The third tenuous day of autumn was a time that did the former faded season incalculable justice. An Indian summer's dry heat hunt heavily through the air with the last defiant breath of the defeated summer. The sapphire sky was a cloudless lake of endless cerulean that went on forever. Heat simmered inclemently throughout the land in one last torrent of scorching temperatures. Greenery still donned most to the trees, not yet shed of their ornate malachite gowns and the flowers still reached their bright bonnet-ed heads to the heavens.
For the day, the season was as if summer had never departed.
To Robin Hood the day was a perfect day for important activities. Such as bathing.
Splashing in solitary relaxation from a hard morning's work of preparing for the winter, the notorious archer busied himself in the business of cleanliness. He scooped coarse, tawny sand into his hands and scrubbed vigorously at his sinewy body, shed the months work from his skin, and let the slow waters steal his troubles away for a time. Snatches of tunes hummed and droned lazily from his lips in bucolic enchantment as he enjoyed some quality time alone.
Though his men never spent more the five minutes clearing the gunk from their rough forms he allowed himself the perks of a long luxurious bath in the cold water on a hot day. In his gut he knew it'd be the last for a long time.
Combing his bow callous digits through this drenched brown locks, the archer languidly exhaled a sigh of ease. The silvery water rippled and wavered about him with discontent whilst he broke the surface from the snaking tributary. A fume of gray mist spewed from his lips as he resurfaced like a mermaid from the cold waters. A half smile donned his mouth as he shook his head like a wet dog. Droplets of waters spattered akin to rain upon the steady steams surface with the action.
Oh he did love a good soak.
"Enjoying your bath, backwoodsman?" Regina asked cunningly from the pebbly shore.
Stunned by the voice, the bandit wiped his eyes free of water. Blinking rapidly he turned his vision to focus in on the sunny bank. As the water cleared from his eyes, so to did his vision clear to the shapes smeared slanted upon the bank. Perched precariously on a sun-warmed charcoal hued boulder the former witch looked down at him.
Her maple eyes gleamed in the brilliant sunlight like copper coins. Lips tilted unto a duplicitous smirk she sat enjoying the enticing view. To her left his neatly laid out clothes he had set to dry lay beside her. They were not his normal clothes for they took special care. Instead they were a rough off white linen tunic and soft green cloth breeches along with his brown boots.
Embarrassment filled the archer with a power he did not know existed. Heat fired through his cheeks but the creek was too cloudy to see if any red adorned his cheeks. Why, how, had she gotten there without his knowledge? Tranquility of the peaceful moment shattered like a glass vase in his heart, the ambient shards wedging in his normal flagrant demeanor.
First a bit of enjoyment and now this...
Ducking lower under the swift moving, unclear waters until only his pectorals showed, he gazed at her from atop her loft. "Yes, thank you for asking," he replied incorrigibly polite. Eye puckered he looked about as though someone else might catch him. "I didn't expect anyone to be down here today." He looked back up, his eyes narrowed as though looking into the sun. "I was just about done. Would you be so kind as to hand me my clothes?"
Looking down at his clothes, a coy smirk donned her lips. "Mm?" Regina mused thoughtfully, her smug smirk nearly intolerable as she considered his words. "No." Her fingertips glided ever so slightly over the white cord of his undershirt. How often did someone catch Robin Hood with his pants down, or more specifically off and in their clutches?
Shaking his head again free of water, a sardonic smile perched upon his mouth. "Rather bad form don't you think? Holding a man's clothes hostage?"
After all he had done for her and she chose to abducted his clothes? The thought came in jest and he hid a smile. Was she becoming the daring one now?
"I don't see things quite so obtusely." Wry mischievousness cleverly laced the witch's voice. "After all this time I have finally been able to get the jump on my benefactor."
In truth she had stumbled upon him on accident. She had only meant to take a stroll under the cool shade, ever thinking of Henry, when she had heard his splashing. She had taken the moment and sprang upon the vulnerability.
"However you see things, the fact remains I need my clothes," he remarked steadfastly, his head nudging to the garments almost pleadingly. "You know," he remarked cheekily, "Before I start to prune."
Regina nodded astutely, her demeanor cool regality. "And so you shall have them…."
"But?" he filled in the missing word. Though she seemed to mean no harm he knew all to well getting his clothes back would not come cheap. He had seen enough ransoms to know where her thought was headed.
