Author's Note: Hello there! :D How are you guys?
Please, don't hate me *puppy eyes*. It has been so loooooooooong since the last time… but I'm finally back, YEY! :)
The reason why I didn't post a chapter soon? Well, it's simple. I didn't feel inspired nor have I the time for writing. Now we're on holidays so I'll have plenty of free time, but I warn you, (those who write your own fics may know) time is not all, right? Inspiration is always needed.
I'm quite inspired these days, so I'll let you know that I'm already working on chapter ten. Cross your fingers and pray for it to be ready in less than three months. 0:-3
Something more I would like to say before I leave you to read, from now on it will only be me. For personal reasons, Dami decided to step aside and leave the story. We are fine, so there's no need to worry :)
Thank you to RichelleBrinkley, for being the best beta ever –the story is what it is thanks to you.
Enjoy!
Long way to happy
CHAPTER 9
"Daniel?"
Regina took a step back as her long-dead love took a step forward. "Who are you?" She shook her head, staring blankly at the young man in stable clothes standing in front of her, just a few feet away.
"What's wrong, Regina?" Daniel asked, so softly she could scarcely hear his words, appearing magically before his former paramour the next moment.
"I have missed you," he admitted with a hesitant but loving smile.
"This can't be real," the former Evil Queen argued, "He is dead –you are dead."
"What?" the stable boy asked confused, looking genuinely puzzled. "What is it?" he attempted to touch her, but Regina took another deliberate step back.
"You're dead—that's what happened. You can't be real."
Daniel frowned and stopped trying to move closer to Regina, hurt shining in his pale blue eyes.
Regina could feel how her heart twisted in pain. She knew it wasn't real... but real or not, seeing the distress in her long lost boyfriend's eyes caused her pain.
She knew Daniel was dead—that was the reason she had ended up casting the curse in the first place, wasn't it?
An inner voice mocked that thought, reminding her that that was what Rumple had made her believe. Yes, Regina Mills did cast the curse due to her own unbearable suffering—but what had lain beneath the Queen's pain? Another man's pain—just as insufferable, a desperate wish to find a long lost son. Regina realized there were many things she would have to talk about with Rumple; she had so much to say (more like yell), but right now Daniel was all that mattered. Dead or alive, it did not make any difference; the pain was still the same.
"Don't you want me anymore?" the young stable boy asked, still unmoving.
A cold shiver rippled through Regina's body. He seems real. Alive.
"I'll leave you, then." And just as simple his arrival had been, Daniel gave Regina one last heartbreaking look before starting to walk away.
This is not real. This is not real.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she watched Daniel go –let him go.
Was she going mad? Everything Regina had ever done was because of Daniel, her true love—and right now, she was letting him go. This is not real.
Daniel kept walking away, his brown cape caressing the grass, moved by a gentle wind.
He is dead. He's not real.
Regina wanted so badly to scream Daniel's name and make him come back to her, to make him stay. She almost did, but found herself clasping a trembling hand over her lips instead, choking on a broken sob that never managed to escape her mouth.
Daniel disappeared around a corner of the labyrinth, and the moment she saw him disappear, Regina's knees buckled, letting her fall gracefully to the ground. She closed her eyes as more tears escaped.
Regina knew deep inside, that Daniel was probably a test or trick of the labyrinth. She knew in her heart that something was missing, and if she fell for Daniel she would forget that feeling— she needed to believe that letting him go was the way.
She couldn't succumb to Daniel and his love when she needed to find... who? She didn't know.
Letting Daniel go hurt, and it couldn't be compared to any physical pain, but Regina knew that in the long run it would be worth it.
…
"She's tough," Irene pondered out loud, scrutinizing the large mirror, "That annoying Evil Queen knew he wasn't real."
The lady stopped and caressed Regina's reflection through the glass, "They should have called her the smart Queen."
Deimos snorted, a smile appearing on his lips. "Do I go in?" he asked, lifting his gaze from an ancient tome about portal jumping.
Irene tsked, "Don't you dare ruin it, brother!" The lady's tone allowed no argument, "The best hasn't come just yet."
Her twin brother shook his head, lowering his silver eyes to the dusty book once again, "It's not funny when they give in. You know I like it when they fight."
"Shut up about it all," Irene cut him off, waving a delicate hand at him disdainfully, directing her attention back to the new image in the mirror.
