Trigger Warning: Character death/s...well there are swords etc. involved...so it's bound to happen.
A/N: I do not own Once Upon a Time or any recognisable characters.
Also, if you have already read this story...or at least the parts I originally posted...I have changed things around. Changed Emma's status etc. Also, changed the style of writing slightly, so I can complete the story...as my style has change since 2013...the shame I feel for it taking this long to complete...my apologies.
Anyway...on with the story. Thank you to those who return to it and those who are new! Enjoy...I hope.
Another ball. Another self-absorbed man from a high class family. He wasn't a prince, so she knew nothing would come of this (thankfully) but she smiled politely, just how her mother had taught her. His name was, actually she couldn't recall his name. All she knew was that his palms were sweaty, his nose was disproportionate to his face and his foot work was atrocious.
By the end of the musical piece, the princess was sporting rather sore toes and her irritation was becoming difficult to mask. Thankfully one of the kingdom's squires politely cut in and whisked the princess away.
The blonde softly hummed a melody, complementing the new instrumental piece as the pair glided across the floor.
The princess' hand rested upon a shoulder whilst the squire's held her waist. Their other hands remained clasped between their bodies. Steady heart rhythms beat in unison. An ear pressed against the coarse material of a uniform covered shoulder.
Oblivious to the other dancers and the crowd on the outskirts of the dance floor, the two women slightly pulled apart. Green orbs locked onto warm brown as pale lips formed a familiar lop sided grin.
An oversized hand gripped onto the blonde's shoulder jerking her backwards; causing her to collide with another pair who were circulating the floor. The mountain of a man, sporting a scruffy beard and a sneer, took over for the blonde. He placed his hands on the princess' hips. His name was William, Head Knight of the Royal Guard. He was also more than twice the princess' age.
With a sinister gleam in his eye and a pungent odour on his breath, William announced to the princess, "You don't need to take pity on that filthy harlot, your highness. Her place is with the dogs. I don't know why the Queen allows such riff raff to dance with her precious daughter," the knight stated.
"She will be a knight, just like you. Will she not?" Princess Regina cocked her eyebrow.
The man snorted, "Our King made a poor judgement when he allowed that thing to join our ranks. Women are not knights and women should not dance with princesses or women alike."
The princess had had enough but her struggles against the stocky brute were to no avail. Her face contorted with disgust as the knight meshed their bodies closer together. As his hand slid down the princess' gown to grope at her rear he felt a tap on his shoulder. With a snarl he turned his head to be met with a pale fist to his face. The crack of his nose being broken was easily heard. As blood lightly trickled over his mouth, he growled and lunged for the blonde.
His lumbered movements were no match for the blonde's swift counter attack. Another two blows to William's face sent the knight onto his back, out cold. The immediate crowd stood back in shock. Thankfully the Queen was oblivious as she spoke with the guests at her table.
A pale hand sporting red knuckles with swelling starting to show reached out, palm up and waited. The princess' slender fingers skimmed across the palm before curling to grip the offered hand. A small smile graced the blonde's face as soft pink flushed olive cheeks. The princess followed her lead through the crowd, making a hasty exit.
The pair briskly walked along the corridor in a comfortable silence, passing lit torches every so often. In all honesty, the blonde had no idea where she was leading them to; she hadn't spent a lot of time within this wing of the castle. The noise of the room filled with royals, knights, honoured guests and musicians slowly faded away as the two women continued to move along. Just after a turn into another corridor, a tug at the blonde's wrist brought her to a stop.
Glancing at the princess she asked with concern, "My Queen?"
With a slight nod in the direction of the door to her right, "These are my chambers, Knight."
"Squire." The blonde corrected.
"Are you coming in or would you rather stand out here?"
The smirking blonde followed the princess into the waiting darkness.
LINE BREAK LINE BREAK
An orange hue began to light up the princess' room. Calloused fingers trailed up and down a soft, olive toned arm which lay across a scarred torso. Dark brown locks splayed across the blonde's chest. The silence in the room was broken as the princess hummed with content.
"Better than that big nosed, fumbling moron? I'm surprised you didn't lose an eye when he turned to speak to you," the blonde spoke with disgust.
"Mmm," which more so sounded like "I suppose", came from the lips pressed to her throat.
"Mmm? MMM?" the squire growled as she unleashed a frenzy of fingers into the brunette's sides causing an outburst of laughter and short gasps, desperate for air.
Rolling over the brunette to straddle her waist, the blonde continued her attack.
"Tell me that I'm better," the blonde ordered, failing to hide her smile as tears formed in the princess' eyes.
"Say it. Say I'm better," her tone almost came as a whine.
"You're … better. Much better … dear … much," was voiced between the fits of laughter.
The tickle onslaught ceased.
Sitting back with her hands resting on toned thighs, the blonde flashed her signature lopsided grin, "I knew it."
With her chest still slightly heaving, the brunette rolled her eyes playfully; a smirk of her own gracing her full lips. A pale finger brushed a stray dark lock behind an ear before tracing down along a jaw line. Green eyes stared into molten brown with complete adoration.
The seemingly endless moment the two shared was broken with the princess' soft admission, "I love you, Emma."
It was the first time those words had been uttered out loud by either of them. Sudden warmth swelled within Emma's chest which slowly spread throughout the rest of her body. It only enhanced what she had admitted to herself after five months of being a Page in the Mill's kingdom and that had been six years ago.
"And I you, my Queen."
The princess lightly slapped the blonde's thigh, "I keep telling you, I'm just a Princess."
Cradling Regina's face between her hands, Emma bent down to hover just above her lips. Her blonde, unruly curls cascaded about them; shielding them from the outside world. The brunette felt her knight's warm skin flush against her.
Regina's heartbeat accelerated as the blonde whispered, "No. You will always be, my Queen."
AN: Chapter 1 down...phew... Reviews? What do you think? All reviews, faves and follows are greatly appreciated :)