Chapter 14

Regina woke up with a horrible feeling. She reached for Robin but felt nothing but cold sheets. She slowly sat up looking around the room. "Robin, where are you?" she whispered. She quickly changed clothes and walked out the room. She went up and down the hallway trying to catch a glimpse of him.

"Try not to panic," she told herself. She calmly went downstairs and approached the hotel clerk.

"Excuse me. Have you seen Robin this morning?"

The woman smiled momentarily relieving Regina of her worry. "Robin went into the village for a walk. He wanted me to tell you not to worry in case you asked of his whereabouts."

Regina chuckled. "Ever so thoughtful. Thank you. I'll find him now."

She walked through the village reminding herself every five seconds that she overreacted earlier. "Everything is going to be fine."

She spotted the tavern and walked in. There were only a few people and Regina frantically eyed the room.

"Regina, what brings you by?" asked the bartender.

"I thought Robin might have stopped here," she answered.

The bartender said, "He went to the woods to practice his archery."

Regina quickly ran for the woods. "Robin," she called out. She was greeted by silence.

She quickened her pace calling out his name until she stopped at the scene before her. Her eyes widened as she saw Robin laying in the dirt. Her heart dropped in her stomach as she sprinted.

Regina bent down and flipped him on his back. She grabbed his face. "Robin, wake up. It's Regina. Can you hear me? Robin, please wake up."

She lightly tapped his face. "Please," she whispered. Tears streamed down but she wiped them. "Just wake up."

She heard footsteps behind her. "Help is here," she thought. She got up and turned around to be met by Claude.

"Claude," she said in disbelief.

"Your majesty," he said bowing to her.

He saw the confusion and horror written over her face. "We are taking you home."

"We?"

"We," she heard Leopold say. Her eyes looked past Claude and held Leopold's gaze. His eyes were unreadable and that sent chills down her spine.

Leopold turned his attention to Claude. "Wake him up."

Claude and another guard roughly woke Robin up and forced him on his feet. Leopold approached Regina and took hold of her arm.

"Let go of me," she demanded. He pulled her forward creating further distance between the couple. He turned her around so she could see Robin.

"I'm sorry it has come to this but I have no other way to rectify the situation," he told her.

"Regina," Robin called. It was faint but they all heard it. Regina tried to run to him only to be stopped by another guard.

Robin struggled to break free. "Let go of her!"

"You are in no position to make demands thief," Leopold said. "You pillage the villages. You call yourself a hero. You are a worthless commoner. However, your grave error was when you kidnapped the Queen. My wife is not a possession you can take. Did you think I would not notice her absence? I-

"You don't deserve her. You may be king but you are no husband. You are the one who treats her like she is nothing. You don't value anything about her. You know nothing about her. You don't love her the way I do. You don't love her the way she deserves to be loved and cherished. She wants to be with me and I am more than willing to fight for her."

"A bandit against my guards," he said appalled at the nerve of this man.

"Yes," Robin said with conviction.

Leopold looked back at Regina who had tears in her eyes. The look of love crossed her features. The same look he had whenever he looked at Eva. He was a second away from giving in when Rumplestilskin landed in the middle of them.

"Your majesties," he greeted bowing to each of them. His eyes landed on Regina who was now seething. He gave her a wicked smile.

"You found her. Now I came to collect," he said.

"What are you talking about?" Regina asked.

Rumplestilskin turned to Leopold. "You haven't told her yet. How fortunate that I get to be the bearer of good news."

He glanced out Robin. "You interfered dearie. You should have escaped when you had the chance."

"Your grace, the king solicited my services to bring the beloved queen back where she belongs. I already have what I want but out of the goodness of my heart, I didn't make a deal. However, the thief won't be as lucky," he said focusing all his attention on his pupil.

She wanted to go for the jugular. The urge to kill him and all the others flooded her mind. She saw Rumplestilskin give a grin and she blinked. "Darkness has tasted you," she thought.

