Oh look, a long one...it ran away with me a little. On the other hand, a lot happens: introducing Roland, revealing the owner of the red eyes, Oz references, a little shout-out to actual scenes from the show, Regina & Robin cooperation, and the stirrings of something we'll see more of in the next chapter. Reviews are love - many thanks for them all. Happy reading!

"Roland?" Robin's voice echoed off the walls.

The darkness was impenetrable, and her magic fireballs ineffectual against it. It was an enchantment she'd heard about, but had never tried herself. Well, now was as good a time as any to attempt the counter-curse.

"Roland!" Desperation was creeping into Robin's voice.

"He can't hear you," Regina said quietly.

"Why not? I can hear you."

"It's part of the magic. A barrier, so to speak," she explained. "It divides outsiders from the hidden object."

"Can you undo it?" His temper was running short, but could anyone blame him?

"Of course."

All wasn't as bright as she was making it sound, though. It was an advanced piece of magic, and even though she was fairly positive she'd manage, it would leave a mark on her, which did not bode well for the upcoming battle. Robin didn't need to know that, however, there was nothing he could do anyway. Hopefully he'd have strength enough to get Roland by himself if some unexpected backlash were to render her incapable of helping.

"Follow the wall," she said. "Keep away form the bars. When you find the door, stop and wait." If they started from opposite entrances, there was no way anyone or anything could slip away in the skirmish, taking Roland along. "When the darkness dissolves, just grab Roland and go. I'll take care of the rest."

For a moment Robin was silent, then his footsteps on the stone revealed he had begun to move away from her. No resistance. He didn't even object to her suggestion, apparently perfectly alright with leaving her behind now that his son was near. The pang of hurt was gone as soon as it had come. It was for the best. Roland needed him. No one would miss her.

Even with closed eyes, she felt the enchantment lifting at the cost of enormous willpower. The silence persisted, however, and for a while she just listened in with closed eyes. Surely by now she had neutralised the magic - what was wrong? She opened her eyes.

The cell on her left was empty. She started along the corridor, her steps and bated breath still being the only sound in the cold dungeons. Could she have done it wrong? Was this two separate enchantments instead of just one?

A crow croaked somewhere.

Regina threw some light into the right-hand cell, but it was empty as well as the ones before. No guards. How peculiar - and suspicious. Was Robin facing the same, or was he meeting any kind of resistance?

There was a yard coming up soon. If the Witch had planned a force to attack, this would be the place. Regina readied herself, then strode on without pause.

There were no guards, no soldiers, no Cyclopes, and no Witch. In the middle of the yard, a large, square cage hung from the ceiling on a chain as thick as her arm, and in it, a dozen children of all ages. A dozen pairs of eyes stared back at her, a dozen pairs of hands were gripping the bars, but not one pair of lips moved. Perhaps they were frightened - anyone would be.

"It's alright, I'm not here to hurt you. We're taking you home, alright?"

There was no answer. The eyes continued to stare.

Regina moved toward them. Hands retracted with unbelievable speed, and the children all huddled together in the middle of the cage, as far away from the bars as possible. You damned bitch, what have you done to them? Coming closer, Regina craned her neck to examine the chain, when a pair of wide brown eyes caught hers. They belonged to a little boy with messy hair - the only one who hadn't joined his comrades. It was too dark and too high up to make out much, but he did look about four or five years of age.

"Roland?" she chanced.

The boy nodded, ever keeping his eyes fixed on her.

"I'm Regina," she said.

His lips moved, but no sound came out.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that," she said, trying to sound as normal as possible, and smiled up at him.

"…Papa?" the child breathed almost noiselessly.

"He's here, Roland. He'll be here in a minute."

Where was Robin, what was taking him too long? As if to answer, a distant ring of blade on blade reached them from an adjoining corridor. Robin was having a harder time getting there than she had, but he could hold his own in a fight. Unless there were too many…or magic was involved. But she couldn't rush to his aid now, not with the children so close, so frightened, and so helpless. She had to get them out, and the sooner the better. Then they'd get Robin, and they'd all get the hell out of here.

