Regina breathed in and out, she stared straight ahead of her at the large oaken doors that led to StoryBrooke's town hall. She'd been told, by Snow, that the trial would be held there, in public. Just like the good old times in the enchanted forest.
The guard next to her stepped forward and opened the double doors, Regina stepped into them, her wrists bound by handcuffs in front of her.
Every seat was filled, and every face turned to watch her make her way across the room and onto the raised platform. Regina held her head high, walking with poise and grace, she had done this before, and she was Queen, after all.
A small table had been set up for her on one side, at another table sat the judge, and opposite her, the jury.
Snow White sat with her back straight at the judge's table, her features impassive, looking every bit the queen she was, Regina was almost proud.
Opposite her, the jury sat with hard faces, Regina recognized most of them, and she wondered how they'd been chosen.
Granny watched her from her seat at the very end of the jurors' table with unconcealed malice. The other jurors weren't looking at her, but talking amongst themselves. It didn't really matter, she knew what they thought of her, she just needed to convince them she was innocent in this particular case.
Turning, she let her gaze fall over the mass of faces in the auditorium, looking for two people in particular.
Blonde hair caught her eye, but it was not who she was looking for.
Slowly, her search turned frantic, more people filed into the room and she cataloged each of their faces too, but still, no sign of Emma or Henry. Heart beating fast in her throat, she glanced at Snow, who eyed her with curiosity rather than distaste, she widened her eyes in question and Snow furrowed her brows in response. Regina turned back to the crowd, her panic momentarily faded as she noticed Kathryin make her way up the few steps and to her table. The blonde, her court-appointed lawyer, if you could call a woman half way through her degree that, sat down next to her, placing a large black file onto the rickety table. Regina wondered fleetingly if they'd gotten the tables from the school.
"Kathryn," She greeted, "Where are Emma and Henry?" her voice bordered on panicked, but she did her best to keep it even. Green eyes stared at her in confusion,
"They're in New York," Kathryn replied, easily, as if that should have been obvious.
Regina stared at her. She glanced down at the black wrist cuff on her arm. She looked up at Snow.
Oh she was going to pay.
The memory of Snow in her cell earlier that week came unbidden to her mind.
—
Soft footsteps echoed through the station, and Regina looked up to see who was coming to visit her on this fine day. The son shone bright through the small windows, casting shadows of the bars that held her in symbolically.
Regina sighed as she caught sight of her nemesis' now short dark hair. Perhaps she would have preferred her mother.
"Morning," Snow said, walking to the cell, she handed Regina a small paper bag, which she took gingerly.
"Breakfast," Snow explained at Regina's look.
A small apple tart. Regina left it in the bag, placing it on her bed, she looked at Snow expectantly.
Regina had been in that cell for almost a week, and absolutely nothing had happened. Emma had come to work each day as normal, and she and Regina had pointedly ignored each other's existence, save for the blonde occasionally handing her food or coffee. There had been no talk of the trial, and Regina had wondered what the point of her still being in that cell was. Still, she'd stayed, because perhaps then Henry would see that she truly did want to be better. She had thought about using her newly found powers on the sheriff, but the idea had curdled in her mind as she realized she may need them some other time, at which point she wouldn't have wanted to water them down.
Seeing as Snow had not yet spoken, Regina cleared her throat,
"What do you want?" she asked,
Snow pressed her lips together, "We're organizing the trial," she said, "I need to speak to you about it,"
"Speak, then," Regina sat on her small cot, legs crossed elegantly, or as elegantly as one could on a prison bed.
"There will be a jury," Snow started, "And a judge,"
"That would be you," Regina took a stab in the dark, but smirked as Snow's expression confirmed her theory.
"Yes," Snow agreed tightly, "I will be the sitting judge," She cleared her throat and continued, "The jury will decide your guilt," Snow said,
"The jury will decide my guilt?" Regina scoffed, "Sounds like they've already decided,"
Snow stepped towards the bars, "Regina, we all know you did it, make this easier on yourself and tell us where Archie's body is,"
Regina glared daggers at the younger woman, "I did not kill him,"
"You're sticking to that story?"
