"NO!" Regina cried as Emma's body crumpled. Throwing her hand out the guards were all thrown back, Ignavus crashing into a tree knocking him unconscious. All the other guards were frozen, unable to stutter an explanation or apology, only able to watch as their queen fell to her knee's cradling Emma's head in her lap tears streaming down her face.

"I've sent for the healers," Graham said a moment later, having done so without the queen even noticing. Regina nodded, her hand gently combing through the blonde locks as she willed her magic to seek out and repair any harm that had be fallen the woman in her lap. Normally this wouldn't work, as the healer would have to have an exact idea as to what kind of wound and the extent of the damage caused. Regina didn't bother to think about this in her distress, all she could do was focus on the thick red blood that was slowly dripping from Emma's head. What Regina hadn't realized was that because of her bond with Emma their magic would work in tandem, targeting the specific area that had been injured, in this case Emma's head. Regina looked on in awe as her hands began to tingle with magic and the blood stopped dripping from the blonde's head while her breathing evened out. Regina looked on in surprise, this was the first time that she had healed by magic as it was typically a very draining process. But as Regina carefully examined the blonde in her lap she determined that Emma would be fine now that the bleeding had stopped.

"Your Majesty?" A soft voice questioned, causing Regina to jump, looking up from the blonde Regina noticed that the healers had arrived. "We need to take her to the infirmary now your Majesty, although it seems like you've healed her we would like to keep her for observation tonight as she had yet to wake up." The healer stated firmly. Regina silently nodded her head, Emma was going to be fine, and the royal healers were the best in the kingdom. The Queen slowly stood up and watched the healers like a hawk, as the gently placed Emma on a stretcher that they had brought with them. Although Regina could probably transport them all to the infirmary healing Emma had sapped some of her energy and the last thing she wanted was for anything to go wrong. They began the slow process of walking back towards the castle with Emma on the stretcher, Regina following right behind, only stopping when Graham called out to her.

"Your Majesty," He called grabbing the Queen's arm to gain her attention, a move he regretted almost instantly as she shot him a withering glare that clearly stated she would deal with him later.

"What?!" She glared, furious that he had prevented her from following Emma to the infirmary. Graham cowered slightly under the glare but stood tall, knowing that Regina would respect his resolve under the glare.

"I need to know what you want done with Ignavus and the other guards," Graham stated calmly. Of course he could have dealt with them himself but he knew the Queen would have something special planned for them, especially Ignavus.

"Toss Ignavus in dungeon #3 and the others in dungeon #1; I will deal with them later." Regina snarled before making her hasty departure, determined to catch up with the healers before the reached the infirmary.

Graham watched her leave in shock. Dungeon three was the worst of all the dungeons in the castle. Although it seemed like a typical dungeon, dark, cold, wet, riddled with rats and other pests, the real horror in it was the fact that it's previous occupants were still there, hung up on the walls by their shackles in various stages of decay. The smell alone would make a person lose their lunch. What was worse than the stench though was the empty stares the prisoners would receive from the dead. Judging their every movement, never allowing a moment of piece.

Shaking himself out of his thought Graham sighed, Best get started, the other guards aren't gonna be happy having to go down there. With that final thought graham began his trek towards the guard's quarters to get some help moving Ignavus and his cronies.

SQ*SQ*SQ*SQ*SQ*SQ*SQ*SQ

Dress billowing behind her, Regina sped purposefully through the castle hoping to catch up with Emma and the Healers.

"Place her here," Regina heard a quiet voice say, "It seems as though she's simply exhausted at this point. It's strange though, I can't find the injury outside it was still visible on her head and now it's gone." Healer Dawson was confused, never before had she seen someone heal this quickly, even with magical help from the queen normally the most that would happen is the blood flow would stop. This time it seemed as though the whole wound had disappeared.

"What do you mean it's gone?" Regina questioned quietly. Swiftly moving to the blonde's bed side, Regina critically eyed Emma's form for any injuries that may have been missed. "Her head was practically cracked upon I was able to heal the majority but she should at least have a sizeable lump on her head," at quick glare at the other healers sent them running from the room, leaving only Regina, healer Dawson and the unconscious Emma.

"I know that your majesty, but you can't deny that Ms. Swan seems to be in perfect health. If Ms. Swan had magic I would have a better idea of what happened but as of right now I have no explanation," Regina's eyes widened as she processed what Dawson had said.

