I'm sorry I haven't uploaded in so long, but good news: two more chapters and we're done, guys!
Turns out, the battlefield was a far cry from what Emma had expected. There was nothing grandiose about it. There was nothing romantic about 'kill or be killed'. There was just death and pain. Everywhere she looked. Death and pain.
She couldn't even remember how her skin looked without blood on it. The blood on her skin was either hers or someone else's. It seemed as if the crimson liquid has been permanently inked her pale arms.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. She missed Regina dearly. Her biggest regret was not kissing the brunette goodbye. It seemed like a good idea at the moment, but now she couldn't shake the feeling that she might have missed the last chance she had to kiss those perfect lips. All because of her pride.
Her pride was to blame for many other things. Like the loss during their first battle because she wouldn't accept Graham's idea. It cost them 30 soldiers. Thirty names that were on repeat in Emma's head. She vowed she would win this war, for them.
After that, she had accepted Graham's insight. Their joint tactics grew better with time. Now, they were mostly unstoppable - others didn't have that luck.
Robin died in battle. Emma would have been happy by the news, if it wasn't for the fact that that battle had claimed Victor's life as well. She mourned his death for a day, and returned to battle after that. There was no rest for them, not when your enemy was an army of undead led by a man who had the ability to bring the dead back to life.
The only way to stop him was to kill him.
But, the question is, how could one kill the most powerful man in this realm?
"We're close to the Dark One's castle," Graham stated one night while they regrouped. Even though their opponent was an army of undead, they didn't fight during night time. Some said it was because their already rotted eyes couldn't see at night time. Others said they needed to feed on the people who died on the battlefield. Emma didn't care much about the reason why. She was glad that it gave them time to rest and eat.
"Ser Killian and Ser Jefferson's armies are closing the distance, too," Paul, their messenger, notified Emma of this revelation.
Emma dismissed the messenger before she and Graham continued their discussion. The blonde preferred when it was just the two of them.
"We can surround the castle and seize it by tomorrow," Graham said after the messenger left.
"There's no point," Emma let out, dragging her hand down her face.
She was exhausted. She couldn't remember the last time she slept or had eaten properly. She was sure she had lost weight, for her armor was too big to fit her body now. She didn't have a good appetite nowadays. Her stomach couldn't handle food as long as she smelled blood - and it seemed as if that was her fragrance nowadays.
"We have not even one quarter of the army we have when this war started," Emma pointed out, "Jefferson and Killian have similar numbers. There's no way the armies can enter to the castle."
"No one said anything about the army," Graham said, "We will enter. Just you and I."
"We can't leave the soldiers with no leader."
"Then, leave someone in command," he suggested, "Emma, if we get into the castle and you kill the Dark One, this war is over. Imagine that! We get to go home!"
"Home," Emma repeated.
The world felt foreign in her mouth. Especially when she thought about the Swan Castle. Her thoughts wondered over to Regina.
Emma imagined the brunette tending her apple tree or riding her horse. She imagined it so well that she could almost feel Rocinante's mane and smell the apples' scent.
"Home sounds good," Emma repeated, then her hopes of seeing Regina again dimmed when she said, "I can't kill the Dark One."
"Of course you can, Emma," Graham placed on his hand on Emma's shoulder, "You were born to do kill him. To save us."
"No pressure there," Emma looked at one random point, anywhere to keep her mind busy and her view away from her second in command, "I'm not half the man my father was."
"Wrong. You're not the man your father was," Graham corrected her, then he added, "You are the bravest, toughest person I've ever met. So, no. You are not your father. You are your own self. And that's pretty amazing."
Emma looked at him and fought the urge to hug him tightly. She couldn't show weakness, not after his kind words. Not before what they were going to do tomorrow.
"Get some rest, Graham," Emma said standing up, "Tomorrow, we are killing that bastard."
Emma loved seeing sunrises in the countryside. They were majestic. The fog covered most of the fields, hiding the blood from the fallen soldiers. The sunbeams made the frost shine like silver glitter.
Every morning, Emma was the first to awake. She went out of her tent and took in the scenery in front of her while she played with the destroyed Star Tear that Regina had refused to take until after the war. As she was lost in thoughts, while watching her breath condense in the cold air, for a short period, there was no war, no blood being shed, and no soldiers dying. Then, the fog would disappear and the frost would melt, and what remained were the fields laden in blood.
Today wasn't any different. Not even the picturesque landscape can help her forget about the war. As the sun rose up in the sky, she went through their strategic plan several times, thinking of all possible scenarios.
By the time Graham came to get her, she had already thought on how to kill the Dark One in 54 different ways, and, out of the 54 scenarios, 48 possibilities also meant her death as well. She told Graham that she made a decision on whom to leave in charge and told him to get her replacement.
She took advantage of the short time between Graham's departure and the arrival of her next visit to put her armour on. The last time this armour had been in the Dark One's presence, her father had killed him and had died on the process. She trailed her hands to the lower edge of the protective covering and wondered what the future held for her, was she fated to die in the same way her father had died?
"Emma, you called for me?"
