Realm of Shadows
Summary: As Emma repays the favour owed to Mr. Gold it becomes the key to unlocking many things in Storybrooke.
Pairings:Emma/Regina
Disclaimers: I do not own OUaT or any of its characters. I do, however, like to take them out of their boxes and play with them.
A/N: It's been awhile since I've written fan fiction, so any comments that help me become a better writer are always welcomed.
Thanks, as always, to Pesterfield, my grammar guru who catches my errors.
Chapter Twenty-One
The room was filled with dim lights from the various machines that tracked her every breath, heartbeat and change in temperature. Emma drifted in and out of sleep; she tried to be brave, but the pain was sometimes too much to bear, and she pushed the button in her hand to receive a numbing dose of morphine. Tomorrow I'll do better. She promised herself as she drifted back to a pain free haze.
The room morphed into a garden, the bold colors of summer flowers mixed with deep blue skies and puffy clouds as white as anything she could ever remember seeing. A gentle wind blew on her face, causing some strands of her blonde hair to wrap across her neck. She quickly tied it back into a long braid, securing it with a thin piece of soft leather. She didn't hear Mary Margaret until the woman was standing right behind her.
"Emma dear, our guests have arrived." The brunette took in Emma's outfit of tan buckskin pants and a silk navy blue shirt tucked into them. 'At least she's not wearing that hideous red cowhide that she's so fond of.'
Emma turned and looked at the woman. Something's changed; she's different somehow. But, try as she might, she couldn't put her finger on it.
They walked together through the garden, Mary Margaret slipped her hand around Emma's arm. "I know you hate these meetings, Emma, but it really is important that you are well informed of the plans we are devising."
"Ah, there you are my dear Snow." James greeted his love. "And I see you found Emma, too; excellent, most everyone has gathered in the war room." He held out his arm for Mary Margaret to take. "Shall we?"
The stone walled room was filled with about a dozen people, mostly men, save for Emma and Mary Margaret. Emma watched as David stood and boldly addressed the entire group. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice; our spies have told us that Regina is on the move again. This might be our best chance to stop her before she is able to push further into our realm."
Emma noticed the large sheet of parchment paper that lay on the round table; on which sketching of land borders, oceans and castles were drawn. David pointed to a line that ran between what appeared to be two different kingdoms.
"The last time she tried to infiltrate the northern border of our realm. Fortunately, we'd been preparing for a war with the goblins at the time and we were able to dispatch troops that were stationed nearby to bolster our regular northern forces.".
One tall man with gray touched black hair spoke. "If she had come even twenty lengths closer, my entire city, and the lands of Morrow would have been lost to her forces."
David nodded. "The Duke of Morrow is right, we got lucky last time; this time she won't catch us so unprepared."
The room filled with the buzz of voices, each trying to talk over the others as they discussed the matter. David held up his hand for silence, which was given immediately.
"Our spies have reported that there are sightings of Regina's armies on the western border here…" He pointed to a mountain pass on the western line. "….and here. I dispatched troops to both locations four days ago; both have sent back messengers that tell of a build up near these locations. They cannot confirm that it is Regina; but if our suspicions are correct, then she is going to try within a fortnight to attack the cities of Altaire and Valaria."
The murmuring returned as the Duke of the Meacham raised his voice. "My cities cannot endure a long, drawn out campaign. Our trade routes are vital to the entire kingdom."
David nodded. "That's why we've deployed five hundred soldiers, split evenly between the two cities, to help push back her army. The men will be there by tomorrow; in plenty of time to reinforce the cities walls and garrisons." He looked at a smaller man who wore a scowl on his wrinkled face. "Duke of Christensen?"
The older man stabbed the map with his finger. "What if it's a trap and she chooses to attack on the southern border? My part of the kingdom will be defenseless without those soldiers that you took from our cities to fortify the western border."
