The only reason it took this long to update is because I was waiting around for my beta (who, through no fault of her own, I'm sure, hasn't been in contact for the last few months). But, the gorgeous chrissascorner stepped in, and we're ready to go again =D
Anonymous review replies:
Jenny said: This is so good please keep the updates coming. I love this story.
Thank you! Sorry it took so long
Guest: Great story - Excited to see what happens between Emma and Killian!
Thanks! You'll find out soon enough! :3
Guest: mooooorrrrreeee i need more
Your wish is my command! XD
Chapter Nine
Emma was woken early by a kind-faced maid, who handed her a dress that must have been selected for her and immediately set to making her bed for her. At home, Emma usually did things by herself. Johanna, the only maid they had, had looked after her mother when she was young. Emma and Leo had been reliant on Johanna when they were very young, but less so now. Still, it was nice to have a friendly face about the castle, lending a hand if they needed it.
In the Eastern Kingdom, there were maids and manservants everywhere. Mia had lived a much more sheltered life. It was just the difference between kingdoms. At least the servants were treated well here, whereas in other places they led miserable lives.
Emma dressed, held her hair back in an elaborate braid her mother had taught her, and left her chambers in search of the dining hall.
She found it easily enough, and all the others taking breakfast. She was the last to arrive, but she could tell that the Jones brothers had not been there long. Liam was only just filling a bowl with grain, and Leo was not there at all.
"Good morning, Princess," she was greeted, as she sat beside Mia and across from Liam and Killian.
She ate a bowl of grain with milk and fruit, waiting for Philip and Aurora to let her know what would be happening.
"Your brother left a few moments ago," Amelia informed her, setting down her spoon. "He said that be wished to explore. He took a horse, but, don't worry, we sent a guard with him."
Emma nodded. "Good."
It was Liam who first informed her of any sort of plans for the day (aside from what Leo's were). "Killian and I are returning to the ship. I have to address the crew, and check our cargo. I'm sure that that will help in your negotiations."
"I'm sure it will," Emma smiled at him. "Thank you, Captain Jones."
"You are most welcome, Princess Emma."
"We have decided that for us to negotiate with you would be unfair," Aurora added, gesturing to herself and her husband. "Therefore, the two princesses will be left to themselves. Are you in agreement with this?"
They exchanged a look, and then nodded, almost at the same time.
"Leo didn't want to assist us, I presume."
Philip smiled just slightly. "No. He's a free-spirited young man. As are you, I imagine. That is to say, a free spirited young woman."
"Did you know that my mother was cursed by King George so that she would never had children?" she asked, staring the couple in the eye. "My grandmother sacrificed her life for mine, and my brother's. So yes, our upbringing was less than strict. And yes, neither of my parents are traditional rulers. But that does not make us any less worthy."
"We never meant to insinuate—"
"Leave her, Philip." Aurora's face was perfectly blank. "This is the free spirit you speak of."
The king took a breath, before beginning again. "Your parents have informed you of all you need to know, I'm sure. There are things that we cannot grow in our kingdom, and vice versa. It's important that healthy trade is maintained."
"There's one thing I don't know," said Emma. "Why do we need to re-negotiate now?"
"Some of our vital crops have died this year. A new arrangement must be struck. When you have agreed on one, we will approve it, and send a bird to your kingdom. When they approve it, there will be a ball, to celebrate a job well done, and of course the princess's new engagement."
"How—?"
"I told them," said Liam. Emma had almost forgotten that he was there. He glanced between Emma and Killian. "I hope neither of you are angry with me. There'll be a ball either way."
Emma shook her head, though there was the slight dread that after this ball, the engagement was official. This betrothal could be terminated , as the last one was, of course, but she was under pressure. The heir to the throne, her duty was to marry and produce an heir of her own before her parents were anywhere near death.
Thinking of her parents' deaths made her stomach twist uncomfortably, so she smiled at Liam and said, "I'm not mad. Better one ball than two."
"Yes. Thank you, brother."
