True Love
A/N: Omg the amount of Emails I woke up to this morning was insane! I love you all so much!
Chapter 10- Curiosity Killed The Cat
I wondered down the corridor towards Regina chambers, opting to leave Max with Graham tonight since she had no desire to traumatize the wolf. It was strange, Max had always acted so different to any wolf she had ever encountered before, even Graham agreed. He almost acted human. Emma shook her head at the idea, realising how stupid it sounds.
When Emma arrived at the chambers doors, she suddenly felt a prickle at the back of her neck, as if she was being warned about something. She stopped and listened against the door, picking up the sound of Regina's voice and another's. Emma gasped when she recognised it to be Rumple's, his high pitched giggle, penetrating the thick material of the door.
"About her Prophesy of course" panic rushed through the Princess as she backed away from the door. Rumple was telling Regina her Prophesy. Unsure of what to do, Emma ran off down the corridor, wanting to distance herself from the chamber as fast as possible. She made her way back to her room, closing the door behind her quietly, as if hoping she wouldn't be found here.
Emma ran her hands through her hair, calming her racing heart. Since getting here Emma had thought a lot about the Prophesy, and one line in particular, which if things carried on as they did, would soon involve Regina. She had to think carefully, perhaps Rumple was merely pointing out that she had a Prophesy, not actually telling Regina what it said. This thought calmed Emma considerably, and she made her way over towards her wardrobe, picking out some night wear. She made her way back towards her bed, stripping off her riding gear from earlier, thinking it would probably need to be burned after today's activities. Emma turned to pull the nightie over her head, but screamed when she realised she wasn't alone.
"Oh don't stop on my account, I was enjoying the show" Emma glared at Regina's face, her shoulders only just visible in the small mirror.
"Do you have to watch me like that! It's creepy" Emma whined, covering herself up with the gown to retain some shred of modesty.
"It's nothing I haven't seen before dear" Regina's tone was strange, it was clear she was trying to hide her emotions.
"Still" Emma returned to putting the nightie on, bored of Regina's odd behaviour.
"I would much rather prefer you did that here with me" once again Emma stopped her actions to peer at Regina's face, a smirk had formed on the red lips now.
"You would?" Emma stuttered over her words, unsure why she was nervous all of a sudden.
"Indeed" purple smoke engulfed the Princess, and when it cleared she was standing stark naked in front of Regina, who was looking at her with hungry eyes. "Actually, you won't be needing this" Regina plucked the offending garment from Emma hands and tossed it behind her.
"I won't?" Emma asked weakly, arousal starting to form from the way Regina stared at her.
"No, now come" Regina grasped Emma's hand and led her towards the huge bed, the Queen's own clothing disappearing as they did, leaving her in nothing. Regina pushed Emma onto the bed, climbing on top of her.
"Why didn't you come straight here like I asked?" Regina stared down at Emma, brown eyes piercing into green. Emma shifted slightly, unsure of where this was going.
"A guard said you had company, I didn't want to intrude" Emma lied, not wanting to admit she eavesdropped on Regina and Rumple's conversation about her.
"What guard?"
"Er I don't know, I met him walking up here, in the corridor" Regina sighed at her, leaning down so that their noses were touching.
"I don't like to be lied to Princess" she cooed at her, their bodies brushing lightly.
"I'm not" Emma attempted to slide out from under Regina, but was tugged back by strong hands, forced to face the glare from the older woman.
"Emma" she warned, "there's no getting out of this. Why are you lying to me?"
"Um" Emma screamed at herself, angry at her inability to form a proper sentence. Regina stared down at Emma, watching the conflict in her face, as she fought with herself.
"You over heard my conversation with Rumple didn't you?" when Emma didn't reply, Regina growled angrily at her, "didn't you!"
"Yes" Emma snapped at Regina, her tone shocking the older woman enough for her to wriggle free from her possessive grasp. Emma scooted over to the other side of the bed, keeping her distance from Regina.
"Why didn't you just tell me that in the first place?" the Queen, moved over to Emma, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her into an embrace. The Princess snuggled into Regina's arms, sighing at how good it felt to be held by the other woman, and not in an angered way.
"It's rude to eavesdrop" Emma smiled when Regina chuckled.
"I suppose, but I think anyone would listen if people are talking about them" the Princess nodded.
"So, are you going to tell me about this Prophesy, Rumple mentioned?" Emma stiffened in Regina's arms. So she didn't know what it was about, how odd that Rumple didn't tell her. She felt Regina squeeze her gently when she didn't reply.
"I don't want to talk about it" the Queens brow furrowed at the answer, she fought against the Evil Queen to not snap at the girl for denying her something. She breathed a sigh before answering.
