Wonderstruck
Book II: What Makes the Desert Beautiful? It Hides an Oasis
Chapter 33
Author's Notes: Well time and this chapter also go away from me. Sorry about that. I went to a concert with my family and I just got back today so that ate up a lot of my time. I hope this one answers some questions but I know others will be brought up due to the content. It's pretty jam packed but I'm hoping still readable. Please let me know what you think and I'll try to get the next chapter up in a timely manner. ~ Scarlette
"Rumplestilskin," Venar looked up as the smoke materialized and took a humanoid shape that eventually revealed the form of the Dark One.
"Ah, my dear Venar, I knew you'd be calling on me today. I even wore my best dress for the occasion."
"We've encountered a problem."
"And what would that be?"
"Maleficent has been with our savior. She's offered her help but I think there might be a better way. That Pirate…the one that wants your head…he's on the board."
"Another chess piece for you to maneuver? How delightful." He grinned maliciously, clapping his hands in glee.
"The Princess has not come to me in private since she's been here. I believe she's afraid to ask for my advice."
"Is that so? Well then perhaps I should pay her a visit." He laid a hand over the place where his heart should've beaten.
"You will do no such thing. You will stay away from her…however…your assistance would make matters quite easier and take out a loose end in the process for yourself."
"You make it sound so appealing. No one can twist words quite like you Heretic Venar." He giggled, prancing around the sandstone floor quite happily in a strange little jig.
"He's after the map to Neverland. Your former pupil has it. I need it…and more importantly our savior needs it. Find it and bring it to me, I will put it in my Princess' path."
"Are you trying to command me Venar?" He twisted his head on his neck in what should've been an unnatural angle. Icy blue eyes glared at him.
"I am doing no such thing. I know our goals coincide and this way you eliminate an enemy and we get one step closer to wresting the reins of history from the Valaar."
The gold skinned man cocked his head, "And what makes you think that's my ultimate goal?"
"With the power of the suncryst we're unstoppable. In this world and any other. Ultimate power, something the Occuria only dreamed of when it made your knife from the magicite all those years ago."
"What makes you think Cora will just give me the map you ask for?"
"Our ultimate goal aligns with hers as well. She wants power and if she believes her poppet can give it to her imagine the possibilities in her eyes." Venar shifted on the small cot he'd been sleeping on. He would've been more comfortable closer to Regina but he was making do for now. The servant quarters weren't a bad place per say but he found the chatter from the others…irritating at the best of times. He was glad for his elderly appearance. No one noticed the elderly; not really anyways and he was left mostly to his own devices as a foreign monarch's servant.
"And the dragon sorceress?"
"She'll be dealt with in time. She loves our Princess dearly and I believe should we require her…assistance…she would come to Regina's aid without question."
"You assume."
"The chess pieces are aligning in our favor…will you be swept up or will you help me?"
"What are you reading my darling?" Emma asked, dipping into a low bow as her wife set the thick tome in her hand aside with a smile.
"Do I not get a good afternoon kiss?" Regina asked, eyes bright with amusement and a hint of affection that was steadily growing.
"Of course you do. I apologize for my tardiness. I would've been here sooner…only I needed to bathe after my sparring session with Melody."
"Did she rub dirt in your face again?"
"I really wish she'd stop doing that…it gets all in my hair and it's difficult to get out." The Winter Princess pouted as her wife laughed.
"I will be certain to help you get it out then next time it happens." She rose to her feet. "I am enjoying the sunlight here. It's so different from Wintersend."
"I miss home."
"I find myself missing our home as well…and our bed…with all those warm furs and you."
Emma frowned, "I'm sorry…I have been a bit distant."
Regina took a breath and released it slowly, "You have a right to be. You require your thoughts and I can't begrudge you that."
"Your magicks…"
"They're weak even without the suppressor I wear. I doubt they'd be of much use to anyone let alone this quest and I am sorry for that. I would do…whatever it took to ensure your protection."
"You know I would do the same for you."
"I do." Regina smiled softly at her. "Will you walk with me? The gardens are beautiful further in."
"Of course. I need to speak with you about something anyways. Best to get as far from prying ears as possible."
"There are ears everywhere. Best to be careful my dear."
"Always."
"Venar," Regina smiled softly as the elderly servant slowly made his way down the straight garden path to her. Straight lines, sharp angles, everything perfectly in shape that was how the gardens in the West differed from those in the North she'd noticed. Of course the green fauna and flora was nothing compared to SpringFall but there was beauty amongst the verbena, red-hot pokers, and tall juniper bushes. She wouldn't say she didn't miss the frost lilies though. She'd grown quite fond of them.
"I apologize my Princess for my approach. I am aware you are working hard at the moment."