"Robin?" Marian asked, walking hesitantly over to her husband.
Robin eyes grew wide with amusement, "Is it really you?" the archer asked, lovingly touching Marian's face—as if that way she would become more real.
The maid nodded and lowered her gaze.
"I thought you were dead," Robin said, tenderly entwining his fingers through his wife's hair, "I thought you were gone—forever."
Marian smiled and shyly shook her head. Robin leaned in, kissing her softly.
When theirs lips met, a flash of pain jolted through Robin's body, blinding him for an instant.
He must have taken a step back, because he felt Marian's hand clasping his arms lightly. "Robin, are you okay?" He heard Marian ask, but all he could see was himself kissing another woman—a woman Robin had never seen.
They were in the library of the Dark One's castle, he realized, his forehead resting reassuringly against the brunette's whilst his fingers entangled lovingly in her wet hair. The strange woman wore even stranger clothes, and was clad untidily in a cobalt blazer—she seemed to be cold.
Afterward, the woman was gone and he heard a desperate voice calling his name. He supposed it was the same woman he saw himself previously kissing... but who was she?
"Regina," he said unconsciously, opening his eyes and finding Marian's worried gaze on him. She frowned at the unfamiliar name.
"Who's Regina?" the maid asked, tenderly cupping Robin's cheek with her hand.
The labyrinth had changed, and they were now back in the Enchanted Forest from their past, outside what was formerly their cottage.
Robin Hood hadn't noticed that change—for him, the labyrinth no longer existed.
"Regina?" the archer asked, truly confused, his hand unconsciously touching his lips.
"Yes, honey. You said Regina," Marian answered, taking Robin's hand in her own and leading him inside the house.
The thief shook his head, confused.
Regina? The name didn't ring a bell, and yet somehow, it warmed his heart
... Regina.
"She's no one."
A terrible pain invaded Regina's body the instant Robin's words left his mouth, even though she didn't know what he had said.
She fell to her knees—against a cold stony floor, Regina noticed– her hand clutching her chest, trying to ease the pain.
"It's okay, darling," she heard Cora whisper, ever so close, "Everything is okay."
Regina turned her head and saw that the labyrinth was no longer there, but instead she was in her former house.
"Come. Stand up," her mother's voice demanded, as hard and unyielding as stone.
She's not real. She's dead. Snow killed her, Gold killed her.
"Regina, stand up!" Cora's voice was filled with irritation (as it always was), but still Regina did not obey.
If it was an illusion, it perfectly portrayed her mother's short temperament, Regina realized.
"Regina, honey, please listen to your mom." That calm and yet demanding voice made her tear her gaze from the floor. When she did, Regina found herself looking into her father's warm and caring eyes, his hand held out to her. But she couldn't take it—not immediately at least.
He's dead. I killed him. He's dead.
"Regina, please," Henry Mills pleaded—but at the same time demanded.
Despite all attempts to refuse her dead father's help, she accepted Henry's hand.
When Regina stood up and tried to smooth her blue coat, she noticed instead she was wearing her light blue gown, and her father was lightly touching her long hair.
"Better now?" her father asked, smiling at her and picking up the books she must have let fall to the floor—Cora used to force her to practice balance by walking for hours around the house with a pile of books on top of her head.
Regina saw Cora storming out of the room. She knew this wasn't real, but what if she played along for a little while so she could actually understand what was going on?
...
After excusing herself from her father, Regina went by instinct to her bedchambers (like so many times she did whenever she argued with her mother) and this time, Regina found Daniel—again—pacing and lost in thought.
"What are you doing here?" she almost yelled, closing the door immediately—the fear of her mother founding out about Daniel invaded her. She forgot for a moment that he was not real, she forgot that she had kicked Daniel out already.
Daniel didn't seem to care and he went to her, hands resting gently on her waist; he pressed his lips against hers softly. Regina closed her eyes at the contact and let herself forget (or believe), and kissed Daniel back.
The stable boy took a step back and smiled at her. "You're beautiful."
Regina smiled back, moving towards him once more. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here."
Her heart did want to believe it was all real, that both her parents were still alive and Daniel was really in her bedchambers, probably risking his life to steal one secret kiss from her.
"What do you mean, Regina?"
She didn't know if the ghosts could be hurt, or even if they knew they were part of some ulterior plan. Regina only knew she didn't want her stable boy to be hurt again—but she needed to keep looking for Robin. She needed to break the illusion to find the archer.
