Opening her eyes, Regina found it hard to keep them open for long. It was like she was waking from a heavy sleep after being ill for days on end. She just wanted to rest a bit more, but there was something she was doing before… some place she was trying to get to. She blinked against the pull.
Slowly the images came to her. Snow and Roland's faces were before her. They were with her and Robin in Avalon, but they couldn't be. Her mind swam with questions right before pain so fierce and sharp lanced through her head making her gasp.
"It's about time you woke up."
Regina blinked. Licking her dry lips, she pulled herself from the pain and the temptation of more rest and opened her eyes.
"I thought I was going to have to have Lancelot find his own imaginative way of waking you."
That voice. She heard it before.
Pushing herself up from the floor, Regina found herself in a large, stone room. There was a great table to one side and a large fireplace burned brightly on the other with a large ornate mirror hanging above it. There were fur rugs that lined the floor beside a large balcony window, and turning her head, she looked up and straight into the eyes of the woman seated on a high-backed throne.
She wore a thin purple dress that stood out starkly against her pale skin. Her long, blonde hair fell down her shoulders, and her slim face smiled at her.
Regina's heart sank, and a cold chill fell down her back. The woman's name came out in a surprised whisper, "Claire?"
The woman Regina thought she knew tilted her head, her smile widening. "Don't look so surprised."
Regina ignored the pain in her head and tiredness muscles and got slowly to her feet. "But I don't understand…"
A long, drawn-out sigh, left the queen. "Oh, don't make me put it all together for you."
Regina thought back to when she arrived at Robin's camp. When she met Claire, Regina assumed she did not favor her because she brought a danger to the camp, but now, it became so much clearer to her. She had been after Robin all along and Regina got in the way of that. "You're Morgan. The Fae Queen?"
"One and the same."
No. Her mind must be clouded still. Shaking her head, Regina tried to make sense of it all. "I still don't understand. You know Robin, why would you do this to him?"
"I wouldn't have had to, had you not come along."
The bitterness in Claire's voice was hard to miss. Regina's eye narrowed. "Then why continue this? This plan, this deception will not gain you any favors with him. He will only hate you and you must know, he will not give you this… this child you seek."
Claire's whimsical laugh filled the room. "You're so sure of this. It's delightful to see how very naive you are."
"Naïve? When you think this plan of yours will work? That you can strengthen your magic with a child?" A light scoff left her, and her gaze filling with pity and her own anger. "It'll never work."
"Do not mock what you do not understand!" Claire snapped before softening her voice once again. "A child born of the blood of Old, of true blood of the Isle would bring our people back together and bring the religion home." She paused, her eyes roaming over Regina's face before adding, "And Robin's hatred will fade over time when he understands what we can have together."
A fury built inside Regina. The Fae Queen was even more vile than she first believed. "You're the reason Avalon has fallen. Ruling everyone through fear and taking away their way of life. You didn't even let them worship the Goddess! It's because of you the religion has all but gone."
There was a long moment between them as Regina stared down the queen. She tried to use her magic. Tried to use her influence over her to help persuade her to stop all of this but her own powers had no effect on her. Tears formed in Regina's eyes as Claire's smile widened.
"I wasn't always like this, you know." Claire said, rising from her chair and stepping down the three steps to the stone floor below. "When I was young I wanted the same things as you - Love, family, acceptance… but those were only dreams. Dreams that faded away as one by one my people left."
"They only left because of you."
She stopped in front of Regina. Her look was measured, patient, as she stared into her eyes. "How charming you think you know everything that's happened here. The spoiled, entitled lady that you are. I could've gotten rid of you right from the beginning."
"Why didn't you?" Regina snapped.
The Fae Queen's hand rose, and Regina held herself still as Claire's cold fingertips caressed over her cheek. "I was curious about you and your gifts. Unfortunately, I did not see Robin's feelings for you until it was too late. I knew he felt a responsibility for you, after all, this is Robin we are talking about, but I never thought he would fall for someone so young and naïve. I guess you could say I overestimated him."
Regina's voice was hard as flint. "I wish I could say I was sorry I ruined your plans."
Claire's smile widened. "Oh, but you haven't my dear, sweet girl. You have actually made it easier for me to get exactly what I want."
Regina watched, horrified, as the queen's eyes changed from pale lavender to a warm brown, and then her image faded and morphed, becoming something, someone else…
Regina.
It was like she was looking into a mirror. Her eyes widened with realization.
"No!" she screamed.
"Don't you worry, I'll take good care of him." Her own smiling face gazed back at her. "Perhaps if you're good, I'll even let you watch us some time." The Fae Queen's eye dropped down to look at herself, then said, "Lancelot, take her to her new home. I do hope you got used to sleeping on the floor in the forest, you're going to be doing that for a while."
