New chapter finally up,
Not much to say other than apologies for it's lateness, thanks to all that commented - I hope this appeases and happy reading - feel all torn up about the new season
I don't own OUAT - if i did I would really get rid of Emma, she just irritates me so much and Robin to - honorable son of a B**** for picking his wife - I mean he said to death do us part... She died already, he's free but no... Stupid Emma, hope Elsa freezes her arse in the next one.
But yay for Maleficent coming back... Whose excited? This person.
Anyhoo enjoy.
Cora could say that she was a patient person. After all it was only very recently that she and her husband had taken the throne of the late King Xavier, after much sorrow and deep mourning - mostly from the simpleton she was married to, but eventually he did take up his rightful princely duties he was born responsible for and finally made something of his life by taking control of the Kingdom.
Of course it wasn't all without its struggles. In fact if it weren't for her he would have still been the useless weakling she slowly was coming to loathe with each passing day – he should have been thanking her that she had lifted him from his miserable lowly rank of the third Prince.
He was never going to amount to anything stuck in his brothers shadows and quite frankly she was tired of it... yes it was all well being called a princess, but it was meaningless… worthless as the paper it was written on, being only a Duke she was classed as nobility not royalty, and therefore didn't have the power that she needed.
She had no say in how things went. No real opinion that held worth to any of his family should they ever meet. She saw the way they looked at her. Oh yes, she may have saved the kingdom from financial ruin but they still saw her for the peasant she originally was.
Such an ugly word, it made her shudder to even imagine the awful Mill in which she used to live with – and the bastard of an Uncle that was lower than dirt. She swore than she was more that and now sitting in dresses that could have fed them for a month, wearing Jewels that could have bought the house thrice over and still had enough left for savings, she said it again.
She was worth more.
Which was why she had to act, Henry was just too spineless to be the man who his father had taught him to be… She didn't know what it was, maybe it was the fact that his wife held more of an aspiration then he that turned him into the pathetic man who cowered before her today, maybe it was the fact that he subconsciously knew his life was going nowhere she had no clue… And not wanting to really.
But if she didn't do something to shift their positions around then being the princess in all but true power was all she could ever hope to be.
That simply wouldn't do.
There was a clear power deficiency within the Kingdom that needed to be dealt with, and she was more than gracious enough to restore the rightful leaders to the top. So using what she was most known for – her mind - the magic came later – she devised a way to bring about their downfall and what better way than organize trading talks with the Whites.
How she hated them. They with the most of everything – the best stronghold, though the stupid fool didn't realize just how much reverence everyone looked at his family with, the best negotiations with other Kingdoms, not as outcast as George but not as neutral as Midas was to afford total cut off – they straddled the line between being respected for the family they used to be and tolerated yet looked down upon the deviant's they had become.
Oh of course her husband was the exception – he couldn't bare the fact that the people he had grown up with had looser morals than a whore surrounded by visiting pirates when it came to honor and the ethical code in which he stood by, but the fact was that he simply was too bland to be noticed for the kind man he was, was the blank spot ignored by many except those without true status.
The commoners loved him – the royals took no notice – something had to change.
So she sowed the seeds of their deaths and watched from afar as their carriage went over the now destroyed halfway bridge in an accident many had called tragic yet inevitable freak loss.
The way they went over may have been natural, but the storm that helped was anything but. She stood on the platform that held their bodies ever the loving and caring wife as her husband wept over the loss of his family. The entire Kingdom had turned out to mourn their passing though she did suspect that they merely came to see if it was true and no doubt went to celebrate after.
She knew they held no love for the now deceased King; he was a bitter man – caring naught but the interest of himself and occasionally his family when he thought his succession in compromise. He was the one that taught her love was weakness, and she never forgot that – for it she would always be in debt, but the difference was that whilst he played the man with no heart, she lived it.
Which was why it was so easy to see him fall, they once looked down at her from the floor, and it was only fair she do the same. And now standing over their bodies she had to thank him once more for finally doing her the biggest favor of all and allowing the people who would do far more for the Kingdom then he or his rat older sons ever could.
She had the means and the motivation to turn their crumbling farce of a realm around, and she had been doing – sure it may have been with a good dose of fear and hate but that was balanced out by the unfortunate kindness the fool King showed his people.
