Ok, so a few notices.
Firstly; I was honestly so overwhelmed with the response I got from the last couple of chapters. So I want to thank every single person who has reviewed, or has just dropped me a message (or even asked a question because I love answering questions :D) because you are all awesome and I love you so very much.
Secondly; an even bigger thanks to Mickaela, Isabela and Sammy, the latter of which had no clue as to what was coming up in the chapter so it was a big shock when she beta'd it for me.
Thirdly; As I mentioned I got lots of treasured feedback from the last couple of chapters explaining how people love the smut and Robin and Regina are so amazing and people tend to chuckle at some parts in which I aim to be humorous. And I sincerely apologise because this chapter is where the plot stuff comes in (because just smut – whilst pleasant – does not make a very interesting story), and it's kind of painful. But rest assured it will get better and I'm sincerely trying to make sure the next chapter will not take too long because I'm not evil enough to make you wait a fortnight :)
Lastly; this chapter has a little Elvish in it (I know it's not a real language but I stumbled across some elvish spells and I could not resist), so the spells are sort of explained in the chapter but there's also a translation at the end if you need it.
So thank you so very much, and I know I say this every chapter, but please review? It makes all the frustration and sitting staring at a screen and trying not to punch it all the more worthy.
xXx
Regina awoke in her own bed, rays of sunlight warming her face. She had magically transported herself into the room in the early hours of the morning when Robin had—finally—worn them both out, and she had climbed straight into bed.
Unable to stop the satisfied smile that was slowly spreading over her face, Regina turned onto her back, outstretching her arms and arching her back in a much needed stretch to awaken her pleasantly aching muscles.
Walking over to her wardrobe, Regina passed a hand over all the extravagant dresses that hung there, trailing over the soft fabric until she reached her collection of bodices and long coats. She knew the thief liked her regal outfits; he didn't exactly hide it, what with his eyes raking over her from head to toe when he thought she wasn't looking. Even before they had started their "distracting" arrangement, she would catch the thief stealing glances at the low neckline of her dresses, or looking her up and down—lingering on her rear—when she wore her flattering, velvet gowns. But the outlaw practically salivated at her tight corsets and tighter trousers, and Regina had made it her mission to, as often as possible, send him into a frustrated mess with sultry glances and strategic hip-swaying and arm-crossing to enhance her assets.
And now, she could tease him all she liked, knowing she would enjoy whatever retaliation he could come up with.
After pulling a long, navy coat with gold stitching, a black, V neck over-bust corset and low-rise leather trousers out from her closet, Regina put all the clothes over her arm and smiled as she walked over to her washroom, preparing her plans for the day ahead.
The outlaw had no idea what he had gotten himself into.
…
The unsuspecting outlaw made his way down the stone spiral staircase towards the general council chamber, his thoughts occupied by the Queen—a fact that was no longer a surprise to Robin; she had been the only person to inhabit his mind as of late.
He turned a corner and saw her—form fitting clothes temporarily halting his heart, breathing and walking pace until he swiftly recovered and continued on as if nothing had happened.
Robin couldn't stop a grin from appearing on his face, and when Regina noticed him and the same smile graced her lips, his grin grew even wider.
He made his way toward her, and if his feet moved more quickly than they had earlier, it wasn't a conscious decision. But before he could pull her into his arms, she held out a single finger—on the hand not holding books to her chest—as an order to wait. "Before you start anything, I am on my way to a meeting," said Regina.
"As it happens, so am I," Robin said as he brought his hand up to wrap around hers, and pulling it towards his chest. "How about that?"
Regina smiled in reply, letting her eyes roam his handsome features before admiring his physique. She could still remember him without the forest-green clothing and she bit her lip when flashbacks took hold.
When her eyes returned to his, the thief was looking at her with a knowing smirk on his lips and Regina couldn't stop a blush from reaching her cheeks.
"So, I wonder who's going to be sitting beside you," teased Robin, raking his eyes over her figure and grinning at her outfit. He loved the ensemble, and navy looked good on her. It was exactly what he had wanted for the next meeting they would attend together; easy access.
Regina read his intentions clearly, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "Last night wasn't enough for you?"
"Not nearly," he growled, stepping forward and taking the three books that were tucked into her elbow and dropping them to the floor. The thief tugged the Queen closer and laughed at her expression of slight frustration.
Regina looked from Robin to the books and then back again. "Those books are important."
"They'll be fine," he dismissed with a chuckle. "This is far more important, anyway."
"Oh, is it now?" Regina asked, her stern tone somewhat compromised by her smile and the light in her eyes.
Robin hummed in agreement; his stunning, blue eyes met her expressive, brown ones.
For a few short moments they stared at each other, until Regina bit her lip with a chuckle and leaned forward to kiss the outlaw.
It wasn't long before Regina pulled away. She patted Robin's chest to remind him—and herself—that they had a meeting to get to. Robin groaned and dropped his head onto her shoulder, before tilting his neck so he could plant a row of kisses up her neck. The outlaw chose to ignore Regina's protests.
"Robin, as much as I would love to stay here and do this with you—" She was interrupted by her own gasp as the outlaw bit at the soft skin of her neck, "We really need to get going; this meeting is actually—ah—fairly important."
"Just a few minutes," he mumbled as he took the lobe of Regina's ear between his teeth and tugged on it.
Regina gasped again as her hand came up to grasp at the loose sleeves of his shirt. She tried to turn her head to capture the outlaw's lips with her own, but he raised a hand to her chin and turned her jaw away from him, mouthing at the exposed, taut skin.
