Summary: It's a topsy-turvy world of darkness, secrets and self-loathing. Welcome to Camelot.

Notes: while Camelot is described as 'a few days ride' from the Enchanted Forest, I'm ruling that, like actual island of Britain, Camelot and their neighboring kingdoms are located on an island. TH White referred to medieval Britain as 'Gramarye' in the Once and Future King series, so that's what it's going to be called in the story

Okay, so there's going to be a fair amount of overlap in the early chapters between what happened in the show and what happens here, but I'm really only focusing on what's different as I'm really not interested in writing a scene by scene remake.

We clear? Cool. Now let's get started.

Warnings for canon-typical violence, and minor character death. (Non graphic, but if you want to skip it, stop reading after 'both sides of the coin' and start reading again after the line break)


She is not any common earth

Water or wood or air,

But Merlin's Isle of Gramarye

Where you and I will fare.

-T.H. White "The Sword in the Stone"


Camelot, 200+ years ago

"What kind of villain leaves a child to die in the snow?" The Sorcerer's Apprentice shook his head in disgust. He was well aware of the depravities that evil could reach, but his heart wouldn't allow him to become calloused to it. Not when there was still good, and innocence in this world that must be protected. Like this little one.

He held out his hand and conjured a bottle of formula-a wondrous invention in another realm, and something the babe could safely eat. Testing the contents of the bottle on his arm, the man was satisfied that it would be fine and sat down in a nearby rocking chair to feed the tiny person in his arms.

"You're looking rather domestic," a familiar voice spoke up. Michael looked up with a smile.

It was his master, Merlin. Well, a projection of him, to be more accurate. Though he was still trapped inside an oak tree, the Sorcerer still had some measure of power, able to astrally project and appear to other people-even across realms. But the latter took a lot of power and concentration, so it was rarely done.

"She was where you said she was," the Apprentice informed, still feeding the baby. "Although a bit more warning would have been helpful. A few minutes longer out in that cold and…" he shook his head.

"You arrived when you were needed." The Sorcerer assured, stepping forward to get a better look at the baby. She looked like most babies did, with chubby cheeks, baby fat, and only the few wispy beginnings of hair on her head. "She will be important, and help the Once and Future King reach his destiny." Merlin said to his apprentice, as wonderfully vague as ever.

"Is that a formal prophecy or…?"

Merlin shrugged. "Of a kind. Some futures are as clear as cut glass, others...others are more like being handed a manuscript with half the words blotted out." He grimaced. "I just know the girl will have her role to play, when the time comes."

Michael nodded, and returned his gaze down to the baby girl in question. "If she's as important as you say...then perhaps we shouldn't entrust her care to that of strangers."

The Sorcerer's eyes went from baby to Apprentice. "A babe is an important responsibility, and one not to be taken lightly, Michael." (He said, as if he wasn't absolutely delighted by the prospect)

"I've got a few centuries under my belt, master. Some would say it's about time." he chuckled to himself, and adjusted the girl to start burping her. Merlin smiled, and agreed with a nod. "I don't suppose you could be so kind as to tell me if the little one has a name already?"

"Maeve. Her mother named her Maeve before...everything." The Sorcerer responded with a heavy sigh. Michael knew that his master could be dodgy at times, rarely one to give a completely straight answer. Right now, he appreciated it, really not wanting to know whatever domestic tragedy the little one had originated from. What mattered was his...daughter's future.

"Maeve, huh?" He looked down at the baby girl. "Then she's well named. Hello, Maeve."

The baby giggled.


Storybrooke, Present Day

They burst through the curtain to the back of Gold's Shop.

"Apprentice, that monstrosity took Emma, where did they go?" Killian demanded, all business. It didn't matter to him what was happening to the old man, the only thing that mattered was Emma, and getting her back.

A finger lightly brushing his cheek, eyes full of what she didn't have time to say besides 'I love you', then her eyes closed to open no more. Dust slipping out between the Crocodile's hands.

"She has gone where all darkness is born...in your realm."

(The Dark One's Vault, Belle recalled, remembering how Rumplestiltskin had emerged from it in black ooze after his resurrection)

"Then take us there."

"He's too weak now, he needs time to heal," Maeve protested. The Apprentice looked at his daughter, and Killian suddenly knew the look in his eyes. The look of someone wasn't long for this world, and knew it. He'd seen enough death to not shy away from the sight, carefully watching the two mages for whatever would happen next.

