Hey guys how are you? I know it's been some time but I had a hugeeeeee exam and it was kinda crazy ;) Happy you're still with me and our Queen and thief.
I took some liberties with canon on this one and this chapter will reveal a lot about why and how Regina was attacked with that nice arrow ;) Hope you gonna enjoy it and please review!
A special thanks to Abi who kindly took a look at all of this and Tarisa who keeps me from drowning in my author crises ;)
If you wanna talk I can be found on Twitter (OnceUponAHappy) or Tumblr (onceuponahappytime)
"Regina wake up. Come on, you need to wake up," Regina's eyes were heavy as she tried to open them. She knew the voice that was calling for her; had heard it in her dreams over and over again. She felt a hand shaking her and finally, she blinked her eyes open, only to find herself looking straight into green ones. Green ones that belonged to a certain princess, who now was sitting next to her with a worried look.
"S-Snow?" Regina asked, confused. Her head hurt and she was still dizzy. She tried to sit up slowly, pulling herself up and ignoring Snow's helping hand. She might've agreed to save her step-daughter, but that was it. No one said she had to be nice or civilized.
"What happened? Where are we?" Regina questioned sharply, but Snow stayed silent. Regina looked around, trying to take in her surroundings. They were in some kind of cave, illuminated by candles. It was cold and moist and Regina couldn't stop herself from shivering.
"I don't know," Snow answered, and Regina took a closer look at her step-daughter and felt an involuntary pang of worry in her heart. Snow had lost weight; her face seemed almost hollow and her dark hair was in desperate need of a brush.
But the hope was still in those green eyes that undying optimisms Regina could never understand how after all Snow still could hold on to that. How she could still believe that everything will work out no matter how hopeless the situation was.
It made her livid. It raised the desire to wipe that stupid look of her face to replace it with sorrow. She liked it feeling the anger that was something that she was familiar with something she could handle. The worry on the other hand…that was something she tried to push as far away as she could.
"Are you alright Regina?" The underlying concern and uncertainty in her voice almost made Regina snort in disbelieve. After all she had done to her- that wretched girl still had to worry for her well-being. It made her feel too many things at once, and she couldn't deal with that. Not now. She needed to get out of here; she needed to find Robin and get back to her son.
Robin! Oh god- where was he? Was he alright? Regina tried to remember what happened, but she couldn't; everything was blank. Her hand found its way to her stomach where their baby lay. What if… what if whoever had taken her killed Robin? What if she lost love again? Again- because of Snow White? Or was this all her fault?
She couldn't breathe- couldn't stop her hands from shaking. Her happiness had been so close and it slipped away from her again. Regina knew she was close to a panic attack- had been on the edge of one for weeks. Now, not knowing what happened? And having Snow here- the girl she didn't know if she hated or loved- It was just too much!
"Regina you need to breathe," Snow said, gently rubbing up and down Regina's arms. Regina didn't even realize that Snow had closed the distance between them, and her first impulse was to shake her off. But somehow the soft touch was soothing; it was calming her down just like Robin's always did. Robin… she needed to find him, and while she was at it the shepherd too. Even if she hated to admit it she had grown fond of the idiot.
"I'm fine," Regina snapped, finally ripping her arm away from Snow and ignoring the hurt look in the princess' eyes. "How did you get here?" Regina asked, trying again to get information.
Snow looked at her for a moment before sighing "I don't really know. One moment I was lying next to David and the next I was here. How did you get here?"
Regina hesitated for a moment, not knowing what to say. She wasn't sure if she could bring herself to tell the girl in front of her the truth. She wasn't sure if she even knew it herself.
Regina took a deep breath and answered "We were looking for you when I got taken by whoever is stupid enough to do this."
"Y-you w-were looking for me?" Snow's eyes widened in surprise, and a bright smile appeared on her pale face. A smile which made Regina's stomach turn. The quiet yes left a bitter taste in her mouth. Snow frowned as she caught up. "Who is 'we'?"
Regina stayed silent, trying to avoid Snow's intense gaze. "Regina?" The Queen finally looked up, trying to keep her expression as neutral as possible "Your annoying prince Charming and Robin."
