Chapter 16

A/N: And here is the next installment. Not sure about Rumple in this, if you feel he's out of character or the chapter plays out a little too neatly, remember the faster I get through it, the faster we get back to Outlaw Queen. A big thanks to Slynn6776, my long suffering beta, who helped put words in Rumple's mouth. Thank you as always to the reviewers, I got some new folks later and I was so happy to see many of you caught up to the story quickly. Please keep reviewing!

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Regina hissed as they walked as nonchalantly as possible.

Rumple didn't answer, giving his former student a glare. Of course, he doesn't look anything like Rumplestiltskin as he's performed a disguise spell on the pair of them. Walking in as orcs, they were able to infiltrate Rowan's camp quite easily.

Regina's eyes roam over the area, she can't help but compare it to the merry men camp. It couldn't be more different. There were huts, crudely fastened for higher ranking officers; it was hard to believe orcs worked their way up the ranks. On the other hand, Regina hadn't seen a human yet except those being tortured. The screams and cries of the prisoners was deafening. Bodies of dead humans were thrown in piles like trash. Regina wasn't exactly squeamish but it took no small amount of composure to ignore the spectacles around her. At least now she could be sure she had done the right thing with the memory potion, if Robin had been here, he would never have been able to endure such travesties.

Rumple had insisted the best course of action was to act as quickly as possible, Rowan could not be allowed to grow his forces again. With their disguises they could monitor Rowan's procedures and after a couple of days pick a good time to attack and kill him when he was alone. It seemed way too simple for Regina, but to be honest she had very little experience fighting dark art wizards with their monster troops, yet she had no real choice but to follow along with Rumple. Obviously, that was before she saw the conditions of the camp, the smell alone made her second guess the entire plan.

"Any bright ideas where he is?" she asked, meaning Rowan.

Rumple nodded his head, grunting a bit as he responded. "I'm sure he's located in the safest part of the camp, the dead center." The dark one then stepped over a dead corpse who happened to be missing his stomach.

"Interesting choice of words," she said.

As they worked their way in, they heard commotion to the north of them. Activity buzzing around them and they hurried to see what was going on. Three goblins were running in on horseback. Well, they used to be horses. Regina scowled at the ugly sight, goblins were slimy and green, they usually worked in pairs, so she was confused at the sight of three. After they got down, they huddled together in front of a large tent. She didn't have to look at Rumple for validation, she knew that had to be Rowan's tent.

Out walked a figure, tall, dark and very thin: A dark elf. Regina's skin crawled at the sight of him. He towered over the goblins, placing his hands on his belt. "Did you get it?"

"Yes, sir!" they said in unison. Handing whatever item they had, he snatched it from them and they jumped back a few feet, fearful. The dark elf immediately turned and went back inside, whatever they had brought, apparently he was quite anxious for it.

Regina glared at Rumple watching his take on the scene but his orc skin camouflaged expressions she was hoping to decipher. Sighing, she was forced to ask another question. "Dark elves can reportedly smell humans from a 100 feet away."

"Which is why I performed a scent spell on us." He didn't look at her.

Out of the lunacy of this whole plan, the one thing she had the hardest time buying was the scent smell. She'd never heard of such a thing. "Funny you never mentioned such a spell before."

He shrugged. "I can't teach you everything, dearie."

"And the language you used, it's a form of elven I've never heard." She was getting a bad feeling about this.

"It's dark elven. It's going to be fine. Come on, I want to get closer." He stepped towards the tent.

Regina waited a beat before following. Getting so close, she'd have no choice but rely on the spell to work.

As they strode past the tent entrance, Regina snuck a peek inside but it was hard to make anything out. The tent was rather large, might have held a couple of rooms. They circled around, since it was now night, the lanterns lit inside clearly cast the shadows of the figures inside. Regina could easily make out the dark elf, he was the tallest being in the room. There were at least two other shadows moving, she guessed the average sized one must be Rowan.

At the rear of the tent, Rumple stopped and looked straight up. He began laughing, she wondered if he was doing his giggle, but through the orc voice box it came out like loud whirring. An orc standing near them, probably a guard, shouted at them to move on. Regina went to grab Rumple's arm but he pulled back. To her shock, he wandered up the guard and said, "Don't you see that?"

Orcs are stupid creatures. He immediately looked up. "What?" Rumple reached over and touched his shoulder, immediately he was turned into a harmless frog.

