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-nine
Emma made the phone call early the next morning, knowing that the teacher was an early riser, even on Sundays. "Hey Mary Margaret, I know it's your day off, but would you be willing to come over to Regina's this morning. There's something important we need to discuss with you….No, Henry's fine, it's not about school….Okay see you at ten."
"Love, I just spoke to Mary Margaret; she's agreed to come over at ten. Henry called a few minutes ago; he made it safely to John's house. He plans to stay there and play all morning."
Regina paced the floor in the study as the clock chimed nine forty-five. She had spent all morning preparing for the meeting, but she still felt like there were butterflies in her stomach. Once this is done, there's no going back. Am I really ready for this? Doubt clouded her thoughts until she felt the warm body embrace her from behind. Arms wrapped around her and lovingly held her.
"You're doing the right thing, my love; and I'm with you every step of the way." Emma softly spoke in Regina's ear.
"I hope you're right; if not I'm screwed." The brunette's voice cracked.
"The only screwing will be us later tonight, okay?" Emma kissed the soft brown hair.
"Promises, promises." Regina teased as the clock chimed ten times. She pulled away and straightened her posture; regaining her confident composure she sat on the couch and waited for the teacher to arrive.
The doorbell rang moments later and Emma stood to answer it. "Ready?" She asked the Mayor.
Regina took a deep breath and gave the blonde a sharp nod. "Ready."
"I love you." Emma answered before opening the door.
"I love you, too."
The doorbell chimed again as Emma swung the front door open. "Hey, come on in." She greeted the nervous schoolteacher. She took Mary Margaret by the arm and walked her into the study.
"Hello Mary Margaret." Regina tried to sound friendly, but was worried it sounded forced. The woman who stood in front of her was both her step-daughter and former arch-enemy. This is going to take some getting used to.
"Hello Regina." The teacher apprehensively responded.
"Please…" She gestured to the opposite couch. "Have a seat."
The doorbell rang again and Emma scurried to answer it. "Hey come on in, we're in the study."
As soon as they entered the room, Mary Margaret protested. "What is he doing here?"
"Have a seat, David." Regina pointed to the empty spot next to the teacher before answering the question. "He's here because this involves both of you. Please, just hear me out."
The protest died on Mary Margaret's lips as Regina spoke. "Mary Margaret, David, I know that I've never given you any reason to trust or believe me; I realize that I haven't made your lives easy at all over the past years."
Emma jumped in as she saw Regina falter. "But I have never given you reason to doubt me since we've met; so please, for my sake, just listen to what Regina has to say."
"Fine." Mary Margaret straightened her back, folded her arms, and waited.
"Uh, okay." David just looked confused.
Regina sat regally as she began. "First off, I need you both to know the truth; the book that you gave Henry, the one about fairytales…" She met the teacher's eyes.
Mary Margaret nodded. "What about it?"
Regina took a deep breath. "It's real." She let the silence fill the room as the two guests digested the thought.
"Real? How can that be?" Mary Margaret looked perplexed at the Mayor.
"It's a long story, but suffice it to say that I did cast a curse which brought all of us here to Storybrooke; it was my attempt to snuff out everybody's chance at a happily ever after."
The teacher's gaze fell to the blonde. "Emma?"
"I know it's hard to believe, but she's telling the truth."
"What you're saying is absurd; but even if it were true, why tell us? What good does it do?" David queried.
"Because…" Emma stated. "…we're going to break the curse; and we need to prepare to go back to the other realm."
Mary Margaret couldn't help the small giggle that slipped from her throat. They've both become delusional; it's only a book of fairy tales.
Regina cut in sharply, wanting to just get the next part over with. "This…" she pulled out the sheet of paper that had a detailed map drawn on it. "…is the Fairytale Realm. Let's just call it the Realm for now. Here…" She tapped the map. "..Is your kingdom, Queen Snow and King James. And here…" She pointed to an adjacent land. "…is my kingdom; which was your father's Snow, until he died, and I became ruler. I want to give the two of you my kingdom, in exchange for three things."
Mary Margaret laughed at the absurdity of the conversation. "Sure, why not."
David remained silent but his thoughts were spinning. What the hell is she talking about? Oh God, The Mayor has finally snapped.
Regina removed a large ring from her right middle finger and handed it to Snow. "This ring will give you Right of Rule and recognizes you as the Queen of the Kingdom." She pulled a staff from behind the couch. "King David, this scepter represents the King of the Kingdom; as such, it is rightfully yours. You must both keep them with you at all times now; once the curse is broken you may only take back with you what you have in your possession. You will need to ensure that those two items return with you to the Realm."