Emma turned around to see Peter, one of her younger cousins, standing awkwardly by the tent flaps. His Swan trademarked blond hair had been shaved to a buzzcut and, just like Emma's, his eyes were subdued. His eyes showed his lost innocence and lack of light. He looked like a child who had no choice but to grow up too quickly. As a member of the Swan Family, he didn't have a choice but to go to war regardless of his age.
Next to him stood another blond that Emma had seen before but couldn't remember his name. She didn't know why, but she thought they were a couple.
"Yes," she answered and showed him to the table where a map was laying, with notes and figures placed strategically. "Graham and I are riding into the Dark One's Castle today," she pointed at the drawing in the paper. "Jefferson and Killian and both armies made it this far," she trailed her fingers above the area where the armies are.
"Ok," he paused before adding, "Why are you telling me all this?" He was not used to hearing information of great importance. Heck, Emma was sure that he wasn't even allowed to sit at the grown-ups' table.
"I'm leaving you in charge of my troops."
"I'm sorry. What?" Peter stuttered.
"I want you to be in charge while Graham and I are away."
"Have you lost your mind?" Peter asked, shocked by Emma's statement, "I am fifteen years old! most of these men have been training for a longer time than I have been alive. I am- "
"You are a Swan," Emma interrupted him "And you're a natural leader, I've seen how the younger soldiers follow you around."
"That's because I'm cousins with the future King."
"Nonsense," the woman dismissed the statement, "Peter. I'm asking you nicely. Don't make me order you to take the leadership."
Peter opened his mouth to protest but before he could say something, the other blond placed a hand on his shoulder. The touch seemed to calm Peter down. Peter stared the boy and suddenly, there was light in his eyes. Emma could recognize that look from anywhere. It made Emma both smile and ache; she desperately wanted to be with Regina.
"What's your name?" Emma asked him.
"Felix. Your highness."
Emma smiled at him, "Please, call me Emma." He nodded at the request.
"Do you believe Peter can do this, Felix? And I want an honest answer."
"I believe Peter can lead the troops," Felix replied, "But, that's just my opinion, Ser."
Emma nodded, "It is settled, then." Both boys looked at her with eyes wide open. "I recognize love when I see it. I know Felix wouldn't put you in danger if he believes that you couldn't do it."
The blonde walked towards her tent's entrance, leaving the two boys astonished. They thought they were being subtle with their romance, but Emma read them as easy as an open book.
"Give me some credit, Peter. I saw that look in David's face for the longest time," she explained as she grabbed her sword and tied it to the belt on her hip, "Now come along, it's time to make an announcement."
Surprisingly enough, the Mills' soldiers accepted Peter with little to no problems than most of the Swans, probably because they were already used to following rules from a foreigner. Half of the Swan Army, however, believed that Peter had no experience and should not be the leader of the army.
Emma silenced them with a word. And then, she told them that she believed Peter would be a great leader and whoever said otherwise was questioning her and it would be considered treason. They weren't fully convinced but they didn't voice their opinions.
Before leaving, she gave Peter some strategies to follow and wished him the best of the luck. Even though, she didn't believe he needed it to be a strong leader.
Emma parted with Graham shortly after. They carried as many weapons as they could without compromising the fluidity of their movement: a knife on each boot, a dagger strapped to one thigh and a sword on the hip.
They reached their destination with no problem. A spy told them days prior of a path that was not monitored by the undead soldiers. The path, per se, didn't lead to the castle but to a tunnel, which smelled of sewage and hosted many rodents. The tunnel connected to the castle's dungeons.
"Last chance to back off, Graham," she said as they tied their horses next to the tunnel's entrance.
"Not a chance."
Emma faced him, "I'm serious, Graham. I have my father's sword and lineage, it feels like it's my responsibility to kill the Dark One or die trying. But, you don't have to die. You can go back, lead the troops, and go home a hero. You can claim a royal title, marry a pretty girl, and have a couple of children to love. You deserve that."
"And so do you," he replied, dead serious. "You think it was by chance that I was placed with you?" Graham asked, "No other army has troops from the two kingdoms."
"You were sent to control me?" Emma asked angrily.
"I volunteered to protect you," he corrected her. "Because I would rather die for you than see Regina unhappy as she was before she met you, when she was engaged to Leo," he confessed.
"And the troops? Were they sent to protect me as well?" Her tone was cold as ice now.
"Why are you so defensive, Goddamn it!" Graham raised his voice, "The troops were Regina's way of showing her grandfather that you can lead our people."
"So, it was all a test?" the blonde couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I'm starting to regret volunteering to protect you," he dragged his palm down his face, "It was not a test. Regina loves you and she wanted everyone to see what she saw, that you were capable of leading a kingdom."
Emma pursed her lips and thought about what Graham had just told her. On one hand, her pride was hurt because Regina didn't think she was capable of taking care of herself. But, on the other hand, she was touched that the brunette had gone to such lengths to show her grandfather Emma's worth.
"Thank you," Emma said after a while, "For protecting me and telling me the truth. But, more importantly, for being Regina's friend."
He nodded in acknowledgement, "We'll have time to be sentimental later. Right now, it's time to end this war. I know a certain brunette will be delighted to have you back in her arms."
And with that, he disappeared into the tunnel, into the unknown. Emma followed him close behind, wondering if they would make it out alive. The Star Tear pressed against her chest reminded her that she had to return it to Regina.
She had to come out alive.