She grew tired of his pandering ways which was why she was now sat in the study that used to belong to the previous king - now hers - across from George. She had been curious about why he had dared come back to visit again. What with the way she laughed him out the door the last time she didn't think his pride would allow for a repeat.
The idiotic fool had come asking for assistance in his war on the Whites. Did he think her in the same boat? Did he think her to be in the same gene pool that allowed for morons to be monarchs? She may not have been born blue but she was far more than he could ever be. A lot less stupid to and so it was with the barest of irritation that she allowed him in.
He made his way into her private room. All smiles and acts of being the gracious King that wasn't in the middle of a pointless fight he was losing, but instead the calm and composed royal as he thanked the help that escorted him and took the seat across from her, she was watching him and had done ever since he stood in the doorway. She greeted him with all the pleasantries of a welcoming host but underneath was looking for hints that would give away the reason as to why he had come back.
Clearly he couldn't have been here to ask again. That would just bring his already low standard she had of him down even further but smiled nevertheless and implored him to sit as soon he was given a drink as the servant left the room leaving them alone.
He smiled at her and titled his glass in her direction. "Cora."
The brunette returned his gesture with a slight tilt of her head. "George, what an unexpected pleasure, I thought for sure you put off our little kingdom… Our last meeting was somewhat of a bitter turnout."
He kept his smile tight but the slight twitch of his cheek muscle had her smirking. He smiled to save face and chuckled. "My dear our last meeting was wrought with tensions I'll admit was my doing, a war isn't the most relaxing of pastimes you know."
Pursing her lips, she was idly amused at the flippant way he called this war as nothing more than an indulgent fancy when he was on the losing end, but responded with a throaty chuckle of her own.
"I'll bet."
Reclining back she faced the man across from her. It wasn't often she met someone who was had the same ideology as she when it came to matters of state. They both took what they wanted without thought for the collateral damage they created, not unless it served to affect them after – they both ruled with a steady hand and an ironclad hold to ensure that the people under their control knew exactly who it was they had to face if ever they do wrong.
Both had been called malevolent in the way they ran things. Councils in both Kingdoms seemed to be made up of men as old as the dust in the library's and she never had the time or patience to deal with them – absolute, that was how she liked things and if they didn't then they got no more chances to try to oppose. She could have almost called him kinsmen and maybe if things had been different, maybe it was him she would have married.
Only he was far too dangerous to ally with without an escape route at the end. They were too much alike to get along and for all his faults the one thing she couldn't call him was weak, she wouldn't have been able to mold and manipulate him like she had with Henry – she also would have been queen to a Kingdom in worse shape than this when Xavier had been alive.
They may have been the closet things to allies that didn't try to kill each other after each meeting but the very big difference between them was that he had been born into high society, the silver spoon that had once been in his mouth blinded him from seeing how the lesser lived. She had been that once and so knew what it took to ensure her Kingdom stayed afloat.
His was disgraced and tarnished and if it weren't for the simple question of why he was once more darkening her doorstep she would have sent him back with a very strong reminder not to come to her again until this petty fight was done.
"I have to say George. I was surprised to hear from my guard that you had come once more… Didn't I make myself clear the last time that I want no part in this war?"
The man took his time in replying. He slowly finished his drink making sure to take his time – he knew her, she had a very short fuse for those who had come to her but yet could wait years in order to rise up the ranks of society… It did baffle him at the reverse roles of traits but smiled at her once more her hardened face told him he had better speak soon but with what he had come for, he knew he could wait.
She placed her elbows on the surface. Something she would have killed another for but she used them as a prop to rest her head on her hands as she stared back. He was starting to annoy her, something he had been doing on hearing he had come back and now had the gall to sit and make idle of the time she had seen fit to bestow him with.
"Need I remind you, George, that it was you who had come to me – as you know I'm a very busy woman and so if you have come here for something other than to drink my wine then speak, or I will have to ask you to kindly leave."
That was his first and only warning in what was her nicest way of putting things before she got really mad, by then she would have put an end to this war all together because King or no she would have killed him. Something he seemed to take note of in the way she spoke – the saccharine tone that had him sitting up straighter.
