No Regrets, Chapter 3
Operation Arrowspath. Part 2
First order of business, Regina thought, changing into something that didn't scream stranger from another realm. Nor would dressing like the Evil Queen be a good idea. If she had been alone, maybe. But she had others very dependent on her, blending in would be best.
"Yes."
"Robin!" Regina blurted out.
"It appears, my love, our link is even stronger in the Enchanted Forest." Robin chuckled inside her head.
"It's an entire magical realm. Storybrooke is just a magical town in a land without magic. There's much more magic to pull from here." While she couldn't see him, like she could asleep, they could speak this way, even though she was awake. She felt her mood brighten.
"Rather looking forward to what we can do when you are asleep, then."
Regina swore she could feel the smirk in his words and smiled coyly. "Well, I could speak to you out loud and masquerade as a mad woman" She laughed.
"Too vulnerable."
"I can protect myself."
"I know, but it's inviting trouble even more than dressing as the Evil Queen."
"True." She sighed. "Best not dress as a peasant woman for a similar reason. Not any kind of aristocracy or wealthy merchant either, too tempting for thieves looking to steal from the rich to give to the poor." She teased.
Robin laughed.
The baby began to fuss so she put thoughts of disguise away for the moment. One stinky diaper magically disposed of later, she had a solution.
She quickly transformed both the baby's and her dress. She wore a well made, but only minimally decorated teal dress that had a front eyelet laced bodice over a tan linen chemise. A dark brown cap completed her dress. Her hair hung in a loose braid down her back. The baby wore a simple pink linen shift dress with soft lace on the sleeves and collar and a pink coif on her head. The sling carrier was now made of a dark green linen. The backpack she left alone. The canvas material didn't stand out that much.
"You look like a Lady Squire."
"Yes. Low enough that I'm clearly not a target for thieves or ransomers, but high enough to not be a target for those that would attack someone of no status. It also explains why I'm traveling by foot rather than horse or carriage. Those have to be saved for important trips to town or if I'm lucky, to a higher noble's ball or gathering."
"You feel safer in pants though."
"I considered one of my leather riding outfits, but with no horse and with an infant I'd just unnecessarily stand out. Plus it would make anyone seeing me maybe remember the Queen dressed that way at times. This, few would recognize me as the Evil Queen. Plus when we find Roland I'll look more like the Regina, Robin's soul mate, that your men have come to accept me as. They'll be more likely to know I haven't reverted to the Evil Queen in my grief." She sighed. "Well lets do that spell and find your son…"
"They know you aren't the Evil Queen anymore. Little John didn't leave with Roland because he was scared you'd revert."
"I know. I'm mad at him, but he was just doing what he thought would keep Roland safe . I won't yell at him, I promise."
"I know you won't, I trust you completely. That's why I want him with you in Storybrooke. I want our family to all be together. Even if I can only be with you like this."
"I'm going try to argue with whoever I have to, to bring you back. You did nothing to deserve this fate. My debts, my curse should have never come down on you. "
"We're soul mates, Regina."
"Doesn't matter. That was my burden, not yours."
"I wouldn't have done anything different, Regina."
"I know. Which is why I can't help but feel anger that the pirate got to come back for sending a few measly pages from the hell storybook, that didn't help anyway."
"I know. Don't be angry at him though, we know now that it's the curse on your family. Someone powerful was threatened by something about your family long ago. We break that curse and then see what happens."
"Yes."
The spell that would locate Roland was simple, potion ingredients she'd carried with her from Storybrooke in small vials. Regina conjured a small pot and mixed the ingredients along with a drop of the baby's tears. Then stroked the mixture onto the baby's forehead and her own mind pictured Roland. She felt Robin add to this his own image of Roland. Immediately Regina saw the path. She quickly poofed them to just a mile from the Merry Men's camp and began walking.
Within a half mile she felt eyes on her, but kept walking toward the camp. Three hundred feet from the camp, Little John stepped out from the woods, directly in her path. He had no weapons drawn, but he wasn't smiling.
"You've come to take Roland away."
"If he wants to come with me."
