Now... focus."
Breathe, she told herself, breathe Regina. She felt magic spreading through her blood. I cannot die. I cannot die.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the arrow embedded in the post she previously was tied up to. She made herself smile. She had done it. She was alive.
"Well done, dearie." Rumple's voice startled her.
"Now... shall we try again?"
She was determined; learning magic would help her to get her vengeance. Magic was the only way, or so she had been told.
A purple smoke surrounded her and she was in the Dark Garden, taking the bow from Henry's hands. She glared at Robin, startling Henry with her unexpected appearance.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Regina shouted, taking menacing steps towards Robin. "Do you want my son to get killed?! I could kill you if you're so eager," she snarled, invading his personal space.
"Mom, list-" Henry interrupted, trying to avoid the storm that was coming.
"Not now Henry!" Regina silenced him. "If I see an arrow near my son again," she slammed the bow and arrow against Robin's strong chest, "I will kill you and trust me, dear, that won't be pleasant, at least not for you." Robin didn't say anything; he just stood there watching as rage danced in the Queen's eyes. Then he grinned at her, backing away, wishing he hadn't done so.
"As you wish, Your Majest-" But before he could finish, Regina slapped him hard across the face.
"Don't play clever with me," she warned him.
Henry was silent, and so was Robin. He could not believe that this Regina was the one that had so valiantly tried to save him from the harpy.
Maybe this was the real Evil Queen, but she did not scare him. Nobody would ever scare him again. He thought of shouting at her, but then he saw something in her dark brown eyes. Something he could relate to: the fear of losing someone, and the look you got when you had been alone for far too long. He would press the issue later, though.
"Just stay away," she muttered, and turned back to Henry.
Before Robin could say anything she caught Henry's hand and led him away.
They sat near a lake, on a bench made of ancient stone inlaid with patterns. She did not remember that Rumple had a lake, but it did not matter; the view of the sky above her and the lake surrounded with different kinds of flora appeased all her fears.
She turned and grabbed Henry's hands again. He did not pull away. Instead, he began tracing patterns with his thumbs on Regina's hands.
"Henry..." she took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "I don't want you near Robin Hood." She tried to sound calm, but inside she wanted to scream at him and she didn't even know why. Henry avoided her gaze.
"Look at me." He did so but was slightly afraid–for a moment he saw the Mayor talking to him again. "Henry... I can't lose you." Regina caressed his cheek, and he flinched at the tender gesture.
"I know you want to be some kind of a hero, sweetheart, but you can't go off with strangers so they can teach you archery or how to swing a sword."
She lifted his head with a soft finger to look him straight in the eye. "We don't know what his intentions are, and I won't risk your wellbeing for some knight lessons. I can't afford it, Henry."
Henry bowed his head, remembering the last time he hadn't listened to her and how that had ended: with Pan getting his heart.
Going back in time, he thought, if this conversation had happened, he would have snapped at her, and told Regina that she was not his mother and therefore she hadn't the right to care.
Now, he could hear something more in her pleas. Not just the lioness ready to protect him. No, he wondered if her concern came from a more vivid place.
He even dared to think that his mother was actually saying, "No one stood up for me but I'll stand up for you. I won't let you go down the same path I did."
A small tear escaped his eye as the realization hit him, and he looked back at her and saw someone he had not seen since he found out who she truly was. Only she wasn't that any longer.
He saw his mommy, the woman who had done everything for him, even literally given his heart back. He believed that perhaps someone had taken her heart as well, in a figurative way, and she hadn't be so lucky as to have someone who truly and selflessly cared for her to give her heart back to her.
"I promise…" he whispered, and launched himself into her arms.
Henry heard her gasp at his sudden reaction, and felt her tender lips pressed against his head. How could he have not seen it before? How had he dared to say that she did not love him? The Regina he knew, his mom, had always been there. She had never left. Only, he had been too blind to see.
"Could you teach me?" Henry asked, looking up at his mother, still in her arms.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"Teach me how to use a sword and bow, and all the things you might know." Regina smiled.
"We must go back, Henry." Her hand was softly ruffling his hair "Em-"
"We will go back, mom. But can't we just stay here a few days?" His voice was full of hope and regret and Regina could hear it. "Just you and me. Like... we used to."
"What about Emma?" Regina asked, wishing she didn't care.
"I don't know..."
"It's been four days. We need to let them know we are safe and that we are coming back, Henry. We will stay until we find a way to get back, that's for sure. I've thought of a way..."
