Live as Regina

by Mac NorthSea

On the way to Neverland,Emma is troubled by the moments in the mines she and Regina had at moment of Regina's self-sacrifice that changed everything,even Emma herself.With understanding her upbringing gave her,the Savior decides to save not only Henry but his mother as well. Doing so will take her and her family through harrowing challenges of love,duty,conflict,and magic.

32. Chapter 28

Greetings, my dear readers. After a long wait, here is another chapter in this epic story.

As always, it is unbetaed; I did look it over, but I don't promise that there aren't some mistakes.

Enjoy!

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Chapter 28.

He was awake. Wide awake in fact, and despite being middle of the night that had followed a truly distressing day, he could not sleep. Or, at least, he could not sleep any longer, for he had managed to scrounge two or three hours of rest. Apart from slight twinges of overstrained muscles in his legs, unused to horseback riding, his constantly running mind was preventing him from sinking into restful sleep. The day before the night, he had seen a dragon land not a stone throw away and converse civilly with his half-sister. He had heard the news the beast had shared with them, but he had also seen Regina's calm acceptance of words unspoken that had been shared in secret between the creature of the skies and the former Evil Queen, something that had given his kin a new direction, a new light, a new drive that the others seemed blind to.

Neal had to smile as he thought back to the brunette sequestering herself with the children in the Royal Chambers, leaving the rest of the traveling party to figure out their accommodations and entertainment for the evening. Her move was both expected and unexpected and it confused him greatly, for Regina wasn't one to retreat in mourning before everything possible had been done. And, yet, the Charming couple believed she had done just so, leaving her alone to seek comfort in the company of Henry and Kyle, while they themselves had retreated in one of the guest chambers, grieving for the lost Savior. However, he had also seen the hushed whispers between the two women, the shifter and the warrior, and the Commander, as they kept their conversations private, despite remaining in the main hall of the castle for most of the afternoon and evening, before the Empire man had taken off to his men's camp. He had not bothered them, keeping to himself most of the time, wandering the halls of the castle in effort to distract himself from the need to check upon his son and nephew, along with his half-sibling.

But, in the dead of night, when the only sounds around him were the quiet steps of a random guard patrolling the hallway in front of his room and the flickers of a lone torch resting in the elaborate steel sconce beside the entrance into his quarters, he was all out of distractions. So, instead of rolling restlessly in his bed for the rest of the night, he rose and quickly dressed, leaving his room to visit with his kin, ignoring the fact that it was long past midnight. Avoiding attracting attention, he walked the halls of the castle in search of the Royal quarters, at home in the shadows as the thief he had once been. And, only minutes later he found himself in front of one of the guards, watching him curiously from his post at the entrance into the Royal Chambers.

Before Neal could even speak, the man moved, his hand gently pulling the heavy door open just enough for the Queen's brother to slip inside the room, his watchful eyes surveying the shadows of the hallway. "The Queen has granted you entrance at your wish, my Lord," came the answer to Neal's unasked question, and hearing the hushed tones of the guard, he quickly entered, quite surprised to hear of Regina's carte blanche to her rooms.

However, it wasn't his sister that met him as the door behind him closed. No, in the glaring light of several lanterns and candles, sitting in a lounge chair with a small desk beside it was his son, his alert eyes taking in his entrance with tension-muted interest, his expressive eyes shadowed. The boy lowered down his pen and rose from the lounge, silently crossing the room and engulfing the man's middle in his arms, his pubescent mannerisms all but forgotten.

"What are you doing up at this time of night?" Neal murmured against the boy's forehead as he held him close, the rib-breaking hug worrying him a bit. When the boy refused to reply, Neal glanced around the room, his eyes falling onto a huge bed in the far end of the quarters, a blond mop of hair peering out of the rumpled sheets and pillows. "Where is your mother?"

Henry sighed, his shoulders slumping as he withdrew out of the hug, careful not to look into his father's face. "She is not here," he murmured timidly, stepping out of his father's reach and closer to his adoptive brother.

"I can see that," Neal answered calmly, his narrowed and flashing eyes belying his demeanor. Careful not to snap at the boy, he repeated his previous question. "Where is she?"

Henry hesitated, not sure how to answer. His mother never had said where was the place she had been in such a hurry to go to, nor had she mentioned why she had left. Only that she had to go, and that she would try to come back soon, instructing him to listen to his grandparents and father, and to watch over his little brother. However, deep inside, he had known the true purpose of her rushed escape, and restlessness that colored her every move ever since the dragon had left them in that clearing. He knew his mother and he knew her well. All that time spent staring at her face; looking for the proof of the Evil Queen lurking beneath the façade of his mother had left him with ability to know her mood and most of her feelings with only a look.

He thought back to the time when he had been watching his mother prepare for her journey, his eyes following her every move. To ease the tension in the quarters, he had been chattering on the dragon they had seen, asking his mother questions about them, quite surprised to learn that Guardian, as his mother had called the beast, was friend of Emma's, which in turn had made him ask more questions, firing them at the woman in effort to take her mind of the worry. But, even his awe of his parent couldn't dispel the concern and dread his mother had been exuding. So, he had watched her get ready to leave, and only moments before she would walk out of the room, having already hugged him and Kyle goodbye, he rose from his seat and pointed toward the bundle resting on a small desk beside the door.

"You should take it with you," he had said as her eyes had followed his gesture. "You might need it." He had seen the glimmer of pride and resignation in her dark eyes as she reached for the dark cloak tightly wrapped around the Savior's sword.

"You really should go to sleep, Henry," she had murmured as she had brought him into hug, her lips leaning against his forehead, and in that simple act, she had confirmed his suspicion. "It's very late."

Brought out of his thoughts by the impatient intonation of his name, Henry turned to his father. "I don't know," he spoke clearly, his chin raised as he met Neal's gaze without blinking. "But, she took Emma's sword."

Neal frowned. His teenaged son had spoken the last sentence with a meaningful look in his eyes, but he couldn't see the importance of a simple weapon on Regina's whereabouts. Even, if it was Emma's weapon. It's not as if she would need it any time soon.

Wait a minute… His eyes widened as his mind made the connection. Emma's sword. The weapon he had heard from many people that the blonde almost never parted from, carrying with her even during her walks along the castle corridors. The weapon he was sure that had become a source of a great comfort to the Sheriff, as it had been a gift from Regina, and an indispensable part of Emma's image as the Black Knight of Regina's court.

He smiled and nodded at his son, before he sat down on one of the chairs in the room, unconsciously choosing the very same one Emma had been in all those months before. "Did she say when to expect them back?"

A shrug was his only answer, but he didn't mind it. It wouldn't be too long, for there was no universe where Regina would leave her children for long while, not even for Emma. He was sure that Regina had her reasons for the secrecy, and he was respecting them, but her sudden disappearance did explain the strange permission to enter the Royal Chambers at his will.

"No one knows?"

"Just us," Henry replied, seated at the lounge with his pen in his fingers. "And Damian."

Of course that the chief person in charge of security and safety would be informed about it, Neal mused absently, as he watched the boy carefully write something in one of notebooks Regina had insisted to bring over for him. It made sense, actually, for Regina to tell her highest ranking soldier about her absence, so there would be at least someone competent watching over the children, someone that wasn't too distracted by the news the dragon had delivered. And, why not the lieutenant - in whom the Queen had absolute trust?

As he sat, thinking about his sister, his thoughts unconsciously soothed by the soft, barely audible scratches of metal parts of the pen over the paper and light snoring coming from the bed, he noticed the fire was slowly going out, and that the candles were almost completely melted, the wicks flickering weakly.

"Kid," he murmured so he would not start the boy still focused in whatever he was writing. "Come on, it's almost dawn. You should, at least, get a few hours of sleep." Standing beside Henry, he gently nudged the boy toward the bed, expecting him to refuse, but to his surprise, his son only nodded, closing his notebook and shuffled over, his stride broken by a large yawn.

But, before he slipped beneath the large duvet, the boy turned and caught the man's eyes. "Will you stay?" he asked hesitantly, his cheeks tingeing lightly in embarrassment as his green eyes shifted away, no longer looking at his father.

"Do you want me to?" Neal spoke gently, careful not to react to the boy's unusual vulnerability.

When Henry only nodded, the man just walked up to the bed and sat at the foot of it, patting it softly with a smile. "Then, I'll just curl up here, if you don't mind. Don't kick me."

Henry glanced at the length of the bed and pointedly at his father, making Neal chuckle with his raised eyebrow. The bed was, in fact, enormous, and there was no danger at all from Henry's feet. So, after motioning the boy to get under the covers, he brought himself to the middle of his section of the bed, and placing his head onto his bended elbow, he faced the children.

"Dad?" he heard several seconds later, opening his eyes to look at his son who was peering at him from his pillow. Waiting for the boy to speak, he noticed Henry's hesitation, but soon the words followed. "Love you," Henry murmured.

"I love you too, kid," he replied gently, and with it, he once again closed his eyes, suddenly quite ready to grab a few more hours of sleep.

---

The door to a small study off the throne room opened slowly, to avoid the squeak in still unoiled hinges, and as soon enough space was cleared, a soldier dressed only in his cloth uniform pushed through, closing the door behind him, mindful to keep it quiet. Then, he turned toward the man in the room and approached him.

"You wanted to see me?" he asked, his voice not louder than a whisper as he looked into his friend's tired face. Only when the other man leaned into the light from the oil lamp at the desk, leaning his elbows onto the desk he was sitting at, the guest could see new markings on the man's tunic that most soldiers wore when not wearing armor. "Sir," he added quickly, raising his eyebrow in surprise. He had seen his friend the night before, and he had been still a lieutenant then.

"It's a new development, Nathan," the seated man murmured with a heavy sigh. "The Queen had only told me last night, before she left."

Nathan looked at the man, once more surprised in such short time. "What do you mean, left?"

"Mine was not to ask, Nathan, but I would guess that she had gone to fetch the Savior," Damian spoke, as he rose from his seat. "But, that brings us to why I called you here. We need to close the castle, and maintain the perimeter. Without the aid of magic, we are vulnerable outside the walls. And, we also need to keep watch over the Royal children."

"Anything, Captain." The soldier, Nathan, briskly saluted before relaxing his posture. "What do you have in mind? The whole Black guard is here, what is left of it, and I do not think that the Charmings would look at our maneuvers in favorable light. And, with the Queen gone…"

"Let me deal with them," Damian said, leaning onto the surface of the desk with his fists. "You will go to the Commander of the Imperial Guard and ask him if he could supplement what we need in manpower. And, I do mean, ask him, Nathan. We will not undermine all the goodwill the Savior's actions had accrued us, especially with the Queen's return." He gave his man a letter bearing mark of the Royal Guard of Queen Regina and watched him place it in the breast pocket with utmost care not to wrinkle the paper.

"Yes, sir," Nathan saluted sharply, before throwing a teasing smile in his friend's direction leaving the room to fulfill the task he had been given. First, he rushed to the soldiers' wing, to gather his armor and outer wear he had not donned so early in the morning, and while he was stepping away from his friend's study, he heard the captain summon another soldier, no doubt with another set of orders. Having put on the titular black garbs and protective covering, he exited his quarters, briskly walking down the corridors that would lead him into the courtyard and stables. Putting rush into his steps, the man dashed to the stables adjunct to armory, where the horses for the soldiers were housed. With short conversation with one of the people serving as a stable hand, he quickly found himself atop a mount, and in front of opening gate. And, moments after, he was riding toward the camp the Imperial Guard had set, half a mile down the main road.

"Halt!" he heard as he approached the camp, and luckily, he pulled the reins just in time. Right in front of him, hidden in the predawn darkness, were three Imperial soldiers with glaives in their hands, ready to stop him by force, if need be, each one holding the long weapon with ease.

"Message for the Commander!" he shouted, trying to calm down the surprised horse underneath him, and as soon as he spoke, the guards moved out of the way, letting him through, one of them pointing him to the Commander's tent.

Reaching his destination seconds later, Nathan dismounted, throwing the reins to one of the soldiers stationed at the tent and, at the inviting motion of another soldier by the flaps of the tent, he ducked inside into the warmth of the heated shelter, ready to meet the famous leader of the Empire that had aided the Savior with her quest of saving Safe Haven. And, there, in the middle of the tent was a small table, and at it, two men were sitting and eating, not yet wearing their armors or even uniforms, the cuffs of their shirts rolled up. Not knowing at whom to direct his words, having never met the man before, and not willing to unwittingly insult the Commander, Nathan kept quiet, waiting for someone to address him.

"What business brings you to my tent before Sunrise, soldier?" one of the men spoke, looking at newcomer, his keen eyes passing over him, continuing to sit leisurely and nibble at the food in front of him, seeing no reason for alarm on the guest's face.

Nathan did not speak but only offered the letter, the clanking of his armor too loud in the relative quiet of the tent, bending slightly at the waist in deference to the leader of the Imperial forces. He saw the man frown at the wax sigil on the message and waited for the inevitable question of the Queen's absence. But, the question did not come, or at least, not in the way Nathan expected.

"I assume Regina had her reasons for going after the Savior alone," the man of the Empire spoke, having read the missive from the captain, smirking as he saw the black soldier's eyes flash at the familiar way he had spoken the Queen's name. "I will order my men to move within the castle walls as soon as the Sun shows its face. But, in two days' time, the Imperial Guard will leave the bounds of the Charmings' Palace, marching to meet me here. I must be able to coordinate with them, when they arrive."

"Of course, Commander," Nathan replied with a respectful bow of his head.

"Then, Lieutenant, I believe your Captain is waiting for you," the commander said softly, dismissing the soldier, looking after him as he left the tent with stiffness in his posture.

---

It was quiet and dark in the room, with thick, heavy curtains covering the windows, to allow the inhabitants of the quarters to sleep in, unbothered by the daylight. However, even though it was still too early in the morning, before dawn, no one was slumbering.

In the large bed, lying on her back was Mulan, her silky dark hair spread over the finest feather pillow she had ever laid her head on, staring off into nothing, her breathing deep and relaxed, as her left hand moved lazily under warm and comfortable duvet, tracing random patterns on naked back of the woman snuggling into her side.

When warm air from a long, suffering sigh passed over her still slightly damp breasts, the warrior stopped the movement of her fingers, splaying her palm over shifting shoulder blade. "What weighs on your mind, my heart?" she asked in a gentle whisper, lifting her head just a bit to reach the forehead in front of her with her lips.

"Snow," came a soft murmur.

Mulan felt her face twist into an impish smile at the reply, despite the heavy air surrounding the topic of the Royal who had been inconsolable the whole evening before, who, along with her husband grieved at the news brought by the incredible creature of the skies. "Not everyone would welcome their lover thinking of another while in bed." She rather felt than heard Ruby's snort, and when the shifter looked up at her, she added, "How lucky you must feel to have an amazing and understanding lover by your side."

"Very lucky," Ruby agreed with a chuckle, settling back into her previous position, with her head on Mulan's shoulder, hugging the woman close. "When Regina took Henry and Kyle, and retreated in the Royal chambers, I tried to talk to her and David, but they..." Ruby sighed heavily. "They just held to each other and ignored me."

"They weren't ready to listen, love. And, it's understandable; they just heard the dragon speak of the Black Knight's end. Grief has a way of ruling reason."

"I know, but if they just thought about it, they'd realize their mistake and all of this could've been avoided."

The warrior hummed in agreement. "How long do you think it would take them to catch the creature's meaning?" she asked after a while, resuming the languid movement of her digits over Red's back.

"Don't know." But, she had already decided to set the record straight that morning, as soon as she found the Charming couple and made them listen to her. "But, why didn't Regina say something?" she wondered aloud.

"I don't think she did it on purpose," the Empire woman said gently. "Whatever the creature told her, it made her somber and pensive, and worried."

"What do you mean, told her? We all heard the words the dragon spoke."

"Oh, heart, don't you know? Dragons can Mind speak, and I believe the beast had a message for Regina's ears, or rather, mind, only."

"Well, that would explain how she knew it was coming," Ruby considered. "And, the other Wolves, they must have known too, as they were the ones to keep the horses steady." She thought back to the day before and smiled in wonder. "I know she said she was gathering allies, but this... I never..."

"Emma?"

"Yeah. I mean, I thought that Wolves, mermaids and Shadow were a coincidence and luck, but then she met with Yaoguai, Ogres listened to her, and now – a dragon!" Ruby brought herself up on her elbow, looking down at the woman holding her. "I knew she was special, but I never even dreamed of this!"

The warrior gently tucked the black strands of hair behind Ruby's ear and caressed the shifter's cheek with her thumb. Despite the awe in her words, Mulan could feel uneasiness in the posture of the woman hovering above her. "What?" she inquired softly, her quiet voice unassuming and patient.

Ruby shrugged and pulled away, as her eyes flashed in the darkness of the room. Sitting up beside Mulan, she leaned against the headboard and crossed her arms, not concerned that she was naked or that it was cold outside the warm covers. "I just can't stop thinking about the words the dragon spoke. The 'Let her rest in peace' bit." When she felt her lover move and envelope her in warm hug, throwing the duvet over their shoulders, she allowed herself to sink into comforting arms of the warrior, appreciating the silence Mulan was keeping. "She'd been away for more than she'd been around us, and with each time, she would return more distant and more haunted. And, every time she would provide a miraculous solution to our problems." Red leaned her forehead against Mulan's chin, her sharp ears picking up the steady beat of the warrior's heart, the even thumps of the muscle providing unexpected reassurance to the Wolf. "But, then I would catch her staring off in the distance, her eyes filled with lifetime's worth of pain and anguish – and I could not help but wonder, what torments had she gone through to help us? You saw how she was before she disappeared. You saw what she did." Ruby shuddered as she remembered that day, the blood covered blonde fixed upon destroying Midas. But, as the warrior's arms around her tightened their hold, the shifter nuzzled into the warmth Mulan was providing, able to continue. "To have that power and to do that… She didn't grow up as we did."

