Prince James coughed, tasting blood. He lay on his back, the broken pieces of his sword lying on the ground beside him. The Huntsman's blade hovered just above his neck, the other man pausing in a fashion that certainly belied his general manner of delivering swift death to his foes.
When James met the other man's eyes, though, he could see that it wasn't because he was relishing the act that he hesitated, but because the Huntsman was suddenly conflicted. Apparently making a choice the Huntsman drove his blade into the ground instead of into James' throat, going to one knee and bowing his head.
The Huntsman's voice was tired and heavy with regret, "I forsake my fealty to the Queen and offer my neck to your judgment, noble warrior. I can think of no one more worthy of being my executioner."
James stood, the other soldiers of the Queen gasping at the unexpected announcement. Even the men who stood by James stood dumbstruck, having only a moment ago thought that their champion was about to meet his end.
The soldier on James' right handed him a sword, quick to arm his commander and give him the honor of execution of the man who had slain so many of their brethren. James took the sword numbly, staring down at the bowed head of the Huntsman. "You forsake Regina. So then will you swear fealty to our cause?"
If those watching were surprised by the Huntsman's sudden surrender, James' words caused even more looks of astonishment. James stepped forward, using the flat of his blade to lift the Huntsman's head so they could lock eyes, "Fight with us, and ensure that your former mistress rules no longer."
The Huntsman swallowed, a strange fear alight in his eyes, but it passed and his face became hard with conviction as he rose to standing, tucking his blade under his arm and proffering the hilt to James according to tradition, "I swear myself to thee, Prince James, that my arm and blood be yours."
James had not expected the Huntsman to swear onto him personally, but he hid his surprise and nodded seriously, "Then turn and destroy the supporters of tyranny."
The Huntsman turned without a word, and his blade flashed out to claim his first victim before his shocked former allies could even think to lift a defense, and James watched, wondering what it was that the Huntsman so feared that he preferred to die by James' hand than face it.
Grumpy peeked around the corner carefully, wary of the fact that even that could end up awarding him an arrow to the face if even one of the archers outside remained vigilant. Seeing no one Grumpy crept out of the protective cover of the broken door, his mining picked ready as he tensed warily.
The archers were all still there, but facing away from Grumpy, firing their arrows on soldiers outside of the castle. Grumpy licked his lips. He should slip away and get back to the camp where he wasn't outmanned by the hundreds.
Grumpy huffed, and slowly inched toward the archer's backs, sneaking up the steps of the nearest wall tower slowly. If no one else was going to take the wise course today, why should he be the exception? Grumpy could only pray that James and Snow fared better than Belle had.
The first archer never saw Grumpy; he was firing down at the enemy one moment and simply tumbling through the air the next. He didn't have time to scream before hitting the ground. The second archer saw the first fall and cried out in alarm, but was also too slow to avoid the same fate as his comrade.
Grumpy winced reflexively as he saw the third archer take aim; he wouldn't be catching this one by surprise. Grumpy roared as he charged, raising his mining pick and hoping that his yell would rattle the archer enough to shake his aim.
Instead, the archer suddenly slumped forward, landing at the surprised dwarf's feet. Belle stood behind him, giving Grumpy a strained smile, one hand clutching at a wound on her side, "Trust me, you don't want to wear arrows; it hurts like hell, and a real bitch to remove."
Grumpy smiled widely and he ran to help her, "You'll be fine. Quit your whining, girl. Come on, we need to finally start being less stupid and get to safety."
Even with a giant pounding away at their forces, the Queen's army continued to receive reinforcements from the forests, trolls and ogres adding to the carnage of the beleaguered human attackers. War trumpets blared along the ridge to the east, and James, frowned, wondering what further threat they faced.
Instead of more beasts or terrors from the dark a crimson banner fluttered in the wind instead; the crest of King George. Soldiers allied against the Queen cheered all along the confused sprawl of fighting, as the missing army of Prince James' father arrived late but extremely welcome.
The fresh troops charged downhill and collided with the mixed army of beast-men and black-armored soldiers. Finally able to reform their lines, James' forces had the armies of the queen divided, one side pressed to the castle and the other to the forest, the giant's strides carrying him randomly across the field so that only the enemy remained in a state of confusion, his attacks raining down everywhere.
Midas ran to his fellow King Maurice, kneeling over him and frowning at the vicious wound. Maurice still breathed, though, and Midas shouted for his court magician. The elderly wizard ambled over, "Yes, sire?"
Midas pointed at Maurice and commanded, "Heal him."
The wizened man leaned over Maurice and shook his head, "That is a mortal wound, your majesty. It is beyond my skill to mend."
