Chapter 11
Emma breathed a deep sigh of relief. They made it. She was home. The footman led them to the kitchen so they could eat dinner, but Snow asked if they could be shown to their rooms as they were very tired. They all realized it was only a matter of time before one of the longer-tenured servants recognized them. Soon, they were safely enclosed in a spare room in the women's quarters. Emma fell to the bed, exhaustion filling her now that the adrenaline had receded. Snow, however, was a bundle of nerves.
"What are you doing?" She asked Emma. "Don't just lay there. You need to get back to the castle so you can speak to Leo."
"I am sure that he is dining with Regina at the moment."
"So leave a note for him in his room. You need to get back to the castle. Anna will be needing her ladies maid to assist her with changing out of her travel clothes. It's the perfect excuse. Go."
Emma suddenly felt like she was a little girl being forced to practice the harp when all she wanted to do was play. Of course she wanted to see her brother, but she had hoped for a bit of a respite before continuing the quest. Exhaling a big sigh, she stood up and gave her mother a curtsy. "Yes ma'am."
"I'm sorry, Emma. I didn't mean to be pushy. I just haven't seen your brother in a year." Tears welled up in her eyes. "He's grown so much. He's not a boy anymore." She could no longer contain the flood, and she cried openly.
Feeling chastised, Emma crossed the room to her mother and wrapped her arms around Snow's shoulders. "I'm sorry Mama."
"No," she said through choked sobs, "I'm not being fair to you. I just miss him so much!"
"Why don't you go? No one knows the roles we were supposed to take. You could very well be the ladies maid."
"At the risk of upsetting your mother," David interjected, "I think it should be you, Emma. Snow, I know how badly you want to see Leo, but I am afraid for your safety if you go. We don't know if Regina still holds a grudge against you. Emma, we know, at least will not be killed."
"And how do you know that?" Snow asked.
"Because we know George wants the baby. Regina wouldn't do anything to harm the child. If for no other reason than she knows George wants it. She would use it as a bargaining chip."
"I think you're both overreacting," Emma said. "I spent almost a year in Regina's company. She was rude to me, but very kind to Leo. I didn't see any trace of the Evil Queen you guys always talked about."
"You don't know her like I do," Snow replied. "She tried to kill me, multiple times. We banished her before you were born."
"But, Mama, you also told me about the good in her. The person she was before she embraced the darkness. She saved your life when you were a child."
"I don't think that person exists anymore, Emma. She did horrible things."
"So did Killian! But if he gets a second chance, Regina should too."
"She's had a second chance!" David cried out. Snow hissed at him to keep his voice down. He continued in a lower tone. "She's had several chances to change her ways."
"But that was over 20 years ago."
Snow was not backing down. "Yes, but recently she allied with George and invaded our kingdom. She banished us and kidnapped our son. Trust me. She hasn't changed."
"Fine," Emma conceded. "If you truly believe her to be so dangerous, then I should be the one to go. I'll be back later." She huffed and swung the door open, stepping widely over the threshold before firmly shutting it.
She raced down the back staircase and headed through the courtyard to the castle proper. Along the way, she ran into another maid.
"Oh, pardon me...Do you work for the Princess? Do you need help finding your way?"
Emma immediately looked down, unable to speak. She knew exactly who this was: Johanna, her nursemaid. She had been with the family since Snow was a little girl. She was now in her 70's, but had refused to retire a few years ago when Snow offered. She said there was no way she could live away from the family. Emma knew Johanna would recognize her. She wasn't afraid of Johanna revealing her identity, but she also knew that there where eyes and ears everywhere in the castle. She felt stupid. How had they ever thought this plan would work?
Johanna stepped a bit closer and lifted Emma's chin, looking into her eyes. "Oh, dear. I thought that was you." She enveloped Emma in a warm hug.
Emma couldn't stop the tears of relief that began streaming down her face. After a moment, she remembered they were standing in the middle of the courtyard, visible to any number of prying eyes. "Jo," she said. "I'm supposed to be in disguise. You're not supposed to know me."
"Oh. Right." Jo said, hastily stepping back.
"How has it been since I left?"
"Well, we're not sure. I think everyone is waiting for something terrible, but Regina has been letting Leo take the reins. He'll be a great ruler one day. I can't help but be hopeful for the future."
"That's good to hear," Emma replied. "I need to go talk to Anna. Mama and Papa are in the room in the women's quarters that is set aside for visiting servants. They can fill you in on the plan."
"Alright dear. Be careful. Regina has replaced several of the staff, so if they get wind that you're here, you may be in danger."
"Thank you, Jo." Emma reached out and briefly squeezed the other woman's hand.
