Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to update, but I hope this chapter will more than make up for it.
Warnings: Miscarriage scare, Character Death
Chapter Ten
Camelot: Granny's dinner:
"Now that they are scared we ought to strike," Regina told the Charmings as she sat in a booth rubbing Emma's back in a soothing manner and sending bits of love to their little Queen. Not to mention Emma was still quite tense from last night's zombie episode as she called it. She'd only come out of the room when she saw the men up and about eating normally and talking to their friends. That had not stopped her from lecturing her on the making of Zombies and how she should destroy ever vial before their return to Storybrooke, she couldn't take the risk of Zombies in Storybrooke. Regina had promised to destroy it only after they were safely within storybrooke.
"No, we have everyone we should just head home and cut our losses," Charming argued as he rocked Neal. He had been fussy with his parents since their return. No doubt making them pay for so idiotically sacrificing their lives.
"The hell we have everyone, Zelena is carrying my child," Robin snapped. "I'm not just going to leave it to be raised evil."
"Regina raised Henry just fine, I'm sure your kid will be fine too," Mary Margaret argued.
"Oh now it's Regina raised Henry fine?" Regina asked her. "You weren't saying that three years ago. And no my niece or nephew has two parents that want to be in their life and goddamn it if I take Robin's chance away."
"No, we should head back and break the Dark One's curse in Storybrooke," David argued. Robin growled.
"I swear I would punch you, but fortunately for me you don't have magic to just decide that we are going or staying," Robin shot back.
"Hood is right my Queen decides and she has already stated her position false prince," King told Charming. "And you fugitive would do well to listen to a real Queen."
"King enough," Regina ordered as Emma rubbed her head. "I want to go home as much as the next, but the fact remains that Zelena has Robin's child, and she will not rest until she lords that over his head and my head, which means she will find a way back to storybrooke and she will come back with yet another plan to cause us misery. I don't have time to worry about where she will be, so we go into Camelot and we take her and we prepare to head home."
"What of Arthur, he has some of his own magic on his side, Merlin didn't know how to even open the cells," David pointed out.
"Minor setback that was easily remedied, I remind you," He said indicating Belle.
"Yes, anyone can run into something unfamiliar, but it is not unbreakable as far as we know," Belle told them. "I have read a lot of books and I am confident that I can help our magic users defeat any threat Arthur or Zelena tries to throw back at us.
"Well there you go," Regina commented as she magicked a cup of tea for Emma. She noted Granny's nose flare at the smell and recognition pass through her eyes. Their eyes met and she gave an almost imperceptible nod that she would keep her mouth shut.
"Emma are you sure you're okay?" Mary Margaret asked. Emma's only answer was to vomit on her shoes. She wiped her mouth.
"Sorry mom," Emma murmured.
"Drink your tea dear," Regina indicated. Emma nodded and did so. Merlin watched her closely.
"See Emma is getting physically worse fighting this darkness," Charming cried as Mary Margaret stared at her shoes in disgust and realized that no one was going to make a move to help her except Doc. Granny had simply handed her mop.
"I assure you she looks worse than she is, but she does have the strength to finally light the ember, unfortunately while you may want to cut and run, that would be utterly stupid seeing as it is your aim to free your daughter of this darkness." Charming frowned at Merlin.
"And why is that?" Charming asked.
"Quite simply put Shepherd, we are in need of Excalibur as well as the Dark One's dagger. Only when we are able to forge these two pieces back together may we begin the task of freeing Emma from the Dark One's curse," Merlin told him. "So I believe that makes it a consensus that we must enter Arthur's castle if only to secure Excalibur and it seems catch a witch."
"Fine, but can't we do this without killing anymore innocent people?" Mary Margaret asked as she finished mopping. "The way those people screamed…."
"NO MORE ZOMBIES!" Emma yelled. Her outburst got the attention of a worried Henry and Roland.
"No, honey, no zombies that will be unnecessary this go," Regina assured her rubbing her back in soothing circles.
"For once Mommy you actually want to do something I want, yes, let's get ecalibur for me mommy. It's the least you can do after taking my life." Emma frowned into her tea cup. Her daughter may think that Excalibur would be at her disposal, but she would beat this darkness, she would not let it own her or her daughter, she would keep it safe.
"King, secure the camp, nothing gets in or out until our return," Regina told him as Emma stood up and walked out of the dinner and out the back door.
"Emma," Mary Margaret called after her.
"No, the Queen she attend her love, a bit of true love would go a long way in helping the saviour right now," Merlin said. That made Regina get an idea.
"I am going to take Emma from the camp for a bit, I think she needs a breather, King have a horse saddled and brought around. In the mean time secure the area, I should give your more than five minutes to prepare." King saluted her before Regina stood up and told Henry that Robin was in charge and that Cox was also in charge of his safety and not run off while she and Emma took care of something.
"Okay Mommy." He gave her a hug and kiss before turning back to the toy soldiers with Roland. Regina rubbed Roland's head before she headed out after Emma. No surprise that Mary Margaret had gone out anyway and Emma only ignored her now as she made a dreamcatcher.
