55

Regina's Ultimatum

On the way home, Snow asked Rumple a question that she had been wondering since she had signed her consent to the adoption that had taken place. "Rum—I mean, Papa," she began, her eyes glowing. "How did you manage to work me into your adoption plans?"

"Snow, you can still call me Rum if you feel more comfortable—" he began.

The dark-haired girl shook her head. "No. Legally I'm your daughter now, and I was taught to show respect to my elders, and you've been more of father to me than Regina has ever been a mother, so it's only right I call you papa now. And the same is true for you, Belle."

"Thank you, Snow," Belle said softly. She wiped a tear from her eye. She was still very emotional over the adoption, though some of it could be laid at the altar of pregnancy, for her emotions tended to run away with her sometimes.

"You're welcome, Mama," the girl said, and smiled as she said it. "I like calling you that. It feels so much better than calling Regina that. Because you love me more than she ever did." Then she turned back to Rumple. "So, Papa, how did you do it? Manage to adopt me legally? Because I know that Regina, even though she is only my stepmother, was legally regent of the Enchanted Forest until I came of age, and therefore legally my guardian, though she never adopted me."

Rumple patted her cheek and said, "Well, dearie, I pulled some strings. A long time ago, before I first moved into the Dark Castle, I brokered a peace treaty between the ogres and humans and ended forever the Ogre Wars. Those wars cost hundreds of thousands their lives, men, women, and children, and the peace I made between ogres and what was then the kingdom of Jason's uncle, Aegeus, is still in effect today. Yet the only noble even willing to honor me for doing that was Jason. When he took over his uncle's throne, he came to me, even though I was the Dark One, and told me that he wished to acknowledge the deed I had done in ending the Ogre Wars. He then told me that as long as I remained in Attica, he would never tax me like his other subjects, or force me to swear fealty to him, I was basically a free subject, and that if ever I needed it, he would grant me a favor. It's how I grew rich rather quickly, you see."

"What about the favor, Papa?" asked Snow.

"I never used it. Until the day I wrote your name on the adoption papers and sent them to the king's city. I explained in a letter to Jason who you really were, and how I was granting you sanctuary, since Regina had turned against you and usurped your throne and tried to kill you. I said that legally you might be Regina's ward, but she had destroyed that right by trying to murder you, thus making you a ward of your kingdom. That meant that someone could claim you as their family, but no one there dared. I told him that I wished to claim you as my child, and in order to do so, I was calling in my favor. That I would use it to get him agree to my adoption, and once I had legally adopted you, Regina had no claim on you, or any right to your throne. It was the best way I knew how to protect you, Snow. Besides, you've become a daughter to me and Belle during the time you've stayed here, and the best way for us to acknowledge that was to adopt you. Then too, if Regina tries anything now, I'll be within my rights to stomp her into the dust. Because nobody hurts my family."

He said that last with a fierce glint in his eye, and it almost sent a shiver down Snow's backbone. Then she recalled that he would never use his power to harm her, she was his daughter, and he would protect her unto death, and the thought warmed her to the core of her being. She put her arms about his neck and hugged him then, saying, "I'm so glad you've made me part of your family, I've missed that since my father died."

"We're glad to call you our daughter, Snow," said Belle, reaching out to stroke the raven head next to her own. "I hope that you can put Regina and her . . . abuse behind you and be happy in your new life with us."

"I shall, Mama," Snow beamed at her. "I always wanted a big family, and now I've got one. And soon it'll be even bigger," she glanced pointedly at Belle's middle.

Belle patted her stomach. "Yes, and I can't wait for them to get born. I feel like I'm carrying about a cannon ball!"

"They'll be here soon enough, Belle," said Rum, eyeing the bulge in her dress lovingly. "In about another ten weeks or so, I'd guess. Or so Granny tells me."

"Those ten weeks can't go fast enough, Rum," his wife sighed. Then she leaned her head on his shoulder as Flicker pulled them up the hill towards the castle, while Jack, Bae, and Nick rode alongside and Alice and Jeff brought up the rearguard.

Page~*~*~*~*~Break

The next night was the eve of the new year, and down in Valley Way, the villagers celebrated this event with parties at the Goose and privately in their own residences. Up at the Dark Castle, the Golds had a quiet family get-together, though some friends, like Archie, Charming, Ruby, Pinocchio, and Ray did come over and celebrate with them during the day. But at night it was just the family and Myrnin, whom Rumple made clear that he considered the half-elven prince family.

