Wonderstruck
Chapter 10
Author's Notes: Edited Chapter
"Good morning," Emma greeted as she tried to shift her body into a more comfortable standing position. She really hated wearing corsets. Her dress was a bright rich silver lined with white ermine. Her hair was pinned with braids intertwining around the silver crown resting on her head but fell down her shoulders in thick curling waves. It was an outfit fit for royalty.
"Good morning your highness." Regina dipped into a curtsy. Her back was perfectly straight as she stood up. Like Emma she was dressed in a beautiful red velvet dress with deep gold piping. Her thick hair was pinned up in a very stylized bun with beautiful ruby pins and a gold tiara to match. They looked every bit the part of princesses of their respective kingdoms.
"Did you sleep well?" The blonde princess asked, feeling nervous as the younger girl raised her eyes and nodded.
"I did." Regina paused. "It's your name day today. Happy Birthday."
"Thank you." Emma broke into a smile. "I only wish we could do what I wish on my name day?"
"And what would that be?"
"Well first I'd like to participate in the tournament."
Regina blinked and then shook her head. "You are a very strange princess your highness."
"Maybe."
"They're expecting us to be at the royals box before the tournament begins."
"The place I least prefer being."
"Perhaps when you are the ruler of Wintersend, you can have tournaments to your hearts content." Emma held out her arm as her future wife spoke. Regina hesitated only a moment before laying her hand in the crook of the other woman's arm.
"I'm sure I'll do something of the sort but only if you approve as well. I wouldn't want you to feel as though your thoughts and opinions don't matter to me because they do."
The younger woman paused just long enough for Emma to realize she wasn't moving before she forced her small feet to carry her forward.
"You say the strangest things your highness."
Emma furrowed her brow but before she could ask, her godfather was standing in their path.
"Your Mother is looking for you Kid."
"Why?"
"Something about walking you down to the field for the joust."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Is she afraid I'm going to do something to embarrass her?"
Grumpy shrugged, "Do I look like I know?"
"Regina." It didn't escape the dwarf's notice that the darker girl tensed and her face showed genuine fear as her Mother's cold voice reached them.
"Mother," Regina released Emma's arm and turned towards her Mother.
"It's time to go for the joust."
"Yes, Princess Emma had offered to escort me. I didn't know if you and Father were all ready there."
"Clearly that's not the case and I think it will be best if you come with me."
"Yes, Mother."
"We'll see you at the box, your highness."
Emma frowned but hid it with a small dip of her head. "Yes, your majesty. I look forward to it."
She waited until the other women were gone before turning back to Grumpy.
"That woman gives me the creeps." She muttered as she stepped closer to the dwarf.
Grumpy frowned, "Don't say that out loud where anyone can hear." He commanded. "Better to be safe than sorry."
Emma nodded, "Yeah, so where is my Mother?"
"Right here." Snow rounded the corner and smiled softly when she saw her daughter. "You look beautiful Emma. I wish your Father was here to see it."
The blonde princess forced herself not to tell her Mother how much she hated wearing a dress in particular one that required a corset. "Thank you Mother."
"Well, I suppose we should head down to the jousting field." The darker woman held out her arm to her daughter. "Happy name day dearest."
"Thank you Mother."
Emma cheered as the knight wearing the typical black armor of those from Moonshollow fell. The white moon symbol with the Pegasus was dented at the chest and Regina flinched where she was sitting beside her Father. Her mother shot her a look and she forced her face to relax and act as though this barbarism didn't bother her. Springfall didn't participate in such acts preferring other acts to show their prowess. Often times, horse racing and jumping were the preferred sports of their lands.
Emma looked over at her with a bright smile. "Did you see that? Sunfaire's knights aren't always so strong. Usually their navy is better but they're doing quite well in this event."
Regina forced a smile and nodded, "I can see that."
Cora laid her hand on her daughter's wrist before leaning over. She gave a tight squeeze and noted her daughter's eyes well up with tears.
"You'd do well to appease you future spouse dear. I'd hate to see her choose to force her way out of this union."
Regina dipped her head, hiding her tears as her mother withdrew her hand. She resisted the urge to lift her hand and shake her wrist to try and stop the throbbing. She took a breath and released it slowly.
"Mother, may I switch places with you to sit closer to Princess Emma?"
The Queen of Springfall offered her a small smile and did as asked. Once Regina was settled, she took a breath and leaned over to speak to Emma.
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand the objective behind the joust." She offered a weak smile as her fiancée turned to look at her.
"There are three rounds in a jousting match. They're finished when the lances are broken." Emma offered as she smiled at Regina's interest in one of her favorite sports.
"Why only three?"
"It's just the rules. Anyways, you get one point for breaking the lance on your opponent's chest, two for breaking it on the helmet. You get three for unhorsing your opponent. An unhorsing ends the match and the loser in this case is disqualified." Emma smiled as the knights lined back up.
"I think I understand. Thank you for explaining it to me." Regina offered her a small smile and Emma returned it, her eyes glowing with excitement.
The joust seemed to last forever before the winner was declared. Autumnamor wasn't particularly well known for their fighting skills but here their knight seemed to have succeeded.
"Remove your helmet brave knight so that we may see who has won the match." Queen Snow's voice rang out as the peasants and the gentry alike cheered for their winner.
The knight's bronze armor glinted off the white snow that was piled up from the heavy fall the previous day as he reached up and slowly withdrew his helmet.