She quickly walked across the courtyard and into the castle. There was no trouble as she ascended the servant's staircase to the guest wing. Upon reaching the door that led into the corridor, she heard footsteps. She stopped and flattened herself against the wall, praying they did not belong to someone planning to use this stairwell. The steps receded, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Opening the door, she stepped into the corridor, turned, and came face to face with Regina.
If ever there was a phrase to describe Killian Jones, it would be "man of action." Waiting in a tavern, therefore, was one of his least favorite activities. Usually he passed his time in port playing dice, drinking rum, or entertaining himself with one of the wenches. But he did not feel like partaking in any of those activities. He sat in a corner at the back of the tavern, nursing a tankard of ale. Thoughts of the Swan filled his head. Her soft kiss. The way she looked at him. The feeling of her hand in his. His behavior with her had been nothing but gentlemanly. He'd never in his long life courted a woman. Apart from Milah, all of his relations had been mere transactions. And while he loved Milah fiercely, there was nothing demure about their courtship. She fell into his bed the night she ran away with him. In contrast, his relations with The Swan had been only a few gentle kisses and some hand holding. Rather than being irritated by the slow pace, he found it refreshing. It made him feel like a young lieutenant again.
"What's got you smiling, Captain?"
He looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. He hadn't realized he was smiling. "Jillian," he said, looking up at a woman with whom he'd passed a few evenings. "Simply lost in thought. How are you, my dear?"
Jillian gave him a coy smile and folded herself into his lap. Her red hair tumbled over her shoulders in soft curls, and her bodice was loose enough that the tops of her creamy breasts were barely contained. She ran a finger down the front of his open shirt. "Are you looking for some company, love? I'm not engaged at present, and you are one of my favorites."
In all his other interactions with Jillian, this would be the point when he would kiss her or grab her firm buttocks, but today his posture remained rigid. He could think of nothing but how it felt to have Emma's fingers intertwined with his own. Jillian seemed to take notice and doubled her efforts.
"Something got you down?" She asked as she bent her head to trail kisses along his neck. "I can help you forget, at least for a little while."
Killian stood and lifted Jillian off his lap. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, expecting he would carry her to a room upstairs. Instead, he set her down next to the table and carefully extracted her arms from his shoulders.
"Not tonight, love."
She huffed and adjusted her bodice slightly. "Your loss, darling." She walked away, the scent of her perfume still lingering in the air.
"What's gotten into you, Hook? The whores here not good enough for you?"
Killian groaned and turned to see his nemesis, Blackbeard. He had not seen Blackbeard's ship in port, but was not surprised to find him here. "I'd say it's none of your business, but then you seem to make a habit of sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."
"Just a simple question, mate," Blackbeard retorted. No doubt he was looking to sniff out any possible weakness in Hook.
"I'm not your mate."
"I've heard tell that the Jolly Roger's been more of a ferryboat than a pirate ship as of late. And now you're turning down Jillian? Has Captain Hook gone soft?"
"The only thing soft will be your guts, spilling all over the floor, if you don't sod off."
Blackbeard laughed. "If I were you, Hook, I'd watch my back. And my ship. We pirates are a ruthless bunch."
He wasn't sure if was pent up rage or just boredom, but Killian had enough. He reeled on the other pirate captain and punched him squarely in the jaw. Blackbeard stumbled back, then turned and smiled, his lip split and bleeding. He unsheathed a dagger from his sash and charged Killian. Killian stopped the blow with his hook and brandished his sword. Blackbeard was just drawing his own cutlass, when a loud voice interrupted them.
"Take it outside!" The proprietor of the tavern yelled.
Killian stepped aside and gave Blackbeard a sweeping bow. "Ladies first."
"Oh no, Hook! I'm not letting you follow me. You're likely to stab me in the back."
"I would never do such a thing. That is bad form. I assure you, I will do nothing to assault you further until we are outside of this fine establishment." He turned to the crowd and raised his voice. "I apologize for interrupting your night, fair patrons. Let me make amends by buying the next round."
A cheer rose up from all those in attendance. Killian pulled a few gold coins from his satchel and placed them on the bar as he exited, a few of his men following. Blackbeard continued to stand in the tavern, looking flabbergasted, before recollecting himself and stepping outside as well.
As soon as they were in the open air, they wasted no time resuming their duel. Their swords crossed, the zing of the metal echoing out in the courtyard. Blackbeard advanced and Killian easily parried the blow. He seemed to be toying with the other pirate. Of course, while Blackbeard appeared to be older, Killian had nearly 240 years more experience, and had become an expert swordsman. He allowed Blackbeard to advance a bit more, wearing out his strength. Blackbeard was breathing heavily, but had his opponent pressed against a rain barrel. Killian had barely broken a sweat.
"You aren't fighting as hard today, Hook. Have you finally decided to concede that I am the better pirate? I'd be happy to relieve you of command of your ship, and your life." His dagger, held in the other hand, came up to Killian's neck.
