The knight basked in the soft noises that fell from the queen's lips as she slowly found ground once again, her body landing next to the blonde's. The younger of the two breathed, allowing air back into her lungs, and watched Regina's flushed face as the woman made herself comfortable among the furs they bathed in.
A warmth spread its way from her chest and throughout her entire being. Despite the brunette's utter control, she enjoyed every moment of it, especially when the queen cried out, as if the earth was moving with her.
"Perhaps we could enjoy a small snack before the counsel meeting. I am feeling a bit peckish." The royal woman's husky voice drew Emma away from her post-bliss state of mind and she nodded absently.
"That sounds delightful," she answered and immediately felt the hunger gnawing at her at the mention. She hadn't eaten yet today, she soon realized, having had a busy agenda from the start. With a soft sigh, she leaned back onto the pillows, thankful for the rest, and let her hair frame her face like a golden halo.
When Emma's emerald gaze fell to her queen, she saw the amused smile that took place on her sweet lips, and couldn't help the muscles that tugged at the corners of her own. "I was thinking bread and cheese would be suitable, for supper will be approaching soon. What would you like?"
"That sounds delightful," Emma murmured absently, earning a soft chuckle from the brunette. Why was she always so much lighter afterwards, as if the conflict of the world had gone and she was just Regina.
"You have already said that, my knight," she replied softly before waving a hand and, within moments, a platter of breads and cheeses appeared before them. The blonde caught her dark gaze soon after, her cheeks buzzing with heat when the brunette spoke. "You look…" She tilted her head slightly. "Content."
"I am," she whispered and slowly shifted to lean against the headboard. "And not just post-coital bliss content. I mean- Everything that you have done for me, it's… I know it may sound strange, but, I'm… I'm thankful for it, I truly am. You never had to give me this opportunity."
Emma could see the older woman's lips twitch, but she quickly hid it behind a small piece of cheese as she nibbled on it, though she could hear the weightlessness of her tone. "It was never my intention to make you happy. Though, I do suppose, I quite like the outcome of our current endeavors."
The blonde frowned slightly and plucked the cheese from the queen's fingers, earning a soft growl from the brunette, shooting her a look, one that of the Evil Queen that she truly was. "Of course, it was merely a ploy to get revenge on my parents; letting me fall into the darkness." She smirked slowly, head tilting ever so slightly, something deep within her stirring at the improbable thought. "Or does it go deeper?"
"And to what concern is it of yours if my intentions go further than what you see on the surface? I would hardly share them with you; one who could so easily leave my castle at any point she wishes." She snatched her cheese back and huffed, holding it a bit closer to her being as if afraid that it would be taken again. "Would I be sharing cheese and bread with you in my bed if there was something deeper?"
Emma frowned slightly, the sudden hostility something that she hadn't been expecting, but then what else from the Evil Queen? "I don't know, Your Majesty, you tell me, would you? You have said so, yourself, that you would not hesitate to turn on someone within a heartbeat. You certainly have a fucked up way of showing your emotions if you are trying to tell me otherwise." Shaking her head slightly, she looked to the platter of food before reaching out to grab a chunk of bread, sighing as she nibbled it even though her stomach churned. What were the queen's true intentions, anyway? "And perhaps you would share this information with me because you trust me enough to make me your Black Knight. And, even if given the freedom to leave, I would not, as I have not, because I am far too bound to you to leave now."
"I don't know how to show… emotions well. Anger is the only thing that I know, and that is where my title was born." She shifted slightly and nibbled on some more cheese to ebb her frown. "What have you honestly expected of me, Emma? Did you think that you could break me?" Regina looked toward her, eyes cold. "You can speak words, dear, but how can I trust a single one of them? I have had enemies that befriended me only to stab me in the back, and how can I know that you are no different? I am your parents' enemy, after all, and look how our relationship had started."
"Perhaps you can trust those words flying from my mouth because I am laying here with you in your bed and not out plotting of ways to betray you–"
"You could still plot while you are fucking me, my knight."
"Gods, why must you be so paranoid all of the time? Not everyone in this world is plotting against you, Regina, despite what you may think, despite what might have happened in the past." Emma could feel something welling within her; a burning fire that roared the more she spoke, the angrier she got. "Why would I fall into bed with you if I wanted to kill you? Why would I let you take something that I considered sacred to just kill you?
"Because I didn't. I'm… You gave me something; a chance. A chance to have a life different than that I was born into." The blonde could only feel herself growing hotter as a wetness tracked down her red cheeks. "Do you not realize that I don't care about you being an enemy of my parents? Do you not realize that your title holds no meaning to me when you are just Regina? Do you not realize that I have fallen in love with you?"
