A/N: Hurray for free periods allowing me to write! Seriously though I am not endorsing using study periods to do anything but school work, unless you have nothing else to do ;-) Thanks for the reviews and follows and favs X

"All the visiting royals have been taken to their rooms. You can remove your helmet now Emma, no ones allowed in here." Emma sighed gratefully she took off the helmet and let her hair down before Regina helped her out of her armour.

"I can't believe my parents chose Fredrick to champion them! He is such a-"

"likely person to win." Regina cut in.

"I won't let him!" Emma declared passionately.

"Emma dear, it's just a tournament." Regina pointed out.

"A tournament where the winner gets to chose their prize. And you know what he wants?" Regina didn't feel the need to answer as it was obvious to her that Emma was going to respond herself. "He wants your hand in marriage! Why would my parents let someone with those intentions enter?!" Emma demanded.

"Because I am the only monarch who has refused to let them search my lands for you." Emma's shoulders slumped slightly before she responded in a whisper.

"You do realise I won't let him marry you, even if he does win."

"I have no intention of marrying him, I can assure you. However it won't come to that because you, Knight Swan, will beat him, although I suggest you team up with him to begin with." Emma nodded. "Now go get some rest, you'll need all your strength for tomorrow." Emma slid into bed and Regina turned out the lights as they whispered their goodnights to one another.

SQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQ

Regina helped Emma prepare for the tournament before going down to the banquet hall to eat with her guests, leaving Emma to eat in their chambers. Usually the competitors dinned together with the royals but obviously Regina couldn't risk Snow and James seeing their daughter and banning her from partaking in the tournament that could bring her her freedom.

Henry sat beside her, talking politely when the other royals addressed him.

"You've raised your son so well." Snow chirped and Regina forced a smile onto her face instead of a frown, here was the woman that had forced her beloved to abandon her child, congratulating her. The unspoken question hung in the air around the royals 'who was the boys father?' but Regina didn't deign to answer it for them.

"Mom, will E- erm Knight Swan be ok?" Henry asked worriedly, remembering that he wasn't suppose to call Emma by her first name here.

"Yes dear. The tournament rules state no killing, anyone who does so will be punished. Maiming is also frowned upon." Henry nodded, he was an intelligent boy and Regina knew that he understood.

"How long has she been in your service? I was unaware that you had any female knights." King Phillip asked.

"Oh, a number of years." Regina said vaguely, so as not to arouse suspicion from Emma's parents. "She's one of my best knights."

"YEAH! She's awesome!" Henry exclaimed, earning a disapproving glare from Regina but chuckles from the other royals. "Knight Swan has been teaching me how to use a sword." Henry continued meekly in an attempt to placate his mother who had a hard time not smiling as she remembered the scene yesterday.

Finally Regina clinked a knife against her glass, causing her guests to turn to look at her, which were mostly royals now as the champions had excused themselves to go and prepare.

"It is time to go to the arena and to watch our champions compete for their hearts desire." Regina waved her hand and the doors of the banquet hall opened onto the path to the arena.

SQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQ

Emma double checked he weapons and armour before exiting her chambers and making her way down to the arena where the champions would all gather. She was the first there and took the time to assess the weather, sunny but with clouds, and the condition of the arena, dusty but well trodden.

She jogged a few times around the arena before stretching all the muscles she could. She didn't want an ill-timed pulled muscle to make her lose.

Emma carried her sword, bow and specially designed blunt arrows. She had foregone a shield, preferring speed as her best defence against the strength of those like Fredrick. She also had a variety of daggers tucked about her person along with Regina's favour.

Slowly the other champions began filtering in, Emma assessed them critically; they were all larger than her and definitely stronger. She would need speed, stealth, surprise and long range attacks. The royals filled in and took their seats as the champions spread out in a circle around the edge of the arena.

Regina stood. "Welcome champions and good luck. Let the Ogre Tournament commence. You may begin!"