Taking Prisoners
Bae exhaled silently and loosed the arrow, which struck the deer in the shoulder. Some of the villagers had accompanied him, and now they were staring at him in awe as he walked over and plucked the arrow from the deer before cleaning it and returning it to his quiver. One of them was quick to help him with the deer, and to this man, Bae asked, "Why are they staring?"
"It's your skill with a bow, it seems," the man replied. "We all find it remarkable." Bae had no response to that, so he held his tongue as they carried their prize back to the village to be butchered and cured. He couldn't help but wonder if grey meat was any stranger than imaginary meat, but at least it was tangible.
"Nice work," Morraine said when they came into town. When Bae could talk to her alone, she added, "Gerhardt says he felt something strange."
"Strange?" Bae asked. Morraine nodded and led him into the hut. Gerhardt sat at the foot of one of the beds, head bowed so that he could examine his hands. He looked up at their approach.
"Do you know what it is?" he asked.
"What what is?" Gerhardt shot forward and gripped him by the shoulders. Bae noticed that his eyes glowed red, and then something shot through his soul. Gerhardt was remembering the feeling of someone trying to find him. "He's still looking for me."
Gerhardt stepped back. "So you do know."
"My father hasn't stopped trying to find me for three hundred years. This is his way of trying to reach me again. We did it before, found a connection."
"This doesn't feel like..."
"How did you know he cast that curse?"
"I guessed."
"You're right. These were others, several, in fact, which meant Rumpelstiltskin needed a little help finding me."
"What's that mean?"
"I don't know yet, but if they know about us, they know about Gisborne, and that means they'd fear that he'd follow us if we made an attempt to get to Storybrooke. Where can we lock him up?"
OUAT
Gerhardt changed into the clothes of a villager who offered them after some persuasion, and he walked into the forest, followed closely by the Merry Men, Bae, and Morraine. He closed his eyes and sought out the man identified as Gisborne. The man was nearby, immediately north of his current position. I have what you want, Gerhardt thought, somewhat unsure if it would prompt Gisborne's notice at all. Since the presence drew closer, he guessed that it did, so he continued. I know where we can negotiate. My brother had a laboratory that served as a home as well. We'll talk there.
A thought that was not his own said, Lead me.
Gerhardt turned and nodded to Bae, who gave the signal to the other Merry Men. "Head southeast," he said. "We're going to Castle Frankenstein."
OUAT
"Nothing," August said, throwing the book cover in place and leaning back in his chair.
"Shit," D whispered, leaning forward and burying her fingers in her hair. "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit." She swallowed. "Get the sheriff and the town doctor, in case anything goes wrong. Tell them to meet me at the most magical place in this town."
"The well?"
"The well. That's where we'll open our trod. That's where we'll get that kid out."
"You think this'll work?"
"It has to, and it has to work perfectly, or this world's in deep shit."
She regarded August for a moment, and he said, "I'll make those calls."
"Thanks."
OUAT
Gisborne's presence followed in the form of black mist noticeable because of its unusual colorfulness, and the Merry Men surrounded it. Gerhardt had assumed the lead, and he worried his lip to the point of nearly tearing it to shreds over his hope that this would work. This had to work, he told himself firmly. It absolutely had to. That was the only way to secure their passage to Storybrooke. This crazy-ass plan had to work.
So he did his best not to betray his utter fear that this would fall through, and he led the party to Castle Frankenstein, which, after some wandering along a main road, he found relatively easy. At least he wouldn't have to worry them with the news that he was lost.
"Here we are," Gerhardt said at dusk, staring at the ruined and worn facade of his brother's castle and giving it a vague gesture. "Welcome to Castle Frankenstein."
Gisborne deigned to step out of the mist. "Are you sure this ground is neutral?"
"It's been abandoned for nearly thirty years. Of course it's neutral." Gisborne nodded, and Gerhardt led them into the castle, which had been, as he had said, untouched for thirty years. Gisborne took a position beside Gerhardt, giving the latter the opportunity to signal behind his back to the others. Bae drew an arrow, Morraine unsheathed her sword, John his dagger, and Will and Alan silently grabbed pokers from the dusty, ash-covered hearth. Assured of his companions' state of armament, Gerhardt turned to their would-be hostage and said, "Want to see something cool?"
"That depends on what you mean by 'cool'," Gisborne replied.
"I'm sure you'll find it fascinating. This way, please." He walked over to the stairs leading to the dungeon. His magical heart thundered so loudly in his chest he was sure everyone else could hear it, but he kept walking. Bae and Morraine exchanged a concerned glance.
"Let this work," Bae mouthed to whatever deity was listening. They descended the stairs, and Gerhardt turned and punched Gisborne in the face. Gisborne blinked and stumbled back, and John buried his dagger deep into the knight's back. Morraine held the blade of the sword to his neck, and Bae touched the tip of the arrow to the back of his head. The three of them guided him into the cell, and Gerhardt clocked him in the nose one more time for good measure before locking the door. Then and only then did Bae relax his draw.
"Enjoy your stay," Gerhardt said. "I can personally attest to the quality of the accommodations." He turned to leave, paused, and looked over his shoulder at their new prisoner. "There's no magic here. I should know." To the others, he said, "Let's go," and he started to ascend the stairs. Only then did he realize his assessment was wrong.