Chapter 12

The trip back to his step-sister's castle was incredibly less eventful, and Roland was anxious to get home. It had been far too long since he saw his parents and Rose-Red. He wondered how old she was now. She and Snow-White was about the same age as Prince Neal, so about twenty? It has been ten years since the Winter Ball fiasco. How much had she changed, and did she learn how to utilize her magic?

He remembered her accidently setting fire to the rug. He couldn't help but laugh in delight as she burnt it. It was an ugly rug anyway. She was mortified and started crying when she realized that she had done it, and Roland didn't help matters by laughing at the demise of the ugly fur rug. She thought he was laughing at her, and began crying louder, yelling at him for thinking that her ruining the Queen's late father's rug was funny. She also shouted that after this, the Queen and King would throw her into an orphanage, never to see her twin again.

Roland stopped laughing and embraced the tearful, and fearful girl of eight years, saying he was not laughing at her, but that he was excited to see her perform magic. He further explained as he wiped the tears from her face, that he was happy that she burnt the rug. He thought the rug should have been burnt a long time ago because it was hideously ugly. Rose-Red had a dubious look on her face. Roland reassured her that Queen Snow-White and King David were fair people and after an explanation of what happened, they wouldn't punish her too harshly. Or ever throw her into an orphanage.

Queen Snow-White and King David had been standing behind the two since Rose-Red had burnt the rug. Both felt their hearts nearly break when Rose-Red blurted all of her fears to Roland. They knew Rose-Red never saw them as her parents, but as the kind people who took both her and her twin in. They made themselves known to the pair standing over the cremated rug, and Rose-Red's eyes became fearful and she tried explaining that she didn't mean to set the rug on fire. King David placed his finger on Rose-Red's lips and picked her up with Queen Snow-White looking up at her with a sad smile.

Roland never forgot the look on Rose-Red's face as Their Majesties explained that they both love her and would never give her away, no matter what she had done. Rose-Red buried her little face in King David's shoulder and still wept. Roland wanted to cry then too, as he felt his heart hurt at the fact Rose-Red was upset and Their Majesties carried her away into the hallway. He could barely hear the King and Queen tell Rose-Red that they will enlist someone to help Rose-Red control her magic.

Prince Neal looked at his best friend go through various expressions as they approached Queen Snow-White's castle. He was about to ask what was wrong when the Royal carriages appeared next to them on the road and stopped. The Queen opened the door to the carriage and saw her son, Roland, and the Merry Men looking a little worse for wear, but still healthy. She left the carriage and went up to her son and hugged him, thanking the gods that he arrived home safely.

Neal blushed and whined to his mother that she was embarrassing him in front of the guys. Roland and the Merry Men teased the prince good-naturedly about him being a momma's boy. Neal's ears burned red and told the guys to buzz off. Roland made a fake "I'm hurt by your words" noise.

Neal rolled his eyes at Roland.

Roland snickered, but admitted to Neal that his mother would be doing the same thing to him when he arrived at the castle, and that every Merry Man would be getting that treatment from their own mothers as well. Which made the Merry Men shout at Roland, denying that ever happening to them, to which Roland responded by calling them all liars, saying that he witnessed every one of them getting fussed over by their mothers.

The arguments between the men continued until Snow-White peaked her head out of the carriage telling them to be quiet as her sister was sleeping. Roland's ears perked up and went over to the carriage where Snow-White sat, both apologizing for the noise and reintroducing himself since it had been ten years since he saw her. Snow-White graciously accepted Roland's apology and for the reminder of who he was, but that she remembered him. After a few pleasantries, a young man on a horse approached the carriage and Roland wondered who this was. The young man asked Snow-White if she and Rose-Red were doing okay. Snow-White responded to the young man, calling him Winnie, that she was well and that her sister continued to sleep.

Winnie? Roland thought. He looked at the young man, studying his features. His face was shaped like King Phillips, but had Queen Aurora's eyes, and that honey-colored hair was unmistakable. It was Prince Winifred! Roland grinned at the prince. He liked the second son of King Phillip and Queen Aurora; he wasn't such a brat like his elder brother was. Roland reintroduced himself to the prince, hand extended. Prince Winifred grinned back to Roland, telling him that he remembered him and shook Roland's extended hand in greeting.

