Snow arrived at the oak accompanied by the thud of hooves and twelve guards. Hovering between the ears of her mount was a red haired fairy dressed in purple.
"Blue? Where's Emma? Is she safe?" Snow called out as she dismounted, threw her reins to the Captain of the Guard and ran straight to the Blue Fairy.
"She's perfectly safe, Your Majesty. They both are." Blue gestured for Snow to follow her and flew towards the base of the oak. "We thought it best to let them sleep. They've had quite the scare."
"They? Violet only mentioned Emma," Snow said.
"Emma's friend, Killian, is also here." Blue nodded towards Green and Rose, who were hovering a few feet apart. They lifted their arms in tandem and the air between the two fairies shimmered and, to Snow, it appeared as if a magical curtain was pulled back to reveal Emma and Killian.
"I have to admit that we did use a pinch of poppy dust to help keep them asleep. We were worried the fright they'd had would keep them awake and I needed to speak with you without them hearing," Blue explained.
Snow knelt between the sleeping children. Emma lay on her side with a restored Henry clutched tightly to her chest; her chin resting on his bill. A brindle puppy was curled at her feet. Killian lay on his back and he had a black puppy sprawled across his stomach. Snow gently lifted one of Emma's hands and stroked her palm.
"Did you heal their cuts and bruises?" Snow asked. The physical damage the two children had incurred during their exploits at the mine had been all but erased. She picked up on Blue's reluctance to speak when the guards were in earshot, so Snow sent the guards further back down the path.
"Emma actually did most of it by accident when she was trying to save Killian. Unfortunately, because she had no idea what she was doing with her magic, not all of Killian's wounds were completely healed. We were able to finish off the healing of the bruises but we couldn't completely remove the gash under Killian's eye. Her magic got it so far, but I'm afraid he will have that scar all his life," Blue explained.
"He's still adorable and he's still going to be very handsome when he grows up," Rose said. She brushed a few stray strands of hair from his brow. Green just shook her head slowly and rolled her eyes.
"Blue, what happened? All Violet told me was that Emma was out here and so terrified that she had manifested light magic. What has scared my daughter so badly? What were they doing all the way out here so late?" Snow fought hard to keep her volume down, lest she wake the children.
"Emma had been listening to one of the many old stories that gets passed about. The one about us granting wishes on the last full moon of summer," Blue started to explain.
"I'm guessing that's why she has Henry. Emma was going to trade him for a wish?" Snow asked.
"Yes, but of course we don't do that sort of thing, as you already know," Blue said. If Snow hadn't been so worried for Emma and Killian, she might have blushed at the reminder of her own late night sojourn at the age of seven to request a wish. She had badly wanted a longbow but her mother had not only firmly denied her heart's desire, but had also admonished her for asking for something so dangerous. Snow had climbed out of her window seeking to trade her favourite book to the fairies. Blue had sent her home with the knowledge that fairies didn't grant wishes in return for material objects.
"They were trying to find us, but wild dogs caught their scent and came to attack them. Emma had climbed the oak and was safe while Killian kept the dogs at bay. He managed to distract them and tried to climb to safety as well, but he slipped and fell. Emma was so frightened that Killian would be hurt, that her magic was triggered. Untrained and unprepared, she couldn't handle the strain and passed out, but we had felt the magic and we got here in time to save Killian, as you see." Blue explained.
"Do you know what Emma and Killian were going to wish for?" Snow asked.
"Emma wants a baby brother," Blue said, gently. There was no surprise in Snow's eyes when she looked up to the fairy, and in doing so, missed the surreptitious pinch of pixie dust that Green cast in her direction.
"She has asked for a brother so many times. I never dreamed she would try something like this. She does sneak out of bed quite a lot but she's never left the safety of the castle grounds before," Snow said. "She's just too young to understand." She turned back to look at Killian. "That's the second time he's saved Emma. If he hadn't been here . . . if the dogs . . . ," Snow paused to get her shaking voice under control.
"We might have lost her," Blue finished for her.
"Would her magic have saved her?" Snow's question was barely a whisper.
Blue took a moment to look hard at the Queen; unsure of how much to say, but ultimately, this was Emma's mother and she deserved the truth.
"Emma's Light magic comes from the selfless True Love you and the King have for each other and for your daughter. That sort of selflessness doesn't put itself first," Blue said.
"You're saying her magic only came out because someone else was in danger, but not to save herself?" Snow asked.
"I'm saying, Emma's magic was triggered because Killian was in danger. Unguarded as Emma's use of magic was, I felt through it, straight to her soul. The bond that she shares with Killian is already deep and very strong. Something in each, calls to the other," Blue said, quietly. "There is the feel of 'destiny' about it. Although they're still much too young to begin to comprehend what that means."
"They're soulmates!" Snow said, her joy at the discovery helping to assuage a small piece of her dread at what nearly happened to her daughter and Killian. "I suspected there might be something there in the future. When they were older I was going to ask you to test them."
