Chapter 59
Hey guys! More Camelot for ya today! Not gonna lie, I'm very much looking forward to getting past the Camelot part of all this and dive into some Dark One Emma/Hanna interactions in Storybrooke! But alas, we still have some Camelot storyline to cover. I did have fun weaving Hanna into this chapter though! Hope you like it! Enjoy :)
They took Merlin to Granny's where a frozen Snow and David were waiting. The first thing Merlin did was unfreeze them, and give them their proper memories back. They both looked at each other, very confused for a second, before realizing what had happened.
"Emma, we're so sorry," Snow said as she gave her daughter a hug.
"If we would have known how bad Arthur was, we never would have confronted him on our own," David told her.
"It's okay," Emma said with a smile. "I'm just glad Merlin could help."
"Now that the great sorcerer is among us, maybe he'll tell us. Can you do what your apprentice said? Can you free Emma from the darkness?" Killian asked.
"Sure." Merlin told them with a smile. "But with a caveat."
He continued to tell them that darkness like this takes a hold of a person, finds its way deep inside where nobody else can see. He said to to free Emma from its grasp, he must know that her heart is truly ready to be free. It's as much up to her as it is to him.
Hanna looked up at her sister, worrying about what her response might be. Freeing Merlin from the tree required her to use a lot of dark magic and using that magic would have only allowed the darkness inside of her to grow stronger. Was Emma ready to give up that darkness? Hanna wasn't sure.
Hanna came into the diner, hoping to finally hear some good news. They were all staying there now, since they were basically in open rebellion with Arthur's kingdom. Merlin was now free, but the darkness still had a hold on Emma. Hanna was hoping today would be the day that Merlin finally set Emma free. Hanna looked around and saw Regina, Robin, and her parents. She wondered where Henry was, she felt like she's barely seen him since they've been in Camelot. Then she looked over and saw Zelena. Hanna almost forgot that witch was here with them. They had to bring her so they could watch over Robin's baby. Luckily, Regina took away her ability to talk, so none of them had to deal with listening to her annoying voice.
"Morning guys," Hanna said as she walked up to her parents.
"Good morning, baby." Snow gave Hanna a smile and reached out for her hand.
David placed a kiss on the top of her head. "How did you sleep?"
"Okay I guess," Hanna said with a shrug. She hadn't really slept well at all since they've been here. She was too worried about Emma to sleep. Hanna looked to Killian. "Where is she?"
Killian nodded towards the front door. "Making more of those dreamcatchers."
Hanna sighed. "Still?" She leaned into her dad, and he wrapped his arm around her.
David knew how worried Hanna has been about her sister. She had barely been sleeping and he and Snow had to practically force her to eat at meal times. David looked towards Merlin. "So, you can really do it—take the dark one dagger and put it together with Arthur's sword to re-create the original excalibur?"
"I hope so," Merlin told him.
"And we can use it to save Emma?" Snow asked him.
"Perhaps, but I need two things. The magical means to reunite the two blades. That's my and Emma's quest. From you I need—"
"The two blades," Regina said.
"We're pretty much at the open-warfare stage," Robin said. "Getting the partial sword from Arthur won't be easy."
"As long as you're looking at the future, any hints on how?" Killian asked.
"Well, the future isn't exact. There are many parts—"
"Of course there are!" Killian interrupted. "You're willing to send us behind enemy lines, but when it comes to specifics, everything a little fuzzy, isn't it?"
"Hook, Merlin's helping Emma," David told him.
Hanna stepped away and looked put her dad. "Is he though?" Was Merlin really trying to help Emma? She didn't know if she could trust him to save her sister.
"Hanna of course he is," Snow told her.
"How do you know? So far, he hasn't done anything!" Hanna was getting impatient. Everyday that passed meant that her sister was getting pulled deeper into the darkness.
"Hanna, just…" David reached out his hand, trying to get her to relax.
"No! Don't tell me to calm down!" Hanna pulled away from her dad. "Emma is sitting out there right now making things to pull memories out of people's heads, because that's what she does now instead of sleeping. She just makes those things over and over again." Hanna turned to Merlin. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Aye, the girl's right. I'm not quite seeing the helping!" Killian said, he too was glaring daggers at this sorcerer.
