It was such a good day. As good as a day gets in the lovely queendom of the Enchanted Forest. Emma had woken up in a bright mood, actually humming as she slipped into a gown and twirled around in her room. It's not everyday she felt this great. Maybe it was because the royal chef had promised her to cook her her favourite breakfast food that morning or because her parents were coming down to visit her tomorrow. Whatever it was, she was just glad to be happy.
"Good morning, your Grace." Ruby joined her as she was descending the staircase to the banquet hall.
Emma shook her head at her dark haired companion. "Ruby, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Emma? We've been friends since we were girls, there's no need for any titles."
"Sorry, Ems. I guess it's becoming habit now. Ever since you were crowned queen, my granny always insist on me calling you by title." Ruby shrugged and linked arms with Emma. "Come on! I think I smell french toast and hot chocolate!" The two girl sped up and rounded the corner to be welcomed with a table brimming with just that.
After filling their plates with mountains of french toast and scrambled eggs, Emma and Ruby had taken to their usual table out in the gardens for their daily gossip dish. It was a gorgeous day outside, the skies vast and blue above the blooming gardens.
"So I heard your parents are coming to visit tomorrow, is that true?" Ruby said through a mouth of bread.
Emma nodded, gulping down a swig of cinnamon hot chocolate. "Yes, it's true. Gods, I haven't seen them since the Winter Solstice." Needless to say that she missed them. Ever since the two of them had decided that it was time for them to step down and hand over the kingdom to Emma, they had insisted on moving up north to the summer villas for a much needed break away from court. It was hard for Emma, those first few months alone without the guidance of her parents, but she managed.
"Do you know how long they're staying?
Emma shrugged. "I'm not sure but I hope I can convince them to stay until the summer is over. They can assist me with the capture of Haven, and maybe their presence in court will be enough to stop the Tydarians from looting." She spat out the word Tydarians with a bitter taste in her mouth. " I've already sent a dozen troops on the next ship to Haven. Hopefully that will discourage them from harassing our traders."
"Tydarians? You mean the sea people?" Ruby asked.
"Sea people if you're being generous. Pirates if you're being blunt."
Ruby chuckled at her friend's grimace. "Oh, don't be so harsh. You know they are masters of the sea, thanks to His Grace."
Emma rolled her eyes. "He doesn't deserve to be called Your Grace. All he is is a cunning pirate."
"A handsome pirate, at that."
Emma choked on her cocoa.
"Your Grace!" The fat man called as he hobbled after the king. "Your Grace, I still need to finish my reports!"
The king waved his hand. "Yes, yes, Smee. You will tell me the rest of the reports later, but for now just tell me, how many Enchanted Forest merchant ships have we stopped from making port in Haven?"
"One hundred twenty-seven, Your Grace."
"Good. Tell Liam to keep doing what he's doing. Haven will be Tydarian land by the end of this summer."
"Wait! Your Grace! There's one more thing I think you should know."
Killian stopped his pace along the docks and finally faced his first mate and hand with an exasperated look. "What, Smee? Get on with it, I have important matters to attend to."
"We just got a report that Queen Emma has sent a dozen troops along with her next wave of ships in route to Haven. She's planning on surrounding the city with soldiers once those ships land."
A shadow crossed Killian's face. His jaw clenched as he answered Smee, "Do you happen to know where my brother is?""
"I believe he is in his office."
"Thanks, mate. You're excused." Killian set off with a fast pace, straight towards the castle.
"Did you hear the news?" The king burst into his brother's office with a bang.
The Captain of the Realm glanced up from the maps laid out on his desk with his eyebrow raised. "Dear brother, there's always too much news to keep up with. That's why I denied the throne. Please, enlighten me."
"Her Grace has sent troops to Haven, with no doubt the intention to keep the city away from Tyde. We need to do something about it."
Liam smirked at his little brother. "And I suppose that by 'Her Grace' you mean the lovely Emma Swan?"
"She is not lovely! She's a little pest who isn't even supposed to be queen yet!"
"Stop lying to yourself, mate."
"I'm not!"
"Your eyes aren't," Liam said with a wink. Killian snarled. "So what if she's sending troops? I'll take care of it."
"But what if she sends more? What do we do then? We both know she's a stubborn one, and won't give up on trying to get her hands on Haven."
"Well, how much do you want Haven, brother?"
Killian leaned on his desk, looking intently into his brother's eyes. "You know we need the trade from that city. After what our father left us, we need all the money we can get to pay back his debt. We need Haven."
"Well, you know if anything is going to persuade Emma, you need to get your hands dirty."
And of course Killian knew that, knew that for as long as he could remember. He just didn't want it to come down to this. He stood up and put on his poker face.
"Well, I guess it's time for me to pay Swan a visit. I'll convince her to give it up. Prepare a ship, I'm going to the Enchanted Forest."