The queen's face paled when the blonde made her confession and it was then that she knew what she had let slip; and she suddenly wanted to disappear. "You what?" she asked, her tone deadly and quiet, as her head snapped toward Emma, those dark eyes angry, yet lost.
"I… I…" Emma stuttered before suddenly standing off the bed, cradling her head in her hands as she paced, wondering how she could have let herself ruin things. She needed air. She needed to breathe. She needed to run. "Nothing. Nothing… I better go and- and sit in my bedchambers…?" She offered weakly, finding a new inability to breathe fresh air into her lungs.
"You are not going anywhere." Regina picked herself up from the bed and headed toward the blonde knight, her upper lip slightly curled. "I heard what you said. How can you love someone like me?"
Emma furrowed her brows, her anger only growing, though for something entirely different. "Someone like you? Pray, tell, what does that mean? There is nothing wrong with you, Regina. You are- You're a human being. Of course, I am not blind to what you have done, but… There's something about you. I-I… I love you because you do not care what everyone else thinks. You govern your own life and I admire that, and that's all I have ever wanted for myself and…"
She inhaled deeply, her feeling as if it were among the clouds. "What we have done, and what we have been doing… This." She gestured toward the bed and to the brunette's nude form. "We have shared much and… I believe we were meant to save one another. We certainly work well together despite- despite who we are."
Speechlessness was an understatement for how Regina had remained. She stood there, still in her stupor, and stared at the blonde, blank-faced. Finally, she regained her sense and shook her head, voice soft and cracked, as if the conversation had worn her. "I have done things that you couldn't even comprehend, Emma. You saw it for yourself. I feed on the pain and misery of others. I kill for my own enjoyment." She brought her gaze to meet Emma's, dark eyes shimmering, and the blonde knew her words were a desperate attempt to turn her away. "And yet…"
"And yet?" She repeated the brunette's words, stepping closer, her entire body trembling. "I do not care, Regina. I can admit that at first, you scared me. You still have your moments of doing so, of course, but now I just want to see that smile I bring to your face - the one that crinkles your eyes; that smile you try so hard to mask." Emma smiled, herself, hoping to bring something similar to the queen's face, but the older woman remained stoic. "I want to see you… you love me like I love you."
The sorceress lowered her gaze, face darkening. "I am unsure if I believe you," she finally said, quietly, somberly. "And me? Love you?" Then she laughed, something cold and humorless, and Emma's heart sank inside her chest. Would she ever make progress? "I cannot love anyone. I-… It never ends well."
Emma frowned. "I don't believe you," she said softly, offering the brunette a small smile in hopes that it would soften the blow that was sure to come.
"What is there not to believe? Is it not obvious?" She snarled, snapping a cold glare at the blonde knight, though it slowly melted. "I can give you nothing that you need and you… Perhaps you do deserve a happiness despite your mother, in spite of your mother. But not with me."
Emma could feel herself tense, prepared for a slap, for anything, but it never came. So, when the queen merely remained in her spot, she took a step forward, her heart pounding inside her chest. "I think you can love me. If you allow yourself to."
Immediately, Regina's gaze intensified and her lips pressed together into an angry line. "I advise you not to counsel me in matters you know nothing about."
"I know nothing of love?" She could feel that useless organ in her chest crumble as she stepped away, her head pounding.
"You are young and foolish and love has never graced you." Regina rumbled, an unstable look digging into her features. "You are merely infatuated with the thought of me, of what I provide. It is not love. Just leave. Train."
"Very well, Your Majesty. I will see you when I am summoned to counsel," she stated, tone frosty, and marched toward the door, some switch inside of her turning.
The queen pressed her lips together, but spoke of no protest, as she watched Emma walk away from her. She dipped her head. "That will be for the best. I will make sure to send a summons when the time has come. You may spend your time freely, for now."
"Oh, I will," she stated as she exited the room, allowing the large door to slam behind her as she quickly paced down the corridor, tears slipping along the contour of her cheeks. Optimism was something she had inherited from her parents and soon, she found it to be a burden.
How could she ever think that the Evil Queen could love her as she did? As the brunette had said, the only emotion she knew was anger, and anger was nothing for love. And, hell, perhaps she was merely infatuated with the idea of what the Evil Queen was and what she had provided. What did she know of love, after all?