A small smirk tilted Regina's lush mouth. Leaning on her right hand, she grinned victoriously at the wet bandit. "Something occurred to me last night as I went to bed," she began, her grin fading a bit. "I have told you about my son, you know as much as anyone about my life, but I find that I only know your name. Robin Hood." She spoke the name slowly as though saving a tangy wine. Lifting up his tunic she lofted the garment high enough for him to see. "So I shall cut a deal with you. For every item I give back to you, I get to ask a question, and you answer."
So that was her price, he noted introspectively - information.
Turing the offer over in his mind, the archer weighed the price. He really had not so much in his life to hide. Most of his men already knew the ins and out of his existence, even the most painful. What could divulging the information to her hurt?
"And if I refuse?" the bandit inquired pensively.
Lacing her fingers together, the former witch sat her hands on an upraised knee. Smirk never fading she quirked her brow almost smugly. "Well." She looked vapidly about the snaking tributary and the forest line in feigned boredom before her gaze turned back to him. "I don't have anywhere in particular to be."
Fighting a grimace the archer stared at the burbling silver water as though salvation was to be had there. Silver scales of a trout glinted in the suns rays upon the water but that was all he noticed in his present conundrum. Nothing else presented itself to give him aid.
Shoulders slumping, the archer frowned in mock defeat into the foggy liquid. "I was afraid of that," the bandit remarked in mock dejection. "Aright Regina," he assented in a sanguine sigh. "Release my garments and your demand will be met."
Smiling victoriously the witch tossed him his tunic. The rough linen article fluttered through the soft breeze and landed close on the brown and gray pebbles. "One." She grinned and tossed his boots. The pair flew ungraciously through the air and landed turned over on their sides to the right of the tunic. "Two." Fingers pinched at the very edge of his leggings as though she held something intolerably disgusting she cast the breeches his way. "Three." breeches landed only an arms length away from the water.
Quickly the witch stood and wiped her hands on her leggings. "Three questions backwoodsman." She nimbly scaled the sun warmed rock to leave him to dress. "I'll be waiting at the forest fringe." She backed away and disappeared into the rough wilds, her smirk never once fading.
"Insufferable woman," Robin grumbled impertinently as he sloshed through the warm water for his clothes. Even though he was displeased with her recourse a smile tipped his lips at her gumption. She certainly did find ways to liven up his days now and again.
The gray silt and smooth gleaming pebbles of silver of the disrupted stream stirred airily about him as he slogged to the bank. Chuckles spilled from his mouth but were hidden behind the trickle of the waters as he rose to the waters edge.
Like a monkey, the bandit nimbly scrambled to the shore and slipped on his breech. Water squished damply in his boots as he squeezed into them and his tunic hung like a second skin to his damp chest as he slipped the garment over.
Giving himself a once over, he nodded in the faintest measure to himself. To be sure he wasn't dressed in his normal state but he could arrange his attire later, he noted imperatively. For now, he would do.
Wary grimace upon his features the archer looked towards the lush forest fringe, his lips formed into an assenting line. For now, he sighed, he had to deal with Regina and her inquiry.
Adjusting the dampening linen shirt about his body, the archer marched to where she had disappeared. Dim shadow and light that trickled from the awning of leaves above dappled his skin as he entered the familiar woods. Feet barely heard over the leaf strewn ground, he walked a ways before he spotted her leaning against a wide elm tree that spread shade far across the verdant, sleepy land.
Thoughtfulness wrinkled her visage in barely perceptible lines upon her near flawless brow. Her eyes looked as immutably chipped marble but he could tell the difference now when her walls were up because of anger or when they were simply up because aloof coldness was the only safety she knew.
The latter, he prided himself inward, he was quickly learning how to scale.
"You know," another sigh wearily fled Robin's mouth as he approached her, "you could have just asked." The outlaw cast a half amused, half frustrated glance her way as he approached the wide elm. Another sigh crossed his mouth as he leaned against the rough trunk as well. His damp hair framed brown ropes about his face, giving him even a more roguish charm than before.
A trickster's smile slowly spread across Regina's cupid bow lips but she didn't look at him. "What would be the fun in that Backwoodsman?" she asked wryly. A faint tinge of humor fringed her tone. Crossing her arms, her voice softened. "Contrary to popular belief I do care for a bit of amusement now and again."
"Fair enough," the bandit assented with a look of tolerable agreement. Crossing his arms as well he sent her an askance glance that gleamed puerile trouble for the future. "Just remember such things as these require pay back."
