Chapter 14: With Big Intention
Robin groaned as he stirred. His head throbbed painfully, and his muscles refused to cooperate with him. As he strained to pull himself upright, he tried to recall what had occurred before he passed out.
He remembered training his bow and arrow on the Queen, who had been arguing with a peasant. Though this struck him as odd, he had pushed all inquiries from his mind and released the arrow. The knowledge of what happened next sent his mind spiraling into denial.
A young boy had jumped into the arrow's path, shoving the Queen out of harm's way with no hesitation. He had fallen to the ground a lifeless heap, sending Robin's blood cold as it dawned on him that the boy's injury was at fault of himself.
He had frozen, unable to recover from hurting a child. Then the Queen had sent him a look so full of anguish. So full of remorse. So wrathful and vengeful that though Robin felt a twinge of fear for his life, he also recognized the pain she felt.
Then everything went black as she cast a charm upon him, sending him into depths of slumber. He rightfully deserved worse if death had befallen the young boy.
Robin wasn't surprised to learn that he was being kept in the damp and dark dungeons at the base of the fortress. He knew its location solely because the King had given him he full layout of the castle before he was to sneak onto the premises. King James, or David as he preferred to be called, had been very thorough in giving Robin any and all possibilities of sneaking into the castle. Every defense mechanism had been laid out. All entrances and exits were brought to attention. Every corridor, room and secret passageway had been closely noted. While this had given Robin a load of confidence, he sighed as he realized the whole endeavor had all been for naught.
He just hoped his son was alright.
"Well, well... It seems that the assassin has decided to awaken," a deep, hypnotic voice penetrated the eerie silence of the dungeon. Robin froze and looked up to meet the silhouette of the Evil Queen herself, not any more than a few paces from the rusty, iron bars of the prison cell.
In the shadows of the dungeon, little of the Queen's features were visible. The outline of her jaw and the red of her lips lingered in the light of the flickering torch flames. When she stepped further into the light, Robin was taken aback by how menacing she looked. Though she stared down at him coolly, her eyes were alight in fury and raging sorrow.
Robin felt his heart drop. "Is he dead?" he asked regretfully.
The Queen blinked in surprise. "Pardon?"
"The boy," Robin clarified with a torn look in his eyes. "The boy my arrow struck. Is he dead?"
The Queen eyed him with a heartfelt gaze that seemed so out of character to Robin. "No," she shook her head slowly. "He survived."
"How?" Robin pressed, though clearly relieved by the way he released a deep breath. "That arrow was laced in—"
"Dream shade?" The Queen interrupted with a snarl. "Yes, dear. I am well aware."
"It's said to be deadly. I am not aware of one person who has ever survived it," Robin seemed perplexed. He stood and held onto the iron bars of his cell with a tight grip, peering at the Queen who stood before him with a haughty stance.
"You underestimate the extent of my magical abilities," the Queen scoffed in offense. "I was able to cure him."
"It appears so," Robin responded, not convinced. The way the arrow had embedded into the boy's chest had surely been a death sentence. He found it difficult to believe that the sole power of a single sorceress could heal dream shade, however powerful she may be. "I meant the boy no harm," Robin protested brokenly.
"You did, however, mean to harm me, did you not?" The Queen retorted angrily, her tone rising, making Robin cringe at its ferocity. He gulped and diverted his gaze from the sneering Queen, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, refusing to answer.
"Oh come now," the Queen chuckled darkly in amusement. "You bear the Crest of the White Kingdom. Snow and Charming sent you to assassinate me."
Robin's lips pressed together as he looked downwards into the dirt floor. "They told me that you were in the Northern part of the forest. They said you were planning something, a huge threat that would devastate the kingdom."
"Did they happen to inform you of this elaborate scheme I am allegedly orchestrating?" The Queen's eyes narrowed while her eyes and tone of voice rose in a combination of irritation and mirth.
"No," Robin admitted with a small breath, returning the Queen's gaze once again.
