AN: I literally wrote this chapter at least four times before finally deciding to put this up. Sorry that its been longer than a week but I worked ALL spring break. In response to Gotnerd I want to say thanks for the advice, I've been working on a way to try to make it easier to understand for everyone. The Maori is now in BOLD writing, meaning they are speaking a different language. When Emma and Regina speak it will be in italics. Thanks everyone for the support. I am opened to all suggestions on improving the story for you to read. Have a nice one =)
The sun had begun setting for the night when Regina had finally called for everyone to rest for the night. All of her people had traveled hard trying to cut as much distance as they could in one night. The sooner this journey was over the sooner everyone could be reunited with their families. If they continued to push forward with the same attitude they could be done with this journey in less than a week. Bringing Rocinante to a slow trot, she circled around trying to find the perfect place for Emma's tent to be set up. She didn't want it to be so close to the center of the camp, the Nanakia liked to stay up to the early hours of the morning and she knew her wife was going to be exhausted. Spotting a small wading creek that was separate from where they were going to collect all of their drinking water, she figured it would be the perfect spot. Still atop of her own Stallion, she threw the girl's 'pocketbox' onto the ground, watching the tent pop up before throwing her own a short distance away. Scanning the crowd, everyone seemed to be already off of their horses and setting up for the night. Emma was still on Pegasus watching her as she worked. She had a plan for tonight but it would only work if Emma trusted her enough to let her preform a difficult spell on her.
"Emma..." She called out to the blonde, before sliding off and onto the ground. The girl's name rolled off her tongue harshly, such a soft name. It didn't really fit in with the rest of the of the Nanakia, but it fit in with the girl who stuck out like a sore thumb. She walked over towards Pegasus and her wife, helping the blonde down she noticed the small wince when the girl's leg brushed against the horse. The purple hand shaped bruise hadn't even begun to fade yet, and it looked more agitated than before. Running her fingers down the swollen flesh, she placed a kiss behind Emma's ear enjoying the way the girl sank into her chest. A pale hand weaved its way into a tan, and Regina told Red to follow them.
"E hiahia ana ahau ki te tamata i te tahi mea . E whakawhirinaki koe ki ahau ?" Regina said leading the girls into her own tent, waiting for Red to translate for her.
"She said she wants to try something. She wants to know if you trust her." Red told Emma who looked at Regina and nodded.
"Kei te haere ahau ki te whakamahi i makutu ki te hono atu ia tatou ." Regina kept her voice soft, so she wouldn't scare the blonde.
"She is going to use her magic to join you." Red informed her Khaleesi who flushed a crimson color. Regina smirked catching onto the girl's train of thought.
"Kihai i rite ki taua . Tatou feruriraa e to tatou mau aau" Regina chuckled. Her hand lifted up to caress the the spots she was talking about.
"Not like that. Your minds and your hearts." Red offered Emma a smile when the girl turned bashful.
"Okay." Emma nodded placing her hand over Regina's that laid above her heart. Red nodded to the brunette to let her know she was free to continue. Regina looked Emma in the eye before slowly slipping her hand into her wife's chest cavity so she could hold her heart. She could see in the exact moment when Emma began to panic as she rushed to sooth her.
"Te aroha , whakapono hoki ki ahau." She cooed softly using her free hand to run small circles up and down Emma's back.
" Love, Trust me." Red translated in the same tone, watching her Khaleesi's jagged breath. Regina waited for Emma to settle down before she continued and began muttering a very old enchantment. Pulling her hand from out of Emma's chest, she kissed the girl squarely on the mouth blowing in the last bit of magic that it took to seal the spell. Emma's eyes widen in shock when she heard Regina's silk voice inside of her head.
"Did it work?" Regina tried to test the connection.
"I can hear you. Your in my head!" Emma gasped but the words were still foreign when spoke out loud. Only through the connection could Regina understand the other language and vise versa for Emma.
"I need you to try to speak with me, like I am with you." Regina spoke through the connection again
"I can hear you." Emma's eyes tear filled and it seemed like for the first time she was finally seeing Regina.
"Hello love." Regina grinned pouring some of what she was feeling into Emma. The blonde launched herself at Regina, wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck as she breathed in the spicy scent that was the Khaleesi. Regina hugged back for several moments until her chin accidentally pushed into the bruise on Emma's neck causing the girl to shrink back slightly.
"I want you to tell me who hurt you." Regina's jaw ticked as she watched the Khaleesi bite down her lip.
"I can't-" Emma shook her head trying to extract herself from the brunette.
"Did he threaten to hurt you?" Regina kept her grip on the blonde firm but not enough to cause any pain.
"No. Who told you- Nobody hurt me!" Emma denied.
"Don't lie to me Emma. You have a hand shaped bruise on your neck. Someone choked you and I want to know who! This is the second time you've come bruised to me, I won't allow someone to put their hands on you!" Regina hissed unable to keep from glaring at the girl in her arms.
