Not mine. Thanks as always to CS and Guru

Chapter 5

That morning, Regina had opted to stay behind while Snow and Emma explored their surroundings. Snow had finally located indications of a settlement nearby, and wanted to check that specific direction. She also wanted to spend some time with Emma; truth be told, she was feeling slightly jealous that Regina had spent so much time with her daughter because of teaching her to use magic. After having had some, admittedly inconsistent, success in using magic with Emma, Regina was determined to fully harness it again, despite the apparent changes. So, Regina stayed behind to practice while Emma and Snow set out. Perhaps if she had gone with them, Emma and Snow would not have been so easily fooled by the kindly old woman they met on the way.

Said kindly old woman was found walking slowly and, if the limp was any indicator, painfully along the slightly overgrown road Snow and Emma had encountered on today's journey. Mother and daughter had just recently turned onto the road and were discussing stopping for a mid-day meal when Emma spotted the slow-moving, cloaked figure ahead. She immediately sped up and called out "Hey!" This was the first person they had encountered since coming through the portal and Emma hoped she could find some answers. "Hey! Excuse me," she called again as she neared the figure.

"Oh! Dear me, you gave me a fright. Hello dear, I don't often encounter anyone on this old road anymore."

"Yeah, we're new to the area you could say. I'm Emma and this is..."

"Mary Margaret," Snow interjected, to a puzzled look from Emma. Since the curse was broken, Snow had been adamant about being called by her Fairytale Land name. Emma wasn't sure why she suddenly changed her mind. For Snow's part, there was something familiar about this old crone. She didn't look like anyone Snow knew, but still there was a familiar feel, almost an energy about her. Snow also wasn't sure what the political climate was currently in Fairytale Land and didn't want to reveal herself as Queen Snow White until she had a better feel for things.

"Oh, how lovely to meet you both, you may call me Millie."

"Thank you, Millie. We were just about to stop for lunch, would you care to join us?" Snow invited.

"Oh goodness, I'd be delighted. Thank you so much. These old bones could use a bit of a rest I'm afraid."

Emma looked around and spotted a fairly smooth log which she insisted Millie and Snow use to sit on, while Emma cleared away some debris and sat on the ground by Snow's legs. Snow brought out their ration of dried meat and berries, which she continued to provide thanks to her prior knowledge of the forest. The old woman reached into the depths of her cloak and produced a loaf of bread and a flask. The food was quickly distributed between the three women, but Snow and Emma declined the offer of the flask. As much as Emma would love to get shit-faced, pass out, and blame all of this on bad booze, she knew she had to keep a clear head. She kept that thought to herself though as she listened to Snow converse with the old crone. They mostly exchanged pleasantries, although Emma noticed both women deftly sidestepped "where are you from" with variations on a vague "here and there, not too far" answer. Emma's lie detector super-power was sparking the slightest bit – neither of her lunch companions was lying, as such, but there was definitely deception at play here. Emma decided it could be attributed to strangers meeting under strange circumstances and being cautious about divulging personal information.

After several minutes of light, wary conversation, Snow asked Millie if they were headed in the right direction to find the nearest town. Millie confirmed that they were, and further that she was headed there herself. She suggested traveling the rest of the way together but Snow declined, saying she wanted to gather their things from camp. Still, she got directions from the old woman before they parted ways. According to what Millie told her, Snow figured if they left at first light tomorrow they could be in town before the evening meal.

Alone again, Millie paused and pondered. There was something...familiar about that brunette. She couldn't place her though. Never had she seen such odd clothing, and as a rule women of stature did not have such short hair. Once she was certain her lunch companions were well out of sight, the old crone released her magical grip on the glamor she had assumed and returned to her natural form – a well-aged brunette with great power. She considered not only the unidentifiable familiarity of the brunette, but also what she had felt practically dripping off the younger blond. Magic. Raw, powerful, and largely unrefined magic begging to be harnessed, taught, manipulated; and she knew the perfect woman to hold the reins.

Snow and Emma returned to their shelter near day's end. Thanks to Snow's prior hunting, there was plenty of meat available, and when they returned they found that Regina had managed a wonderful stew in their absence. Although the tension between Snow and Regina had ebbed, it was still very much real, and so it was Emma that filled Regina in on their day and informed her that they could make it to a village by the next evening. Plans were made for the next day's travel, including ample provisions provided by Regina's talent for cooking. As they ate and prepared, Emma inquired about Regina's day, but received little in the way of a response. Sensing that the older woman was frustrated, Emma chose to back off the inquiry rather than push and instigate an argument.