"You know," Regina started, "this should be some sort of rule, too."
Robin hummed into her neck in question, his hands trailing down to grab her ass and mould her body into his.
"No sex in corridors," Regina stated as she unconsciously ground her hips forward.
"This isn't sex," Robin pointed out, dipping his tongue into the hollow of her clavicle.
"It will be soon, if you keep that up," Regina moaned.
There was a reason why she couldn't take the thief into the nearest bedroom and repeat last night's activities; Regina was sure there was. But Robin left a trail of open mouthed kisses along her chest and all reasoning escaped her.
"I can't concentrate, Robin."
"Maybe that's the idea," he drawled as his grip tightened on her rear.
"You're an ass," scoffed Regina.
"You love my ass," Robin retorted, "I have the nail marks to prove it."
Regina chuckled and finally worked up enough willpower to push the outlaw away. "Perhaps I'll add some more," she said suggestively, "after the meeting."
"Is that a promise?" Robin asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yes," Regina whispered with a wink. "Well, that's assuming that the meeting goes as planned,"
"Well, " Robin began, momentarily losing track of his sentence as Regina bent to pick up her books from the floor. "What's the worst that could happen?"
…
"We're concerned," Snow started, "We haven't heard from Zelena in a while."
Robin nodded in understanding, "You're worried she's planning something?"
"Yes," agreed the princess.
"So, Regina?" Charming asked as he turned in his seat to face her. "Do you have anything that could help if she tries anything?"
Regina didn't get past the word "there" before she was interrupted.
"Seriously? We're asking her for help?" shouted the angry voice of a dwarf.
At fives glares sent his way, Grumpy sank back in his seat with a huff.
"There are a few possibilities," Regina said, sending another swift glare at the dwarf. "First, there is a pendant, which would let one control Zelena's simian army. It would stop any more attacks and prevent any more deaths—on their behalf anyway."
From the tone of Regina's voice, Snow knew that there was a drawback to this idea. "But?"
"But," Regina took a breath, "the wearer of the pendent would turn into one of Zelena's flying monkeys. Permanently."
"So that's a 'no'," Snow mumbled.
Regina inclined her head. "Unless we can find someone willing to—"
"No offense, sister, but who the hell is going to want to turn into a zoo exhibit?" Grumpy asked, crossing his arms and leaning forward onto the table.
"I could volunteer you, if you're going to keep interrupting me all the time," Regina snapped.
"Guys, please," Charming said, a palm out to both of them in an attempt to quell the battle of wits before it became severe. "You said there were several options, Regina; what's the next one?"
Regina placed her hand on the thinner of the three books she had brought in, her long nails tapping on the black cover. "Zelena and I are sisters—"
Grumpy scoffed. "No shit."
Regina glared at him. With a roll of her eyes, she continued, "There is an incantation which could link us. Physically and emotionally. Everything she'd feel, I would feel. Everything I'd feel, she would." Regina's gaze turned down to her book and her voice turned serious, "If she destroyed me, she'd be destroying herself."
"But that would work both ways," Snow quietly pointed out.
Regina slowly nodded, and then heard a protest of "no" from either side of her.
She looked to Snow, then Robin, and then Snow again. "Look, if it means that—"
"It's not happening," Snow declared.
"Well, I'm not that adverse to the idea," Grumpy contributed unhelpfully.
Robin's fists clenched and he sent a deathly glare in Grumpy's direction. Frightened, the dwarf muttered a sheepish "joking"—adding "ish" under his breath to save face.
"What's the third idea?" Charming asked.
Regina sighed, "I still think the second could—"
"That," Robin firmly stated, "is not an option."
Regina turned to look at him and couldn't stop herself from feeling irritated at the way he made decisions on her behalf. "I don't really see how you have any right to tell me what I can and cannot do; this is my life, thief. I can do what I want with it."
"What's the third option?" Robin inquired, not breaking his gaze from hers.
Regina rolled her eyes, "Robin—"
"Third option, your majesty; what is it?" Robin practically demanded. His stern voice quelling Regina's retorts until she was positively fuming at the man, a scowl on her face, nostrils flaring and her hands clenching in her long navy coat.
Turning her glare to the wall opposite her, Regina took a deep breath and waited until she was calm enough to continue.
Still trying to push down the urge to throttle the thief beside her, Regina pulled a heavy, leather covered journal toward her and opened it halfway before flicking backwards a few pages.
"There's mention of a mythical being," she began, "A creature more powerful than an army, that is incapable of being stopped once their sights are set on something."
"What's it called?" Ruby asked.
"The Jabberwocky," answered Regina.
The people at the table looked at each other for a while, trying to recall any mention of the creature they had heard. No one could come up with anything.
"I'm sensing this one isn't exactly a basket of sunshine, either," Granny predicted.
"No, it's not," Regina admitted. "This…creature—if we even find it—is difficult to control." Regina looked back down at the book, tracing her finger over text Robin hadn't understood when he had glanced over at it. "Legend states the 'vorpal blade' is the only means of controlling her."
"'Her'?" Grumpy asked, his gruff voice full of scepticism.
Regina looked back up at the dwarf and snapped at the look of disbelief on his face. "Yes, you misogynistic ass; women are capable of being legendary weapons of mass destruction."
"Well yes, we learned that from you, your majesty," Grumpy retorted, proud when he saw the Queen's temper flare.
If Robin hadn't put a hand on her thigh, Regina would have probably stood and roasted Grumpy's snarky ass. But as it was, Robin knew the dwarf was just riling her up and decided to try and subdue the Queen's impulses before she retaliated in kind. It seemed to work, if only a minute amount.