"Regina," Robin pleaded seeing what was happening. Her eyes softened as she looked to him. "I'll be fine. Whatever happens next, know that these have been the best days of my life. I'm glad you walked through the door that night. You changed me and I'll be in your debt. I love you."

Rumplestilskin jumped around excitedly. "Famous last words. How befitting for a farewell to the Queen."

Regina mouthed the words "I love you" to Robin. "Take me instead," she blurted.

"Regina, no!" Robin shouted.

"Why would I do that when this is much more fun?"

"Don't you lay a finger on her," Robin hissed breaking free. Robin ran forward to attack but Rumplestilskin suspended him in the air.

"Foolish thief," he said putting Robin down. "No harm will come to her."

Keeping his eyes on Robin he said, "You might want to hold on to her majesty."

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"A heart for a heart of course," he answered. Horror flooded her body as she tried to stop him only to be stopped by Leopold. She struggled harder until Claude took over and held her in place.

"Please your majesty," he whispered. Her breaths were becoming shallow as she felt herself slipping. Claude held her up. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

Robin locked eyes with Regina once more. Images of them filled his mind and his eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I won't ever let you fall."

Rumplestilskin flicked his wrists in the air. "This is going to sting." He plunged his hand into Robin's chest and took out his heart.

Regina cried out as Robin fell to his knees clutching his chest. "That's all," he mustered. "It wasn't that bad."

"Bravado until the very end," he responded. He began to squeeze and Robin's screams filled everyone's ears.

"Look familiar," Rumplestilskin addressed Regina.

Before she could respond, Claude led her away from the scene. Her protests were ignored as the distance kept growing. The last thing she saw was him falling over with a thud. A sob escaped her lips.

"Not again," she thought. Claude put her on a horse. He looked up at her but she had a blank expression. He got on the horse behind her and took the reins.

Leopold walked up. "I'm sorry but you did not belong in his world and he didn't belong in yours. He brainwashed you but that is over now. We will put this matter behind us." He walked forward reaching his own horse and climbed on.

Regina didn't know what to do at that point. She couldn't scream. She couldn't cry. She felt numb.

Meanwhile, Tinkerbell was with the other fairies when the Blue Fairy called to her.

"Come quick. There isn't much time," she said flying off. Tinkerbell flew after her until they landed next to Robin's body.

Tinkerbell couldn't believe her eyes. "What happened to you?" she said looking over Robin. Then she whipped her head to Blue.

"Regina must be in trouble," she said. She went to wake Robin up but jerked her hand away at the coldness.

"He's cold. Why is he cold? I don't understand. Blue, why is he cold?" Tinkerbell rambled.

"Thanks to the Dark One," Blue said. "We can save him however."

"How? He's-

"Hover your wand over his chest," she ordered. Tinkerbell did and Blue said an incantation. Green and blue dust encircled Robin.

Nothing happened for a while. Tinkerbell looked up at her mentor. "What's supposed to happen?"

"That," she answered and Tinkerbell turned her attention back to Robin. She could see color again and she felt his skin. It was warm to the touch.

He gasped for air as Tinkerbell helped him sit up. "Robin, you're alright," Tinkerbell said relieved.

Robin looked around before focusing on the fairies. "How?"

"Fairy and pixie dust combined can undo many things," Blue said.

Robin put his hand over his heart. "Why would you help me?"

"Robin, where's Regina?" Tinkerbell asked.

He scrambled to his feet. "He took her back. I have to get to her now." He stumbled and Tinkerbell caught him.

"Wait Robin," she pleaded. "We will get her. Once you have your strength."

Robin shook his head. "She thinks I'm dead," he said his voice breaking.

"Robin, how did they find you?"

"The king and the Dark One worked together. I was minding my own business when his guards attacked me. Then everything else happened."

Tinkerbell gasped in horror. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too," Robin said.

"I'll go find her right now and explain," she told him.

"You can't and neither can Robin. For now Regina along with the rest of the world has to believe you're dead," Blue said.

"What?" they asked in unison.

