A/N: Not going to lie this was a little rushed. I start summer math classes today so I'm trying to wrap my head around a language I don't even understand... T.T
~8~8~
Cold morning sun slipped through the grand windows bringing a frosty brilliance to the filled room. The snow added another sheen to the light making the stuffy room seem almost aglow.
Joy blossomed like fresh spring in Regina's long frozen heart as she stood amongst the leaders of the defense. Happiness surged from two fonts from her battered soul. Robin Hood was to be her husband and Zelena was to be but a grass stain if her plan succeeded the way she wished.
"Blood magic," the exile explain confidently with a sly grin penned upon her lips, "That's how we're going to defeat her."
Since her time with Robin Hood early in the morning hours she had worked out all the details in her mind. The ends and outs had been considered and maneuvered and tweaked until the plan was so very nearly perfect… nearly.
Fine lines of incredulity wrinkled Emma's frowning face. "You mean the same magic she used on you?"
"The very same, Miss Swan." Her smile grew primly cold for a moment before the warmth reentered her grin. Hands on the round table the rest of them sat behind, she leaned forward to her fellow conspirators. "You see Blood Magic is a peculiar sort of power. When someone uses Blood Magic on an item or in a spell they expect that spell to be near invulnerable, but, no magic is flawless and in this case Blood Magic has a major weakness. You see if the person who used Blood Magic has another of their kin, their blood, they can bypass and use such magic's as they will."
Blood Magic could be used for a host of different things. A rich noble could order his court wizard to enchant his own blood to keep things for or away from kin, or even use such spells to make certain their linages stayed pure.
Shaking her head faintly, Snow leaned back in her ornate high backed chair. Confusion twinkled in her eyes as she canted her head to the left. "But you did use magic against her. You flung enough fireballs at her to burn up a village."
"That wasn't Blood Magic that was just my normal magic," Regina explained wryly and flickered an indissolubly cool glance to her step daughter. "The spell Zelena placed on me was carefully prepared. I have to do different incantations in order to produce a Blood Magic spell." Casting her umber gaze about once more, a vengeful smile pulled upon her lush mouth. "But once I do, she won't have any power that can stop such a spell. Powerful or not, everyone has to abide by the laws of Blood Magic."
All the magic in the world couldn't stop a Blood Magic spell against kin.
Abruptly her smile darkened like the sun hidden behind a midden mast of black clouds. "There is just one problem," she admitted lowly.
"There always is." Emma's shoulders sank dejectedly as she slid like a petulant child in her seat. A morose sigh slumped past her frowning lips as she looked up dourly to the witch. "What's the problem?"
"I don't know how I'm going to hit her with the spell." She compressed her lips thoughtfully almost as though she mused to herself. "Zelena isn't stupid. She'll have probably made some recourse if I decided to use Blood Magic. A spell straight to her won't work. Another caveat of Blood Magic is contact. You can't just fling that sort of power about like fire balls or freezing spells if so there would be too many problems in far too many places. Blood Magic has to be endowed upon something; your body, an icon…-"
"A weapon?" David interposed and leaned forward with an air considering in his chair. Rubbing his prickly, unshaven chin, he flicked his steely gaze up to the exile. "Will a weapon work?"
Glaring under her long sable lashes, the witch nodded. "Yes and no," she affirmed in prim hesitation. "You see, imbuing a weapon with Blood Magic is simple, so yes that could work, but it won't work because she's not going to let me get close enough to actually hit her with some weapon."
Therein lied the last kernel of the rather thought out plan. The weapon had to make contact, but if Zelena just started teleporting all over the place whilst she called in her army of monkeys then that would do no good. As long as the magic didn't touch her she was safe but there were so many ways for her to avoid such a nominal ploy.
"And that's where I come in." Robin brazenly forced open the door to the council chamber. Confidently striding in, he lazily twirled a set of tarnished silver keys on his index finger that he had filched off a guard at the lower case of the steps outside.
Despite their love, Regina was still adamant he not attend the meetings in case he got some sort of noble, sacrifice or danger in his head.
Apparently, he chuckled inwardly, she had been right on the money.
Turning to her entire body to the door, the witch scowled angrily at the wily archer. Wrath bickered like brown flames in her glassy umber depths towards him. "First, why don't you ever listen when I ask you to not ease drop, and second." She crossed her arms angrily and snorted, "Whatever you're thinking is out of the question."