"Tell us more about this Jabberwocky," Robin suggested.
Regina inhaled, exhaled, and then inhaled again before responding. "The Jabberwocky is said to be in Wonderland, which is…difficult to get to and even more difficult to navigate."
"Have you been there before?" Robin asked.
"A few times," Regina responded, before quietly adding; "A long time ago."
"What for?" Ruby asked, her head tilting to the side as her brows drew together.
"It doesn't matter," snapped Regina defensively, "I don't even know who's ruling there now."
"Well, who was ruling the last time you went?" Granny inquired.
Regina's back stiffened, "The Queen of Hearts. She's no longer there."
"Are you certain?" Robin asked from beside her.
"Yes," she sniped, sending a glare at Snow before her features softened and she started musing aloud. "The Red Queen's reign had just started when I first went, but that was a while ago; only a year or so after I married the King."
An expression crossed Snow's face, a mixture between confusion and offense. "You went to Wonderland so soon after marrying my father?"
"I went many places, Snow," Regina sneered. "It's not as if either of you were around to miss me."
"That's not fair," Snow indignantly exclaimed.
"No, it wasn't," Regina replied, her harsh voice suddenly turning quiet and honest mid-sentence.
Snow withdrew into her seat, looking at the woman that was meant to be her step-mother with a sorrowful gaze.
Before she could offer anything in the way of an apology, Charming spoke up, aiming to ease some of the tension befalling the room. "Regina. How did you get to Wonderland before?"
Regina's eyes flashed, her long and complicated history with Jefferson running through her mind. "It doesn't matter. I kind of… burned my bridges there."
"Surprise, surprise," Grumpy muttered.
The Queen felt somewhat proud of herself when she let that comment slide by, although the fantasy of tying him to his chair and setting it on fire soothed her temper somewhat.
"So… how could we get there?" Red asked, placing her hands on the table and looking between Snow and Regina.
"I don't know," Regina said. "It's not easy to travel between realms; Jefferson is the only person I know of who possesses a portal jumping hat, and portals themselves are incredibly difficult to come by, as we all know."
"So, can we ask Jefferson?" Snow asked.
Regina shook her head, "He's… not going to help us."
"Not going to help us? Or not going to help you?" Granny asked, folding her arms and glaring over the rim of her glasses.
There was a moment of silence before Regina answered, "I doubt he'll help anyone anymore."
"So we'll just…find another way," Charming decreed.
Regina opened her mouth to argue that you couldn't just find a way to another realm, but Robin leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "Leave it, we can sort the rest out some other day."
Turning to look at the thief, somewhat annoyed that he still seemed to think that he could make decisions for her, Regina was surprised to see his earnest expression.
"If you carry on," Robin quietly continued, "They're going to say something stupid, and you're going to kill them."
With a sigh, Regina sat back in her seat and resigned herself to watching the meeting proceed, making comments occasionally but not rising to any bait from the dwarf or the widow, and ignoring all ideas from the Charmings that displayed their lack of intelligence on the topic of magic—which was fairly frequently, as they knew nothing of the subject.
Regina was comforted by the hand Robin had placed on her leg, his thumb tracing small patterns over her kneecap whenever he felt her temper flare.
It was a good quarter of an hour before their discussion drew to a close, and the group made to separate and carry on with the day.
"Wait," Snow called out, halting everyone's movements. Grumpy was half out of his chair, Ruby was in the process of fastening her cloak and Robin was slowly sliding his hand back onto his lap.
As they returned to where they were, Snow went into a small bag she had placed at her side at the beginning of the meeting, pulling out an emerald pendant and laying it on the table in front of her.
"Regina, is this yours?" she asked.
Regina looked down at the pendant, trying to recall having possessed it. An oval cut emerald, half the size of her palm, was embedded in a ring of gold etched with a crosshatch pattern. The gold curb chain the jewel hung from was as thick around as her little finger, and just from looking at it, it was easy to see this was a very heavy accessory.
Despite its beauty and obvious steep value, Regina had never seen the pendant before and told Snow as much. Granny pulled the necklace over to her, mumbling something about how many mythical beings she'd fight to own something like it. Regina felt an unusual tug on her magic, and when she looked directly at the green jewel the tug grew stronger, uncomfortable.
"It's Zelena's."
The table went quiet at the Queen's declaration, all heads turning to stare at her. Regina stood and reached out for the necklace, wondering what Zelena had done to it to make it react to her magic as it had. When her fingers brushed the chain—for a split second, before Granny moved it out of her reach—Regina got her answer.
"What is it?" Charming asked, his hand resting over his wife's on the table.
"It's a pendant," Regina started, before she could elaborate, Grumpy interrupted her.
"Is it going to kill us?"
"No. No one is dying," Regina answered, sending a glare to Grumpy and adding "unfortunately".
Ruby sat back in her seat, leaning toward her grandmother slightly. "So it's not dangerous?"
"I never said that."
"What's it for?" Regina heard Robin ask.
"It's enchanted, to act as a messaging service of sorts. Like a magic voicemail."
Grumpy looked at the pendant as if it was going to sprout a head, warily asking, "How do we listen to it?"
"You hold it," said Regina simply.
"But I've held it," Snow pointed out. "I didn't hear anything."
Granny gruffly added, "Nor me."
"That's because the message wasn't intended for you," Regina held her hand out, palm up, silently demanding the necklace be handed over to her.
Reluctantly, Granny let her have the pendant. The group watched as Regina stood straight, holding the hand clasping the pendant over her stomach, her left hand resting on the table.
