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Chapter 63 - Days: 68 and 69: Choices

Queen Regina sat alone in a cell at the highest tower of King George's Castle, now Prince Charming's. The Blue Fairy's spell had removed her magical powers. Her impressive and sophisticated dress had been taken away and replaced by a modest gray cotton dress. Her precious jewelry had been confiscated. Her hair was caught in a simple pony tail and she wore no makeup. Yet, the fallen Queen was still resplendent in her beauty.

She stood in front of the window with iron bars that allowed plenty of light and air into her poor cell. From there she could see the main square where people were going on with their daily business, watch the city below and forests stretching far away. The mighty Evil Queen sighed tiredly. She had given up in trying understanding where her brilliant plan had gone wrong. Because it didn't matter anymore. She failed. She lost. She was defeated and now she was beaten down. All she could do now was wait to know what Snow and Charming would decide for her fate. And she had a feeling she knew what would be sentenced.

Snow White and Charming gathered with their Council composed by seven dwarves, a fairy, a cricket, a werewolf and her grandmother. They sat around the legendary round table of equality and balance to speak about the Evil Queen's future and decide what to do with her.

"I fear the Queen will never change. We must dispense justice." Jiminy Cricket stated, knowing more about matters of conscience than any living being will ever know.

"Agreed. What are our options?" Charming immediately answered. If there was something he wanted badly right now, was to bring Regina to justice after all the atrocities he did, all the crimes she committed, just because she could not find in her black heart forgiveness for a child's mistake.

"How about giving me five minutes alone with her and my axe?" Grumpy said with a sneer. Then he seemed to remember something. "She's still restrained, right?

"Yes. But the magic that we used to capture her, will only keep her powerless for a short while." The Blue Fairy answered.

"How about banishing her to another realm?" Granny suggested.

"We can't. It would be unconscionable to condemn another realm to the suffering that we've endured." Jiminy Cricket pointed out, already imagining the hell the woman would unleash in an unknown land.

"Jiminy's right." Red agreed, understanding the magical insect's point of view. "She's our problem, and we have to deal with her."

"Then only one thing is certain. As long as the Queen lives, the kingdom is in danger." Prince Charming declared, his words already hinting a death sentence.

"Are you saying…" Snow asked, unable to finish the phrase and hide the shock in her voice.

"Yes. We must kill the Queen. Thank you all." He said, adding no more space for discussion, but before he could stand up, Snow grabbed his hand.

"Wait. We cannot decide this alone. Not like this!" Snow protested. "Armithil was affected as much as Snowland by her evil deeds. I believe their Council should have something to say too."

"You mean Belle and Rumpel." Charming countered wisely, understanding Snow's wishes in having somebody who would try to find a more moderate sentence for the Queen. "You heard what Blue said. Her spell will wear out soon and then Regina will be unstoppable and who knows she'll do to revenge! As long as she draws breath, she will come after us. After you!" Charming warned. Snow stared defiantly at her true love. There had to be a way to make Regina redeem herself. There had to be an alternative. As far as she could see, there was always a choice.

"How long before the spell wears off?" Snow asked Blue.

"I can extend it up to two weeks maximum, but no longer."

"Two weeks will be enough." Snow stood up decided. "We will depart today. I believe we have a wedding to attend. And afterwards, Belle and Rumpelstiltskin will join us for her final judgment. Make sure she remains powerless." She instructed Blue who nodded, the fairy too holding the hope for the Queen's redemption. "Doc, you and the rest, make sure Regina stays always under vigilance and alone at all times" All seven heads nodded and they stared at her with bravery and loyalty.

"I'll keep an eye in that wicket witch too!" Granny volunteered, making Snow smile.

"Okay. Red, Jiminny, would you like to join us?" Both agreed immediately.

Charming sighed and shook a bit his head. He loved Snow White, but sometimes her pure heart stood in the way of good judgment. She was too blind and too naïve to understand some people were simply too bad to ever change. Yet, his love for Snow was too great to go against her wishes. So he would follow her back to Avonlea and afterwards bring their friends to his castle. And then Regina would face justice once and for all.

Regina watched from her cell's window the royal carriage leaving the town, while dwarves and the mad old woman waved goodbye. She was confused and perplexed. Why were they departing? Why hadn't they come to get her for her judgment? Dark brown eyes followed the beautiful carriage until it disappeared in a world of growing shadows against a background of oranges and purples.

"Apparently, a wedding is more important than your death." The Queen gasped when hearing the deep voice, not expecting any company. She turned around and saw a hooded figure come from the shadows behind the cell's bars. "Something I've been waiting for years. It's all very disappointing."

"I guess you didn't come to free me." She bitterly pointed out, while the figure came closer, stopping right in front of the iron bars. She made out his wicked grin on greenish golden skin.

"You guessed correctly, Regina." He spoke with a mocking tone. "Forgive me, but I could not resist seeing you locked up. I must confess, it's quite a sight."

"This is all your fault, Zozo! You did all this! You planned it all!" The Evil Queen spat furiously, her face between the iron bars, her hands clenching them like claws. The Dark One released a cold giggle and removed his hood.

"Oh no, dear Regina. I merely took advantage of Fate." He spoke with a mad look in his eyes, as his face came closer to hers.

"What do you mean?"

"I knew certain events were going to happen. All I had to do was take small moves and push certain people into the right direction. And so I guaranteed your and Malificent's fall."

"Guaranteed our fall?"

"It all has been foretold. You and Maleficent were destined to be defeated."

"Really? And what makes you so sure of it?" Regina asked with venom.