"What do you mean?" Mulan asked, slightly affronted for her friend. She still didn't know what her lover was trying to say, but she listened, knowing that Red needed this, needed to talk about Emma.

"She grew up in the world where magic exists only in stories, and where killing is forbidden and not as common occurrence as here. She has the morals of that world, and the magic and duties of this one."

The warrior nodded, prompting Ruby further.

"These few months, I always thought Emma looked like she had a weight of the world on her shoulders, but, what if she truly does? What if she was destined to be here to do something else, and not fight Zelena?"

"Well, she did stay to make that portal to Storybrooke," the Empire woman pointed out softly.

"I know, but that's not what I meant. All these creatures and alliances, and worry… I think there is something else going on. Something much bigger than the war with the Wicked Witch."

Suddenly, the warrior stiffened, as words the blonde woman herself had spoken came to her, and she realized that her lover was right. "This fight is about so much more, and most of you do not even realize it, too much wrapped up in the obvious enemies," she whispered in awe, her voice distant as she kept the memory in her mind. At the questioning look from the eyes that glowed in the dark, Mulan blinked and returned to present. "That is what Emma said to me on the wall, right after she had persuaded Ogres to leave," Mulan explained to the woman in her arms, and continued to recite, word for word, what Emma had told her in that moment, mere two days before.

"So, I was right," Ruby said in triumph, before her face fell. "And, she didn't tell us," she added sadly.

"About fighting a different fight?" Mulan inquired gently as she peered into her lover's eyes. "Did she really need to? Ruby, she had been telling us from the start that there was something wrong here. And, every time we would think that answers lied in the next confrontation, the next enemy." Taking a deep breath, the Empire woman spilled what had been in the back of her mind since Emma's declaration. "But, we all know realms were in the bad shape, even since before the Dark Curse. Liam's Wolves call the dragon the Last of Her Kind, Fairies are all turned human and in World Without Magic, no one knows about the remaining Dwarves that are here, if they are here; Yaoguais are all but extinct and when was the last time you've seen a Unicorn? Pegasi are history, Camelot-bred horses are few. Wolves are saved only by Regina's mercy and her Laws of Protection. Magical kinds of Enchanted Forest are dying out, Ruby. Trolls and Ogres are breeding too fast, and humans are dying from wars, starvation or raids." Sighing heavily, she concluded. "We've always known she is the Savior, and we all know that breaking a single curse doesn't make you one, Ruby."

"Oh," the shifter gasped, ducking the insistent look from her lover, feeling her cheeks burn as sheepishness for not really seeing it earlier overcoming her. However, before she could even think about what to say next, someone pounded on their door, before a male voice reached them, telling them that the Captain of the Black Guard would like to see them as soon as possible.

"Captain of the Guard?" Mulan questioned as she quickly dressed, throwing her armor on.

"Must be Damian. He is either under Regina's orders, or something is very wrong." The Wolf moved even faster than the warrior, reaching the door first. Opening it, she saw that the soldier who had summoned them was still in front of the room, waiting for them. With a short nod of greeting, he took them to the Captain's study, letting them in and closing the door after, standing guard in the hallway.

"What's wrong?" Ruby asks immediately as she enters the room, seeing that it was Damian indeed, who was the Captain of the Black Guard, the new markings of his station noticeable in the weak light of the room.

"Nothing is wrong," the man said as he motioned the women to sit on the chairs he had placed in anticipation of their arrival. "But, there are some things I believe you should be aware of." He leaned against his desk, his eyes alternating between the women, the piercing gaze of the warrior unnerving him slightly.

"Usually, it's Regina who shares things with us," the Empire woman spoke slowly, as she watched carefully the man's face, having a niggling already what this could be about.

Crossing his arms, Damian sharply nodded once, confirming the warrior's unsaid suspicion. "Her Majesty is not here."

"Leaving the castle and its security in your hands," Ruby added, quickly understanding why they were there.

"That is correct. Now, I have already had the Commander convinced to join us within the walls of the castle, and as soon as the Imperial soldiers and the Wolves are inside, we will close the gates and initiate a full lock down."

"Do you really think that is necessary?" the shifter asked him, as she sat up uncomfortably, the prospect of another confinement not welcome for the Wolf.

"It is prudent."

Ruby turned to look at Mulan, frowning at the woman's words, and as she cocked her head slightly, the other woman leaned back in her seat, adjusting her sword at her hip, but using her other hand to offer a silent reassurance to the other woman, placing it gently over Ruby's closer one.

"Consider the battle we've just dealt with and who it was against. And, consider whom we have with us. Even with all the Imperial soldiers and Wolves at the disposal, the safety of the Royal children and Snow and David is not quite as assured. Leaving the castle open only provides unnecessary risk, and the captain is right to want to eliminate it."

The words the experienced warrior had spoken convinced Ruby that the safety of their friends and the children was not guaranteed, especially with the absence of the Queen and her magical prowess, however, she still felt conflicted about the security measures needed to protect the current inhabitance of the Castle. She sat quietly, as she listened to her lover and the captain exchange ideas about utilizing the soldiers in the most efficient ways, and expanding on them, agreeing on implementing one or two plan actions Emma had instituted in the Charmings' Palace. Occasionally, the two of them would consult with her, incorporating some of her ideas and thoughts she had to offer them – but, mostly she was there, thinking how this planning session was much different from the last one she had attended. And, those thoughts brought her to a startling realization how she really did miss her friend, and the implied safety Emma could offer with just her presence, being the powerful sorceress that she was and a stoic pillar of strength.

---

In the quiet of the corridor, a door opened, its unoiled hinges creaking loudly in the early morning stillness, making the woman that had pulled it open wince. Throwing a look behind her in wary expectancy, she waited a moment to see if her companion would wake from his tired slumber, and when nothing about him changed, his breathing slow and rhythmic, she exited the room, making sure to avoid the whine of the hinges. Her stride sure and yet light, memories of her childhood guiding her steps as she walked down the maze of hallways she had once known by heart, intending to get to the Royal quarters and insist on a meet with the former Evil Queen, without the presence of her currently overbearing husband.

But, first, she had decided to take a short stroll in the garden, using the time to formulate the points she had intended to raise with Regina. For that reason she had thrown her thick and warm coat on, even though the soldiers had made sure during the night that the castle itself was pleasantly warm, especially around the rooms that the Royal family was using, lighting many sconces along the corridors and many fireplaces in open halls.

It did her body good to move around, the pregnancy doing quite a number on her, not helped at all by the horseback ride to the castle and the excitement and worry of the day before. Of course, the meeting with the terrifying beast of the skies could have been done without, as far as her unborn child went. The fear it had caused, along with the sorrow and shock of the news it had brought had not been an easy thing for her to endure, especially with her rampant hormone-fueled emotions.

However, she couldn't deny it had been eye-opening experience for her. And, long hours after the fact, after she had gone through every bit of her memory of the meet, she could say that had she not been so involved with her own emotions, she would have seen the quiet moment the beast and her friend had exchanged, as well as Regina's surprisingly low-key reaction to the news. This only meant, in Snow's mind, that the words the dragon had spoken had another meaning, another interpretation, one that she hadn't considered in her grief-filled mind. Nor had the dear husband of hers, who had been off-kilter since the evening they had appeared in the Enchanted Forest, his realization that Emma was just another human being, despite all the titles heaped on her, devastating his elevated image of her. He had taken the realization that their daughter was not the bastion of Light they all had imagined her to be pretty hard, and it had pushed him into an angry and belligerent mood.

However, her disquiet wasn't about David, and his shattered perceptions. No, Mary Margaret had another on her mind. And, she needed Regina to clear some things up for her. But, first, she needed a moment, to clear her thoughts, because if she stormed the Royal chambers in a fit of self-righteous indignation, the older brunette would only send her out to calm down, not having any qualms on using magic to do so.

After a brisk walk, Snow found herself at the highest tier of the gardens, the sharp coldness in morning air the first indicator that she had left the heated walls of the castle, but it was the soft crunch of snow that actually drew her attention from her thoughts to her surroundings. As she looked up, she gasped, the warmth of her breath hanging around her face for just a second before dispelling into the frigid air. Amidst the whiteness of the fresh snow layering the surfaces of the garden, an unexpected and miraculous sight stood, its magnificence simply astounding the daughter of the long deceased King. In front of her was an apple tree, in full bloom, its luscious green leaves and vivid red fruit belying the winter snow and cold that laid across the lands, having grown out of the stone circle Leopold long before had arranged to house Regina's favorite tree.

"How can this be?" she murmured in astonishment as she came closer, her hand reaching for the branches looming over her. It wasn't an illusion, for her fingers passed over the soft and warm leaves, glimmering slightly in the light of a barely risen Sun. It was real, Snow realized, and it was there, in the stone circle of the garden, as if it had never been gone out of it. However, she had seen the original tree, still standing in front of the Town Hall in Storybrooke only days before, so it couldn't be the very same tree.

"It's a gift," a deep voice spoke from behind her, startling Snow out of her examination. She pivoted on her heel, her arms poised for an attack regretting leaving the weapons beside her bed, but instead of meeting an unknown danger, she saw the leader of the shifters, Liam, leaning on one of the pillars marking the edge of the garden. As he had seen her motion to defend herself, he placed his hands in front of him, offering the woman his placating smile. "From your daughter," he added as he pushed away from his position and walked over to Snow, his arm reaching for a low hanging branch, bringing it closer to the woman, and far easier to explore.

"A wondrous gift for Regina," the woman whispered softly as a gentle smile appeared on her face. Her daughter was a romantic and humorous soul. Everyone in Storybrooke had heard about the episode with the tree, mere days after Emma had appeared in the town. Gossip about the fierce and dangerous blonde newcomer had spread like wildfire, making sure that the name Emma Swan would never be forgotten in the history of Storybrooke. Afterwards, the Savior had done many things to insure this, but with this single act of defiance against the imperious and omnipotent mayor, her daughter had announced herself to the people of the town, winning their hearts. And, now, her simple act of thoughtfulness and compassion would insure that her beloved had a personal but firm reminder of Emma's presence in this world.

"She knew Regina would come here," Snow concluded, glancing over at the powerful Wolf by her side, intrigued by the tone of respect her daughter's mention had caused in him. "Did you know her well?"

Liam blinked slowly, before he released the branch out of his hand, his blue eyes regarding her in silence. "I know her only a bit, but enough to realize that she is worthy of my loyalty and of my trust. There aren't many to whom the Wolves would submit willfully, and your daughter is one of the few who can truly appreciate such a gesture." He straightened, his hands resting against the small of his back as his eyes looked away, somewhere in the distance, giving him a pensive expression. "White Swan is truly a remarkable woman," the shifter added softly, slowly turning his head to see the hallway leading from the Royal Chambers, a soft greeting from the stationed guard drawing his attention.

"The dragon spoke as if she was dead," Snow had to remark, the Wolf's pointed use of present tense in his words noted. Also, she had to smile at his name for Emma. It suited her, and yet it didn't speak of her many titles, as other names Emma had accumulated in her short presence in the Enchanted Forest. The Savior, the Sheriff, the Black or Dark Knight, the White Knight… One late evening, Regina had given her another title her daughter had earned just by birth – Keeper of the Balance, and judging by the bitterness the former Evil Queen spat the name with, it had only been another way to saddle Emma with more responsibility.

"Guardian said nothing of the sort, your Majesty," Liam said with a contented smirk as he turned to leave, inclining his head to the man and children approaching them by the tree. "If nothing else, she confirmed that the Savior is safe," he added before he departed, offering a rare gentle smile to the young masters enjoying the snow.

As the broad shouldered shifter disappeared in the lower reaches of the Royal Gardens, Snow was left bewildered by his offhand comment. Emma – safe? Was that really the message the dragon had for the older brunette? But, why hadn't Regina said anything? Why the silence and seclusion?

"Grandma," a delighted shout from her eldest grandson broke her rumination. "Wow, it looks just like Mom's tree," the boy spoke as he stopped in front of her, his gloved hands carrying a lump of snow he was shaping into a ball.

Snow looked at her grandson, noting his fresh eyes and healthy glow of his skin. This wasn't the boy that was overcome with worry for his absent mother. In fact, he seemed somewhat surer of himself since the day before, if only in small instances. But, instead of asking him any questions, she decided to wait for the other brunette to emerge from the Royal quarters. "I believe that is what Emma wanted to do," she remarked conversationally, eyeing the hard packed snowball in his hands.

"Oh," he uttered as he saw her pointed glance and swiftly turned, his quick throw launching the white projectile straight into his father's chest, erupting into a sweet innocent giggle when he saw the startled face of the man who, having lost his balance, ended up sitting in the snow with the waddling boy beside him chirruping in laughter and clapping his mitten clad hands. But, as soon as he saw the man gathering snow, his eyes widened and he ducked behind his grandmother.

"Henry," the gentle rebuke came from Snow, all the while she watched Neal carefully, ready to duck the second he threw the snowball. The man himself was still on the ground, Kyle beside him, as they patted the white powder into globes, the boy's much lumpier than the man's, and suddenly, Neal was on his knee, sending his first volley with experienced ease, watching the white sphere curve to his son, hitting him in the shoulder, but missing the woman entirely.

"That'll teach ya to start something ya can't finish," Neal spoke with glee as he sent out another ball, this one too finding its target. Snow made it easier for him by jumping out of the way, leaving the boy to his mercy, and he had none. Only when Henry managed to slide away behind the wall encircling the apple tree did he stop pelting the boy with missiles, each hit followed by Henry's shouts of dismay and Kyle's joyous giggling.

"Dad!" Henry called out from his shelter, only his waving hand visible. "I surrender."

"Be glad I am not your mother, kid," the man said as he heaved himself to his feet, grabbing Kyle into his arms. "She'd dunk ya completely into the snow," his words traveled the air before the man walked over to Snow, offering her a half hug in greeting, at the same time transferring the boy in his arms into hers. "I didn't expect to see you this early, Mary Margaret," he remarked quietly in lieu of question.

"I wanted to speak with Regina. Is she still sleeping?"

The dark eyes glanced toward the young Prince beside the tree as Neal considered his words carefully. He didn't know what his dear sister had in mind and how long she would be absent. At least, judging by the guardsman's reaction at seeing him, he could assume that Damian had been informed of her travel plans, and nothing slipped by Liam's watchful eyes. But, no one had told him how to deal with dropping this bomb onto the other members of their company. Should he lie, and stall for time? Or tell them and let them make of it what they wanted?

It was Henry's slight nod in his direction that made his choice for him.

"No," he answered waiting for her next question, not quite ready for the fallout of sharing the information, or rather lack of information, he had.

Snow saw his eyes glancing toward the boy behind the tree and the slight squaring of his shoulders, almost unnoticeable under his winter clothes, and suddenly she felt a weight settle in her gut. "Where is she, then?" she asked slowly, not sure that she wanted to know the answer, especially if Neal was so unsettled by it.

The man pursed his lips, making a light clucking sound with his tongue before he shrugged. "That seems to be the question." His dark eyes met the green ones, as he looked at Snow over his newly adopted nephew.

"What do you mean?"

"She is not in the castle, Mary Margaret," he finally said it. "Apparently, she left a little after midnight, taking nothing but the clothes on her and Emma's sword, and what Henry tells me, she was following instructions from Guardian, and in hurry to do so."

Snow turned to look at her elder grandson, seeking confirmation in his tired eyes. When the boy only nodded before he ducked behind the tree again, more interested in the fruit than the conversation of the elders, the woman turned back to Neal. "That dragon again," she murmured in dismay, only then realizing that her and David's reaction in the field the day before might had something to do with finding out this only that moment. "What do you know about the Guardian?" she asked Neal, but she spoke loudly, hoping that Henry would participate also, for he had had most luck in wheedling out details out of his mother.

Neal shook his head, not really knowing much about it, the few bits he had he had learned from his son.

"Guardian is Ma's friend," Henry supplied, suddenly appearing above them, seated in the tree, his jacket abandoned on the ground, as the tree was magically kept in warm air to prevent it from freezing, not aware of the slight jump he had caused in the adults. "She is the last of dragons, and she taught Emma their brand of magic. Mom thinks that is how she was able to keep the portal open long enough, using the knowledge Guardian had given her." He looked down at his grandmother and smiled. "How cool is that? To be a friend with a dragon? And, did you know that they could speak to you telepathically? Dragons call it Mind Speak, and Emma wrote that only strongest of the True Kinds could use it, even on others. Mom said Guardian is old and very powerful. If she took Ma, it's only to help her." Henry rattled on, speaking fast, his excited voice rising with each question he spoke.

"True Kinds?"

It was the son of the former Dark One that answered Snow's confused utterance. "One name for the dragons, unicorns, Yaoguai and fairies, and the stories my father shared with me told that they were the first creatures to ever appear in the Enchanted Forest, bringing magic with them. Humans and others came later, as the myth goes. Universally, True Kinds are four, but my father had found a mention of a fifth one, the rarest of them all. He never told me what it was, though." Neal was frowning, searching his memory for a glimpse into his father's reasoning and conclusions about the mysterious fifth magical species, but after a fruitless several minutes he shrugged it off, deeming it not important for the moment. "Nevertheless, Guardian came to Regina for a reason, exposing herself to the number of armed men, to deliver a message of sorts." He rubbed his unshaven beard with his cold reddened hand. "It stands to reason that the message has been delivered, despite our lack of hearing it, especially if we take into account that Regina was beside the dragon, away from us, for a while. If Henry is right about the Mind Speak, who knows what knowledge did the beast impart?"