"I have the answer to your problem." He flashed a sly wink and drew an eagle feathered arrow as he stepped to where his love stood. Holding the projectile straight, he closed his left eye and examined the straightness of the shaft as he spoke. "Endow the Blood Magic to these and our problems are solved. I'll come with you, you distract her and I fill her with arrows."
That had been the first plan that had entered his mind as he disobediently leaned against the cold door with his ear pressed against the gold key hole. If Regina stole the Wicked Witches attentions, then if he were to fire an arrow from a place she was not expecting they could end her in a heartbeat.
Blinking rapidly at him, an irascible scoff sailed from her mouth. "Have you gone deaf from the door to where you're standing now?" she bit furiously, her eyes flashing pernicious rage mingled with fear. Angrily stomping towards him, she jerked the arrow out of his hands. "Out. Of. The. Question," she forced every word like a hammer driving in a nail from her clenched jaw.
Zelena was too dangerous. Where she even was would be a problem. Who knew, she could be in a cave guarded by a thousand monkeys! Getting to her would be a leap towards the cold arms of death, how greater still would they have to deny the pull of demise?
Completely at ease, the thief unsheathed his bow. "Is it out of the question because it's a bad plan or you fear this undertaking will finish our wedding plans before they even get underway?" He placed both hands on the tip of his bow like a knight would a blade and eyed her in his infuriatingly easy demeanor.
They couldn't allow Zelena to roam free because they were afraid the other might perish. If they had a way to defeat her then they needed to undertake the challenge, mortal peril, unhappiness, or not. Too much lay at stake for them to toss out recourses simply because of the thought of death.
Staring from witch to thief, a look of surprise painted Snow's lovely visage. Had he just said something about being wed? "Marriage?" the word fumbled like a foreign phrase from her mouth.
Lips compressed to a thin line, Regina's eyes narrowed caustically at the bandit. "We're basing the fate of the realms on your ability to hit her with a pointy stick!" she cut venomously. "One has nothing to do with the other," she paused and looked away to deny him the chance to see past her masks of falsehood. "And if we should fail have no doubt we will not come back. Roland needs one parent."
How could she in good conscience leave with him knowing there was a chance Roland would lose Robin? If she perished Henry was surrounded by family, blood family, Roland would have no one.
"When did you two decide to get married?" Emma asked disbelievingly. Mouth partially opened she simply blinked at the both of them as her mind tried to wrap around the vastly unexpected news.
"I never miss, Regina," Robin stated matter-of-factly. "Since the day I have held this bow I have never missed. Never. And I agree, Roland needs a parent, he needs both of them, actually, but every day that witch is on the loose he's in peril of losing us both." A hint of pleading gleamed in his chestnut eyes. "Don't you want to walk down the aisle knowing you don't have to look up to the sky to see a flying monkey or fear when the witch plans to ruin your life? Do you want possible children we may have to cower in despair because a Wicked Witch might snatch them up?"
David shook his head in abject confusion. "What aisle? What children? Does Henry know?"
Gaze softening, her scowl slowly disintegrated into a plaintive frown. "Of course I don't want that, but I also don't want to lose you, you insufferable backwoodsman," Regina snapped irreparably to conceal the weakness she felt rise in the back of her throat.
Couldn't he see he meant to much to put him in such peril?
"And you won't," the thief returned gently. "But we can't let fear fetter us. We need to take this risk."
As much as she hated to admit his words had validity. She knew what he spoke was truth from the very base of her torn soul. Two of them would have to go and try to find the chink in Zelena's armor. There could be no other way.
Oh but the threat of losing him cut to her very heart. Icy talons of fear wrenched and strangled her will to see them go. How could she go through with the plan with that lingering thought prowling her mind?
Eyes strafing away, her mouth tugging lightly to the side, a sigh tumbled dourly form her mouth. "You're right. This might be the only way. This can't be a one person job." Nudging her chin to the door, her frowned deepened. "Meet me in the guard house, I'll set up what we need to do from there."
"I knew you'd understand." A gentle smile curled upon his mouth. Placing a rough, bow calloused hand on her shoulder, he leaned in and stole a light kiss upon her lips before backing away.
Umber orbs alight, the witch watched as he backed away and disappeared through the doors. Love and fear and passion and terror swept her heart in a hurricane of roiling emotions. Her soul felt as though in a knot pulsated in her chest and she couldn't decide if the emotion was a heartening or desperate feeling.