"You're dead, Daniel. You died a long time ago," Regina whispered, caressing her former lover's cheek, "This is a dream, an illusion. You have to let me wake up."
Daniel shook his head, "Regina, what are you talking about? This is nonsense. It's only you and me."
A lone tear ran down Regina's cheek upon seeing Daniel's heartbreaking expression. She almost laughed at herself; since her arrival to the Enchanted Forest she had cried repeatedly. Was she becoming soft?
"I'm sorry, Daniel. I couldn't protect you."
If that was a dream, it didn't matter. She needed to say those words she had kept to herself since forever. She wouldn't pass up the chance given to her by the labyrinth's magic.
Daniel was right here, and she could say those words to him—she could finally relieve part of her burden.
"It's us, Regina. I don't know what you're talking about."
Regina shook her head and took a step back, just inches away from Daniel. She closed her eyes, thinking that maybe facts would let Daniel believe.
She thought of the last time he had seen her. The stable boy hadn't even had the time to stop and contemplate her, so maybe now was time... her old self started to evaporate, leaving space for the real Regina, in her clothes from the new world and her short hair.
Her face hadn't changed much, except for a scar on her upper lip and a few wrinkles that showed Daniel the truth: the ugly—and yet, at the same time, beautiful—truth.
"This is the real me, Daniel."
Regina could feel more tears forming in her eyes, and she let them fall—Daniel had seen her cry. She was not ashamed to let herself be vulnerable in front of him; she never had been—not with him.
"Wh—what happened to your hair?" the stable boy asked innocently.
"I grew up. A long time ago, dear."
Dear, Daniel thought; at least that hadn't changed. "So, am I really dead?" Regina nodded. "Was it Cora?"
Regina nodded again. "And me." Daniel frowned; Regina explained, "You came back to our world. But you weren't you."
Daniel's eyes were glossy. He couldn't believe his Regina had turned into such a gorgeous, mature woman. He didn't know if the Gods were being cruel or playing with him. If he was really dead, why was he here now?
"I need to go, Daniel—before it's too late."
"Why am I here? Am I supposed to let you go again? Are you even happy in this life?"
Regina saw he was trembling slightly; Daniel was still young, and she was a woman all grown up. Everything had changed. "I'm a mother now," Regina said, smiling through watery eyes at him, "His name is Henry."
Henry.
A sudden rush of images cascaded through her mind.
Regina remembered her former castle and Daniel evaporating the instant she said her son's name.
She remembered the black-cloaked creatures; Roland. She remembered arguing with Robin; the instant he had said he didn't want her, the paradise had disappeared and a vine-wall had abruptly appeared between them—in some ways imitating Robin's reaction.
Henry and Roland—that's how we got here in the first place.
Regina wiped away her tears, looking down at her hands where a string of Daniel's cape was tied around her wrist. Regina smiled and lightly touched it, fearing the string would fade away—but it didn't.
Now I have you, forever…and I'll never let go.
…
Irene was crying softly as she contemplated the former Queen through the large mirror.
"Oh please, sister, tell me you're not crying."
"And what if I am?" Irene turned to face her twin brother and the fact that he started laughing made her furious.
"Isn't it that love was weakness?" Deimos asked, mocking her.
"Have you not seen what she did? She gave up her true love, again."
Deimos left the book on portal jumping on the bed and came to stand behind his sister. The mysterious black-haired twin conjured a brush and started running it through the strands of his sister's platinum hair. It always soothed her.
Irene kept whimpering.
"He isn't her true love, not anymore, Sis. But I do think it's going to get harder on the other side. Robin Hood thinks Marian is real. He didn't even stop for a seconds thought."
Irene sniffed, seeing the mirror change from Regina to Robin.
"Regina will get through to him. He's her soul mate. She can do it."
Deimos smiled and shook his head, still softly brushing his sister's hair, "Choosing sides, are we?"
"Oh shut up!" the Lady exclaimed, but didn't turn away from her twin brother. "You have no heart!"
"Oh, sweet sister, you can get so emotional sometimes. And remember, I am the one with the heart here."
"How about we go to the lake?" Marian suggested, cheerfully dragging Robin out of the cottage and into the woods.
"Marian, wait," Robin countered, coming to a halt.
"What is it?" she asked sweetly.
