Chapter 5.
Leaving Snow's castle the travellers made their way back to the island. Night having fallen Stephen had scouted ahead for a safe area to camp for the night.
"Your majesty, I believe I have found us a safe base for the rest of the night." The captain explained as he met with the women again. Rose nodded to him in agreement.
"Thank you Stephen. Let's set camp for the night then." Stephen nodded; taking Mulan with him, they moved on to start setting camp. Rose looked behind her seeing her sister slowly walk along with Emma, she felt for them and their loss.
"Queen Rose?" Aurora took Rose from her thoughts.
"Yes princess?" Rose turned and walked alongside the younger woman.
"Do you know of another way they can find their way back to Storybrooke?" Aurora asked. Rose thought for moment before she answered, trying to think of anything.
"In all honesty princess it is all I have been thinking about since we left Snow's castle, and I cannot think of anything." Rose sighed. "What they need is a portal and I have no way of giving them that. I will find a way though." Rose said determined.
"You would give them up, let them leave again?" Aurora asked. Rose turned to her smiling.
"Of course, Emma has a son to get back to and Snow a husband, family and friends, people who depend on her. I'm sure they will find a way to return here if they so wish." Rose explained as they reached the campsite Mulan and Stephen were in the process of setting up. "What else do we need?" Rose asked as they reached the two soldiers.
"Firewood and something to eat." Mulan answered. Rose smirked and nodded to her.
"Very well then. Snow, join me in a hunt for some food? Emma, princess Aurora, if you would gather the firewood, that leaves you two to finish setting things up." Rose ordered, Snow standing beside her. "Shall we go and find food?" Rose asked looking to Snow.
"Would you mind being quick about it, I'm starving." Emma commented as she past them with Aurora to go and fetch the firewood. Rose chuckled as Snow started off to hunt for their food.
An hour later two rabbits were roasting over the fire as the travellers sat around the fire keeping warm.
"Is it much further back to the island?" Aurora asked as she pulled her cloak tighter around herself.
"Not much further princess." Stephen answered as he turned the rabbits on the make shift spit. "We should be there by late morning." Stephen smiled to Aurora.
"Be careful not to over cook the meat Stephen." Rose teased as she tended to her weapons, sharpening the blades of her sword and dagger.
"I'll try not to my queen." Stephen chuckled as he poked at the meat.
"Remember what happened last time." Rose continued looking at her captain from under her eyebrows.
"What happened last time?" Emma asked as she sat in front of the fire poking at it with a stick.
"The meat was so over cooked it practically bounced on the plate when dished up." Rose explained laughing at the thought of it.
"With respect your majesty it wasn't that bad, just a little tough." Stephen defended his culinary skills.
"Not even the dogs would eat it." Rose added laughing. Emma looked to Stephen who was smiling at the memory of the dogs who played with the over cooked meat rather than eat it.
"May be Mary Margaret should be cooking." Emma suggested teasing Stephen. Snow looked up at the mention of her name and smiled.
"I think Stephen is managing perfectly well." Snow said as she looked at the rabbit meat slowly turning. "Although I would suggest serving it now." Snow stood to help Stephen as he quickly removed the meat as it began to burn slightly.
With the food eaten the group started to settle for the rest of the night.
"I'll take the first watch." Rose said standing up grabbing her sword as she went.
"My queen." Stephen began to protest.
"Rest Stephen, I'll let you take the second watch in a few hours." Rose called back. Stephen sat back down again knowing he would not win the discussion in making the queen rest at camp. The rest of the group turned in, trying to get as much sleep as possible. Stephen and Snow were the only ones left awake.
"You care a great deal for my sister." Snow quietly said as she moved to sit closer to the captain. Stephen nodded to Snow as he spoke.
"I do, all of us do." Stephen simply said.
"Rose told me about Robert. I'm so sorry for your loss." Snow said resting her hand upon Stephen's shoulder.
"Thank you your highness. We miss Robert dearly." Stephen said looking in to the remains of the fire.
"What was he like?" Snow asked.
"Robert was, well, he was my older brother. Caring, responsible, strong, a great soldier, he could be fierce in battle. He was gentle to my children. Robert was funny and fun to be with and around." Stephen explained. Snow nodded slowly as she listened. "I know the queen misses him, I believe she still grieves." Snow looked up to Stephen at this, tilting her head to one side she spoke.
"How long ago did he die Stephen?" She asked.
"A little over a year ago, actually no, it's closer to two now." Stephen realised shaking his head. "Time seems to move by so quickly sometimes but it still feels like only yesterday he was killed." Stephen explained. Snow took this in as she looked across to where her sister would be keeping watch.
"Will you excuse me Stephen?" Snow said as she stood up heading towards the clearing where Rose would be. Stephen simply nodded to her as she left.
Snow carefully walked out to the clearing looking for Rose.
"You should be resting." Rose's voice said from behind Snow. As Snow turned to face her sister, Rose appeared from behind a tree.
"You're the one who was knocked unconscious." Snow said her hands on her hips. "I'm fine Rose."
"You won't be in a few hours when Stephen wakes you to take watch after him." Snow could hear the smirk and slight laughter in her sister's voice. Snow sighed as she rolled her eyes. "What brings you out here?" Rose asked standing in front of Snow.
"I wanted to talk to you." Snow said leaning back against the trunk of a tree.