"I understand. I know what it is to lose someone you love to the dark one," Merlin told them calmly. "All I can ask of all of you is that you bring me that sword and that you have patience with Emma. Her kind of power for good or evil—it is a weight on the soul. And love is a great help if you can find it." With that he left to get Emma and leave for their quest to get the magic they needed to reunite the blades.
Hanna looked over to Killian. "What the hell does that even mean?"
"Hanna!" Snow scolded. "Watch your language."
Hanna rolled her eyes. "He didn't even answer my question!"
"Let's just get that bloody sword and get this all over with."
Hanna nodded, agreeing with Killian. "So what's the plan?" She asked all of the adults in the room.
Everyone had their own ideas on how to get Arthur's sword. Her dad wanted to take them by surprise and go in through the front gate. Killian thought they needed a diversion at the draw bridge while the rest of them climbed the wall on the side. Regina wanted to use her magic to just poof them into Arthur's room. As the adults argued over the best plan, Hanna was watching Zelena, who continued to roll her eyes and scoff at their ideas.
"I think the witch might have other thoughts," Hanna said, but no one listened to her.
Zelena noticed the girl watching her. She motioned towards herself, letting her know she had an idea of her own. Hanna looked around at everyone else in the room. Hanna didn't really think any of their suggestion were all that great. Maybe Zelena would have a better idea. She may be wicked, but she was pretty cleaver. "You guys I think she might know of a way." Hanna tried again. She sighed. They still weren't listening to her. Hanna grinned as an idea came to her. She waved her hand, giving Zelena her voice back. That would surely get their attention.
"Oh! Thank you!" Zelena said, glad to finally have her voice back. "I do love hearing a sensible person talk."
Regina looked up after hearing her sister's voice. "What the hell?" Regina hadn't given her voice back, so that left only one other person in the room who had magic. Regina glanced over at a guilty looking Hanna.
"What?" Hanna shrugged. "I think she has an idea."
David looked down at his daughter. "Hanna, what were you thinking?"
"Dad, she might know a way into the castle and, no offense, but none of your ideas sounded very good."
Regina sighed then look up at her sister. "Spit it out. What are you thinking?"
Zelena started off by telling them why all of their ideas were stupid and that they needed to sneak in quietly so no one knows they're there. When they asked her how, she told them while they had been staying in the castle she had been planning an escape and found a way out. If she knew a way out, then she knew a way in. She led them to an abandoned tunnel that would lead them to the courtyard. She agreed to help them only if Regina removed the magic blocking cuff around her wrist. Regina told her sister that if they made it out safely, they would talk about removing the cuff.
"Mary Margaret, how do you feel about guard duty?" Regina asked.
"Oh, I'd be delighted," Snow said as she eyed up the witch. "We'll chat, have plenty of pregnancy tips…"
"Good lord," Zelena said with a roll of her eyes. "This is worse than being in my cell."
"I'm going to stay with, Mom," Hanna told the group. She wanted to be with her just in case anything went wrong with Zelena. Hanna didn't trust that witch and knew she could use her magic to stop her if she had to.
Regina nodded. "Alright, just be careful with her." Regina glanced towards her sister.
"I will," Hanna assured Regina.
"Bye princess," David said as he gave her a kiss on the top of her head. "Be safe. I love you."
Hanna gave him a smile. "Love you too, Dad. See you soon."
The rest of the group made their way into Arthur's castle to get that sword.
"Good thing we're in the shade," Snow said, trying to make small talk with Zelena and maybe take a little jab at her too. "I guess the sun's a problem for you now that you're not green."
Zelena started sobbing though. Hanna thought that was weird. Zelena always had a cheeky comeback.
"I'm finally trying to do something to help, and nobody believes me!" Zelena cried.
"It's the hormones talking," Snow said, very unamused with her dramatics.
"No!" Zelena insisted. "She's always the winner and I'm always the loser, and she's gonna take my baby!" Zelena's crying changed. She was holding her stomach like she was in pain.
"Zelena. Zelena?" Snow could tell something was wrong.
"Mom, be careful," Hanna warned as Snow walked closer to check on her.
"Zelena are you in pain?" Snow asked just as Zelena kicked her, knocking her out.