They rang in the new year quietly, with a buffet style dinner, and sparkling white wine toasts among the adults, and the older children, like Bae, Rennie, Snow, Elaina, Rafe, Aurora, Ivy, and Myrnin. The younger children had strawberry punch. They gathered with their glasses in the orchard, near a tree that Rumple designated the new year tree, and at precisely the stroke of midnight, they all toasted each other and wished each other a happy and prosperous new year.

And when they all looked at the tree, it had burst into flower, with sweet-smelling white and pink blossoms and golden leaves.

"How'd it do that, Papa?" Phillip cried, amazed.

"It's part of the new year magic, son," his father explained. "When I designated this tree, I infused it with a small amount of my magic. When the clock struck the first hour of the new year, it linked with the magic of the land, and it became as you see it now, blessed by the god Janus, lord of change and beginnings. The blossoms and gold leaves are a sign of his favor. You can each pick a flower, girls, and also a leaf, boys. They'll last till the turning of the next year, and it's said carrying such a token will bring you good luck."

"My people believe that too," Myrnin said, and he plucked a pink flower and gave it to Ivy, who then picked a gold leaf and gave it to him. Then he took her arm and they walked through the orchard, smiling at each other and looking at the stars.

"It's so beautiful tonight," Ivy sighed. "The stars look close enough to touch."

"Yes, they do," Myrnin said softly.

They walked onward for a few more feet, neither willing to say what was in their hearts, that it was time for him to leave.

He fingered the golden ring about his neck and rubbed his hand over the leaf in his pocket. His other was clasped in hers, and suddenly he stopped and put his arms about her. "Stars and shadows, Ivy, but I don't want to go back."

"Then don't. Stay here," she murmured into his chest, knowing even as she said them that she was being selfish. His people needed him, and he would not abandon them, not and still keep his honor.

He kissed the top of her head. "If I could follow the wish of my heart, I'd do it. But I was raised a prince of my people, and taught that duty takes precedence over all, even my heart, which begs me to stay here, where I am at peace. And like it or not, I'm needed there . . . though I'd like to say to hell with it all and stay here."

She leaned against him, listening to the steady thrum of his heart and loving the sinewy strength in his arms, strength gained from hours of practice with bow and sword. "I understand, love. Though sometimes I wish I didn't, and could beg you to stay, like some spoiled maiden in a tale. But I know better. The hawk must fly free, and then he shall return when it's time."

"Yes, a'liri. I may fly away for a time, but I shall always return. Someday I shall return for good, when my people no longer need me, I shall come back and make you my bride and remain here always, among the sunlit hills, far away from the forest's shadows."

"Even though your father disapproves?"

"Even then. I have given him all the loyalty and love that I possess, and still it's not enough to make him love me in return. I'm tired of butting my head against a stone wall and coming away bleeding. I fight in this war for duty and honor, and the love of the il'Shennara, not because he commands it, though he believes he controls me. He doesn't. Unlike most of his subjects, I'm not in awe of him, great magic worker though he is. Once, when I was little, I tried my best to become like him, until the day I realized it was a fool's hope, that he would never see me as anything save a reminder of what he had lost."

"Oh, Myrnin! I wish I could go and beat your papa's stubborn head in with my broom!" Ivy declared fiercely. "He has the best son ever, and he doesn't even seem to appreciate it."

"Oh, he does. He appreciates my older brother, Arion," Myrnin said ironically.

"He should appreciate you. You're just as worthy of his love."

He gave her a slight smile. "Pity he's never seen that. But that's water under the bridge now. Like I said, it's not for him I'm going back."

"Be careful, Myrnin," Ivy sad suddenly.

"Always, love," he whispered. "Playing the hero and dying isn't in my plans." His mouth found hers then and kissed her, at first gentle and then more fiercely, as he knew this would have to last until he came back again to the castle and the lovely clever girl who had claimed his heart on midsummer's eve.

Her hands tightened on him as their kiss deepened, as if somehow by that simple act she could keep him there, beside her. She hated the thought that he had to leave, to return to fight a war not of his making, that seemed to suck all the warmth and gentleness from him, leaving him sharp and hard as the obsidian dagger her father owned. She wished she could find the words to convince him to stay, knowing all too well the perils of war. But her clever tongue was still, and she did not utter them. What was the point? To make him feel guilty over leaving her served no purpose. He knew her heart, as she did his. The hawk must fly free, but he shall always return. Return to me, Myrnin, safe and unharmed. That's all I ask of you. She deepened their kiss, losing herself in the passion of the moment, wishing she possessed the power to make time stand still. But time continued on its course, fixed like the stars in the sky, and at last she drew away, her heart aching within her.

