Chapter 38

"Sir?"

"What?"

"We've word that the Wolves are mobilizing towards us," the knight told him.

"Then extend them our greeting. Send out some silver and line the boarder with it. That should hold them in long enough for me to get what I want."

"Yes, sir," the knight replied, saluted and left.

"You think that you can outsmart me, but you can't. I will find you and I will end you. There is no where that you can run. I will destroy everything you love, just like you did to me. I will have my vengeance. You will bow to me and beg me for their lives..."

"Sire," a page said as he brought in a meal.

"Good. Any word from Midas? Has he agreed to my proposition?"

"He has sent ravens to the Queen. He is awaiting her answer. He will let us know within two days."

"Fool, but I'll give them the time. It won't matter anyway. They will die for protecting her," Dedrick told him.

"Yes, sire."

Regina stood in front of Emma. Rachel and Quinn were by her side. Emma did not look happy.

"Take someone else," Emma demanded.

"I have a High Elf and Vulcannonian with me. We'll be fine. I'll be back before breakfast. Promise."

"You'd better or I'll come after you myself," Emma warned her.

"I know that you would rather go, but you don't know this world like I do."

"We've been here for eight years. What else is there for me to learn? More mythology?"

"It isn't mythology if it is real, Emma. Look, I know that this isn't ideal given the circumstances, but I cannot explain where you need to go to look for the Rocs. I know where to go because I've been to Vulcannon. And, besides, would you deny Rachel the privilege of seeing where her ancestry is from?" Regina asked with a cunning smile.

"You know that I wouldn't if it wasn't the fact that there is some maniac out there that wants to destroy us all because he hates magic. I am sure that she can handle herself, but this isn't New York. This is the freakin' Enchanted Forest, land of dreams and fairy tales. This isn't some cake walk," Emma replied.

"Who said anything about walking?"

"What are you going to do to get there? I know that your magic is strong, Regina, but I don't think that you can poof three people. Have you ever tried?" Emma questioned.

"No, I haven't. And, no, I am not going to try right now, either. I have a mirror to use. I've kept it just in case. It is up in the library. I've used on occasion just to visit."

"Why? Why wouldn't you tell me about that? Why would you go alone?"

"I wanted to make sure that it was safe for Will to go back if she wanted. I wasn't being selfish about it. I was going to give the mirror for her birthday, but something came up and I decided to wait. She doesn't know either. I am sure if she did, even though I have released her as my personal knight, she would have broken the mirror."

"She is as stubborn as you are," Emma stated.

"I know, but we care for each other. We've spent too much time together. We understand each other on a level that most people can't. I know that you understand it because you've seen us together, Emma. She was my best friend when I had no one."

"And, I would never take her from you. You know that. But, seriously?"

"I'll take you after everything settles. Would that make it better? Would you like that?"

"Yes, it would. But, wait...is it safe for Vulcannonians to go? With the plague and all? What about Rachel?" Emma asked her as she turned to face the shorter brunette.

"From what I can tell, yes, it is. I have brought artifacts back for Will to assess and see if she reacted to any of them. She didn't. I've also been taking care of some things there to make it possible for it to be recolonized. I was going to leave that option open for Wilhelmina to decide. We thought that she was last. And, now, we know that she isn't, but she is Vulcannon's rightful heir and it's Queen. There is nothing left that could hurt any one of Vulcannonian descent."

"You're sure?" Emma probed.

"I've burnt most of the realm," Regina admitted.

Rachel and Emma both gasped. Emma wondered if it was the most logical thing to do, but she didn't doubt Regina's ability to destroy. She knew that she wouldn't have done it on a whim. Setting fire to an entire kingdom, albeit an island nation, must have been a tremendous undertaking and she knew that Regina wouldn't have done it lightly. She could only imagine the devastation that she'd seen that brought her to such a recourse.

"I am sure that it was necessary," Emma started to say.

"You didn't see it, Emma. Trust me. I didn't start the fires without thinking. I honestly didn't want to burn most of it, but I couldn't trust that the plague wasn't in remission just waiting for a new and unsuspecting host. I couldn't allow that to happen after I witnessed first hand the Vulcannonian Plague, " Regina explained.

"I didn't know. But, I am glad that you have taken all the precautions that you can to prevent it's spreading again. Go. Find whatever Danni needs and hurry home, love," Emma told her as she leaned over and kissed her. "I'll make sure that no one knows you three are missing. I'll tell the staff that you are all in the library and not to be disturbed until further notice."

"What are you going to tell Brittany, because she'll know you're lying?" Quinn asked.

"The truth, alone with Santana and Belle. I'll take care of things here. Go. Now. Before someone finds out," Emma instructed.