"Very well, I came here today to ask you one thing, do you think me a fool."
It wasn't often she was – but the first time in a while Cora was officially lost on the conversation as she looked at him. "I'm sorry?"
"I was sitting in my study, doing the usual – reports, budgets when notice a note that was left on my desk." She kept her gaze on him not once keeping up with where this was going; it seemed he was indeed entirely far thicker than what she had given him credit for as she listened to him ramble.
"This note happened to be from my spy I sent in the camp, it seems that… Somehow – he has been getting wind of my plans, blocking my next move and always one step ahead of me."
"Nothing new there then." The glass in his hand shook as he fought to contain his anger. "Naturally I wanted to see how this was possible – I told next to no one save my Son about my workings and yet they still got out."
She refrained – with a lot of effort, to quell the urge to reply that it might have been his thick skulled son that had let them slip, it wasn't the first time he had given away state secrets in favor of some passing fancy, it was another of the reasons they differed after all.
"He's been there for over a month now and so far hasn't been able to work out who it might have been –no one from my side has gone to visit and it seems everyone is tight-lipped over there."
"Hmm, honor counts for something then it seems" She smirked at his expression. She did enjoy winding him up, even he didn't bring nothing of worth to her the fact he left disgruntled was enough to make the time bearable.
"He may not have managed to find the perpetrator just yet, but he did find something else, something rather interesting and highly unexpected."
Now he was just boring her. She sighed heavily making it clear that the level of patience she had, was dwindling which further seemed to enrage him more.
"He saw you Cora."
Once more she failed to keep up with what he was saying and lifted her head a little to look at him. He was so steadfast in his resolve that she almost believed him – if she knew for a fact that she had been nowhere near Whites camp.
"I'm afraid you've lost me George… Has being on the end of a failing fight finally turned you into the mad King everyone is calling you." She didn't get to finish as he shot up from his seat. He let the glass drop as it smashed to the floor and he turned his thundering eyes on her.
"Do not play me for a fool, your Majesty!"
Still never moving though she itched at the urge to rip his heart out, she merely kept her contact with the furious man. "I think you are doing that quite well on your own George." She refused to call him by his title serving only to draw his ire. He seemed to have delusions and so would not pander to his tantrum now
"So tell me… How is it that my man just happened to find a person who looks like you, granted a few slight differences but nonetheless wandering around Whites camp - incidentally only a few months after I made the request of you joining my armies in bringing him down?"
Closing her eyes she fought to ever increasing urge to get rid of the man now he had far overstepped his mark and considering she didn't suffer fools at all it was a miracle he still stood. But clearly he thought her involved in something and so decided against all her screaming judgements to keep him around just until she got to the bottom of whatever half-cocked notion he had.
"Perhaps your man was drunk? I hear that your poor excuse of an army does nothing but these days, after all – it's not like you are the sort of King who would get his hands dirty for the sake of his men now is it."
He was murderous – that much she could see but he knew there was nothing he could so lest he incurred her wrath which was far greater than that of his own as he lowered himself so he was near her level.
"He followed this person… To the edge of the forest of the wastelands, he saw her using magic. The only person I know who holds anything of the sort is you," He kept quiet about knowing Rumpelstiltskin for reasons of his own as he waited for her to speak.
She was about to hit him – mystery be dammed when it hit her. She tried to keep her face from paling but the man was watching her like a hawk and saw the slight change in pallor, and like a rabid dog smelling blood he knew there was something – now - she wasn't telling if the way she had shut up was indication.
"Are you alright my dear, you're looking a little ill all of a sudden. I hope it's not from anything I might have said."
She lifted her eyes to meet his now smug look and it took all her Queenly decorum to not hit him like the bar maid she used to be. Gripping the side of the desk she tried hard not to show anymore that might make him push further though it was now going to be hard. The man lived for blackmail and now if what he had said was true, if he found out then she would be at his mercy.
There was only one person in the entirety of the realm that he could mistake her for, and the fact that he was here accusing her meant that he had – that meant one thing.
Regina was close.