"David? Is he alright?" Snow asked excitedly, even if she felt more and more confused by the minute. This woman in front of her… she wasn't the same one Snow had seen on their last encounter. She wasn't like the girl she met all those years ago but she seemed different; happier. Less tormented. Less in pain.
"He was his self-righteous stupid-beyond-imagination self when I last saw him." Regina snarled. Snow sighed in relief; she had feared the worst. Then it suddenly hit her "Who is Robin?"
"None of your business," Regina replied, purposely looking in a different direction. Snow- on the other hand- couldn't move her gaze away, noticing the smitten look in her step-mothers dark eyes. She had hoped so much that after all Regina might find happiness despite all that had happened between them.
"I'm happy for you," Snow said softly. Regina hated how well Snow knew her; how fast she figured it out.
"Why?" Regina asked finally, turning towards the dark-haired girl.
"Why what?" Snow asked, eyebrows raised in confusion.
"Why are you happy for me? Why don't you hate me? Why don't you want me to suffer?" Regina didn't get it. The knowledge that Snow was happy ripped her apart and made her blood boil, but Snow White- good and kind Snow- simply sat there, smiling at her brightly.
The princess thought about if for a moment. Sometimes she wasn't sure herself why she felt the way she felt. Not sure what she should say, she finally decided that the truth was the best… right?
"Because I love you. Always have and always will," Snow said, green orbs finding dark ones.
"Then you are even more foolish then I thought," Regina snarled, eyes cold. But Snow had seen it; had seen the tears gathering. Had seen the flicker of hope in her step mothers face.
"I guess that means you and I are in agreement for once, Your Majesty," Regina and Snow spun around to find the source of the voice, and when Regina saw who was standing there her blood froze.
"You," Regina hissed, looking at the cold cruel eyes of the man who shot an arrow through her; remembered his laughing, his harsh words.
"Yes me, Your Majesty. Nice to see you again. Even though I hoped the next time we saw each other would be your funeral. Sadly, you can't have everything in life, can you?"
"Who are you? How do I know you?" Regina asked, trying to piece together why the face looked so familiar.
"Oh darling we met years ago," the man mumbled. He came closer and softly tucked a strand of Regina's hair behind her ear. The gesture made her shiver as she waved her hand by instinct to burn him to ash but nothing happened. Her magic wouldn't come.
"Oh don't even try, honey, your magic won't work down her," he said with a cold smile, kneeling next to Regina- who couldn't stop herself from moving in front of her step daughter and facing their captor.
"And I wouldn't try to hurt me, Your Majesty. We both know how that worked out the last time…" he raised his hand and before Regina could react he smacked her across her face.
"Don't try that again," he hissed, pulling out his knife when he noticed Snow ready to attack him "The same applies to you, princess." Both women knew that for the moment the dirty man with the cold and crazy eyes had the upper hand, so after a shared look they both nodded slowly.
"Good girls," he muttered stroking Regina's bruised cheek. "Oh where are my manners? I am yet to introduce myself! I'm Percival; nice to finally have you here, Your Majesty."
Regina's cheek burnt as she tried to remember where she had seen him before (well, before the day he had put an arrow through her) but she couldn't. "I doubt you remember where we first met, Regina, but that's not a big surprise. You burnt so many villages; killed so many people; and destroyed so many families, it would be a miracle if you recognized the 16 year old boy who's family you slaughtered."
"Oh but do you know what made me hate you the most?" Percival whispered into Regina's ear, making her shiver. "The moment when I was sitting between the bodies of my most of my dead family, hiding. The moment when you saw me. I was so terrified of what you would do to me. But you looked at me- looking like some fucking angel of death- and do you know what you did then?"
Regina stayed silent till he roughly grabbed her chin and pulled her close to him "Do you?"
Regina had to swallow as she shook her head "You smiled. You killed my entire family, and you just stood there and smiled at me. You are a monster and today, you will pay for it."
Regina couldn't break eye contact with the young hateful man in front of her. She had to take a deep breath as she was once again reminded of what she truly was. Not matter how often Robin told her she was wrong, nothing she could do would change the fact that she was, indeed, a monster. And today she would pay for her sins.