Shaking those thoughts from her mind, she found herself in the courtyard once again, somewhere she could release her inner demons onto the poor wooden dummies. Yet, as she approached the center of the field, she was met by a young knight, his ocean eyes lit with an excitement, and sought her out. She met distraction in the young man, the dull blade of a training sword glinting in the light as he unsheathed it, matching her own, and she lost herself in the adrenaline.
An hour had passed when someone had taken her attention from her current practice.
"I will not attend," she told the summoner as she parried a strike that came her way from the same young knight. "I am currently busy. If you could inform Her Majesty, that would be splendid," she growled out as she knocked the man down.
"But, Ser Emma…" The summoner croaked as Emma grunted and stabbed the ground with her sword, catching the fear that sparkled in her eye.
"Fine. Lead the way," she muttered and followed the girl through the winding corridors. She didn't want an innocent take the wrath for her own doing. At least, that was what she told herself, green eyes sharp on the path ahead.
"Here we are, ser." The girl bowed her head. "I shall leave you to it. I must fetch fresh water for the council."
Emma nodded to the girl as she headed away and swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat somewhere between the courtyard and now. As she neared the doors, she was greeted by the knight standing guard, though, before she could even reach for the handle, she recognized his throaty voice.
"Ser Emma."
"What do you want, Eordic? My time is precious and I do not have enough to waste on the likes of you." She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end when those icy blue eyes landed on her.
"Ye will never be the queen's true Black Knight. Y'may have beaten me, but she will never trust a White. Yer merely her plaything. When she tires of ye, she'll jus' throw ye away." His words could only be described as a growl as those piercing eyes narrowed on her.
"Jealousy does not suit you." She eradicated any negative emotion in that moment for fear he would feast on it. "Now, excuse me. I must-" She was cut off by laughter as Eordic's hand blocked her way.
"Yer attending the council? And do what? Look precious? Ye know nothin' 'bout controlling an army. That seat in there is mine."
Before the blonde could find time to reply, the doors broke open and the queen stood there, a displeased look on her face. "It seems as if every time that I turn a corner, you are harassing Ser Emma, Eordic." The brunette's eyes narrowed on the man. Her fingers flexed. "I thought that I had bid you to the kitchens, but it seems that you have your own agenda."
"That is my seat in there, Yer Majesty. I have proven my worth to ye time an' time again. I will not let some little princess take my place after one lucky fight. I will not stand for it." There was a set determination in his rough features that had an unpleasant shiver course down the blonde's spine.
"I see. Well, perhaps…" The Evil Queen strode forward toward the man who had stood tall, a defiant look in his eye. "You two should settle this once and for all; to the death."
Eordic smirked and turned to the queen. "I would love to put this measly princess where she belongs; six feet under." He growled, dipping his head as Emma's eyes shot toward the brunette. To the death? Gods, Eordic was right when he said she had gotten lucky, because that man was a mountain and too strong, even for her acclaimed fighting techniques.
But, she didn't let her fear get the better of her, and, instead, embraced death as she spoke. "If that is your wish, my queen."
"Where and when?" The man asked.
The queen didn't smirk, nor did she smile, as she merely watched the two of them with a stone expression. "The council can wait. The Black Knight is a known member and this duel is for the position. Whoever reigns victorious will keep the title." She turned back into the room and informed the rest of the members that they would be surveying the duel instead.
Regina met the two in the corridor once again and gestured. "We shall go to the courtyard. I would rather not have blood staining my castle floor. The stench can be unbearable."
"Of course, my queen." Eordic bowed before marching off, leaving Emma to pale slightly.
"An unfair battle?" she breathed, her eyes narrowing on the brunette. The man was dressed in his armor and, yet, she stood in only her tunic and pants. Any extra piece of armor had been used when the newest batch of recruits had come in, even the rusted suit that she had used before. "Very well," she muttered, slowly resigning to whatever fate that would bestow her, and turned to follow the other knight.
When Emma had arrived into the courtyard, she saw the members of the council and several knights had gathered, anxious eyes on the two who would compete for the title. Quickly taking the sword offered to her by a meek knight, she felt her stomach fly into her chest and slowly approached the middle of the courtyard where Eordic stood, his icy eyes on the blonde and a twisted smirk on his lips.
"It seems as if a second duel is needed to bestow the title of the Black Knight on one of these two brave knights. Ser Emma, Ser Eordic, ready your swords." The queen's voice pulled her attention away from the giant's menacing stare and she found relief for only a moment until she realized they were starting, and how naked she felt. Regina shifted slightly, eyeing them from her place on a makeshift throne. "The victor will be determined when one no longer lives."
