NOTE: I KNOW IT HAS BEEN FOREVER SINCE I LAST UPDATED. I can only offer you infinite apologies as I've been extremely busy with life things. I will however let you know that if you go to my tumblr side blog page (iammindchaos. tumblr .com) you'll be able to catch spoilers and whatnot on there in between chapter updates.
Anyways, here's chapter 13. And again, sorry for the wait!
CHAPTER 13:
The shadows were chasing her again. This time through her own castle. They were closing in on every side, each corridor, every room, filled with the damn things as she tried to find her way out of the labyrinth that was now her home. Sprinting down another hallway, Regina found herself in riding clothes though Rocinante was nowhere to be found in the stone corridor. In the distance, Phasma turned the corner yet Emma was no where to be found.
Panic flooded Regina as she spun around, looking wildly for Emma. She opened her mouth to call for her Knight but no sound came out. The walls seemed to close in around her as the shadows whispers surround the brunette, then burst through the wall behind her.
The force of the wall bursting pulled Regina back instead of propelling her forward. A silent scream escaped her lips as she was pulled back into darkness, her magic failing her as she tried to teleport to safety. Shadows pulled at her clothes, tearing at the fabric, burning her skin. Just as Regina was to be pulled into the abyss, everything around her shattered as she heard her name being called not by Emma, but a ghost of her past.
Morning came and Emma awoke to Regina stirring in her sleep just arm's length from her. Judging by the furrowed look on her face and the slight shake of her hands, Emma figured she was having yet another nightmare of the curse that was placed on her. Moving over, she gently pulled Regina into her arms. "Regina..." she said softly, stroking her cheek. "Regina, wake up." The blonde repeated, watching as slowly, her Queen began to wake.
As she opened her eyes, Regina looked up to the gentle smile of her soulmate looking back at her. The memory of her nightmare still fresh in her mind, Regina pulled closer to the blonde, feeling her arms tighten around her. "Thank you, for waking me." the Queen managed quietly as she rested her head on Emma's shoulder.
Pressing a soft kiss to Regina's lips, Emma held her close as she fully woke. "Would you like to talk about the dream?" Emma asked, slipping her hand into Regina's as they lay together.
"No, it was... the same dream as usual." Regina said looking to hers and Emmas hands entwined.
"We have to try and get her back, Snow," James said looking to his wife as they sat across from one another in their library. "If Emma just came back to the castle and see that we've changed and will dismiss her of her knightly duties, only to keep her as Princess, she will stay. She has to stay."
"James, she's made her choice. She and Regina threw us into the river and left us to die." the White Queen replied quietly, her eyes not leaving her book as she spoke. Realizing what she had just said, Snow lowered her book and looked up at her husband. "What if Regina is somehow controlling Emma's actions?"
James raised an eyebrow slightly and looked to his wife. "That would make sense. Regina could have stolen Emma's heart and be using it to control her…"
"Regina does not have the Princess' heart." Came an eerily familiar drawl from the doorway. Turning their heads, Snow dropped her book as she and James stared wide eyed at their new guest. "But soon enough, she will have yours."
" Are you certain you do not wish for my company, my Queen?" Emma asked, watching as Regina gracefully mounted Rocinante and looked to her.
Holding out her hand which Emma took instantly, Regina squeezed her Knights hand affectionately. "I will return by sundown the latest, you've nothing to worry about." The brunette assured her as Emma placed a gentle kiss to the back of her Queens hand.
" Very well, then. Be safe, my Queen." The White Knight said before stepping back as Regina nodded and rode toward the entrance of the forest.
Regina rode through the forest, breathing in the crisp air whipping around her as Rocinante tore through the trees in the direction of Regina's favorite place. As the sounds of rushing water echoed in the distance, Regina slowed her stallion and finally dismounted as they broke through to the clearing by the waterfall.
Letting Rocinante drink from the stream, Regina crossed her arms over her stomach and looked out at the vast forest stretching for miles beneath her at the edge of the cliff. Though the leaves had already begun to fall off of the trees as autumn faded into winter, the view in front of the Queen gave her a sense of peace, though the feeling faded quickly, despite the amount of time that had passed since her arrival at the falls.
A slight pang of guilt tore through her as she stood there. All morning and most of the afternoon she had been quiet and pensive despite Emma's efforts to comfort her. The look of worry in her love's eyes made her stomach clench and her arms tightened slightly around herself.
"I really do hate when you stand that way."
Straightening up, Regina eyes widened slightly, and her breath hitched as she heard the all too familiar voice coming from behind her. Shifting her eyes slightly, lips parted slightly as she struggled to find her voice. "A-...Anariel?" Regina finally managed softly, turning as she felt a hand gently touch her shoulder.
" Regina." Anariel smiled, meeting the woman's dark gaze with her ocean blue.
