"I had no idea," Henry whispers, once he's sure Narissa is done. He watches as she wipes her tears.
"Of course not," Narissa says, sitting up straight and attempting to regain control of her ragged breathing and erratic heartbeat. She had not talked about this in a very long time.
"I mean, it wasn't even in the storybook," he explains, looking around for it. "Why wasn't it in there?"
"I'm sure it wasn't considered important enough," Narissa says with a scoff. "We were the southernmost point in the Enchanted Forest. Nearly an island all our own. I'm sure no one thought anything of it."
"Your storybook is also not the most reliable source of information," Regina reasons, also trying to recover after listening to her oldest friend's story.
Henry nods, accepting that information. "So, you weren't supposed to be queen?"
Narissa shakes her head, "That was never in the cards. It was my sister who was to be the new queen."
"No one ever spoke of her," Regina points out. She had never heard about this other queen from Andalasia.
"She was only queen for a year," Narissa explains. "And you would have been only a child." She shakes her head, "I hardly think your mother would have thought it pertinent to learn of the short-term, unroyal queen of a southern kingdom."
Regina scoffs, "I swear I learned them all." She shrugs, maybe Narissa was right. Maybe she never had the chance to learn of this quiet queen. "But I only learned of you and King Charles."
Narissa shrugs, wanting to forget the topic all together. She sighs. These memories were hard. She didn't like to think about her Dovie. She didn't like to think about her time before being queen. It was too hard, there were too many memories that hurt.
"Do you know why your memories are gone yet?" Henry asks, hoping this Narissa - the one with almost all her memories - would know more.
She shakes her head solemnly, "No, but I can hazard a guess."
Henry sits straighter. This has been bothering him from the moment he met the young-looking queen. Why were her memories gone? Did someone take them? Who would do that? He had so many more questions for his friend, but those were a good start.
"For the Fae, one's identity is the most powerful thing. Stronger than any magic one could possess. Therefore, that identity is protected at all costs." She pauses.
Henry can't take the suspense, "Sooooooooooo," he drags out the word, trying to figure out what his friend is saying, "You're saying that we know something really important about you?"
Narissa shakes her head, "Well, technically my given name, the name that draws my strength, isn't Narissa."
"What is it?" Henry asks, not thinking through his question. Narissa gives him a look, causing him to blush and look down, "Right. It's too powerful; if someone knows it, it could be dangerous for you."
A soft smile takes over Narissa's face, appreciating the curiosity of a young child once again. She hadn't felt that way in many years. "No one knows my true identity." Her eyes mist over, "not anymore."
"Charles knew?" Henry asks softly.
Narissa nods, "He was there when I remembered."
Henry's confused, "I don't understand."
Narissa takes a deep breath, "Narissa is merely my name this time around. When my given identity was threatened, the Fae Council took my memories and placed me somewhere they thought I would be safe. In the kingdom where no fairies could find me, in the only kingdom in the whole Forest that did not allow magical beings. I was to grow up a normal girl in a normal family. I didn't remember my Fae life until after I became queen."
"So you think the Fae Council took your memories again?" Henry asks, still confused.
"Taking my memories is like a failsafe," she explains, "It's a way to make sure I am protected. Although, I don't believe this was the Fae Council that did this. If they had, I would have been given a new identity; I would have been de-aged. I would have been placed far away from where I was. No, this seems deliberate. I was brought here, to Storybrooke, for a reason. I just don't know what that reason is yet." She pauses, looking down at her hands, "But it's the only magic I know of that is strong enough to transport through realms."
Henry scoffs, "There are TONS of ways to transport realms these days."
Regina can't help the smirk that takes over her face. She turns to her friend and offers half a shrug, "We seem to find new ways to travel realms all the time."
"And yet it took the curse to end all curses the first time," Narissa snarks.
"That was to destroy everyone's happiness," Regina responds indignantly.
Henry jumps in, ignoring them both, "Now we have magic beans, the Apprentice's wand, cyclones, and mermaid magic," he explains excitedly.
"Mermaid magic?" Narissa asks, as if she was mulling the words around inside her skull.
"Yeah, mermaids can travel across the realms," he answers.
"Of course!" She shouts, with a flick of her wrists, the three disappear in a puff of smoke.
They reappear at the shoreline, near the docks. Henry reaches out a hand, grabbing his mother's forearm so he doesn't fall. Regina quickly grabs onto him and holds him steady.
"I don't like that," he grumbles, looking a little green.
"Gods," Narissa says, stepping up next to them. "I forgot you're new to this. Here, let me," she says. She steps forward and places a hand against his jawline, allowing her fingertips to pause at his pulsepoint. She gently releases a bit of magic into him and just as quickly, she moves away; shifting her gaze toward the shore.
Henry immediately stands upright, releasing his deathlike grip on his mother. "What was that?" he asks, rubbing a hand along his neck.
"Magical sedative," Regina assumes.