At first light the next morning, Snow, Emma and Regina rose and prepared to travel. As the trio neared the village, Snow guided them away from the road and into the cover of the forest. She had doubts about the wisdom of three women walking into an unknown village and what kind of reception they would encounter. It was as they were following what Snow insisted was a trail that Emma had begun humming her own personal version of We Three Kings. Lost in thought, Emma suddenly returned to her surroundings as a burst of energy passed near her shoulder. Almost instinctively, she reached out her hand and caught it, holding it aloft as she looked at Regina incredulously. "What was that for?"

"You mean, aside from the fact that I enjoyed it? Well, it got your wandering attention, and it also served as practice for you. Have your not heard your mommy dearest calling your name for the last several minutes?" Regina responded.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Snow. I didn't mean to ignore you. What is it?" As Snow laid out her plan for Emma and Regina to wait while she proceeded to the village, Emma interrupted. "Sorry, Snow, but I disagree. Let me go first."

"But Emma," she objected, "you've only been in this world a few days."

"Exactly. Look, you said yourself on the way back yesterday that there's no way to know who's ruling the land now. You're known as Queen Snow, Regina's known here as the Evil Queen. I know you both look different now," she anticipated the protest. But the fact is I'm the only one we can be absolutely certain no one will recognize."

Snow continued to resist, even though she knew Emma made a good point. "Emma, I don't want you to go into a dangerous situation by yourself."

"Snow; Mom," Emma appealed, "I get that you want to protect me, especially now that we know the truth. But I'm not some damsel in distress. I have my gun, I can handle myself in a fight. And, this is what I do. Assessing situations, locating people, gathering information; it's all part of being a bail bonds-person and Sheriff."

Snow knew she was beat; Emma really was the best one for this task. "Be careful Emma. I've only just got you back."

Emma took in both Snow and the unusually quiet Regina. "Okay," she said hesitantly, "you two just don't kill each other while I'm gone, ok?" With a brief hug for Snow and a glance at Regina, Emma set off towards the village. As she walked, she pulled her hair back and raised the hood of her cloak so that it covered her features. She made good time and soon found herself entering a small but bustling community. Looking around, Emma quickly spotted what appeared to be the village tavern – perhaps it was the large wooden sign reading Village Tavern that pricked her acute observational skills, or maybe it was the obviously drunken man being unceremoniously thrown out. Either way, Emma knew that was the best place to take in some of the local flavor.

Her first impression was one of despair – not unusual in a bar but this was somehow different than the usual despair. There was a touch of confusion mixed in, as though they grieved but didn't know what for. She worked her way to a table at the back, giving herself the best possible vantage point. When the barmaid approached, Emma just said, "Whatever's good." She'd have to hope that the currency they had brought from Snow's shelter was still good, and that it would be enough. As Emma worked on the drink the barmaid had set before her, she continued to take in her surroundings. Just as she neared the last of her drink, the barmaid returned. Anticipating the usual offer of another, Emma prepared to decline; however, the barmaid had something else for her.

"From the fella over...well, he was over there. Anyway, here ya are. He paid fer ya drink." The barmaid set down, not another glass, but a scrap of paper on the table. Emma was annoyed. She really didn't have time to deal with being hit on by some loser, and if he took too much of an interest it might make it harder for her to observe. Especially if he couldn't be bothered to stick around long enough for the barmaid to cross the room.

Turning the scrap over, Emma was in for a real surprise. She read, "Emma Swan, we need to talk. Come to the Inn, second room on the left, as soon as possible." Emma looked at both sides of the paper carefully, but there was no other information on it. Again, she looked around the room. It looked just as it had the last time she checked. Emma checked for the gun concealed under her cloak, making sure it was in easy reach. She approached the barmaid and asked directions to the Inn. As she entered, she greeted the innkeeper with, "Um, hi. I'm meeting someone, another traveler. He said he's in the second room on the left?" Only mildly interested, the innkeeper pointed the way and grunted before returning to his duties.

Entering the hallway, Emma placed her hand near her gun and walked as quietly as possible. She approached the designated door, trying to decide on the best tactic. Finally settling on blunt and forceful, she banged on the door and barked, "Who are you? Open up!" The door opened almost immediately to one of the more pleasant surprises she'd had recently. "Graham!"