"It is as Maeve said….But this," a white wand materialized in his hand, "will help. It is a gift from the sorcerer, from Merlin," he chuckled in fond remembrance "on the day I became his apprentice. In it is all the light magic."

"It can take us to our daughter?"

"Not on its own. In order to cross realms, it must be wielded as if was forged. It's both sides of the coin, the darkness, and the light..."

He looked to his own daughter, squeezing her hand. "Maeve...use this. Take them to Camelot, for you can wield both the light...and the dark…" He closed his eyes, and the wand dropped.

"Father?" the witch tried, "Father!" But it was no use. "Father please, please don't leave me alone." She whimpered, sounding pitiful and afraid and everything like the orphan she now was.

"You aren't alone." Belle stepped forward. "I promise, Maeve. I promise," the librarian murmured, wrapping her girlfriend in a hug. Trying to be a beacon of stability and comfort and all those other things that had been completely wasted on the Crocodile.

Killian clenched his jaw and looked away, trying to trample down the rage bubbling up in him. Why couldn't the man go and die somewhere else. Away from magic, from everyone, from Emma...then this never would have happened.

Snow and David gently guided the two women off into another corner, to be able to grieve a bit more in private. Arrangements would have to be made.

"Guess my cue." Regina stepped forward, picking the Apprentice's wand off the ground.

"Regina-"

"The Apprentice said it needs dark magic, so…" she trailed off, vaguely gesturing to herself. After taking a moment to study the wand, the Evil Queen held it up, dignified and serious as she wove it in the air.

And...nothing. Killian She repeated the motion, to no effect, face scrunching up in confusion.

"Enough!" The pirate snarled. "You're gonna embarrass yourself and waste our time!"

The mayor was still studying the wand, and didn't even look up when she said, "Watch it! I know what I'm doing."

"Well, that's not enough! You heard the man, it needs darkness. You've gotten soft."

"You wanna see soft?" She turned towards the pirate. "Why don't I use that hook to show you your intestines?"

Killian leaned in just that bit closer. "Well, you've got the fire, love but, not the blackness. Not anymore." He insisted. "How's this for irony? You've done too much good. Now, you heard the man, we need Mim."

"How the hell is the swamp witch darker than I am?" Regina demanded. "I was literally called the Evil Queen?!"

"He said what he said. Mim!"

"She just lost her father give her a moment!" The princess chided, and as desperate as he was, Killian quieted.

Madam Mim slowly rose to her feet. She wasn't sobbing, or wailing, or really making any other kind of sound. But there was a fire burning behind her eyes. One that was filled with grief and rage and a desire to hurt the world like you'd just been hurt.

It was a feeling Killian Jones was all too familiar with.

She held the Apprentice's wand in one hand, and with her other was holding onto Belle's hand. The librarian herself looked concerned, as if her lady love was going to break down at any moment. "Killian's right. The longer we-" she swallowed, voice tight. "The longer the Savior's alone with the Darkness, the more opportunities it has to grab hold." Belle gave a soft smiled, but Maeve wasn't looking at her, she was looking down at the wand. "For centuries, the Darkness has destroyed and taken whatever it bloody well pleases, but that ends now." She half-growled. "Because we are going to find the Savior, and destroy the fucking Darkness once and for all."

But all she seemed to do with it is stare.

"This wand...it needs an object to help me guide the portal to its destination, something that belonged to Emma, something...meaningful to her."

Mary Margaret immediately knew what to get. "Her baby blanket. It's back at the loft."

"Alright. We haven't any time to waste then." Killian said, ready to rip his way through anything-even the fabric of reality itself-to reach his love.

"Not so fast, Captain Guyliner." Regina spoke up. "We can't rush into this, they have a baby, Robin and I-all of us have responsibilities here in Storybrooke. Running off half-cocked without telling anyone or making arrangements is stupid at best. Not to mention who knows what we'll face once we actually find Emma…"

"Then make your preparations," Maeve informed, voice low and level. "Because tomorrow, we ride for Camelot." With a determined (grieving) lilt to her step, Mim marched out of the pawn shop, Belle at her side.


