Author's Note: I'm horrible about answering reviews because I hate the PM function of this site but THANK YOU to everyone who has read and commented and you are just AMAZING. Also, mad up to my darling boo artielu for the beta read.
12.
The table in Granny's kitchen is littered with empty plates, half-drunk mugs of tea, and maps of Sagobok and diagrams of Cassidy's mansion scribbled on the backs of shipping invoices and today's newspaper. Outside the apartment, the large clock in the center of the town square not too far away chimes 10 o'clock in the morning.
It feels like it is much, much later.
Emma stretches, listening to the faint sound of Granny talking with her employee (she can't hear a word they're saying but she almost feels sorry for the boy because Granny does not sound pleased with him). Ruby is doing the dishes at the sink, while Belle stares at one of the diagrams of the mansion, chewing her lip in thought.
Belle swears that Killian is being held in the basement ("Rumpel doesn't do his own dirty work" she points out, "but he will when it comes to Killian" and Emma's heart seizes in her chest).
She's nervous - this plan they're hashing out is risky, and could end up with someone (all of them) hurt - but the thought of Killian at the mercy of that monster makes her feel sick, knowing there is so very little she can do to help him.
"What about guards?" Robin asks, leaning on the table. Emma can tell that he's tired - they all are suffering from jet lag and their adrenaline is flagging badly while they brainstorm what to do.
"Not in issue if you're with me. Rumpel only keeps a small security staff - no one would be foolish enough to threaten his home," Belle points out. "There's always the back entrance - " she grabs another map, starts to play with it.
Regina messes with the food in front of her, destroying a scone with her fingers, and Emma is once again appreciative of the fact that they're still here.
"Are you sure you don't want to go with Doc?" Emma asks Regina, who brushes off the crumbs and shrugs. This is not the first time that she's offered to smuggle them out of Eira - Leroy's brother is willing to drive them to Amsterdam or somewhere else so they could catch a flight home - but they both turned the offer down.
"He's our friend too," Regina says quietly, glancing over at Robin and catching her boyfriend's eyes. "I don't think either of us are leaving."
Robin nods. "No offense, your highness, but I've known him far longer than you," he says, "and he's put up with more than his fair share of my -" he clears his throat "shenanigans than needed. If I have to go against a prime minister bent on taking over your country, then I'll do it."
"He's not a monster," Belle protests quietly, and Regina's eyebrows meet her hairline.
"Oh really?" she asks, sarcasm tripping from each word. "What do you call someone that blackmailed you into working for him, ordered you to bring back the princess of your country with her boyfriend as well as kill her bodyguard, and then abducts said boyfriend and holds him hostage until you can bring your future queen to meet him?" Regina shrugs. "And that's just in the past 24 hours. Shall I go on?"
Belle shakes her head. "He's not a monster," she insists.
"So what is he, then?" Emma snaps, patience wearing thin. "If he's not a monster like you keep saying, then would he have ordered Graham's execution or kidnapped Killian?" Belle glances up at her with this outburst, and Emma musters up her strength and courage, keeps her gaze steady until Belle looks away.
"What about this?" Belle asks, pointing to the new route she's drawn through Sagobok to Gold's mansion. "They'll be expecting us anyway," she refers back to her phone, "and I'm pretty sure the cell reception is good."
Emma glances at the map, sliding it over to Regina and Robin. It looks good - about as good as any map, she guesses. "Okay. Ruby, when did Leroy say he would be back with the car?"
Ruby pulls her phone out of her pocket, checks it. "In about ten minutes."
"So we're all clear on what we're doing once we're inside?" Emma checks. Robin and Regina nod, and Belle purses her lips before nodding. "Okay - we've got about ten minutes. Everyone grab what they need before we head out."
Robin pushes back from the chair and Regina follows him, leaving her alone with Belle and Ruby. Ruby grabs the empty mugs off the table and proceeds to clean them, but Emma knows she'll be listening in. She's still not okay with nearly all of her roommates being connected (one way or another) to her home, but she supposes that there's nothing she can do about it.
"Your American accent is really good," Emma tells Ruby, who turns away from the sink and smiles.
"Thanks - I want to be an actress, so I figure I better practice all that I can," she says before turning back to the dishes, and Emma glances back at Belle, who sits with her hands in her lap, watching the exchange between Emma and Ruby as if they're back in their dorm room.
Belle's appearance at Granny's, and the bits and pieces of the story that she's put together, makes Emma wonder what it is about Cassidy that draws the young girl in - power? Connections? Is this just blackmail? She doesn't think that's it, because no amount of blackmail can inspire the amount of loyalty that has shown on occasion during this whole ordeal.
Emma looks at Belle. "Why are you doing this?"
Belle frowns. "What do you mean?"
Emma shifts, moving so that her legs are crossed on the chair. "Why are you helping us?"
"I already told you - "
Emma waves her hand dismissively. "No, I get that - you don't want to see Killian hurt, you don't believe that Cassidy will keep his word. But why are you here in the first place? You only agreed to save your own skin, not his." She looks up at the girl, ready to ask the question she's been curious about all morning. "What is it about him that makes you so loyal?"
Belle smiles wistfully. "Love," she says, as if it's the only answer there is (Emma doesn't buy that).
Emma scoffs. "Really?" she replies. "I can see money, or power, or wealth or connections or something else but - he sounds like a beast. How can you love someone like that?"
Belle just shrugs, the faint smile still on her lips. "I just do. I didn't expect to fall in love with him - when I first met him, he was meeting with my father and they had just had a disagreement. But my father invited him to spend time with us, on our yacht - to broker the deal, I guess - but as I got to know him, I realized that there was good in him, even if only I could see it."