"And, instead telling us about it, she quietly prepared the castle for her absence, said goodbyes to the kids and disappeared in the night," Snow concluded heavily, bowing her head as she, almost unconsciously, rocked Kyle in her arms, paying no attention to his roaming hands and his soft babble. "You know, I would expect this from my daughter, not Regina," she ventured a bit later.

The man glanced at her and quietly chuckled. "What, she is not the type to disappear quietly into the night?"

Mary Margaret nodded at his slightly teasing tone and sighed. "Well, she always did kind of have a penchant for bombastic statements." Motioning for Henry to join them, she walked toward the entrance into the hallway. "Dramatic exits and entrances are her thing. It goes with her fiery temper."

"She's changed," Neal spoke gently. "During our time in Storybrooke, she was often times pensive and restrained in a way. Despite the stories I've heard, I could not believe she was the terrifying villain you all had feared. That is, until I saw her in the beanstalk field." He turned slightly toward his companion and added, "I can still remember the feel of magic crackling in the air around us." Snow hummed in shared fear, remembering some of the instances when Regina had scared the life out of her with magic.

Entering the Royal chambers, Snow hustled the children toward the hearth while Neal decided to find the kitchens in order to scrounge up some breakfast, asking directions from the guard standing at the door, paying no heed to the man's strange look directed at him. Shrugging it off, he followed the instructions, eager to provide breakfast for the kids.

But, before he could find his way down to the scullery, he came upon the shifter and the famous warrior, the two women carrying trays loaded with foods. "Oh, hey, I was just going," he started speaking before Ruby chuckled, interrupting him.

"Don't worry about it. Figured you didn't know your way around." At his insistence, she gave him her tray as they slowly went back to the Royal chambers. "Say, was Snow with you? David burst upon us, looking for her."

"She is," the man confirmed softly, minding his step with the overflowing platter in his arms. "Wanted to speak with Regina before she learned my sister was gone," he added absently as he glanced over the offerings, surprised to see fresh bread and boiled eggs. However, when he realized what came out of his mouth, he was surprised by the lack of reaction from the women. Looking at them in askance, he didn't miss the pointed gaze the women shared beside him. "So, you know?"

"Damian informed us at first light," Mulan volunteered quietly. "He is in charge of castle's defense, and wanted our input on some of the security measures."

"I thought we were safe here," Neal implored, his steps hastening.

"The castle is secure," Mulan reiterated, her calm voice echoing slightly in the corridor, as she refused to chase after him with her arms occupied. "But, that doesn't mean we should not be prepared."

As the man considered the warrior's words, the women caught up with him. "So," Ruby started, hesitating slightly. "Did Snow…"

However, she did not continue her line of thought because the guard standing beside the open door of the Royal Chambers stopped her from speaking out, the idea of asking something about her friend in the presence of strangers making her uncomfortable. Offering a small and tense smile to the man, she ducked into the room, her smile widening as soon as her eyes fell onto the boys and her dear friend.

"And, what are you up to, you little rascals?" she spoke, dropping down beside the boys, giving each a light head pat, before she turned to look at the woman sitting beside them. She didn't need her enhanced senses to figure out that Snow had realized that Emma was alive and Regina had gone, most likely to get her back. She did not miss the darkened skin under the familiar green eyes and the tired sigh that escaped the pregnant woman either.

"Did you know?" came a soft whisper, and only because Ruby was watching Mary Margaret at the same time, she realized who was asking. As the shadowed eyes met with her own dark blue ones, the meaning behind the quiet reproach became clear. Did she know about Emma being alive and sequestered by the dragon, was the inquiry. But, Ruby didn't know how to answer it without explaining how and why she knew – how she had come to correct conclusions with just a bit of thought of the situation, something that both Snow and David had failed to do.

"We both did," Mulan answered for her, bringing the platter closer to them, before lowering herself down beside her lover, smiling at the children in greetings.

"Snow, I-I tried to tell you," Ruby tried to placate her friend, but a sharp shake of the pregnant woman's head interrupted her.

"No, I get it, I was too wrapped up to see it," Snow murmured, her arms lifting Kyle into her lap, keeping him secured, her shoulders slumping dejectedly as she shook her head again. "It doesn't matter now," she added and suddenly, there was a bright grin on her face as she engaged her younger grandson with food, but Ruby could still see the hurt and dejection in the tear-glazed eyes. However, with several rapid blinks, even that small trace of Mary Margaret's true emotional state disappeared and the shifter was left pondering if Emma's blank and emotionless mask was not inherited from the White princess…

"David will join us shortly," Mulan spoke, only to break the odd, tense silence that appeared between the two friends. "He would've come with us, but he needed to dress properly," she added in explanation at the questioning look his wife directed at the warrior.

---

The day passed slowly. After the breakfast, Henry had cajoled his grandmother into a tour of the castle where she had spent most of her early life, and she had spoken of some anecdotes of her life, speaking of her mother, Johanna and her father, sometimes hesitating over some details, her new perspective painting them in harsher light that before. In those moments, David would gently squeeze her shoulder or her upper arm in quiet support, his shadowed blue eyes softened in empathy for her troubles. But, after eating a well prepared hot meal in the serving hall, along with many of the soldiers and people who had come along to the castle, the family was left with nothing to do. Nothing that hadn't included watching the Imperial soldiers fill the courtyard, the integration of forces supervised by Mulan and Red. The five of them, the core family, spent most of the day together, the idea of separating unappealing to most of the adults, despite the anxiety they seemed to share, the disquiet seemingly growing among them with each passing hour.

For brief moments, Liam and the imperial commander would join them, but they would leave them soon, unable to stand the feeling of intrusion upon the somewhat cohesive family as they waited for the news. After several times the newcomers failed to engage the adults in engaging conversation, Liam would settle beside the children and soon enough he would be telling them stories of his people, his deep and grumbling voice soothing despite the mounting tension, his endless patience with Henry's innumerable questions gaining respect of most of the adults half-listening to their chatter.

Later in the evening, Ruby walked in, her slow and tired gait bringing her to her dear friend, offering the worried woman a reassuring smile as she sat right next to her. In that very moment, in a rare instance since the Charmings' arrival, the Savior's father was away from his wife and sitting on the floor with Kyle in his lap, listening to the shifter's stories about his daughter, his attention captured just as much as Henry's was while hearing about Wolves visiting Regina's castle under Emma's directions. Red leaned back beside Snow, not at all surprised at the pregnant woman's soft sigh and comfort-seeking embrace, having experienced both during the queen's first pregnancy.

At first, with the aftermath of the battle at the Palace and Emma's disappearance, Ruby had missed the signs to her friend's state, especially since the pixie-haired woman had been sitting for the most of the time they had spent together. However, as soon as the shock of the events had passed, the shifter had recognized the symptoms and witnessing David's overprotective hovering, she had confronted the woman in the morning of their journey to the Regina's Castle, receiving confirmation.

"Will you tell me about her?" came Snow's soft whisper as soon as Liam's story ended. "The woman Liam talks about I barely recognize," she added, looking at the woman holding her pleadingly. "I need to learn more of her," she whispered as she lowered her head on the slim shoulder of her friend, meeting David's saddened eyes over Kyle's head.

Ruby sighed heavy, sensing that all eyes in the room were suddenly peering at her, waiting for her to start talking. She didn't know if it was really her place to speak of Emma's behavior, especially since she had already surmised that the Savior had been involved in something that none of them knew about. Also, talking about Emma's nightmares and growing detachment wasn't appealing. But, she couldn't decline Snow's plea, either; the shadowed green eyes reminding her so much of deep-settled anguish of the Sheriff's eyes.

So, she talked about teaching Emma before slowly easing into the stories of time during the wait for the siege, and despite her omitting much of the terrible details, by the apprehensive looks in the faces watching her she saw that she had fooled no one.

"Regina did say that Emma's writings seemed much colder emotionally, but I had no idea it was that bad," Neal spoke after a brief moment of tense silence her last story had left in its wake.

"Things seemed to be happening in a too quick succession for her Grace, and I believe that had she not sequestered her emotions she would not be able to complete many of the tasks set before her," the Imperial Commander added his opinion from his position by the door. "Things we have experienced together were often almost too much for me to deal with, and I was with her for only a small part of her time here."

"In truth, White Swan could have ended the war even before it had started," Liam said, his sharp eyes connecting with Ruby's slightly bewildered ones. "She had the means to do it," he added pointedly and quickly, she understood.

"Marbh Teine!" Ruby exclaimed with horror, her words causing the other adults in the room to gasp in dismay.

"Even the General of the Imperial Army had mentioned it as a solution, in awe of the Savior's unwillingness to sacrifice the lives of innocents to win this war." Liam turned to Li, knowing that the Savior had shared the subjects of that particular conversation with him. "Even after commenting that he hated people with magic because they so often abuse it, he continued to praise White Swan for her just and merciful disposition."

"She didn't need Marbh Teine to end this war. She could have done it with her magic alone." Li said with conviction, the incident at the keep too vivid in his mind. "But, she chose not to. She chose to give the enemy a chance to end things peacefully, and only reacted in defense during the siege. It was only when the lives of her family were threatened that she attacked and fought the Witch and Midas directly, and even then she showed a restraint. It was the destruction of the portal that pushed her over the edge."

"Belle often said that Emma kept sacrificing too much in order to save us," Ruby joined in. "She was the only one who could sneak past Emma's walls and coax her out of her stony moods," she explained to Snow. "We did try to help her as much she allowed us, but your absence devastated her." At the anguish of the four people before her, she added quickly. "I don't say this to make you feel bad, but to understand the pressures she has been under – without having you to comfort her." She focused on Henry, her eyes glancing toward Kyle. "At first she talked about you and your mom, despite the pain that not having you near caused her; but, as time passed, she stopped. She even stopped saying Regina's name and every time we would say it, she would flinch."

"Mom and Archie talked about that," Henry had to share. As his grandmother turned to him, he continued. "I found mom's research in the study."

"You weren't supposed to snoop, Henry," Snow said with gentle rebuke, but she couldn't muster much effort to scold him for it. "Research about what?"

"Wounded Warrior Syndrome."

"Isn't that about PTSD in combat situations?" Neal spoke, shifting closer to his son, placing his arm around his shoulders. "I mean Wounded Warrior is a project for veterans in US."

"Yeah," Henry nodded, sinking into the man's hold. "I think that's why she was talking to Archie about it, to help her understand better and what to do about it."

"What is this Pee Tee thing you mentioned?" Li asked quietly as others contemplated the implications of Henry's reveal.

It was David's emotion-laden voice that supplied the answer. "Combat shock. Or battle-weakened nerves. But, it can happen with many kinds of traumas that threaten life…" He brought his hand to wipe his welling eyes, still holding the infant in his lap, before he turned to Ruby. "Are you saying that Emma is broken? That everything we did only damaged her further?" He spoke in distress, his voice trembling. "That my… Our daughter had to pay for our mistakes with her own spirit and heart?"

"David," Snow murmured in pain, lowering herself on her knees to be closer to him. His gut-wrenching questions tore at her, but she had asked them herself within her mind, too afraid to speak them aloud. Were they right?

"We did this to her," he replied. "Because we chose the Savior."

"David…"

"No." The sharply spoken word echoed, drawing everyone's attention to the door, and there, standing under the frame stood Mulan, radiating authority and bristling at the things she had heard as she had entered. "How dare you?" she stepped forward into the room, her face twisting into a scowl as she faced the Charmings. "How dare you diminish everything Emma has done by making all she had done and suffered for about you?" The warrior stood above the startled parents, her dark eyes glaring at the man daring him to answer.

Ruby rose from her seat, drawing near to her lover, ready to interfere if Mulan's lecture turned harsher than it needed to be, but she would not stop the woman from speaking her mind. In fact, she had been about to do the same, David's self-pitying words angering her. From this side, witnessing such behavior, she finally understood Emma's bitter resentment for her parents.

"Do you think that after those centuries Rumplestiltskin spent perfecting his curse, taking care of every detail, that he would have left something as Emma's fate to chance? The choice was never yours! Regardless, his curse was just a small obstacle in the Sheriff's life, because she is meant for greater things! And she will triumph over this, just like she has triumphed over every other challenge before her. I have no doubt that with Regina by her side, your brave and selfless daughter will be alright." Mulan leaned slightly toward the two shocked heroes of the Enchanted Forest, menacingly clenching the hilt of her sword, not done with them quite yet. "Instead of bemoaning Emma's less than perfect state, like old crones huddling around winter fires whining about their codgers, why don't you appreciate the fact that your daughter is alive and celebrate what she has worked for and achieved so far?" Then, with a scoff and a shake of her head in their direction, Mulan dismissed the Charmings, turning to her lover. "Damian has asked for us, beloved."

"I'll join you in a minute, honey," Red spoke softly, squeezing the warrior's hand before sending her out. As the proud woman turned to leave, both the chief shifter and the commander chose to go with her, abandoning the tension fraught room, deciding to join their compatriots for the rest of the evening. "Henry," she spoke gently as she looked at the boy.

"I know, I know, go to mom's room and take Kyle with me," the boy said with a heavy sigh as he heaved himself to his feet.

"Would you? Please." Ruby offered him an indulging smile before she fixed her glare onto her friends and Henry's dad, waiting for the boy to leave the room and close the door behind him. At the click of the closing door, she allowed her displeasure to be shown. "Judging by what I know of Regina I believe she has slapped you verbally, or even perhaps physically, whenever you would behave in such way, in Storybrooke." Noting Snow's abashed lowering of her head and furtive eyes as confirmation to her supposition, she continued. "Why would you think anyone else would react any differently?" She didn't expect them to answer in any coherent way, so she simply disregarded David's poor attempts. "Emma is not only our friend. She is our leader and the person who has saved each one of us many times. And the sacrifices she has suffered for our sake are sacred to us. So, hearing you discarding them so easily is an insult – to your daughter, to what she has done, and to everyone she has saved." Giving them a moment to absorb her words, she kept them under her piercing gaze. "Most of these people do not care who you are and it is only your connection to their hero and savior that affords you respect. The Imperial soldiers carry a swan of silver on their armors in honor of the Savior. The Wolves consider her the ultimate Alpha. And the Black Guard would do anything for the True Love of their Queen. Be careful what you say about Emma around them, for such insults would only garner you trouble."

"What are you saying?" Snow asked tremulously.

"Isn't it obvious?" Neal spoke before Ruby could answer. "Any speech that would seem disparaging to the Savior is strongly discouraged. Which makes complete sense." He had kept quiet, not willing to get involved in David's mess caused by his fears and feelings of inadequacy, which seemed to be further fueled by the stressful situations the couple had already been through with both pregnancies. But, in light of Ruby's warning he had to speak. "If you don't deal with your hang-ups before she arrives, David, you may lose her completely, and then, all the favor you have with her people will vanish. That includes Regina and me." With a nod to the Wolf, he left the room to join his son and nephew.

"You can't expect us not to talk about our own daughter," David bit through his clenched teeth, unnerved at Neal's words. Was the man right? Was he making things worse? "We love her."

"Do you?" Ruby snapped back, her eyes pinning her longtime friend down. "Is it her that you love, or an idea about what your daughter is supposed to be?"

"Red-" Snow started but couldn't continue. Regina had warned her, many times, about not coming to terms about who Emma really was, and it seemed that David had much trouble with it as she had. "We love her, Red. Every bit of her." Speaking slowly, she lumbered to her feet, grateful that despite the anger that her friend was obviously feeling towards her, she still cared enough to help her up. "This isn't what we wanted for her, that's true, but we do love the woman she is, Red. The brave, impetuous, loving woman. How can we not?"

Ruby saw honesty in Snow's love filled eyes, and glancing at still sitting David, she saw the expression mirrored in his light blues, and she felt her anger evaporate, leaving her slightly chagrined at her own temper. "Just," she shook her head lightly and took in a cleansing breath, bringing her hand to her forehead, scratching it in hesitation. "After all this, she doesn't need you making it worse," her words carried a mark of caution she hoped they would listen to.

"I know," Snow agreed heavily.

"I need to go," the shifter used the break in conversation to escape, glad that she already had a handy excuse.

"I still don't get what was wrong about what I said," David spoke after a while, having risen of the floor and now seated close to his wife. "Yes, Rumple controlled everything but what has set Mulan off?"

"We didn't make her, David." Snow sat beside him, taking his hands. "She isn't the Savior because of us. We didn't teach her or shape her into this Hero that inspires devotion from almost everyone she meets. We had nothing to do with her ability to see what needs to be done, and her courage to see it done." Each heartfelt word fell from her lips, heavy as a hammer battering against his chest. "She is our daughter in blood, but we didn't raise her, David. She grew up alone, becoming this incredible woman on her own, and that… That is why our friends are snapping at us." Wiping tears from her wet cheeks, she pushed on. "To claim anything but biology in her upbringing is taking away from her magnificence."

She wasn't surprised to see his face crumple in pain as he sobbed her name. It was hard accepting it. She still hadn't been able to do it, fully, even after all the talks with Regina. Snow brought his head to her chest and held him as he cried, letting her own tears flow unchecked.

---

As the hidden entrance to the Temple of Knowledge appeared under the subtle and yet graceful move of Morgan's hand, Regina faltered to a stop, her feet only reaching the first step of the stairs leading down into the bowels of the secret underground building. Throwing a glance back, looking at the path she had taken from the House of Healing where she had left her beloved, Regina rubbed her fingers with her thumb, hesitating.

She had walked down here following the former Queen of Camelot without a question, her powerful stride seemingly in tune with the decision she had made to undergo the ritual, but now that she was there, at the entrance that signified a next chapter in her life, she could not but not look back and think of her love, and the way she had left her, the Savior's snippy attitude and barely concealed tension causing much concern for the regal brunette.