Queen Snow White announced that the carriages should resume their travels as it continued to be in the safe daylight, and everyone could catch up later in the castle. Every one took the advice of the queen and departed for the castle.

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It wasn't a long journey from the forest to the castle and Roland was excited to see his parents again. When everyone arrived at the castle various Guards and Merry Men and carriage passengers disembarked and went their own way. Roland stayed near Snow-White's carriage and discreetly watched as the twins emerged from the carriage. When he saw Rose-Red, his heart dropped. She looked like she fought in battle and was defeated. Her eyes were swollen, cuts and bruises were scattered all across her face. Roland quickly turned away to help some of the stable hands with the horses, trying hard not to cry. His vow to the Dark One haunted his thoughts. He vowed to protect her, and failed. He couldn't face her now.

As shadowy thoughts of doubt and failure burst through his entire soul, Roland failed to notice that Rose-Red was watching him and his reactions with a confused expression. She was quickly pulled away by Winnie and her sister, but she couldn't help but feel rejected by the man who turned away from her hideously injured face. Rose-Red didn't why she felt this, as she didn't recognize the dark haired man. She also didn't understand why she felt that his opinion of her mattered at all. All that she wanted now, was a warm bath, and to relax in the comfort of her own room.

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After he finished his work with the horses, Roland went straight to his parents' wing of the castle, knowing that his mother would still be there, working on whatever potion she felt like. He still couldn't believe that she was his mother, after all that had happened. Things got messy and confusing he remembered when the Snow Queen showed up and disappeared, but his father and mother somehow worked things out. He really needed to see her now. He wanted to understand why he felt the way he felt all those years ago, and what is really going on with Rose-Red. She is close to his mother after all, Rose-Red might tell his mother what really happened to her.

Roland found his step-mother just as he knew she would be; in her laboratory, pouring over spell books and unfinished potions with her back facing towards him. He stood in the doorway, smiling yet silent and observing the motions that the former Evil Queen was producing. Regina stopped mid-way through her stirring and waved a spell over her brews, halting the process. She then stood to her full height and without turning around she spoke.

"Stalking me again Robin? You know you can just come in, as long as…" Roland interrupted.

"…As long as I don't break anything. Naturally!"

That wasn't Robin's voice although it sounded similar. It was a voice that she hadn't heard for a while. It got deeper. Regina spun around towards the door quickly. Roland smiled his dimpled smile and dramatically walked his way toward his mom. Arms were stretched out, waiting for a hug. Regina sprang towards her son, with tears exploding from her eyes.

"Roland! You've returned!"

"Yes I have Mother. I've missed you and Father!"

"Tell me of your adventures Roland! Tell me all!" Regina took Roland by the hand and migrated to the couch where they both sat down. Roland explained that he made new friends in Shrek the ogre and his True Love the Princess Fiona. Regina's eyes went wide. Her son became friends with an ogre? But then again, this was Roland. He could make friends with just about anybody. If he said that this Shrek could be trusted and was a loyal friend then the ogre was indeed as Roland had stated. Roland also mentioned his concern seeing Rose-Red all beaten and defeated. Regina's eyes went wide again. Her favorite little pupil was being harassed and hassled?

A knock on the door was heard. A guard announced that Sir Roland was to appear to Their Majesties with Prince Neal and the Merry Men for his mission reports. Roland announced that he would be there immediately, rose from his seat, kissed his mother on the cheek, and then departed to go to the council room.

Regina sat down and pondered on what Roland told her. Rose-Red was being hurt? How come no one noticed it before? Rose-Red was always bright and cheery when Regina was around. Suspiciously so after every time she returned from Phillip's and Aurora's castle. Regina swore under her breath. How could have she missed the signs that Rose-Red was unhappy. She was going to find out the truth.

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Snow-White and Winnie were walking in the Royal Gardens hand in hand. Rose-Red had told them to go on ahead and enjoy themselves and that she was going to her room to rest. Snow-White wanted to help her but, the Queen nudged her and Winnie along saying that she will help Rose-Red. So here they were, exploring what the garden had produced; flowers of all sorts, with a variety of vegetables, and orchards bearing all fruits. Snow-White went to sit on a nearby garden bench with Winnie sitting beside her. She was still worried about what was happening between her sister and Prince Christopher. Snow turned to Winnie and spilt all her suspicions. From Rose's reactions in regards to his name and Christopher's reactions when they announced that they were all leaving. Winnie offered the suggestion that his brother was upset that someone did that to his fiancé. Snow admitted that's what she first thought too but added one important detail that she noticed.

