The Heroes are getting older and more frailer. Everyone knows what must come eventually, so what awaits them in the afterlife? Regina gets to find out for herself...
Years later...
All lives, no matter how great, must finally draw to a close, just as surely as night follows day. And as the Heroes grew older, and more frail, finally, one by one, they faded into the night.
The first to pass was, surprisingly, Belle Gold, at the age of eighty-five. After a severe bout of pneumonia, she passed away peacefully in her bed in their Storybrooke home, Ariel and Rumple either side of her. The doctors had advised them she'd weakened considerably, so it wasn't too much of a surprise when her fighting spirit finally gave up. But it was still a major blow and her family mourned her. They all gathered for the funeral, with even Triton and Athena joining them to pay their final respects to the woman who tamed the beast that was the Dark One, and who loved their mermaid daughter.
Just over a month later, the passing of Snow White and Prince Charming, within seconds of each other, was, despite their ages, a bitter blow for Emma. As she, her brother Neal and his wife Louise, the young Emma-lookalike, and herself almost forty years old, held onto each other tightly by the graveside, the wide double-coffin containing Storybrooke's most famous true loves, was gently lowered into the ground. Their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all stood silently, most sobbing, as the sad ceremony came to an end. It was a poignant moment for Regina too, who, as she clung to Robin, shed many tears at the final passing of two of her once greatest enemies, now two of her closest friends. Unlike most people, the royal couple had never feared death, having almost had it taken from them so many times in the past. But as thy all watched Henry's daughter Lucy drop a single rose onto the coffin as it lay in the ground, Regina was at least later comforted by Robin's words, as he spoke so eloquently, and with personal knowledge, to the gathered crowd at the wake after. After delivering a eulogy on behalf of the true-love pair, he gave a few personal thoughts:
"You'll get to see them again, you know? All your loved ones. If they genuinely repent and ask forgiveness from those they've wronged in this life, they'll move on to Heaven, or Paradise, Valhalla or however you prefer to describe it! Ruby, you know I've already spoken to Granny? And your mother, Anita? They're both so proud of you and Dorothy for what you've achieved, and they adore Alice and the boys! Gilbert, your brother Billy's taking good care of Connie (Constance, Gilbert Whitehand's daughter, died in a freak accident when she was only five)! But you all need to remember that life still goes in, even after you die, just...differently. Your past loves, your loved ones, your family, your friends. So, although this is indeed a terribly sad day, as we celebrate the remarkable lives of Snow and David, you need to know that you'll meet again."
Six months later...
It turned out Regina would see Snow and David a lot sooner than she expected!
Six months after the funeral, a day shy of her ninety-first birthday, the former Regina Mills, Queen of Enchanted Forest and Mayor of Storybrooke after that, suffered a major stroke from which she never recovered consciousness. Two days later, in the now-expanded Sherwood Hospital, surrounded by most of her family, her heart finally stopped. Robin and Emma stood either side, leaning over her still-warm body to kiss her for the very last time.
"Rest in peace, my love!" Emma sobbed, a tear falling on the cold cheek of her now-grey haired wife as she lay on her open coffin.
"Till we meet again, my darling…" Robin added. "Which hopefully, will be sooner than you think!"
In another dimension entirely...
Regina opened her eyes to a very different place from the one she was in when she closed them!
She seemed to be lying on some sort of couch? In a log cabin? She sat up immediately, when a voice came from nearby.
"Hello Regina, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
She turned to see a bearded man she hadn't clapped eyes on for over forty years, smiling back at her. "King Arthur? Your Majesty?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. But I think we can both forgo titles now, don't you? Welcome back to the Underworld..." He saw her shoulders slump, a sadness starting to overwhelm her as she realised her predicament. "Don't be afraid. I can assure you it's changed considerably since you last came here. We try to make the process quick, and as painless as possible…"
"Process? I'm not sure I understand?"
"The process of judgment, Regina. In the past, Hades treated this place as his personal fiefdom, to bring pain and torment to the dearly departed. With his destruction, thanks partly to yourself, we now treat it as the gods intended. As a departure lounge to the afterlife! Very shortly, I'll take you to a stairway, which leads to the Celestial Court. There, you'll be judged, to decide your fate. The process is surprisingly quick and painless, I assure you. Most people then need to remain in purgatory for a while to atone for their past. They will show you how. Then...hopefully...you pass on to paradise. Come!"
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, an entire wall of the cabin seemed to fade to nothing, an enormous slow-moving white staircase now appearing in its place, leading up into the clouds with a bright light behind.
Regina gulped, her mouth bone dry. "Arthur…I'm…I'm frightened!"
