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Chapter 4 – The Assessment

Emma was in the deepest sleep she'd had in a long time when she suddenly gasped and sat up straight. "Henry!"

"I'm sorry, Mommy, I didn't mean to scare you." The young one said, looking down and like he was about to cry.

Emma pulled Henry onto her bed as she took some deep breaths. "It's okay, my Prince. How are you feeling?"

He snuggled into Emma under the blankets. "I'm cold. I woked up and didn't know where I was. Where are we?"

Emma stroked Henry's hair, feeling that his fever was gone for now. "I'm sorry, Bub, you had a fever last night, so we left the window open. We're…" Emma hesitated, but decided on the truth. "We're in the Black Kingdom with Queen Regina. She is going to see if she can help make you feel better."

Henry's eyes were wide. "Nana said Queen Regina is evil!"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Nana says a lot that isn't true. Bub, please don't say thing about people like Nana does. I've talked to Queen Regina and she was not evil at all. She agreed to help you, so she can't be bad, right?"

He shook his head. "No, she can't be bad. Besides, Nana also says you're a silly, stupid girl, and that's not true."

Emma grit her teeth at that but before she could say anything, there was a knock at the door. "I'm so sorry, your highness, but Her Majesty sent me to see if you two were awake."

"Come in." Emma stated, pulling the blankets up. She then realized the sun was out. "What time is it?"

"Almost ten, your highness."

"I did not mean to sleep this late." Emma said, running fingers through her hair. "I'm sorry, I'm not being very polite. I'm Emma, not your highness or titles, just Emma. This is Henry." Emma said with a smile.

The girl smiled back. "I'm Myranda and I am assigned to be your lady's maid whilst you are here, your high…Emma. I'm sorry, that's going to take some getting used to." She smiled at Henry. "Hello, young man. It's nice to meet you." She went to the doorway and pushed in a tray on wheels. "I have been asked to bring you breakfast and give you an hour to eat and dress before Her Majesty comes to check on Henry."

"Thank you, Myranda. We'll be ready." When the girl left, Emma kissed Henry's cheek. "Do you think you can eat this morning?"

"I can try a little. Maybe some toast."

"Let's go wash up first." Emma said, knowing Henry's mornings were his best times. After coming out of the washroom, they went to the tray and Emma pushed it to the table in the room as Henry sat down. "This smells amazing. How about some jam on your toast?"

"Sure, Mama. Just a little." Henry said and looked at the tray. "What's that cream stuff?"

Emma looked and took a little taste. "It's porridge with…well I'm not sure, but if I were to guess, I'd say it has honey and cinnamon in it. It's divine, Henry."

"I'll try a little of that too."

Emma smiled and nodded, giving him some toast with jam and a bowl of porridge. She then poured him some ice water and apple juice before fixing her own plate with eggs, fried ham, toast, and fruit. "The cook here is much better than the one back home." Emma commented as Henry ate his porridge.

"It's so much better. I just hope I don't get sick later and it comes back up." He looked at Emma. "I'm sorry, that's not proper talk at the table."

Emma smiled softly. "We're at the table by ourselves, Henry, it's fine. I hope it doesn't come back up later either."

Henry laid back in the bed and Emma cleared the table as they waited for Myranda to come back. "This bed is so comfortable, Mama. It's better than my bed at home."

Emma smiled. "I was thinking the same about the bed I'm sleeping on." She said, going to close the window. There was a knock on the door and Emma went to it to open it. She smiled when she saw Regina. "Good morning, Your Majesty." She stepped back, letting Regina and Myranda in. "I want to thank you for breakfast. I got Henry to eat some for once. Oh, and I'm sorry we slept so late today; it isn't like us normally."

Regina smiled. "First, it's Regina, and you're welcome. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like you to go with Myranda while I take a look at Henry. Don't worry; he's in good hands."

Emma swallowed and gave a nod before moving over to kneel by Henry's bed. "My Prince, Regina is going to look at you like the healers did back home. Do not worry, she will not hurt you." She kissed his forehead. "Be good and do as she says, okay?"

He nodded. "Yes, Mommy." He looked over to Regina. "Hi."

Regina smiled softly and knelt down. "Hello, little one. Will you be okay if your mother leaves for a short while? Yes? Good boy." She then stood and walked them to the door. When she opened it, Emma gasped in shock that there was someone else there.

"I'm sorry, you gave me a fright."

Maleficent smirked. "I'm so sorry, Princess, that was not my intention. Regina, I'm sorry I'm late."

Regina tried hard not to roll her eyes; she knew Mal loved an entrance. "It's fine, dear. Emma, this is my friend Maleficent. Mal, this is Princess Emma White."

"Mal…Maleficent?" Emma asked, her face growing more pale than usual.

"I take it you've heard of me. Don't worry, the rumors are far worse than the truth. Please don't judge me on what you've heard as I won't judge you on the rumors I've heard."

Emma blushed a bit, but then smirked. "I think most rumors about me are true, actually." She bit her lip and added, "at least the more adventurous ones."

Regina grinned as she saw a look of approval pass through Maleficent, who then came into the room. "Go on, Princess. Leave little Henry with us for just a bit."

Emma hesitated and then nodded, leaving the room, and going with Myranda.

"I like her." Mal said, coming more into the room. "Okay, so what do we have here?" She asked, looking at the boy in the bed. "Hello, Little One. What seems to be bothering you?" Henry went to answer but was hit with a coughing fit and ended up short of breath. "It's okay." Mal soothed as she rubbed his back. She shot a worried look to Regina.

Regina glanced at her and then at Henry. "Can you please lay on your back for me?" Once he did, she ran her hands over him, reaching out with her magic. A look of pure anger flashed in her face before she schooled her features and gave him a smile. "Coughing, fever, upset stomach, headaches, and tired all the time?"

Henry nodded and wiped his eyes. "Yes, all of that. It just started one day."

Regina gave a nod. "Mal dear, come see if you feel what I feel." She then stepped back and let the dragon do her work.

Mal gasped and then tried to relax her face. "I do, dear. Why would anyone…"

"The good news, Henry, is that we can fix this." Regina said, fixing his blankets. "I just need a bit of time." She tapped his nose. "You sleep for a bit. Are you comfortable?"

"Yes, ma'am. Your bed is so soft." He yawned, coughed and then smiled. "You're so nice. Thank you for helping me; I know it will make my mommy feel better and maybe she'll stop crying at night."

"She cries at night?" Mal asked, unable to stop herself.

Henry nodded sadly. "She cries and asks for someone to help me get better. I try to get better, but I just can't. I don't like when mommy cries." He said, his own eyes filling with tears. "Nana and Papa don't help either; they just tell her that whatever happens is meant to be and to just deal with it. They don't know I hear them, but I do. They said maybe it's for the best if I die."

Anger filled Regina at this point, and she knew exactly what she would do. Henry would get better; she could fix him in her sleep with the right ingredients, and he and Emma would never be going back to the White Kingdom. She smiled softly at the little boy and stroked his forehead, sending calming waves of magic to him. "Rest now, Henry. Everything is going to be okay."