Regina explained why she had asked for David; the only way of communication with Storybrooke was the netherworld. There Henry would be able to see David and try to talk to him.
"Can I go inside with Roland?" he asked, seeing the troubled look his mother had in her eyes ever since she had told him that he had to go back to the netherworld.
Now he could read her as a book, and that was something rewarding but scary as hell at the same time. He saw that she did not like to put him through it, but there was no other way. Henry understood now that she was angry for not being able to find another way. He smiled despite her not looking at him.
She really loves me, he thought.
Regina simply nodded, letting him go.
Regina sat in silence.
Robin's voice dragged her back to reality. "Mind if I join you?"
She looked at him and did not answer. Robin took a seat beside her. "I brought you some watery-grapes, a pitcher and some strawberries," he offered with a sheepish smile, his face still red. "That's all we have."
"I'm not hungry, but thank you anyway," Regina said, trying to stand up–but he stopped her by grabbing her arm.
"I thought we could talk a little," he admitted, holding her gaze.
"I don't want to talk," she answered– her voice was soft as silk. She did not know why, but tears welled up in her eyes. She wouldn't let them fall, though.
Robin saw her eyes and took his hand away. She sat down again.
"Do you miss David?" He asked innocently.
"What?! No, no, David is not my... he's nothing."
"Oh, I thought he was your boyfriend or something." He smiled, moving a little closer to her.
"No, he's Snow White's husband. He wishes I was his..." She tried to lighten the mood, but the smile she forced did not reach her eyes.
"Is there someone special waiting for you in that place of yours?" Robin asked, taking her hand again. She tensed at that and straightened her back. He gave her a strawberry. "Eat." It was not an order, and that was why she obliged. The fruit was sweet and it brought some kind of relief to her soaring stomach.
"No one, actually." She looked Robin in the eye as he gave her another strawberry. "Henry is all I have left..." A tear fell, and he was surprised that she did not notice her crying. Robin did not say anything about it, just handed her his handkerchief.
"Why are you going back then? You could stay here. I mean, not with us, but here– in the Enchanted Forest."
"He has his mother and father back there. I know he's trying to fix things... but some are beyond repair. He would want his family back, not me."
Robin looked at her, intrigued. He had not seen so much sorrow together in one person. He wanted to hug her and tell her that everything would be okay, but he barely knew her. He also couldn't promise something he could not guarantee, so instead he chose to point out the obvious. "You are his family, too."
"Who would want an Evil Queen as family when you have the Savior as mother and Snow White and Prince Charming as grandparents?" Regina smiled, and Robin realized that he hated it every time she did so. He hated that she acted as though she did not care when obviously it was tearing her to pieces.
"Good is overrated, Regina," he said, again wanting to grab her hand but deciding not to.
"I have always survived," She continued as if she hadn't heard him. Robin looked up to the sky. It's was almost midday, time had flown with her.
"I don't even know why I am telling you this; I said I didn't want to talk." She stood up; Robin did the same, leaving the plate with fruit on the stone bench.
"Maybe you are finally tired of being alone so much," he said, fearing that maybe it was too much– but then he saw her glossy eyes and understood that he had hit a nerve.
She bowed her head just for a moment and said, "Maybe... but I can't afford being weak. Not until I get Henry back home. Then I'll be all alone. So it doesn't really matter right?"
The show had finished and the iron mask was on again, he knew. He let her go back inside the castle.
Robin understood–maybe better than anyone–the fear of letting someone else in. However, he had friends, his son and Mulan to care for him.
He could tell that Regina was telling the truth and for a moment he believed that as well. Perhaps solitude was the price she had to pay for being the Evil Queen–and yet, he did not see her as so.
He only saw a broken woman, so tired of walking with some Evil Queen baggage that she was finally giving up, surrendering at such a weight. Robin Hood saw a lioness tired of always being defensive, always on guard, always fearing the worst.
He saw a trapped lioness, and he swore to himself that for the time being, he would not leave her alone. He would not leave behind someone of his pride.
Robin found her again in the main dining room.
Regina was chatting lively with Henry and Roland at the end of the long table. Before he could join them, Mulan stopped him.
"Robin, I need to speak to you. Now." He saw Regina lift her head and look at him curiously; he nodded in some kind of non-verbal response.
Mulan guided him outside the dining room through the door.
"Lord Deimos and Lady Irene Holt are on their way, Robin. They want to know what we are going to do."
"We are not going to take the kingdom, Mulan. If they want to rule, leave them be." He did not like the presence of the Holt's twins– especially the man, he scared the hell out of Robin. More like a ghost he seemed than a man.
