'Considering how far along Elizabeth is, she certainly isn't slowing us down,' Jefferson thought, Elizabeth matching his hurried pace along the rough woodland terrain. Over the tips of the fir trees lined the road; the topmost turrets of Rumplestiltskin's castle were visible.
The feel of Elizabeth's hand brushing his brought Jefferson's eyes downwards as he glanced across at her. In between her ragged exhaling, Elizabeth's lips curved into a gentle smile. A surge of reassurance momentarily filled Jefferson's thoughts: yet he could not shake the wariness that increased with every step towards the castle.
Since trading his life as a penniless orphan for the Dark one's most valued portal jumper and thief, Jefferson had seen exactly what Rumplestiltskin was capable of. For the most part, he'd remained on the 'good' side of Rumplestiltskin by doing exactly as instructed. Any mistakes and he'd suffered. But now with Elizabeth, and two children on the way, Jefferson was coming to the realisation that Rumplestiltskin suddenly had considerable leverage over him. Jefferson was no longer untouchable: no longer the self-centred man he had been only a year earlier.
He remained on edge all the way to the castle. Elizabeth had tried talking to Jefferson, though her words washed over him. Sensing that Jefferson's mind would not be put to ease until they met with Rumplestiltskin, she soon fell silent. The quiet between them was punctuated only by the occasional movement in the undergrowth and the cawing as a flock of crows passed overhead.
They reached the walls of the castle, the gnarled garden twisting around the path that lead up to the porch. As Jefferson stepped onto the first stone step, Elizabeth's hand tugged upon his, forcing him to stop and turn around.
"Jefferson, there's no need to be so nervous. We don't even know what he wants of us: he may just want to discuss working arrangements for after I've given birth," Elizabeth's voice was resolute, though the apprehension in her eyes gave her away.
Giving his hand a squeeze, Elizabeth gave the colossal front doors a push. Jefferson placed his free hand onto the wood, slightly above hers. The door eased open.
Sat at the head of the dining table was Rumplestiltskin. The throne-like chair that he sat at was pushed back and his crossed legs were outstretched, resting upon the table. Upon seeing Elizabeth enter, followed immediately by Jefferson, his feet slid onto the ground.
"Jefferson, Elizabeth; I've been waiting on you. I trust that you received the message that Regina passed on?"
"Yes," Jefferson watched as Rumplestiltskin grinned, beckoning to them.
"Come, come, its rather draughty by the door, I'll get a fire going," With a snap of his fingers, the fireplace lit up with flames, immediately warming the room.
Jefferson took a cautious step forward. He kept his eyes on his employer, his fingers wound around Elizabeth's, her body close beside his. For some reason Jefferson was suddenly reminded of a strategy game he'd seen played in a few realms, in which pieces were moved along a board with only a set number of moves.
Every move had to be calculated.
It took only a few seconds for them to walk down the hallway and draw close to the fire, but to Jefferson it felt like a millennium.
"Now, down to business," Rumplestiltskin announced, his serious tone almost masking his gleeful excitement.
Jefferson stood opposite him, his mind conflicted. 'What on earth are you and Elizabeth doing?' Staring danger, in the form of the Dark One, straight in the face? Get out!' Yet Elizabeth's words reminded Jefferson of how he could merely be overly cautious: he still didn't know what Rumplestiltskin wanted of them.
"I need you to fetch an item," Rumplestiltskin said, rotating his wrist airily as he explained, "I would have asked you to get it this morning- only it most definitely requires your assistant."
"Why would that be?" Elizabeth asked.
"It is of utmost importance that this item is retrieved safely. There are very few tree saplings remaining that wield such exceptional growth."
"A tree sapling?" Jefferson repeated, "I can get that myself!"
"Ordinarily, yes" Sighing, Rumplestiltskin drew a deep breath as though considering his choice of words, "But as I said, this tree sapling has the capabilities to grow incredibly quickly and is growing rare. I cannot risk you failing me. Alone, you may not secure the sapling: but together, you two are quite unstoppable."
