Bindings of Glass
Chapter 5
Walking quietly into the mines wasn't a problem. Not a sound could be heard as their footsteps echoed off the stone walls. Torches crackled happily in their holders but they appeared to be the only ones down here at the moment. "Stay behind me Regina. If push comes to shove dart past me into the mines and find whoever it is you're looking for. I can defend myself." Lilia spoke softly though she didn't want to leave Regina she knew the woman was capable of at least getting herself out of there with her powers at least she hoped she was. They walked the winding halls of the mine listening carefully at every turn before moving around it making sure they were indeed alone.
They paused when they reached an entranceway that split into two different paths. Regina motioned to the left and Lilia gave a nod following the winding pathway that was well lit. She continued to walk quietly listening carefully for any sounds of anything out of the ordinary but nothing happened. She sighed as they finally stopped in front of a large wooden doorway. She pressed them both against the wall with her hand halting their path. She crept up to the door peering through the bars carefully before motioning Regina forward.
She twisted the large handle finding it wouldn't move. She looked back at Regina who motioned her to stand aside. She held her hand to the large lock, a spark of gold light flashed and the tumblers melted allowing them inside. Regina pushed the door open first stepping inside feeling Lilia follow her. She had a bad feeling about letting Lilia go with her but she knew she had no choice. She didn't have a viable reason to give the blonde warrior to leave her outside where she wouldn't have to deal with this creature and Lilia wouldn't let her go in alone anyways. She let out a soft puff of air and approached the barred cage staring into the gloomy interior. It was dark within so dark the occupant wasn't even seen.
"I know you're there. And I know you know why I'm here so why not come out now?" She asked keeping her voice even.
Lilia remained a step behind her but moved to lean against the wall not showing any interest in what was hidden in the cell. She'd learned not to show any interest in anything out of the ordinary lest it find something to use against you. She kept her sword drawn and rested it at her side giving the being imprisoned a clear view of the steel. She kept her ears open listening carefully to anything that might give away that they were about to get caught or otherwise.
"My my it's been a while hasn't it dearie? I've been wondering when you would come and visit me again." A voice taunted from the shadows before a strange man appeared. He looked like he'd been dipped in mud with touches of gold, his eyes were a strange muddy brown/grey color. His hair was lackluster and lank falling barely to his shoulders in waves. He was grinning madly yellow teeth flashing as he gripped the bars so suddenly that Lilia shifted a bit to make sure Regina was all right. "You!" He was grinning even wider if that were possible his eyes drawn to Lilia. "You're the one she tore the world apart for. Such a pity too. You surely don't seem worth it."
"She was worth it at the time." Regina snapped allowing her anger to show for just a moment before it simmered beneath the surface.
"Yet here you both stand before me. My my you have your happiness now. Your blonde is back with you yet you still seek me. Why is that? Oh are you in need of another child? I seem to remember you wanting one quite desperately. A little boy again? Or perhaps a little girl?"
"I'm not here to ask for a child."
"Yet you're here for something. Such a pity really I had hoped you would come because you missed me so dearly." He shook the bars for emphasis laughing a strange little sound before dancing back and doing some sort of jig. Lilia stared at him all the while without her facial expression changing one bit. "You know I saw a picture of you once and I must say the picture did you more justice then seeing you in real life. You're certain she was worth it?" He was suddenly at the bars again running his murky looking fingers along Regina's smooth cheek.
She jerked back angrily glaring at him which caused him to giggle even more incessantly. Lilia was standing before him in an instant her sword pointed at his throat. "It's not nice to touch a lady without her permission sir. You'll keep your hand to yourself or I'll cut it off."
"My you are a feisty one. I like that in a woman. And certainly my dear majesty does too."
"We're not here to discuss my taste in women. We're here to discuss something else." Regina snipped angrily glaring over Lilia's shoulder at the strange looking man.
"Ah yes down to business as they say well what is it?" His eyes were gleaming as he stepped forward the blade nicking his neck but no blood appeared. Lilia withdrew her sword and moved to stand along the wall she had been leaning against before leaving Regina to deal with the madman. "Oh let me guess? I do so love a good guessing game."
"I'm here about my family." Regina spoke clearly staring at him.
The crazed little man blinked then laughed, "They're dead dearie. Every single one of them…dead dead dead."
"That's not true."
"Yes they are. Dead as they can be." He danced his strange little jig again as he sang dead, dead, dead over and over again.
"He's not going to be of any help Regina. We may as well leave." Lilia finally spoke softly.
"I didn't tell you you could leave." The man suddenly roared angry that she'd dared to interrupt his beloved little dance.
