Chapter twenty-one
In the two days since the tournament, Emma had mostly been relaxing in the Underworld.
Her wounds may have been healed from fatal to a point where she could be brought back through True Love's Kiss, but they still hurt.
Regina wouldn't want to start travelling until she was sure that her wife would be safe from incurring and father harm and as much as the princess did not enjoy being restricted to a palace again, she did enjoy having Regina to take care of her.
It was surprising to find an upside to almost dying, but who was she to argue with how much more tightly Regina had hugged her in the last couple days?
However, after forty-eight hours, she felt more than ready to get out and start exploring again.
She may not have won the tournament but she was more than ready to put that whole thing behind her.
Emma was under no illusions that she would have ever stood a chance against Ares and she'd already proved to herself that she was capable enough to win the tournament she had been so infatuated with when she first came to the Underworld.
Now, she was much more infatuated with something (or someone) else and was revelling in the chance to full focus on that someone.
There was something that she needed to take care of first before she started that complete focus though.
It was for this reason that the princess was striding through the palace whilst Regina made arrangements for them to return to the Wonderland (they wanted to revisit now that they had their priorities straight).
Emma made it to the library and gripped the sheathed sword between her hands as she moved between the shelves until she found the most comfortable chair in the massive room.
As expected, she found Graham sat there holding a book with Dawn perched on the arm pointing at something on the page he had been undoubtedly trying to read until the Demi-goddess came into to distract him.
Even if the pair had yet to admit that they had feelings for each other, it was rather cute that they were both obviously trying to spend as much time together as possible anyway. Emma had to wonder whether she and Regina once appeared as lovesick as the pair who were currently smiling goofily at one another at something that was probably only funny to them.
It was also telling that the usually cautious demon didn't notice that someone other than Dawn was looking at him until the princess cleared her throat.
Both of them snapped their heads towards the source.
Dawn held her breath for am moment until she saw that it was Emma.
She was in no way ready for her mother to find out about whatever this was between her daughter and personal servant (not that Graham had been treated like a servant lately).
Regina would probably be okay with it after some initial shock, but Dawn was not prepared to have to answer any questions that the goddess would almost certainly have. After all, it would only be fair that Regina would be allowed to pry into her love life at this point, right?
Dawn visibly let out a breath and stood from the arm of the chair and Emma was sure that she noticed a slight downturn in Graham's mouth at the move.
"Nice to see mom finally released you from your bed rest, princess," Dawn said.
"I don't think she wanted to, it took a lot of convincing," Emma replied.
Dawn scrunched up her nose and grimaced.
"No not like that…" Emma began, but stopped when she saw there was also a hint of a smirk on her step-daughter's face.
"I know, princess," Dawn laughed and her eyes fell down to the item Emma was clutching between her hands.
As much as she loved Durendal, she hadn't once considered that she should ask for it back.
Graham leaned forward and scowled at the blade, it was just a reminder o the constant anxiety he felt while Emma was training. It also wasn't too pleasant to think about the pain that Dawn had gone through to get it herself.
In all honestly, he wished that he could live in an Underworld with no weapons.
Emma thrust her hands forward, grateful for the chance to change the subject from how she had 'convinced' her wife.
"Regina asked if I wanted to go to Wonderland again and it occurred to me that I don't need this anymore…"
Dawn nodded slowly and took the offered blade, unsheathing it to inspect its dark edges.
It was as sharp and polished as ever, not that she doubted that her step-mother had been looking after it.
She ran her finger along the edge to make sure that it didn't radiate any pain to her. Once she was satisfied that Durendal once again recognised her as its master, she turned her attention back to Emma.
"So you're not planning to join the tournament again. You could probably win if Ares isn't competing, you know?" Dawn asked.
Emma was sure that she detected a hopeful lilt to the woman's voice and she was pretty sure that she knew why.
Even if no one wanted to mention it, Emma was the only living mortal in the Underworld and after Ares stabbed her, that mortality became all too real.
Emma smiled at the younger woman and shook her head as she replied, "it probably wouldn't be a good idea. It wouldn't be worth attracting Zelena's attention. Besides, I would like to try exploring without having to carry a sword."
Dawn sighed and nodded, it made too much sense to argue. Plus, there were too many stories of mortals trying to escape death only to meet a sticky end in the process.
It would be foolish for Emma to risk Zelena finding out she was alive on the off-chance that she could become immortal.
It could be a very fatal waste of time.
"Well in that case, I hope you enjoy Wonderland, Princess."
Emma took a moment to appreciate just how much the demi-goddess clearly wanted to continue the tournament argument and that Graham was wearing a similar expression.
It was so good to have people who cared enough to worry but not try to impose their will upon her freedoms to keep her safe.
"Thank you, Dawn," Emma replied and added, "I'll see you soon, Graham."
The demon waved and Emma was about to turn around to go back to Regina but was stopped when Dawn pulled her back into a hug which the princess returned without hesitation.
Neither of them had to say anything to know why she was hugging her.
Once Dawn released her, Emma smiled at the demi-goddess for a few seconds longer and finally turned on her heels to find her wife.