"Is this because of her? We are not going to fight for her, Robin," Mulan said heatedly.
Robin was losing his patience.
"This has nothing to do with Regina– say her name for God's sake. She isn't cursed or anything. This is quite simple; I'm not going to take the kingdom– not for the Holts', not for Regina–and, in her defense, I must say that she seems only interested in getting her son the hell out of here. Nothing more." He could tell that his voice had risen.
"It's only been four days, Robin. I mean, the fourth is not even over yet. Did she cast some kind of spell on you?"
"We– this conversation," Robin gestured, "is over."
Regina looked up at Robin as he sat down next to her.
"Showing yourself off now, are we?" he guessed seeing Roland and Henry's wide eyes. Apparently the woman had told the boys about their adventure. "Now, eat, boys. I have to talk to the lady," he said politely, and both boys obeyed.
"Stop calling me that," Regina told him, nibbling some salad from her plate.
"Calling you what?" Robin asked truthfully, confused.
"Lady. I'm not your lady." Regina took another bite.
"Okay, Regina then?" She nodded. "The Holts' are coming tonight," he blurted out, dishing some meat and vegetables onto his plate as well.
He never ate his vegetables, though. It was only to trick his little son so he would eat the same as his father. Robin would then make his vegetables disappear in some magic way.
"The Holts'?" The brunette asked curiously.
"Yes, they are the rulers now– or they tried to be, at least."
"I've never heard of them." She picked up her glass and took a sip. "What do they want from you?" Regina asked curiously, casting her empty plate aside.
"Help, to take back the kingdom."
"What?"
Roland and Henry looked at them. Robin urged Regina to be quiet.
"They have been conquering lands ever since the curse broke. They have the greatest army, or so they say. I've never seen it… and, well, they want us to join them." The archer said casually.
"You wouldn't do that," Regina said matter-of-factly. Robin looked at her, surprised.
"You have Roland. You can't do that to him," she added quickly.
"I'm not going to join them, Gina... don't worry."
"Don't call me that!" She spoke hotly.
"It's sweet." He smiled boldly.
"As sweet as poison." She threatened him. Robin choked on his food and had to help himself to a large sip of wine.
"You're hilarious, you know that?" He cleaned his mouth with a napkin.
Henry was looking mindfully at their conversation. He could tell that Robin was flirting with his mother and he did not like that at all.
"Guegina, can we go riding after lunch?" little Roland asked, his tiny face dirty with food.
"Please?" Both Roland and Henry said in unison, looking at her with puppy eyes. Regina smiled at them both.
"Maybe... but first you must eat your vegetables. All of them." The boys huffed in protest. "You too," she pointed at Robin. He couldn't help but smile.
Regina conjured two wooden swords.
"I thought we were riding." Henry complied, not seeing what his mother had behind her back.
"I thought you were more the swordsman-type," she answered, handing one to her son. Henry stared at it for a moment. It was not merely a stick, but a real wooden sword with grip and guard and pommel.
"Now, first lesson?" Regina asked. Roland and Robin were sitting on the grass looking at them expectantly. The older man had a wide grin in his lips.
Henry shook his head.
"Stick them with the pointy end," Regina advised, as if she were a school teacher. "Now, use one hand Henry, it's not too heavy."
Henry obliged, holding the sword with his right hand. He saw his mother holding hers with her left hand. He frowned.
"Turn your body sideways." Regina positioned him with her hands. Then she took a step back and raised her wooden blade.
"Now, you will try to strike me."
Robin was laughing like a fool as he watched Regina dance with her wooden sword. Every time he thought Henry would strike her, she would found a way out. She was quick and graceful.
He dared imagining Regina on the battle field, in some sexy armor. "Papa, you are blushing," Roland said, touching his cheeks.
Robin scoffed, "I am not!"
"Oh yes dear, you are," Regina said, approaching him with Henry behind her back. Both were covered in a film of sweat, which made Regina look even more beautiful–her T-shirt had the first buttons opened and underneath he could see another silky shirt with some kind of lace.
"I didn't know you were such a great fighter mom!" Henry exclaimed excitedly.
"Well, I am– was the Queen. If I didn't lead my warriors to war, who else would have done it?"
"Did you have a sword, with name and all?" he asked eagerly.
"Shadow, I called it. You would never see it coming."
"Wow! That's super cool!" Henry grinned and took the wooden sword from his mom and gave it to Roland. Both started to play.