"If Emma did have magic what would that mean?" Regina questioned lightly

"It doesn't really matter does it?" Dawson questioned, "It's not like….oh my gosh, she does, but even then the only way that her magic would allow for that much healing would be if…" Dawson's eyes darted from The Queens worried brown eyes to Emma's sleeping form, particularly to protective way that Regina's hand was grasping Emma's. A quiet gasp escaped the healer as realization dawned on her, her hand moving to cover her mouth in shock. Regina nodded her head slightly in answer to the unasked question. Having received confirmation to her suspicions Dawson quickly ushered out the other healers so that she could speak with the Queen in private. Once the other healers had filed out of the room Dawson turned on the Queen. "When did this happen? When did you realize what it was? And why are you keeping it so quiet from the rest of the kingdom?" Dawson spat out rapidly.

"You would do well to remember your place Healer Dawson," Regina warned carefully her eye's darting around the room for any unwanted eavesdroppers. Realizing her mistake Healer Dawson blushed.

"You're right your Majesty, I'm sorry, it's just these bonds can be fairly unstable as they develop and it should have been monitored." Dawson explained quickly, breathing an internal sigh of relief as the hostility once again left the Queen's face.

"I'm aware of that, and I have been monitoring it accordingly, but what does our connection have to do with my being able to heal her, and her ability to heal herself, so quickly?" Regina questioned, anxious to be back at Emma's bedside.

"Because of your bond your magic works in tandem, if any other magic user had attempted to heal her, odds are she would be dead right now. Every magic user has an essence, you know this because you about bonds. You are also aware that your magical essence works in perfect harmony with Ms. Swan's, hence your bond. This speeds up the healing drastically as the bond wants to keep the two mates in equal health, an injury will always heal quickly, now this doesn't work for illnesses, no one can explain why, but if one of you dies…." Dawson paused hesitantly before continuing in a hoarse whisper, "The other will follow not long after."

"Well that's useful," Regina muttered to herself, her mind agreeing with the bonds decision that neither can live while the other has died, she couldn't imagine the pain of losing Emma. Regina opened her mouth to thank the healer for the information when a groan was heard from behind them. Both women moved quickly towards the bed, one to inspect her patient and the other to provide support and comfort for the blonde lying in the bed.

"Ugh…." Emma groaned again, her eye's beginning to flutter open.

"Emma?" Regina called softly, "Come on, open your eyes, please,"

" 'Gina?" The blonde murmured as her eyes opened, slowly focusing on the concerned woman in front of her.

"Yes, it's me," She smiled, "How are you feeling?"

"Like I took the blunt of a sword to my head," She replied dryly.

"Well it seems like your sense of humor is intact," Regina said softly, her hand still tightly gripping the blondes. Emma sensed how tense the Queen was, but knew that she wouldn't appreciate Emma saying anything.

'Umm, would you give us a minute?" Emma asks healer Dawson quietly. "I swear I won't move or anything, I just really need to talk to the Queen."

Healer Dawson looks her in the eye, and see's nothing but sincerity. A sharp nod of her head later, the healer has left the room. Turning her attention back to Regina, Emma asks the question that had been nagging her since she woke up.

"What happened?"

Regina was bewildered, "What do you mean what happened?" Her eyebrow arches at the question. "You were in a fight with Sir Ignavus, The coward decided to attack you when your back was turned and the fight had been declared over. Ignavus used the hilt of his sword on the back of your head," Regina paused her body shaking with the effort of containing her sobs. "you collapsed…" she whispered, a haunted expression crossing her face as she remembered Emma's lifeless body lying on the ground. " There was blood pouring out of your head, you were so pale. I rushed to your side and used magic to heal you. The healers showed up and you were rushed here immediately after that. I dealt with the fool and I quickly followed," Regina's eyes softened as she glanced over the supposedly injured blonde. "I have never been so scared in my life Emma. When I saw you fall, my heart stopped and it only started again when you woke up." Emma had remained silent during the explanation, a contemplative look crossing her features as the Brunette finished.

"When you healed me…you didn't do it the normal way did you?" Emma questioned softly.

"What? What kind of question is that? Why does it even matter? You're fine now." Regina stated confusedly.

"It's just…I could feel you, your fear and desperation when you healed me, but I could also feel your magic spreading through me." Emma explained cautiously. Regina eyed her critically, trying to peace together what the blonde was saying. Closing her eyes the Queen thought back trying to remember how exactly she had healed Emma. Her eyes snapping open in realization.

"I…I poured my magic into you, and willed it to help. Typically healing spells concentrate on the specified area. Knitting the damaged area back together…your injury just kind of disappeared." Regina whispered, not quite sure how to explain what had happened.

"Well that's different," Emma tried to joke, not sure what to make of the situation they now found themselves in.