"Not quite," Narissa responds, moving across the rocks with the grace of a queen. "More like an anti mal de mer," she explains as she stands ankle-deep in the freezing water.
Henry gives a quizzical look aimed at his mother.
"Mal de mer is like motion sickness dear," she explains.
"So she gave me a magical version of an anti-nausea pill?"
"I suppose that would be one way to describe it. Although it's much more powerful than that."
"Neat," Henry says, already turning his attention back to the queen on the rocks. "Narissa?" he calls, hoping to gain her attention.
"Just one moment," she calls, keeping her eyes focused on the water. She holds out her hands and the water rises, as if creating a wave directly into her hands. A small cyclone swirls itself out of the water until it places something in her hands.
"What is that?" Henry whispers, trying to see it from his spot on dry land. His mother doesn't answer, but she looks just as perplexed.
Narissa turns toward them with a vacant look on her face. "It's not working," she whispers, eyes never leaving whatever was in her hands.
Henry can't take it anymore. He starts moving toward the slippery rocks to see what she was holding.
"Henry," Regina warns.
Narissa looks up and attempts a smile. She fails. "It's supposed to work."
"What is?" Henry asks softly.
"This mirror. It's made from the same magic that created the conch shells the mermaids use to communicate. This should show my kingdom, my Edward, but there's nothing. Just an empty mirror."
"I'm so sorry," Henry whispers, watching the renown queen nearly fall apart.
Narissa straightens her spine and forces the tears away, "No need to be sorry, Young Prince. There's obviously something more powerful occurring around us."
"Your Majesty," a voice whispers from behind them.
They turn to see a mermaid, holding herself up on the outermost rocks. "Maira," Narissa breathes.
"It's not safe for you to call upon such magic now, Your Grace."
"I'm afraid I have no idea of which you speak," Narissa explains, stepping toward the mermaid.
The mermaid sighs, "Of course, your memories," she says more to herself. "You must hide your magic. Some may seek to destroy with it."
"Explain," Narissa commands.
Maira shakes her head, "I cannot, Your Excellency. I can tell you your family is safe. But that is all. Now, you must go, hide away your powers."
"Maira," Narissa warns.
The mermaid releases the rock she was holding tight to. "My deepest apologies, my Queen. I must take my leave. We are to protect the kingdom at all costs."
"You are to do what I say," Narissa exclaims, affronted.
"This is what you commanded," the mermaid explains, afraid of the queen's wrath.
"I do not understand," Narissa whispers, tears thick in her voice.
"I am terribly sorry," Maira says with another shake of her head. And with that, she disappears, beneath the water once more.
It's as if the world stood still. No one spoke. No one moved. They all just stood still, staring at the point where the mermaid had vanished into the murky water. Eventually, it's Narissa that moves first. She sighs and pinches at the bridge of her nose. "I wish to forget again," she murmurs to herself.
Henry and Regina hear her, but choose to ignore it. It's not like it's something she can control anyways.
"May we return to your home?" she asks, finally turning her attention to Regina. "I think I am in need of a long rest."
Regina nods, unsure what else to do. With the smallest flick of her wrist, Narissa transports them all back to the mansion, none of them noticing the dark figure hiding in the shadows near the docks.
*E*E*E*E*E*
When Rissa wakes, she feels exhausted. There's a restlessness within her and she doesn't understand. She makes her way to the kitchen where she finds Henry and Regina talking quietly. They both straighten their postures when they notice her. "What's going on?" she asks.
They share a quick look before Regina asks, "How are you feeling?"
"Tired," she answers, "Did something happen?"
Regina takes a deep breath before she answers, "You had a rough morning," she explains. When all she receives is a confused look from the young girl, she elaborates, "Your memories had returned and you told us about your past. We then tried contacting the other world, which didn't work; you were fairly upset when we returned. I'd imagine that's why you're feeling so tired."
Riss nods, accepting that answer, "So, we are no closer to finding out why I'm here and who took my memories?" Both brunettes shake their heads. "Fantastic," she mutters as she sits down in the chair beside Henry. "So, what did you learn about me? Anything interesting?"
"Of course it was interesting. Everyone's story is interesting," Henry says with a scoff.
She offers a sarcastic laugh, "I just wish I knew mine."
"We'll figure it out, Riss," he promises. She merely offers a nod and moves from the room. When he sees her flop onto the couch he turns to his mom and whispers, "How are we going to do that, Mom?"
"I don't know, Henry, but we'll figure this out."
"We need to get her home," he agrees.
Regina looks surprised, she wasn't expecting her son to want to lose his new friend.
"I don't think she should lose anybody else. We need to find Edward for her."
"Henry," she starts.
"I know, Mom. She's missing a lot of time from her memories. Maybe something terrible happened to him. But I don't think so. Either way, we have to find out for her; she deserves to know."
She nods, unsure of what else to say. She's worried for her friend. Obviously, something happened to her that caused her to lose her memories and show up in Storybrooke. She just hopes finding answers won't cause her friend to lose herself again.