"Of course you are, my dear. And who wouldn't be? Now come…"
Storybrooke
Ruby and Dorothy had sold the diner over twenty years ago, to their business partner Mike's son. He'd gone on to refurbish and extend it, incorporating his father's old bakery next door. But he'd kept the name and the 'Granny's' sign still hung over the door, even though he was born long after the old wolf had died. The tables in the dining room were now heaving with food as people from the town and village came to pay their final respects to Regina's memory. At a centre table sat Robin and Emma, the Saviour now in a wheelchair, with their grandchildren asking question after question as they sat around the pair. Lucy, Henry's ever-inquisitive daughter, thinking up most of them.
"Explain it to me again Grandpa? What's the 'Court' you have to go through when you die?"
Robin smiled down on her. "The Celestial Court, Lucy. Everyone who dies has to go through it. I never actually saw it myself, but Merlin explained it to me. It's like a giant arena, bigger than you could possibly imagine. Hundreds of thousands of people can sit in there, just to listen to the judgments, while judges make the final decision. There's magic involved, as screens play 'live' scenes from the history of the life being judged. The good things you've done, the bad things. But the screens show it all! Nothing passes their gaze. If you've led an overall good life, you pass onto another staircase that takes you to your version of heaven. If you've been really bad, you go somewhere else." Robin really didn't wnat to think of that option! "Most people have done some bad things as well as good in their lives. In their case there is something called purgatory, where they have to face people who they've caused harm to. Where they can reflect, apologise and most importantly, ask for forgiveness. If and when they finally receive it, or if the gods think they sincerely tried, they can move onto the upper staircase again…"
"So how long would you have to remain in purgatory? Months? Years?"
"That depends on the crimes, and if you really regret them. Time's very different there. So what feels like years there can be weeks here. Or vice versa. It all depends on the judgment."
Henry said what everyone else had been thinking, "So what about mum? Do you think her Evil Queen days will-" he stopped, seeing the pained look on Emma's face. "Sorry ma, I didn't mean to-"
"It's alright, Hen. You're just curious. I've been thinking the same thing! As far as Robin and I are concerned, she more than made amends over the last few decades for what she did in the distant past. Yes, she did some pretty bad stuff before, but…"
"Daddy?" Faith interrupted. "You've been there a few times, haven't you? Couldn't you go there and check up on mum, to see what's happened?" She was talking as though she hadn't actually died!
Robin sighed. "I wish it was that simple, my love! Unfortunately I can't just go there whenever I want. There's strict rules as to how much access they allow. Merlin and I can't abuse it. But I'm going to speak to him to see what I can do…"
"Is there any chance she could go to hell, like Grandma Cora?" said Hope, in all innocence. Though seeing the shocked looks on her two remaining parents' and older brother's faces, she wished she'd kept her mouth shut!
The Celestial Court
Regina stood rigid with fear, when she finally arrived at the end of the moving staircase. An other-worldly feel clung to the place, as a magical force seemed to gently lift her, moments later transplanting her into the centre of some form of giant white ampitheatre, far larger than anything she had encountered! Although it could clearly contain hundreds of thousands of people, and many had gathered on either side. Had she known so many people? It was difficult to see any individual faces, being so far away. She was still in shock when a large wooden lectern, and microphone, apparated directly in front of her.
Now she knew she was on trial for her crimes, and her likely punishment was eternal!
Before she could react, a giant screen, greater than she's ever seen, and certainly larger than anything she knew on earth, appeared above and to the front of her, enabling all around the arena to see the events of her life unfold. Her terrified face now appeared on it, magnifying her grey hair, rheumy eyes and wrinkles, and nine decades of living, visible to all. Moments later, the image switched across to someone starting to speak.
"THE COURT IS NOW IN SESSION!" boomed a huge, deep voice, heard all around the arena, reducing the noisy hubbub to silence.
The shape of a large, black haired, bearded man appeared. He just emanated raw power, clearly a god! "Regina, daughter of Cora and Henry, you stand here to be judged, as all must be judged, for your actions during the life you were given, and the gifts bestowed by the gods. Depending on that evidence, you will be granted eternity, either in Paradise, or damnation in the bowels of Hell. Do you understand?"
Too frightened to speak, she clutched the lectern tightly for support. As she did so, a glass of water appeared on it. She seized it gratefully, gulping the contents down quickly. If she was dead, why was her throat dry? Why did she need water? "Yes. Thank you…Sir!" she finally replied.