"Not at all. Unfortunately we're at a bit of a standstill. I'm glad you're here. Perhaps you can help."
"Your wife?"
"Went back inside to rest. I thought I'd soak up as much of the sunshine as possible and hope it sustains me back in Wintersend."
"You favor the light my Princess. It shows in your skin and your hair and your eyes."
"I find it refreshing after so long without or with a weakened version we usually have." She shrugged her silk lined shoulders. She was glad for the breathable silver material now. It suited the warm, humid temperatures found this close to the Sapphire Sea.
"You are looking radiant my Princess." He complimented her and she smiled.
"There is much I wish to speak with you on. Not only has our journey come to a bit of a standstill but…"
"I may have a way to solve that." He interrupted carefully as she stood up from her seated position on the carved jade wood benches that lined the paths.
"I think we may have figured something out…but I'd be open to hearing your ideas?"
"The Pirate is looking for a map…we should give him one."
"I don't even know what this map he's looking for has on it." Regina sighed. "My friend seems to believe that it's a map to Neverland he seeks."
"I may have seen this map once before…and I might be able to recreate at least enough of it to make it passable as the one he requires."
"How would you have seen it?" Her brow furrowed in confusion.
"The map is old my Princess as am I." He smiled at her and she shook her head.
"If you believe you can do this, I will speak to my wife and see what she thinks we should do. I believe she'd favor this plan over the one my friend offered." Regina smiled softly trying to shake the uncomfortable feeling settling in her bones, and took his wrinkled hand in hers. She gave it a brief squeeze before looking down. "Your hands are so chilled."
"Ah, the price of living in the Winter Palace…always cold."
"Like ice." Regina frowned as the old servant pulled his hand from hers.
"Does your wife not run cold?"
"No, Emma runs hot."
"Perhaps it is because I'm old. Thinner blood." He shrugged it off.
"Perhaps." Regina took a breath, turning back towards the path they were slowly meandering down.
They remained quiet, Venar content to allow her to formulate her thoughts in peace and Regina trying to figure out where to start.
"Have you ever been in love Venar?" She asked finally with a timid break to her voice.
"Once, when I was younger." He offered quietly.
"What was she like?"
He hesitated a moment, "He my Princess."
"Oh…forgive me…he…what was he like?"
"He was life itself. Nothing burned brighter than him."
Regina smiled softly, "You loved him very much."
"I forsook everything for him."
"Your family?"
"Didn't want us to be together at all. He was beautiful…like the sun…and I was just lucky enough to allowed in his presence."
"What happened?"
"He died." His voice was flat and she frowned.
"Did he know how you felt?"
Venar remained quiet before he sighed, "No. He never did…though I think he suspected."
"Do you think he returned your affections?"
The old man shook his head, neck creaking with the movement. "No, I know he didn't."
"It must've been painful." She offered, skittish once again.
"I suppose…I don't look back at that time with fondness. I only see failure."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"Is there a reason you brought up this line of questioning my Princess?"
"My wife recently told me she loved me…not in so many words but the sentiment was there."
"And you doubt her feelings?"
"I doubt my own and it hurts because I know I'm hurting her."
"May I ask a question my Princess?"
"Of course."
"Would you die for your wife?"
"Without hesitation."
"Would you live for her?"
"I…" Regina startled at the question.
"There's your answer Princess." He smiled softly, eyes calculating as Regina twisted and took off down the path in a not quite proper fashion.
"Emma," Regina called her wife's name with a bright smile as she pushed open the doors to their chambers. Her smile slowly faded when she found an empty set of rooms. She cocked her head, listening closely but there was nothing.
"Are you looking for someone Princess?"
"Josie," She smiled softly at the servant girl. "Have you seen my wife?"
"No, your highness I haven't. I merely came to change the bedding but…"
"She hasn't been here the entire time…where could she have gotten off too?"
"Perhaps Princess Melody knows your highness? I can ask her to come and speak with you."
"That won't be necessary. I'll find her sooner or later. We have a tendency to stay close to one another."
"You love each other very much your highness."
Regina paused noting the girl's sweet expression before her lips tilted back up, "Yes, I do believe we do."
"You're distracted again." Lancelot remarked softly.
"I have a lot on my mind." Emma muttered as she notched back an arrow. She wouldn't have even agreed to come out here had he not insisted. "Plus I sparred with Melody this morning and we both know how that one usually ends."
"You should spar with her brother, he fights honorably."
"Yes, but he's stiff and always performs the same movements. He never changes. I thought you'd be pleased, Melody keeps me on my toes."