"Roland," she addressed the child, whose eyes lingered on the dark mouth of the corridor in the direction of the distant fighting. Not only did she have special interest in the boy, since he was the one they had come for above all, but he was also the bravest of the lot - he was clearly taking after his father - and could hopefully get the others to trust her by example. The child's tiny hands curled around the bars more tightly, but he fixed her with those big brown eyes full of curiosity rather than fear.

"I'll make a way down from there for you, alright?"

He nodded, and made to stand up. After a moment's searching in the unstable cage, his little feet found a bar, and he stood looking down at her expectantly.

It had been clear from the start she couldn't bring the cage down without scaring the children even more, if not harming them physically, too. There had to be another way. A small smile played on her lips. She had just the thing.

Regina waved her hand, and a giant slide materialised out of thin air, leading from one of the cage's walls right down to her feet. Another flick of her wrist later, the wall of the cage disappeared.

Roland stared at the slide, trembling slightly - was it fear or excitement? Could magic have scared him? Or did he enjoy slides? This world didn't have playgrounds of the other world's kind, but sometimes you could find a natural one - she herself used to love them as a child.

"How about this: you slide, and I'll catch you," she said to Roland as cheerfully as if they were simply spending the afternoon at a park's playground.

It seemed to work. Roland edged to the slide, sat down, and let his legs hang, pointing towards her. Regina reached towards him in a gesture of encouragement. Roland's fist released the bar he was holding on to. Then his eyes acquired an alarmed look, and he scrambled up again, clenching the bar with both hands.

"It's alright," she said with a note of desperation. He didn't trust her. Why would he? She was a stranger, just another black-clad witch to keep away from in these children's eyes. Robin had been a fool to believe Roland would see a friend in her.

"Buzzing," he cried down to her. He eyed the slide with mistrust. "It's buzzing."

"What do you mean, sweetheart?" Surely he wasn't implying the slide was buzzing. Unless... What was it the book said? About wolves? And...crows, there were crows under command of the Wicked Witch of the West. And one other species. "Roland? Did you say buzzing? Like...bees?"

Roland nodded, but Regina's eyes had darted elsewhere in the meantime. A black swarming cloud descended over the cage, and Regina saw feet being drawn in as the bundle of scared children drew closer together. But the swarm didn't attack the children. Instead, it floated towards Roland, who watched, transfixed, unable to move. Before Regina had time to think it through, the angry cloud dashed right at the trembling child. Instinct led her, and a memory lodged deeply in her subconscious: a memory of a Scarecrow and his scattered straw. Just as her mind had settled on the image, her magic came to life, and a straw cushion engulfed the small figure of Roland.

A clink of metal on stone made her head turn, and her arm shot upwards, ready to strike. Robin stumbled into the yard, a gashed helmet rolling on the stone floor. Enchanted armour had proven insufficient to stop him. His eyes searched the room feverishly, lingering on the cage - and next moment the cloud of vermin, thrown off by the protective cocoon around Roland, was targeting a new victim. Regina sent a fireball at the cloud but missed, only hitting a few outer ones.

That gave Robin time to recover, though, just as the oversized bees directed their stings at him. Motionless until the very last moment, he then raised both hand above his head, and Regina's second fireball broke just above the shield he was holding up, too weak against its magical enhancement. Not just the fireball, however - the bee swarm, ignorant of the danger and unable to change direction so quickly anyway, hit the shield with the sound of a hailstorm, pelleting the ground with broken stings and black-and-yellow bodies.

"Papa," Roland cried, and Regina's head turned upwards.

Without magical support, the conjured straw had soon dispersed, and Roland was looking down with a mix of terror and longing. Robin was still busy withstanding the onslaught of bees, but the animals were stupid enough to come dashing against the shield, and there weren't many of them left after the suicidal attack.