The bearded man nodded. "I am Minos. To my left sits Rhadamanthys, Lord of Elysion. To my right, Aeacus, Guardian of the Keys. Together we three form the Judges of the Dead, answerable only to Zeus. We will witness the evidence before reaching our decision. All will be revealed and nothing hidden. Unlike on Earth, you have no prosecution or defence counsel, unless specifically requested, and will not be required to give evidence yourself, although you can challenge any evidence produced by raising your hand. We may take further testimony before reaching our decision. Again, do you fully understand or have any questions?"
Regina had spent over fifty years trying to undo the crimes of her past. She knew it would be pointless. "No sir. I fully accept the judgment of the Court, no matter what it may be."
"Very well, let us proceed. We start from the then Miss Regina Mills first meeting with the Dark One…"
Within moments, the giant screen started playing an apparently live recording of Rumpelstiltskin, appearing sitting on her dressing table as a younger version of her strode in angrily.
"Hello dearie, having problems I see?"
~oOo~
The next hours turned out to be the most painful experience of her long life by far, as all her acts, all her crimes, all her failings, were played out on the enormous screen in front of them, as though it were happening now. Being electrocuted on a table was nothing compared to this!
Several scenes were more painful than most. She winced when she saw the younger her, dressed in the most ridiculously theatrical black costume imaginable, plunge her hand into the chest of a young man, whose only crime had been to hold a small wedding service for him and his betrothed, on the edge of her lands. No mercy shown as he begged to be spared, she nonetheless crushed the heart in front of his fiancée. Exactly as her mother had done to Daniel! She bowed her head in shame.
Then followed a series of other killings in Misthaven and the Enchanted Forest, of villagers and even her own soldiers. The wiping out of an entire village, whilst her soldiers ran swords through children and the elderly, brought her the most pain, and she had to look away in disgust.
I deserve nothing less than Hell for this!
"DO NOT LOOK AWAY! YOU MUST WATCH!" roared Minos, seeing her avoiding the evidence before her. She felt a magical force turn her head, gently but firmly, back up to face the screen. Tears were now falling freely. The images continued, showing her seemingly endless barbarity as she wrought vengeance on all who defied her. The earlier murder of King Leopold was as nothing compared to what followed. As she saw her younger self tear the heart from Graham Humbert, her most-favoured royal guard and accomplished woodsman, from his chest, Regina knew with certainty that his ultimate death at her hand would surely be shown. The visions moved on, until her father, the gentle, wonderful Prince Henry, appeared. She wailed in agony herself, when she saw the excruciating pain on her father's face, as the cruel queen on the screen dragged his heart from his chest, crushing it in front of him.
"Papa! Oh, my papa!" she cried, as he fell to the ground, his death instantaneous. She dropped to her knees, vomiting. As she twisted to her side, a shiny silver bucket and tissues appeared from nowhere. She seized them, heaving her guts into the bucket involuntarily.
"Please? Please make this stop? I'm guilty! I've caused so much suffering - I deserve no mercy. Just, just end me! Please?" she begged.
Minos didn't respond, merely twirling his fingers for the images to continue, as he had countless times before. The images switched to Storybrooke, to her home and her mistreatment of Henry, Snow and the townsfolk under her own curse. She thought she'd seen the worst, when a split screen appeared, one side showing the Evil Queen crushing a heart and on the right, a certain blonde sheriff clutching Graham Humbert as he fell. Oh god, enough!
After several more scenes from her life, no more deaths but just actions of the spiteful, catty, nasty and vindictive, spoilt, self-important woman Regina Mills had become. After yet more unbearable scenes, all played out before her in painful reality, she sobbed quietly, waiting on her well-deserved sentencing, having no doubt she would be consigned to oblivion, or pain, or whatever retribution awaited her.
"That concludes the case for conviction." boomed Minos. "Now let us examine the case for mitigation."
The images switched. Firstly, Regina was shown the adoption of her son, Henry. She smiled sadly, remembering his beautiful features all those years ago.
He was a grandfather himself now! Images raced forward as little acts of affection were displayed. Eventually, Emma appeared, and she couldn't help but smile as the stunningly beautiful blonde, in all her glory, walked into her life. Now, Emma was grey-haired, wheelchair-bound, and almost as old and wrinkled as her! The woman who had given birth to their wonderful eldest son and a daughter, who had gone from being her enemy, to her accomplice, as they fought demons and monsters in Storybrooke, Neverland, Camelot and beyond. To being her trusted ally and co-parent, as they continued to fight side by side. To being her best friend, as the images raced by, then her lover, and, as scenes from her wedding in New York appeared, her wife. The woman who captured her heart.