Was he trying to get them caught? "What are you doing? Are you insane?"

He shushed her and then did another whirring noise, Regina was convinced this was his giggling. He then pranced a bit in his usual way except, as the orc, it looked absurd. Regina scanned around to see if anyone was watching. Nobody was close, but there were a few out in the distance and it wouldn't take long for them to notice.

Before she could drag Rumple away, the back of the tent raised up quickly revealing the dark elf and the other figure which turned out to be a small ogre. Regina started to make a fireball but instantly she and Rumple were pulled so hard they went face first into the tent. The strength of the magic alone was enough for Regina to nearly scream.

Once they came to a stop in the middle of the large room, they were forced on their knees. Ropes appeared and wrapped around them. The tent wall collapsed and it sent the lanterns flickering making it difficult for Regina to focus on who was in the room. She'd already spotted the dark elf and the ogre but where was Rowan?

She got her answer.

"My, my, the dark one and evil queen have let themselves go!" He stepped from the shadows and Regina's mouth dropped. She had imagined what this man might look like, what she hadn't expected was how large he was. He had to be close to 300 pounds, his clothing didn't truly fit him. He waddled towards them, fat protruding from his legs. His fingers looked swollen.

"I take it you didn't starve while in Toomey," she said flatly.

He leaned over to get right in her face, she had to fight the urge to scowl. "Your Majesty is too kind. I'll deal with you later."

Standing straight up, he clapped his hands together and their disguises were removed. Regina tried to look at Rumple but this immobilize spell was too powerful. The dark elf approached them. "I smelled you the minute you set foot in our camp."

So much for the scent spell. She gritted her teeth.

Rumple kept his composure, he began giggling. "What's your name? Skylar? What are you doing helping a human? Dark elves loathe humans."

Rowan was still in front of Regina. She took a guess. "Maybe they weren't aware he was a human."

Rowan turned his attention to Rumple. "I have to admit, I didn't expect you to just walk right in and hand yourself over to me."

She still couldn't see Rumple but she could imagine his smirk. He had been insistent that no matter how powerful Rowan had gotten, he couldn't defeat the dark one. "And you think this is all you have to do?"

"Yes, I do, Rumplestiltskin."

A flash of light happened and she could see Rumple's shadow rise. He had broken free! The ogre went to Rumple immediately but Regina watched the ogre's shadow disappear. She guessed he became another frog. The dark elf started for him but like Regina, he was frozen in place and on his knees. Rumple sent out a blast and it hit Rowan hard enough he fell down, shaking the ground as he landed.

She also could now turn her head. Rumple lifted his right hand high above his head. "I say we end this right now."

Rowan pulled out a short saber and Regina almost felt sorry for him. If she thought that was going to actually protect him from-

It was Rumple's reaction to it that made her realize what happened first. The dark one shrunk back as if struck. "How did you…where did you get my-"

"Dagger?" Rowan finished for him. He stood up but it took much effort. Briefly Regina wondered if maybe he had only gained the weight recently as he didn't seem used to it at all. "Why I sent a team of goblins." The goblins! So that was what they were waiting for! "Eventually I knew you would have to leave the dark castle and once you did so, they were sent in."

"I…" Rumple was stupefied. Regina had never seen him like this. "You couldn't have known how to break the traps, I used-"

"Yes, generations of dark ones have used those spells and traps to protect the dagger from thieves. I remember Zoso using those same traps himself. He didn't think I noticed, but I did."

Judging by Rumple's reaction, the dark one hadn't considered this at all. Her heart sank at the realization that not only were they going to die, but Rowan would win and take the entire enchanted forest for himself. She wondered how long before Robin and Roland would be threatened.

"Get down on your knees." Rumple's new master commanded and he was forced to obey. Her heart broke a little at the sight of her teacher being taken down by this man. Rowan approached Rumple, petting his head. "I must admit, you differ a great deal from my former master. He wasn't so metallic."

The dark elf stood up now, Rumple's hold on him now released. "Your orders, sir?"

"Go outside and leave me alone with them. I am not to be disturbed." Rowan kept his attention on Rumple. After the elf left, he leaned down. "To think, I've been dreaming of this moment for decades, only to have it practically fall in my lap."

He raised his hand over Rumple and Regina's heart nearly stopped. They had discovered Rowan's ability to absorb souls, and he believed it would give him all the dark one's power without the dagger's limitability.

