Here is chapter four! A little insight into Emma and Ruby's relationship as well as the relationship between Emma and her family (sort of).
Chapter Four – The Trials of Being a Knight and of Being a Princess
"Ruby!" Emma screamed from the edge of the forest. "That is beyond unfair!" The fifteen year old princess tapped her boot on the dusty trail she stood upon. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her blonde curls hung around her shoulders heavily.
"On the contrary." Ruby said from behind her. Emma spun around and glared at the woman in front of her.
"I believe I was leveling the playing field, Princess." Ruby sneered. She looked no different than she had four years ago, except the length of her hair, not that it could be seen as she kept it in a practical bun most of the time.
"I demand a rematch!" Emma said stubbornly; she placed her hands on her hips. Emma was much different, her growth over the years had her looking more like a woman than a teenager.
"And as always, I will win." Ruby stated. Emma rolled her eyes and lifted her arms. Suddenly the trees on the edge of the forest seemed to come to life, uncoiling limbs shot out at Ruby who dodged them quickly, but not quickly enough. The vines wrapped around Ruby's wrists and midsection and lifted her into the air. Emma gave her a triumphant grin and relaxed from her stance and Ruby rolled her eyes at the Princess's premature victory.
"Is that all you've got?" She tipped her chin up defiantly at the younger girl. Emma placed a hand at her hip and cocked an eyebrow in a similar way to the Queen.
"It seems to be doing the job just fine." Emma said. Ruby grinned at that, her eyes shifted to a bright yellow and her canines extended.
"Ruby, no! You're cheating." Emma growled as she stepped her feet apart again letting herself stand steady. She lifted her arms just as Ruby's form splintered the tree's limbs that were wrapped around her slender waist. The black wolf dropped to the ground in front of Emma and the blonde could see clearly that she was smiling at her.
"You haven't won yet, Ruby." The wolf pounced at the sound of her name and Emma threw out her arms. The wolf halted midair, a playful snarl still caught in her muzzle. Emma smiled victoriously.
"Yes!" She cheered. She stepped to the side before releasing the spell and Ruby continued in her trajectory. She landed with a soft thud and quickly changed back to her human form. Her black armor was as it was the day it was made, not a single scratch marred the surface.
"Brava, Princess, very good." Ruby bowed her head. Emma laughed and pulled Ruby into a hug. The young knight stiffened at the gesture of affection and cleared her throat when Emma didn't let go fast enough.
"Oh Ruby, relax, we used to be best of friends, just because you're a knight doesn't mean we cannot still be so." Emma stepped back and rubbed her hands together as if to remove the dust that accumulated.
"I am a knight and you are the Princess," Ruby explained as if either of them had forgotten their place, "and therefore, a friendship cannot be struck between us." Emma rolled her eyes.
"I do not believe that, Regina is friends with Graham." She said.
"If Her Majesty so chooses, she can befriend any persons she wishes, my commanding officer is among the small pool of trusted advisors of the Dark Queen and he is wise as he is loyal." Ruby turned on her heel and started heading back to the castle.
"Now come, Princess, it is time for tea with the Queen." Ruby instructed. Emma glared at the retreating back of her former sister. She extended her arms slowly and Ruby froze.
"Princess!" The werewolf exclaimed in outrage. "Release me at once!" Emma walked around the knight and clucked her tongue.
"Now, Ruby, you must know never to turn your back on an enemy." She chastised. Ruby stared at the young lady before her. The blonde walked slowly and threateningly back and forth in front of the frozen knight.
"I was unaware that we were enemies." Ruby spat. Emma chuckled, looking every bit the regal queen she was being groomed to be. Even in her riding attire, she looked like royalty. She clasped her hands gently behind her back and turned to face Ruby, her head tilted up so she was looking down at her.
"Well, we are not friends, according to you." She began pacing again. "So I don't exactly know what else we would be."
