Chapter 20
A Mother's Love & Sacrifice
(3rd Person POV, Snow's Castle)
Prince Charming gave a quick peck on the cheek to his heavily pregnant wife before he exited her chambers. Their baby daughter was due any minute now, and despite no word about the Evil Queen's curse, he did not feel any more comfortable.
He didn't want his daughter to grow up in a land where the Queen was still a threat so without telling Snow, he had arranged a meeting with the most skilled assassin in the Enchanted Forest. Charming sneaked out of the castle grounds and into the forest, where the assassin was to meet him. He waited for fifteen minutes before he started to groan out of boredom. The assassin was supposed to have arrived ten minutes ago! Just when this thought entered his head, he received the fright of his life for a hooded figure suddenly jumped in front of him. The Prince stepped backwards in shock as the assassin started to chuckle. "Well, that was interesting; scaring a Prince! Nevertheless, I do hope you agree that I'm qualified to kill the Evil Queen."
David nodded and composed himself. Then, he said softly, "Yes, I think you are more than qualified if you were able to sneak up on me like that. Now, do you remember what you must do?"
"Kill only the Queen, no one else. Not even her heir."
David muttered, "Yes. That is correct. Once you return, you must give me proof that she is dead. After that, I will give you your reward."
The eyes under the hood glimmered as the assassin's voice replied, "I understand, your Highness."
Then, in a few blinks of the Prince's eye, the assassin was gone from sight.
(Daniella's POV)
After a late breakfast, I went to my mother's chambers to look for her. I wanted to ride Hwin today but I didn't want to go out alone with only my guards to accompany me. I was sceptical that Mother would agree, since she had killed Rocinante in order to enact the curse.
"Mother, do you want to go riding with me today? I'm...bored."
Mother lifted her head up from a book of spells and shrugged, "Why not?"
I thought I had heard wrong but apparently I haven't, for she stood up to put her book away. Then, she waved me over to come and sit on her lap. I gave her a confused look but she picked up a hairbrush from the vanity and said, "Your hair's going to fly everywhere at the speed you like to ride in, if I don't put it into a braid."
I rolled my eyes but sat down and let my mother stroke through my hair. Just when she started brushing through, footsteps approached and I turned my head around to see my grandfather walk into the room.
"Daddy, what are you doing here?" Mother asked.
"I've come to check on my two darling girls."
The eye rolls of my mother and I must have occurred at the same time for Grandfather burst out laughing and pointed out how similar we looked. That however, earnt him an equally identical glare from both of us. He was about to leave us alone when I caught something move at the corner of my eye. Subtly, I glanced at the hallway just in time to catch a clear glimpse of a figure hidden under a dark cloak. To my horror, the figure had a bow in his hands.
"What is-" I shouted as I abruptly stood up, in time to see the arrow fly towards us. Surprisingly, time seemed to slow down whilst the arrow was travelling in mid air. My first instinct brought me to immediately throw my body in front of where my mother was sitting.
Then, I felt something collide into my chest, but it wasn't an arrow. It was a magical burst of energy that pushed me over and onto the ground. My head hit the floor and the even though my vision blacked out first, I heard my mother shout my name.
(Regina's POV)
I gave a deranged cry at Daniella's unconscious body whilst unleashing my magic towards the direction of the magic arrow. Instantly, I heard a thump and seconds later, my guards dragged a hooded figure into the room. Well, this assassin has lots to answer for before I snap his neck.
Daddy rushed over to Daniella and checked for a pulse. I nervously looked at him but my heart beat again with relief when he nodded. After quickly casting a preservation spell on Daniella, I stood up and approached the figure. Roaring, I asked, "Who the hell are you? Who sent you?"
The figure didn't reply so I strode over and lifted up his hood myself. The man was middle aged, brown haired and brown bearded. His silence made my blood boil. "Answer me!"
The man remained quiet so I plunged my hand into his chest and extracted his heart. "Tell me who you are!"
Unwillingly, the man replied, "The Shadow."
"Your real name!"
"Edmund."
Then, I spat, "How many of you are there?"
"One."
"What were your orders?"
"To only kill you."
Well, at least he wasn't targeting Daniella. I lowered my voice and seethed, "Who sent you?"