Emma places her hands on the table. "He wants to depose my mother, Belle," Emma says, realizing she sounds like she's talking to a child (and she's not, but Belle is making this seem so simple and it can't be, someone can't have any good when they're trying so hard to take over a country, to destroy someone who never meant to hurt them - )
Belle nods. "I know, and I don't agree with that. Believe me when I say that I love your mother, Emma, and that I respect her as my queen and sovereign."
Emma barks out a laugh. "Yeah? Not enough to follow her orders instead of Cassidy's." Emma pauses, frowns. "You said he had something on your father, but you should have just said that you loved him."
"He does have something on my father - and our relationship is secondary. I'm not doing this because I love him - if that was the case, you'd be in his hands already." The clear conviction she has when she says this chills Emma to the core. "Everything I have done in the past few months - everything I have done against you - has been because of what he has on my father. Lying to your mother, lying to Leroy and Graham - lying to you..." Belle takes a deep breath, squares her shoulders. "That is, until now. Everything that I am doing now, I'm doing because I love him, and because I believe that there still is good in him."
"Why now?" Emma asks. "What changed?"
Belle swallows, and Emma can see her blink back tears. "Graham. He was - " her voice catches and she bites her lip, trying to regain control. "He was nice to me. He took care of me, when we were in the US." She meets Emma's eyes, and Emma shivers (the sadness in their depths mirrors her own). "He was my friend, and I killed him."
The clock in the corner of the room ticks loudly, and Emma studies Belle. She can tell the other girl is serious with her intentions - she does believe that this, whatever this is (rescue? Death trap?) will save Cassidy. Emma's just not sure that the man can be saved anymore, let alone whether he should be.
Besides, that doesn't excuse all that Belle did that got them to this point.
Emma nods, processing Belle's words.
"Even after we get Killian back, I'll never forgive you for Graham," she says, voice tight, a sob gathering in her chest when she thinks about the man. Belle looks away, her face changing (she looks unwell, tired and stressed, and Emma wonders what the cost of all of this actually is for the girl).
"Even after we get Killian back," she replies, "I'll never forgive myself."
Silence settles over the room, heavy and thick, and none of them dare try to break it because Graham is dead and Emma is still coming to grips with that - with the fact that he won't be there to escort her to and from classes or eat lunch with her in the food court (if she even goes back to school now) and she doesn't even know what happened to his body and -
Ruby's phone beeps. "Leroy's back," she tells them.
Emma takes a deep breath, glancing at Belle, who looks oddly brave in spite of the circumstances.
"Let's go save Killian," Emma says.
…
This is not how he thought he would spend today.
Killian goes quietly (because what else can he do? He can't fight, not against Gold and the thugs that are waiting for them at the foot of the stairs). He can't run, because running could very well result in his death.
He stays silent, thinking about Emma and her smile and the way that she looks at him like he's something worth saving, and he takes a deep breath as they put a bag over his head and maneuver him roughly into a waiting car.
"Where are we going?" Killian asks, though he should know better, because all his effort gains him is silence, and the sound of the heavy labored breathing of the gigantic thugs that surround him.
There is a part of him that wants to lash out - to call Gold names, to rant and thrash and cause as much of a ruckus as possible so they'll either kill him now or knock him unconscious and save him whatever Gold has in mind. But he doesn't, because there's Emma now. He's always been good about taking care of himself, but his self-preservation has never extended to another person like it is right now, with Emma, and the thought of making it through this so that he can see her again.
So he keeps his mouth shut.
The ride through the city is full of starts and stops and he traces the map mentally in his head, trying to picture where they're going and figure out the final destination. There are times when Gold mumbles something softly to the driver, who loops back and around and Killian wonders if they're deliberately trying to confuse him, to muddle his senses. Finally, he feels the car go down an incline, and come to a stop, and he realizes that they are here - his final destination.
Killian is pulled roughly out of the car, his left shoulder slamming into the vehicle. He cries out in pain, but the bag muffles it. Ignoring his injury, they drag him half-walking, half-stumbling, until he's thrown into a chair, arms bound behind him, legs tied to the chair as well.
He's surprised to learn, when they take the bag off his head, that he's been here before.
His eyes dart around the room - he's at Gold's residence, he knows this much - taking in the overly-ornate furniture, the heavy bookshelves filled with leather-bound books (to muffle the screams, Gold sneered when he was in this room last time). There is a gaudy chandelier hanging overhead, casting light over the ostentatious use of gold leafing through the room - a library, an office, Killian has no idea what it is except that it is the room where Gold killed Milah.
The hair on the back of his neck stands up, and he can't remain silent any longer.
"Returning to the scene of the crime, mate?" he asks, raising an eyebrow, trying so hard to remain cool despite the turmoil that rages within him (he can still see the way that her body slumped forward in her bonds, the way her dark curls fell in front of her face, hiding the gunshot from his eyes as he pulled and pulled at the ties around his wrists until they bled).
"What crime?" Gold asks coolly, dispassionately, watching the thugs leave and the door close behind them.
This infuriates Killian, and so he snaps, "Are you going to pretend it didn't happen? That you didn't kill your wife in this room?"
Gold leans against the large desk that occupies a corner of the room. He tilts his head, looks at Killian. "I could hardly call her my wife after she took you into her bed, could I?" he responds, and Killian feels a chill go down his spine at Gold's tone of voice - half cruel, half smug, and Gold just continues before Killian can even respond.
"The last time I checked, marriage vows included the words 'for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse' - shame that whore didn't believe in them," Gold points out, and Killian struggles against his bonds (he may not love Milah the way that he loves Emma, the pain of his lost love faded into a dull ache, but he will not have her slandered in front of him without protest).