"Roland," Regina called back. She needed to sound calm and confident, she needed to show him he was safe. "I'll catch you," she assured the child.

With a determined look on his face, Roland sat down on the edge of the slide and pushed himself away with his hands. He rushed towards her, gaining speed, letting out a small squeal. Regina reached for him and snatched him up just in time, scooping him into her arms.

"Well done," she gave him a bright smile. The little boy clung to her, his thin arms wrapped around her neck. Regina rubbed his back gently. The poor child was still trembling, but he wasn't crying. His chin rested on her shoulder, and he felt warm and soft in her arms. Holding him was…nice.

Then Robin appeared at her side, and Roland reached out for him with a cry of joy. Regina let go of the boy as Robin grabbed his son and pressed the child to him. A soft groan escaped Robin, and Regina's heart hurt. She missed Roland's weight in her arms all of a sudden. She missed Henry. She missed hope that they could one day be reunited, that they could share a moment of utter relief and joy like the one she was witnessing. They'd already had that on the way from Neverland, of course, and again just before the New Curse hit. They'd thought they could be happy - she had most certainly believed it for a moment. Wrong again.

What was that? That soft rustling sound?

"Robin," she warned in a low voice. He didn't seem to hear.

Regina listened in, but the only sound now was the whisper of father and son next to her. She had heard it before, though - it had definitely been more than just her imagination.

"Go," she muttered, laying a hand on Robin's arm to catch his attention.

He looked at her with teary eyes, then scanned the surroundings. Their current situation seemed to register at last.

"What?" he asked softly.

Go, she mouthed - and the fool shook his head. Didn't he understand this was dangerous? He had his son, what did he care? It wasn't as if he were leaving those children to their fate - she'd stay and fight whatever the hell it was coming upon them this time.

"Roland," she heard him mumble into the child's ear. "We'll leave soon, but we need to get the others first, alright?" The child looked at him but didn't say anything. "We always look after our buddies, remember?" Roland nodded. He seemed about to say something, but he just glanced at the cage, frowned a little, and looked away, his fist curling into Robin's tunic. "Roland, I want you to hide." Robin looked around. "Over there, alright?" He pointed at a heap of broken, overturned furniture in a faraway corner. It was probably the safest choice, if there even was one. Still, Regina had an urge to grab Roland and get him out of here herself. The sound of her name gave her a momentary jolt of surprise. "And only come out for me or Regina, understand?" The child looked at Regina and nodded again.

Once Robin placed him where he'd chosen for a hideaway and turned his back on it, Regina discreetly placed a protection charm on Roland's temporary hideout.

It was just in time, for before Robin rejoined her, there was that faint rustling sound again - only not so faint anymore.

Robin paused, looking around, then fixing her eyes on her with a question clear in them.

"I think it's crows," she said.

"Crows. Splendid. Will they be larger than life, just like the bees?"

"Maybe." She really had no way of knowing what enchantment the Witch had chosen for these creatures, but a little straw and an enchanted shield would not be enough this time. In the story, they'd peck out one's eyes…

The rustle was growing, with more and more birds adding to the sound, but still no sight of one. Robin drew his bow, but even his skills were useless when the target was invisible.

"Can't you make it - lighter?" he growled in frustration.

She'd do just that.

"Ready?" she muttered back, rolling up her sleeves. The crows would prove to be tougher than the bees, though how she knew it remained a mystery for now. Well, maybe for one, they were playing the waiting game, which was to undermine the foe's morale. Hopefully it wasn't working too well, although truth be told she wasn't the most patient person in the world, and Robin seemed to be on his toes for once, too.

Regina summoned a purplish ball of light, then sent it across the air. As it made its way around the yard, following the walls, torches sprang to life with bright purple flames, and illuminated the space up to the very ceiling.

The ceiling remained black, but it wasn't for lack of light. Rows and rows of large dark-feathered birds sat perched on ledges, their beady eyes staring down at the pair of them. They didn't show signs of distress at the onset of light - quite the contrary. An eerie cackle rose form their ranks, and a few waved their wings or ruffled heir feather.