"I am, because it's the truth," Regina growled,
"Fine," Snow said, "But you should know, you will be judged, and sentenced, by the laws of the Enchanted Forest,"
Regina had expected no less, and she did not reply.
At her silence, Snow turned to leave. Then she hesitated.
"One more thing," she said, "I believe you should wear this," she fished something out of her awful black bag. The wrist cuff that cut her magic off.
Regina scoffed, "Over my dead body," she said.
Snow nodded to herself, "I suppose I should have known you'd say that,"
"Yes," Regina said, "You can go now,"
"You know, Henry can see right through you," Snow said,
Regina froze, but she did not look up.
"He knows this trial is a scam, he knows you killed Archie," Snow continued, "He'll never trust you again," she let her words sink in, and Regina could feel the manipulation in them. And yet, they were true. Henry was an intelligent young boy, and he knew she could get out of whatever sentence was handed to her easily. She glanced up at Snow.
"With this," Snow said, holding up the wrist cuff, "You'll show you're willing to play fair," she turned it over in her hand, "Perhaps it might even sway the jury,"
Regina did not believe that for one moment. She swallowed, cutting off her magic sounded like the worst thing she could think of. She rose and walked to the bars,"I am innocent," And she was, she glanced up at the camera. Her mother had all but admitted to the murder, and those cameras would have captured their conversation in 4k surround sound. Of course, Cora had not known that. But the jury had to believe the evidence presented to their own eyes, right?
And Henry would believe her too. She held out her arm, and Snow nodded,
"Thank you," Snow said, placing the leather cuff on her wrist.
Instantly, Regina felt herself grow weaker, her power, which pulsated within her at all times, deep inside her, was cut off.
–
"In New York?" She repeated, dumbfounded. Had Emma truly taken Henry out of StroyBrooke? She hadn't even had the chance to say goodbye. The thought struck her as rather morbid, and she turned her attention back to Kathryn.
"They're accompanying Gold on some quest," The lawyer told her distractedly, she shuffled some papers on the desk, "Are you ready?" She asked Regina, "We'll be starting in five minutes"
Regina could not reply, her mind still turning over the words. Henry was not there, he would not watch the trial. Perhaps that was a good thing, part of her decided, if her past crimes were brought up, perhaps she'd rather he wasn't there. But the whole reason she'd agreed to the trial in the first place was to prove to him that she was innocent! Of Archie's death, at least.
His death, which, come to think of it, Regina was beginning to doubt. They still had not found his body, as far as she knew. She would not put it past her mother to dump him in the ocean of course, but maybe, just maybe, he wasn't dead at all.
Regina was pulled out of her thoughts by Snow's voice, asking for silence. The room obeyed, a hush falling over the crowd as they stared up at the proceedings.
Snow turned to the jury and asked the to rise, she spoke clearly and concisely,
"Members of the jury, your duty today will be to determine whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty based only on facts and evidence provided in this case." Snow looked down at her notepad, and Regina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. The least she could have done was memorize her little speech, "The prosecution must prove that a crime was committed and that the defendant is the person who committed the crime. However, if you are not satisfied of the defendant's guilt to that extent, then reasonable doubt exists and the defendant must be found not guilty." Snow finished, then she swore in the jury.
Reasonable doubt. Regina thought. That was all they needed to prove, she glanced at Kathryn, who gave her a small, encouraging smile.
Once Regina had sworn to be truthful, Snow turned to the prosecution.
"Is the prosecution ready?" She asked,
The dark man rose, and Regina narrowed her eyes at him, he did not so much as glance at her.
"Yes, Your Honor," Sydney said,
Snow nodded and sat, while Sydney walked up to the dias and faced the jury, his back to Regina.
"Your Honor, members of the jury, my name is Sydney Glass and I am representing the town of StroyBrooke in this case. We intend to prove that last Wednesday, May the 8th, Mayor Regina Mills, formerly known as the Evil Queen, the defendant" Sydeny turned to her for the first time with an ice cold glance, "at around 7 a.m of that day, walked into Dr. Archibald Hopper's clinic and took his life. Please find Mayor Regina Mills guilty of first degree murder. Thank you." Sydney stopped, he adjusted his glasses on his nose and then sat back down at his little desk. Regina glared at his profile.