"Now now, Killian, that will get you nowhere," Gold says, grabbing his cane in his hand. He approaches Killian, walking slowly, limping slightly (this is new - the Gold he knew before never limped). "Not that you're going anywhere, as it is."
"You've got me right where you want me," Killian points out. "So what are you planning to do with me?"
"Take my time," Gold says, and before Killian can blink, the cane is moving towards his face, the solid gold handle making contact with his cheekbone and his vision is blinded by a flash of pain. His head whips to the side and before he can react, before he can take a breath Gold is bringing the cane back for another hit - this time, his ribs. He both feels and hears a cracking in his chest, a sudden and fiery pain that increases in intensity within the space of a few seconds.
"I've waited a long time to do this to you," Gold spits out, teeth gritted, but he takes a step back. "A very long time."
"Milah is dead," Killian says, spitting out blood from where he bit his cheek after Gold hit him. "What more do you want from me?"
"I would have taken your life," Gold tells him, "but I thought you had enough sense to run, and to never think of Eira again."
"What did you hope to gain from letting me live?" Killian asks, finally voicing the question that has kept him awake at night. "Why let me live, and kill her?"
Gold crosses his hands in front of him, holding his cane between his palms. "Because I know you, Killian Jones - you're just like your brother, loyal to a fault, whether it be your country or your family or the woman you loved. Death would have been too kind of a punishment for your actions. I wanted you to suffer, as I did, when you stole my wife."
"Can't steal what's been freely given, mate," Killian points out, enjoying the rage that seems to course through Gold as his interruption. It earns him a hard blow to his knees from the cane, but Killian takes some pride in knowing that he angered the man so much he lost his composure (the pain in his leg distracts him from the pain in his heart when Gold talks about Liam).
"She deserved to die," Gold yells, "and you deserved to live with the knowledge that her association with you, with your ridiculous movement, cost Milah her life. If she hadn't left me for you, she would have been spared. Her death was your fault." Gold stops, struggles to regain composure. When he does, he takes a deep breath and smooths his hand down the front of his suit.
"Of course, we all make foolish mistakes." He pauses, shakes his head though a wry smile spreads across his face. "I didn't think you'd be foolish enough to involve yourself with the princess."
"A mistake," Killian says, "that I would gladly make again." Emma does not to deserve to be part of this, he thinks, fear spreading as he wonders what Gold is planning, if it involves Emma -
"Oh I'm sure you would, but you won't have to - you see, she'll be on her way here by now...just in time," he promises, and the malevolent glee that spreads across his face makes Killian feel sick and frightened.
"Just in time for what? What have you done?" he asks, and Gold merely smiles.
"I've arranged things so that your princess will come to save you, noble hearted daughter of the noble Queen that she is," Gold swings his cane, the metal handle catching Killian below his chin, forcing his head back. "And when she does...you finally become useful. You become more than just a defiant reminder of my regrettable restraint."
Another hard blow lands on his already-injured shoulder, another on the other side of his torso, and a final on his right knee, accompanied by a resounding crack and sharp pain throughout his leg. Gold lets out a laugh, and steps back, and Killian struggles to breathe as pain spreads, radiating outwards from every place the hard head of the cane made contact with his body.
He spits out the blood that pools in his mouth, glaring up at Gold angrily, concern for Emma surging through him (if he can stand the torture long enough to keep Gold's mind off Emma, if Emma does come...)
"Emma is worth more than me," he proclaims, "how useful can I possibly be?"
Gold crouches down so that he's eye-level with Killian. He grabs him by the hair and pulls him up, making him stare him in the face (Killian grits his teeth against the pain, his entire body throbbing, every breath a struggle - Gold must have broken a rib or two).
"You, dearie, have become a bargaining chip," he tells Killian. "Your little princess won't let anything happen to you. Even now, I suspect she's on her way here to try to rescue you." He lets go of Killian's head, and it falls forward, the effort to hold it up too much in the face of all of the pain that screams through his body (he has failed her, this is too much, he can't fight the pain which dulls the edges of his vision- )
"I'm not that important," Killian repeats, spitting out more blood, but Gold just shrugs, and in that moment, Killian wonders just what his life is worth.
He's been here before, frightened for the safety of the woman he loves, but this time it's different. This time, Gold can't just kill Emma and frame it as a domestic dispute turned suicide. Gold can't touch a hair on Emma's head, no matter how much he may want to, because her mother is still the Queen and she is still the next in lime, and his coup has yet to happen, his final plan yet to fall into place (unless this is it, unless - )
"No, you're not," Gold admits, breaking into Killian's thoughts, "but I'm certain she doesn't see it that way."
And as he says that, he raises his cane and brings it down and everything suddenly (mercifully) goes black.
…
Everything happens exactly like Belle says it will.
The personal security lets them in, frisking them lightly and allowing them to pass without many questions (neither of the men will look her in the eye as they search her for weapons, and they fidget nervously once they give her the all clear). She pretends she doesn't mind, holds her head high as they exchange low words with Belle, studying each of their faces, studying their voices. When they finally move, she smiles at each of them, slightly gratified by how deeply uncomfortable they look.
Belle leads them through a hallway and down a staircase, and down another narrow hallway. They stop outside of a closed door, and hesitates (Emma almost wonders if she's going to turn to them, to ask them something, but there is a camera mounted in the corner of the wall above the door - if she does turn, it'll be obvious that something is wrong).
