Wonderstruck
Chapter 32
Author's Notes: Almost forgot to post this morning. Sorry about that. Hope you enjoy and as always if you feel possessed please let me know you like it! ~ Scarlette
"Emma, come back to bed. It's early and I'm still tired and I know you are too. You tossed and turned all night." Regina murmured twisting onto her side on the large canopy bed. She pushed her bare arm out of the cobalt silken bed covers, holding it out with her palm upturned. "Come cuddle with me." She demanded.
Emma twisted on her bare feet smiling at the sight of her sleep-rumpled wife. "In a moment my Princess. I'm just trying to figure this out."
"I told you we'd figure it out in the morning."
"It's morning."
"It's not even light out. Get back in this bed this instance or I will not be held responsible for my actions."
The blonde grinned as she moved slowly back to her side of the bed where her wife was half stretched out. Within a moment of pulling back the blankets, Regina was upon her, jerking her down and crawling on top of her to keep her in bed.
"You're worse than an octopus my love."
Emma realized her mistake the moment she felt Regina tense against her. They'd not specifically stated their feelings to one another but there was an implication that they were there between them. Neither one had tipped the balance so far.
Regina lifted her head from her wife's chest, brown eyes meeting emerald green. Neither said anything for a long time as they studied one another.
"I'm sorry." It was Emma that caved first.
"For what?"
"For…saying that…like that."
"Did you mean it?"
The blonde flinched but dipped her head. "Yes," she wouldn't lie to her wife not about this.
"Emma,"
"I know you don't feel the same. It's all right; I'm not upset by it."
Regina opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. "I care for you deeply…I would do anything to see no harm befell you."
The Winter Princess smiled softly, "That's enough for me Regina. It's more than I could hope for given how things began for us."
"Give me time…and I'm sure I'll come to love you as deeply as any wife loves their spouse."
"Like my Mother and Father?"
Regina smiled softly, "They shared a special bond and I think we do too. I want to nurture that between us, allow it to grow and shape our entwined lives."
The blonde leaned up, pressing her lips to her wife's. "That's all I want for us Regina."
"I know," She studied her wife's features for a moment. "I know you're worried, what I told you earlier tonight couldn't have been easy to stomach despite knowing ahead of time what I was likely to say."
"I'm…glad you shared it with me though. To me it proves how much you trust me."
"I do trust you."
"I know and I'm grateful for it, truly."
"There may be a way…to get what the Pirate wants without having to go through my Mother. It may not be possible depending on what it is but we might get lucky."
"What are you thinking?"
"Will you promise to hear what I have to say before flying off at me about it?"
Emma cocked her head but nodded, curls shifting on the pillow.
Regina chewed her bottom lip before lifting one of Emma's curls with her fingers. She began to twirl it around, following the natural twists of her wife's thick hair.
"When I was eleven, my Mother offered me up as payment for a summer. I was essentially a prisoner…at least that's what I thought. I um was a hostage if you will for an artifact my Mother wanted. She got it and in exchange for me offered something back. I'm unsure of what it was but that's not important. What is…the person I stayed with...is another magick user. And one I think your family is intimately familiar with."
The winter princess' brow furrowed, "I don't understand."
"Her name is Maleficent."
"Maleficent as in…the dragon sorceress Maleficent?"
Regina nodded and dipped her hand, pushing Emma's jaw closed. "You'll catch flies if you leave your mouth open too long." The other woman snapped it shut with an audible click.
"You stayed with her for a summer and what?"
"Nothing, she was very kind actually. Once you got past her ability to flambé you."
"Are you serious?"
Regina's small smile faded, "I am. At first I was terrified, I was this little tiny thing and she was this bigger than a castle thing…and I don't know. I just…one night I was in my room and I heard this…screaming…and I remember I threw on my robe and I ran outside and there was this little unicorn, he couldn't have been more than a few weeks old but he was screaming…not like a child screams but like…something that was experiencing such utter heartache it wouldn't survive. I remember I threw my arms around its little neck and I pulled it close and this huge dragon landed in the courtyard near us. And I don't know…I just put it behind me…trying to use my body as a shield. I thought this is it…I'm going to die but I didn't. A few moments later I felt a hand on my shoulder and I was so scared, I jumped away and pressed myself up against the little unicorn but it was her."
"Maleficent?"
Regina nodded, "She just smiled at me and after that…we started to talk. In the evenings we'd debate philosophy, politics, even history and dance. She taught me a lot while I was there with her. I'd read for hours and we'd talk about everything I read and I'd ask her questions for hours. She never held anything back from me. Information passed so easily between us…like she was a pane of glass. When I was eventually given back to my Mother, I cried for days. I begged to go back. I wanted to live with her so badly; she was so good to me. In every way."