"Emma talk to me please, it's good to talk it out," Mary Margaret told her.
"Mary Margaret if you will please return inside please." Mary Margaret frowned and glared at her.
"I'm her mother, I need to help her not just you," Mary Margaret snapped.
"If I thought you were helping I'd quietly go back to Henry, but you're not, so if you would please return and help prepare for the assault please," Regina told her back with authority. Mary Margaret huffed and stomped away. Regina just quietly sat with Emma on the edge of the well for a moment, when her movements started to slow she spoke. "I thought we could have a date, I know it may seem like a selfish thing to do right now, but these last few weeks have been high stress and we need to try to relax for the baby's sake."
"Date where?" Emma asked wondering where they would go.
"Let me worry about the where, you don't have to talk until you are ready." Regina stood up and held her hand out to Emma. Emma took her hand slowly and they walked off. King was waiting a little bit ahead with her black steed. Emma frowned, but followed Regina to the horse knowing that she would protect her. King held the horse steady as Regina easily mounted. The horse moved a little uncomfortably as Emma approached but Regina soothed it and she was able to pull Emma up behind her easily.
"He knows I'm evil," Emma murmured.
"No, you're not evil, you are still my White Knight," Regina told her. She nodded to King before Regina took them off on a slow trot. She had no real goal, but she rode around just simply until she felt Emma relax a little into her back. By then she had spotted that they seemed to be at the edge of the forest, and a dessert had appeared. She began to slow down as another idea came to mind. She slowed the horse to a walk and eventually a halt at the end of the forest line.
"Dessert?" Emma asked surprised.
"Hmm…remember the story of how Merlin came to be, he was lost in the desert when he found the holy grail." Emma nodded. Regina helped her dismount before she followed. She attached the horse to a tree branch before she slipped out of her shoes and conjured up a shorter version of her red dress.
"Regina what are you doing?" Emma asked as she also slung her cloak over a branch.
"Creating our date spot," Regina grinned. She sank first one foot and then a second into the warm sand and Emma noted as she walked grass began to appear under her steps. Once she was a little bit out in the open she turned to Emma with a huge smile on her face.
"Come on Emma I can't do it alone," Emma suddenly found herself in a shorter white dress as well. She slipped out of her shoes and took off her cloak. She stepped onto the sand but of course nothing happened. "Em, you have to use your magic." Emma chuckled at herself of course, Regina was magic, but she wasn't that magic, of course she had deliberately made magic with her footsteps. Emma called upon her magic and when she next lifted her foot there was grass under it. Grinning she walked to Regina where she grew a purple flower before plucking it to hand to her.
"See if you were no longer my white knight you couldn't make something so pure and innocent. You Emma Swan Mills are still my knight, still my light, and still my world. And you will never be evil to me." Regina stroked the side of her face before she kissed Emma at firstly lightly on the lips before Emma pulled her closer and deepened the kiss before they both let their magic flow out around them until they were surrounded in a new clearing with grass, and trees covered in purple flowers.
"You are pure magic," Emma whispered as they both caught their breath and leaned their foreheads against one another. "I love you Regina Vittoria Isabella Xavier Mills." Regina chuckled.
"Someone learned my whole name," Regina chuckled. When they had run off once to make King say it they had been called away to solve a dispute, but it seemed Emma had taken it upon herself to find out.
"Yeah, King was not happy to do the whole spiel," Emma chuckled. They moved to sit and just lay next to each other holding hands.
"However long we still have to stay here to catch Zelena, we'll come back here at least once a day or at night if necessary just to be alone and relax, okay?"
"Yes," Emma told her. "But there is something we can do in the mean time that would make me feel better going forward. I'm so terrified for the baby and she wants me to get Excalibur too, but I know the Darkness is what wants it." Regina nodded in understanding. \
"What would you have us do?" Regina asked. Emma took a deep breath and waved her hand. A powder appeared in her hand.
"This…this is a magic powder…" Emma started. Regina quirked and eyebrow.
"Oh really Emma?" Regina asked smirking.
"Regi be serious." Regina nodded. "Look this thing it's so that she'll be born early. I figured if she's no longer inhabiting my body she can escape the darkness and we can finally name her. Then we will at least know she's safe from this darkness." Regina stared at Emma slack jawed.
"You want to have this baby at Granny's diner in the Enchanted forest, talk about rough way to enter the world," Regina told her rubbing her head. She wasn't quite fully prepared to have a baby here. She had brought the necessary items to help ensure a safe birth, but other things she would need and thought she'd have time to prepare for.
"No, I want to have this baby right now, in this space we created with our love." Regina's eyes widened. "Don't worry, Vivi can stay right where she is for the next eight months so at least she'll already be older, but I can't let her be near this darkness any longer. It is taking its toll on me and I am afraid I will do something that will allow it to finally consume her."
"Emma, we have the potion it is helping both you and her fight this," Regina told her. "We're already so close with Merlin, all we need to do is get the sword from Arthur."