"Find out from Snow what you can," Regina told her as she kissed her again and they left the study.

Emma nodded and followed behind them. She headed to Ruby's suite while they headed towards the library and Regina's personal quarters. She knew once word was out the staff would obey. They loved their queens. Emma also knew that Regina would magically seal the doors to both areas with blood magic to prevent anyone from entering before she wanted them to do so. Emma would be allowed, but she wouldn't cross the thresholds either, out of respect for her wife.

"Sire?"

"What?" he asked crankily.

"We've word from inside the Winterlands Palace," he told him.

"And?"

"Nothing strange is going on. They are acting like business as usual except for the fact that a delegation has been sent out. No one knows who is in the delegation or what it is for. And, ravens for the most part have stopped to all the other kingdoms."

"Are the Queens still in house?" he asked the page.

"From what our spies have found out, yes, they are. The White Princess is training troops like usual and the Dark Queen is preparing treaties with their allies. They are not preparing for any attack or preparing to attack."

"Good. Then, I shall catch them unaware. Tell our spies to keep up their mission and stay close to the castle. I want to know the second something changes."

"Aye, my liege," the page said as he left Dedrick's tent.

"I will have you, Devil spawn and will take them all with you. You will pay. You will pay."

Danni leaned back against the some rocks in their little camp. They had purposefully not worn the colors of the kingdom. Will was hesitant, but she understood. They would change into the colors of the kingdoms they were searching so they would be over looked. It maybe true that they were on a political mission, but they needed the element of surprise on their side. If Dedrick knew where they were, he would send a contingency to stop them. They didn't have time for that. They needed to assess him and his forces and make a decision. And, Danni could only hope that it was a decision that Regina would agree with after the fact.

"What are you thinking about?" Will asked her.

"Dedrick," Danni answered.

"Why?" Will questioned, wanting to really know.

"Nicola, what else do you know about him? What can we expect from him? Should we be worried?" Danni asked the older woman.

She wasn't ignoring Wilhelmina. She honestly wanted to know. She thrived on information. And, information is what they needed.

"The man is a psycho."

"I already know that much. What else can you tell us? Anything?"

"He's from Earth. I think he from the Midwest of the United States. I not sure exactly, but it was from somewhere very religious. Magic was a sin there. He hates magic with a passion and he seeks to destroy it. Something about it being God's work or some shit. I didn't ask too many questions while he was trying to use the portal at Petra. I was too busy trying to keep him out of it and keeping him from exposing the magic of the area. He kept saying that he was going to get his vengeance for some loss and he was looking for the one that took her from him. I didn't get her name. I just heard someone refer to him as Dedrick. From there, I did my own inquiries," Nicola answered.

"So?" Will probed.

"I am not exactly sure what happened with girlfriend. Something in New York was as far as I got. The people there didn't know her. It is like she just disappeared. And, had it been me and I'd been with him, I'd've disappeared in New York, too."

"Magically disappeared?" Danni asked.

"I have no proof. So I really don't know. He believes that it was, though."

"Great," Will muttered as she moved to check their surroundings once again.

"Do you ever stop?" Danni questioned.

"Stop what?" Will asked.

"Searching for something."

"I'm checking our surroundings. I know that we are immortal, but an ambush is an ambush. I'd rather not get caught aware. Besides, it is my job to protect the royal family of the Winterlands, which still includes you," Will stated.

"But, who protects you?" Danni asked.

Nicola laughed. She couldn't help it. Her niece was just as clueless as she had been before she left Vulcannon. She never thought about anything but the mission, but now, she had more to worry about. Life changed when she had children. But, looking at Will she saw herself when she was younger. The longer she thought about it, she realized though that she was the one that was tasked with protecting the royal family of Vulcannon, no matter how small it was now, which meant that she was the one that supposed to be protecting Wilhelmina.

"That would be my job," Nicola stated after a long silence.

"Excuse me?" Danni questioned.

"You asked who was supposed to protect her. Wilhelmina has become the Queen of Vulcannon and as the head and lonely knight left of the Royal Guard and the Phoenix Legions, that appointment falls squarely to me. She is my responsibility."

Danni and Will both turned quickly to face Nicola. Neither of them had thought about that factor. Will was a queen in her own right, but she didn't care. She kept going like she was Regina's knight. She never pushed her status and she didn't really care about it.

"I am a queen without a kingdom and I am okay with that," Will stated.

Nicola hung her head. She felt the loss of her family, her kingdom, and her friends, again. Wilhelmina, Queen of the Vulcannon, was just another knight to the realms of the Enchanted Forest. Vulcannon might as well not exist. The land of the Immortals was gone in a sense and from the memories of the people that lived there.

