Chapter 23

Another short one but the plot is moving now. Everyone is being so kind and generous with their reviews, especially when I'm not sure I really deserve it. Please let me know what you think.

Snow led everyone to the last place she tracked the trio. There, on the other side of a brook, were clearly the tracks of two adults and a boy. "This is where they stopped," Snow stated needlessly.

"Give me a few minutes," Robin asked and he followed the tracks backwards. Everyone seemed to understand what Robin was doing except Regina who followed him. His body zigzagged around, looking at the ground the whole time. Regina wondered if he was trying to see if there was any MacGuffin root along the path.

"Robin," she called after him. They really needed to move forward on this, why was he backing up?

"Just a minute, I want to see…," he stopped then, getting his answer. When Regina caught up, she saw long marks in the ground, parallel to each other. "They were dragging him." Robin pointed at the marks, his hand was shaking.

Without a second thought, she took his hand. "C'mon, Robin, we need to go the other way." He wasn't looking at her. Reaching out, she took his chin and turned his head towards her. "How fresh are the tracks?"

He blinked at her question, she hoped it would snap him back to the present. "A few hours looks like. If they stop and rest, then we may be able to catch up to them in no time."

She nodded. They went and joined the others. Snow asked, "So they didn't just cross right here, the trail ends instead?"

Little John regarded the water. "They may have waded in it. It's not very deep, even with Roland with them. It's warm out and the coolness and moving water would be quite soothing." He glanced at the other merry men, "You think they went downstream or up?"

One of them answered, Regina didn't know his name. "Downstream is easier. Unless they had a reason to go up."

"They are looking for something called MacGuffin's root. It's an ingredient they need to take the dried Nachzehrer blood and make it potent again," Regina explained. "According to the dark one, the plant grows wildly here, but could be anywhere, upstream or down."

"What does it look like?" Tuck asked.

"It's purple and green," Regina said, "very dark, in the moonlight it may look black. When it's growing thick, it almost looks like seaweed."

"I already saw some of that," Snow White piped up, not making eye contact with the queen. "I remember because it was quite soft to walk on. It was so thick I could still make out their footprints."

"That sounds like it." Regina gritted her teeth, though because of her worry for Roland, not over Snow's presence.

"So they already have it," Robin said, not caring about the tension between the two women. "How long does it take to mix?"

Regina was already trying to figure that out in her head when he asked. "A few hours at least. It will need fire to heat. So they must make camp."

"That's good news!" Alan said, trying to be positive.

"Not if they manage to make that poison again and coat their weapons," John replied.

Robin got out his bow, preparing as if they were right around the corner. "We need to be ready and quiet. If they already have the root, then let's assume they went downstream. Don't just keep your eyes at the soil around the bank, check to see if any branches or limbs have been broken."

Everyone started down the water. It was slow going, Regina's mind kept imaging poor Roland in a dark elf's arms. It made her rather sick. Then she would glance to her right and see Snow White and felt even sicker. She noticed the princess would occasionally peek at her which didn't help matters. Regina was sure given the chance she would dart away and run for her life.

Eventually they came to a bend in the water and saw a tree limb broken off. Alan was ahead of them and worked his way around the tree. Remaining silent, his head jerked up and the positive look on his face told everyone he found the tracks. Everyone began following them.

Snow was still next to Regina but both women were in the back. Snow asked, "Only two pairs? I take it they are still carrying Roland."

"They better be," Regina hissed.

"You're going to a lot of trouble for a boy, Regina," Snow said. "The queen caring about the son of a bandit isn't exactly what I'd expect from you, at least not anymore."

Regina glared at Snow, "Enjoy this time while you can, Snow, because once we find him I'm taking you back with me."

She expected Snow to react to that…whether being frightened or angry or something. But instead Snow seemed resigned to it. "You really care about him, don't you?"

"I'm…you're…" she had to count to ten because her first reaction was to shout. "What about you? You just decided to start following the three of them?"

Snow nodded. "Yes, Regina, the situation looked wrong to me, I think any good person would have if they saw Roland with them."

Regina tensed at that. "How did Roland look? I know you said he didn't seem physically hurt but…is there anything about him that especially got your attention? Torn clothing? Scratches?"

"I couldn't really see his clothing. What got my attention was how dirty he appeared. Like…" Snow stopped, not sure if she should really say.

She didn't have to. Regina remembered Robin's words from earlier. "Like he was dragged?"

"Yes."

"I will kill them!" Regina hissed. She had already planned on it, but now she would make it hurt.