David raised his hands to stave off the man's anger. "I realize that this spreads protection of the southern border a bit thin; but no activity has been reported near your lands in quite some time. Most of your lands are bordered by the sea." He pointed to the oceans. "Unless Regina has built an armada, which we would have known about, you are quite safe for the time being."
The man harrumphed, but decided to let the issue go as David continued addressing the group as a whole. "Those of you whose lands the soldiers must cross to get to the western border and back, I request that you assist the kingdom by providing logistical aid and shelter. Duke of Morrow, you will be responsible for doing the same while the soldiers are protecting the western border." The nobleman nodded at David.
"The rest of you will be called upon to provide volunteers or resources from your lands if the battle with Regina's army proves to be more arduous than anticipated. Any other questions?"
Every man raised his hand as David patiently began to address each one.
Emma pulled Mary Margaret towards the doorway. Concern filled her hazel eyes. "What happens if they capture Regina?"
Mary Margaret eyed her curiously, before answering in a firm voice. "We kill her, of course."
Pain ripped through her shoulder as she bolted upright in her hospital bed. "Regina!" She cried out to the empty room.
A nurse appeared in the doorway. "Is everything alright, Sheriff?"
Emma fought to catch her breath as she looked around; the familiar click and hiss of machines thrummed in her ears. The hospital. "Yes, Lauren…" She cleared her throat. "…just a bad dream."
The nurse looked sympathetically at the blonde as she took her vital signs. "Morphine can do that sometimes."
Emma glanced down to the button in her hand; she tossed it aside. Then no more morphine for me; that was just too weird.
"Hey mom?" Henry glanced at Regina while she read the Sunday paper.
"Hmmmm?" She distractedly answered as she read the article on the break-in at Rose's.
"Do you think we could bring a picnic to Emma today? You know, some sandwiches, lemonade, cookies…"
She gave him a smile that softened her eyes. "I think that sounds like a fine plan; let's do it." She stood and he followed her into the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, they appeared in the doorway of Emma's room. "Hey guys." Emma turned her head to see her visitors. "What's up?"
"We brought you a picnic!" Henry held up the wicker basket for Emma to see. "I even helped mom make it."
Emma gave a tired smile. "That's awesome, Henry. I love picnics."
Regina sat in a nearby chair and they watched as he carefully laid the checkered tablecloth over the little table adjacent to Emma's bed. "Do you want a turkey or ham sandwich?" He asked as he pulled the food out of the basket and assembled it neatly on the table.
"Mmmmm…." Emma considered her options. "I'd love a turkey sandwich."
He pulled out a turkey sandwich on wheat bread and placed it on the paper plate. He added some BBQ potato chips, an apple and two chocolate chip cookies on the side. "Lemonade or iced tea?"
"Wow, you guys thought of everything." She grinned as he sat the plate on her serving tray. "I'd better stick to lemonade today."
Henry busied himself with pouring the lemonade and making plates for his mom and himself. Regina took advantage of his distraction to talk to Emma. "Are you in pain?"
Emma let her head fall back onto her pillow and closed her eyes. "Yeah, but I'm really trying to not take the morphine. I had a crazy assed dream last time I took some."
Regina scooted forward on her chair and touched the blonde's forehead, which was covered with a thin sheen of sweat. "Did you take some aspirin or anything?"
Emma shook her head as Regina rose to her feet. "At least take something to help with the pain, Emma; I hate to see you hurting." She pushed the call button and spoke to the nurse. "This is Mayor Mills in room 209. Could you bring Miss Swan something for her pain?"
The red-headed nurse appeared within moments with a small paper cup. "Emma, I brought you some acetometaphine for the pain. Do you want to take it?"
Emma eyed Regina who was staring at her expectantly. "Yeah." She conceded. "That sounds good." She obediently took the two small pills and washed them down with the lemonade. "Thanks, Lauren."
A few minutes later, Emma had a full belly and the effects of the medicine were finally taking the edge off of the pain. Regina noticed that some of the color had returned to the Sheriff's face.