"Thank you, ," Snow said, "Defense?"
Kathryn rose and walked to the center stage, she greeted Snow, then turned to the jury.
"Your Honor, members of the jury, my name is Kathryn Nolan and I am representing Mayor Regina Mills in this case. We intend to prove that on the day of Wednesday, May the 8th, Mayor Regina Mills was not in the vicinity of Hopper's clinic, and she did not, in fact, take his life. Please find Mayor Regina Mills not guilty of first degree murder. Thank you."
Kathryin sat back down, her back straight, her blonde hair falling in perfect waves. Regina crossed her legs carefully under the desk.
"Thank you, ," Snow said, "Prosecution, you may call your first witness,"
Sydney rose with a tight smile, "Thank you, your Honor. I call to the stand Mr. David Nolan, also known as Prince Charming of the white kingdom,"
Regina shifted in her seat as David made his way up the dias and onto the seat that had been designated for the witnesses. He was sworn in by Snow, and, once again, Regina resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Please state your name for the court," Sydney said, his eyes on David,
"My name is David Nolan, also known as Prince Charming," he said,
"Thank you, now, , can you recount the events of May the 8th of this year for the court?"
"Of course," David nodded and sat up.
Regina's mind wandered off as David told the court of what he, Emma and Snow had seen in Pongo's memories. Her own memory rose to the forefront, of the day, less than a week ago, when Kathryin had walked into the station.
–
Quick, sharp heels on the linoleum floor, Regina and Emma looked up, the latter from her desk where she'd been working on some documents, and the former from the sudoku she had been trying to solve for the past half hour.
"Good morning," Kathryin Nolan greeted the two women,
Emma cocked her head, "Hey, Kathryn," she said, "What's up?"
Regina sighed softly at Emma's coarse manners. Kathryn's eyebrows rose,
"Did your mother not tell you?" She asked, "I will be representing the Queen at the trial,"
Regina sat up a little straighter at the title, she looked at Kathryn with renewed interest.
"Oh, right," Emma said,
"We will need a room in which to talk," Kathryn walked closer to Emma, her heels clicking softly,
"Um," Emma said, glancing at Regina,
"It's the law, Sheriff Swan,"
"Of course," Emma bristled, "you can use the interrogation room,"
The bright yellow of the room had Regina squinting as she sat down opposite the young blonde. Kathryn studied her intently for a moment before pulling out a notepad.
"So," She started, "You know what you are accused of,"
Regina sat back comfortably against her chair, "Murder,"
Kathryn glanced up at her, "First degree murder, Yes,"
"I didn't do it,"
A dubious look.
"I didn't," Regina repeated,
"Of course," Kathryn said, though she sounded anything but convinced.
Regina leaned forward, "Why did you agree to defend me if you think I'm guilty?"
Kathryn shrugged, her pen flying over the notepad as she wrote, "Somebody had to,"
Regina clenched her jaw, her own lawyer didn't believe she was innocent.
"I have proof," Regina said, and Kathryn stopped writing, she looked up,
"Oh?"
"My mother, admitting, on camera, to the murder," It wasn't quite true, she had simply not denied it, but still. Kathryn cocked her head to one side,
"Where?"
"The CCTV in the station, you can get it, can't you?"
Nodding, the blonde leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest, "I have to be honest, Regina," she said, "This video needs to be absolutely bulletproof, because they are ready to lynch you out there,"
Regina pursed her lips, when were they not?
"I didn't kill him,"
"Fine," Kathryn said, "But they will find you guilty if there's so much as a shred of doubt about that," she tapped the back of her pen against the wood of the desk, "Do you know who the prosecution will be represented by?"
Regina furrowed her brows, trying to remember to whom she had given a law background when she'd cast the curse, finally, she shook her head, "Who?"
"Sydney Glass," Kathryn said, and Regina scoffed, of course.
"He does not like you,"
"Or, he likes me a little too much," Regina smirked, sweeping her hair behind her ear.
"No, he wants you dead," Kathryn said, her voice hard as glass, "He has been saying, very vocally, that he will be recommending the death sentence,"
Regina shrugged, as far as she knew the prosecution did not get to choose the sentence.
