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Capture and Release	By : TaylorKing Category: M through R > Once Upon A Time Views: 9639 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I own nothing Once Upon a Time related, or its characters, and make no money from it

Chapter List
- 8
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- 10
“Regina!” Charming landed beside her at the same moment as Prince Henry. “Regina!”
            Nononononono…she can’t be dead. She couldn’t have left him like this. Couldn’t have. No.
            “Is she….?” Prince Henry whispered. Charming didn’t know how to answer him. His fingers fumbled against her throat, feeling for the pulse point that should have been there.
            Yes, yes. It was there. Weak, faint, but there.
            “No, but not by much.” Charming looked back at the king. Frantically, he wondered what had caused this.
            Could it have been an accident? Her heart, perhaps? Stranger things had happened. Humans had all sorts of health ailments that could take them quickly.
            Two attempts on her life and she suddenly fell over dead from a heart problem? Not likely.
            His eyes went to the table, fell on the bowl at her place setting….
            “Poison.” He murmured.
            The door flew open, and three of the guards rushed into the room. Charming barely noticed a woman was with them.
            “Your Majesty!” The Captain fell to the ground beside him. “What’s happened?”
            “I’m too late.” The woman stood in the doorway, shaking her head. “Your Majesty, is she dead?”
            “What do you mean, ‘too late’?” Charming stared at the woman. “What do you know?”
            “Your Majesty, there’s no time. Is she alive?”
            “Yes.” Charming didn’t take his eyes from her. “She’s alive.”
            “Then there’s a chance. Bring her upstairs.”
            Charming scooped Regina gently into his arms. She didn’t respond. It was like lifting a corpse. As he started for the door, he turned to the Captain.
            “Get everyone from that kitchen. Let no one leave. Someone knows what happened to her-and I’m going to find out what, and who.”
*****Scene*******

                                                Upstairs, Charming gently laid Regina on her bed. There was no sound from her. He could feel her body struggling to breathe. Her eyes stayed closed, never even attempted to open.
            “What happened to her?” Charming asked. The woman he now recognized as one of the maids from his estate-an older woman named Rose, who had long flowing gray hair down her back.
            Rose produced a knife from a bag she’d been carrying.
            “Turn her so I can access the back of her gown.”
            “What are you doing?” Charming exclaimed. Rose looked at him, clearly annoyed.
            “Your Majesty, you must trust me. She needs unrestricted air right now. It’s no time for corsets.”
            Reluctantly, Charming eased Regina gently onto her side. Rose worked the knife into the fabric of Regina’s gown, slitting it down her back. She pulled the fabric apart before nodding to him.
            “Lay her down.” Charming glanced over his shoulder at Prince Henry. The older man had stayed towards the back of the chamber, his face reflecting how Charming felt.
            “What’s happened to her?” Charming asked again.
            “I thought I might be able to get here before, but I didn’t. There were whispers among the staff at your estate that there was a plot to poison the Queen. They’d been planning for it there…but when you took her away, they had to change their plan. So the poison was sent here.”
            “Who was it?”
            “Several members of your kitchen staff. Only a few of the guards. None of the maids. I can tell you who exactly if you bring them here.”
            As she spoke, she was rummaging in her bag, producing a small mortar and pestle. From a small drawstring bag, she shook a few herbs into it.
            “What are you doing?” Charming never took his eyes from the herbs.
            “I was a healer, and a midwife, once. I can help her, a bit. You can send for a doctor if you wish, but they’ll probably do no better than I.”
            “So you can save her?” Prince Henry stepped forward, moving to the edge of the bed.
            “I don’t know.” The woman looked up. “You’ll have to find out what type of poison was used. Some poisons require specific antidotes.”
            She pressed her hand to Regina’s forehead. Frowning, she worked two fingers on either side of her throat.
            “Fever, her throat is swollen. There’s a number that can cause this. You’ll have to question those involved.”
            “No doubt of that.” Charming growled. He was already planning executions for all of the involved.
            Rose removed a small bottle from the bag. She poured the liquid from it into the herbs and mixed them into a thick potion.
            “What is that?” Charming didn’t know anything about this woman. He wasn’t sure how he felt about letting her treat Regina.