"No, Regina. Please trust me on this, this has to happen I feel it. Something Merlin said to me on the way to get the ember has had me thinking about this in the back of my mind. And today when she told me we were finally in agreement on something I just felt that this darkness has been playing me and especially her. She's a child inside I know it, and we will never recognize our daughter if we wait." Regina noted the grip Emma now had on her arm. They were sitting on their knees facing one another now.
"Okay darling, if this is what you feel is best. You feel this darkness better than I, so then we do it, we have our child. Besides I think we would be somewhere close to her first due date." For the first time just looked relieved. "Maybe now the next month won't sting so bad inside because she'll finally be in my arms." Emma nodded.
"Yes, and I'll conjure her up the prettiest pram in the Enchanted Forest."
"First things first we present her with a handwoven blanket. Ladies from the Kingdom have been secretly preparing the hemp. I'm not supposed to know, but plus King is not stupid and I gather by now she's figured out we are both expecting. It is tradition in my Kingdom." Emma smiled.
"They will be upset that I'm a bit ahead of schedule then?" Emma asked. Regina shrugged.
"There's always a chance a babe will arrive a head of schedule, such is the way of a baby, they run on their own schedules." Regina fell silent for a moment in thought a baby would certainly complicate things, but no more than Neal. She had more than enough people willing to protect all of her children and care for them while she retrieved Excalibur. Once that was done, they would immediately return to storybrooke. That way her children could both be safely warm at home. And if home wasn't quite yet possible as they needed to hunt Zelena, then they would return to her dark castle which was still very much in tact and protected. And every single last one of them could live inside of it. Arthur if he dared to follow would be hard pressed as well as any ogres. This would also mean safety for Henry to play in the garden. And the possibility of locating anyone else that had managed to escape her curse and was currently surviving all alone in an uninhabited area except for ogres. She nodded to herself yes either way she could ensure her child's physical safety from the outside.
"Are you ready?" Emma asked conjuring a cup of water for the powder. Regina was sure she must have found that in her things while she was out dealing with her soldiers. It had been Maleficent's backup plan. She was stronger not pregnant even if sleep deprived.
"No, we need to prepare first." Emma nodded, and the things disappeared for the moment. "Firstly drink this potion to keep the darkness from clinging to her as much. You had your morning dose, but best to have a second. It will no doubt fight you." Emma nodded. Regina took the potion out of her bag and watched Emma take it before she dug through and pulled out what looked like an old doctor's bags.
"Midwife tools from the turn of the century work great in the medieval era," She grinned. Emma nodded as the grass began to knit itself into a comfortable pallet under her. She swore it was as soft as Regina's bed at home. Soon Regina put up white sheets for privacy which sped to the edge of their clearing.
"Just in case someone comes after us?" Emma asked even though her magic senses were tingling. "And is that a protection spell?"
"Very good Mrs. Mills," Regina teased. Emma grinned at her even as intense nausea rolled over her. Sometimes after she had drank the potion her daughter wasn't able to come out and play and their little Queen didn't like that at all. So intense nausea was her go too punishment.
"Now I should tell you that this powder is very fast acting, you will grow the full nine months in a matter of seconds and labor will begin hard and fast, but it may also last hours especially if this darkness is trying to fight you okay." Emma nodded.
"I'm ready. I will go through whatever pain I need too to make sure she's safe." Regina nodded and leaned forward and kissed Emma gently on the forehead.
"And I will be here right beside you the entire time my love." Emma nodded. "Now drink Maleficent's potion for strength you are both going to need it." Emma did as she was told before following it with the powder mixed in water. They were doing this, their little Queen would soon be in their arms.
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO!" Little Queen screamed in agony as she appeared. The potion from Maleficent had given her the boost she needed. "No, No this isn't happening to me not again!"
"She remembers her last birth," Emma frowned as she felt her stomach grow rapidly. The changes to her body were painful as she began to stretch in a way she hadn't in years in a matter of moments.
"She will soon forget as she begins her new life," Regina assured her. Well at least she hoped so. It was no good to have her poor baby be plagued with nightmares of a stillbirth of losing her heart in the womb.
"No, no mommy she's taking me away from you again!" She cried as she clung to Regina. "I won't come from her again, I am not her daughter, she is not my mommy!" Emma was in tears listening to their little Queen's words. She should have known, maybe the smartest decision was not to force her into this world sooner than she was called in this form, but the right decision would be to have reunited her and Regina physically. She would forever know what Emma had taken from her now, that chance to be close to Regina again. And just like that the Darkness was finally fighting back inside of her trying to grip at their little Queen as she screamed in agony. Regina somehow had gotten a cool cloth and was pressing it to the back of her neck and forehead. When had she gotten hot with a fever was it? How had she began to sweat so profusely so suddenly, she was sure the white dress was absolutely ruined. Not to mention the rips at the seams around her belly.
"Shs I know it's hard for you both, but you're both going to be all right," Regina soothed and somehow Emma knew as her breathing became labored, Regina was somehow in tune enough with their daughter to know she was distressed.
