PROLOGUE

"I wanted to thank you all for coming." David began. "As we celebrate the birthday of our beloved daughter Emma. Emma," he continued looking over his shoulder to the young girl sitting beside him at the table. "You have grown into a beautiful, courageous young woman who I look forward to watching become the greatest ruler our country has ever seen." He paused and looked out to the crowded room full of people dressed in their most extravagant clothing. "Our people, I myself, your mother...we will be guided into a future that is filled with brightness, growth, victories, and above all filled with love with you as our Queen." The king held up his glass and looked once more at his daughter. "To Princess Emma. The Young Swan."

"To Princess Emma!" The room roared back.

As the night went on, nothing but joy could be felt the room. The sound of clicking heels and laughter was drowned out by the sound of the string quartet in the balcony. No one had a care and that was the goal. No one was nervous and no one was anticipating anything especially the princess.

"Your majesty?" an uneasy voice asked.

Snow White turned and saw the dwarf. "Doc? What's wrong?" She asked after seeing the look of concern. "We have something to tell you." He continued and looked around. "Not here."

He gestured her to follow him and as she began to walk, David quietly followed being lead by suspicion taking one last look at his daughter who was talking with her friends. The three walked out of the ballroom and into the study around the corner. The king and queen walked into the room and Doc closed the door. "You're not going to like what I have to tell you."

"Doc, you're making me nervous." Snow began.

"It better be urgent, it's our daughters birthday."

"I know I… I'm really sorry about that."

Snow raised an eyebrow. "Well what is it? Are you alright?"

"I'm, well… I… I told…"

"One word at a time." Snow told him. "What did you tell someone?"

"Queen Regina, she escaped." He blurted out. "Don't know how he did it but I-"

Snow took a step towards the dwarf. "Well where is he?"

"She's not a Queen." David butted in.

"I don-don't know." He stammered. "I was just told that-"

Snow rested a hand on the dwarves shoulder. "Well thank you for telling us. Will you give my husband and I a moment alone? In the meantime will you and the dwarves kindly make sure someone has eyes on our daughter. And would you please send in King Thomas." The dwarf nodded and turned to leave.

"What do you want to talk to Thomas about?" David asked.

Snow sighed. "Well you and I can't be the only ones knowing this news and besides him and Ella are our greatest allies." She watched as her husband took a seat behind the desk. "Do you think she'll try anything?"

David scratched his chin. "Probably. You're her daughter-"

"Step-daughter." she corrected him.

"You're her step-daughter and she truly believes she has a claim to the throne."

The two royals thought about all the possible dangers that were headed their way. The woman was capable of anything. Especially if she was able to get out of the island of Wonderland. "Do you think she is working with her mother?"

"That is what he told us would happen." Snow reminded her husband. "What has Rumplestilskin ever been wrong?"

The door opened and the tall man walked in. "Doc told me."

"David thinks we should send her to the Convent of Saint Meissa. Mother Superior would know how to protect her-"

Thomas walked over and put his hands on Snow's shoulders. "Relax. We don't even know if she'll come after her."

"Why wouldn't she? Emma is the only thing standing in the way between her and the throne. Emma is next in line to rule and if-"

"I'll bring her home." Thomas suggested.

Snow gave him a puzzled look. "What?"

"Emma." Thomas continued. "I'll bring her back with me to Faraway. Ella would be happy to have her stay with us and it's not too far from here and would only take a week or so to sail on my fastest ship." Thomas paused for a second and looked at David. "And we could form a larger kingdom. If I may be so bold."

David looked up at the younger King. "What are you suggesting?"

"With all do respect, my son is of age."

"You want our daughter, Emma, to marry your son?" David asked wide eyed as he stood up and made his way towards them. "She doesn't even know the boy!"

Thomas took a step back.

"He's a wonderful man- I-"

"I will not have my daughter sent off-"

"David." Snow interrupted her. "David I know this may seem sudden but it's not a bad idea. Rumplestiltskin even warned us that by the time she turned 21 she had to be married"

He waved his hand in the air as if he was pushing the thought as far away from his as possible. "I would expect you of all people to be against it. Besides she just turned 21. She has another year!"