Dawn sat back down on the arm of the chair and inspected Durendal while Graham smirked at her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, not looking up from her sword.
"It's weird to see you being so…emotional," he replied.
Dawn rolled her eyes but a smirk came over her own face when a thought occurred to her.
"You know, if Zelena finds out that Emma is alive you should be ready for a fight, I could train you!"
Graham's eyes widened when Dawn offered him Durendal and he shook his head vigorously.
"Please Graham, I would feel better if I knew you could swing this without falling over."
If anyone asked, Dawn would deny that she pouted, but Graham relaxesd significantly at the sight and sighed rather dramatically as he replied:
"Fine, I'll let you train me, but not with that sword!"
-Two months later-
"I don't understand why Queen Elizabeth does not wear her Crown Jewels," Emma said and leaned slightly closer to inspect the priceless items protected by glass.
"She does, dear," Regina replied, taking a step closer so that she could place her hand on the small of her wife's back, "but she also displays them for her subjects to view when she is not using them. It's a celebration of history for some and a tourist trap for the rest of the world."
Emma stood up straighter and leaned into Regina's touch before she asked, "but would she not need them all of them?"
"The queen in this country is more of a figurehead than a true monarch. She is integral to the national identity but the country is managed by an elected government," Regina explained.
Emma frowned. She couldn't help but think about how boring being royalty with none of the responsibilities would be and the bar was already set pretty low based on her experiences in the White Palaces.
"Elected government?" Emma repeated, "the people choose who rules them?"
"In incense, yes," Regina replied, "the politics are much more complicated than that though…"
Emma nodded, knowing that Regina had trailed off because she knew how little interest she would have in British politics.
Instead of pressing the issue, Emma slipped her hand into Regina's and began pulling her towards the exit.
After about half an hour, the pair finally walked out of the Tower of London, still holding hands. Emma's bag now holding an additional three or four books so that she could learn more about the British monarchy.
Emma pulled Regina to a stop and said, "we should return home, I need to prepare to leave tomorrow."
Regina audibly groaned and Emma laughed in response before she placed her other hand into Regina's and quickly pecked her lips against her wife's which caused the other woman to smile instead.
Even though the goddess had yet to mention that Emma had nearly told her that she loved her, they continued their courtship (though the process now resembled 'dating' far more than before their first visit to New York City).
The biggest concern was that Zelena would discover the deception, but Regina had decided to put that aside in favour of being perhaps the happiest she had been in her immortal life.
Apparently, Zeus was too afraid to return after the lightening incident anyway, Hades just had to hope that she believed the matter was closed and didn't bother to look into it again.
The greatest solace was that Regina still had the image of Zelena's expression the moment the bolt struck her face.
Right now, Regina had a greater worry than whether or not she would be seeing her sister again though.
Temporarily placated by the kiss, Regina allowed her magic to bring them back to their chamber in the Underworld, safe in the knowledge that her glamour spell would stop any tourists from seeing proof of divinity.
Emme unlinked their hands and said in reply to Regina's groan, "you know, you could come with me, my plan will work."
"You mean your ridiculous plan?" Regina asked, with an edge to her voice she couldn't avoid when it came to this subject.
Emma rolled her eyes and went over to sit on the edge of their bed.
"They will never know," Emma said and Regina turned to look at her wife with as much disbelief as she could muster, "I would much rather not attend my mother's birthday ball, but I made a promise and it will be nice to see my parents after so long…"
"You are aware that your parents hate me with their entire beings?" Regina shot back.
"You're being very dramatic, Regina," Emma said and Regina sighed before she came over to take a seat next to there other woman so that she could easily look at her with an unimpressed expression.
The princess rolled her eyes and said, "yes, they absolutely hate you, which is why they would have no idea that you're there. You only need to pretend to be Dawn for a few days and they will have no idea that you were ever in the palace."
"I find it very hard to believe that either of your parents would be very happy to see Dawn," Regina replied, she loved Dawn with all her heart, but she couldn't imagine that the young woman would have pulled any punches, not even around royalty.
"They were not particularly…fond of her, but they allowed her to remain the palace, which is all we need."
Regina blew out a breath through her nose and Emma lay her hand onto the older woman's knee.
"If you are truly against staying at my parents' palace, I will go alone. But I always prefer you to be with me," Emma said looking at Regina with what could only be described as 'puppy dog' eyes.
The goddess made the mistake of making eye contact and silently cursed how damn green those orbs were, they were almost more so when the princess wanted something.
"I suppose there is not much they could do to me anyway," Regina said reluctantly and Emma smiled as she leaned her head against the other woman's shoulder.
Regina's hand came round to pull Emma closer by her waist and Hades added, "we should prepare to leave I suppose."
Emma just mumbled into her shoulder, "we can in five minutes."
The ball was abuzz with sound while Snow White weaved her way through the crowd.
She thanked the odd person who wished her a 'happy birthday' without really looking at them long enough to figure out who they were, she was far too focused on searching for one person who she had yet to see.
Someone she wasn't entirely sure would actually show up.
Despite her daughter's verbal agreement that she would be attending the event, Snow wasn't sure whether she would actually show up and she couldn't just go to the Underworld to ask her, no matter how much she wished that she could.
