Murphy's Law
by: just-a-story
~ Chapter IV ~
It's All You Know
"You're here to protect me."
Emma took in a breath. She had three voices running throughout her brain. Her mother's telling her to be able to tell when people are lying. Her fathers words before she left, first impressions are key. Then her own voice, take care of yourself because no one else will. She heard the trumpets, announcing their arrival at port. The princess watched as her mother took one of the guard's hands as she step up onto the ramp, looking down at the Camelot guards below them.
"M'lady?" A guard said as he extended his hand to the princess.
After a deep inhale, Emma's hand moved toward the man as her breath escaped. She stepped up onto the ramp, watching her mother turn when she reached the bottom to face her. She lifted her chin a little higher as she walked down. Emma met her mother at the bottom and exchanged a smile. By her mother's side she followed her down the short path the meet the royal carriages. She watched as her mother went in first, as she always did. Looking down, she took the guards hand and stepped up into the carriage herself.
It was bumpy, and silent, mostly awkward. But she didn't think about all that. The princess looked out the window while absent-mindedly fought her thumbs against each other.
"Emma-" Snow began leaning a tiny bit forward. "Are you alright?"
The princess continued to stare at the clouds.
"Emma," The queen said again, this time taking her hand from across the coach. "You haven't said a word since we arrived."
She took in a breath and smiled. "I'm fine."
Snow titled her head to the side. "Remember that superpower I told you about that every Queen must have?" She paused as her daughter continued to look at her.
This time she looked down at the ground and gave a much smaller smile. "I'm sorry."
Snow shook her head. "I don't want you to apologize. As your mother I want you to tell me what's bothering you."
"It's stupid."
The Queen took both her daughters hands in hers. "If it makes you sad...it isn't stupid."
Emma looked up and sighed. "Do you know them?"
Snow gave her daughter a concerned look. "The King?"
"And the family?" Emma added.
Snow gave Emma's hands a tight squeeze. "I do them. They are very nice people."
"Can you tell me a little more about them? I only know Arthur's name."
Before the Queen could respond, the air surrounding them filled with the sounds of horns and trumpets. Causing Emma's heart to tighten. Snow smiled, "You're ready." She told her daughter with a smile, "Everything will be fine."
The Princess smiled as she watched her mother face the carriage door. She watched as it slowly opened. Emma followed her mother as she always did. Taking the guards hand as she stepped out of the carriage she first looked over her shoulder looking for her friend but she saw no one but castle staff and even more guards. "Don't worry Emma," Snow began looking at her daughter. The two royals looked in front of them as the trumpets began to play once more.
"His Majesty, King Uther Pendragon." Emma watched as the King walked down the gravel path with another man behind him. "His Royal Highness, Prince Arthur."
She took in a breath and could feel her mother's eyes on her. "If that's Arthur," Emma asked without making eye contact with her mother, "then who is that?"
Snow looked at the two men standing near the King. "That's Killian. He's Uther's bastard son. To his right, is Arthur…the man you're going to marry."
Emma felt her chest tighten. "You couldn't have told me all this on the ship?" She asked in an overwhelmed tone.
"Focus on what's in front of you and nothing more," Snow told her daughter. "Day by day." She said as she brought her daughters hair behind her shoulders.
Uther walked up to Snow and Emma watched as they tilted head's to one another. A minute later when he faced her, she exhaled. "Your majesty," She said as she bowed. "It's an honor."
The King of Camelot turned towards his son, "This is Arthur." He said as he watched his son tilt his head to his future wife.
"Pleased to meet you." She said as she bowed.
Arthur smiled as he brought his chin up. "The pleasure's all mine." He held out his hand for Emma to take. She took his hand, while filling her lungs to their maximum capacity. She followed his lead back down the gravel path with her mother and the king close behind. She kept her eyes forward, ignoring all of the staring eyes and bowing heads. All in her own little world that consisted of nothing but what was in front of her. They walked passed Killian who stood to the side. He watched as the couple walked passed until his focus shifted to his father who walked closely behind them.
"Thank you." Emma said to the maid as she walked into her chambers. "And please, make sure my mother isn't overwhelming the kitchen staff with requests for tonight. She thinks everything has to be perfect. What ever they have planned, I'm sure it's delicious."
"Yes, your highness." The maid said as she curtsied.
