Emma was always used to rising with the sun, whether heralded awake by her natural sleep schedule or the roosters that cried in the mornings. She was used to curling into a small ball where the straw was softest, used to being shaken awake by Ruby in the mornings, used to the puddles collected on the dirty floors after a particularly bad storm.
This morning however, was something that she would have never been able to get used to, even if she tried.
The glass room contracted the light of the morning sun into rainbows cast against the walls and ceilings. Emma hadn't the heart to close the balcony doors the night before, appreciating the sound of the waves and view of the stars as she drifted off to sleep. For the first time in her life she wasn't sharing a small mattress with other children or huddled up on a lumpy hay pile, chilled to the bone. She was sprawled on silk and feathers, only realizing how much pain her neck had been her entire life now that the strain was absent. Captain Jones would probably never understand what a gift like this meant to her.
Especially for today.
Twenty eight. Twenty eight years of loneliness and solitude and thievery, and here she was in a palace room in a far off land thanks to a handsome Navy Captain. This was almost too storybook fairytale, almost too… magical. She pinched herself. She was awake. And also ready to start the day.
Emma hadn't bothered changing out of her dress for sleep. What had been intended as a test lay-down for the bed ended up being a trap of comfort that would not allow her the chance to move for the next few hours, and she drifted off to sleep in peace despite the dirty gown. Ready to heed Marian's advice and try to find the servants quarters she never actually showed up to for breakfast, Emma rolled off the bed and planted her feet on the cold, shining, dry marble floor. A prism rainbow cast itself over her feet, and she blushed, remembering how Killian had brashly told her to take off her shoes while they raced to the suite. Her shoes were set by the balcony, and she tiptoed to the sunrise, warm wind brushing her face. Peace- another birthday gift.
A gift swiftly taken away as the door opened.
Emma ran to one of the pillars to hide behind, standing on her tip toes to make herself as long and lean as possible, holding her breath. The door closed, and the sound of sweet humming bounced off the walls, as footsteps drew nearer and nearer. They stopped just a few feet away from her, and the sound of a chair screeching replaced the light sound of music. Something clattered against the table, and then there was a bit of quiet. And then the sound of utensils scraping a plate. And then the sound of… eating?
Emma stepped out from the protection of the pillar and saw a girl around her own age, with long, dark hair. She sat at a table, three long pillar candles freshly lit, and a tray of breakfast under them. She had been just about to take a bite of quail egg when she saw Emma and leapt to her feet, knocking over a bowl of butter.
"Princess Ariel!" she gasped, immediately kneeling into a curtsy. "I didn't think- I mean, I was just… testing your food! For poison!" she almost shouted, trying her very best to hold back a grimace at the unbelievable nature of the very end of her sentence, if it could be called a sentence.
"No, no, I'm not Ariel!" Emma replied, hastily kneeling over to pick up the shattered fragments. She was quickly swatted away by the servant, who had joined her on the marble floor.
"Well then I'm sorry, I must have read the name wrong, I thought this room was to be occupied by different people. I was just bringing them- I mean, you your breakfast and then had to test it for poison- new procedure- please get off the floor your royal-"
"I'm not a royal anything!" Emma exclaimed. "I'm just… I'm just no one. I'm a servant." The other maiden raised a thin eyebrow.
"Oh?" she asked, surprised. Emma nodded.
"Yes. A Navy Captain took me here last night. He said that Princess Ariel and Prince Eric would not be able to come due to storms." The dark haired servant blushed.
"Oh…" she replied, frowning. "Is… is he still here?" she whispered, glancing at the door of the bathroom. It was Emma's turn to go red.
"No! No, I… You see, it's just..." she trailed off, shutting her eyes. What a nightmare. After giving herself a moment, she opened them back up, the other servant and her pale complexion staring back at her. "Can we start over?" Emma offered, reaching out her hand. "I'm Emma Swan." The other girl accepted the gesture and reached out her own hand delicately.
"I'm Snow. Snow White," she replied. Emma couldn't help but smile, Snow's pale skin turning red once again. "I know," she muttered. "It's a… silly name."
"No, I really like it!" Emma replied in earnest. Snow smiled back, picking up the last of the shards of glass on the floor. Emma, never afraid to get her hands dirty, picked up the slab of butter and headed towards a bin to rid of it, wiping off the excess fat on her dress. "I'm really sorry I scared you," she said, walking back towards the table. "I didn't mean to. I met a new friend, and he said that since no one would be here I could steal it for a night instead of the servant's quarters."
Snow, thankfully, seemed to understand.