It had been a while since she had thought about the child she had abandoned. The second child she had given up, in all honesty she never expected her to survive – without the care only a royal could give her she didn't think the little girl would last especially with what the wretched little thing had done to her, who would have wanted to take in such a creature.
But now it seems that not only did she survive but now she had surfaced and within the encampment of the White King no less. The question was why was she there? She looked back to see his half gloating look thinking he had her, well in a way he did but not for the reason he was expected – this was far worse than him assuming she had doubled crossed him.
She got it now… But this brought far worse repercussions for her then it ever would him… What if people had already seen Regina and thought her familiar from somewhere? If the idiot in front of her and his spy had got them mixed up then it would only be a matter of time before they put the pieces together and think a conspiracy or something of equal scandal.
She needed to fix this she needed to personally see just what he meant about her being within the Kings camp. He also mentioned her using magic. That had her wary a little – of course it was fate that Regina know magic – what with her father being the dam dark one – he was made of the stuff and the issue of that curse… it was bound to come out soon.
But what she still didn't know and that made her cautious. Just how much did she know? Was she stronger, could she beat her if it came to a fight. She had to work it all out but there was still the problem of the man in front of her. She glanced at him once more before taking a deep breath. She would sort this but for now she had to throw him off the mark.
So sitting back she shrugged and with an air of one who had been caught red-handed, replied. "Alright… Say it was me – I hardly think you're in any position to do anything about it."
The look of glee instantly fell from his face on hearing her confession. His face hardened once more as the steely gaze returned to his eyes. "You said you wanted nothing to do with this fight,"
She tilted her head conceding to her first statement. "So I did, but that doesn't mean I can't drop in now and then on the opposition… After all Leopold is a fellow royal. There are such things as diplomatic visits as you know so well."
"If you are trying to usurp me in this from the inside-"
"What I did during my time there is none of your business, and if you think you can intimidate me… Need I remind you to look outside the window?"
He stood tall, he didn't need to look. He knew all too well what she did to those that tried to get the better of her, and knew she would do the same to him. But the fact that she had lied, it had him seething.
"Fine – but it better not mess up my plans."
She had to laugh at that, her cold chuckle filling the air. "Your plans? Didn't you just say that you have a spy running around because someone was giving those plans away?"
She stood rising slowly from her chair letting him know that the conversation was finished. "Next time that brain of yours tells you to do something suicidal, instead of coming here and raising your voice knowing full well what it is I could have done? Go do something productive – join a troupe of village idiots I hear your Kingdom's full of them."
He bristled but didn't reply as she moved around her desk. Her eyes moved to the closed-door behind them in a very large hint. He knew there was no more to say and that his trip had been wasted so turned and without a word, strode to the door and wrenched it open. She watched as he felt in more of a fury then that he came but she paid him no heed, he knew the way out.
She now had a much bigger problem to deal with and it was in the form of a complete mystery.
She needed to find Regina. She needed to see just what her agenda in the other Kings fight was and more importantly, just how versed she was in the ways of magic. If she had to come up with a way to get rid of her than she needed to know all about the younger girl so she had the upper hand.
With all right in her world. Maleficent made her way to the younger girl's chambers. She had a sneaking suspicion that she had taken an ingredient for a Potion she was making and fed it to her horse or was going to and she just wanted to catch her off guard and confirm her suspicions as she pushed on the door. She found the room to be empty as she entered and looked around.
It wasn't unusual to find the younger girl someplace else. If she wasn't outside then she was in the kitchen and so just decided to look. She glanced around the room - her nose crinkling at the sight and state the room was in – clothes everywhere and she was just lucky to have found a clear spot to stand in and dreaded going any further as she waved her hand as she moved things around the room.
Satisfied that nothing was going to attack her she proceeded to her drawers as they opened with a flick of her finger and she started rummaging through. She found nothing really of worth but now she knew who the trinket thief was, and she had the gall to call her crazy… Wasn't she going to have fun when she came back, she searched through the next draw until something heavy fell and landed on her foot.
Resisting the urge to curse she looked down to find a book lying on the floor. She snapped her fingers as it vanished and reappeared in her hands seconds later as she lifted it up.
"Spells and magic for the sorcerer, Witchcraft… Black magic."