Then Robin came into view. The True Love she could never be without. The man who'd fathered four of their children. The man who sacrificed his own life, to save her worthless one. As Hades appeared on the screen for the first time, gasps of shock were heard around the arena when the former Lord of the Underworld blasted magic from the Olympian Crystal into Robin's back, as he deliberately stepped in the way to save Regina's life, killing him instantly. Her horrified expression was clearly visible to all. Regina couldn't help but notice the surprised look on the faces of the judges as they were displayed on the screen. They then watched as the last fifty years of her life flew past in a matter of minutes. It was without doubt the most exhausting experience of her existence. After what felt like hours, the images finally ended, her three judges reappearing on the screen.
"We've seen enough! I have consulted with my peers, and they have reached different conclusions and verdicts. It appears I now hold the casting vote in this matter. So, before I reach my decision, is there anything you wish to say before I pass judgment?"
A thoroughly exhausted former queen attempted to stand a little taller behind the lectern. "Sirs. Forgive me for I do not know the correct form of address here. I've committed some of the worst atrocities imaginable. Seeing the brutal, selfish murder of my own father has been too much for me. Magic has clearly helped make me a monster. My son, and later my wife and husband, may have made me change for the better but even for me, what I have been reminded of is too much. I accept I deserve the same fate as my mother and accept whatever decision you reach. I submit my soul to your judgment!"
She closed her eyes, awaiting sentence. However, Minos appeared to address their audience. "Before I give our decision, we have received requests from witnesses to the life of the woman being judged here, who wish to give evidence. Two of those, Prince Henry of the Enchanted Forest, and Snow White, Rightful Queen of Misthaven. However, we have declined as they are related…"
Regina sighed at the forlorn hope of seeing her father just one more time, before being consigned to the flames.
"However, we will allow two witnesses to testify. The Court recognises Graham Humbert, former Captain of the Royal Guard under the then Queen Regina. Mr. Humbert?" Regina gasped as, immediately in front of her, looking as young, and dressed exactly as he had all those years ago, Graham appeared, staring straight back at her.
"Thank you, my lords!" Graham appeared unduly calm. "As you're aware from the evidence you saw, the queen did indeed hold me captive by capturing my heart and withholding it. She repeatedly controlled and raped me, before finally crushing it when my memories recovered."
Regina shuddered at the memory. It was one of two killings she'd carried out in Storybrooke. Nonetheless, it was murder. She avoided his eyes in utter shame.
"However, since my passing, I understand this woman has indeed changed. When I was killed, I left behind a daughter, her mother having departed some years earlier. Merlin, the Sorcerer informs me that the former queen has sought to atone for her sins by…" Graham went on to tell the demi-gods about how she had financed the young girl's education and re-homing, setting her up with a trust fund and personal tutor to protect her in the years ahead. Regina was truly astonished. How on earth does he know all this? How often is Merlin here? He summarized, before bowing to the three demi-gods sitting in judgment.
"Thank you, Mr. Humbert. We shall take this into consideration. Now, let us call the final witness."
As Graham's image faded into the mist, another figure solidified in his place. A raven-haired woman, slender, shorter than Graham, but several inches taller than herself. The new figure looked up to the judges as her face appeared on the huge screen. Regina's jaw dropped in astonishment, scarcely able to believe her eyes.
"Marian?"
Storybrooke
Hardly anyone slept the night they buried Regina. It was gone one o clock in the morning, but all the deflated grieving Locksley family still sat in the living room of the family home, the children, now adults, taking turns to tell stories of their dearly departed mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Although it had been maudlin, they were comforted by Robin's repeated assurances that they would one day all be reunited with her.
The conversation had finally moved on to other things. Robert, Roland's twenty-five year-old son, sat on the floor in front of his grandparents, his own four-year-old young son Billy resting between his legs. "Bumpa, (the grandchildren's pet name for their grandfather), you're an immortal now, right? So you live for ever and ever! How come you got really old, like nanna and grandma? You're really wrinkly too!"
Robin laughed loudly, the first time he'd laughed in quite a while! It seemed to relax his children considerably, as all his daughters began chuckling as an embarrassed Robert rolled his eyes. "For heaven's sake, Billy, don't be so rude to great-grandpa!"
"No, it's fine, Robbie – please don't tell him off!" Emma interrupted, keen to stop their grandson admonishing his boy. "Bobbie's right to ask! Your Bumpa's been cheating a bit over the years, so not to attract suspicion. You see, as great granny and I got older, we got lots more wrinkles and all this grey hair…" she held a lock of her now short bob up to them. "Well, it would have looked really weird if two old women in their nineties were married to someone fifty years younger, wouldn't it? Especially as the town lines are down now. So, he uses a bit of magic to hide how he really looks…"
"I never thought of that!" said Millie, Margot and Alice's daughter. "What do you really like look now, Bumpa?"