"She doesn't want this," Emma cried out. "I…I…was stupid…her place is in…in..inside…you." Regina seemed startled at those words.
"Her place will always be with me in whatever form, but it is too late now for that part now. She will have to make due with laying on my chest." Emma didn't say a word as she whimpered in pain. In the mean while Little Queen had heard Emma's words.
"No, no it's not too late mommy I can stop this, I will not be born of her not again," Little Queen growled as she disappeared. Emma had heard, but she didn't think whatever she was doing inside of her was effective that is until Regina cried out in unexpected pain. She held her stomach.
"What are you doing?" Regina whispered.
"She's coming," Emma whispered and for the life of her she had no idea in which way she meant that the little Queen was coming. Regina gripped the ground so hard her fingers left deep ruts in the ground. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she felt the panic rising from Viveka. Her little Queen wanted in and understandably so, but she was hurting both her and Viveka. Viveka after all was still younger and weaker than her. If she came over fully grown, that would be the end of Viveka, she would not be able to survive the labor or being born so early. This wasn't supposed to happen, she wasn't supposed to lose her daughters. Not again.
"Baby please," Regina whispered talking to her little Queen. "You'll hurt your sister this way." There was a feeling of extreme sorrow, but still the pain continued her Little Queen was indeed coming to her. Regina sent her own feelings of extreme sorrow that this might kill them both.
'I'd rather die with you mommy' the thought came to her.
'Oh my little Queen,' Regina thought just before the pain made her lose consciousness.
Granny's Diner
"Where are they?" David growled as he paced back and forth angrily. Merlin rolled his eyes. Perhaps the curse was in fact the best thing for Emma, who knew how ruined she would be for Regina, if this was the kind of father she'd had to grow up with. He turned to Snow thinking she was not much better. He had heard that insipid woman going on about Emma's first ball, didn't she understand who her child was at all. They were not unlike in that sense. Emma didn't care for balls, and he imagined that was why they would never be as close as they liked to pretend.
"Merlin, can't you poof them here?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I'm sorry poof?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"You know poof, make them appear here," She said. He just refrained from rolling his eyes.
"I cannot simply apparate the Queen or the Dark One to a place of my choosing, however powerful I may be, they are also very powerful. The difference between us is all but centuries of knowledge when it comes the laws of magic among powerful beings. Otherwise one might have simply apparated the Dark One and myself as a tree all the way too storybrooke, and we would not be sitting in this quaint diner in the middle of the forest, but rather looking out on storybrooke main street."
"My diner is anything but quaint," Granny snapped walking by. Merlin gave her a genuine smile.
"My apologies, I have yet to see it in full swing and I expect that my humble opinion will be much improved on." He bowed his head towards her.
"Damn straight," Granny grumbled as she delivered food to the children. Fresh baked bread, cheese, and roast fish caught fresh for lunch. She had missed the freshness of fish and venison, perhaps she would send Ruby out to hunt and put more fish on the menu as the fisherman went out every day.
"Plain roast fish again," A kid complained. She glared at him and he shut his mouth.
"And how pray tale how would you make it?" Granny asked him.
"With lots of spice like Mommy!" Henry piped up and then he frowned looking around. "Where is mommy?"
"She's out with your Mama, but they'll be back soon." He started crying.
"I want Mommy and Mama now!" Henry sobbed.
"Henry no don't cry just eat your lunch, I'm sure by the time you're finished they'll be back soon." This gave Henry no comfort as he fell to the floor and began pounding his fists and kicking his feet. He was so upset water began shooting from all the fountains. Merlin managed to contain the damage as they tried to console him.
"Damn it, I'm not waiting any longer, the longer Emma stays like this than the more he will be without his mother," David grumbled. "Snow leave him in the capable hands of Granny, if anyone can console him it's her and we are getting that sword."
"It would be unwise to make a move without the Queen," Merlin commented knowing how their last half assed attempt had gone, straight to the dungeon.
"Well clearly her majesty doesn't care that much about our daughter," David snapped. He grabbed Snow and pulled her out gathering the dwarves to help them as that was all that remained loyal to them really. Granny was on the fence, but someone strong needed to look after Henry and Neal.
"You are idiots and you will make it harder to capture Zelena later," Robin told them as he caught up to them in the forest. He had clearly told King what was happening and decided to go if only, so he could steal the black cuff back from Arthur this would be key recapturing Zelena later. If he could get that, then they stood half a chance, and who was he if not the greatest thief within the Enchanted Forest. He stole from Kings all the time.
"And you are too far up Regina's ass, but we could use your skill set," David told him. Robin merely shrugged. You couldn't fix stupid, but you could use it to your advantage. They walked in silence for a while before finally one of the dwarves asked how they were getting inside. Robin rolled his eyes.
"The Aqueduct obviously," Robin told them as he took over and led the way. Getting into the city of Camelot was easy enough. He stole clothes for them change into, it would be obvious they were nobles and they'd stick out like a sore thumb. And so, he walked several paces ahead of them. It didn't take long for the dwarves to get caught. He pulled Snow and Charming into an alley way.