At first, she had believed it to be the result of the news she had given to the blonde – about the ritual and the marriage, but the fresh and still strong memory of Emma's nightmare from that very morning offered another reason why the still recovering woman had been short-tempered and inordinately prickly. Even she, the former villain of the story, had needed a minute, or several, to shake off the blood-chilling effects the dream had created in her consciousness. However, that is not true either, Regina thought to herself, remembering seeing the proud shoulders of her Knight slumped and head slightly bowed. Even beforehand, she was suspicious and jumpy, the Queen realized, and in that short second, she turned to leave, despite the fact that the hosting royal was waiting on her only several steps below her, having doubts about what she was about to do. Not the ritual itself, but the absence she had intended to impose on her love, so soon after finally meeting again.

She hesitated, as her mind warred with itself. Everything in her was telling her that enduring whatever Morgan had in mind would only help her and Emma in the long run, but, also she couldn't leave her beloved when the blonde was still out of sorts. She couldn't abandon her, not even for her own good. Not again.

"You can still turn back," the gentle voice of the older woman penetrated her swirling thoughts. "We don't have to do this now."

The brunette sighed as she looked into the dark eyes filled with understanding. She could go back, return to Emma and help her out with whatever was making her gruff and edgy, but that would only serve as a point of contention between the two of them, because, just like Regina, Emma was a proud and self-sufficient woman, and going back would implicate that the regal woman didn't quite believe the Savior could deal with the separation for five days, despite the quite adamant insistence of the Sheriff to the contrary. Also, the time apart could help Emma to sort out the new information she had gained during the meld that morning, who, unlike Regina, hadn't had a written version of events to get used to them before the 'download'. After all, it was the blonde herself who had insisted on not passing up this opportunity to learn and fulfill the promise her father, Henry, had exacted out of the infamous sorceress of Camelot.

And, there the words Morgan had shared, ending the debate Regina had started when she had returned from her goodbye with the Savior – deliberating over the intricacies and moralities of power and duty.

The words that, for some reason resonated deeply within her.

The magic of the line is not a tool to be used, carelessly and selfishly. It is a living thing, a powerful entity that can be warm, gentle and kind one second, and wildly raging and world-ending the next. It is the force of Nature itself, lending us more power than we, as puny humans, deserve. It must always be treated with reverence and respect. Not unlike the might your bondmate is capable of wielding as the Keeper of the Balance.

None of the magically inclined people she had known treated the magic this way, none apart from Emma, and the Savior had only gained such attitude after being tutored by the Guardian. And, she hoped that with the new teachings, she would be able to behave toward the power in the same manner, with respect and not use it for selfish goals.

"No," Regina replied softly, as she steeled herself to go forward with the plan, notwithstanding the doubt in her heart. "It's time," she said firmly.

"Once you enter, you cannot change your mind," Morgan cautioned as she gestured to the dark passage into the Temple with her hand, holding the edge of her cloak with the other one.

"I've made my decision," Regina spoke gathering her skirt and stepping down into the Temple. When she drew even with the other queen, she turned to address her before she ducked inside. "I stand by it."

The dark skinned enchantress inclined her head as she spun to follow her future Heir, closing the entrance behind her with a careless afterthought. "As you wish," she whispered into the dry air of the Temple, following the sharp raps of Regina's boot heels with a smile, pleased that the younger woman had paid attention to where she was supposed to go, even though she had been in this place only once before.

As they reached the small desk where the ancient tome that held the ritual still lied, waiting for their return, Morgan's lips quirked with satisfied pride at the expecting woman and she gestured to follow her, using her other arm to send away the book, returning it to its place with a soft whoosh of magic. Several moments later, she brought them to a corner of the room, reaching a clear part of the wall, devoid of shelves and light stones, but before Regina could question the other sorceress, a deep rumble was heard from the stone, and the wall opened, uncovering a small passage into another chamber hidden in darkness. "After you," Morgan spoke softly.

Pursing her lips, Regina breathed in deeply and stepped into the passage, feeling the other woman follow her closely. But, as soon as she cleared the narrow and short tunnel, she gasped at the room that awaited them. It was a light filled chamber, shaped in a half sphere, the domed ceiling twenty feet tall at the highest point, right above the center of the room, and gently sloping down to meet the floor. However, the ceiling had been made in such way that small rectangles of empty space riddled its surface, providing fresh air to the room. And, there, at the center of the floor made of hand wide rocks stood an oblong block of stone, two hands long and one hand tall and wide, its black surface gleaming in the light of crystals littering the walls that had lit by the women's entrance. As her eyes fell on the strange stone, Regina recognized it by the shiny surface, her curiosity making her examine it more closely, paying no attention to the hard click of the wall sliding back in place, sealing the room away from the rest of the Temple.

"Onyx," she murmured with surprise as she walked closer to it and lowered herself with elegance, her hand touching its smooth surface. "I know that superstitious people believe it bestows luck, but I know nothing of its use in magical rituals," she spoke to Morgan, searching the other woman's face for answers.

The older woman smiled at the clever inquiry but chose not to answer immediately, crossing the length of the room to the other side. "You are a smart woman, Regina," she said as she used her fingers to twist one of the light stones in the wall, her actions making the building block of rock next to it to move inside. When it slid away, opening a secret cubbyhole, she took out several pouches of treated velvet and a small beautiful box made of intricately carved wood and bone, and she glanced at the confused royal. "Onyx has nothing to do with magic, at least not in these circumstances. It only serves as a focus for this room, its dark and shiny surface reflecting the pale light of the crystals." Bringing the beautiful container to where Regina was standing, Morgan offered it to the other woman. "It's a decoration, a holder for the true centerpiece of this room," she added, opening the case in Regina's hand and showing her the insides.

"What?" the younger queen whispered as her eyes fell onto the treasure of the chest. In there, resting against the black velvet were three gem-like stones, different in sizes and shapes, and a small dagger, fashioned out of masterfully sculpted bone, with elvish script running along its length. "What's this? There was no mention of the stones on the page of that book."

The queen of Camelot raised her eyebrow without bothering to speak, her expectant gaze telling Regina that she was missing something, something of value. Then, with a smirk, she turned away, stepping to the wall and lowering herself on the floor, daintily arranging her dress around her knees with one hand while the other dropped the velvet bags beside her in order to reach for a small ceramic bowl hidden in the shadows, letting the other woman come to her own conclusions. So, Regina considered the stones again, focusing more on them and their looks. The one on the left was the smallest, brilliant shaped diamond-like clear stone about an inch in diameter, and under the weak light of the crystals, the brunette could not see a trace of color in it. Next to it was a fist-sized milky white quartz and beside that, was an oddly shaped stone, glimmering crimson under the light, its surprising brilliance reminding Regina sharply of spilt blood, and if she hadn't known it was a stone she would have thought she was looking at a small heart, torn out of the chest of a small game. She had heard of this stone, but she had not seen one, until now. Dragons' Blood, some people called it, and it was extremely rare, valued beyond measure for its use in spell-casting and protection. The ancient book had outlined the steps of the ceremony, and there had only been a mention of 'invoking the power of teachings', a vague and odd instruction Regina had only glanced over, more attentive to the ingredients and time needed for the ritual. "You use the stones," she muttered in realization, looking over at the other woman just in time to see a pleased smile spread over the woman's face.

"These stones are the most guarded secret of my family, and no written account of them exists," Morgan explained as she removed a small wineskin off her shoulder, stepping around the onyx stone. Having already finished with mixing the ingredients into the provided bowl, she added the last one, emptying the wineskin. "It was my father who shared the existence of them with me, as his father had done with him. And, now, it is up to me to pass the knowledge onto you. But, there is something I couldn't tell you before you entered this chamber, before you have fully committed yourself to this course. Ordinarily, the ritual consists of the Head of Tintagel transferring their knowledge into the stones, along with the memories of their time in the world. And, the first part of our time here would be me, doing just that." Under the lights of the crystals, Regina could see a frown forming on the beautiful and kind face of her host, and suddenly, a bad feeling gripped her, a feeling that she wouldn't like the next words out of Morgan's mouth. "However, what you need done is taking out the information stored in the quartz into your own body, and that is something that is, I was told, infinitely harder."

"You were told?" Regina caught that tidbit, and it made her wonder. "Don't you know?"

"Well, as I said before, no written accounts are allowed to exist about the specifics," Morgan maintained calmly, however, the frown on her forehead persisted. "Outside of this chamber, that is," she mumbled into her chin, but the acoustics of the room brought the whispered words to Regina, making her bristle at the implication. "The point is, as far as the memory of my people goes, no one has done the second part of the ceremony in centuries."

"But, it has been done, though?" Regina insisted, concern and suspicion making her voice sharp and loud in the chamber. "Right?" Only to find deafening silence following the echo of her words as the answer.

She slammed the box shut, lowering it quickly to the center stone, glaring at the other woman. "You knew about this, and you lied!" she accused the powerful sorceress. And, as soon as she spoke those words, she gained insight in the erratic behavior of her beloved. "You gave your word that this was reasonably safe, and you lied," venomous words dripped out of Regina's angrily twisted lips. "And she could sense it, the untruth in your speech. She could see through your obfuscations." An odd flash of glee appeared in the blazing dark eyes of the former Evil Queen, her sharp posture and brimming magic so reminiscent of the villain she had used to be. "I cannot wait the end of this damned ritual. Because I will complete it successfully, if only to be there and witness you explain this to Emma."

Morgan blanched at the mention of the Savior. "She is a sooth-diviner?" She had completely disregarded the myths that her ancestor had been able to garner the truth out of everyone around him, and now, it would seem that the ornery Sheriff had the same talent, and the woman was rumored to be the most powerful creature of magic that graced the Enchanted Forest in centuries. The wise queen of Camelot had aroused suspicions of the woman who was fiercely protective of her True Love, ready to destroy anything and everything posing a threat.

"She cannot be lied to without her sensing it," Regina clarified, enjoying the trace of fear in the amber eyes looking at her from across the chamber. "At least, that was before Guardian had become her tutor in all things True Kind. Who knows what she is capable of doing now?" The threat in Regina's words didn't need to be implied, the sole mention of the last dragon was terrifying enough.

"Nevertheless," Morgan spoke after a moment spent calming her heart rate. "We should continue."

Now, it was Regina who smirked at the other royal, waving her hand in permission. "By all means."

Not willing to admit how much the younger woman's casual attitude affected her, Morgan simply reached for the chest, taking two of the stones out, placing the quartz on the onyx slab, while keeping the clear rock in her hand. "As per instructions in the book, we need to drink the concoction I have prepared." When the brunette didn't move, Morgan drank out of the bowl first before offering it again to the other queen. "After I start with my part, you are to wait for the quartz to glow, and then take the blood stone and the blade. You will make a deep incision in the center of your left palm, and after the blood wells, you will place the stone in your hand, pressing it against your wound. The stone will activate when you read the inscription on the dagger in elvish. I am certain that your connection with the Savior will provide you with what you need."

"I wasn't aware I would be doing blood magic for this ritual," Regina spoke looking at the chest, her hand tucking an errant wisp of her hair behind her ear as her brows furrowed in apprehension. The emptied bowl was lying beside her feet while she stared at the ominously glimmering stone in the box.

"It's not blood magic per se," Morgan rushed to explain. "Yes, we use blood, but only as a conduit for the magic, not as an ingredient of the casting." At Regina's raised eyebrows, the older woman nodded. "And, as with anything magical, blood magic is not always dark magic – it depends on the intent. The only reason it is considered dark on the whole is that it requires sacrifice to work, and most often than not – that sacrifice is life, as you well know. This, essentially, means that sorcerers engaging in such arts eventually become murderers." The woman further explained, not able to pass the teachable moment. "However, this is not what we have here. There is no sacrifice involved, at least, not requiring blood or life. Your blood, in this particular case, is only used as a connecting channel between you and Dragons' Blood, which in turn, connects you to the well of knowledge that is the quartz."

Appeased with the clarification, Regina took out the dagger and the stone, waiting for Morgan to begin her part. She watched as the older woman focused on the clear stone in her hand, speaking the incantation needed, and suddenly, the air in the room crackled with magic as an unstable and moving shaft of light and power connected the diamond shaped rock in Morgan's hand with the quartz beside the chest, its milky white color turning brighter by the seconds, before Regina had to look away, the light too strong for her eyes to bear. Taking it as a signal to begin, having no other means to confirm it, as Morgan seemed oblivious at the moment, she made a short but deep slice in her palm as directed, wincing at the sharp pain that it caused. It took only mere seconds for blood to spill out of her cupped palm onto the floor, so Regina, gritting her teeth, pressed the bloodstone into the wound, ignoring the eye-watering sting the move had caused. Looking at the bone blade marked by her blood, she read the glyphs aloud, encountering no problems with understanding them. In need, I humbly seek thy knowledge, the Elvish script said, and the former Evil Queen would have chuckled at the simple sentence needed to activate the stone, but as soon as she had spoken the words, the stone glowed so strongly that for a moment the entire chamber seemed covered in blood. And, a moment later, Regina's rose into the air, hovering two feet above the floor, caught in the strange magicks of the ritual, Dragons' Blood firmly held in her hand, and a small ray of pale red light reached the still shining quartz on the onyx slab. None of it was seen by the brunette, for she had her eyes closed, as the ritual seemed to work.

---

"Regina?" a soft voice intruded upon her as a gentle hand squeezed her upper arm, pulling her out of her odd daze. She turned to the person demanding her attention and recognized her former stepdaughter immediately. "Hey, do you need a break?" the pixie haired woman asked quietly, peering into her eyes, searching for the cause of her sudden bewilderment.

"What?" Regina murmured before she took a look around. The two of them were in the forest. And, judging by the familiar path almost obscured by the wet leaves and patches of snow, they were in a large grove close to her castle, the unused path leading further into the woods. Also, they weren't alone. At the respectful distance, she could see four members of her guard forming a protective circle around the two of them, turned outward and alert.

"Do you need to sit down?" Snow asked, her hand still on the older woman's arm. Not waiting for Regina's response, she moved slightly away, having found a suitable place to take a seat. With a smirk directed at her friend, she rubbed gently her belly. "Even if you don't, I certainly do."

"Snow?" Regina finally managed to pull herself together and quickly appeared by the other woman's side, concern visible in her features.

"I'm fine, just a little tired." She smiled as she looked at her former stepparent, quite touched to see worry shining out of the soft brown eyes. "Thank you for agreeing to come with me."

Offering just a short nod in response, Regina lowered herself beside the woman she had been hunting for years, throwing her cloak over the new mother's shoulders for added warmth. It appeared that the daze that had suddenly gripped her had evaporated, and Regina remembered why they had come here. Past several days had been filled with mounting tension between the members of the Charming family and that morning, it had all come to head, when a large argument erupted between the three adults. Henry had skipped out to find her, having seen that his other mother was brimming with anger, and David, whose usual cool head could be counted on defusing the fiery clashes between the mother and the daughter, hadn't been any help as he, himself, had instigated this argument with his cranky nips directed at his daughter. She had arrived just in moment to stop it from getting out of hand, and with a wordless plea from her beloved, she had pulled the Charmings away, letting David stomp away in his fury, while she had decided to take up on Snow's invitation for a walk.

"Don't judge him too harshly," the woman beside her whispered, her green eyes taking in the frown on the queen's face. When Regina looked at her, her eyebrow rising in question, she continued. "He hasn't been sleeping. I think he's afraid that something will happen to me, or the baby, but he won't speak to me. This situation with Emma isn't helping things, either."

"Why is he so angry with her?" Regina asked after a moment spent in reflective silence, her eyes demanding answer out of the younger woman.

Snow hesitated for a moment before she sighed, leaning her elbows onto her knees. "I don't think he is angry with Emma specifically, but… He wasn't thrilled when he saw the uniform Emma had chosen for herself, nor was he pleased to listen to the tales of her victories."

"More to the point, the death she wrought," Regina added with a scoff, shaking her head.

"It threw me too, Regina. To learn that my daughter, the Savior, had killed so many people… But, I am glad she is alive and well – as much as she can be." Snow frowned. "It's just… Hard."

The former Evil Queen scowled at her. "She is not a hero, Snow," Regina spoke sharply, the sudden vitriol in her words surprising the woman beside her, freezing her in place. "She is not some mythical character in a story where Good always prevails over Evil. She is a real woman who had to make real choices with real consequences." She rose to her feet, leaving her cloak on Snow's back, and straightened to her full height, her eyes flashing as she pinned Snow under her insistent gaze. "Her actions weren't guided by some noble sense of Justice or such. She did what she had to do – to survive and to keep her friends alive. And, to do that – to be the person that could survive this world, and this war, something had to give." Breathing deeply with a conscious effort to calm down, Regina gentled her voice. "She is not the same woman we knew in Storybrooke, just like we are not the same people before the curse. And, you have to learn who she is all over again. Learn how to talk to her, how to be with her, how to love her. You have to do it by yourself, because you cannot keep dragging me into this, Snow. Not anymore. She is your daughter, Snow – learn how to deal with her! Or you won't have much of a relationship with her."

Letting her words sink in, she glanced away, her eyes sweeping over the surroundings. "But know this," she murmured, her voice just loud enough for Snow to hear her. "She has suffered enough under the weight of all the titles she holds. I won't let you hurt her further by your judgments, both your and David's."

Snow swallowed hard at the implied threat in Regina's voice, a soft tear gliding down her chilled cheek as she considered the brunette's words. She opened her mouth, ready to promise her cooperation, but before she could speak a loud shriek pierced the quiet of the forest, bringing the women to alertness. From the direction of the shrill noises a sole member of the Black Guard stumbled toward them, his uniform ripped to shreds and covered in blood, his sword firmly clenched in his hand.

"Go," he urged them, pointing away from the danger. "Quickly," he said before he staggered to his queen, his insistent imploring setting the women in motion. As the former Evil Queen gathered her cloak, pushing Snow in front of her, she threw a glance at her man. "A pair of Manticores," he replied her silent question as he urged them to move faster.