Curiosity got the better of them and they reached for the offered items. Emma's eyes widened as she saw a shockwave rush through them as their hands touched the ring and scepter. Immediately their demeanor changed from submissive and lost into regal and strong. So this is what they're really like.
The teacher turned in amazement towards the blonde man. "Charming…you found me." Her eyes filled with tears as they hugged and quickly kissed.
"Snow." Was all he was able to say as his throat constricted with emotion.
The teacher faced the blonde. "My sweet baby Emma, you've come back to us." The tears ran quickly down Snow's face. "This is unbelievable." Her attention turned to Regina and she glared. "And you…"
Emma jumped in when saw the hurt in both of the women's eyes. "Mary Margaret, I know there's bad blood between you, but please just let Regina do this, for my sake." She pleaded to their guests.
The teacher glanced at the blonde. "Emma, my name is Snow; you can call me that or mom, whichever you are most comfortable with. But Mary Margaret is no longer my name."
Emma laughed. "I'll have to stick with Snow for now; the other is still too surreal to consider. What about you?" She turned to the man.
"James is fine, Charming is good; or dad, when you're ready for that. But please not David; he was a real schmuck."
Regina grew impatient, but Emma's hand on her thigh stilled her as the blonde processed the scene before speaking. "Okay then, Charming and Snow, may Regina state her terms?"
James cocked his head. "Snow's the one you need to talk to then; she's always been better than me at negotiating treaties." He firmly wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she leaned against his solid body.
Snow's eyes narrowed as she searched for trickery from the former Evil Queen. "Fine, you mentioned giving us your kingdom for three items; what are they?"
Regina leaned forward as she faced Snow. "First I do need a very small kingdom here, in this mine. Just the northern cell, which is behind bars."
"Why there?" James leaned forward and looked closer at the map.
"Because it's inside the Dwarven Mine where magic is inhibited and can't be used effectively." Regina disclosed.
"Okay, it's an odd request, but it sounds fair." Snow considered. "So you want just the northern cell in the Dwarven Mine."
"Yes, but we need to contain it so that the last foot near the bars are not in her kingdom." Emma nodded. "I know that sounds strange, but it's vital."
"You mentioned you had two other terms, what are they?" Snow shifted in her seat as Regina spoke.
"Yes, first I require full amnesty within your kingdom's borders. Forgiveness for my actions against you two, as well as against all of your subjects."
Snow was about to vehemently disagree with the request when James took her hand and squeezed it lovingly.
"Agreed." Said James. "You have freedom within our realm as well as being pardoned for all actions up to this point. For anything done in the future you will still be held fully accountable."
Regina nodded in agreement. "That is acceptable to me; what about you Snow?"
The woman's head snapped up. "I dislike that you will be given such leniency, but all things considered, I understand you want a fresh start, and I'm not opposed to giving you that."
Regina sighed as she realized that she was not forgiven; only pardoned. I can't blame her after all I've done to her. Despite the disappointment she felt at Snow's qualms she pressed forward. "Then the last thing I request is that Emma and I be given twenty-five acres of land here." She tapped the northern point in their realm. "It's surrounded by the sea on three sides and lies within your kingdom. It will officially belong to Emma and willed to Henry. This is where we would like to live." She smiled at Emma who returned the gentle expression as she took the Mayor's hand.
"Fine, but here are my terms for this arrangement." Mary Margaret spoke after giving the conditions some consideration. "First condition is you agree to never use magic."
"I have to be able to build defensive wards around our home." Regina protested.
"Defensive wards only; and they are contained exclusively to your property." David added.
Regina scowled at the terms. "How about I agree to only use magic on the twenty-five acres of our property? Any spell I want, any time I want as long as it is contained to that area. I have to keep my skills honed or I'll be seen as a target; as will Emma and Henry. None of us want that."
"That's true; fine I can live with that." Snow agreed. "Next term is that upon our passing, Emma becomes sole heir to our kingdom. You will have no claim over any of it. Once she dies, Henry becomes heir and again, you no longer have any claim even though he is your adopted son. In addition your title will change from Queen to Lady Regina."
Regina quickly agreed. "Smart move and I completely concur. I will have no claim on your kingdom."
Emma took her hand and smiled. "Lady Regina does have a nice ring to it."
