AN: Hello everyone! Another week, another chapter! I've been really productive in writing this week! I'm actually making a whole lot of progress and I'm very proud of myself! Hope you guys like this chapter! I am convinced there is no way to gracefully write songs into novels...
Music: "Girl from the Sea" by Smith and Thell
NOTES: Just because she won doesn't mean you lose.
Chapter 8: Girl from the Sea
"Spices! Get your spices!" One of the vendors called out on the busy docks as Emma trailed after her mother.
"Do try to keep up, Emma! I don't want to lose you in this crowd!" Matilda told her.
Emma hummed in response, but her eyes were focused upwards and out at the sea. So many traders and merchants crowded the docks of Hogwarts nowadays with massive ships and exotic items to sell. Her eyes were drawn to the larger ships as she wondered how far they had traveled and contemplated the possible meanings of their colorful flags.
"Emma!" Her mother's sharp voice and a hand on her shoulder pulled Emma out of her drifting thoughts. She looked up at the pursed expression of her mother and winced sheepishly.
"Sorry, Mom..." Emma trotted a few steps to fall back into place at Matilda's side.
"Emma, I know you're curious but we have work to do." Matilda told her lightly, placing her arm around Emma's shoulders as the kept walking.
"We're just getting thread. Can't we looked around at the other vendors? There's so many wonderful things to look at!" Emma looked up at her mother pleadingly, but she only shook her head.
"Emma, we have to finish the spare uniforms for those boys they're shipping out tomorrow." Matilda reminded her. "And I'm sure they'll be happy to hear that you helped with them!"
"Yeah, sure." Emma rolled her eyes, looking out at the water now.
"Oh, honey." A gentle arm around her shoulders again, drew her eyes up to her mom. "Everyone has trouble fitting in at your age. I know I did... I was regular fish out of water." Matilda added the last part with a glance off to the side.
"You?" Emma raised an eyebrow at her. "No way."
Matilda sighed, straightening. "Emma, I know things have been hard for you since -"
"I'm fine!" Emma snapped, and there was a part of her that wondered why she was acting like this, but the larger part was annoyed and wanted her mother to know it. "I just wish people would stop talking to me like that!"
"Alright, okay." Matilda said gently, her hand falling off of Emma's shoulders completely. "I'm just trying to help."
"I know... I'm sorry." Emma huffed after a tense moment, her shoulders drooping. "Just... Don't you ever wonder where all these ships come from? Where they get all these new things?" Emma pressed.
Matilda's eyes went a little wide, then she gave a small smile and turned away, inspecting some fabrics hanging next to her. "When I was your age? Of course I did." She said that same weak smile falling off her face. "But I'm wiser now, Emma, and I know that the ocean is a very dangerous place."
"How would you know? You've never been in it." Emma grumbled rebelliously to herself as her mother continued shifting through fabrics and threads.
Emma stayed mostly silent for the rest of their trip to the docks. Her mother was fairly quick in deciding on her purchases and soon enough they were on their way back up to the castle. The stairs from the docks brought them to the Secondary Courtyard.
It wasn't two days after the announcement of Fourth and Fifth year wizards being called to their defensive lines, but the Secondary Courtyard was packed full of people. The boys who had been to go were gathered together, dressed in newly fitted uniforms, so that a reporter from the Daily Prophet could get a photo.
They would be shipping out with some new troops the next morning, and the Guardians were rushing to finish the preparations, giving all of the boys last minute training tips to keep in mind on the field. Jack, North, and Toothiana would likely share even more while traveling to the defense lines as they were going with the boys to ensure they arrived safely and that they were prepared for anything that might come.
Emma and Matilda walked along a pathway off to the side, watching from a distance. Emma noted Jim's presence at Rapunzel's side where she stood on the steps with Sandy and Tsar Lunar. The Man in the Moon hadn't been spending much time on the moon anymore. He'd been coming to visit Hogwarts more and more frequently, mostly to speak with the Sorcerers. Emma wondered to herself if Mr. Lunar had any control over the moon at all anymore, which led to Emma's growing concerns about the Sun Sorceress trying to wield magics that were opposite her nature.