"What are you doing we have to help them!" David hissed.
"Later, they stand out too easily we do not, not many dwarves here. If you want to save Emma, you'll need to let them be the distraction." Robin was of course right, while they were out hunting the dwarves, it allowed them slip in unnoticed through servant's door.
"Go on ahead, I hear someone," Robin lied. He needed to be free to do his own thing. Once they were gone, he went down another way of carefully marked passage ways. He was a thief after all and he had made sure he and Roland had gotten to know the layout of the castle. It didn't take him long to get to where he needed to be. Merlin's tower. Where Arthur kept most things magical. He looked all around stuffing some books into the bag Belle had given him. He was surprised at his weightlessness. He knocked some ingredients in as well, thinking that might hinder Arthur from making anymore potions at least.
"You know what I should just take the whole library save us the trouble," He muttered. He stuffed every book in to his chagrin with no change in weight. "I really could have used one of these back in the day. He looked around for the cuff and finally found it in a chest under lock and key, but no lock had ever kept the famous Robin Hood out.
"Get the cuff if those damn dwarves are here, then you can bet the others must be as well." Robin quickly slipped out the window and stood on the ledge as he heard someone enter and simply pick up the chest without seeing if the contents remained inside. He went back in once they were gone. He would see how this played out with the Charmings and report back, save them if it looked at all possible, and if at all possible, snap the cuff on Zelena's wrist and drag her out too. He wondered if he could stuff her in the magical bag too with all the books, it would certainly make things easier. If he didn't leave with Zelena today he'd certainly bring it up to Regina on his return.
Meanwhile the Charmings had entered the room of the round table. It was empty of course and as if fate was trying to prove a point that he and Snow were the heroes, Excalibur was right there on the table in its sheath.
"See I told you to have hope, we don't need Regina all the time." Mary Margaret nodded.
"No, but we do need our daughter." David nodded. He went to walk forward when they were both frozen with green magic. That could only mean one thing, Zelena.
"Ah, Ah my pretties, there will be no sneaking in and stealing," Zelena laughed as she entered dressed in usual black wicked witch get up. They were surprised she hadn't managed to turn her skin green again. Arthur entered right behind her with a book and a chest under one arm.
"Where's your Queen, I have pretty bracelet for her to try on," He grinned.
"She is not our Queen," David growled. Arthur laughed.
"How cute former monarchs who have no idea when they've lost. She's been your Queen since the moment she came to power, you're just too stupid to think that your momentary rule of the White Kingdom was solidified. But trust me I know about monarchies that aren't quite stable yet.
"You mean like yours?" Snow snapped at him.
"Hush just tell me where your Queen is," He told her annoyed.
"I think my dear sister is not with the idiots. Somehow, I think she wouldn't have gotten caught so easily, it's unfortunate but unless she comes for the idiots she won't be here today."
"Rogue again," Arthur tsked. "Someone's Queen is going to be very, very angry. All the same I'm glad you're here to witness our plans for today, really make sure you get the brunt of the Queen's anger." They glared at him as he pulled out Excalibur while Zelena took the book and opened it to a particular page.
"Oh, we are going to have a lot of fun dears, I do hope my dear sister is up to the fight." She laughed and took Excalibur in hand before setting it back down next to the book. She performed her magic and they gasped as she showed them Merlin's name appearing on the blade of Excalibur before she handed it over to Arthur.
"Fortunately, that was just a very simple spell," Zelena grinned.
"Merlin, I summon thee!" Arthur ordered. Within moments Arthur had appeared in the room, utterly confused as Mary Margaret and David looked stunned.
"What have you done?" Merlin asked as he stared at Excalibur and how it now held his name. He would never be free.
"Merlin send these weaklings back to their camp, so they can let the Queen know there is a war." Merlin was unable to fight it as he did as commanded.
"Now you can finally help me achieve what was promised," Arthur laughed along side Zelena. They didn't see Robin, making his way back out of the castle. He also had to speak to Regina. No doubt the idiots would sugar-coat their part in all this.
Regina and Emma's Dreamworld
"Baby we can't stay here, you have to wake up," Emma whispered into her ear as she wrapped her arms around her behind. Regina's figure was swollen with her child or children she didn't know. The dream did not give her that information. She just knew that for a few brief moments they had felt like they were home again and unburdened by the realities of the world. Regina was staring at the nursery. It was just as they had imagined making it with the apple tree coming out of the wall.
"I don't want too, I wanna stay here where everything is perfect, and my Little Queen will come home with me, and my princess won't be not far behind," Regina whispered.
"I know, but if we stay here, she will die, even if you are unconscious she will still come. And then what when you finally come too she is dead from exposure.
"If she survives the birth, this magic will take a lot from her especially with the darkness trying to hold her back," Regina whispered.
"And I have faith that she will, Maleficent's potion gave her the extra strength."
"But Vivi won't survive," Regina whispered sadly.
"Then you will always drink the powder quickly, maybe it will be just what we need to save her."
"Or a toddler might exit my body," Regina shuddered at the thought. "And then what?"