"We're ready," Emma says quietly, the only other sound is the low hum of a heating unit behind a wall somewhere. Belle nods, and when she finally opens a door, Emma can see Cassidy's back. He is talking on the phone, and doesn't know they're behind him. The room is a cross between an office and a library - desk, armchairs, no windows, heavy books on ornate shelves (the decor is too much, too ostentatious, bordering on tacky). He is staring at something and when he finishes his phone conversation he puts his phone in his pocket and his hands behind him, holding a cane that has as smear of blood on its head (Regina gasps, and that is when he turns).
His eyes fall on her immediately, and he bows solemnly. "Your highness - how good of you to join me," he says, gesturing for her to enter the room and when she does, she sees Killian bound to a chair, his entire body slumped forward, and her stomach drops (he can't be dead). She knows her mission here is to set him free, but she also knows that Cassidy is probably looking for her weaknesses, and Killian is her most obvious one (he can't be dead). She allows her eyes to pass over his form one final time before she takes a deep breath and looks back at Cassidy.
"He's unconscious, not dead," Cassidy remarks casually, as if unconsciousness is a common state (maybe it is, when you're an asshole like him). Emma nods, watching as Belle moves to the corner of the room, perching on the back of chair. Cassidy turns his attention to Regina and Robin, who linger behind Emma.
They're here because they have a role to play, but the minute he looks at them, Emma becomes scared (she dragged them into this, it's her fault, she should never have got on that plane, they would never have come here, she's risking their lives, this is never going to work - )
She glances over at Robin, who looks at her from over Cassidy's head, and smiles, and some of her fear abates (slightly).
"I'm afraid we haven't been properly introduced - Rumpel Cassidy," he says, taking a step forward, hand outstretched. He limps towards them, the other hand coming to rest on his cane and smearing blood (Killian's blood) across his left hand (Emma tries not to flinch at the thought, tries to keep her eyes on Cassidy).
Regina glances at Emma, carefully evaluating the situation as Cassidy's extends his hand towards them. She wraps her arms tightly around herself. "Regina Mills," she says, introducing herself, and Cassidy smiles.
"Daughter of the hotel magnate," he responds - of course he knows, Belle must have told him - and Regina reacts appropriately: she smile politely and nods. "I wish we could have met under better circumstances - I admire your father's empire."
"I wish we could have met when you didn't have blood on your hands," Regina says with a pointed glances towards his outstretched hand, which has a small splatter of Killian's blood on it.
Cassidy smirks, and Emma can't tell if he's amused or annoyed by Regina's words. He shakes his head, turning to his attention to Robin, who doesn't bother to introduce himself, wrapping his arm around Regina instead. Cassidy plays off the rebuff astonishingly well (of course he would, he's a seasoned politician), moving away from Robin and Regina which is exactly what Emma wants - for them to be seen and not hurt, to be witnesses to whatever fuckery is about to unfold.
"I'll admit, I'm not shocked that you came rushing to save your love, your highness," Cassidy says, turning back to Emma. "After all, like mother, like daughter."
"I wasn't aware that my father's life was ever in danger," Emma points out calmly, and Cassidy merely shrugs.
"I'm not talking about your father," he remarks, and Emma frowns, confused. From the corner of the room, Belle gasps, which only serves to make Emma more confused (something is going on, something is going on around her and she's not sure but it's not good, it can't be).
"You didn't," Belle says, sounding shocked and Cassidy merely gives her a long, lingering look before turning his attention back to Emma, who is growing more and more confused by the moment.
"Didn't what?" Emma presses, looking from Belle to Cassidy, but Cassidy just smiles at her smugly.
"Let's just say that after many years, all of the pieces have fall into place," he tells her, walking past her towards his desk. He leans against it, crosses his arms over his chest, as waiting for her to ask more questions.
She chooses not to. "I know about your vendetta against my mother," Emma says, squaring her shoulders. "I know how much you hate Killian. I don't know what the two have in common, but I feel like we can at least settle one of these issues today."
"Oh absolutely," Cassidy agrees. "And we will, once your mother arrives."
Emma gasps. "My mother?" she asks, taking a step forward. "What did you do to her? You can't kidnap her." He can't do that - he can't just take the queen and bring her into his pit of despair - that's all kinds of wrong. There are even statutes and conventions about harming a sovereign in such a way…
Emma struggles to maintain control in light of this new information, trying to think of what her mother would want her to do, but right now all the alarm bells are ringing in her head and did she lead her mother into a trap?
"You came here of your own free will, your highness - so will your mother. She's en route from the palace now." There is a faint smile - of victory? - on Cassidy's face, and it makes Emma sick.
Emma wraps her arms around herself, trying to stop the shaking that is starting in her core when she thinks about her mother coming here, risking her life for her foolish mistake (why did she think she could take on Cassidy alone? He has out-planned them every step of the way.). "Why is she coming here?" she asks cautiously, not sure she wants to know the answer but knowing that she needs to hear it - that they all need to hear it.
"Because you're here. Your bodyguard was found dead on the tarmac of the airport, your highness - your mother has been trying to contact you since morning." Cassidy's smile grows wider. "All it took was word from me that I knew where you were, and she came running."
Of course Mary-Margaret would come to wherever her only child was, of course she would seek her out even if it meant going into the enemy's lair - her mother believed in hope, and nothing would stand between her and the hope that she could see her daughter again. Emma sighs, closes her eyes. She's made a mess of everything. She should never have tried to go up against Cassidy - he's been playing this game far longer than she has (she's made such a mess).
"You said all the pieces fell into place," Regina interjects, drawing attention away from Emma, allowing her to breathe for a moment, to collect her thoughts without being under Cassidy's scrutiny.