Little John sighed. "He does. He still says every night he wants to go back home to you, your son, and his little sister. He says his daddy is in Storybrooke, not here."
Regina felt tears start to well up in her eyes. "I tried to come back earlier for Roland. I couldn't open the portal."
"He'll be happy you tried. He's been saying the past month you were coming for him. His daddy told him so in his dreams."
"I did Regina. I believed in you and knew as soon as I could tell you, you'd go."
"He remembered Robin, even if he thought it was a dream, he believed you." She mentally replied to Robin, then aloud she said "I missed him too, very much."
Then in a decidedly non sneaky movement, Roland crashed through the underbrush and ran to Regina. "Regina, you're here!" Roland threw himself against her. Regina quickly readjusted the baby sling with the startled crying baby, then put her free arm around Roland's back. Was he a bit taller, or was she still seeing him as that tiny boy she saved from the flying monkey, what seemed like ages ago.
Roland's head was nearly level with the baby's in the sling. Baby Robyn's cries had lessened to whimpers. Regina leaned down and Roland peeked in the sling and kissed his little sister on the forehead. The baby's whimpers stilled and after a brief stare she babbled at her older brother with that near smile on her face. "I think she recognizes you, Roland."
"Of course she does." I'm her big brother", he grinned, half grown in front teeth and dimples. Regina felt her heart melt for this adorable little boy all over again.
Regina looked back up at Little John. "We'll be staying here for a few days, at least. There's something Robin's friends should know and something I must do while I'm here."
Little John looked relieved that the goodbyes wouldn't have to be said just yet. Regina's other words concerned him. But whatever it was it could be said in camp to everyone.
"There's space in Roland's tent. We have a spare bed. One of us usually spends the night there."
Regina nodded, it was an acknowledgement that space was hers now. She would tell them of Robin's heart and of her quest to end the curse. But would leave out that she and Robin were magically communicating. She'd trust Robin's men with the baby, she knew they'd protect her with their lives, just as they would Roland. Robin's soul heart though would go with her on this quest. In her own soul she knew she would need him there close.
"And you promised as well."
"And I won't break it."
Robin's men were as relieved as she that his soul wasn't gone. That even if his soul heart were destroyed, his soul would merely go, as all did, to the Underworld. On her quest, though, they had a few reservations.
"Are you sure, child, that you should trust in anything the Dark One told you?" Friar Tuck said worriedly.
"Yeah, could have been a lie to keep you out of Storybrooke while he takes it over." Little John nodded.
"Wouldn't trust that snake about anything." Will Scarlet said with a touch of anger. Out of the Merry Men, besides Robin, Will had been hurt the most directly by Gold. She knew about the rebound relationship with Belle. Robin had told her a bit about a heart break with his true love, Anastasia, the Red Queen of Wonderland. Regina wondered if the true love was actually at an end, or perhaps could Will rescue his love again. If she had been given another second chance with Robin, no matter if it was only what they had now, perhaps all was not lost for Will either.
"I don't trust him. But I felt it here", she touched her heart, "It's true. And he knew almost nothing, from what he told me."
"Bet he still knows something he didn't tell you, then." Will responded with a growl.
"Probably. But I must break this curse. I won't have it come down on Robyn's head because I did nothing."
"We'll keep her safe then, while you are on your quest." Friar Tuck patted her on the shoulder and stood "But for now, it's time for my rest, I think yours as well."
Regina nodded and took a sleepy Roland's hand. The boy didn't protest his bedtime and willingly followed Regina to the tent.
Regina settled the baby in a basket she conjured up and then Roland into his cot.
"Mama Gina", he sleepily slurred, "tell me a story."
"Do you want one from the book about your daddy?"
"Yeah."
Regina pulled the book out of the backpack and sat on the ground next to Roland's cot. The small oil lamp gave just enough light to read by. She knew the perfect story. It was short and funny. How Robin Hood and Little John met, well according to the story from the Land Without Magic, anyway.
Roland laughed and drifted off to sleep, a smile on his face. He really had talked to his daddy in his dreams. Roland just knew he'd see his daddy in his dreams again tonight, especially now that Regina was here too.
