Chapter 3:

Enchanted Forest

The gardens of the royal palace homed many exotic and many common flowers. The plumage left pleasant scents of floral and spices lingering in the air. Bees would fly themselves above the tallest heads, the most floral and pollen filled flowers towering the others in high whimsical trees. Vines would appear out of the ground, wrapping around the stone ankles of gray benches. The benches seemed to be scattered randomly, no pattern to them. In the middle of the gardens, the best place to be, a gushing water fountain sent the scents bursting around with air flow. The sky above the palace seemed to just shine and radiate with the peacefulness of the people, reflecting their happiness in the in between season.

Two figures, sitting in the well groomed gardens of the palace, giggled loudly. Striking the attention of the few people in those gardens. One, with raven curls and a wonderful fair dress, had her hand placed over her mouth as she rolled over on the stone paved ground. The other girl, dressed in the standard and obvious maid uniform, held a silver basket in her lap. Speaking in a loud voice with her chest puffed out.

"Now, Alisha remember, you can't just leave that gown out of a tower to dry. Think of the birds next time!" The other girl, Alisha, spoke as she mimicked the kings' manservant. She could still see his panicked and anger filled face as she'd sunk lower in shame.

Snow, with her dark hair falling in her face, gasped with a bubbling laugh. A sound that the birds sang to. "Is that why you insisted my favorite spring dress didn't look well with my eyes?"

Alisha ducked her head and felt her hair slip away from the untied braid behind her back, the memory dusting over her eyes more so. Her cheeks warmed with blood and she felt the blush creep up her neck and over her nose. It had been a couple years ago when the incident had happened, unfortunately leaving her closest friends gown in tatters. The little quip had slipped out before she could ponder telling her the truth. Alisha found it funnier than she did before, feeling more comfortable with some mistakes she still made.

Alisha, still, gasped in mock shock and placed a hand over her heard. "What? Why would I do that, your majesty?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're so innocent." Snow waved it off. "Now how about-"

"Ahem,"

Both girls startled, Alisha almost dropping the ornate basket at the harsh cough. She peered up, thankful the figure covered the bright sun that favored the spot they chose. Snow smiled pleasantly at the sight of her stepmother, sitting up like a proper princess. The queen was dressed in one of the most extravagant dresses Alisha had ever seen. This was saying something as she was regularly in contact with the princess' gowns. Alisha ducked her head upon realizing who she sat before, muttering a polite greeting to the queen.

"Snow, could I borrow your maidservant?" The queen asked sweetly, only looking at the confused princess.

Storybrooke

Inside Granny's Inn, Adeline was busy cleaning the sheets. Another maid, Ashley, was assisting her. Well, she was supposed to be helping her. Adeline insisted that the heavily pregnant girl sit down and relax while Adeline finished. Truthfully, Adeline didn't understand why the younger girl wasn't working at an easier job.

The laundry room at the Inn was cramped; a small space for two people that didn't allow most of the heat to escape the room. There was a window, but with the hanging sheets and uniforms, any cool air was blocked. Adeline stood near the dryer, waiting until the last of the sheets were finished drying. Her body slumped against the shaking machine, letting her blue work shirt remain unbuttoned as she fanned herself with a dryer sheet.

"I really hate the smell of 'fresh forest.'" Adeline commented, not looking away from the clock hanging directly over Ashley's head.

The pregnant girl snorted, pausing in her consumption of snacks from the vending machine down the street. Adeline watched her crumple up the obnoxiously colored plastic, losing interest quickly. Adeline felt completely jaded, sadly when she was doing nothing but waiting. The dryer sheet, mid fan, stuck to her sweat sheen forehead, adding frizz to her bangs, the only hair not to be pulled back by her head band. To amuse herself, she found that if she squinted hard enough, she could count her eyelashes.

"Well as interesting as that looks," Adeline startled, dropping the dryer sheet and slamming against the metal dryer in her shock.

"You have an errand to run for me." Granny finished, with a slight disapproving glance.

Adeline moved to argue, knowing Ashley would be left to work again. The girl saw her actions, ushering her towards Granny with one hand on her lower back. Adeline mouthed a thank you and apology, following Granny out into the lobby of sorts.

Pictures framed the musty gray walls, illustrated photos that added charm to the bed and breakfast. On the sign in desk, really that was a simple table off to the side, the surface was decorated in small knick-knacks. The floor was in a chevron pattern, matching the wooden fixtures in the smaller room. Everything in the humble building was fairly small and charming- and dusty. The sign in, for as long as Adeline had been working, had never been touched. Cobwebs stringed from the ceiling to the knick-knacks, dust decorating the surface. Adeline had never actually realized how no one ever came to the bed and breakfast, in fact now that she thought about it- she, Granny, and Ruby were the only ones who had a room there. A sharp pang resounded in her head, as she thought about how long she had worked there, a haze filling her mind as she forgot her thoughts.

Two calloused and wrinkled hands reached out and grasped her shoulders, steadying the unknowingly swaying woman.

"You alright there Adie?" Granny's question didn't hide her concern, Granny had long before become an extension of Adeline's family, however short and not blood related it was.

Adeline nodded her head, feeling the lingering heaviness. "Yeah, yes, I'm fine. Just a head rush."

She fanned her face, smiling coolly, as she played it off. Her brow twitched slightly with her own concern, unease at loosing track of her thoughts. She liked to think, that despite how clumsy she was, she had a good head on her shoulders. A good, splendid in fact, memory to make up for the lack of coordination.