The Queen took a threatening step closer to the cell's iron bars and stared so intensely into the thief's eyes that she seemed to be peering into his soul. It made Robin shiver, yet he refused to break the stare. A deep intensity swirled in the Queen's dark brown eyes. It ensnared him in such a way that he was unable to focus on anything other than the pooling emotions that flashed across her eyes.
"So what convinced you to attempt to kill me?" The Queen breathed, truly curious.
Robin licked his lips and looked downward before answering. He raised his arm to grip the cell bars, attempting to appeal to the Evil Queen and convey his sincerity. "I cannot discount what I have done. I almost cost a child his life, and I have threatened your own. I have not given you any reason to show me mercy, but I beg that you do."
The Queen chuckled darkly at the thief's futile attempts at reconciliation. Her smirk made her look malicious and devious, though the darkness didn't quite touch her eyes. As Robin searched the fallen queen's eyes, he sensed a sort of feigning deception succeeding her collected and coolly dismissive demeanor. "You fear for your life, thief?" she mused in a strained voice.
"No," Robin quickly clarified, shifting his weight, his hands squeezing the iron bars. The movement of his straining muscles sent the right sleeve of his shirt sliding downwards. As the Queen's eyes flickered to Robin's forearm, the man spoke. "I don't fear for my own life. But I do wish that you spare me for the sake of those I hold dear."
The Queen barely listened to the thief as her eyes caught the lion tattoo seared on the skin of his forearm. While this didn't alarm her in the slightest, the unmistakable sound of a gasp at her right reached her ears and raised all of her senses to high alert. The Queen looked behind her and resisted the urge to scream in frustration as she realized what had occurred. Though no one was visible next to her, she was very aware of the presence of another.
"So you have a son, do you?" she quickly kept the conversation going as to avoid a perilous confrontation.
"I never said that," Robin eyed the Queen warily, his eyes narrowed as he sensed something amiss.
Regina rolled her eyes at her own incompetence, though to Robin it just looked like she was irritated.
"I know exactly who you are, Robin Hood," she spoke truthfully, quickly trying to fabricate a believable lie. "It was once worth interest to me to know my subjects."
"You know of my son?" Robin was astounded. The Queen looked to the man and faltered when he saw the pure fear in his eyes.
"I know more than I should," she spoke just loud enough for Robin to hear, though she merely was speaking to herself. "I won't hurt your son," she vowed sincerely. "Though I can't make any guarantees regarding you," she added as an afterthought.
"And just what do you plan on doing with me?" Robin inquired heavily, relieved and wary all in one.
"I'm not sure yet," the Queen answered with a slight grin and a small shake of her head. "But I can assure you that you won't be waiting here for long." Seeing as she had nothing more to say, the Queen forced herself to tear her eyes from Robin and retreat from the dungeon. Before she could even make it to the stairs, Robin Hood called out to her, perplexion lacing his words.
"I have heard many tales of the merciless Evil Queen. Her wrath and brutality hurt all that get in her way. I hope you don't take offense to me saying that you don't seem to fit that description very well."
Regina hummed in amusement, sparing the thief a barely noticeable smile as she eyed him from over her shoulder. "Then perhaps you don't know me as well as you think, dear."
She ascended the stairs swiftly and gracefully, vaguely satisfied that even in this state, Robin was able to detect some good in her.
...
"What the hell was that?!" Regina snapped angrily as she slammed the dungeon doors closed. "I thought I told you to stay up here!"
"Did you really think I would listen?" Her own voice rang in her ears as the Queen took down her cloaking enchantment, allowing Regina to see her. "Really dear? There are times when I am forced to believe that you don't know yourself at all."
"Take this wretched attire off me," Regina growled with a deep breath.
"You could ask more nicely," the queen commented teasingly but obligingly. With a quick movement of her wrist, Regina was enveloped in a thick, glittery cloud of violet. When the smoke subsided, she no longer was dressed in a confining corset and billowing dress. Instead, she sported a comfortable yet flattering forest green dress that draped around her body like a glove. Her hair once again fell to her shoulders and Regina sighed at being released from such confining attire.
"Not bad," the Queen complimented her own work with a tilt of her head.
