Jefferson emptied his satchel onto the desk, taking out each item with care and setting them before Rumplestiltskin.
"Mm, you got the dream-catcher...very good," he murmured, lifting the dream-catcher up and holding it to the light.
"When haven't I got you something?" Jefferson asked with a smirk, casting a quick glance at Elizabeth, and they shared a knowing look.
Rumplestiltskin made a noise of agreement and unwound a long length of gold thread, which Jefferson stuffed into his satchel.
"It's good doing business with you," Jefferson said, before turning to Elizabeth, "let's go."
"Not so fast," a voice called, though when Jefferson turned, Rumplestiltskin had already left, and Regina was striding through the castle doors, "we still have business."
"I thought I made myself clear?" Jefferson said firmly, meeting Regina's gaze with a steely look.
"Well, we need to talk- in private," Regina said, pointedly glancing at Elizabeth.
"Whatever you have to say: you can say to us both. Elizabeth is my assistant, so any business with me is business with us both."
"It's fine," Elizabeth murmured, "I'll wait outside."
Regina watched as Elizabeth hurried to the door before whirling back around to face Jefferson, an eyebrow arched.
"Rather quiet isn't she? And young too- she hardly looks old enough to be travelling the realms and stealing with you."
"I'm sure if Elizabeth had something to say to you, she would-and actually, she just turned eighteen, which is only a year younger than you," Jefferson coolly replied, "now what do you want?"
"For you to get me the Agrabahn vipers."
Jefferson sighed and slipped his pouch of gold into his satchel.
"Regina, I've told you- I'm not risking my life for those snakes! It's not like you can pay me, Rumplestiltskin's already given me plenty of gold."
"You can't refuse your Queen," Regina hissed, a cruel smile forming, "and I can make you do my bidding without payment."
As she spoke, Regina grew closer, and outstretched her hand so that it was pressed against Jefferson's chest.
"I'm not quite adept enough to rip out your heart and control you: but I don't need to. I can rip out your sweet assistant's heart instead and crush it. I'm sure her brother would love to be presented with her body."
Jefferson stared straight into Regina's eyes, and her bitter gaze showed no sign of a bluff.
"Fine-but I'll get the vipers, not Elizabeth."
"Of course she wouldn't be getting them," Regina scoffed, "the stupid girl would probably get bitten- and where's the fun in that?"
Regina gave a cold laugh before setting a piece of parchment onto the desk and sweeping from the room. As Jefferson scanned through her instructions, he could just hear Regina indistinctly speaking to Elizabeth. Her soft footsteps grew louder and he looked up at her, comforted by the mellow look in her eye compared to Regina's iciness.
"What do she want you to do?"
"Steal her something. But I'm going to do it alone- I don't want you getting hurt."
Elizabeth nodded, suddenly embracing him, her cool hands reaching up to cup his jaw.
"Be careful, okay?"
"Careful is my middle name," Jefferson said.
"I thought it was trouble," Elizabeth teased, briefly kissing him.
"I'll walk back,' she continued, breaking away with a smile, her hands falling to her sides.
"What if you get lost?"
"I have this," Elizabeth whipped out a roll of parchment from her pocket to reveal a map of the enchanted forest, "I got it off Rumplestiltskin whilst you were dealing with Regina.
"Alright then- I'll see you back home in a few hours," Jefferson said, tenderly brushing a hair out of Elizabeth's face before flipping the hat onto the floor.
Consulting his instructions and pocket watch, Jefferson glanced up at the tavern sign and stepped inside. Like every tavern he'd been in, there was a definite scent of alcohol, fused with the musty scent of old tobacco, the clink of glasses and raucous noise. But there was something else in the air of the tavern, a foreboding presence that hung over the building like a thick veil. Barely a word was spoken between the people, many shrouded by cloaks from their travels, though there was a buzz of noise that seemed to drown out any individual conversations.
Jefferson took a seat at the bar, forcing himself to resist joining in the card game taking place in the far corner of the tavern. He'd barely taken a sip of the drink he'd brought, ever conscious of the time, when a reedy voice whispered:
"Are you the Hatter?"