"Then kill me," Regina hissed, knowing that even the knowledge of her pregnancy wouldn't stop this man. She knew insanity when she saw it; had lived too many days on the brink of it. "Kill me, but let Snow go. I'm the Evil Queen! I'm the one who is the monster, not her."
Regina wasn't exactly sure what she felt for Snow, but she knew she had to protect her; she just knew. She hoped that her death would keep Robin and Roland safe. And she even more hoped that one day Robin would be able to forgive her- forgive her for surrendering. But she needed to protect her family, she couldn't let anybody else get hurt because of her.
Because Percival was right; all of them were right. She was a monster- an angel of death- and she deserved whatever was coming for her. Still, there was something she had to take care of first.
"But before you do anything to me… who is behind all this?" Regina asked, trying to look unimpressed by it all. Never show your fear.
"What are you talking about witch? I did all of this myself!" Percival snarled.
"Regina, what do you mean?" Snow questioned, fear in her green eyes. Fear of losing her, Regina realized with a surprised frown.
"No, you didn't. The arrow that hit me… the poison is hard to come by. This cave is protected by magic… there must be somebody far more powerful and smarter than you on your side," Regina replied calmly.
"You are indeed a clever woman, Your Majesty," another voice came from the other side of the cave; a voice Regina hadn't heard in years. A voice that made her shiver.
She finally knew who was behind all of this.
Robin blinked two- three times. His head felt like it was about to explode. What the bloody hell happened? He felt for Regina next to him- eyes still closed- but all he could find was the rough material of David's clothes. This finally made his eyes snap open. "Regina! Milady? Where are you?"
Robin sat up, looking around in panic, but she was gone. It was just him and David, all alone. "David, damnit wake up," Robin shook the shepherd roughly till his eyes finally popped open. "What's going on?" David asked, confused. He noticed Robin's distraught expression and fear crept over him, knowing that only two things could make Robin this upset… Regina or Roland.
"Where's Regina?" David questioned, trying to stand up.
"I don't bloody know Charming. Why else would I scream my lungs out for her?" Robin hissed angrily, already walking away. He needed to find Regina; he swore to protect her he swore he would never let anybody hurt her again and he had failed. She could be anywhere.
"I never should've have talked her into searching for the princess," Robin shouted, punching a tree as hard as he could. This was entirely his fault. Whoever had Snow now had Regina too, and if they hurt her… he would never forgive himself. He knew his love was likely the strongest person there was and was more then capable taking care of herself, but he also knew that she didn't value her own life.
He knew about her way of daring people to kill her, and it drove him crazy. Images of her dead broken body, lifeless dark eyes their baby gone flashed before his eyes. He couldn't… he couldn't lose her. She was his other half, his partner, his soulmate.
"Robin look you need to calm down you…" before David could finish his sentence Robin grabbed him by the collar and yelled "I don't need to calm down shepherd! The woman I love and my unborn child are in the hands of some nutjob, and this is all my fault. We should've never gone with you! We should've stayed in the camp where she would've been safe."
"Robin, I know exactly how you feel, but we need a clear head to find them. And don't forget- it's Regina we're talking about here! She is strong and smart- she'll find a way."
Robin let go of David slowly; realized that yes indeed the shepherd was searching for the woman he loved too. But his princess didn't have the habit of throwing herself out there without thinking that her actions could lead to death. Or even worse- thinking nobody would care if she actually died.
"I promised I would never let anybody hurt her again David," Robin said, his voice breaking.
"We don't know what happened Robin, we don't know if she's even hurt. But we're gonna get them back- both of them. I know it."
"How?" Robin asked desperately. He was good in a fight good and at tracking, but they were against magic here and magic… well, that was Regina's domain, not his.
"I might be able to help with that," Robin spun around as he heard a voice he hadn't heard in years.
Regina slightly turned her head to look at petite woman dressed completely in blue. "What an unpleasant surprise. Hello, Blue," Regina said, studying the fairy in front of her curiously.
She always knew the fairy hated her for some reason, but she couldn't figure out what all this was about. No matter what the blue moth's problem with her was… fairies stood for light magic. and the poison used to hurt her had been dark magic. Not to mention Snow- perfect and pure Snow- had been kidnapped too.