The first thing Regina heard was Zelena's overly saccharine voice. "Hello, sis. Long time, no see. I've missed you. Let's meet up for a chat, say midnight tonight, at the Broomfield Tree?"
Regina frowned, her eyes suspiciously narrowing at her sister's request, before Zelena's disembodied voice began again. "Now, I know what you're going to say; 'why would I want to do that, Zelena?' Well, what have you got to lose?"
The grip Regina had on the pendent increased. "See I've been doing a little digging. And you've already lost an awful lot; your childhood best friend, your true love, your father, our mother and, of course, your precious son. Oh, and you lost yourself. To the darkness, and the pain, and the suffering.
"Because that's what happens. That's what always happens. Because that's just who you are, Regina. And that's who you'll always be; the Evil Queen. You may try to be good, you may try to do the right thing, but in the end… what use is it? What has it got you? Nothing."
Regina drew her lips into a tight line, attempting to keep her emotions at bay and not showing any sign of weakness in front of the group staring at her. It would not do to have them know the effect Zelena's words had on her.
"And yet… what has it cost you, Regina?" Zelena's answer to her own question was spoken as if directly into Regina's ear. A mocking whisper of "everything" that made Regina visibly flinch as her eyes gathered moisture as "everything" ran through her mind.
"Although," Zelena started, her voice full of mock respect. "I must admit, for a woman who has killed and destroyed and ruined lives… look around you! You still have people who care about you."
"Which means," Zelena's tone changed from cheery into harsh after a short cackle, "you still have people who can get hurt because of you. I wonder how long it will take for your toxic love to destroy them. It doesn't usually take long does it? What do you think, sis?"
Regina blinked and a traitorous tear made its way down her cheek before she could stop it.
Zelena's inhale was loud enough to hear and Regina gripped the pendant tighter, "Now then, if you want to keep these people safe…well, you know how sacrifice works, right?"
Regina heard a chuckle in her ear and turned her head away, despite knowing it wouldn't help; Zelena had set up the message to make her physically uncomfortable, as well as emotionally. And it was working; she was Cora's daughter through and through.
Snow and Charming looked between them, torn between the need to explore their link with Zelena and to stop Regina's suffering. Robin wasn't faring any better; one more tear falling from the eyes of his Queen and he would rip the necklace out of her hand and do everything in his power to destroy it. The sight of Regina in pain made his heart ache, and if her free hand hadn't been gripping the table, he would have taken it into his own in offer of whatever comfort he could muster.
But it wouldn't have helped; Zelena knew Regina. And from the content of her taunting, she knew her weaknesses, her fears, her deepest thoughts. And as Cora had taught her; once you knew someone, it was a hell of a lot easier to destroy them. A lesson Zelena was reiterating.
"Oh, I'm not asking you to sacrifice your life." Zelena added. "Just a bit of your time. Surely you can fit me in between boring meetings and exciting dalliances."
The threat was as clear as day; Zelena would hurt those she cared about, unless she acquiesced to her sister's demands. It seemed as if she had a midnight walk planned tonight after all.
Zelena's threatening voice filtered its way into Regina's mind again, "And if you don't? Well…"
Regina's world went dark, faces fading away as her surroundings changed, the bright chamber replaced with a dark, empty jail cell. The recognisable stench of dungeons invaded her senses, and the gloomy atmosphere that came with a place known for death surrounded her. If Regina couldn't still feel the table under her hand, she would have believed she was really there.
In the blink of an eye the scene changed; she was still in the dungeon, but she was not alone.
To her left, Snow and Charming were lying on the floor, bloodied and still as their hands slowly reached out to each other before they took their last breath. Their fingers touched, and then their life faded away, leaving dull eyes open and staring.
To her right, Roland was sobbing over his father's lifeless body, his hands clutching at his papa's scarf and shouting at him to wake up; but his words were simply not enough to reverse the poison's effect. The doors flung open and Zelena walked in, a wicked smile on her face aimed directly at Regina, before a mere flick of her wrist made the young boy's neck twist with a snap and he collapsed forward.
The four people in the castle that Regina cared for… dead.
And she could do nothing but stand and watch it.
As the view of council chamber returned with Zelena cackling in her ear, Regina's legs gave way and she fell into the chair behind her, gasping as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. Nevertheless, she tried to keep her guard up, regardless of the emotional torment Zelena was putting her through; she had to keep some semblance of control in front of the others.
Because that would not happen. That would never happen. It just couldn't.
"The choice is clear Regina; face me or pay the consequences. Can you poor heart bear the loss of yet another loved one?" Regina choked back a small sob before Zelena added a quick "See you soon, sis."
Regina's hand suddenly dropped the pendant and it fell with a clatter onto dark wood, four crescent shape indents on the heel of her palm where her nails had dug into her skin. The green jewel had disappeared and there were only wisps of green smoke and a burn pattern on Regina's palm to show any trace of it ever actually having been there.
"Regina?" Snow asked, her hand on the table, outstretching toward the Queen.
The Queen's thoughts were too scattered to even think about forming a reply just yet.
She was to go and meet her sister—her half-sister. The very one who had outwardly admitted that she wanted to take everything away from her, destroying her in the process. It was very likely that she'd be walking right into a very dangerous witch fight.
Yet if she didn't go, the people she cared about would die. And Regina knew that Zelena would follow through on her threat. It wasn't too long ago that Regina would have done the exact same thing herself.
But that was her past, and she had made a vow to her son—and to herself—to be a better person. And Regina absolutely refused to let anyone else get hurt because of her.