The assassin seemed to be trying to resist my control so I squeezed his heart tighter and he finally uttered, "Prince David."
My eyes saw red. After kicking the assassin where it hurt most, I said to my guards, "Take him away to the dungeons and torture him to death. Make sure that he begs for death, but don't give him that satisfaction until you've had enough of him."
The guards nodded and dragged him away. Then I rushed over to Daniella and waved my hand over her body. My father whispered beside me, "Regina, what was that? The man shot an arrow but it seemed to have disappeared..."
I frowned and continued hovering my hands over Daniella as I tried to detect the magic that had been hurled into her chest. My hands shook in desperation until I picked up a hint of the magic. Quickly, I tried to extract it from Daniella's body but it remained locked within her bones. I bit my lip as I tried again. The magic would not come out of Daniella.
"Regina, what's wrong? Why can't you heal her?"
I felt the first tears trickle down my cheeks. No, no, no, no...
"Regina! Is she..."
I shook my head and whispered, "No, but she will be."
I knew that Daddy's heart was shattering and so was mine. I began to explain, "Daniella was hit by a death spell. However, the spell only works if it hits the victim on their head...the spell was meant for me. So once Daniella stood up, her chest was at the same height as my head. Since she moved in front of me, it hit her there instead."
"A death spell? That means-"
I stopped trying to extract the magic from Daniella's body. Instead, I brushed a stray piece of hair off her face as I bent down and kissed her on the forehead. Maybe love's kiss will work...
But it didn't. Daniella didn't stir.
Shaking, I glanced at Father to answer his question. "The spell hasn't seeped into her head yet, but..but...yes. She will-"
I gulped and Father immediately enclosed me into his arms as I sobbed. I parted after realising that I should probably move Daniella to her bed. In the blink of my eye, Father and I were beside Daniella's still body in her chambers. I put her into my arms and cradled her, with tears streaming down my face.
My little firefly...Daniella... Heavens, you shouldn't have taken that arrow for me. Now I've lost you forever...without you I'm, I'm back to who I were before. Empty. My little firefly, please don't leave me, I need you...
Daddy softly spoke, interrupting my thoughts. "Regina, Daniella isn't dead yet right?"
I mumbled, "She isn't."
"But will she wake up?"
"Not unless I take the preservation spell off her. However, that'll just kill her instantly."
There was silence until my father gasped. I looked up with puffy eyes and a blurred vision, "What is it?"
Slowly, Father said, "The thing that is killing Daniella right now is magic..."
I grumbled, "What are you trying to say?"
Daddy's next words made my heart stop. "I'm saying that if you take her to a land without magic, Daniella would live wouldn't she?"
I looked at my father's eyes whilst clutching Daniella's body close against mine. Then, I exclaimed softly, "But...that means that you will die!"
"A small price to pay, if it means that my granddaughter gets to live."
My mouth gaped open but I couldn't bring myself to shake my head. I continued to stare unsurely at my father until he took my hand in his and whispered, "This is a sacrifice I'll happily make. Daniella has already done so much for your happiness...now I just need to give you that final piece; my heart."
My body was shaking as father softly added, "Regina, you don't have much time. Take my heart. Use it to save Daniella. I'm an old man, I'll die anyway, but Daniella still has a whole life in front of her."
I gently placed Daniella's body back onto the bedsheets and looked at my father with watery eyes. "Daddy..."
He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me tight. It reminded me of the times when I would come to him after Cora had punished me for ridiculous little things. This is the last time I'll ever get to feel this embrace. That made me grip tighter to my father. He rubbed my back before using that hand to put mine onto his chest. Then, he whispered, "Regina, darling, please do it. Rip my heart out."
I gulped and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I whispered in a cracked voice, "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too, Regina. Never forget that, even when you find happiness in this new world."
My hand shook for a moment before it plunged deep into my father's chest.
*Later
I threw Daddy's heart into the bonfire with tears in my eyes. However, I managed to keep them mostly at bay for I needed to go to the Imp. He'll never doubt me again, after the curse brings us to the new land. Hopefully, this will keep me distracted from Daniella's dead body as it kept on appearing in my mind.