Belle wrapped herself around her girlfriend that night. The two of them on her bed, shoes off and simply holding each other. Maeve had cried, quiet and subdued for almost an hour until the tears no longer fell.

"You can't blame yourself for what happened," she tries to sooth, running a hand through Maeve's black and purple hair.

"I don't," the shapeshifter answered, her voice hollow. "The Darkness is what killed him. Just as separating it may have killed Rumplestiltskin. Speaking of-" She adjusted herself, turning around so that they were now face to face. "Shouldn't you...not that I'm not appreciating your presence, love, but your ex-husband could be dying while we speak. I shouldn't be so selfish as to expect you to comfort me with no thought to yourself or...him. I would hate for you to regret it."

"I'm exactly where I need to be." Belle informed, her tone sounding as sure as she felt. As dull and muted as her expressions were, the witch's eyes widened in surprise. The brunette came up and cupped her girlfriend's cheek. "Maeve, I came to terms with Rumple being gone from my life after I banished him from the town line. If this is the end...I'm not so callous as to say that I don't care, because I do. Part of me will always care for him. But I can't do anything for Rumple now."

The witch nodded.


Camelot, Present Day

Worst. Trip. Ever. Emma couldn't help but think to herself. Not only was she realms away from her family (not to mention cars, cell phones, and indoor plumbing) but she also had the chronic backseat driver of the Dark One jabbering away in her head.

She had managed to make her way out of the woods and onto a dirt road. She'd been walking for awhile when she finally managed to spot someone down the road. Someone wearing armor, and a rather large, impressive battleaxe at their side but honestly the blonde was just happy that she found someone.

"Hey!" Emma called out, hiking up her skirts and running. "Hey! Excuse me! I need help!" The figure stopped and turned towards her. "I need directions to Camelot. Do you know the way?"

It was then that she actually took on the other person. They were tall, about a good head taller than Emma, and armed and armored all in green. The cloak, the armor, the helm, all the same color…Wait a minute. When she had tried to break into the library, Mim had Gawain and the Green Knight in her pocket.

"Well, my lady, you appear to be more lost than you thought." The figure spoke up, a woman's voice coming from underneath the knight's helm. "As you are now, already in the kingdom of Camelot." The woman's voice matched with the woman's face, revealed by taking off her helm. "I am Vivienne de Hautdesert, at your service." She gave a small bow.

Emma stared for a long moment. The Green Knight was a woman. A really...really pretty woman, with dark eyes and dark green hair, braided up so as to not get in her way. Knowing what she knew about Madam 'massive lesbian' Mim, this development...well it wasn't unprecedented.

"Oh, uh, hi. I'm Emma." She nodded in response. "I'm looking for the Sorcerer, Merlin. I think he's somewhere in Camelot...have you heard of him?"

"Most everyone's heard of Merlin." The other woman informed with a wide, sunny smile. "Why do you ask?"

"I, uh, I need his help." She offered, glancing away from the very tall very green woman in armor. "Do you know where he is?"

Vivienne pursed her lips. "Yes...but it won't help you."

"Why not?"

"Because while I kind of know where Merlin is, he doesn't really talk to people. At all." She informed in a slightly apologetic tone. "I'm really sorry as you've obviously come all this way. But if you're looking for help, you're better off looking elsewhere."

(And Emma didn't pick up on a single lie in there). "If you'd like though, I can escort you to the next village." She offered, readjusting her helm over her arm.

The Savior/Dark One scrambled to find a way to get the Green Knight to help her. "Wait do you—do you know Mim? Madam Mim?"

The lady tilted her head and blinked. "Another name most everyone knows around here. But if you're talking personally, I guess you could say I know her."

"You...guess?" Emma was getting more than a bit frustrated with this happy-go-lucky knight. "What do you mean?"

"Well, on account of we used to be lovers."

Emma blinked. "What."

"You know, years ago. Before I met my lovely, amazing, and beautiful wife, the other Lady de Hautdesert." The knight bragged.

(You heard it here folks, the giant green lesbian used to date the tiny purple lesbian)

"That's uh, good. Good for you." Emma cleared her throat, feeling decidedly awkward. "We're friends, Mim and I, back in my realm."

Vivienne offered another carefree smile. "A word of advice , my lady, and try to keep that fact to yourself. Unless of course you're looking to make enemies, in which case, share away." She idly commented. "Most people in Camelot don't react kindly to that name."