"Snow has already stopped my execution once," she said,
"That was before you cast a curse that forced her away from her daughter for twenty seven years," Kathryn pointed out,
"I know Snow White," Regina said slowly, "She is not the vindictive type,"
"Maybe not," Kathryn said, "But her husband and friends sure are,"
—
"Thank you, your honor, no further questions," Sydney said, stepping down and into his seat.
Regina focused her attention back to David, his hands joined in his lap.
Snow stood, she looked at Kathryn, "The Defense may cross-examine the witness,"
Standing, Kathryn walked over to her once-husband, he nodded at her,
" Nolan," Kathryn started, "You have recounted here the events of the 8th of May, at which time you became aware of the presumed murder of Hopper, is that correct?"
"That is correct,"
"You believe that in…Pongo's memories, thanks to your daughter's magical abilities, you saw the defendant, Regina Mills, use magic to take Hopper's life, is that correct?"
"That is correct,"
"But Pongo is a dog, is he not?" Kathryn asked,
David bristled, "Yes, he is," he agreed,
"But you believe his memory to be evidence in this case?"
"We only saw what he had seen that morning," David said, "A dog wouldn't be able to lie, and–"
"It's a yes or no question, ," Kathryn interrupted,
"...Yes,"
"Thank you. What follows is, you do not believe that Pongo's memories could have been tampered with?"
David was quiet, he tapped his foot against the wooden floor, "I suppose it's possible," he said finally. Kathryn nodded.
"One more question, ," she said, "You believe Hopper to be dead, yet you have not seen his body, have you?"
David sat up at this, "I watched her kill him!" He said, pointing at Regina, "I watched her choke the life out of him," He was almost standing now. Kathryn held her hand up,
" , please, calm yourself," she said, "Did you see Hopper's body or not?"
He breathed hard, then shook his head, "No,"
"Thank you. No further questions, Your Honor,"
Kathryn sat back down, and David walked off, his face rather redder than usual. Regina wanted to feel smug, but the looks on the jury's faces did not bode well for her.
"Prosecution, you may call your next witness," Snow said,
"Thank you, Your Honor, I call to the stand Red, also known as Miss. Ruby Lucas,"
Ruby made her way up, dressed, for once, appropriately. Regina watched her dark hair swing back and forth as she walked to the seat.
"Please state your name for the court,"
"Ruby Lucas,"
"Miss. Lucas, can you recount the events of Wednesday last for the court?" Sydney asked,
Ruby's leg bounced up and down nervously as she talked, "Yeah, sure, I saw her," she pointed at Regina, "Around seven, I think it must have been, because I was just opening up–"
"Can you say the name of the person you saw?" Sydney interrupted, Ruby blushed,
"Yeah, sorry, Regina Mills, the Evil Queen, her," her finger pointed, once again, at Regina.
"Thank you,"
"Anyway, I saw her go up, and I thought that was weird, she normally goes in the afternoon, but I didn't think anything of it," She took a breath, "Not until I saw Pongo running around alone, and then I went up to see if something had happened to Archie," she stopped, "Sorry, , and he wasn't there,"
"Did you see anyone else go up to the clinic?"
"No," Ruby shook her head,
"How long after Mayor Mills had left did you see Pongo?"
"I don't know, maybe half an hour? I was also worried because Archie always comes in to get coffee around seven thirty, and he didn't show,"
"Thank you, Miss. Lucas,"
"Defense," Snow said,
Kathryn rose, "Just one question, ," She said, "You said mayor Mills normally goes in the afternoon, what did you mean by that?"
Regina bristled, she did not need the whole town finding out she had been seeing , but Kathryn had assured her it would help them see her as human.
"Yeah, I mean, I've seen her go in a few times, every week or so, around two," Ruby said,
"So, you were aware that was seeing , as a client?"
"I guess," Ruby shrugged,
"And you do not believe she may have gone to see him for that very reason on the 8th of May?"
"Well, no, he disappeared afterwards, didn't he?"
"But his body had not been found," Kathryn pointed out, Ruby shrugged again.
"She killed him."
