Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Once Upon a Time.
Author's Note: Here's a good-length chapter for you!
I apologize for the amount of time between chapters. I've been distracted with my composing of a concert band suite written for Armina, the Queen of Beasts. It's coming together nicely, and I think it really reflects her beastly side quite well. It's got many facets, just like the beloved queen. Maybe when I'm done I'll post the link so you guys can take a listen.
As always, R & R!
Emma and Henry accompanied James and Snow to Granny's Diner for a quick lunch before returning to the ballroom-turned-courtroom. The room was less packed than before. It appeared that some had gotten bored with the proceedings.
Emma was again seated with James and Henry, but she was now separated from James by Henry, who insisted on asking James a torrent of questions. Rumpelstiltskin and his bride were now sitting directly next to Emma, with Belle quietly talking to Emma about what color Emma would look best in. To be perfectly honest, Emma was bored out of her mind, and she was hoping for it all to be over with as soon as possible.
The sound of heels on wood flooring caught her attention just in time to see Armina stride in with the other rulers in tow. She sat, her haunted gaze fixed on Regina's face. Her jaw clenched and unclenched as if she just wanted to rip out the Evil Queen's throat then and there.
As if on cue, Regina picked up on Armina's murderous gaze. "Did I rattle her majesty?"
Chaos erupted almost instantly. The Queen of Beasts was done with putting up with Regina. The woman vaulted over the desk, transforming into a massive wolf-like beast. Its massive body was launched at Regina, knocking her back and breaking her chair in the process. With a feral snarl, it curled its lips to reveal its rows of sharp ivory teeth. The beast's jaws were dangerously close to Regina's throat when it growled—a low, sinister sound—and said, "Did I rattle her majesty?"
Andrew held his gaze on his wife's beastly body. The other monarchs cowered under the desks, except for Snow White, who looked a more concerned than frightened. The people who were observing the proceedings were all backed up against the back wall of the ballroom, trying to keep away from the monster before them. Regina's face was stuck in a look of pure terror.
Without fear, Andrew stood and said in a firm voice, "Armina…"
She peered back at him with the same wild-eyed face as she looked at Regina with. For a moment, Emma feared she might maul her own husband. The queen's gaze returned to Regina's fear-gripped features. "If you say something that insolent ever again, I shall not hesitate to follow through," she snarled, moving away from Regina and hopping over the desk. Armina transformed and sat down, her face still showing her anger. Regina was forced to stand from then on.
Andrew placed a secure hand over hers, waiting for the others to settle back into their seats. When they did, he spoke on his wife's behalf. "Let us sentence Regina Mills."
George spoke up and said, "Well, obviously we need to strip her of her titles." The others murmured their agreement.
"Regina Mills, you are hereby stripped of all title. You are now a peasant, nothing more," declared Andrew, his gaze fixed upon the former Evil Queen.
"I think she should be imprisoned for her actions," said Midas, "but I'll settle for the death penalty."
Armina smirked, "I'll do you one better, Midas. I think she shouldn't sit in a cell for the rest of her days. I move that she work off her debt to society…serving me."
There was a collective gasp that filled the room. Regina, who had not fully recovered with her near-death experience, allowed fear to again fill her features. The woman—no, beast—just tried to kill her, and now she wanted Regina to serve her? She had to be mad to think of such a thing.
Snow White said, "I'll second that motion." The rest of the monarchs nodded their assent. The Queen of Beasts had proven how she felt about the witch, and she obviously had it in for the former queen.
"There we have it," said Andrew "That is your sentence. May the gods have mercy on your pitiful soul." He smiled and summoned a gavel from thin air, hitting the table with sound force and ending the trial of the Evil Queen.
The spectators gratefully fled the room. The monarchs, save Armina and Andrew, left the room with their spouses and made their way back into town. Rumpelstiltskin held Belle's hand as she saw Armina approach Regina in an elated stride. "Give me your left arm, servant," ordered the Queen of Beasts.
Regina offered her arm and the shapeshifter took it. As soon as Armina grabbed onto the former queen's wrist, Regina screamed in pain. A faint light shone where Armina held Regina's arm, and the smell of ozone filled the room.
At last, Armina released her wrist, revealing what must have been the seal of the Queen of Beasts. It appeared to be tattooed rather than burnt into her skin as Emma suspected. With a beastly smile, Armina said, "I think it would be best if you went with one of my guards and learned your duties, yes? Will, come and show Regina where she can find more appropriate clothing for her new social station."
The guard obliged and led Regina out of the room. Just as the queen was ready to leave with her husband, Bae caught her attention. "Your majesties, please wait," he said with a bow.
"What?" asked Armina in a decidedly annoyed tone.
"I ask that you witness something for me, your majesty," said Baelfire quietly.
"As long as it takes less than ten minutes, I think my wife and I can bear it," said Andrew with a pointed look at his wife. "Speak."
"Rumpelstiltskin, I know you seem to have found your happy ending, and I'm happy for you. I can't help but wonder, though, if you might have an even happier ending."
Rumpelstiltskin looked at the young man with confused eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"I…uh, I'm Baelfire, your son. I know you're happy with Belle and everything, but I just thought that you might like to know that your son is still around. Even if you don't love me anymore, I thought you might like to know I'm still okay."
