Her back was pressed against the harsh stone in a small room. The only light she was afforded came from the crack beneath the door. There were sounds; she could hear a mouse scurrying across the floor. Though they had a mutual understanding, she and it. He stayed on one side and she one the other and she would let him be.

The bitter cold had her pulling her cloak more tightly around her shoulders, and her hugging her knees to her chest. She sniffed, and tilted her head back against the wall, shutting her eyes that ached from her tears.

She had no idea how long she sat there in the darkness, it was only when a warmth, a sensation so achingly familiar that she opened her eyes and gasped at the strength of it.

"Robin," she said his name like a whispered prayer.

But time passed. When he arrived, she felt the beginning of hope, that somehow, he would know it wasn't her. That he would be able to feel her as she could him, but too much time had gone by. The longing in her chest took hold of her heart. The queen was going to get what she wanted and there was nothing Regina could do to stop her.

Unless…

Regina held up her hand. She could barely make out her fingers in the dark, but with tears running down her cheeks she concentrated on the feel of Robin and his love for her and… felt it. Regina gasped looking up in the darkness at the ceiling to where she imagined he was. Rubbing her fingertips together, Regina closed her eyes. Her magic was there, the queen's power may have dimmed it before, but she couldn't put a stop to their magic combined. And in the midst of the screeching, scurrying, and the drips of water off in the distance came a voice.

A whisper that blew past her like a breeze changing the feel of their air, and on it, the words, I'm here.

In the same moment the voice had gone the door burst open, and blinking from the intrusion of light, she gasped as a strong set of hands pull her to her feet and from her dungeon cell. Lancelot kept her tight by his side; gripped her arm enough to make her wince while walking her at a quick pace up the stairs and through the halls. Perhaps Robin convinced Claire to let them go? Maybe he convinced her there was another way to save Avalon. To Regina's dismay, however, there was nothing Lancelot's stoic demeanor gave anything away. His face was void of emotion, the only thing left was a shell of a man there once was, she could only assume as much anyway. One thing she knew for sure, he was not the revered Lancelot he once was.

His grip on her arm tightened, making her hiss in pain right before he pushed her roughly back into the throne room. She nearly lost her footing but there was someone who was able to reach out and catch her. The gentleness in the touch had her looking up into the eyes of her husband.

A sound like a sob left her chest. She took his face in her hands, her thumbs caressing over the stubble. Relieved he had come, her tears fall anew, unchecked. His forehead softly fell against hers. She never thought she would see him again. She blinked though her tears. "You're here."

"Are you injured?" he asked, drawing away from her, eyes searching her for any sign of harm. She shook her head, but he ignored it, and his tone hardened as he glanced away from her to the other side of the room before falling on her again. "Has anyone hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine," she replied. She didn't need him worrying over a few bruises when they had bigger things to worry about, like getting out of this place. Her voice lowered, "Robin, we can't let her do this."

He touched her cheek gently. "I won't let her hurt you, Regina. We have no choice."

"Yes, we do," she said, lowering her voice to a soft whisper. "She thinks she knows about our time in Camelot, but she doesn't know what we share, not truly. As soon as you came I felt my magic return. We can fight her."

"Regina -" he began.

"All right, you've seen her," Claire's voice rang out, interrupting what he was about to tell her.

"Robin," Regina said bringing his attention back to her as another tear slipped down her cheek. "I've lived with darkness around me my whole life. I thought I'd never escape, but I did. And now I know that where there's love there's light and it's because of you that I know how to find it. I won't let her take it away from us. I feel you, I feel us, and that feeling is stronger than ever. We can do this."

An unexpected smile that made his eyes crinkle around the edges lit his face, as he told her, "If today is my last day, Regina, know this, I thank God for every moment I've been blessed to have you. You are my light."

His lips fell to hers and she was overtaken by his determination, his fear, but most importantly his love for her.

"Lancelot, take her back to her new home."

Before Regina knew it, Robin pushed her behind him, and unsheathing Excalibur, held it out in front of him. His voice was as hard as flint. "You will not lay one finger on her. We will be taking our leave from you all."

Claire's ringing laugh filled the room. "You seem under the impression you have some choice in this, thief. You stay, and she lives. Or I can make an exception and just kill her now."

"You'll have to kill me," Regina said, "I won't be a part of your madness."

There was a heavy moment where Morgan stared at them. Regina thought that she might be considering giving up, but then her chin tipped up and she said, "Done."

Robin watched in horror as Regina gasped from behind him. She was plucked from her place and lifted high into the air where Claire swept her away and froze her on the other side of the room beside her. Regina struggled against the queen's hold, but it was no use. The Fae Queen's power was too strong.