Emma turned and closed the door behind her. Every ounce of worry escaped through her mouth and she breathed. She knew she had to remember that just because she was in a different kingdom with different people didn't mean she wasn't safe. Her fingers moved against the lock on the door causing it to click. She turned around and froze in her footsteps as she saw it lying on in front of her fireplace. "Um..." She began looking around the room for any sign as to why it might or should be where it was. The princess watched it for a moment and realized how content it must be. Despite it's content; all she felt was an uneasy feeling. Not because she was afraid, she was the future queen, nothing scared her. But she didn't wish for an explanation. She looked around the room and saw a card placed on the mantle. Slowly, making sure not to disrupt the dog she grabbed it and opened it.
Princess Emma - please consider this as our "Welcome Home" gift. One of our best guard dogs, from us to you.
"You're here to protect me." Emma said to the dog as she folded the paper.
The dog looked up at her.
"Do you have a name?" She asked leaning down
The dog tilted its head.
"I'm talking to a dog." She told herself as she stood up. She made her way over to her bed and sat down before letting her body fall back to the mattress. She felt a weight on her knee causing her to prop herself up with her elbows. "You are cute." She said as the dog began to wag it's tail. "I wish you had a name." She watched the dog walk back to it's bed, walk in a small circle then lie down.
Uther let out a heavy sight as his son paced in front of him. "You know the prophecy." Arthur continued. "I can't be king if I don't have it."
"You will find it." His father assured him. "Even if that means I send more men out there to search."
Arthur turned to face his father. "That's not how this works and you know it." He paused as he watched his father tilt his head down to his chest. "I have to be the one to remove Excalibur from the stone. I have to be the one that-"
"The prophecy is a lie." Uther snapped. "It's all a lie." He looked up at his son with anger in his eyes. "None of it's real. You are my son, my flesh and blood. You will be king, and you don't need a sword to prove it. It's proven by birth and a crown on your head, not a sword in your hand."
Arthur rested his palms on the wooden table. "Father you don't know how close we were. It was there, I saw it."
"Yes, and then you proceeded to faint."
"I did not faint. A man doesn't faint."
"It doesn't matter, you don't need that kind of distraction leading up to your marriage or your reign. You and I both know we need this alliance to work."
"And it will," Arthur said in a quitter tone. "But as hard as we try to deny it, we both know that it is impossible for me to rule without Excalibur. The people will riot, they all know of the prophecy. The promised king, to unite the lands-"
Uther took in a breath and let his son's words sink down into his brain. "You're right."
Arthur let out a sigh of relief.
"We do not need a riot, right before your wedding. We need the sword." The king watched his son as he nodded. "Which is exactly why you are going out in the morning once more to find it."
Arthur smiled ignoring the seriousness on his face. "I am not finished," the king continued. "If you fail to find the sword by morning, you will 'make' Excalibur instead.."
The prince's eyebrows furrowed. "Make?"
"You will make a sword, that replicas the one in Merlin's prophecy. We will hang it above your throne, no one will know."
"But if the people find out-"
The king stood up from his chair. "Then those who believe it to be fake will be executed, at your command."
Arthur swallowed.
"There is something I need you to learn and learn it quick. No one question's their king."
She sat down in front of the mirror and sighed. She looked at the glimpse of the necklace that hung around her neck. With one hand she slowly grabbed onto the exposed part and pulled it in front of her cream colored dress. The chain was rough, unlike any necklace she ever encountered. How could something that looks like death, a skull and a dagger, keep her safe? Then again it was only a necklace and no object holds key to her safety. She placed her hand behind her neck and took hold of the chain, bringing the whole necklace up and over her head. She looked down at the table and saw a few drawers. With one hand she opened the middle drawer to left and placed the necklace inside.
She jumped in her own skin as the dog by the fire place barked. "Stop that." She told the dog as she turned in her chair and stared at the door.
"Emma?" She heard her mother call. "I'm in here." She replied causing the door to open.
"I have good news!"
Emma's eyebrows lifted. "Really?"
"Remember that cake you loved at your eighteenth birthday?" Snow paused as walked over to wear her daughter was sitting. "They're making the same cake for your wedding."
The princess took in a breath and faked a smile. "How did you manage that?"
Snow looked anywhere but in her daughter's eyes. "You know, it's luck...It's meant to be."
"You're having it shipped from home aren't you?"
Snow didn't say anything.
Emma got up and began walking towards her bed as her mother's eyes followed. "Emma there's a dog..." Snow asked pointing to the creature lying on the ground.
"I'm just as surprised as you are. The king gave it to me." She said as she watched the dog burry it's head by its paws. "Anyway, you're shipping a cake from home for my wedding?"
"Just the ingredients." Snow said trying to defend herself.
Emma smiled but she knew what her mother was doing. She knew her mother was trying to make Emma feel as if she was at home and give her something to look forward to. But no matter how many cakes her mother had made, there was nothing that could make her feel at ease. "Thank you," She said.