Regina gasped, her previous encounter with the vicious beasts still fresh in her mind, and she tried to summon her magic to take them away, but what power she did manage to scrounge was not enough to teleport them to safety. She wasn't even sure if it was enough to defend them against the persistent hunters. Quickening her gait, she grabbed Snow's arm to aid her as she guided them toward the castle.

Suddenly, a loud shout of triumph was heard from behind her, followed by a sharp whistle of a screaming arrow. Glancing at the guard with her, Regina saw a small measure of relief on the young man's face. "One down," he murmured as he noticed her scrutiny. However, the relief lasted too short as a roaring shriek tore through the forest, followed by a sound of a blood chilling scream before it cut off, no doubt by the death of the one screaming. Another roar sounded, closer this time, and hearing it, the man flinched and pushed the women to go faster, throwing a look behind him.

Only seconds after, they reached a small slope from where the castle was visible through the branches. "Go," the guard spoke softly, winded from the chase, his eyes connecting briefly with his monarch's before he stopped and planted his feet, lifting his weapon.

Seeing the man stay behind, Snow instinctively slowed down, turning to help him, but Regina grabbed her arm, pulling her forward. "You cannot help him, Snow. We need to get to the castle." Despite the hard grip on her friend's arm and callous words, her voice was soft and pleading. They couldn't afford to argue – not when the beast was almost on top of them, and Regina could not access her magic properly for some reason. Additionally, the grounds were too treacherous not to pay full attention to them in their mad dash toward the tall parapets of the White Castle and the small regiment of archers stationed there.

At the sound of growling coming too close from behind them, Regina sped up, thankful that she hadn't donned on one of her elaborate dresses, but simple tight leather leggings. However, Snow had not been as sensible, her dress inconveniencing her mightily as they ran through the underbrush, and with each pass by an undergrowth, a piece of it would be torn off, strips of fabric hanging of the thorny branches.

Suddenly, as they stumbled down the slope, the women came upon a wet patch of forest floor, hidden under the rotting leaves and as their footing had already been precarious due to running, the ground slipped under them. Snow yelped in surprise as she started rolling down, her leg getting caught up in something before she came to a sudden stop, the twisting pain of forced deceleration robbing her of what had been left of her breath, as tears sprang to her eyes.

"Snow?"

In her descent, Regina had been marginally luckier, but still, she had caught several sharp edges with her arms and face, jagged cuts on her cheek and temple bleeding profusely. She brought herself up in a crouch, wiping her face as she looked for her companion.

"Here," a soft, trembling voice directed the brunette toward the pregnant woman lying several feet above her up the slope. Snow was on her side, her face pinched in pain as she held her left knee in both hands. The older woman rushed to her and kneeled, her hands immediately reaching for the hurting limb. "I felt it break," the pixie haired woman said, her dulled and teary green eyes meeting the brown.

Not speaking, Regina used her palms to determine the full scope of the injury, hissing in dismay when Snow's words were proven correct as she felt the bones shifting under her touch. "You need a splint," she murmured absently as she listened for the hunting beast after them.

"Forget that, just get me up," Snow hissed as she grabbed onto Regina's shoulders, already placing her right leg underneath her, but the other woman held her down.

"You can't just hobble down to the castle, you idiot. Not on that leg, and definitely not pregnant and with a manticore behind us."

The younger woman peered into the dark eyes and after a moment of grim silence she nodded sharply. "Then, you must go."

"What?" Incredulously looking at the younger woman, she scowled. "Did you hit your head as well?"

As another roar sounded, closer this time, followed by a sharp yell of a man, Snow gripped Regina's hand. "I'm serious. At least, you'll live. For Emma. For Henry." Just as she spoke, something flew through the air, landing only several feet below them, slamming hard into the ground. It took Regina a moment to recognize the dark clothes of her knight, and the pale skin of the man who had stayed behind to give them more time. Time they were out of.

Swallowing hard against the sickness rising in her throat, the former Queen noticed his sword still clutched firmly in his hand, and quickly she stepped away from Snow to reach for it. Hearing the woman's tired but pleased sigh behind her she tore the weapon out of the dead man's unfeeling limb and turned to face Snow, and the top of the slope, where now their doom stood – watching them with sharp yellow eyes, the oddly beautiful human face twisted in ravenous sneer.

"Damn Charmings, must be in your DNA to sacrifice for others," she murmured as she lifted the weapon, crossing over to her friend and standing slightly above her, ready. "I'm not leaving, Snow. And, if you are to die today, it would be after me." With a sword held high, she hadn't looked away from the monster as she prepared to fight with everything she had.

The manticore snarled as the Sunlight hit the blade waiting for it and jumped, its strong wings spreading to keep it airborne.

Regina firmed her grip and sneered at the beast, her eyes cold and sharp, ready to fight for her life. The sword already moving in a fast swing, she met the creature with a hard slash over its neck and belly, adding her wound to many shallow ones that covered the tawny hide of the monster, dark blood spilling out, the hot liquid spraying her face. As she moved for a second thrust, the world disappeared from her and she fell unconscious, the growls and shouts of her friend following her to wherever she was going.

---

It was the small country road Regina had seen as soon as the colored smoke of her transportation spell cleared, its hard-pounded soil turned to mud and mire after the heavy fall rains that had graced this area. Shaking her head as she tried to clear the haziness that suddenly enveloped her mind, the queen brought a hand to her forehead, her fingers digging deeply into temples, the unconscious movement meant to capture the escaping thoughts. There had been something about a secret library and a crystal, but for the life of her, she could not remember more, the details she already knew slipping into the murkiness of forgotten dreams. Why did she appear on this unremarkable road?

She turned in place, searching for a clue or a reason that would explain what had happened, but there was nothing around her but a small copse of trees, the dirt road and sounds of a bustling village brought on a cold breeze that played with loose waves of her hair. Looking down at herself, she noticed she was wearing one of simpler dresses she had, without many frills and modest, especially by her standards. The dress was in soft purple, almost lilac, light and long, with corseted waist and covered bust. It spoke of riches and stature but it wasn't ostentatious. And, it was completely wrong for the excursion she had found herself on.

Lacking any obvious direction, she walked on toward the village, hoping there she would find some answers, like where was she and why was she there?

Finally, she approached the first house of the village with a small measure of relief, her trek over the muddy road fraying her already taut nerves. Using only a small blip of her magic, she cleaned herself up, taking care not to be seen using witchcraft; not willing to inspire panic in this quaint place.

"M'lady?" A voice called out from behind her. "M'lady, you alright?" A young woman spoke as she neared Regina, her arms full with a covered basket, watching the newcomer with wary kindness, her bound brown hair matching her inquisitive eyes. "Dugan!" She yelled after a moment of indecisiveness, still not taking her eyes from the finely dressed lady before her. Summoned by her shout, a small boy of similar coloring to the woman ran out of the two-story house across the road, rushing toward them, his eyes sparkling in glee as he reached the woman. "Take this to your nana, Dug," the young woman instructed the boy, giving him the basket, before she came closer to Regina. "Come this way, M'lady. You can rest at the Inn." And, receiving acquiescing nod, she lead the royal to the same building the boy had run into.

"Oh, poor dear," a large, older woman, bustled toward them, wiping her hands on a towel while her apron was dusty from flour. "Sit, sit," she urged Regina, her time-ravaged face showing a gentle smile. "Bring out the blackberry wine, Sena, and some of that fresh bannock," the old woman ordered, shooing the younger one away.

"There is no need for the trouble," Regina tried, but the woman shushed her.

"Nonsense, dear, it's no trouble." And as soon as the younger woman, Sena, came back with the bread and wine, the old woman sat across Regina. "Now, how can Addie help?"

"Where am I?" Regina asked, having taken a bite of very tasty bread, still warm from the oven.

"Ah, M'lady," the old woman smiled with pride. "You be in Oak's Shade."

At the name of the village Regina barely kept herself from visibly blanching, using the cup with wine to hide the thinly pressed lips. As soon as the innkeeper spoke the name, the Queen remembered it, remembered the state of it after she had been done with it. The massacre of the Snow's shelter-givers was nothing compared to the slaughter she had rained on the poor hamlet of Oak's Shade. At least, the Princess's coconspirators had been killed by the Heartless on her orders, not that it had lessened the darkness of her actions. But, the annihilation of this particular village had been wrought by herself and only herself while the battalion of Heartless had prevented anyone from escaping her wrath.

While the massacre and the adventure with Snow that followed it marked her truly becoming the Evil Queen, under the manipulative tutelage of her biological father, the gleeful and malicious obliteration of this poor village had become eponymous with the terribleness and vileness of her reign. The massacre had sparked anger in people under her rule, feeding into the momentum the rebellion already had, spearheaded by Snow; but it was the Oak's Shade that had driven all-encompassing fear into their hearts, making them tremble at even the mention of her moniker.

How could she be here, after so many years?

How could she be in the place she had razed to the ground in a fit of pique?

"Impossible," she murmured into the cup, still trying to understand how she had ended up in the past, or wherever she was, her eyes losing focus as she peered into the unseen distance.

"She doesn't look hurt," she heard Sena whisper to the innkeeper. "But, she's not equipped for journey either, not on foot at least."

"Unaccompanied, too," the innkeeper agreed, looking at Regina with narrowed eyes. "Better call Rob, dear, strange things are upon us."

"I mean you no harm," the lost woman spoke, interrupting their quiet conversation. "I'll leave."

"Curious words for a Lady," Addie spoke, waving Sena to go on her way, waiting for her to leave them alone. "You be one of them, ain't you? The witches?"

Regina calmly kept her gaze at the innkeeper, not flinching as the older woman guessed her magical nature. "As I said, I mean you no harm."

"That may be," Addie spoke, her voice sharp with mistrust as she rose away from the table. "But, I'd be a fool to trust a witch." She planned to say more, but Sena burst in startling the both women, and finding the innkeeper, she grabbed her arms, gasping in terror.

"Heartless!" She managed to utter, pulling the old woman away, presumably to safety. But, the innkeeper turned to their guest, her creased face pale with grim acceptance.

"You be her, then."

It was said in resignation, in tearful acceptance of death that was to come. "No," Regina answered, her voice earnest and soft as she watched the old woman's face twist in frown. "I am not her," she said, this time her voice firmer, her lips curling in disdain at the end. However, before she could say anymore, the door to the inn busted open, and two black-clad soldiers entered with their swords drawn, forcing the women out on the street and into the center of the village, one of the Heartless grabbing her by her arm and pushing her roughly in front of him, his harsh shoves bringing her to the fore of the crowd gathered in the square before he left her to join his comrades, completing the cordon of armed men surrounding the villagers on the three sides of the space between buildings, leaving the forth side relatively empty.

And, there, just as Regina remembered, was the carriage with the Queen's crest painted on its side, proud black horses held in place by one of the men, and right beside the carriage stood the man she had not seen for more than a year. "Graham," she uttered soundlessly, her heart squeezing at the sight of her former Sheriff. The Huntsman stood rigidly as his gaze swept over the occupied village, looking for dangers to his mistress, and Regina was close enough to see his gray eyes passing over her with no recognition. In fact, his eyes were empty, as were the eyes of every other soldier surrounding them, for he, too, was without his heart.

As soon as the Huntsman was assured that there were no threats, he turned to the carriage, and with a stiff bow, he opened the door, holding it for the Queen inside.

Regina watched in odd fascination as a foot appeared from the shadows of the coach, followed by a leg, until the whole body of the Evil Queen, clad in one of starker outfits, exited the carriage, paying no mind to the man beside her. The Queen righted herself up and looked imperiously over the captured people, stepping closer to the crowd, and with every step the air around her crackled with magic, while her dark eyes glinted with unhidden malice.

The brunette watched as the Queen drew closer to the villagers, knowing what would happen next as her memory of the event was still quite vivid despite the haze of magical blood lust that had fueled her actions. However, her memory couldn't have shown her how terrifying she looked in her elaborate black dress and artificially pale skin, with purplish wisps swirling in her hard black eyes. The disdaining sneer combined with sensual, almost seductive motions of her body inspiring confusing horror in people in front of her.

The Evil Queen didn't speak. She wouldn't, not yet. Not until…

Two of the Heartless brought forth a man, pushing him down on his knees before the Queen, keeping him in place by his arms. The man was watching the Queen approach him, frozen in fear, not able even to blink. She stepped toward him and sneered as her eyes passed over him, sniffing in disdain.

"How brave you must be," the Queen spoke softly, but her voice carried and everyone in the square heard her. "Or should I ask how little you value your life that would defy your Queen?" The man didn't speak, his mouth gaping but no words came out. "Was I not clear with my orders?" she asked, her voice dipping in register. "Were you not to send four wagons of crops to my castle?"

The thing had been, the villagers had sent, as a part of their taxes, only three wagons, with the third not quite full. It had been a hard year, and the crops had not yielded as much as it had been expected, so less food had been available to send away to the castle. Such matters had been usually in her father's purview as Henry had often dealt with the day-to-day running of the kingdom. She wouldn't had even noticed the discrepancy if not for her unstopping search for Snow and the need to feed the soldiers that had been spending weeks trying to unearth the renegade princess, and their offhanded note that they hadn't received enough provisions. It had taken only a short walk to the court records and reading a few ledgers before the Evil Queen had found out the truth. The valet had been thoroughly reprimanded and punished with the loss of some privileges, as well as with the knowledge that whatever punishment his daughter would lay on the village, he carried a part of responsibility for it.

"We sent all we could spare, your Majesty!" the village elder finally found his voice. "We ourselves almost starved!"

"Oh, I see," the sorceress spoke in faux understanding voice, turning her back on him. However, just as the man sighed in relief, the Queen turned back, snarling at him. "Then, you should have starved!" Her hand was poised for attack and it would take only a second for the Evil Queen to immolate the man in punishment. However, before she had even summoned the fire, one of the captured people moved, quicker than expected and stood before her, in front of the man who had been sentenced to die.

It was Regina, who couldn't just stand by and let the history repeat itself, so she made the decision to intervene, her body already in motion, positioning herself between her alter ego and her prey. This time, she'd try to do better.

"I can't let you do that," Regina spoke firmly, gathering her own magic and watching herself from the past sneer at the interruption, wondering how was it that the Evil Queen didn't notice that they shared a face.

"Let me?" the Queen asked in incredulity, her eyes widening as she felt magical currents swirling in the air around them, coming from the woman in front of her. "Did dear Snow send a sorceress to fight me?" she asked, her eyes flashing in hate.

"I came on my own," Regina replied calmly, waiting for the inevitable clash.

The only sign that showed that the Evil Queen was about to attack was the feral grin that appeared on the pale face, so Regina responded in kind, letting her own magic envelop her and do her bidding, and knowing herself, the first salvo would be the signature balls of fire, so she prepared accordingly, her training and memory sharing with Emma doing miracles for her fighting style. But, as soon as the fireballs touched her magic, the world dissolved around her before she fell into the darkness.

---

Stepping out of her car, she picked up her briefcase and a grocery bag she had stashed onto the passenger's seat only minutes before. With a bit of juggling and expertize she had garnered from all those years of multitasking while she had been Henry's primary caregiver, she managed to lock up the car and open the gate leading to her mansion. She was finally home, after a very long day.

In truth, it had been a very long month. And it showed.

First, Emma, and most of the town, really, had been involved in search and rescue of two unruly teenagers who had managed to get lost in the woods, having looked for a place to have more privacy for their 'meetings' than each of their homes and public places of the small town. For three endless days, the Sheriff and volunteers had combed through the waterlogged forest, moving in a search grid her wife had devised the moment she had learned about the couple's stupid idea from a pair of their friends.

"What happened to a good old fashioned car sex?" the blonde groused after releasing the missing boy's best friend to his parents. "Isn't that what parking is for?" she asked Regina as she threw her case notebook on her desk.

Regina looked at the Sheriff with a raised eyebrow, stopping her lips from turning into a devious smirk. "Apparently, I missed that part of this world's education. Care to demonstrate?"

"Funny," Emma noted with a deadpan expression before she pushed away from the desk. "It sure beats the woods. It's warm, and cushioned, and definitely dryer, especially with this cold drizzle we've been having for the past week."

The cold and wet weather Emma had mentioned that day at the station had persisted, which was expected at that part of November, but it only had made the search harder and life expectancy of the children lower. But, Emma had pushed, and after the twenty-four hour mark had passed she had started pushing even harder, instituting night shifts for the volunteers, spending every minute of her time in the forest, and if not for David and Regina forcing her to eat and rest for a bit at regular intervals, she wouldn't have seen her wife in days. However, the Sheriff's dogged persistence paid when the blonde had stumbled on the severely hypothermic couple on the morning of the third day.

Having organized their transport to the hospital, the heroic Sheriff had come home, and after a long boiling shower, she had collapsed in their bed, dead to the world for a bigger part of a day. Nevertheless, three days of relentless search through the hazards of winter in Maine had its consequences, and the blonde had suffered them for almost a week afterwards; fever, chills and terrible cold had taken a lot out of the sturdy Sheriff.

Just as her wife had managed to recover from her illness, Regina had been swamped with work. And, then, to add to it, their youngest, Kyle, had his turn at being sick, his bout of cold derailing what little rest and recuperation the women had managed to grab between their obligations and their family time.

Now, Regina was returning home after being summoned for an emergency meeting at the Town Hall, having stopped by the grocer's, and she sincerely hoped that neither she nor her wife would be called out, not for another thirty six hours at least – for she seriously needed a break, and she was sure Emma needed one just as badly.

Unlocking her front door, she lowered her burden onto the small side table by the coat closet, slipping out of her high heels and dealing away with her coat and briefcase before she walked towards the kitchen, needing to put away the groceries right away, feeling the tension slowly slide away from her shoulders – the soothing ambient of her home and soft trickling of voices coming from the living room doing their part to relax her.

