RECOMMENDATION: I highly recommend you to visit the website BEFORE reading the story. Better you see the map and take a look to their Coat of arms, banners, weapons and extra stuff that will help you to understand better this story.
my site (I think it's important you see all the extras before reading this)
AN: This is a huge story where you will be able to read Emma and Regina growing up until they become queens.
You will be able to read a lot about Snow and James, how they met, how they created the Council and how they raised their daughter Emma. The same happens with Regina and her family.
If you are expecting to read a quick story with Emma and Regina at the begining, this is not the case hehe. You need to read this to understand the whole plot and Emma and Regina's relationship. Hope you enjoy it guys.
This trilogy is dedicated to:
- My wife, thank you for listening to all my crazy ideas and encouraging me every day for these three months and the seven years we are together! It's beautiful to share with you all the things we have in common and being always in the same fandom.
Your support means a lot. I do love you my little blondie, for everthing you do for me. For making the coffee when I am on the computer, for your support all those hard days and all the things you already now.
All my videos wouldn't be possible without you. You are the strength I need. You are my everything, my soulmate.
- ApplesADay, I don't know how to write all what I want you to say... thank you for helping me with this fanfic, for editing the story (I know it's not been easy! Although you understand and share my point of view, I know it's not been easy)
Thank you for being there every second of the day and for being so patience listening to all my ideas and seeing all the fanart, the map and so on, you are a sweetheart. There are no words enough to make you know how much I appreciate all this.
(I am not going to explain how much you mean to me as friend, because you already know that, as beta you are a 10, but as a friend you are infinite of those 10! hehe)
Thank you love! Love you.
- Fyval, this idea started with you. You came to my life when I really wanted to give up, when I wanted to stop making videos.
But you sent me that message and everything changed for me. You gave me back that passion for all this.
You are an amazing friend and a talented swen too, without your music I'd be lost those days and it's been healing me more than you will ever know.
Thank you for that and for being there every. single. day. Can't wait to meet you soon and give you that hug!
- Fyval & ApplesADay, well my ladies, thank you both, for being my rock! for all your DAILY support, for your patience when I showed you all the fanart and crazy ideas related to this story! Love you both! you are amazing friends (no words to explain how much this means to me!) TripleSWENS!
Note for all those anons:
Well dear anons and some other haters too, THANK YOU, thanks for sending all those messages when you told me I couldn't do a story like this, when you told me that better I have an accident and I can't use my hand to make fanart or videos and thank you to those people who is talking behind my back.
Thank you because you made me stronger, you will never let me down and if you feel threatened, think twice before saying all those things about me, because you can be sure it's not because of me, it's because of yourself.
I don't do this for recognition, I don't make what other people want to watch or read, I do this because I have this idea and I want to make it real, I do this for me (and for all the people who support all what I do) and I really don't mind if you don't like this story. This is the difference between you and me dear anons!
Again, thank you! Enjoy this story and be welcome to Arauwen!
Over a thousand years ago, the king of Arauwen let himself be consumed by greed and power, and allowed the darkness to take control over him. He subdued all the people in his land, leaving Arauwen in complete poverty.
The twelve dynasties of reigning leaders within Arauwen met in secret, and they formed a plan to overthrow King Robyn and retake control over the land. Their plan was a success, and once the dust had settled, these twelve dynasties divided Arauwen into eleven kingdoms so that not one single leader could subdue everyone in the land again.
The two most powerful dynasties decided to form one solitary kingdom, in the West. Darg was the largest territory in Arauwen and for that reason needed two kings, one in the east and the other in the west. They were the race of men, and despite their magicless appearance and seeming mundane skillset, they were a force to be reckoned with.
The kingdom of Keridwen also formed in the West, next to Darg. They were the clan of wizards and witches and formed a powerful dynasty that supported Darg in any endeavours they required.
To the south-west, in the desert, Arahal emerged, the clan of shamans. To the east, there was Rhirar, the kingdom of giants; the kingdom of Alkia, where dwarves resided; in Deryth brave elves dwelled; Cedeus housed the clan of werewolves; there was also Saleth, the clan of witches, and finally, in the Enchanted Forest, there lived magical creatures.
In the North, Narekath defended the border between East and West; they were the kingdom of the brave Amazons, and in the southern islands was Aserith, the kingdom of mermaids who could become human at their will.
Within all these kingdoms, humans and clans lived together in peace for hundreds of years until Maleficent, the self-proclaimed queen of darkness, formed an army to subdue each kingdom and rule Arauwen.
Maleficent and her army begun her attack from the east, quickly heading to the west. The darkness devastated everything its path, destroying every castle, every village, killing everyone that opposed her.
The queen and king of Darg opened their gates to shelter refugees who managed to escape, as well as the rest of Kings and Queens from other kingdoms.
