Chapter 19

As usual, thank you for your wonderful reviews. I read and save all of them. I was feeling a little stalled on this chapter but rereading your kind words helped me put my big girl writing panties and get through this.

Regina ignored the hurt she felt when Robin jerked his hand away. What was wrong with her? It was her decision to force him to drink the memory potion, and now his son was missing plus Sade's death, Regina was forgetting herself and touching him in ways she shouldn't be.

She hadn't said anything yet so Robin asked, "So who has my son?"

"Nachzehrers, when they are at their full power, they suck souls. Their victims don't die, at least not right away. Should the Nachzehrer be killed soon enough, the souls are returned to their victims."

Robin was not in a mood to hear a lecture on dark creatures, yet he was holding onto his patience but barely. "So, that tells you who took him? Who did this to Sade? Another Nachzehrer?" Little John and Friar Tuck had approached. John newly bandaged from where he was struck by flying debris.

Regina shook her head. "No, it wouldn't have been another Nachzehrer. But dark elves were considered the origins of such monsters."

"Dark elves?" John said. "Like the one that orc said led the invasion?"

"Exactly," Regina nodded. "It can't be coincidence that dark elves have been in our land and now someone was infected with the blood of a Nach-"

Robin stepped forward. "Wait a minute. Orc invasion. You guys were serious about that?" Robin asked, addressing his question to John and Tuck.

The two men looked sheepish. Tuck answered. "Yes, though we could tell you didn't believe us and since you seemed eager to forget about the queen..."

"I thought it was all for Roland's benefit, his imagination led him to think it would be great if we fought with the queen's army against orcs."

John, who wasn't used to the bandage, kept playing with it as he approached Robin. "We just went along with that. You were upset at seeing the queen but for once you weren't insisting there was more to her than what we'd heard."

"Why?" Robin's eyes widened in anger. "Why keep this from me?"

"Because they didn't want you to have anything else do with me," Regina answered for them. John took a step back, probably worried she would be angry. She wasn't. It was what she suspected and quite frankly hoped if the memory spell would work.

Robin was angry, "I can't believe-my son is out there somewhere with foes I've already fought against and I can't recall one moment of it." He glared at John. "You should've tried to help me. Insisted I remember because we fought in an actual battle-"

Regina hated to see Robin like this, everything was crashing down around him and she regretted her decision, if for any reason so as not to watch him in this hell. "If you're going to be angry with anyone, be angry at me. I'm the reason you don't remember."

"That is the one thing I know!" he shouted back at her.

She looked around the camp, everyone was glaring at her but it wasn't just anger there. Grief showed too. Perhaps it was the fatigue of fighting off a monster that used to be their friend. Poor Sade. "I'm afraid we don't have time for this. With them having Roland, there isn't a moment to lose."

Robin started to say something but knew with Roland missing he had no choice. "Fine, where do we go to find a dark elf?"

"I don't know," she simply said. She held up her hand to stop them from berating her with questions. "Fortunately, I know someone who does. Rumplestiltskin."

Now that did unleash their concerns and everyone was asking questions at once. Robin finally shouted out for everyone to be quiet. "Why do we go to that imp? Does he have something to do with this?"

Nobody in camp trusted her but she was still the queen and she wasn't going to let her internal agony over what Robin was going through get the better of her. "He and I defeated Rowan. That's the man that actually sent the orcs in the first place. Like Nachzehrers, he had been absorbing souls. He was so full of them he was obese. When Rumple killed him, they emptied out of his body to return to their original hosts."

"Why are we listening to her?" someone asked.

"Why would I lie about this?" Regina asked, she really didn't have time for all of this. But she knew they wouldn't let Robin out of their sight until they had a better understanding of things. So she gave them a short recap including mentioning the dark elf that was there, Skylar, Rumple had called him.

"So you think it's this Skylar who has Roland now?" John asked.

She shook her head, that she was sure. "No, I saw the dark one kill him. But Rowan developed soul stealing powers from somewhere and it must have been through the dark elves. I wondered why they would choose to work with a human. They normally hate us."

Robin broke his silence. "What is your plan then, go knock on Rumplestiltskin's door and ask for help?"

She smiled, he was being clearly sarcastic but that was exactly what she had in mind. "The last time you and I went to see him didn't go so well, this time he will help."

He narrowed his eyes, "I'm growing tired of everyone talking of affairs that include me but I have no memory of."

"I know you are," she said softly, aware everyone was studying her face for clues. She knew they would want nothing more than to be revealed behind the whole thing. "Look, I'll tell you more but we need to get going."