Cassidy nods. "They have. I have a bargaining chip, in her boyfriend here," he gestures with his cane towards Killian, who groans slightly, who seems to be regaining consciousness slowly (she wonders how long it will take for him to regain it fully). "I have you. And I will have her undivided attention. Finally, matters can be set to rest."
"I don't understand," Emma says to Cassidy, sliding her hands in the pockets of her jeans. "You were paid for your land. What else did you want?"
"It's not the money, princess," Cassidy tells her.
"Then what is it?" Emma demands.
"I lost everything when your mother forced me to sell my land. I had just married my wife, and she became convinced that I simply rolled over for your mother, let her claim the land my father passed on to me. She thought I was a coward. She thought I should have fought harder, but instead I just let the crown seize my land."
Cassidy stops, grits his teeth, and Emma can see years of anger, of frustration, twisting his face into a grotesque mask of a broken and lost man. "She left me, and took my boy with her. And then she found this one here, who was the very opposite of a coward in her mind." He jerks his thumb towards Killian, who is moving his head slightly, another groan escaping his lips (she wants to run over and comfort him, to untie his bounds, but she can't - she has to stay focused on Cassidy, to show some sort of strength).
"So what did you do?" Emma asks trying to draw his attention away from Killian (his pain is her pain - a physical ache inside of her).
"What do you think I did, your highness?" he asks, anger dripping from every syllable.
Emma takes a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. She's got to be careful, treading on dangerous ground right now with this man who clearly doesn't value anyone save for himself. She knows that he won't hurt her, that he can't - she's a valuable commodity to him - but Killian and the others are not safe. Maybe he won't hurt anyone as long as she keeps him talking. "I've heard rumors," she says carefully, cautiously, meeting his eyes.
He arches an eyebrow. "You're waiting for me to admit that I hurt her, your highness?" he asks. "That I tied her up to that chair, and put a bullet in her head? Because I did." He's smiling like a crocodile, and Emma suddenly sees why this man is so intimidating. His hubris is startling, and everything - a decades long quest for revenge - makes so much sense now.
"Are you waiting for me to admit that I will do the same to your lover? I think it's fairly obvious exactly what will happen, your highness, should my demands not be satisfied." Cassidy smiles, and Emma can't look at him anymore. She looks away, at Robin, who looks angry, and Regina, who looks so scared (Emma never thought this was possible, Regina is so tough). Emma can see her tight grip on Robin's hand and arm, and Emma's not sure if it's to keep him from attacking Cassidy or to keep herself calm.
Emma shakes her head. "And you decided to take over my mother's country? Your own country to replace the land you sold? What are you hoping to achieve?"
"Respect," he says, spitting out the word before continuing, a sneer spreading across his face. "I've spent years of my life trying to gain a modicum of respect from the woman who ripped everything away from me."
"Sounds like you did a good job of that yourself, mate," Killian says feebly and it takes every fiber of Emma's being to not to reach for him. He glances at her, face swollen and bruised. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Emma tells him, looking back at Cassidy. "He won't touch me."
"You're right, dearie," Cassidy agrees, "but I don't need to hurt you to make my intentions known."
There is a commotion from the hallway, the click of high heels against the tile floor outside, and soon Emma's mother bursts into the room. Her eyes quickly find Emma and she runs to her, wrapping her arms around her, and it feels so good to be held by her mother, so good to have her hand stroking Emma's hair and her voice saying Emma, Emma, I'm so happy you're all right.
Emma embraces her mother, inhaling the perfume that is hers (apples and honeysuckle, she's missed her mom so much) before breaking away.
"Where's Dad?" she asks quietly, and Mary-Margaret strokes her daughter's face delicately.
"At the palace - I came here on my own, as agreed," she says, for Cassidy's benefit (obviously). Mary-Margaret takes a moment to study her daughter before she even realizes that there are others in the room. She sees Killian, badly beaten, and her eyes narrow.
"I've met you before," she says slowly, taking a step forward before Emma grabs her arm, keeps her where she is. Killian nods.
"Aye, your majesty," he says, bowing his head (just the sound of his voice, rough and strained, causes Emma pain). "We met several years ago."
Mary-Margaret frowns, her brows forming a deep V as she studies Killian, then turns towards Cassidy.
"I assume you're responsible for this young man's current state?" she asks politely. Cassidy does not bow, does not demure before his queen (Emma should have known better, she shouldn't have expected him to show a modicum of respect towards her mother).
"You assume correctly," he confirms, and Emma can feel her mother tense. She tightens her jaw and raises her chin, and Emma watches as she moves so that Emma is behind her, blocking her from Cassidy's view.
"Your issues are with me," Mary-Margaret says firmly. "Leave them out of it."
"His issues are ridiculous," Emma interjects, and her mother sighs, reaching behind her for her Emma's hand, squeezing it in warning to keep Emma quiet. Emma curses under her breath. She's letting her anger show, and she shouldn't, not in front of her mother or Cassidy.
"His issues are his own," Mary-Margaret tells her, "and while I may not agree with him, they have nothing to do with anyone but me." She sighs again, and Emma watches as her shoulders sag, and though she cannot see her mothers face, it's clear that the queen feels defeated.
"You and I have a history, Prime Minister Cassidy," Mary-Margaret says. "I know it's one that neither of us are proud of, and I am more than aware of what you have been doing to diminish my power, and to harm my reign. I'm here because I'm tired of this constant struggle. I've done everything I could to keep my daughter safe, to keep my country strong, but no matter what I do - no matter how much hope I have that I've made the right choice, you manage to outmaneuver me. What will it take to end this before any more blood is spilled? Must I abdicate? What must I do to make sure that no one else is hurt or killed on my account?"