Emma sighed through her nose, her shoulders feeling heavy and achy.
A large hand on her shoulder added more weight, and Emma looked up to find her Dad standing there, kissing her mom in hello and then looking out at the gathered forces.
"Seems like they're nearly ready to go." Matilda remarked.
"Hopefully they've taken Merida and Jack's training to heart." Percy nodded. "At least Jim Lake is going to be leading their unit for this first assignment. He has experience in the field, as well as the skills to go with it. Anyways, I'm glad I found you; Dr. Sweet was hoping to get your assistance in the medical wing. Something about pillows."
"Well, if everyone else is on schedule, I'd better see what I can do for Dr. Sweet so I can finish those spare uniforms." Matilda said.
"I'll stay with Dad if that's okay with you." Emma offered, tearing her eyes away from the excitement in the courtyard.
"Alright then. Stay out of trouble, and be back in time for dinner." Matilda agreed, shifting through her bag to make sure she had everything she needed.
"I'll keep an eye on Emma. Don't worry." Percy smiled.
"I was talking to you." Matilda retorted, and then turned to Emma. "But I suppose you do take after him in more ways than one. So, both of you behave yourselves."
"Yes, Mama." Emma nodded, biting her lip to hold back her laughter.
Percy just stole another kiss before letting go of Matilda's hand so she could go on her way. He looked down at Emma then and offered a small smile.
"You wish you were going too, don't you?" Percy asked.
Since their conversation with Mr. Arrow a few nights before, Emma had found some comfort in the fact that she could speak a little more freely with her father when they were alone. He just seemed to understand.
"Yes." Emma told him. "But I guess anything would be better than rehearsal with Lady Tremaine."
"Mr. Frost!" Tsar Lunar hobbled over to them with Sandy and Rapunzel beside him. Jim trailed behind a little bit, but smiled and waved at Emma, who returned both. "I was just discussing the Moonstone with young Rapunzel, and I think your expertise may be of great help with this particular subject. Would you mind?"
"Not at all!" Percy assured him, and the four adults started down the corridor to go inside.
Emma was about to follow, but Jim tapped her shoulder. She turned to look at him, and he smiled, nodding in the other direction with his head. Emma grinned and nodded, both of them turning and hurrying away before anyone could notice them disappearing.
The day was beginning to fade as they found a small yard that overlooked the ocean. There was a log that they used as a bench, their view framed by two other trees that had lost their leaves to the Autumn winds. The open walkways and paths were patched with moss and vines, wildflowers grew in alongside the rose bushes by the castle wall behind them. It was a quiet spot, but never one Emma had thought to visit on her own.
Though the scenery was just a backdrop as they talked, jumping from one thing to another. Emma found herself smiling more despite everything else going on.
"What about your new assignment? How are you feeling about it?" Emma wanted to know, turning on the bench to face him more fully.
"I just hope I don't screw it up." Jim told her honestly. "Rapunzel says I'll do fine. And I'm thankful that I'll have Toby and Claire, too, but..."
"But?"
"I... Wish you were coming with us." Jim admitted. "Even if just to give advice when there's problems... But I guess that's pretty selfish."
"It's not." Emma assured him. "It's okay to want someone you can talk to... And I wish I was going too. But for what it's worth, I think Rapunzel's right. You're gonna make a good leader."
"What? Not 'Great' or 'Remarkable'?" Jim teased, bumping her shoulder with his.
"Everyone's got to start somewhere." Emma pointed out with a shrug. "I don't envy you too much, though. I hear Gustav snores like a Bicorn with sinus problems."
"Oh, believe me, sharing a small tent with ten other guys and three trolls is not my idea of a good time." Jim snorted. "Oh, hey! I heard Dr. Sweet's been really busy lately. Have you been...?"
Emma took in a shaky breath, her head already moving side to side. "I haven't been in for a check up in a while... To be completely honest, I've been avoiding them if I can."
"Emma," Jim started, but she broke in again.