"Then we de-age her, worked on Henry, it will work on her."
"All magic comes with a price," Regina told her.
"Then I will pay it all for my family," Emma whispered. "Come we cannot avoid fate, and we must return to Henry."
"Henry," Regina whispered. "He needs us." Emma nodded. They remained in each other's arms a bit longer until they both started to fade.
Regina and Emma's Clearing
The pain was to say the least still excruciating, but Emma noted that it was subsiding that her body had returned to it's state post powder, but yet the darkness seemed to cling to her more than ever and claw at her very heart and soul. The dark thoughts going through her mind even seemed more potent as if all energy was focused on her for the first time since it's invasion of her body. A groan sounded from beside her.
"Regina!" Emma called sitting up, she had to check on her, see if the baby had come, give her the powder to save Viveka if necessary. But there was no baby and aside from the sweat on her brow and her larger abdomen Regina appeared fine. "You're too small where is our little Queen?" Regina just moved a hand to swollen stomach.
"She is here," Regina whispered as she extended her magic. "She is tired, she is sleeping. She escaped the magic thanks to the darkness although your body showed changes, she is about three months old in there.
"Vivi?" Emma whispered with fear. Regina took another breath and searched for her other daughter.
"She holds onto me as strong as ever, my little one was able to save herself." Emma fell to the ground beside her as hot tears streamed down her face.
"I was so stupid again I almost lost them both."
"No, we didn't think she'd come, I thought she couldn't after the last failed attempt," Regina whispered as she breathed deeply. "We need to get excalibur and get home, Vivi is behind her sister, she will need modern technology to survive after birth of that I am sure." Emma nodded. Emma moved her head and kissed Regina's belly.
"I will take us all home girls, excalibur or no, I will not lose you," Emma whispered. They lay there in silence for a few moments.
"Something is upsetting Henry, we must go, there is also something wrong at camp, I can feel that King is distressed and anxious for our return." Emma stood up and gently lift Regina to her feet. She could see that she was exhausted from what had just occurred, but still she held her head high like the Queen she was and walked towards her horse after magically packing everything.
"You should have allowed me to do that."
"No, I needed to know how weak I was, but so far my magic is steady, I must maintain the people's protection." They mounted the horse and turned back towards Granny's diner. Regina had kicked her steed into a trot, but no sooner were they moving that Emma moved them quite a distance with magic, the horse was a good horse and didn't even startle at the sudden change, they found themselves at the well in no time. King came running almost immediately alongside Robin Hood.
Granny's dinner: Camelot
"My Queen," King greeted bowing before she took the reins and they were let down.
"Uh shit you're pregnant?" Robin asked wide-eyed. Regina looked down, her bump was quite obvious.
"Shush, no one can know," Emma told him. He nodded immediately as Regina ran her hand over her dress once more it was long, it had been let out to accommodate her bump a bit better, but it was still too obvious in these dresses, so she enacted an illusion spell. Emma fixed her own clothes as it was obvious something had occurred.
"Well I suppose this also means the Savior is not," King told her.
"There are two," Regina simply said in answer to her fishing. King merely began to tend to the horse. Her Queen would announce her pregnancy when she saw fit and not before that. "What happened while we were gone?"
"Robin can explain better than I, but know it involved the idiots once more." Regina let out a long sigh. They looked at Robin.
"Your parents decided that you were taking too long to return, Merlin refused to head in without you Regina and remained here to calm Henry. I was not privy to what went on exactly before their departure as I was watching the perimeter. But Belle approached me and caught me up. She wanted me to go with but only to steal some books from Merlin's tower to aid us. So I took her bag and went after the Charmings and the Dwarves. The dwarves stood out, they would not have gotten into Camelot unharmed without me. Once in Camelot, the guards were sufficiently distracted by chasing them, I do not know what became of them. The three of us went to the castle, I made my excuses and allowed them to go where they wanted which was to retrieve Excalibur." Emma just groaned as she stared up at the sky with a hand on her forehead. "I was able to retrieve all of Merlin's books except one, somethings you may yet find a use for and of course this." He held up the black cuff. "I do not believe they are aware it is missing but they had intended it for you." Regina nodded and took it from him feeling better with the cuff in her hands.
"My parents?" Emma asked.
"Returned here by Merlin, but here's the real problem. The Charmings were caught by Zelena in the round table room. She took Excalibur and that one book I spoke of not finding was opened to a page that bound Merlin to Excalibur in the same way you are bound to the dagger."
"FUCK!" Emma yelled. "Are you telling me, Arthur has control of Merlin?" Robin nodded. Regina was furious as her right hand balled into a fist and black smoke began to leak out of it.
"Emma?" Mary Margaret came running out of the diner in tears. Henry was not far behind them and was able to run ahead of Mary Margaret even on short legs. They both hugged him before Emma scooped him up in comfort. Regina rubbed his head and kissed his forehead assuring him everything was all right.
"Where have you two been; Arthur took Merlin." David said as he came out.
"Yes, and it would seem you had a first-hand account of that," Regina told him.
