Duckling to Swan: Prolific Examples
It had been two days since Rumpelstiltskin had kissed Emma. But the 17 soon to be 18 year old Princess wondered if time hadn't stopped altogether. She had been unable to track down Rumpelstiltskin since that night. When she'd found the West Wing empty, Emma had scoured the castle and palace grounds relentlessly, until Jefferson had stopped her incessant worrying with information.
Apparently the Dark One had left on official business. Which was a fancy way of saying he was being punished for his sassy mouth during the banquet. Snow White was a benevolent and understanding monarch, but she also wouldn't abide a blatant show of rudeness.
Emma added Rum's impromptu trip to the list of things she needed to apologize for. The first being her lack of clarity.
Since the Dark One's anniversary, Emma's every waking moment had been a kaleidoscope of tasks and preparation for her test of Knighthood and her birthday ball at the end of the week. Turning 18 would fully insure her path to becoming the next Queen of White Castle, so the celebrations were bound to be lavish and extreme.
The powerhouse Swan Princess had risen to the challenge and continued her daily routines without a hitch, but her mind was far away. It hovered in a haze: transported back to the West Wing under a full moon, with a pair of gentle lips caressing hers, as if in question. But what question had Rumpelstiltskin been asking? And furthermore, what answer did she have to give him? Had it been a moment of misplaced affection? Or had it symbolized something deeper building between them?
Emma had always been close to Rumpelstiltskin. Since her earliest memories, the Dark One had been there, teaching her and offering genuine friendship. He'd never treated her differently because of her high birth. He'd always been safe. Comfortable, even. Like a well-fitting pair of shoes, or one's favorite book on a rainy day.
Emma had always known that Rum would be there to protect and help her… In fact, she couldn't think of anyone that she trusted more. . . And yet, her mind continued to whirl with uncertainty. Something had been different between her and Rum, ever since her test against the Dragon… But she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
After two sleepless nights of deliberation, she still was no closer to knowing. . .
Currently, Emma did her best to shut off her thoughts. The following afternoon, she would fight some of the best swordsmen in the realm, becoming a Knight once and for all. So she practiced her swordsmanship. But it was clear that she was just going through the motions. The sword felt like led in her hands, but she swung it anyway.
Emma sighed as she stared at the straw dummy she'd been hacking at with contempt. After the unwanted attention from both her mother and the visiting Queen Ella and Prince Gaston, she'd needed a way to release her tension. Though after slashing and stabbing the dummy for the better part of an hour, she could say that she felt worse, rather than better.
"Need a hand?" The voice interrupted her muddled thoughts and startled her. She swiveled around at top speed, green eyes going comically wide.
Charming held up his hands in surrender as he approached, smiling warmly. "Sorry, Em. Did I scare you?"
Emma shook her head, forcing a smile of her own. "No. Just surprised me."
Charming studied his daughter with calculating eyes, before he unsheathed his own sword purposefully. "Care to fight someone who can actually counter you?" His words held amusement, as he smirked at the mangled dummy.
"...You aren't too busy?"
"I'm never too busy for my favorite daughter," Charming promised with a wink, before he flourished his sword in welcome. "Give me all you got."
Emma weighed her own weapon in her hands thoughtfully, before she moved into a proper fighting stance. She slammed her blade against her fathers with all her pent up emotions, making him shift his own weight to compensate for her berserker strength. Emma might have been a member of the fairer sex, but she moved and fought like a seasoned knight.
After an intense blade lock, Charming pushed her away and proceeded to parry the flurry of attacks she threw at him. This continued for almost thirty minutes, before Emma began to tire, and soon enough she had stopped to rest against the very dummy she had earlier destroyed.
Now that they were both covered in a fine layer of sweat, Charming watched his child, rosy cheeked and breathing deeply, with knowing eyes. "Feel better now?"
"... I'm not sure." Emma hadn't meant to be so honest, but somehow she didn't regret it. She had always been close with her father, and he more often than not could sense her moods and react accordingly.
Charming came to stand at the other side of the straw man, leaning against his arms as he regarded Emma. "You want to talk about it?"
Emma was silent for a time, unsure of what she wanted. She had hardly given her own considerations credence. So she doubted that she'd be able to tell her father the details when she was still trying to sort them out… But somehow her mouth formed around a question, before her mind could fully catch up.
"When you fell in love with mom… How did you know?" Emma had heard the story of her parent's romance often enough. But now she needed something more than a regurgitated fairytale. She needed down to earth truth.
