The two Charmings were doing their rounds in the garden one sunny April as their maid, Johanna, scuttled behind them trying her best to hold the parasol over both of their heads. Snow White never liked the idea of making poor Johanna follow them around the garden. She was getting quite old after all. Moreover, their daily walk around the garden is the only thing left in their royal routine that left them alone ever since they've placed in power.
"David, can't it just be us today?" Snow pleaded.
"We've been through this before Snow. The sun is a very dangerous thing, the royal doctor has said so."
"That royal doctor couldn't even save my mother, David. Who knows how capable he really is?"
"Snow," David halted in the middle of the path making Johanna almost bump into them. "You know that's not fair. Your mother was riddled of poison. Poison even evolved magic now still can't heal."
"Yes, but David, one hour of sun really won't be all that bad. Come on, when was the last time we've been together alone, like alone alone?" Snow looked into his eyes with pleading in hers.
"Last night," David retorted shortly.
"We just went to bed, David," Snow then added in a whisper, "and not even the fun kind." David looked as if his mind remained unchanged. "Fine we can keep the parasol if it really means all that much to you, but I'll be the one to hold it. Why trouble poor Johanna?"
"It's really alright your majesty," Johanna smiled kindly.
Snow smiled back at the aging maid, but refused to relent. "David, please?"
The blonde sighed, "Fine. Johanna give me the parasol, go look after Emma please."
The maid shot Snow a look of gratitude then handed over the sunshade to the king. Briskly, she walked off toward the palace.
"Finally, alone at last." Snow leaned in to kiss her husband, but stopped as she realized he wasn't about to do the same. "Is there something wrong? Do you not want to be alone with me? This is our first chance at a romantic stroll in a very long time and you're upset about it?"
"No, it's not us," David kissed his wife's forehead gently. "It's about Emma."
"What about Emma?"
David linked his arm into Snows and urged her to continue walking with him, "About a week ago, King Malcolm paid me a visit. He was actually coming to see you, but you were out with Emma so I took the message for you."
"Why have you waited a week to tell me?" Snow nearly shrieked.
"I know, I'm sorry," David held his hand up, "just listen first. I realize you were right to send Johanna off today. I need to talk to you about this now."
The couple entered the gazebo and sat beside each other. Snow patiently looked at her husband as she awaited his words. Beads of sweat slowly began to form on King Charming's forehead out of anxiety.
"Okay, he told me about this covenant. This deal the former rulers of this kingdom signed. It states that from the fifth reign after King Henry II's, this kingdom is to merge with the neighboring kingdom. The fifth reign is…" he trailed off.
"When Emma gets the throne," Snow White placed her hand on her mouth the moment after she said it.
"King Malcolm will be coming today to receive our signatures. Yours, mine, and Emma's."
"Well the answer is simple we won't sign!" The outraged queen stood up with a smile.
"It's not," David pulled her back down, "that easy. I mean let's think about this for a second. Who else is fit to rule this kingdom? Emma doesn't look like she plans to get married at all. She's eighteen and still can't interact with other men properly. Her personality, as strong as it is fit to rule a country, is too strong to continue our line of heirs."
"Maybe Emma just hasn't met the man of her dreams yet."
"Maybe, but how long are we going to wait before we decide she may never meet the man of her dreams?"
Snow White tore her gaze away from her husband. Her heart had always believed in true love. Things were not about to change just because a piece of paper said so. It was unthinkable.
"Snow, generations have signed this contract, not just King Henry II. All the rulers succeeding him have signed it, including your mother. Hasn't she always done what's best for you?"
Snow white shifted her gaze back at her husband, "my mother signed it?"
"Yes. I don't want to force Emma into anything as much as you do, but the prince of the next kingdom might actually be good for her." Snow remained quiet, "Look, King Malcolm will be over here with his son for dinner tonight. Perhaps Emma will like the boy. We'll set the two out for a walk while we discuss the particulars of the covenant with King Malcolm."
Snow looked away once more, only to be pulled back by David's hands. He enveloped her hands in his and held them close to him.
"Look, Emma doesn't even have to know it's an arranged marriage immediately. She could fall in love with the prince first."
Emma squinted through the window as she watched her parents in the gazebo.
"Johanna?"
"Yes, princess?" The matron replied in between stitching a new dress for her.
"What are my parents talking about?"
"Frankly, your highness, I don't know. The last I knew, your mother was begging your father for some time alone. Your father was a little anxious in allowing so. My guess is it has something to do with the visit from King Malcolm last week."
"Why was King Malcolm here?"
"No one knows, Princess. He came here to talk to your mother about something, but she was away with you at the time so he spoke to King David. When the two of them talked over a meal, even the servers weren't around to hear."
Emma parted the curtains slightly once more.
"Well whatever it is, it's sure making my mother upset. And if it was just about the kingdom, they wouldn't be hiding it from me," Emma crossed her arms in suspicion.
Every story needs an introduction. Forgive me if this one wasn't all that interesting. I promise some captain swan as early as the next chapter, though. ;)