This all made no sense.
"Oh on the contrary, Your Majesty, I've been very eager to see you again," Blue replied, all warmth gone from her eyes (if there ever truly was any warmth).
"Blue, what is going on?" Snow asked, confused. Regina chuckled at Snow's naïve tone, her large eyes looking from the fairy to Regina and back, seemingly not able to comprehend what was going on.
"What's going on dear is that your wonderful fairy here tried to kill me, and this is likely an attempt to cover up her own incompetence," Regina snarled, shooting her best Evil Queen glare at the fairy.
"N-no, that can't be true Regina. Blue would never hurt you, she is good, she is…" Snow tried to make sense of this mess as Regina interrupted her
"Oh Snow, shut up. I raised you better than this. You know the world isn't black and white. You know people aren't always what they seem. Stop being a naïve princess and for once actually try to use your brain," Regina's words silenced Snow.
"Ah, no need to be so touchy Your Majesty," Blue said, smiling brightly. The smile made Regina cringe. She always knew not to trust this fairy, but now she began to realize that the woman actually was dangerous.
"What do you want, fairy?" Regina questioned, instinctively putting her hand on her belly. On the outside she was completely composed, but on the inside-she was terrified. Months ago she wouldn't have cared what the fairy did to her, but now… she had a family- something to live for. Regina didn't want to die
"Your death would do quite nicely," Blue replied, moving closer.
"Don't you dare touch her," Snow hissed, coming to terms with the fact the good and pure fairy wanted to kill the Evil Queen surprisingly fast.
"Oh Snow, your love for her was always foolish. She is dark and rotten to the core, my dear girl. You see; I'll do you a favor by killing her."
"Hey, you promised me my share to," Percival- who had been silent till now- shouted, and with one smooth move he had Regina in his hold, pulling her up with him. Regina struggled against it but without her magic she was more or less helpless, she could feel him getting hard behind her. God please don't, not that, not in front of Snow, was all what she could think as Percival pressed himself closer to her.
"You'll get your share Percival, but I first need to have a little chat with the Queen. I'll make sure you have time to have your fun with her," Blue told him, and with a wave of her wand he disappeared and Regina dropped back on the floor.
"Regina, are you alright?" Snow asked, worried, helping her stepmother up. Regina didn't like to take help from the dark-haired girl, but she sure as hell wouldn't sit on the floor and let Blue hover over her. She wouldn't give her that kind of power of her.
"Why do you want me dead so badly, fairy? I never hurt you." Regina asked, curiously. Some could say Blue did it for the greater good but Regina was well aware that Blue was a very selfish person. Sadly, nobody but her actually noticed that.
"Because you are a monster, Your Majesty," Blue hissed.
"That's true, fairy. But I've been a monster for years. Why now?"
The fairy stayed silent for few moments, clearly trying to figure out if she should share her reasons. "Because of the prophecy."
"What prophecy? What the hell are you talking about?" Regina questioned, closing the distance between her and the fairy. Snow merely watched the entire conversation in silence.
Blue leaned against the nearest wall, sighing as she started to tell the story; the story which had made her decision to get rid of the Queen an easy one.
"The prophecy was made long ago, but only recently came back to light. And what it says… well it changes everything."
"What does it say? Damnit Blue, speak," Regina almost yelled. She needed to know what this was all about!
Blue threw a thoughtful glance at the dark haired Queen. She hated the woman; always had. "Careful, Your Majesty. I hasten to remind you which of us has magic and which of us doesn't," with those words Blue waved her wand and Regina screamed suddenly as a burning pain shot through her body.
"Regina! Stop it, Blue, please," Snow shouted, running towards her stepmother. With a grin Blue stopped the magic, letting the pain disappear.
Regina pressed her arm around her middle as she tried to catch her breath. The pain had been horrible, but she had had worse. But it had taken her by surprise and fear for her child made it almost unbearable. She wanted to get out of there, she wanted Robin, she wanted her son, she wanted to feel safe and loved again.
"Don't get cheeky with me, Your Majesty," Blue mumbled. Don't get cheeky with your mother, you have to learn how to be a good girl, her mother's voice came as well as a memory, a kind of punishment usually followed those words. The kind that made her scream in pain too- only worse.
