Chapter Four
"Guys, this really isn't necessary. I'm not going to fight you! Seriously! Just don't grab so hard!" Emma pulled at the grip of the soldiers holding on to her as they led her into the queen's castle. They said nothing as they started to drag her toward the castle with no sight of Regina anywhere. Shit! This was not the way she'd intended for this to happen. Blame it on the naive hope that Regina would have recognized her, but she thought she'd at least get the opportunity to explain herself! Wouldn't she want to know if her life is in danger? The guards stopped just as they reached the gate that led to the dungeon.
"Okay, okay. Look. This is all just one huge misunderstanding. I just need to speak to your queen. That's it. I didn't do anything wrong!" she growled just a little as she heard a familiar voice from behind her.
"Release her." It was amazing how two simple words from Regina's lips would change her entire predicament. Their tight hold ceased as she turned around to see Regina standing before her, cold eyes locked on her face as she started to walk toward her. Emma couldn't hide her relief at the thought that Regina had come to rescue her from imprisonment. A smile formed over her lips. Why was she so excited to see Regina? Was there that inherent hope that Regina would come to her rescue? She didn't quite realize just how dependant she'd been on Regina's assistance...until now.
"Thank God you're here. I really need to talk to you." Emma started to walk toward Regina, as though they were allies once again. Without hesitation, her hand came up to Emma's neck and grabbed hold, nails digging in to her skin as she tightened her grip. The pressure on Emma's throat forced her back a few steps until she pressed against the cold, stone wall of the castle. Apparently, Emma was gravely mistaken. The hope of convincing Regina that she had a shred of good in her began to diminish as she stared back into dark eyes that held what most would call evil. It would be so easy to think of her simply as evil, but there was so much more to her than that. Behind those eyes held a lot of pain and anger that Emma didn't want to confront. If she didn't have to in order to save everyone, Emma might have been inclined to run in the other direction...but what good did running away ever bring her? This was her destiny, whether she liked it or not. Terrified as she was, she simply had to muster up what little courage she had to take on the Evil Queen who currently had one hell of a grip.
"What did I tell you addressing me so informally? Are you hard of hearing or just plain stupid? Because I think defying me classifies you for the latter.," she growled angrily as she leaned in to meet Emma's gaze. Surprised at the sudden change of events, Emma remained frozen as she observed, not only the darkness, but the immense power that surrounded Regina. If only she'd known how powerful Regina truly was in Storybrooke, she would see that Regina was that of a tamed lion. Dangerous and definitely not one to be provoked, but good. Right now, she had her claws out and it was apparent why so many were afraid of her.
"Well? What is it, girl? Are you deaf or stupid? Answer your queen!" Emma was quick to respond the second time around.
"Stupid, but I've been told that's one of my redeeming qualities, along with my stubbornness," Emma said, struggling to speak with the limited air Regina was allowing. A smirk formed on Regina's lips as she let go of her throat and dropped her hand down by her side.
"Tell me your name."
"Emma."
"Emma. And just why are you so insistent on speaking with me? Usually, people run in fear, as they should. Yet you're claiming to be my rescuer. Last I recall, white knights didn't come in the shape of peasant barmaids," Regina laughed at the ridiculous notion that Emma had spouted off earlier, and yet here she stood still entertaining the idea of keeping her alive. She wouldn't have hesitated to end her life but there was something that intrigued her about the blonde woman before her. Though she couldn't quite determine what it was, Regina wasn't about to let the opportunity pass by to investigate.
"I told you. I'm here to help you. Ze-.." Emma paused. Would Regina even believe this story? Did she even know Zelena's name? Even if she did, would it change Regina's belief that she actually needed someone else's help to defeat her? There was no way that Emma was going to get by telling the entire truth to Regina. She'd never listen.
"Good God. I haven't got all day to wait for you! Spit it out!" The Queen's exasperated voice was filled with irritation, her patience becoming thinner by the moment.