She'd die first.
Snow's soft voice reached her ears again. "Regina, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she lied, swallowing the lump in her throat and trying to wipe away the tears that had betrayed her and had trailed from her eyes.
Looking around there was a multitude of expressions aimed her way; Grumpy's unimpressed scowl, Red's wary head tilt, Granny's mouth set in a grim line, Charming's concerned frown, Snow's eyes shining with tears, and Robin…
Robin was looking at her as if it had been him being taunted with death threats, as if it was he who may be walking to his end that very night. Pain was etched into his features, like his emotions echoed hers. And Regina's heart hurt even more.
"Regina," Charming called sternly to snap her gaze away from Robin's, then his voice turned soothing and gentle when he asked, "What did she say?"
She couldn't tell them. Snow, Charming, the others; they'd want to help. They'd want to go with her and try to protect her. But if Zelena wanted to use them against her, they weren't going within twenty feet of this Wicked Witch.
"It was just a warning," Regina replied, it wasn't that far from the truth, she supposed.
"Looked a bit more than 'just a warning' to me," Granny observed, her words somewhat softer than the usually harsh tone that she used when talking to the Queen.
Regina inhaled through her nose, holding the breath for a short while before releasing it. "It was just… her plans."
"Which were?" Charming asked.
"It doesn't matter; it's not going to happen," Regina declared.
Snow—being the curious person that she was—wanted to ask for more details, "Regina—"
"It's not going to happen," she repeated, her determination evident in every single word.
"So," Charming started, "what's our plan?"
Regina cleared her throat. "What plan?"
"Our plan to kill this bitch," Grumpy answered.
Snow turned to the dwarf with a look of outrage, "Grumpy!" she exclaimed.
Regina paid no heed to Snow's disapproval of her friend's enthusiasm to destroy Zelena—in fact, she was terribly tempted to let the dwarf go and find her himself.
Quickly running through options in her head, she declared, "I'm going to spend some time in the library, researching anything that could destroy her."
Snow gaped at Regina in shock, "'Destroy her'?"
"Did I stutter?" Regina snapped.
Snow shrank back in her seat, obviously still disheartened whenever at the receiving end of her step-mother's wrath.
Regina stood from her seat. "I'll be in the West Wing Library, I do not wish to be disturbed."
"Will you need anything?" Charming asked.
"No."
"Are you sure?" Snow asked. "I mean we could—"
"I said no."
Robin pushed his chair back and made his way over to Regina. "Here, I'll come with you and help."
"I don't need help," she snapped, turning to Robin and creating a mask of disdain to avoid telling him everything at the concerned look in his eyes. "And especially not from a thief like you."
Turning, Regina left, raising a hand and manipulating the doors to sweep closed behind her.
…
Regina stood in front of the wooden door, hearing animated chatter from behind it, and second-guessed herself. Was it really her place to do this? Probably not. Was she going to do it anyway? Yes.
Taking a deep breath her hand came up and knocked. The chatter died down instantly and there was the sound of footsteps approaching.
The door opened to reveal Will Stutely, whose merry expression promptly turned to confused.
"Um, Robin's not here, your majesty," said Will with furrowed brows.
"No, I know. I…" Regina paused and inhaled, releasing it in a small sigh. "I need you to do something for me."
Will's expression turned serious. "I'm sorry, your majesty, but the Merry Men don't deal with magic. At all."
"I know. I know. It's nothing like that," Regina reassured with her palms out.
George stuck his head around the side of the door, curious when he had heard Regina's voice and even more curious when her heard Will's statement about magic.
"Regina? What's the matter?" he asked, moving to stand tall beside his older friend.
"I need a favour," she confessed.
George nodded. "Alright. What is it?"
Regina hesitated, "I need you to keep an eye on Robin."
Will's exclamation of "what?" was said at the same time as George's gentler "why?"
"Something has come up, that I need to sort out. And knowing Robin, he'll want to help, but if he gets caught up in this, he's going to get hurt and… and I don't want that." Quickly covering her emotions at the thought of Robin getting hurt, she added, "and I don't think you do either."
The emphatic "no" from both the Merry Men put Regina a little more at ease.
"So, will you just make sure he stays in the castle?" Regina asked. "Just for tonight?"
Will hesitated, a little wary about going behind his leader's back, but George instantly replied "of course".
With an awkward smile, Regina thanked them both, then started to walk back toward the library. George took a step into the corridor and called out to her.
When she had turned to face him, George sincerely ordered, "You look after yourself, too."
Regina mustered a reassuring smile, nodding once before she left to the West Wing library, desperate for any magical spell to give her the upper hand in the battle that was undoubtedly going to happen that night.
…
Regina walked at a leisurely pace towards the Broomfield Tree. It was only a five minute walk and she needed that time to go over spells and incantations once more before she took on her sister.
Her purposeful footsteps became slower as the tall tree came into view, the cracks in the dark brown bark giving the trunk of the tree a mosaic-like effect, and the teardrop-shaped leaves that had not yet fallen, dark red and tinged with orange in their centres, danced together in the cold, midnight breeze.
An unnaturally strong gust of wind extinguished Regina's flame and left her in darkness. Then everything stilled; the leaves stopped rustling, the crickets stopped chirping, the wind stopped whispering...
Zelena had arrived.
Regina watched as a circle—around twenty feet in diameter—of lanterns lit around her. Slowly turning in a circle, Regina searched for any sight of her sister, knowing she wouldn't be able to stay in the shadows for too long.