His grin widened as he glanced from Jefferson to Elizabeth before turning to the dying fire and tapping at the wood with a poker. "Now, this species of tree are found only in Andalasia-"
"I haven't said that we're going yet."
At Jefferson's words, Rumplestiltskin sharply turned on his heel and fixed him with a steely glare, the poker still grasped tightly between his scaled fingers. "What is there to disagree about?"
"Elizabeth doesn't need to come with me," Jefferson said, each syllable reverberating off the walls in the silence, though his voice remained firm, "I can get a tree sapling myself."
Sensing the danger, Elizabeth hand reached up and caught Jefferson's elbow. "Jefferson," She intervened, "I don't mind going with you. If this tree sapling is so important, surely it's better to increase our chances of getting it?"
"I'd listen to your assistant…and fiancée," Rumplestiltskin said, glancing down at Elizabeth, an impish grin flickering upon his features, "I'm sure that you don't want to risk the fate of the kingdom, and your family, over this?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jefferson demanded, ignoring the reprimanding look that Elizabeth shot him.
"I can't tell you everything dearie: that'd ruin the surprises," Rumplestiltskin's gave a slight giggle, though his voice was cold as he added in an undertone, "Besides, you cannot refuse the terms- do you not recall the deal that you made?"
"What deal?"
"The deal that you made with me: in order to gain an evening off so to free Elizabeth from her marriage to a vampire?" Rumplestiltskin reminded, "You agreed that you would do a certain task for me, no matter how dangerous or life threatening."
"It's Andalasia: hardly dangerous or life threatening," Jefferson scoffed, attempting bravado. But he could feel the sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach: the same dread that he'd felt when Rumplestiltskin had caught him trying to steal from his cloak all those years ago.
There was no way out.
No way to refuse.
Not when Jefferson considered who Rumplestiltskin could hurt if he gave the wrong answer.
Rumplestiltskin had quirked an eyebrow, awaiting Jefferson's full response. Elizabeth's hand had slipped down to take his, and her grip tightened the longer he paused.
"I suppose it won't take us too long to get the tree sapling then," Jefferson conceded, glancing down at Elizabeth to see her relieved expression.
Unable to mask his satisfied smirk, Rumplestiltskin gave a curt nod before waving them away with a rotation of his wrist. "Excellent. Bring the sapling straight to me once you're done."
"Jefferson, where are we going?" Elizabeth called as they walked back through the woodland, "Because we've been past the ridge that you usually toss the hat down."
Stopping, Jefferson turned to face Elizabeth. Seeing the exhaustion upon her face only confirmed his decision. "You are going back home- I'm going to get this tree sapling alone."
Elizabeth's brow furrowed as she looked up at him in confusion, "You just told Rumplestiltskin that we were both going?"
"Yes, well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him," Jefferson replied briskly, ignoring Elizabeth's outcry.
"Of course Rumplestiltskin will know if you go alone. You made a deal: you agreed that you'd do exactly as he said!"
"Look," Jefferson placed a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder, "I won't be long, and it is better that you stay at home rather than portal-jumping."
"I am so sick of everyone else telling me what the best thing for me is!" Elizabeth snapped, her cheeks flushing with anger as she roughly pushed off his hand, "I'm the only person who can decide: and I think that I should go with you."
Suddenly, fingertips flashed before his eyes. Before Jefferson could respond or try to stop her, Elizabeth had snatched the hat from his head, vanishing into the purple haze. Cursing under his breath, Jefferson darted after her and leapt through the portal.
"What the hell are you playing at?" Jefferson yelled across the hall at Elizabeth, who had stormed over to the blue door of Andalasia. Elizabeth had her back to the door, arms folded tightly over her chest as she watched him approach. Her words were sharp and crisp, "You made a deal. You have to keep it."
Too infuriated to be able to resist arguing, Jefferson countered, "If you don't like other people telling you what to do- why are you doing that to me?" Elizabeth glowered at him, her lips pressed into a tight line.
