Arendelle was so much more than Emma had expected it to be. As they drew up close to it, the gleaming white mountains made her breath stop. The small village, with its wooden houses and tall timbered structures, was as fairy tale as it came. The harbour was well organised, too, and made from finer material. It was clear to Emma how much the ogre wars had hit her parents' kingdoms because they were far inferior to what she could see of Arendelle.

At the harbour, they were greeted by Queen Elsa and her sister, Princess Anna. Emma completed a hasty curtsey, which was not her specialty, no matter how many times the crew of the Jolly Roger had laughingly attempted to teach her, along with other basic fairy tale manners that every child knew but Emma did not. "Your highness," Queen Elsa said as Emma stood tall again. The thought of being referred to as your highness, by a queen nonetheless, made Emma bristle slightly but she smiled.

"Your majesty," she replied. "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Emma, Princess of Misthaven, and this is my husband, Captain Killian Jones."

Killian bowed for a second time and then kissed Queen Elsa's hand. "I welcome you to our kingdom. This evening, I would like to dine with you, personally, with my sister and her husband. Tomorrow, there will be a ball to celebrate our friendship."

Emma agreed. She was here to form an alliance, hopefully, and every step she took further into the kingdom made her understand why that was necessary. Misthaven was a broken shambles of a kingdom, in comparison to the gleaming streets and bustling markets of Arendelle.

The castle's gates opened as their carriages arrived, Emma's hand clasped firmly in Killian's. They had their own carriage, thankfully, meaning that Emma could ask Killian how she had done with her manners. His experience in the navy was very helpful to her.

A footman helped Emma out of the carriage, reminding her of what a hindrance her dress was, though it was spectacularly beautiful. It was the first time she had worn it, as she had lived in her leathers while they made the journey to Arendelle.

Princess Anna took Emma's arm once the footman had helped her regain her footing. Emma watched with jealousy while Elsa took Killian's arm. Anna gave her a huge smile. "I am so glad you are here, Princess Emma. There are very few princesses my age across the kingdoms, because of the ogre wars, although they didn't reach here. I will be happy to have a friend." Emma agreed with a smile, too, though privately she thought that she didn't need any more friends and especially not one who chatted so quickly and merrily.

"You have a son don't you?" Anna said, raising her brows. Emma smiled at the thought. Leaving Henry and Liam had been incredibly difficult.

"Yes, two, in fact," she said. "Liam and Henry."

"And is Captain Jones a good father? Kristoff and I want to have children but we've had to be supportive of Elsa for a while now. Things were difficult-" Anna cut herself off. "Sorry, I have a tendency to rattle on."

Emma laughed with wide eyes. She could not fault Anna's enthusiasm. "Killian is a very good father," Emma said with a smile. She did not mention that Henry was not Killian's son. It was very likely that she already knew, given the speed of gossip. She likely knew something, anyway, because Henry lived most often at Regina's and he was her heir.

"How did you know that you loved him? Was it romantic? Was he truly a pirate?" she asked this question with wide, eager eyes and a slight flush on her face. Emma was reminded by how much she had pushed boundaries by marrying a man who was not only not a prince or a duke, but who had been a criminal.

Emma cleared her throat. They reached the steps up to the palace. Before Emma could answer any of Anna's enthusiastic questions, Elsa cut in, "Princess Emma, would you like to wash up before we eat?"

Emma let out a sigh. "Yes," she said, relieved, "That would be wonderful."

XXX

"She seems nice," Killian commented as he messed around with his necktie. Emma batted his hands away and came to do it herself. "This is why I don't wear such strangling things." His words came out in a grumble and they reminded Emma of what a sacrifice he had made in marrying her. She kissed him lightly and then pulled away, looking into his eyes.

"I love you."

Killian blinked. "I love you too, lass."

"And Anna is nice," she said, finishing with Killian's tie. She smoothed down the creases in her dress, her second outfit of the day so far. She had had to change for lunch and would have to change again between meals and then again for the final meal of the day, before a final change for bed. It was a very different life than Emma had lived thus far in the Enchanted Forest, although she had noticed that her parents changed for meals, during the few days she had spent with them between voyages. Perhaps they were not asking her to do so, at the moment, for fear that it would overwhelm her.

It didn't overwhelm her. It only irritated her. What was the point of it? To show off how many clothes somebody had? One look at the trunks that Emma's mother had provided her with would have been good enough for that. Apparently, while Emma had been away, her mother had commissioned her a lot of clothing - more than Emma could have ever imagined herself needing. However, now that she had seen how often royals changed clothes, she suddenly understood why she had so much.

"You look marvelous, Swan," Killian said. His necktie matched her aquamarine dress, making Emma feel a bit like she was about to leave for prom. Killian smiled at her, approaching her again to put his hand and hook on her waist. "You ready for this?"

"I think so," Emma said with a long exhale of breath. Killian had been training her on etiquette since they'd arrived. She thought that she finally understood the different cutlery, crockery and general manners required to survive here now. The only real thing that scared her now was dancing but that was a problem to conquer that evening, when Emma's mother had reliably informed them that there would certainly be a ball, to celebrate their arrival. If not, it was supposed to be considered rude. Emma would not have found it rude at all. In fact, she would welcome an early night in a big, cozy bed with her husband.

But it was not to be.

The steward came to collect them and Emma inhaled deeply, plastering on a fake smile that turned real when she saw her husband doing the same. They were in this together, for her family, and they would survive together, as a family.

