Chapter Nine - One month ago -Golds Cabin.
Emma did come back, with red eyes and a determined look on her face.
"What happened?" she asked sinking slowly into a overstuffed armchair. Hook crossed the room towards her, then stopped unsure of how to continue, "we don't know the details" he said softly "the witch declared Neal dead and we saw no reason to believe otherwise"
"Yes" Regina agreed, the look in Rumple's eyes had confirmed it for her, he had witnessed Neal's death she was sure. Regina quickly recounted the tale again of the witches arrival in the castle and the events that followed. "So she casted the curse but how and why" Emma asked.
"We don't know" Regina sighed, "only that she wishes her revenge upon her sister, Regina and your mother" Hook interrupted.
"What did the Charming's say?" Regina interrupted quickly, she was hoping to avoid the sister thing for as long as possible. However her patience at the whole situation was being to wear dangerously thin, yes they needed to try and piece together the missing parts but what she really needed was to break the curse and get Henry's memories back, the thought of him so close and yet so far away was maddening.
"Did they believe the cover story?" Emma sighed again "I didn't speak to them" she confessed.
"What"? Regina cried out angrily.
"I'm not sure it's the best plan, why would they trust a complete stranger over the Mayor, who they believe they have been friends with forever, it's just too risky" Emma reasoned.
"Emma" Regina drew her mouth in a thin line, this pained her to say it but say it she would "when you first came to Storybrooke, you and Mary Margaret became friends very quickly and I believe that's not common for you" she paused "your true connection was still there in-spite of the curse, your souls recognised each other, and they will do again, besides you bloody Charming's always find one another" she huffed.
Emma looked thoughtfully and almost gratefully at Regina but she shook her head, "it's too soon, we need to be more prepared, I think we should give them the potion, then they can convince the rest of the town to drink it, that's what we need them for after all". "She's right" Hook agreed, yes she is Regina thought sadly, she was unsure why she wanted Mary Margaret and David to be brought into the plan so quickly, maybe you miss them a inner voice teased, quickly stopping that train of thought she gave Emma and Hook a small nod "okay" she said tightly "I have a idea how to work around the missing ingredients".
"Right, then love's let's get started" Hook announced.
"I need to get started" she told him. "I need to get back to Henry" Emma said "and I need you to go spy on the mayor Hook" Regina said "She may sense the magic brewing, I need you to watch her and if you think she senses something is up, I need you to either stop her or at least warn me" she handed him the slippers and half a mirror, "take these, do not mistreat them Pirate" she warned him.
"Aye your majesty" he replied, sweeping into a mock bow as he made his way to the door, turning towards Emma he bade her goodbye softly.
Emma turned to Regina "so we trust him now? she asked with a smirk.
"I trust his motivation" Regina replied with a twist of her lips. "How is Henry?" She asked quietly.
"Good" Emma replied quickly "he's good, life was good, it was all" she trailed off.
"Good" Regina supplied "Yes, I almost didn't come back" she admitted "Why did you?" Regina asked "I've spent all my life looking for my family, I found them and lost them again and although playing the Saviour again is not something I am looking forward to, I guess it is my role to play and my price to pay for my family" Long after Emma had left, Regina found herself unable to get Emma's words out of her mind, she understood Emma's hesitancy in accepting her role, was it really all down to fate, did they have no choice but to play these roles chosen for them?
Sighing she forced her mind back to the task in hand, the only role she was interested in right now was that of Henry's mother.
Three months ago - Enchanted Forest - Regina's Castle Frustratingly the Charmings had taken up permanent residence at the castle, Regina just wanted to be left alone to deal with the threat but the whole realm now seemed to be living with her.
They spent so much time in the war chamber Regina felt she could close her eyes and still see the brick work.
They had searched the Dark One's castle to look for clues, traces of magic had lingered but she could not discern anything new. She had rifled through Rumple's belongings and taken what she thought maybe useful, a few books, his crystal ball, some powers and ointments but overall it had been a waste of time.