"Let's just get this sapling from Andalasia."
"Fine by me," Aware of how childish he sounded; Jefferson turned his face from hers and pushed on the door that Elizabeth was stood beside. The door swung open with more force than he'd intended, but it was the sight of the realm before him that stopped Jefferson in his tracks.
'I can't even remember the last time we went here…' He thought, 'this place makes Wonderland look sane.'
"We haven't got all day you know," Elizabeth muttered derisively, prompting Jefferson to step through the doorway with a sullen sigh. "Oh, Andalasia," Elizabeth continued, her voice purposefully slow as she took in the rolling hills that seemed to be impossibly green in animation, and the sunshine that was almost blindingly bright. Jefferson heard the slight snigger as she added with an unabashed delight, "You can't stand this realm, can you?"
Jefferson didn't reply. Instead, he continued walking, the grass swishing harmoniously in the idyllic breeze that drifted down the valley. Elizabeth followed, remaining several paces behind him. Taking out his compass, Jefferson watched as the needle spun wildly before landing on North. Forcing his eyes to look up at the brilliant blue sky, Jefferson scanned the horizon for any sign of woodland.
To the west, the sky was almost as black as night around a castle. It didn't take much to guess that an evil Queen resided there. In the north, the valleys descended towards colossal mountains, the tops tipped with snow. Somewhere in those mountains, Jefferson suspected, was a passageway to Arendelle. His eyes landed on the east of Andalasia, where an animated version of the woodlands of the Enchanted Forest lay.
"I think the sapling will be in those woods."
"Great, let's go then," Elizabeth said, cutting in front of him and storming ahead.
They walked through the fields in silence: not the quiet apprehension of approaching Rumplestiltskin's castle but a silence clouded with unspoken irritation. As he walked, Jefferson's own anger began to fade, replaced with a desire to break the stifling quiet between them. But Elizabeth kept her distance, wandering into the moss covered woods. Their silence was broken only by rumbling of trolls and the excited chatter of the animals that passed by, until Jefferson spoke up, "Elizabeth?"
"Leave me alone."
Unsure of whether she was referring to him or the twittering bird that had attempted to land on her shoulder, Jefferson didn't continue. With no idea how long they had been walking or how much further they had to go, Jefferson assumed that Elizabeth had given up when she suddenly halted.
Instead, she stepped backwards by three paces, eyes trained upon something deep into the woods. Without any explanation, Elizabeth stepped off the cobbled path and began to make her way between the lumbering trees towards whatever she had seen.
All Jefferson could do was follow, listening intently for any indication of trolls. Recalling how the forests of Andalasia frequented many trolls, Jefferson quickened his pace to try and catch up with Elizabeth. As they ventured deeper into the woodland, the ground gave a sudden tremor.
Elizabeth's foot slipped on the uneven scattering of rocks. With a jolt she stumbled forward. Before her scream could leave her lips, Jefferson's arms were around her sides, keeping her from the edge. Catching his breath, Jefferson glanced down at the gorge that Elizabeth would have fallen into. Between the vibrations that pulsated through the forest, Jefferson staggered to a nearby tree, an arm wrapped around Elizabeth.
His back hit the tree trunk, Elizabeth pressed to him as he held her whilst the footsteps of the troll slowly passed by. Elizabeth's eyes trailed upwards, her chest rising and falling against his. The intensity of her glare softened, her lips quivering slightly as she searched for what to say. "I thought that you were far behind me," She breathed, voice stiff.
"I wasn't about to let you fall," Jefferson said lowly, sensing that she was thanking him, even if her stubborn pride forbade her from saying the words.
With a grateful flicker of a smile, Elizabeth continued, her tone growing confessional, "I'm sorry for getting mad at you earlier. It's just..." Her words were cut short as another tremor ricocheted across the ground, though Jefferson could feel her moist breath tickle his skin as she repeated, "I'm sorry."
"I forgive you: as long as you will forgive me for shouting at you?"
