The azure sky that was laced with clouds rippled in the clear water, a warm breeze coasting through the dense thickets of ferns that edged the woodland. For a moment, there was a serene silence, broken only by the chirp of birds nesting in the trees and the buzz of crickets on the stems of pondweed that rose from the water.
Lain on the grassy shore was a man, though his presence hadn't yet disturbed the peacefulness that surrounded him. He had been staring out into the lake, though with a lazy flick of his wrist, the velvet hat that beside him flipped up onto his head.
Jefferson straightened up, straining slightly to listen. The faint footsteps that tore through the trees were growing louder, making their way past the ferns. Tilting his head upwards as the footsteps reached him, Jefferson found himself face to face with an upside down Elizabeth, an indignant look upon her flushed features.
"You've been here for ages, haven't you? I searched everywhere!"
"I did wonder what was taking you so long," Jefferson smirked, looking back out onto the lake again. He felt Elizabeth's dress brush his side as she sat down beside him and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"This is Lake Nostos," he explained, "it's well known across the land for having magical properties within the waters, though few have managed to harness them due to the sirens that guard the lake. Some say the water is powerful enough some that it can return something once lost; others believe a sip of the water can grant you a wish."
"What do you believe?"
"I believe it tastes pretty good."
After rummaging around in his satchel, Jefferson produced two silver cups and knelt at the water's edge. He dipped the cups into the lake, retrieving them as the water began to swirl around them. Scrambling backwards, a pale arm rose from the now murky water, the slender fingers writhing, talon nails grasping into the air. Elizabeth let out a startled gasp and the arm vanished back into the water.
"Was that a siren?" Elizabeth asked.
Jefferson nodded and handed Elizabeth one of the cups. He noticed her worried glance at the water and said,
"Sirens tempt men to a watery grave by taking the appearance of a beautiful woman, though the siren knows that won't tempt me with you here."
Elizabeth blushed, averting her gaze into the depths of the cup, her reflection as clear as though she was looking into a mirror.
"Go on then, make a wish." Jefferson said, drinking from his own cup.
A little uncertainly, Elizabeth brought the cup to her lips and drank. She placed the empty cup on her lap, her expression changing into a smile.
"It does taste pretty good."
"I told you: so, what did you wish for?"
"If I tell you, it won't come true!" Elizabeth replied, her smile growing broader as she leant over and whispered in his ear, "but it may involve you wearing that hat….and not much else."
"Well that can easily be arranged," Jefferson said, sneakily placing a kiss on her neck before pulling out his pocket watch, "it's already five and our magical mystery tour of the enchanted forest is almost over. The only place you haven't seen is my own."
Tucking his pocket watch and the cups back into the satchel, he stood up and took Elizabeth's hands, pulling her up in a flurry of ripped lace and hair that streamed like ribbons in the wind before reaching up for his hat.
"Is it far to your house?" Elizabeth asked, eyeing the hat nervously.
"Only a mile or two, I just figured it'd be quicker with the hat."
"Couldn't we walk- it seems silly to use the hat when we could walk on such a lovely day?"
"Of course," Jefferson said, taking Elizabeth's hand and breaking into a run, pulling her up the bank behind him.
Her laughter was a symphony for his ears, ringing out across the woodland. They slowed at the muddy track of road, strolling amiably side by side, the wilderness stretching out before them. There wasn't another soul in sight, apart from the swallows that flitted over their heads, darting from one tree to another.
Jefferson had just been recounting an anecdote from his meeting with the rather icy queen of Arendelle when the impatient rustling of bushes cut him off. He glanced over his shoulder, his unease resurfacing. For a while Jefferson had been suspicious they were being followed and prepared himself for whoever had been tailing them.
A pair of reproachful brown eyes peered out from the leaves, and an elegant deer traipsed out, its movements stunted by bewilderment as it cautiously approached them.
"Poor thing, it's scared…" Elizabeth said.
The deer had frozen before them. With a sudden jerk of its head, the deer scampered away, kicking up clouds of dust behind it as it vanished back into the woods.