Snow quickly considered the rest of her options; she knew that what happened now would have far reaching implications on the future. "One last thing I need to discuss; Emma you are the heir to the throne and Princess of our kingdom; is it your intention to remain with Regina once we return to the Realm?"
Emma softly nodded as she put her arm around the Mayor. "Henry, too, will stay with us."
Snow folded her hands in her lap. "Then, I insist that you consider marriage. It would be in poor form for our daughter to be living unwed with her lover and their son. Plus, by having Lady Regina become our daughter-in-law it would make sense that she would give us her kingdom as an endowment for the honor of marrying Princess Emma."
Emma and Regina looked at one another for a long moment before Regina quirked a questioning eyebrow. The blonde took a deep breath and then nodded at the brunette. Regina turned to James and spoke.
"King James, Queen Snow I would like to ask your permission for the honor of courting, with the full intention of marrying, your daughter Princess Emma. In exchange I would give you an endowment of my kingdom with the provisions we have previously discussed."
"Do we really need to be so formal?" Emma asked.
"Absolutely; it ensures that our agreement is a binding contract that will be recognized throughout the Realm." Regina explained as she turned her attention back to their guests.
James was the one to speak. "Lady Regina, you have our permission to court, with the full intention of marrying our daughter, Princess Emma. Your endowment is acceptable payment for the honor; and the provisions are also granted. Once we return to the Realm you will have six months' time to propose marriage or you will lose the right of courtship."
"Thank you; I accept your terms." Regina smiled. "Perhaps I could press my luck and ask for one more favor?"
"Just one?" Snow arched an eyebrow.
"I promise just one. As you know; besides Henry and Emma, there are only two other people in this town that I truly care about. I would like to request that both Michael and Rose each be given ownership of five acres of land adjacent to ours. I will retain Michael as my advisor and messenger so that I may properly rule over my very small kingdom; you will find that Rose is a valuable asset as both an herbalist and a healer."
Snow smiled sweetly as she answered. "Of course, we will make provisions for Michael and Rose to be your neighbors." Her expression turned more serious as she continued. "But, Lady
Regina, I need to be clear that though you do have a small kingdom to reign over, that doesn't give you a seat on the Council of Rulers." She stared the Mayor in the eyes. "And rest assured should you ever try to extend the size of your kingdom we will defeat you without a moment's hesitation."
A spark lit in Regina's eyes. "I would expect nothing less of you."
James ran his thumb over the jewel encrusted scepter and considered. "Is there anything else we need to take with us once the curse is broken?"
"Nothing that I'm aware of; everything else should be there waiting for you. However, we have one more item of business to discuss; we have a mutual enemy in the Realm and we will need to act swiftly and decisively in order to contain him."
"Rumpelstiltskin." Snow spat out his name.
"Mr. Gold." James growled.
"Indeed." Regina confirmed with a sharp nod.
"As you know…" Regina began. "…Mr. Gold essentially owns the town of Storybrooke; unfortunately it means that many people are beholden to him in one way or another. He has also made deals that transcend the curse; I, unfortunately, have such a deal with him. In exchange for teaching me how to cast the dark curse, I am indebted to him. Anytime he says 'please' at the end of a sentence, I am forced to do whatever he requests."
Snow gave Regina a concerned look. "Do James or I have such a deal with him?"
Regina shook her head. "Not to my knowledge; the deal you made was to know how to save your baby daughter in exchange for giving him the knowledge of her name."
"So he probably figured out who Emma was the moment she drove into town." James realized.
"Probably, which is why he's been so keen to help her out; he wants the curse broken and he knows she's the key." Regina said firmly. "And he considers me an enemy, so he will never willingly release me from my debt."
Emma spoke up. "So we are planning to use me to trick him into relinquishing the deal."
"How?" Snow asked.
"Well, here's what we think would work." Emma explained the plan in detail to Snow and James. "Once he makes that deal with me, I can unbind Regina from her debt; we break the curse and he ends up being screwed. What do you two think?"
"It actually sounds like it might work; does Henry know your scheme, too?" Snow inquired about her grandson.
"We plan to tell him right before we carry it out." Regina relied. "He's only ten years old; I can't burden him with such a secret until it's actually happening. I don't want any chance that Mr. Gold could coerce anything out of Henry. "
"We'll make sure he's protected from Mr. Gold; you two just do your parts to get this curse broken so we can all return home." James promised.