Regina sat against a tree near the boys, and Robin followed her.
"Shadow, huh? More than cool, I would say that name was pretty scary..." He sat down next to Regina, "So... you really have been to war?"
"Yes, I've only one scar." She looked at him and pointed to her upper lip. He neared her, their lips nearly touching; neither of them had realized the lack of distance.
"That's kind of hot," Robin said, as if he was commenting on the weather. Regina scoffed and backed away from him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean t-"
"It's okay," she said awkwardly. "So... these Holts'?"
"The twins are great warriors. Since the cursed was broken lots of people were trying to take the kingdom back– every abandoned kingdom, actually. They thought you were gone, for good." Regina swallowed.
"I wasn't expecting to come back either." The sun was low on the horizon, the sky a bruised red; they had spent all the afternoon talking and teaching their children how to use swords. Now both adults were resting whilst the kids continued playing; they never seemed to tire.
"Why did you come back then?" Robin asked lying on the ground, arms crossed behind his head.
"According to a certain fairy, I have something of mine I must find here. Not that I will, since I can't leave, right?"
Robin huffed and grinned at her. "What exactly are you looking for?"
Regina shook her head and looked to where Henry and Roland were playing with the swords.
"True Love," Regina answered matter-of-factly, and laughed. Robin realized that it was the first time he heard her laugh a real laugh. It was the most beautiful sound he had heard in years. "As if it were that easy…"
"Your True Love is lost around here?" he asked wide eyed, looking back at her, "What are you doing here then, woman? Is True Love not the most powerful magic of them all?"
Regina hummed and he saw a flash of sadness in her eyes.
"I guess you're already taken then," he said, trying to lighten the mood.
She laughed again. "You are as stupid as I thought you would be."
"Thanks for the compliment, my lady."
She gave him a reptile stare. "Regina," he quickly corrected himself. "The Evil Queen has a True Love, then?" He was not being mean, just trying to keep the mood light seeing that Regina was closing her iron doors again.
"It seems so..." She closed her eyes. "A lot of water has run under this bridge, maybe he isn't even is my True Love anymore; not that I'm so desperate to find him, anyway. He could already be dead. It was a long time ago."
"True Love does not change, my la- Regina; unless, yes, he's already dead."
She opened her eyes and smiled at him before closing them again. "I don't know how to love very well..." Regina admitted sadly. "Love is weakness," she added absentmindedly.
Robin lifted his head to look at her. He had never found a person that thought exactly as he did.
She, on the other hand, was waiting for him to snap at her and tell her that love was not weakness and that she was crazy. But those words never came. He remained in silence.
"I've said too much. You certainly are not interested in listening to what I have to say about this absurd love quest of mine." She trembled a little and he saw it.
"Let's get you inside; I don't want to take care of a sick-you." He got to his feet and offered his hand, but she did not take it, instead getting to her feet alone.
"I'm sorry for hitting you." Soft hands smoothed at her T-shirt. "I don't know what I was thinking."
Robin started walking to where the kids were. Regina followed him closely.
"It's okay. I like tough women." He turned to her and winked. "Oh, wait..." his facial expression purposely saddened, "but you are already taken." He laughed at her.
"You wouldn't want me anyway," Regina answered and took the finale stride to the kids, leaving Robin behind.
"But I could..." Robin whispered to himself, seeing how Regina hugged both of the kids and led them to castle. He laughed at the absurdity of his thoughts, and started walking towards the castle as well.
He was nearing the castle when he heard footsteps behind him. Robin turned and saw the Holts' twins standing right behind him.
"Oh! Dear Robin!" the Lady Irene exclaimed and hugged him tightly; she kissed him softly in his cheek. "I have missed you, darling!" She took a step back in acknowledgement of his brother. Deimos just nodded his head.
"I did not expect you this soon, Irene." He tried to sound polite.
"Oh, I'm sorry dear – but I told brother I couldn't wait to see you and..." She took his arm and started walking towards the castle, practically dragging Robin along.
"Here we are." She smiled at him, almost childishly happy.
The woman's long platinum hair, twisted artfully into a braid, almost reached halfway down her back. Her eyes were golden and strong brown eyebrows made her look a little terrifying or intimidating, Robin could not tell.
The brother was by far different from the Lady Irene. His hair too was halfway down his back, but instead of platinum it was black; black as the night without stars nor moon. His eyebrows were black as well, contrasting starkly with the strange silver–almost white– of his eyes.