"Millie, behave yourself!" growled Margot, embarrassed. "Sorry dad – just ignore her…"
Again, Emma defended one of her granddaughters. "It's fine, Margie, she's just curious! Rob?" she snuggled into her husband's side. "Why don't you show them?"
"Well, if you insist…" Robin's pupils flickered gold for a moment, and his entire face changed. The carefully developed double chin and thickening cheeks disappeared, as did his grey hair, being replaced by natural dirty blonde. A darker, shorter beard replaced the grey and his cheeks now showed his dimples in all their glory.
"WOW, Bumpa, you look great!" gasped Millie, "Really handsome – I love it!"
Emma chuckled, resting her head against his chest as his arm came around her. "See what I mean? My handsome man! Seems odd though, doesn't it, this gorgeous guy being married to an old prune like me?"
"Stop that right now, madam!" admonished Robin. "You're as beautiful now, as you were when I fell in love with you. And when our darling Gina fell in love with you!" he kissed her now wrinkled lips, ignoring their audience, who groaned their disapproval. Unbeknown to most of them, although Robin masked his immortality by gradually ageing himself magically, whenever the two of them retired to bed with Regina, the women would also make a point of using their magic to transform themselves into their younger, more nubile, selves. Thus ensuring that, despite their ageing bodies, their love life remained strong.
Back in the Celestial Court…
"My lords, I was killed by the Evil Queen's guards when I was still in my twenties. I left behind a husband, and a wonderful young son, Roland, who I doubt would even remember me!"
As the surprisingly confident woman addressed the judges and the huge audience that appeared to have gathered, Regina grimaced at the bitter legacy of just one of her many crimes.
"The then Saviour, Emma Swan, went back in time and released me from my imprisonment, although the then queen's, Zelena the Wicked Witch, would go on to kill me once again, as I lay unconscious after being bludgeoned to prevent my resisting."
If there was anyone in the universe who deserved to kill her, it was Maid Marian! Her Black Guard had killed the woman, at her order. Coupled to which, by a quirk of time-travel, Zelena had murdered her a second time, and Regina had wound up raising her son in her place. That wonderful boy, who had provided so much joy to her own life. It was more than unfair.
"However, I've listened to the evidence presented, and I believe the Court left out several vital, no critical, pieces of available evidence, that may help explain how a young girl with a good heart turned into an evil queen! Firstly, the killing of her first love, a certain stable boy named Daniel Colter, who I have befriended here. I wonder, my Lords, if you could kindly start from that point? I think it may add to your knowledge of the situation…"
The demi-god seated on Minos's left, Rhadamanthys? frowned, but waved a hand in tired acceptance. In a blink of an eye, the giant screen was taken over by one of the worst events of Regina's long life. There, in front of her, she watched as her first love's murder was played out before them. Daniel, the beautiful, innocent stable hand with whom the young Regina had fallen in love, was taken aside by Cora, before brutally forcing her hand into his chest to rip out his heart. Her mother's cold eyes bore no humanity whatsoever, as she crushed the organ, the boy collapsing in front of the young Regina, who was screaming hysterically.
Tears now rained freely down the cheeks of the much older grey-haired Regina as she witnessed it all for the third time. Murmurs of outrage were heard from around the arena as the visions ended, returning to Marian, who it seems was also now visibly shaken by what she'd seen.
"And, my lords, while I have no wish to torment Regina further..." she dabbed at her own eyes. "I believe the abuse she received at the hands of King Leopold, the man her mother forced her to marry, should also be taken into account..." A flick of Minos's hand, and earlier scenes were displayed for all to see. Cora's threats to Regina, and repeated partial strangulation for daring to defy her; her rape on her wedding night, and several more times were fortunately sped through as the judges saw enough; the beatings the king inflicted on her when he realised she was only acting under duress, and held no affection for him. All scenes were played through, and as the images ended, the screen returned to Marian, who, even though she'd asked for them to be played, also seemed rather upset by the brutality they contained. But the surprisingly elegant woman straightened after dabbing her eyes, continue.
"I put it to you, my Lords, that the young Regina Mills, a woman of previous good character until the death of her young lover, experienced such terrible and incredible distress from that moment, such intolerable anguish, that, coupled with a forced marriage to a cruel tyrant, she was driven to a state of severe mental instability. This was further evidenced by the complete change in her character from that point on, when she sought revenge throughout the land. I put it to you, that she wasn't entirely responsible for her actions…"
"Hmm. We will consider this," replied Minos, both judges nodding either side of him. "Frankly, I am rather surprised to see you requesting to give evidence here, Marian of Locksley? Do you have a personal interest in the outcome?"