"I do," Elizabeth murmured the tension in her body fading. She shifted her arms so that they were no longer held awkwardly by her sides but wound around his waist. The troll's footsteps were fading away and once the ground beneath their feet had stopped vibrating, Elizabeth tilted her head to look over her shoulder. "Is that the sapling?"
Jefferson looked past her to where a ray of light was shining amongst the trees. There was a small clearing, in the centre of which was a small sapling, its shoots raised to the sunlight. Despite its size, miniature branches were already emerging from the thick stem.
"I think it is," Jefferson said, feeling a grin forming, "You know, I would never have found it without you!" He placed a kiss upon Elizabeth's neck, just beneath her ear. Caught unawares, she swatted him away, though a soft laugh escaped her lips.
"We can celebrate later, let's just get hold of the sapling first," Elizabeth placed a hand to her abdomen, taking a sharp breath.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing: just contractions. I think the shaking of the ground has set them off. I'm fine; I've had them all this week."
Her words of reassurance only sent a pang of guilt through Jefferson as he realised how little time he had actually been spending with Elizabeth over the past few months. He knew what contractions were from Elizabeth's previous check-up with Victor: but he couldn't remember ever being with her whilst Elizabeth had experienced them.
"You stay here, I'll get the sapling."
Elizabeth nodded, and Jefferson approached the clearing, carefully stepping through the bracken that wound along the path. He entered between two of the trees that guarded the grassy expanse, footsteps light.
Crouching down, Jefferson slid out his dagger from a back pocket before bringing it to the thick stem. With his knife pressed to the plant, Jefferson hesitated, suddenly recalling when he and Elizabeth had planted flowers the previous autumn. She had shown him how best to plant the tiny flowers, with their straggly white roots. Without those, the plant would die.
Placing the dagger on the ground beside him, Jefferson dug his fingers into the rich soil that surrounded the sapling. The sapling came away with ease when he grasped the stem, its roots dangling in the sunshine. Slipping the sapling into his satchel, Jefferson rose, turning to check on Elizabeth. She was only a few yards away, and he could see the lines of pain etched onto her face.
"You're not fine," Jefferson called, almost breaking into a run to reach her sooner.
"I am," Elizabeth said weakly, "They've practically stopped now." She gingerly straightened up from resting against the tree trunk, a hand still clasped to her swollen abdomen. Eyes never wavering from looking straight at Jefferson, she took a few paces towards him. "See, I'm fine."
Jefferson remained unconvinced, though he knew that the sooner they got back home, the better. Rather than press the matter further, he began to walk with Elizabeth towards the fields. Try as she might, Elizabeth could no longer match Jefferson's pace.
Although Jefferson didn't mind slowing, the need to get Elizabeth out of Andalasia was growing increasingly urgent to him. The sound of her footsteps beside him had faded, and Jefferson looked back over her shoulder to see that Elizabeth had halted, face contorted with pain. Elizabeth opened her mouth to apologise, but Jefferson spoke first, "Your contractions aren't supposed to last this long, are they?"
Elizabeth swallowed before shaking her head, as though she couldn't trust herself to speak.
"Sit down for a moment," Jefferson walked back over to her and guided her to a ledge carved into the ground by a huge root. Elizabeth hesitantly lowered herself, rubbing the small of her back as she sat down.
Crouching down before her so that their faces were level, Jefferson cupped her blanched cheeks with his hands. "Is there anything you need: a drink of water, tea, anything? I can get it for you." He asked, unsteady voice rising.
"Jefferson, stop panicking, please. I just need to see a doctor, I need Victor..." Elizabeth's voice grew shaky, her words choked as though she was on the verge of tears. She took a deep breath, eyes closing for a moment as another contraction took hold.
Jefferson counted the seconds, his heart thudding faster and faster. After almost a minute, Elizabeth's eyes snapped open again. Her dark eyes stood out against her paled skin, searching him for some relief from the fear that lined her face.
"I think I'm going into labour."