DESTINY

Chapter 15 - Resolution formation

                The blowing of the winds amidst the ice-covered floors and walls made it hard for people to stay outside, most especially in the forest. Everything is white, the Snow Queen hasn’t failed on letting everybody feel her presence. She can’t be seen but people know that she is definitely just around. In more than twenty eight years of their stay in Storybrooke, they have never experienced such blizzard. But a man and a woman who are newcomers in town might have experienced the same thing. They were staying in the forest, it was very cold but the man clearly could survive, but not the woman.

“She’s doing it again,” the woman said while she rubs her arms with her own hands. Her strawberry blond hair was braided in two, falling freely on her shoulders.

“We need to stop her,” the man responded, fixing his bonnet and donning his fur-made muffler on the lady’s back.

“Kristoff, you know that I wanted to stop this eternal winter, just as much as I wanted to help her when we were still in Arendelle. I just don’t know how,” she explained and turned her back on him.

“Her greed for power is consuming her. We need to know how we can halt her.”

“Even if we find a way, we can no longer go back home. Arendelle is gone,” she trembled and fell down on the snowy ground.

“But Anna…” his voice faded, seeing the woman crying. She didn’t respond and just cupped her hands to her face and sobbed. He saw the miseries in her, he kneeled before Anna and helped her stand up. He wrapped his arms around her then carried her towards the center of the town and uttered, “We need help, we need to find Zelena.”

                o-o

                Emma and Henry had already left. But on the other hand, there was Robin Hood, waiting by the front door of the mayor’s office, hoping to see Regina despite his hesitation. All he wanted was to know that she’s safe and to see a smile on her beautiful face although he knows so well that the Queen could totally defend herself.

Damn, what was I thinking? Smiling at her? Really? He asked himself. “I thought you want to take time off without her,” Robin mumbled. She had Marian killed, he recalled. But then again, he remembered her calling his name, so he laughed lightly. “That was all in the past… all in the past,” he convinced himself thinking about the lost he had suffered when his wife passed away. He’s been standing by the door for couple of minutes and with the snow still falling and the wind whirling like a winter beast, he straightened his sleeves to cover his arms up to his hands. Then he stopped, looking at his right arm knowing what’s underneath the thin sheath. “Regina,” he whispered to himself. He turned around and stared at the closed door knowing what’s beyond is the woman he loves the most but without another word, he walked away

        And inside the mayor’s office, Zelena told Regina everything that happened at the sheriff’s office, when Gold tried to kill her. She admitted that she’s also surprised to have found herself alive after she was broken to hundreds of pieces.

“I was so weak, I could barely talk or move but someone helped me,” Zelena continued telling her story.

“Someone?” Regina asked.

“Well, two persons actually,” she smiled faintly. “Anna and Kristoff, the woman is Elsa’s sister and the guy is her Outlaw,” Zelena said emphasizing her last word as if trying to make a point.

“And?” Regina asked, trying to sound so unconcerned about Zelena’s choice of words. Outlaw, she thought and instantly, Robin came into her mind.

“And I am friends with them,” Zelena clarified. Regina looked at her, her eyebrow raised, questioning her selection of terms again. “Or allies,” she said bluntly.

“But you’re not with them right now, how could that help?”

“Weather this harsh would take every thinking being from the woods to the city. They will come to us, to me,” she boasted.

“We’ll see about that,” Regina said obliquely, doubting the witch’s ability.

“Regina, you see…” Zelena started again. “When we were in the prison cell, you talked to me and offered me a second chance. I wanted to take it but I was just afraid…” her voice trailed, hating to admit a weakness of the Wicked Witch ‘who always wins’. She looked away from her sister and continued, “Afraid that I will be nothing without my vengeance.”

And the moment Zelena spoke those words, Regina felt a sudden warmth, enlightening her thoughts. She was once her, feeling worthless without revenge, without darkness, without power. She just sat there in silence, waiting for her next words, softening her heart for the Wicked Witch that once wanted to take everything away from her.

“When you left me in that room, I desired to call your name but I didn’t. You know, too arrogant to admit that I actually need others,” Zelena said letting out a nervous laugh. “Then Rumplestiltskin came and my second chance…” she looked at her sister, inspecting her expression, then she added, “My second chance slipped away.”

The Evil Queen stood and walked towards the Wicked Witch, she didn’t want to be sentimental so she offered her hand for a handshake but Zelena didn’t take it. She stood up and leveled her sister and without a word, she hugged her. “Zelena…” Regina spoke with her hands both dropped to her side, not responding at Zelena’s embrace.

“I’m sorry…” Zelena said as she began to tear up. “I’m really, really, sorry… for everything,” then she tightened her hug to her little sister.

Regina smiled and hugged her back. A hug, that was all they needed to share, and some things have seemed to finally fall on their right places.

                o-o

                David watched Gold bolted out of their house followed by Belle after he told them about Zelena’s escape and having magic back. He confirmed right then and there, Gold wronged Zelena, but now, she’s back and her revenge could be just around the corner. He leaned towards Snow White and Prince Neal, not wanting his wife to be terrified.

“Wait up!” Belle yelled at Gold to which he paused in response. “Why are you in a hurry?”

“Zelena is back,” his teeth clenched and he shivered as the cold breeze howled through the empty sidewalks. He continued walking towards home, towards his pawnshop where he kept his dagger, taking larger steps one after the other.

Belle was confused but he continued to follow him anyways, matching his strides. Good thing he had a cane so she’s able to keep up. And when they reached home, just as Gold opened the door and let Belle in, she inquired, “What’s the matter?!” She said louder than she’s meant to.

Gold refused to answer for a moment, he sauntered towards his vault, opened it and pulled out his precious dagger. Not wanting to betray his wife again, he confessed, “I… I tried to kill Zelena.”

Belle stood there, astonished, her eyes shot wide opened, her jaw dropped from shock and for a few seconds, the room fell in silence. It was just the winter beast whirling outside that made all the sound until Belle finally found the words to say. “I believed in you! You promised me you won’t go after Zelena! I thought you’re better than that!” Belle screamed at him in frustration.

“Yes I did. But I also promised my son, his death will be avenged! And I can’t break another deal I made with him!” Gold explained, his face not showing any remorse.

“I… trusted… you!” Her voice louder and angrier that he had ever heard her, and in a blink of an eye, she was gone.