"It doesn't matter he says war is coming, but no one will snap into action."
"King gather the army, we must attack away from the diner now that they have Merlin." King nodded and led the horse away to be watered and fed a little before it entered a war zone.
"What were you two thinking going alone, if we had been there we might have been able to stop it, Merlin might have been able to stop it," Emma cried. "We could have gone in three magic users strong, and instead you went in two idiots weak!"
"Emma!" Mary Margaret exclaimed horrified. "We have to get this Darkness out of you." Emma rolled her eyes.
"No shit, and you've just helped make it that much harder." With those words Emma pulled Regina off into Granny's, she needed food while the men prepared. She had to save Merlin and get that sword, one way or another she and the Darkness were in agreement the sword was important, they had to free themselves from the dagger. They were barely inside when the Charmings disappeared.
"Dark One if you want your parents, I suggest you bring your Queen and fight us, no need to bring your men," Merlin's voice rang out.
"Must be some need," Regina growled when they had rushed out the front of the dinner as her wards let her know Arthur's knights were nearby. Green smoke alerted them to Arthur's location.
"King, Jude, and Harper you're with me, Cox, you're on Henry duty, he trusts you sorry you won't see action."
"Not complaining at all my Queen, I am the last line of defense for my future King, I take my job very seriously."
"This is why I choose you often." Cox nodded.
"Bring magical chains, I need Zelena captured unharmed." Jude and Harper nodded as they went to prepare.
"Crooks you're in charge of leading the soldiers," Regina told her. "And if anything happens, then either return to the southern kingdom or move to my palace in the white Kingdom and make a new home. You have the heir to the throne until then." They bowed to her.
"Yes my Queen." Regina secured her grandfather's sword to her waist with a belt. It was a bit uncomfortable now that her belly was suddenly larger than she wanted, but it would be fine for the duration of the fight. Then she and Emma spent a few moment consoling Henry as Granny came out with her crossbow.
"No Granny I need you to stay with Henry please, you are the only one that can raise him as well as protect him." Granny frowned but she understood that. She had raised her daughter and Ruby. And she knew all the stories which meant answers to any of Henry's questions.
"You will return of that I have no doubt," She told them. She managed to help coax a crying Henry away with Cox. They didn't waste any time heading over towards the Green smoke, if Arthur wanted a war well than he had one. Robin also came with taking charge of the black cuff again. He was not to show himself. King, Jude, and Harper were not either unless they though they could magically chain anyone of them including Arthur if it meant dropping Excalibur and releasing his control on Merlin.
"Emma!" Hook cried from a tree, he was chained too along with her parents. Well they were each chained to separate tress. Emma's eyes widened at the sight of Hook. She honestly hadn't given him one thought except to remember that he was part of the schemes.
"Well well it looks as though someone has learned not to trust the wicked witch," Regina sassed.
"And it looks as though someone else has not," Zelena told her before Regina was yanked back and slammed into her own tree as she was shackled with her arms behind her back.
"Ah iron really is a lovely look on you sister," Zelena grinned as Merlin appeared alongside Arthur. Emma moved to strike her.
"I wouldn't do that dear while we're holding your precious lady hostage," Zelena told her.
"What do you want?" Emma growled angrily her entire family was in danger and they had no idea to what edge they had now pushed her too.
"We want the flame and we want the dagger," Zelena told her.
"Hand it over now," Arthur told her. "Or Zelena will start torturing your Queen."
"Don't give it to them Emma!" Her family told her.
"We can fight them," David told her.
"We can win Emma, Merlin said the only difference between you and him was knowledge," Snow cried out.
"No, there is no difference, I am your knowledge Emma!" Regina called out. "You can win, and you can beat Zelena too."
"Emma don't listen to them, this not a fight you can win, I wish you could win, I don't want to do evil it breaks my soul, but a las it is not to be." Emma hesitated before she produced a box similar to the one that held the ember. She wasn't stupid enough to bring it. She had left that secretly with Cox too.
"Here release my family now," Emma told them.
"Zelena check that," Arthur ordered. Zelena of course opened the box only to be pulled to a nearby tree herself.
"Dirty trick Savior or Dark One whatever, but I've got one more up my own sleeve. Arthur show them what else the sword can do." Arthur turned the sword over no longer displaying Merlin's name, but Hook's.
"Hook?" They all asked confused.
"That's right I tethered your lovely boyfriend to the sword, and now as soon as he is officially summoned he shall become a dark one as well."
"That was not part of the plan," Hook said easily freeing himself. His chains had not been real.
"At least you'll finally be with your love," Zelena laughed.
"Hook, Dark One I summon thee." Emma jerked as only some of the darkness left her and into Hook. It surrounded him like a giant pool of black liquid that devoured him until the Darkness was rooted deep inside him. He had never been a hero and he was fooling no one with his act, he knew that now and yet he still pined after the Swan. The swan who he now shared power with.
"Now you are all done for," Arthur grinned.