The two of them finished their breakfast and stood to leave. Now that their engagement was official, Killian kissed her cheek as a goodbye, while Liam voiced his. Her stomach twisted again, as she watched them leave, but in a different way. It almost made her feel … giddy.
She shook her head, pushing the feeling to the back of her mind.
"Would you rather stay here or go outside?" Mia asked her, after they had finished their breakfasts and the king and queen had gone. "There's a lovely orchard that we could talk in, or we could go for a ride."
"Take me to the orchard," Emma decided.
After informing the guards where they were going, and declining the offer to be accompanied, the two princesses left the castle. There were more people guarding the castle here too, Emma noticed. How much had she forgotten about the place in five years? The threat of Maleficent was very real here, but so was the threat of Regina back home. However, there were little soldiers other than the Dwarves her mother had befriended when she was about Emma's age. That was enough for them, but not for Philip and Aurora.
She didn't ask any questions about this, however, merely catching Mia up on the things that had happened in the last five years of her life, and heard about the life of the younger Princess.
The orchard was not far from the castle, and they reached it in ten minutes. They sat on the ground, listening to the birdsong and allowing the sunshine to warm their skin.
"It's quite simple, really," said Mia, after a long silence. "We grow fruits and the like, and you grow grain and other crops. We trade what we can spare. The question is, how much of each."
"There are more people in this kingdom than in mine," Emma told her. "More mouths to feed."
"But you can't give us more than we give you; wouldn't be fair."
"It wouldn't be a fair trade either."
Mia sighed. "Do we really have a lifetime of this ahead of us?"
"Not alone, at least," Emma replied. "You'll have someone else by your side, most likely a prince."
"I don't care who he is as long I love him." A pause. "Don't you want that?"
"I don't think I can have it."
Philip and Aurora had agreed almost immediately on the conclusion Emma and Mia had come to, and thankfully appeared to hold no grudge against Emma for what she'd said t breakfast. Mia wrote a message to send off with one of her mother's doves. All of the allies had birds with which to communicate with each other. Snow White had bluebirds, Ariel had seagulls, Aurora had doves, Abigail had a finch, and Belle had a strange bird that Emma didn't know the name of. It had come from the forests where she had grown up, and tamed while she attended Finishing School. Emma's mother had recounted tales of the antics of the Lady Belle's songbird.
Emma wasn't entirely sure if Rumplestilskin and his second wife were their allies, and if Rumplestiltskin would still teach magic to her and Leo. Her marriage to Baelfire had been intended to secure an alliance, but she could hardly be blamed for Bae's finding his true love. Having Rumplestilskin on their side would be vital if Regina gained enough power to wage war. She feared her magic, even if she could combine it with her brother's, would not be enough to face against the Evil Queen if it came down to it.
Then again, the strange man had stayed out of the first war; making deals with the desperate, yes, but never engaging in the fighting. He'd had bad experiences with the ogre wars, Emma had been told, before he became the Dark One, and before he claimed a kingdom for himself and his son.
"Hey, sis!" Leo greeted her warmly when he returned, hugging her. "Where you been?"
Emma arched an eyebrow. "I believe that's a question better suited to you."
"The village square is very interesting," he beamed. "Lots of free things."
She gave a long-suffering sigh. "Did you go around introducing yourself as 'Prince Leopold the Great and Mighty' again?"
"Maybe," he replied, stretching out the word.
"I can't believe I put up with you."
Liam and Killian didn't return until dusk, and the reason became apparent very quickly. They had been wandering the market town, choosing their purchases very wisely. Emma knew at once that Liam had bought a ring for Melody, as a token of their engagement. Emma had never received one from Baelfire, since they had both been secretly hoping that something would prevent them from marrying. Liam and Melody's engagement, however, was one based on love, and a ring was the natural first step.
"I could have helped you choose," said Emma, as they sat on the window seat in Emma's chambers, where he had come to find her when he returned.
Liam shook his head. "No, you couldn't."