She frowned at the title. It seemed like something she would give to the younger girl but if it weren't for the fact it wasn't her book. She noticed a box that had been half hidden under the bed and on lifting it up letting it over slightly before tipping the contents on the bed. She found more books as she sat down and pulled the closest to her.
All of them books about magic. It was probably why the younger girl had progressed fantastically as the blonde looked over ones that involved blood magic to tomes on the fairy and genie arts, she flipped one open to the middle to the earmarked page that showed how to remove a person's heart.
"So this was where she learned it from."
For the next couple of minutes she drifted from book to book – getting even more confused as to just where she had acquired them as these didn't come from her library, she had a lot – over the years her collection had been built up to rival that of the fairies in their den of secrecy… Wasn't so secret that she made off with three of their oldest tomes.
But still – she knew pretty much every one of the books she had gathered and these weren't a part of them. There were no other magic users around she would have known. It was called the forbidden fortress for a reason as no one dared come near her home – magical to - she could beat them all… Except maybe Regina now perhaps.
Standing she decided to take the books with her as she left the room. Ingredient forgotten this was more important. Reaching the large dining room/throne room she made her way to the table and placed the books on the surface looking down once more as she picked her way through. Some of the thicker books still baffled as to where she could have got them from.
Holding a particular tome titled 'Curses and their effects' she brought the book up and sniffed the cover. It occurred to her that a new scent had filled the air – one that was filled with ink and a particular brand of magic that wasn't her own – one that was mixed in with Regina's and something that wasn't quite either of them… Something.
She smirked and pulled back it all became clear now as she threw the book on the table and looked up to nothing in particular.
"For Rumpelstiltskin is his name."
"You rrrrang."
She turned around. A knowing grin crossing her classical features as she spied the man across leaning against her chair. Well she said man; she had never actually had the pleasure of meeting him… They had known about each other sure, but never had anything to do with each other – no business that they needed to be involved with no reason they had to meet.
Until now that was.
She eyed the man in front of her taking him in for the first time. She had heard many a thing about the imp that had caused almost as much misery as she – in this realm alone, he looked human enough – his hair was dark brown almost black, eyes that looked like liquid amber – skin flaked with gold and looked so scaly that made her look alter ego positively naked.
His grin – as maniacal and toothy as it was showed that along with his body his teeth were also gold, vaguely she wondered if that was custom choice or did that come with being the dark one. He waited until she had finished appraising him before she stood to full height.
A Crocodile indeed.
Hopping from the platform that housed the chair he quickly made his way down the steps, moving from one to the other like they were puzzle pieces he had to step on to get to the other end. She watched in quiet amusement. Along with his deals she had also heard about his little quirks - some found them baffling, others thought them part of a show when he tricked people.
She just found them… Amusing.
Finally he moved so he was standing next to the Dragon witch. Tables turned he now took a moment to look her over before grinning madly once more – exactly how he thought a fallen Fae/Dragon should be before stepping back.
"Rumpelstiltskin is my name" He bent and bowed to her, exaggerating the length he did so before lifting to stand to full height. "And I am at your service."
She allowed herself to return the grin once their eyes met again as he saw the brilliant whites of her sharp teeth before she titled her head a little in way of greeting. "Just so you know I'll be reapplying my wards once this conversation is over."
"Wouldn't expect anything less." She smiled once more. "So I take it you have need for me now that you have called for me?"
She stared at him for a few seconds before chuckling, her low and throaty laugh reverberating around the large hall as she shook her head. "Oh, no dear – nothing of the sort."
He stayed silent as she moved around a little. "I know of your legendary deals little Imp, and just because we have never had the joy of meeting before now doesn't mean I don't know what you entail, and seeing as I am neither desperate nor dumb, there will be no contracts made this day."
He knew she didn't need anything from him. He had heard in passing the woman to be one of little need for materialistic possessions – what she had, was all she needed. She also happened to be one of the only beings in all the realms that beat him in age and so knew she was far wiser to him then just knowing about his deals.
No he knew why she had called him had known for nineteen years and frankly was quite surprised that she hadn't summoned him sooner. He gave her a placating grin that let her know that he was all ears as she turned to the table and summoned a book as it fell into her waiting hand.
"The intimate art of Necromancy."
