Bindings of Glass
Chapter 8
When Regina awoke early the next morning Lilia was sitting beside her sharpening her sword seemingly content that she hadn't slept very much. She looked over when Regina sat up and gave her a small smile. "It's still early what are you doing awake?"
"I just heard something I suppose." Regina pushed herself up carefully hearing the chains rattle. She frowned staring over at her former lover.
"Everyone else is still sleeping. It's all right." Lilia murmured. "How close are we to where we're going?"
"We're about a two day ride from Maurice's castle and from there another four days from Ogre lands." Regina explained softly. She reached up with both hands pushing her dark hair away from her face not having much room to move her hands.
"Then things are going to get dangerous I suppose. I'll try and get them to release your hands. Honestly bound you'll be more of a burden then if you had your hands free."
"They're more afraid that I'll kill them all and find Emma myself." Regina spoke softly her voice tinted with amusement and a bit of the same defeat Lilia had seen in her shoulders those few days ago.
"We will find them. It certainly explains why we've had such trouble." Lilia twisted and held her sword up looking down the length of one side before shifting it back to her lap and working the whet stone over a nick in the blade. When she was finished she held it up studying it once again.
"I do hope so. Ogre lands aren't friendly territory for anyone let alone a woman and a boy." Regina said softly.
"And yet with how Emma and Henry both are based on what you've said about them I'm sure they've put all their resourcefulness together which would've made them a formidable team to go up against and ogres aren't the smartest creatures out there."
"No but what they lack in intelligence they more than make up for in their blood thirst." Regina pointed out softly but she kept her voice lowered not wishing to rouse anyone else so that she and Lilia could continue to discuss.
Lilia twisted the sword on her lap beginning to run the whet stone over its other side. "I need to oil this blade." She muttered to herself before she looked over at Regina. "Tell me what you know about these creatures. I've never encountered them before."
"You've never dealt with an ogre?" Regina asked a bit amused. "I figured you had dealt with your fair share of creatures."
"Oh I have but a mountain troll and two wendigos hardly count. And that very brief encounter with Buggane. Very sweet creature, I don't know why people are so afraid of them. He helped me in my youth get back to my home after I was injured during a hunt and lost my way."
"You speak as though you're old." Regina said dryly. Though she did file the information away; it was one of the rare times Lilia ever spoke of her past that she could honestly remember.
"I have had a lot of life experience." Lilia shrugged. "So what do you know about the ogres?"
"Not as much as I probably should but enough. They're a blood thirsty lot that would prefer violence to things as civilized as speaking. I've heard of ancient kings using captured ogres in battle against their enemies but how one would go about capturing one let alone enough to use in a fight would make that impossible."
"Do they have any weaknesses?"
"They're very superstitious creatures. They won't go near what they consider hollow ground and they believe in eating the flesh of their conquered people to take some of their strength into them."
"Sounds positively barbaric but I've heard of the practice from ancient peoples. Never did I think it was still practiced even from creatures like that. What sort of weapons do they use?"
"Mostly large clubs; I've seen one or two with a crude spear but it's rare. Most prefer to use their bare hands to rip their enemies apart."
"Must make it easier to eat them if they're in pieces," Lilia muttered as she set her whet stone back in her small bag. "Though their so called hollow ground if it's marked may work to our advantage; we can take shelter there and search in shifts for this dead tree."
"They're about to awaken. You'd best leave me here." Regina muttered.
Lilia nodded rising to her feet and heading towards the main part of camp her bag thrown over her shoulder. She plopped down on a fallen tree and pulled out her whet stone continuing on with her sword as though she'd been at it the entire time.
Two days came and went quickly the ride surprisingly pleasant despite the ever cooling weather. Maurice's castle loomed into view half way through their third day of riding. One of the guards rode ahead to inform the man of their impending arrival and to ask for shelter for a night or two while they restocked up their supplies and continued on to the north. Maurice having a village so close to Ogre lands had a lot of experience with them it turned out and Lilia was able to talk to the man plenty about what he'd dealt with. She wondered briefly why no one dared to mention the daughter she'd heard of but upon later asking Snow quietly found out that she was suffering from some affliction and had been quarantined for her health and the health of others.
Though the man didn't seem too happy about having to house a witch he did so with the assurances of both royals that she would cause no trouble. He did seem quite relieved though when they were finally leaving. It had snowed during the night, thick icicles hanging from the trees as they rode north continuing on their journey. Lilia pulled the fur lined cloak up a bit tighter around her it's deep crimson color standing out sorely against the now white and dark backdrop they rode against. She glanced over seeing Regina's gloved hands still encased in their shackles folded against her lap in the thick skirts she'd been wearing. She had been given a thick black fur lined cloak to wear, her long black hair flowing down long now having fallen in the days prior to coming to the North hindered only slightly by the hood she'd pulled up tight around her.
