Day 4: Mistaken for a Couple
"What are you talking about, of course I'm awake" I so should have realized that the dream was over when I woke up with her in my arms asking me about our dream wedding, it didn't happen… it will never happen. She's with Robin Hood, get it into you skull Swan she will never be yours! I splash water onto my face to try and calm my nerves, my heart is broken and I keep breaking all the pieces into smaller bits by letting crap like this morning happen in my mind. She is with Forest boy and nothing is going to change that for her. Knocking could be heard from the front door of the small cottage from inside the bathroom, so I put on my clothes as fast as possible.
"Regina, who's at the door?" As soon as I walk out of the bathroom I see a woman not much older than myself in the doorway introducing herself to Regina. It has been a while since I was last here but I know that face anywhere. Aoife Alvilda, pronounced as ee-fa Al-vill-duh, an Elvin warrior princess I met when I was younger, she helped make this place, her people are the ones I entrusted to keep it safe. She looks exactly the same as she did when I was 14. "Aoife, is that really you?" She looks at me for a moment then she smiles.
"Emma, you have grown beautifully. Where have you been all this time?" I smile back, it really is her!
"Emma, you know her?" Right Regina, she's never been here before. I nod and smile back at them both. My two friends in this room together, it's a bit weird for me but it does make me a bit happy I guess. When I look to Regina she seems a bit pissed off honestly, maybe she's still mad about what happened earlier. "Get ready for the day so we could check out the town?"
"What we need to do is find a way back home to our son, Miss Swan." She heads into the bathroom all huffy and pissed as usual. I screwed up again.
"At any rate, what are you doing here" I ask Aoife with the slightest bit of suspicion. She only smiles wider and glances back at the door Regina disappeared through.
"Well, Sena told me you were staying at her cottage and I just had to see for myself. In her old age she sometimes can't tell apart her visions from reality. But you really are here! I have been waiting for you to come back for ages!"
"Sorry, I've had a pretty busy life and it's only getting busier. I heard that there is a new ruler in the kingdom, what are they like?"
"Oh that horrid man cannot be qualified as your kingdoms ruler, he is waging war at every opportunity causing many lives, higher taxes, and because of his greed the kingdoms population is mostly in impoverished condition. We can't afford another war, there are no more willing to go fight for him, those that could flee have come to this isolated part of the land to rebel against his reign. If he were to remain ruler this kingdom will fall to barbarians and overlords from neighboring lands. We have already lost the sacred city and the rich lands to the far north to his irresponsibility."
"This isn't good, the sacred city was my haven when I was not in this village, and the rich lands were what were used to feed the people of this kingdom. How could a ruler let his people down like this?"
"That isn't the worst part, we may lose the people of the west villages to the invading lords and we just fought off a horde of bandits and barbarians just a fortnight ago. The guardians have turned against us, they kill anyone on site now, and there is no way to get them back under control. We have very few numbers to help go against the royal army and not to mention very few assassins willing to take the job. We are running out of time, and it seems the people have no hope left."
"Sounds like Emma has to be the savior once again" Regina's voice came from behind me, how long was she there? "Well Miss Swan, what are you going to do? Should I look for a way back on my own while you play hero?" Oh great sass, just what I needed to make my morning complete.
"Regina, I really don't have time for your sarcastic remarks, let's just check out the situation and who knows we might actually find a way back home." She makes that face that says I'm not impressed Miss Swan, the one she usually gives to people when they say something she doesn't care for.
"Fine, lead the way oh fearless savior" Damn sarcastic mouth of hers, why do I love it so much?! Fine two can play at this game!
"Why thank you Your Majesty" I usher Aoife out the front door and let Regina trail behind. Aoife starts to giggle and tries to hide it but is really bad at it.
"Sorry, your relationship is adorable, how long have the two of you been married?" WHAT!? How the hell can she tell I have a thing for Regina? Wait did she just ask how long we've been married?
"Excuse me?! Miss Swan and I are certainly not married; where in the hell did you get that idea?" Oh crap! She's pissed, what do I do? Aoife will surely did herself a grave if she answers that.
"Well the playful banter and the arguing like an old married couple did lead me to the conclusion but it must be a well-founded friendship between the two of you to joke around like that." Shit! Aoife, why can't you read the hostile air around you? Regina's gonna kill her.
"Regina, calm down I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it besides we do act like family because we are family." Did I just put myself in the grave?
"Well Miss Swan you and your friend here have a point." Then she walks off, just like that. No fireballs, no arguing, no sarcastic remark. What the hell just happened?
We follow Regina into the town, awkward silence ensues. At least it's awkward for me anyways. Regina has never acted the way she did before, how am I supposed to react to that? I mean obviously I'm happy there was no fireballs threaten to my person but should I be concerned?
My attention was taken from my inner musings when Regina cleared her throat and looked at me expectantly. We were in town square and all the people were staring at us, more specifically at me. This just got more awkward.