"We could restore it," Nicola said.

Will just shook her head. She wasn't worried about Vulcannon. She was worried about Danni and Regina and the House of Swan. That was her duty. She was never meant to be Queen and she didn't want the responsibility.

"My duty is to the Queens of the Enchanted Forest and their alliences. Vulcannon is gone. The people are dead or gone. There is no kingdom to rule. There is only barren wasteland that is covered in a plague. Why would I subject those that survived to go back? Forget Vulcannon. It's gone," Will said as she stood up. "I'm going to scout a little ways up the road."

Regina escorted Rachel and Quinn through her rooms into the Hall of Mirrors. They past through it and into a small room with three mirrors. They looked at the all but didn't say anything. Regina walked to the one on the most right and waved her hands over it. A purple haze glowed over the glass and it shimmered.

Suddenly, there was a scene in the mirror. It wasn't dark and gloomy like they expected. It was lush and green. The sun was shining and the sky was a brilliant blue with just a few clouds. It actually reminded them of Hawai'i.

"Where is that?" Rachel asked?

"That is Vulcannon," Regina stated.

She took a step towards the mirror and placed her hand upon the glass. They watched in awe as it sank through the glass. She lifted her leg and started to step through as well. She turned back to face the two younger women.

"Coming?" she asked as she completely stepped through the mirror.

Rachel and Quinn followed her through the mirror. They were amazed at how soft the grass felt beneath their feet. This truly looked like paradise.

"We need to head to the top of those mountains there," Regina told them as she pointed off in the distance.

"How long will that take?" Quinn asked.

"We have until tomorrow to get back. We need to be there by night fall if we can. It's a lot of walking, unless we can find some horses. But, first, I would like to arm ourselves," Regina stated.

"Arm ourselves?" Rachel asked.

"While no one lives here, Little One, there are still things that could possibly hurt us," Regina told her as they moved around the field they were in.

"Where exactly are we in Vulcannon?" Quinn asked.

"This would have been the castle courtyard," Regina answered as she moved toward some fallen stone structures to her left.

"Are there horses here?" Quinn asked as she followed the Queen.

"Yes, beautiful black horses. They are the most regal steeds I've ever seen here. They are native to these islands. They feed on the lush grass and the brush," Regina replied.

Regina looked through the overgrowth, but didn't see what she was looking for. She waved her hands over the stones and the growth. It receded and a charred wooded floor appeared. She stepped onto and waved her hands again. The walls seemed to rebuild themselves on one side. When she seemed happy enough with the growth, she lowered her hands and looked to Quinn.

"Pick yourself a bow and quiver. We don't have much time. I want to be on the path to the mountains quickly," Regina told her as she grabbed three swords that were hanging on the wall. She also grabbed a spear. She handed a sword and the spear to Rachel, who looked at her bewildered. Quinn would have laughed at the sight had it not been for the memory of what Danni did to Rachel in the castle armory back in the Winterlands.

Quinn took a bow of the wall and tried it several times. When she deemed it worthy, she grabbed two quivers, slinging one on her back and affixing the other to her belt. Regina cocked an eyebrow at her but said nothing. Instead, she handed her one of the swords.

"Time to go," Regina told them as she walked out of ruins and towards a path that was less grown over than the surrounding area.

Rachel and Quinn followed behind her without much fanfare. Rachel stayed closer to Quinn, but she kept pace with Regina. If they were surprised by her knowledge of the area, they kept it to themselves as they walked.

Finally breaking their silence, Rachel leaned over and asked Quinn, "Does she really expect to harm an animal with these?"

"If you need to, Rachel, I am sure that you will. It is just for protection. We are hunting. We aren't actively out seeking to harm. This is only as a precaution and nothing more. Don't worry your pretty little vegan head about it. I doubt that will even have to use them," Quinn stated as they kept walking just a few steps behind the queen.

Dedrick paced inside his tent. He didn't like waiting, but he knew enough about the legends of this world not to press his advantages...yet. He would wait. He would pout about it, but he would wait. He had waited this long. He could wait a few more days.

He walked out of his tent. He surveyed his camp. They were all polishing their silver armor. The horsemen were caring for their horses and the armor. The smithies were making more silver armor and swords. He was armed and he was ready. They were just maintaining and preparing for more recruits. Dedrick was sure that his recruiting mission were going to be very successful. He was just waiting for more men to come to their camp.

"Sire?" page said walking up to him.

"Yes?"

"The men are practicing in the field."

"Is there word from Midas yet?"

"No, sire. He is still waiting to hear from the Swan Queen. According to his missive, she hasn't answered him yet."

