Chapter 3.
As dawn's sun rose so did the camp. Snow and Mulan were all ready packing up their gear preparing to leave. Emma looked out across the camp at the men as they fastened their weapons and packed up camp. Stephen approached the women.
"Where is Rose?" Emma asked having not spotted the red headed queen.
"The queen has gone to collect water." Stephen replied emphasising on the word queen.
"The queen fetches water?" Emma scoffed.
"Our queen does many things that are not expected of someone of her status." Stephen answered. "We are preparing breakfast, will you be joining us" He asked Snow.
"Thank you, however…" The captain cut off Snow before she could finish.
"Her majesty has insisted you join us." Stephen pushed.
"Tell her majesty…" Snow began when she was again interrupted, this time by Aurora.
"We would love to join you all for breakfast before we leave." Aurora smiled to the captain; Stephen bowed and left the ladies.
"What are you doing?" Snow asked turning to Aurora exasperated.
"We need to eat and you need to resolve whatever is going on between you and your sister." Aurora said matter-of-factly.
"Aurora it's more complicated than a sit down across the breakfast table conversation." Snow tried to explain when she looked around realising that Emma was not with them. "Where's Emma?" She asked a slight panic rising.
"She headed towards the water." Mulan indicated nodding towards a clearing between the trees. Snow sighed as she began to follow after her daughter.
Rose stood looking out across the peaceful river, barely a ripple. Such peace, Rose closed her eyes and breathed in deeply filling every space within her lungs before slowly exhaling.
"You're very quiet on foot Emma." Rose smiled as she spoke, still looking out across the water.
"Not that quiet if you knew I was here." Emma replied as she stood beside her aunt. In the light of day Emma looked upon the woman that stood beside her. Rose was slightly taller than she was, the way in which she held herself was very similar to how she had seen Regina hold herself at her most regal. Upright, strong in spirit and probably in body too. Emma noticed a slight similarity between Rose and Mary Margaret, their eyes. When Rose turned to look at Emma, she noticed the similarity both having dark hazel eyes yet where Mary Margaret's had hope, Rose's seemed to show a sadness and tiredness.
"Have you found what you are looking for?" Rose asked as the two women had stood in silence now for a few minutes now whilst Emma was looking her aunt over.
"What? No, sorry. I just." Emma stammered. Rose only chuckled.
"It's all right Emma, there is much I would like to learn about you also." Rose said as she turned and faced Emma fully, her hand rested on the hilt of her sheathed sword. "But first I would like it if you would tell me about Regina." Rose said a sad tone to her voice. "Do you find her to be truly evil?" Rose asked.
"Sometimes." Emma answered honestly. Rose nodded looking back out to the water. "That's not what you wanted to hear is it?"
"I only want to hear the truth Emma." Rose answered, her brow furrowed. What had happened she wondered for a young woman she knew to be a free spirit, who was loving, caring and fun to have changed so dramatically? "What I have heard of Regina's terrible actions I find hard to believe she would do, it is not the Regina I knew so long ago." Rose explained sadly, Emma just listened.
"That's the problem," Snow said as she came down to join them by the waters edge. "it was so long ago. A lot of things changed after you left Rose." Snow said bitterly.
"Perhaps I should leave you two to talk this one out." Emma said turning to pick up the water pouches.
"No Emma, stay you're a part of this to." Snow said looking at her sister whose focus had returned to the river. "After you left Rose things changed, things happened and…"
"Regina became the Evil Queen." Rose finished for Snow. "What was it that turned her Snow? Explain that to me, please." Rose turned to her sister. Snow looked to her sister her eyes showing a sadness she had never seen in Rose before.
"Do you remember Daniel?" Snow asked to which Rose nodded.
"The stable boy and Regina's love." Rose smiled at that memory, how happy Regina was with Daniel.
"You knew they were in love?" Snow asked surprised.
"Of course! Snow, Regina was practically my age when she saved you and met Leopold. Could you honestly imagine that someone of Regina's age truly loved your father?" Rose tilted her head to Snow surprised at such naivety. "But then you were only a child." Rose smiled to Snow.
"Did Regina tell you?" Snow asked.
"She didn't really have to I could see it in the way they were together. I only saw them a few times, the glances they would pass between one another, the slightest of touches. Regina would confide in me later but soon after that I was sent away." Rose explained.
"I had no idea of their love, that Daniel was Regina's true love. I saw them together one evening kissing, I ran away to tell my father but Regina stopped me and begged me not to say anything. I said I wouldn't."
"What happened?" Rose asked sensing that the story was to take a terrible turn.
"Cora. I told Cora about Daniel and Regina's plan to run away together. I thought that Cora would understand and let Regina be with her true love, I was wrong."
"Very wrong." Rose said shaking her head. "What did Cora do?" Snow looked down to her feet for a moment then back to her sister her eyes glistening with tears.