"I'm sorry. I'm here to help you. I...know of Snow White's plans. To defeat you." Emma's words caused Regina's eyebrow to arch in interest. Keep going, Emma! Hook, line and sinker! Even still, there was a hint of doubt in Regina's eyes. Based on what she'd learned in the Forbidden Forest, Emma couldn't imagine that many people could read The Evil Queen. They saw only someone to fear. Emma, on the other hand, knew only Regina and what good she was capable of.
"You know of Snow White's plan? And why should I trust that you're not lying to me?" Regina moved closer to Emma until they were only inches apart. Emma's eyebrows raised a little in surprise at how close she'd gotten. It seemed that The Evil Queen never had personal space issues. Emma's eyes slowly lowered to the dark red lips curved upward in an arrogant smirk that were so close to her own.
"She hurt me too. I want to see that she pays for what she's done. It's because of her that I was abandoned, kind of like how you were with Daniel," she whispered softly, thinking that her story was solid. Not entirely a lie, but enough twisting of the truth to make it believable. Instead of being met with the eyes of a friend, she saw only rage forming in the dark eyes before her as Regina stepped back from her.
"How do you know anything about Daniel? Nobody knows about Daniel, except for Snow and my mother! Why are you here?!" she growled as her right hand came up, unclenching from the fist she held down by her side to form a ball of fire only a few feet from Emma. Oh God, think fast, Emma. Think fast! Now is the time to lie your corset off!
"I...overheard Snow! I used to work for their castle and I overheard her one time telling Charming that it was her fault she killed the man you loved. That's why you have wanted to seek revenge on her! Right before they were making plans to protect their baby from your curse. She took me away from my family the same way she took your loved ones from you, so I came straight here to help you!" Emma's heart raced in her chest, but she stood still, not needing to be held by the guards to suffer the Queen's wrath. Instead, she closed her eyes and held her breath, waiting for the potential blow...but it never came.
One eye dared to open slowly to find Regina standing there with the flame dissipating slowly. The pain and sadness in her eyes felt like a hard blow to her gut, her own heart sinking in one expression. She never realized how alone Regina truly was. The woman lost the man she loved because of her own mother and a beloved little girl who was looked at as a hero. How could she trust anybody? Furthermore, how could she let her guard down at all and risk showing the world how vulnerable she truly was? Emma had to fight the urge to reach out and comfort her, even though every inch of her ached to do so. Regina's eyes stared through her as though she weren't even there, lost in the painful thoughts and emotions that Emma had trudged up.
"Reg-.." Emma started, but Regina's emotionless voice overpowered her own.
"I'll deal with you later. Take her away," she said before turning quickly to walk in the opposite direction. Emma didn't dare argue and, instead, went willingly with the two guards who led her to her cell.
The sound of the cell door shutting echoed through the dungeon as Emma took a seat on the bale of hay set up in the corner. A loud sigh escaped her lips as the guard pounded his fist against the metal once before turning around to walk away.
"Great, Emma. How the hell are you going to get out of this one?" she muttered to herself as a hand ran through her hair. Hook was right. This was not going to be as easy as she might have hoped.
"Are you talking to me?" a voice in the cell beside her called out, catching Emma's attention. Her green eyes lifted to see a woman in the cell beside her walking over to where their cells touched.
"Uhh, no. I was talking to myself, but I'm not crazy, I swear. They say you're not crazy for talking to yourself. Only if you answer back," she joked, but the woman hardly smiled. Could she blame her? It's not like these cells were exactly accommodating. Emma stood up from her seat and walked over to the cell to meet the woman.
"I'm Emma."
"Marian." Emma's eyes widened just a little in surprise. She hadn't known Robin very well, but she knew the story growing up and, therefore, knew who she was to him. What she hadn't known was that it was Regina who killed her.
"You're Robin's wife," she whispered without thinking. Marian reached out to the bars with great excitement.
"You know my husband? Is he coming for me?" she asked, hopeful that Emma would have a message for her. Sadly, Emma hadn't the slightest clue where he was or what he was planning. She didn't even know if he knew where his wife was.
"I...I don't know. I haven't seen him lately. I just have met him a few times in passing and he's mentioned you," Emma replied, trying to brush it off as quickly as she could. The look of disappointment washed over Marian's expression as she looked down.