Her eyes glistening with unshed tears, she whispered, "Merry meet and merry part, my brilliant sorcerer."

"And merry meet again, Ivy a'liri." He swallowed hard. "I need to say goodbye to your family. If the gods are kind, in two months this war shall be done, and then we'll be together always. If your father will permit it."

"If he didn't, do you think we'd be out here walking?" she chuckled. "Myrnin, don't you know that he loves you? Like his own son."

"That's why it's so strange, that someone who owes me no loyalty, no tie of blood, can love me better than my own father. And yet, I know he does. Him and your mother both, they are what I've always wanted. Along with you. I have dwelt among the beauty and magic of the il'Shennara all my life, and yet it's this one simple thing I crave, that I never thought I'd find, but it has found me. And having found it now, I shall never let it go." He drew her close, one last time, and whispered, "Here in my arms is my heart, and my home this castle under the stars. I must leave today but someday I'll return. I love you, Ivy Gold."

"I love you too, Merlin Stormshadow. And I'll be right here, waiting."

He slipped from her arms soon after, and they walked back among the trees, where her family sang the last carols to welcome in the new year.

They bid him goodbye quietly, though Clary hugged him and asked plaintively, "Why are you always leaving, Myrnin?"

He knelt and put his hands on her small shoulders and said, "Because, sprite, for now my people need me. But someday they won't, and I can come back for good."

"To stay?"

He nodded. Then he untied a white banded feather from the top of his bow and closed her hand around it. "This feather is from a snow falcon, I earned it protecting my people from a dark spell. Keep it safe for me, Clary. Until I come home again, mayshiara, that's little sister in elven."

She clutched the feather tightly. "Come home soon." Then she kissed his cheek.

He rose, the lump in his throat more pronounced, and prepared to leave, when Rumple came and said, "Come, lad. I'll walk with you to the forest's edge."

Myrnin followed the Gold sorcerer and they walked through the orchard toward the shadowy forest on the edge of the wheat field, the younger one slowing his steps to match those of his mentor. When they had reached the end of the wheat field, now covered in snow, Myrnin said, "You know I'd never leave if I had a choice, Rum."

"I know. But I want you to remember what I said about choices, lad. That sometimes the right one is one you make yourself. I don't like you going back there, but you already know how much I disapprove of children fighting wars. Were I your father, you'd never . . ." he shook his head abruptly. "Be that as it may, I want you to remember three things. One, set a ward at your back before you sleep each night, two, if you have to kill, do it quickly and mercifully, and three, if you need me, call me. Oh, and try and meditate each night before you sleep. But if you can't, take this," He handed him two vials of the milky potion. "It's concentrated, this batch, so only take three swallows at a time. It should last you two months."

"Then I'll come back, Rum."

"You'd better. Because if not I'll come fetch you and to the seventh hell with your father," he mock-growled.

Myrnin smirked. "Just thinking about the look on his face makes me feel better."

"Good. And remember, you can always come home to my castle. No matter what." He put his arms around the slender youth and hugged him hard. "Be safe, son."

"I'll try," he said hoarsely, blinking back unwanted tears. "Thank you for everything."

"No thanks are necessary. Just return to me when you can."

"I will. You have my word on it."

"And the word of a warrior decorated for the highest honors is worth his weight in gold," Rumple said.

"You know then, what the feather means?"

"I know. I've been studying up on your customs since we last met. I know that only the best and the bravest wear the snow falcon's feather."

"I did what I had to. But I'd much rather be using my magic for building things up than tearing them down," he sighed.

"You will. I'll teach you more when you come back."

They separated then, and both their eyes were wet with tears. Myrnin waved once before he vanished into the trees like smoke, and the Gold sorcerer sighed before turning to walk back to his family. The new year had started with a mixture of sorrow and joy, and he wondered if that were a sign of things to come.

Page~*~*~*~*~Break

The Enchanted Forest

Regina's palace:

Regina drank the last of the wine in her crystal goblet, rubbing her eyes, as it was late, about one o'clock in the morning. She smoothed down the front of her new ball gown, a silk and satin wine colored affair, with rubies encrusted on the bodice and sleeves. They rubies shimmered like blood in the light of the candelabras in the great hall, an effect Regina liked, as it reminded her subjects of her beauty and power.