It hadn't been easy to convince the merry men to agree to let Robin and her to head off alone. But they really didn't want to face the dark one either. Before leaving, she had used what was left of her magic to conjure traveling stones. A pair of stones that worked to transport people and objects together. One stone would be the calling stone, the other would be the traveler. She and Robin would take the caller, when they made it to where they needed to be to find the dark elf, they could use it to summon the other rock. When triggered, it would glow and the merry men would have five minutes to gather around it with the items they needed. Then it would activate and everyone within a ten foot perimeter would transport to the caller. The good news was after watching her cast the spell to create them, they believed her, or at least were just anxious to get her away from their families. The bad news was in doing so it drained all her magic, she hoped enough of it would return by the time they got to the river.

They followed the same path they had before, but this time it was on horseback. Before setting off, Robin asked if she could keep up with him. Getting on the horse without any help, she had ridden off shouting he'd have to keep up.

Together they rode hard and it didn't take long to reach the river. She just hoped enough of her magic had returned, they'd need that boat again. Disembarking from the horse, Regina didn't wait for Robin, she extended her hands and issued the spell. The boat appeared, this time with two sets of oars, she would be helping in getting down the river.

Robin got their things together. He hit the horses hard, the signal to return back to camp. He started to explain that they would but Regina held up her hand. "No need, you talked about that last time."

"I see," he replied, eyeing her steadily. "We came on horseback last time too?"

"No, last time we walked." With their items stowed away, both got into the boat. She ahead of him.

She could hear him taking the oars behind her. "How did you learn to ride so well?"

"Daniel taught me." She tensed for the inevitable question. When it didn't come, she realized Robin no longer remembered her nightmare and the name hadn't registered. And apparently now he didn't care enough to ask.

He started them down the river and with a heavy heart, she took the oars and helped row.

They rode in silence for a long time. Robin internally fought against asking her questions. He wished to get to know her better, but then he would recall that at one time he had. He wondered how close they had gotten, why had she forced him to forget? Did he learn something he shouldn't have? Perhaps some weakness she might have, she didn't want anyone else to know about? That seemed the most likely scenario but it didn't feel right. It felt like there was something more.

He hadn't expected her to start a conversation but she did. "Why do you think Sade was your fault?"

"What?"

"You said before his death was because of you. Why?"

He gripped the oars so hard if he hadn't been wearing gloves he'd probably have splinters. "Because they came after me. It was me that they wanted, not Sade and certainly not Roland." Saying his name forced thoughts of his son into Robin's mind and he had to blink away tears. "What do you think they are doing to him now?" He didn't have to tell her he meant Roland.

"It's best not to concentrate on that," she said, but her body stiffened. She was worrying about it too.

"I can't help it. At best I can imagine him sitting there tied up and alone, scared out of his wits. But at worst-"

She turned around. "However we find him, we'll deal with it." She was staring at him now, her eyes were soft and unguarded.

"Do you think…" He was so scared to ask but he had to know. "Do you think they might change him into a-"

He stopped when she reached for him. Her hands caressing his face. He shouldn't let her do this but it felt so…comforting. "No, Robin, I truly don't think they would." He closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. It felt better than good. It felt right.

Suddenly the boat began to shake. Regina broke contact and whipped round. "The rapids, we need to work together to get through this."

The rapids were easier to get through since Regina had remembered them. She could tell Robin what to expect as the small boat tumbled and tossed in the water but soon they were safely past. Now with a second surge of strength, they rowed faster and got to where they needed to go much sooner.

As they made land, Regina took a moment to watch Robin. The more time she spent with him, the harder it was to keep her hands to herself. She kept her mind on Roland, he needed them and she wasn't going to fail.

Handing her satchel to her, they began walking. Robin said, "So we're almost there, care to let me in on your plan?"

"We're going to knock on the door and go inside." Just like last time, she almost added. Except this time she wasn't sure what to expect of her former teacher. God knows how a month spent with the goodie two shoes had softened him.

"You think he's just going to help us? Did he do that last time?"

She almost laughed. "Last time he almost killed you. Which reminds me…" She paused and turned to his shocked face. "…whatever you do, don't call him a coward." She resumed walking before he had a chance to react.

"Lovely piece of advice…don't call him a coward." He muttered behind her. She suppressed a grin. She truly had missed Robin's wit. "I take it then last time I told you I had met the dark one before?"

He'd told her very little about his visit. It was thanks to Rumple she learned he was doing it to save Marian's life. "Some, Rumple filled me in on the rest. I understand you used that wand you stole on Marian while she was pregnant."

"Yes, I did." Robin was right besides her now. "I didn't know what else to do. She was dying of fever. It was the only thing I knew that could save her and-"

She reached out to his arm, whether to keep him from getting too upset or simply to touch him again, Regina wasn't sure which. "I understand. Trust me. But it does remind me, using the wand on Marian while pregnant with Roland may have…had some consequences."

"What are you talking about? What consequences?" He had to duck going under a tree limb and Regina followed.

She hadn't really planned on bringing this up, especially now, but Robin needed to know. "It's just…Roland was able to see me at your camp as Lucille. He knew it was me, not an old woman."

Robin blinked at that. "I see, I hadn't…I guess you two really bonded before."