"You loved her very much."
"She was the mentor I always wanted. Back then the first person to take interest in me was the one I clung to the hardest. And that was her."
"But your Father?"
"I love my Father so very much but he's weak and Maleficent was strong. I think that's why I clung to her so tightly."
"Have you seen her at all since then?"
"Occasionally, not for very long. She's not very fond of Humes. She prefers solitude." She shrugged, slipping to her feet. There would be no more sleep tonight. She settled at her vanity, pleased for the milder weather that allowed her to forgo a robe.
"My parents hurt her."
"Yes, very badly in fact. They took her child from her. I am the same age as her child so I think in some ways…we helped one another."
"Why would they take her child?"
"I don't know…and she wouldn't ever tell me. In fact the only time she was upset with me was when I asked about her child. She hurled a fireball at me." The small brunette shook her head with a fond smile. "Thankfully she'd helped me learn magicks and I was able to put up a quick shield but…"
"How can you laugh about that? She could've killed you."
Regina sobered up at the sour look on her wife's face as she sat up. "She didn't, she was just hurt and she lashed out. Nothing more. Believe me I've had worse done over the years by my Mother. That was nothing."
"And you think she'd help us?"
"She'd help me if I asked. She's always helped when I've asked."
"Even though it involves saving the Kingdom of one of the people responsible for taking her child from her?"
"She was angry at me for agreeing to marry you but I think she understands now why I did it and regardless of her personal feelings I have to believe if my life were in danger, she'd help."
"You could just go back to SpringFall though."
"I wouldn't leave Wintersend without you at my side. Nothing could get me to leave you Emma, not an invading hoard of Ogres, not even my Mother. You are my wife and I am yours and I take our vows seriously. I thought you did too."
"I do, of course I do Regina…I just…this makes me uncomfortable. This magicks and humes and even the magicite around your neck even though I'm the one who gave it to you."
Regina closed her eyes and sighed softly, "I know this is overwhelming. I know everything is tilted on it's axis right now regardless of the fact that you knew what I was…suspecting and confirming are two totally different things."
"You don't make me uncomfortable Regina. Far from it in fact; I trust you implicitly. I just…Maleficent was like the Bogey Man for me growing up and you want to ask for her help? Even knowing what I know about her now it…"
"You don't have to be with me."
"I won't leave your side Regina." She repeated her wife's previous words. "We're in this together forever."
Regina smiled softly, "I want to help and if asking Maleficent for her help will get us the soldiers we need to fight this impossible battle, then I'm willing to do it. The question is are you?"
Emma took a breath before she dipped her head and pressed her lips to Regina's pert nose. "I'm with you."
"Will summoning her here be a good idea?" Regina looked up as soon as Emma stepped into their bedroom.
"You don't have to be here." She pointed out.
"Eric trusts magic users even less than any of the Northern Kingdoms."
"Yet he trades with Queen Elsa." Regina tapped her finger against her brush before lifting it and slowly running it through her raven locks. "You worry too much. Why don't you go and see if Melody will help you work off some of that energy? A good sparring match may do you some good."
"Melody fights dirty. She learned from pirates."
"Then fight dirty in return." Regina laughed at the sour look on Emma's face. "Winning is the ultimate goal is it not?"
"Winning honorably is the preferred outcome."
She twisted on the vanity stool and studied her pacing wife's figure. "Do you think an Ogre will fight fairly? Or what about the slavers in the Abyss? Surely the Knights of Fortune didn't just rise to power by fighting nobly."
Emma cut her eyes at her wife who arched a brow. "You would prefer I dirty myself with dishonorable tactics wife?"
"I would prefer to know you'll come back to me in one piece no matter what it costs."
Emma dipped her head, "I'm sorry…I'm anxious…"
"I understand. Will you pull that cord and call for Josie? I need her help."
"Why are you changing into that?" Emma arched a brow as a pair of lavender ribbons were set on the vanity's surface. They stood out against the jade wood; complimenting colors.
"Maleficent gave them to me. They match a dress I used to wear a lot when I stayed with her. I think it might help with what I'm going to ask of her."
"I won't question you again. I think I'm going to take a bath while you're doing that."
She twisted on her booted feet and made her way towards their large bathing chambers. Unlike at home, with it's underground hot springs that kept the water hot naturally, Sunfaire had a series of intricate iron pipes that were used to pump hot water into the bathing vessels through a large faucet. The exact nature of the design alluded her but she was glad she didn't have to call servants to bring hot water up so she could enjoy the warmth. She plopped down on a small stool and began the tedious process of pulling her boots off. She really hoped her wife had good luck with the dragon sorceress. She didn't exactly relish the thought of going against her Mother-in-law.