A snort of derision huffed haughtily from the witch as she rolled her eyes. "If you can then I most certainly encourage you," she challenged good-naturedly. "But at the moment I have questions that need to be answered," she clarified primly. "Questions about you. Everyone knows my crimes, my story, but yours is one unknown to me. I'm curious backwoodsman," her voice dropped a bit. "How did you come to be here? Who are you? What's your story?"
Though everyone in their other word before had heard some variation of Robin Hood, the legends that somehow managed to leap over to the world of technology were reprehensively bungled from the porous holes that dotted one realm to the next. Things were invariably lost in translation form one world to the next. If any of them were even mostly accurate they all would have been dead by their own stupidity long ago.
"My story," the archer mused to save time and collect the tale. His fingers thoughtfully stroked his chin. "A strange one to be sure, Regina. My life has never been what you call normal." He gave a small shrug as though agreeing with that assessment of himself. "To be sure my life started out that way but I never fit in with my lot."
"My father was a minor noble in an estate not far from Nottingham. Locksley the place was called and before I was Robin Hood I went by Robin of Locksley. The Locksley's, though this may be a boring little tidbit in your eyes, are, were, renowned for their archery skills. My father was inordinately proud of that fact and zealously had me taught by the very best in the skills of bowmanship. He always wanted the best.…"
Steely chestnut eyes straight forward, he stared ponderously into the green thicket as though the windows of memories appeared there in the verdant, tangled openings of the woods. "Along with being a noble, my father was a treasurer for Nottingham. He was rarely ever home and as such when I wasn't practicing my bowmanship, I ended up whiling away my time with the servants or more often than not the people other nobles called the dredges of society that were rife at the time."
A strange light softly escaped his half smiling lips at some familiar memory dashed across his eyes. "I spent my time watching gamblers shoot their loaded dice and women snip a purse with a wave of the hand as they flirted with the men eager to lose their coins in a different manner. I became friends with them all and they taught me their ignoble skills. The trained me how to pickpocket a man's boots straps if I needed to and cheat at cards and to find the gold a man hid in his boots and sewn into hidden pockets of his cloak or trussed in a woman's pinned hair."
"Such strange people they were, a mix of goodness but committed crimes. Mind you they were known as the lowest of society, men and women who swindled and tricked and stole, but they were all good people. They had their own code of honor; they never robbed from any worse then they themselves and if they had something to spare they did. The circumstances of life put them there, not because they were evil. Taxes at the time drove people to do such acts. Some people were reduced to selling their children or turn to crime. I felt for them and swore when I was lord of Locksley I would do something about the terrible impunities done."
With a lugubrious sigh his lips pulled into a sedate, expressive frown. "My father, when he began to suspect my agenda wanted such upturned thinking to be abolished from my head. As a result he sent me away on a trip to Agrabah in hopes that I would forget about the people of my land and find friends in like mind of his. He had wealthy allies in Agrabah that were to take me in for three years." A wily smile slowly appeared upon his lips, his eyes glowing. "Instead I roamed the cities and fell in friendship with a thief named Aladdin. For three years we honed our skills in thievery and mischief learning from one another. He taught me tactile cunning and I taught him the way of the bow." Laughter bubbled from his lips. "What adventures we had!" he sobered again. "But eventually I had to go home. I had gotten word that my father died and so as the new lord of Locksley my solemn duty was to take the reins of the manor and fiefdom."
"When I arrived home, however things were worse than when I left. A queen Regina had taken the kingdom by storm. She put a treacherous snake known as prince John on the throne who mercilessly taxed the land and terrorized the people. When I refused to be part of such despicable acts, he tried to have me killed. When he failed I was branded an outlaw and I went on a mission to alleviate the suffering of people wherever I could. I robbed from the rich, only a tenth, to give to the poor."
Slowly turning to face her, a small smile tipped his mouth. He gave a sanguine shrug. "That's the tale then, how I came to be an outlaw of the woods. Robin of the woods they called me at first then somehow they started with Hood and well, that's all there is to tell."
Of course he had left out other expletives of the tale, but she need not know of them.
"How… noble of you," disgust slipped furtively through her grimacing lips. A sacrificial noble dedicated to the people. The amount of those she came across was staggering. Just once, she wondered duplicitously, would she ever find someone driven out because of their bad deeds? Someone… like her?
Robin lofted a brow, his face faintly endowed with confusion as he turned to her. "You don't sound very pleased."
Regina laconically shook her head. "It's nothing," she sighed and assiduously composed herself again. What else could be expected? "My other question would be how do you know Rumpelstiltskin?"