Shaking her head, she turned back to the nobles about the table. Instinctively, the exile took a step back as she saw all eyes riveted upon her. Shock donned all their faces in irrepressible emotions. Disapproval, surprise, happiness, acceptance all stamped their faces in different turns, telling what swirled so close to their tongues.
Icily steeling her jaw, the witch glared at them all defiantly. Hands curled at her sides she fought hard not to simply walk away from them. "What?" she growled out, daring a mutter of opposition.
"Regina…." Snow slowly rose from her chair. Face aglow with serene happiness she rounded the table and wrapped the woman in a hug.
Taken aback, the exile looked at the hugging woman in surprise and stony disapproval. "Why are you hugging me?" she demanded imperiously, her voice ready to bite like a wary animal.
"You're getting married." Snow squeezed tightly. "Why didn't you tell us?"
Even in the times of trouble, that was news for celebration. Life had all but halted in the kingdom since Zelena arrived. A marriage could stir the masses and encourage them to believe things were changing.
Pushing her at arm's length, the exile studied the gladdened Snow. Confusion and disgust hinted at the edge of her mouth. "Because you banished me to a life of misery and we aren't friends." Quietly she added, "And I asked him last night."
Did they really think they had any right to know any of her personal life? They hadn't cared what she did in the forest, cold and hungry and alone, why care now that she was to be wed to Robin?
Sadness flickered over Snow's features at the mention of what they had done. Her smile faltered for a moment before she stalwartly bolstered her grin. "Last night?" she echoed then nodded her head. "Congratulations, Regina, I wish you all the happiness in the world."
"He could have done better if you ask me," Grumpy grumbled disgruntledly and crossed his arms like a petulant child.
"Grumpy," David replied, his tone scolding. "That's not polite."
"But he's right," Regina interjected wryly. Backing away from Snow, she stared at them all again. Chin held high, she blinked back the tears that crystallized in her whisky eyes. "He could have done so much better, but he said yes, and now we're going to finish this, win the day, and I will finally have my happy ending."
Without another word, the witch turned and walked away leaving the room in a state of silent awe that spoke louder than any words could have.
~8~8~
Cold slants of crisp golden sun obliquely slipped through the tiny round window lodged high in the guard's house. Frills of frost glistened against the window like a field of diamonds clustered along the panes and framework. Pale brown dust, most rankled up from the sudden hectic living in the usually sedate guard domicile, tumbled down like the snowflakes in the world beyond the castle walls. A small fire popped behind the dark iron grate, adding the only sound to the tranquil room.
Throughout, the entire room was a peacefully, splendid haven, one Regina appreciated more than words could allow. Theirs was a cozy little hideaway they hadn't had since they left the forest.
Head leaned back against a cold stone wall, the witch breathed the musty air in deep. The quiet nearly made her think the entire world was right. No evil witch, no monkey's nothing but peace and… him.
"Are you ready, Regina?" Robin queried softly from before her. Sitting on his knees just as she, he let his hands rest on his thighs.
Betwixt them five arrows sat lined up like a tiny bridge connecting them. Each tip was made of delicate silver and honed to a pins edge all around. The feathers were black, sleek eagle pinions and trimmed so sharp to that they seemed almost as deadly as the tips themselves.
Sucking in a trepidations breath, the form evil queen nodded. "We can't wait any longer." There was no time to waste when actions came to Zelena. They had to move fast just for the hope they would be one step ahead.
Plucking up an arrow, the witch held the tip up. Rays of tawny sun glinted off the tip, casting a dot of light across her pale skin. Shaft in her left hand, she stuck the thumb of her right out. Not a hint of hesitation showed upon her stoic visage as she pressed the tip of the arrow into her thumb.
Bright crimson blood beaded from the pad of her thumb as she pressed the digit into the arrow. A hiss of pain seeped from her lips but she tapered the noise quickly to hide the lance of pain through her.
Red tinged the silver tip, staining the projectile with her essence as one by one the same was done to the other four. Placing the last arrow back, now stained with her blood, the witch waved a hand over the arrows.
A glow of scarlet, not her usual damson seeped from her hand. Drifting like fog from her outstretched palm the red mist settled over the arrows. Gleams of vermilion shot like a flesh through the room before the magic imbued the blood stained arrows and seeped into her ruby ichors.