A party of fifteen separated from the mass and began their descent in decreasing circles. An arrow flew up, and another two followed in rapid succession. Three birds fell just as Regina's spell found another one, and another one. Arrows and bolts of magic were soon flying through the air, their paths criss-crossing, their victims landing at their feet with a soft thud. Every time a party was vanquished, another one swooped down, and the rest of the mob cackled and cawed with increased gusto. There were so many of them - too many to take down one by one if they attacked together. Maybe these groups of fifteen…but how long until the beasts understood that? Perhaps she was giving them far too much credit.

Much to her dismay, she was proven right shortly. Half a dozen mobs later, the attacks came to a lull. Robin nocked another arrow - good, he wasn't fool enough to rejoice this was over when the danger was only changing its form. Next moment, the rustle and croaking reached a deafening velocity, and a black cloud descended on them. Robin, who had been standing back to back with her just a second ago, was suddenly out of sight, obstructed by wings and beaks and sharp claws. Regina tried desperately to keep the birds at bay with fire, but even if the birds nearest to her got scared, it mattered little, for they had nowhere to escape with their comrades pushing them down on the pair of them. Somewhere near her, Robin cursed. Whatever he was doing, he was still fighting, although with how much success was questionable.

Regina's mind worked feverishly as she struggled to keep up the fiery shield she'd produced. What were these crows in the story? Talking birds. Clever birds. Fallen at the hands of a single Scarecrow. But there were only forty of them then. He twisted their necks one by one.

Twisted their necks. Regina cackled - the sound merging strangely with the cackle of the birds. Well, a few of them at least wouldn't be cackling long anymore. It was just a simple movement of the wrist - she'd done it before - and a bird fell with a thud, its neck broken. Unlike the Scarecrow, she didn't need to catch them first - if she aimed carefully, she could get them right in the air - and get them she did. The heap of dead birds grew by the second, and she even caught a glimpse of Robing once, brandishing a sword in one hand and a dagger in the other, cutting the head off a bird in flight just as she was looking. Good.

But the birds were way too clever. They rose into the air and began dive-bombing them with the severed heads of their own dead. Regina covered her head foolishly as the first feathery head with gaping eyes and sharp beak landed at her feet.

Then she was swept aside and pushed against a wall. She fought briefly, but her fists had never been her most potent weapon, so she didn't really do much harm in the short flurry - which was all for the best, because the green of the tunic was familiar, of course, and the moment she noticed she stopped raining with fruitless punches down on Robin. Shielded by his body form the birds' attacks, she forced herself to think. The birds would soon come up with a new strategy once they noticed their targets were rendering the attack fruitless.

Maybe if she could just earn them some time to get the other children and run…maybe she could do just that.

Slipping from Robin's hold, she targeted the chain holding the cage, and sent a shock of energy its way. The slide disappeared, and as the shock of magic broke through the chain, the cage tumbled down, rushing towards the ground. The crows sensed the danger and attempted to flee from harm's way, but for some of them it was too late - they were crushed by the rushing bars. The rest, however, rose to the ceiling, regrouping for attack.

Regina summoned two forces of energy - but then her knees buckled and her arms trembled. In a split second, dozens of thoughts raced through her mind. No…not now. They were so close, she couldn't fail now. Just a little longer, please. I need to get those children to safety. She made another attempt, this time focusing on only one charm at a time. The cage would hit the ground in a second, and the children wouldn't survive the impact of she didn't do something. They should have just gotten Roland… Now it was too late.

Henry could be one of those children.

A surge of magic ran through her body, and she released all its power in one blast. The cage landed with a crash and the walls had fallen in a jumble - but the bottom was intact, and so were the children. With a mighty effort, Regina sent another blast upwards, praying it would work but not daring to look. Angry cawing met the cast spell, and an arrow whizzed past her ear. Regina raised her head to see a stray crow fall to the ground with an arrow through its neck, and above it, its brethren imprisoned under the ceiling by means of the strong magical web she had conjured.