Charming seemed to sense as much and his expression changed. "... Well, it wasn't immediate," he said honestly, carefully. "We fell in love after seeing each other plainly. Even though we hadn't known each other for very long, we shared a bond. A connection."
"And there was no question," Emma asked. "You never felt that way about anyone else?"
"No. There was never anyone else." Charming's eyes crinkled at the corners as he divulged, "But that's not to say I hadn't felt affection and attraction before. I had… But when I found your mother, a part of my heart was unlocked that had never been touched before. Not by my family, or my village sweethearts, or by anyone. Save for her."
When Emma said nothing, he continued. "There are many types of love. All of them important and meaningful in their own right. But that kind of love. . . It's different. You know it when it happens, because you realize that you couldn't be happy without that person in your life. . . You think of them constantly. They are your closest friend and companion. You need them, almost as much as you want them."
Emma wordlessly agreed with her father's admonitions. Love did come in different shapes and sizes. She was learning it more and more all the time. And after her last encounter with Rumpelstiltskin, it had become more obvious still.
Emma plucked at the bits of the straw dummy with her fingers, before meeting her father's gaze head on. "Mother has her heart set on my engagement to Gaston."
"...And this upsets you." It wasn't a question. Once again, her father read her like a book.
"Yes," Emma whispered, shaking her blonde head with thinly veiled anger. "All my life I have learned love by your example. I have seen the truest and sweetest kind of love… I know you and mother wish for me to have that too… But I feel nothing for Gaston. Less than nothing! I feel indifference and disgust! He is egotistical, demeaning, and has never tried to know me."
This much was true. During her years of childhood and adolescence, Emma had tried to befriend Gaston. She'd asked him innumerable questions and tried to get closer to him. But it had been in vain. The Prince of House Cinder had never seen her as an equal or a friend. In his eyes, she was just another female for him to show off too. He wanted her to be subservient, and the two had fought bitterly when Emma had openly refused. She would never be more than a project to Gaston… A conquest to be bested and beaten down. . . And she'd be damned if she ever gave him the satisfaction.
Rigidly Emma repeated, "I don't love him. And I never will."
Charming was silent, waiting for her to say more. Emma didn't disappoint him.
"For years, mother and Queen Ella have tried to push us together. They wish to unite our kingdoms further and make a match. I understand the reasons behind such a union. I grasp the politics. But I don't wish to settle for a loveless marriage… Father, how could I ever accept such a thing, when I have seen first-hand what true love is?"
Emma tapered off, as a fat tear rolled down her cheek. Only one fell. She would not permit another.
Charming having listened patiently, now reached past the dummy to take ahold of Emma's hand. He observed the strength and resolve behind her beautiful green eyes, and his expression showed nothing but pride.
His answer was simple.
"If you don't love him, if your heart is telling you not to settle," Charming said calmly. "You should listen to it."
"...But mother-?"
"Will understand once you explain it to her." His eyes twinkled. "Your happiness is all we've ever wanted. If she knows how you truly feel, I know she will break the engagement plans."
The thought of Gaston going away was almost too good to be true… Could it really be so simple? One heartfelt conversation, and the air was cleared? One sincere declaration and the world suddenly could make sense again? It made Emma wonder if being open was truly the key to understanding. Perhaps a prolific conversation such as this might shed some light upon her transformed kinship with Rumpelstiltskin…
Emma squeezed Charming's hand gratefully. Her misty green gaze finally showed warmth. "Thanks for the talk. I needed the advice."
A fresh breeze rippled past them, as they stood in contemplative calm. Emma's golden tresses danced about her face, as she embraced Charming and they left the courtyard together, arm in arm. Though not before the King asked one more question. "...There's someone else who has laid claim to your heart, isn't there?"
Emma didn't look at him as she replied, privately shocked at the clarity and sincerity she felt upon saying, "Yes. There is."
Before now, Emma hadn't been able to admit what her feelings for Rum had become. And she still didn't fully comprehend what she felt. . . But her answer to her father was the truth. There was no lie in her sentiment.
"Have you told the lucky fellow?"
"No," Emma admitted with a slowly budding smile. "Not yet. But I will."
And she would, no matter what the price might be.
A/N: So after years of not updating this story, I finally had the inspiration to come back to it. I am ashamed that I left for so long, but I am committed to finish this tale one way or another. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you who have continued to follow Duckling to Swan, and those who left comments asking me to return and finish it. You gave me the boost I needed to continue. You all have my gratitude and heartfelt thanks.
That being said, my writing style has changed a bit since I wrote the previous chapter. So I apologize if it all feels a bit different. But I hope to jump back in and give you all a proper conclusion!
Here's to more frequent updates!
~Lyn