There was also the chance that she couldn't tell what the date was in the land of Hades, or that she simply didn't care anymore.
Based on Emma's last visit, the princess definitely preferred the Underworld and she didn't really want to think about what her relationship with Hades could have evolved into the past five months since she had gotten married.
Her racing thoughts were halted and all tension fell away from her muscles when she finally spotted Lily talking with a very familiar blonde.
It was all the confirmation that she needed that Emma didn't absolutely hate her, even if it hurt a little that her daughter had gone straight to Lily rather than seeking her out.
The queen chose to just walk over to the princess rather than dwelling on her thoughts any further. She really needed to focus on the positives right now.
Emma looked away from her friend and actually smiled at her mother, before she stepped forward and brought her arms around her.
Snow just about held back a tear as she returned the hug, especially when she pulled away more quickly than she would have liked.
"Happy Birthday, mother," Emma said.
The queen nodded and replied, "thank you, sweetheart, I was not certain I would see you today."
"I wouldn't miss your birthday, mother," Emma said absently and pulled out a box containing a necklace engraved with the White Family crest which she handed over to the older woman.
Snow opened the box and breathed out, "thank you." She honestly had no idea how her daughter could have gotten such an item, but she had a strong desire to know as little about the princess's adventures with the ruler of the Underworld.
Emma was about to say 'you're welcome' but was interrupted by the return of a woman holding three glasses and she tensed slightly when 'Dawn' stepped up next to Snow White.
Regina clenched her jaw when she saw exactly who Emma was talking to, but she made a conscious effort not to show any other emotion while she handed a drink first to Emma and then to Lily.
She'd only offered to get the drinks to give Emma a few moments to catch up with her friend, but she hadn't counted on returning to a far more awkward situation than the one she had left.
Emma took a deep drink of the wine before she said to the queen, "you remember Dawn, mother?"
Snow bit the inside of her cheek so that she didn't openly scowl.
It was partly because she had hoped to have at least one day when Emma was with her away from everything Underworld-related. There was also something off about the demi-goddess that she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Emma's hand had lingered longer than could be considered normal when her step-daughter had handed the drink over and Dawn was lacking the same kind of smirk as last time. Based on what she knew about her, she would have thought that Dawn would have said something disrespectful by now.
"Of course," Snow replied with a tight smile, "it's…a pleasure to see you again, Dawn."
"Likewise," the other woman replied in a very un-Dawn-like fashion.
Emma looked between her mother and wife while taking another deep drink of her wine.
It was obvious that Snow could tell that something was off and Emma had thought there was no way that either of her parents would have caught on, let alone so quickly.
It was for this reason that she decided to swiftly change the subject, "where is father?" she asked.
WIth an excuse to look away from 'Dawn' and back over to her daughter, Snow said, "I believe that he is speaking with Prince Eric, I will go and let him know that you are here."
Emma made no objection as her mother walked away and she turned back to her wife with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" Regina asked with an exasperated sigh.
"She is definitely suspicious…" the princess replied.
"You may be giving your mother far too much credit," the disguised goddess deadpanned.
"Regina," Emma sighed.
"Regina?" Lily repeated with widened eyes.
Emma was about to close her own in frustration.
Even if she had planned to introduce her wife to her friend, she was still annoyed how easily they seemed to blow Regina's cover.
This trip may not go as smoothly as she had hoped it would.
Lily continued to look at the brunette woman as if she might explode at any moment.
Emma glanced around to make sure that no one was listening in, before she whispered, "this is not actually Dawn."
"Regina," Lily said again, "which means that you're Hades…goddess of the Underworld…you're an actual goddess…"
"Lily," Emma cut in before she could ramble anything else.
Lily nodded and glanced over to Emma and then back over to Regina before she thrust out her hand and said, "it's a pleasure to meet you…your high…your maj…err..."
Regina tried not to look too amused and accepted the handshake before she replied, "Regina is fine dear, though I would suggest 'Dawn' for now."
Lily nodded for longer than was necessary and released the goddess's hand before she looked over to Emma with her eyes still wide.
Emma just shot her friend a smirk but it fell away when she turned her gaze back to Regina and said, "you need to act more like Dawn."
Regina let out a little huff but still nodded.
The princess did a quick look over her shoulder to make sure that neither of her parents were returning the gaze, before she grabbed her wife's glamoured arm and pulled her over to the mess of nobility already gliding around the dance floor.
"Dance with me," she said with little room for debate.
Regina looked over to Lily who appeared to still be processing what she had just discovered.
Dancing together wouldn't exactly help with them pretending to be step mother and step daughter, but at the same time, she didn't think that she could resist the chance to dance with her wife.
It was for this reason that Regina moved her hand onto her waist and allowed Emma to interlock her fingers at the back of her neck, though they both seemed to make a conscious effort not to pull each other any closer as they usually would have been able to and they swayed slowly.
Neither of them noticed that Snow was watching from across the room with narrowed eyes whilst David was just frowning with his eyebrows pinched together.
He was just in the process of telling his wife that he was sure there was nothing untoward going on, but the sight certainly gave him pause and left him with a much weaker argument.