She turned to him still holding the book aloft. "I may be a lot of things but the raiser of the dead is not one of them." She banished the book back with the rest. She waited as he shrugged nonchalantly.
"Neither am I but it doesn't hurt to know what one might be up against does it now."
"So you admit to these being yours?" He looked at the books then back to her, before his face fell into one having admitted to a big secret before he pulled his fingers across his mouth in a locking motion and chucked the fake key over his shoulder, she watched his actions and then his smirk before returning it with a small sneer of her own.
"Cute… But you would do well not to play your insipid little games with me…. Lizard."
"Pot calling Kettle aren't we dearie." She curled her lip and with a wave of her hand the books now stacked in a pile disappeared from the table and landed in a heap in his arms. He had to stoop to catch them all and graced her with a dark look once they were all in his arms.
"Enough with the pleasantries, if what I have heard is true then you know exactly why I have called you this day."
To her credit he did seem understand the seriousness and nodded. "Regina." Her smiled widened as she drew herself up. "Ah, now we're getting somewhere."
She ignored his scowl turning and moving to take her seat at the top of the table as he joined suit. Banishing the books to his castle. Since this wasn't a business call he could lose the formalities and sat across from her, an apple soon in his hand as he looked back to her.
"How is it that you know Regina, much less know her to be magical."
Straight to the point he thought staring at her. She arched her brow expectantly, waiting for him to reply as he chewed on his apple. "I meet a lot of people in my line of work. Perhaps I chanced upon her one time on my travels."
She pursed her lips. Her gaze never leaving his as he began to skin the firm fruit with the knife he conjured. His own brows rose as she shook her head. "You don't believe me?"
"Well far be it from me to call you a liar… apparently you're an imp of your word… More a… master of half-truths and excellent manipulator." He acknowledged the compliment waiting for her to carry on as she conjured a bottle of wine and placed it at the side of her.
"I think you already knew who she was well before you gave her the first of many books." His amber eyes seemed to flare as she spoke. She placed the bottle on the side and took up the cup as she held it lazily in her hand before looking back to him and the tool in his hands just as he pulled back a little as the sharp edge of the blade nicked the top of his finger causing it to seep, placing the knife on the table he looked at his small injury.
"They seemed rare by the way," After wiping the blood on his shirt he lifted his head, eyes narrowed . "Pardon me dearie."
"Your books - they seemed old, and rare. First additions some of them even… As a lover of all things collectible I can tell a good book when I see one and some of those… Well, I was half pressed not to add them to my collection."
She chuckled at the look on his face. "Not to worry. Some were a little uncouth for my tastes, so you can keep that curly head on top of your pretty little shoulders."
He smiled tightly. "Good to know there is still a thing as honor among villains." He reached out as the bottle vanished and into his waiting hand. She stayed silent as he poured himself a cup, before waving it back to her side and leaned back.
"Now, where were we." She gave him a knowing curl of her lip. "Regina"
"Yes, lovely girl I have to say, very… Colorful in her attitudes towards the common folk"
He spied something of a hint of pride from the blonde as she relied. "Really?"
Swirling the liquid around he languished in the chair like it was his own home for a moment before responding. "Hmm, had a chance meeting in the local tavern once. She seemed in a bit of a mood, something I take is a regular occurrence?"
Maleficent raised her hand flippantly and wriggled her fingers in a lazily dismissal. "Comes with the territory as they say,"
"Indeed. But enough about her charming personality and no doubt the influences she got them from." He ignored the arched brow as he carried on
"Let's get down to why I'm really here." He looked at her. "You, want to know how I - came to teach Regina all she knows."
She had to laugh at his audacity a little as she lifted her chin slightly. "All? Let's not forget who has practically raised her since she was conveniently left on my mountain side … something I'm sure you're going to explain to me how that came to be."
"Oh?" She nodded once. "You know… I had always thought whoever it was that had so callously upped and left her barely fresh from her Mother's side – where either people who could not give her the care she needed or had chosen not to bother with her and so thought my home a dumping ground… But now I see it was never as simple as mere abandonment.
She lifted the cup to her lips. "Was it, Rumple… I can call you Rumple? I feel like we're going to be good friends after this – what I'm sure will be a riveting conversation."