Yes that that had been the question to begin her gluttonous thirst for answers. Whenever someone knew Rumpelstiltskin nothing good was involved. What had he done to rouse the Dark One's ire so, and what exactly had he tried to steal?
Even at the thought of larceny against the odious Dark One, Regina nearly barked a vile laugh. Did he know how lucky he was to still be breathing if he really had committed such an utterly stupid act? Rumpelstiltskin, she knew extremely well, did not succor or spare those that sought him harm against him or his things.
"That," the word tumbled dryly from the archer mouth. Jaw clenched, he uncomfortably shifted a bit as though in an unpleasant memory lashed his brain. Licking his lips he inhaled sharply as the unpleasant remembrance roused back to life. "I robbed him. I broke into his castle to steal a magic wand. I was caught…." He paused there deciding what to say. "His then captive servant Belle rescued me and on my way out I grabbed the wand I had originally come to steal."
A mirthless laugh precociously erupted from Regina's mouth in a disillusioned scoff. Her lips formed into a half smile. Disbelief and a measure of respect glittered in her umber eyes. "Well that was the must utterly foolish thing I have ever heard. Did you have a death wish?"
Once the book worm had freed him why in all the world had he still stolen the wand? Did he really not know when to quit and cut his losses as a life saved?
"The mother of my child, my love, was dying," Robin reveled flatly, his voice stalwartly devoid of emotion. Agony throbbed in his heart with the mention of his dead love. Sharp pain glittered like uncut jewels in his eyes in such a way that the witch almost felt the pang herself.
Shame filled the hollow of Regina's throat. She had foolishly laughed at such a hard topic. Roland's mother. "I apologize for laughing," Regina extorted lowly in regret. She flickered a glance his way. "That was thoughtless of me."
Looking down at the vibrant decomposing leaves and brambles the archer sighed as though he hadn't even heard her. His eyes were years away, taken to some different place and time. "There were complications with the pregnancy. She was getting weaker by the day. I had to do something…. I knew he would come after me but if I could just make it to Sherwood and heal her before he got to me I would have been glad. I succeeded," his voice was barely a whisper. "I healed her…. But." He paused and looked up at her in silent agony. "Well that's how I know Rumpelstiltskin."
Silently, Regina absorbed the delicate information. Casting a surreptitiously gentle glance his way, she studied the outlaw. His body was tense as though some blow would reign down upon him. Trepidation of pain he knew would come swarmed just under the surface of his thoughtful countenance. He knew what query would be next to arise from her mouth.
"Well," Regina sighed imperiously and disentangled her arms. "I suppose that ends my line of questioning," she dictated coolly.
No, she wouldn't pry into that particular aspect of his life. She had taken notice of his hurt and would not burst through that door. Not when the painful query came to Roland's mother.
Turning to look at her fully for the first time, confusion pressed over his pain. His brow dipped faintly as though he had misheard. "You had three questions," nobly informed the bandit just in case she had forgotten. While he did not wish to speak of those times he wouldn't cheat her.
Silent for a moment, the witch pushed off from the tree. A soft strange smile that was almost kind pressed over her lips. "I'll save that questionnaire for another day, backwoodsman."
Awe struck the bandit's heart in a tumultuous mix of emotions as he realized her words. She was, Robin denoted inwardly, she was trying to reserve his pain from breaking free. She was trying to be… thoughtful.
"Thank you." He bowed curtly, meaning every word. Words not spoke between them danced silently through the air. They both knew what she had just done.
Silently they shared an odd moment. Half smiles perched upon their faces, their eyes dancing in a tenuous dance.
What was it about him?
What was it about her?
Abruptly Regina broke the contact. The spell betwixt them sundered in an instant. Her eyes hardened into stone once more, forcing the emotions molded upon her face to dissipate. Why did he look at her as though he knew her heart? A mock scowl flashed upon her features. "Don't think for a second I'll forget," she warned primly, shattering the moment.
Gales of bright laughter birthed from his lips as the tether betwixt them was cut. With a shake of his head he began to trek back to camp. "I wouldn't dream of it, majesty," he called back impudently as he disappeared into the tangled undergrowth.
As he walked away Regina lingered behind as though deciding to follow behind or not. Her head slanted a bit to the right as he watched him make his way back to camp. A small smirk creased her mouth as she enjoyed the sight. The dampness of his pants certainly did form well over his tight rear.
"I'm surprised at you, Regina, I thought checking out a man's behind was beneath you," an accented voice remarked playfully from the azure sky.
