A Day For Just Emma—part 4

CS Genre: Lieutenant Duckling

Emma laid back in the bath, resting her head against the smooth, porcelain edge. She closed her eyes, focusing on the warm, lavender scented water, trying to draw comfort and strength.

What a day it had been! From the low of waking to realize today was the day of the ball where she was expected to find a husband to the high of meeting Killian and spending the day with him, all the way back to the lowest of lows as she prepared for the ball with a freshly broken heart.

Perhaps it had been foolish to run away from the castle. Perhaps it had been foolish to allow herself the day with the handsome lieutenant who had stolen her heart. Perhaps she would have done better to simply stay home.

But, so help her, she couldn't regret meeting Killian. Even if all she had of true romantic happiness was the memory of his smile, of his kiss, of one bright, shining, perfect day, she'd treasure it forever. Perhaps the knowledge that there was such a man as Killian out there would help her through the long, dreary years of being saddled with a dull, uninspiring prince.

Emma sat up and reached for the soap, gritting her teeth against the tears the lay just below the surface. There was no sense in putting it off anymore. She'd be the kind, gracious princess and do her duty by the kingdom if it killed her.

Stepping from the tub, she donned her white ball gown with the long belled sleeves and then sat before the fire to dry her hair.

Snow White sat on her throne in the large great hall of the castle, watching as lords and ladies, princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses twirled around the dance floor. It was a lively group, the women in gorgeous, colorful dresses, the men dressed in their finest breeches and doublets.

Normally an event such as this would fill her with joy and excitement, even more so in the last two and a half decades that she'd been married to the man seated beside her, her best friend, her true love, her soulmate, the other half of her very heart. Every day she spent with David was a gift that she held within her heart.

But tonight…tonight the music and dancing failed to move her. Tonight she was troubled.

"David," she said, reaching over to take her husband's hand, lacing their fingers, "did we do the right thing?"

David turned to look at her quizzically, the fine wrinkles around his eyes, one of the only signs of his advancing years, standing out in stark display. "Did we do the right thing about what?"

"This ball," Snow said, gesturing to the glittering assembly with her free hand. "Did we do the right thing taking the council's suggestion that we forge a marriage alliance for Emma? All I've ever wanted for her is the kind of love and happiness we have with each other. What are we doing asking her to marry just to, in essence, cement a business deal?"

David sighed, squeezing her hand comfortingly. "I don't know, Snow. Is she really that unhappy?"

Snow was silent for a moment, deep in thought. Finally she turned tortured green eyes toward her husband. "Before today, I would say she was wary at the thought of what this ball represented, but ultimately resigned. Certainly not the frame of mind I'd hoped our daughter would be in when considering the prospect of marriage, but it is the way our world works. But today…"

"What about today?" David asked, the frown settling more firmly on his face.

"Today when I helped her finish preparing for the ball, she seemed almost…heartbroken," Snow answered, feeling the emotion rise up in her chest. "I don't know what happened this afternoon, but whatever it was left her devastated at the prospect of meeting the princes vying for her hand tonight."

"She told you that?" David asked.

Snow shook her head. "Of course not. You know how much she loves this kingdom. You know she would do anything for it. I told her we would support her, no matter what happened tonight. I told her we'd never force her to marry a man she didn't choose, but she was adamant. She insists she will do her duty by the kingdom. She will make us proud."

David turned to search the dancefloor, stopping when he caught sight of Emma dancing stiffly with Prince Neal, her face neutral, but her eyes tragic. "I suppose all we can hope, honey, is that one of these princes will prove to be Emma's True Love, and if not? If not, we cross that bridge when we come to it."

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

"Did you know that there are currently two hundred sixty-four known species of monkeys?" Prince Walsh asked. "Capuchins are my favorite. Did you know they're nearly as smart as humans?"

It took every ounce of Emma's training in deportment to stop the eyeroll that was trying desperately to happen. Seriously, this man had been droning on and on about monkeys since the moment he was introduced to her a quarter of an hour ago.

"That's…fascinating," Emma said, plastic smile draped across her face as he twirled her and then settled his hand on her waist for the remainder of the dance. "What else are you interested in besides monkeys?"

Prince Walsh gave her a quizzical look. "What else is there? I hope one day to move to the jungle and live with my own tribe of monkeys. Did you know that a group of monkeys is called a tribe, troop or mission?"

No, but I know I'd rather chew off my own arm than marry you.

An hour into the ball, and she'd yet to find any man who seemed even remotely suitable as a candidate for her future husband. Oh they weren't all bad, to be sure. Prince Neal had been…mediocre…and Prince August was handsome. She rather liked Prince Graham, he was kind, funny in an endearing way and quite pleasant to look at, but she couldn't see him as her husband. As her friend, yes, but as her husband and lover? No.

She had a sinking feeling no prince here—or anywhere else in the realm-would interest her, not after she'd gotten a taste of what real love could be.

Emma sighted, as the song ended and she could finally step away from Walsh without looking unbearably rude. Perhaps she ought to settle on Prince Graham. It wouldn't be a true love connection, but at least...

"Emma?" she looked up at her father's voice, "I'd like to introduce you to one last prince."

Emma nodded her head regally, waiting for her father to introduce her to the man standing beside him. She'd like this one, she knew it, if only because her father had called him the last prince she must meet.

King David stepped aside, and for the first time she got a good look at the prince. Her mouth dropped and her eyes widened. It couldn't be! It was…

"Prince Killian Jones of Camelot, I would like you to meet my daughter, Princess Emma of Misthaven."

Notes:

-Happy OUAT day! I'm excited about tonight because it's a Killian centric. No matter the version of Killian, I'm always going to be excited about a Killian centric!

-I must apologize for the long delay in updates. With Easter coming up, I've been crazy busy, and there just hasn't been time for writing. I fully intend to go back to weekly (or at least every other weekly) updates now, though.

-So there you have it. The last "cliff hanger" of this little story. Had you already figured out that Killian was going to be one of the princes at the ball, or did it shock you as much as it shocked Emma?

-Up next: The conclusion of this story. We get both Emma and Killian's reaction to the reveal, and we hopefully move toward happily ever after.