Emma glances at Regina, who is staring at her mother with an open mouth, before the words sink in. She's so surprised that her mouth falls open slightly before she closes it, quickly (her mother always told her that was a spectacularly undignified action). Her head is spinning at the thought that her mother would even consider abdicating but she did send Emma away, tried to give her what could be her best chance - and she has ruined it. If Emma had never come back, maybe her mother would have been able to keep her throne (why does she never consider the consequences of her actions? What sort of queen doesn't think about that?)
"Oh, my dear, I don't need you to do anything that hasty..." Cassidy says. "You and I both know that the people of Eira love their queen. But don't forget that while I don't own the people, I do control most of Eira already. Your parliament, civil service, military officers, and most of the enlisted are already mine. Business leaders, major industry - mine. Blackmail and bribery are far more efficient at controlling a country than birthright. It's been quite easy, really."
"Then what would suffice? What can I do to make amends for the slight you believe I gave you all those years ago?" Mary-Margaret asks, and Cassidy merely smiles.
"I want an apology."
"All this for an apology? That's your plan?" Emma asks, outraged, but Mary-Margaret turns her head sharply, giving Emma a frustrated look that freezes her in her tracks (she is out of her depth here, stepping into a feud that goes back for far too long).
"You owe me more than an apology, but that's the start. I want adequate compensation for my land. I want your daughter," he points to Emma, "to marry my son. I want him to have the life I always intended for him, the life he deserves - wealthy, with all of his needs and desires met, and people bowing to him, not the other way around. And you will bear his children, including the next king or queen of Eira. My blood will sit on the throne of Eira forever."
"No!" Emma objects at the same time as Mary Margaret, who says, "Absolutely not - I've seen how your son looks at my daughter."
Cassidy chuckles at their response, leans heavily on his cane. Mary-Margaret shakes her head, and Emma darts a quick glance at Killian, who is staring at one particular spot of blood on the floor.
"Take my throne, take my legacy, but you cannot take my daughter's freedom. What else?" Mary-Margaret asks. "What else do I need to do to appease you?"
"I'm afraid I've given you my terms," Cassidy says smugly. "I won't accept anything else.
"And what if we don't agree?" Emma asks. Cassidy merely reaches into his coat pocket, and pulls out a small pistol.
"The young man dies," he says, making the decision implacably clear, because even if Mary-Margaret doesn't know who Killian is, she will not risk another one of her subjects, not by the way that she flinches at the sight of the gun.
"Cassidy," she says, "Your grievance is with me, not my daughter. Leave her out of this."
"That's where you're wrong. My grievance is with her as much as it is you, because one day she will rule this country when you are gone. Your family owes my family, your majesty, and I will not let either of you forget it."
"Rumpel," Belle calls from her corner of the room. "This is too much."
"Kindly keep your comments confined to areas you know about, like books and how to kill people," he snaps at Belle.
Mary-Margaret turns to her daughter, runs her hands down Emma's shoulders and arms. "Emma," she says softly, and Emma's eyes flick upwards, meeting her mother's.
"This has gone on too long. I don't want to live in fear anymore that someone will hurt you to get to me. I don't want to worry that you won't be safe - "
"You did what you thought was right," Emma says, swallowing harshly (she wants to look at Killian, but she doesn't, because looking at him would break her heart). "You offered him a fair settlement, from what I've heard."
Mary-Margaret nods. "I tried. I did what I thought would take care of our country. I never thought it would end up like this."
Emma's lower lip quivers, and she looks back at Killian now, knowing his life is on the line, that if her mother doesn't agree, that Cassidy will kill him. Mary-Margaret takes a step closer, whispers to her daughter, "Who is he?"
Emma turns away, looks down at the ground, emotions swirling inside of her before looking up at her mother. "His name is Killian," she says, and before she can add more, her mother's expression softens.
"You love him," she says, glancing over towards Killian, awe and something else apparent in her voice. "Emma, I - "
Before she can finish and before Emma can respond, Cassidy calls out "Tick-tock, your majesty," from behind them.
Her mother takes a deep breath, and one final look between Killian and Emma before leaning forward to press a kiss on her forehead (and with that kiss, Emma can feel her freedom fade, can feel her future closing in on her like a dark shadow, threatening to consume her).
"Kill me."
Emma turns suddenly, heart racing because that was Killian's voice, Killian speaking to Cassidy (when she looks at him he's so focused on Cassidy, jaw clenched and voice tight, and panic starts to rise inside of her). "Just do it. You want to do it. You've wanted to for years, since Milah left you for me. So do it. Just get it over with."
"No," Emma steps foward, "Killian, no - "
"I've done nothing but bring chaos into your life," he says softly, meeting her eyes and her heart breaks. "I can't save your crown or your mother's crown or even my own life, but I can save you. I fucked up years ago, Emma, and I'll always have to pay for that mistake - at least, while he's around," he adds, glancing at Cassidy.
"But I don't care!" she says, starting to move towards him but her mother holds her back. "I don't care - I just want to be with you." She doesn't care if her life has been turned upside down in the past month - it's been the best month of her life, because instead of being the princess or royalty, she's been Emma.
"I know," he says, a sad smile spreading across his face. "And I want the same. But I know you'll make a wonderful queen, and I'll be damned if I'm going to prevent that from happening." He laughs, a raspy laugh, and spits out blood onto the carpet. "I'm halfway dead already."
There is an ache in her heart as she looks at him, beaten and bruised, broken and lost, but with that comes clarity. She's tried to save him, to protect him from Cassidy, but she's failed miserably. There is still one thing she can do (she hopes it will work).
"No," she says calmly. "I won't let you die." She turns to her mother.
