disclaimer: We do not own any of the OUAT characters. Just our added characters.
Extra info: This story has two writers. One of us writes Helena and the other writes Amy. You will notice a difference in how Helena's and Amy's perspectives are portrayed, we wrote them like we ourselves notice/see things. Fair warning: we are insane. Enjoy!
Helena fell into her act fairly easily. Years of playing any required role made her adept at jumping right in and acting like she knew everything. Of course, she made a few mistakes learning to be Rieka, though, she was not entirely sure that was what she was doing. It felt more like she was pretending to be someone she had never met, but had read a paper about. Helena knew only basic facts about the she-wolf she was supposed to be impersonating. So, she was left with no other choice than to fill in the gaps in her knowledge with her own personality.
If she ignored all her emotions, like she usually did, Helena would say she was even having fun. Unfortunately for her, like always, when she tried to sleep, those emotions became much harder to ignore. Helena could remember a time when all she wanted was to be away from anyone who knew her, especially, her family. When she wanted to just start walking and never look back. Helena knew that if this had happened to her then, she would have been ecstatic and loved every second of the experience.
But she was not that person anymore.
Now, all she wanted was to get back. she needed to get back, living without her friends, without the family she created for herself, she just could not do it. There was just one major problem. Helena had no idea how to get back. This world held all types of magic, even a way to get to the modern world from the enchanted forest, but Helena had no way of knowing that, even if she waited till the first curse hit, she would end up in the proper world. Did she need to find some other magic to get home? Why did it have to be her here? Amy knew the world better; she would know where to look for the proper help. Helena knew the story, but Amy knew it better. Amy invested much more time into understanding all the extremely complicated ins and outs of this show. Even Lydia, one of Helena's children and easily the most excitable knew the story better than Helena did. Not that Lydia would have any idea how to get out, but still.
On another note, Rieka turned out to be a fascinating person. The kind of character Helena would have quite enjoyed had she been in the original show. She was a werewolf, the same as Red and even Red's half-sister. Though Helena had no idea how yet. Where Red had been taken away as an infant by Granny so she could have a normal childhood. In contrast, it appeared Rieka had been born about three years later and seemingly raised to be the next pack leader. She "grew up a wolf" as Red called it. Rieka was, apparently, much better at controlling the wolf inside her and its instincts. It was this that clued Helena into the fact that Rieka was not entirely gone. Her reflexes, her control over her wolf, and knowing how to use her elevated senses were the first thing Helena noticed but then she realized Rieka was still a part of her. Just… standing to the side as it were. Sometimes Rieka would take over when Red or Snow asked about something Helena did not know, and when she did there were always little differences. Rieka always talked with a slight German accent, which Helena did her best to mimic when she was with Snow and Red.
Without Rieka's help and sometimes forced control, Helena would probably have eaten a few people by now. As it was, she merely stayed out several nights getting used to the wolf inside her. Technically, she was just using that as an excuse to not sleep, but who was keeping track? Helena had to admit that she loved the feeling though. The feeling of having some creature inside her chest always wanting something. Maybe that made her a bit insane, but then again, everyone already believed she was. Why not add to the pile? Helena could feel Rieka's slight amusement at the thought.
Beyond that, Helena knew very little about the person whose body she was inhabiting. It was difficult to gather information about someone who was supposedly you and there were plenty of questions Helena wanted to be answered. Unfortunately, she had not yet figured out how to just talk to Rieka, but for the most part, she had found her place in the character she was supposed to be. Now, if only she could sleep.
"Was she out again last night?" Snow asked her red-cloaked friend. Red had come into the cabin late last night after checking on Rieka. The younger woman insisted on sleeping outside. She claimed it helped her sleep better, but as far as Snow and Red could tell, Rieka had stopped sleeping altogether several days ago.
"Yes, I watched her fret for an hour before she got up and went for a run or something. I lost her four miles out. she's a lot faster than me. I don't know if she knew I was there and tried to lose me or if it's just her nature to backtrack and zigzag enough to cloud her trail." Red's answer was muffled by a blanket thrown over her head.
Unlike Snow, Red was not a morning person and preferred to sleep for another hour after the sun was up. So, she slept with a blanket over her head to keep out the light and muffle the noises Snow made getting up. It was currently two hours after sun up and Rieka had already appeared, from her little camp, for breakfast. Though she had dark circles under her eyes, Rieka seemed to still be operating as if she slept just fine each night. It was only the tiredness Red displayed that clued Snow into how late the wolves had been out.
"And you came back after losing her?" Snow asked
"No, I tried to follow her trail for another hour. That's how I know she backtracked enough to confuse her trail. I came back after that."
Red sat up. Pulling the blanket from her face. Snow hid a wince. Red looked awful. Dark circles under her eyes. Hair in every direction. Accompanied by a dead look in her eyes.
"Okay, that's it. I'm going to talk to her." Red could not keep living with so little sleep and Snow knew that Red was going to keep trying to watch over her sister at night. Which meant the only solution was to get Rieka to sleep.
Snow left the cabin, ignoring Red's protests, and headed into the woods. The last she saw Rieka was heading back to her little camp. Snow hoped she was still there. The walk there did not take long, Snow spent the short time deciding how she would forcibly drag why Rieka refused to sleep out of the slightly younger woman, but as she drew near Rieka's camp a quiet melody reached her ears. Snow slowed her steps and then came to a complete stop just in view of where Rieka was sitting. She was rocking herself slowly back and forth, her hands raised to cover her ears, and tears were rolling down her face. And through all that, she sang. She did not have a perfect voice, but Snow could not deny Rieka had great potential. The song itself was one Snow had never heard before, but it was beautiful, and the way Rieka sang it spoke of deep pain.