"Yes, sir. I loved my husband, I still do, and I was always proud to carry the Locksley name. However, my death deprived me of my time with him and our son. You will know him, no doubt. Robin Hood? The man Lord Zeus sent back to the living?"
"We are fully aware of your husband, Mrs. Locksley," Aeacus spoke for the first time. "He is even known on Olympus. Your point?"
"Robin is an excellent judge of character, my lords. I have watched over him and our son as often as I was allowed, since my passing. Robin mourned me, then some decades later he fell in love with the woman before you. You saw the evidence earlier. He even sacrificed his life for her. Would he have done, that if Regina hadn't changed? I hardly think so. And there's Emma, the Saviour. Would she have fallen in love with, and married Regina if she were still evil? Unlikely, I think. You saw the acts of reparation she tried to make for her earlier crimes. She, my husband and Emma Swan even went on to create two hybrid children of their own. I understand from Merlin that it would have taken pure white magic to achieve that! Would it have been possible, if Regina hadn't been reformed? My lords, I ask you to take all this into consideration before you reach your decision."
The screen changed to the images of the three judges, who seemed to be conferring amongst themselves. As they did, Marian turned, walking closer to the lectern, where Regina stood, still in shock.
"Marian…why would you do all this? After all I've done to you?" She whispered.
"Robin, of course! Our husband. The man we both love. And for Roland."
Regina gave her a sad smile, nodding in understanding. She studied Marian a little more closely. She was taller than she'd remembered (though that had been Zelena's version). She was certainly a beautiful woman. Luxurious long, dark brown hair, rich brown eyes, high cheekbones, a slight smile, that reminded her so much of Roland. "I think I'm beginning to see why Robin fell in love with you." The words left Regina's mouth accidentally.
Marian smiled back. "Funny, I was thinking much the same thing!" If Regina didn't know better, she'd think she was flirting?
Their mutual admiration was brought to a halt by a grunt from Minos, as the screen again centred on him. "Ahem. Mrs. Locksley?" Both women looked up, nodding at him. "Mrs. Regina Locksley?"
"Yes my Lord?"
This was it - the judgment!
"We had earlier been persuaded that, despite your attempts to reform and atone for your sins in the latter years of your life, these were far outweighed by the serious nature of the crimes you committed against your own people, and others, in your earlier years."
Regina's shoulders sank despondently, knowing what was to come. Eternal hell and damnation!
"However…the evidence from Graham Humbert and Marian Locksley two souls you have wronged previously, has given one of us pause to consider. If two people, whose lives you ruined, can speak in your defence, then it is quite possible others may too. For this reason, our judgment is that you serve a sufficient period of time in Purgatory, in the Underworld, where you will be allowed access to those you have wronged. The period of time will depend on whether they will accept your wish to atone, or your apologies accepted, and whether your actions are sincere. You'll be given someone to assist and counsel you in the process."
"My Lord!" Marian shouted up at the screen. "May I be allowed to assist her? I have been through Purgatory myself!"
For the first time since they'd appeared, two of the demigods faces broke out in wry smiles. "So you, Robin Locksley's first wife, wish to help his second wife to atone?" Rhadamanthys shook his head in disbelief. "The one who was ultimately responsible for your own death, to atone in Purgatory, to hopefully reach Paradise?"
"Yes, my Lord…" Marian smiled at a slack-jawed Regina. "That's my wish!"
"Very well then, let it be so recorded! Regina Locksley, you owe this woman a debt, the scale of which you cannot possibly imagine! This session is now closed."
The Underworld
The moment the Celestial Court concluded, Regina felt a swift, all-encompassing power surround them, creating a thick white cloud.
When it slowly evaporated, she and Marian were left standing in what looked like a typical small town high street, albeit with no cars, and very few people around. There was some familiarity about the place. It wasn't quite the Underworld version of Storybrooke, but a lighter shade somehow. Less oppressive. But she didn't recognise the few people wandering around.
"I don't get it! Is this still the Underworld?"
"Not the one you remember. That was destroyed when Hades was cast into oblivion. This one's built around the designs of Camelot. King Arthur, with Robin and Killian Jones's early assistance, helped remove thousands of people lost in the River of Lost Souls. Then Arthur offered to stay, to assist people in moving on. He saw it as part of his own atonement. Zeus agreed, and allowed him to create this small part of Purgatory in the manner he saw fit. Look, there's a pub over there? I could really do with a drink, couldn't you?"
"They let us drink here? I thought you never get hungry or thirsty?"