"If the king or Rumplestilskin find out that you're alive, you will suffer a worse fate. Do you want Regina to lose you again?"

He couldn't argue with the logic. "There has to be a way to deliver a message to her."

"Please Blue. Let me tell Regina," Tinkerbell said.

"Not now. In the meantime, you have to go somewhere," Blue said. "This place is no longer your home."

"I know a place," Tinkerbell said.

"Wait, my men. They will think-"

"I'm sorry but they have to believe it as well," Blue replied. She motioned for Tinkerbell to go.

They landed in front of a house and Tinkerbell knocked on the door.

A woman answered, "Hello. May I help you?"

"Are you Carolyn? Regina's friend," Tinkerbell said.

"Has something happened?" she asked concerned.

"Yes but I need you to help my other friend," she said. Carolyn looked at the man.

"You," she hissed. Robin sighed. Of all the people to be friends with Regina.

Tinkerbell deduced what happened between them but she didn't let it deter her. "Look, this is Regina's new true love. We all love Regina and she needs help. First, my friend needs shelter and I need him to stay here. He won't do any harm to you, I promise. Just please help us."

The woman huffed. "For Regina." She led them inside and they told her everything.

"Regina not knowing is a cruel fate," Carolyn said.

"We know but we don't have a choice," Robin said.

Two days later, Regina was in her room absent-mindedly fiddling with her necklace. She looked toward the door and was grateful to see Snow. Her hatred for the child paled in comparison to her hatred for Leopold.

Snow closed the door. She didn't even bother waiting for Regina to get up as she threw her arms around her.

"I've missed you mother. I thought you were hurt. I wanted to help rescue you but I wasn't allowed to come. I'm glad you're home," she said.

Regina blinked back tears. "I'm okay Snow." She offered no other words of comfort for fear of breaking down.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" Snow asked.

"Sure Snow," she said sweetly. Anybody but Leopold was fine with her. "Snow, I would like to rest now."

"Of course mother," she replied. She kissed Regina's cheek. "I love you mother." She went out the room and Regina turned on her side.

Her slumber didn't last long when she felt someone touch her shoulder. She looked into the eyes of her father.

"Daddy," she greeted. She sat up and she felt his hands cover hers.

"I thought I'd lost you forever," he said.

She shook her head. "We were going to come for you. Daddy, I didn't want to come back. I went to grandpa's kingdom."

Henry blinked. "Father's kingdom. You could have been recognized."

"We weren't daddy. It was going to be the three of us. I was starting over and now my dream has shattered. First Daniel. Now Robin. I have no one left."

Henry gathered her in his arms. "You have me Regina. Your old man is still here." He started to rock her gently and sing to her. He felt his shirt dampened with her tears.

"He's gone daddy. He's gone."

Weeks later...

News of Robin's death spread. Regina hadn't come out of her room unless it was necessary. She couldn't take the memories much longer. Every thought was on Robin.

"This has to end," she thought.

Regina went to Rumplestilskin who was in the middle of spinning.

"Regina, gracing me with your presence," he said.

"You win you little imp," she hissed.

"What do you want?" he inquired.

"Your help. I hate you for what you did but you are the only in this miserable place who can help me."

"Help you what?" he asked.

"Forget. Forget Robin. Forget the pain and emptiness I feel. I can't take it anymore," she said.

He stood up from his seat. "I can arrange it. All you will feel is the original anger and I have no doubt that won't diminish. Alright dearie."

He flicked his wrists and a goblet appeared. "Drink."

She took the goblet. She stared at the content inside. She allowed herself one memory of them dancing the first night they met. "Goodbye Robin."

She drank the potion and closed her eyes letting it take affect. She opened her eyes to see Rumplestilskin waiting.

"Why are you staring? We need to continue our lessons," she said.

"You don't remember a Robin Hood," he said.

"No. Should I?" she asked.

He smiled. "No. What's the purpose of your lesson?"

"Learn everything in order to kill Snow White."