Snow didn't comment, just kept walking. The two women continued on for awhile, following the men. Nobody really spoke except comments here and there, all in whispers. Regina still could tell Snow had something else on her mind. The looks she was giving her was driving her insane. "What?"

As if that was all the prompt she needed, Snow took a chance. "Did Cora kill Daniel?"

That was not what Regina expected. She not just stopped but she gripped her stepdaughter by the shoulder so hard the princess yelped. Regina looked up ahead, nobody noticed. When she turned to look back at Snow, she planned on a rebuke, but Snows eyes were filled with such emotion, Regina lost the words she wanted to say. She struggled to remember but eventually gave up. "Yes, she did."

"Why didn't you tell me, Regina?"

"Because you were a little girl," Regina was in her face, her nails digging into Snow's skin. "And I had to take care of you like you were my own daughter." Her face snarled so ugly Snow looked away from her. Regina let her go with a push and resumed walking.

Snow didn't back down. She caught up with her. "I wish you had told me."

"What could you have done about it?" Regina said, surprised at the emotion in her voice.

Snow shook her head. "What can I do about it now?"

"Exactly." Regina said.

"I truly am sorry, Regina. You may not believe that, but I am." Snow said, getting a little louder.

Regina shushed her. She didn't want the others to hear this conversation, especially Robin. She couldn't help but add, "Only because it will cost you your life."

Snow reached out and touched her arm, Regina whirled around shocked. Snow was shaking her head, "No, Regina, the only reason I told that secret was because I wanted you to be happy. I thought your mother wanted that too. I'm so sorry."

Regina didn't want to hear this and she sure as hell didn't want to believe it. Before she could utter a reply, she noted the men ahead grouped together and in an instant she joined them, trying to forget Snow's pleas.

"See ahead Robin! It's a fire!" one of the man was pointing. Far in the distance they could make out a light. They were too far away to see clearly. "Should one of us go down there and check it out?"

"No," Regina was the first to respond. "Dark Elves can smell humans even 100 yards away."

John didn't like hearing that. "Well, great. We need to get closer to see if it's them, but if it is them, they will know we are here."

Regina rolled her eyes. "You forget that you have me here. I can take a closer look." Maneuvering her hands, she was able to magically zoom in and get a better view at the figures in the distance.

It was definitely the kidnappers. The blue elf was recognizable and when the other man stood up, Regina knew him at once. "Johnson! It's Johnson!"

Robin asked. "Who is Johnson?"

Tuck remembered him well. "He was the commander that was in charge, well, under you Robin when we fought the orcs."

"Oh, was he?" Robin asked, glaring at Regina who tried to pretend the angry look didn't bother her. Scooting closer to her, he asked. "Do you see Roland?"

She moved the makeshift window to the right scanning. "There, he's there!" The boy wasn't moving but at least he was sitting up. Even with the magnification, he was still too far away to make out much detail like if he was hurt or sick.

"So what's the plan?" Snow asked.

Robin shook his head, he hadn't thought that far ahead. "I could shoot arrows far enough away and hit them but I certainly need to be closer than this."

Regina pursed her lips. "It's tricky, I'd prefer to get them as far away from Roland as possible. You know, a rain storm might get them to look for shelter and not be so out in the open. While on the move we might be able to take them by surprise."

"When will it rain?" asked John looking up. "There isn't a cloud in the sky."

Snow almost laughed. "I think Regina was thinking about creating her own weather."

"Oh," he said, eyeing her. "Right."

Robin considered it. "I don't know. That will get them moving but it's hard to shoot in the rain. How hard will it be coming down?"

Regina made a face. "Pretty hard. It would be like a bad storm."

"You can't just do a light rain?" Robin asked, in spite of the situation there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"I never do anything halfway," she said. She almost added that he knew that but of course he wouldn't. That was before the memory curse.

Never one to remain silent for too long, Snow said, "Also, shooting in the rain probably means Robin will have to be even closer. Do you think rain would hinder the elf's ability to smell us?"

Regina really had no idea. "I suppose. Though some of us smell a bit more potent than others…" she paused glaring at Little John "So the rain may actually help."

Robin stared at Regina for a second, a small twinkle in his eye. Then he remembered Roland and he resigned himself. "Okay, I guess that will have to do. Here's what I'm thinking…"

Anyone noticing my nod to Hitchcock? If anyone knows what I'm talking about and mentions it in their review, I will send a PM with a small spoiler (unless you specifically don't want one). I always love your reviews whether here or on Tumblr. I feel so flattered that people enjoy this especially when I get lumped into other OQ stories that I think that are far superior to mine. THANK YOU.