Marian chuckled. "Technically, we don't, but that doesn't mean to say we don't miss it! Come on, let's have a drink? After what you've just been through, I think you need it!"
~oOo~
Regina could hardly believe it. Here she was, having died, now sitting on a sofa in what appeared to be a comfortable village pub, in Purgatory, sharing a bottle of rather decent red wine, with Robin's long deceased first wife? It was madness! Worse still, she found it difficult not to warm to Marian herself. The woman seemed calm. Unflappable.
"Cheers! Here's to your surviving the Celestial Court?"
Regina couldn't resist a smirk. "I have you to thank for that! If you and Graham hadn't interceded on my behalf, I would have-" She gulped, imagining the consequences. An eternity of pain and torment. No release. Never seeing her family again. Unimaginable suffering, most of which she richly deserved!
"Well it's over. At least, provided you properly atone! Now, we need to ensure you meet with anyone, and everyone, you've wronged, seek their forgiveness, or do something to redress the balance. I'm going to help you find them. Most will already have moved on, but I can help bring them down here to speak to you. Like Graham, he's moved on, but no doubt he'll be here soon. perhaps he should be your first one you talk to?"
Regina studied Marian as she spoke, brown eyes staring into brown. "No. I can think of someone else who comes first. Someone who just stopped me getting sent to Hell! Marian, I still can't quite understand why you even helped me? I caused your death! How can you even bear to look at me?"
The taller woman gave her a sympathetic smile, raising a glass. "I guess you won't quite understand until you reach paradise itself. My hatred for you ended the moment I completed my own time here. The gods allow us to view you all, you know? I saw how I left Robin and Roland. He was lost for a long time and there was no way I could help. Then you came into his life. As I said earlier Regina, Robin's always been an excellent judge of character. I saw how he fell in love with you, and you with him. In your own way, you saved him when I couldn't. And as for Roland, the love you and your family have shown my boy as he grew up, made me realise that I misjudged you."
Regina blushed at the compliment. "He's wonderful. He saved me at one of my lowest times. I can see you in him, you know? He's definitely got your eyes!" she reached a hand over to rest on Marian's. "You know he's married?"
Marian grinned back, interlocking their fingers. "I do. His children are adorable. But my great-grandson Billy reminds me so much of my dad!"
The two women spent the next, what felt like several hours, catching up on all the family gossip, as though they were old best friends reunited! Marian had clearly spent a great deal of time watching over the now widely-dispersed Locksley family, and she was truly amazed at just how much the woman already knew about the world she'd departed over sixty years ago. Yet there was also this raw enthusiasm, this vibrant energy, that she could never imagine from someone who had died. As well as beautiful, she was far more eloquent than she'd imagined her to be, although she remembered Robin telling her that the woman was from an old noble family, so it made sense. The conversation soon changed, from children and grandchildren, to memories of Robin, the man they loved. Regina asked about how they'd met, and the other woman spoke of the young thief who stole the family horse, to sell for food to feed a local village.
As Marian recalled his humble apology for having mistaken them for a wealthy family, she saw the taller woman's look change, as she described the moment she fell in love with him, her voice softening.
"I mean, I know he's gorgeous, but...it was that sheer kindness and gentleness that won me over. Like I was the most important woman in the whole world? Despite me being a complete bitch to him!" she reminisced.
"Bitch? I'm the former Evil Queen, remember? I can do bitch!" Regina smiled back, taking another slug of the surprising good red wine.
"But he saw something past all that, didn't he? In both of us, it seems."
"His gentleness won me over, too. It's pretty rare for a man to actually listen to a woman…"
Marian nodded. "I know what you mean! Then there's those eyes. Searing sky blue…"
"And the dimples?" Regina pictured him in her mind. "That's where Roland gets them from. And his children…"
"And his chest? I remember how I used to spend hours resting my head on it, rubbing my fingers through his chest hairs, when we hid in the forest, under the moonlight."
"And the fact he's hung like a carthorse definitely helped!" Breathed Regina, causing a surprised look on Marian's face, before the pair fell about, laughing loudly.
Several drinkers looked over at the noise. It took a while for them to calm, both wiping happy tears from their eyes.
"You know, you get all that again, Regina? In Paradise."
"What? Sex in Paradise? Is that even allowed?"
"Of course it is! We're not all flying around on clouds with wings attached, you know?"
Regina recalled what she'd said before. "So…you said we're 'divisible'? Robin tried to explain it. So what does that mean…for us? Would you, me…and Emma…'share' him somehow? I'm still not sure I understand."