"Do you trust me?" she asks, and Mary-Margaret nods, though there is a look of apprehension on her face.
Then, she turns to Cassidy. "You said that if I marry your son, you will let Killian go, right?"
"That is correct," Cassidy says. Emma nods.
"And if my mother apologizes, then you will stop threatening her throne?"
"Yes."
"And if we don't, you'll kill Killian." Cassidy pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers.
"Your highness, the more you keep talking, the more I'm not sure that I actually want you to ascend to the throne or marry my son," he remarks, trying to sound sarcastic but falling flat.
"Too bad, because I'm agreeing to it." She doesn't look at Killian, only focuses on Cassidy (they are too close to everything falling apart, they are too close to let things slip now - )
"Emma, no!" Killian yells, but Emma is so focused that she doesn't react. There will be time, later, to explain (she blinks back tears at the anguish in his voice).
"Excellent," Cassidy remarks with a genuine smile. "Perhaps I was too hard on you earlier, your highness - that was a smart decision."
Emma nods, glancing over Cassidy's shoulder at Regina, who looks absolutely stricken. "Maybe," she says softly. "But now you have to let Killian go."
"I'm afraid I can't let that happen just yet, your highness," Cassidy says. Mary-Margaret narrows her eyes.
"We've already agreed to your terms - let him go," she says, clearly exasperated with him, and Cassidy shakes his head.
"Ah, I didn't say when I would release him. The young man and I have some unfinished business to attend to first," he says, and Emma snaps.
"Then finish it," she tells him, and Cassidy merely shrugs.
"As you wish." Cassidy walks behind Killian and, with a pocket knife, cuts Killian's bonds, gun still in his hand.
Killian stands up, shakes out his hands. He turns to Cassidy warily, cautiously, as if expecting another surprise. "Are you sure about this? You'll let me go free in exchange for her word?" he asks (he does not look at Emma).
"As free as can be," Cassidy remarks, extending the hand without the gun.
Killian swallows, closes his eyes for a moment before taking a deep breath and extending his hand as well.
There is a loud noise, and Emma blinks -
and Killian screams over and over and over again, and there is so much blood, and someone is yelling "Stop!" and Emma isn't sure if it's her or someone else and -
"Let this be a constant reminder of touching things that don't belong to you," Emma thinks she hears Cassidy say.
"Rumpel!" someone yells, and Emma watches as Killian collapses on the floor, holding his hand to his chest and her mother tries to reach for her but she struggles, tries to launch herself at Killian (there are tears streaming down her face and she is crying and her mother lets go and she races across the room, reaching for him and there is so much blood - )
"Rumpel no!" someone says, and she shucks off her sweater, she has to stop the bleeding of his hand (oh god his hand, Killian's hand, Cassidy shot his hand) and she presses it to the wound, presses it and holds and Killian's screaming -
Emma looks down at Killian, and then up at her mother, and Regina and Robin who are waiting in the wings, and something is going on but she just keeps looking at Killian, keeps staring at his face, his eyes falling on her, bright vivid blue in the paleness of his face.
…
Regina is going to be sick.
She has never seen that much blood, has to look away because she can't stand her own blood let alone Killian's, she cannot handle this it's too much, too much all at once, blood on Emma's shirt as she clutches Killian and his wounded hand to her, as she looks down at him, crying, and Regina shifts closer to Robin.
She's going to be sick.
She's been on the edge of a breakdown since they stepped into this room and saw Killian unconscious, her adrenaline soaring, everything heightened as she waits for Cassidy to pay attention to her and Robin, to ask why they are there but it's apparent he likes an audience (which is fine, because he certainly has their attention after shooting Killian but then again, Belle is creating a distraction all her own).
This was not part of the plan, Regina thinks, unless it was added later, when she was grabbing her charging phone from the bedroom.
"Rumpel, NO!" the other woman yells, holding a gun up to Cassidy in a way that reminds Regina of the other night and Graham (she grips Robin's hand tighter as she remembers it, the memory so sharp that it's causing a visceral reaction in her, she's really going to be sick -). "This is not what you promised me!"
"No, it's what I promised me," Cassidy says, almost gleeful while Killian bleeds out on the floor and the rest of them stand around too shocked to move and Belle is standing there, still pointing a gun (bookworm has teeth).
"You said you wouldn't hurt them," Belle says, her voice full of rage. "You lied to me."
"I didn't lie," Cassidy points out, "I said I wouldn't kill him. I never promised you I wouldn't hurt him. Details, dearie."
"Well it's a good thing that I called an ambulance," Belle says (if she bluffing? Regina can't even tell with this girl anymore). Cassidy's face goes dark.
"You didn't," he says, jaw tensed, and he turns to face Belle, giving her his full attention. To her credit, Belle doesn't wilt under his gaze - she just stands there, brave and steady in the face of danger.
No wonder they chose her as Emma's bodyguard.
"Did you lie when you said you loved me?" Belle asks, the gun still leveled at Cassidy's face. "Was that another lie?" Her voice cracks on the last word, and she swallows harshly, trying to remain composed.
Cassidy's face changes completely as Belle talks and he raises his hands, gun pointing at the ceiling. "Belle, that was no lie."
"Why should I trust you?" she says. "You told me you wanted to make amends with Killian. I knew something wasn't right, but I tried to believe you. I was foolish, and I wanted to believe you. I am DONE believing you."
She cocks the gun. "Sometimes people lie because they don't know any better. Sometimes people lie because they're scared. I thought maybe that was you, that you were afraid. But I see it now. You lie and steal because you can, because you're good at it, because it's the only way you think you can get what you think you deserve - their pity, or their obedience, or their love, or their money. You are never content with what you have - you always want more and you don't care who you have to hurt to get it. You lie because you are a deceitful, horrible monster, Rumpel Cassidy."
