Meadowpeak

Levi stuffed some fruit into a satchel that he found lying at the foot of the bed. He threw the food in the bag rather harshly as he shook in anger. At least he hoped it was his anger and not his wound acting up.

"Levi, I don't know if we should take any of this stuff," Elyssa's soft voice was hard to hear from behind him.

He huffed as he flung around to face her. "She's throwing us out, Elyssa. What do you want me to do? We have no previsions. No food, no water, and now we don't even know where going to go. Mother is probably miles away from here."

"Yeah, but couldn't we just buy food and a satchel at one of the villages Maleficent was talking about?"

He threw his arms out to the side. "With what money?" She lowered her head. He picked up a flask and tossed it toward her. "Fill this up. I saw a pump not far from here down the corridor."

Elyssa gave him a slow nod before disappearing out the door.

He sighed heavily as he placed the satchel down on the ground, and plopped onto a stool. What were they supposed to do now? Rumplestiltskin had lied, and his magic didn't work. Was he sending them on a wild goose chase? If his mother hadn't confessed, he would've thought Rumple was lying about his big brother, and him being a dragon too.

He rubbed a hand through his hair. He shouldn't have gotten angry at Elyssa, but he felt overwhelmed. Without a dragon master, how would he ever learn to control his dragon? He knew Elyssa wouldn't teach him. Not after her promise.

He sat up straight, and puffed out his chest. He was going to have to learn on his own. Maybe that's what Elyssa had done. He wouldn't know since she had already discovered her dragon side when they had met, and he never had a need to ask.

He turned toward the door with his brow furrowed. Speaking of Elyssa, why wasn't she back yet? The pump wasn't that far, and it would take seconds to fill up that flask.

As if she had heard his thoughts, Elyssa stepped through the threshold carrying the flask.

Levi placed a hand on his thigh. "Took you long enough."

Elyssa gave him a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that. While I was at the pump, this servant girl came up behind me. At first I was afraid she was going to call a guard, but instead she just told me how amazed she was hearing about how far we'd traveled."

He cocked his head. "I never mentioned anything about how far we traveled, and neither did you."

She shrugged. "Well, you are a prince. Surely, they must know you."

He snickered. "Yeah, and I'm surprised they're not turning us over then either."

Elyssa waved him off. "Anyways. She was a nice girl. Said she's lived in this castle her whole life." Her voice grew soft. "That would be awful. To never know what the outside world was like."

Levi shrugged. "It's not so bad. I've had the taste of both. Lived my first twelve years in the castle unable to leave the grounds." He looked down at his shoes. "Until Snow decided we were the enemies."

Elyssa thrust her hands on her hips. "Snow decided that a long time again when she decided to start torching you and tried to kill you." She narrowed her eyes. "I'd like to kill her myself if I could."

He stood to his feet and placed the satchel strap over his shoulder. "Come on. We need to get out of here before they throw us out." He placed a hand around her as they both exited the chamber.

He felt Elyssa shudder as they stepped foot outside into the green grass. He looked over at her as she glanced around the oncoming forest.

"I have this bad feeling that someone's just out there. Waiting for us." She squeezed the flask as her shoulders tensed. "Like Cinderella has another arrow just ready to release."

He swallowed a lump in his throat as his gaze scanned the trees. What if she was right? Could Cinderella be waiting on them? She had to know they couldn't stay here forever. He tried to keep himself from shuddering. He never wanted to taste the edge of an arrow again.

He looked over at her and grinned before squeezing her arms. "I'm sure she's gone. You saw those knights. They ran her off good."

She sighed and nodded her head as her shoulders relaxed. "You're right. I'm fretting over nothing. Let's just go."

With his arm still around her shoulders, he lead her down the cobble pathway until it ran into a dirt trail. His heart pounded in his chest as his eyes frantically glanced around.

"Maybe you could do it," he said swiftly changing the subject, hoping to calm them both.

"Do what?" she asked.

"I was just thinking while you were gone early. That..." He looked to the left and lowered his head sheepishly as he whispered. "Maybe you could train me. Teach me how to unlock my dragon."

Elyssa's hair brushed his neck as she flung her head. "What?" She sounded shocked, and chuckled. She lowered her voice as she continued, "Levi, I wouldn't know the first thing about what to teach you. I don't even remember when I discovered..." Her voice softened even more. "You know. I was so young. It just happened. It took my mother months to figure out how to bring me back, and even then I would still lose control."

"Why don't you ever tell me these things?" His brow creased as he glanced at her through the corner of his eye.

She shrugged. "I didn't think I needed to."

He sighed beneath his breath. Now what was he to do? If Elyssa couldn't teach him, was that just it? He was never going to learn how to unlock the dragon? How else was he going to defeat Snow? He didn't have magic, he was terrible with a sword, and now he didn't have his dragon he had hoped would be the key. But what if he was like Elyssa?

