AN 1: Okay, here is chapter four. Just a warning now, in case you all are looking for some immediate swan queen action. This is going to kinda be a slow burn. I have a huge plot set for this story that its going to take me a minute to get to. I do hope all my current readers and new readers stick to it, but I'm pretty proud of what I have come up it.

AN 2: And on another note. yes, I do realize that I don't have a beta for my work, which I should probably work on getting one, but that's neither here nor there. I do understand that some words are misspelled and I may or may not use the right wording. I do try and go over the chapter several times to catch my mistakes but eventually everything starts running together. I do ask if you are going to comment on my chapter, please comment on the integrity of the story. If you are going to call out everything little thing that I spelled wrong and so forth. Id rather you not comment at all. Thank you.

Please do enjoy the chapter

Dont own em.


Emma watched as Frannie hurried down the corridor, she thought the woman quite peculiar, but when she looked in her eyes the moment before she walked away she found something familiar in them, like she had seem them before, but none the less she made a mental note to always keep the woman on her side fore she was truly one of the nicest people she had ever meet. Emma took in a sharp breath, placed her hands on the heavy wooden doors and strained to push them open. The doors groaned an angry protest, as they swung drunkenly open under their own weight. Emma's breath stilled in her throat as she took stock of the darken room before her. If Emma were a little skittish before the room itself would have be enough to make her tuck tail and run. The cavernous room was dark and had a musky smell that lingering in the air. At the end of long room on an elevated platform sat a single throne with torches lit just enough to cast shadows on the lone figure waiting in a statuesque fashion.

Emma cautiously walked forward passing wooden pews that in the past would have been brimming with people filled with warmth and mirth. However, the pews sat cold and unyielding as Emma would assume the woman before her was. As Emma approached the Queen they both took stock of their adversary. Neither breaking eye contact, brown eyes clashing with blue ones, no emotion was shared in the stare down. Emma finally approached the first step leading to the throne and gallantly stared down her opponent. Emma refused to be the first to speak or question why she was brought to this room. Even though secretly Emma felt as if she was the prey being brought before the predator for an early evening snack.

Still Emma maintained her stance of silence and she was never one to relent. The queen rose from her regal position and crossed her fingers over her crossed knee.

"You are a stubborn one aren't you?" The queen spoke methodically.

Emma hesitated for a moment but finally spoke, "I am sorry your majesty but I am not sure if you are asking or merely stating?" Emma took a risk with that statement she knew, but Frannie's words kept playing over and over in her head, 'Her bark is worse than her bite.'

The queen quirked a brow and a small cold chuckle escaped her rose blood lips. "I believe it was a mixture of both, either you are highly intelligent or a born fool, though with your last statement I would say you are more the latter, wouldn't you agree?" Regina asked.

Emma knew a challenge was sat before her and she also knew regardless of what Frannie may have said before about the queen, her next words needed to be chosen wisely.

"I like to think myself rather intelligent your majesty, but seeing as I got myself caught I would have to agree with you, I am something of a fool." Emma spoke with poise.

"Hmm,' Regina quirked her brow again as she leaned back in her throne, and placed her arms on the arm rests, "Then lets use some of that self proclaimed intelligence shall we?" She started strumming her fingers waiting for Emma's response.

Emma knotted once.

"Are you going to tell me where you reside?" Regina asked.

Emma knew that was the question she was going to ask, so she had already mentally prepared the answer.

"With all due respect, I told you before I was not giving my homestead away, you will not reign on them injustice. Not for something that was entirely my doing."

Regina was still again taken aback for the blatant refusal to answer that particular question, so for the sake of her sanity she let it go and instead tried another tactic.

"Why were you stealing my apples?"

That question Emma could and would answer with out fault. "Due to your unreasonable tax dues, myself nor my towns people are able to afford basic necessities of living, I vowed to take care of my people, so there fore I am forced to pillage."

"You mean steal?" Regina retorted.

"Call it what you will your majesty, it's a means of survival and one must do what they must do."

"Indeed." It was simple, and yet to the point, honestly the queen had no other words. Fore she didn't truly know of the living conditions of her kingdom, nor about the tax issue. There was a traitor amongst her staff and she would deal with that in a timely manner.

Emma was taken aback by that one simple word. Was the Queen actually agreeing with her? Or was this just a mere trick on the Queen's part to gain her confidence, all these questions were brewing within Emma's mind, that she barely registered the next words the Queen had spoken.

"Wha-What?" Emma shook the thoughts from her head ask she came back to reality.

"I am not accustomed to being ignored. I said I am growing tired of you. Please exit through the doors and someone will be waiting to take you back to your room in the northern tower." The Queen spoke and rose from the throne and left Emma standing there.

Emma turned and began the long walk back towards the heavy wooden doors. Once again they groaned in protest as she pulled them open and was surprised to see Graham standing on the other side.

"Hello Sir." Emma said with a small smile playing on her lips.

"Mid day to you M'Lady. Please follow me." He started walking away quickly.

Emma followed his pace but kept running the two meetings with the Queen over and over in her mind. Each time the Queen did not try to cause her any malice or harm. In fact if one were hard pressed she would say the conversations were full of intelligence and respect. Before Emma knew it she was once again in her barren room that over looked the kingdom. Graham was about to turn and lock the door. When Emma spoke.

"Thank you for the blanket and pillow."

Graham gave her a confused look and spoke with uncertainty "I did not leave you no such thing M'Lady. I was ordered not to give you any luxuries. You will learn no one goes against the Queen's orders."

With that being said he soundly shut the door and the scraping of the key in its lock echoed throughout the barren room. This time Emma did not have a heavy heart from being locked away. For she felt there was a reason she was brought into this place. Her only worry now was trying to figure out said reason.


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