"Just tell me where Merlin is!" Emma demanded and suddenly, the Green Knight put a hand to her throat, making gasping sounds.

Now it was the Green Knight's turn to question what was happening.

"I'm not doing anything." Emma tried to insist, only for Rumplestiltskin to appear over her shoulder and state the contrary.

"Stop it!" she tried to order, but the green haired woman was still choking, having fallen to her knees while she tried to gasp for air.

"T'is not me doing this, dearie. T'is you." She looked up and found it was the case, pulling back her extended hand, trembling with both fear and dark magic.

"Oh…" Vivienne commented from her place on the ground. "That explains it."

Emma looked up, her hands still shaking. "What?"

"Why you want to find Merlin." The knight rose up back on her feet, brushing a bit of the dirt off her armor. "You're the Dark One. Ah, I really should have guessed it." Vivienne wiggled her finger as if Emma had just managed to pull some kind of clever prank (instead of, you know, trying to choke the life from out of her).

Before the new Dark One could say or do anything else-apologize, explain, snap her neck this time-the Green Knight drew her battleaxe. Emma took a step back, but the warrior didn't take a fighting stance or charge or really anything.

"Anyway, best of luck with the whole 'cursed' business." She nodded her head in a brief 'farewell', and then tapped the end of her battle axe on the ground.

"No, wait—" The blonde tried to stop the other woman but it was too late. The Green Knight was gone.

"That's what you get when you just try 'manners', dearie. Most people need a bit more...motivation." Rumplestiltskin commented, once more at her side. "So did you enjoy it? Your first taste of darkness."

Emma just stared forward, not even having it in her to deny it.


The Enchanted Forest, 200+ Years Ago

"Darling, what are you doing up this late?"

"I couldn't sleep." The little boy informed, rubbing at his eyes. Killian Jones was all of six years old, and still scared of the dark.

Ailis Jones was a strikingly beautiful woman just north of thirty, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. Liam took after her a fair amount, while Killian looked more like their father, Brennan. Father was away at the moment, leaving mother and sons at home while he attended to some business or other.

She was at her loom, straining her eyes to complete her work by candlelight. A recent illness had kept her from working on her weaving as much as she ought to, and the deadline was approaching faster than she liked. Still, the woman always had time for her children, gesturing for her youngest to come and sit with her.

"What are you making?" He asked, stifling a yawn.

"It's a story from Camelot," Ailis smiled, " about two dragons that were always fighting each other."

She settled her son more comfortably in her lap, and started to talk to him about the story. How a king wanted to build a mighty fortress, but every day when he tried to build it, everything would be knocked down the next day. The little boy nodded, he liked listening to his mother talk...and he liked it so much that he drifted off to sleep.


Storybrooke, Present Day…

Killian Jones awoke with a sigh, and not the stereotypical sharp intake of breath and sitting up in bed. He rubbed a hand over his face in frustration-at this rate, he'd barely be able to get any kind of sleep. He was in the captain's quarters of the Jolly Roger, hoping against hope that the time on his beloved ship-his home for over two centuries-would give him some small sense of stability.

But how could he do that, knowing Emma, his light, his Swan, his happy ending, was out there? In gods knew what state, alone.

The dream wasn't fading, like most did once he awoke. That was because it wasn't a dream at all, but a memory. His mother had died when he was so young, and he had lived for so long that specific memories of her were few and far between, leaving Killian mostly with vague recollections. Liam was the one who actually remembered her clearly, and had been the one to try and keep her memory alive as they got older.

But then, Mother had just been the first in a long string of losses in Killian Jones' life. First her, then father's abandonment, Liam's death, Milah's murder, Baelfire...if he didn't know any better he'd swear he's cursed to outlive everyone he ever loved.

At least you won't have to worry about that with Emma, he darkly thought, sitting up in bed. (Even if he's lost the woman he loves to the Darkness, it was a temporary situation. Hopefully.) No use in trying to get back to sleep, so he might as well go over what he was bringing to Camelot.

A life at sea didn't call much for possessions, so traveling light was never a problem for Captain Hook. As for their journey to find Emma...he'd leave it to the others to provide provisions. Killian had the best map he had of the lands of Gramarye, the island Camelot was located on. And by 'best' he meant the only map of Gramarye he had. As the only reason he'd ever had to go to there was to stalk the various ships that traveled to and from the island, the pirate captain hadn't needed much information about the geographical features of the land itself. It seems that they were going to be relying on Maeve for such a thing.