Taking a half step back, Regina looked over the woman standing before her. Taller than she was herself, Anariel looked the same as she did the last day they were together. Anariel's brilliant eyes rivaled her own dark, as her raven black hair trailed down over her shoulders and down her back. Unlike their last encounter, Anariel's olive skin was free from any and all lacerations, completely smooth, as if that day had never happened.
Meeting the woman's gaze one more, Regina reached in between them and pressed her fingertips lightly against Anariel's exposed midriff and shook her head slightly. "Ari..." She began, using the nickname she had given her years ago. "I-I don't understand... you were dead..." she continued, dropping her hand. " Seven years ago you died...in my arms... after Mother ran my sword through you..."
Watching as Regina's eyes began to water at the memory, Anariel pulled her into a tight hug. " Cora had me locked up. She used her power run the sword through me and though I felt the pain, but the blade was enchanted to put me into a deep sleep." Anariel explained, stroking Regina's hair as the Queen hugged her tightly. " The Red Queen kept me locked up, tortured me and left me to die. Until three years ago when her enchantment failed and I escaped. She's eluded me for those three years but when I find her..."
Looking up at Anariel, Regina shook her head and wiped at her face. " Mother is dead."
Frowning, Anariel looked to Regina and sighed. " Well, now I feel foolish..."
" You did not know." Regina cut in, then furrowed her brow as she came to realize something. "How did you find me?"
Taking Regina's hand, Anariel led the Queen to a large boulder by the river and sat beside her. " Since the moment I escaped Cora's prison, I set out to find you, only to realize that I was in another world, some place called Wonderland according to a curious little girl I had met while traveling in the woods." Anariel began, "Time also works quite differently outside of Cora's palace, because what I had thought to be only a few weeks in the woods, has apparently been three years." She explained, looking around then back to Regina.
" But you've no magic of your own, how is it that you returned to the Enchanted Forest?"
"I meet a Queen who, ironically went by the title of White Queen. In exchange for my assisting her with some tasks, she gave me a potion that allowed me to travel back home." Pulling a small empty vial from her cloak pocket, Anariel held it up for Regina. " By simply thinking of where I wanted to be, the magic worked and brought me here." She continued, " What I did not realize is that by wishing to arrive at the castle would bring me to the castle of Snow White and James."
At the mention of her rivals, Regina looked to Anariel, then stood and quickly scanned the darkening forest around them. " They did not follow you... did they?" Regina asked, her eyes scanning the trees around them.
" No, I made sure of it." She replied, standing herself beside Regina. "They do however think you've taken the heart of their Princess and are using it to control her... Is this true?" Anariel asked, looking to Regina curiously.
Sighing, Regina groaned internally and shook her head. "I do not literally have the Princess' heart."
Noticing the play of her words, Anariel pressed on."...But you are in love with her, correct?"
Nodding, Regina met Anariel's stare. " Yes, she is my love, my soul mate, my warrior... my savior." The Queen answered softly, before being pulled into a tight hug.
" Never have I been so happy for you, my friend." She said, smiling as she kept Regina in a tight embrace.
A rustle of leaves to their left, broke their embrace as Anariel reached for her sword, her blade clanging loudly against the one that almost struck her.
" Get away from my Queen." Emma growled, sparks flying off the tip of her blade as she locked eyes with Anariel.
" Back off, peasant, before I destroy you where you stand." Anariel threatened in reply.
" Both of you stand down at once!" The Queen demanded, stepping in between the two and parting their blades. Looking in between them Regina waited until they each took a full step back before looking to her warrior first. " Emma, this is Anariel, the only friend I had growing up whom I thought to have died by my mother's hand." She explained watching as the two women lowered their swords.
" Is this her, Regina?" Anariel asked, her gaze shifting from Emma to Regina. " The Princess who has your heart?" She added, as Regina confirmed with a nod.
Sheathing her sword, Emma stepped to Anariel, offering her arm. As Anariel took hold of her forearm, they shook, both looking to one another apologetically before Emma spoke first. "I apologize for attacking you, I did not know you and her Majesty were friends."
Bowing slightly, Anariel looked to the blonde and grinned. "I apologize for calling you a peasant and also threatening your life."
Looking between them, a smile on her face, Regina looked up the sky then to Emma. " Was something wrong, Emma? I had promised to return before nightfall..." She trailed off as Emma shifted her gaze back to Regina.
"I know. But this came by way of carrier pigeon and it could not wait." Emma said, taking a scroll from the belt of her riding pants and handing it to Regina.
Unraveling the parchment, Regina looked to Emma before reading aloud:
Emma,
We know you said you want nothing to do with us, but we've reason to believe that it is because Regina has your heart. Literally. There must have been a moment where she froze you and stole it without you noticing and now she is controlling you, forcing you to believe you are in love and one with one another. But we have a plan. We're going to find your heart, wherever Regina has kept it locked and return it to you. Then you can return home. To your family. It will not be long until we arrive to rescue you, trust us, this time we will not fail.