"Oh come now, Blackbeard, you know me better than that. Captain Hook always survives." With that, Killian thrust his left arm and hook upward, piercing Blackbeard's arm and knocking the dagger from his hand. He stepped to the left and spun, so that he was now on the offensive. The wound he'd inflicted was shallow, and his opponent unsheathed another dagger from his sash and charged again, dagger and sword in hand. But he was tired, and his movements were sloppy. Killian easily avoided the blow, and, noticing Blackbeard's footing was unsure, maneuvered toward an area of the courtyard with uneven cobblestones. He easily danced over them, avoiding the traps, but his opponent was not as graceful. He tripped on a broken stone, and tumbled to the ground.
Killian approached and kicked his side, forcing him to roll over. With Hook's blade pressed to his throat, Blackbeard cried out, "Finish it!"
"That would be the easy thing to do, wouldn't it? But I've never been a fan of the easy solution. I've no desire to burden these poor townfolk with the need to bury your remains. But, I can't have you trying to take my ship, so we'll settle for a maiming." With that, he brought his foot down hard on Blackbeard's knee. The bone made a sickening sound, and the pirate cried out in pain.
"Relax," Hook said, "It will heal, in time. You may end up with a limp, but your leg will be otherwise perfectly functional."
"You have gone soft!" Blackbeard said through gritted teeth. "You can't just kill me, you have to humiliate me instead. That is the epitome of bad form!"
"No, that is strategy. I have an important mission, and I need my ship. But I have recently been reminded that human life is precious, and I will not take one unnecessarily. I've found a reason to be a better man, and I damn well intend to live up to it."
"I should have known! A woman! Of course! Is losing who you are worth it for some trollop?"
"Perhaps I am not losing anything, but rather finding myself again." He signaled to one of his men. "Find his men and tell them where he is. And give them this to pay the surgeon." He handed over a few more coins. He returned to the Jolly and decided to spend the rest of the evening in his quarters. His appetite for action was sated.
"Coming here was unwise, Princess."
Emma froze in place. She could try to feign ignorance and maintain her disguise, but what was the point? Regina wasn't stupid. There was nowhere to go. She desperately hoped that her instincts about the former Evil Queen were correct.
"Your majesty," Emma said, giving Regina as deep a curtsy as was possible in her current condition.
"Did you really think you and your parents could hide from me?"
"Where are they? Have you hurt them?"
"Relax. They are exactly where you left them. Answer my question. Did you really think you get away with this?"
"Before we got here, yes. But we were desperate."
"Is there even a military struggle between Arendelle and The Southern Isles? Or did you convince Anna and Elsa to lie for you?"
"The conflict between those kingdoms is very real, I assure you."
"Then what did you hope to accomplish in this reckless mission?"
"To reunite with Leo."
"And take him away from here? Away from me?"
"What is he to you?! He is my brother. He has a mother and father!"
Regina glared at Emma. "You know nothing, Princess! You and your family have had your happy little existence for the last 20 years, while I have been in exile! I only had my father for company, and then...then..." she choked up as tears began to roll down her cheek. "He died last year. He was the only person in the world who loved me."
Seeing vulnerability from Regina gave Emma pause. "Why didn't you cast the Dark Curse? I thought that was your plan to take away all the Happy Endings?"
"The price of the curse was too high."
"And what was that?"
"The heart of the thing you love most."
Emma sucked in a deep breath. "Your father."
"Yes. I thought I could do it. I thought I could rip his heart out and sacrifice it. But when I tried, I couldn't. He was the only person left who loved me. How could I take him away? What kind of life would that be, even if managed to get my revenge on your mother?"
"Is that why you joined George in his invasion? Because your father was dead?"
"Yes, George promised I would become Queen of Misthaven again. He only wanted to force you to marry Lord Cassidy."
Emma's posture became rigid and her hands balled into fists."You knew? You knew what he was planning to do to me?"
The Queen sighed deeply. "Yes, I knew. But I didn't think he would be quite so cruel in carrying out his plans."
"And you stood idly by?! While he forced Neal to bed me every night?!" Her voice rang out through the corridor.
Regina looked uneasy. "Come with me, Princess. Let's move this conversation to someplace more private."
"I want my parents. And I want to see Leo. And I want you to promise that no harm will come to Anna or Kristoff."
"None of your party are in danger. But George has spies everywhere, and I am not about to give him reason to send the Dark One to harm me."
Emma followed Regina to her chambers. Leo soon joined her, and Regina asked that they remain there while she retrieved their parents. Rather than walk out the room, she disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.
Once she was gone, Emma turned to Leo.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Regina has been good to me. She's not the Evil Queen Mama and Papa always spoke of."
"I agree, but that doesn't make her a good person. What has she been making you do?"