"Really, about what?" Rose asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"You have asked us all about our lives and about Regina and yet I haven't once stopped to ask you about yours and what's been happening in your life, or has happened." Snow explained. Rose breathed in deeply, sighing she turned and stood looking out away from Snow, looking out into the darkness keeping watch. If she was honest Rose didn't really wish to speak of herself or her life. "Tell me about Robert." Snow said slipping down the trunk of the tree to sit on the ground. Rose lowered her head at the mention of his name, raising it again as she spoke.
"What would you like to know?" She asked Snow her watched her older sister carefully.
"How did you meet?" Snow started with. Rose laughed slightly at the memory of the meeting.
"We met in battle, well, Robert attacked me in the woods." Rose began.
"He attacked you?" Snow interrupted.
"Do you want me to tell you?" Rose said lightly to Snow, turning to her for a moment. Snow fell silent again. "I was riding through the forest alone, no guards with me just out for a ride enjoying a summers day. Robert jumped from a tree knocking me from my horse intent on robbing me."
"He didn't recognise who you were." Snow stated rather than asked.
"No he didn't, not many of my subjects did then, I had only just gained control of my own kingdom and change was slow. Anyway, he knocked me from my horse and he was surprised when I quickly stood and drew my sword. We fought and eventually I beat him to the ground. It was then he realised who I was. He saw clearly the royal insignia on my sword as well as on the saddle of my horse." Rose began to chuckle at the memory. "He could not have grovelled more if he had tried." Rose explained.
"What happened next?" Snow asked.
"I asked him why he attacked me of course and he explained that he was only trying to get money to feed his family. His mother and younger brother." Rose explained.
"Stephen." Snow said Rose nodded.
"I went with Robert to his home and the small amount of villagers that lived near him. It was dreadful Snow, they were so poor, and scraping for what food they could. Those who had taken control of my kingdom whilst I was being prepared for the throne had treated these people appallingly." Rose said, disgust in her voice. "I made sure to change that and asked Robert to join me in changing things. He became the captain of my army, my first true confidant and friend, the rest grew from there." Rose explained sighing as she did. "A few years later he would be killed." Rose looked up to the night sky, as she spoke of her true loves demise.
"I'm so sorry Rose." Snow sympathised. Rose nodded not turning to her sister. "You still grieve for him." Snow said.
"I do." Rose simply said Snow could feel her sister's heart break. "I miss being able to breathe him in. I miss his smile, his laughter. I miss his hands on mine. I miss everything. For the longest time it just hurt to breathe and carry on." Rose explained looking out to the dark fields and woods beyond them.
"But you had to." Snow stated.
"I did. I was still at war." Rose stopped as she bitterly laughed shaking her head.
"What?" Snow asked.
"We brokered peace only a few days after Robert's death." Rose said looking across to Snow who looked ahead after hearing this shaking her head slightly. "With a peace treaty came the work of repairing our lands and our people." Rose explained shifting her feet as she stood keeping watch again.
"Why did you never stop to give yourself time?" Snow asked. Rose didn't answer, Snow waited but her sister continued to look out away from her. "Rose?" Snow called her sister as she stood and walked to her side. Rose felt her sister's presence and then Snow's hand upon her shoulder, squeezing it slightly. Rose breathed in deeply, standing to her full height. Snow recognised the posture of this stance, she had seen Regina pull the same move several times over, pushing away the hard thoughts, the hurtful ones, shutting the door on them and becoming queen again.
"I am the queen Snow, I have to be the strength of the kingdom for my people. I cannot afford to be seen as weak or vulnerable." Rose said not meeting her younger sister's eyes.
"Do you ever take the time for yourself?" Snow asked crossing her arms across her chest. Rose smirked slightly at this question.
"That moment before I close my eyes and sleep. Then, that is where I take my moment." Rose said.
"Oh Rose." Snow said turning, her fingertips covering her mouth, as she looked across the woods her older sister was watching so intently. "I wish I could have been here for you, I wish I could have met Robert." Snow said still looking across the woodland.
"We cannot change our past Snow, only shape what our future may be. Compared to what you have been through, well, I'll survive. I have thus far." Rose said as she turned to smile to her younger sister. "I am happy that you are here now, I know that's not what you really want to hear but I can't help but enjoy the fact you are here."
"It's strange, remembering who I am or was once the curse broke getting back here was a high priority in my mind and yet now that I'm here with Emma all I want to do is get back to Storybrooke." Snow said. Rose smiled knowingly at her sister.
"Circumstance Snow White." Rose simply said. Snow looked at her sister confused. "If the circumstances of your arrival here was different I don't believe you'd be in a rush to return so soon. I'll get you back there Snow. I will." Rose promised as she put her arm around Snow's shoulders. Snow leaned into her sister resting her head into Rose's shoulder.
"You do realise I came out here to comfort you right?" Snow asked slight laughter in her tone. She felt Rose chuckle.
"I do yes." Rose replied.
"Are you always like this, switching from the person being comforted to the comforter?" Snow asked.
"I am queen Snow." Rose answered.
"That's not really an answer." Snow replied.
"I am council to so many now Snow it is easy for me to turn the tables." Rose teased as she wrapped her arms around her little sister.
"Funny, very funny. Well you won't be able to keep that up when I return for good." Snow said happily.
"I look forward to that day." Rose said sighing contentedly.