All Robin had been thinking about since the moment he had kissed Marian was the mysterious brunette's face.
Who is she? Who are you, Regina?
"Nothing," he replied, shaking his head and putting on his best smile.
Robin knew something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out what. He felt like he was wading into murky waters, unable to see and forced to swim, buffeted by the water's movements.
They were in the woods, heading towards the lake they always used to go to.
Robin sat near the shore as Marian walked into the cool waters, only deep enough for the water to caress her ankles.
...
Concentrate. Focus. Find him.
Regina closed her eyes, focusing on a mental image of Robin—his hand over her chest, his breath warm against her face.
As an experienced magic user, she knew it was dangerous teleporting through environments you were unfamiliar with—in this particular case, the labyrinth. Regina knew the risk and the terrible consequences, but she needed to find Robin.
Find him.
A warm wave of magic washed over her heart, invading her being, and in an instant she was gone.
When Regina opened her eyes, she found herself back in the Enchanted Forest, not inside the labyrinth. She visualized a crystalline lake, a woman walking through its waters, splashing towards a smiling man sitting near the shore.
Robin.
"Robin," she called softly, afraid of the fact that it might be a new trick of the labyrinth—afraid he would fade away.
Regina took a step closer, not really wanting to break the moment but left with no other choice.
"Robin," Regina called again, louder.
And Robin heard her, because he turned to face her—and when his cobalt eyes found her, Regina smiled instinctively.
Robin stood up, starting to walk towards the mysterious woman he had already seen in her thoughts, but Marian's wet hand stopped him. "Where are you going?"
"She's here. She came for me," Robin answered, even though he wasn't entirely sure why he said it, or even why he sounded so sure of it. "Regina."
Marian's brow furrowed, "Who's here, Robin? I can't see anyone."
The archer looked at Marian and then to the strange brunette, urging Marian to follow his gaze.
The woman was standing at the border of the woods.
Marian didn't know her; she seemed to be from another world, due to the clothes she wore. If she didn't know her how on Earth did Robin?
"Robin, you need to wake up," Regina said softly, watching as Robin's face contorted in puzzlement.
"Who are you?" he demanded, standing in front of Marian as if to protect her. "I don't know you."
"Who is she?" Marian whispered against Robin ear.
She was afraid, even though she wouldn't admit it—she never did—but he could hear how fear colored his wife's voice.
Regina flinched at the emptiness in the archer's voice. She took a hesitant step forward, raising her hands, trying to let the legendary couple know she meant no harm.
"I'm Regina, Henry's mother. Don't you remember me?"
Regina, Robin thought. Why does the name seem so familiar?
"You should probably leave," Marian suggested, hugging Robin from behind.
He's trapped, Regina realized. He doesn't know she's not real.
How could she blame him? Anyone who knew the story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian would understand the kind of love they had. How could one not succumb to such an intense and unconditional love? Regina understood, but she needed the real Robin—not the one of legend. She needed the human one.
"What do you want?" the archer asked, raising his voice.
I want you. I want you so we can go on searching for our children.
Regina didn't know how to make Robin remember her… so she tried the easy way.
"I'm the Evil Queen, remember?"
Both Robin and Marian took a step back, afraid. Regina would have tried to ease the fear, but no words were needed when, magically, the lake moved and engulfed the couple.
"Robin!" Regina screamed, horrified, running to the edge of the lake and looking into the water, desperately trying to find him.
She didn't think about it—immediately, she jumped after him.
The water was cold but it somehow burned at her skin. Regina looked everywhere—deep blue surrounded her—and she saw Robin. She swam to him, her lungs burning as she went deeper into the blue depths.
Marian's ghost was no longer with the archer; only Robin remained, spinning to what seemed like an endless bottom.
Regina swam faster, trying to reach Robin. Finally, she managed to catch his hand, and with all the strength Regina had left she pulled him to her –Robin's body floated slowly towards hers.
I've got you, she thought, hugging him, I've got you.
Regina couldn't breathe any longer, so she let herself drown... but she didn't let go. Not this time.
...
A soft breeze caressed the labyrinth's vine-walls, the fake paradise long forgotten.
There were vine-walls filled with black roses all over the place, surrounding the two unconscious bodies that lay on the soft grass.
The woman's hand was clutched securely around a handful of the man's clothes.
Deimos prowled above them, observing, until Regina caught a frantic breath, color returning to her formerly lifeless face. Then, a black smoke engulfed Deimos and he was gone.