Beyond that though, Killian took his cutlass, his flask, a bit of gold, and his...ring...

He called it Liam's lucky ring, but it had originally belonged to their mother. The one thing they had left of her, really. A silver band set with a black stone, onyx or jet. It had hung on a simple silver chain on his neck under his clothes ever since Liam handed it to him in the midst of that terrible storm. A superstitious part of Killian's mind, the one that wouldn't dare whistle on deck in case it 'whistled up a storm' and would never dare harm an albatross suspected it was the reason he had survived for so long, beyond just his time spent in Neverland.

If you would have given it to her, she would be safe. A part of the pirate's mind insisted.

If he had...she would have been safe…

So why hadn't he given her the ring?

He rubbed his eyes again, wishing for sleep but knowing full well that it wasn't going to come. He'd sleep when he knew Emma was safe, instead off gods knew where doing gods knew what with the power of a demon latched to her soul like a leech.


(In Camelot, Emma had just come across the fiery-haired princess of DunBroch, but you already know that part of the story, so it's okay if we fast-forward)


They met up at Granny's the next day. The diner had long been the unofficial gathering hall for Misthaven's royalty. The usual suspects were all there, the Charmings, the Mills, the Hoods...Granny. Even Doc, Leroy, and Astrid. The dwarves had bristled at the thought of being left behind again, and the fairy decided that she was going to go with Leroy.

That wasn't a problem, the problem was the fact that the princess and princess were insisting on bringing their infant son with them.

"You do remember there's not exactly the best pediatrics in the Enchanted Forest, right? Or disposable diapers." Regina reminded, crossing her arms.

"If we bring the children with, it'll be a gesture of peace. That we aren't scouts of an invading force." Mary Margaret argued.

"It's a fair point," Robin had to agree. They were even bringing Henry and Roland along with them, how fair would it be to the Nolans to leave their own son behind for gods knew how long. Even if he was feeling a touch guilty for leaving Marian here with the other Merry Men to guard the town in their absence.

The conversation stopped as the door opened, and in walked Mim and Belle, holding hands. The witch had made her own preparations, based on the brown leather satchel at her side. Spellbooks, or ingredients for potions, most likely, if Killian were to wager a guess.

Belle was also dressed for whatever happened, with trousers, sensible blouse, and walking boots, a satchel with books and—was that a bell jar with a rose? Killian blinked, but decided that they had much more important things to attend to at the moment.

(Yeah, you know, like, rescuing his amazing girlfriend.)

"Alright, listen up." Madam Mim called out, voice clear and strong. "We're all here because we're going after the Savior who is now also the Dark One. That is a dangerous combination of light and dark magic and we have no idea what the bloody hell kind of state that we're going to find her in."

"Emma far too strong to give into the darkness so easily." Mary Margaret defended.

"I'm not saying that she's going to jump straight to kicking puppies and burning down orphanages. But we need to be prepared for a certain amount of risk."

"So our goal is going to be to find this 'Merlin' and then find a way to take the Darkness out of Emma." Killian added, needing to feel at least a bit in command and control of the situation.

"Mim...with your father being the Sorcerer's Apprentice, do you know Merlin? Where he could be?"

The purplette smirked, feeling just mischievous enough to let the Charmings find out the punchline to that particular joke on their own. "Something like that. Anyway...we need a totem of Emma, something that belonged to her…"

Mary Margaret offered up the baby blanket. Mim gently smiled, and took it. "This will guide us straight toward Emma," she assured the mother, trying to give a comforting smile.

Looking around to double check everything was as secure as it could be (she honestly wasn't entirely sure how they were even going to get to Camelot), Maeve took her place at the center of the diner, taking a breath to steady herself.

It was then that Killian realized what she was doing. The coy kind of bravado she was trying to exude was just a mask.. Maeve was playing a part, trying to mask or push down the pain of her father's death. The witch tapped her wand against the baby blanket twice, and the air around them shifted. "Best hold onto something loves, because this is gonna get rough."

There was a coy and dangerously delighted smirk on her face as she raised her father's wand and twirled it around, the same motion Regina had attempted last night.