"There." Regina waved her thumb to alleviate the sting. "That should do the job," she claimed then whispered a quick spell to heal the wound.
Eyes pinioned upon the arrows, the thief nodded vapidly. "One would have been enough, Regina, two at the most. You shouldn't have enchanted five."
If the first one missed there was a good chance that would be the only one he could get off. If the witch caught on there were two of them they were both as good as dead as soon as the realization hit. Why would she let herself linger in pain longer for arrows that would do no good?
A loving smile sparked upon Regina's mouth, transforming her concentration into a look of ardor. Placing a hand upon his, she breathed in out a small sigh. "If this fails I want to give you every opportunity to get back to Roland. If you can but throw off her guard to get away then I don't regret wasting a single ounce of power."
Never could regret spending anything to give him a chance at life.
"Regina I won't leave you to the hands of that witch. Should this mission fail-,"
"You will make straight way back to this castle and take Roland as far away as possible," Regina interrupted, her throat catching. Tear glistened like stars in her eyes as she smiled up into his bright, brown orbs. "I won't have it any other way, Robin. Promise me if you miss the first shot you will come back here and make sure… our son lives. Promise," she smiled through her tears, "Promise or I will turn you into a fox right now and take these arrows and try my own hand at archery once more."
Stubbornness fired through his whiskey depths as he searched her face, so close to his own. She was serious about her threat. The last thing she wanted was to leave Roland an orphan with the knowledge they failed.
Heaving in a sigh, he relaxed himself. "I promise, Regina. If I miss I will make straight way back here. You have my word of honor."
Even as the words left his mouth, the witch grabbed his hand. Squeezing tight, she let her power flow from her body into his. Sinuous purple tendrils rose from her palm and swirled about his wrist like a ribbon of plum. A small tingling shot through his hand before the feeling mellowed away to nothing but her warm, gentle touch.
Confusion wrinkled his brow as he looked back to her. "What…?"
"You're keeping your vow, Robin," Regina explained as she rose serenely. "If that arrow misses you're coming right back here. It's a compulsion spell. If you miss your first instinct will be to leave, and that means using those other arrows to make good your escape."
Word or not, he wouldn't leave her of his own free will. In the depths of her heart she knew he would break such an oath.
Slowing coming to his feet, the archer stared in disbelief. "You planned this?" He rubbed his palm as though some invisible liquid clung to the calloused flesh.
"From the very first moment you told me your plan." A sad smile curled upon her lush lips. "I care about you too much to see you perish."
Bravely, the thief searched her eyes once more. Only truth remained in her russet depths. Truth and love. "And there's no way to make you change your mind?"
"None." She shook her head. A small smile twitched upon her lips at a sudden thought. "You aren't the only one who can be infuriating backwoodsman."
He could be angry, disapproving, hurt, but there was no changing her mind. He would live. By all her magic, he would make his way back to Roland safely!
Bending, the bandit collected the five arrows in his grip. Tucking the arrows snug unto his quiver the thief gave a terse nod. "Then let's get to it, then, Regina. Let's finish this so that we may get on with our lives as one. Man and woman. Husband and wife."
"Prepare yourself then." Regina smoothed out her tunic primly, once more the regal queen. "I have a spell to take us to her as close as safe can allow."
All the goodbyes had been said, all the promises of coming back in one piece had been uttered. There was nothing for it now than to be plunged into the depths of all their problems and face Zelena.
Nodding silently, the thief clutched his bow tight. His fingers tapped a nervous rhythm against the aged wood, the only sign of his wariness before their onerous task.
Summoning her regular magic to her behest, a spiral of amethyst power swirled over them before they dissipated into a puff of smoke far away from the white walls and safety of the realm of the Charming's.
~8~8~
Bright noonday sun lay dampened by a brace of pale gray clouds that stretched languidly about the blue sky as the pair appeared at the outskirts of Regina's former sanctum. Dark pines and cedars and evergreens cloaked them in their prickly needles as they came directly before the keep.
The restored dark towers punched towards the sky like black arrows staining the glorious day. Monkey's hopped mischievously about the outside of the sleek black and silver castle like roaches roaming where they did not belong. Some of the furred beasts clung to the railings whilst others merely lazed in the dreary rays.
Shock liberally gilded Regina's sharp features as she stared at her newly restored keep from the dark forest fringe that surrounded the ominous citadel. Her umber orbs searched the keep as though it wasn't possible the thing stood before her eyes.
