Murphy's Law
by: just-a-story

~ Chapter I ~

"You cannot allow yourself to believe in something that may not, and probably doesn't even exist. You must be able to tell when people are lying. Think of it as a Queen's superpower. Because if you don't, every lie or rumor you hear will drive you mad."

"So that's it then?" Snow asked letting her hands drop to her sides. "We just let her go?" She couldn't gain the strength to look at her husband. "Just send her away, like...like some sort of trade deal?"

The king looked out to the sea on the balcony. "We don't have a choice." He said quitely, not even sure if his wife would be able to hear him.

Snow White danced her fingers along the stitching of her daughter's baby blanket. "She's our little girl David," She began. "We can't do this to her." She looked up at her husband. "What are we going to do?" Snow paused. "She can't stay here. Not while Cora has a target on her back."

"I know I just -" He paused before turning to face his wife. "We knew this day would come." He made his way over to the edge of the bed where Snow sat. He covered her hand with his own. "Do you remember before Emma was born?" He asked looking at his wife. "You asked to see him-"

"Don't make this my fault." Snow snapped as she turned quickly to look at her husband. "I will not take responsibility for this."

He gave her hand a small squeeze and shook his head. "You asked to see him." He paused. "And what did he say?"

She let out a sigh, "He said that one her birthday, this year, she had to leave for Camelot to wed Prince Arthur." She paused. "But what if he was wrong?"

"Snow..."

She looked down at the marble floor. She knew there was no way Rumplestiltskin could be wrong. "At least let me go with her." She turned her whole body to face him. "Let me go."

"We've talked about this!" David responded. "I need you here, we need to plan for-"

Snow shook her head. "No. I'm not missing our daughter's wedding for something that may never happen. And if Cora and Regina do decide to fight Emma for her throne, I will put my foot down. Because so help me, she is my daughter. This is Emma's birthright. I am Queen, not Regina," She paused, "and I know our daughter will make an amazing queen. Ruler of Camelot and the Enchanted Forrest, Regina has no chance." She paused once more, waiting for her husband to say something. "One of us should at least be with her up until her big day."

The king sighed, knowing what his daughter would want. "You can't go alone."

A huge smile grew across the queen's face as she lept to her feet. "I will have the dwarves accompany us."

David's eyebrows rose. "The dwarves?"

Snow nodded, "Yes, why?"

"You think I'll be able to sleep better knowing seven tiny dwarves with pickaxes are patrolling the deck at night? Make that six actually." He corrected himself. "Sleepy doesn't even count."

"David, you and I both know if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have made it in those woods alone." She took in a breath. "Besides, we will have the Guard too... She just needs familiar faces."

He let out another deep sigh, "Why do I even bother disagreeing with you?" He smiled. "Fine, you and the dwarves can go. But I expect a full report. Don't think it's just you who wants to go with Emma."

Snow smiled. "I know, and I know that if you could go, you would. But your father is coming, and you need to be here for that." She paused to look at the clock on the wall. "Now, I have to go tell Emma I will be going with her. I'll return to say good-bye before we go." She leaned forward and placed a kiss on her husband's cheek.

"Emma?" Snow asked as she opened her daughter's bedroom door. "Emma, what are you doing?"

The princess looked up from her clothes that were spread out on her bed. "What does it look like? I'm packing."

Snow made her was closer to where her daughter was lifting up clothes only to put them back down again. "You have people who can do this for you, you know?"

"Yeah, I just like doing it myself" Emma replied without looking up. She picked up more dresses, turned them around in the air and placed them back on her bed.

"You know, you're probably better off just bringing everything." Her mother commented as she walked towards her daughter. "Are you ok?" She asked with a slight tilt of her head.

Emma let out a small nervous laugh. "I'm not ready for this." She looked at all the clothes which laid on her sheets.

"Not ready to become a Queen, or not ready to marry Arthur?"

She looked up at her mother. "Both."

Snow offered a small smile as she sat on one of the windowsills. "He will love you."