Walking in from the kitchen, Regina stopped right before she was about to enter the living room and leaned at the wall to her side, an unbidden soft smile appearing on her face as soon as her eyes fell on the people currently sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch. Her blonde partner was sitting in the middle, her jean covered legs sprawled under the coffee table as she held both Henry and Kyle to her sides, the golden wavy tresses flowing over her shoulders, covering one side of her face, as she tilted her head slightly toward her eldest, listening attentively to his rumbling whisper. To her left, Henry sat, his gangly limbs in a uncoordinated heap, leaning against his mother's shoulder, while Kyle, to Emma's right, had lowered his head onto the woman's lap, lying on his side while facing Emma and the couch, his blonde locks strewn over his parent's thighs, and the Sheriff's protective arm slung over his middle.

It was a picture of serenity and contentment, one that filled Regina with happiness and that still had enough punch to stop her heart for a brief moment, overwhelming it with awe and love. This was her family, her home, her life. This was her happily ever after and it was beyond perfect.

Suddenly, air behind thickened and coalesced into a person, one she had not seen for years. One she had once feared and loved to the extremes in equal measure. But, one she no longer considered a threat, and as she glanced over to confirm the identity of the person intruding in her moment, Regina blinked in greeting before returning her gaze to her family.

"How many times do I have to tell you, dear?" the life-like shade of her mother spoke, walking over to Regina's side, peering into the room with a scoff escaping her lips at the tranquil scene. "Love is weakness, Regina," Cora spoke her trademark words with anticipated sharpness, her dark eyes blazing at her daughter. "And, it will be love that will kill you in the end."

Hearing those familiar words, Regina expected a small lingering trail of pain to follow them, but instead she felt nothing but the pity for her long lost parent. "Perhaps," she spoke softly, her eyes not moving away from the blonde, the very presence of the Savior filling her with comfort and giving her the support. "But, I will die knowing the joy of adoring family, the grace of boundless love and utter amazement of being a hero to my cherished children." Slinging a look toward the cold sorceress, she smiled. "And that, Mother, makes it all worth it."

The older woman sneered at her daughter's words. "I didn't raise you to be such a sentimental fool."

The brunette humorlessly chuckled, turning slightly to keep both her mother and her family in sight. "Well, as it turned out, you didn't raise me, Mother," Regina spat in a harsh whisper. "You groomed me – to be a pawn, to be used and casted off when no longer needed." Shaking her head, she let her resentment spew as she bombarded the woman beside her with question. "All the while you pretended to be a mother only concerned for her child's success, twisting me up into a tool for your purposes. Did you laugh, Mother, when your manipulations bore fruit? When you sold me to Leopold, did you even care if I would survive the wedding night? But, wait, I have already become a queen, so I guess everything after that didn't really matter, did it, Mother?" Looking away, she breathed deeply to keep her temper in check.

"I want the best for you, Regina," Cora spoke calmly, trying to placate her, but Regina had shared magic with Emma too many times not to learn how to see lies people would tell her. And, the harsh tingle of untruth of her mother's words hurt. It hurt deeply, because, even after all this time, after everything she had learned, a small place in her, a hidden corner of her heart still hoped to earn her mother's love, it foolishly yearned for the acceptance and care a parent had for their child. But, apparently not her mother. Closing her eyes against the sharp prick of pain, she swallowed hard and focused on her real family, the calming influence of the Sheriff managing to center her, even from a room away. It wasn't important, anymore, she said to herself. It shouldn't matter, she had her love, her acceptance, the encompassing sense of belonging she had wanted her whole life, and yes, she hadn't garnered it from her mother. But Emma, her brave Emma, had healed the ravaged wounds of her heart, pouring soothing balm over the dark corners filled with hate and pain, easing the grief that had weighed heavily on her, and saved her, showing her what a true love really felt like. Her children had helped her learn even better, and she would do nothing to change the lessons they had taught her. And, one of those lessons, one she could judge the most important one – was forgiveness. She had learned to forgive, and perhaps, it was time to apply those lessons here.

"You wanted me to be the best monster I could be – so you could save the poor people from their Evil Queen," she spoke, her voice soft and even. "You bred me for the sole purpose of furthering your ambitions. And, despite all that, I still love you."

"Really, Regina, of all things," Cora started speaking but the brunette cut her off.

"So, maybe I am the fool."

She saw Cora's victorious smirk, and though it did still sting, she forged onward. "I have learned a lot about your past, Mother. And, with every new tidbit I came to uncover, I could understand you a bit more. I understood your cold heart, filled with hate and greed. I understood the pain you have suffered in your past. I understood that letting go of your child creates a wound that can turn you to stone. Emma helped a great deal." Ignoring the dismissive sniff Cora directed at her beloved, she smiled at the blonde, letting the adoration for her True Love fill her to the brim. "With her insights, I could begin to fathom the ever dubious motivations that seemed to guide you at the time. I started to realize that once, despite having all your ambition and greed for a better life, you had a heart capable of care – but life had taken it away from you. And, though it hurts to never have your love," Regina disregarded Cora's pointed scoff, as she spoke on. "Though it hurts to know that I will never know it, I realized that I do not need it. I do not need your acceptance, or your affection, Mother." Her eyes were blazing with conviction as she pushed herself off the wall and fully faced the shade of her mother. "And, with that need to earn your love gone, I have finally been able to let go of the burden it was creating for me. I was able to let go of the pain your machinations had caused me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Isn't it obvious, Mother?" the Mayor spoke with a tinge of indulgent smile in her voice. "I forgive you."

"Don't be ridiculous, Regina," Cora started, but a gentle hand passing through her stopped her from snapping at the woman.

"I don't hate you, Mother. Not anymore. And, I do forgive you for all your sins against me."

The ghost of her mother stood frozen as the words seemed to seep into her very presence, filling her with light from within, as she stared at her daughter. Regina's lips curled into a kind smile as she watched the shade slowly dissipate into the air it had come from, and suddenly she felt immeasurably lighter, her heart beating easier without the weight of her resentment and hate toward her parent. I hope you find peace, Mother, Regina earnestly though within the confines of her mind.

Suddenly, gentle arms enveloped and warm lips landed on a sensitive skin just below her ear. "Hi," the Savior spoke softly when the brunette sank into the loving hold. "You've been out here for a long time," Emma said as concerned eyes peered into Regina's face.

"Just thinking about families," the Mayor replied absently before she pressed her lips against the blonde's, hoping her delayed greeting translated how much she loved her wife. "Hello," she murmured in daze after she was forced to move slightly away to take in a deep breath.

Content holding Regina in her arms, the Sheriff smiled, pleased to see the light return to her True Love's eyes, it having been dimmed with exhaustion and stress of the previous months. "You seem happier," she noted.

"I am," Regina confirmed softly. And, she truly was. So, she leaned into Emma's arms, letting her head rest onto the blonde's strong shoulder as she closed her eyes and hummed in relaxed contentment that comes with true peace.

---

It was dark all around her. Well, almost. A lone torch was in a sconce on a pale wall not too far from her, but just enough for the ring of light not to reach where she was standing. And beyond the lit space, the shadows seemed darker, deeper, more dangerous with their secrets and perils. The illumination of the torch was just strong enough to show Regina that the wall hadn't been built but rather fashioned out of the stone already there, painstakingly carved and chiseled out of the material by the superb masons until it reached the smooth finish it now possessed. The sconce, on the other hand, was an ordinary one – one that every blacksmith apprentice could make in his sleep, its craftsmanship belying the beauty of the wall. It was a strange supposition, Regina remarked absently as she stood in place, not sure if she should move.

Overcome by the unease she was feeling, she shifted on the spot and froze as her feet sank into the floor. Not able to judge the motion, she frowned, focusing on the bit of the ground shown in the light of the torch, but she could not see anything but the flat surface with the color of clay and ground dust.

It's ridiculous, she thought as she peered into the darkness around her, her boots digging into the soft grounds beneath her. The Evil Queen, afraid of the dark. Ridiculous. It's just a few steps. A few small steps, nothing you haven't done before.

With her shoulders straight and her head up, she stepped forward, letting her bravado bolster her enough to stride tenaciously into the light, only then realizing that the soft, shifting floor was actually finely ground sand. Undisturbed sand in the color of varnished bronze, glimmering softly under the blaze of the torch, its top layer flattened into impossibly even surface who knew how long before.

When her black boot reached the circle of light, suddenly several more torches alit, the whooshing sound of the blaze consuming its fuel echoing slightly in the space around her. As they now provided more illumination to the place Regina was in, she could see now under the stronger light, that was a cavern, a manmade chamber, circular in shape, with roughly hewn roof, similar in size to her quarters in her castle. And, as far as she could see under the flickering flames of the torches, there was no way out. There were no dark, shaded corners, nor passages leading somewhere else. Nowhere she could see a break in the wall, seem line or a block that could be removed. Not even a sign that there was a door or a hatch or any kind of exit. She didn't even know how she had found herself in this place.

She turned around, no longer caring about the pristine sand floor and searched. She needed to get out and there had to be a way. She had gotten in somehow, hasn't she? Before she allowed the edge of panic fueled by the sudden entrapment flood her thoughts, she reached out to her magic, feeling its soothing buzz in her body, the ever present thrum of the power she possessed providing a way out.

With a clear picture of her quarters and Emma in her head, she initiated the teleportation spell, waiting for the telling swirl of color to envelop her and take her away, away from that strange cave. It never came. As seconds passed, and Regina poured more and more power into the simple displacement, she remained in place, not moving and not a wisp of her purple mist appeared. Her skin was covered in beads of sweat, the effort she was putting in cajoling her magic to obey her becoming visible, aided by the stifling heat created by the torches.

Something was blocking her! And she was trapped.

Her heart was beating fast and hard, the exertion of magic not helping the thrill of terror dancing in her blood. Turning in circle, she looked at the wall, her vision already turning hazy with the speed of motion and panic. However, there was something that drew her eye. Something standing out on the uniform wall. A lingering shadow. She stopped her motion and looked hard. There, several feet away from her, smack between two sconces with lit torches, there was a shallow etched relief in the stone, its grooves slightly darker under the dancing light. The curvy lines covered a large patch of the rock, from a foot of the bottom to the six feet up, and wide about six feet as well. Shifting her stance and coming closer, she looked upon the etches, scrutinizing the beautiful arabesque and realized that the shapes running along the surface of the artificially weathered stone were carved with a purpose, a meaning. And, she could feel it, in her blood – her way out depended on her figuring out what those engravings meant.

She took one of the torches and brought it closer to the carvings, her eyes following the lines as they swirled and connected in odd shapes and forms, dancing over the surface. Almost like letters, she thought several minutes later, her hand passing over the grooves, feeling them out with fingers, surprised to feel smooth and lukewarm surface under her skin. Like glyphs, she realized after a moment.

"Exactly like glyphs," she spoke to herself, her voice loud in the silence of the cavern. In fact, the elaborate relief was made of Elvish runes and flourish around them, obscuring the magical letters from being noticed right away. But, now, as she knew what she was looking for, she focused on the forms, trying to read the ancient script on the wall. However, she noticed, the more time she spent on trying to figure out what each of the symbols meant, the easier she could read the language, until it became easily readable to her, the letters standing out in the light of the torches. It was the language of magic, of power, and it did need at least the rudimentary knowledge of the craft to be read. And, this form on the wall – it strongly resembled the mark Emma had drawn to spell the diaries – the looping lines far more elegant than the simple diagrams of the half-Elvish she had been used to. In her mind, there was no doubt that she was looking at the archaic form of the language, the one used by the sorcerers and mages of old – wizards of untold powers and abilities.

"Four Queens in four different corners stand," she read aloud, her brows sinking into a confused frown as the words simply appeared in her mind, the glyphs instantly forming the original elvish words, filled with lilting melody of arcane power, and quickly being translated into what she now called English.

"The Future of this world rests in their hands;

One, over air and fire domain demands;

The other's rule summer winds and rain brands;

Another scorches the earth where she stands;

While the last gently laps the wounds of lands;

The Fate of Magic is bound by their life sand."

"A riddle? A fucking riddle?" Regina whispered in dismay, peering at the words not moving from her spot. Then, as the frustration boiled over, helped along by her dislike of imprisonment, she screamed at the wall, throwing the torch she was previously holding in her hand, not caring one bit that it was put out by its roll in the bronze sand. Feeling better after the release of her temper, she took in a deep breath and started pacing in front of the carvings, her mind already dissecting the words, reading out the riddle several more times, until she was sure she knew it by heart.

"Fate of Magic?" she mumbled as she turned again to look at the script. "Why does that sound familiar?" The words created a small tingle somewhere deep in her mind, their echo ringing out in the memories of her youth. But, she couldn't remember why. Or what. So she focused on other parts of the riddle, kneeling down to conserve energy and patted the sand in front of her, smoothing over the deep footprints she had left during her less than calm pacing. Can't be a coincidence, the chamber filled with sand and it being mentioned in the riddle, she thought as she read the first line again.

"Four Queens in four corners stand. Why not kings, or rulers or whatever else?" Shaking her head, she looked down onto the sand in front of her and considering it for a moment, she drew a square in it using her forefinger. "Four corners," she said and placed an X at every corner to denote the queens from the riddle. "One rules over air and fire, that's simple enough." Biting the inside of her lip, she looked up at the glyphs. "Winds and rain, scorching the earth and lapping the wounds of lands… Hmmm."

Right at the upper left corner she drew symbols for air and fire, slightly to the left of the first X, her finger gliding through the sand with ease, as she watched the square she had drawn for more clues. "Wait a minute." She wiped the symbols and drew them again, only this time the symbols went one on the right side of the X and the other below it, instead of above it, side by side. "I've seen this before," she murmured in surprise. Quickly she peered at the text once more and focused onto her sketch in the sand. "The other rules over summer winds and rains. It must be air and water." She quickly added the symbol for water below the upper right X. "Scorching the earth – fire and earth, and the last is water and earth." Adding the last remaining symbol, the one for the earth at the bottom, Regina could feel the excitement quickening her pulse. She has seen this picture before, she was sure of it. But, she was still missing pieces of it. However, she was close. She knew it.

Pursing her lips she moved slightly away and used the fresh patch of sand to draw a cross this time and at the each point she wrote a symbol for the each element, as every student of magic knew how to do. At the North point of the cross stood the mark for Air, across of it, at the bottom was the symbol for Earth. On the left was the one marking Fire and on the right Water. The Four Elements of nature. But, this wasn't about them, she frowned, even though she would claim for certain that they were part of a puzzle. Each queen supposedly had two of the elements in their domain, so it couldn't be just about the elements.

"Scorching the earth where she stands… A queen… A queen of air and fire… Four Elements, Four Queens, Four... Fate of Magic…" She blinked as she went back to her last thought. Magic. Four Queens of Magic. Suddenly, she knew the answer to her riddle. She knew who the Queens were and now, as the answer had come to her, the riddle seemed simple. And, along with the knowledge of the answer, she remembered why the symbols and their placement seemed so familiar. She had seen it before – hanging on another wall, in another hall, where she had spent hours and hours reading and practicing her newly acquired craft, depicted on a dusty tapestry with colors dulled with time. At the four corners she quickly filled in the symbols for the True Kinds, placing each in its corresponding place, starting with a glyph for a dragon in the upper left place. "Four True Kinds of Magic," she spoke aloud to the empty chamber, knowing that it was the right answer.

As the lights went out and the floor opened underneath her, she had her moment of doubt.

---

She woke to darkness. And emptiness. Lifting herself from what she had assumed was a warm glass or marble floor, she looked around and she saw nothing. Not because of the dark, although it was a factor, but because there was nothing there. It was a strange place she had found herself in, because she could clearly sense that she wasn't in the domed chamber of the Temple anymore. In fact, if she were to believe her senses, helped by the magic pulsing in the air, she was nowhere. The vast emptiness around her, and the soft buzz of the power swirling around her body, did remind her a bit of the melds she had had with Emma, only it lacked the warmth and acceptance the blonde's mind always had for her. If she was to follow the assumption that she was in some kind of mind construct invoked by the stones, it would seem that her consciousness had entered a communion with the stones. As all efforts to control the mindscape around her had failed, she resigned herself to waiting – guessing that either the ritual had gone seriously wrong, or she was to be tested before granted the knowledge of the Tintagel sorcerers.

Suddenly, she froze. And before she could even comprehend what had happened to make her immobile in spot, she felt a lancing pain in her head, and with it she could feel a presence; intruding probe rifling through her memories, each second spent in its grip more painful than the one before. She was held petrified for immeasurable amount of time, for her it seemed ages to pass, engulfed in pain and seeing her life through the intruder's eyes, from the earliest moments to her latest, skipping over nothing. When they came to portray her life as the Evil Queen, beside the ever-growing pain, Regina could also feel anger of the presence invading her mind, followed close by disgust. By the time the intruder could learn about the curse, Regina wished for the reprieve of unconsciousness and death, for the torture of forceful memory watching was beyond anything she had ever experienced. However, as soon as a recollection of a certain blonde bail bond's person passed in front of her eyes, Regina sighed in relief, the very image of her beloved helping her to deal with the agony that threatened to drive her mad. She focused on her Knight, not caring about the pain anymore, the soothing quality of her memories providing her with enough incentive to endure whatever this ritual demanded of her. So focused she was on her True Love and the last memories she had of her, that she hadn't even noticed that the pain had abated, and with it the anger and disappointment of the intruder. The tight grip over her loosened and she crumpled belly down onto the unknown surface masquerading as the floor, gasping for breath. Around her was a circle of diffused light coming from somewhere from above.