"His eyes Winnie," Snow explained. "Christopher's eyes were dark, possessive even. Not the eyes of a kind man. His eyes spoke of retaliation and vengeance, of what I cannot tell. I say this not to hurt you because he is your brother Winnie… but this isn't the man I want my sister to marry. With everything that we witnessed before we left, the terror I felt coming from Rose-Red, I believe that he was the one hurting her."

Winnie's eyes were pensive, and he fell quiet. He loved Snow-White and knew that she was always open and honest. If she felt this way then he knew that something was wrong with his brother. But he also loves his brother, and was very close to him. Winnie couldn't really believe that his brother was responsible for causing Rose-Red pain. But he remembered Rose-Red's panicked face. He began to remember other things, even before this happened. Every time that Snow-White and Rose-Red had come to his parent's castle, Rose-Red would flinch ever so slightly whenever Christopher was near. Realization dawned on Winnie and it started to all add up. Christopher was be responsible for hurting his future sister-in-law. His heart broke. So what would make Christopher do such a thing?

His brother wasn't always like this. He suddenly remembered his childhood before he was cursed when Christopher and he would be playing make-believe and pretending to be wizards and knights. Christopher always chose to be the wizard, and with Winnie as the noble knight, they both would embark on epic quests in the almost magical acreage of wood behind their parents' summer castle.

Winnie also remembered that after he was cursed and then freed from his bear form, Christopher stopped playing in their land of make believe. Winnie was distressed with the change in his brother, but his parents soothed his troubles that every child goes through stages of their lives where they grow and change. So Winnie at the age of six, would accept that his older brother would change and left it at that.

So what caused the change in Christopher? Think Winnie. Think! Think! Think! Winnie placed his hands to the sides of his forehead and rubbed his temples with his fingers.

Snow-White knew that Winnie was on to figuring something out. That was his thoughtful face. She kept quiet and patiently waited while Winnie was still figuring out the connection.

The thought came back to Winnie that Christopher would always choose to become the wizard in their quests, and after Winnie's curse broke, he refused to be the wizard anymore. But why was this important?! Think! Wizard…wizard…magic? Winnie stopped rubbing his temples and froze. It was magic. Magic was the answer. Christopher must have associated his curse as a horrible thing and then refused to have anything to do to magic. Christopher probably thought that all magic did was cause him pain and began to hate it.

Rose-Red is proficient in magic.

So is Snow-White.

He witnessed the power that his love wielded. He almost shuddered to think of what she did when in her anger, a former suitor called her Snowflake. Winnie thought that the man couldn't have slept soundly for a week. But then he noticed that Snow-White never used magic in his parent's home.

Ever.

Why?

He turned to Snow-White, and lowered his hands from his forehead.

"Snowflake, I have to ask you something." Snow-White nodded, and hoped that he figured out something.

"What is it Winnie?"

"Did Rose-Red ever tell you not to use magic every time you came over to my parents' castle?" Snow-White eyes grew.

"Yes she did. Why?"

Everything fell into place. Winnie told Snow of his childhood with Christopher and the possible reasons of why Rose-Red would subject herself to his brother's whims, and abuse. Snow-White's face grew pale while her heart was roaring in anger. She stood up, took Winnie by the hand, and stormed off to confront her sister with her fiancé in tow.

This façade of an engagement was going to end. Snow-White was going to make sure of it.

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Roslyn submerged herself in the warm bath that the maid drew up for her. All the aches and pains from Christopher's beatings and the long trip home began to slowly fade. She was so happy to be home, away from that bully Christopher. She felt safer here.

Roslyn's thoughts drifted to memories of Storybrooke, and how she and Selene would spend hours spinning and dyeing skeins of yarns, laughing and enjoying themselves. Those were the days! thought Roslyn.

The water turned cold and Roslyn exited the bath, wrapped a towel around her and went into her bedchambers to put on her undergarments and a nightgown. Discarding the towel in the laundry chute, Roslyn climbed into her bed and fell asleep.