The first thing Regina did when she was conscious was kneel by Robin's side and pull his body to hers, shaking it as the archer rested limply on her lap.
"Robin!" Regina screamed, indifferent to the pain in her throat, "Robin, please."
The former Queen kept shaking him. She thought of Roland and Henry, still lost.
Don't you die on me. Don't you dare.
Regina lowered Robin's body to the grass, and started giving him CPR.
"Don't leave me, please. Not here."
Her vision was blurry, was it tears again?
"Come on!"
Regina stopped her movements when she felt a hand resting tenderly on her shoulder. "It's time to let go, Regina," Daniel whispered to her lovingly.
Regina turned her watery gaze to look at her stable boy. "It's time to let go," Daniel repeated, now looking her in the eye.
Regina shook her head and kept attending Robin's lifeless body.
"You hate me, remember? You can't simply just die and make my life easier," she said, stopping her movements and desperately touching the archer's wet hair, "You promised to mock me, Robin, you ungrateful thief."
Regina smiled sadly at him, pressing his body to her own.
"We need to find Roland, and Henry."
I need you. I need you. I need you.
The vine-walls trembled, and a breath of wind rippled through the endless paths of the labyrinth.
Daniel let go of Regina's shoulder and came to stand in front of her. He realized that he had never seen her so broken. It didn't even compare to the grief and heartache she had showed when she had told him she was supposed to marry another man, the King.
She wasn't his Regina, either, the young and loving one. She was a woman now, but still Daniel saw glimpses of her.
She was still there—her youth, her pure love and her laughter. Everything was still there... and he knew Regina needed to embrace it, if she ever wanted to feel whole again.
"What can I do?" Regina demanded, "Daniel, help me. Please."
I need you. I want you alive.
"You're still her. Let her be."
Regina shook her head and cried freely, not understanding what Daniel was trying to say.
"Find her," were his last words—and the young stable boy evaporated into the air.
"Roland needs you." Salty tears fell upon Robin's pallid face.
"I need you," Regina finally admitted out loud, softly pressing her trembling lips to the archer's forehead.
A soft amber magic started to engulf Robin's body.
I need you.
Regina could feel her magic pumping through her veins, leaving a cold sensation behind.
I need you.
The magic exploded in waves, tearing the vine-walls apart, turning them to ashes.
I need you.
The forest shone bright and full of life again. Regina could hear birds, could feel the warm wind tousling with her still damp hair.
"Marian?" Robin asked, his voice raspy.
"Robin," Regina whispered excitedly, holding him closer. Not caring that he thought she was his dead wife. He was alive.
Robin awkwardly clutched the person who was hugging him.
He breathed in.
In.
Out.
Apples.
In.
Out.
Cinnamon.
In.
Out.
"Regina?"
Regina smiled to herself, and nodded against Robin's shoulders.
"What happened?"
"You scared me to death, stupid fool!" she growled, breaking the embrace and pushing him away—just a little—but grabbing Robin by his arms the next moment, "Don't do that ever again, or I'll kill you."
Robin snorted. Of course this was Regina.
"I'm glad to see you too," he said, and felt how his heart fluttered when she hugged him once again.
"So we're out?" Robin asked, taking the mug of tea Regina had conjured and raising it to his lips.
Regina simply nodded, sitting across from him, her gaze lost in the flickering of the bonfire.
"I heard you, you know. I thought you hated me," Robin joked, meeting Regina's eyes for a second.
The former Queen shook her head and smiled, thinking how incredibly irritating the thief could be.
"I thought you could use some help," she retorted.
"Thank you," Robin said sincerely, smiling at her.
Regina looked skeptically at the archer, "Thank you? For hating you?"
Robin snorted, lowering his gaze, "No. For needing me."
Regina looked at him, seeing how uncomfortable he looked at his confession.
"You'd better rest," she suggested softly, "We need to keep going tomorrow. Henry and Roland need us now."
Robin nodded. She was right. But even still he thought she was going to say something else. For a moment, he saw something in Regina's deep brown eyes that led him to believe that she had something to say—something that could change things. But instead he was met with a wall of sullen courtesy, icy and unyielding—her shields were up once more.
He watched how Regina started to ready herself to sleep.
The bonfire was between them —still she choose to give her back to the archer.