In the darkness a sound of a soft tap spread, joined by another and another until Regina recognized the pattern - footsteps of someone approaching her. Weakly lifting her head she saw a boot appearing in front of her, followed by the other. They were knee high, made of hard black leather shined to gleam, with a copper trim on sides. As Regina looked upwards, her eyes fell upon tight black leather breaches wrapped around very muscular legs, and a swath of red cloth hanging around them, down to the knees. Turning over onto her back, she saw more of the person standing over her.

He was tall. And while his face was hidden in the shadow, she could see that his skin was as black as the darkness he had come from. His well-developed upper arms had a band of what seemed to be copper on each, the smooth surface of the metal gleaming red. He was dressed in a vest-like garment made of red velvet, the hems and edges trimmed with copper, and the only two buttons made of the same metal were in line of the breastbone, leaving legs unencumbered with fabrics.

The man moved, shaking his head at the woman beneath his feet as he placed his arms behind his back, his hands holding the elbows as he circled the still heaving guest, his steps echoing in the emptiness of the space they were in.

"Get up," he ordered sharply in his deep baritone after completing the first circle around Regina, continuing with another as he watched her slowly rise, her limbs trembling after what he had put her through.

"Who are you?" Regina asked barely suppressing the tremor in her voice, when she managed to stand straight, careful to keep him in sight as he walked around her.

"You are the one who activated the stone, shouldn't you know?"

"Morgan never said…" She started to speak but his loud scoff stopped her from continuing.

"Morgan," he repeated after her mockingly, rolling his eyes, his biting tone portraying the disrespect he had for the Queen of Camelot. "She doesn't know, either. The things she does know about her own family are woefully lacking for the position she is in." He clucked his tongue and shook his head, lowering it slightly, before he stopped his circuit and faced Regina.

"I am Gorlois of Tintagel, son of Thador, the Witch King of Ademar and Elana, the Grand Mage of Goludog Plains," the man spoke in stately manner, with his hand lightly pressed over his heart, while his other remained behind his back, and waited for Regina to respond.

"Kingdom of Ademar…" Regina said softly as she tried to remember why that name seemed familiar. "I've heard that before, a long time ago." She looked up at the man and seeing his eyebrow rise in expectance, she frowned. "It's not of this world, is it?" she asked as she finally recognized from whom she had heard that name. Jefferson. The man in front of her smirked at her. "You were a Traveler," she realized. "But, how are you here?"

"I am a construct of my creator. A template, if you will, of his personality and knowledge, encased into a memory of his physical existence." He gestured to himself, as his voice lost the animosity. "By his decree to his descendants, with each generation, my knowledge grows, as each of the leaders of his line feed it to me." The creation smiled at the flabbergasted Regina and continued. "I serve as a living memory of Tintagel and as a safeguard, protecting the Knowledge, but in all things that matter now, after so many centuries, I am Gorlois." Again, he placed both of his hands behind his back and started circling Regina, who stood in place unmoving, too shocked to react outwardly. However, that was where Emma's understanding of technology and familiarity with many sci-fi movies in her world came in handy, and Regina could liken the construct of magic to the one of computer science in 'the Real World' – the artificial intelligence.

"The crystal…"

"Yes, that is its purpose." The man, Gorlois, spoke in response to Regina's soft utterance. Making another circle around the woman, he spoke again. "The more pertinent question is – Who are you?"

"I am-"

"I know who you are! I do not need you to tell me that, Regina, daughter of the Dark One. I can see your memories, your past. I see everything you have ever experienced. What I do not understand what is the Evil Queen doing with my crystal, and with the full approval and endorsement of Morgana?"

"I-" Regina started to speak but stopped when the dark man snarled at her.

"What right does she have sharing this ultimate secret of her line, when she has broken the very covenant she was in charge of protecting?" He said sharply, the angry scowl deeply etched into his beardless face. "And you!" he thundered. "The villain who wrought such destruction upon this earth- what makes you even consider the risks of the ritual?"

Regina didn't speak but the face of her beloved filled her mind, filling her with confidence. Emma believed in her. Her love, her light, had such faith in her that she simply could not fail.

"Ah, yes," his voice suddenly lost the sharp edge of his anger. "Quite the quandary. The True Love of the True Love Born. And, a former villain, the most terrifying one in the recent memories of the Enchanted Forest."

"Those days are behind me," she stated, her voice strong and defiant as she stared in front of her, refusing to show that his words had effect on her.

"Are they? When the darkness in you still yearns to win over your newly regained morality? I can feel its tempting whispers crawl over your mind, hissing in your ears to surrender to it."

"But, I won't!" Regina closed her eyes before she took the metaphorical plunge. "Yes, the darkness is still in me, and I have to fight it every day, every hour, minute and second to keep it down, but I will not let it out. I cannot. I must not!" She paused to take a deep breath, and opened her eyes as she looked at her judge. "To let it win means losing everything I hold dear. Not just my family and my friends, but myself, as well. I have finally come to a place where I can look myself in the mirror and accept who I am – both the terrible past and the promising future. I will not lose that immeasurable gift to this poison covering my heart."

Gorlois stood there, in front of her, his face devoid of emotion, as he watched her take deep breaths to settle down. Slowly, one side of his closed mouth lifted in restrained satisfaction. "Congratulations," he spoke, as he nodded once. "You have passed the tests."

"What?" she asked in confusion, her breathing still hurried due to her impassionate speech.

Paying no heed to her bewildered gasp, he continued to circle. "I am here to provide teachings and guidance to the Heir of the line, in times of cataclysmic peril," he spoke on, after the woman regained most of her composure. "And, now, I am supposed to teach you." Regina grimaced when she heard the scorn in his words, but before she could try to appease the man, he gave her a single wave with his hand. "You are not worthy of the line," he said. "But, don't take it personally. Morgana is not worthy of it, either."

The Queen of Camelot, the Lady of Tintagel, was not worthy in Gorlois's opinion? But, how could that be? She had heard his previous outrage for Morgan's actions, but this?

Ignoring Regina's turmoil, he went on. "Using the Sanctuary to hide from her fate." Clucking his tongue again in contempt, he glanced at Regina. "This place is for rest and healing," he spoke. "The last daughter of my tribe on these shores, in her grief and desperation, and later, duty toward her sister's child and her friend, has defiled the rules and traditions of her forebears, perverting the purpose of these sacred grounds. And she was not alone in betrayal, for her father did the same, if on lesser scale."

Stepping closer to Regina, he grabbed her chin with his fingers, lifting her head up to meet his eyes, holding her in strong grasp, and with such proximity she couldn't but notice the strange hue of his eyes – the soft amber mixed with reddish browns – as they focused onto hers, she had to equate them to embers of dying fire. Holding on to his arm to keep her balance, she admired his strange beauty, almost missing his next words. "However, your saving grace is that heart of yours," he added softly, still holding her under close scrutiny. "And, you passed the tests," he added, speaking almost to himself.

"What do you mean?" Regina managed to say, despite the firm hold on her chin.

Gorlois released her face, his hand taking her upper arm as he turned slightly to the side. "To enter this mindscape, one must succeed in the tests of character, tests that have been devised to evaluate one's personality and its suitability for the knowledge. Upon reaching the mindscape, there is the final judgment, where one's every action is considered and weighed before the decision is made." Offering Regina a barely there smile, he spoke on. "As you have already surmised, you have passed the tests of Loyalty, Courage, Forgiveness and Mind – with ease, I may add."

"Even though I was the Evil Queen," Regina mentioned cynically, finally making sense of the strange memories she had gained by entering the mindscape. Memories of conversations she now knew she had never had, and events that had not happened. But, for one of the tests, she now felt lighter, freer than she had before, and she knew it was because of her conversation with her mother. However, it was the memory of her standing up to the Evil Queen that had left her in strange tumult, not to mention her exchange with Gorlois of the dangers the darkness in her still presented.

The man's smile grew. "She will always be indelible part of you. But, going on in spite of her presence, regardless of the pain and suffering you undergo is what makes you remarkable and strong. Your struggle to hold her at bay is the reason why the verdict is in your favor. That and your heart."

"My heart?"

He gave a single nod. "After all that has happened, it is capable of great love, the ability you utilize with abandon." Now the smile turned into a pleased smirk, as he peered into the bewildered dark eyes of his supposed Heir. "And, there is the fact that it belongs to the rightful Steward of the line."

"What?" It seemed that she would never find her footing in this strange place, not if Gorlois continued to bombard her with such facts. However, she resigned herself to it, believing that the worst of it was behind her, and she was interested to hear more from the dark skinned creator of the Tintagel line.

"Emma, the Savior, the Keeper of the Balance, the Blessed by the Kinds…" he spoke, mentioning some of the titles Regina was familiar with. "But, most importantly for the sake of our conversation, the True Love Born. Both I and Cador were True Love Born, and the Tintagel line was created with such specific foundations. Despite the blood relations of my descendants, the magic of the line would rather accept another True Love Born as its governing entity than the last daughter of the line, who only boasts weakened connection to its original power."

"So Emma is the Heir?" Regina asked after a while, having used the silence to digest the revelation, and she couldn't help but feel a slight disappointment at the fact that she had passed the tests for nothing.

Gorlois chuckled and shook his head. "No. Your beloved will be accepted as the Steward of the line, taking over from Morgana, and with it all the secrets of Brocéliande will be at her reach. This means that you will be the Heir either way, as you are her True Love, and the intended successor of Queen Morgana."

"Oh," she uttered, making him chuckle again.

"Then, we should begin," he said and with a wave of his hand he changed the mindscape to represent a grass covered field in a summer day, and as he squatted to sit down, he gestured to her to take a seat across from him. "First, I will share some of the history before I start transferring the knowledge directly. You will have to pace yourself, because there are millennia of memories and absorbing them all at once could at the very least irrevocably damage your mind, or kill you." Seeing his pupil nod, he added, "As soon as your head starts to hurt tell me to stop, and we will make a break."

"Alright."

And, so Regina's education began. Gorlois spoke first of his first home, how his mother and father had belonged to two acrimoniously warring factions and how their love had been not only frowned upon but outright forbidden. He spoke of the trials they had had to face in order to be with each other and finally unite the war-torn world and start its healing. Then, he spoke of his early childhood and how one of his teachers had stumbled upon a form of magic he had called Traveling, as it dealt with the world-jumping and portals. Then he spoke of his adventures across many worlds until he had arrived to this one, where he had found the four Kinds and a woman who would later turn out to be his True Love. He explained how the creatures of magic had accepted him and taught him in their ways, finding out that the True Love, the fifth and most elusive of the True Kinds, spanned universes and time. In return for their teachings, he had sworn to protect them and to serve as their envoy to the humans, who like Gorlois, had found the Enchanted Forest by Travel and decided to remain. At first, there had been only several hundreds, and such numbers posed no threat to the magical elders and all other creatures of the Forest, but quickly, the numbers had multiplied and in short centuries, the former newcomers had started considering the Enchanted Forest as their own property, claiming the lands for their fast breeding tribes.

"As people started to infringe on the forbidden lands in their insatiable gluttony," Gorlois spoke as he gently begun the transfer of memories, taking care not to overwhelm his attentive pupil. "A gathering of sorts was summoned by the elder members of True Kinds, where it was agreed upon that I, as the one who had been familiar to the humans, should go and meet with the tribal leaders and impress upon them the consequences of their actions." As he saw Regina's mouth twist with a knowing smirk, providing that she as a ruler and sorceress knew what it entailed, he inclined his head and continued. "The rulers of the tribes readily agreed to the terms of conduct set forth by the elders, even imposing some punishments of their own to anyone who would breach them. However, even such ramifications had not dissuaded some individuals, who simply had not cared about the law and continued to pilfer and maraud through the domains protected by the treaty."

Regina nodded, quite aware of the selfish nature of her kind.

"In order to enforce the agreement, the four Kinds and I, with my son, met in secrecy to decide the further course of action. There we had devised several failsafe solutions in case something would happen to the Kinds, and we put all our effort in creating a place that would offer safety to the magical folk, and after a while, we managed to create a magical field enveloping most of the revered grounds, one that would exist eternally, impossible to nullify, feeding on the magic of the Nature of this world itself."

"Brocéliande," the woman concluded, as she nodded to herself.

"No," Gorlois said, smiling at her for the wrong conclusion. "The Infinite Forest."

"But I thought…" Regina frowned. "I always thought that the Infinite Forest was a natural occurring phenomenon."

"That lie had been purposefully spread, in order to protect it further." He glanced around the glen before he summoned a small blanket and a platter of nibbles on it, along with cups filled with fresh mountain wine of his homeland. A man, or in this case a woman, was not at ease with being utterly idle for a long time, especially not the woman like Regina, whose passion and eagerness often forced her to action. So, he provided small distractions, such as food and drink, and later on he would think on something else. Ultimately, it would not matter, because nothing consumed in the mindscape was real, and the Regina on the outside, at the Temple, would not receive any sustenance from such meals – however, a mere thought of food and comforts would keep the woman in good spirits, despite the fact that she would remain in the mindscape until the full transfer was complete. Pleased to see her reach for the wine, he settled back and joined her at the light meal. "How is your head?"

"Fine," she spoke after she swallowed her bite. "It feels like someone is pouring warm water over the back of it. It tickles." At his pleased hum, she took another nibble and before placing it in her mouth, she asked. "Then, what is Brocéliande? You called it Sanctuary?"

"Ah, yes," Gorlois sighed. "Before we get to that, we must talk a bit about Traveling."

He told her of various ways of creating portals and Traveling to other Universes and of the Travelers, explaining further the magic behind the enchanted object like mirrors and the hat, and mentioning the beans, the specifically created and grown plant for the world jumping, enabling the Giants, the creators, to move about safely and hide their riches in their Halls which always existed in small folds of magical space, accessible only via a beanstalk from a magic bean. As he explained away the Giants and beans, he paused and looked at Regina, who waited for him patiently to go on, drinking the wine.

"Apart from purposefully created portals, there are those who occur naturally, and most importantly, randomly. You may have experienced some of those, yourself, or heard of them at least. There is the Endless Sea - a monstrously huge body of water that connects several different worlds, if one knows how to tap into its magic, as merpeople can. The Neverland can be accessed by air from many worlds, if one knows his goal and follows the second star on the right, though it makes it a bit harder to leave. Long time ago, there was a small passageway leading into one of the caves by the Wolf's Col from where the Wolves came, running away from a doom in their world." He checked to see if the woman beside him wanted to question him, but she was silent, waiting for more. "And, there are what I termed pockets of other Universes intersecting with the Enchanted Forest. I myself found five of them, and one of them is Brocéliande. You see, these pockets, they are not portals, but actual part of the Universe in another Universe, and unless you know what you are doing with the magic of the pocket, you cannot use these places to Travel to that other Universe."

"You say, five?" Regina interrupted with interest as she leaned toward her new teacher, immensely enjoying the talk.

"Hmm, I believe one of them is gone, one of Morgana's ancestors had mention something about its destruction. But, to my knowledge the other four still exist, and for the two I know beyond any doubt."

"What are they, these places?" Curiosity tinged Regina's voice, while she rested her head on her hands, placing her elbows on her knees.

"The four? Well, obviously Brocéliande is one of them, and I think you already know Avalon is another. The third one is what now is called the Forbidden City, the east quarter of the Imperial Capital. It's a rather curious place, with amazing gardens. And, the fourth is a land of eternal ice and snow sitting just north of the Dark Forest." Raising himself up to his feet, he offered the woman his hand as the blanket and cups disappeared. He gestured for her to join him in a walk before he placed his arms behind his back. "At first, when the elders brought me to Brocéliande, I believed it was a place of eternal youth."

"Isn't it?" Regina asked softly with a frown on her face.

Gorlois shook his head. "Time as we know it, in this particular part of existence, doesn't exist. At least not in the way we recognize it. With many years spent exploring the phenomenon, I've come to realize that Brocéliande has two distinct magical properties that were the source of the confusion. You see, the Sanctuary is a place where time goes at different, much faster rate, but for those who are accepted by the magic of the place, time has no effect, making it seem to the outsiders as a place of eternal youth. These properties were the main reason why this place was called the Sanctuary – it was a place of safety, of healing, of learning for the four Kinds, and the place that would keep them safe from the dangers of the outside world. In fact, I believe that most of what is left of the four species of magic is currently here, for your Mate, to offer her their help." He raised his hand in front of him as he angled toward Regina, stopping her from asking questions at the time. "The Brocéliande you know now is much different from one in my time, for a very simple reason – the border stones that now encircle it provide several services that have never been known to most of the children of my clan. Among others, one purpose they serve is to equalize the magic of the Sanctuary against the magic of the Enchanted Forest, imposing the seasonal changes and stabilization of time passage onto Brocéliande."

"You mention time but what do you exactly mean?" the brunette asked after a moment of silence, her frown deepening in confusion as she tried to understand what Gorlois was talking about. "Time passes quicker, I know that, but the rest is what I don't quite see…"

The man stopped and inclined his head toward the woman, considering his words for a moment. "Before the stones were put in place, if you crossed into the Sanctuary and you weren't one of the True Kinds, who are in their own sense immortal, you would age and die, and from the outsider's point of view it would happen in a blink of an eye, while you would spend hundreds of years on the inside. Only those under the heavy protection from the elders would be able to spend time in the Sanctuary without the consequences of aging. Also, before the stones, it was always late spring in Brocéliande, with lush green forests and life teaming meadows, and one day was exactly the same as the one before, and the one before that. Days lasted the same, the Sun never changed its route across the Sky." He started walking again. "But that all changed when my son brought a very simple fact to light, forcing the elders to act. You see, the thing he had spoken of was that soon the people would have mages of their own and the borders of the Infinite Forest would not stop them from infiltration, thus leaving the Sanctuary vulnerable. In order to forestall the intrusion, an ambitious and much involved plan had been devised to protect Brocéliande from humans who had not belonged to Tintagel line. From a place where the elements existed together, the mighty dragons had brought the obelisks, having cleaved them with their claws into the rough starting material and flown them into the Forest, imparting some of their magic onto them. Next, the Yaoguai daughters had shaped the stones into their proper shape by using their fire. After that, the noble stallions of unicorns had etched the glyphs, casting their brand of magic along with it. Finally, the Fairies had placed them in their places, imbuing them with dust and making them impervious to time. At the end, I had to enact a blood magic ritual, binding the stones to my bloodline and using my own magic to make all others work as one, weaving the different spells and enchantments casted over the stones into a singular mesh of magic, uniting them in purpose." He hadn't delved much in the magic of the process, knowing that his memories would provide enough information on their own. He also decided not to be explicit about what changes the border stones had brought to Brocéliande, as the information about that would also be within his memories.