"She didn't…," she whispered wrathfully beneath her breath, her eyes stapled upon the keep.
To her right, Robin cast her an askance glance. "She didn't what?" he asked and pulled back deeper in the shadows of the dark pines and low brush covered with fresh snow.
"That's my castle." Her mouth twisted into a disapproving sneer. "Was, anyway."
The place had been destroyed when the curse had hit and had only tumbled into more ruin with the years long past. She had seen the destruction with her own eyes. Nothing had been left so she had never even bothered to trek back to the keep and scrape a semblance of a life together.
Crouching behind a low hanging branch of fir needles, the bandit eyed the keep like any thief would a potential castle for thievery. "That makes our job a bit easier, doesn't it?" he inquired hopefully to his love.
"How so?" the witch asked curiously, her voice quieter than the low wind against the snow.
"These castle are all the same. Everyone has an exit somewhere, some secret passage or door," the outlaw explained. "Didn't you have anything of the sort? Did you ever think to build something of that nature?"
Staring at the keep a small smile perched upon her pursed lips. "Come to think of it, backwoodsman, I did."
Slowly, the witch stood. Her boots crunched softly against the heaped snow as she turned away from the keep and began to traipse through the frozen world. The emergency exit in case of assault was located in her heart chamber. She had never been so belligerent or haughty as to assume some day some power would never rise up to try and defeat her. When the time came she wished to be ready, but no power but her own ever rose to defeat her so.
Dodging through the somber, dark firs, the witch maneuvered with her learned skill through the winter woodland as they moved away from the keep. "The entrance isn't far. I made the escape close enough to try to backtrack on an enemy if need be but far enough to steal away should there be no other recourse."
"My fiancé the tactician," Robin chuckled jovially as he followed behind.
Another smile twitched at her lips at his eternal easiness he seemed to carry in the most dire of circumstances. "More than that, thief. We're in luck. Before I left I sealed the door to the escape with Blood Magic." She paused at a large boulder next to a naked birch. "Which means we can enter with the utmost subtlety."
The plugged exit stood before them in way that would take the most cunning expert to unearth its camouflage if they did not know the signs to look for. A boulder, one of many on the slopped, hilly ground leaned against a tree as though time and the elements slowly moved the stone monolith. Little did many know, the boulder was merely a door to block any adventurers murderers of the stones true intent.
Lifting her hands to the sky, the witch called magic to her grasp. A gauzy film of purple coated the rock before the boulder began to quake. Shivering like an egg about to hatch, the gray boulder lifted into the air, and rolled away to the right leaving a massive manmade hole opened leading below.
"I'll go first," Regina stated and padded forward and slipped down to begin their journey. "I filled these halls with traps that were meant to main and slay. I remember them all."
Musty coldness of a tomb shivered down Regina's spine as she clambered down the rusted metal ladder rings to the world below. Mold and must and gloom ostensibly filled the corridor that composed Regina's emergency escape. The tunnel had once been a catacomb and she used the aura of the dead to her advantage.
An eerie whisper of wind slipping through cracks swirled past her ears as she landed at the bottom. A light splash of drained off water and melted snow resounded dully through the dark world below the snowy land in a deathly echo.
Calling magic to her beck again, the witch flashed a hand out to the tunnel. At once, little spots of light flashed intermittently upon the walls. Fires flared to a steady brilliance along the moldered brown stone bone made aperture, adding light to the dreary corridors.
Eyes scanning for the traps she laid, she checked to make certain the path she could take was clear. The third stones were always trapped, the lights on the left all could shoot darts lace with poisons, and other such perils all swarmed her mind.
A shiver passed through her as Robin jumped down, breaking her concentration. Another lifetime ago, he perhaps could have been in the tunnel, trying to take his chance and rob her. They could have been enemies and the hall could have been his doom and she none the wiser of the love they could have shared.
"You certainly picked a cozy little trail for your getaway," the archer commented cheekily, his voice reverberating along the moist stone walls as he landed beside her.
Casting him a half humorous, half scolding glance she fought back a smile. "I never thought I would have to use this little last resort. Upkeep slipped away," she jested and began to walk the treacherous trail.
Soft dust mixed into a pasty mud and spare, brittle bones lost to time that burst into dust crunched under their boots as they walked the dreary catacombs. Little by little they cunningly threaded there was across the path until they found themselves at the exit towards a door.