She glanced about. Most of the revelers invited to her masked ball were either passed out drunk at their tables or gone up to bed to sleep it off, like Hook and Milah had after midnight had come. Regina tapped her chin thoughtfully and considered waking up Hook and seeing if he wanted to romp beneath the sheets with her. He hadn't been adverse to it before, and what Milah didn't know wouldn't hurt her. Not that Regina felt guilty about seducing her friend's husband. In the first place, she hadn't had to try very hard to get the rogue in her bed and in the second place, she was the queen and it was her right to have any male at her court she wished. That was an unspoken rule, and one that previous monarchs hadn't really exercised, but Regina wasn't one to leave any aspect of power unchecked.

Then she reconsidered. Hook had been drunker than one of his pirates on leave when she had last seen him and probably wouldn't be any good to her right then. She considered the silver chased wine decanter before her, debating on whether to have another glass before turning in.

As she did so, her facile mind was recalling the cryptic message her assassin had delivered in the beginning of November regarding her missing stepdaughter, Snow White. Cryptic because it seemed unfinished, but he had not contacted her to tell her if the deed was done. Which meant Snow still lived. Regina tapped her nails on the table, thinking, I should have known better to send a lackey to do my job for me. If you want something done right, do it yourself.

But she had been busy establishing new rules in her kingdom and putting down the revolts in the mines nearby led by those troublesome dwarves and the rebel leader, a young huntsman named Graham to really concentrate on Snow White and also her missing advisor, Jefferson Hatter. Regina suspected the adventurer had betrayed her and spirited her stepdaughter away, because without help, Snow couldn't even get out of the palace grounds, she was so dull-witted.

She pondered what could have become of the assassin. Most likely he was dead, if he had gone up against Hatter, the former mercenary could have killed him. The contents of the Black Brother's last missive danced in her head.

Gracious Majesty,

I have discovered where she lairs. In a place where there is a village in a valley and a there had been a black smudge on that word on a hill. I almost had her once, but I was interrupted. But next time I shall succeed, and no two-bit conjurer shall stop me from fulfilling my objective. This I swear by all the dark gods.

It had been unsigned, or rather only with the seal of the Black Brothers, a black dagger.

As Regina thought about the missing word and the assassin's comments, a flash of insight lit up inside her head. A village in a valley and . . . a castle on a hill! Valley Way. That backwater village below the Dark Castle. Of course! It all makes sense now. Hatter is friends with that cowardly sorcerer, he said as much once upon a time. And where does one run to when one is in danger of losing one's head? Why to his best friend! A smile of icy triumph curved over her delicate features. I have you now, Snow White! And you as well, Jefferson Hatter.

Her hand clenched over her goblet. "Rumplestiltskin!" she snarled. "You will rue the day you chose to shelter my wayward stepdaughter and your traitor friend, conjurer! I'll make sure of it!"

The slow burn of hatred was like acid in her gut, but she welcomed the stinging. She would finally have her revenge on both traitors and the sorcerer who had once spurned her. But first, she needed to plan. And so as not to be seen as an invading monarch in Attica, she would send a letter to Rumplestiltskin, one that stated that he should, in no uncertain terms, release to her Snow White and Hatter, or else suffer her wrath.

Laughing coldly, she summoned a piece of parchment and a quill and ink. Then she began to write, thinking deliciously at how she was going to take apart Jefferson piece by piece and make Snow watch, as well as destroy Milah's former husband once and for all, and end the rumors that the Dark One was the most powerful magician in all the realms. Except he's not the Dark One anymore, by his own admission, she sneered. He's naught but a cowardly spinner and hedge witch now, without the dark magic he's no match for me. I'll tear out his guts and leave them hanging on his castle walls and take his brats and sell them at the slave market or use them in my magical experiments and make his wife lick my boots as my new chambermaid. Because nobody defies me and lives to tell the tale. Nobody!

Page~*~*~*~*~Break

A week later:

"Polaris! Give that back!" Snow hollered as she chased her disobedient black puppy across the foyer.

Polaris ran straight into the sitting room, carrying her boot in his mouth, delighted with the new game he had invented, which always seemed to get someone to chase him.

The puppy raced around Rum's spinning wheel, shaking the boot in his mouth and growling playfully.

Rumple looked up as the puppy scampered by, he was knitting a sweater for Belle, as she was always freezing now, while she rested on the sofa. She had begun spotting lightly, and Granny had told her that she must rest for at least half the week, or else risk being put on total bed rest for the remaining weeks before the delivery.

The sorcerer set aside his project and stood, saying sternly, "Polaris! Bad puppy! Drop it!"

Snow burst into the room, limping because she was only wearing one boot. "Come here, you little scamp! Papa, he's got my boot!"

