(WHAT? WHAT IS THIS? A GOLDEN SWAN UPDATE FROM ME? CAN THIS BE REAL?

YES IT IS

ENJOY~)

-x-

51. Royalty

Being a princess wasn't all it was cracked up to be. The fairytale books definitely got it wrong on this one.

Emma huffed as another windbag walked up to the throne area, intent on kissing the asses of the royal family. Subtly she rolled her eyes as he knelt down, practically simpering (groveling) as he paid her parents compliments. He turned to her and she withheld a shudder as his eyes dragged down her form. When he met her gaze she made sure to give him her iciest look. He immediately recoiled and turned around. She smirked.

(mwahahaha)

The night seemed to go on forever as person after person came up to the thrones. Beyond the long (never ending)line she could see others dancing. Despite her aversion to the activity (she had two left feet, okay- the genetics that gave her mother her grace must've skipped a generation or something) she could feel a tugging somewhere in her chest, like some sort of longing. Or maybe she was just hungry. She hadn't eaten since that morning and her parents wouldn't just let her get up in front of all these people- it'd be 'rude'.

She let out what seemed to be her five-thousandth sigh and slouched a little farther down her chair, ignoring her mother's sharp glance. She wished something would happen, something exciting, anything!

BAM!

Everyone jerked in surprise as the doors to the great hall slammed open. Emma sat up, eagerly straining to see who was behind this. A giggle permeated the air and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

It seemed to take hours for the crowd to finally part, but in reality it only took him a few seconds to stride through. She blinked and there he was, standing in all his leather glory.

Rumplestiltskin.

'I still see him as Gold, though,' she thought to herself idly as he took measured steps towards the throne. Everyone's eyes were on him (and he knew it, the drama queen) and he was milking it for all he was worth. He paused for a moment, hearing everyone hold their breath to see what he'd do. He slowly turned around, facing the crowd. The people were frozen in anticipation of what would happen next. She felt herself gripping the arm rests.

Silence echoed as he continued to glare out at the sea of people. He opened his mouth and everyone unconsciously leaned forward-

"…boo-" he barely spoke it before everyone let out startled gasps and shrieks of terror. A few people fell over, crashing into others. He let out a few maniacal giggles. Emma had to hide her grin behind her hand when she saw the pompous lecher from earlier on the ground.

Charming stood up, waving his hand for everyone to go back to their activities, and nobody argued. There was, however, a noticeably sized buffer zone between the area Rumplestiltskin stood and the rest of the crowd. He paid it no mind, and instead dipped into a low bow.

"Your Majesties," he trilled. "A fine ball you have thrown, is it not? I thank you so much for your kind invitation."

Charming gave him a weird look. "We didn't invite you," he stated bluntly, despite knowing what happened to the King and Queen's daughter from the Sand when they rebuked a powerful magic wielder. He knew Rumplestiltskin well enough by now that he knew the imp wouldn't do anything to the Charmings. His one failing was that he liked them too much to do too much irreparable damage. That and he owed them for creating that damned curse.

Rumplestiltskin still feigned shock as he lifted his head from the bow, "What? Is that really what happened?"

Charming didn't say anything and Rumplestiltskin didn't intend for him to, "Well in that case," he continued quickly, "Your lovely daughter's hand in marriage would be a wonderful way to make it up to me."

Charming made a choking sound and Snow let out a squeak, very undignified for the King and Queen of the castle (but Emma remembered them as David and Mary Margaret so it wasn't too crazy). She herself was a little startled but waited for the punch line.

He didn't disappoint.

Rumplestiltskin giggled happily at their reactions. "Oh, alright then, her acceptance to join me in the next dance would suffice," he offered them as though it was a consolation prize, when in fact she bet it was his intention all along. She rolled her eyes, ignoring the little flutter of excitement in her belly as she pushed herself off the chair that she seemed to have sat in for hours (which she probably had ugh).

"If that's what'll take to get you to calm down, fine." She trudged over to him, ignoring her parent's indignation. Rumplestiltskin didn't say anything, but the intensity of his gaze made her a little nervous as she grabbed his hand and made for the dance floor, smoothing down her (stupid) dress without thinking. She kept her head high though, refusing to let him intimidate her.

He walked her to the middle of the room, and she could feel everyone's eyes on them. She could feel the back of her neck start to flush at the attention and she hated being at the center of it. Rumplestiltskin cast an evil look at the crowd, as though sensing her discomfort and wanting to ease it, and they all seemed to turn away at once, frightened that he'd put a curse on them. He turned back to her with a grin before wrapping an arm around her waist and clasping her hand in his.

She was surprised that he didn't pull her in obnoxiously close, but she remembered what a gentleman he'd always been towards her back in Storybrooke. She supposed it transferred over to Fairytaleland as well and for a moment she allowed herself to be glad for it. She rested a hand on his leather clad shoulder, took a deep breath, and followed his lead as he danced her across the room.

"You seem to know your way around a dance floor, Gold. Spend a lot of time practicing?" she teased.

He chuckled, his hand gripping her a bit tighter and she found she didn't mind. "I might ask the same of you, princess. I can't imagine you learning these steps all that willingly," his smirk was wide and obnoxious and she thought 'Ah yes, this is what I was waiting for.'

"What?" she feigned offense, "You don't think I'm into this stuff?" He cocked an eyebrow in response, amused. "Please, I could this in my sleep."

And as a matter of fact she had.

…well, more like she slept through most of her dance lessons, but he didn't need to know that.

He spun her around and when she stumbled back into his arms, she resisted the childish urge to stick her tongue at him. Or stomp on his foot subtly. But she had a feeling he'd see it coming and deflect it, and she'd end up hurting herself somehow.

(He did have the Vision after all. She was sure he wasn't above using it for dumb reasons like this.)

The music continued to fluctuate and he led them through the steps easily and surprisingly gracefully. Her hand continued to stay perfectly snug within his grip, and she marveled at the sensation of warmth that emanated from it. She had heard stories about how scaly he used to look (and frightening but she honestly couldn't picture that) and she couldn't help but feel grateful that that wasn't the case anymore. His skin was smooth and she would put down good money that he had gotten rid of some wrinkles and grey hairs since they had gotten back. (she still thinks Regina probably gave them to his Storybrooke version just to piss him off)

But he still looked the same. A little taller perhaps, thanks to his newly healed leg (magic really was a big helper) and his recently healed relationship with his son. His cowardly nature seemed to be subdued by his newfound confidence (real confidence this time) and it seemed to lift a weight from his shoulders. She liked him like this. Quite a lot actually.

(but like hell would she ever tell him that, are you kidding me? He'd hold it over her forever and ugh she doesn't need that at all)

"You know you clean up quite nicely, Emma. You look every bit the princess you were born to be."

His voice tore her from her thoughts (about him) and she accidentally stepped on his foot. They stumbled for a second and she somehow ended up closer to him than before. (his hand was awfully firm on her lower back but oops she didn't find it in herself to care)

"Uh, well," she stuttered out (dammit) and bit her lip when he chuckled at her. His hand traveled up her back, gently bringing her closer and she cocked her head to the side, dragging up her confidence like a wall.

"You don't look too shabby yourself," she smirked.

He let out a genuine laugh (and her knees almost gave way because wow she never thought she'd hear that) and pressed his body right against hers.

"I might not be 'prince' material, dearie, but I know how work it," he winked at her and she bit her lip again trying not to laugh.

He spun her around and it slipped out anyway. (oops)

…..

(screw it she was having fun)