Prince Philip refused to leave his people although Aurora remained with them as did Belle. The fairies had split into groups, setting up protection spells in Philip's kingdom, while the rest were searching the realm looking for traces of magic, trying to locate the witch and Rumplsklitskin.
She had no doubts the castle would hold if the witch should bring the fight to them, there was a powerful protection spell built into the very walls of the castle which would hold fast, no matter strong the magic but Rumple, well he was the unknown factor.
Regina was sure he would try to fight against the witch but Regina assumed if she had the Dark One, she had the dagger, and if the witch controlled the dagger, she controlled him.
Belle was convinced of thousand things, she thought she could free the Dark One with her true love kiss, break his curse and break him free from his captor but for now they couldn't even find him, let alone get close enough for him and Belle to lock lips. Regina wasn't even sure if this was the best plan, true he would be no danger to them but his power would be gone, power they might need to defeat this bitch.
Once again in the war chamber, she activated the crystal ball so they could check in with Philip, all was quiet there so she turned the ball's attention to the Dark Forest to track the soldiers progress, all was not well.
They looked on in horror as the situation Robin and his men had found themselves in was revealed, they were under attack by the winged creatures that Belle had described. Regina forced her power on the ball and with a sweep of her hand transferred it to one of the full length mirrors in the chamber, given them a widescreen view. The men were fighting bravely but they could already see they had taken losses and those damn creatures seemed incredibly hard to kill, multiple arrows or sword swipes were required to keep them down for good.
At the same time, Snow and David turned to look at her, a silent plea in both their eyes.
Sighing Regina pulled her magic to her once again and disappeared in her customary purple swirl.
Purposely arriving to the side of the battle, she took a moment to assess the best course of action, there were a couple of pockets of men fighting off to the sides in the trees but the majority of the action was going down in the clearing to the right of her. She had decided what to do, it was risky but mostly for her but if it worked as she hoped it would be the swiftest way to end this with no more human casualties. Summoning her power, she allowed her magic to build up, then she built it higher and higher still until her body hummed with it, she bent her body forward in one huge sweeping motion allowing all the magic to flow through in her hands in a giant wave, sweeping all the men back into the forest away from their tormentors and the same time, the tops of the trees around the clearing stretched and shot out dark snaking tendrils, a mockery of vines and branches which did not exist previously, bowing down towards the enemy entrapping them in place. The more the flying creatures, struggled and tried to fly away, the more the vines held them in place. With one jerk of her hand, she made the smallest gesture, such a small movement but a though deadly one, the creatures fell down dead with their necks snapped. Turning her attention to the band's of two or three still battling in the trees, she sent fireballs directly into the monkeys furthest away which left two to her left, the closest one she gifted a broken neck, leaving one more, this one she wanted alive, challenging her magic again she sent a sleeping spell its way, then quickly poofed the soldiers sword away when he went to finish the job. The surprise on the soldiers face brought a smirk to her lips, "a war prisoner" she called to him.
In all it had taken less than a minute to win this battle and she felt pretty damn pleased with herself. Clearly the men emerging from the forest felt the same as they greeted her enthusiastically, a few cheers rose and a smattering of claps for her as the men gathered themselves.
Taking stock of the situation, it was decided to retreat to the dark castle for the night, to take care of the wounded and secure their prisoner in the dungeons, she reluctantly agreed to place a protection spell around the castle. Speaking through Rumple's full length mirror she informed the Charming's of the situation who agreed to send horses and wagons first light to return the wounded to the castle.
Feeling like her part was now played, she started to make her way towards one of the guest rooms, fully intending to use the last of her nearly exhausted magic for herself to draw a nice bath and possibly a coffee, when Little John apprehended her.
"Robin requests your presence if it pleases you your majesty" he lumbed.
"How nice for him" she snarled at the overgrown more hair than man in front of her, "unfortunately I have other plans".
"Yes, he thought you might say that but told me to let you know that he promises you will find this worthy of your attention, he finds himself in a bit of a delicate situation" little John replied not fazed by her bad temper.
"I have no intention of going to him unless you tell me right now why he dares to summon me" Regina said "He has an arrow in his ass your majesty" was the reply.