"I have many names- though I prefer Jefferson," Jefferson said, turning to face the rather apprehensive looking man sat beside him.
The man seemed relieved by his response, taking a swig of his own drink before saying,
"The Queen said you were also called Jefferson. I am Achanda and I charm snakes."
Achanda leant forward and tentatively outstretched a hand, for him to shake. Jefferson shook and under the dim light of the tavern he realised that the snake-charmer was younger than he'd expected, fear widening the pupils of his eyes.
"You have the box?" He asked, and Jefferson nodded, lifting up a medium sized wooden box.
"Got it as soon as I arrived here, enchantments and all."
Achanda eyed the box and its steel bolts nervously,
"Good, because that may be the only thing that'll hold them. I suppose we ought to get to it then."
As they walked further into the sandy plains, Achanda informed Jefferson of how difficult the vipers were to find and just how fatal their poison was to humans. Hardly instilled with hope at their upcoming encounter, Jefferson decided it would be better to talk about something aside from the vipers. At first, Achanda had seemed cautious to talk about his own life, but he grew more relaxed once Jefferson had told of him how Regina had threatened the woman he loved as well as threatening Achanda's family.
"I only dread to think what she could possibly want with these vipers," Achanda said, holding out his arm to stop Jefferson from taking another step.
They had reached a rocky cliff, and rested on a large stone nearing the cliff edge was a formidable two-headed viper.
"That's it?" Jefferson said his voice a low, slightly horrified, whisper.
Achanda gave a grim nod before taking out a small wooden flute.
"When I play this song, the viper will become drowsy and less inclined to strike. Your safest option is to stand before the snake and grab it from the tail. That's how any who try to catch one approach it."
"Yes, and you said that pretty much everyone who goes after one of these vipers is dead." Jefferson replied, though Achanda wasn't listening.
He had begun to play the flute: slow, hypnotic notes were coming out of it. Jefferson glanced across at the viper. It's head was raised, and as the melody floated over to the viper, it's eyes grew glassy, the head swaying slightly. As Achanda took a breath, he gave a quick nod to Jefferson, who was opening the box. Though the viper looked half-asleep, Jefferson wasn't going to take any chances.
'I'm not touching that thing- that's how everyone else died!' He thought as he looked around the cliff edge, hoping for a way to catch the snake. A small mouse scurried past the rocks and Jefferson picked it up, dangling the mouse from its tail.
Slowly, he moved his arm along until the mouse came into view of the viper. The viper caught the mouse's scent, it's dark eyes no longer glassy but glinting with hunger. Hurriedly backing away from the approaching viper, Jefferson threw the mouse into the box. As the viper went in after it, he slammed the lid shut, tightening the latches as the viper hissed furiously. Watching the box, Achanda lowered the flute and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
"You did it," he breathed.
"I can't take all the credit," Jefferson said with a grin, "that thing you do with the flute is pretty good. Now your family and my girlfriend are safe from Regina's wrath."
Achanda flushed with pleasure, smiling bashfully as he fiddled with the flute.
"You're welcome here any time you know, you and your girl. I'd be delighted to give you both a tour of the kingdom."
"That's very kind of you- but speaking of tours, you wouldn't happen to know where I can find a genie?"
Achanda nodded, and pointed down into the valley beneath them.
"See those caves down there? The lamp was last seen around there. I'd help you search, but I have cattle to sort before the market tomorrow, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all. Here, I'm presuming Regina won't pay you for your hard work," Jefferson pulled out a length of golden thread and ripped some off before handing it to the astounded snake charmer.
"I couldn't possibly!" Achanda said, staring at the golden thread, "don't you know how much that's worth?"
"Of course, how else do you think I make my money?" Jefferson said, pressing the thread into his hand. Achanda grinned broadly, thanked him profusely before hurrying away. Once he had vanished into the haze of sandy plains, Jefferson set off towards the caves.