Made of black stone, the door was nondescript save for a golden handle that curved along the portal.
Turning to her husband to be, the witch adopted a look of all seriousness. "This is important, Robin so listen closely. The moment I place my hand on this door and open we need to separate. You'll find yourself in my heart chamber. The moment you go out take a right and stick to the wall. There will be a wooden door to your right. Enter. That will lead to the balcony of the court if you follow for the path. I will try to draw the witch there. That's the only place we can pull this off."
Though every room in her old citadel was gilded an ornate, the court was truly the only place one could be without suspicion. The high roof and the dark balcony would shroud even the most grandiose of people from view. If she could only lure her ignoble sister there then they would actually have a chance.
"Right." Robin nodded laconically and unsheathed his bow. "Wait!" he whispered out hurriedly before Regina put her hand on the handle.
Jerking her head back to him, her eyes studied him with utmost alarm. "What?"
"A kiss for luck?" A roguish smile spread across his boyish visage. If they were going to potentially meet their dooms then would a quick show of affection hurt?
Half annoyed, half amused, the witch rolled her eyes. "Pull this off and you can have all the kisses your heart desires," she tempered in low seductiveness.
Brow arched, the thief watch behind as she entered the door. "Why Regina you do offer the most wonderful incentives," he chuckled lowly before following her.
Fresh hair wafted about the thief's nose as he entered into what Regina had called her heart chamber. Multitudes of gold plated draws lined the entire circular room he found himself in. The rest was carved in gray stone and in the center a coffin lay illuminate by a spear of light coming from the domed roof.
Curiosity sparked in his heart at the sight of the chamber, but he brushed the feeling aside with a stoic hand. There was a job to do, the rest would come after they were finished.
Taking out one of the blood tipped arrows, the archer made his way as Regina directed. The moment she had entered she had vanished in her own separate way, but he tried not to worry about her too much. Regina was in her element and capable besides, she would manage… he hoped.
"So Regina brought you along to this foolhardy plot did she?" Rumpelstiltskin asked hollowly before Robin could even leave the heart chamber.
Ice frilled and trailed the bandit's spine as the voice reached his ears. His nerves went rigid with the question that sounded so much more like a statement. While they had tried their best to work him into the plan, Rumpelstiltskin was a rut in their plot they had no choice but to roll over and hope they didn't get stuck or worse.
Slowly turning to face the fiend, the archer pulled back his bow. Eyes narrowed upon the simply standing, Dark One, he faintly shook his head. "This arrow won't do a thing to you will it?" he asked calmly, already knowing the answer
"Indeed not," the Dark One assured sadly with a shrug of his shoulders. "Blood Magic can only harm blood kin. I am no such thing to Regina."
Licking his dry lips, the bandit tried to keep hopelessness from his voice. "Which means this is all for naught then?"
Had they come so far to be crushed to pitifully easily? Could they not even enact one stage of their plans before they were thwarted by powers to great for them to defeat?
"Not necessarily," the Dark One offered hesitantly and laid a hand on the cold coffin he stood beside. "My mistress only bids me to defend her from those that seek to attack her. You haven't made any move to attack her which means for the moment you're safe. The moment you do, however, I'll be forced to act." Hands akimbo, he shook his head sorrowfully. "Believe me, I would stand down if I had a choice. I would let you kill me. Since she killed my Belle all I have desired is death. But I can't, she will never free me so easily."
Vapidly drawing his bow done, the archer stared at the fiend incredulously. "So you mean as long as I do not attack her, you will do nothing?"
"That's the way of things, yes," Rumpel affirmed with a small nod.
Any loophole he could find and abuse was a gift he stressed with all his power. Though Zelena oft punished him for trying to find ways to undermine her in his own way, he still fought back as best he could.
Mind whirling, her tried to place all the pieced together. "That means…."
"You had better find Regina fast before I'm forced to act," the magical monster warned calmly, his face a picture of utmost dread.
If Regina tried to attack the witch for the slightest instance then she had scented herself to a gruesome death.
~8~8~
Gray dusty cobwebs brushed irritatingly against Regna's palled face as she marched through the long unused secret corridors that spread their network about her palace. Fresh air streamed through the clandestine halls, the only boon in the tight confines she trod.
All lay dark in the claustrophobic confines and Regina dared not conjure a light. Hand pressed upon the dusted wall, inch by inch, she felt her way to her destination. While she hadn't been in her keep in ages, she still knew the insides and out of her home. She could have navigated the castle blind if that had been her desire.
