"Their father?" Arthur jerked back in surprise. But as he looked at the man, he could see it. He saw Hadley in the man's eyes. "But…we looked for you. Months have went by."

Edwin bowed his head before meeting Arthur's eyes. "We were taken by the men who attacked us. We were forced to work in mines in a land far from here. A world away it seemed. They were slave traders. We finally managed to escape about a month ago. We didn't know what had happen to my girls. We feared them dead or worse…taken like we were. But when we started asking, people knew the girls, heard about them. Our hopes began to rise and that hope led us here." Edwin paused to wipe his eyes. "Please tell me they are alive and safe."

"They are." Arthur stepped down closer to the men. The man closed his eyes as tears flowed down his cheeks.

"Please…I need to see them." Edwin begged as more tears fell.

"Well. They are no longer here." Arthur told him with a frown. "They are in Hendricks. Hadley is…set to be married tomorrow."

"What?" Edwin and Robert exclaimed. Edwin sputtered in disbelief. "Married? How….how can that be? I did not give my consent or blessing."

"They thought you were dead." Arthur explained. "Hadley…was…or is doing what she thinks needs to be to make sure her and Emma are taken care of."

Edwin eyed the prince for a moment. "You speak of them as if you know them well."

"I did…I do. I-"

"The girls stayed here for a while." Uther said, coming up beside Arthur putting a hand on his sons shoulder. "They made many friends here."

"I see." Edwin muttered, even though he still looked confused.

"There is still hours until day break. You will rest here. Then we will see you are sent to Hendricks to reunite with your daughters."

"Thank you, my lord." Edwin bowed before following a guard out the door.

"The girls will be overjoyed, I would say." Uther said, watching the men leave.

"Yes." Arthur muttered quietly. He was thrilled for them and he knew how happy they were going to be. He wished he could be there to see their reaction. He gave his father a glance when Uther left for his bed. Arthur looked at Merlin who had been standing silently in the back of the room. "Well…that was unexpected."

"I'll say. But it's wonderful." Merlin fell in step with the prince as they left the great hall. "Hadley and Emma will be elated."

Arthur stopped at his door. "Yes. Good night, Merlin."

"Good night to you, my lord."

Xxxxxx

Emma walked into her sister's room just as the sun rose and settled into the blue sky. Looking around she saw Hadley's beautiful wedding dress laid out on the bed, her lace veil beside it. Hadley was at the window in her slip, staring out into the new day. "Good morning."

"Morning." Hadley gave her sister a quick glance over her shoulder.

"It's a beautiful day." Emma remarked, joining her sister. "The few guests invited are arriving."

"Yes, I've been watching." Hadley had pleaded with Henry for just a small wedding. Royal weddings had a tendency of being a huge affair with other royals and wealthy people invited. Hadley didn't want that. Henry agreed when he saw how stressed and worried the thought made her. So only a few close friends and family were invited.

"I guess the maids will be in soon with your bath." Emma filled the silence as she worriedly eyed her sister. "Haddie?"

"I'm fine." Hadley assured her leaving the window. She gave Emma a smile as she picked up an apple from the breakfast tray she hadn't felt like eating. "It will all be…fine."

"We could run away." Emma suggested with a tiny smile. Hadley laughed, rolling her eyes playfully. "We could go live in the mountains and become the scary old ladies that haunt the mountain. There will be stories about us that terrify children as they lay down for bed."

"Stop." Hadley laughed, moving to hug her sister. She knew Emma was trying to make her feel better and it was working. She was doing the right thing. Plus, she had grown very fond of Henry. She wouldn't go as far as to say she was in love with him, but she truly felt like that would change with time.

"I just want you happy." Emma fiercely whispered, holding tight to her sister. "You of all people deserve it so much."

Hadley held her sister as she pulled back to look at her. "I am happy, Emma." But in the back of her mind she couldn't help but remember the dream she had with her mother. It had felt so real, but when she woke yesterday morning in her bed she realized it had been a dream. Even with her mother's word still fresh in her head, she was determined to marry Henry. What other option did she truly have at this point? She was never going back to Camelot. Hendricks was now her home. Henry would now be her home.

Xxxxxxxx

"My lord?"

Henry looked up from his breakfast at the knight standing at his doorway. "Yes?"

"There are two men here who insist on seeing Lady Hadley and her sister. Strangers."

Henry frowned as he wiped his mouth and hands, getting up. "Where are they from?"