Regina exhaled. They did it.

Breathing heavily, she made to collect herself. Robin had approached the children, helping the braver ones up and towards the door. Then they'd get Roland from the magically protected hideout just a few steps from her, and-

Something tugged at her dress, and Regina whipped around, her nerves on edge.

"Roland!" she gasped. The little boy had already left the protection of the hideout - but when? It didn't matter - he looked perfectly fine. He must have only just run out and to her. She crouched down to him, a question ready on her lips, but the child was faster. He leaned to her with an urgent expression - almost a frightened one.

"Not him," Roland whispered in her ear. "Not the big one."

Regina looked towards the group of children. They were all standing by the cage, ready to go, except for one last boy Robin was just about to approach. The boy was about Henry's age. Of course they couldn't leave him behind.

"Don't wake it," Roland whispered again.

The boy couldn't possibly be sleeping after such a racket. Indeed, he wasn't. It had to be the shock speaking.

Regina held Roland's hands in hers.

"It's alright, we'll get you all out of here, ok?"

Robin reached to help the boy up as she spoke. Roland tugged at her hand nervously and stared wide-eyed. What was he so afraid of?

He'd said 'it'. Don't wake it.

"Papa!" Roland cried.

Robin had jumped back from the boy and looked around frantically. He stood alone, the other children having disappeared - probably into the dark hallway. Something was happening with the lone boy - the one Roland had warned them about and they'd misread the warning for shock. Now an eerie sight was upon them: within seconds, the boy was sprouting a tail, wings, and claws. His features changed and so did his build, dark hair shot out of his skin, and he uttered an obnoxious shriek.

Robin swung his sword but missed as the beast took flight. It swooped down on him, then rose back in the air just as Robin was about to land a blow.

Regina turned to Roland, who was rooted to the spot, and grabbed him with haste. She needed to get him to safety: the hallway or the enchanted hideout, whichever she could get to first. The monkey - or whatever the hell it was - was floating in the air, eyeing her with bloodshot eyes. It shot towards them. Regina was ready, however, and sent a blast of magic at it. The beast was faster, dodged, then continued its advance.

"Get down!"

Regina acted immediately, dropping to the ground with Roland wrapped safely in her cloak, shielding his little body with her own. A rush of air cooled her neck, and a sharp pain in her arm made her cry out. She let go of Roland, ready to be snatched up in the air by the monster, but no such thing happened. Instead, a mighty shriek cut across the air, and she looked up to see the beats thrashing around with an arrow through its shoulder.

Robin's timely action, which saved them for the moment, proved too little against the monkey though. Realising it couldn't get the arrow out, it turned its focus back on Regina. Roland scrambled backwards, and the frantic look in his eyes woke a cold rage in her. How dare she send minion like this, disguise them, and use them to terrorise these children?

Regina sprang to her feet, shaky as she was, and glowered at the approaching beast. With a ghastly shriek, it launched against her again. One, two, three arrows shot up in the air, but only one even grazed the agile creature, and it continued to hurtle towards her and Roland. This time Regina was ready for it, though. What had attacked her had been an awe-inspiring beast; what landed in her hands a moment after she dispatched the spell - a cuddly stuffed monkey.

A smirk settled on her face at the sight. She shot Robin a glance - he was on his feet, so there wasn't cause to worry. She turned to Roland, the monkey in her hands.

"See?" she said softly, adopting a cheerful tone she had used with the slide before. "Not so scary. Now you have a new toy."

Her smile wavered a little as Roland eyed the monkey with a little suspicion. Had it not worked? Was he still afraid of it?

Roland looked up from the stuffed animal and fixed her with those big brown eyes. "He's shot," he complained.

Regina chuckled. She ran a hand over the plushie. The arrow disappeared, and the holes filled in. She handed the toy to the awestruck little boy.

"As good as new," she smiled.

"Roland," Robin breathed as he snatched the boy from the ground and pressed a kiss on his forehead.

