Prompt: It comes from the latest interviews with Lana and Sean. Sean thinks it would be cool to be a bit dark like Regina and Rumple. Prompt is Robin gets a bit dark with Regina in danger, and Marian realizes that this is not the man she knew. Robin is more suited for Regina.
"What do you mean she is gone?" Robin gasped. He stared at David looking for an answer. Regina has apparently become missing.
"We went to her house to check on her like we always do, except she wasn't there. But instead of finding things left neatly, there looks to have been a struggle, magical and physical. There were things..." Robin didn't listen to anything more. He simple starting walking away from the camp leaving a stunned and confused Marian. Robin had hid nothing from Marian. She knew of his love for the former Evil Queen. But he promised her that he would do right by her. Help her in this world. Marian wanted Robin and her to have what they once did, when they were so in love. She got up and quickly followed Robin who was also being followed by David, Little John, Emma, and Hook.
Robin felt his chest ache. His heart was beating rapidly thinking of Regina in trouble. Of her hurt. It would be all his fault. He had been trying to figure this thing out with Marian that he had neglected to protect Regina. If someone had taken her, then they would face hell from him. He knew that Regina was use to being tortured in many ways, but with him there now, he was not going to let anyone harm her.
Robin quickly opened her front door and gasped at the scene around him. There was scorch marks on the walls, pictures and glass everywhere. Furniture over thrown. Whoever had taken her, could stand up against her. She could not get rid of them with her powers alone, she had tried to flee them. "Regina." Robin whispered painfully. He dropped to his knees as the group came behind him.
He felt his heart break at the scene in front of him. Regina was obviously scared to have tried to physically outrun who ever was chasing her. Robin felt fire burn through his veins. Anger and rage consumed him. Regina was gone and possibly for good, and he would take down who ever was responsible.
"Over here!" Robin glanced over to see Hook kneeling over some glass. Robin saw what he was talking about, it looked to be a candle holder, but the bottom was covered in something thick and sticky. Robin touched his fingers to it and pulled it away. His heart constricted in his chest. Blood. Someone had struck her.
"Someone struck her from behind, that is the only way they could get close enough." Robin sighed.
"So we are obviously dealing with possibly two people." Emma said making notes in her head. Marian was taking in the scene around her. She did not care for Regina, still harbored hurtful feelings. But she would never wish for any harm to come to her. She was a mother after all, and she knew too well what it was like to be snatched away from ones child.
"I am going to get my men and we are going to track her." Robin said standing up with full anger in his words. Knowing Regina was bleeding, even in the slightest, made his blood rage. David nodded and offered his help.
Hours later, Robin and his men along with Marian were scouting the woods. Marian was a rather good tracker. To Robin's surprise she offered her help.
"Over here!" Someone yelled. Robin ran over seeing a piece of cloth torn on a branch. He grabbed the material, recognizing the softness of it. Regina would own clothes that were this soft. From there he moved leaves aside and saw tracks. Foot prints. Somewhere heel marks, but they looked to be dragged a bit. Whoever took her, had dragged her.
"This way." Robin called following the tracks. Soon enough they came on a small shack hidden in the woods. Before Robin could barge his way in, David stopped him and motioned for everyone to take positions. Robin glanced over at Marian and he nodded for her to stay back. She knew this move all too well. Robin and his men would go storming in, and she would stay out until it was safe. Robin glared at the shack, having his bow ready. He prayed with everything in him that she would be safe. He muttered to his bow, almost reminding it to never miss it's mark. Robin was an expert marksman for a reason.
"Now!" David whispered. Robin flew at the front door and barged in. Seeing no one in the front room, he stopped along with everyone else and listened. They could hear murmurings in what sounded like below ground. Robin walked around slowly and felt with his feet for the door. Sure enough his foot caught the sound of the hallow door and yanked it up slowly and quietly. Robin pushed Emma out of the way gently.
"I am going first M'lady, you stay in the back behind the men." David nodded in agreement. Robin slowly descended the steps letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. Being a thief by trade gave him agility to move without a sound. Robin immediately saw Regina lifeless on the floor. And two men sitting on chairs near her and sharpening what looked to be knives. Robin's blood ran cold. Who were these men. If they had harmed Regina, he would not hesitate in ending their existence.
Robin was soon flanked by his men. Not seeing Marian had come too. Too nervous and eager to wait for the outcome.
"Get up, and slowly." Robin growled at the two men. The men jumped and turned quickly, one pointed what Robin had learned is called a gun at them while the other turned with knives ready to be thrown.
