CHAPTER 2


Having left to resume his post by the front entrance, Beren left Emma alone to make her decision, reminding her of the time. Pacing the windowless cell, running her fingers through her hair in frustration, the captured knight sat with a creaky thump on the worn cot and rested her head against the cool stone wall.

"She can win her war by holding me hostage. Maybe ransoming me for something she may want... Or she can go ahead and execute me..." The blonde thought to herself. "But why hide me instead of allowing the White Guards to find me?" She thought, her brow wrinkling in confusion. "There must be something more...something much more valuable to her than my demise for her to give me the choice of life or death... But what?" The Princess thought to herself wracking her brain to come up with a solution.

Moments later the echoing of footsteps too hard to be the Queen's sounded just outside the door, closely followed by a rough entry of a key and the loud clang of the iron door opening and slamming against the stone wall behind it. " I thought it too good to be true... But the 'White Knight' has finally been captured..."


Drawing his sword, only to watch as The Queen flicked her hand to the side sending it soaring through the air, King James took a step toward the woman as Snow exited the carriage. "Regina why are you here?" Snow asked before James had the chance to speak.

"I assumed you knew, dear." The Queen answered, holding her left hand out to keep the guards frozen in place.

"I've no patience for your games, Regina. What are you doing here?" James growled, staring daggers at the smug looking brunette in front of him.

Smirking at his typical outburst, The Queen looked from Snow to him and laughed softly to herself. "I forgot to mention to you earlier, though you must think me dense not to have noticed... You seem to have forgotten someone back at the palace." She stated, watching the pair of them. "Your guard, Delian, the one who was so eager to 'betray' you and come fight for me... Did you not think I would catch on to what he was doing?" She asked, raising her eyebrow slightly as Snow and James kept their gazes locked on the woman.

"You've gone mad. Yes, he betrayed us but after he did we could only assume you had him executed." James replied, clenching his jaw to force himself to focus and keep his expression neutral.

Earning himself a laugh, The Queen waved her right hand to reveal a stack of letters addresses to the White Kingdom. "Correct me if I'm wrong but are these not addressed to 'His and Her Majesty King James and Queen Snow White'?" She read, watching as the two shifted uncomfortably. "Your attempt at harboring a spy in MY kingdom was unwise. Especially one who wanted nothing more than to take the place of your precious daughter." She added, flicking the stack of letters at the stunned royals and laughing at their failed attempt to hide their shock. Stepping closer to them, their guards still frozen in place, the Queen looked directly at James "Send another spy or start another battle, and I can assure you that your legacy will end with you both." She concluded, her tone having dropped, her words dripping with venom as she disappeared in her signature purple cloud before either of them had a chance to speak.


"Delian?" Emma asked, just barely recognizing the voice of the palace guard standing in the doorway. Removing his helmet the man gave her a curt nod and his signature crooked grin. Average for a soldier at best, the man stared at the woman, his usual jealousy and desire to be greater than she began to creep back as he made his way slowly toward her cell.

"Tell me, Princess. How did you manage to get yourself caught?" He asked, tossing his helmet on the ground and shaking the stray, dirty strands of blonde hair from his face. "Did you get captured on purpose?" He prodded.

Staring at him in disbelief Emma stood slowly, wanting to keep as much distance between the two of them as she could regardless of the bars separating them. "Why... How are you here? I was told you had perished by the Evil Queen's hand during battle."

Laughing Delian shook his head as he stopped right at the bars. "The King and Queen had me pretend to betray them and come work for the witch, as a spy." He explained, looking over the Princess as he spoke. "Now, I wonder..." The grungy guard continued thoughtfully. "... I wonder the shock that would come to the King and Queen when I tell them I've found their precious daughter, but was too late to save her from having her heart torn out and crushed by the Evil Queen herself..." He finished, reaching into his pocket and producing a key to the cell.

"Stay away from me, Delian..." Emma warned, her eyes following his hands as he turned the lock and opened the cell door, pushing it so it clanged loudly.

Completely ignoring her Delian continued to slowly make his way toward Emma, unholstering a dagger from his hip and keeping his maniac blue gaze locked on emerald. "Mother and father aren't here to protect you this time, Princess. I will kill you... And I will become the best knight for the Wh-..." Stopping mid step, a mixture of pain and shock spreading across his face caused Emma to break his gaze and look behind him.