Robin found the brother far more terrifying than the sister. Dreadful, he had dared to think; as if the male twin was the product of the darkest side of Irene.
Every time he would say so out loud, Mulan and Little John would laugh at him and say that he was going crazy. Maybe he was. And yet, something about Deimos made him feel uneasy.
Irene led him to the Common Hall and greeted the Merry Men. All were there, apart from Regina and her not-so-little boy. The men approached Lady Irene and kissed delicately on her hand, bowing before her.
Irene had him still trapped by his arms. They sat at the table and food appeared; happy, Merry Men started eating. Not, Robin thought.
Lady Irene had bought his men with magic, he knew it. Little presents, new weapons, lots of food.
"Is there something wrong, love?" she asked, caressing his cheek– he jerked away at her touch.
"Nothing just, no-"
"Oh Mulan, darling!" The woman stood up and hugged Mulan, "Look at you! Where were you?"
"I was with Roland and–" Robin shook his head and Mulan backtracked, "–with Roland."
"Oh, and where is that little boy of yours?"
"He is-"
The sound of wooden doors swinging open caught their attention. Regina made her way towards where they sat, as casually and elegantly as if she had passed through those wooden doors a thousand times before. She was still all filthy but Robin could see the Queen's manners.
Lady Irene's eyes shone with craftiness as she stared at the unfamiliar brunette in strange clothes walking towards them.
Before Robin could say something and before Regina reached them, Irene asked, "Who is that beauty, Robin?"
He swallowed hard. The last thing he needed right now was two sorceresses in the same place. Without waiting for his answer, Irene suddenly stood up and took the final steps towards Regina and hugged her.
The former queen froze in place. The golden-eyed woman grabbed Regina's arms and planted a kiss on the brunette's cheek.
"Hello, dear. Robin did not tell me that we had such a beauty as a guest."
Regina did not answer; her wide bright brown eyes were looking curiously at Robin.
"Oh you can talk!" Irene said, taking her arm and leading her to the table. The Merry Men were too occupied with the food to notice Regina's arrival. "Sit. Sit, dear!"
"I'm fine," Regina said, and wriggled out of the woman's embrace. She got to her feet, demanding without word an explanation from Robin. Irene sat next to him and grabbed his hand, which Regina noticed. She also noticed that another pair of eyes were looking at her– silver, nearly white ones. He rose, with an almost feline speed and grace and walked over to her.
Deimos gently took her hand in his and kissed her.
"My lady."
Regina smiled awkwardly at him. "Sir," she addressed. Deimos took his seat back.
"Are you going to introduce us? Or do I have to ask?" Regina turned to where Robin was sitting with Irene and glared at him. He tried to stand up but the white-haired woman kept him in place, her hand still on his.
The brunette glanced at their tangled hands again and felt as if her heart was being twisted by an invisible hand; a sudden need to cry invaded her. She held her head high, though.
Robin hawked, "Lady Irene and Lord Deimos from House Holt, Regina..." The archer looked at her, for he was waiting for her to complete his statement.
"Just Regina," the former queen answered tersely. Robin flinched at her coldness.
"Oh, dear... such a sad expression for a beautiful face," Lady Irene interjected, seeing the tension grow between the adults.
"I said I'm fine!" Regina snapped at the other woman, now drawing stares from the rest of the men.
"The witch!" one yelled
"She is awake, she will kill us all!" another cried out.
Regina did not move a muscle; she merely stood there looking at the men who had begun to rise to their feet.
"STOP IT!" Robin commanded and the men sat down again, except from Mulan who was now nearing the end of the table where the twins and Robin were; her hand firmly grasped her sword's pommel.
"She means no harm. STOP IT!" Robin turned to face his merry men. "If it were not for her, Mulan and I would be dead. Now cut this out and keep on eating."
Regina quivered at Robin's voice. "I'm going to– I'd better leave." She turned her back and walked away. Then she remembered why she had come in the first place.
"Robin..."
When she turned to deliver her message, she saw Lady Irene pressing her pale pink lips to Robin's. He backed away instantly, looking apprehensively at her.
"Roland asked me to tell you that he will stay with us tonight." The message delivered, she left.
"Us?" Irene asked. Robin finally managed to shake off her hand and started eating.
"Regina and Henry– her son."
Regina slammed the door to her room, forgetting that Henry and Roland were there.
"Something wrong, mom?" Henry asked from the chess board, looking worriedly at her. Roland had the same expression in his face.
Regina sighed heavily and leaned against the wooden door.