Love,
Your Mother and Father
The parchment burst into flames as Regina growled as she finished reading. "They had their chance. And I am done with their foolishness." The Queen snarled as she brushed off her hands and looked to Emma. "If they cannot take the offer I gave them to live in peace, then they will suffer for the rest of their days."
"What is she doing back? How could she… she was dead, James!" Snow exclaimed as she paced around the library just moments after Anariel stormed out.
Brushing down his cloak, and examining the large tear left by Anariel's sword just short of piercing through his clothing and into his chest, James ran his hands over his face and walked across the room to his wife. "I don't know, Snow. I had thought Cora killed her but clearly she had better plans which are void. But rest assure she will not aid Regina in keeping Emma away from us."
Looking to her husband, Snow shook her head. "You know that Anariel was… is… Regina's only and closest friend. They were inseparable, and with her strength and Regina's magic AND Regina's hold on Emma… what can we possibly do to stop them?" the White Queen asked defeatedly.
Thinking for a moment, James let out a breath and shrugged. "The only option we have left. We have to resort to asking him for help."
Staring at James for a long moment, Snow nodded. "Rumpelstiltskin." she said whipping around to look at the seat at the head of the conference table where they were met with Rumple's infamous giggle.
"You called, Dearie?" Rumpelstiltskin giggled eerily, lounging back in his seat and looking between the White Queen and King.
"We need to make a deal. No tricks, no games, just help us." Snow requested, as she and James stood at the opposite end of the table looking back at The Dark One.
Smirking, Rumple sat up, folding his hands together as he looked between two in front of him. "And what, may I ask, do you need help with?" the imp asked curiously.
Shaking his head, James spoke next. "Not what... Who."
"Ah, do we happen to be talking about, oh... The Disappointingly Not So Evil, Evil Queen, hmm?" Rumple asked, quirking his head to the side as his grin widened.
"She IS evil. There is no question about it. She's manipulating everyone into thinking she's changed." James answered.
"Regina has Emma's heart. We need you to help us get it back to Emma so she'll come to her senses and help us defeat Regina once and for all." Snow cut in, looking to Rumpelstiltskin. " Will you help us or not?"
Giggling and tapping his fingers together Rumple appeared behind Snow and James, popping his head in between them causing them to jump and step back. " If you're so sure Regina has the heart of the Princess..." he began before jumping back and walking over to James' map of the kingdom on a side table. "... why, have you not just gone into Regina's Hall of Hearts and stolen it back?" The Dark One asked, looking as Snow and James exchanged glances and looked back.
" Take us there." James demanded, his brow furrowing as Rumple laughed and wagged his finger.
"Ah, ah, Dearie." Rumple replied, " What's in it for me?"
" What do you want?" Snow asked, watching as the imps eyes darted from James to her.
A wicked grin came across his face as he straightened up and thought for a moment. " The vial the Blue Fairy gave you. I want it."
Giving the Dark One the same confused look, Snow and James exchanged a glance then looked back to Rumple. "Uhm, why would you want it?" the White Queen asked. "It's empty and of no use to anyone anymore. The magic is gone."
Smirking, Rumple looked to the bookshelf behind them and waggled his fingers as the vial appeared in his hand. "Then why, Dearie, have you kept it around for this long?" the shimmering imp asked, his giggle eerie as ever.
"Alright. Fine. You can have it. Now will you help us or not?" James growled, his frustrations rising with each passing moment.
"You have yourselves a deal."
"Regina, you are not going alone. If you refuse to take either me or Emma, take Beren or somebody who can follow close and protect you!" Anariel argued as she and Emma walked on either side of The Queen as she stormed through the castle.
Stopping in the middle of the corridor leading to her bed chamber, causing the blonde and brunette to almost topple over her. Standing her ground, eyes darkened and her rage making it seem as if she towered over the two women who both stand taller than she, Regina looked between the both of them. "Neither of you will accompany me." She said firmly, continuing before either of them had the chance to speak. "Neither of you will follow me. I will not risk losing you," she said looking to Emma, then turning to Anariel, "and I will NOT lose you again." she said shaking her head as she spoke. "You will know if I am in danger, I promise you. But I will not have you two coming with me, are we clear?"
Each of them sighed deeply in unison and gave Regina a single nod. Watching as she turned on her heel and made her way down the stone hall, the air around her seeming to crackle with electricity as the door to her chamber slammed shut behind her.
"Please tell me you are thinking the same thing as I am?" Anariel said to Emma, though her gaze was still on the closed door at the end of the corridor.
Nodding, Emma looked to Anariel and motioned toward the armory, "Shall we prepare our weapons?"