Hanna lifted her hands, wanting to use her magic to force Zelena back. She waved her hand, but nothing happened. All she wanted to do was get Zelena tied up in her rope again. That should be easy. Hanna tried again and started to panic. She didn't understand why it wasn't working. It worked before. She didn't have problem flinging Arthur's men left and right while Emma freed Merlin from the tree. What was happening?
Zelena let out a laugh."Having a little trouble with our magic are we? That can sometimes happen when you're new. Here this should help." Zelena waved her hand, making a cuff appear onto Hanna's.
"How did—"
"Arthur was kind enough to remove that restricting jewelry. This is just a part of my ploy," Zelena said, taking off a fake cuff she had on her wrist. "Now, be a good girl and stand still while I tie up your mother."
Hanna quickly reached down for a stick she found on the ground. She wasn't going down without a fight, but before she could do anything she felt herself being lifted into the air. She reached at her neck. She couldn't breathe.
"I told you to stand still. Try anything again and I'll rip your mommy's heart out. Understood?"
Hanna nodded her head. She dropped to the ground and gasped for air. Once she caught her breath, she looked up to find her mom awake, but tied up. There was a gag in her mouth so she couldn't even speak. Hanna could see the worry in her eyes though and watched as her mom struggled against Zelena's hold, trying to get to her.
Hanna stood up. "I'm fine, Mom," Hanna assured her.
"Yes Snow, as long as you two do as I say, no harm shall come to you. Well, for now at least," Zelena said with a laugh. "Now, let's go." She led them into the tunnel and straight to where the rest of the group was with Arthur.
"Hi guys!" Zelena said with a smile as she guided Snow into the room with Hanna following close behind.
"Oh, hell no." Regina said as she watched her sister walk into the room.
"Regina! Zelena has her ma—" Hanna tried to warn Regina about Zelena having her magic, but that stupid witch took her voice from her.
"Hanna! Mary Margaret! If you hurt them I'll—" David threatened.
"Oh, Daddy's angry." Zelena said with a grin.
"How did you get that thing off?" Regina asked
"Arthur helped me with that."
"Fine. I'd prefer an even fight." Regina formed a fire ball in her hand and was ready to throw.
"No, don't!" Robin called out. "The baby."
Regina sighed, but closed her fist putting out the fire.
"You know, if you treated me fairly for once, maybe I wouldn't turn on you," Zelena said with a shrug.
"Yes, you would," Killian said.
"But I'd enjoy it less." Zelena walked over to the table, where a spell book sat waiting for her, and revealed the plan she and Arthur had put together. Zelena was going to make a tethering potion that would allow Arthur's sword to control Merlin. She did it very quickly and with a wave of her hand, the potion seemed to have worked. Arthur picked up the sword and summoned Merlin to him. Merlin appeared. He tried to talk Arthur out of doing this. He told him Emma passed her test. They were able to get what they needed to unite Excalibur. That made Hanna feel a bit of relief. They had one part of the plan taken care of. Now they just had to figure a way out of this mess and get that sword. Merlin wanted Arthur to give him the sword so he could finally reunite it with the dagger. Arthur refused, not wanting the glory to be taken from him. Arthur told Merlin to make them all leave and with a wave of his hand Merlin sent them all to the forest.
Hanna couldn't move. She looked down to find herself chained to a tree. She looked around saw everyone else chained too. Her mom and dad, Killian, Robin, and Regina. Now what the hell were they going to do? Moments later Arthur and Zelena, who was now in full witch garb, showed up along with Merlin. They told them that dark one will be here soon and sure enough, a few seconds later, Emma was walking though the trees. Hanna was really glad to see her sister. She knew they were safe now with Emma here, but she really just wished Emma could stop having to use her magic to save everyone. They needed to get this darkness out of her, and this wasn't making it any easier.
"I brought the dagger and the flame, but you don't get it until you free my family," Emma told Arthur.
" will hand it over now or I unleash Merlin," Arthur threatened, holding up his sword that now read the wizard's name.
"Emma, please," Merlin begged. "I don't want to fight you."
"No, but I do," Zelena said as she walked towards Emma. "So, now that mommy's got her magic back…tell us Dark One. What are you gonna do?" Zelena continued to walk closer to Emma, taunting her. "Who should I execute first? Hmm? Your boyfriend or your father? Or what about the sister that tried to use her magic on me earlier?"