"Zim zaberim zim."


When the diner was once more on solid ground, Granny was the first to rise and move towards the window, grumbling at the shattered glass all around them.

"Well," the old werewolf glanced through the blinds. "We sure ain't in Maine anymore."

Mary Margaret blinked, she and David had been cradling Neal to make sure the young prince wasn't about to get a case of (magically) Shaken Baby syndrome "Belle, Mim is this-"

"Camelot." The shapeshifter affirmed, and opened up the front door.

The purplette looked around for a moment to get her bearings, then took a long wiff of the air.

"Maeve?" Belle ventured.

"I have her scent." She shrugged off her coat and changed shape, this time a purple dog with floppy ears and a droopy face. Bloodhound. Belle recognized. One of the best tracking dogs out there.

The dog ran out the door, most of the group running after her.

Belle couldn't help but smile to herself, just a bit. Go get her, darling.


Maeve rushes through the woods on four legs, following the scent of Emma Swan. It had been a long, long time since she'd had to track someone down, and was enjoying the chance to stretch her paws.

Making sure she wasn't going too fast, the witch glanced behind. While Robin and Snow were the two she'd thought best suited to run through the woods, it was actually the pirate who was keeping up with her, running in front of everyone else.

Desperate to reach his lady love she supposed.

They found the Lady Swan herself soon enough. Not at the Dark One's vault, as Belle had suspected, but instead at the Standing Stones. The birthplace of will-o-wisps. The Savior was with another woman with firy red hair and a blue dress.

At the sight, of Emma's hand clenched around the other woman's heart, Maeve felt a stutter in her own chest, and took a step back away. The primary feeling going through her mind was shit, shit, shit.

"Swan!" Killian spoke up first. The purplette's eyes flicked over towards the pirate, as did Emma's as the rest of the group caught up with them.

Knowing that she wasn't close to the savior, and therefore wouldn't be much help, Maeve backed away, shifting back into her human form and letting the others take the lead here. Emma and her family argued, the woman insisting that she needed to crush the red head's heart. Maeve was precisely two seconds away from busting out the squid ink when she saw Mary Margaret reach for the Dark One's dagger.

"We're not going to take the chance," the princess insisted, apparently completely fine with overriding her daughter's free will. (Maeve? Not so much.)

"No," Killian spoke up as Maeve gently grabbed the princess' wrist. "You can't do that. It has to be her choice," the Dark One's boyfriend insisted. The purplette couldn't help but agree somewhat-though as much as she was pro free will, she was also very much anti 'people getting their hearts ripped out'. So, you know, a bit of mixed feelings on the situation.

"She has to die." Emma insisted, giving the heart a good squeeze. Maeve flinched, (and that didn't escape Mary Margaret's attention).

"Look at us," the pirate further encouraged. "Heroes and villains together for you, because of you. And if we can overcome our demons...then so can you."

The blonde gave a half-choked sob, and turned around to look at something behind her. Maeve followed but couldn't tell what had the Dark One's notice. But then, she was pushing the red-headed woman's heart back into her chest, and turned into her lover's embrace.

Only after that did Maeve let go of Mary Margaret's wrist. The two black haired women exchanged loaded looks-Mary Margaret was silently questioning, and Maeve really not in the mood to explain. But as her daughter was obviously the priority, the princess let the witch go without saying a word.

So, Madam Mim did what her instincts had been all but screaming at her to do since the moment she saw Emma holding that heart-she fucking ran.


After the others had run off in search of Emma, those that had stayed behind were checking out Granny's Diner. Astrid and Doc watched the kids as Leroy and Granny ensured that they weren't about to die in a gas explosion, or all the ripped out wiring was going to set something on fire. Belle herself was sweeping, and cleaning up all the broken glass on the floor.

The bell to the diner rang, and the Belle sitting in the diner looked up to see her girlfriend enter.

"Maeve, what's happening, did you find Emma?" She sat up, concerned.

The woman herself had a...look in her eyes. Almost like she was scared...but it only lasted a moment

"Don't worry, everything's fine they found Emma. But I-" She cleared her throat. "I have to leave."

Belle frowned. "What are you talking about? We just-"

"I'm not welcome in Camelot," Her girlfriend informed. "You know how I said that something happened between me and Arthur? Well it…" she let out a sigh, "let's just say it goes beyond just him. I can't come with you any further, I'll only make things harder, get in the way."