Before Maleficent could reach Darg, Queen Snow and King James decided to congregate the leaders of the eleven kingdoms to trace a plan to defeat the darkness. They were known as the kingdom of Light, so if anyone could resolve this matter and defeat the darkness, it would be them.
All of them sat at the Round Table. They were nervous and fear ran through their veins. Maleficent and her army were gaining ground and they couldn't waste any more time. Queen Snow was the first to speak.
"The darkness is coming but we have a chance if we fight all together as one."
"Maleficent destroyed our entire kingdom, our strongest army! We are powerless against her!" shouted the king of the Enchanted Forest.
"I understand. But all together, we are strong enough to win this war," Snow countered.
"It's not possible. She has magic and her dragons!" implored the king of Arahal.
The Kings and Queens of all the kingdoms began to shout all at once, giving their opinions on the matter, their voices echoing all over the large room. Queen Snow looked at them trying to find the right words to interject at a respectable time.
"Enough!" shouted Henry, the King of Keridwen. Everyone quietened at his voice, and looked to him expectantly. "We have magic in our kingdom. We are wizards and witches so we know how to use it to our advantage. Queen Snow is right. We have a chance if we fight together. I am in. You have my sword Queen Snow, and my army, King James."
Queen Snow smiled. "Anyone else?" Suddenly the rest of the Kings and Queens did the same. Arahal, Deryth, Cedeus, Rhirar, Aserith, Alkia, Saleth and the Enchanted Forest united themselves to Darg and Keridwen.
The nine leaders stood up and as a symbol of their loyalty, they all put their swords on the table in front of their seats, the tip of the blades facing the middle.
However, the Queen of the Amazons was the only one who did not join in, she was still not convinced that joining them would be beneficiary to her.
Her kingdom had to be impartial because they protected the border and prevented enemies from crossing.
They also had to protect the island of The White Shrine and the Apple Tree of Wisdom located to the north of the land.
"Queen Snow, we have to be impartial, we can't fight for anyone in this land," she spoke up, looking to the Queen of Darg.
Snow nodded in understanding. "I am aware of that. But this is an extraordinary measure. This is not a war between two kingdoms. This is a war against all the land and peace has to be restored again. This would affect even your kingdom, as well as the people within it."
The Queen of the Amazons stared at Snow and James. And the silence spoke volumes.
"I see. In this case, you have my sword too. But there's a condition. Half of my amazons will be in Karekath to protect the border, and therefore won't be available," she acquiesced.
"Agreed," King James nodded.
The Queen and King of Darg looked to each other and then regarded the rest of the Round table. They had just established what would henceforth be known as The Council of the Eleven Swords to join the eleven kingdoms under a single mandate during the war.
Meanwhile, Maleficent just focused on her target, the total annihilation of Arauwen as it was known, and to recreate it in her image of darkness. Blood and death covered almost all the land in her wake.
The Queen of darkness arrived to Darg and so began the cruelest battle that had ever occurred in Arauwen. Thousands of warriors perished and villages were devastated.
Queen Snow and King James, along with the rest of the Council, faced off against Maleficent with everything they had, from swords all the way to magic. The most powerful sorcerers, bravest warriors, Amazons, strong giants and dwarfs, elves and wizards defeated the darkness with their combined efforts. They claimed their victory and Maleficent, rather than concede defeat, rode off on her esteemed black dragon and left Darg.
"This is not over," said King James to the rest of the Council when they met once more at the Round table after they had reassured themselves that Maleficent had left for good. "Maleficent is hidden in the Dragon Pits and she will want her revenge. We won today but maybe we won't next time."
His wife stood up and added, "We agreed this Council would be dissolved after the war. But we can't do this now. This Council is necessary to maintain the peace in Arauwen."
"What do you suggest?" asked the Queen of the Amazons.
"We should reunite on each solstice to discuss new laws or changes among others in the land. We won't allow something like Maleficent's attack to happen again. We need more men and women in our army. We need to be stronger than now. The darkness has to be contained. Are we all agreed?"
"Agreed," they all answered.
The people of Arauwen enjoyed a period of prosperity and peace. The aftermath of a war can unite people as one. Warriors, knights, peasants and villagers worked together to rebuild every kingdom after Maleficent had devastated all that they possessed.
However, in the Dragon Pits, to the North-east of the land, ogres, giants and slaves were building a castle.
Six thin, square towers formed a protective barrier all around the castle. They were connected with reinforced thick dark green stone walls.
Tall windows were scattered haphazardly across the walls, allowing the meagre sunlight that reached the pits to filter in.
Huge statues of two intimidating stone dragons decorated the bridge outside, serving as reminders of her power.