Hanna just watched as Zelena turned and walked closer and closer to her. She was inches from Hanna's face. Hanna pulled against her chains, trying to get free.
"You can have the flame." Emma reached out the box to Zelena.
"Zelena, make sure that's real," Arthur told her.
Zelena opened the box and as soon as she did, some type of black ribbon came out pulling her back and capturing her against a tree of her own. Hanna grinned. She knew Emma would have a plan.
Emma turned to Arthur. "Now, you wanna give me my family? Or keep fighting?"
"Merlin!" Arthur called out as he held up his sword.
"Please, Emma," Merlin begged once more. "Give him the flame. This is a battle you cannot win."
Emma wasn't going to give in though. She lifted her hands. She and Merlin both sent magic flying towards each other. The magic met in the middle. Each side pushing towards the other.
"I wish you could defeat me, Emma, but I've played this game for far too long."
Hanna's eyes went wide as Merlin's magic pushed Emma to the ground.
"Merlin, kill her mother," Arthur ordered. Merlin turned to Snow, forced to listen to Arthur's commands.
Hanna opened her mouth to try and yell, but nothing came out. She pulled against the chains as she watched a vine constrict around her mom's neck. She listened to Emma try to convince Merlin to fight the command. He didn't have to do this. Hanna watched her mom gasp for air. They were running out of time. Emma continued to tell Merlin that he was the greatest sorcerer who ever lived, and if he couldn't fight off the darkness, no one could. Hanna could see Merlin was trying to fight it, but it wasn't working. Tears began to fall down Hanna's cheeks as she watched the life being choked from her mom. Just when it seemed like her mom was about to lose consciousness, Merlin succeeded. He fought against Arthur's order and the vines were released from Snow's neck.
"I said kill her!" Arthur yelled. "By the sword, I command you! Kill her!"
"I can't hold him off much longer," Merlin said, struggling to defy Arthur's commands.
Hanna's worries continue to grow as Merlin stared down her mom, when all of a sudden Killian managed to get himself free, knock Arthur out, and take the sword. Arthur quickly ran to Zelena and ordered her to get them out of here. With a wave of her hand, they both disappeared.
Hanna felt her chains let loose and she instantly ran to her mom. She opened her mouth to try and ask if she was okay, but she still couldn't talk. She looked up at Regina for help.
Regina waved her hand, knowing exactly what Hanna wanted.
"Mom are you okay?" Hanna asked.
David came over too. "Snow are you…"
Snow nodded her head. "I'm fine."
Hanna and David both wrapped Snow in their arms, thankful that she was safe. Now, they had the sword, and all they needed to do was light the spark, combine the sword and the dagger, and get the darkness out of Emma.
They went back to Granny's. Everyone else was outside checking on Emma. She had to find a way to get the spark to work and said she needed some time alone. They gave her a few minutes, but then went out to check on her. Hanna stayed inside and was sitting on one of the barstools when Henry came over and sat down beside her.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Henry asked. He could tell something was up with Hanna.
Hanna raised her eyebrows at Henry. "Besides the fact that my sister is a dark one?"
"Yes," Henry said with a roll of his eyes. "I can tell something else is bothering you."
Hanna sighed. He could always sense when there was something wrong with her. "I can't get my magic to work anymore."
"What do you mean? I saw you use it with my mom the night Merlin was freed from the tree."
"I know it worked then," Hanna said with a shrug. "But today it wouldn't though. It was my fault we got captured by that stupid witch today. If I could have just stopped her then Arthur wouldn't have tethered Merlin to that sword, my mom wouldn't have almost gotten killed by a vine, and Emma wouldn't of had to use even more dark magic to save us. And…"
Henry put his hand on hers. "Hanna, slow down."
Hanna took a deep breath and nodded her head. "I just don't know what happened today, Henry."
"I'm sure it was nothing. You're still new at all of this. I'm sure this kind of stuff happens all the time when you're first learning how to use magic."
"I don't know Henry…"
"Here try this," Henry reached over, grabbed a glass from behind the bar and placed it on the counter. "Make this thing float, and then smash it into the wall." Henry pointed to the wall across the room.
Hanna raised her eyebrows at him. "You want me to break Granny's glass?"
"No…" Henry grinned and reached over the bar again. "I want you to break a bunch of them." He got several glasses and set them on the counter.