"I've got a new toy, Papa," the child said proudly.

Regina's smile broadened. It was amazing how quickly children could recover sometimes. If there was the slightest chance Roland could escape possible nightmares after this horrid experience, all the better for it.

The children were waiting huddled together in the hallway. She hurried forward as Robin, with Roland in his arms, stopped to coax the scared, mistrustful bunch onward. Her knees were wobbly as she braved the steps, and there seemed not a shred of power left in her. There'd better be no more obstacles… She'd make sure to clear the path before Robin and the freed children followed.

Where she was headed next, she was asking for trouble. The Witch might have seemed intent on leaving, but it was well possible Regina'd find her back in her chamber once again. But she needed to get there, nonetheless - she needed to gather all the magic she could reasonably carry in case she needed it in the future, which was entirely too possible. Robin would get the children out while she did so, and she'd join them later - he wouldn't like what she was up to anyway. Besides, he had just been reunited with his son - no one in their right mind would waste time wondering about her whereabouts in such a moment. She was on her own.

The night air was fresh and smelled of smoke. Torches flickered in the courtyard, and parents worried sick swooned with relief as they rushed to reclaim their lost children. They'd all had at least one parent make a desperate attempt at freeing them, either by offering ransom or themselves in exchange, and the Witch'd had them all jailed until Robin'd freed them on his way to the dungeon yard. He watched the teary-eyed families slowly scatter as they set out on their way home.

Robin stroked Roland's hair, relishing the touch of it, the feel of his son in his arms, safe and - more or less - sound. Oh, how he'd missed him, what a torture it had been! His heart seemed on the verge of bursting with love.

Yet something was off.

He watched as the last family made its way through the gate, in an apparent rush to get off the accursed premises as soon as possible. How was it possible, though? How could they just - go? There had been a protective shield raised around the palace. Perhaps it only worked one way…or maybe not?

"Roland, have you seen Regina?" Roland shook his head, then rested it on Robin's shoulder again. He was trying to stay up, but would probably doze of in a matter of minutes. Robin wished for nothing more than putting him to sleep and watching him for hours, making up for all those days they'd spent separated.

She should be here by now - she had gone first, after all. So where could she be? When they were leaving the dungeons, she was barely standing up - she'd of course done everything to keep that well concealed, but nevertheless she had been exhausted, and the idea of her roaming the palace on her own was deeply troubling. Surely she hadn't done anything foolish…or dangerous. Who was he kidding? Regina was beyond doubt the most obstinate and quick-tempered person he had ever had the fortune of meeting.

Robin looked around. One of the prisoners was tagging along, and it turned out she'd lived in the palace for years and knew of a secret chamber she was planning to hide in with her daughter for the night. The woman immediately agreed to keep Roland with them while Robin was away.

Regina, where the hell are you?

This was a terrible time to have to leave Roland's side, and on top of worry, Robin had annoyance to cope with. She could have at least said something. They were supposed to work together after all. Well, they had. She'd now fulfilled her part of the deal - even done more than he could have expected. If someone had until now shirked his commitment, it was him - there hadn't been much information relayed about the Witch from his side. That would change, of course, he had no intention of going back on his word, only he had focused so hard on Roland, and his information wasn't immediately usable anyway…

A blast of icy wind made the hair at the back of his neck stand up. Damn. His senses prickled. Something was amiss. This wasn't an ordinary blast of wind. If they were lucky, it had been Regina's doing. If not…

For an unguarded moment, he saw her on a rearing grey, jumping a hurdle, wielding a fireball, outsmarting snakes and bees and crows, holding Roland with the protectiveness of a lioness.

His throat tightened and his pace quickened. He stormed past shards of glass in the hallway with his sword at the ready, and followed the corridor into the heart of the palace. Experience of a thief had taught him how palaces were built, where the royal quarters were usually positioned - and that they were mostly protected. The latter might not be an issue if Regina had indeed come this way - the Witch's charms would be undone and Regina would have had no time - or, possibly, worryingly, energy - to spare to put up her own.