"there is no cure, Jim. They won't say it, but they don't need to." Emma looked up at him now, knowing he couldn't argue. "They're just trying to get a look inside my head and see what's wrong. See if I'm safe, or if I'm really crazy."
"Dr. Sweet and Rapunzel would never do that! They care about you, Emma!" Jim tried again, but quickly slowed down as she shook her head.
"I'm not saying that they don't, but it's a matter of Allied Kingdom security. They have to see if I've been compromised in anyway. Right now they have no way of knowing if I'm safe." Emma pointed out. "But I know my own mind... Besides, you can't break something that wasn't whole to start with."
They both went quiet with their own thoughts. Emma looked down at her feet, but she could feel Jim's gaze on her, and then his hand slowly curled around hers on the bench. Emma looked over at his hand covering her's and then back up at him.
"I trust you," He said. "So I'm not afraid of you."
"Jim... Maybe -" Emma started, but now Jim cut her off.
"If there's one thing I've learned from being the Trollhunter, it's that 'you won't always be strong, but you can always be brave'." He gave her a wide smile, before adding. "So if you're gonna get in trouble anyways, may as well make a point while doing it."
"Seriously?" Emma asked, a laugh of disbelief bubbling up from her chest. "Is that your philosophy for dealing with the Troll Tribunal? No wonder you're always getting yelled at!"
"But I'm not wrong!" Jim argued as he laughed, too.
"No." Emma agreed thoughtfully. "No, you're not."
They were just beginning to calm down when a distant call of "Master Jim!" alerted them of Blinky's search for the missing Trollhunter. Jim sighed, giving her a somewhat apologetic look.
"Back to work, I guess." He said, slowly standing.
"Don't worry about it." Emma replied, standing with him. "They need their Trollhunter."
"Will you be at the feast tonight? I'm sure Toby and AAARRRGH! would love to see you before we go." Jim scratched the back of his head. "And I'm... We're going to miss you."
"I'll be singing tonight." Emma told him. "But I'd love to join you after?"
"Great! I'll see you -uh, see you then." Jim grinned, and Emma smiled back. Neither of them seem to know what to say, so Jim just gives a firm nod, and after another moment of quiet, Jim moves off to the right, glancing back to wave at her before hurrying off to meet Blinky.
Emma watched him go and then turned to the left.
"Bluewhistle," Emma sang quietly, peering into the cage as the Dramillion looked up at her and tilted his head. "Hey, I brought you something!"
Bluewhistle chirped curiously and got to his feet, lumbering over to Emma and sniffing as she held out her hand. He whistled excitedly and snatched up the dried salmon from her palm and gobbling it down. Once he finished it off, he stuck his nose through the bars as best he could, sniffing and nudging at her pocket eagerly.
"Easy!" Emma laughed, pulling a little more from her other pocket and offering it to him. Once he finished that off, he licked his snout and chirped his thanks at her. "I'll try to bring you something fresh next time. It's hard to be sneaky with more than a little bit at a time."
Bluewhistle tilted his head at her, and he was standing so close. It seemed with each time she visited, he got more and more comfortable with her presence. Which made perfect sense, given what she'd been taught by Cat, but it surprised her that he seemed fairly open to her despite the fact that she couldn't get him out of that cage.
"I promise you won't be stuck in there forever." Emma murmured, her hand reaching up and through the bars slowly.
Bluewhistle's eyes immediately caught the movement and tracked it. His head shrank back a little with a quiet grumble, but his feet stayed planted. Emma reached out just a little further and then stopped, leaving the rest up to him like Cat had taught her.
Their eyes stayed locked for a very long moment, and Emma could hear her heart beating in her ears. She held her breath, trying to stay extra still, but after what felt like eternity of neither of them moving, Emma slowly released her breath and turned her head away, keeping her arm extended in offering.
It was another three heart beats later that she felt the hard, leathery scales of Bluewhistle's snout press into her palm.