"Alright"
Xxxxxx
Snow sat in a crumpled heap on her throne. It was late, and the only light on the room was cast by the braziers hanging from the walls around her. In her hand she clutched a small rag doll, its ragged state showed it was old and well loved. The Queen cradled it against her chest, silent tears rolling down her face, as she sniffed the doll, taking in its scent. She did not stir at the sound the doors opening to the throne room, and instead hugged the doll a little tighter to her chest.
"Snow?" a voice called to her, but it seemed far off. A gentle hand was placed atop hers, gaining the broken Queen's attention.
"Charming" she smiled at her husbands concerned face, and reached out to run her thumb across his cheek.
"Snow why are you still up? It's past midnight, I was beginning to get worried" he looked down at the doll in his wife's hands and smiled sadly. He moved to pick her up, pulling her into his arms as he sat in her seat, pulling her into his own chest, hugging her as she cried against him.
"I can't do this Charming, not without her" she stared down at the small doll in her hands, its outfit was faded and it's hair slightly matted. She remembered giving the doll to her daughter, never forgetting the joy in her eyes, when presented with the toy.
Flashback
Snow practically skipped down the hall towards her daughter room, a small box clutched in her hands as she went. She had heard Emma express the want for a proper princess doll, one just like her mummy. Snow smiled at the thought her daughter wishing to play with something more realistic than the plush little dolls she had, their dresses so pink and fluffy and their hair to fair and neat. This in her hands was a real Princess.
And she reached the door, she heard laughter coming from the inside, and opened it to find James sat on the floor, wearing a small tiara as Emma stood in front of him, a wooden sword clutched in her small hands, pointed at a large stuffed dragon in front of her. Snow watched as Emma charged the toy, Charming's claps and cheers spurring her on, as she saved her father, or Princess, as he appeared to be.
"Fear not Princess, for I have rescued you" Emma stuck her sword in the air, and stood on top of the dragon, to show it was defeated.
"Oooh thank you brave knight" Charming said, his voice high and girly, making Snow laugh.
"Mummy!" Emma yelled as she barrelled towards her, leaping into her out stretched arms, hugging her daughter tightly. "Did you see me Mummy? I saved Daddy!".
"That you did, my love" Snow cooed as Emma slid from her arms, running over to embrace Charming, who scooped her up, and resting her on his hip, and she rambled about how she was going to slay dragons when she was older.
"Emma sweetheart, look what I have" she interrupted her daughter, knowing if she didn't, the blonde would go on for hours. Emma turned to see the box in Snow's hands, and urged Charming to take her closer so she could investigate it. Snow opened the lid to reveal, a small doll, with black hair, and similar outfit to the one she wore during her bandit days. A small bow was in her hand, and a quiver was attached to her back. Emma squealed in excitement as she plucked the toy from the box to see it closer.
"Mummy it's a real Princess!" Emma hugged it closer, before slipping from her father's arms, yelling thank you as she started running around the room, grabbing every stuffed dragon and Princess she could find. The two royals watched as Emma started saving the Princess' from the dragons.
"Does she know it's meant to be you?" Charming murmured in her ear, as he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
"No, but I do" she smiled at him once more. They both looked back at Emma, who know clutched the wooden sword in her hand again.
"Now that is a real Princess" the both laughed quietly with one another, as Emma attacked the dragons once more.
Flashback End
Snow smiled at the memory of Emma, remembering how she took the doll with her everywhere she was allowed to, and always kicked up a fuss when she couldn't bring it somewhere.
"Well isn't this just precious" the royals both jumped and stared at the man before them.
"What do you want, Imp!" Charming snapped, Rumple smiled at him.
"Just checking in" he eyed the doll in Snow's hands, "it's a shame what happened to your daughter"
"Don't talk about her!" Charming yelled at him, a vein popping in his head.
"No wait!" Snow sat up in her husband's arms, staring at the small man, "do you know where she is?"
"Snow" the King put a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Emma's not anywhere, she's dead"
"I beg to differ with you dearie" they both stared at him, as he giggled insanely.
"What do you mean?" Snow slipped from her husband's lap, advancing on Rumple.
"She alive"
"Where?" she demanded, her mind filling with emotions, happiness and relief, but also fear and worry for were her daughter may be.
"Snow! We can't trust him!" Charming came to stand next to his wife, glaring at Rumple.
"We have to James! I need to know where my daughter is!" she turned back to face a smirking Rumple.
"You're not going to like it" he said, smiling evilly at them.
"I don't care, tell me" Snow said.
"She's taken up residence with the Evil Queen" he cackled at the stunned expressions.
"What?"
"Yes, in her bed to be more specific" Charming seemed to choke on air, while Snow merely opened and closed her mouth like a fish.
"How can this be?" Snow said, disbelief in her voice.