"Just…please, do what you can to me. Just let my queen go!"

"What?" Both Regina and Rowan said simultaneously.

Rumple peered up with wide eyes. "I couldn't bear to watch her….I think of her like my own daughter!"

Regina wondered if he had lost his mind. Since when had Rumple ever-

"Really? I had thought of taking the queen's power after yours, but where are my manners, it is ladies first after all." Rowan stomped over to her, it was all too clear to Regina that Rumple was just trying to buy time for himself. Of course his enemy wished to cause him more pain by supposedly draining the soul from his beloved "daughter". She doubted the few minutes it bought Rumple would help him escape his fate, but she should have known her ex-mentor would use her as a shield.

Rowan stood over her, his hand a few feet from her head. He began to say the words and she felt a pull on her. Closing her eyes, knowing the one person who might have mourned her now no longer even remembered her.

She gasped for breath, forcing her to open her eyes but she saw nothing but blurred images. The pressure she felt was actually from both sides. A pressure from behind but also a pressure from in front, she imagined herself squeezed until she was flat.

Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, she collapsed and air entered her lungs at a rapid rate. She quickly got up, but a loud ringing sound deafened everything around her. She could see Rowan was on his back, several feet away. He was no longer holding the dagger. Rumple jumped up and ran over him, taking his left foot for support, he leaned on him. The ringing kept Regina from hearing what he was saying.

She looked towards the walls and could see shadows outside. All of them trying to get in but Rumple must have put a shield around the shelter. Believing an explosion of some sort is what took Rowan down and caused her deafness, Regina put her hands over her ears and worked a healing spell. A moment went by and she could hear the tail end of Rumple's words. "…Trust me, I won't be making the same mistake my predecessor did. Foolish people insist 'death isn't good enough' but really, it is!" With both his hands, he bent over while Rowan convulsed. She knew whatever he was doing to the fallen enemy would be excruciating. Before Rumple stepped away, something on the ground caught Regina's eye. Thinking quickly, she picked it up.

Rumple stepped back and together they watched as Rowan died. Immediately his body began to almost bubble while his skin began to stretch and shift. The pair backed up to witness lights fly out of his body, in all directions. Possibly a hundred of them. Apparently the soul stealing had been what caused his repulsive appearance. When it was over, Regina looked at Rumple. "What the hell was that?"

"The souls he took. They are returning to the bodies, killing him will bring them back."

"Not that," she said. "What happened with me?"

Rumple smiled. "You were right, there isn't a scent smell that takes away human odor. But if there was, we could make millions!"

"You marched us in here planning on them to take us. You wanted him to try to steal our soul."

"Isn't that obvious, dearie?" Rumple said. "Now get ready. While I bet many of Rowan's orcs ran away like cowards but some have remained. I'm sure especially Skylar."

She wasn't done yet. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

"And ruin all the fun?"

She glared at him while he adjusted himself, brushing off the dirt from being dragged across the ground. "You didn't know if it would work or not, did you?"

He pointed at her, anger was showing. "I knew it would work. I just didn't know if it would succeed before or after he stole the soul."

"So that's why you insisted on using me."

He shrugged, then he breezed past her. His eyes were examining the floor. "You wanted to help. I couldn't think of a better way." He continued in his search, looking under debris.

"Looking for this?" She held up the dagger. She felt pride at seeing the fear on his face.

"Regina, I-"

"Were you planning on him stealing this too?"

He growled realizing there was nothing he could do now. He was at her mercy. "No, actually, that did come as a surprise."

She scoffed. "My, my, that was really stupid, Rumple."

They stared at each other for a few minutes. The creatures that remained were clawing at the shield trying to get in. Regina smiled, she was going to enjoy this. "Go ahead, dark one, avenge the human race out there."

"Don't look so miserable, Rumple, it won't be all bad." She smiled as the carriage pulled up in front of the prison. "Being my slave can have certain privileges after all."

Getting out, Rumple said nothing. He had hardly spoken a word after defeating Rowan. While she was glad he no longer had that annoying giggle, he really was taking the fun out of this.

At the dark palace, Rumple looks up at his new home and sighed. He started to walk to the main doors but Regina called out, stopping him. "Not that way, follow me."

They headed through to the dungeons. She had been looking forward to this moment the minute she got her hands on the dagger. She hoped she'd have a way out of her original deal with Rumple but it wasn't until now she could truly torture him.