Regina stood up, still shaking but head held high. No one was gonna break her- and sure as hell not that stupid fairy.
"Is that all you've got, moth? I've used to far worse." Regina snarled, moving closer to the petite woman. "What. Is. The. Prophecy. About?" Regina asked slowly, her voice a dangerous growl.
Blue chuckled, but decided to tell the Queen after all. She could have fun with her later.
"Well… well if you really want to know." Blue muttered, and with another wave of her wand Regina and Snow were tied up. Blue knew Regina didn't have her magic, but she also knew the woman was a fighter and she wouldn't' take that risk.
"The prophecy states the birth of a girl; a girl with the most resilient heart. A girl who will withhold the strongest light magic ever to exist- more powerful than anything before," Blue almost spat out the last part. "Born out of darkness and light she will be able to do things beyond our imagination."
Regina could only stare at the fairy as she asked "And why should I be that girl? My magic is dark."
Blue chuckled "We both know that's not true darling. I know about saving your thief. And to be sure I put a protection spell around this cave that can only be broken by light magic. Powerful light magic. And you are here, aren't you?
Regina reminded silent. This couldn't be true she didn't… that wasn't possible. She was dark and worthless, not somebody you would call the strongest possessor of light magic.
Robin looked, surprised, at the golden eyes of the wizard- or better said, the Dark One's in front of him. It had been some time since he had seen the imp, and the last time it hadn't been pleasant. Memories of whips and burning pain and saved by his maid, a brave woman Robin would forever be grateful to. He knew Rumplestiltskin meant nothing good.
"What do you want, Dark One?" Robin asked, his bow ready to defend himself and David if necessary.
"Oh no need to be so testy, I'm here to help you dearie.
"What. Do. You. Want?" Robin questioned again. He knew better then to trust this creature. Rumple chuckled, amused, dancing around the archer.
"What I told you. I'm here to help you to get your Queen back," Rumple replied, grinning.
"Why would you do that? Regina told me what you did to her. You have no reason to help her. And don't come with 'it's the right thing to do'. We both know you care only about yourself."
"That, dearie, might be true; but luckily for you our goals for once are the same. I need Regina alive and I need her safe and happy with you," Rumple told them, and for just a second Robin saw something like actual concern for Regina in those cold eyes. But it was gone as fast as it appeared.
"Why?" Robin asked simply. "You never cared before. Why now?" Rumple studied the thief in front of him for a moment. He was- of course- right but things had changed. A prophecy had changed everything.
"Because times change, Robin of Locksley. I want something and Regina is my key to getting it. She always was, but let's just say I have no need for the Evil Queen anymore. And thanks to you and your boy she is on the best way to leave her behind. After all, her capability to love never disappeared; no matter how strong the shimmering rage was." Rumple seemed to be caught up in his thoughts for a moment.
"She is, after all, the proud owner of the most resilient heart," he added thoughtfully. "If you trust the prophecy of course."
"What prophecy? What is this all about? And what has this all to do with Snow?" David finally spoke up, after watching the conversation between Rumplestiltskin and Robin silently.
"Well listen carefully both of you, if you want your woman back. The prophecy states of a girl…"
"Alright, I might have used light magic before but that still doesn't mean it's me," Regina tried to reason. Blue shook her head as she replied "It's you, Your Majesty. I wish it wasn't, but I can feel it; I can feel your magic. How it grows stronger and stronger every day."
"So, just so I understand this right Blue; you want to kill Regina because she has powerful light magic and can be good. But you didn't kill her when she used dark magic to slaughter villages?" Snow asked in disbelief.
"Well, I don't say it often but Snow's right. Why now? I'm still far from good- but I've been far worse. Why stop pretending you are some good spirit whose only fault is a terrible taste in clothing?" Regina questioned, struggling against the restraints.
"Because with only your dark magic, you were stoppable. If- god forbid- you ever reach the height of your light magic… you won't be. And I need to put a stop to that before it can happen," Blue snarled.
"But Blue, listen to what you are saying. You want to kill Regina because she will be good? What kind of logic is that?" Snow looked at her old friend, confused.