"Oh, I see. Well, I doubt it matters much anyway," she said softly, letting go of the bars to step back into the middle of her cell. Emma leaned against the bars comfortably and looked back to the cell that surrounded her.
"What'd you do to get yourself locked up?"
"I'm accused of stealing some of the Queen's prized horses. I didn't, but they won't go merely on my word."
"I hear ya. I've been caught stealing in my day. How long you in for?" Emma folded her arms across her chest, turning her head just in time to catch the confused look on Marian's face. Was it something she'd said? Her eyebrows furrowed as Marian laughed coldly.
"You obviously don't know the Evil Queen very well. We'll be dead by morning. She's a heartless monster," she retorted, causing Emma to spin around quickly in her direction.
"She's not a heartless monster! She's capable of more than that!"
"I disagree entirely. The Queen is evil and always will be."
"She wasn't always evil and she has good in her! Someone just has to give her the chance!"
"The way she's given me a chance? No! She locked me up without so much as a thought to who I was leaving behind, or if I was even guilty!"
"You have to look past that. She just doesn't kno-" Marian spun around and rushed up to the bars so quickly that it stopped Emma from completing her sentence.
"Why are you defending the woman who sentenced you to death?! She certainly has no concern for your well being and is beyond repair! If you don't believe it now, you will tomorrow morning as she kills us both with pleasure!" Emma's rage peaked as she reached through the bars and gripped the material of Marian's top, pulling her close to meet her eye to eye. The physical assault was enough to hush Marian as her dark eyes lifted to Emma's in surprise.
"We are not going to die tomorrow, Marian. You have to listen to me, and you have to believe me. I'm not from here. I'm from the future. Reg-...the Queen...enacts a curse that sends everyone to another land. I'm from that land. In that land, your husband kills her."
"Good. She deserves it," Marian grumbled, but Emma's grip on her top tightened as she shook her out of anger.
"She didn't deserve it! She had a child! Our child!"
"You and I have a child?"
"No! Regina and I have a child!"
"...How?" Emma let go of her shirt and let out a loud exasperated sigh as she took a step back.
"It's complicated. If I don't get out of here, then you're right. We're dead, but it's not just us. A lot more people are going to die. Your husband's one of them."
"Robin? No! What about Roland? Who will look after him?!"
"Now you're talking my language, lady. So here's the deal. You're gonna help me get out of here. In turn, I'm gonna save your ass and nobody has to die. Are you in?" Marian stared at Emma through the bars for a few moments in silence. What choice did she have? Her hand reached up into her hair, retrieving one of the pins that held it up into the messy bun she wore currently. Holding it out for Emma to see, she smirked.
"How are you at picking locks? I never could do it, or I wouldn't still be in here." Emma's eyes widened at the sight of the pin.
"Marian, this is perfect!" She reached out to take the pin as Marian's other hand snatched hold of her wrist.
"I need your word that you're going to save us, Emma. It's not much, but it's all I can ask of you. It's all the hope I have to rely on." Emma smiled as her gaze softened on Marian's face.
"You have my word, Marian. I'm not going to fail. None of us can afford for me to." Marian released the pin into Emma's hand as she quickly rushed over to the lock on her door. Pin pushed into the key's entry, she wiggled the tip of the pin around to find the latch that would release the lock from the bars. A few seconds went by with nothing working on that lock.
"Damn it! C'mon. Talk to me, Neal.." she whispered to herself, struggling with the lock. Flashbacks of Neal teaching her to pick her first lock played in her mind. She could still see his smile as if it were right in front of her. He always said to her...Patience is the key, Emma. You just have to find the sweet spot. Emma closed her eyes as she turned the pin slowly to the right, feeling the small latch push back with the sound of a click. Opening her eyes quickly, the lock fell open, leaving her door unlocked.
"Yes!" Stepping out of the cell, she turned toward Marian who watched her intently. Why couldn't she have just let her go right then and there? Marian could have escaped and been with Robin. Problem solved. Emma couldn't risk changing the future that much. She didn't know what sort of repercussions she'd face changing Robin's entire life. She had to stick to the plan.