"And this explains your lack of aim?" He arched a brow and she cut her eyes at him before turning back to the ranged targets. She took a breath and released it trying to relax her mind and put her focus solely on the target.
A few moments passed before she released the arrow and they watched it sail and land with a thunk in the outer ring.
The Knight shook his head, "If you intend to keep your wife safe when we sail for Eamira, you will need better aim than that."
"That would at least graze a man."
"A wound like that would only anger him not to mention me. If he didn't get to you before me, well…again."
"So you'd get to me before my enemy would? I'm so glad to hear my Mother believes you will watch my back."
Lancelot merely arched a dark brow and she shook her head, "As long as you assure me you watch out for my wife I see no reason to be concerned."
"I swore to your Mother I would protect you. I swore to you that I would protect your wife. I take those oaths with the utmost seriousness."
Emma lowered the bow, eyeing the Knight. "The demands placed upon us. They're difficult to maneuver around."
"We will find a way to…appease all parties."
"It's going to be harsh."
"We knew this all along. Fret not and focus instead on hitting the target instead of grazing it."
"You're a terrible motivator truly."
"I never claimed to be good at motivation."
"It shows believe me."
"Quit wasting time and shoot the target."
The blonde rolled her eyes, "Uh huh." She brought the bow up and notched the arrow once again. Taking careful aim she let it fly and smirked when it hit the red bulls eye perfectly.
"Good, again."
"Are you serious? I hit it dead center!"
"Prove you can do it again and I'll let you back inside."
"Only one more?" The blonde cut her eyes at him.
"If you land in the bulls eye again yes only one more."
"What if I miss?"
"Then you will do it again until you can prove to me you can hit the bulls eye more than once out of sheer dumb luck."
Cora waved her hand, shutting the doors to her private chambers without a word. The doors closed with a light click. She could see the fireflies out the tall windows of her bedroom, the light of the moon and stars giving the room an almost ethereal glow. The rich gold mirror hung on one wall while the unlit fireplace took up the other wall. Rich rugs and tapestries made of the finest materials draped the walls and floors. Everything about her private chambers screamed money and power, the two going hand in hand perfectly in her mind. Power came from many sources and she made certain to employ them all from the dresses she donned to the furnishings she surrounded herself with.
"I thought I smelt something. What do you want dark one?" She asked, reaching up to pull the ruby encrusted tiara from her head. Auburn curls fell loosely around her head. She'd aged since she'd first encountered Rumplestilskin but by all accounts she was still quite lovely. Her age merely added to her beauty…and the occasional spell helped with that opinion as well.
"Cora, still so harsh on the tongue. Really it doesn't flow at all not like Snow or Emma…" He smirked at her.
"What do you want?" She asked coolly, doing her best to keep her expression neutral despite the way her hands curled into fists at her sides. The tiara bit into the flesh of her calloused hands. She was after all a miller's daughter and her former status wasn't so easily hidden despite her spell work to expunge that part of her past.
"On the farthest shores of the ocean of time, shrouded deep in the rolling mists. The holy land sleeps, who knows its paths? The ways to its doors?"
"You came here to recite a child's rhyme to me?" The magic crackling at her palms could be felt. She was growing agitated but refused to allow it to show.
"Do you know what is said to be in the holy land?"
"No, I have no idea." She lied smoothly.
"They say the ascent to the heavens." He smirked, "But I think we know otherwise."
"And what would you believe is there? This place lost to time itself?"
"Raithewell's greatest treasure."
"That's been lost as well. They say the secret to finding it's location is guarded by the Gigas."
"History lies as does the word of men." He shrugged, more serious now that he wasn't teasing Venar. He preferred to take this tone with Cora finding it annoyed her more.
"Then tell me what's there?"
"The Suncryst my dear. It sleeps in Tsenoble."
"I have been searching for that and it's nowhere to be found. You expect me to believe that you've known where it was all along and you've done nothing to retrieve it?"
"We have a way to find it now; something that changes the pieces on the chessboard of our world. "
"What is it?"
"Your daughter." He smirked at her, pointing a finger towards her.
"Regina?"
"She is the key that fits the lock. If you aim her in the right direction…pop goes the lock." He grinned twirling his finger around before setting it in his lap. "You want power, she's how you get it. Ultimate power."
"And what is required from me to ensure I get this?" She asked, fingering the rubies on the tiara.
"A map."
"A map to what?"
"To Neverland of course."
"Easy enough," Cora waved her free hand and the folded parchment appeared. "You will give me the suncryst."
"Of course." The small smirk didn't go amiss, but the Queen was too power hungry to care. Something wasn't quite right about this but she was too caught up in her own greed to truly care. She would get what she'd sought all those years from her ultimate disappointment. Really, what was there to lose for her?