"You look better." She looked around the room and spied the small bottle of lotion. She stood and retrieved it, then returned to stand next to Emma. She opened the bottle and squeezed some of the thick white lotion into her hands. She rubbed them together and then gently took one of Emma's arms and began to rub the lotion onto the blonde's skin.
"You don't have to do that." Emma felt herself begin to blush.
"Perhaps, but I want to." The Mayor started working on Emma's right hand.
The blonde relaxed and closed her eyes. "Ok, good; cause I didn't really want you to stop."
Regina smiled as she started massaging the tips of Emma's fingers. She worked slowly, making sure to minister to each digit. She noticed each scar on back of the Sheriff's hand as she lightly traced each one with her finger. She turned the hand over and pushed her thumbs firmly into Emma's palm. The blonde moaned in contentment as Regina massaged her hand and arm. She moved to the other side of the bed and began on the left arm.
Again, she took her time, reveling in the feeling of touching Emma and hearing her soft moans. She ran her hand up each of Emma's fingers and back down to the palm. She turned the hand palm up and began to deeply massage the palm. She brought her hands down to Emma's wrists before noticing the thin white horizontal lines that went across the blonde's arm. Oh, Emma; someday I want to hear the story of these scars. Before she realized it, she had brought her lips down to the Sheriff's wrist and gently started to kiss the scars.
Emma's eyes popped open when she felt the warm wetness on her wrist; she watched as Regina gently pressed her mouth against her arm over and over. The Mayor's eyes were closed as she stilled with her lips right over the pulse point.
"Mom, are you okay?" Henry's voice snapped Regina back to reality and she quickly realized the position she was in.
"Yes, I was just…taking her pulse." She answered in a panic.
"Ok, well do you mind if I go to the gift shop and see if they have any new comic books?"
She breathed out a relieved sigh. "Sure, take your time Henry. Here's five dollars." She reached into her wallet and handed him the bill.
"Wow, thanks!" He stated before leaving the room.
A thick silence filled the room; trying to read the Mayor's expression, Emma was the first to break it.
"You give a nice massage, Regina." She noticed the Mayor's blush on her fair skin.
"Miss Swan…" She began, but the Sheriff cut her off.
"Emma."
Regina sighed and started again. "Fine, Emma; I don't know what came over me. I was out of line."
Emma smiled at the brunette. "Well, I wouldn't mind if you were out of line more often."
Regina turned, startled at the blonde's admission. She came closer and spoke in a hushed voice. "I just...I've never done that before…giving a massage, the kissing." She shrugged her shoulders shyly.
Emma took the brunette's hand and intertwined her fingers with Regina's. "Well…" She started by kissing the Mayor's fingertips. "…there's something to be said about trying new things." She nibbled on Regina's wrist, feeling the warm pulse under her lips. She let her tongue trace up from the wrist, along the palm of Regina's hand and took the pointer finger into her mouth. Emma smiled as she heard a gasp escape the mayor's lips.
She sucked on the finger, letting her tongue circle the tip. A warm sensation ran down from her belly to her core, causing her to moan. Regina's nostrils flared as she felt the vibrations on her finger as the Sheriff's nibbles were not as gentle as before. She watched as Emma's eyes turned darker with lust. She ran her free hand across the blonde's neck, allowing it to roam southward towards the edge of the hospital gown.
Emma growled as she suckled the Mayor's wrist again, licking it and nibbling on the soft skin. Regina reveled in the heat at her core and the warmth in her heart; afraid to let go of the woman and break the spell they were under.
Many moments later Emma stilled as she felt Regina's arm stiffen. "You okay?" She asked as she watched the emotions play on the brunette's face.
"Too okay." Regina said breathlessly. "There's nothing I want more then to continue this, but Henry should be back soon."
Emma nodded in realization that they could have been caught red-handed. "Good point." She snuck one last kiss on Regina's palm. "Raincheck?"
Regina gave her an impish smile. "Count on it."