XXX

The day flew away. Emma could not believe how many Arendelle lords and ladies had come to the palace to see them. Princess Anna had informed them that many had travelled specifically for this, not only to be at court generally. Anna told them that foreign visitors always attracted guests because of the balls and events that went on throughout the visit.

She and Killian had spent the day with the Queen, Princess and Anna's husband Kristoff and had gone from lunch with them to an afternoon tea with a duke and duchess to a ceremonial opening of the new town hall in Arendelle with the mayor. Finally, they had reached their chambers, got changed yet again and stumbled down to the ball, where they had restrained themselves from gorging on the meals and eaten very politely, filling themselves slowly, until the dancing began.

Emma stiffened immediately. "Everyone is going to think I'm a fool," Emma hissed at Killian as Queen Elsa announced that they would open the ball. Killian chuckled at her. The easy smile on his face made Emma want to scream. How could he not see that they were about to embarrass themselves?

"Don't worry, lass," he said, standing and offering her his hand. "All you need is a partner who knows what he's doing."

Emma bit her lip to contain her smile but the corners of her mouth betrayed her. Killian grinned at her. Her red evening dress swished pleasantly against the floor as they headed to the centre of the room. The band - if it could be called a band, given that it was only harps and small guitars - started playing more loudly and Emma let out a shaky breath.

It was easier than she had expected. She just followed Killian and they were only alone on the dance floor for a minute or so. Even with everybody's eyes on her, the only person she was focussing on was Killian. She didn't take her eyes from his, while she tried to move her feet in the right way.

When it was over, it felt as though it had barely begun. Emma almost wanted to go again. It was more fun than she had anticipated. She had been in Killian's arms in a socially acceptable way. "What are you thinking?" Killian asked, his arm around her waist as he led her over to the drinks table.

"That we are a good team," Emma replied, smiling up at him. He grinned down at her while he poured them their drinks. "And about how much I want to kiss you right now." Emma watched his eyes go darker. She took her drink from him and sipped at it, not taking her eyes from him.

"Is that all you wanna do right now?" Killian murmured. Emma narrowed her eyes, feeling her body heat up. She glanced around them, though, and then turned back to him with raised brows.

"I think we might need to stick around here for a little while longer."

Killian gave a long, fake sigh that made Emma grin. "I suppose I can cope with that, lass." Emma impulsively kissed him, hardly having to stretch in her heels. Killian was pink when she pulled away a few seconds later and Emma had to giggle at the sight of him.

"Lass, everyone is looking at us now," he whispered in her ear as they returned to the dance floor. "Most people don't kiss at balls."

Emma smiled. They joined as the song was starting and got into position. "I'm not most people."

"You most certainly are not," Killian agreed as they began to move.

XXX

"So, what do you do?" Emma asked a bit helplessly. She and Killian had been separated to Emma's general malcontent. Killian had gone into the village with Kristoff, while Emma remained behind with Anna. Elsa was in her chambers, taking a day to herself, which Anna claimed was necessary for the general well being of the kingdom. It was a very odd place, this Arendelle.

"I am a princess," Anna said with a blink, her eyes going wide with innocence. "Did I not tell you? I'm Elsa's sister."

Emma had to laugh. "No, you told me," she said. Anna let out a great sigh of relief. "I just- what does being a princess entail? I'm new to this and you, well, your sister seems to rely on your support quite a bit. I want to help my - my mother like that."

"Oh," Anna said, her tone surprised. "Well, I don't know that I'm an expert, Emma."

"You know more than me."

"I guess," Anna said uncertainly. She picked up the flower bouquet that she had been arranging and looked into Emma's eyes. "But it's not really that difficult. I just do what the kingdom needs."

"But what does the kingdom need? How do you know?" Emma pressed, frustrated.

Anna led her over to the door, which was then opened by a footman. Emma and Anna stepped out into the corridor. "I don't know, Emma. I guess I just do whatever is needed to support the monarch and the realm."

Emma sighed. "It's just so hard. I've never lived here. They don't feel like my people to protect."

Anna gave her a sideways glance that made Emma feel as though she had revealed too much of herself. "It'll come," Anna said unhelpfully. "It comes to all princesses. It's a very important job."

XXX

"It was so frustrating!" Emma ranted to Killian when they were in bed, much later that day. The sun had set and the moon was full, illuminating their chambers. Emma had a brief thought of whether that moon was the same moon as the one which lit up the nights in the Land Without Magic, but she decided that that wasn't a track she wanted to go down. "I just needed her to tell me how to be a princess and she just said to support the monarch, support the realm. It'll come!"

Killian sighed and pulled her closer. "It will come, Emma."

"When?" she demanded, pulling away. "When will it come? Because I don't want to have to look at my parents again and see their disappointment that I'm not the perfect princess they wanted. Their new baby will probably be a girl and she'll be a perfect princess."

Killian arched a brow at her. "Is that what this is about?"

"No," Emma said resolutely. "Don't start, Hook. I'm not jealous that they're having another baby."

"Are you sure, lass?"

"I'm jealous that that baby will learn how to be a princess, instead of just being forced into it, and I'm jealous that that baby will get to have my mom and dad as parents instead of just being alone all its life but no, Killian, I am not jealous that they are having another baby. I do not think they are going to forget me."

"You just called them your mum and dad, love," Killian said quietly. Emma opened her mouth to protest but closed it again when she realised that he was right. She felt her face flush.

Sighing, she settled back onto Killian's chest. "Shall we just run away?"

Killian chuckled, the sound reverberating against her back. "You're going to have to stop suggesting that, love, or one day I'll take you seriously."

Emma imagined that one day she would want him to.

XXX