"Put the weapons down and walk back slowly." David growled. Robin sneaked a glance down at Regina who had not moved a muscle. Robin's heart was beating out of his chest. He begged for a sign from her, letting him know she was at least alive. Nothing.
"Don't worry, she's not dead, yet." One laughed darkly notting Robin's glances at Regina.
"What did you do to her!" Robin growled in anger.
"We gave her what she deserved!" The other of the two yelled. He flicked his wrist and pointed a knife at Regina. Robin let his arrow fly, pinning the man by the sleeve to the wall. Soon chaos emerged at shots were fired, but being completely out numbered the two men soon found they had no chance at winning. Robin advanced on the man stuck to the wall grabbing his knives next to Regina. He heard David and Emma carting the guy with the gun out.
Robin knelt down next to Regina and dropped his bow. "Regina." Robin gasped grabbing her gently and bringing her gently into his arms, where she belonged. Her head fell limply over his arm and he could see bloody gashes on her face. He let his hand run down over her body and felt for more injuries. She moaned in pain as he passed her ribs. Robin sighed in relief and held her close kissing her forehead. Marian stared on. Conflicted with emotions, glad that the queen was alive. But not enjoying seeing her husband handle her with love and care. There was one time he use to touch her like that.
Robin felt tears of relief fall down his cheeks. As he looked to his men to help him with her. Robin wanted nothing more than to hold her himself. But Robin had someone to deal with now. As little John stepped forward. Robin lifted Regina in his arms and transferred her gently to John. Regina moaned in pain then settled.
Robin rounded on the man on the wall and started railing on him. The man howled in pain and tried to clutch himself in so to avoid Robin's fists.
"ROBIN!" Marian screamed running over to stop him. Robin didn't hear her and simply kept beating the man. Robin grabbed the knife holding the man up and let the man fall. Marian grabbed Robin's arms in time to stop him from killing the man. "STOP!" Robin turned glaring at whoever stopped him from his revenge. Seeing it was Marian, Robin's eyes softened a bit and he gasped for breath. He stood panting at the man crumpled on the floor. Marian breathed a sigh of relief. Robin never took a life. He would never beat an unarmed man. Robin always let the men who challenged his life go. That's one of the reasons she fell in love with him. She argued it was because a woman was hurt. And Robin never stood for that.
Robin gently led Marian forward making his way over to John to retrieve Regina from him. In an instant. The man on the floor grabbed a knife from his boot and ran for Robin. John screamed at Robin to look out. Robin turned and ducked in time to miss the knife. Robin's choice of weapon might have been the bow. But Robin was a skilled swordsman and knife fighter. Robin ducked again and lunged forward sticking his knife into the man's gut as far as his hand would let him. The man gasped and became wide eyed. His eyes matching Marian's.
"You hurt her. You almost killed her. Now, I have ended you. You will burn in Hell for what you have done." Robin growled in rage. Twisting the knife and letting the man drop to the ground dead. Robin panted feeling no remorse for ending his life. He never took a life. But threatening the woman he loved. He had no rules for that.
Robin turned and walked past Marian's horrified look and took Regina gently into his arms. He kissed her gently on the forehead and made his way up the stairs. His men followed, save for Marian and John. Marian stared horrified at the lifeless man in front of her. She couldn't believe it, she couldn't believe that Robin had taken a life, willingly. She jumped as a hand touched her shoulder. John offering her comfort.
"How could he do that John? How could he just take a life. Robin never takes a life." Marian sobbed. Who was this man who was once her husband?
"Marian, after you died, Robin became a different man. He was still good and true. But losing you, he vowed revenge and justice. Something precious was taken from him. Regina, she is his soulmate. You know this. She is his life. Literally. They are connected. It's weird, but Regina is his life line. She was harmed, in mortal danger. Robin did not hesitate to protect her. At any cost." Marian sobbed at his words. Her husband was more of Regina's than hers. Regina had a larger claim over his heart then she realized. She knew about the soulmate ordeal. But not really believing it until now.
"Maybe my husband has change more than I hoped. Not all for the wrong, just different. He is made for her now. I can see it. She is in him as much as he is in her." Marian cried over the realization of loosing her husband. She could not fault him. After all, it had been 30 years for him. Months for her. But she could not compete with destiny. John gathered Marian under his arm and patted her back.
"Everything will work out, you will see." John lead Marian out of the shack. Marian leaned on John for support. And felt comforted at his arms around her.