            “Licorice.” She took Regina’s chin in her hand, eased her mouth open. “Elm, sage. They might help, might. They’re good for treating sore throats and swelling. But if her throat keeps swelling, and fully closes, there’s nothing I can do.”
            She poured a small amount of the liquid into Regina’s mouth. Holding Regina’s mouth closed, the maid gently rubbed Regina’s throat. She turned to Charming.
            “See if you can find out what type of poison was used. Depending on what it was, I can treat it. We have to get the swelling down as soon as possible. And I have to treat the fever. It will kill her if we don’t get it under control.”
            “David.” Prince Henry’s hand was on his arm. “Go. I know you want to stay with her, but you must find out what caused this. We can’t let her die.”
            Charming squeezed his eyes shut, nodding.
            “All right.” He leaned down, pressed his lips against Regina’s forehead. “I will not let you die.” He whispered against her skin. “I promise.”
            In the hallway, one of the guards met him instantly.
            “Your Majesty, what can we do?”
            “Find me the Blue Fairy.” Charming stated, heading to the stairs.
******Scene**********
                                                “What did you do to her??!” Charming screamed at the cook seated before him. One of the guards had his sword resting on the man’s shoulder. Cooperation did not seem to be in his plans.
            “I don’t know nothing.” The man spat, looking at him. “I don’t know what happened to the Queen.”
            “You are the ONLY ONE who could have done it.” Charming paced back and forth across the room.
            Beside the cook, the young maid lowered her head. Charming sure he saw tears on the girl’s cheeks.
            “You.” He turned on the girl. “What happened to the Queen? You gave her the soup. Did you know?”
            “Please, your Majesty-.” She whispered between sobs.
            “TELL ME!” Charming screamed, dropping down in front of her. He was prepared to rip the entire room apart to find out what had happened. “What. Happened. To. The. QUEEN!”
            “Don’t you dare.” Charming heard the cook hiss in a low growl beside the girl. The guard heard it too, yanking the sword closer to the man’s throat.
            “It was in the soup….” The girl whispered, burying her face into her hands.   “He put it in…it came from….from someone at your estate.”
            “She was supposed to be dead before she hit the floor.” The cook snarled. “Apparently didn’t give her enough.”
            “What was it?” Charming leaned into the man’s face. “What did you give her?”
            “I don’t know.” The cook smirked. “No idea. Just know it was supposed to be deadly. Which I still have hopes it was.”
            “Kill him.” Charming looked up at the guard. “You,” he turned back to the maid, “what was it?”
            “I don’t know. I know just what he said.”
            “Who gave it to him?”
            “Colton. From the stables.” The girl looked up at Charming through tear stained green eyes. “Please, your Majesty.”
            “Did he say who brought it from my castle?” Charming felt bad for her, but he felt worse for Regina-who was dying upstairs.
            “A…I…a man I don’t know. Wade?”
            “One of the guards.” The guard holding the sword on the cook spoke up. “Think his wife was killed by the Queen’s Black Knights.”
            “Bring him here.” Charming got up. “I want everyone involved dead.” He looked down at the maid. “Except for her. Lock her up. And kill no one until I have a name of this poison.”
            He could not, in good faith, kill a woman who had tried to help him. It countered everything he was trying to do with Regina. Men who had openly put poison in her food-that was an entirely different situation.

******Scene*************
                                                Charming stormed into the bedroom. Rose had settled Regina into bed. She’d dressed her in a white nightgown, and undone the complex twist of her hair. It now lay on the pillow in a low ponytail. Charming didn’t like it. She looked too much like she had in the dungeons.
            But her physical appearance was far worse. Her lips were tinged blue, and her skin far too pale. Her chest was still struggling for breath.
            “Regina, darling.” Charming moved to her side, gently taking her hand.
            “Did you find anything?” Rose asked anxiously. “Your Majesty, we have to know.”
            “We will.” Charming assured her. “My guards are getting all of those involved together. We’ll find out.”
            “Your Majesty!” The door to the room was opened, and a guard entered followed by a blue ball of light.
            “What’s happened?” The Blue Fairy flew to his side.
            “Blue!” Charming exclaimed.   He was hated to ask her for help-partially because he wasn’t certain she would. “Can you help her?”
            Would she help her?