"He's is stalling," Dedrick replied.

"Stalling, sire?"

"He's keeping us at bay for some reason," Dedrick mumbled.

"Sire?" the page asked again.

"Send some scouts to Midas' castle. I want it surrounded. I want to know what is going on. I think he is planning something and I want to be prepared for it. Go and make sure that there is way he could get anything by us," Dedrick commanded angrily.

Emma sat in the throne room. She was bored, but she was doing her duty. She missed having Will and Danni by her side. She understood their absence. She was proud of her daughter for doing something to protect the family, even if it meant her losing her mind again. Emma wasn't too worried about that, because she knew that Regina, Will and herself wouldn't let it happen. Plus there was the added bonuses of having her friends from New York in house, too.

She missed Will's wit. Will would actually keep her occupied on the days that she held court in Regina's stead. She helped to keep Emma focused and would remind her of precedents that she didn't know about or give her an idea of how Regina would rule in each complaint. It was almost as good as having Regina there with her some days. But, Emma didn't have that luxury today. She was alone with her own sense of justice to rule on things. Normally this wouldn't bother her, but her mind was not on court. She was too busy thinking about her family as they were spread all over the Enchanted Forest.

"Majesty?" a squire asked.

"I'm sorry. What was the complaint again? Can you repeat that me?" Emma questioned the two people in front of her.

The page gave her a look, but didn't say anything to her. Instead, he leaned over to another page and sent him away to go get something. He looked to the Queen to see how she wanted to proceed with Court for the day. It was obvious that she wasn't ready to hear anymore requests.

"No worries, Majesty," the page said turning to face the complainants and the rest of those at Court for the day. "Her Majesty is closing court for the day."

There were rounds of protests from those there. Emma had never closed court early. She couldn't remember Regina doing it, either.

"Court will resume at regular hours tomorrow. For those of you who didn't get to present your case, see the scribe and list your complaints. The Queen will rule and send you their decisions. If you don't wish to do that, see the scheduler to be put back on the docket. Otherwise, come back tomorrow to receive your rulings," the page said addressing them all.

Emma quickly stood, "For those who wish me to render my decision by writ, please come an hour early. I will have everything ready for you by then. Thank you."

The audience bowed and made their way out of the hall. The page followed them out and closed the doors. He turned to go back to attend to Emma.

"Is there anything else that you require of me today, Majesty?" he asked.

"No, there isn't. Thank you for that. Please make sure that you bring me all the complaints that are given. And, start a complaint system for that as well. It will save time for Court to deal with more important matters of State."

"As you wish, Majesty," he replied, before bowing and backing away.

She sighed. Ruling was still hard for her. Being sheriff and dealing with matters of justice were easy, but sometimes she wanted to bash their heads together for the petty bullshit that they wanted to bitch about at court. It wasted time and most of the time, they never got the resolution that they wanted. But, the Queen's word was law and therefore final.

She stood up and walked down the dais. She made her way to the door when the page stopped her. He had a handful of parchments in his hands.

"Majesty, the complaints," he stated.

"Thank you. And, if you get anymore before tomorrow take them to my quarters. Queen Regina is not to be disturbed. She is working on her magics. Understood?" Emma asked.

"Yes, Majesty," he replied with a deep royal bow before turning to leave.

"Page" Emma said, stopping him.

"Yes, Majesty," he responded.

"What is your name?" Emma questioned.

He smiled. He bowed again. He stood up to his full height, not more than five feet and proclaimed, "I am Godric of Konrad, Knight Guard of Royal House of Swan."

"Konrad? My captain of horse? You're his son?"

"Yes, Majesty."

"Good. Follow me. We have some business to attend to, squire."

"Excuse, Majesty?" he questioned.

"You are no longer a page, young Master Godric. You are now my squire and personal assisstent. Do you think that you are up to the job?"

"Oh, yes, Majesty, I am," he answer puffing out his chest.

"Then, bring those and follow me."

"Yes, Majesty."

"And, Godric," she started.

"Yes, Majesty."

"Drop the Majesty shit. It annoys me. Got it?"

"Yes, Maj...I mean, yes, ma'am," he replied.

"Better. We'll work on it. Come on."

It was just then that Brittany found her. She didn't look too happy, but she didn't too upset. Emma nodded at her and then cut her eyes to the boy.

"Godric, please retrieve my dinner and bring it to my suites. The Lady Brittany and I will dine in there. And, make sure that no one disturbs the Queen."

"As you wish, ma'am," he answered as he went scurrying off.

"We need to talk," Brittany stated.

"I know, but not here. In my rooms. Follow me. I have my own study."