"Nothing... Henry, could you stay here? I'm going to the library to see if I can find a way to create a portal."
He saw the hurt and betrayal in her dark brown eyes. He wondered if something had happened. Whether it did or not, Henry understood that if it were up to her, she would leave now.
"Mom... we said we woul-"
"Stay, yes. Until I find a way to get back, and that's what I'm going to do: get you back home."
"But-"
"Not now Henry," she commanded with her Mayor voice's. Henry bowed his head.
Roland was still looking at her. "Are you leaving Regina?" the little boy asked and rose to his feet, padding over to her with a heartbroken expression on his face. "Can I go with you?"
"Roland, sweetheart..." She knelt in front of him and took his tiny hands in hers.
"Even if I wanted to take you with me, I couldn't; your father would never stand for it." She let herself smile a little at her own comment.
"We must go back. Henry's family is waiting for him. This is not our home."
Henry rose angrily to his feet.
"But it could be!" He yelled at his mother, causing the little boy to look from him and then to Regina. She stood tall again and Roland hugged her leg.
"Henry, what-"
"You don't believe I love you, do you?" he said hotly, "But I do!"
"Henry this is not abou-"
"I don't want to hear it!" he screamed and left the room. Regina tried to go after him, but Roland's grip prevented her from doing so.
"Is he mad at you?" Roland asked, looking up at Regina.
"Maybe..." Regina answered, picking him up and laying him in bed.
"Sometimes I get angry with dad, too. He doesn't like it." Regina tapped the boy's little noise with her finger.
"Let me tell you a little secret..." She talked in a tender and loving whisper. "No one likes it when someone is angry at you, little gentleman. Now sleep, Roland. I'm going to find Henry."
"He likes that thing brown and sweet from your world, Guegina. Give him one," Roland suggested, and turned himself in bed.
"Who is that woman if I may ask, dear Robin? Little Roland's mother? Your fiancée?"
Robin choked on his drink.
"No, she's not either of them. But if you believed for a second that she was indeed, my fiancée, why would you have kissed me?" he asked sternly. "Roland could have been here."
"But he wasn't, dear... I don't like sharing," Irene said matter-of-factly, pouring herself a goblet of wine and looking at Robin.
"She's not interested in me, Irene!" Robin huffed as if he was speaking with a younger sister who asked silly questions about love. "I barely know her."
"And despite what you are telling me, she felt a little hurt… betrayed, I would dare say."
Robin felt his heart fill with a bit more hope at Lady Irene's words. But then he remembered what Regina had told him– her True Love was out there. Why would she ever turn an eye on a worthless outlaw? Not that he even cared, he forced himself to think.
He sighed and stood up. "Mulan, after dinner guide our guests to their rooms, please."
"Where are you going?" the woman asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to see Roland, who else?" he answered and left.
Mulan looked at the twins, a little ashamed. "Excuse him, please... The Queen has him a little... distracted."
Irene's eyes fluttered open with sudden curiosity.
"The Queen?" She tried to sound as nonchalant as possible.
"Oh, Lady Irene, please forget you heard that. No one must know she is the Queen," Mulan begged. "Robin will kill me."
"Relax, dear," the Lady smiled at the young warrior. A Queen indeed, she thought. What Queen you would be, darling? A Queen I must be concerned about? We shall see...
Regina was in the library reading a giant book, the only light near her a small candle.
"I've been searching for you the entire castle…"
"Didn't it cross your mind that I didn't want to be found?" she answered sharply, turning the page.
"What are you doing?"
"Reading, isn't it obvious?"
Robin sat down next to her. "What are you reading about, then?"
"Ways to get the hell out of here," she answered, her gaze never leaving the ancient yellow pages.
"What about your True Love?"
"Why do you care?" she asked, slamming the book shut and standing to search for another on the nearest shelf.
Robin grabbed by her arm before she went too far away. "You must let yourself love, Regina. You can't go through life with that iron mask of yours... Yo-"
"No. Now you listen to me, Robin Hood." She fiercely snatched her arm from his grip, "You don't know me. You know nothing about me. So don't you dare get sentimental on me. That's why you already have your lady–to play the sentimental part with her."
"She's not my lady," he said, taking a step towards her but she only took a step back.
"Oh, she isn't? Well, whatever she means to you, I couldn't care less. I know who you are; always the honorable man, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. I know who you are–and believe me, you know nothing about me, you don't want to get to kn-"
"Stop that, would you please?" Robin cut Regina off, tired of the I-Am-Fine-On-My-Own show.