He walked up the cobblestone steps rising along the rocky cliffs. The sound of the sea crashing against the rocks below grew quieter with every rising step. He would not imagine what he might find at the top. Though Robin believed he would feel it if the queen had hurt Regina in any way, the only thing which kept Robin calm was the word of the three girls below and the closer he came to the top of the cliffs the more he could feel her where as before, he couldn't at all.
At the top of the stone steps, the castle came into view. It was a grand thing with four large towers surrounded by high walls making a square barrier and in the center the castle. Dull windows were scattered throughout, and in front of him, an open iron gate leading to the heavy doors he would enter through.
The air around Avalon was still surrounded by a thick mist. Quiet and ominous, his footsteps sounded loud against the cobblestone. Holding his bow tightly in his hand, he held an arrow nocked at the ready, Robin's guard never dropping. His skills as a thief and an archer gave him confidence that whatever resistance he would face he would be able to take down.
If there is a resistance. The land seemed empty, but he did not miss the footprints in the ground or the snap of a twig not far in the distance. They were there somewhere in the thick fog, watching him. He was sure of it.
Coming to the large door, he took a step back when it opened without as much as a touch. Of course, it would, his mind wryly said, he was expected after all. Making his way through the foyer, Robin had an idea of where she would be waiting for him. He had a general knowledge of castles; he'd stolen from enough of them to have a vague idea where they placed most throne halls. Turning down the long, wide corridor lit with torches, he came into a large room. It was a great room with a large fireplace spitting out flames and a throne far more ornate than he would have suspected given the nature of the Goddess and how her people worshiped. But then, he supposed, this Fae Queen wasn't the kind of queen who cared about anyone's will but her own.
He didn't see her right away, but when he did, the air left his lungs. Tied to a chair, Regina sat in the corner of the room, her mouth bound along with her hands to keep her form escaping. His feet carried him quickly across the room where he dropped to his knees in front of her. Loosening the material from her mouth, he watched as she took a deep breath before saying his name.
"You found me."
His eyes roamed over her, taking her in and making sure she was uninjured while he finished untying her bonds. Not thinking why she hadn't used her magic to escape or why the room had been empty until she was in his arms. Once in them, held her fiercely a moment before grasping her arms and pulled her away from him. She appeared fine, but she felt so different to him, so hollow. "Regina?"
She took his hand and attempting to lead him from the room. "Robin, we have to leave here."
His feet didn't move from the spot. He was as desperate to leave as she, but something else was happening. He couldn't explain it, but her insistence felt wrong. "Regina, where is the queen?"
"She's not here. She never has been. It's been the Fae all along." She pulled on him once again, but this time her strength surprised him as she dragged him across the room.
He stopped them before she could get too far. "Wait. Are you all right? You're not hurt?"
"No, Robin, I'm fine." She turned to him with pursed lips, looking agitated. "We must hurry before they return."
She must have seen his conflict, because she leaned forward and brought her lips to his. He knew the moment their lips touched she was not who she claimed as such. And yet, the creature kissed him back with an intensity he hadn't expected.
When she pulled away, his eyes were open, and it looked to have startled her. "Robin?"
Jaw set, he took her by the arms, pushing her back and took a step away from her. "You're not Regina."
She took a step forward. "What are you talking about? Of course, I am."
He shook his head. "No, you're not."
"Robin, I-"
Robin removed Excalibur quickly, holding it at the neck of the being pretending to be his wife. "Do not think me a fool, demon. I will not hesitate to use this blade on you. Now answer me, where is Regina?"
Before his eyes, the image of Regina transformed. Her long dark hair lightened into a honey-colored blonde, her shorter form gained in height, and before he knew it, Robin had to take two steps away from the form of the other woman he knew.
Claire.
"It cannot be," he breathed. The woman who he'd took in and known for nearly two years now, who cared for his son, the woman he nearly… "Claire?"
Smiling, she touched the end of Excalibur with the tip of her finger pushing it aside before walking away. She was wearing a dark purple silk dress sculpted around her body, the back cut out leaving little to the imagination, and on top of her head was a delicate crown made of silver. "Sorry about the subterfuge, but you didn't leave me with much choice."
"What is this? Where is Regina?"
"I haven't killed her if that's what you're thinking. I'm not cruel like your comrades probably told you, and I'll let her go but first, there's something I need."
His jaw tightened. "Never."
"Oh, I don't know about that." She eyed Robin from his boots to his eyes. Walking up to him, ignoring the sword as though it was nothing by a child's toy, she brought up her hand and ran it over his cheek.
"We had something once before she came."
All those times he let her spend with him, with his son, ran through his mind. He'd left Roland in her care, let her get close to him like a mother would, and all of it was nothing but a plan to get close to him, to use him.