"Maleficent," Regina spoke softly to the apple charm on her bracelet. She chewed her bottom lip watching the mirror to ensure Josie had left her. She tapped her fingers on the vanity, waiting patiently until a cloud of deep purple smoke fluttered through the open window. It got thicker and thicker until it cleared completely revealing the statuesque blonde who merely offered her a warm smile from her full lips.
Regina smiled brightly, jumping to her feet and running to her. Blue eyes sparkled as she held out her arms accepting the girl's small body against her own.
"I've missed you." Regina murmured into her shoulder, tucking herself close to the sorceress.
"And I you. Let me look at you. I haven't seen you since your wedding." She took Regina's tiny hands in hers, forcing her back a few steps. She smiled at the sight.
"You don't look so pale and your cheeks are glowing."
"Emma treats me well."
Maleficent's smile faded as she dipped her head, "What are you doing in Sunfaire? Are you on your way home?"
"No, I'm hoping to avoid SpringFall."
"Your Mother was on a rampage last I heard. Best to stay away."
Regina swallowed, looking down until she felt Maleficent's fingers playing with the silken ribbons in her hair.
"I gave you these a long time ago."
"And I only wear them on special occasions so they've held up well."
"You have indeed, I'm pleased to see my gift so well cared for. But, I'm sure you didn't call me here on a social visit. And you failed to answer my question."
Regina licked her lips, "Emma and I came to Sunfaire because we need help."
"What sort of help?"
"The kind you won't approve of but any other cannot be used."
Maleficent's eyebrows shot up to her hair line, her purple and pink horned crown sparkling on her head as the sun caught the jewels just right. "And what's that?"
"We need to go to the Abyss, to speak with the leader of the Knights of Fortune." She wouldn't tell her oldest friend about her other task not until something relevant came of it. She didn't have much to say beyond she was looking into a set of Grimoires and she doubted Maleficent would care about it that much. Once she had something solid, she'd ask but for now she'd keep that part silent.
"The Abyss is dangerous my love. Even I would hesitate to venture there."
"I'm aware of some of the dynamics, the city is ran by the slavers with the Knights of Fortune as their hired muscle. I know Valaine and Gabranth buy slave soldiers there and use them in their battle against the Kredians."
"Things aren't always what they appear Regina. You know this and yet you persist to do this?"
"I need to be at Emma's side Maleficent. I have to help her. She's my wife."
"A poor excuse for one if she's taking you to some place so dangerous."
"I asked to go with her. I refused to be left in Wintersend with only my Mother-in-Law. It's my place to be at my wife's side no matter what the dangers."
"And how do you propose to get you and your wife to the Abyss? Sunfaire won't help you with that. King Eric knows the implications of his ships being seen in the Empty Bay. He won't take the chance of war breaking out."
"We found a pirate…a smuggler…willing to take us to the Empty Bay and back unharmed."
"Did you negotiate the terms like I taught you?"
"Of course I did. I haven't forgotten my lessons."
"I don't like this Regina."
"I know but other choice do I have?"
Maleficent sighed softly and dropped the girls' hands beginning to pace back and forth across the room and back. "And what does your wife think of all this?"
"She's in favor of it as long as we're all safe."
"Who is this Pirate?"
"A man named Killian Jones."
Maleficent stopped, turning on her heel, "Did you say Killian Jones?"
Regina blinked, cocking her head, "You know him?"
"Quite well in fact. I also know what he would ask as payment for such a task being that you're Cora's daughter."
"He wants a map."
"Not just any map my love. The map to Neverland."
"Neverland? Does that even exist? I thought it was long since wiped away by the sands of time."
"Don't let illusion fool you my love. Neverland exists, I've been there and back."
"Why would you go to that place?"
"I needed someone, she had an item I required at the time."
Regina nodded, "The Captain says my Mother has the map he seeks."
"Then he has the other half of the puzzle all ready in his possession."
"Puzzle?"
"It takes two things to get to Neverland…the map…and a compass. If he's seeking the map, then he has the compass."
"He wants the map as payment to take us to the Abyss and back."
"He cannot receive it."
"He won't do it for anything less. We tried and he wouldn't hear of it."
"Give me a few days and I'll come up with something to help you stall him."
"If he finds out we've tricked him, he'll leave us there."
"He won't. He won't find out until you're safely back in Sunfaire under the protection of King Eric and Queen Ariel."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know what he seeks from that thrice damned place."
"Do you have it? This object he seeks? Is it in your possession?"
"It's not an object my love, it's a person."