After watching the dark smoke billow and cloud over the land, I got into my carriage to travel to Snow's castle. I had brought Daniella with me, for I wanted to be holding her against my body when the curse hit. As the carriage rattled along the path at its full speed, I drew out my hand-held mirror to see what Snow was doing. After a clear image formed on the surface, I took one glance at the scene before recoiling. Well, it seems like poor little Snowflake has gone into labour. I grinned at the look of pain on her face.
I got Pietro to hold Daniella in his arms when I got to the castle. My knights flooded the place first, in order to clear a path for me.
When I got deep within the palace walls, I instructed my guards to spread out and make sure that the inhabitants stayed inside. With Pietro following behind, I quickly made my way to the dungeons. As I neared the Dark One's cell, I told Pietro to stand out of sight. I have no intention for that imp to see Daniella's unconscious form.
I heard Rumple's voice resonate throughout the dungeons. "What took you so long, Dearie? My, my my have I been waiting for a long time."
I stalked towards the Dark One and seethed, "You know what took so long."
"Ah yes, the curse...but you did it."
I grinned, "That's right. I did it...and I wanted you to know that before you and all the other pathetic denizens of this wretched forget everything."
The Dark One looked at me with his horrible reptilian like eyes. "How did it feel?"
"Watching the cloud form? Like...victory."
Rumple giggled, "No, Dearie. How did you feel to kill the you love most? Ripping the heart out of your father? How did that feel?"
"Doesn't matter how I felt. His death was the price of the curse."
"And how about your darling daughter?"
I widened my eyes as I asked quickly, "What do you know about that? And how do you know-"
"Well for starters, the curse wouldn't have occurred if you haven't lost everyone you love..."
My heart started to thump with worry and I stammered, "But Daniella isn't dead yet! The preservation spell I cast on her body will keep her alive until the day ends!"
Rumple smirked at me and explained, "Ah, well that's the thing. You must be broken in order to cast the curse...there must be a hole in your heart in order for it's strength to never waver."
I grunted. "Stop speaking metaphorically! You make no sense. Just tell me, will Daniella die?"
"No, she won't die."
"That's all I wanted to hear."
"Trust me, Dearie. You'll want to hear what I have to say. First of all, you haven't exactly won yet..."
"What?!" I seethed. To my horror, the Dark One continued, "The savior; the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming can stop you. She can break the curse."
I scoffed, "Well then, it looks like getting rid of a baby made my to-do list."
"Of course it did; but even if you succeed with that, you'll have a bigger problem. A problem that is connected to the little dilemma you have with your daughter right now."
I frowned. "And what is that?"
"You'll have a hole in your heart and someday you will come to me to fill it...you'll be lonely."
"You said that Daniella won't die, right? So then how will I be lonely? How will I have the need to fill the 'hole in my heart', hm? You underestimate your powers of foresight." I said as I began to walk away.
Behind me, Rumple answered, "And you underestimate the price of what you've done, Dearie." Then, he continued in a sing-song voice that gave me the shivers, "You shall see, you will come to me, there is more you need!"
I whipped my head around and spat, "Your taunts will get you nowhere. I have won. I will be in this new land, living with my daughter happily."
Without another word, I stormed away from Rumple and started making my way up to Snow's chambers. When I passed some of my knights, I stopped them and commanded, "Go up to the Princess' bedchambers. She would have just given birth. Take that baby and kill it."
The group of knights gave a nod before speeding up the large staircase. Then, I looked behind me and said to Pietro, "Is Daniella still alive?"
The young guard checked for her pulse and answered, "Yes, your Majesty."
I gave him a sliver of a smile before I started to walk up the stairs to find Snow. Pietro walked beside me and I begun to notice how he had wanted to speak to me several times, before hesitating. He must be nervous, that young boy.
As we came closer to the royal chambers, I asked him, "Is there something you wish to say, Pietro?"
I turned my head to look at the young guard's face. His flushed visage replied softly, "Your Majesty...in this new land, may I request that my family will live together?"
There was something about the innocence of the boy that made me sigh and grant his wish. "Alright. You will live with your mother and your sisters in a comfortable life."
"Thank you so much, my Queen."
"You're brave to join my forces; especially at the young age of sixteen."
"I did it for my family." Pietro quickly replied.
I paused before quiet adding, "And they say that we are heartless...but in reality, we do everything for our families."