Yep Robin was right, this was far too good an opportunity to miss, not even bothering to hide her smile she told Little John to lead the way.
Standing in the doorway she viewed his predicament with great glee.
Spotting her at the door and glaring at the look on her face "Ahh Regina a little assistance would be greatly appreciated" he asked face set in a grimace.
"Oh Robin does it hurt so very much" she asked him her tone light and sweet.
"Yes" he groaned.
"I believe what you are experiencing right now is karma at work, being a pain the ass, now having a pain the ass, I am not sure if I should intervene with such forces" she mocked.
"Indeed milady perhaps we can strike a deal, help me out and you can continue your mocking, I am in a fair amount of pain here" he suggested.
"Yes dear" she replied "that's the point and I believe the other point is right there" she chuckled.
"What will it take?" He asked in frustration.
"Hmmm such an opportunity, I may have to sleep on it, I"ll let you know my price in the morning" she said turning on her heel and hiding her smile.
"Regina, please I beg of you"
"Now that's more like it, a beg and a promise" leaning forward she waved her magic over the arrow grinning widely at his expression of relief, turning away while he righted his clothing, she jumped slightly to find him right behind her, "Thank you Regina, I am in your debt, I'm also hungry and in need of a drink, come on" he said, placing his hand on the small of her back he guided from the room.
She allowed herself to be led from the room, food and a drink did sound good and so did the chance to rib him some more.
They entered the great hall to shouts and friendly taunts, clearly Robin's little problem was no secret and she found herself enjoying the friendly banter, "come on now let the man sit down or then again maybe not" she called to the room. As the laughter started around again, one of Robin's men pressed a drink into her hand and they settled on the end of the banqueting table which had been laid with modest fare, waving her hand over the table she multiplied the quantity and quality of the food, a cheer went up, the fire was lit and someone began to play the lyre.
It was nice and despite herself she found herself enjoying listening to the easy banter of the men and their tales of past misdeeds, there was a awkward silence at one point when it was apparent she and some of the soldiers sat around the table at been at the other end of the joke in one story but her laughter had swept away the silence and the stories had continued.
Growing wearily she was aware that she practically leaning on Robin, his hand at some point had come to rest on the small of her back and as she sat there in the warmth of the room she found she really didn't care, it was just so nice and comforting however that did not mean she wanted to fall asleep at the the table. She stood to excuse herself, shocked when the men rose to their feet also, this was expected of knights but the merry men showing respect, stunned and pleased her. Wishing them good night she made her way back to her chosen bedchamber. Robin called after her, turning around she watched as he caught up to her in corridor, holding a fire torch in his hand, I'll light the way he told her.
"I am more than capable of lighting my own way" she reminded him producing her ever ready fireball in hand. "Yes I'm sure" he chuckled but "I do insist milady".
Reaching her door, he opened it for her and stood back allowing her to sweep past him, he followed her into the room, lighting the candles and sweeping his torch into the corners of the room, "checking for monsters" he informed her.
"You haven't checked under the bed" she teased smirking as he made a grand show of sweeping back the bed linen and waving the torch into the dark space"
"Does my milady need tucking in?" he asked "In your dreams thief" she replied He opened his mouth to reply and then stopped himself, she would bet she could guess the direction of his thoughts, a uncomfortable silence cloaked the room, the friendly, some what flirty banter gone.
What the hell was she thinking, she chided herself, how had she allowed this to happen, she spent a great deal of effort purposely avoiding him after their last "alone" time and then spent the evening probably giving out mixed signals.
"Regina" Robin spoke softly "thank you, thank you for coming to our aid today, you saved a great many lives and quite literally my ass." He paused, took a small breath, looking into her eyes, he continued "I enjoyed this evening and I think you did to, I know we have imposed on your hospitality, making ourselves at home in your castle, a flaw with the men I'm afraid, we tend to take over. I also know you have been avoiding me in particular and the reason why, although I cannot regret that night, I do regret the outcome, I meant what I said in your carriage Regina, I would like to know you better" learning forward he pressed a kiss to her cheek and stole out of the room before she could say another word.