A/N: Hello again! Thank you so much for bearing with me, the past few weeks have been hectic. As a thank you, I'll be posting another chapter tomorrow night! But don't get used to it. Also, a huge thank you to the people who left me a message about the perspectives, I will be switching back and forth between people for the rest of the story. As a reminder, I don't own any of these characters or settings. Enjoy, and I'll see you tomorrow. Cheers!

CHAPTER 5

HIGH IN THE ceiling of the old ballroom crouched a spindly, shadowed form. It shifted slightly when the girl stated her identity, and again when its sensitive ears picked up the dwarf's whispered name. It had been posted here as a punishment, the Queen wanting to bore him to death, because no one left in the realm dared venture into the site of her great curse.

None except these three had disturbed him for the past twelve years, his only company a few tenacious bats. His task was simple; report to the Queen anybody who dared to trespass, and keep a watch for thieves and looters. She'd cast a spell that would ensure he'd never leave his post to eat or sleep; he'd been turned to living stone.

A slow grin spread across his face as the trio and their mutt left the hall; slow was everything he did these days. But though his body was slow, his mind was as quick and twisty as ever. He knew precisely what this information was worth to the queen, and he could also guess what she'd want him to do next. Soon he would leave this stone prison behind. A half hour passed while he blinked and rolled his shoulders, then another as he raised his hand before his marble face.

"My Queen," he rumbled, the words laborious and gravelly. "I have news."

HER ROYAL MAJESTY Queen Regina of Misthaven was a busy woman. Most royals only have to deal with the day-to-day running of a realm, but the Queen had certain other… side projects that kept her working furiously through the night. Many of those projects were currently housed in her heart vault, toys and slaves and bargaining chips, but a few were special enough to warrant her more direct attention.

Jefferson had been such a one. His return from Neverland had left him even madder than before, and the loss of his daughter was a distraction. The Queen tried to reinstate him as one of her men, but he'd disappointed her once too often. Still, he could come to his senses, and that idiotic hat of his refused to work without him.

Really, being turned to stone was a kindness. It slowed his madness down to manageable proportions and made him the perfect spy. She had left him in the old castle mostly to track down sympathisers and conspirators, a task he'd done well. That he was using his emergency contact method now was surprising, and a little worrying. Did she have rebels on her hands? With a flick of her wrist, the marble statue of a man appeared in the room in a puff of purple smoke.

"What is it?" she demanded, hoping that the man's stony condition would keep him brief.

"He found her."

The Queen frowned. She knew that this young upstart, Killian, had been looking for a Princess lookalike to scam the royals in Arendelle. She wasn't going to stop him, hell, she was tempted to help him. Take that ice queen down a peg.

"And? What's the problem with that?" Her voice was laced with irritation.

"It is her." The stone man was smirking now, laughing at this cruel joke.

The Queen's eyes turned hard even as her face blanched. "Impossible…" she muttered, more to herself than Jefferson. Storming across the room to reach her mirror, she tried to remember the last time she'd checked up on Miss Emma Swan. Too long.

"Mirror! Show me the Princess." She hollered at one of her many large mirrors, and a swirling image formed in the glass. Three people and a dog made their way through a crowded marketplace. The tall man left, and the girl began to look over the wares with the short man. Her back was to the Queen, but she could see tell-tale golden hair hidden poorly behind an old rag. The pair turned to go to the next stall, and the Queen caught a glimpse of green eyes and pretty features before she was blinded by fury.

"How could you let this happen?" She hissed at the mirror. The scene was replaced by a face, hovering in a cloud of grey smoke.

"Your Majesty has many enemies. It is difficult to keep track of them all." The face raised an eyebrow, and the Queen seethed at his cheek.

"I thought I made it clear that this one was to be your top priority. And what happened to the men I sent to the orphanage? She was supposed to come work in my castle!"

"It would seem that the orphanage director was eager to get rid of Miss Swan. She turned the girl out as soon as legally possible, securing her a job in a fishing village. Miss Swan elected not to take it."

"And now she's looking for her family." The Queen's voice was dangerously low.

"If I may…" The slow words belonged to Jefferson, and when the Queen turned she saw he was gesturing to his body. Rolling her eyes, she released him from her spell. The man collapsed, unused to flesh and bone, but quickly composed himself. "Thank you, your Majesty. I would like to offer to follow the trio."

"Why? What good could possibly come from letting them live?"

"To break Miss Swan once and for all, before you end her life. Despite everything you've thrown at her, she still has hope, believing in love and her family. This little venture will give you the opportunity to finally crush that hope." Jefferson finished with a grin.

"What's in it for you?"

"Well, for my part in this, you allow me to remain human. And I would like to see my daughter."

"Please." The Queen scoffed. "You know the girl is better off without you."

"I know. I'd still like to see her."

The Queen thought it over for a time. It would be risky, but so delicious to crush all of the princess's hopes and dreams, then her heart. And Swan and Charming would see the whole thing… they'd be shattered.

"Very well. You will report back to me as often as you can, and sabotage Miss Swan any chance you get. I want this to happen before she reaches that ice witch." Sensing his dismissal, Jefferson bowed and walked towards the door. "And one more thing, Jefferson. If you mess this up, I will end your daughter in front of you, then I will end you. Are we clear?"

Jefferson's face lifted in a false smile, tilting up at one end. "As marble, your Majesty."