He could see it for he once had acted the same way she did now: pushing people away because you knew that somehow, some way they could see through your rusty armor.
They could see the wounds and the pain–the despair, the solitude. They could see the tiny armor that also protected your heart–and furthermore, they could pierce it and make you feel exposed.
He understood more than anyone what she was doing– making her armor even thicker, stronger. "If you keep on acting like this, don't even try to find your True Love; he would be better off without you!"
Damn, he thought. Was all that inner understanding for you to say that?
He scolded himself. Regina's mouth opened as if to retort something, but no words came out. Only that annoying little pain she was feeling in her heart–another crack to her armor, another wound to heal.
She swallowed hard, trying not to let her tears fall. Robin saw the hurt in her eyes and that made him felt even worse.
"I'm sorr-"
"Don't. Don't say you're sorry when you're not." Her voice was rising. "You're right– who needs a True Love anyway?" She made herself smile– not a genuine smile, but a more painful one. "How silly of me, I almost forgot: villains don't get happy endings." She nodded more to herself than to reassure Robin.
"You are n-"
"I'm the Evil Queen, can't you accept that? If she's not a villain, then who is she?" She yelled at him, nearly trembling from the anger that was rushing through her veins.
"Regina, I didn't mean to–"
"But you did. If I were the old me, I would have killed you already. Not once, but three times. Don't you dare ever speak about me or touch me again... or I will kill you."
"You wouldn't," he said defiantly. A blast of magic slammed him hard against the nearest wall, leaving him breathless. Regina neared him, her bare hand at his throat tightening.
"Oh, my dear... I assure you, you better not try me– I would love to oblige," she said with one final squeeze and left the room. Robin gasped desperately for air, watching her leave. Now that went well–bloody idiot, he told to himself.
Almost an hour later, Regina had found Henry and convinced him to going to sleep. Then, she went to downstairs and out into the cool night.
Why was she so angry with Robin? I think I'm going to go see doctor Hopper when I get back, she thought to herself and huffed at the absurdity of it all. She was walking around the castle, a little blue flame following her. Maybe this quest for True Love was worthless, her voice told her.
She wasn't even looking for him. She didn't want to. After all those years Regina hadn't needed True Love–in fact, she had survived without it.
Love, in the end, always hurt her. Life had taught her that, and no one had tried to tell her any different. Once a fairy had tried, but her mother and Rumple's lesson was too rooted within her heart: love is weakness.
First was Daniel, then his father, and after him, Henry. After losing Henry, her mother. How could True Love be the solution to all her problems? She couldn't even love herself, so how could anyone else ever love her? The armor she wore was getting rusty, she knew. But she also knew that it was all she ever truly had.
Yes, her son's promises warmed her heart and made her feel like the happiest person alive- but would he keep them? Henry was a boy after all, and if when they got back to Storybrooke and he decided that he didn't want to see her again, that he would rather stay with his real family, she would let him. She was now ready to pay that price. She was ready to let him go, for the love she felt for him. She would cherish him in her memory, but she would let him go.
If you hold on to someone too hard, that doesn't make them love you, a mocking voice reminded her. So, she wouldn't even hold on at all.
Lost in her thoughts, a scream brought her back to the present.
Henry. Regina magic-smoked herself into Henry's room. He was sweating and a terrified Roland was watching him. The door opened and Robin entered, followed by Lady Irene.
"Henry, are you okay?" Regina asked sitting on the bed and hugging him. He was crying.
"Easy. I'm right here."
Robin took Roland from his bed; the little boy had started crying as well. He looked at Regina confusedly, but she had her eyes closed.
"Daddy, I don't want to go."
"We'll come back later, lad. Henry needs some time alone with his mother."
When they reached Roland's bedroom, the little boy was already asleep.
"Did you already sleep together?" Lady Irene asked, looking up at him.
"Wha-?" Robin shook his head, "No, no. Of course not! I already told you. I don't know her."
Lady Irene looked cautiously at Robin, as if trying to detect a lie.
"I would understand if you wanted to, though. She is quite the lady. Not to mention her sassiness. Almost..." she thought for a while, "defiantly… sexy." Robin stared at her wide-eyed.
"I think I'm going to stay with Roland; if you would excuse me, Lady Irene." She nodded and left the room, closing the door quietly. Father and son went to sleep.
The Lady Irene went to check in on Regina–but a particular conversation prevented her from making herself known.
When they were alone, Regina asked Henry if he had been to the netherworld. The answer had been yes, but Henry only saw his grandfather. He hadn't talked to him; the flames prevented from doing so.