"Mom! Dad!" Emma launched herself into her parent's arms as soon as the castle doors opened. So what if she wasn't a kid anymore? She was queen and could do whatever she wanted.
"Emma," Her dad sighed into her hair. Her mother pushed her back at arm's length to look at her daughter.
"You get more beautiful every time we see you," Snow smiled fondly at her.
Emma linked arms with both of them and started to escort them to their rooms. "Are you guys hungry? I can send some food up to your room if you would like."
"I don't know about your mother, but I'm absolutely famished," Charming said whilst patting his stomach.
"So am I!"
Emma gestured to a nearby servant, "Will you please tell the kitchens to send a meal for my parents up to their rooms?"
The servant bowed before turning away, just to be stopped by Charming. "No need to send it up to the room. Have it sent to the commons. We'll eat and talk with Emma." The young girl nodded and scurried off to the kitchen.
Once they had reached the commons and settled in, Emma got comfortable in a chair facing her parents with a smile on her face.
"You look so happy, Emma. Is it possible you might have found a new man?" Snow said with a mischievous grin, causing colour to appear on Emma's cheeks.
"Oh no, no not at all. I'm just happy you and dad are here, that's all."
Snow gave her a soft smile. "We are happy to see you too, dear. But you do know that you're going to have to marry soon."
The thought of getting married made Emma's stomach clench. She didn't need any king. She was fine on her own. And arranged marriages were more than distasteful in her eyes.
"Oh, come on Snow. We didn't come here to talk about boys." Charming said, with a fatherly tone to his voice. "So Emma, how have you been?"
Emma sighed in relief. Avoiding that conversation was a gift. "Oh, I've been good. Theft rates throughout the realm have been at an all time low, thanks August and his troops."
"Well, I'm glad we put the realm in good hands. I knew you would make a great queen." Charming smiled at his daughter.
"How's the realm's trade doing? It's approaching summer, the amount of income and exportations should be booming soon." Snow said.
"Well, the trade with Arendale has been flourishing, thanks to Elsa's new law for foreign trade."
"Last time we spoke you said you were trying to capture Haven for the Enchanted Kingdom. Have you succeeded?"
Since her parents lived isolated in the north, not much news got to them. All they knew about the world was what Emma had told them.
"It's been a rough few months with Haven. The people there are good people, and are handling being apart from any realm fine, but agree to pledge to whoever will bring them prosperity. Right now their port is open to all realms across the lands making their city one of the wealthiest in the world," Emma was inturrupted with a knock on the door. "Come in," Servants came in with trays of sandwiches that her father instantly dove for.
"Anyways, the Enchanted Forest isn't the only realm trying to capture Haven."
Snow nodded, "I wouldn't imagine it. Haven is a prime piece of land that can greatly influence the rise and fall of kingdoms everywhere if the kingdom who captures it is smart."
"Who else wants it?" Her father asked.
"Everyone does. But right now, we are the ones who are most capable of getting it. And the Tydarians." Emma said with a sigh.
"Tydarians? You mean the Jones boy?"
Emma nodded reluctantly.
Charming faced his wife, his eyes wide, "Wait, so does that mean the eldest son has taken the throne after his father passed? Last time we heard anything about the Tydarians was that their father has left the kingdom in shambles."
"Well, lot's have changed in the few years you guys were gone. Liam refused the throne and left it for Killian to take. Killian has turned the kingdom into one of the most ruthless ship wielders in the land."
"Killian?" Her mother said, eyebrows furrowed. "You mean Killian Jones, that charming little boy who would spend the summer in the Enchanted Forest with us when you were young?"
It took almost all Emma's will from keeping her from growling. "Yes, mother. That Killian Jones. And he is anything but charming. He and his ships keep looting our merchants, making sure we have nothing to trade with the people of Haven. He's trying to take away a prize that could make us a great kingdom."
"Emma, even without Haven we are still one of the most influential kingdoms in the land. If we do get Haven then wonderful. If we don't, we can make do." Her father said.
"The people of Haven deserve better leadership than a man who shouldn't be king. I will get Haven."
Right then a servant came bursting in with a look of distress on his face. "Your Grace, I tried, I really did, but he refused to listen, I–"
Emma held up a hand, "Shh, calm down. What's happening?"
"A man, he penetrated the guards and made it through the doors of the castle insisting that he needed to speak to the queen. I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen!"
"Who is this man you speak of?" Emma questioned with concern. Just then, shouts echoed from the hall and the ring of swords followed right after. She and her parents all stood, her father with a sword in his hand. The yelling had seized to an eerie silence, and all they could hear were boots clicking along the marble corridor.
Despite her father's efforts to keep her behind him, Emma pushed around him and waited until the intruder turned the corner. A man, clad in leather and a scarlet red cloak was walking towards her. She didn't even need to look at his face to know who it was. A scowl crossed her features.
"Oh, Love. Don't look so mad. I can't say I'm not glad to see you."