            The fairy fluttered over Regina’s unconscious form. She turned, looking from one to the other.
            “She was poisoned?”
            “Yes.”
            “With what?”
            “We have no idea. Can you tell?”
            “Perhaps.” Blue moved closer. Slowly, she waved her tiny wand. A blue haze surrounded Regina’s upper body.
            Suddenly Regina gasped. She began coughing as her chest heaved. Her lungs sucked in much needed air. She collapsed against the pillows, still panting weakly.
            “You did it.” Charming stared at Regina in shock and amazement. This was better than he had hoped for. Relief flooded through his body. Regina would survive. He was sure of it.
            “No, not quite.” Blue turned to face him. “I was able to reduce the swelling in her throat so she can breath. The spell will only last for a day, maybe two. If you can find the name of the poison, I can help you get an antidote. But you have to move quickly. She doesn’t have much time.”
            Rose was already at Regina’s side. She had already mixed a concoction and was spooning it carefully into her mouth.
            “Herbs can only do so much, Majesty.” She turned to him, giving him a serious look. “Go and speak to those you can. We must know. Now.”
********Scene*********
                                    The cook, the Captain of the Guards determined, did not know the name of the poison. He had only put the poison into the soup. He was the one Charming wanted dead most of all, only because his smug attitude was disgusting him.
            Colton from the stables knew, but was not telling. Apparently when a man knew he was going to be executed, he would rather die for regicide than for attempted murder.
            The ones brought from Charming’s estate looked more frightened than anything. With the exception of Wade, who simply looked bored.
Charming had a nagging suspicion that many of those from his estate had known about the plan, but not participated. It raised the question of execution. How did you not execute all of them? How did you determine who were more innocent than others?
            “You try to kill the Queen and you don’t even want to gloat about it?” Charming paced in front of Wade. The man shrugged.
            “Oh, I do. I’ll go down in history as the man who killed the Evil Queen.”
            “Fine.” Charming leaned back on the wall, facing the man. “Fine. You killed the Queen. What did you use?”
            “Don’t change your words on me, your Majesty. “ The man folded his arms over his chest, settling into his chair. “Queen’s still alive. If I tell you what I used, you find an antidote. Come see me when she’s dead, I’ll gladly tell you at the funeral.”
            “Oh?” Charming moved in front of the man again. “So whatever it was, there’s an antidote?” For a moment, Wade looked shaken. Then his smile came again.
            “Sure, there’s a lot of antidotes to a lot of poisons. The one I used has one. You figure it out.” He paused, and then met Charming’s eyes. “Live with that, your Majesty: the Queen died from something that could have been cured.”
            “That’s your problem.” Charming settled face to face with the man. “The Queen isn’t dead. And you will tell me what you used.”
            “No, no I won’t.” Wade let his hands fall casually to his knees. “The Queen needs to die so your spell will be broke, and you’ll find Snow White. Then Snow White will be queen. You’ll thank me soon enough. And regret the day the Queen made you kill me.”
            Charming lunged for him, but the Captain caught his arm.
            “Sire, no!” He held the king back, squeezing his upper arm. “You’ll do the Queen no good.”
            “We have to find another way.” Charming muttered, walking away from the man. “They all know they’re going to die. They’re not going to tell as long as the Queen is alive.”
            “So we tell them the Queen has died.” The Captain nodded anxiously. Charming wondered just when the man had become so loyal to both him and Regina. Not that he was complaining, but regardless. “They’ll talk then?”
            “That’s the first trick they know we’ll use.” Charming frowned, shaking his head. “No, I think we’re just going to have to figure this out ourselves.” The Captain of the Guard simply stared at him.
            “Your Majesty…”
            “Do you have another way?” Charming demanded of the other man. The Captain lowered his eyes. “No, I thought not. So we have to determine the poison ourselves.”
            “How?” The Captain apparently saw no use in arguing with him. Charming didn’t blame his concern. He didn’t know how to identify a poison either.
            “Is the soup still in the dining room?”
            “I…believe so.” Charming nodded.
            “Get it. Put it in a jar, or a bottle, or something. Don’t touch it, in case it’s that toxic. We have to find a way.”