She didn't like his tone but there was nothing she could do about that now. "I was just as surprised as you are now when he recognized me. I asked him to keep it a secret. Not to tell anyone."

"Of course you did," Robin said, stomping along. "And apparently he did too. I had no idea."

"You didn't when you got back but…his behavior around me along with some mistakes I made clued you in on who I really was. You took me out of the camp to escort me back to my home. When we were far enough away you let me know you were no longer fooled."

He was breaking off some branches now, taking out his frustrations on the trees and bushes in their path. "Yes, well, add that to the list then. When I got back, everyone asked what happened to Lucille, I couldn't answer them about whether she made it home safely or not. Sade wanted to go find her. Check on her."

She stopped walking then. That hurt to hear. "He did?"

"Yes, he did, your Majesty!" Robin stopped with her, getting a bit in her face. "Sade was a caring guy. He took things very much to heart and whatever you said to him, whether it was in jest or you just wanted to get rid of him while you were trying to spy on us, he took it to heart."

"I meant what I said, I swear!" Regina insisted, not backing down. "I admit when I first met him, I wondered why you kept him around, but as I heard his story and how much he wanted to help-"

Robin interrupted. "Wait, he told you about his story?"

"Yes, he did," she said, folding her arms in an effort to try to keep from touching him. "When he first started talking about the attacks I was scared that it was-" She stopped then, realizing there wasn't any real point to rehash all of this. She stepped away and picked up where they left off. "We need to keep going. It's almost nightfall."

"What were you scared of?" Robin said, not about to drop the subject. "Scared of more orc attacks? Is that what made you take this orc thing seriously?"

She shook her head. "No, it's not important, Robin, just let it go."

"Regina, tell me!" He said her name. She stopped and looked at him, and for a second he seemed just as shocked as she was. But he recovered. "I mean, your Majesty. I just want to know. Please. I had to kill him today, I can't even be there to help bury his body."

She hadn't even thought of that. If they hadn't had Roland to worry about, that's what Robin would be doing. "He-he was telling me of the attacks and at first I worried it might have been my black knights that attacked his village." This wasn't what he expected at all. "I know now that they can be relentless in their pursuits under my orders."

"You know now?" He repeated her words but looked unconvinced. "Are you seriously telling me you didn't know they were murdering and raping-"

"No! Yes! I don't-" She kept walking. This was not what she wanted to get into at all. "This isn't the right time, we're almost there."

He didn't answer right away. After a few minutes, he added. "So what would you have done had it been the black knights?"

"What?" She asked even though she had heard him.

"If Sade had said the black knights had burned down his home, what would you have done?"

She didn't want this conversation. But something was pushing Robin to see it through. "I probably would have tried to convince myself that his family deserved it. That they broke the law or helped an enemy of mine."

"Snow White?"

She stopped and glared. He was never this brazen before. Was it the effects of the memory potion? Was it his fear of losing his son? Perhaps he was still reeling from Sade's death. "You know nothing of that."

"Now or before?"

"Both!" she said, allowing her voice to take on the icy tone she used for others. It wasn't as easy on Robin. "Look, I'm here to help you find your son, don't forget that. Whether you choose to believe it or not, I want to see Roland returned safely to you alive, but that doesn't give you free license to say whatever you want to me. The subject of Snow White is closed! Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly," he said, glaring at her.

They neared the dark castle. Robin kept his mouth shut. He didn't bring up Snow White again. Honestly he wasn't sure what came over him, he just wanted to push her buttons. He had no idea why. Even though everything he said was true, right now he owed her a debt. That for all her dark past, she seemed like she cared about Roland very much and if it was half of how she reacted over Sade, he knew she'd do everything in her power to help him. And he knew he needed that.

But being near her was driving him crazy. She was not just beautiful, she was stunning. And the way she held herself, even in front of a dozen angry woodsman blaming her for the darkness that befallen one of their own, she didn't back down. She wielded magical powers as easily as some wielded a sword and had such grace while doing it. But there was something else that he couldn't put his finger on, something beyond those beautiful eyes and queenly voice. He didn't know what it was, it was almost like they had…but Robin put that theory aside. That was absurd.

They stood in front of the doors and Regina knocked. "Last time he knew we approached. This time though I expect his attentions to be more diverted."

Robin arched his brow. The door opened but no one greeted them. Regina stepped in and he followed, saying, "I just hope this works out, I hardly think he's going to be impressed with my pretty smile."

She stalled at that, he nearly ran into her. "What?" he asked, now on guard, thinking she sensed danger.

"Nothing, you just said that…last time." She went forward and Robin followed, hoping putting his son's life in the hands of the queen and the dark one would pay off.

I struggled at the beginning of the chapter but once I got OQ alone it got a bit easier to write. I worried y'all wouldn't like reading them heading to Rumple's again but I thought it interesting compared to the first time. Please, let me know what you think. I'm really so flattered that so many of you are enjoying it thus far.