"Evening, sis," Regina heard from behind her, confirming her sister's lack of subtlety. Turning her head, she saw Zelena standing with one hand on her hip and the other holding her broom, "or is it morning?"
"Skip the pleasantries," Regina ordered, "what do you want?"
"What? No 'hello' hug?" Zelena mocked, her lips pursed, "how very rude of you."
"Forgive me if I'm not in the mood for familial love," Regina retorted. "Being blackmailed kind of makes for a more impersonal interaction, wouldn't you say?"
"Indeed," mocked Zelena, tilting her head and pouting.
"So, I'll ask you again; what do you want?"
"Everything," Zelena whispered, her eyes widening as a manic grin appeared on her lips.
Regina rolled her eyes, "You're going to have to be a bit more specific, dear."
"Everything you have… I want."
Regina sighed. "The jealousy again? Really?"
"I want your castle, Regina," Zelena started. "I want your kingdom, I want your crown—"
"It's a pity you didn't say you wanted Grumpy," Regina mumbled. "You could have gladly had him."
"Now is not the time for jokes, Regina," Zelena warned.
"No, it isn't," Regina agreed, her eyes darkening. "So let me make something clear; you are not getting anything from me. You are not having my castle, you are not having my kingdom, and you are not having my crown."
Zelena let her broom fall to the floor as she stood taller. "I warned you what would happen if I didn't get my way."
"You did. Now let me warn you; you harm a hair on the heads of anyone I even remotely care about, and I swear to you, death will be something you beg for," Regina snarled.
Zelena's cocky expression faded at her sister's promise for a split second before she put up an appearance of confidence, taunting, "Oh? And what could you possibly do to me?"
A grin tugged at the corner of Regina's mouth as she summoned her magic into her palms, comforted by the tingle that grew stronger with each passing second.
When Regina was sure she had enough power behind her, she looked directly into her sister's eyes, said "this" and outstretched her arms, "Faina Templa" resounding in her head until the wave of energy she had summoned peaked, left her and hit Zelena.
Regina smirked at Zelena's stumble backwards. The spell had not been to destroy, merely a demonstration of her power, a warning shot. And apparently it had worked perfectly, making Zelena slightly hesitant to raise her hands to her sister.
But then Zelena recovered and reciprocated, her green magic lighting her palms then heading straight for Regina's chest. Stepping to her right, Regina avoided the brunt of the blow, but she could not help a wince leaving her as she felt the skin of her left upper arm split apart.
Regina watched as a deep red seeped through the blue fabric on her arm, spreading out slowly, turning the clean, horizontal cut into a round, bloody mess. She turned to glare at Zelena.
No more warning shots.
Inhaling deeply, Regina cupped her hand in front of her and summoned a fireball with a simple "Koron en' naur". After sending the heat to engulf her sister, Regina chuckled as Zelena patted down the singed fabric on her shoulder to extinguish the flames.
"You burned my cape!" Zelena exclaimed.
"No, I burned my cape," Regina retorted. She recognised the black, feathered garment hanging on the shoulders of the witch in front of her; it had been in her own wardrobe for years.
Regina dodged the retaliation from Zelena by turning, and before she had continued the full spin Regina had muttered "Ram en' ondo" and her hands were outstretched toward Zelena. The spell worked as intended and knocked the green witch back, into a tree five feet behind her.
Falling to her knees, winded, Zelena didn't see Regina's hand raise and uproot a trunk of a nearby tree—one that the woodsman had been at, judging by its lack of branches-with a simple "Bela ed' templa", her intention being to drop it on her sister. But just as the trunk was hovering over Zelena, the witch's arm raised and the weapon was flung at Regina instead.
The trunk hit her legs, knocking her off her feet and sending shockwaves of pain through her. Landing on her front, Regina's breath was knocked out of her. In the time it took for her lungs to recover, the other witch had stood up and brushed herself off, tilting her head at her sister when she heard Regina's quiet groan.
"Did that hurt?" she asked, her voice dripping with false sincerity, "Oops."
Gritting her teeth, Regina pushed herself up and stood on her feet, ignoring the throbbing in her lower legs and focussing on mentally repeating "Quanta yassen 'kshapsa" until her fingers twitched with unreleased energy.
When Regina's magic hit Zelena, she stumbled back so much that she almost hit the tree again. The poison Regina had created infected her body, causing a discolouration of her skin from her shoulder to partly across her chest, coal black tainting emerald green.
A flash of agony appeared on Zelena's face before it was replaced with rage. Growling, Zelena cast a powerful spell of her own. The green magic hit Regina on the right side of her torso and for a moment there was nothing but blinding light and blinding pain.
Regina took in a gasping breath, almost falling to her knees as her hands clutched her side. But before her knees gave way, Regina felt a pressure around her neck and she was suddenly being lifted into the air.
…
Robin was awoken by his son jumping on his bed on all fours, calling "Papa, Papa, Papa" incessantly.
With a groan. Robin rolled over and captured his son in his arms, forcing the little boy to calm down. "What's the matter?" he asked, voice gruff with sleep.
"Look at the lights, Papa!"
"What lights?" mumbled Robin as he closed his eyes and snuggled down with his son, the weight of sleep trying to tug him back to the land of dreams.
"The pretty lights in the forest, Papa." When Roland didn't get a reply from his father, he started bouncing again. "Papa! Come look!"
Knowing his son was as stubborn as he was, it was obvious that Roland wasn't going to give in until he had shown him whatever had attracted his attention. Robin released the boy with a heavy sigh of "alright"' and threw back the covers, swinging his legs over the side of the mattress as he sat up.