Robin didn't say anything; he just lay down and closed his eyes, trying to get some sleep as well.
The former Queen had insisted he had to sleep, and the next day she would tell him what had happened. Robin was tired, but he had so many questions.
He remembered Marian's joyful face, remembered seeing a man standing right behind Regina when he was supposedly unconscious. The look in the boy's eyes screamed that he must have certainly loved Regina—once. Robin realized it was the same boy from that time when Regina had showed him her magic. He was the heartless boy who had stood beneath the apple tree.
Robin was dozing off when he remembered one particular face. The archer remembered seeing Deimos not so far away from where he and Regina had been lying hours ago, after someone dragged them out of the lake.
How could he know all of that if he was unconscious? Robin couldn't explain it. But he did know that Deimos' silver eyes didn't feel as comforting or protective as the heartless boy's ones.
Regina woke up to an agonizing pain in her heart.
It was dark and she was no longer in the labyrinth, and neither was Robin.
Quickly, she got to her feet and surveyed the scene—she could feel someone watching her.
"Where's Robin?" She asked the darkness, still not seeing anyone. "Where is he?" Regina demanded again, louder.
A deep, throaty laugh pierced the darkness... Regina knew that laugh.
Irene appeared from nowhere and sent Regina flying with a blast of red magic.
"Did you really think you were going to leave alive, Regina?" Lady Irene mocked. "You're dead, sweet child."
The female twin snorted, then smiled and kept on talking, "You're dead, just like everyone else you couldn't protect."
Irene waved a graceful hand, and showed to Regina the lifeless bodies of Henry, Roland and Robin.
"No!" the former Queen cried out, running over to where Irene was standing—but before she could reach her, the platinum-haired woman froze Regina in place.
"You're going to suffer dearly, Regina," Irene threatened, "And no one is going to save you."
…
"No!" Regina cried out, and the instant she tried to move she felt strong arms holding her in place. "Let me go!" she yelled and struggled.
"Regina, wake up. It's only a dream, love."
Robin, she thought.
A thin layer of sweat made her skin glow, and her eyes locked with the archer's as soon as she heard his reassuring voice.
She realized it was nearly dawn. The camp was just as she remembered from last night, only the bonfire had died, and was now nothing more than a smoking pile of embers. Seeing that everything was alright, Regina focused again on the archer's eyes, trying to find some comfort in them—she always did.
"It's okay. You are awake now," Robin reassured her, helping the brunette to a sitting position.
He's alive, she thought to herself, and her mind eased.
"Easy there," Regina heard Robin whisper, and she felt his hand gently tucking her hair behind her ear.
"What were you dreaming about?" Robin asked, kneeling in front of her and letting his hands rest above hers.
Regina shook her head, "It's nothing, just let me—"
Robin moved ever so close to her—so close that the brunette thought he was about to kiss her, but he didn't—the archer simply pulled a straw from her hair before backing away and keeping a prudent distance once more.
"What did you dream about?" he insisted.
Should she tell him? The Holt twins were Merry Men allies after all, weren't they?
"Nothing—it was nothing," Regina lied, getting to her feet, gently but firmly breaking Robin's light touch.
With a wave of her hand, they were clean again and the camp was gone.
Robin looked at her disbelievingly, but didn't move from his spot.
He knew that if he pushed too hard, they would end up fighting like they always did. But he needed to know—and more importantly, Regina had promised to tell him.
"Are you going to tell me what happened yesterday or should I just pretend that I know exactly what happened, my Queen?" There was an edge to his voice, even as he tried to sound as amicable as possible.
Regina didn't answer, noting the archer's mocking tone. She started walking away, but suddenly Robin was up and his fingers encircled her wrist, stopping her from going any further.
"You promised. You promised to tell me what happened."
"Let me go," Regina warned.
How could anyone be so stubborn? Robin wondered, but instead of reigning in his emotions, he took the easier route, "If you needed me so much yesterday, why won't you talk to me now? We are stuck here with each other, Regina, until we find our sons. So you'd better say something—"
"It was a test," the former evil Queen explained, urging Robin to let go of her—and he did, "Yours was Marian. As you may have noticed, you didn't past your test." Robin heard the reproach in her voice.
How had he failed? Why did it even bother her if he had?
"A test?" Robin questioned, following Regina closely—she had once more started to walk away. The former Queen just nodded.
Regina had said that they should keep walking to her castle, and in the meantime she would tell Robin what had happened.