After soothing him, Regina had tried to leave the room, but Henry had asked her to stay. It had been a long time since he had asked her to stay, so she happily obliged.
"Will you teach me how to control the flames?" Regina nodded and tucked a lock of brown hair behind her son's ear.
"In time, Henry." He knew she did not like the idea of teaching him magic. Maybe he had carved the thought into her.
"It's okay, mom. It would be good magic." He smiled and then asked her to tell him about Daniel. She was speechless for a moment. "Please, mom? The book says nothing about your life and no one had ever told me... I mean, they told me some stuff... but I want you to tell me."
Regina smiled sadly at him. Of course the book did not say anything about her. It was a fairytale book, and her life had been many things–but never a fairytale.
"As you may know, he was my fiancé when I used to live here." Henry made himself comfortable in the old bed, his mother tenderly ruffling his hair. "We were quite good friends; he was our stable boy. One day I realized I was madly in love with him, and well..."
"And?" Henry asked, wishful of knowing his mother's story.
"I kissed him and asked him to be my boyfriend." Her cheeks turned red seeing Henry eyes opened with surprise.
"You made the first move? Did he say yes?"
"Not at first... I thought I had lost him forever. But a week after that he declared he felt the same for me. I was seventeen then. We shared a whole year as secret lovers. My mother could not know. We only shared innocent kisses, hidden where no one could see us."
Henry scrunched up his noise at his mother's tale and she smiled back at him. "I truly did love him. He was all I had, and he loved me for who I truly was."
"What happened to him?"
"My mother found out and–" She believed her little prince was too young to know about those things. She could not say the words, but she knew Henry knew of death and murder and maybe he had learned all that because of her. And yet she couldn't say the words.
"She killed him?" Henry completed, sparing the awkward moment. Regina just nodded, lowering her head and continued talking.
"The next thing I knew, I was supposed to marry the king and become Queen... every girl's dream. Not mine though." She stopped talking, still ruffling Henry's hair.
"What did you dream of?" her little prince asked, watching expectantly for her to go on. He knew she had omitted several details– he could see it in her expressions, her silences, her eyes.
"All I wanted was to marry Daniel and be happy; I didn't even ask for a family, but I would've be more than pleased if the Gods blessed us with one." But none of that happened, she thought to herself. Some thoughts were best left unspoken.
"How did you... did you become... become..." Henry's attempt of finishing this particular question dragged her back to reality.
"The Evil Queen? I remember being only The Queen at some point..."
"It was because of him?" Regina knew he was talking about Daniel. "Mary Marg- Snow White's father. King Leopold." Regina flinched at the mention of his name. "Snow White was the one to tell your mother, wasn't she?"
"Sweetheart, get some sleep. That is another story for another day."
"Will you promise? To tell me the truth?" Regina's heart was being crushed by an invisible hand–and yet she nodded.
"Was it because of her?" Her son asked again.
Some time ago– actually, a week ago– she would have answered that yes, Snow White was the one that had stolen her happiness away from her.
But now, she realized something: she had stolen her own happiness. She had set her lonely path. Not Snow White, but herself. If Snow White was guilty of taking something away from her, was her mother– but nothing else.
She lay beside a sleeping Henry–thinking. Sleep took its time to come to her. That realization hit her hard. After all, after all those years she could see it now.
Now she could clearly see it.
The worst part of it all wasn't losing him... it was losing me.
She cried silently until there were no tears left.
"You won't believe this, Deimos!" Irene exclaimed cheerfully as she brushed her hair, getting ready for sleep. "Our dearest guest is none other than the Evil Queen herself!" Irene laughed madly; Deimos looked on wordlessly.
"The Evil Queen? Can't you see?"
"If you would explain to me, sister..." Deimos said.
"The girl who took everything from me… is here." She smiled at her own reflection in the mirror. "And now that she has the worst weakness of all, I will bring that bitch down."
Deimos walked through her and disappeared into the mirror; bright silver eyes matched golden ones, soft pale pink lips matched ones as in a dreadful and loopy smile.
"Oh yes, little brother... Now it's our time. Her neck will break from bending to the rightful Queen. I can see it..."
- TO BE CONTINUED -
What did you think of Irene and Deimos? What do you think Irene's vendetta is about? *dramatic music*
Do not hesitate to tell us your opinion! It may give us some ideas, you never know. ;)
If you are reading this… Thank you for sticking with us! We're trying our best.
Love,
Dami and Juli.