"I'm not a fan of our daughter leaving either, but I am a fan of keeping her safe. Not only would she be in great hands-"

"I don't want her in anyone's hands!" The King yelled.

"David-" Snow sighed. She watched as made his way back towards the desk and sat down. "Thomas, I'm sorry, would you please give us the night to discuss it? You're not planning on leaving until tomorrow and we also need to talk with Emma."

"Of course." Thomas nodded. "And my apologies if I offended anyone with the suggestion.

Snow shook her head. "No, you didn't. I appreciate your concern for our family." She watched as he exited the room and then made her may over towards her husband.

'So that's it then?" David asked leaning back into the chair. "We just let her go?"

The queen walked over to the open doors of the balcony on the other side of the room, listening to the waves crashing below. "We don't have a choice." She began quietly almost letting the sounds of nature drown out her voice. She didn't want to hear it either. Certainly not hear herself say it.

"She's our little girl, Snow." He paused and leaned forward making a rest for his head out of his hands. "We can't do this to her. It's her birthday-"

"Regina escaped David." The woman snapped and faced her husband. "You don't know her. You don't know the things that she is capable of doing. You didn't live with her, you didn't live in fear because of her. I will go to the ends of the Earth to make sure that she doesn't come near our daughter. And if that means sending her away. That's what we have to do."

David sat quietly, knowing in full confidence that his wife was right. He didn't like it. Neither of them did but if he wanted to protect his daughter...he had to let her go. "When do we tell her?"

The queen took in a breath and made her way over towards her husband. "As soon as possible." She said with raised brows. "I don't think we should waste anytime." The joyful music that echoed behind the closed door went right through her leaving no effect. Her daughter was happy. Her kingdom was happy. And all of that was about to change. "Let me go," she mumbled through her closed lips. "Let me go." She repeated again, this time louder but not taking her eyes off the door.

"What?"

"Let me go with her. To help her settle in."

David shook his head and pushed down on the desk to help him stand. He made his way over to his wife with concern plastered on his face. "Absolutely not." He told her. "The people need someone to look to."

"They have you." Snow argued gesturing towards her husband.

He let out a slight chuckle. "You and I both know that the people find far more comfort in you then they ever did in me." He took another step towards her and crossed his arms. "I'll go," the king announced. "I'll travel her with her, help her settle in…not to mention it'll give me a chance to oversee everything with the alliance is in order." He paused for a moment, not wanting to acknowledge the actual reason why they are sending their daughter away. "And to meet the prince."

"I've heard wonderful things about Prince Liam." She said in a comforting tone. "It's our friends child. You know he is a good man. This alliance isn't just to protect us, remember. It's to protect our friends too." She paused for a moment, hoping that her husband would realize the truth in what she was saying. "One more thing." She watched as her husband looked up at her. "I want you to take the dwarves with you."

Startled by her words the king gave her a puzzled look and cocked one eye brown. "The dwarves?" He asked followed by a nod from his wife. "You think I'll be more relaxed about sending our daughter away while being on a boat for eight nights surrounded by seven tiny men with pickaxes?" Before his wife could respond her corrected himself, "not even seven, six! Sleepy doesn't even county."

"David, you and I both know if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have made it in those woods alone." She took in a breath and took her husband's hand in hers. "She just needs familiar faces."

He let out a deep sigh, "Why do I even bother disagreeing with you?" He smiled. "Fine, I will take the dwarves with me. But I expect you to be here, resting." He placed a hand on his wife's stomach. "When are you going to tell Emma?"

Snow placed her hand on top of her husbands. "The last thing I need her to worry about is her mother who may or may not be pregnant." She said with a small laugh. "One thing at a time. If we want any sort of future for either of our children we need to show Emma our full support."

"So you do agree?" David asked.

Snow shook her head fully aware how her words were twisted. "Please," she told him, "one thing at a time." The sound of the music in the fall became faint. She looked at the clock hung on the wall. '11:50' it read. "Speaking of, we should probably start saying goodbye to our guests."