"What did you mean when you said I failed the test? How was I supposed to pass it?"
Regina stopped, and Robin did too. She glanced right and then left, choosing the latter path.
"You were supposed to know she wasn't real."
Her answers were so short and detached, and that made Robin think that perhaps his questions were touching a nerve in her somehow. "I saw Marian, so I assume you saw your True Love?"
Again, the Queen simply nodded.
"Wouldn't that make it easier for you to find him now?"
Robin saw the brunette smile—only it was a little sad smile and then it was gone—and she shook her head again.
Both adults walked in silence for hours.
Regina explained to Robin why she thought what had happened was a test. She wasn't entirely sure the test was originally part of the labyrinth itself, so perhaps it was created by an outside party.
Since neither of them knew if the labyrinth was natural, that remained an open question—although both Regina and Robin doubted that such a phenomenon could merely be just a natural occurrence.
Indeed, magical objects and creatures did exist in the Enchanted Forest. But Regina knew that those things were simple magic—magic in its purest essence dark or light... The labyrinth, however, seemed too complex and full of dark magic to simply be a natural occurrence.
All through the forest Regina had been replaying her dream in her mind, over and over again.
She hadn't like Irene since the moment they'd met, she knew that. But could she be the one behind the labyrinth? Behind Roland's and Henry's disappearances? And if so, what were her motives?
Regina knew the platinum-haired woman didn't exactly liked her either; she had made it quite clear when talking about taking her crown, amongst revealing painful anecdotes. But why? What could be the reason behind so much hatred?
Regina's thoughts were interrupted by Robin shouting her name—she turned to look at him and instead found herself crashing against a tree.
"Dammit!" she cursed, landing on the ground and rubbing her forehead.
"Are you okay?" Robin asked, concerned, offering her his hand.
"Why didn't you warn me?" Regina snapped, slapping his hand away and getting to her feet.
"Oh, but I did warn you—just because you were too lost in your thoughts—"
"Oh, shut up. I don't want to hear you," Regina cut him off.
"Are you two ever going to stop fighting?" Lady Irene asked, irritated, breaking the tension but also simultaneously managing to make it tenser.
The silver-haired woman was standing, arms crossed over her chest, body resting lightly against a tree. And it seemed to both Regina and Robin such a disdainful, despicable manner.
Regina's face changed, and she immediately took a step in front of Robin, protectively, "Where is Henry? You'd better tell me the truth, or—"
"Or what?" The Lady cut her off, sending a blast of red light to where Regina and Robin were standing; the former Queen deflected it quickly, summoning a magical shield.
"My Lady, what are you doing?" Robin asked, trying to take a step towards Irene—but Regina stepped in his way.
"Stay behind me," she commanded.
"My Lady, what are you doing?" Irene imitated Robin's voice mockingly and laughed, "Oh, come on, Regina. Aren't you going to play with me?"
Another blast of red light flew from Irene's hand, and was deflected once again by Regina's magical shield.
"Don't you want to find your precious son, dear?" The Lady asked, pouting childishly.
"Regina, what is she talking about?" Robin asked, touching Regina's arm.
At the same time, Irene sent a new blast of magic, and this time the Regina's shield didn't work—both she and Robin were sent flying backwards, collapsing hard against the ground.
"Magic not working for you? It becomes a little bit erratic when he's around, doesn't it?"
The mockery in Irene Holt's voice was driving Regina mad. The lady reminded her of a whimsical child—but Irene was not stupid, the former Queen noted.
Thinking to the past, Regina realized that this was not the first time her magic had become erratic when Robin was around—more accurately, whenever he touched her… a child wouldn't have noticed such a tiny detail, but the Lady did.
Regina and Robin stood up, both in a defensive position, even though Regina was the only one able to fight the Lady.
The platinum-haired woman smiled. "What a pity. It would be such a tragedy if I just decided to kill you—" Irene stopped, her smile growing even wider, struck by a sudden idea, "Oh, no," she exclaimed, more to herself than anyone else.
"Why don't just let me—"
With a flick of her wrist, Irene Holt engulfed them all in a red smoke.
- TO BE CONTINUED -
Am I the only one who loves Irene? Yes, she's evil, but I have a soft spot in my heart for villains.
Please REVIEW, comments and constructive criticism are always accepted :)
Love,
Freedomqueen.