"Some nights his dreams would drive him wild. So, into bed, she piled to help him fall asleep. One night, he couldn't get to bed. So, she kneeled on both knees. And this is what she said: 'I may not be wise and I won't save the day, but look in my eyes and know I'll always stay. And I won't run away. I won't run away.' You say it's safer on your own, you'd rather sleep alone than grow to need me there. But I hope now you can see what my mom and dad showed me. I'm not going anywhere. I love you more and more each day. To love is not to leave. So, hear me when I say: I may not be wise and I won't save the day, but look in my eyes and know I'll always stay. And I won't run away. I won't run away"
Snow could feel the pain left unspoken in the song. Rieka had never told them much about her previous life, but hearing this song made Snow wonder. Was there someone out there? Someone Rieka might have left behind to come with the two of them? Did she now regret it?
Snow took a deep breath. Rieka was not sleeping because she was hurting. Probably having nightmares, or afraid of them at least. Forcing her to give up the information was not the answer.
"That's a beautiful song. Can't say I've ever heard it before." Snow said, standing beside Rieka.
Rieka gasped, jumping up and wiping her face furiously, but Snow caught her hands to stop her. The look of confusion, mixed with fear and pain in the other woman's eyes was a sad one to behold.
"Don't," Snow said, gently. "There is no reason to hide here. I didn't know you could sing." Snow decided to start simple.
"I…um…yeah, I love singing. It's…it's easier than words most of the time." Rieka was not meeting Snow's eyes. Instead, she chose to speak to the tree over Snow's left shoulder.
"Did you write that song?"
"Ha, no, I can't write a song for the life of me." Though there was humor in her words it did not reach her eyes.
"Where did you learn it then?"
"I…It…a friend showed it to me. I've always loved it."
Snow stayed quiet for a moment, unsure whether to push further about the song or to switch tactics. In the end, her curiosity got the better of her. "Who were you singing to?" her voice was low to not make light of her question. She did not want Rieka to think Snow wanted to know for flippant gossip like some of the high-born ladies she knew.
Finally, Rieka made eye contact with Snow, the other woman's eyes so startling blue Snow almost gasped, but she did not and she held Rieka's gaze. Seconds ticked by, slowly turning into minutes as Rieka stared into Snow's eyes. Searching for something. Searching for what Snow did not know, she could see the other woman's mind work overtime. Snow Slowly began to notice Rieka's eye color shifting. Like watching emotions play out on someone's face Snow could see, grays, blues, and browns swirling and dancing in the young wolf's eyes.
"A friend, a different one." Rieka finally spoke. "I lost her before I ever got the chance to sing it to her, but I still think of it as my promise to her. One of them at least."
"To never leave her?" Snow asked gently. To her, it kind of sounded like Rieka might have already broken that promise.
"To never run." Rieka specified. "There isn't any world where I could promise to never leave the people I care about because life will inevitably keep us apart, but I can promise to never run. Never run from the life I have and the emotions they taught me to feel."
Snow was quiet for some time trying to process.
"You left people behind, people that are important to you, just to come with us." It was not a question.
Rieka only nodded.
"Why?" snow asked. It did not make sense. If Rieka had a life, Friends, and people she loved, why would she show up outside the pack's den just to offer to help Red? Sure, Red was her sister, but rieka did not seem the type to put much stock in blood ties.
Rieka was silent for a very long time, her eyes no longer on Snow. they were now turned away looking into the thick trees surrounding them.
"Because…" She started. "This is where I am needed."
It was not really the answer Snow was looking for, but she sensed she would not get any more out of the younger woman. So, she switched tactics.
"Does this have anything to do with why you won't sleep?"
Rieka gave a dry laugh. "I'm afraid of what I'll see."
"I know you said you sleep better outside, but what if you slept in the cabin with Red and me for a little while? That way, whatever you see, you don't have to face it alone." Even though she could not defend Rieka from her dreams, Snow still wanted to help.
A knowing smile spread across Rieka's face. She coughed to hide it a second later. "I guess it's worth a shot." She said, serious once again.
"Okay," Snow said, "let's move your bedding inside. We can make sure Red didn't fall back asleep while we're at it."
Rieka gave a guilty smile. Leading Snow to believe Rieka knew full well why Red was so tired.
Helena had to smile. She could not help it. Snow White was just such a mother. It was sad she would never get the chance to raise her firstborn. Helena wondered if she would still be here for that. As interesting as it would be to see and feel firsthand, she hoped not. Helena can't be away from Emma that long. Helena had to get back. Helena had promises to keep. Not just to Emma either. Helena would not fail. Helena would find a way home.
"Wait for me, I'm comin'. Wait, I'm coming with you. Wait for me, I'm comin' too. I'm comin' too." Helena sang quietly under her breath hoping Snow could not hear.
Hey guys! Hope you're enjoying this story. this chapter was a little on the darker side, just know that there will continue to be darker points to some of these chapters, but not to worry! They are still going to be plenty of funny moments.
I'm not sure how to handle the songs my co-writer and I both use in our chapters. If you guys want the titles and artists for them. Let me know and I will state putting them in the after notes.
Leave us a review! Thank you!