"Dunkin, sire. Said it was a two day ride from here."

"Don't let them in. I'll meet with them and see what they want." The knight bowed his head before leaving Henry alone. Pulling on a shirt, his eyes went to where his royal wedding garments hung. He was getting married today. Wishing he felt happier about it, he left his room to speak with the strangers in the courtyard. He found them outside the castle and they turned as he walked down the steps to them. "I'm Prince Henry. What business do you have here?"

"I here to see my daughters." Edwin told him after bowing in respect.

"Daughters?" Henry reared back in shock.

"Hadley and Emma. They are mine. I'm their father Edwin."

"Their father is dead." Henry retorted suspiciously.

"I know they think that, but I assure you I am very much alive. We got separated many months ago and I've just now been able to find them." Edwin explained, impatiently. Knowing he was this close to his daughters made him antsy and testy. "Please sir, just summon them."

"I will not give them false hope."

"It will not be false I assure you. Please, my lord." Edwin put his palms together, again bowing to the prince.

Henry eyed the man unable to deny the similarities in his eyes and Hadley's and something about the roundness of his face reminded him of Emma. Was he telling the truth? "Stay here." He left them quickly, going down the hallway to Hadley's room. He knocked once only to have Emma open the door, gasp, and then slam the door in his face.

"It is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!" Emma exclaimed through the door. "Go away!"

Henry rolled his eyes, knocking again. "This is very important, Emma."

"Lord knows neither of you need any extra bad luck before this marriage even starts!" Came Emma's reply.

Henry paused at her words, his brow wrinkling in thought. What did she mean by that? The words annoyed him so he pounded harder. "Open this door now!"

"Ohh, he sounds mad." Emma whispered with a smirk from the other side of the door.

"You better let him in." Hadley sighed, getting up from where the maid had been combing her hair. The last thing she needed was her groom mad on their wedding day.

"Whatever. Like this marriage could get anymore wrong." Came Emma's snarky replied, earning a rigid glare from her sister. "Sorry." She mumbled, putting her head down and moving from the door.

Hadley opened the door with a smile on her face. "What's the matter?"

Henry stomped in, giving Emma a hard look. "What did you mean by that?"

"By what, my lord?" Emma looked at him with wide innocent eyes.

"About our marriage." Henry snapped impatiently.

"My lord, is this what you can to talk to us about?" Hadley cut in trying to calm Henry and save Emma. Not that Emma looked worried as she smirked back at the prince.

Henry shook his head, putting his attention on Hadley. "I hate to disturb you, but a matter has come to my attention. I…almost hate to mention it, but in the slight chance it may be true…I thought you should know."

"What is it, Henry?" Hadley asked, curious.

"There are two men outside and one…claims to be…your father." Both girls gasped as they startled in shock and before he could blink both had taken off in a run out of the room. "Wait! You don't even know if it's true!"

Hadley and Emma ignored Henry's words as they ran down the hall. Hadley's heart raced in hope, but as she neared the door she stopped, grabbing Emma's arm. "Wait."

"What?" Emma rasped, catching her breath.

"It may not be him."

"And it may be." Emma countered quickly. 'We have to check."

"Yes." Hadley swallowed as Henry caught up with them. "But what if…it isn't?"

"Then…it isn't." Emma replied, squeezing her sister's hands. "Have hope."

"I've held to hope for months, Emma. I never lost it." Hadley whispered, but her heart squeezed in fear that her hope was going to be crushed when she walked out the door.

Emma held tight to Hadley's hand and smiled. "Then let's go see."

Hadley nodded. She said a quick prayer before Henry opened the door for them. Stepping out, the sun was bright and warm above them as a light breeze blew their hair. Swiping the hair from her eyes she looked down at the two men waiting for them and…busted into tears.

"Father!" Emma exclaimed on a sob as her and Hadley raced down the steps.

"Girls!" Edwin rushed to meet them, catching them at the bottom of the steps as tears streamed from his eyes. 'Oh…my girls. I thought I had lost you."

Hadley cried into her father's neck as she took in his familiar smell of grass and the occasional pipe. "Oh…father. We thought you dead." Hadley raised up, crying and laughing at the same time. "Uncle Robert." Robert stepped to them, quickly hugging them both before Edwin hugged them again.

"I can't believe this." Emma laughed as she wiped her face. "Never did I expect this."