She knew every door and escape of the tracery of halls, especially the one that led to her own chambers. If she knew Zelena like she thought she did, then the witch would have post haste taken up residence in her old rooms.
"This is it," Regina sighed inwardly as she stood on the outside of a warped wooden door.
Behind the door, if Zelena had changed nothing there would be wardrobe. The wardrobe's false back would lead her right into her bed chambers.
Hand on the silver latch, the witch slowly eased open the door. Not a squeak trilled from the hinges as she forced her way inside.
The velvet and silken arms of old black dresses met her exposed skin as she snuck through the large wardrobe like some oversized rat. The scent of duty clothes clogged her nostrils nearly making her sneeze but she forced any action that would betray her presence back.
Facing the door that would lead to the outside, the witch cautiously turned a secret iron latch that would open the locked wardrobe from the inside. She had seen to the latch installed herself, just in case she had ever had to sneak back into her palace from some invading monarch and wipe him off the face of the realms from the inside.
The doors easily swung open as she touched the latch, leaving her in the midst of her old domicile. Everything was how she had left them. The blue and black chaise lounge and divan sat in their places and so did the once precious vanity she lauded so long ago.
She could have spent a breath letting the memories of her reign sink in, but right before her, at the open balcony stood Zelena.
Clad in a loose sable gown, the witch was more at ease that Regina had ever seen. Her honey brown hair was loose and cascades in bouncy swirls down her back. Her green skin on her hands glinted in the dreary sun as though she had just finished a bath. She seemed like a noble just getting up after noon and letting the thought of their reign warm them.
Quietly, ever so quietly, stepping out of the wardrobe, the witch brought a fire ball to her hands. If Zelena was so occupied, then perhaps she could sneak up upon her and finish her life before their true plan could come to fruition.
"Really Regina I think you have more of the Charming's in you than you realize," Zelena chuckled and slowly turned around to face her sister. A mocking smile festooned her ruby lips as she banked her head to the left, not in the least surprised. "You just don't give up, do you?"
Cover blown as she had well assumed, the evil queen strutted forward. Eyes hard as stone, she glared murderously at the witch. "We need to finish this. No more suffering, no more battles. You have to die, Zelena. There is no other way."
"Oh woe is me," Zelena taunted, feigning tragedy at some un-fair lot. Placing a hand to her heart she mocked a stricken look of betrayal. "Slain by my own sister, poor, poor, Zelena," she moaned in venomous sweetness then sobered. "Well sis." Outstretching her arms she made herself an impossible to miss target. "Go ahead, strike me down."
She had to be up to something, Regina knew perfectly well, but if she could just start off their fight and lead her into the court then perhaps she could win against whatever Zelena had up her sleeve.
Pulling her hand back, the exile sneered at the grinning green monster. "With pleasure-"
"Regina, no!" Robin cried out from behind before she let the fireball fly. Rushing in behind his love, the archer jerked her hand down. "Don't fight her!"
Immediately, her concentration lost, the fire sputtered out. A wisp of pale gray smoke slithered up betwixt them leaving that the only outlet of power.
Shock emblazoned, Regina's face as she looked to the archer. "Robin…."
Why wasn't he in position? Why had he ruined their last chance?
"To strike her means death at the Dark One's hands," he explained hastily and released her arm. Zelena had only been toying with her. Should she have let the fireball fly the Dark One would have struck her down like a gnat.
"You brought your boyfriend along on this little suicide?" the green witch clucked her tongue in prim disapproval. "How delightfully sentimental." Taking a step forward she smiled oily sweet. "Robin isn't it? Yes, I've seen you too much along with my sister. You obviously care for her. Tell me, what makes the evil queen so special to a noble thief?"
Eyes turning to Zelena, he shook his head. "If I told you, I fear I'd talk you to death," he shot back cheekily in his own defiant way.
"How sweet," the Wicked Witch oozed maliciously. "I hope all those things can grant you comfort as I kill her."
Stretching out her hand out, the green snake forced her magic unto Regina. Like a tidal wave, the green tsunami overpower the exile in a thunderous roar of magic. Vines of green shot out instantaneously from the stone like whip lashes and curled over Regina's body to drag her to the farthest wall like some prize kill.