"Of us," Elizabeth finished mournfully.
She looked up at Jefferson, whose grip around her had tightened, though he was searching through the trees. There was a clatter of hooves and for a moment Jefferson was as frozen as the deer. He grabbed Elizabeth by the shoulders, hurriedly backing to the side of the road.
"Elizabeth, we need to hide in the bracken-"
It was too late: the royal carriage had swept onto the road, pulled by a dozen horses, hurtling past them. Before Jefferson could think they'd pass by, the horses suddenly came to a halt. The carriage stopped exactly where the pair stood and the ornate door swung open.
Out stepped Regina, grinning smugly at them. She glanced over at the horses that were now tethered by the driver and gave a regal wave of her hand as if greeting Jefferson and Elizabeth. Immediately, the horses began to buck and resist the reins.
"Well see to the horses!" Regina snapped to the guards.
They nodded and hurried away, leaving Regina with Jefferson and Elizabeth.
"Jefferson," Regina purred, smirking as she met his eye.
"Queen Regina," Jefferson said, biting his tongue to remain civil, though he returned her look with a glare.
"I see this must be your latest barmaid," Regina said idly, without a glance at Elizabeth.
"I'm not a barmaid! I'm his assistant actually and-" Elizabeth cried and Jefferson tightened his firm grip around her, lightly treading on her toe to silence her.
At this, Regina acknowledged Elizabeth, her eyes trailing down Elizabeth's ripped, muddy wedding dress with a look of utter disgust.
"So I see…I'm not even going to ask about the wedding dress…Now Jefferson, I have some business I need you to take care of: just a quick trip to the Agrabah kingdom and pick up some Agrabahn vipers-"
"Firstly," Jefferson interrupted, "those vipers are deadly. I'm not going to risk my life trying to get them. Secondly, I already have plans with my assistant."
"Well, I can't delay those 'plans' now can I?" Regina said, dropping her façade, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"No, you can't, so we'll be going now. Oh, and Regina: I'd be careful using magic in front of the guards." Jefferson nodded over at the horses, still bucking wildly.
"They're on my side- it's all part of my plan for the crown. I just need to take it from the King's head." Regina hissed, dropping her voice to a whisper.
"Good luck with that. Come along Elizabeth, I'm sure the Queen needs to be back at the castle."
Giving Regina one last, angered glare, Jefferson took Elizabeth's arm and lead her down the path. A few moments later he watched Regina's carriage sail past, the horses behaving normally once more. Once the carriage was well out of sight, Elizabeth spoke up:
"So that's Queen Regina? I think Victor mentioned her once or twice: isn't she being mentored by Rumplestiltskin?"
"Queen evil bitch more like," Jefferson muttered, "but yes, she is the queen of Leopold's kingdom and is being mentored by Rumplestiltskin. You don't need to worry about her- if she makes any comments to you I'll stick one of those Agrabahn vipers up her-"
"Jefferson- which house is yours?" Elizabeth hurriedly said, pointing to small cottages that they had approached, the woodland path trailing away beneath their feet.
"My house isn't any of those! See that mansion, on top of the hill? That's my humble abode."
Grinning at Elizabeth's surprised look as she gazed up towards the mansion casting a huge shadow from the afternoon sunshine down onto above the village beneath. Jefferson too admired the place he called home: his job meant he was rarely ever at the magnificent residence, though Jefferson wasn't about to admit that to Elizabeth.
"Come on then: I'm still waiting for my wish to be granted," Elizabeth said softly, smiling slyly, though her eyes twinkled.
"Alright," Jefferson said, "we better get going."
With that, he broke into a run and dashed up the hill. It was steeper than he remembered and as he slowed, Elizabeth caught up with him.
"I recommend you save your energy for later," she teased, tugging off the flower braid she had worn and slipping it over Jefferson's hat. He gave a cry of horror and raced after her, a foolish grin overcoming his features as he watched Elizabeth: filled with a wild freedom, eyes shining with hope, a smile that could light up realms in black and white or colour. For the first time that he could truly remember, Jefferson could feel that freedom too.