"But…how? We looked for you." Hadley asked, her eyes taking in the features of her father. More wrinkles covered his face and his eyes were tired and wary.

"Oh, it's a long story." Edwin chuckled, looking at Robert. "We'll tell it all."

"Oh!" Hadley exclaimed. "Are you hungry? Do you need anything?" She looked between her father and uncle.

"No, no. Just time to be with you two." Edwin told her, smiling.

Hadley turned as Henry joined them. She had forgotten he was there. "Oh. Father this is Prince Henry, Henry my father…Edwin." Hadley beamed as she introduced them, her eyes staying on her father. Her family. She had her family back. After the introduction, Hadley and Emma took their father and uncle to her room, ordering food and drink.

Edwin looked around Hadley's room, his eyes taking in every detail. His gaze landed on the wedding dress laying on the bed. "So…today is supposed to be your wedding day?"

"Um. Yes." Hadley quietly replied. "I thought you were dead so we didn't ask for your blessing."

"I know, dear." Edwin assured her with a kiss on her head. Putting his arm around her shoulders he looked at Emma. "Emma, what do we think of this Prince Henry?"

"Why are you asking her?!" Hadley exclaimed as Emma's face broke into a smirk.

"Because she'll tell me the truth."

"He's a good man, father. He adores Hadley and will take care of her…and me." Emma told him. "But she doesn't want to marry him."

"Yes, I do!" Hadley gasped, in surprise.

"Why?" Robert asked from the table where he had quietly been watching them. When she looked at him confused he asked again. "Why do you want to marry him?"

"Because…he…is going to take care of us. We are…were…alone…without a home." Hadley struggled with her response because now…now everything had changed.

"Mmm…I see." Edwin looked sad as he looked at his girls. "I'm sorry you had to go through this. That you all thought you were alone."

"But we're here now." Robert said with a smile, hugging Emma to his side with a wink at her.

"You don't have to marry Henry now!" Emma clapped, happily.

"That's not a good thing, Emma." Hadley scolded, twisting her hands. "The wedding is in a few hours. Guests are here. I've given Henry my word. I said yes."

"Do you realize in all that you didn't say you wanted to marry him because you love him?" Robert questioned her with a knowing look.

Hadley blinked as she looked at her family. Once again her life had taken a whole new path in just a blink of time. Her father was back. He would care for them, him and Robert both. They would be a family again like they were all those months ago. Without a word, she left her room and her family staring after her. With her heart in her throat she knocked on Henry's door. He opened it and without a word he waved her in. Going to the middle of his room, she turned to him.

Henry laid back against his door, arms crossed as he watched all the emotions move across her face. She opened her mouth a few times only to close it. But when tears filled her eyes, he sighed and pushed off the door. "The last few days…I've been thinking. From the moment I saw you, you held me captivated. You still do. But…I feel like I rushed you."

"Henry." Hadley whispered, tears falling. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. You actually were very honest with me…without saying anything. I knew I was pushing you, taking advantage of your situation. I knew you would accept for Emma alone. I was right. I was selfish."

"No. I was." Hadley adamantly told him.

Henry held out his hand, smiling when she gave him hers. "I guess we both thought we would get what we wanted. I'm glad you have your family back." He had known when her father showed up that things would change. She wouldn't need him anymore. But if he was honest, he knew days ago he couldn't let this marriage happen. As much as he cared for her, knowing her heart wasn't in it was not how he wanted to live.

"Thank you. For everything." Hadley squeezed his hand. "You are such a good man and you deserve so much happiness. I hope you find it."

Leaning to her, he put a kiss on her forehead. "I hope you find it. Any man…or prince would be lucky to call you theirs."

Hadley hugged him. No, she didn't love him but she was heartbroken just the same for many reasons. Life would be so much easier if she had loved him or at least pretended too. But she couldn't do that him or herself.

"If you ever need anything please…come to me." Henry told her in her ear as he gave her one last hug.

Xxxxx

In no time at all it seemed, Hadley and Emma were once again packed up and on the move. Henry had told her he would explain the cancellation of the wedding to his father and guests. Hadley had been surprised to find out that their uncle had a home and land on the outside of Henricks and that was where they were headed before they were attacked so many months ago. They were headed there now and Hadley had a little bit of peace in her heart as she rode behind her father and uncle. Her mind wondered to what her life could have been like if they hadn't been attacked that day, if they hadn't been separate.