What if it accidentally came out one day, and she couldn't get him back? With all the dragon hunter's out here, would he be killed if he lost control? If Elyssa was young, so was her dragon. Meaning, Laura could've easily hidden her, but he was a man. How big would his dragon be?

"Halt!"

His heart lurched into his throat as he froze in place at the stern voice that jolted him out of his thoughts. That wasn't Cinderella's voice. Not even a woman's voice, and it was coming from behind him. Who was it?

He lowered his arm from around Elyssa as they both slowly turned around. Sir Lancelot with a few other Knights sprinted down the path.

He didn't think his heart could beat any faster, but it did as a smile spread across his face. Were they coming to tell them that Queen Maleficent was mistaken? Could there in fact be a dragon trainer, and they had come to fetch them?

As they drew closer, a couple of the Knights to Sir Lancelot's right and left drew their swords.

Levi's smile vanished as his eyes widened, and he heard Elyssa gasp beside him. Oh no! Had they indeed recognized him as Prince Levi? Were they coming to arrest him, and take him to Snow White?

"Seize them!" Sir Lancelot shouted.

Two of Knights gripped his and Elyssa's hand thrusting them behind their backs and holding tight. Levi grimaced and cried in pain at the sudden jerk in his shoulder.

"What's the meaning of this?" Elyssa asked, who tried breaking free from the Knight's grip.

He wanted to call out to her and tell her not to struggle, but he couldn't through his gritted teeth and pain.

Sir Lancelot jabbed a finger at Elyssa. "Her. Check her pockets."

"My pockets?" Elyssa asked, thrashing around. "Why?"

One of the other Knight's from the side dug his hands into a pocket on her vest. When he withdrew his hand, a long, diamond necklace followed.

Levi's eyes grew just as wide as hers. "What is that, Elyssa? What are you doing with that?"

Elyssa stared at the necklace dumbfounded. She didn't even fight the Knight bounding her anymore. "I... I don't know."

"You are both under arrest for stealing the queen's jewels," Sir Lancelot proclaimed as he accepted the necklace into his hand. He turned around, and Levi felt himself being shoved forward.

He looked over at the bandage on his arm to find a small amount of blood beginning to seep through. That sudden movement probably ripped open a small slit. He exhaled heavily. He could kill this knight for that.

And what about Elyssa? Had she seriously stolen those jewels? When? When would she have had time for that? It didn't matter. What did is that they were being taken back to Maleficent, and this time he wasn't sure if they'd be coming out.

He and Elyssa were lead through the castle, down a flight of stairs, and shoved into a cell. Levi landed on his bad arm, but he bit his tongue, holding in a scream. Elyssa knelt beside him as he sat up.

The cell door closed, and he watched as Sir Lancelot jabbed a key into the lock. He tugged on the bars. "You two will stay here until the queen is ready for you." With those final words, he walked away.

Levi turned his gaze to Elyssa as she placed a gentle hand on his bandage.

"You're bleeding again," she said gently, her eyes filling with tears.

He panted as he tried to calm his rapid heartbeat. He glanced at Elyssa through the corner of his eye as his brow furrowed. "Elyssa..." He tried keeping his voice calm as he spoke. "Why did you have the queen's necklace?" He turned and looked at her, his voice lowering even more. "Did you take it?"

Elyssa's mouth dropped agape as she stood up and backed away. "You actually believe I took the queen's necklace?" she shrieked, giving him a face full of disgust.

He shrugged with his one good arm. "I had just told you we didn't have any money to pay for food."

"Levi!" She balled her hands into fists. "I am not a thief!"

"But that's just it, Elyssa." He climbed to his feet. "You were a thief. Maybe not recently, but I'm sure you haven't forgotten how to steal."

"That was for my parents!" she shouted, stepping closer. "We wouldn't have survived those two years if I hadn't!"

He raised his good arm in defense and backed away. "I'm just saying."

"Well, shut up!" Elyssa narrowed her eyes.

Levi stared at her silently biting his tongue. Why was he making such accusations? He knew Elyssa wouldn't do something like that... right? She had changed. She wasn't the thief he had met years ago. He lowered his head, but kept his brows furrowed in aggravation.

Elyssa crossed her arms, and turned her back to him. "What kinda person wouldn't believe their best friend?"

He looked up at her. She was right. He shouldn't be thinking these things nor believe that she would ever do something like this.

The cell door swung open causing him to turn his attention. Sir Lancelot stood in front of the open door, and pointed at him. "Take him."

Levi's eyes bulged open in fear even though Sir Lancelot didn't have a rough tone to his voice. Why did they want him? He didn't do anything. It was Elyssa who had the jewels.

A strong knight stepped in and bound his hands behind his back as he shoved toward the door.

He watched as Elyssa took a step toward him, but not a second later did Sir Lancelot thrust a hand forward. "I advise you not to do anything stupid," the Knight said. "It'll only hurt your case."

Elyssa lowered her fists and backed down.

"I'll be alright, Elyssa," Levi called out as he was dragged down the hallway.