"Prepare to die, princess." Eordic shouted at the blonde who lifted her sword and cocked a brow. Slowly her eyes moved to the queen and part of her sunk, wondering if the brunette had taken their earlier conversation into mind and decided to rid of her once and for all. She had no protection. Nothing to even remotely shield herself from this man who would no doubt stop at nothing to win and she didn't know if she could last the duration of it.
She could see Regina's fingers dig into the arms of her throne as she leaned forward, a smirk appearing on her face and a flame in her eyes. She cast those brown eyes to lay upon Emma and flicked her wrist, and suddenly the blonde felt weight added to her being. "We might as well have a fair fight," she purred. "Now, begin!"
Emma looked down at herself, amazed to see the black armor she had asked for that morning on her slender physique. She barely had enough time to mouth a quick "thank you" to the queen before readying herself for the man's attack which came almost instantaneously. The harsh swing was something Emma nearly missed but she had easily ducked out of the way for. These missed blows kept happening, a game of duck and miss, until she suddenly felt a heavy blow of a fist colliding with her jaw, causing her to stumble back.
The blonde found herself dazed and searching out the brunette's face; something that remained stoic, though those brown eyes sparkled with something that fueled Emma. She stood upright, her eyes melting into an acidic pool as they landed on the other knight. "Oh, you made a terrible move, pig," she snarled before lunging at him, blocking one of his slashes before kicking him with as much force as she could, though it only stunted him for a moment. She lunged at him again, making no mistake to stand still, and aimed her sword to take advantage of the exposed part of his thigh, slashing at it with ease. Crimson stained her blade; something barely visible that glinted in the sun, leaving her satisfied.
"You've already tried your petty games of hunting me in the hallway; trying to kill me with your play knife. She chose my side and sent you to the kitchens where you belong. She doesn't care about you," she seethed and avoided another one of his blows with a smirk, finding confidence in her agility once again. "So why not die with some dignity?"
A brash laughter filled the air, roaring like thunder. "Doesn't care about me? She just uses you, stupid princess! All she desires is her revenge on your pathetic parents. She sees you as nothing more than a useless pawn so she could get it," he yelled at the blonde, making her falter just enough for him to strike, cutting deep into her arm and forcing her to drop the sword. Pain blinded her for a moment before her adrenaline kicked in.
Emerald fire moved to gaze at the queen for a moment, hoping for some indication that he might have been lying but found none, and those eyes darkened with anger as they locked onto the knight. "Go to hell," she growled and went to collect her sword, only to be knocked back when the man pushed her with a foot.
She lay on the ground, winded, and stared at the man as he loomed over her like death's shadow. Suddenly, she saw her life flash before her eyes as she froze. "Now you lay down and die with some dignity, princess."
Yet, something in those words just burned inside the blonde and she refused to let herself succumb to this man. As he approached, she took advantage of her position and brought her booted leg hard up between his own. His eyes glazed over in pain as he fell to his knees. Emma didn't hesitate and reached to the sheath strapped to her leg and pulled his old dirk out, screaming with the wrath of a thousand gods as she plunged it underneath his chin with all her might.
Within the blink of an eye, it was over, and the man fell when she pulled the dagger out, blood coating her hand in the warm, sticky liquid. She felt nothing as she watched his lifeless form thud against the dirt covered ground and slowly stood, herself, eyes falling to the Evil Queen who watched silently as red stained the grass.
Regina stood when all had registered, eyes dark and on the blonde; the victor. "Our Black Knight has proven her worth," she said, stepping down from her throne to glide elegantly toward the two. Her eyes fell to Eordic for a moment before letting her gaze meet the new Black Knight. The crowd, stunned by the former knight's death, broke into applause. "Congratulations."
Emma could only glare at the crowd, some sick feeling rising within her, and let the bloodied dirk slip from her fingers. "You are all deplorable. Cheering for me because I killed a man? Gods. Is this what your life is?" She turned to the queen, her features hard. "I will be in my chambers if you need me. I must clean up." She exhaled before starting to head away, holding her arm, muttering under her breath.
The queen watched her with a smirk. "I have need of you now, Ser Emma. We have yet to attend council. I must officiate your title." She didn't move. "And if you have something to say, I am right here."
"I have nothing to say to you," she stated clearly, stopping in her tracks. She watched as the council moved back into the castle and waited for the knights to depart, as well. "My queen?"