"How about a break?" Robert asked, smiling over his shoulder at them.

"Oh, please." Emma pleaded dramatically.

They stopped under a group of shade trees. She patted Jelly as she jumped to the ground. She took the water Emma handed her after drinking most of it. Rolling her eyes, she took a drink as Emma snickered.

"There you are."

Hadley turned to find Blythe coming out of from behind a tree. She smiled and started to open her arms to hug her aunt.

"Devil woman! Get back!"

Hadley gasped and Emma screamed as Edwin ran towards Blythe with his sword drawn and his face covered by anger and fear. Hadley started to run. "Father! No! Stop!"

Blythe finally shook her surprise at seeing Edwin and held her hands up, stopping Edwin in his tracks. Hadley made it to her, standing in front of her, holding her arms out.

"Get away from her daughter! She will kill you!" Edwin spat, trying to move but was unable to.

"No, father. She won't. It's okay." Hadley rushed to tell him as Robert came towards them with his own sword out. "It's okay. She's helped us, helped me. She won't hurt you."

"She tell you that? Lies! She is the devil. Get away from her child!" Edwin yelled, twisting and turning trying to move.

"Happy to see you too, Edwin." Blythe remarked dryly. "I'm not going to hurt you. I wouldn't waste the energy."

"Not helping." Emma muttered out of the corner of her mouth.

"Father, listen." Hadley tried again. "Blythe, let him go."

"Tell him to drop his sword." Blythe countered with a look.

"Father, promise you'll listen and not hurt her." Hadley pleaded with him. When he didn't speak she went to him. "Please. Listen to me."

"Fine." Edwin grumbled and was able to move. He kept his eyes on Blythe. "You don't know who she is or what she did."

"I do. We met Blythe not long after we got separated. She's helped me and watched out for us." Hadley gave her aunt a smile. "She's became very dear to us. We love her."

"It's a trick. Magic. She's pulled the wool over your eyes with her devil magic." Edwin spewed.

"Oh, get off it Edwin. Hadley has it too." Blythe told him, annoyance creeping into her voice.

Edwin stumbled back as his face lost all color. Hadley was there, taking his arm. "Father?"

"You have magic?" Edwin whispered, his eyes wide with fear.

"Of course she does. Why wouldn't she? You knew she would come into her power." Blythe snapped, hands on her hips.

"But…but we made sure-"

"What? For Fiona not to do magic anymore? That did nothing. She was born with it just as Fiona was, just as I was and just as Hilda was. It's in her blood."

"No! She will not be like you!"

"She's not. She has her own power. She is very powerful in her own right." Blythe proudly looked at Hadley who looked lost and confused as she listened to the two of them fight.

"You have magic too?" Edwin pointed to Emma.

"No. It missed me." Emma replied quietly.

"Stay away from them! Do you hear me?" Edwin hissed. "Stay away from my girls."

"Father-"

"You will obey me on this. Both of you." He told them, his face red and full of anger. "You will not do magic. Ever. Do you understand?"

"You can't do that." Blythe exclaimed, losing her temper for the first time. "It's her right. It's who she is."

"She is who I say she is! Fiona and I left so this wouldn't happen. Fiona would not want her to have this fate."

"But father, I've spoken with mother and-"

"More evil magic. Your mother is dead and whatever you think you saw or this devil woman told you isn't true. You stay away from my girls or I will kill you."

Hadley turned wide, scared eyes to Blythe who stood there seething. "No…."

"It's okay Hadley." Blythe held up her hand, stopping her words. But her eyes stayed on Edwin. "You're wrong, Edwin. This is what Fiona wants. It is what is destined. Don't make your daughters hate you for what is their birthright."

"Get out of here!" Edwin yelled as he trembled.

Blythe held up her hands and backed away. She looked at Emma who stood unusually meek and scared. "Be good sweet girl." She turned to Hadley. "Remember what I taught you and I'll see you again."

"No!" Edwin picked up his sword and ran towards Blythe, but she disappeared. Edwin swung around, his eyes wide. "No magic! Do you understand? It only causes heart ache and doom. I forbid you. Tell me you understand, Hadley. I will not have you killed because of it."

Hadley swallowed the huge knot in her throat as she blinked back tears. Unable to speak, she simply nodded. Her father's shoulders slumped as he walked by her. When Emma appeared at her side they wrapped their arms around each other and held tight.