"Bae?" asked the former sorcerer with tears in his eyes.
"Yeah, it's me, papa." Rumpelstiltskin felt a few rebellious tears escape his eyes as he heard the familiar address. He chanted Bae's name like a benediction.
Baelfire allowed the older man to size him up, running his hands through his familiarly dark hair. He wrapped the young man in a tight hug, Rumple's tears flowing freely now.
"My boy," cried Rumple as he hugged him tighter. Rumple released Bae from the hug and gestured to Belle. "This is your stepmother."
"So I've heard, papa. She is a kind woman. I'm happy for you."
"Isn't this heartwarming? I would congratulate you, but I have a new servant to go torture," she said with a gleeful grin. "You've got the rest of the week off, Baelfire. I'm sure your father and stepmother could indulge you in at least an hour of their time off," she said with a wink. With a regal nod of her head, she left the room.
Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, and Bae all followed suit, probably going to catch up on nearly thirty years' worth of memories.
Henry tugged on Emma's jacket and insisted that they go and visit the horse he had befriended the day before. The mare, which trotted straight over to the boy, seemed to enjoy his company greatly.
After nearly twenty minutes, Emma grew bored with Henry's speaking to the horses. Emma wasn't sure why she felt safe leaving him there, but with Regina gone, there really wasn't a reason she couldn't. Emma went in search of her parents, who she assumed were still on the property with half the town. She wanted to get her Volkswagen back, and they could give her a ride into town.
She left Henry with the horses, making him promise not to get in the pen with them. He agreed and went back to petting Epona on the neck and running his fingers through the mare's mane. "You aren't a normal horse, are you, Epona?" he said with endearment.
He horse lipped his shoulder and cast her head in the direction of the field house near the stables. Henry followed the mare's gaze and saw Armina shooting arrows into a target with the same practiced ease as before.
Henry gave Epona one last pat on the neck and walked over to the Queen of Beasts, who was currently yelling at Regina. "When I run out of arrows, you go and retrieve them; end of story! Of course, I could always cast a bit of a geas on you, couldn't I? Will it come to that? I suppose your head was stuck in the clouds, wasn't it? If that's your problem, I'll put you on floor-cleaning duty, where you won't even see the sky!" she snarled.
"N-no, your majesty," said Regina, running over to collect the arrows.
Armina looked royally pissed, but it didn't deter Henry. "Hey! I thought you were different than she was!" Henry shouted at the shapeshifter.
She turned with an incredulous look on her features. She looked back to Regina and shouted, "Take the target and the arrows to the field house. I'm sure the head maid will find something for you to do." Armina returned her gaze to the boy. "What are you talking about, boy?"
"You're being cruel to her," declared Henry.
"If you knew the things she put me through, you wouldn't pity her. Lucky for her, I'm not as cruel as she was."
"That's not what it looks like to me," he insisted.
She knelt in front of him with a haunted look on her face. "She not only killed my family, but she took my freedom…and my son."
"What?"
"I'm only happy when I can roam. I'm no tame beast," she looked off into the distance. "She also took my only child, Caradoc. When we came here, I still had my husband, but I lost my son. I've never found him anywhere. I don't even know his name in Storybrooke. She's told me that the curse sped up his growth so that I would miss that much more time with my son. She said she added that just for me. That's cruelty, Henry. And now I've seen Baelfire reunited with his father, and I can't help but wonder if Caradoc would even know who I am. He was so little when she enacted the curse…"
The boy was silent for a long time, taking in what she was saying. He thought back to the book, and his face brightened. "I know who your son is."
"Really?" she asked with a biting tone. "Do enlighten me."
"I think his name is Kellan Conroy. He's the town veterinarian."
She nodded her head in mock understanding. "I see. And, um, why should I believe you?"
Henry was sick of the woman talking down to him. He completely ignored the fear of what she could easily do if she were pissed off. "Why should you believe me? I've got the book! This is the same book that told me I could trust you to take everyone home, to return the happy endings! It told me to trust you, Armina. Now you need to trust the book."
Her jaw clenched and unclenched as she glared at nothing in particular. She was clearly upset, and he wasn't sure what might happen. Instead of attacking him like he expected, she sat on the ground, clearly defeated. He sat in front of her, not quite sure what to do.
When the woman looked back at him, a few tears ran down her normally nonchalant face. "I just want my son back."
Henry bit his lip, unsure of what to say. Seeing Armina so emotional was awkward for him. He had a feeling that she never spoke to anyone but her husband about her feelings, and here she was, telling him about her son. He patted her shoulder, trying to console the distraught monarch.
"You really think that man is my boy?" she asked, wiping away some of the tears.
"I know he is. He's the only one that I haven't talked to yet. He's kind of a loner. He's more of an animal person than a people person."
"I could believe that," she said with a weak smile. "You're alright, kid. Do you think you could introduce us or at least point him out for me?"
Henry allowed a cautious smile to spread across his features as he replied, "Yeah, I could do that."
She nodded and stood back up, brushing the grass from her pants. "You can read well, correct?"
"Yeah. I'm one of the best readers in my class," he responded with pride.
"Then you will help me write the spell I need to take us home, alright?" she said.
"Sure," he said as they began to walk back to the mansion. Things seemed to be looking up.