He said everything to her in a measured tone. "Everything, our friendship, was based on filthy lies and deceit."
"Come now, I'm still the Claire you knew. I only withheld from you my life here."
"As the Fae Queen?"
Tipping her chin up, she declared, "I am Morgan le Fae, high priestess of Avalon and yes, the Fae Queen."
"Why?" There must be another way. The woman he spent over a year of his life getting to know was capable of more than… this. "Why have you done this?"
She walked over to her chair and took a seat before explaining, "The new faith is spreading, driving out and punishing, killing the followers of Old. Because of that fear people are forgetting the Goddess and turning to the new God. As they do, the Isle disappears from the land until it will be no more."
There was a touch of sadness to her tone, and yet was she not the reason behind Avalon's demise? Could she not have changed their fate had she ruled differently? His pity for her only went so far given her history. "Is that not your own doing? You cursed this place. Forbid those of the Old from worshiping, driving them from the land and into the shadows."
A scoff filled the room. "You could never understand. They prayed for the will of the Goddess and in doing so, brought the end upon them."
"If it is the will of your Goddess then why fight it?"
"Because I will not so easily leave my home!" She shouted at him, her face red with fury. "My people have abandoned the Isle. Bringing back magic with the blood of Old, proving to the people of its continuation and will restore their faith that Avalon can carry on in this world."
He could understand wanting to save the Isle but to do so by such means… Shaking his head, he told her, "I'm sorry, I feel for you, but I will not willingly aid you in what you desire."
"Oh, but you will," she said, walking over to the throne. Her throne. "Because if you don't, I will kill Regina."
The look in her eyes Robin didn't doubt she wouldn't. There was only way he and Regina were going to get out of this castle and that would be together. And in order to do that, he would have to get Claire to bring Regina to him.
"I want to see her. Show me she's all right and then let her go."
Mirth brightened her face, bringing with it a ringing laugh that filled the room. She uncrossed her legs, deep slits showed him the bare expanse of her legs, but he kept his eyes on hers much to her frustration.
"You may see her, but I won't let her go just yet. Not until you give me something." She drew nearer, and his jaw clenched. "Something I've been looking forward to for so long now…" Robin turned his head away from her touch, and she dropped her hand. With her face in a set pout, she said, "I don't know why you're so bothered. It's not like you didn't once think about what could happen between us. What we could have shared. I promise you, you will enjoy it."
"Even if I hadn't taken vows, pledged myself to another, would I ever give you anything so freely. You are nothing but a deceitful witch."
Her face slipped from its overconfident set for a heartbeat before she recovered, twisting it into something more dismissive, however, the jealousy, and –if he dared- the hurt was present there in her eyes.
"What was it about her?" she asked, curiously. "Was it her young youthful innocence? That naive lovesick look she got whenever you came around? Or was it that figure of hers? Even I can admit, she is a tempting little thing."
"What I feel for Regina you will never understand."
"No, I suppose I won't. I never have. It was Helena and Igraine who were blessed with such a fate while I was condemned to live a life alone." The bitterness in her voice had returned, and she turned her back on him to gaze out the window.
"I've heard of your sisters. You could have changed your fate, and yet you did nothing, you're doing nothing," he accused.
"Nothing?" she replied, turning to him. "You have no idea what I've done, what I'm doing. I tried to do this differently, to get you to fall in love with me, to make this right."
"Just as you did with Arthur and Lancelot? Did you ever stop to think that this is not to be? That perhaps the reason for your failures is that you simply must accept things are as they should be?"
"No, I chose wrong. I see that now. I chose Lancelot for lust, Arthur for blood, but you… you're an exception. Over time I grew to love you, and I know you could have felt something for me out there in the forest. I think with some more time you will grow to love me in return, and when you do, then our child will be born from that love and he will survive because of it."
Repulsed, his look, as well as well as what little of feeling as left for her, hardened even more. "Even if you get what you want from me, know this -I will never love you and I will fight every day to be free from you."
Slowly, she made her way over to him. "You say that now, but give it some time." Taking him by the neck, she pulled him to her, kissing his lips. He tensed, clamped his lips together beneath her touch, kept himself from grimacing until she had her fill because he knew fighting her off would only anger her, and until he knew Regina was safe, he wouldn't risk that. When she finally drew away, her eyes took him in as she assured, "I have no problem keeping your love alive if you do as I bid."
He didn't move, didn't bat an eye. Instead, he held her gaze, wanting nothing more than to kill her but demanded once again. "I want to see her."
They shared a look for long moment, he thought she would deny him and then a man stepped from the shadows.
"Lancelot," she called. "Bring her to us."
"Yes, Your Majesty."