Looking up, Emma's heart leaped as if it would never come down. She took another shaky breath, her cheeks hurting from smiling as she very gently smoothed her fingers over his scales. Bluewhistle purred and bent down a little more, causing her hand to slide up to his head, and Emma complied in giving some gentle scratches there.
After he was content with his pets, Bluewhistle lifted his head and shook it. He then turned to go lay down again, and Emma took that chuckled, pulling her hand back and close to her chest. Her heart was still fluttering in her chest, and she couldn't stop smiling despite the pain in her cheeks.
Whispering a goodnight to her friend, Emma turned to sneak back into the castle with a new skip to her step and an idea already forming in her mind.
It was only a few hours later that Emma found herself behind the small platform that had been setup at the side of the Great Hall as a stage. Mrs. Robinson's frog band was on top, tuning their instruments between their sets as everyone continued to eat and chat. The hall buzzed with conversation, soft tunes, and the clinking of dishes while Emma sat down behind the platform, hidden from prying eyes after her first set of songs.
Tonight's performance wasn't supposed to draw much attention. She was just supposed to sing a few simple pieces to fill the atmosphere while everyone dined. Emma wondered how exactly classical ballads were supposed to boost the morale of young troops, but arguing with Lady Tremaine yielded about the same results as screaming at a brick wall. Besides, she'd already passed on her own sheet music to the frogs, letting them know it would be their next and last song.
It wasn't the most exciting tune, but Emma was more aiming for personal autonomy rather than outright defiance. Attention was still the last thing she wanted to draw to herself after all, and what could Lady Tremaine punish her for if no one else saw a problem?
Standing up and peering around the edge of the stage, Emma's eyes scanned over the crowds. She looked at the table she'd seen her parents at with the other Guardians, noticing them talking and looking less than relaxed. Her gaze moved over to where Jim was sitting with Toby and the rest of the boys he would be leading out tomorrow. From what she could see they were all joking together about something, but then Toby leaned in and whispered something to Jim.
Just when Emma was getting curious, the piano tune that told her it was time for her to get back on stage reached her ears. She huffed a breath, blowing a wayward strand of hair off her eyes, and turned to go.
She stepped up onto the stage, thankful that the room was left fully lit and there was no spotlight singling her out. She'd opted to wear the new dress she'd gotten from the Capital; all pale blue and flowy fabric with a few lace flowers here and there. Rather simple, but comfortable.
She took up her place at the microphone by the front of the stage and, after a few nods, the frogs began to play. Emma closed her eyes, listening to the soft notes, and she was almost able to feel the ocean breeze brushing across her face. Taking a breath, she let it go along with the words.
"Got a book for my birthday. It was a story about a mermaid. And ever since she was little. She could hear the sea whisperin'. Mhmm..." Her mouth curled up at the corners as she opened her eyes, finding the gentle candlelights floating over the hall looked just a bit brighter, blending in the corners of her eyes to make soft colors. "And every day before bedtime. She looked out the window. Sighing at the fishermen. She knew she was an odd creature. And in her, I found a friend. Like she was representin'. All the creatures and the misfits that never really blend in."
All of the other noise in the hall seemed to fade away, and Emma felt more than one pair of eyes watching her, but she refused to look down. She pushed herself to keep going, even though her heart was pounding in her chest.
"She was odd like me. She was odd like me. Oh papa, read the story about the girl from the sea." She felt breathless, rushing to get the words out before she ran out of air, but she forced herself to slow down. To sing even and clear. "She was odd like me. She was odd like me. Oh papa, read the story about the girl from the sea."
She let her eyes slide shut again, her shoulders lowering as she let the tension go, and she was smiling again. She focused on a fond memories, hoping to ease her nerves. The first time she'd gone to the Moor with her family and they played in the ocean, or the first time she'd gone flying and felt the rush of the wind.
"And the first time she dipped her toes. She knew that she was at home. And the concert of the wales. Made her feel little less alone. Mhmmm..." She slowly openned her eyes again and decided to face them. She moved her eyes to the crowd and the first person she spotted was none other then Lady Tremaine. She looked furious, and Emma had to force herself not to wince as she slowly moved her gaze elsewhere. "In memories of a past life. Of prayers to the lighthouse. They gathered around this magic machine. That told the waves to calm down." Her eyes landed first on Toby and then on Jim, who were both staring up at her with wide smiles. "And in her, I found a friend Like she was representin'. All the creatures and the misfits that never really blend in."