King Midas gave the older man a stern look, "Then gather every indentured mage on this field. Either find someone who can or put all of your heads together to make it happen. You have done nothing to aid us in this our moment of need, so redeem yourself or leave my court!"
The wizard's face paled and he nodded, "O-of course, your highness."
Belle raced through damp passageways, ignoring the pain in her side. Grumpy ran along behind her, a scowl on her face, "Damn fool, you're going to kill yourself; you're wounded so slow down!"
Belle nodded breathlessly, seeing the validity of his point; she wouldn't do Rumple any good if she bled out before she even reached him. Her eyes flitted from one set of iron bars to another. At least in the Queen's dungeon she could see which stalls were empty.
A form moved in one of the cells and Belle called out, "Rumple?"
Belle's eyes attempted to adjust to the dark as she strained to see and she froze as she saw the prone body lying on the simple cot behind the shadowy figure. Belle drew her sword, and the person who stood over Rumpelstiltskin raised their hands in a gesture of peace, "Is this how you would greet your dear Rumpelstiltskin; with menacing steel?"
Belle tried hard to see the speakers face, but the shadows of the cell almost seemed to shift every time she started to get a feel for their form, making it impossible to get a feel for the age, height, or even sex of the speaker, since the voice she heard was distorted and odd, like someone screaming underwater.
Grumpy spoke up, affirming what she saw, "What the hell are you? I can't see you right, and I can see anything in the dark."
Belle challenged the newcomer, raising her sword, "You most certainly are not my Rumple, and if you continue to bar my way to him, or have caused him harm, I will destroy you."
"How intrepid!" the dark figure laughed, a sound that sent thrills of terror coursing through Belle that had no specific source, like the frights she would have at night as a small girl.
The shadowy creature moved in an unsettling manner, walking right through the bars of the cell fluidly. Belle backed away a step, stopping only by asserting every ounce of her will against her alarming and sudden fear. Rumple was in there; she had to stay, or he might die!
Belle licked her lips, doing her best to give her adversary a brave face, so they would know she wasn't going to back down without a fight. "W-who are you?"
A pair of eyes floated up within the black face they beheld, eyes that burned a sickly red color like embers within oil. It was difficult at any point to see which way it faced so far, but now it seemed to look directly at Grumpy, "Boo."
Grumpy shrieked with primal fear, the stalwart dwarf dropping his mining pick and running with abandon back the way they had come. The sight so startled Belle that she stepped back a bit again, but she caught herself and yelled fearfully, "What do you want from us?"
The thing stared with its wild eyes for a moment that seemed a lifetime to Belle, and then began to vanish, leaving her with one final promise, "From you… you don't have what I want now; she does. But once I get what was promised me, I will have it…"
The terrifying being was gone then, fading to nothing before her eyes. Belle turned every which way, looking into every dark corner of the corridor. Finally her eyes locked on the still form in the cell, and she rushed to the door, shaking at the bars.
It was locked. Belle searched, quickly grabbing up the pickaxe Grumpy had dropped and slamming it into the mechanism. The pick tore through the iron, and the door swung open. Belle dropped the pick and ran to Rumpelstiltskin, lifting his head, "Rumple!"
Rumpelstiltskin opened his eyes and looked at her groggily, "Belle…?" he sat up, "Belle!"
They embraced, tears in the eyes of both, for though they had each committed to being brave, finding each other again was almost too good to be true. They continued holding each other tightly, and Belle exclaimed, "I thought I would never see you again, I thought…!"
Rumpelstiltskin shushed her, kissing her gently, "I know; I also despaired. I thought now that finally I was to receive my ultimate punishment for all my evils."
Belle shook her head at him, "Don't ever leave me again; how did you come to be here?"
Rumpelstiltskin's brow furrowed in confusion, "I… I don't know. I simply woke here one night. I assumed it was the queen's magic, but the dreams I have been having, the nightmares…"
Belle drew him close at the ashen look on his face, seeing a touch of what the creature they had encountered had infused in her. "It's alright." She laughed happily between joyful tears, "We are winning; her armies were being routed as we came in!"
Rumpelstiltskin smiled back, "Well, I was thinking you had managed to sneak in here, but that's infinitely better. What of the Queen herself? And you said 'we came in'?" he peered into the shadows around them, "Who else is here with you?"
Belle stood quickly, taking his hand, "Oh… Grumpy! Let's go find him!"
They found Grumpy outside, his hands on his knees as he panted, "I… I've never run like that before… ever…"
Belle hugged him and started to reply, but someone descended the stairs that caused her to freeze. The others turned to see Regina walking out to them, her face pale and drawn. She approached and held her hands to each side, palms open. "We surrender."