He eyed her carefully – the way she held herself confidently down to the steely glint in her eyes that seemed to flash paired with the smirk on her lips, knowing this could go either way he did his best to look chaste.
"I haven't a clue what you're on about." She graced him with a slight look of amused irritation just as the knife lying at his side disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke and into her outstretched hand. He sat up on seeing the small blade now in her hand as she lifted it to her nose and breathed in deeply, seemingly inhaling the scent of the red substance before lifting her eyes to meet his.
Azure orbs met his amber one and he took in the victorious flash they seemed to shine bright with before she lowered it slightly – letting it balance precariously from her slim fingers.
"My, my - someone has been a busy little Imp, haven't they?" He said nothing as she sat back basking in her slight win before he shifted a little in his seat. Drawing himself up he met her eyes again determined not to feel so out of sorts like he was – something rare for the likes of him as she stared at him knowing it was time to play his cards he nodded his head a little in her direction.
"Fine. Regina is mine."
She didn't say anything after his confession as the fire crackled warmly in front of them. It was often she played host to company with a complex background, only two had ever piqued her interest - one was currently sitting in front of her and the other was she now knew was courtesy of said man sitting in front of her. Taking another minute of two she let her eyes roam his figure once more in a bid to try to get some semblance or reading of his character.
"Why the curse?" He had waited for her to speak since revealing his secret, of all the things she could have said that admittedly wasn't the first but he replied nevertheless.
"You could tell" She nodded. "A little after she arrived, her soul and the Dragons were two separate beings and as such was causing her some distress, the amount of times she woke me from crying in the night… I have half a mind to roast you now."
"But she's not in pain now though right" He tried to ask as casual as his demeanor would allow but obviously it betrayed him as she twisted her lip into a mocking smirk.
"Not getting all fatherly are we now Rumple? Didn't think the likes of you could feel such things" He scowled at her teasing remark. "Think what you want, beast but I will always look after my children."
She cocked her head to the side at the slight slip as he cursed under his breath. He knew he should have prepared himself better for this. It was one thing going up against her should it have come to a fight. That he would have been able to handle. But it seemed she was more adept with her words than even he was, which made him feel even more under scrutiny and he wasn't at all liking the turn of events.
"Now whose calling the pot and Kettle." She had to laugh again. "If only Regina was here to hear you say that, but you've missed her unfortunately – this and the last nineteen years of her life."
She knew it was rather an idiotic move in goading the dark one as she took in his stiff posture and closed eyes. It was clear he was fighting the urge to lash out, something she wasn't sure if she should be thankful for or confident that he couldn't do much to hurt her. She waited as he finally relaxed and opened his eyes.
"I had my reasons blondie."
"Well please," She sat back in her chair as she picked up her cup once more. "Do tell, let's see if what you have to say makes up for the amount of years I have lost playing baby sitter to your little… beast."
It was a good thing that the younger girl was out as his visit lasted well into the night. By the time he had finished telling her everything, she was two more bottles of wine down but had a greater understanding of the mystery that had plagued her ever since she had picked her up almost two decades ago, she listened thoughtfully, as he told her all about Cora, and how she was nothing but a power mad bitch who would have made Regina's life nothing but a misery and most likely filled with pain had he not intervened.
As he spoke she had to take a few minutes to reevaluate her first impression of the dark one. Tales had told him to be a demon that cared for nothing but his beloved contracts and the magic that ran through his inhumane body. That even the shadows were afraid to be near him for the monster that he was had left him without a soul and no chance of redemption.
She had no illusions that he wanted to be redeemed. He seemed perfectly fine as he was and being good was as boring as hell. But she could say that they were right, that he was indeed the twisted ghoul that sent shivers down children's and adult's spines alike.
But what she couldn't say, no matter the negativity and hate against him – was that he didn't take care of his own.
During her time in the realm she had seen witness to three dark ones. Each with the same black pit of magic that used their bodies as a conduit, but all different in their own ways, he may have been called a coward one point in his life but she could see now he did it for the ones he loved.
They may have called him a monster and scorned him now but it only further served to prove just how ignorant and insignificant those human's really were. If it still had been Zoso they would have wished for a coward to take his place.