"I see it, dearie," Rumple said. Then he cast a quick "come hither" spell, not minded to chase the scamp all over the room and risk breaking something.

Polaris yelped as he was suddenly lifted up by an invisible hand and floated over to his disapproving mistress and her father, both of who were scowling at him.

Snow removed her boot from his mouth, ending the game, and scolded, "No, Polaris! No chewing my boots!" She accompanied the words with a firm tap on the puppy's nose.

Polaris hung his head, knowing those words meant he had been bad, but he never understood what was so wrong about chewing such deliciously smelling objects.

Rumple gestured and the puppy was lowered to the floor and released from his spell.

Freed, Polaris frisked up to the sorcerer and tried to gnaw his shoes, but was once again told "No!" and given a firm tap on the rump, this time by Rumple himself. Chastened, the puppy cowered on the floor, until Snow grabbed a half-gnawed bone and gave it to him to play with.

Snow looked at her harum-scarum puppy and shook her head ruefully. "He's such a scamp! Sometimes I don't know what to do with him—he's always in trouble."

"He'll grow out of it. Right now he has the brain of a two-year-old, Snow. You need to keep reinforcing good behavior at this stage and giving him firm yet loving discipline, like a parent. It's what I did with Bae, Ivy, and Clary when they were that age. Do you know how many times I put Ivy in time out for touching something she wasn't supposed to? About ten times a day. Bae was always wandering off somewhere he shouldn't. I finally took some rope and tied him to me, so I didn't go out of my mind. And Clary, she was into everything—flour, sugar, my pens and ink, I used to call her Sticky Hands because she always had something she shouldn't in her hand when she was a toddler. Your puppy's much the same way."

"I don't know how you put up with all that," Snow said admiringly.

"Being a parent teaches you patience, Snow. Otherwise you go insane and start hating your children. The trick is to see the mistakes your kids make as a series of progressions rather than failures. Polaris is a smart dog. He just needs to learn boundaries."

"I'll see if Jasmine can talk to him again," Snow said.

"Hmm. Talking to him might not do much good at this age. Remember, he's a baby, and babies forget what you said ten seconds after you've said it. It's why time out or a quick swat works better than a scolding when they're two and three, especially with the more adventuresome ones. They remember that, unlike a lecture. Of course, occasionally you get a child who is naturally obedient, like June is. But mine never were. Until they grew older."

Snow knelt and stroked her puppy's head. "Thanks, Papa. I'll remember that." She ruffled the dog's floppy ears. "And maybe one day you'll learn how to behave, huh?"

Polaris whuffed suddenly, looking over at the foyer.

Just then there came a quick knock at the doors.

Rumple limped over to answer the door and found Charming on the other side. "Hello, Jim. Come in, it's bitter out there."

"Don't I know it," James said, shaking his head. "Two of my sheep froze last night. Silly things wandered away from the flock and were too stupid to come back when it got cold. By the time Rex and I found them, it was too late."

"Ah, that's too bad." Rumple stepped back so the younger man could enter the castle.

Polaris abandoned his bone to run up and jump on Charming, wagging his tail happily.

Charming knelt and got licked thoroughly by the puppy. "Hey, you! Are you being good?"

"Hardly. He stole my boot and made me chase him all over the castle," Snow said.

"Like his mother. Dusty chewed Mom's and my shoes apart, we had to put them on the table till she stopped doing it." Charming frowned at the puppy and said, "You'd better behave for Snow, boy, or else I'll take you and sell you to the Gypsies, you hear?"

Polaris barked, wriggling on the floor, and Charming laughed and rubbed his belly.

Rumple turned to go back into the sitting room and take up his knitting again, he was making a fisherman patterned sweater, using mostly undyed wool to get the waterproof qualities of the lanolin incorporated into the garment. He could have simply spelled the sweater waterproof, but he preferred to use the wool's natural qualities whenever possible.

Jack ran down the stairs, waved hello to Charming, then called, "Papa! Can I go over to Ray's house after lunch? He's going to put a saddle on Sunny for the first time and he needs my help."

Rumple turned and said, in a somewhat sharp tone, "Jack, lower your voice! Your mom's sleeping."

"Sorry, I didn't know," the boy said, instantly contrite. All the children knew that Belle was often sick and tried their best to control themselves whenever possible. "Can I, Papa? Please?"

"You've finished your reading assignment?"

"Uh huh. And I wrote the rough draft of my paper too. You want to see it?"