**********Scene***************

                                                Prince Henry, Rose and Blue looked at him when Charming and the Captain burst in. He saw the looks on their faces. Everyone wanted him to have the answer.
            “Did you find it?” Rose jumped to her feet.
            “No.” Charming held up a sealed Mason jar. “We’re going to have to solve this on our own.”
            Their faces fell. This was not the solution anyone wanted.
            “Your Majesty-.” Rose gave him a desperate look. “We can’t-.”
            “You have to.” Charming looked passed her to Blue. “You can do so much. Determining a poison must be one of them.”
            “All I can do is try.” The fairy sighed sadly. “There’s no promises.”
            “Sire, they won’t tell you?” Rose pleaded, shooting a glance over her shoulder at Regina. “We’re wasting the Queen’s time.”
            “They will do nothing while she’s alive.” Charming exclaimed. His frustration was wearing him down. “They’re waiting for her to die. They know they’re dying either way. We can’t rely on them.”
            Rose frowned at him, but she took the jar from Charming’s hand. Charming moved to the bed, sat down beside Regina.
            “How is she?” He murmured to Prince Henry. Henry shook his head. “Regina, darling,” Charming leaned down to press his lips against her forehead. It was burning hot under them. “Hang on, darling. You’re not going to die.”
            “Arenrose.” Blue suddenly said. Charming turned.
            “What?”
            “Arenrose.” Blue was hovering over the jar that Rose held in her hand. From it, a green smoke was flowing. “It has to be.”
            “No,” Rose shook her head, “no, Arenrose is lethal. She should be dead.”
            “They didn’t use enough.” Blue explained, shaking her tiny head. “Or the poison was weak. I’m almost certain it’s Arenrose.”
            “’Almost certain’ won’t save Regina.” Charming tightened his fingers on Regina’s hand. “We need certain.”
            Blue circled over the jar again. The strange green mist rose higher from within it. Charming got the faint scent of almonds.
            “Almonds.” Rose nodded. “It is Arenrose.”
            “What is Arenrose?” Charming asked, glancing between the two.
            “It’s a strong poison made of a vine and elm. When mixed properly it gives off the aroma of almonds.” Rose turned suddenly as Regina coughed weakly. She crossed to the bed, easing Charming aside as she reached it. Her fingers felt along Regina’s throat. Charming and Prince Henry both held their breath. But Rose shook her head and stood up.
            “She’s all right. She’s still breathing.”
            “Wait,” Blue pointed, “look at her neck.”
            Charming turned. Along Regina’s jugular vein, dark brown lines ran through her skin. Rose made a noise of disproval.
            “That’s Arenrose for certain. That’s what it does. It closes off the throat, choking the victim immediately. The Queen’s throat clearly didn’t swell all the way. She was still getting a small bit of air. It’s all that saved her.”
            “What do we do?” Charming was less than excited about a history lesson on the poison that was killing the Queen. “Is there an antidote?”
            “Goldenbloom.” Blue flew closer to him. “It grows in the swamps.”
            “I’m going.” Charming got up from the bed, starting for the door.
            “Wait.” Blue flew in front of him. “You can’t go alone. Let me get Green. She can find it for you.”
            Waiting was not on Charming’s agenda.
            “Hurry.” He insisted irritably to the fairy.
            “We have a little bit of time.” Blue attempted to reassure him. “My spell will last at least a day. Maybe longer. I’ll go now though.”
            Charming could only nod as he opened the door for her. He wasn’t sure how he’d last until morning. In the hallway, he beckoned to the Captain.
            “Kill no one until we have the antidote. We may have to take a chance they’ll tell us if this doesn’t work.”
            “Yes, your Majesty.”
            Charming closed the door, leaned against it ,exhausted. Prince Henry looked at him, and then back down at Regina.
            “What do we do?” He looked at Rose.
            “Keep her comfortable.” The older woman was holding a damp cloth against Regina’s forehead. “But she’s in a great deal of danger. Arenrose attacks the internal organs-mainly the liver and the kidneys. We have to try and get water into her. Even with the antidote, she could still have damage.”
            Charming sat down beside Regina. Rose stood, handed him the cloth.
            “Sit with her, your Majesty. Talk to her-both of you. See if she’ll respond.”
- 8
- 9
- 10
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Capture and Release