Chapter 21

Robin returned to the castle and went to the library thinking she was still there. The room was empty and he wondered where she could have gone.

"She's not here. She had something to take care of," Claude informed him. Robin turned around and gave a nod.

"I'll take my leave then," he said but Claude stopped him.

"I've watched you for some time. You have managed to get into the Queen's good graces. Ever since you've become a guard, I feel as if we have seen each other before. I can put my finger on it but I am positive you look familiar."

Robin didn't move. "I don't know where that would be."

Claude nodded not really believing Robin. "You don't? I remember a long time ago a man defied King Leopold and took his wife. He sent guards to search for the thief and we located them. I soon realized the Queen was in love with this man and she cried and begged for the King not to hurt him. I had to hold her back so she wouldn't run to him. I carried her away just as she saw him crumble to the ground. She yelled out a name…Robin. Funny, it's your name too. I don't know too many Robins. It just seems like a fine coincidence that this man who you look like appears after all this time."

"What's your point?" Robin asked keeping his voice neutral.

Claude approached him. "The point is I watched you die and Regina was devastated. Now you are here breathing and one of my top guards. I want to know how."

"Why do you care so much? Why are you so interested in my personal life?"

"Because I watched her sulk about this castle for weeks. She barely ate. She barely slept. She couldn't function and then suddenly all emotion vanished. I watched her turn into a cold-hearted woman after her love died," he said dangerously low.

Robin sighed. "She doesn't know who I am nor can it be revealed to her."

"What happened?" Claude questioned. "The D-

"It doesn't matter," he interrupted. "You must keep quiet."

"She deserves to know," Claude argued.

"Claude, it is necessary that you say nothing or everything I've done is for naught," he said firmly.

"Fine," he said. "Don't hurt her."

The door opened and Regina stopped at the entrance. "Is there a problem?" she asked.

"No your majesty," Claude said. He gave Robin one last stare before walking out the room. Regina turned to Robin and creased her eyebrows.

"Did I miss something?" Regina asked as she approached Robin.

"No," he said. "We were just wondering where you ran off to," Robin said.

"I took a short trip to see a certain mermaid," she said.

"Already? I thought-

She waved her hand around. "We have to do this right. Besides, your travels are limited since you don't want to be seen too often. However, thankfully for us, the mermaid hates our enemy just as much. Something about a love taken from her," she finished.

Robin nodded. "So this special kind of ink…will it do the job?"

"Yes, squid ink is just the solution we need. It's all about timing. So how was your ride back?"

"Uneventful. Snow and David will arrive in two days time," he said. "With an army," he added.

She tilted her head. "I will get what I need tomorrow. But what happened to meeting the prince first?"

"Well, on the way back we decided that it would probably be best to have them lead with an army. I explained to David the circumstances. He is fine with it," Robin said.

"I suggest you help prepare the men for battle. There is something else I need to do," she told him.

"What?" he asked feeling her answer would cause dread.

"See Rumplestilskin," she said. He started to protest but she put her hands on his. "Listen, I'm playing along but I too must keep up appearances remember. He won't hurt me."

She saw the hesitancy clouding his features. She put her hand on his face. "I'll be fine. I'm the Evil Queen. Darkness is my best friend." She kissed his cheek and smiled at him. "Go do something productive," she teased and vanished.

Regina barged through Rumplestilskin's doors and he snapped his head up. "Regina," he greeted. "What brings you here?"

"I have a feeling Snow and her imbeciles will be trying to storm my castle any day now. I fear I will lose everything so I need that curse," she said.

Rumplestilskin smiled wickedly which made Regina ill. "Are you still willing to go far to destroy Snow White?"

"Yes," she said. "I expect you to be by my side. You are the only one I can trust," she continued.

"You think so much of me," he responded. He snapped his fingers and handed her the curse. She went to grab it but he held his hand back. "Be careful Regina." He handed her the curse.

She smiled and walked out the room. She breathed out a sigh of relief once she exited.

A puff of purple smoke filled her chambers as she stood in the middle of the room. She opened the scroll and read it. She thought about how she would have jumped at the chance to cast this curse but now it seemed foolish.

Everything was still in her grasp and she could still change her mind but she couldn't stomach it. She would be no better than her mother. She would be no better than her mentor.