"I am a knight and –"
"And I am the Princess." Emma finished for the brunette. "Yes, I am all too mindful of that. However, that does not tell me what we are." She stopped again directly in front of Ruby.
"We are not friends, nor enemies, we surely aren't lovers," her voice dipped low as she caressed Ruby's cheek.
"Of course not, you share a bed with the Queen." Ruby growled. Emma's eyes seemed to turn black at this statement and suddenly Ruby was struggling to breathe.
"Princess," Ruby pleaded wide eyed.
"Apologize." Emma's voice was low and thick with anger. "Now." She ordered. Ruby saw no room for argument.
"My…" she choked out, "deepest," another gasping breath, "apologies," a sputtering inhalation, "Princess." She finished. The hold around her throat tightened slightly before disappearing completely, as did the hold on her body. She fell to her hands and knees gasping and holding her throat. Emma bent down and lifted Ruby's chin so she could look into her eyes.
"You will never speak of your Queen that way." Emma said digging her nails into Ruby' skin. "You know absolutely nothing." She reminded. "Not that you have any right to the knowledge, but Regina and I are merely friends and I seek comfort from her from nightmares that have plagued me." Emma said.
"Yes, Your Highness." Ruby said. "I am most sorry." The woman said.
"Stand Knight Ruby." Emma instructed and the werewolf did as she was told.
"I am going to tea, you will report to your training for five hours and you will return to your quarters for the rest of the day and you will eat your meal in silence. You very obviously need to have a repeat lesson in self-control and tact." Emma ordered. Ruby bowed her head.
"Of course, Your Highness." She said respectfully.
"Oh, and Ruby, what you are insinuating, you are completely wrong about. You shouldn't allow your jealousy to cloud your judgment so. It could get you into trouble." Emma warned. Ruby stayed silent and waited for Emma to leave and enter the castle before groaning and sprinting to the training barracks. She knew the Queen would be furious at her for upsetting her precious Princess.
She honestly had not tried to do so, they got along on most occasions but whenever Ruby was too frank or quick to speak the Princess would be even quicker to enact punishment on the knight.
Emma stood outside the terrace where Regina sat waiting for her. With a quick wave of her hand Emma was wearing a beautiful dark blue dress. It accentuated her budding curves and her hair was twisted up into a stylish chignon. When she stepped outside Regina's eyes lit up.
"Emma," she breathed the name softly, "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show, I witnessed your little display with Knight Ruby." She said. Emma tensed; she knew the Queen disliked when she used magic other than learning and when necessary.
"Yes, well, it was essential that she be dealt with, she was slandering the crown." Emma stated.
"The crown or myself?" Regina questioned.
"Are you not one in the same?" Emma glided to her seat opposite Regina. The servants moved quickly to pour the women's tea the way they liked it.
"Emma, you realize you are furthering the gap between you two every time you punish Ruby for speaking her mind?" The Queen stirred her tea slowly while she watched Emma.
"If she insists on pointing out our status every chance she can then I will cement it in her mind, if she sees it that way, then who am I to change her view? If she chooses to see me as her superior then she will obey me." Emma shrugged with an air of nonchalance. Regina stopped stirring and placed the spoon in her mouth, slowly pulling it from between her lips. Emma frowned and looked at Regina sadly.
"Why does she see me as such? I have changed naught of me; she however pulled away on the eve of my eleventh." Emma said softly, remorsefully. Regina placed her spoon on the table and reached across to take Emma's hand.
"Ruby understands much of the world's dynamic; however, I do agree, she is fighting much too hard to separate herself from you." Regina stated carefully. Damn that wolf for upsetting Emma. Again.
"I do tire of her incessant need to order me about as if I were a child." Emma sipped at her tea as daintily as a princess could.
"Yes, you are far from a child now." Regina murmured. Emma smiled.
"My Queen?" She ventured. Regina nodded to demonstrate her allowance.