Immediately Regina's head jerked to the firmament. Unlike the voice of Rumpelstiltskin this one only provided mild annoyance.
A true scowl burned across her face as she squinted up at a tiny green fairy that floated about the upper lattice of the endless trees.
Lips molded into a displeased frown she spoke the name of her newest guest. "Tinkerbelle…," she deadpanned distastefully. Mustering her haughty, queenly countenance she imperiously clenched her jaw. "First Rumpel now you. Really is it 'visit the exile week' with you people?" her voice lessened to a low murmur of irascibility. "What you do I owe the pleasure?"
"Actually Rumpelstiltskin is why I'm here." Tinkerbelle floated down serenely. An opaque, emerald wave pulsed over her body, shrouding her before she came to normal size. The wings on her back slowly faded leaving her akin to a normal human. Brow perched, she stared incongruously towards the queen. "The last time we spoke to him was before he took you back here."
A hard scoff erupted from Regina's lips as she gazed icily at the fae. "That was three days ago," the witch snorted primly in disinterest.
"Yes." Tinkerbelle nodded. "And we haven't had word from him since." Even though she tried to keep her voice neutral a hint of suspicion alit her exotic voice.
Immutable disbelief expounded Regina's lovely face. Her eyes widened in utter, enraged shock. They didn't really…. "The Charming's actually think I had something to do with him disappearing?" She pointed to her chest, her surprise unparalleled. "What do you people think I'm doing out here, building my own evil empire of squirrels and blue jays? Maybe those vicious deer's are swarming to be enlisted into my service!" Rage liberally inflected her voice. Did they have to ceaselessly malign her every time some worry grasped their pitifully frail hearts! "He's probably out there with his wife trying to start a family and wants to be left alone!"
"The thought had crossed our minds," Tinkerbelle assured the deposed monarch as she tired to stymie her former friend's anger. "When I went to the castle nobody was there. Perhaps they did leave somewhere to be left alone." She shrugged. "His spinner's wheel was still there so I guess they must be returning."
Consternation beetled Regina's face at her words. That couldn't be... "His wheel?" That, she knew implicitly well, was an ineffable problem. "You might have a situation then," she acknowledge, the rage spilling out of her with the chilling news.
"What do you mean?" Tinkerbelle arched a brow.
"Rumpelstiltskin never, ever leaves his wheel if he'll be gone away for a while." Regina threw her arms up in a mood of abysmal frustration. "I remember seeing him teleport that rickety thing to different rooms in his castle so it would be nearby when we studied. If he's left his wheel. Then you may indeed have a problem."
Tinkerbelle shrugged her slender shoulders. "Maybe that is something Belle has mended in him. True Love has a way of changing people."
True Love, the word nearly made her gag. A look of disgust curtained over her face, something the fae did not miss.
"Oh don't look like the words are poison," the fairy huffed faintly. Her eyes gently studied the exile. "Yours is still out there somewhere, remember?"
"I prefer not to," Regina sighed annoyance. Perching her head up briskly, the deposed monarch glared with icy ferocity at the fairy. "The only love I need is Henry." Henry was all. He had to be.
The green fairy shook her head. "That's not true Regina. We all need that other love. The love that makes us complete; the other half to make us whole."
"Well I don't," irascibly snapped the exile, her lips contorted into a sharp frown. "That moment has passed. I don't plan on finding that man, nor would I want to."
A resigned sigh fled the fairies lips. Calling magic to her, the green wave pulsed over her again and she became the size of a hornet once more. Her wings fluttered like pistons as she hovered in the air up to Regina's face. Pity shimmered in her sea green eyes at the queen's stubbornness. "Suit yourself Regina. But just remember he is out there. Your True Love."
"I appreciate your sentiment but that ship has sailed, Tink," Regina explained venomously. "Now go before one magical creature actually ends up missing," she threatened darkly.
Taking more than the hint, the fairy winged away from her fruitless interrogation. Her diaphanous wings glittered against the suns rays as she zipped back to the Charming's.
At once Regina was alone again without a friend or foe.
A wave of indecorous disgust washed over her at the last words of the fairy. Who did she think she was?
True Love, Regina scoffed at the very notion as she began to follow Robin Hood's cold trail back to camp. True Love, for her? What a ridiculous notion! Besides, what were the chances of that happening in the midst of the southern woods!
~8~8~
A/N: This may just be my paranoia, but did anyone else notice the old couple from the movie "Up" in the diner in last nights episode?