"No. I trust you, son. After lunch you can go help Ray."

Jack almost let out a yell, but then he recalled Rumple's earlier admonition and just smiled and said, "Thanks a lot, Papa!"

He was about to rush into the kitchen for something to drink when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" he said, and ran to tug open the doors.

He found a messenger on the steps, who said, "I have a letter here for Archmagus Gold."

"I'll give it to him. I'm his son, Jack," he told him.

The messenger handed Jack the letter and then said, "Farewell. I hope it's good news."

Jack ducked back inside the castle and ran over to where Rumple was standing just outside the doors to the sitting room. "Papa, here's a letter for you." Suddenly he tripped over his shoe lace, and the letter fluttered out of his hand and landed next to Snow's foot.

"Careful, Jack," his father said, catching the boy. "Tie your shoes before you knock yourself silly."

"Yes, Papa," the boy sighed, and knelt to tie the offending lace tighter.

Snow picked up the letter, and as she did so, she noted the seal upon it. It was the familiar crest of the crowned tree. "It's from the Enchanted Forest!" she exclaimed, handing it to Rum.

The sorcerer took it, and muttered a charm to detect curses over it before he opened it. "It's from Regina." He unfolded a single sheet of parchment, bearing the royal crest of the Enchanted Forest. He began to read the letter aloud, his face darkening.

To the sorcerer known as the Dark One, or Rumplestiltskin,

It has recently come to our attention that you have been harboring several fugitives from us. They are known criminals and traitors here in this kingdom, called Jefferson Hatter and Snow White. We wish them turned over to our authority immediately to be given justice at our hand for their traitorous actions and rebellion against our authority.

Failure to comply with these wishes will be met with force, as you will paint yourself an enemy of the throne and our justice. It is advised that you obey our dictates and release to us those mentioned forthwith, or else suffer the wrath of the Queen of the Enchanted Forest.

Regina, reigning Queen of the Enchanted Forest

P.S. As a reminder, I have sent a token of my displeasure to my disobedient stepdaughter, so that she remembers what happens to bad little girls who run off without leave.

As soon as Rumple had read the last line, there came a flash of light and the severed head of a white stallion appeared in the foyer, right next to Snow.

Polaris growled and barked threateningly at the odd object, which smelled of blood and death.

Snow recoiled in horror, then she started screaming. "No! Champion!" She put a hand over her mouth, her eyes bulging in grief and terror as she stared at the remains of her once beloved horse. "Oh, gods, she killed you!" she howled, bursting into tears and moving to put a hand on the horse's head, which had its eyes open and seemed to stare guiltily into her own.

"Snow, don't! Don't look!" Charming cried, also horrified by the grisly trophy. He grabbed his girlfriend and hugged her to him, turning her about so she couldn't see the head.

"Papa!" cried Jack, staring in helpless fascination at the poor horse's head. "How could she do that, the miserable bitch? How?" To Jack, who adored horses, what Regina had done was sickening, destroying an innocent animal out of sheer cruelty, to make a point. "Somebody ought to put her head on a pole!" Then he started to cry too.

Rumple gestured quickly, and the grisly head was banished outside, out of sight of his children. "Jack, lad, it's okay," he said, reaching for the boy and pulling him into a hug. He cursed his slowness, he should have known Regina would send something of the sort along with her missive, to illustrate her point. He stroked his son's hair.

Jack clung to him, burying his face in Rumple's tunic front and weeping hysterically, as Snow was doing on Charming's shoulder. The casual violence shocked the impressionable boy, especially seeing as it had been done to a beloved horse, even though he had not known Champion.

"I'm so sorry, Snow," Charming was saying, rocking the distraught girl back and forth, sickened as well by Regina's cruelty. "Gods, what an evil twisted hag!" He patted her back, wishing he knew something else to say to alleviate the grief she was feeling.

"It's m-my fault!" Snow sobbed. "I never s-should have left h-him there! S-She k-killed him b-because of m-me."

"Snow, listen to me," Rumple said, his voice quiet but filled with an odd note of power. He too was sickened by Regina's merciless act, but he was also furious that she had hurt his children with her twisted object lesson. "It wasn't your fault, dearie, that Champion died. Don't blame yourself, because that's exactly what Regina wants. She killed your poor horse to make you afraid, to make you feel so guilty that you'll leave here and turn yourself over to her. Don't let her win, Snow."

Jack still had his face buried in Rumple's tunic, but his sobs were dying down to sniffles now. "What did she mean, that awful hag, about Snow and Uncle Jeff? She called them traitors, Papa."