"A woman." Queen Snow cocked her head as the woman dipped her head. She didn't bare the usual looks of one born of Autumnamor. Instead, her looks were more exotic like one from the lands of Ch'in. Her hair was dark and straight. Her dark eyes were almond shaped and quite pretty. She was small of stature but that didn't seem to matter given her prowess in the joust.
"Your Majesty." The woman kept her head bowed as the Queen stepped forward.
"What's your name knight?"
"Mulan your majesty."
"Mulan," Snow nodded and looked at her daughter who was sitting forward in interest.
"Today is my daughter's name day and I can think of no more fitting a gift than a woman winning the joust in her honor."
A small pleased smile worked it's way over her lips as she dipped into a bow as best she could given the heavy armor still adorning her body.
"You have done well and I will see to it that you are rewarded for your victory."
"Thank you your Majesty."
"Our winner, the knight of Autumnamor, Mulan." The Queen waited until the cheers of the people had calmed before she spoke again. "This is a happy day for many reasons. Not only is the name day of our princess Emma, it is the day in which I wish to announce with great happiness the engagement of my daughter to our close allies to the far west, Springfall. May my daughter and the heir of Springfall know much happiness in their marriage. To our new princess, Regina of the house of Mills the ruling family of Springfall." The Queen held out her hand taking the younger girl's and drawing her up.
Regina allowed the motion without a word as Emma stepped up on the other side of her Mother. The Queen of Wintersend stepped back and allowed Emma to take Regina's smaller hand. Loud cheers erupted as the people celebrated the new alliance and their soon to be ruling couple.
"Regina?" Emma called her fiancee's name as she entered the lower library. "I got your note that you wanted to meet. Is everything all right?" She asked as soon as she spotted the girl in one of the comfortable armchairs close to the fire.
"Yes, I just wanted to see you. It's not right for us to meet without some form of chaperone especially now that we're engaged."
"Are you sure you're all right with all this?" Emma asked as she moved close to the chair. She'd always found solace here and it seemed her new bride would as well. It wasn't particularly well lit but the bookshelves were high, the chairs were comfortable, and the large white stone hearth was always lit. It wasn't quite as bright and vivid as the rest of the palace could be and she enjoyed the cozy feeling here.
"I'm all right with all this. You keep asking me that. I haven't changed my mind."
"I just know that I pushed you to this and…" Emma trailed off when her fiancée darted forward and pressed her finger to her lips. The older princess pressed her lips to the younger woman's finger earning her a small smile.
"You didn't do anything wrong…if our parents didn't want this, it wouldn't happen. No matter how hard you pushed. You and I are two pawns in this game of allegiance and royalty. A marriage is only used to advance position, create strong ties for trade or other avenues. It's not about anything else."
"It can be about love." Emma offered and the younger girl shook her head with a small smile.
"You surely can't be that innocent? You grew up around this as much as I. You know royalty isn't given the luxury of love like the peasants."
"You're talking like your mother."
"Maybe my Mother's words make sense to me." Regina sighed, "You're kind to me and you've shown me that you'll treat me with respect. Respect, kindness those aren't bad things to build a marriage on."
Emma frowned, "I don't want to build our marriage on those things Regina."
"It's not like either of us has a choice. Now that our engagement has been announced and your name day passed, we'll be returning to Springfall until the wedding."
"Why? You can stay here."
Regina shot her a look and furrowed her brow, "That's not how this works Emma. We're royalty. We're not afforded the same luxuries as others." She repeated once again and the blonde sat back on her haunches.
"Did you enjoy it?"
"What?"
"The day at Raithwell's hidden palace?"
Regina hesitated before she nodded, "I did. It was beautiful. Hauntingly so."
Emma smiled softly. "I like to explore my Kingdom and I'm sure I'll do the same with yours if you'll allow."
"I don't know that there is much to explore in Springfall." Regina shrugged. "I wasn't allowed out much."
"Surely you'd sneak out."
The dark haired princess shook her head, "No, if I was caught I'd get into trouble and I preferred to avoid that."
The older girl cocked her head and nodded, "All right. Well then we'll explore together."
"You're such a strange Princess Emma."
"And you're not?"
"I act befitting my station…you don't."
The blonde frowned, "Is that meant to be insulting?"
The brunette's lips tilted up in a small smile. "No, it's meant to be a compliment."
"I'll do my best to make you happy."
"That's more than I have hoped for…especially knowing my wings were clipped at a very young age. I'll never be free."
Emma swallowed, "Maybe there are different kinds of freedoms."
"I hope so. I'd like to know them."
"I'll show them to you."
"Don't make me promises you can't keep."
"This one I can."
Regina smiled softly and leaned forward. She pressed her lips to the older princess' cheek. "We shouldn't be alone. Where's our chaperone?"
Emma snorted, "He's waiting out in the hall."
"Your godfather isn't a very good chaperone."
"Not when he's been drinking…that ale he favors has one hell of a kick."
"I want to try it one day."
"I'll get you some before you leave."
"Make it when I come back."
"You'll be my wife by then if you're right that you'll be leaving."
"It wouldn't do for me to lose my head without the one I'm supposed to marry at my side."
Emma laughed, "I'll be certain to keep you in check."
"That's all I ask."
She slipped to her feet, "I'd best go. If they found us alone…"
"You're right. I'll see you at dinner tonight?"
"Yes, until tonight." Regina dipped into a perfect curtsy and stepped around her heading towards the door in a flurry of beautiful red velvet.