The large double door loomed before him, dark and emanating cold - and slightly ajar. The torches were all out. Cold crept into his bones, and Robin broke into a run. When he was only a few steps away, a wail issued frpm the chamber, shrill at first, then in changed into a gurgling moan.

Robin broke into the room at full sprint, looking around wildly. Regina was nowhere in sight, but something else was: a peculiar darkness looming over something on the floor, hidden behind the large four-poster bed. As Robin blinked, the shape moved, and Robin found himself staring into a pair of grim red eyes. The face of whatever the monster was turned away, and a trickle of…something bright and misty issued from its mouth. No, not from its mouth - into it.

A wave of shock rattled him, and his legs moved of their own volition. He raised the sword high above his head and struck down on the spectre. Yet at the contact of metal and ghostly black, the thing merely shrugged it off. Robin couldn't defeat it, and he should have known - this was it, the soul-sucker demon Mulan had mentioned to him once. Nothing could vanquish what was already dead.

But Regina…no, he couldn't just leave her, of course he wouldn't, even though he had no clue how to deal with this monster, try he would.

The spectre floated in the air and lowered itself above the object that had to be Regina. Robin swung his sword again, even though it would be to no avail - his mind worked feverishly, grasping at straws, but even those were too few and too shabby to hold on to. Would Regina know what to do? Could magic be the answer? It didn't matter, because neither of them was in any shape to perform any right now. With Regina out of the game, there was no one here this time to conjure a sandstorm or raise a wall of fire.

Fire.

The blasted torches were out all along the corridor, but perhaps there was something left in here. His eyes darted across the room as he swung and swung his sword at the wraith, barely succeeding in keeping it away from Regina. The grate was cold and dead with not a distant memory of a fire. Damn! Perhaps a candle, then? Robin's heart leapt as his eyes found a flickering light at the dressing table. The wraith was beginning to lose interest in his feeble attempts at delaying it. Robin grabbed a dead torch form its holder and held it to the candle. Come on! The light danced around the torch but wasn't catching. Come on, light up!

The wraith closed in on the unconscious form of Regina on the floor. This was the last chance, if he couldn't get the torch to burn, he'd just have to risk pestering the damned ghost with just his blade - probably with less and less success. He couldn't wait any longer. Light up, damn you! He snatched the torch away from the humble candle, and was blinded by a flame suddenly springing to life. It had worked.

Robin let out an elated shout as he waved the flaming torch through the air. The wraith shrank away as the flame licked the black folds of its rotten cloak. Robin leapt forward, attacking again and again, pushing the wraith further back, away from him, away from Regina. Then the wraith's eyes glowed a brighter red - so bright it threatened to split his skull with its intensity - and, with one last hungry look towards Regina's body, whizzed out through the window with a mighty whoosh.

Robin slid the torch in a holder and rushed to her side. Regina lay lifeless on the floor as she'd landed, entangled in her own cloak, her eyes closed, and her dark, loosened hair framing her ashen face. Robin grabbed her hand and searched for a pulse, barely breathing as he did. There it was. Thank heavens.

"Regina," he implored, but she didn't stir. He snatched the wineskin from his belt, dripped a few drops of water on his hand, and washed her face carefully. Come on, wake up. She had to wake. This was bold, audacious Regina - she wouldn't give up so easily, she had to wake. She had to.

"Regina!" he called again, more forcefully, and shook her slightly - but still nothing happened.

They said a soul-sucker didn't kill one but 'just' removed one's soul - a fate worse than death. There'd been this stream of weird substance floating between the wraith and Regina when he'd entered…. Was he too late? No, that couldn't be!

He wrapped his arms around her and brought his face close to hers. He listened. Her weak, interrupted breathing barely registered, yet the feel of it on his cheek made his heart clench. Maybe if he only got her out of here… Perhaps some leftover of the wraith's presence lingered even after it had gone, making recovery impossible.