"Then tell us something useful and we won't." Regina snapped.
"Not without a price." He grinned, his yellow teeth glinting in the light.
"Name it."
"Regina," Lilia spoke stepping towards her touching her arm. "It's not worth it we'll find them some other way."
"Ooo," The man was still grinning almost shaking with pleasure. "Anything I wish for hmm…this may take a moment oh yes…I want the name of your first child."
Regina tensed, "My son is already in this world what good would it do to know his name?"
"Not his name, I want her name." The man leaned forward grinning all over again. "You give me that and I'll tell you where to find your family."
"I don't have a daughter whose name I can give you." Regina began then stopped herself. "You want a child I will have in the future's name?"
"Exactly," The man giggled. "You don't have it yet but just know I'll be there to collect it when it comes to be. Do we have a deal?" He cocked his head to one side his smile never fading.
"Regina this is madness. He won't give us anything. Let's just go and we'll continue our search." Lilia started trying to talk her friend out of this.
Regina tensed staring at him, "Deal."
"Then you'll find them where the dead tree grows. The black swan makes her nest there surrounded by the darkness of it. And if I were you I'd hurry dearie. It's about to explode." He giggled again before dancing away.
"What does that mean?" Regina asked but the strange little man had faded into the blackness of his cell and wouldn't answer her again.
They were riding back through the darkened forest to get as far from the mines as they could when Lilia finally forced Regina to stop. "It's too late and it's darker than before. Let's take a break for the night. Sleep for a bit and get started on our way back to your home when it's light out."
"You think I'm a fool don't you?" Regina asked sitting on the bedroll staring over at Lilia who was stoking the fire a while later.
"I don't think anything Regina." Lilia shifted getting to her feet and moved towards the bedroll. She'd only brought along enough blankets for them to share together to be comfortable. It wasn't what Regina was used to but if it meant finding her family she was willing to sacrifice.
"He's right though. I did tear this world apart for you." Regina folded her arms drawing her knees up to her chest as though she was freezing. It was the most vulnerable position Lilia had ever seen her assume.
"That may have been the case back then but if you hadn't you wouldn't have met and fallen in love with Emma and you two wouldn't have had Henry." During her brief stay with the amazons she'd unloaded quite a bit on her former lover and Lilia was willing to listen without passing judgment on her former lover. "I do think that he plays the fool to throw everyone around him off. They think because he acts like a crazed munchkin that he's not dangerous but honestly I could sense he was even more dangerous then you are at your worst." She moved over and sat down beside Regina. "You've come a long ways and you've had to deal with a lot. I can't say I blame you for going to him but I do think his price was quite steep."
"I agree but what else could I do? He knows where they are."
"Yet he didn't tell us how to find them. You noticed that right?"
"Yes but he gave us a hint we just have to figure it out. He speaks in riddles but his riddles aren't difficult to see through once you know what you're looking for."
"The black swan is an allusion to Emma right?" Lilia asked softly touching Regina's thin back. The woman nodded.
"Yes her last name is Swann."
"Black and not white; Henry used to call her the white knight right?"
"Yes," Regina stared at her. "What are you thinking?"
"Black is used in this culture as a color of mourning or a reference to some sort of fall. By calling her the black swan he may have been saying…"
"That she's fallen from grace?" Regina picked up her line of thought immediately.
Lilia nodded, "Yes she's no longer the white knight but something much darker and sinister. The dead tree well I'm at loss for that. I'm not from the forest so I don't know anything about it."
"There are many dead trees but that's not what he's referring to. It's another allusion to something else."
"Could be the reason we haven't found them is because we've been looking in the wrong place."
"We've been searching the towns and villages perhaps she's not in them at all." Regina again easily picked up that line of thought. "Perhaps she's in the forest living with Henry away from civilization. And I know someone who knows the forests well."
"Who?" Lilia asked continuing to slide her hand up and down Regina's back.
"Snow White."
Author's Notes: And here we go. The scene between Rumplestilskin and Regina was really what inspired the whole damn piece. I may have made Rumple a bit crazier than he was intended to be but hey I tried. Let me know how you think I did with him. It is appreciated. I've been writing like hell these past few days and all ready up to Chapter 8 is completed on this thing. I dunno when it's going to come to an end or anything but if you guys review enough I'm sure I could find a will to continue to write on it. It's quickly dipping into obsession though which may be a good thing to have happen. I guess it means it's got the storyline to keep me interested. Anyways sorry rambling. Reviews I always love and appreciate and remember the more I get the more I post...cause let's face facts I'll probably still be writing this damn thing even if no one is reading it. It's eating my soul!