Ropes of magic over her wrists and ankles and neck, the evil queen had no choice but to sail to the wall. Crashing hard against the barren wall, she clung to the stone like she was nailed to the rock. A cry of defiant surprise tried to sail from her mouth but a strand of magic choked off any sound from her mouth.
Grinning in utmost satisfaction, the Wicked Witch added agony through the tentacles like electricity through water Pain like acid rattled through Regina as the wicked power of Zelena crackled through her.
A muffled cry of torment resounded past her gagged lips as she writhed and struggled with the surges of power slowly killing her.
With a cry, Robin notched his bow and aimed at the witch. "Let her go or I will shoot. This arrow is endowed with Blood Magic," he warned sternly to hide the abject fear in his voice.
"Shoot all you like, thief," Zelena cackled wickedly, her eyes never leaving her sister. "The moment you of so stupidly release that arrow the Dark One will teleport here and end your miserable life."
Taking another step forward, the archer forced himself not to fling himself at Regina's side. "This bow never misses its target."
"Believe me, Robin Hood," Zelena began insouciantly, "It will. Even without the Dark One there are a thousand ways to dodge that arrow."
She was right, Robin knew from the depths of his heart. There was no way, Rumple's powers couldn't over act the bow or arrow. He had done so once before. Another time would be nothing. And that was all after whatever Zelena could do to prevent the arrow from piercing her without the aid of the Dark One.
A bead of sweat trickled down the edge of his right temple as his brain fired through what to do. Abruptly a pang flared through his hand in a warning pulse. The spell Regina had enacted upon him was coming to life. Slowly her life was ebbing away and the spell was making him keep his oath.
If Regina died he would have to leave, and if he fired at the witch, they would both perish.
Closing his eyes as though delivering a quick prayer, the archer steadied himself. There was only one thing to do, he knew, one thing he had never wished in all his life to do.
"Forgive me, Regina," he muttered beneath his breath.
Opening his eyes, the archer released the arrow.
The sharp hiss of the arrow filled the air the moment he released the projectile from his arsenal. Letting the bow drop from his hands, the marksman snapped out another blood laced arrow and raced with the arrow in his hand like a dagger.
If he could just make it to her, if he could just get in range….
A laugh split viciously from Zelena's mouth as the arrow zipped by her face. "That was it?" She remained calmly standing as the archer raced towards her. "You're only hope and you miss? So much for your promise that your bow never misses."
As he ran near, the witch grabbed the arrow in his upraised hand and held the weapon back. With magic flooding through her she could hold him at bay with the strength of a hundred men.
A cold smile weaseled upon her face as she froze the archer in place with but a thought. Vile laughter nearly sailed from her mouth at their utter stupidly. That had been their entire plot? They really were indeed at their wits end!
"You had one shot and you miss?" She closed the gap betwixt them and stared merrily into his frozen eyes. "Did you think I wouldn't see past that trick? Take me off guard and then use another arrow to try and kill me? Did you think I didn't see that little trick coming a mile away?"
Eyes insolubly locked to the Wicked Witch, the thief forced a smile to his nearly numb face. "That wasn't the trick," he muttered through near frozen lips.
As the words left his mouth, a whistling noise hissed viciously through the air. From behind the archers body jerked forward as the arrow went through the left side of his chest.
Surprise endowed Zelena's face as the sickening sound of the arrow sunk through his form. A look of awe wrinkled her visage as she staggered a bit forward as though being drawn to him by some immutable force.
The arrow, having gone through his entire chest, had plunged through hers as well and stuck directly into her heart.
"The bow never misses its target," the thief stammered lowly. "Even if it's me."
Shock dancing through her eyes, the witch blinked as though she couldn't believe his words. "Don't… don't think you've won." Grabbing the arrow betwixt them, she let a spurt of green power flow through the shaft.
"We have, Zelena." Robin smiled. Using the last of his strength, he pushed the witch away.
A look of utter disbelief adorned her face as he tottered for a moment, her bright red blood leaking from the center of her heart. As she stared at the thief, almost not sure whether to be wrathful of sad, her eyes rolled up as her body crumpled, dead.
Clutching the arrow set in his chest, the thief stood for a few moments more. Staggering, he turned to face an awed Regina. Not a word fell from her mouth as she watched in silent horror the mortal wound in her loves chest.
A weak, loving smile quivered on his lips as he fell to his knees. Body careening to the right, her landed on his side, his lifes blood irretrievably slipping away by the mortal wound deep in his chest.