"I was assigned to help Prince Eric and Princess Ariel through their mornings, afternoons and evenings. As their private servant. And then last minute they couldn't come and I just… didn't ask to be reassigned," she admitted.
Emma was completely impressed. But as much as she wanted to stay, there was work to be done. She gazed off into the sunrise of the balcony one last time before turning back to Snow.
"Well it was really great meeting you, but I have lots of work to do. My Queen probably needs me and I should grab a bite to eat in the Servants' quarters before I meet with her and the rest of her terrible ladies and waiting…. dammit," she muttered the last part, thinking back to Zelena and her gaggle of giggling idiot girlfriends. She really, really didn't want to go back, but duty called.
Or maybe not.
"Oh, there's no bother!" Snow spoke, snapping her out of her reverie. "Prince David's workers, my other servants are taking care of all the morning shifts. For the visiting servants there's a few things planned, like a tour of the palace and of the ballroom since they won't be able to see it at the royal dance tonight. And of course there's breakfast there, but if you'd like…" she gestured down to the huge silver tray prepared with food on the table. "It was made for two, and the Royal meals are much better than ours. You'll have to live without butter but if you'd like friendly company… it seems like your fellow ladies in waiting aren't the most charming people to be around." Emma gaped.
"Seriously?" she asked, and Snow giggled mischievously, which she took as a yes. Shrugging with as much nonchalance as she could manage, Emma sat down at the fine table and lifted the lid off of her plate, eyes lighting up as she found sausages and eggs and mushrooms and fruits… it could have lasted her weeks on any normal day, but this hadn't been a normal night or morning so far, so she decided to try a little of everything. But before she took a bite, she lifted her head to look at Snow. "Is there really a chance that this stuff is poisoned?" she asked. Snow almost choked on her oats.
"Not even a little bit," she replied.
And Emma laughed hard.
It wasn't a long breakfast, as Snow did really have chores to do, but they were able to chat for about fifteen minutes. Snow had been working at the palace for just a year. She originally worked in the mines before the King shut them down for safety issues- they were old and had been collapsing, so His Highness closed them for reconstruction before anyone could get seriously hurt. All of the workers however were given different government jobs in the meantime, and Snow was placed in the Palace. When the mines finally reopened, she asked to keep her place as a maid full time, and they had agreed.
"It wasn't terrible. We found if you just made the best of it, whistling while you worked, and kept a good attitude with your friends the days would speed by. But I like it better here, and I make more money- not that I need it but my friends at the mines do. Some of them get a little sick with the dust being so unpredictable. So I visit Doc when I have free time and read to some of the patients," she explained, pouring some hot cocoa for the two of them, preparing the ingredients like a professional.
"I know how you feel. I'm an orphan, and I do all I can to help the nunnery get through difficult times," Emma replied, taking a sip of the chocolate. She glanced up at Snow in surprise. "Cinnamon?" she asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I should have asked!" the dark haired maid replied, flustered. She reached out to make a new cup but Emma stopped her.
"No! No I'm just... it's my favorite and most people don't like it," she explained. "I love it." Snow smiled in response, and sipped quietly on her own cup, clearly pleased with Emma's cinnamon appreciation.
A light breeze fluttered through through the room, blowing out one of the candles. Emma saw the smoke race from the blackened wick through the air, and without thinking she blew out the other two and made a wish.
"Sometimes the smoke from the fires in the servants quarters can bother me too," Snow spoke sympathetically. But Emma shook her head.
"I wasn't bothered. I just… it's dumb but I was making a birthday wish. I haven't made one since…" Since I stopped believing in magic and fairy tales and happy endings. "Since I moved from the nunnery into my Lady's Palace. The candles just… reminded me." Snow smiled and gave a little "happy birthday" before they continued to eat and discuss Snow's volunteer work in the medical wards by the mines.
She was expected to go very early the next morning to see the Doc she'd mentioned before, but she promised that she'd be back for lunch, and the two decided to meet in the rose gardens after the hectic schedules of ball preparation died down. Emma was, again, very impressed by all that Snow managed to do. She absolutely understood wanting to help others out, but Snow was going about it legally. But it seemed that she had the opportunity to. As an orphan under Regina's rule, Emma didn't make any wages. Her work paid for her lodging and her food.
But she didn't mention this to Snow- every time she had said that she worked for Queen Regina people's reactions had been off-putting. Regina certainly was a little frightening, she had a larger than life personality with a very intense rage, but Emma had no idea that the outside world knew of this reputation as well, maybe even feared it. Of course she could understand it… but then again Regina was the reason Emma had been able to travel to Misthaven in the first place. Surely she couldn't be as evil as people assumed.
