The Ring
"True Love follows this ring wherever it goes, my son. I had it with your father. I've had it as your mother. Now you will have it. Take it. Take it and I'll know, even if I never see you again, I'll know you'll find love. I'll know you'll be happy." Ruth just failed to mention exactly how the ring achieved this.
Completely Reworked
My apologies to those who have already read this chapter before. I have since watched Episode #3.06 Ariel, and realised that Snow and Charming had fallen in love faster than I had portrayed. The original did not go beyond mere flirtation, since I was working on the 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' rule and knowing there was at least a month between the events of #1.03 Snow Falls and #1.10 7:15 A.M. A reworking of Chapter 2 will follow.
Disclaimers
Once Upon a Time belongs to Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, ABC, Disney, and possibly others, but not me
Everland, Seaborn, and Seaside were the names of kingdoms used in Once Upon a Time and Again by KayleeThePete
Phrygia is the kingdom ruled by the King Midas in Greek legends
Chapter 1
Snow White followed the man she had christened 'Prince Charming' down the scenic route leading towards King George's Castle, deep in thought. She was also deep in trouble. Somehow, someway, somewhere between him saving her life and her saving his, she had fallen in love with this man. What could she do? Snow had finally met the love of her life, but he was already betrothed to another woman. Was she just supposed to let him pass her by?
No. If she was reading the signs correctly, she had a sneaking suspicion that he might, just might, be falling for her as well. If circumstances hadn't conspired to rip her from her rightful place as the reigning monarch of Everland, Snow would follow her Charming all the way to King George's Castle and offer a new alliance between Everland and Seaborn. She would reinstate the old trade agreements that had been in place for generations and had served both kingdoms well, until Regina had suddenly cut them off without warning. All debts would be erased, and between Charming and herself, she had no doubts that the kingdoms would flourish.
Of course, being a wanted fugitive and all, that could never happen. One look at her, and King George would have her seized and taken to the dungeon, to be given to Regina in exchange for reopening the trade routes. Regina, no doubt, would be willing to do anything to get revenge on Snow, and so Seaborn would end up both allied to Everland and annexed to Phrygia. No more debts, and access to limitless gold. How could she possibly compete with that?
Snow knew in that moment that she could never ask Charming to join her on the run, no matter how badly her heart screamed to keep him near. It was bad enough to have Regina constantly sending her Black Knights after her. She did not need to add both King George and King Midas to the list of people wanting her dead. One was quite enough, thank you very much. Worse, King Midas would take Prince James' defection as a personal slight and declare war on at least Seaborn, if he didn't drag Everland into it as well, due to Snow's own involvement.
She was at a crossroads, quite literally in fact, she realised as the trees opened out and the scenic route met up with the Troll Road. To the right was King George's Castle and Charming's destination. To the left, the Troll Road led through Seaborn to Phrygia, Seaside and beyond to the unknown desert lands. Snow had never been to Seaside. For that matter, neither had Regina. She might actually be able to make a life for herself there. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a life without Charming, but, as her father had been fond of telling her whenever she didn't get her way in something, you can't have everything.
Snow didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She turned to Charming at the same time as he turned to her, and she quickly turned away again, uncomfortable. She chose to laugh, knowing that if she were to cry, she would never stop and Charming would try to calm her down and end up coming with her and… well she'd already gone all over that. Snow steeled herself for the inevitable and turned to face her one true love for the last time.
Charming took her travel bag off his shoulder and put it on the ground between them. "So…" He reached into his tunic and seemed to caress his own chest. "You probably want this."
Absolutely. Snow drank in what he was revealing under the tunic for a second before his hand whipped out… the bag of gold. Oh. She blinked herself back to reality. This prince was far too noble to offer himself to her when he already had a fiancée. Not to mention all the repercussions if he did. "Right, the gold. Thank you." She tied the bag of gold to her belt. Then the slight weight under her arm reminded her that she still had his jewels. I wish. "And, um, you can't get married without this." She willed herself not to blush as she handed the pouch back to him.
"Ah." Charming nodded, opened the pouch and shook out the contents until his mother's ring emerged. He chuckled and held it out to her, allowing Snow to get a good look at it. "I know. Not your style."
Snow knew he was referring to her earlier comment about not being the jewellery type, but she couldn't help thinking that it was very much her style. The band itself was silver, which she had always preferred to gold. The rock was neither too big nor too small, and it was emerald. To match my eyes. Snow tilted her head in contemplation. "Well, there's only one way to find out." Her hand shot out, grabbed the ring, and she had it on the fourth finger of her right hand before he could blink.
She felt something click inside the moment the ring hit her finger. This was right. This was amazing. This was hers. «I wish this were mine.»
«If only I could propose right now.»
Snow's eyes met his in an instant, jaw open in shock both at the thought itself and at the ticklish feeling of his thoughts echoing through her brain.
"How did you do that?" Their voices came out in perfect unison. It was then that she realised he was looking just as shocked as she was. But what had she done? "Do what?" Once again, voices in perfect unison, and faces reflecting the exact same emotions, this time confusion.
Snow rolled her eyes. «This is getting ridiculous.»
Charming snorted. «You're telling me.»
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Just tell me we aren't going to be speaking simultaneously for the rest of our lives."
"Well, you said that on your own, so I think we're clear." She released her breath as he gave a relieved sigh of his own.