"Let's say… a certain Seer told me." Regina's confident look vanished right away and she became instantly pale. "You know she's never wrong. She told me: the spinner that can spin straw into gold, the girl that rules a man's world and the woodcutter that never loses his way; are the key for the destruction of Maleficent and Regina's downfall."

Regina's brow furrowed. No doubt Zozo had just quoted the annoying woman's enigmatic words, since she loved riddles and messed up semantics. Then she realized, the spinner was the poor cripple he had brought to her castle to use the magical spinning wheel. The girl was no doubt Princess Belle. The woodcutter was probably the obnoxious father of Hansel and Gretel, the one that dared to speak to her about family. Yet, she failed to see the connection between them and her plan.

"I don't understand." She confessed.

Zozo smiled at her mystification, knowing there were too many details she missed during the developments of the war. She had been too concentrated in defeating Snow White, that she missed the crucial role in which "minor" characters played in the events leading to her disgrace. And he wasn't planning to explain it to her. It was way too delicious to see her confused and lost. And so, the Dark One vanished from the tower laughing mockingly in a purple smoke, while Regina stared at the shadows in pure puzzlement.

It had been a long time since Armithil lived such happy and exciting days. It had been a long time since Avonlea received so many guests from so many different parts of the Enchanted Forest. While the kingdom was being rebuilt, the capital of Armithil was busy engaged in the preparations of the most important event of the year. The princess' marriage. Everybody was busy with the arrangements. Roads were restored and guarded. Inn's were repaired to receive peasants while the less damaged parts of the castle were restored and remodeled to receive nobles from other kingdoms. The court of Armithil had already moved back to the castle. Rumpelstitlskin and his family were now its new inhabitants. The streets, the houses, the castle, everything was being colorfully decorated and everybody was happy with the preparations of the great marriage. Everybody expect for one person.

Rumpelstitlskin watched from one of the many castle's windows, more and more carriages entering the castle grounds and sighed. It meant there were more people he would be introduced to and forced to memorize their names, titles, kingdoms and family affiliations. In just two days from now, he and Belle would be married and he had the feeling he was going nuts. Never had he expected the preparations to be so horribly demanding. King Maurice may have been reluctant in meeting him, but after their little tea party, the man seemed to insist in following all the spinner's moves. The king was taking no risks. Untrusting the common ways and too straightforward manners of the low classer, he was making sure Rumpelstitlskin would learn and dominate all rules, formalities and court etiquettes, so he would behave properly during the festivities around the marriage. Rumpelstitlskin was edgy, because the king was always present, with a judging eye, demanding perfection in each word he uttered, each gesture he made, each step he took. Manners, politeness, charm and grace were all demanded and stretched to perfection. Rumpelstitlskin was to give a good impression of the kingdom.

Others would teach and instruct the spinner everything about the court's sophisticated rules and then the king would come to check the progress, criticize mercilessly and demand more and more. Rumpelstitlskin would shoot daggers at the sovereign each time he made a mistake, as king Maurice blamed it to his social background. Rumpelstiltskin was starting to feel that, being plebeian was some kind of disease or handicap in the ruler's eyes. Rumpelstiltskin was convinced the king was putting as much pressure as he could on him, in hope he would give up the marriage. Like if he would ever give up Belle! It revolted him. So the more the king criticized, the more he did his best to prove Lord Maurice was wrong. It was nerve wracking and exhausting. But in the end of the day, it was always Belle that spoke the highest and managed to bring his worries down.

"One of these days I'm going to kill him!" He yelled frustrated, when he and Belle were alone in one of the ample divisions of the castle.

"Rumpel." Belle said with a compassionate smile, her head softly bend to the side.

"Okay. I'll punch him then!" He corrected, gesturing his arms in the air annoyed, causing the beauty to giggle.

"Only another couple days." Belle reminded him, a beautiful glint of happiness in her eyes and smile.

"Another couple days of hell! And then another few more till all the bloody guests are gone! And then, the rest of my life in this freaking world of stupid rules and etiquettes! It all should be forbidden! Banished!" He shouted, all his frustrations from the last days busting out in one fit of anger. His voice echoed in the room and he took a few deep breaths. Belle stood opposite him, looking at him patiently till he would calm down. He sighed, feeling better. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be shouting at you." He sincerely apologized, walked to her and put his arms around Belle. She gave him a loving smile and kissed his lips gently. She kissed his worries and frustrations away and felt his tense muscles slowly relax as his arms wrapped tighter around her tenderly. "I love you." He whispered in her ear, his eyes gently shut, his cheek on her cheek.

"I love you." Belle said and faced him. "In time, you'll learn to master all rules and formalities. Besides, you have me to guide you. I will not let anything go wrong." She cupped her hands on his face and pressed her temple against his. "It will all be worthy."

"I'm counting it will be worthy." Rumpelstitlskin said with a sly smile. Belle looked up at him with some mystification, not missing the mischief in his voice. He gently pressed her body a bit closer to his. "I'm making sure we'll have a night to remember." He whispered in her ear, making Belle blush shyly, as she realized he was referring to the wedding night. "At least that's something your father will not want to control." He joked.

"Rumpelstitlskin!"Belle yelled slapping his arm teasingly. He giggled childishly and Belle ended up laughing along with him, enjoying the little vibrations coming from his chest while they hugged playfully.

They remained holding each other as long as time allowed them to. And they counted the seconds for the wedding day.

I'm becoming anxious to finish this story. I'm enjoying writting it terribly, but I am also glad it is finally coming to an end. It way bigger than I ever imagined it would be! But it still may take a few weeks...

What are your thoughts about the developments in this chapter?

Review :)