As far as Killian was concerned, Her Royal Highness, the Queen Regina, was the most despicable and evil woman in all the realms.
It made him sick when she walked into the east side lounge where David, a much calmer man, awaited her.
"David!" she grinned with undeniable charm, kissing the Prince's cheeks. Killian wanted so very much to remind her that all servants of the king kissed his hand, but Robin was stepping on his foot under the table to remind him not to be a total arse.
"Queen Regina," David smiled. "We're very happy you could join us for my little gathering."
"Little!" she laughed. "Why you've invited everyone from every corner of the Kingdoms. Not that I'm complaining- I love making new friends. New allies."
Robin stepped on Killian's foot with even more force. David was still somehow managing to convey peace.
"If you ever need an introduction, all you need to do is ask," he replied. "My friends are your friends." Killian cleared his throat. Robin stepped on his other foot. Regina ignored them both.
"Well, I really must wish you luck for this gala of yours," Regina smiled. "Lets hope this birthday magic works early and you can find yourself a proper bride. As much as I adore you David, I truly hope you're able to find love. Arranged marriages were all the rage back when we were young, but now they're a little out of fashion. Then again, we know the importance of putting our Kingdoms first."
For a brief moment, the Prince broke his composure with a frown- but only briefly. "Yes. Of course. And if I do, I hope to see you at the wedding, and of course to visit your lovely Kingdom so we may renegotiate the terms of our parents' treaty," he answered gracefully. Regina smiled.
"Well, I'll be at your wedding no matter what the outcome of tonight may be," she replied, turning around. "Thank you, your Highness, for putting all of this together. I'm sure it will be absolutely… delightful," she grinned, before making a bare attempt at a curtsy and leaving the room, two of her guards following.
The doors closed. Killian smacked Robin as he released his foot from his boots, but quickly turned to David to make sure his mate was okay. He looked frazzled, shaking his head before turning to his friends.
"I am not marrying her," he said, sitting down on the couch, head in his hands.
"You won't have to," Robin replied. "You'll find someone at the ball tonight, everyone who is anyone is here. You're bound to find someone you fancy or at least respect, and they'd be daft not to marry you. You're powerful and good-"
"And delightful," Killian added, earning a slap from Robin. "Oi!" he cried, before sitting down next to David. "Locksley is right, mate. You'll find a bride. Announce it immediately tomorrow morning and wed her right away. That ridiculous treaty your father and Cora signed will be void since you've found a lass before you turn thirty, meaning you can renegotiate the terms in her kingdom and strike then. It's a flawless plan."
"And what if she kills the girl? What if Regina won't take no for an answer? She wants the Kingdom, this is her last shot before turning to war," David argued.
"Well then you can stock a few back up maidens in the guest rooms," Killian shrugged. This time it was David who stomped on his feet.
"Watch it Jones," David muttered. "This is no time for your cleverness."
"Then am I only here for my dashing good looks?" he replied, raising an eyebrow. When he got no response, Killian sighed. "No offense mate, but do you really think Regina is one to be against starting a war? Or do you think she'd look forward to it?"
He was met with quiet again, but this time, the lack of a response spoke volumes. It was Robin who finally broke the silence.
"How are things going with the blonde? Did you find her this morning?" he asked Killian. The captain shook his head.
"Not yet. I was hoping that I might actually leave your ball a bit early Dave, to try and find her? None of the servants are going obviously so it might be easier to track down the lass with the palace half empty."
This was of course, a lie. Killian knew exactly where Emma would be- up the tower looking at the view of the sea. He wouldn't need any time at all to track her down. What he'd need the time for was just to be with her, talk to her. But David certainly didn't need to know that, especially after the allegations he made the previous night. Killian was half worried that the Prince's worries over Regina's allegiance had returned since their midnight discussion, but to his relief David nodded his head.
"Do what you need to do."
Killian nodded back, his mind immediately wandering to Emma- when he'd see her again, what they'd talk about, what her story was. Robin snapped him out of it with more discussion of the coming week's attack, but Killian only stayed half focused on the oncoming storm. The other half thought only of eyes of green and a night that would surely be one he'd never forget.
Thank you all, for sticking with me. I had a ton of school stuff and then got ill at the most terrible time. But updates will now be much for frequent!
Thanks to Sj, aka in-spiration on tumblr, for being my wonderful beta. Next chapter... the ball! What dress do you think Emma should wear?