"Oh don't you get it Snow? She will never be good, she will have that powerful magic and she will use it to destroy us! She is incapable of love; her heart is dark as coal. Just like her mother's. Your love for her always blinded you princess. She was rotten to the core the day she was born. What else can you expect from Cora's daughter," Blue's eyes were so full of hatred as she spit out Cora's name.
"So, I never actually had a chance with you did I? You just assumed I'm like my mother," Regina whispered.
"Because you are. There is a reason why they call you the Evil Queen, Your Majesty," Blue hissed.
Regina stayed silent for a moment and then she exploded "But I wasn't always like her! I was innocent when I sat at my window night after night begging you fairies to help me! To make my mother stop hurting me, to bring Daniel back to me, to make Leopold stop. You never came- you never helped me." Regina didn't even realize what she had said still she saw Snow's upset frown, but she couldn't care about it. Not now.
"You never were innocent, Regina," Blue replied coldly.
"Yes I was. I was innocent at 5 years old when I begged for help after my mother broke my arm. I was innocent at 18 as I watched her kill my fiancée; I was innocent as Leopold married me against my will."
"I WAS INNOCENT YOU DAMN FAIRY," Regina yelled, tears now running down her face. The fairy seemed unaffected by her outburst; almost bored.
Regina took a deep breath trying to take everything in. "So you send Percival with the poisoned arrow after me? You weren't even brave enough to do it yourself."
"He wasn't supposed to do it that soon, but sadly he is as stupid as he looks. Blindly driven by revenge. After the failed attempt I asked his brother to take your thief so I could get to you, but he failed too," Blue told them with a disappointed shake of her head.
"The bandit… the bandit who tried to kill Robin… he was Percvial's brother?" Regina asked, a cold shiver going down her back. He had been so close- he would have killed Robin if she hadn't used her… light magic. That was the moment when it hit Regina, and she couldn't stop herself from laughing.
"What's so funny Your Majesty?" Blue asked angrily.
"You want to know what's funny, fairy? That all you attempts to destroy me only led to me using light magic; that's what's so hilarious."
"I was so caught up in my revenge I would've never thought of using light magic. Hell- I never thought I was even capable of it. I was so full of hatred I was a monster."
"You still are!" Blue shouted
"Yes, I still am. Likely always gonna be, but through your murder attempt I met Robin and fell in love with him. Just because of you I could be Roland's mother, the Merry Men's friend. For heaven's sake- just because of you kidnapping Snow, Charming and I became… well he annoys me less than he did before. Because of you and your attempts to destroy me I have the chance of love in my life again.
Because of you I have the chance to be a better person I have the chance to redeem myself."
Regina had decided to keep her baby a secret, not wanting to know what Blue would do with her child. Not after hearing that Blue judged her simply by who her mother was. How would she be to her baby, with her as a mother and Cora as a grandmother?
"Shut up," Blue shouted, showing Regina that she indeed had hit a nerve.
"You suck more in the whole I'm gonna destroy you thing than I do, and the fact that I'm risking my life to save the person I'm hunting says that you are truly bad at it," Regina laughed, her dark eyes sparkling.
Oh god did she enjoy to wipe that smug grin from the fairy's face. She could see how the whole façade broke; could finally see the fairy's true self.
"You're gonna pay for what you did, Your Majesty," Blue hissed hatefully as she pointed her wand at Regina, but before the burning pain could come back there was a sound- some kind of a hum- followed by Blue crying out in pain.
An arrow had hit Blue; Robin's arrow to be specific. Regina's head spun around and dark eyes found blue ones. He had found her- she had no idea how but there he was standing in front of her with not one scratch on him.
He had promised to protect her- to fight side by side with her- and for the first time in her life somebody had kept their promise. He stood there, smiling at her, and Regina found herself returning the smile.
He had come; her soulmate had come to get her. To save her from this stupid fairy.
Speaking of a certain fairy. It was time that Regina gave Robin a hand. It was time to finally get out of here and back to their son.
A moment later she and Snow had finally got rid of their restraints, ready to fight, ready to get their families back.
Whatever that exactly meant.
