Isen

Jefferson was stuck inside a small cell in the dungeon, awaiting his fate from Lady Emyn and recalling the events that happened hours ago.

When her adopted daughter came in and he recognized her as Regina's daughter, the Lady had the girl immediately taken to out the room. She then had her soldiers restrain him.

Getting in his face she asked, "What is your reward for the return of the child? I know you're not the type to do this out of the goodness of your heart. What was the price offered to you?"

He was caught off guard for a moment. He stammered with his answer. "I'm sorry, my lady, you couldn't afford it."

Emyn was used to outsiders underestimating her people's wealth, so she asked again. "Last time - what was offered for the child? Land? Title? Gold?" She rattled off the common incentives that motivated people to do almost anything. There was no way she would give Fiona up. If she had to bribe away half her kingdom, so be it.

Doubting that she would really let him go free, he weighed his options. He noted her earlier response as a parent and played that card again. "I was offered the best doctor for my daughter. She's dying." He allowed the ruler to absorb what he said, hoping his life would be spared.

Instead, Lady Emyn instructed her guards, "Take him to the dungeons. I need time to decide what to do with him."


Once the spy was removed and safely imprisoned, Lady Emyn went to the other part of her palace. Scared that her daughter had been discovered, she felt the need to personally check on Fiona. Practically bounding up the stairs and running through the halls, she stopped by her daughter's room and knocked on the door.

Recognizing her mother's rhythmic knock, the little girl opened the door. "Mama, why are you here? I thought you said you were busy."

Without saying a word, the ruler picked up her child and gave her a bear hug as she carried her to the bed on the other side of the room. She sat midway on the bed and placed her little one down so she laid on the pillows. "I just missed you and I wanted to check up on you."

Grinning at her mother, Fiona responded. "I'm good; I was reading a story." Her hazel eyes looked up at her mother. "I'm sorry that I interrupted your meeting Mama. I just wanted to tell you how well I did today with Thunder." Picking up where she left off, she started recounting with gestures how she learned to jump with her horse.

Emyn watched Fiona, simultaneously proud to her little one's accomplishment and getting sick at the thought that someone wanted to steal her precious baby. There had to be some way to get rid of him. While she didn't completely trust him, some of his words rang to true in her heart and she didn't want to rush to judgment.

She remembered that this outsider claimed that his daughter was ill, perhaps Linus would be able to help her.

For now, though, he would stay in the dungeon until she could get some real answers. Either way, it was going to be a long night for her, but for now, she was going to enjoy the company of her daughter as she was setting up her tea party set for her mother.


Jefferson heard the dungeon's doors open and three men came in, two guards and a man dressed more casually, but having the air of being in charge. Jefferson noted that he a head taller than he was. The man was wearing a blue tunic that was fitted enough to let the Hatter know he was athletic. He also had a tray of food in his hands.

"Good morning. I brought breakfast in case you were hungry." He jovially greeted.

Not amused, but famished Jefferson snatched the tray and started eating. It was a hearty meal - sausage, eggs, a piece of bread with some chocolate gravy. When he was finished the man spoke. "I want to see if you were up to a counter-offer.

Looking around his cell the hatter snidely remarked. "Do I have a choice?"

"Of course, you do. I just hope you make the right one. Where both of us are happy."

"And what would that be?"

"We get your daughter healed and I keep mine."

"You can't guarantee me that. Only the best doctor can even hope to try." He sighed thinking about all the doctors he's already used and who have failed. "Believe, I tried." He rubbed her temples. It was pointless, only his former mentor Rumpelstiltskin could help him as much as he hated to admit.

"You're in luck. I am the doctor that you seek. " He bowed. "What I propose is that you give me the opportunity to care for your ill daughter and if I succeed you make no mention of my daughter's location to your master. I think that's rather fair, don't you?"

"And what if you can't help her?"

"Well, then we'll have to decide if it comes to that. For now, I'm confident this can be a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Wanting to be away from this place Jefferson held out his hand. "Very well, if we use my hat we can be there in an instant."

"No, I don't trust you to not escape. I'll keep the hat for now. We'll travel by horse to your home." Linus figured if the deal went south he may have to use the hat itself as a bartering tool. Better to have some leverage with something like this.

Seeing as he had no other choice, he asked, "When do you we leave?"

Throwing Jefferson a bag of provisions, he answered, "Right now."