"This Cora, Regina's Mother?" He nodded. "I can't help but wonder if it's the same one I've been hearing of lately."
"What do you mean" He had to sit a little straighter at that. As far as he knew the blonde hadn't left her home in an age so how could she had known about the other woman.
"Surely you must have heard of this… Fight, between the stupid mortals that grace this land." He nodded, "Well it seems they have seen fit to bring us into their quarrels, something they will surely come to regret, but since we are involved we haven't been without influence into how it's played out."
His curiosity piqued he leaned closer. He had heard that the man who he done dealings with years ago was losing and rather badly, he had been a little surprised given the man's alliance with Midas and so was wondering how it was he had been thwarted. Of course it had amused him to see the man angered but he hadn't stepped in to offer his services.
He had done his part for the man and as far as he were concerned that was it, he could have called for him if had wanted to but so far he had stayed silent and so he just watched from the side-lines. But seeing the blonde looking so smug and sure he couldn't help the spark of intrigue and giddiness that filled him.
"Do tell dearie. Don't keep me waiting."
She grinned sardonically before going on to tell him all about how she - fought and killed the Sheriff of Nottingham all to save her best friend, how on hearing about Georges plans on trying to capture herself and possibly Regina, she took the hearts of three of his men and had now implemented them as her puppets on the inside – how they had made off with the entirety of his plans and handed them over, consequently dooming the Kings future moves.
Rumple sat slightly entranced listening to all what the blonde said. He knew the aging King was sinking faster than a leaky ship but he had no clue as to the cause. But now he knew, it wasn't down the trained and equipped army of the Whites – but the actions of a well feared great Dragon and her pseudo apprentice – they had turned how the battle went – it was them slowly bringing the foolish King to his knees and he didn't even have a clue.
"I have to say, given your reputation for all things dark and manipulative you should be quite proud at her achievements." She added as an afterthought as he gifted her with a toothy smirk.
"Like Daughter like Daddy."
"Well as much as I would like to say it was all me. You have just as much to blame for how she turned out."
She glanced at him as the corners of her lips curled upward slightly. "The poster demon of fear and hate and a flatterer to, hmm you are just the whole package aren't you."
His high-pitched laughter bounced off the stone walls of the darkened castle. The sound normally would have brought any man to their knees with despair but for the blonde who had made her name creating sheer hopelessness and panic, she merely lifted her wine in his direction.
"To family"
Regina returned an hour after the dark one took his leave. He had asked on returning to his castle that she not tell the younger girl about him just yet to which she nodded her compliance. That wasn't her news to tell and she wasn't about to get dragged into what could potentially turn into a family fight should the younger girl take it badly, she may have been one of the oldest and most strongest within the land but she had no desire to play mediator to a primal power and his offspring.
She greeted the younger girl as she always did – asking how her day went before rounding off with an insult as they sat down to dinner. She had spent the day with Granny and the rest of the wolves who insisted she stay and really no one could say no the wolf Matriarch. It both greatly amused and annoyed her how she could spend hours back chatting to her and no feel an inkling of fear when she got mad, yet she folded instantly to a frail old woman.
Regina sneered and mocked her for losing her touch. Before promptly falling to the floor due to the chair underneath her vanishing, she pulled herself back up to see the pleased smile adorning the older woman's face and flipped her off before retiring to her room. The blonde watched her go as her smile faded, to be replaced by her thoughtful expression.
She turned the corner leaving the blonde alone and thinking back to her visitor. A lot had been said that day, information that made her see things more differently, what the little Imp had said did hold some truth – she had played a part in how Regina was today but now on knowing the girls real origins, it did clear up at least three questions she had mused upon for some time.
Sooner or later she would find out, if the blonde had finally worked it out it wouldn't be long before the smart girl put two and two together and came up with the scaly little lizard.
She would also possibly find out that she had known about her parents and had failed to tell her, even if it was by request and not deliberate. She sighed pushing her plate away.
She had come to care greatly for the younger girl, so brokered a guess that she might take this as a betrayal. She could only hope that Regina felt the same not to want to take any action when the little Imp did spill his guts, either that or she disappeared and let him take the fall when the time came.