"It would seem they have provided the test themselves . . . and passed it," Blue said, with a small smile, but Snow latched on to the reserve in the fairy's tone.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Snow asked.
"You must make a decision, Your Majesty. Anyone with magic within a great distance from here will have felt that Light magic. Many people will want to obtain and control it. Either we train Emma to understand and use it properly, including defending herself, or we can suppress it; hide it," Blue said.
"I can't make that decision alone. I will need to discuss it with David. I wish Emma was old enough to decide for herself," Snow said, her brows furrowed as she gazed at her sleeping daughter. "This is hers. I don't want to take that from her."
"I understand; however, I would counsel that you allow us to teach Emma. Only the darkest of magic could remove the Light magic. We can only suppress it, but the bond she shares with Killian would likely bring it out again if he was threatened," Blue warned.
"Which creates its own set of problems. I want to keep Killian with us. I certainly don't want to separate soulmates," Snow said.
"Their bond will only strengthen as they grow. If you decide to suppress her magic, then you may need to part them while they are still young," Blue said.
"You can't allow that, they may grow to be True Loves, too!" Green exclaimed, then snapped her mouth shut when she received a stern look from Blue. "Wouldn't be right." Snow heard Green mutter when Blue looked away.
"It may be the safest thing for Killian, too. He is capable of great sacrifice where Emma is concerned. He may throw himself in the path of danger to keep Emma from harm, but he is too young to competently judge a situation. He could easily sacrifice himself needlessly," Blue said.
"It's our responsibility to keep them both safe. I've only known Killian and his brother a few days but I couldn't help but love them both. They are truly extraordinary young boys. I would protect them as I would, Emma. I know David feels the same way," Snow assured Blue. "Now, these puppies?" She switched topics to give herself a moment's break from the heavier subject.
"Were the wild dogs. With Emma and Killian to love them, they will grow up as the faithful and adoring companions it is in their hearts to be. It was Green's idea. She thought it might help distract Emma just a little from her determination to get a baby brother; however . . . ," Blue trailed off as she looked at Green, who was now smirking very smugly.
"However? You wonder if we would allow it?" Snow asked. "Of course they can keep the puppies. It might help them get over the scare they've had."
"Henry was very worse for wear when we got here, but we managed to restore him. We took the liberty of adding a small spell to the stuffing. It will keep away any nightmares about what happened, as long as Emma is touching him. Killian doesn't have anything to which we could attach a spell, so we put it on the puppy's collar," Blue said. "But that was not quite what I was getting at. Look down, Your Majesty," Blue said.
Snow did look down and found a soft green glow emanating from her abdomen. "What the . . . ?"
"I wanted to check if there was any chance for Emma to get her wish," Green said, "Seems that she has!"
All the fairies clapped their hands as they smiled broadly.
"You mean? Am I?" Snow asked, incredulously.
"It's a very new soul. Only a week or so and, much too soon to tell if Emma will get a brother or sister, but, yes, you are with child," Blue confirmed. "Congratulations, Your Majesty."
"Oh, oh!" Was all the sound that Snow could get out, as her eyes grew very bright and tears spilled over. She scooped Emma up into her arms and hugged her tightly. Not easy, as Emma still had Henry tucked under her chin. The poppy-induced sleep held fast, though, and Emma slept on.
"Your next child may also have magic. Knowing that, may have some bearing on what you decide for Emma," Blue said. Snow was too consumed with her thoughts to really take that extra tidbit in. "Perhaps you should take the children home, now. You have much to think over and to celebrate. I am so happy for you, Your Majesty."
Snow nodded. "We'll contact you when we have made a decision about Emma. or if we have any questions," she said. "And of course, you are all invited to the celebration we will throw to announce this new baby. I'll let you know about that, too."
It was nearly midnight when Snow tucked her daughter into bed. When she snuffed the candle, the spell inside Henry glimmered softly giving the toy an ethereal glow. The puppy was allowed to sleep at Emma's feet for tonight, but both puppies would be given a basket each for their future slumbers. Tears streamed down the Queen's face as the events of the evening caught up with her. She desperately wanted to see David, but he was not expected back at the castle until the afternoon. She allowed herself another few minutes before drying her tears and leaving Emma's room to check on Killian.
Johanna had already popped the sleeping boy into bed. She had not allowed the puppy on the bed and had, instead, made a make shift nest for him out of a spare blanket and a pillow on the floor. Killian started to stir, mumbling and thrashing in his sleep. Snow picked up the puppy and put him on the bed. The collar spell glowed just like Henry, and Killian immediately relaxed back into a peaceful rest.
"Goodnight, hero," Snow whispered, and kissed his forehead. She gave the puppy's ears a quick rub and went back to Emma's room. Snuggling down next to her daughter, Snow kissed the back of Emma's head and then proceeded to get absolutely no sleep at all.
A/N Seriously - can't get over the kind and generous responses. I'd grant you all a wish if I could!