He didn't really care what the Seer thought of him going. He wanted to go. He wanted to be at that "execution" in person. Perhaps it was because it made him nervous. The purpose of the gathering was, after all, to kill Regina. Even though he had trust in the Seer, he had seen a number of scenarios that had come down to the wire, and if this did, he wanted to be there to stop it or rescue her. He didn't think that he'd have to rescue her, of course, not with how calm the Seer was in his mind. But he was prepared to do such a thing if it was required of him. He hadn't come all this way and waited all these years only for Regina to be killed at an execution. The Seer's prophecy was well on its way to being complete, and he'd stop at nothing to make sure it was finished.

He kept to the shadows as everyone gathered that morning, he made sure to wear a large cloak with the hood up to keep his face hidden. He wanted to be there in person, but that didn't mean he wanted to be recognized. Looking around at the crowd, he knew there were plenty that certainly would recognize him and probably fear the worst if he was spotted, not the least of which was the King and Queen, Granny and Red, the dwarves, even Jiminy. All were there, all would know him, all would have distrust toward him. Well…them and one other.

Last, but perhaps most notable, to show up for the execution was Henry. Cora's Prince didn't look well, and for once in his life, he could sympathize with the man. While the Seer's voice whispered in his ear that Regina was in no immediate danger, Henry didn't know that. As far as he knew, his child was about to be ushered to her death. He was shaking. Though he stood tall and noble as ever, he could see his body vibrate the more he fought off his tremors. Looking pale and frightened…it was expected and excusable in this situation.

Suddenly the world around him cut out. In a single flash, another sight claimed his attention.

Regina and Henry, together, both with tears in their eyes, talking through the steel bars of a cell. "The one I love most…" Regina whispered.

" It doesn't have to be the end…. Show them regret for what you've done, the pain you've caused. Show them you can change. They will spare you. Just give them a reason. I beg of you."

Just as he'd suspected. A desperate father. As the rest of the world came back into his field of vision, he reviewed what he'd seen. Short and brief as the vision had been, it told him enough. It was a vision of the past, a vision of this morning, probably just before Henry had come here. What they thought were their final moments together. Henry begged of her to ask for mercy so they might spare her. The bleeding heart that Snow was, it probably would work, but that wasn't the part that made him smile now. It was the first part, the bit that Regina had said, "the one I love most," her father, no doubt. He hadn't made the same mistake with her that he'd made with Zelena. That would pay off for him in the future. But not today.

The crowd, which had simply been mingling for some time, suddenly dew closer together as the air became filled with a strange quiet. It was the quiet of hushed talking, the kind that seemed silent but hummed with excited and worried voices. Over his shoulder, he heard the sound of marching, the gathering crowd suddenly parted, and Regina was escorted through them. She was wearing tattered gray clothes, rags that any prisoner might be given, her hair was tied simply at the nape of her neck, and her face was free of make-up. She looked as she had in the vision. It was simple, but it made her look a decade younger, nearly like she did when he'd first met her except for the fact that her hands were bound behind her back.

He glanced at Snow as she was ushered past the couple and observed that the Queen kept her face emotionless and cold as stone. That was a mistake on her part. The girl was never emotionless. The fact that she was pretending so hard not to care about all of this when he knew she did care was telling. The fact that David reached out and squeezed her hand and she still didn't respond was too.

When Regina reached the center of the courtyard, she was chained to a pole. As a line of guards armed with bows and an arrow each stood in front of her and prepared for execution, the Cricket jumped up into the air, flew over, and hovered in front of her. His voice was low, but he turned his head and used his magic to listen.

"Regina, this is your opportunity to meet your end with a clear conscience. Do you have any last words?"

"Yes. Yes, I do." As the bug flew back to his spot by the King and Queen, he lifted his head. Her tone was interesting, perhaps even frightening in a way. It was small and delicate, tearful almost. Regina was looking at her father, her face was calm and relaxed, but her eyes were still dark, suggesting something heavy lay beyond her face, something she wasn't sharing. Oh…the Queen was a weak one. She would be easily convinced to spare her life…perhaps that was how this would end. Or wouldn't end.

"I know I'm being judged for my past, a past where I've caused pain, a past where I've inflicted misery, a past where I've…even brought death. When I look back at everything I've done, I want you all to know what I feel. And that is…regret."

The Queen's face was softening. It was working. He was just about to believe that she might have bought her freedom when the darkness he saw in her eyes suddenly spread with fury into her face. Her nose wrinkled, the vein in her forehead popped, her skin grew red as she took her eyes off of her father and looked at her step-daughter.

"Regret that I was not able to cause more pain, inflict more misery, and bring about more death. And above all else, with every ounce of my being, I regret that I was not able to kill…Snow White!"

Stupid girl. He knew that she could have escaped this with her life if she hadn't done that, and yet he still found himself smiling. That was the kind of anger he needed for his Curse to work, the right kind of desire even, but between Regina and his curse, there was still a number of hurdles to jump. He had to get her to see beyond the pain of death, beyond just simple destruction, he had to get her free so her magic could come back, he had to protect her from David, who had risen out of his seat and cried "arrows!"

As the knights took arrows from their quivers and fit them into their bows, another guard stepped forward and tied a blindfold over Regina, something that wouldn't have stopped Zelena but would cripple Regina even if she did have magic…which he could feel she very obviously did not have.

"Take your aim."

Fuck. He was going to have to do something. Soon. Yet the feeling that all was well never truly passed. How long could he deny instinct? If those arrows flew-

"Fire!"

"Stop!"

It only took a second. No sooner had David given his command did Snow stand and give hers. Arrows were quick, they didn't need much longer than that, but fairy magic was quicker. The Blue Fairy stopped the arrows before they could pierce Regina's heart. They clattered to the ground at Regina's feet harmless as David reached for the Queen.

"Snow!"

"This is not the way," she insisted, pulling free from his grasp. She walked down the stairs. The crowd parted for her as she left the courtyard, leaving Regina and a very stunned crowd behind her.

David started to follow, he probably would have too, but soon enough leading overruled his instinct, and he looked at the guards and the people who were all looking to him for another order.

"Take her back to her cell."

Regina was led away, smiling a nasty grin, but David had already taken off after his wife.

Again, nothing new here, except for Rumple's internal thoughts and struggles as he watches it all play out.

Thank you, Jennifer Baratta and Grace5231973, for your review of the last chapter! Rumple has a starring role in the next chapter as he steps forward to make all well between Regina and Snow. And by "all well," I mean he sends them into perpetual discord so that he can have his Curse cast. You know, the usual. Peace and Happy Reading!