Standing there, right arm outstretched, an unamused expression on her face The Queen wrenched her hand back pulling with it, Delian's heart. "You should know better than to toy with what is mine." The Queen drawled, clenching her fist tight around his heart despite his short protest.

Watching as the man crumpled to the floor, Emma's gaze met the Queen's as she dusted her hands off. "Was that necessary?" The blonde blurted out, receiving a smirk in reply.

"I think the words you were searching for are 'thank you'."

"Thank you." The prisoner sighed before looking at the dead man laying on the floor. Frowning, the blonde looked back up at The Queen and pointed at Delian. "Wait... How did you know he was making an attempt at my life? Did you send him?" She asked confused, just realizing the woman had appeared out of nowhere and just in time to save her.

"I told you, White Knight, I have eyes everywhere." Replied the Queen simply before changing the subject.

"Now tell me, have you made your decision? Or, will you meet your fate as this fool did?" She asked, taking a step closer to the woman, who stood her ground.

Silence passed between the White Knight and the Evil Queen for a few moments, each looking over the other before the Queen spoke once more, her voice low as her gaze met Emma's. "I don't like to be kept waiting."

Letting a few more seconds pass Emma took a breath and nodded, "I will join your army... on one condition." She answered, tensing slightly as she watched the Queens hand raise to her lips, a finger over them as she looked intrigued and raised an eyebrow slightly. Taking it as a cue to go on, the White Knight stood straighter and continued. "I will join your army if you tell me the cause of the war. If I feel your reasoning is just, I shall fight for you against my own kingdom wholeheartedly. Though if I feel you've lied to me..." She paused taking a half step closer to the Queen. "I will end you, or die trying."

"I will do better than tell you. I will show you how this war came to be. In due time." The Queen said turning on her heel and walking toward the exit. "Come. I will not explain a thing to you until you are cleaned and in proper clothing. You smell worse than a peasant." the woman ordered, not bothering to look behind her as she made her way out into the hall.

"What have I gotten myself into..." Emma said quietly to herself before taking a breath and stepping over Delian's lifeless corpse, catching up to the Queen who had already cleared half the hall. "Where will I be staying?" She asked, matching the Queen's stride as they continued through the dungeons.

Glancing at the blonde beside her, the Queen began ascending a long staircase leading up to the main castle. "As you are the only female warrior, you will be given your own quarters away from the rest. And as you are not only the White Knight, but the Princess of the White Kingdom, I will be personally training you."

Frowning slightly Emma stopped just as they entered the grand hall and looked at the Queen. "YOU will be training ME?" She said in disbelief. "In what? The art of heart crushing?"

Turning to look at the woman, the Queen raised an eyebrow slightly and flicked her wrist, sending the blonde crashing to her knees. Walking slowly over to her she used the tip of her finger to raise the blondes chin up to meet her gaze. "Remember that you are in MY kingdom. Therefore you will watch your tongue, unless you'd like return home in an urn with your heart in a box." The Queen threatened, her eyes darkening as her voice lowered ominously. Taking a step back and removing the magical hold on the warrior, the Queen straightened up and continued walking in the direction of the grand staircase. "Come." She ordered as Emma weakly got up on her feet and followed silently.


Having summoned the Blue Fairy the very next morning for help James grumbled to himself as he paced in the meeting room while Snow attempted to reason with her. "There isn't anything you can do to help us, Blue?" Snow all but begged as she looked up at the fairy hovering over the round table. "Nothing at all?"

Flying closer to Snow, Blue shook her head and sighed. "I am sorry, my Queen. I cannot. Each time we attempt to interfere with Regina's plans, another of own is lo-" the fairy started before being interrupted by a palace guard entering the room.

Bowing messily and clearly out of breath the guard looked to Snow, James, and the Blue Fairy apologetically before speaking. "Apologies your majesties, but there is something urgent you need to see at the front gates." He managed between breaths as the three others exchanged looks and rose from their seats.
Following the guard through the many corridors of the brightly lit castle, the Blue Fairy was the first to catch sight of the emergency.

Laying on the ground in the Evil Queens guard uniform, lay the cold body of Delian at the foot of the castle doors, hands clasped around his waist with a note tucked in between them.

"'Nice try. -R.'" James read aloud, having slipped the note from the note from the dead mans hands. Crumpling the note in his hands he tossed it to the ground before looking at the two women behind him. "I no longer care what it takes, we will defeat the witch and make her pay for all she's done."