"I'm not sure about this…"
"Oh come on! You get to practice your magic and let off some steam at the same time. Plus, you can just fix them all with a wave of your hand when you're done."
Hanna thought about it and smiled. This would be kinda fun. She didn't have that cuff on her anymore either. Maybe she could give it a try. She looked around making sure no one else was here. The coast was clear and Hanna turned to one of the glasses. She took a deep breath and concentrated really hard on getting the glass to float. She held out her hand and lifted it slowly. The glass started to shake a little bit, and just when Hanna was about to give up, it quickly popped up into the air.
"You're doing it!" Henry cheered. "Now send it flying!"
Hanna waved her hand and the glass zoomed across the room shattering against the wall. "This is awesome!" Hanna sent another glass flying across the room. She could feel it. She could feel her magic surging through her once again. She continued and smashed glass after glass against the wall. Hanna was getting control of her powers again and getting all that frustration she been feeling out too. Henry always knew just the right thing to do to help her.
Hanna lifted the next glass into the air and was about to send it soaring when she heard the door open. She quickly turned and the glass dropped onto the floor, shattering.
"What is going on in here?" David said as he came into the diner seeing the shards of glass all over the floor.
"Hanna, what are you doing?" Snow asked her guilty looking daughter. She saw Hanna making the glass float right as they came inside. It wasn't hard to figure out just what her daughter had been up to while they were outside.
Hanna watched as her mom and dad walked towards her. "I got my magic to work again," Hanna said with a shrug.
David raised his eyebrows at her. "And you chose to do that by breaking every single glass in the diner?"
"Gram, Gramps, it was my idea. I was trying to help her get control of her magic again," Henry told them.
"There wasn't some other way you could have done that?" Snow eyed up her grandson and daughter.
"I was letting out some frustration too," Hanna said, giving them a charming smile, hoping it would work.
Snow and David just shook their heads and sighed. "You best get this cleaned up before Granny see what you've done." Snow told her.
Hanna quickly nodded her head. She waved her hand and all of the glasses were fixed and placed nicely back where they belonged.
"Now that that's over with," Regina said giving a very stern look to Hanna and Henry, "let's get this darkness out of Emma, shall we?"
Emma was ready and knew exactly what she needed to do. She opened the box, revealing the stone. Hanna watched as Emma used her magic to lift the stone into the air. It turned into a ball of fire. As the ball of fire floated, Emma picked up the two blades and held them towards the flame. Just as she did that, something happened to Killian.
"Hook what's wrong?" David asked.
Hanna looked over and saw Killian grabbing at his neck. Blood was pouring out.
"He's bleeding!" Snow shouted.
Killian fell to the ground. Emma dropped the blades and ran to him
"Killian? No."
"When did that happen?" Regina asked, noticing the cut on his neck.
"It was Excalibur. But it was just a small cut. I healed it."
"I'm afraid it only seemed that way. Excalibur was forged to cut immortal ties. A wound from it cannot be healed," Merlin told her.
"What?" Hanna asked in disbelief. "There had to be something we can do, that she can do." Hanna pointed towards her sister.
"Even Emma's power isn't strong enough, nor is my own."
"Killian, you have to hold on. I can't lose you."
"It's alright. Emma, it's alright," Killian told her. Hanna could tell by his voice that he was getting weaker. He was losing a lot of blood.
"No. Please, no. Don't leave me," Emma said as she started to cry. "You have to stay. You have to stay. Come on, Killian. What about our future together?"
"Our future is now," Killian told her. "Reunite the blades so I can see them before I go."
Emma's expression turned from sadness into anger. "No!"
"No?" Regina asked.
"I'm not gonna let him die when I know there's a way to save him."
"Emma…Merlin said it. There's nothing you can do," Regina told her.
"That's what he said, but it's not true, is it?" Emma turned to Merlin. "You told me how powerful I am. Let's use that power. I-I can use the promethean flame to release you from Excalibur, and then I can use it to tether Hook's life to it instead. It could save him."
Merlin shook his head "Emma, you know what that could do."
"Create another dark one," Regina said.
"It will multiply the darkness so that it cannot be destroyed. Not without you paying the steepest of prices. It will be your final step into the dark," Merlin warned.
Emma looked back towards Killian. "I don't care what happens to me."
"Emma wait," David said as he went to his daughter's side.