Robin's jaw clenched, and he could barely hear over the pounding of his heart. He would kill Claire that he knew. "Release her!" he shouted.

"I gave you a chance…" Claire said.

"I will end you," he spat.

"You will end us all."

"So be it."

Claire looked over to Lancelot, and Robin turned to face the man who was once hailed a hero as Lancelot took his own sword, preparing to fight. "It doesn't have to end this way," Robin said.

Lancelot only smiled.

Robin held the sword by his side, and Lancelot lunged forward. Robin easily deflected it, stepping to the side, but Lancelot had plans other than swords, and swung his fist, connecting with Robin's nose. Pain lanced through his nose and his head making him hiss.

Lancelot chuckled, his smile broadening to show his white teeth. "She won't let me kill you, but I will enjoy beating you to a pulp."

A warm sensation crept down his nose, and he raised his hand to wipe away the blood. He tasted metallic in his mouth but swallowed it away. Raising his sword, he warned, "You better make sure when you fight me, you fight to kill because I assure you, if that's what I must do, I will not hesitate."

It was Robin who lunged this time, Lancelot blocking easily, which was what he wanted. Another thrust, this time high towards the man's face caught him off guard, the tip of Excalibur grazed along the blonde man's shoulder. Lancelot growled in pain, his shirt torn and bloodied.

Robin smirked.

Lancelot's face darkened. His hand went up to his injured arm, and when he pulled it away, like his shirt, it was covered in blood. "I did not expect you to be a skilled swordsman."

"Clearly," Robin said. He swung the sword away, blocking another and another. They made their way around the room, often Robin leading the attacks, but then a chair pulled out in his way, made him stumble and fall to the floor heavily. He twisted in the air, holding his arm out, managing to catch himself before he hit the ground.

Lancelot swung his sword, the blade coming down quickly. Robin had enough time to roll out of the way, the sound of the steel sword connecting to the floor rang out into the room.

Robin heard the Fae Queen call out to Lancelot not to harm him, but he was done listening to his queen. His chest rose and fell with every heavy breath, sweat pouring down his face and into his eyes.

Robin took a step back, preparing for Lancelot's next attack.

"You don't deserve the honor she has offered to you," Lancelot told him pointing his sword at Robin. The man's feelings for the queen were present in his eyes, hurt and betrayal at the forefront, and alone with it, an immense hatred for him. "All these years I've stood back and watched, first with Arthur and then you… I will watch no more. I will take what's always been mine and save her the trouble by killing you now."

Robin's eyes bore into the other man's. There was a way back from all of this. "It doesn't have to end like this. The power she holds over you can be broken."

Lancelot threw his head back and laughed. "You believe me bewitched? You have no idea what it's like." A mad smile tipped his lips up. "She can become anyone you desire."

The last part was whispered for only them to hear. His gaze crossed the room to the queen, and with a sickening comprehension Robin's eyes widened. Just like Claire had become Regina, she had become Guinevere.

"You could leave here with us. I'm sure the real Guinevere is out there somewhere waiting for you…"

"Guinevere is dead!" Lancelot thundered before pointing his sword at him. "And I will thank you never to speak her name again while you're still drawing breath."

He came at Robin without warning, and Robin blocked easily, stepping to the side and throwing his balance off hard. Lancelot stumbled forward, growling in frustration. Robin raised Excalibur again, holding the sword by his side, waiting. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he could hear it thumping in his ears. He could also feel Regina becoming tired from her struggle. He knew if he did not hurry, she would soon choke to death.

He looked over and found Regina still suspended in the air, her hands still weakly grasping at her neck, but her eyes… her eyes were starting to flutter closed.

No!

Lancelot came for him again, only this time when Robin blocked he used the man's weight and forward motion to quickly plunge the sword into him.

Excalibur went through the man easily. Robin locked eyes with him. The fury that once filled them gave way to fear and then slowly acceptance. His heart was heavy with the weight of what he had done. He would carry Lancelot's death with him for the rest of his days. Robin placed his hand on Lancelot's shoulder, said a quick prayer to God and pushed him back, taking Excalibur from him.

Claire screamed for Lancelot and dropped Regina to the ground. "No!"

Lancelot stumbled then fell to his knees before him with a groan, then back against the stone floor where Robin watched the light from his eyes fade. He straightened and looked up into the furious eyes of the Fae Queen.

Regina could do nothing while Claire held her in the air. The sounds of swords clanging went on behind her and around her. The voice of her husband of Lancelot but she couldn't follow what they were saying. As hard as she tried, she could not draw enough breath to concentrate. The searing pain that shot through her chest when she tried to take a breath clouded her mind. Tears fell from the sides of her eyes as she tried to grasp at the invisible force holding her.