"She was odd like me. She was odd like me. Oh papa, read the story about the girl from the sea." She smiled back at her friends, and moved her eyes so no one would notice she was looking at specific people. "She was odd like me. She was odd like me. Oh papa, read the story about the girl from the sea."
That idea failed when she caught sight of her parents and Jack.
"And the mama cried. And the papa too. How come that got to make a mermaid like you?" Emma felt her eyes watering and blinked a few times to keep them from falling. Her mom and Jack seemed calm, maybe a little confused that she wasn't singing a classic. Her dad... Well, he looked knowing and a little concerned, but once their eyes locked, he gave her a slow, almost imperceptible nod. "And the evening came And they let her go. Waving as she swam into the waves from the shore. Knowing that their baby, she was finally home."
"She was odd like me. She was odd like me. Oh papa, read the story about the girl from the sea." Emma kept her eyes on her family, every breath coming just a little more shaky each time. "She was odd like me. She was odd like me... Oh papa, read the story about the girl from the sea."
A few more notes, and it was over. Emma was snapped back to the stage at the sound of clapping and even a whistle from the Blue Voltron Wizard. She felt a little warm in her cheeks as she bowed to everyone and then stepped to the side with an arm to the band. Once the clapping faded Emma made her way down the steps of the stage and out the nearby side-door. She slipped out, sucking in a huge breath of air as she leaned back on the door with her eyes closed and her mouth tipped in a small smile.
She sniffed a little and straightened, taking a few more deep breaths as she smoothed a few wrinkles from her dress. When she was just about ready to go back into the Great Hall and make good on her promise to join Jim and Toby, the door flew open and was quickly shut behind an irate Lady Tremaine.
"What do you think you're doing?!" She hissed, eyes snapping. "That was not what I instructed of you! I gave you very specific songs to honor the Royals and the Prime Minister, himself!"
"It was only one song." Emma mumbled. "And everyone seemed to like it."
"Like it!" Tremaine scoffed, though it was more of a shriek. "I've seen more respectable court jesters! The Royals and the Prime Minister expect only the finest of quality in entertainment, and they have entrusted me to provide it! You were fortunate to be offered this opportunity, and now you've chosen to humiliate me, your family, and all of Hogwarts by mocking the Royal Council!"
"I think you're just mad that they liked my song choice better." Emma quipped back.
She wasn't expecting the sharp SMACK! that seemed to echo off the walls, or the following sting that lingered on her cheek.
"How dare you!" Lady Tremaine snarled, lowering her hand back to her side. "Detention! Tomorrow night. My office. I will not tolerate your delinquency any longer, Miss Frost. From this day forth I expect you to present yourself with all of the poise, elegance, and obedience of a proper young Lady."
With that, Tremaine turned around and threw open the door, stomping back into the Great Hall to rejoin the feast. Jim, who had apparently been walking towards it, ducked out of Lady Tremaine's way and walked through the door sideways as he was still watching the miffed woman stalk away.
"Woah, what's up with her?" He muttered, turning to Emma with a smirk on his face, but it quickly fell when he looked at her. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Her throat was all clogged up with cotton, and she knew that the heat in her cheeks was as much from embarrassment as it was from the lingering sting. Jim reached for her hand, but Emma silently took a step back. She was shaking her head and pressing her lips together as the heat extended up towards her eyes.
"Emma, why is your cheek all red?" Jim asked her directly, but the look on his face told her he already knew.
Her ribs were too tight for her heart, and as much as she wanted to stay there with Jim, she also didn't want him to see her just then.
The second part of her won out. As Jim tried to take a small step towards her, Emma shook her head again and turned away. She walked away as quickly as she could make her shaking legs move and prayed that Jim didn't follow while also hoping that he would.