"Maeve, you've changed since then" She tried to assure, reaching up and cupping the mage's face between her hands, gently brushing back her black and purple hair. "You're not the same person who did...whatever it is you did. If you go back there, if you show that you're here to help…"

The witch offered a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Belle, it's one thing to, well, stop hurting people, but quite another to force your presence on the people you've already hurt. Even I'm not enough of a prick to do that. It's really for the best if I just...step out of the way. For now, at least."

Before the librarian could ask anything further, Maeve's ears pricked up with the sound of movement not far away. Not just the footfalls of the rest of the Storybrooke group but also the sounds of a horse at gallop. Seven of them, at least, and approaching quickly.

Damnit. There was no time to explain. She glanced out the window, and saw Emma and the others walking towards the building. That meant the riders wouldn't be too far behind them.

Gently breaking away from her girlfriend's embrace, Maeve grabbed her satchel. "In her is ingredients and components for almost any potion you'll need while here, along with my grimoire so you know how to put it all together. I promise I'll keep an eye on things, try to keep in touch but-"

Granny and Leroy passed the couple and exited the building to greet the returning heroes.

"-you'll find me when you need me." The two women shared a goodbye kiss, and then Madam Mim dove out the back window.

(Later, Belle would realize her girlfriend had left her jacket hanging off the back of a chair, and realized what she meant)


"Who are you, and what do you want?"

The leader on the white horse spoke first. "I'm King Arthur of Camelot, we've come to find you."

Neither the party of knights, nor the newly arrived travelers noticed a little purple songbird sitting among the trees, observing this exchange of cautious greetings from a distance. Watching carefully as one party followed the other to the gates of Camelot.

It continued to go unnoticed, even as Madam Mim transformed herself from songbird to falcon, and flew away.

She flew to the west, further and further. From Camelot, the shapeshifter soared over the lands of Prydain, over forests, rivers and lakes until she reached a mountain range. The tallest among it was called Mount Dragon, named so because the crest of the mountain was shaped like a dragon with outspread wings. Those of Prydain knew it all too well—the sharp peaks were treacherous and deadly, killing even experienced mountaineers with its many secret pathways and pitfalls.

Of course, those with the advantage of flying could skip it altogether, and enjoy the view. It was beautiful, in its own sort of way.

Nestled among the such natural dangers was a stronghold. It was cut from black rock, and looking as threatening and imposing as the natural dangers that surrounded it. The setting sun cast the sky in a crimson red, making the castle seem even more ominous on approach.

The purple falcon went past the outer wall with a single flap of her wings, utterly unconcerned. The empty looked as abandoned and empty as she knew it to be, for Snow White's Dark Curse had taken not only Madam Mim, but also all other inhabitants of this kingdom. Anyone who would know the way to this castle was tucked away in Storybrooke.

Well, most who knew the way, at least.

Among the half-overgrown garden was a lone figure, sitting alone on a small bench in a quiet courtyard. Upon spotting them, Madam Mim started her descent, seeming to almost glide down on the air.

The figure noticed the falcon's approach at once, sitting up and tilting their head to the side as the bird landed. In a puff of pink-purple smoke, the witch was once more human, and smiling.

"Archimedes." The shape-shifter greeted. "It's been awhile."

"Madam Mim," The owl nodded. "Welcome back to Annuvin."


Camelot Headcount: Emma, Killian, Snow White, David, baby Neal, Henry, Regina, Robin Hood, Roland, Belle, Maeve, Granny, Doc, Grumpy, and Nova.

Maeve means 'bringer of joy' in Irish Gaelic so that's what the Apprentice means when he said Maeve is 'well-named'. It's also the name of a warrior queen in Irish mythology and I thought it was an appropriate name for Madam Mim.

The lands of Prydain are the setting of the movie The Black Cauldron, as well as the book series the Chronicles of Prydain on which the movie was based. I will be incorporating elements of the movie and the books/movie into this story, but you don't need to be familiar with them to understand the story. The reason I did this will become clearer as the story moves on.

Anyway, as usual if you have any thoughts /questions/just want to scream your feelings at me just comment below and let me know!

Next time: Club Medieval, and we get to formally meet his royal shadiness, King Arthur!