"Please. Listen, you can't," Snow tried.
"Emma, you can't do this to yourself," Hanna begged, tears streaming down her face. She didn't want Killian to die. She actually liked that stupid pirate now, but she didn't want Emma to fully succumb to the darkness either.
"Emma, they're right," Regina told her.
"If you could have saved Daniel or Robin—look how far you were willing to go, how far you pushed me to save him!" Emma yelled. She turned back to Killian. "I'm not gonna lose Killian. I won't let anyone stop me." And with a wave of her hand, she and Killian disappeared.
Hanna frantically looked up at her parents."Mom, Dad, we have to stop her!"
"We will, Hanna," David assured her.
"It's going to be okay, sweetie," Snow said. "Any ideas where she might have gone?"
Regina had no idea. Emma could have taken Killian anywhere and before anyone could even come up with an idea, darkness started pouring from Merlin.
"What's happening?" Hanna asked.
"It's too late," Merlin told her.
"We have to go after her!" Hanna panicked.
"We don't even know where they are," David said.
Hanna looked to Merlin. "Where will she be?"
"The Vault of the Dark One," Merlin told her.
Hanna turned to everyone "Let's go!"
"Maybe you should stay here with Henry," Regina told Hanna. "Your magic has been off today and…"
"My magic is fine now," Hanna shook her head and looked to her parents. "I'm coming."
Snow and David nodded. "She can come," David told Regina.
"Okay, let's go, then."
They went to the vault and what Merlin said about being too late was correct. The vault had been forged and Hook was its new dark one. Snow spotted some tracks and began to follow them, but then the tracks just disappeared. Regina pointed out the fact that Hook was a dark one now and could have poofed himself anywhere. They decided there was no point in trying to find them. They all went back to Granny's and waited for them there.
Merlin was inside making preparations, while Hanna sat outside with her parents and Regina. After several minutes, Hanna spotted Emma and Killian walking hand in hand towards them. Hanna took note of their appearances. Killian looked about he same, just a little more disheveled and an angrier demeanor. Emma's clothes were totally different though. The white dresses she was wearing were gone. She was in all black, and her hair was pulled back and almost white. Merlin was right, Emma had taken her last steps into the darkness. Hanna's heart sunk. She failed her sister. Hanna failed to help get the darkness out of Emma.
"Emma what happened to you? Are you okay?" Snow asked, worried about her daughter.
"For now," Emma told her. "It looks worse than it is."
"Are you sure?" Hanna asked her.
"Aye," Killian answered. "We're ready to get the sickness out of us. Where's Merlin?"
"He's inside," David told him.
"Well let's get on with it then. I'll go get him." Killian walked towards the diner. "Wait here."
They waited around for a few minutes. Hanna watched her sister. She could tell she was getting antsy.
"I'm going in there." Emma started walking towards the diner.
"Emma, wait!" Hanna called out.
Emma didn't even bother to turn around. "I'll be back, don't follow me," Emma ordered.
Hanna tried to step forward, but she couldn't move. She felt like magic was holding her back. It was as if Emma's magic was so powerful that with a simple command she could force Hanna to stay here, without a wave of her hand or anything. Hanna sighed and turned back to her parents. She tried moving towards them and once she found that she was able to, she ran right into their arms.
"What if it doesn't work?" Hanna cried. "What if they aren't able to get the darkness out? What if we failed her?" Hanna just continued to sob in her parents' arms.
Her mom and dad tried telling her that everything would be okay, but Hanna wasn't listening. Her heart was racing. The only thing that consumed her right now was the fear that her sister would only dive deeper and deeper into the darkness. That her attempts to save Emma while they were here were for nothing. All Hanna wanted to do since the moment she watched Emma get sucked up by that vortex of evil was rescue her. To restore her to who she use to be. Hanna promised Emma that she would help find a way to save her, but she didn't. Hanna knew Killian and Emma were going in there with Merlin to get the darkness out, but Hanna just had a bad feeling. She didn't trust that Emma and Killian's plan would work and if it didn't…well Hanna didn't want to even consider that option. She tried to fill her mind with hope. She tried to believe that Emma would walk out of the diner again looking like herself. She tried, but it just wasn't working. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. Hanna finally felt like her heart rate was slowing down when all of a sudden everything just went black.