"Nothing more than my lessons, and helping me learn how to rule. As soon as George left, we resumed audience days. She's let me manage most of the requests, advising me as needed. And she has not tried to harm anyone since she's been here. She's trying to make up for the mistakes made during her original rule."
Emma considered this. She wanted to ask more, but at that moment the purple smoke cloud reappeared. When it dissipated, Regina stood with Snow and David. Emma realized with a start that her parents were frozen. "What have you done? Release them!"
Regina snapped her fingers and the spell was lifted. Snow and David stumbled, fierce looks on their faces. "I apologize for temporarily immobilizing you. I didn't want you to blow your cover."
"Our cover was from you!" David said. "Now that you know we are here, I'd say it's blown."
"I am not your problem," Regina scoffed.
Snow saw Leo at that moment and ran to her son, wrapping her arms around him. Her body racked with sobs as she held her son. Emma looked on for a moment, before turning back to Regina. The woman's face had turned sad, with signs of resignation. She looked deeply and desperately lonely.
"What do you mean that you are not our problem?" Emma asked.
Leo gently pushed away from his mother's embrace and stepped forward. "Mama, Papa, Emma, I can attest that Regina is not the Evil Queen anymore. She has changed. She wants to atone for her past misdeeds."
"Leo..." Snow began, a look of betrayal crossing her face.
"Don't tell me I'm wrong, Mama. Just look where you are. Would the old Regina have allowed you to gain entry to the castle using deception? Would she have brought you here without harm and allowed us to reunite?"
"I...no," Snow stuttered. "She would not."
"Exactly! She's not that person anymore. And she wants to help us."
Regina's face held a small smile. "He reminds me of you at that age, Snow."
Snow saw the genuine affection Regina held for Leo. "Is it really true? Have you changed?"
"A year ago, I was grieving the loss of my father. George came to me at my darkest hour and convinced me that you were still the reason I was so miserable. All my old beliefs that you ruined my life came back. They'd weakened over the years, but my father's passing made the wounds feel as fresh as if they'd just happened. I wanted to get here and slaughter the lot of you. George said he only needed Emma. But when I got here, I saw Leo and remembered how you were as a child. I bargained with George to spare your lives and banish you instead, allowing me to keep Leo here with me. He was amenable as long as he got what he wanted. I have been so lonely, for so long. Having Leo to care for brought me back from the edge."
Snow's face softened, and she crossed the room, embracing Regina just as she'd recently embraced her son. Regina stiffened, unused to the affection, but did nothing to remove Snow.
David was visibly uncomfortable. He coughed loudly, and Snow released Regina and returned to his side. "So," he said, "what do you know about why George wants Emma's child?"
"A seer supposedly told George that if he possessed a certain child, the child's power would allow him to live forever and that Anwalt would be the greatest of all kingdoms."
"Why Emma's child?"
"Because she is the Savior. The product of True Love. She hasn't had a need to call on it, but she possesses some of the strongest light magic in the land."
"And Neal?" Emma asked. "Why him?"
"He is the son of the Dark One. He descends from one of the most powerful sources of dark magic in all the realms. A child born of light and dark, so the seer said."
"Do you believe this prophecy?"
"Seems a bit contrived for me," Regina answered. "Seers aren't usually so specific. But the problem is that George believes it, and he fully intends to take your child. There isn't really anywhere you can run while he has the Dark One under his control."
They were all silent for a time. Emma absentmindedly ran her hands over her stomach. She thought back to what she knew of the Dark One, both from her parents and from Neal. As far as she knew, Neal was cursed to obey the commands of whomever held the dagger, the same as his father. "How did George get the Dark One dagger?" Emma asked.
"I don't know," Regina replied. "Did he have it when you arrested him all those years ago, Charming?"
"You arrested the Dark One?" Emma and Leo both asked at the same time.
"It's a long story, children. But to answer your question, Regina, he did not have it on him. I always assumed he'd hidden it somewhere and retrieved it when he escaped from his cell."
"Well, somehow George managed to get it and now he controls both Rumpelstiltskin and Neal."
"And he wants my baby."
"Yes. I had hoped you would stay in hiding after your escape from George. But you somehow managed to find your parents and make it back here. I am sure there is a very interesting story. But now that you are here, I suppose we should figure out a way to stop George."
"You're going to help us?" Snow asked, unbelieving.
"Yes," Regina said, "as unlikely as it may seem. I am under just as much of a threat from George as you are. It's only a matter of time before he tries to have me killed, and I don't intend to let that happen. He took advantage of me for his own gains. I hate being manipulated, after what my mother did to me. As I said before, Leo saved me, but George has also given me something that I haven't had for a very long time.
"What?" Emma asked.
Regina's face curled into a menacing sneer. "Someone to destroy."