Pietro smartly gave no reply save for a subtle nod.
(3rd Person POV)
Snow screamed out in agony. "Charming! I can't have this baby now! The curse is coming!"
Charming stroked back Snow's hair as he said hastily to Dwarf at his side, "Doc, do something!"
The Dwarf look down and uttered, "I'm sorry but it's too late. We can't move her. She's in labour."
Amidst the chaos, the carpenter, Geppetto, rushed into the room and bowed. Then, he said, "The wardrobe is ready...but it only takes one safely to the other side."
Snow groaned before sharing a look with her husband before saying, "You have to take her. Take the baby to the wardrobe."
"No, no, no, no...you don't know what you're saying."
"No I do, we have to believe that she'll come back for us." Right after Snow said this, she felt a sudden sharp feeling on her abdomen.
As she held on tight to Charming's hand she finally gave birth to her child. After Doc wrapped up the baby in a blanket, he handed her to Snow who weakly whispered, "We have to give her her best chance." Then, she kissed her child on the forehead and muttered between tears, "Goodbye, Emma."
With one last glance at Emma, Snow let Charming take the baby into his arms. Immediately, he rushed out of the room and towards the enchanted wardrobe. Once he was in the hallway however, he was faced with two of Regina's soldiers. With Emma in one hand, he dispatched of both of them but in return, received a deep shoulder wound that caused blood to seep into his white shirt.
After giving Emma one last forehead kiss, he placed her inside Geppetto's wardrobe and whispered, "Find us."
As soon as he closed the wardrobe door, two knights appeared in the room. Having no more strength to fight, Charming was quickly wounded. He collapsed and one of the knights opened the wardrobe. However, Emma had already disappeared to the land without magic.
Grunting, he turned towards the other knight and gruffly stated, "Her Majesty's not going to be happy."
(Regina's POV)
The line of dead bodies indicated where Snow was located. The bodies of all the guards who had tried to protect her. I scoffed at this thought.
Sure enough, I turned the corner and entered a nursery to find Snow on the ground, cradling her husband's unconscious body. Smirking, I muttered with glee, "Oh don't worry dear. In a few moments you won't remember that you knew him, let alone loved him."
Snow looked up with a face of pain and stammered, "Why did you do this?"
"Because this is my happy ending." After I've said this, two of my knights entered the room. I turned around and asked, "The child?"
"Gone. She was in he wardrobe, but now she's gone. Nowhere to be found."
My eyes widened in anger. Then, I bent down towards Snow and seethed, "Where is she?"
"She got away. You're going to lose. I know that now. Good will always win."
How dare she! "We'll see about that." Then, I strode towards a chair that was heaped with soft plush toys. With one flick of my and, the toys disappeared and I sat down. I knew that Snow was looking at me with confusion but I ignored her. "Pietro!"
The young guard walked over and gently placed Daniella down across my lap, with her legs hanging over the chair. I held Daniella tightly in my arms and cradled her. Her face was so pale, as if she was actually dead. However, my fingers could still feel a pulse on her temples. I sighed and brushed a piece of stray hair from Daniella's face before leaning over and planting a kiss on her forehead.
Don't worry, little firefly. Your Mama's got you now...you don't have to feel judged by all the pathetic citizens of this realm anymore.
"Is she dead?" Snow asked quietly.
I glared at the girl and replied in a low voice, "No, but the assassin your husband sent to kill me nearly took Daniella's life."
Snow's face widened into shock as she muttered, "Assassin?" Then, she looked down at her husband. Well, it seems like Charming has done something behind her back.
Before Snow could make sense of what had happened, there was a crackling noise in the ceiling. Then, it came off and the air around us began to darken and swirl. As I held Daniella close against my body, I began to laugh.
Soon, we were in the middle of a vortex of smoke. Snow's voice echoed amist the chaos, "Where are we going?"
I looked around at the billowing clouds and smirked. This is my curse, my victory, my happiness at last. So, I answered Snow truthfully, "Somewhere horrible for you, Snowflake. Absolutely horrible, a place where the only happy ending will be mine."
As the smoke thickened and covered our sight, I held my forehead against Daniella's.
We'll be in a better place very soon, little firefly. Just hold on.
