Regina had rather enjoyed her time watching over Eric, and it had given her quite a longing to have a child of her own. But her mood was disheartened when Ursula returned and told her about her conversation with Caspian. Ursula's thoughts were more on Eric than her lost love.
"What am I going to do?" she fretted. "I can't let Eric into the ocean with that Sea King after him."
Regina was a little surprised by the direction of Ursula's focus. "You have years until you need to worry about that."
"All I have is my son," Ursula explained. "I was disowned by my family. I don't have friends-"
Regina was taken aback, and it showed on her face.
"I'm sorry," said Ursula quickly. "You've been the closest thing I've ever had to a friend. But even though I've always been able to trust magic users, I've also always had to part ways with them. They took me in, taught me everything they knew, and then I became competition. I had to leave and move on."
"I'm not looking for us to part ways," Regina told her.
Ursula took a moment to respond. "I appreciate that," she said at last. "But my son is all I can think of right now."
Regina was more interested in Caspian, but she understood Ursula's concern. "What do you think can be done?" she asked.
"You're a healer," said Ursula. "Can you cure Eric's land sickness?"
"From what Caspian said," said Regina as she thought. "It sounds like Eric's sickness has more to do with his heritage than any disease. It would be like trying to cure you and I of having dark hair."
"But if we can relieve his symptoms," insisted Ursula. "Then maybe that night as he's drawn toward the shore it will be less strenuous, and he can survive."
"But if it's something that's physically drawing him toward the ocean," argued Regina. "It could just grow worse to the point where relieving his symptoms won't do any good."
"I have to try," Ursula insisted.
Regina wasn't sure what the best course of action was. "I think you've had a long day," she reasoned. "Why don't we both get some rest, and we can talk about this tomorrow?"
"But I-"
"Tomorrow," said Regina.
Ursula sighed. She was frustrated and scared for her son, but she could see Regina's logic. She could feel how flustered she was. Some rest would do her good. "All right," she agreed at last.
But she didn't drop into bed as soon as she entered the house because there was someone in the house waiting for her.
"Hello, Ursula," came the impish voice of the Dark One. He held her spell book in his hand. "I believe this belongs to you," he said, holding it out.
Ursula wasn't sure what he wanted. And she was exhausted from her conversation with Caspian and the journey home, so the only thing she could think to do was reach for her spell book.
But Rumplestiltskin pulled it back from her. "Can I interest you in a little ... proposition?"
Ursula took a moment to answer. Regina had warned her about this man, and she had heard about the Dark One. Though she had always been able to trust magic users, she knew she was in dangerous territory this time.
But she doubted he would just go away if she turned him down. "What do you want?" she asked. Her mistrust came across in her tone more than she had intended.
Rumplestiltskin raised a long finger. "No need to be testy." He said. "I'm only offering to help you."
He took a few steps to the side as he examined the small surroundings. "I know you are unhappy here. You're not used to depending on others, are you?" He turned to look at her, but Ursula said nothing. "I have a castle," he continued. "You and your son would be welcome to stay there ... until you've gained enough power to secure your own."
That offer would have been tempting a week or two ago, but not now. "All I care about is curing my son," she said.
"Of his land sickness?" chimed Rumple. Ursula didn't bother to ask how he knew. She knew the Dark One's powers were mysterious. "I'll have to agree with my former apprentice on the matter. Seems it might be near impossible to cure."
"But not for you?" said Ursula, who could guess where this conversation was going.
"Mmmm ... I wouldn't say that." He pointed a finger at her. "What if I gave you the power to kill the Sea King?" He turned his hand up in a questioning gesture. "Then Eric has nothing to worry about and your love is free to be with you." He wiggled his fingers. "Two birds, one stone. Much more effective, and less time consuming."
Ursula had never considered that possibility before. It certainly seemed easier. But even so ... "You want to train me? I have no power."
"On the contrary," he said, his voice trilling. He caressed the spine of the book. "The spells in here are messy and near impossible for them to yield any real results. But you," he pointed at her again. "You made them work. And that takes power. You have what you need to be great, and I can help you cultivate it."
To have all the power she needed to save her son and win back Caspian ... it sounded wonderful, and it did tempt her. But she knew the Dark One was famed for twisting truth and lies. Did she really have the kind of power he spoke of? She thought she had to be weak compared with Regina. She had turned the brother bear human when she, herself, hadn't been able to. And even if she did have power, Rumplestiltskin's offer seemed far more long term of a situation than any she had ever had.
"Why would you want an apprentice, anyway?" she asked him.
"Mmmm..." He pressed his hands together and swayed side to side. "Let's just say, I take special interest in poor, unfortunate souls."
Ursula was still unsure about the whole situation.
"You don't have to decide right away," said Rumple, holding up his hands. "Just think it over." He slowly lowered the spell book to the kitchen table. "But know that when I'm through, you'll throw this book in the fire it will be so useless to you."
And then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, he vanished.