"I can't tell you!" Emma shook her head harshly.
"Why not! I want to know why you wish for your blood rider to teach you to fight!" Regina argued.
"You told her?" Emma yanked herself away from Regina to turn on Red.
"Khaleesi..." Red held up her hands in soothing nature.
"I trusted you!" Emma snapped
"Don't be cross with her. She was worried about your safety. I don't appreciate you asking the tribe to lie to their Khaleesi." Regina interjected glad that Emma at least looked guilty when this was said.
"Please...don't hurt him." Emma was looking down at her feet when she spoke to Regina reminding her of that small timid girl who had first came all those nights ago.
"Tell your brother if he lays his hands on you again, that will be the last time that he has hands!" Regina compromised. Emma simply nodded again but she still didn't look up from her feet.
"I need some air. I'll be back later, your free to go to your own tent." Regina through over her shoulder before leaving.
"Khaleesi I'm sorry." Red said immediately and her words caught Emma off guard. Wasn't this the same girl who told her saying sorry was a sign of weakness? Furthermore what did she have to apologize for? Emma knew she was in the wrong for putting someone she considered a friend into a situation like that, could she truly be mad that it blew up in her face?"
"No it was my fault. I shouldn't have forced you to lie to your Khaleesi. I knew she was going to find out regardless yet I just wanted to take the coward way out." Emma voice was thick, she didn't like that she had upset Regina. The woman who had done so much to make her feel comfortable when she didn't really have to. Technically Emma belonged to Regina just as much as Red, she was apart of the agreement between August and the Khaleesi. But Regina had gone out of her way to make Emma her equal and she repaid her by keeping secrets and turning her people against her.
"Still I should have let you tell her in your own time. It was wrong of me to tell your secret." Red argued.
"Consider us even. I haven't exactly been a great friend to you, and I fear it was because of the weight of keeping things from the Khaleesi. I lashed out at you because I knew you wouldn't hit me." Emma admitted.
"Nobody should ever lay their hands on you, Khaleesi. What your brother does isn't right." Red shook her head sadly.
"What am I supposed to do? We are the last of the Kopaka, we were supposed to stick together. Him hitting me he wasn't the worst of the punishments I've ever received. They were all mild compare to the others...Have you ever gone weeks without food. The simplest scraps of bread seem like a feast. Day's without water make you delirious. You start seeing things that aren't really there. Those are the things that you body never recovers from. You teach yourself to lose the feeling of a full belly, by the time its over your nothing but skin and bones. Anything you consume doesn't stay down for long and your body will never stop aching." Emma cracked a humorless smile.
"He starved you as a punishment." Red finally caught on.
"For weeks at a time. He was strip me bare before throwing me in a room with absolutely no light. The only thing there was, was a door. I don't know why but I was always so happy to see him because it meant the punishment was ending. Despite the fact that it was he who started it." Emma continued. Throughout he replaying of events, she was exploring the inside of Regina's tent taking note of its differences and similarities.
"How long do you suppose she'll be angry for?" Emma asked.
"It's hard to say. I've never seen her get angry and not do something about it. If she went out for a drink, I would steer clear of her. The mead makes her lose her inhibitions and act on her impulses." Red warned.
"So if I make her angry while she drunk, she'll hit me? I suppose it better than getting hit by a sober man." Emma sank to Regina's bed.
"I don't think she will ever physically harm you in particular but sometimes her words can have a worse effect." Red amended.
"The last time she drank, she sought comfort from another. Should expect this tonight?" Emma asked.
"I don't know Khaleesi. It's possible but the only person who has ever warmed her bed is Gin, and they aren't on very good terms right now." Red answered honestly.
"If she seeks out that filthy mongrel, they will both regret it!" Emma seethed.
"You should get ready to eat and head to bed. You have your lesson with Graham as soon as the sun breaks in the horizon." Red tried to change the subject as both her and Emma set out to leave the tent.
The sun was still setting lighting up the camp and its habitats, as Emma's eyes sought out Regina. She found her at the table that held all of the Nanakia's beverages from fermented and fresh milks, to mead's and wines, to juices and waters. However she was not alone, Gin was filling up her chalice to the brim with a strong aged wine that was reserved specifically for Regina. Fighting the rage that was mounting deep into her bones she turned to Red.
"So much for them not being on good terms. I want you to stay and watch them. In the morning we shall talk." Emma said before disappearing behind the flaps of her tent. One thing was for certain, she wasn't going to keep entertaining this idea of Regina and Gin for too much longer. The brunette was going to have to decide what she wanted and stick with it.
Red watched Emma disappear from her sight before she turned to watch Regina and Gin. It was obvious to her that they were already getting far to comfortable in each others presence, she could tell that Regina was even allowing the other woman's advances. Being a bed slave had taught her many things, one of the most important was not to fall for anyone you've already slept with if you know they are entertaining another. She knew that Emma didn't really have much of a choice in the matter but Regina was aware of what her actions could do. She was honestly surprised that Gin was even still alive after threatening Emma early that day and now Regina was flirting with her.