After stumbling through many corridors, Levi was pushed to his knees in front of Queen Maleficent in her throne room. He panted as his eyes traveled upward to meet her face.

Maleficent sat on her black and purple throne, her hands folded nicely on her lap with her chin held high. "Can you explain to me how my diamond necklace fell into your friend's pocket?"

He continued to pant as his shoulder throbbed, unsure of what to say. What was he supposed to say? That it was all Elyssa and he had nothing to do with it? That he should be asking her instead of him? He lowered his head dismissing the thought. No, he couldn't rat on his friend like that. Especially not when she could've done it.

"Well?" Maleficent's voice boomed in anger.

He swallowed and kept his head down as he spoke. "It was me, my lady. I'm the one who stole your jewels."

"Is that so?" Her voice didn't sound amused. Like she wasn't buying his story already. "And please, tell me how you acquired my necklace and placed it in your friends pocket in the short amount of free time you had after my physician released you."

Again he swallowed, swiftly thinking of a story that would sound reasonable. "I ventured out of bed one evening while the physician and Elyssa were both asleep. Elyssa and I had been talking about how we had no money to pay for anything. I figured, if I could find something valuable, I could sell it for enough to allow us to live in peace for many a year or two."

"You think the worth of this necklace will only last a couple years for the two of you?" Maleficent asked, baffled.

He shook his head. "No, my lady. There would be three of us. Elyssa, myself, and my mother." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "If I ever see her again."

"So you want me to believe that you crept into my chambers in the middle of the night, stole my jewelry, and placed it in Elyssa's pocket?"

He blushed realizing how awful that sounded, but slowly nodded his head.

"Why place it in your friends pocket in the first place?" she continued. "Why not keep it close by?"

He shrugged. "From our last encounter, I didn't figure you trusted me much. Thought I would be search on the way out, but I though Elyssa might get away with it. So, when she hugged me the next morning, I slipped it in her pocket without her noticing."

Maleficent sighed as she cocked her head to the side. "Tell me something, why should I just not kill you both? Clearly, you're a wanted man. I've seen your poster all over the forest and in my villages along with the girls. Why should I spare you?"

He lunged forward landing on his hands as he strained his neck to look up Maleficent. "Please. I'm begging you. Do whatever you want with me, but let Elyssa go. I'm the one you want. I'm the one who stole your necklace. She's innocent and doesn't deserve to die."

Maleficent unfolded her hands and pushed on the armrests as she slowly stood up. She walked down the stairs, lined with a violet carpet, and stood directly in front of him.

He lowered his head once more in respect for the queen.

"I need everyone out," she said, raising her voice. "Everyone except for Lancelot."

He didn't dare look up, but heard numerous pairs of shoes clank on the marble as people exited the chamber.

Maleficent sat down on the carpet in front of Levi on her knees, and gently placed a hand on his jaw line, raising his head to look at her. She smiled at him, her green eyes glistening. "And that is what will make you a tremendous dragon."

He had to keep his mouth from dropping open as his eyes slightly widened. He slowly sat back on his knees as he glanced from Maleficent to Lancelot, who also gave him a smile. "What?" The words barely escaped his tongue.

"Putting your life at risk to save your best friend even when you knew neither one of you had done anything wrong is a true dragon trait." She paused. "And a very courageous one for a human."

He slowly shook his head still unable to wrap his mind around what was happening. "I... I don't understand."

Maleficent stood to her feet, and carefully lifted him to his. He stood a bit hunched over as he caressed his wounded arm.

Maleficent folded her hands in front of her. "Let me explain." She stood up straight before continuing. "I was the one who told my maid servant to put my necklace in Elyssa's pocket." He gave her a shocked look as she gestured toward Sir Lancelot. "You were right when you said I didn't trust you our first meeting. You can't be too careful these days, but it was Lancelot who persuaded me to test you. Seems his dragon had much more faith in you than mine."

Levi turned his head over toward Sir Lancelot as his mouth fell open. "You're a dragon?"

Sir Lancelot smiled and nodded. "I could tell from the moment I saw you lying on the path that there was something special about you, and Tathuna trusted you."

Levi furrowed his brow. "Tathuna? Who's that?"

Sir Lancelot smiled brighter. "He is the dragon who dwells within me." He snickered. "Don't worry. Your dragon will soon have a name too."

Levi glanced between Maleficent and Sir Lancelot. "You know?"

"Yes," Maleficent replied. "About you and Elyssa. Though, not all dragons are as good as we are. That's why I couldn't trust you."

He lowered his head in bafflement. Queen Maleficent and Sir Lancelot were dragons? Was he the dragon trainer? The one Rumplestiltskin told them to find?

He closed his eyes as he sighed. He felt awful for not trusting Elyssa. For believing that she was lying to her, when all along, it was just a test. One that he felt like he had failed. He may now have a trainer, but would he ever have the trust of his best friend back?

"Come." Maleficent placed her hands gently on his bad shoulder and wrist, and guided him toward the door. "Let's get you looked at. There will be time to discuss everything later."