The chilly midnight air brought goose-bumps to his skin, his undergarments and loose vest offering very little protection against the cold weather. Padding barefoot over to the window, Robin rubbed his eyes in attempt to somehow clear the blurriness from his vision.
Standing at the window, Robin glanced out at the dark landscape before him, straining to see the lights that had enraptured his son.
"There, Papa!" Roland declared, pointing as he jumped onto the ledge. "Look, look."
Following his boy's finger, Robin looked over to a section of the woods to his left, and saw a dim green light illuminate an area between the tall trees.
"What is that?" Robin asked, a frown appearing on his face. It was obvious his son didn't know the answer, but Roland still shrugged his shoulders, palms facing the ceiling as he mumbled "don't know."
There was a pause before there was another light, although this one was a deep purple in colour.
"What is going on?" Robin wondered. These lights were unusual, something which he had never seen the likes of before.
"Papa? Can we go see?" Roland asked, turning to face his father with widened eyes and an excited smile.
"Roland, it's the middle of the night," Robin protested.
"I know, Papa, but I want to see the pretty lights!"
"It might be dangerous, son," Robin sighed.
"Might not be," Roland countered. "And you keep me safe, Papa."
Robin ruffled his son's messy hair with a smile. That was true; he would always keep his boy safe.
"Please, Papa!" Roland asked again, taking his father's hand out of his hair and holding it between both of his own.
"Okay," Robin conceded. "But you stay by my side the entire time, unless I say otherwise. Got it?"
Roland nodded his head emphatically, grinning from ear to ear, and then bounded around the room as his father put on some clothing more suitable for wandering the grounds at midnight.
…
Regina's eyes widened as the pressure around her neck increased. Looking down at her sister, she wasn't surprised to see Zelena snarling, teeth bared and eyes full of rage.
Struggling for breath, Regina summoned all the magic she had in her, feeling her strength weaken as consciousness slipped away. As the ground became more distant, Regina's silent chants of "Tyara harwar" became more desperate.
Regina felt her magic building, the power to harm brought forth as darkness started to creep into her vision. At the last possible moment, Regina released her spell, and Zelena was unconscious before she could even think about countering it.
…
Robin and Roland walked down the hallway, the young boy chatting incessantly about his excitement about seeing the pretty lights and how he is a brave boy and he will behave because he promised and he never ever breaks a promise.
Robin tried to hush his son, but it was too late; one of the doors to the Merry Men's chambers opened, and a very dishevelled-looking George Rochester stepped through it.
"Robin?" George asked, rubbing a hand over his forehead. "What are you doing?"
Robin swung the hand that held his son's as he replied, "Roland saw these lights outside and wanted to get a closer look."
Still half-asleep, George blinked slowly a few times. "What kind of lights?"
"Pretty lights," Roland eagerly answered. "And they were green and purple and… and pretty."
A small smile came to George's face at Roland's enthusiasm. "And you're going out in the middle of the night to see them?"
Roland's keen "yes" was said whilst bouncing on the balls of his feet, the hand not holding his father's waving up and down.
"I thought I'd just check to make sure everything is alright," Robin confessed as he tapped the bow slung over his shoulder.
As the sleep cleared away from George's mind, memories of Regina asking her favour alarmed him. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked, trying to figure out a way to change his leader's mind about leaving the castle.
Robin didn't seem to understand his friend's concern. "What?"
"I mean, you don't know what's out there," George pointed out, grasping at straws, "and isn't it too dangerous for Roland?"
He knew it was a low blow—using Robin's son against him—but he couldn't think of any good reason to tell them to stay in the castle, without letting them know Regina asked to keep him inside.
"George," Robin started, "we've lived in Sherwood Forest for a long time—"
"This isn't Sherwood Forest, Robin!" George insisted, his mind racing for any way to get his friend back into his room.
"We'll be fine," Robin said before he started walking away, turning back and holding a hand out to his son. "Come on, Roland."
"Wait," George called at their backs. "I'll go with you."
If he couldn't stop them from going, the most he could do was protect them.
…
Regina fell to the forest floor the moment Zelena's magic stopped, gasping as she tried to fill her lungs with the oxygen she had been deprived of, her body drowning in pain. She had landed awkwardly, her shoulder was in the wrong place, her head had ricocheted off a small boulder and she was fairly certain her ribs had cracked when they landed on a protruding root. Any of her injuries could have caused the tears in Regina's eyes, or it could have been the way her throat burned as she swallowed and heavily inhaled. It didn't seem to matter much.
Regina watched as Zelena struggled to get to her feet, clutching her head with her left hand and pressing her right to her blackened shoulder. Neither of them had the strength to murder the other anymore; that much was clear, but if Zelena decided to attack Regina with another spell, it was doubtful that she would be able to counter it.
The green witch's hands came to her front, unable to let the opportunity to attack her sister whilst she was down pass her by. But the moment she called forth her magic, a wave of agony washed through her, leaving her slumped against the broom she had quickly summoned.
"I'll get you, Regina. I'll get everything," Zelena vowed as she mounted her broom, leaning just unbalanced enough for Regina to know that the Wicked Witch was not fine.
"Just watch me," Zelena added before she lifted her feet and took off, leaving Regina to curl up into herself and try to catch her breath.
She needed to gain a little strength to move, she could not stay there. She could not close her eyes to rest, either; should she fall unconscious, Regina wasn't quite sure if she would awaken.
…
"There's nothing here," George pointed out. "Now come on, let's go back to bed. I'm tired."