"Oh that's not even the best part, she knows about the Prophesy" the royals both froze, the same fear running down the spines for their daughter. Charming turned to his wife, fear in his face.
"We have to do something Snow!" he said, urgency in his voice.
"Yes we must, and I know exactly what!"
Xxxxx
A couple of days past, and Regina had not approached the subject of the Prophesy again. Emma was thankful for this, knowing if Regina asked again, she would still not be able to tell her. Emma lay, naked upon Regina's bed, while the Queen glared down at her, after asking her to get up about three times.
"Princess court start's in half an hour, and I like a little time before hand to prepare myself, now get up!" Emma groaned in displeasure, her attempts to get Regina back in bed had all failed horribly. She muttered as she climbed out of bed, complaining about getting dressed. Regina huffed at her and flicked her wrist, dressing the girl in a light blue dress. Emma looked down at her new attire, taking in the dress.
"You could have just done that before and saved all this trouble" Emma said, as she walked towards the door.
"Well live and learn" said the Queen, clasping her hand around Emma's as they walked towards the throne room. Once they arrived, Emma noticed another throne had been added to the dais. It was made of the same stone as Regina's, but was white instead, with light blue velvet instead of red.
"You built me a throne?" Emma asked in disbelief.
"Well I would rather you sat on my lap, but that hardly seems professional now does it?" Regina smirked at how flustered the Princess became. She led them over to the thrones, sitting regally in hers, while Emma did the same. Their hands remained entwined.
"What time does your court start?" the Princess asked, looking around the empty room.
"Soon" She clapped her hands and a few people wondered in, mostly guards, all walking in a straight line, as the moved to stand by the walls. Graham came in last, Max trotting next to him.
"Max!" Emma called, and he ran over to her, putting his front paws on her knees as has leaned in to lick her face happily. Regina watched the interaction between the two friends, trying not to let her smile break through the stony demeanour she set in place for court. Max settled down, and sat at Emma's feet, surveying the room.
"Did you attend court with your parents?" Regina asked.
"Yes, nearly all the time" Emma scrunched her nose up, and Max huffed.
"Good, then you'll know how to behave?"
"Yes, I'm going to throw a tantrum and behave like a child, yes?" Regina glared at Emma, who laughed.
"If you dare-" but Emma cut across her, smiling.
"Fear not, I'm only joking" Regina grunted, as people began walking to the throne room, and she took a deep breath in, preparing herself for the boring requests of the people.
Court was uneventful, and Regina found her thoughts drifting at every given moment. They mostly settled on Emma, and she lost herself in fantasies of the younger girl. However her thoughts kept drifting to ones of the Prophesy, and what it entailed. The curiosity had been killing Regina, and she was dying to know what it was about, and how it involved her. Regina turned to look at Emma, as the peasants left, and a new lot came in.
"You seem lost in thought" Emma said, turning to face Regina.
"Tell me about the Prophesy" the Queen decided she should be bold and forward with this, or she feared she would never have an answer.
"Must we do this now?" Emma shifted uncomfortably in her throne.
"Yes" Regina hissed, keeping her voice low to avoid anyone else hearing their conversation.
"Look it's by business Regina, and I want it to stay that way!" Emma snapped, glaring at the Queen. Anger boiled in Regina's veins at Emma's stubbornness.
"It was your business, until I found out it involves me, making it my business too!" Regina said a little louder, making Emma glance nervously around the room.
"How do you know it involves you!" Emma said, letting her own voice rise. Everyone in the room stared at the Queen and Princess, they all looked nervous, clearly feeling the tension building between the two women.
"Rumple told me!"
"Look I don't want to talk about it, so you're going to have to deal with it!" Emma yelled, everyone sucked in a breath at her tone.
Before Regina could answer there was a crash and the doors burst open, several guards came in, carrying another man in their arms.
"What is this?" she rose from her throne to see what the commotion was. She felt Emma stand to, but placed a hand on her stomach, stopping her from getting to close to scene in front of them. The guards placed a clearly very dead man upon the floor, an arrow protruding from his heart. But what caught everyone's attention was a note stuck to the arrow, and what looked like a doll. Before she could Max ran down to the man and snatched the note the man's body, bringing it back up to the Princess, who took it in shaking hands.
"It's from my parents" she handed Regina the letter, while Emma stared at the doll, a flood of emotions over to took her, and she had to sit down from fear falling over. Regina watched in worry at Emma's reaction to the doll, but turned her attention to the note. There were only two words upon the piece of paper.
We Know
Regina glanced at Emma, who was shaking slightly, then back at the dead man before her. Rage over took her as she stormed over to the man, looking to see he was the scout she had stationed in the White Kingdom. She crumpled the note and dropped it to the ground, knowing full well what this meant.
War!
A/N: The more reviews the faster the update…just saying ;) Till next time Kids.