Maleficent was forming a new army to defeat her enemies and kill all the members of the Council. She was hurt, she wanted revenge. How dared they band together to defeat her, especially after her display of her might. They should ally with her for her power, not with the kingdom of the Light. What a pitiful excuse of a kingdom, she got a bad taste in her mouth just thinking about them. She looked forward to the day she would get to rebrand it as the kingdom of the Darkness.
The Queen of Darkness came into the main room and looked at her beautiful throne. The slaves had done a good job with it. She walked slowly across the room. When she was in front of her throne, she extended a hand to touch its surface. It had been built with the bones of all the peasants, warriors, elves, dwarfs and wizards she had killed in the war against the Council of the Eleven Swords; she only could smile while her fingers were slipping through every bone, remembering how many people and creatures she killed with her own bare hands.
Maleficent sat down, resting her arms on both sides of the throne, still caressing the surface, dreaming of the day she would get to add Snow and James' bones in her beautiful throne.
"My Queen, here is the potion you wanted." A tiny old man gave her a bottle with a deep purple potion on it. He was shaking, wracked with nerves. Maleficent's temper was well-known by her servants, and if she was not happy, they'd suffer the consequences.
The Queen grabbed the little bottle and looked inside, swirling it slowly. "You better hope it works… for your own sake…"
"It will my beautiful and powerful queen."
She smirked, took her staff and got up from her throne. The old servant bowed when Maleficent walked by his side.
"Follow me, my little one," she commanded, not sparing him another look, knowing he would follow if he knew what was good for him.
"Of course my beautiful and evil majesty."
The wrinkled old servant was moving slowly down the hall of Maleficent's half-built new castle.
He walked miserably behind her. His hands were shaking and he couldn't stop thinking about the potion he had so skillfully prepared with the ancient spell that Maleficent had given to him.
"If you value your life, this better work. I need this plan to succeed and defeat that council once and for all."
"And you will do it my great splendiferousness" added the old man, rubbing his calloused hands
"Bring in the prisoner!" cried the old man to the two soldiers standing guard at the door.
Both soldiers came into the room holding a man gagged and bound.
The poor prisoner tried to jerk his way around the vice grip, itching for the slightest window of opportunity to escape, but the two soldiers threw him to the ground roughly. With a muffled cry, he fell on his knees with a sickening crunch.
As he gingerly tried to get up, the first thing he saw were a pair of beautiful black heels. He kept looking up, his apprehension morphing into terror as he saw Maleficent clutching her staff.
"Hello dear," she greeted with a wicked smirk.
The two soldiers moved forward and grabbed him by the shoulders, and the prisoner began growling and trying to squirm out of this place that became his little personal hell.
"The potion," Maleficent firmly ordered.
The old man jumped at the deep voice of his beloved queen. Maleficent's slave took the potion that was on the table and knelt before his queen.
"Here you have it, my sparkling luminescence," he whispered, raising his bony arms with the potion in his calloused hands.
"Are you suggesting I give him the potion? What are you waiting old fool? Feed it to him!"
He opened his eyes and pure terror was reflected on them. "Yes, yes of course, my queen."
The thin man stood and made his way to the poor scared peasant. He ripped away the gag and took advantage of the prisoner beginning to bellow for help to grab his chin to keep his mouth opened, and poured the purple liquid into it.
The peasant stopped thrashing and yelling. The slave looked hesitantly to Maleficent and she did nothing but smile mischievously "Wait, be patient. Guards, you may release him."
They did as she ordered, while the bony old man looked at the peasant suspiciously as he slowly rose.
Both soldiers took a step back after the man got up. As the peasant came to stand in front of the queen, he lifted his chin and his eyes turned black.
"My queen," the peasant said with a guttural voice.
"Tell me, what you intend to do now?" she asked with a barely hidden grotesque excitement.
"Ending the council and killing the king and queen of Darg," he monotonously responded.
"Excellent," Maleficent smiled. Then she turned to the soldiers and said, "Kill him."
Both soldiers acted efficiently and once more grabbed the peasant before heading out the door. A great silence formed after they left the room.
"My queen-" the slave began.
"Shut it, worm. The time has come and this is time, my plan will succeed."
Maleficent was still not ready to to devastate entire villages in her path. She didn't have a powerful army once again formed quite yet, and she knew she would be defeated in less than two weeks otherwise. Maleficent had to act fast if she wanted her plan worked out.
"Worm, bring me four of my strongest and brave soldiers in my court. Endow them with weapons and potions."
"As you wish my beautiful evil-"
"Do it now and fast" Maleficent interjected, her scream so loud that her voice echoed throughout the castle. "Oh, do not forget to prepare seven more bottles with that potion you concocted earlier. We have a lot of things to do."