"As a Warden of the Sanctuary, I was given permission to build a Temple, where members of my family would learn the crafts, and where the histories of my people would reside, to guide the following generations. As my tribe grew, I directed them to inhabit in strategic places both outside the Forest and in it, providing a wide buffer and protection against the humans not belonging to the Tintagel clan, deference against them, if you will. And, as the magic became more prominent in my line, the Temple grew, before it spilled out and Cador built the House of Healing and Dragon's Bluff."

"Then, why are you so angry with Morgan?" Regina asked after a while, breaking the silence that had fallen over the strolling pair. She hadn't used the form of the name Gorlois seemed to insist on, simply because the woman had introduced herself as Morgan, and she remained as such in Regina's mind.

"The reasons are many, child. But, the two most relevant to your question and the topic are – she has brought strangers onto the sacred grounds and she used the Sanctuary as a shelter from time itself. Not one of her people was in need of healing that the House of Healing stands for, and she hasn't spent much time teaching her pupils the magic of the line, for which the Temple had been created for. Regina, Brocéliande was never meant to be a long term settlement – the people would only spend as much time as it was needed to heal or to learn something new – not to spend what amounted to centuries within its borders, using the land that is most sacred to the folk of magic for her selfish reasons and hiding in shame."

"Losing her son changed her," the brunette commented softly, remembering her own excesses in trying to keep Henry by her side.

"We all suffered heartbreaking loss," Gorlois replied tightly, "and we all have been changed by the challenges we have faced; that doesn't excuse our actions." He then sighed heavily. "Her sister and her husband are in Avalon, waiting for her to join them. And, if she needed to wait for you, she could have done it outside the Brocéliande, helping the people along the way." With another sigh, he shook his head. "No matter. What is done cannot be changed, and we are not here to talk about Morgana. Come now, it's time for a break." A soon as he spoke those words, the warm but wet feeling at the back of Regina's head stopped, making her flex her shoulders in discomfort.

He once more changed the mindscape, turning it into some sort of building. Regina gasped as she saw innumerous stone pillars placed several paces from each other in every direction, going up as her eyes could see, disappearing into the light that was flowing from above them. The ground was made of granite blocks, even and warm but without ending. And, there, in front of them, among several pillars were two pillow seats, one across from the other.

Gesturing at her to sit down, Gorlois lowered himself and crossed his ankles in front of him, placing his palms onto his knees. "Get comfortable," he said gently and waited for a sign from the woman to continue. When she nodded, he started.

"To wield the magic that I will bestow on you, you must first understand it," he spoke, his voice commanding Regina's attention. "Not only the principles and mechanics of it, but the inner workings of magic, the very essence of it. Your lover has the incredible ability to use her intuition and instinct to grasp these amazingly complicated energies, allowing her to use them so easily. Unfortunately, you will have to learn the hard way about it, but take heart – you've seen memories of her doing it, so you know what you are supposed to achieve in the end."

"When she used the mist," Regina sighed, as she understood that there seemed to be a method to Emma's wild idea.

"The premise is the same, but you will not be able to do it on the same level – she is, after all, the True Love Born and Blessed by the Kinds. There is no one that can parry her on terms of power, especially not when her training is complete."

Regina frowned as something that Rumplestiltskin had said passed through her mind. "I thought that True Loves were supposed to be equal."

"Not equal, child. It is truly impossible to find a person equal to another, in all aspects – for, after all, that means that they are the same, identical, does it not?" Gorlois smiled as he leaned slightly forward, his eyes holding Regina's. "The Dark One has mistaken the term. The word you are looking for is – compatible. The couple in True Love is harmonious in their unity, creating a much stronger whole than its parts. Equality has nothing to do with it."

With that explanation, he started speaking of magic and the many types of it. With each new principle he stated he gave many examples, further delving into the complicated matters of magic's creation and existence. He spoke for hours and hours, enticing his pupil to discuss many things with him, guiding her to the proper understandings and helping her avoid the false steps many students of the craft would commit in their search for the power. During his lecture, after an hour and a change, he had started the memory transfer again, pleased with the progress Regina had made up to that point of their shared consciousness.

His deep but calming voice lilted through the air around them as he talked of Dragons and their history, his time spent with the Elders quite evident in his telling as he held deep affection for the beastly masters of the skies. He taught Regina the basics of their magic, but as it felt unnatural to the woman, she didn't have much success in wielding it beyond a few simple spells, however even they would leave her incredibly drained and ailing. Nevertheless, for what she did have small affinity for was the Mind Magic of the Dragons, and Gorlois gently and patiently guided her through its principles, stopping as the queen managed to attain a certain level of proficiency in it.

"Your lover will teach you more and better than I for she can show you exactly what is needed for it," he said at the end of that particular lesson. In his opinion, it was Regina's connection to the Savior that enabled her to pick the Mind Magic so quickly and easily.

After making another small break, he taught her the tenets of the magics of other Kinds, showing Regina how the Unicorn's healing and cleansing powers worked, and what magic meant for them as a people; he demonstrated the powers the proud Yaoguai had, their abilities capable of destroying even the strongest elements, but he also showed the woman their kindness and powers of creation. He spoke of the Fairies last, not because they were the least important members of the True Kinds, which was far from the truth, but because Regina held much scorn for them, much of it influenced by the Dark One, but a good portion of it fueled by resentment she felt toward Blue.

"If they are as powerful as you say," Regina spoke after he had finished telling her of the incredible powers the Fairies had, "why then do they pretend to be so weak, even at the face of extinction?"

Gorlois had to chuckle at the sneer the woman had when she spoke of the Kind. The disdain in it strong and lasting, and it was no wonder why Regina didn't want to believe him – not when she had seen the dregs of what was left of once proud and mighty race.

"Bear in mind, child," he said soothingly, patting her arm lightly. "The Fairies you know are not the ones I have known. They have changed much under the leadership of Reul Ghorm, and her rule over the Fairies has obviously brought them to knees, facing obliteration. I am saddened to see that Rionnag Soilleir's legacy had not remained with her sisters."

"Runag Soiler?" Regina mangled the words but her question was clear – Who was Rionnag Soilleir?

After correcting her pronunciation, Gorlois spoke of his friend, The Bright Star, the elder of the Fairies and one of the most enchanting persons he had ever met. He spoke of her desire to see the Kinds cohabitate with humans in peace and prosperity, but he also spoke of her indomitable spirit and fire that made a force of nature if crossed. She had been one of his strictest teachers, demanding of him to develop a staunch moral standpoint from which he was to engage others.

"It was her who taught me that there is no beneficial power without humility and compassion, and there is no partnership without pride and respect. Under her guidance, the Fairies were just as formidable as the other Kinds, if not more." He smiled as he thought to the days of his time on this world. "There was a saying in the Realm – You anger a dragon, death will find you quickly; you anger a fairy, misfortune will follow yours for centuries."

With a blink of an eye, the Mindscape around them changed. Again, they were in the meadow, but this time, it was nighttime and the stars were alighting the skies. "When Fairies came to existence, birthed by the magic of this world, they chose to take names from the skies, and so, often their names would have something to do with stars. You see, the creation of new fairies is shrouded in mystery and is one of the most guarded secrets of its people, but it was said that whenever a new fairy was born, or created, something would happen in the night sky to mark its name." He lifted his hand and pointed to the brightest star in the heavens above them, and as it shone radiantly, his face was lit with a sentimental smile. "It is because of the fairies that wishing upon a star was successful, as you know. Depending to which star you directed your wish at, a fairy would hear you and judge your desires, and if you were worthy of their attention, the wish would be granted, no matter if you were a child, a man, or a sorcerer. If you were judged fair and good, your words would be heard."

"What was your wish?" Regina asked softly, as she too looked at the sky, remembering all the times she had wished uselessly to escape the grasps of her mother.

"I didn't wish for anything," he spoke through his widening smile. "Rionnag could always hear me, and often she would answer me directly, offering me council or lending me an ear when I needed it. Many nights I spent staring at the skies and talking to the dark, laughing at something that none but I could hear." He chuckled in reminiscence. "It drove my love mad, but she never begrudged me my friendship."

"Your wife, how did she deal with all the magic and your duties?"

"She was the eldest daughter of one of the chieftains of the human tribes and she understood well the constraints of duty and leadership," Gorlois spoke of his wife. "Brangwen was a very talented healer, as well, and very strong minded, indeed. If she got an idea in her head, there was no stopping her. She could stand up to any man, her vicious temper cowing the all into obedience, and as much as the legend of my name and my powers grew, hers grew right beside mine. So much so, that when fighting broke out between two neighboring realms, the clashes would stop the second she would appear on the battlefield. Everyone would stop to let her do her healing, watching her with awe, enemies standing side by side and their animosity forgotten for a little while. None dared raise a weapon against her, not because they feared me, but because striking such gift would be a sacrilege." His deep voice carried the emotions of his past, but it didn't tremble or break. "My dear Bran saw magic as a gift, a talent, just like any other, and she respected it like few of the humans did. When most of our children showed their affinity to it, she urged me to teach them use it the right way, the proper way, so they would not be seduced by the power. But she also taught me how to treat all our children equally, celebrating them for who they were as people, and loving them unconditionally."

"She sounds like an amazing woman."

"She truly was," Gorlois agreed softly before he cleared his throat. "When she finally met Rionnag, I knew that truest friends had not existed. The elder Fairy may have been my friend, my teacher and counselor, but she was like a sister to Brangwen. It was due to my wife's brilliantly pure heart that Rionnag Soilleir had agreed to be my family's protector, guiding the members of the Tintagel line until her end. It was when one of Cador's descendants had shared his memories with the crystal that I learned of my friend's death and that one of the younglings, Blue Fairy, had taken the leadership over the sisters, changing the doctrines and their engagement in the world around them."

Silence enveloped them as they were lying on the soft grass, watching the stars twinkling over them. Leaving Gorlois to his brooding quietude, Regina closed her eyes, breathing slowly and measuredly as she tried to meditate in a way her new mentor had taught her only hours before. However, it was hard to sink into the fully relaxed state as the constant presence of wet heat at the back of her neck and head was distracting, making her skin erupt in goose bumps at random intervals. And, in moments when she would succeed to obtain the state she needed, the too fast flashes of memories and understanding would flood her mind, driving her out of it.

She didn't know how much she had spent fluctuating between the two mental positions when she finally gave up, settling to just enjoy the tranquility of the place. It was odd how much detail Gorlois had put into this place, taking into account that it was basically made up. She could feel each blade of grass bent by her weight upon the ground, the dampness of the earth and the soft whistles of the breeze as it passed through the meadow. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the crickets chirping, and various other insects buzzing around, as they would on a nice, late spring evening. Even the air smelled of broken grass and wild flowers.

As she lied there, with her eyes closed, under the stars, her thoughts turned to her True Love. She hoped that Emma was dealing well with her absence, not giving much trouble to Aileen, but for some reason, she sincerely doubted that. Perhaps, because she knew the blonde woman pretty well by now and she knew that the Sheriff was quite the magnet for the danger. Regina worried; firstly, because she didn't know the long term effects of the poisonous mist, and secondly, Emma was already under too much stress, and there was only so much that a mind can handle.

"She is strong," a deep voice startled her from her thoughts. She snapped her eyes toward Gorlois only to find him lying on his side, watching her. "We are in a mindscape, there is no privacy here," he reminded her before she asked. "As I said, your Savior is strong and capable."

A deep sigh escaped Regina and she looked away from the ember-like eyes, before she focused her gaze upwards. "In truth, her strength is what worries me," she murmured. "She tends to avoid things, and to bottle her feelings up."

"And, you fear, that with her immense strength, she would not allow herself a relief for the building pressure," Gorlois caught up rather quickly. "Then, you should break her," he added gravely.

"What?" She rose up to a seating position, her voice going sharp as she stared at the older sorcerer. "You can't be serious!"

"I am," the man spoke calmly, despite the daggers Regina was sending him, as he pulled himself into a seat. "You thought yourself, the pressure keeps building and if she is not dealing with it properly because of the sturdiness of her mental walls, it would end horribly for her." He said the words in slow, measured tone, his logical statement calming Regina's ire at him. "It follows that if you manage to break the walls, she would be able to release the pressure," Gorlois continued in the same manner, and so far she could accept his reasoning, as it was physics at its simplest. "The trick, of course, is to break them, but not obliterate them, for she would need them at the later day," he added with a note of caution. "That, I leave to you to solve."

Regina had to chuckle at him. "Just the easy part, then."

"You are the one who knows her best. It is not my place, nor anyone else's." He then clasped his hands, and waved them away. "But that is neither here nor there, as you are still in the mindscape, and you still have a lot to learn from me." Receiving a conciliatory nod from his pupil, he continued. "First, I must apologize for not warning you – you cannot meditate with the way I taught you during memory transfers, it pulls you too strongly to the memory streams, as you have no doubt experienced." As she rolled her eyes at that, he just pushed on. "Second, you breathe too hard during your attempts. Forcing your breath to be measured is defeating the purpose of being at ease. Don't control your exhalations. Just breathe naturally, at the rate that your body demands at the time. You can try now, as I've stopped the flow."

So, the time passed, filled with Gorlois's teachings and meditative breaks, and often the man would change how the mindscape looked. After a while, Regina lost count of how many times she had felt the heat start at the back of her head, signaling the beginning of handover of another batch of memories, but by the time they reached half way through the line, she thought they had been at it for months. Despite the fact that she knew that mindscapes had their own version of time, and that it was likely that only days at the most had passed on the outside, the brunette could not help but feel the separation from her family keenly, and having only Gorlois for company wasn't doing much for her mood.

However, she persevered, the thoughts of Emma and her children helping her though the tension filled moments of her exile. Was this how Emma had felt during her own solitude – the low burning frustration that permeated everything, its annoying tingle making keeping calm doubly hard?

After a long while later, when innumerable days had passed and the transference ended for the last time, as she gained Morgan's memories of her own time in the Enchanted Forest and Brocéliande, Gorlois changed the mindscape once more, bringing the two of them to the now familiar riverbank. Regina had seen this particular place for more than a dozen times already, and she could appreciate its tranquility and peace, accompanied by the soothing murmur of a slow, valley river. Joining Gorlois in a walk along the grass covered shore, she felt herself relax. Today, she would leave and finally meet with her love.

"I must admit, our time together has been a lot shorter than I have surmised it would be," the dark man said after a long undisturbed silence. "It is, no doubt, to your familiarity with mindscapes and your ability to handle large quantities of magic passing through you." He paused, though he knew Regina would not interrupt, their time together allowing each other to learn how the other one would react. "And, with your diverse experience on the magics of this world, it is no wonder how easily you picked up the principalities of the Tintagel line magic. We have had great deliberations on all sorts of enchantments and many branches of sorcery, including much of what is widely considered Dark magic, and most forms of the Blood magic. You have learned the origins and developments of the Tintagel magic, which as you know, was borne of the True Love Born's magic." Bringing his hands out of their customary place at his elbows from behind, he motioned to Regina to stop. "However, we haven't discussed one of the magics in our talks, and that is something that I intend to do forthwith."

The brunette turned slightly to her mentor, her brow crinkling lightly as she waited for him to continue. She remembered well all the conversations and teachings on the topic of magics, including the most startling revelation that the True Love Born's magic was not Light magic.

"True Love Born wield power similar to the other True Kinds, Regina," Gorlois had told her. "It is neither Dark nor Light, it just is. And, it can be used for both sides of the spectrum. However, because of who is given access to it, most consider it, wrongly, the Light magic." Shaking off the memory of that conversation, Regina focused on the present, having a sense where the conversation was going.

"True Love's magic," Gorlois confirmed her suspicion. "The pure Light magic, created out of the purest love there is. The magic of the Savior."

"Why?" she asked, crossing her arms in front of her. "It has nothing to do with me, and it is Emma's domain."

"You are wrong," the black man responded kindly, patting the woman's shoulder gently. "The truth of the matter is that anyone with True Love can use its magic. Which means…" He waited calmly, only raising one of his eyebrows in expectance of Regina's following answer.

"Which means I can use it too."

"Remember that. It will serve you well in the future." He peered into the dark eyes and seeing acceptance in them, he smiled. "And, thus endeth the lesson," he spoke lightly, squeezing Regina's shoulder. "All that is left is for me to disengage the mindscape and your consciousness will return to the Temple." However, he did not release Regina just yet. "But, I need you to take a message to the daughter of my line," he said softly, and as Regina slowly nodded, he added "and, you need to give it to her by Mind." At her slight frown, he elaborated. "It needs to come from me, as the founder of the line, otherwise she might not take it to heart."

"Alright," Regina agreed, and as soon she spoke, she received a final memory – one she could not access. She had learned what to do with it, so it didn't bother her, much, that she wouldn't know the content of it until she brought it to Morgan's mind.

As all their business was done, Gorlois brought his hands to Regina's upper arms and holding her firmly in place, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Rule with honor, Heir of Tintagel," he said resolutely, before he leaned his forehead against hers. "Many blessings, my child." With those words, he released her and she could feel the barely there pulsating of the mindscape dissolve.