Once A Lost Girl | Once Upon A Time Story | Peter Pan

03x05 - Margaret - Past

        The Queen sent me out on this quest in a new dress and carriage. She said I had to "look the part". The carriage was a bit unnecessary but the dress? It was bad enough I had to pick part of it up to walk but this corset was so uncomfortable. I could breath, sure, but was the lacing meant to be this itchy? I could swear the bones in it were breaking through the fabric. At least she left me comfortable shoes. Sort of.

        I forced the carriage to stop shy of Snow White's supposed hideout. If this really was Margaret, the woman who'd saved me from dehydration, I wanted to talk to her alone. She can't be as evil as the Queen says she is. She just can't.

        The forest path gave way to a small field, with a house on one end of it. There were two horses hitched temporarily to a tree. I steeled my nerves. It didn't take long for them to see me approaching. Seven Dwarves stormed out in a line. They formed up in front of me. Two figures further out observed, slowly making their way over.

        "Who are you? What business do you have here?" one of the dwarves asked harshly.

        I hesitated, "I'm here to deliver a message to Snow White. It's urgent."

        "You can tell us. We'll make sure she gets it." The grumpy-looking dwarf took a step in my direction. I took a step back, swallowing.

        "I--I--Well, I'm, um, I'm supposed to tell her." Who knew short men were so... terrifying?

        "Like I said, sister. We'll make sure she gets--"

        "Grumpy, what's going on?" the two figures had finally arrived. I observed Snow White carefully, barely believing what I was seeing. "Elyssa?" she breathed.

        "Margaret... so you are Snow White." My gaze fell to the ground. "I wished with everything I had that it wasn't you. That perhaps I seen the wanted poster wrong."

        The man next to her spoke up, "alright, dwarves. I think Snow and I have got this covered." He was dressed as regal as a prince. I could only assume this was the "Charming" that Her Majesty was speaking of. The Dwarves exited after small resistance.

        "Elyssa, it is so good to see you. I'm sorry I lied, I just didn't want you to get involved in this mess." She moved to hug me. I closed the gap. Imagine that. A genuine hug--actual care from someone else. She pulled back. "You look well." I merely cracked a small smile, knowing full well what news I was to bring.

        "Hello," the man beside her lightly bowed, "my name is Charming." I gave my best courtesy.

        "That's a bit on the nose, isn't it?" I remarked.

        "You can thank Snow for that one. I gather you two know each other."

        "She saved me from dying inside a forest. I wouldn't have made it much longer if she hadn't housed me that night. I owe her much." I said. Charming looked at Snow lovingly. "And I fear, Snow, that I may have made a grave mistake."

        Snow's brow furrowed, "Elyssa? What happened?"

        "It's the Queen. She picked me off the road--I didn't--I had nowhere else to go. Had I known who's carriage it was I would have never--"

        "Slow down," the princess placed a hand on my shoulder, "We can help."

        "You can't. You have to leave me be or else--" I froze. Finally to the message and I can't even say the words.

        "I can't leave you with that awful woman! It doesn't matter if I don't know you well, no one deserves to be left in that castle with her."

        "You can't afford to break me out." I said.

        "What are you talking about?" Charming asked.

        I took a deep breath. "The message I was sent to deliver. She said that she isn't going directly after you anymore, Snow. She's going after Charming."

        That made her go quiet. I could tell she was going to protest again. I didn't let her. For the first time in my life I was sure of something, and it was that I had to do everything I could to help Snow. I was only a child, I couldn't do much. At the very least, I could try to ease her mind about me being in the castle with the Queen.

       The ride back to the castle was a solemn one. There's guards all around and I've never felt more alone. My mind drifted, and I shouldn't have let it. All I could think of was Neverland. Freedom to be me, to fly. The only catch was Peter--or rather, Pan. It was still hard for me to grasp. He was so kind to me, he taught me to control my magic. At least now, I don't drop bodies by touch.

        Then there was Baelfire. Sweet, adorable, little Baelfire. His idea of a land without magic. It was insane, and yet he claimed to have seen it. If there's no magic, then there's no risk of hurting anyone. I hope he can get away from Pan by himself. Then we'll both go. I'll have a friend.

        "Lady Elyssa," one of the guards said, "we've arrived back at the palace." He helped me out of the carriage. I thanked him, trudging those horrible steps once more.