"May we cut this tea time short? I've suddenly remembered I've a place to be." She said. Regina let a small smile shift over her face.
"Yes, my dearest, be off with you." She said. Emma stood and bowed to the Queen before taking Regina's hand and kissing her knuckles lightly.
"Thank you, gracious Queen." She smiled and ran from the room. Regina smiled as Emma's skirt disappeared through the door. The Princess would never fail to make her smile.
Emma burst through the East side of the castle and ran down the main corridor. The clicking of her heels on the marble floor echoed around the unused hall. She kept her breathing even and her eyes flicked around to ensure there were no others to intrude upon her solitude. She was fearful of getting caught in the forbidden section of the castle but that was an entirely different matter. What she was doing in the forbidden section was of much bigger consequence should she be discovered. Her heart pounded hard in her chest from the physical exertion and the adrenaline running through her veins. She skittered to a stop outside a set of doors. She pushed them open and found a room filled with mirrors. Most of them were covered but there was a large one in the center of the room that was revealed, the moth-eaten blanket that had covered it was thrown onto the floor. Emma had forgotten to recover it when she had lost track of time during her last stint here and she had to hurry to her evening lessons.
Emma entered the room slowly as if the dozens of mirrors would come to life and attack her. She closed the door and walked up to the uncovered mirror until she was staring at her own reflection. The image in front of her shimmered for a moment before disappearing completely. Before her was the grand hall of the White Castle. Prince James stood in front of his beaming parents as he tried to hold his new sword; a birthday gift from his father. He lifted it in front of him. Emma couldn't help herself and a frown stretched over her lips as she sank to her knees. When she turned seven she had asked her father if she could have a sword for her eighth birthday as was customary for a young prince but Snow White quickly shot down that notion as it wasn't ladylike.
Regina gave her a sword for her eighth birthday. The Queen had the philosophy that everyone deserved to know how to defend themselves, even Princesses. She also attended more than half of Emma's lessons before the instructor suggested Regina refrain from visiting or at the very least keep her presence hidden, seeing as Emma was constantly distracted by the Queen.
Emma's fingers twitched and suddenly the tip of the sword in James' hands fell to the ground with a dull clink.
"Ma, it's too heavy!" James grunted before trying to lift it unsuccessfully. Emma chuckled to herself.
"Maybe you're too young for a sword, little boy." She said aloud to the room of mirrors.
"Aren't you a little old for these kinds of games?" A smooth voice said from behind her. Emma froze. The spell she had on the young Prince's sword was released and his arms flew into the air and with it the weapon which, in his shock, he let go of and it soared across the room and lodged itself into a the wall. The Dark Queen chuckled and stepped farther into the room.
"That is quite humorous though." She commended, her hand coming to rest atop the kneeling Princess's hair. The picture in front of them shimmered until it was the reflection of the shamed princess and her Queen.
"Your Majesty." Emma bowed her head. What sort of punishment would her Queen decree for her disobedience?
"Relax, Princess." Regina said and her words eased the tension from Emma's shoulders. "I should have considered your curiosity." She said quietly. "You come here often." It was a statement, not a question, the Queen was sure of herself, she knew of Emma's escapades to the forbidden section of the castle.
"Yes, my Queen." Emma agreed.
"Do you wish to return?" Regina asked, a mask falling over her features to hide her roiling emotions from the girl.
"No!" Emma burst out, "I would never desire to leave you." She vowed as she stood up.
"You will understand that I now have to move these mirrors to another part of the castle, and that you are not to go looking for them." Regina ordered. Emma nodded her head.
"Yes, Your Majesty." She said. Regina smiled softly at her charge.
"That's my girl." She threaded her hands through the curls. "Now come, I have a new lesson to teach you." Regina said as she guided the girl from the room. She closed the door and they walked down the hall. She had no plans of relocating the mirrors and instead knew the girl would never return to that room again. She smiled to herself.
Emma was all hers.
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