"Cora killed Daniel, she ripped out his heart and crushed it right before Regina's eyes." Snow sniffed wiping away the tears that had escaped down her cheeks. "Regina told me that Daniel had run away and that she was looking forward to marrying my father. That's where the darkness began." Snow finished.
"So the wars, battles the curse, it was all routed in revenge and heart break." Rose surmised.
"Regina's happy ending had been destroyed and she blamed me for it." Snow explained, Rose only nodded.
"I see and with the curse she attempted to take away all of your happy endings. Then came Henry and eventually you returned Emma, breaking the curse."
"Eventually." Said Emma. "Once I believed in it all." Rose nodded.
"I imagine it was quite a lot to take in. You say we were nothing but fairytales to you in this world of yours." Emma nodded to her aunt. "And now you are both here again and trying to get back to your Storybrooke."
"Exactly, which is why we must carry on with our quest to the castle and the wardrobe there." Snow said with some urgency.
"The wardrobe that transported Emma to Storybrooke?" Rose questioned.
"Yes. We believe it's our only way back." Snow said.
"And we have to get back." Emma added. Rose nodded to them both.
"Well then, we'd best make a move, the day is running away from us." Rose smiled to the pair. Snow and Emma looked to each other confused.
"You mean to come with us?" Snow asked.
"Safety in numbers Snow. Just a small group of us I will send the rest of my men back to my castle."
"Shouldn't you be back there, I mean don't you have a kingdom of your own to run?" Emma asked.
"I do, but sometimes a queen, a sister, must take care of other matters also. Anyway, I've only just found you both, do you really think I would let you carry on without me?" Rose said as she started to gather up the water pouches.
"Wait a minute, who's to say we want you with us, that I want you with us?" Snow asked. Rose looked to her younger sister.
"Snow you say that as if I am giving you a choice. Let's not forget which one of us is queen and also the older sister. Any way you've been gone a long time. Things and people have changed. You'd do well to have people with you to watch your back."
"We have that." Snow said meaning Mulan and Aurora.
"Yes, your female warrior and the princess who was, until recently, under a sleeping curse. Extra hands won't hurt Snow." Rose said as she started to walk away back to camp. Snow was about to reply when Emma stopped her.
"She's right." Emma said. Snow spun round to face her, surprised. "Well she is! Who knows what we'll face and having someone else with us who is a skilled fighter would be to our advantage." Emma explained. "Mary Margaret I want to get home to my son and our friends and I know you're the same. The quicker we can do that, the better. Rose can help us, I say we take her help." Emma reasoned. Snow thought for a moment looking after where her sister had walked back to camp.
"Fine. But I don't like it." Snow stubbornly said as she stomped off after her older sister.
"And you say I'm bull headed." Emma said to herself as she followed after Snow.
As Snow and Emma came out into the camp again they could see Rose holding council with the leaders of her army.
"Your majesty," One of her men began. "are you certain about this, can these women really be trusted?" Rose turned to the man placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Thomas, you speak of my sister as if she were a threat. I will be fine and I need you all to return to the castle. The people there would welcome your help and protection from any further intrusions from such beasts as ogres." Rose explained looking at the men.
"Your majesty, I will accompany you." Stephen said stepping forward. Rose looked at the man. He was her best soldier and trusted friend.
"I won't win this argument will I Stephen?" Rose asked almost laughing as she did. Stephen smiled to her.
"No your majesty, you won't." He replied.
"You are needed to lead your men you know." Rose pointed out.
"With all due respect your majesty you are needed to lead your kingdom." Stephen challenged. "Thomas can manage the men, he is more than capable and my second in command." Stephen nodded to the young soldier who bowed slightly in his acknowledgement.
"Very well then." Rose sighed. "We eat and then we move out." Rose ordered. The men before her bowed and moved on.
"Your men have great respect for you." Mulan noted as Rose walked towards her.
"Thank you Mulan. It was earned and is reciprocated." Rose smiled as she continued passed Mulan.
"So your sister, the queen, is to join us." Aurora said smiling at Snow.
"It would seem so, yes." Snow replied distracted.
"Does it really bother you so much?" Emma asked as she handed Snow a plate of food. Snow smiled in thanks.
"I don't know Emma. I don't know my sister anymore. I don't know the woman or person she has become. Going by her men's affection and allegiance to her she is loved and respected. Her people may feel the same, we haven't the time to find that out."
"You think she is not honourable?" Mulan asked, the warrior who was normally so quiet.
"I'm sure she is that Mulan, I just don't know her anymore and here she is, and now she's stopping whatever her own duties may be to help us get home." Snow said picking at the fruit on her plate. "I'm just not sure how I feel about it all." Snow sighed; Emma placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"May be just go with the flow for now, huh?" Emma suggested, Snow nodded in response agreeing with her daughter.