Once they got in front of the cell, she waved her hand and the door opened. Looking at Rumple, she gestured, "After you."

Believing this to be his new home, he walked in defeated. He only made it two steps in. "Belle?"

"Rumple!" The couple ran to each other. Regina stood in the doorway, her plan was to just give them a few minutes. With his true love in his arms, Regina would rip her away, further beating Rumple into submission.

He holds her while Belle is sobbing. Regina can't see Rumple's face but she can hear some sobbing of his own. Belle's face is already covered in tears. He pulls back and studies her. "My Belle." Just a whisper. He is practically memorizing her face, he already knows he will likely never see her again.

Belle leans in and kisses him. He returns it. "Alright, enough of that." Regina has no intention of having them make out like horny teenagers. Rumple pulls Belle into another hug, one which she gladly returns.

The sight of them isn't what Regina was expecting. She knew they loved each other, but she expected to be disgusted at that. Regina always wondered how a man like Rumplestiltskin could win the affections of such a goodie two shoes. But now, seeing them, she could plainly see the love on Belle's face and the way Rumple was holding her, gently, lovingly, she knew he felt the same. It reminded her entirely of her night with Robin.

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks and she had to step back. With the couple reciting affections towards each other, Regina was taken back to when she made love to Robin. She grasped the dagger tighter, she had wanted to make Rumple pay. Not just for using her like a science experiment with Rowan but all the abuse he heaped on her back during their training. But now, having Rumple just as she fantasized, the payoff wasn't as rewarding as she wanted. The emptiness in her heart tugged, and images of Robin flashed through her mind.

She walked towards them, clearing her throat. They reluctantly broke apart. Rumple pushed Belle behind him but she fought that, she wanted to get between him and the evil queen. She was trying to protect him. They stood before her together, illuminated softly by the morning light. The same morning light that days earlier Regina had used to gaze upon Robin. Rumple didn't deserve a happy ending. He really didn't. But Belle didn't deserve misery either any more than Robin did. Belle loved the dark one.

Regina approached them holding out her hand. "Here." Rumple looked down, shocked to see she was passing the dagger to him. "Take it."

Now in his hands, he stared at Regina, confusion on his face. "Why?"

She almost said a smart remark but found she didn't have the energy. "Just leave. Take your maid and return back to the castle. Belle, I hope you got plenty of rest because he let the place go since you've been gone." Okay, she was strong enough for a small one.

"Just like that, you're going to let me have her along with the dagger?" Rumple wasn't one to trust in people.

"That was the deal, wasn't it?" At least she had the satisfaction of holding up her end of the bargain.

"C'mon, let's just go!" Belle turned him towards her, studying the queen carefully. It made her roll her eyes, like the former maid had any idea what was going through her mind.

"Go, before I change my mind!"

One month later

Regina, weary after a long day, entered her chambers, removing her jewelry. Sitting down at her vanity, she leaned on the counter, giving herself a few moments of peace. That day had been a trying one. She had been forced to deal with several royal amendments that had to be passed annually and today was the day. Most of it was tedious laws such as tariffs on wheat versus carrots.

Sitting back, her arm caught the side of the squirrel cone and she grabbed at it protectively. Now in her hands, she smiled, it had practically become her daily ritual to hold it before turning in for bed. It had been days since she had seen either of the Hood family but each day her heart ached. She longed to spy on them, she could easily talk herself into saying it was to protect them. She did worry they would eventually be discovered by one of Robin's enemies. But in the end, she knew the best protection was to just stay away altogether.

The window creaked open and like a flash Regina jumped up, allowing the squirrel cone to fall to the ground. "Who's there?"

Her breath caught as she saw the hooded figure step down from the window sill. His face was in shadow but she knew him anywhere. "Robin?"

"Where is he?" Robin pulled back his hood. Regina watched in shock as Robin pointed his drawn bow at her. "What have you done with my son?"

Roland was missing? "What are-"

"WHERE IS ROLAND?" He let the arrow fly.

So here is the chapter. Everyone okay? Sorry to have such minimum OQ interaction but I wanted to wrap up the Rowan part. I warned y'all I hate writing out A plots so if this seems a bit contrite, just do what Elsa says and "let it go". But if you wouldn't mind reviewing, I still would be glad to take comments. Thank you for reading and being so trusting. I take great care in keeping Regina and Robin as in character as possible. It means so much to me when you notice.