"'Share' is the wrong word. I meant that each one of us is able to 'split' ourselves into multiple souls. So there would be several of you to go around, spending time with Robin, Daniel, your father, your previous loved ones. Same with Robin. We won't be competing for him, or him for us, as we all have each other to be with, whenever we want. No jealousy. No envy."
"Sounds too perfect," Regina sighed, shaking her head. It was so easy to talk to this woman. Now she studied her, she could see that she was really quite the beauty. "He's still in love with you too, you know? His beloved Marian! You were his first love. A True Love!"
"As you are too! He does seem to have excellent taste in women, doesn't he?"
Regina gave her a sad smile. "Well, as I said earlier, I can see what he saw in you. Tall, beautiful, elegant…"
"Why thank you, Mrs. Locksley! Our man clearly has a type, doesn't he? Stroppy, but sultry, brown-eyed brunette's, with olive skin and a temper? Can't blame him, Regina. We're a catch, right?" she smiled back, cheekily.
"You are! Perhaps I was once, but I'm now a ninety-two-year-old, grey-haired wrinkled prune these days!"
Marian chuckled. "Nonsense. When we get you into paradise, you'll see! Your features change to how you want to be, or for the person you're talking to! So when you meet Daniel, he'll just see a stunning teenager again, with tits as hard as rocks, pearly teeth, and that gorgeous smile he knew? Then, when Emma gets here, she'll see the more mature, alluring sexy lady she fell in love with! Same goes for you. You'll see that amazing blonde hair she once had, the athletic body, those wonderful long legs…"
"Hey, those are my wife's 'wonderful long legs' you're talking about!" She gave a devilish smirk as she sniggered. "I know you've been watching over us, but…I'm starting to wonder just what you've been watching, Mrs. Locksley?"
Marian gave her a look that was definitely flirtatious. "That's for me to know, and you to guess…Mrs. Locksley."
Regina was enjoying this banter, responding in kind. "You know, Emma and I saw Robin's drawings and sketches of you? Those one's we definitely didn't put on display!" She followed it by letting her eyes drag slowly up and down the other woman's body. "They were really very good. Especially that one of you reclining by the lake, naked?" She expected Marian to blush. She didn't.
"Yes. I did tell Robin off for that, when he last visited!"Sshe took a large gulp of wine. "Though I think the ones he drew of you and Emma together were so much better? Mind you, what you two were doing looked rather exhausting, I thought?"
Regina almost choked on her wine, before burying her face in her hands in embarrassment. "Oh my god, I forgot about that!" She cringed, which made Marian laugh harder. "No please, don't!"
"Don't feel bad, Regina. They're a beautiful memory. You and Emma really had great bodies back then, didn't you? Personally, I thought you both looked very sexy. Emma's a very lucky girl!"
"Well I have to admit, it feels a bit weird hearing it from you but, thank you." Regina felt slightly less awkward. What was it about this woman? "So…something I was wondering. As everyone's able to be with everyone they liked, or loved, at any time, do people in Paradise have new relationships? Or is it just continuing with the ones they had before they died?"
"Of course, just like in the land of the living. There's more people to make friends with, for a start. Do you know, I met Pope Gregory recently? A fascinating man. And Queen Berangaria, the wife of Richard the Lionheart? You do know Robin's one of her descendants? The King was homosexual but she definitely wasn't! What a stunningly beautiful woman. So intelligent, too! It's hard to explain from down here but, all you need to do is focus on the people you want to meet with, and if they want to see you, they're there! That's how I met your father, Prince Henry. We're firm friends."
Regina gulped. "With daddy?" She knew he told her he forgave her, when they came to the Underworld the first time, but… "I want to speak to him before anyone else. Is he happy?"
"Very. But he'll be happier when he hears, if he hasn't already, that you're here, instead of being sent down! I met his first love, Queen Sophie, you know? Lovely lady! They spend a lot of time together. I know your Daniel too. He's happy." Marian took her hand again, squeezing it. "I'm going to get you to them, Regina! I'm going to make sure you get out of this place, and to all the people who love you. Hopefully, it won't take too long."
Regina held her hand tightly, before lifting it up to place a small kiss on the back. "I owe you so much. I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you."
Marian returned a warm smile. Then, to Regina's surprise, she pulled their joined hands back to her, raising them towards her own lips, before returning the hand kiss, albeit much more slowly, looking straight at her, with mischievous eyes. "Oh, I'm sure I'll think of something."
Another deafening silence, as brown eyes met their match, neither woman looking away. It wasn't her imagination – she was blatantly flirting!
"Are you're trying to seduce me, Marian Locksley?"
"What if I am, Regina Locksley?"
~oOo~