Regina resisted the urge to sigh, she glanced at the jury, they did not seem particularly swayed by Kathryn's line of questioning either. Archibald Hopper was dead, and she had killed him. Proving it was not so was turning out to be quite difficult indeed.
"Thank you, Miss. Lucas," Kathryn turned to Snow, "No further questions,Your Honor,"
" , I believe you have one more witness?" Snow asked,
"Yes, Your Honor, a character witness," Sydney said, "I call to the stand Miss. Belle French,"
Regina eyed the younger woman with distaste, her long, flowery skirt and carefully plaited hair. Not for the first time, she wondered what Rumple saw in this little mouse of a person.
"Please state your name for the court,"
"Belle French,"
"Miss. French, how long have you known the defendant?"
"We met two years before the curse," Belle stated calmly, and Regina thought back to how exactly the girl had spent those two years. She almost smiled.
"Can you tell us about your relationship with the defendant?"
"She kidnapped me as I was walking to my employer's home," Belle said, "And she locked me in a tower for two years,"
"Why did she do that?"
"I believe she wished to hurt my employer, Rumplestiltskin,"
"Thank you, Miss. French, in those two years, did you witness anything that may point to Mayor Mills' character?"
"Not in those two years, no, but I had seen her before, with my employer,"
"Yes?" Sydney prompted at her silence,
"I saw them do dreadful things, murder was nothing to her," Belle spoke softly, but clearly.
Regina clenched her fists in her lap, yes had done dreadful things, but so had Rumple, the man Belle now claimed to love.
"Can you give us some examples?" Sydney asked, and Regina recoiled at the eagerness in his voice. Where was the man that had loved her?
"Of course, I watched them torture a man to death because he would not give them some information, I'm not sure what," Belle shifted in her seat, "They burnt his skin–"
"Thank you, , perhaps not in detail, could you tell us how many murders you witnessed?"
"My apologies, I believe I watched her, Regina Mills, murder at least eight people,"
"In cold blood?"
"Oh, absolutely,"
Kathryn leaned towards her,
"Is that true?" she whispered,
Regina bit her lower lip, eight? Maybe. Probably. Probably more. She swallowed and didn't answer. Kathryn sighed and leaned back.
"Defense?" Snow asked, as Sydney had stepped down,
"No questions, Your Honor," Kathryn said.
Snow nodded and let Belle go.
"I believe it is your turn to present your witnesses then, Ms. Nolan," Snow said,
Kathryn rose, "First, Your Honor, we would like to present a videotape, as physical evidence,"
"Very well,"
Kathryn gestured to someone, and two men rolled over a large, ancient looking, tv.
"Exhibit A, Your Honor, Mr. Glass, members of the jury," Kathryn pointed a remote at it, and the tv flickered to light. The inside of the sheriff's station clearly visible, Regina sat on the prison cot in one of the cells.
As they watched, Cora walked in, her black dress swishing on the ground, she walked to the cell and curled her fingers around one of the bars. The two of them exchanged words, Regina rose from her cot and walked to her mother, her voice rang in the silent town hall,
"Because you killed a man while wearing my face," Regina said.
Cora's silence was equally as loud. More words were exchanged between the two women on the small screen, and Regina smiled as she heard herself say "I'm going to stay here, and go on trial. I didn't kill Archie, and I'll be acquitted,"
"You stupid girl," Cora laughed, "They don't care that you didn't do it, they'll kill you all the same,"
The recording stopped, and Kathryn turned the tv off. The court was silent for a long moment, and Regina's heart did a little victory lap in her chest. They could not deny the evidence. Cora may not have outright admitted that she had impersonated Regina and killed the cricket, but her silence had spoken for her.
"Thank you, ," Snow said after a moment, "Do you also wish to call a witness?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Kathryn said, "I call Mayor Regina Mills to the stand,"
Regina got up, smoothing the fabric of her dress pants down as she did, and walked, back straight, to the witness stand. She sat down primly on the small chair.
"Please state your name for the court," Kathryn said,
"Regina Mills," she bit her tongue on the rest of the sentence, Kathryn had told her not to use her title, as it reminded the court of who she had been, rather than who she was.