Regina feels frightened, because the look on Cassidy's face has gone from amused to distraught to vengeful and angry, just as it was a few minutes ago, and he tightens his grip on his gun.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," he says, devoid of any of the emotion that was present in his earlier plea, and he aims the gun towards Belle -
- But just like with Graham, she is faster than him, and soon blood is blossoming through his pant leg. He gasps in surprise before falling to the ground, reaching for the area above his knee with a cry (more blood, Regina is swallowing the bile rising in her throat - )
"Be careful - I might have nicked the femoral artery," she tells him. "Bet you're glad I called that ambulance now, aren't you, dearie?"
He struggles to say something, to reach out to her, clearly in pain, but Belle steps over him, walking towards Regina. "Did you get that?" she asks.
Regina lets out a breath slowly, reaching for the microphone that Ruby hid tastefully in a scarf, and the small wire that runs to the phone in her pocket which Cassidy's guards failed to take, probably because they were with Belle. She pulls out the wire, holds the phone up to her ear. "I don't know - did you get that?"
"Loud and clear," Ruby says. "Robin's as well. I'm already making duplicates."
"And the ambulance?"
"Belle didn't call one in, but we did when we heard that Killian was hurt."
Regina lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding - Killian will be okay. It's a gunshot wound to his hand, and he's in shock but Emma's keeping pressure on it and help is on the way.
Ruby keeps talking in her ear and she tries to focus but the adrenaline is fading and she is so exhausted right now. "The royal guards are coming as well - Leroy is with the Prince, and he's told him what's happened - they'll be coming to get you soon."
"Thank you, Ruby," Regina says, watching Emma and Killian in the corner of the room, so wrapped up in each other that they have no idea what is going on.
"Thank you - it was your idea to record whatever happened."
It had been Regina's idea, spawned from a story she heard her mother telling the Greek Crown Princess while on their yacht one summer – blackmail and wire tapping and clever uses for a phone, and it came to her sleep-deprived mind as they debated ideas at Granny's table. Lucky for them, Leroy's brother Dopey was tech-savvy enough to hack their phones, and with Belle's help and a downloaded app, they were set.
"Promises made under duress don't hold up in a court of law," Regina says quietly. "That might be the most important thing my mother ever taught me."
"Yeah, well, you just might have saved this country."
Regina doubts that but she nods anyway, even if the other girl isn't here. She keeps listening to Ruby say something else, but her attention is focused on the Queen and on Belle, who is kneeling in front of her, placing the gun at her feet. There is no small amount of tension in Belle's body as she ignores the cries of her lover and refuses to make eye contact with her Queen.
"I'm sorry," she says. "I'm so very sorry for what I've done."
The Queen glances from Emma to Belle to Regina and Robin, poise completely broken, and Regina can't blame her. All that's happened in the past fifteen minutes has been a lot to handle. She takes a deep breath before turning to Belle and saying, "I hope you understand that you'll be under arrest."
Belle nods. "Yes, your highness. And I'm aware of the charges."
The Queen nods, and looks at the gun apprehensively. She exchanges words with Belle that are too low for Regina to hear. Robin wraps his arm around Regina, who slips her phone into her pocket (she's too tired to care if Ruby is still talking) and leans her head against his shoulder.
Just then, they hear sirens – ambulances and police cars, she knows – and within minutes there are paramedics and police who come flooding into the basement. A man with blond hair runs for the Queen first, then Emma, and Regina realizes he must be the Prince. Gold and Killian are taken away quickly, Emma and her father following the ambulances while the Queen lingers, ensuring that Belle is put in handcuffs and taken away.
"At least he'll be taken care of," Robin remarks, as they watch their friend leave.
"Yeah," Regina agrees, wrapping her arms around his chest an pressing her face into his flannel shirt. "Oh my god you smell."
Robin takes an exaggerated sniff of her hair. "You too, love."
"Think that we'll get a shower sometime soon?" Regina asks.
"Hopefully," a voice says behind them, and they both turn to find Emma's mother, the Queen, behind them. "I'm sorry we weren't properly introduced – I'm Mary-Margaret, Emma's mother."
She holds out a hand in greeting, and Regina hesitates before taking it and attempts a curtsy (the royals she knows don't have a throne or a crown anymore and she's not quite sure what to do) but Mary-Margaret does not seem to be bothered at all by her lack of proper protocol.
"Regina Mills," she says, "and this is my boyfriend Robin Locksley."
"How very nice to meet you both," Mary-Margaret says. "Are you friends with Emma?"
Regina nods. "Yes. And Killian."
"Her boyfriend?" Emma's mother asks, and Regina feels a bit awkward at discussing the particulars, but if one thing is for sure, Emma and Killian are quite together.
"Yes – he's my roommate," Robin tells her, and the Queen smiles.
"They're both heroes," a voice behind them says – Leroy, who must have arrived with the prince. "Without them, we would never have collected hard evidence of Gold's crimes against the crown, or been known to send help."
"I thank you. I would certainly like to learn more about both of you and why exactly you are here," the Queen says. "Would you mind terribly if you rode back with me? Emma's father is with her and I think it would be best that you get settled in at the palace. You both look exhausted."
Regina looks at Robin, then nods. "That would be fantastic. Thank you, your highness."
They head up the stairs, out the door and into the waiting limo, and Regina falls into the comfy seat next to Robin, resting her head on his shoulder. She allows her breathing to slow down, listening to Leroy explain to the Queen everything that has happened, and drifts off to sleep.