"I don't think so," Regina told him as King released her and she sent a large fireball at the startled Hook. He had no idea how to access his powers yet and no doubt from his frown he was seeing Rumple as Emma had, that would distract him sufficiently as he hate himself. The blast was enough to knock him unconscious for the moment but it wouldn't last long. Harper immediately bound him in chains.
"Merlin get the real flame from her," Arthur ordered. Jude attacked from the side, but Arthur was indeed a formidable swords man And more soldiers from Arthur had made themselves known. Regina drew her sword just in time. She would not be aiding Emma against Merlin for the moment.
"Regina set me free I can help," David cried.
"You've helped enough," Regina grunted as she kicked a soldier back off her sword. She was so glad she had thought to change into boots at least. The slippers would have left her with a hurt foot.
"Emma just give us the flame and dagger," Merlin told her.
"No, never. I will protect my family." Emma knew that as soon as Arthur had the dagger he would probably command her to kill her own family and she couldn't allow that.
"JUDE!" Harper screamed. Regina narrowly got her arm cut off as she turned to see Jude fall to the ground as Arthur pulled Excalibur out of her. Instead she got a cut which turned her attention back to her opponent. She managed to just slice their neck through as King took care of the last soldier who had stabbed Harper in the leg when she had cried out for Jude.
"You will pay you bastard," Regina growled. She swung her sword at him. They traded blows back and forth, as they each tried to gauge the other's skill.
"You will die, and I will claim your Kingdom and turn them into a low cast just for the hell of it," Arthur told her.
"I will make you pay for Jude," Regina growled. She knocked him down intending to finish it when a cry from Emma made her hesitate for all of one second. She had already made that mistake getting distracted in battle, but it was Emma, and that split second was all he needed to stab her right in the belly. She dropped her sword in shock as she backed up a hand pressed to her wound.
"Hahaha, I should probably tell you that a wound from Excalibur is always fatal no matter how small," Arthur laughed. He turned to Merlin. "Merlin kill her mother now."
"Regina!" Emma cried from her place on the ground.
"And torture the dark one too while you're at it." Regina leaned against the tree as Emma screamed in pain and choking noises were heard from Mary Margaret while David yelled for Emma to fight back. Arthur was no longer paying attention to her as he laughed gleefully he almost missed King who was determined to die trying to avenge her that much was clear from her face. Her mouth was filling with blood and her babies were both bleeding out inside of her. Neither of them had escaped being cut because of their position. Then she might have thought about conjuring the powder and then cutting them out of her body herself. At least then her babies could be with Emma right. She looked at Merlin, the pain etched on his face. Their eyes met but for a brief moment.
"Kill me," He gritted out. Regina nodded while he had a task, He must complete it and that left her open to attack if she could make it. She pulled out the Dark One's dagger hidden in her cloak. If Excalibur gave fatal wounds so could the Dark One's dagger. She would die anyway so she didn't worry about where the power would go just only that her love and Henry would be safe. She gathered her strength and stumbled forward and with the last of it she drove the dagger down into Merlin's heart. Time seemed to stand still in that moment. Merlin stopped torturing Emma, Mary Margaret stopped choking to death and for a few moments it was just them staring into one another eyes.
"Thank you," He whispered before the light was gone. And then time moved again, and Regina was falling to the ground.
"Regina no!" Emma screamed as she ran to her and cradled her in her arms.
"In the name of her majesty Queen Regina Vittoria Isabella Xavier Mills, and the name of his future majesty King Henry Daniel Regina Mills, you will pay for the assassination of my Queen," King declared as she kicked excalibur away.
"AH!" King was attacked by a wounded soldier not yet dead. Arthur stood up and ran to Zelena.
"Get us out of here," He cried as he undid her ropes. As she raised her hand to apparate them away and green smoke was filling the air she felt that blasted black cuff on her wrist again cutting off all her magic. So while her magic that had been released had taken Arthur away it had left her utterly grounded.
"You're here to stay love," Robin told her before he wrestled her down the magic chains he had been given from Harper. Meanwhile Mary Margaret and David were released.
"Regina please God no, you can't leave," Emma sobbed. "We were supposed to be a family, we're supposed to run away to Cuba when we get back!" Regina stroked the side of Emma's face.
"Take me to our special place Emma, I want to go surrounded by our love." Emma just cried as white smoke surrounded them. Afraid to leave Excalibur behind as she knew she had to rid herself of this darkness for Henry just as Regina would want.
"Emma!" Mary Margaret called but she ignored her and she was gone, reappearing in their clearing. She lay Regina on the pallet she had woven for her earlier to comfortably give birth on and now it was for her to die on. Had it only been less than two hours since they were here full of hope that their child might be born surrounded by their love. Emma was all tears as she held her love close, but than she noticed the sword, and in place of Merlin's name was Regina's name spelled out in elegant script, but it wasn't disappearing like Rumple's once had when he was gravely poisoned by Hook.
"Regina you aren't dying," Emma whispered. \
"Our babies are," Regina whispered as sweat dotted her brow once more and her body tensed with the pain that only a miscarriage would bring.
"No, not today, not ever," Emma told her as she picked up her dagger. "Regina it's time to name her."
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