The princess let out a small laugh. "Right..." She paused and let her eyes drop down to the floor. "He already loves somebody else." She paused once more, unsure how to approach the conversation. "There's rumors," She begun, "about a lady named Guinevere." Emma sat on her bed, with her back facing her mother. After a few seconds of silence she heard Snow's foot steps on the marble floor as she walked closer to her.

"Emma," Snow began. "You can't believe in silly rumors you hear around the castle."

The princess didn't look up.

"As the future queen there is something that you must be able to do." She said as she sat beside her daughter. "You cannot allow yourself to believe in something that may not, and probably doesn't even exist. You must be able to tell when people are lying. Think of it as a Queen's superpower. Because if you don't, every lie or rumor you hear will drive you mad." She paused for a moment, allowing time for her daughter to speak; yet she didn't. "Because there is nothing worse than a mad queen." She joked. A small smile began to form on the corner of Emma's lips. "Now," Snow said as she took Emma's hand in hers, "We have a ship to catch." She paused as she rose to her feet. "Ms. Swan?" She asked as she extended her hand.

Emma looked up. "Two questions," The princess began as she took her mothers hand. "Why are you coming with me, and remind me again why you and dad think I have to have an alias?"

"One," Snow said as she turned towards her daughter, "Someone needs to make sure you arrive safely." She paused. "Or you know, I could always send you with just the dwarves and I can stay here with your father."

"No." Emma quickly spoke.

The Queen raised an eyebrow. "So you want me to come?"

Emma took in a breath. "I just see it fitting..." She paused trying to find the right words. "It would probably be best if you came with the dwarves." She paused once more, "But I'm not able to take care of myself?" Emma asked slightly offended.

Snow shook her head. "We both know you are more than capable of taking care of yourself, but you are a princess," She reminded her. "and princess's have enemies. Hence your alias. Besides, it was your father's idea and you and I both know that there is no use arguing with him when it comes to your protection."

Emma rolled her eyes. She could very easily image her father explaining all the precautions both he and her mother have taken to ensure her safety from Queen Regina and her mother, Cora. Especially when they would soon be trying to put their claim on the throne.

"Now," Snow continued. "Let's get a handmaiden to finish packing your belongings."

There were two sides of people, with an opening that lead to the docks. Her mother exited first, taking the hand of one of the guards to help her get out of the carriage. She waited, and then followed her mother by placing her hand in the guards as she stepped down. Her ribs expanded as she pulled in the sea air before following her mother down the path of the cheering crowds. They knew. The whole kingdom knew. She was the one who was supposed to defeat Regina and take her rightful place on the throne. With each cheering voice in the crowd, another brick of weight was on her shoulders.

"Emma." A voice so small yet traveled quite easily into Emma's ear. She continued to walk, realizing she must of been just hearing things as the entire kingdom referred to her as Ms. Swan per her father's wishes to keep her safe. "Emma." The voice said again shortly followed by a pulling feeling on her dress. Her feet froze but knew the one doing the pulling couldn't be bigger than a small child. She turned around and looked down only to find a small brown haired boy. She didn't know what to say, mostly because she knew she wasn't allowed to respond to her real name outside of the castle. So she watched. She watched as the little brown-haired boy held out a fist. She raised an eyebrow, not only curious to how the boy knew her name but - he grabbed her hand interrupting her thoughts. She jumped slightly and how cold the young hands were. She didn't move her eyes off the small boy, not even realizing he pried her fingers open and let an object drop into her palm. Emma then looked down when she felt a hard object against her skin. She looked down but before she could see the object, the boy had already closed her fingers around the object.

"Take it with you." He told her. "It will keep you safe."

Emma took in a breath trying to do what her mother told her. Was the boy lying? Was he hiding something? Although as much as she searched for red flags reflecting the boy and his actions, despite how awkward their interaction was, she couldn't find a reason as to why she thought he may be lying.

"Ms. Swan?" One of the crewmembers called.

Emma quickly turned around and saw it was her turn to board the ship. She turned back around to look at the boy, but he was nowhere to be seen. Looking back down at her hand with the object nestled inside she opened her fingers exposing the necklace with two small objects; one small silver dagger, and one small silver skull. Both the size of a charm.

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