"She thinks we betrayed her, Jack, because Jeff found out about her plot to kill me before she could do anything," Snow sniffled, lifting her head from Charming's shoulder. "We got away before her pet assassin could strike, and that makes us traitors in her eyes. Because we didn't stay and let her slaughter us like sheep."

"She's crazy, Snow. Sick like a mad dog," Jack cried, half turning to face his sister, though still within his father's arms. "Somebody needs to put an arrow in her brain. Your poor horse!" More tears leaked from his eyes, and Rumple pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to him. "Papa, we ought to have a funeral."

Rumple nodded sadly. "Yes, of course we will, Jack. Is that all right with you, Snow?"

"Y-yes. That way he . . . can rest in peace," she whimpered, the horror still fresh in her mind. "He . . . w-was a g-good friend. J-Jeff gave him to me when I was twelve, as a birthday p-present."

Polaris jumped up and licked her face then, sensing something was wrong.

Snow picked up the puppy and buried her face in the soft fur, crying.

"What the hell happened?" Jefferson asked, coming in from the conservatory, where he'd been fencing with Alice. "Did somebody die?"

Snow and Jack started bawling again, and Rumple rubbed circles on Jack's back and said, "Ah, Jeff, that's a damn poor choice of phrase. I just got this from Regina, along with one of her "tokens". She attached Snow's horse's head to her damned ultimatum." He handed a shocked Jefferson the letter.

Jefferson took it and read it, swearing under his breath. "That miserable harpy! Who the bloody hell does she think she is? Lady and mistress of all she surveys?" He spat furiously. Then he knelt beside Snow and said, "Aww, kid, I'm sorry. I should have had you take him with us. But I never thought she'd do anything like this." He patted her back soothingly. "She ought to be strung up or burnt alive in a cage, Rum! What a bloody sick witch!"

"What's wrong?" asked Alice, coming into the foyer.

"Rum? What's the matter?" Belle said sleepily, appearing in the doorway of the sitting room. "Why are Snow and Jack crying?"

"Jeff, would you mind explaining?" asked Rum. "I need to get a potion from my apothecary chest."

As Jefferson began to speak, Belle came over beside Rumple and gently pulled Jack into her arms. "Shh . . . it's all right, son." She carded his messy hair, her eyes widening as she listened to what Jeff said.

"She killed that poor horse, Mama," Jack sniffled. "Just . . . 'cause she w-was mad at Snow for n-not dying or something. I hate her! She oughta be roasted over a fire."

"Yes, I know. She's an evil heartless witch, and someday all the evil she's done will come back and bite her right in the ass," Belle said fiercely, incensed that she had hurt Snow so badly and scared the blazes out of Jack as well. She hugged her son and carded his hair while waiting for her husband to return.

Rumple had gone to fetch a potion that calmed one's nerves from his apothecary chest. He then teleported himself down to the kitchen and made some tea, carefully adding a measure of the potion to two cups and mixing it with some milk. Luckily Ivy was upstairs, having agreed to play with Clary for a bit, so he didn't have three hysterical children to deal with.

He brought the tea into the sitting room and had Belle and Charming bring Jack and Snow in there. They sat the two down on the sofa and Rumple handed them the potion-laced tea, saying softly, "I want you to drink all of this, dearies. It'll help with the shock."

As the two sipped their tea, Jeff turned to Rumple and said, "So, what do you plan to do about this, buddy?"

"Well, I'm not going to surrender either of you to her," Rumple declared angrily. "She can rot in the seventh hell before that'll happen." He took the missive and crumpled it in his fist, then ignited it with a sharp snap of his finger. It burned to ash in his palm and he dusted his hand off. "If she wants either of you, she's going to have to go through me first, and she won't find me as easy to kill as that poor animal. If she tries anything, she'll wish she'd never been born, sure as I'm the Gold sorcerer!"

"Yeah, kick her ass, Papa," Jack growled from his seat on the sofa.

"Mind that mouth, lad," Rumple told him. "You're upset, so I'll overlook it. But you're not old enough to swear like a mercenary yet, understand?"

Jack nodded, then drank the rest of his tea.

Snow sipped the tea in one hand, and blotted her eyes with Rum's handkerchief with the other. She didn't know what he had put in the tea, but whatever it was calmed her enough so she didn't feel like screaming any longer. Even the horror of seeing her beloved stallion's head on the floor was dulled somewhat. Her heart ached terribly for the loss of her horse, but she also wanted to strangle her stepmother for doing such a thing to Champion. But as the tea went to work, she stopped wishing even for that, and instead started to feel sleepy. Beside her, Jack was already dozing.