The dark haired Khaleesi had to have at least some feelings for Ginger, she had let the dirty blonde woman get away with far more than she should be allowed to. Yes Gin had been around for a long time and she had proved her loyalty over and over again but that shouldn't matter. Regina took a vow to Emma and now she was basically spitting on their marriage in front of everyone. She watched as Gin led a very tipsy Regina by the hand towards the Khaleesi's tent. They were quickly approaching her when Gin smirked mischievously at her. The blonde stopped several feet from in front of Emma's tent before pulling Regina into a teeth clanking kiss. Gin began to push against Regina, causing the brunette to back up slightly and brush the flaps of her wife's tent. Realizing what she was trying to do, Red completely lost it. Launching herself at the blonde, she grabbed a handful of hair before pushing the woman to the ground as they began to scuffle. In the process, Ruby was able to pull out her sharpened boar's teeth shank before pressing it into the intoxicated woman's neck just enough to draw a thin line of blood.
Despite being drunk, Gin was able to buck Red off and wrestle the shank from her hand
"What the hell do you think your doing?" Regina hissed throwing both of them apart. The scuffle had brought Emma out of her tent, and the blonde immediately went to check on her handmaiden. She had to pass Gin on her way towards Red, but she was so caught up she didn't think about the angry woman as she hurried towards her friend. Right as she reached where Gin was standing, the woman quickly thrust the stolen weapon into Emma lower stomach toward her left hip. The tooth sank deep into flesh until only an inch of it was showing. Reacting on instinct Emma grabbed her attackers hand, causing Gin to cry out in pain. A strong blue light was emanating from Emma's burning through the woman's flesh until it turned black. Emma staggered as Regina watched on in shock. When the Khaleesi fell to the floor, Regina snapped out of it realizing that Gin had just tried to kill her wife. Stalking Gin who was whimpering from where Emma's touch had charred her skin, she thrust her hand into the girls chest before yanking out her heart.
"Red call the riders." Regina barked before waving her hand. She had Gin tied up to a mast readying her to burn. Quickly she turned towards Emma who was trying to stem the bleeding from her hip while also trying to pull the sharp tooth from her body.
"My love, don't touch it!" Regina pulled Emma's hand away with the one that wasn't holding Ginger's heart.
"It hurts." Emma was breathing raggedly from the sheer shock of the attack.
"I know, don't worry I'm going to fix it for you. I'm so sorry Moon of my life." Regina looked down solemnly. This was her fault, she had allowed Gin to get reckless without the repercussions of what could happen. Now Emma was paying the price. Using her magic when she was drunk was always tricky and she didn't want to risk hurting her further, but she knew she had to get the tooth out. Red had come back quickly with Jefferson and Graham in tow. Jefferson took one look at Emma before glancing towards Gin, without hesitation he reached out and struck her with a closed fist.
"Make it stop. Please!" Even through the connection, she could hear the pain in Emma's voice.
"I can't do it with magic. I could hurt you more in my state right now. I'm going to have Graham pull it and then I will stop the bleeding." Regina said brushing back sweat slicked pale blonde locks.
"Graham I need you to pull it out" Regina demanded, passing Gin's heart to Jefferson to hold. Jefferson began flicking the heart harshly with his middle finger and occasionally squeezing it enough to make Gin gasp in pain. Graham fell to his knees before pulling out his blade causing Emma to panic.
"Moon of my life, calm down. He needs to get it out." Regina held the shaking blonde still while Graham made quick work of the shank. Pushing the tip of his knife along the side, he wiggled it quickly ignoring Emma's shout before taking it out and replacing it with his fingers. When he was able to get a firm grip on the tooth, he pulled quickly taking it out in one go as Regina covered the wound with a piece of cloth she ripped from her shirt.
"Get Sidney and tell him to put a salve on it to prevent infection. Put her in my tent" The dark haired woman ordered watching Graham scoop up the blonde before rushing off with Red close behind.
A crowd had gathered and Regina was pleased to see Emma's brother among them. She would make a lesson out of Gin and she could only hope it would sink in for the older man.
"There has been an attack on your Khaleesi! Committed by one of our own. Someone we trusted. You know what the consequences of treason are, don't you?" Regina seethed to the rapidly growing crowd.
"Death! Death ! Death!" The cries rang out.
"Precisely." She watched Jefferson approach her with the already lit torch.
"Back to the Shadow Lands!" Regina spat before lighting Gin's body up, staring with her feet. She burned slowly, her screams enticing the crowd who cheered and demanded her death. The smell of burnt flesh slowly filled the air but it didn't bother Regina any. Her eye's however never left Gin's already burnt hand, as she was left wondering. How the hell did Emma do that?