"You're welcome to go back to sleep, George," Robin said, "You didn't need to come along."
"I'm just keeping an eye out for you," George mumbled, running a hand through his dirty blond hair, trying to tame it a little.
Robin turned his attention to his son, "There's nothing here Roland."
"Not here, Papa," Roland explained, "it was in the woods."
"Right," Robin sighed, holding out his hand for Roland to hold, "Come on then."
George ran to stand in front of them, "Robin, that's not a wise idea." At Robin's confused look he continued; "It's dark in the woods, but here on the grounds there are lanterns. I mean, here I can see you—I can see your face and everything—but it's pitch black in the woods, Robin."
"Well, we're not scared of the dark, are we?" Robin asked, squeezing his son's hand with a smile.
"Nope," Roland said, twisting from side to side as he swung his father's hand back and forth.
"Look, Robin, just… Go back to bed. You can find whatever it was in the morning."
Roland gasped, "But George! It be gone by then."
"Why are you so adamant that we return to the castle, my friend?" Robin asked. "What's troubling you?"
George looked around the area, his eyes lingering on the dark woods behind him.
"I've just got a bad feeling," he said. And he realised with a start that he wasn't actually lying.
…
Regina knew she had two options; she could use what little magic she had left for a healing spell and hope that it would be enough for her to make her way to the castle. Or, she could transport herself into her room and heal herself whenever she had recovered enough strength.
The first option was risky; there was no guarantee that she would be well enough to make her way back to the castle after casting the spell, and even if her injuries did heal, it was doubtful that she would have the energy to make the whole trip on foot.
So teleportation it was. Bracing herself for the drain in energy she knew was coming, Regina's mind repeated "Lema ed' templa" until she felt herself being pulled away from the spot under the cover of the Broomfield tree, and deposited on the hard ground. She landed on her dislocated shoulder, which drew a grasp from her and a few fresh tears.
Regina knew she was not strong enough to try to move herself again. The cold seeped into her bones as she lay on the damp grass; she couldn't even muster the energy to curl up to preserve her body heat. The Queen resigned herself to know that she was not going to be reaching safety any time soon.
Her shoulder hurt, her arm stung, her shins throbbed, her stomach ached, her head pounded…
It was too much.
Regina whimpered and screwed her eyes closed, then succumbed to blissful nothingness as she fell unconscious.
…
Roland squeezed tighter on his father's hand as a cloud of purple smoke appeared fifty feet away from him. Gasping, Roland tugged on Robin's hand with both of his, trying to get his attention. But his father—deep in confrontation with George—told him to wait a moment.
Roland watched as the smoke dissipated to leave a black shape on the grass.
"Papa!" Roland called out, with more volume and more incessant shaking of his father's hand.
Robin disentangled his hand from his son's, muttering, "I'll be with you in a moment, Roland."
Frowning, Roland looked between his father, his friend and the black shape on the ground. Frustrated at the lack of interest the grown-ups were showing in the mysterious figure, Roland slowly made his way around his father and headed toward the unmoving silhouette.
With a constant muttering of "be brave like papa, be brave like papa", Roland slowly walked over, his footsteps becoming closer together, the nearer he got.
Taking one last small step closer before he came to a stop, Roland inhaled deeply.
"H…Hello?" he stuttered tentatively, staring at the lump of dark fabric in front of him.
When there was no answer, Roland repeated his greeting a bit louder, and again received nothing in response.
Roland looked back to his father, tempted to call him over. But seeing him still in a heated discussion with his friend, he decided to turn back to the figure before him and take a few extra cautious steps toward it.
When he was close enough to make out a hand, palm up and fingers curled inwards, he gasped and ran around to the other side to see more. Kneeling down and tentatively pushing at fabric, Roland whined when his hand encountered something wet and sticky. Grimacing, he wiped it off on his trousers.
Roland shuffled to his right and leaned closer to try to work his hands under the person lying in front of him. When he couldn't get enough leverage to move them off their front, Roland moved the arm hiding their face and almost let out a cry when he recognised the features of the pretty Queen that had said she would ask his father if she could meet him for breakfast one day.
Scrambling to his feet, Roland sprinted to where his Papa and friend were still arguing, crying "Papa! George!" and tugging harshly on their clothing.
Robin looked down at his son with a frustrated scowl; he was having enough trouble trying to negotiate entering the forest with his friend, he didn't need his son grabbing at his clothing with whatever had caught his attention this time.
"Roland. Give me a minute, please!" he snapped.
"Papa! It's Majesty!" Roland yelled, stilling whatever quarrel the duo had.
"What?" they both asked, turning to face the little boy.
Roland pointed to the where the Queen was lying and Robin rushed over without a moment's hesitation, falling to his knees and running his hands over Regina's figure to assess the damage.
When his hand made contact with the cut on her arm and came away red, Robin felt his heart constrict. What the hell had happened?
He turned Regina over onto her back and gasped when he saw a small cut on her cheekbone, blood on her hairline from a bump to the head and a dark bruise on her collar bone already forming.
Robin didn't bother to look for any other injuries. Gathering her up in his arms, he stood, leaning back so her head rested on his shoulder before he started hastily making his way to the castle, repeating a single prayer to the gods with every step.
Please, don't leave me.
…
Elvish spell – English translation
Faina Templa – Energy Bolt
Koron en' naur – Fireball
Ram en' ondo – Wall of Stone
Bela ed' templa – Telekinesis
Quanta yassen 'kshapsa – Poison
Tyara harwar – Harm
Lema ed' templa - Teleport