Lilia stayed close to her though knowing if they were ambushed by something she may not be able to defend herself. Despite the fact that Regina was powerful her body was putting forth all its energy to keep itself moving and wouldn't likely be able to give it the natural energy magic required from a strong body. It would tax her too much and likely backfire and kill her. Feeling a strange prickling sensation she drew her sword noting James and the guards doing the same. The guards put themselves around Snow and James leaving Regina to her.
"I'm cutting your chains." Lilia spoke softly to her. "Whatever we're about to encounter you should stand a chance against it."
Regina nodded lifting her hands and holding them wide. Lilia swung the sword up and then down easily cutting through the iron that held her captive. Regina set her hands down watching as the royals in front of her tensed at her release but said nothing.
"Stay close we don't know what is up ahead." James said softly his voice tense. His long broad sword was held against his side lowered only slightly but anyone could see the way his arm twitched slightly obviously ready to do battle should whatever was causing the heavy feeling of foreboding in the air be enemy.
They rounded the bend in the road coming across what appeared to be a deserted temple. Large stone pillars worn down from age looked like they were about to fall with just a strong enough wind. The entrance ways steps were once white but the large cracks spoke to the age of the place not to mention the almost grey hue the stone had taken. The building around back looked like it had caved in but the entrance and what appeared to be a circular main hall still stood. Two large statues stood out front one missing it's nose and part of it's tail the other missing it's head entirely. The statues looked to be made of some sort of black marble and depicted at least from what could be seen of it a woman like face attached to a strange body covered in scales. The underside of the woman/beast creature was bare of these scales, two breasts hung beside it's lion like paws. The large back legs looked they were one of the beasts many defenses being like those of a horse not to mention it's long fangs that hung over its lips. It had a long tail like that of a horse.
"What is that?" One of the guards breathed pointing at the statue.
"It's a warning." Regina spoke softly but clearly. "We need to leave now."
"Too late," Lilia said softly seeing the red eyes sparkling from the darkness of the entrance. "It's already heard us."
"Don't approach it." Regina called but it was too late, two guards dismounted their horses and stepped in front of the royals trying to shield them as the creature suddenly made it's appearance.
The face could only be described as very classically beautiful. Angular features with almond shaped eyes and full red lips. Long red hair flowed down around its face and over its scale covered back. Red eyes stared at them as the thing gave a Cheshire like grin revealing two rows of razor sharp teeth. Hooved back feet clicked on the marble as it made its way down the broken stairs towards the guards who drew their heavy iron swords to try and slay the beast should it step closer. It preened for a moment on the stairs like a cat, it's slitted red eyes staring around at them all for a moment.
Lilia looked over at Regina who was tense. "What is that thing?" She asked one eye on the creature still.
Regina lifted her hand power crackling at her fingertips. "It's an Empusa." She answered. The creature shot forward swiping large front paws like a tiger easily tearing into the armor of the guards. The guards though caught off guard tried to swing their swords around to catch it but it's blue scales merely seemed to reflect the blows from the heavy steel as though it didn't even affect it.
"Run!" Lilia yelled but it was too late the guards were already being torn apart by the creature. "Go Regina Snow!" She yelled.
Regina jerked and grabbed the reigns of Snow's horse urging her horse on as she shot her own out in the same direction. Lilia took off after them as Regina shot a beam of energy at the creature that had lunged for James' horse. The creature fell it's legs twitching before it was completely still. James met Regina's eyes as they slowed to a stop. He lunged half falling half jumping from the horse as Regina's eyes rolled up in her head and she fell to the side. He easily caught her in his strong hold staring down at her. He looked up at Snow who stared back at him in equal shock. Regina had saved all of their lives.
Author's Note: Ugh it's been so long and I was rather excited about the appearance of one my favorite demons in classical mythology. I changed the Empusa's appearance to something more monster like if you ever play a video game called Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 she's in there and my creature looks very similar to that one instead of the more classical interpretation of an Empusa. Uh as always let me know what you think and SwansAndQueens totally PM me! I wanna have someone to discuss with. No one around my house or in my friendship group gets my obsession with this pairing! Uh anyone else is welcome to PM me too if they want. As always let me know what you think and I'll continue to work on this. My Captain gave me today off since we just wrapped up a case so I'm home all day! MORE WRITING TIME...and gym time...but mostly MORE WRITING TIME! ~ Bella