Regina stood for a moment longer as the courtyard emptied, save for a select few that would take the body, and kept her dark eyes on the blonde. "He would have continued to hunt you, Emma; armed or not. If I hadn't intervened yesterday when he had you pinned against the wall, there was no doubt he would have opened your throat." She looked to Eordic's body and sighed. "I had promised you long ago that you would have to taste blood while under my wing. I know you could have died and perhaps you would have." Her eyes fell to the wound on Emma's arm – something deep that didn't stop the red river from flowing. "My favor lies with you; it always had."
Emma turned to her, a frown claiming her lips. Could she truly believe what the queen was telling her? "Did what he say was true?" she asked softly, her legs quivering under her weight. "Am I nothing more than a pawn? I mean- I understand when you had first captured me, of course, your intentions were clear. But, what of now and what I have accomplished? Or is it merely part of it?"
"I have not spoken with him since our last meeting in the corridors and he has not witnessed our relationship." She closed her eyes briefly before opening them, letting them fall to the blonde. "Pawns are for the Dark One."
Emma stumbled toward the brunette, a hand reaching out to grab her arm to prevent falling before she whispered, something within her compelling her to speak. "Prove it…"
The queen frowned, lost at her request as she helped steady the blonde, an arm hooking under her arm. "How am I to prove such a thing? You ask much of me that I am unable to provide."
The blonde swallowed, her tongue jetting out to wet her lips for a brief moment. "Kiss me with the risk of someone seeing us."
"Kiss you?" Regina's brows furrowed as if the request were inane. "And where might you suggest? I do not see the point of this."
"Well, on my lips, of course." Her small attempt at humor had plundered, leaving her to sigh and regain balance on her own. "The point is to let me know that you are true on your word; that I am not being used and that everything that has happened between us is legitimate. You know what, just… forget I have ever asked. Forgive me, Your Majesty."
She was met with a soft growl and before she knew it, she was being pulled toward the queen as their lips connected in something soft and sweet that brought stars to her eyes.
Though, those stars could have been caused by the sudden pain that had been inflicted upon her being as fire shot through her arm. But, she couldn't seem to find the will to care, not willing to let that moment fleet as she returned to the kiss, her hands moving to cup the brunette's cheeks gently as she melted into her.
The queen purred softly and Emma let is resonate within her being as the older woman pressed closer to her. When she pulled away, she sighed softly, her lips quirked. "You are quite warm."
"You are, as well," Emma whispered stupidly before reaching up to touch her cheek.
"You are fevered, Emma," the brunette murmured, dark lids fluttering.
Something bloomed within the blonde, starting from her heart and spreading throughout her with a warmth that tingled her from head to toe. "I believe you have it within yourself to love me," she said softly, head tilting.
Regina turned from her hand, a sudden frown demolishing the sweet smile that had once softened her features. "You don't want me to love you." A defeated sigh fell from those smeared crimson lips as she stepped away from their close proximity. "I am sure that you are in pain… Let me heal you."
But Emma felt the sudden desire to run, to hide, knowing she had only dug herself deeper into this endless pit. She stepped away as result, feeling herself burn differently as something simmered within her. "Please, do not touch me," she whispered before turning away, prepared to head off. "I don't want your help."
"Emma. Your wound is grave. We have no healers that could tend your wound. I have told you before, being too proud will only get you killed." The brunette closed the distance between them, the lines in her face growing more prominent.
The blonde knight decided against arguing and turned to her, expelling the emotion from her face. "Heal it quickly. Please."
The brunette's mouth sagged slightly, as if she were about to frown, but she pressed her lips together instead as she moved a hand over the bloodied wound, fingers twitching slightly. "Why are you angry with me for speaking the truth?"
"Because you can love me, you just choose not to," she responded harshly before sighing, realizing the emotion that bubbled had spilled out and let her voice drop an octave. "I have seen it, Regina. I- I'm seeing it now," she said, gesturing toward that very hand that still hovered over her arm.
Regina finally did frown, something deep and thoughtful as she looked to the now-mended flesh, her fingers lightly touching the rugged scar that it left behind. "It's… not something that comes easily to me."
"Trust me, I have found that out." Her eyes moved to the olive fingers that were soft and gentle as they moved along her skin like butterfly kisses. "But not allowing yourself to feel, to love, is not... Closing up and ignoring it will not make them disappear. It… It is acceptable to let yourself be free, Regina."
"There is no such thing as freedom in this world. It is merely an illusion. I have never been free. I have been…" She looked up, finally, her dark gaze wide and lost, but the moment was brief and the emotion was replaced by something fiercer. Her body went rigid as she straightened out and the relief that Emma had felt soon turned because the moment was lost; that vulnerability was gone, the progress she was making vanished in the blink of an eye. "I advise you clean up before you join the council."
