The world, to Zelena has been nothing but a confusing blur. The last moment she clearly remembers was begging for her life at the hands of Rumplestiltskin. Never, in her life had she been so grateful for her own magical intuition. If only he had known that drawing her own blood with a magic object, particularly one as powerful as the Dark one's dagger, would in fact trigger her fail safe.
She struggles to open her eyes in those perilous first few days after her attack. Certainly, when she was stronger, it would all make sense. Maybe, this was all a part of going back in time. How was she to know how it would feel? Maybe this was all to be expected.
Zelena drifts in and out of consciousness for those first three days. She cannot place the voices around her whatsoever. One of a man, and the other of a child. The whole concept of trying to make sense of anything, when she was in such terrible pain to begin with was just too much.
Finally, the day arrives when the world is no longer a blur. When she can open her eyes, and the room comes into focus.
She struggles to sit up, and is immediately aware that she is not alone in the quiet, dusty floored room of Jefferson's cottage.
"Who… Who are you?" she asks, defensive and wild eyed, at the man in the doorway. Her mouth is painfully dry, and she suddenly feels, for the first time since her childhood, vulnerable.
She didn't appreciate how that felt, at all.
"You're awake" He surmises
"Observant." Zelena says cooly, wrapping the rough blankets defensively around her. "Where am I?" How long have I been out?"
"It's been a while You haven't been truly awake in almost a week." He says, making no motion to move from the doorway.
And now, the ultimate litmus test.
Zelena bites her bottom lip. "What… realm is this?"
Jefferson looks confused. "The enchanted forest"
"And who's in power?"
He pauses, again with confusion. "That's complicated. I guess you could say, no one? We've had some power shifts this past year. It's why my daughter- Grace- and I live on the fringe. We make our own rules."
Zelena balls her fists in frustration. It hadn't worked afterall. She was clearly, still in present day, but just back where she had started. Stuck, now powerless, in a shack in the enchanted forest.
She tries to cool her rage, to hide it as best she can. The last thing she needs at this moment is to turn green in front of this total stranger. She had to figure out a way to get out of there, and fast.
She took a deep breath, and momentarily brushed off her rage. "Well, whoever you are. I think I'm alright to go. I should really be on my way
"You can't be serious. You're gravely injured- you should be dead from that stab wound. You need to rest" Jefferson objects
"No, I need to go" Zelena attempts to stand on both legs, and finds herself completely weakened, and overcome with intense pain.
"Woah woah woah" Jefferson races to grab her elbow, and she stiffens.
"I'm quite alright thank you" she snaps.
"Yeah. Real steady." He scoffs, easing her back down so she can sit on the edge of the bed.
"Who are you?" she asks again.
Jefferson extends his hand. "Jefferson. And… you?"
Zelena hesitates. Her reputation no doubt proceeded her. Giving her real name was risky.
She took a deep breath, and offered a tight smile, inwardly bracing for the worst. A gasp, a guffaw, a jump backwards like she was a snake about to bite.
"Zelena" She finally says.
"That's pretty" a small voice chirped from the doorway.
Zelena looks up. "Who's this?"
"I'm Grace." She offers. "You we're asleep a long time."
Zelena, in obvious discomfort smiles tightly, unsure of what to say to the child.
Jefferson clears his throat. "You're not a prisoner here, just so you know, but… Zelena, I'd think twice before trying to make a break for it.
Zelena silently acknowledges what he's told her.
"I'll close the door" Jefferson offers.
She can hear them on the other side of the door.
"Why was she so cross, papa?"
"I'd venture it's probably because she doesn't feel very well, my girl."
"She's got a pretty name"
Zelena tries to shut them out, to not hear them for the rest of the night, as they play quietly in the front room of the cottage. She had to figure out a way to get her hands on some sort of external magic, and be on her way. There was no way she would spend a single second of time here as soon as she was strong enough to stand on her own two feet. They'd find her out, somehow. Better to make a clean break before that can happen, she thinks.
She drifts back to uncomfortable sleep, planning her escape to a corner of the realm where she could live out the rest of her days, alone. Where she could no longer feel the pain that her life had brought, or the missed opportunities that she had suffered.
She thought back to that conversation, with her sister. Right before Rumple had tried to finish her off. About second chances. For a split second, she had a flicker of hope, that maybe her sister was right. After all, she had proven that redemption was possible. So, why not?
And then it had all gone to hell, As it always did, for Zelena. It was Just another painful part of her pathetic story.
This time, she decided, there would be no chances for hurt. Somehow, she had survived a vicious, and brutal attack that should've killed her. And for once, she was going to stop trying. She'd strike out on her own. No more do overs, no more longing for a family she didn't deserve.
Soon enough, she'd be on her way, and this long, tearful night would be just another distant memory.