"I'll come back for you, Marian. I promise. Don't worry. You'll see your husband and child soon," Emma said before she moved out of the cell and into the shadows. She hadn't thought about what she was going to do once she got out of the cell. Remaining close to the wall, she moved up the stairs slowly, listening for the sound of echoing footsteps. Moving silently up to the top, she slowed down when seeing a guard standing at the top of the stairs in front of the door. His back to her, Emma knew that she'd have to act fast to get out of there unnoticed.
"Here goes nothing," she whispered to herself as she moved up the steps to stand behind the man. Without hesitation, she reached out to grab hold of the handle of his sword and, with a firm tug, pulled the sword from its holster. She threw her weight into the pull, causing the guard to slip and fall, tumbling down the stairs with a loud thud that echoed against the stone walls. His fall quieted as he rolled down the steps, further from the door. Emma was a few moments, hearing no additional movements as he landed at the bottom before moving on. Gripping the sword, she moved into the main hallway that led to multiple rooms.
Great! Now how am I going to find her in this huge castle?! Emma thought, letting out a silent, but frustrated sigh.
"Guards! Where is my father?!" she heard a voice on the nearby staircase and immediately stepped behind one of the statues to hide.
"He should be back from his walk anytime, Your Majesty."
"Good. When he arrives, tell him to meet me in my room."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The sound of boots thudded against the steps as the two soldiers hurried away from the stairs and started down the hall, moving past the statue that Emma hid so carefully behind. She held her breath and stayed low, praying that they'd move past her without noticing that she'd escaped. As she crouched down, her foot rolled slightly into the statue, making a soft thump against the stone. One of the soldiers slowed to a stop near the statue, causing her heart to race in her chest.
"Did you hear that?" Emma closed her eyes for a moment and held tight to the handle of the sword, preparing herself to fight.
"No, I didn't. Come! We must find Prince Henry quickly. There is no time to waste!" The two soldiers rushed away, leaving Emma alone once more. A sense of relief rushed through her as Emma slowly stood from her space. Slipping out from behind the statue, she turned toward the stairs only to find Regina standing at the bottom of the stairs with her eyes locked intently on Emma.
"Hello again. Was your cell not accommodating enough?" Regina's words dripped with sarcasm as she started toward Emma with a angry snarl forming over her lips. Before Emma could respond, a third voice chimed into the conversation as a flash of green flickered out of the corner of Emma's eye.
"Well, Regina. You should already be used to things not being good enough. Not like you ever have been," Zelena said as green smoke surrounded her. Regina turned toward her as any hint of amusement faded from her expression.
"You." Regina couldn't hide the disdain for the woman she'd met only a few times, but they'd never been pleasant.
"Oh, don't worry, darling. I won't be here long. Then again, neither will you," she said as she shot her hand forward, green electricity shooting from her fingertips in Regina's direction.
"No!" Emma shouted as she jumped in front of Regina, throwing the sword toward Zelena at the same time. Having pushed Regina out of the way, the bolt hit her in the chest and knocked her back against the wall. All of Emma's strength felt zapped as she fell to the floor. Regina stared over at Emma, confused as to why Emma would take the hit for her, only to turn her attention toward Zelena once more. Though Zelena turned to avoid getting hit with the sword, the edge snagged on her necklace, pulling it off of her as the green gem fell to the floor with a thud. A loud gasp escaped Zelena's lips as she picked up the necklace and quickly pulled it on over her neck.
"This isn't over, sister. You won't survive by the time I'm through with you," she growled before her broom appeared in her hand. Sliding onto the broom, she pushed off as she broke through the stained glass window and flew away. The sound of the shattering glass mingling with the heavy breeze coming into the hallway resonated off of the walls as Regina turned toward Emma.
"Why did you save me?" she asked, but before Emma could respond, her eyes close and she succumbed to her own unconsciousness.
(Sorry for the delay in the chapter. Work got hectic and I was celebrating my anniversary, but I should be back on a regularly posting schedule now. Hope you enjoy it! Feedback is greatly welcomed!)