"Why?"
He bit his lip, as if wrestling with something.
"He didn't," said Emma, realising.
Liam gave a wry smile. "It's very pretty."
"I don't care that it's pretty," said Emma, barely restraining herself from rolling her eyes. "I care that he wasted his money on a ring when we mightn't even marry."
"Don't underestimate his feelings for you, Emma. I'm beginning to think that they run deeper than friendship. He did agree more readily than I'd expected to your betrothal."
Emma ignored his statement, and the way it made her heart lurch. "Do you have Melody's ring with you? Can I see it?"
It was silver, with designs reminiscent of waves patterned into the band, and a grey pearl set into it. Perfect for someone with such an affinity with the sea as Melody had.
Emma smiled at him. "She's going to love it."
"I certainly hope so."
Emma slipped the ring onto her hand, trying to get used to the weight on her finger, before she returned it to Liam. He slipped it into his pocket, where it would be safe.
They sat by the window, talking, until a maid came to fetch them for supper. The dove Mia had sent off earlier in the day had returned, with a message of agreement from Snow and Charming. With the business over with, much of the conversation was deciding the date on which to set sail for the Enchanted Forest. Eventually, they agreed on three days' time. That left enough time to explore the Eastern Kingdom, attend the ball, and return home. Another two months' journey, and then Emma would be home. It was strange, she thought. She had left betrothed to Baelfire, and would return betrothed to Killian. She would be older, too, her twentieth birthday marked the halfway point in the journey, Liam calculated, when they would stop off once more at the market town.
She needed to talk to Killian, she had decided that halfway through the meal. She could stop him as they left the dining hall. She planned what she was going to say in her head as she ate the fish stew that Aurora herself had prepared – she'd told them proudly as it was dished out.
"I prefer George's," Leo muttered into her ear. She kicked his foot.
When they had eaten, the plates were taken away, and they started to make their way to their respective chambers.
"Killian, wait."
He turned to glance at her, frowning. Liam went on ahead, after catching Emma's eye. Leo stayed behind, until Mia took him by the hand and dragged him along the hall.
"What is it, Princess?" he asked.
"Can we talk?"
He nodded. "I'll walk you to your chambers."
Only when they had started to walk along the deserted corridors did she speak.
"You got me a ring," she began bluntly. "Don't blame Liam, he didn't tell me."
"You're intelligent enough to work it out on your own," he nodded, unsurprised, if his tone of voice was any indication. "Let me guess, you don't want it."
"No, I don't," she shook her head. "Don't waste your money on me; go back and return it tomorrow."
"I had no intention of purchasing one for you," he admitted. She glanced at him, confused. "I accompanied Liam merely to assist him in his choice – not that he needed me."
He paused then, his right hand fumbling in his breast pocket, and came out with a ring. "All I ask is that you see it. It's a remarkable specimen. If you still don't want it, then I'll return it."
They stopped walking; they had reached the chambers that she had been given for the duration of her stay. He held his hand out to her, unfurling it so that she could see the thing that glittered in his palm.
The band was simple enough, just silver, without the designs that Melody's had, but the gem was much more impressive than her pearl. It was somehow reminiscent of the sea, too, the stone somehow reminding her of both the waves that crashed over the ships and the coast, and her eyes. She could understand how the ring had caught Killian's eye. Perhaps she had been too quick to judge him. About everything.
"You weren't lying," she said. He smirked. "All right, I'll gratefully accept it."
He closed his hand again, swinging his arm down to his side. "I'll present it to you at the ball. Philip and Aurora are going to announce our engagement. Your parents already did it, back home, but this time, there's proof."
"As you wish," was all she said in reply. Killian smiled, a genuine smile that was so different from his smirks.
"Goodnight, Princess."
They kissed. It was quick and chaste, but still it made her heart flutter.
"Goodnight, Lieutenant," she murmured, before disappearing behind the door. She had to lean against it, breathing deeply, before she could calm the beating of her heart.
What was happening to her?