"Of course, Your Majesty," she agreed, not lingering on the prior topic. This was the queen's way of shoving her emotions aside, once again, not allowing herself to feel as Emma had desperately wanted her to. Why did she yearn so for the Evil Queen's love? Why did she allow herself to fall so freely, so easily? It only left her burned.
Gods, she wanted to argue, as she walked away from the queen and to her washroom to clean up. She could see it; the way Regina did care for her. Even if it weren't love, it was something, and it was that something that Emma felt the need to have confirmed just to know that it was real; to know that she wasn't alone. But the Evil Queen was too proud of herself; a slave to her anger, feeling as if she didn't deserve any emotion but.
It scared her, though, if Regina truly did feel the same because what would she do? Their union would only be a bastardization of all things good and evil; it would destroy the black and white world and create the grey that combined them. But was Emma truly good any longer now that her innocence had been taken and crushed underneath the boot of the Evil Queen? Was darkness in her heart now that she had killed Eordic?
She felt numb when she thought of what she had done, like it was no different than swatting a fly and watching it drop; and that is what truly terrified her. Is this what Regina felt? Nothing? She shuddered at the thought despite the warmth of the water that seeped into her.
A part of her, something small and barbaric, felt thrilled by the thought; the thought of being dark and spilling blood, and standing by the Evil Queen as she thirst for more of the scarlet liquid. Was this what she had truly wanted, though, or was the queen somehow breaking into her mind? Breaking her mind?
She didn't want to even contemplate the thought for it only shot dread throughout her entire being.
With a heavy sigh, she pulled herself out of the tub and dressed in her usual attire before making her way back down to the council room. She was surprised she had found it on her own, though it would be hard not to for the large doors were kept open with the chattering members inside. Her eyes immediately honed in on the elegance that was Queen Regina, sitting poised in her tall chair at the front of the table.
She drowned in the very thought of her.
The voices that had once filled the room had died away once she stepped foot into it, her footfalls faltering when all eyes fell on her. Regina stood, a white smile gracing her crimson lips as she gestured to the spot at her right side.
"Welcome, Emma. Come, we shall begin." Emma offered a small nod as she entered further into the room, her skin feeling as if it were on fire as the council members watched her make her way over to the queen.
"We shall begin our meeting with Emma's anointment. Emma of House White, please step forward and kneel." The blonde swallowed when the sorceress had moved toward the northern windows where the floor had elevated with a single step. She followed the demand, sinking to one knee before her queen. A sword materialized in her hand; one with familiar ebony steel.
"You have proven your worth, today, something that many have not been able to succeed. We had never thought the day Eordic would be defeated would come, much less from a princess, but, alas, we were taken. But she is no longer a princess, now, is she?" The blonde could feel the blood as it rose to her cheeks, tingling them pleasantly.
"No, no. She is a knight, and the highest of the rank. My Black Knight, Emma, by accepting this position, you are forsaking your title and your allegiance to the White Kingdom and swearing your life and services to me until the day you die, and this day forward, even though we have taken to it already, you will be known as Ser Emma White. Do you accept these terms?"
The blonde pressed her lips together, letting those words soak into her buzzing head. Gods, was she truly allowing this to happen? Was she going to become bound to the queen tighter than she already had been? Something swirled inside her, some tingling warmth, because the prospect of spending the rest of her life here, freer now than she had been was titillating. But, there was one problem she would not overlook, and voiced as such in a monotonous tone, claiming to have her head on straight and her emotions under control even though she beamed on the inside.
"I have one small conflict with your terms, Your Majesty, if I may?" She gazed up at her, eyes shining.
The queen's eyes narrowed slightly but she nodded. "And what might that be?" Her tone was clipped, yet dubious.
"Instead of being, eh… Ser White, I would prefer to be referred to as Ser Swan. If I am forsaking my household title, then should I not forsake the name?" There was a slow smirk curling onto Regina's features. "This is a new era in my life, after all. And it will keep me anonymous if word gets out."
"Of course, Ser Swan. I do quite like the way you think. I knew I made no mistake of allowing you this position. Does this mean you accept?"
"Yes. I accept your terms, Your Majesty."
"Perfect," she purred before her husky voice boomed throughout the council room as the blade gently touched each shoulder. "Then from this day forward you shall be known as Ser Emma Swan, the new Black Knight of the Evil Queen."