Regina glanced downward at the dress and nodded once in approval. "Thank you." The Queen raised a brow, somewhat surprised by Regina's complacency, the corners of her lips curling upwards in satisfaction. "Now what's our next plan of action? We determined that the assassin was here on the account of the Charmings, though not particularly willingly. What do you suggest we do?" The Queen was instantly reminded of the issues at hand, and her features twisted into a menacing leer.
"The thief deserves to suffer for what he's done. The way forward is clear. He formed an alliance with Snow and her precious Charming," her voice dripped with sarcasm and rage. "He cannot be trusted. He dies tonight." The Queen began to stalk away from Regina, knowing very well that this would enrage her older self.
Regina's eyes narrowed after her counterpart and she rushed after her. "You know very well why we can't do that," she barked harshly. The Queen didn't show any indication of Regina's protest and continued onward. Infuriated, Regina lurched forward and grabbed the Queen roughly by the arm and jerked her backwards, forcing her to face her.
"I know you saw it, so don't act like you didn't," she accused, staring the Queen in the eyes.
"The man in the dungeon... Robin Hood... He's the man with the lion tattoo? My... Soulmate?" The Queen ground out hesitantly while Regina held onto her shoulders to keep her steady.
Regina didn't say a word. She didn't have to. Her eyes said all that needed to be said. At the confirmation, the Queen shivered, diverting her gaze as she felt unfamiliar tears threatening to surface.
"I know how hard this is to accept," Regina's own voice cracked as she spoke to her younger self, someone who truly did not believe that she could ever be happy. "But Robin is your happiness."
The Queen swallowed thickly before speaking, almost hurting herself to do so. "Do... Do you love him?"
"Very much," Regina admitted sheepishly, blushing slightly.
A pitiful, almost woeful sound escaped the Queen's lips as she pulled herself out of Regina's reach. She held the back of her hand up to her mouth and placed her opposite hand on her hip, turning away from her future self as she attempted to regain her composure. "But... Daniel...?"
"Daniel will always hold a special place in my heart," Regina soothed the Queen. "I will always love him. But that man," Regina pointed at the dungeon doors, "is your second chance. He will love you despite your flaws."
"If that's the case, then why did he try to kill me?" The Queen rebutted.
"His son," Regina answered simply, undeterred. "Just as I will, Robin will do anything for his son, Roland. For him to risk his life as the personal assassin of Snow and Charming, they must have made quite a convincing argument in favor of it."
The Queen nodded as she processed Regina's words. The thought of having someone was desirable. However, it also brought about the possibilities of heartbreak, vulnerability and weakness. Her first reaction upon seeing the tattoo was complete shock. She had gasped, unable to truly grasp the truth that this man was the very man she failed to approach in a bar all those years ago. Her second reaction had been denial. Disposing of him would prevent any repercussions of falling in love again. However, with her own self, a wiser more experienced version of herself, advising her and personally showing her that happiness was indeed attainable, who was she to repudiate the woman's words?
"So Robin..." The Queen tested the name on her lips, allowing it to roll off her tongue smoothly. "What is he like?"
"Ha! Nice try," Regina laughed. "You will have to figure that one out on your own. I have already revealed far too much."
"I suppose it's safe to assume that we have caused irremediable damage to the future," The Queen groused reflectively.
"That might be a vast understatement, dear," Regina huffed, wiping a few strands of hair away from her face, relieved at the instantaneous and sudden subject change.
"So what do we do now?" The Queen prodded impatiently.
Regina met the Queen's gaze confidently, though the Queen sensed a weariness to her counterpart. A tiredness and unwillingness to deal with certain problems. At least at this particular moment.
"We go check on our son."
Author's Note: Many of you guessed Regina's little "plan." But yes, the secret is out. So Regina doesn't blame Robin. I never planned for her to go all vengeful, and I think it helped that Robin was so heart broken at the idea of hurting a kid. I've received a few comments pertaining to the rating and whether or not it will go up. I am not planning on raising the rating. Sorry to disappoint! But don't worry. Much is in store for Robin and Regina (both EQ and Madame Mayor). Let me know what you thought and I will try to get the next update out as quickly as I can. Thank you for your continued support!