Charming caught her cup before it fell from her grasp. "Snow? She's asleep!"

"That's the potion, Jim. It soothes and calms one down and often makes you sleepy," Rumple explained. "That's what I wanted to happen. I'll have a quick funeral after lunch, just Snow, Jack, and I. Unless you want to join us, Jeff?"

"Yeah, I'd better. I was the one who picked Champion for her," sighed the mercenary. "That scummy no-good b—ah, guess I'd better watch my mouth too, before you make me eat soap, huh, Rum?"

"Please do. The last thing I need is for my ten-year-old to start swearing like a sailor home on leave," the sorcerer sighed. He took the cup from Jack's limp fingers and rearranged him on the sofa in a more comfortable position, then tucked blankets around both Snow and Jack.

"Guess we ought to go dig a grave, huh, Alice?" Jeff asked solemnly.

"I can do that with magic," his friend told him.

"Nah. It's good exercise and it'll keep me from thinking too much about killing Regina," Jefferson said. "Right, Alice?"

"Right, Jeff. It shouldn't take too long. Where would you like it?"

"I think . . . that piece of ground near the wheat field will do," said Rumple.

As Jeff and Alice went outside, he said, "Would either of you like a cup of tea?"

Belle and Charming nodded, so Rumple went back into the kitchen to fix three more cups, while Polaris chewed his bone on the hearth, behaving himself for once.

Page~*~*~*~*~Break

Snow and Jack slept through lunch, allowing Rumple and Belle some time to inform the rest of the family about what had happened. They were all horrified and saddened for Snow, and they all agreed Regina ought to have her head hung on a pole for what she had done. But Belle cautioned them not to mention the incident to Snow because it made her sad.

After the two had woken and eaten something, Rumple led them out to the place Jeff and Alice had picked. A grave had been dug close to the wheat field and Rumple gently levitated Champion's head into the hole.

Snow tossed a handful of dirt into the hole and whispered, "Rest in peace, faithful friend. I will never forget you."

Jack also tossed in a handful of dirt and said quietly, "May you run forever with Epona the Lady of Horses, on the starry path."

Jeff followed suit. "You served your mistress well, Champion. Now go on to your reward, old fellow."

"We'll avenge your death, noble one," Alice said.

When they had all said farewell, Rumple used his magic to seal the grave tight, then had grass grow over the spot and placed a marker that said Champion, beloved stallion, on it and the years of his birth and death.

Then he took Jack by the arm and said quietly, "I think you ought to go and see Ray. Sometimes it helps, to see another horse alive, after something like that."

"All right," Jack agreed, then he took the path to the de Brabante's stone house.

Snow and Charming stood for awhile by the grave, then Charming wrapped his arm about Snow and started walking along the edge of the fallow field with her, snow crunching under their boots. They walked for a long time, neither saying anything.

Finally, Charming spoke. "I've never had anything like this happen to me, Snow. But I just want to let you know that I'm here for you, no matter what. And if Regina thinks she can scare us away by these disgusting tactics, she's dumber than the village idiot mated with a sheep! I'm not going anywhere, and that's a promise."

Snow smiled a little at that. "Thanks, Charming." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I've always known she was dangerous to cross, but I never imagined she could be that cruel . . . that . . . evil. Until now. She scares me, Charming. I don't want her to hurt anyone because of me."

"Snow, Regina does whatever she thinks she can get away with. Didn't you hear what Rum said before? If she wants to try and hurt you, she'll have to deal with him first. And if she thinks he's an easy mark, she's dumber than I thought. He's got more power than any magic worker in this kingdom . . . in all the kingdoms, I think. And he'll use every scrap of it to defend his home and his family. If Regina comes for you, Snow, she's asking to get her ass kicked to hell and back. By him and by me too."

"You're sweet, Charming. I'm just worried, that's all."

"Don't be, pretty girl. Come on, let's go back inside and have some hot chocolate with cinnamon by the fire. Maybe play a game of chess too."

"I always beat you at chess," she teased.

"Then we'll play checkers," he smirked.

So that was what they did, and Snow found the knot of grief within her lessen slightly as she spent time with Charming, though her concerns over Regina still kept her awake at night, until Belle came and sat with her, humming softly until she drifted off to sleep, aided by one of Rumple's potions so she slept dreamlessly until the dawn.

A/N: And so it begins . . . Regina's campaign to make Rumple, Snow, and Jeff pay for defying her.