Robin held Regina closer and pressed her to him, ready to carry her, and made to stand up when he felt her body spasm against his. What was this? Did he hurt her? He brushed the hair from her face just in time to see her eyes flicker open.

"Regina…" he breathed, overflowing with relief. Then a shred of panic returned to him: she was alive, but was she…alright?

Her eyes darted from his face to the ceiling to the door, and back to him again.

"Where is it?" she whispered -but only barely, and shifted in his arms - but only barely.

"Gone," he said, squeezing her hand. He could only imagine her confusion and shock. But she was safe now, and Robin couldn't stop the smile form spreading on his face.

"How?"

"Fire."

She nodded, and let her eyes close again for a moment.

"Why'd you come back?" she whispered after a while.

She couldn't possibly be serious. Did she really think he cared so little about her that he'd leave her behind? What a terrible thought. He was still having trouble breathing through the emotional upheaval. Did she not understand?

Understand what, though?

Robin looked down at her face. Colour was slowly returning to her cheeks, but her eyes were still closed. Strands of her hair were wrapped around his forearm, soft and silky. It was only then that he became aware of the feel of her in his arms. The fabric of her dress brushed against his skin, but that was nothing - he was still holding her hand. His skin tingled and warmed beyond reasonable as he continued to hold her.

She opened her eyes and looked at him strangely - he still hadn't answered her question.

"We missed you," he said simply. "Why did you come back here?"

He frowned: it hadn't occurred to him before, but perhaps she wanted to be left behind. She'd fulfilled her part of the deal after all. Yet Robin had somehow, at some point, come to believe they'd stay a team even after recovering Roland. Perhaps she had different plans. His heart sank.

"I…" she hesitated. Their eyes locked, and he could swear he could almost see himself reflected in the brown depths of those eyes of hers. He had no thought of looking away. They were such enticing eyes, they seemed to run rich and deep, and made him see what they meant by saying that eyes were a window to a person's soul. For a long moment, she held his gaze, then her eyes widened as a shadow of panic crossed them. "I wanted to retrieve something," she finished, looking away, and wriggled free of his arms. Robin let go immediately, though not with a certain indistinct sense of loss. Her eyes darted to the dressing table. "It's still there, right?"

"Is what there?" It had to be important, judging by the look of her.

She made to stand up but stumbled. Robin grabbed her hand while she steadied herself, and after a moment she slipped away and crossed to the dressing table. She gave no sign of weakness, but her gait still bore remnants of her plight - which she was reluctant to admit to, apparently. Such stubbornness - foolish. Such tenacity - admirable. Regina leaned on the table, supporting herself cleverly, and rummaged about its contents.

"Damn! It's gone."

"What is it?"

"My sleeping potion. Someone took it!" Anger flared in her and coloured her cheeks crimson. It was a welcome sight after the whey complexion of shortly before. "Wraiths hardly have need for such things, or the means to carry them away."

"I saw no one else." So that's what she'd come back for? Magic? What ever could Regina possibly want with a sleeping potion? Perhaps to use it against the Witch. Well, they couldn't afford to waste resources, whatever they be.

"Anything else gone?"

"No, just the one thing. It's hard to make, I'm probably the only one left alive to know how to."

That didn't bode well - if it was dangerous in Regina's hands, it was an even bigger threat in the enemy's. They were going to have to be all the more careful.

"Can you make a new one?"

"No, I have no more ingredients," she smashed a small vial against the wall - but that was as much as she had energy to spare on. Her shoulders sagged slightly. "I used them all because the ready product's easier to carry around than the ingredients."

She raised her eyes from the poor contents of the table and fixed him with a gaze.

"Roland?" she asked.

Robin willed them all out of here stronger than ever.

"You know that hidden chamber by the courtyard?"

"Of course." She looked about the room once more, shook her head slightly, sending her hair trailing down her back, grabbed the torch Robin had lit after so much struggle, and made towards the door. "Let's go, then. Time for you to properly enjoy your son."