"So, what just happened?"
"I don't know. You put the ring on…" «Everything suddenly seemed right with the world.» "…and then suddenly I had your voice tickling my brain whilst telling me you wished it was yours."
Snow whipped the ring off her finger and practically threw it back at him, narrowing her eyes. "Your mother wasn't a witch, was she?"
Charming snorted as he returned the ring to the pouch. "Somehow I doubt it." «If she had been, she never would have been forced to give up my twin brother to King George to get out of poverty. I would never have been forced to masquerade as him after he died so she could save the farm. I would never have been forced to marry that nag with the bad attitude to save my mother's life, the farm, not to mention the threat on my own life, and I'd be free to marry you.»
"Oh, Charming." Snow threw herself tearfully at the man, throwing her arms tightly around him, despite the bulge that was his arms and the pouch of gold pressing against her stomach. «I'm so sorry.»
She felt him freeze under her. «You heard that?»
«Don't worry, I'm not one to judge a person by their station in life. Anymore.» She pushed away the memory of her bratty nine-year-old self lest it lead to the more traumatic events that followed. «I'd marry you in a heartbeat if I could.»
He nudged her gently and she pulled back slightly to allow him to free his arms. Charming held her gaze for a moment before leaning in, and she almost leaned in herself before she forced herself to remember her resolution. She held a firm hand to his chest, holding him back. "Wait, James." Using his real name was a good way to keep herself focussed, a good way to stop her hand from… moving.
«David.»
«Huh?»
«James was my brother.»
"Okay. David. Us…" She took her hand away, shaking her head. This would have been so much easier if she was wearing gloves. Or if it was dark enough to hide her tears. "It can't happen."
"What's wrong? Of course it can. You love me and I love you. We can go, we can be together, we can leave all that." He gestured vaguely behind him at King George's Castle, his eyes, now suspiciously bright, still locked on Snow's. "I know there are costs, but if we plan it right, they can't hurt us."
"Can't hurt us? Physically maybe. But I already have Regina after me. Knowing that she is torturing, enslaving, even killing my people all because of me, and there is nothing I can do about it, haunts me everyday."
"I know, but maybe I can help you…"
"Do what? If you join me, King George will be after you for breaking the engagement with King Midas' daughter and costing him access to limitless gold. And he will be after me for causing you to break the engagement. Then, you will have Regina after you. I just might have a chance at a happy ending with you, and Regina will never let me be happy." Snow watched the tears run down David's face as the reality of it all started to hit him. She wished she could comfort him, but he had to know it all. "Then, of course, there's King Midas himself, who will also be after you for breaking the engagement with his daughter. I'm sure he is very eager to for his takeover of Seaborn to be complete."
"Must this be goodbye?"
"I wish it didn't have to be this way, but unless you can think of some way to make both Kings happy, not to mention the Princess, I don't see any other way."
David nodded resignedly. "Well, wherever you're going, be careful. If… If you need anything…"
"You'll find me?"
"Always."
"I almost believe that." «I bet you could even without this whole mind reading thing going on.»
They shared a sad smile, getting lost in each other's tear-filled eyes, until Charming broke eye contact, clearing his throat. Snow took that as a sign to pick up her travel bag.
Charming bowed, no doubt trying to lighten up the situation. "Well, goodbye, Snow White."
"Goodbye, Prince Charming." Snow smirked and sketched a small curtsy in return.
Charming grinned. "I told you. It's David."
Snow adopted a thoughtful pose. "Nah, still like Charming better." «Although David is a vast improvement on James.»
«You're just saying that.» His thought came through with almost genuine embarrassment. «But thank you.»
"No, really. James means usurper. So whoever named him knew that he was not the rightful King. David means beloved. I bet you, my Charming, are beloved by all who know you. Except, apparently, King George." She shrugged. "But you can't have everything."
"Are you sure you haven't met my mother?"
"Why?"
"That's one of her favourite catchphrases."
"Must be a generation thing. My father was the same."
"Too bad they never met. They probably would have hit it off."
Snow shuddered. «Sorry, but whilst I'm more than happy to call you Charming, David or even James, I thank the gods that I never had to call you Brother.»
David shuddered in response. «Agreed.»
"Well, I guess this is it."
"I guess so." He threw one arm around her, allowing her to keep hold of her bag. "Bye, Snow."
"Bye, Charming." She gave him one last squeeze before resolutely stepping back. "Just promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"Find a different ring for your betrothed."
"Of course. I don't want her in my head any more than you do."
Snow and Charming exchanged one last watery smile before she turned on her heel and stubbornly headed down the Troll Road towards Phrygia. She could feel David's eyes on the back of her neck as she walked away and she couldn't help but give a little excess swing to the hips as she bathed in his frank appreciation.
Before long, however, the feeling vanished. She paused, cursed herself for a fool, and turned back around, only to see the man had his back to her and was making his way back to King George's Castle. The sight was utterly fascinating. «Charming. David. James. It doesn't matter what you call yourself. You got a great ass.»
David turned his head slightly, but didn't slow down. «Keep talking like that, Princess, and I just might be willing to risk that three-way war.»
Snow shook herself back to reality. «You're right. I'm sorry. I'm out of here.» She turned back around and forced herself to keep going around the bend until he was lost from sight.