" can you tell us what you did on the 8th of May of this year?"
"Of course, I woke up around eight, I had breakfast,I baked, and I was reading when Sheriff Swan came to talk to me, she brought me to the station and questioned me regarding 's death,"
"After which you were arrested?"
"Yes,"
"And you did not resist the arrest?"
"On the contrary,"
Kathryn nodded, "Can you tell us about the video we have just seen?"
"Of course, after I was arrested, my mother, Cora Mills, came to visit me in the station, I suspected she had framed me for 's possible death, so I confronted her, she did not deny it,"
"You believe your mother is responsible for the events of the 8th of May?"
"I do," Regina said,
"And she may have impersonated you, with magic?"
"Indeed, my mother is a powerful sorceress," She did not add like me, though she would have liked to.
"Thank you, ," Kathryn said, "No further questions, Your Honor,"
" ?"
Sydney walked up, he straightened his camel jacket and met Regina's eye.
" ," he said, she inclined her head. "You say that, at the time of 's death, you were at home, asleep?" He asked,
Kathryn got up, "Presumed time," she corrected,
Sydney glanced at her, disgust flitted over his features for a moment before he spoke, "Presumed time," he corrected himself.
Regina tapped her heeled foot onto the ground, "Yes, I was home, asleep, until eight,"
"And you were alone?"
She cocked an eyebrow, a sharp retort on the tip of her tongue, but Kathryn's face stopped her short,"Yes, alone," she said.
"So, no one can verify your whereabouts," he said. She met his green eyes evenly, "I'm sorry, what is the question?"
He smirked, "No more questions, Your Honor," he inclined his head towards Snow, who turned to the jury, "The prosecution and the defense have now rested their cases."She said, her voice staccato, "The attorneys will now present their final arguments. Prosecution, you may begin."
Sydney bowed his head to her, and turned, smirk still painted on his face.
"Thank you, your Honor. Members of the jury, today you have heard testimony about the murder of Dr. Archibald Hopper, a beloved and esteemed member of our community, by Mayor Regina Mills, formerly known as the Evil Queen. I would like to remind you of some important information that you should consider in your decision. We have heard the testimony of Prince Charming, deputy Sheriff, who observed the memories of 's dog, Pongo. The canine witnessed the murder of his master, at the hands of Regina Mills. We have heard the evidence given by Ruby Lucas, who observed the defendant walk into the victim's office just minutes before he was declared missing. Finally, and perhaps most cinching, we have heard French's witness of ' character. We are all aware of ' character, we know what she is capable of. Many of us have seen her cruelty and her bloodlust firsthand, I know I have." Sydney stopped, he turned to her, and this time, she saw the anger and hatred in his eyes clearly. He turned back to the jury and continued, "Who could not imagine Regina Mills murdering a man? A kind, good man. A pillar of our community." he stopped again, seemingly overcome by grief. Regina saw right through his act, but the jurors did not, they nodded almost in unison, someone blew their nose.
"It is on the basis of the defendant's character that I recommend that you find Regina Mills guilty of first degree murder, in addition, in the absence of any extenuating circumstances," He took a breath and faced Snow, "And in particular, in the absolute belief that she cannot be reformed, and that she continues to be a danger to this community,I feel it is my duty to firmly recommend the death you,"
The room had fallen silent, Snow cleared her throat,
"Thank you, . Defense you may present your closing statements,"
Kathryn rose,
"Thank you, your Honor. Members of the jury," She spoke clearly, her voice demanding no question, " has based his prosecution entirely on the character of Regina Mills," Katheryn started, "However, that is not what you have been called here to judge, the evidence presented to this court in favor of her guilt has been circumstantial at best. The body of has not been found, casting into doubt if there even was a crime committed. The memory of a dog cannot be considered serious evidence, a memory recounted to us third hand!" She stopped, a serious look on her face, "And finally, we have the videotape of the defendant's mother, Cora Mills, whose character is no less in question to her daughter's, all but admitting to having impersonated to cast her under suspicion." Kathryn stopped, clearing her throat, "It is with these facts in mind that I recommend you find Mayor Regina Mills not guilty of first degree murder."