Her eyes fell closed and her mother's voice in her mind. "You're weak, Regina."

Squeezing her eyes shut, she let the remainder of her tears fall from them. She was not weak. She was strong, so much stronger than her mother or the queen knew. Images of Snow, and Roland, and Robin flashed through her mind at a dizzying recollection and within moments she could hear Claire's outraged cry.

"No!"

At once, Regina fell only to the sounds of shouting which brought her back right before a fierce pain radiated through her back as she hit the stone floor.

Regina tried to gasp but could not draw a breath. The wind had been knocked from her. She tried to catch some air, even the smallest amount but she couldn't. Only a sharp, crushing sensation in her chest squeezed what little air she had left in her from her.

Claire's scream meant something had happened, but she was unsure of what. With effort, Regina pulled herself up on her elbow, and breathed enough to call Robin's name.

Claire's gaze slowly left Robin standing over a fallen Lancelot to Regina. The queen tore her gaze from her and back to Robin, a silent fury within their depths. She would not keep her alive now.

She called out in hope to gain Claire's attention away from Robin again. The queen ignored her and raised her hand. Regina looked over to the mirror across the room and, in a desperate attempt, gazed into it and called out, "Mirror!"

Regina was not sure she would come to her, she dared to hope, but then her silver eyes appeared a second before the mirror's magic burst from it and pulled at the Fae Queen. Claire's face transformed, her eyes widened in horror, as she was slowly being pulled back.

But the Fae Queen's magic was strong, so much stronger than that of her mirror, and Claire fought against the magic which came for her. "You think I can be defeated so easily? By a child and her mirror?"

"Not just a mirror," Robin's voice called out.

Regina turned her head back as he extended his arm right before a light, so great and bright came from his palm making her eyes widen.

Claire's hands were held up, shielding herself with her own magic as she fought against the power from behind her.

Regina knew what she had to do. Holding out her hand, Regina drew strength from her flame. Grasping onto that strength, soon the same magic that came from him poured from her. She felt his power, their power in her fingertips. It burned her more and more the greater it became. She wasn't sure how long she'd be able to continue.

Claire screamed. The Fae Queen's ability to resist both together was dwindling. The mirror's hold dragged her back and back.

The light that poured from Robin ceased. It was only her own and the mirror now.

"Robin!" Regina called out to him. Everything in her body hurt, drained her, begged her for release.

His voice cut through the pain. "Hold a little longer, Regina!"

Regina latched on to their bond and cried out, used everything left in her until Claire could fight no longer and was taken forcefully back through the mirror itself. Regina gasped when she was taken but kept her hand raised in defense as Claire stood on the other side of the mirror with her hands on the glass, pounding in vain to break it and come back through.

Enraged, the queen called out, "Avalon will die because of you!"

Regina shook her head. Claire always had the power to save the Isle; instead she chose to let it die away. "Avalon is finally free from what was killing it!"

"You know nothing!" Claire's eyes filled with rage. "A mirror will not contain my power for long…" Raising her hand, Regina saw her magic begin to build; her palms slightly covered with a purple haze grew and swirled in intensity all around the queen.

Regina shielded her eyes, she was sure somehow Claire's magic would succeed breaking through the glass.

Just then the familiar sound of something sailing across the room compelled Regina to open her eyes as the tip of Robin's arrow found its mark. Glass showered down in shards, scattering across the room. The sound like twinkling rain as shards fell to the floor, and when all was settled, blackness rose from the pieces, hovering in the air before disappearing into nothing.

Regina looked back to Robin who was standing across the room. His bow held out, his jaw set as the hardness of his eyes. It all disappeared when he found her gaze. Regina pushed herself into a sitting position. The pain in her side was excruciating, but she ignored it. Getting to her feet, tears filled her eyes as she crossed the room where she stepped into his arms.

"Are you all right?" She pulled away from him, eyes widening at the sight of him covered in blood. Her heart raced while she reached out and looked for the source. "You're hurt."

Robin took her hands to gain her attention and when she finally looked up at him, he shook his head. "It's not my blood."

Her gaze lifted from his and fell across the room on the still form of Lancelot. Blood pooled around him, his hollow eyes were open looking up the heavens. Whatever mercy the Goddess had, she hoped he begged for it in the end.

She pulled him closer. "Hold me."

"Always." Robin's arms tightened around her. Her head fell against his chest and while his hands caressed up and down her back. Her eyes closed at the heavy beat of his heart beneath her ear.

Her breaths came out slowly, and she blinked as the world spun right before her legs gave out, Robin there to catch her. The last recollection she had was of him carrying her out of the room and thinking, Over.

It was finally all over.