Granny gave her one more hard look, brushing it off as well. "Well, I need you to deliver something for me."

Granny held out a sealed envelope, no markings of any sort marring the white paper. Adeline looked down in confusion, watching Granny with a raised brow.

"It's for Mr. Gold; I'm paying next month's rent." She told the younger girl, watching Adeline's shoulders tense. "I don't want him coming around when I don't pay early enough like he did yesterday. Can you do it for me, Ruby is working the diner right now."

Adeline nodded through the chill and fear that was sent through her body. She didn't understand why, however, she had never personally spoken to Mr. Gold. She'd only seen him around town, evoking fear into everyone's hearts. She didn't mean to judge the man, but she couldn't help but find a strong dislike towards him, in the way he treated people.

"Good, good." Granny dismissed her.

Adeline gave another stiff nod, the tension in her shoulders having yet to go away. The charming bell on the door rang as she left; now echoing a ping in her stomach with each step away. The overpowering emotion that flowed through every cell made her feel breathless, a spine chilling breath stealing sensation. She wrung her hands through her short hair, feeling her finger tips graze her jaw line. A harsh sense of fear moved down from her head and to her toes, she could swear she even felt fear in her shortest eyelash.

She passed by the business street of Storybrooke with inopportune ease, no one stopped to talk as she mentally willed them to, no one even spared her a glance. Cars provided a well welcomed distraction, as she counted them going by. While she did, she saw the same yellow beetle from the night before, parked one the street. She couldn't help but see who owned the vehicle.

Soon enough, Adeline found herself standing outside of the pawn shop. Sadly, the sign on the door still said 'open,' instead of the 'closed' letter she wanted to see. It made sense, obviously, seeing as it was only the late afternoon. She sighed, attempting and failing at a mental pep talk, opening the door.

Just as she expected, the door opened loudly, not even giving her a chance to leave if she desired to. Surprisingly, she didn't see Gold right away. Her inner snoop ran wild, her eyes drawn to the item closest to her. In a simple display case, a thin strand of silver caught her eye in the shining reflection. At the end of the chain was a simple band and on gem. Maybe a wedding ring, she assumed, seeing there was some sort of engraving on the inside. Her hand felt drawn to the jewelry, reaching out without thought.

Suddenly, someone else's hand snapped the box shut.

"Ah, ah,ah," That same someone scolded, "No touching what isn't yours."

There was a hidden amusement in his words, flying over Adeline's head. All she could recognize was that she was face to face with Mr. Gold.

"Here," She told him hurriedly, practically throwing the envelope onto the counter. "Granny's next rent early!"

She didn't waste any time, scurrying away from the toxic air. Almost tripping into another display with her haste, a small plush toy rabbit propped against a bonnet.

Once outside and a fair distance away, Adeline gave herself a mental pat on the back.

"Good job Adie." She told herself, thankful she didn't break something or vomit on his frightening face.

Enchanted Forest

"I think I'm going to be sick!" Alisha moaned, clutching her stomach dramatically.

She was inside the royal palace again, slight sun stains decorating the tip of her nose and chin. Snow White was watching the servant pace around the room, her bonnet thrown on the ground. Alisha's apron had been loosened; for fear that she would actually empty the contents of her stomach.

Alisha had barely managed to tidy the princess' room, the bed admittedly in a haphazard mess underneath the pretty hand sewn cover. The pillow cases being left on the plush puffs, instead of being in the basket to be cleaned later. Alisha tried to busy herself in scrubbing a 'stain' in Snows rug, as she told the royal.

She could still remember what the queen had told Snow.

"Snow could I borrow your maidservant?"

Alisha watched as Snow crinkled her eyebrows, in delicate confusion. "Why do you need Alisha? Have one of your servants fallen ill?"

The queen gave a short dainty laugh and a wave of her perfectly manicured hand. "No, no nothing like that. I just simply need some one of her age."

"Her age?" Snow questioned, not seeing the queens slight twitch of her eyebrow.

"Yes, I heard her father was a gardener, yes?" This time the queen looked over at Alisha, seeming to smirk at the unguarded fear in her face. The look was instantly replaced with a sweet smile, reminding Alisha of the fairness in the royal family.

Alisha swallowed with pain, tears glazing her brown eyes briefly. "Y-yes your majesty, he was. For King George."

The queens continued, "Do you happen to know anything about plants then?"

Alisha quickly nodded, thinking of her prideful knowledge. "My father taught me almost everything he knew."

"Wonderful," The queens' smile widened. "I need someone adept with a familiarity of plant life, to accompany me on my journey."

Alisha knew it would be rude to spare Snow White and incredulous glance, especially since they were supposed to only be servant and princess- not best friends. But, she couldn't help herself. If the queen saw, which she knew she did, she didn't show it. Snow tried not to look shocked at the request as well, faring better than Alisha.

"Of course you can borrow Alisha."

"Great, we leave in the morning." The queen was soon gone with those parting words, strutting out of the gardens with confidence.

"Why would you saw such a thing?" Alisha whirled around, forgetting the 'stain' on the carpet.

Snow heaved an unladylike sigh, "I panicked, okay?"

She held her hands up in a surrender position, smiling at her friend. "Maybe it will be fun?"

Alisha couldn't stop her snort, falling back onto the rug before Snows feet. "Yeah, and maybe I won't trip and make a fool of myself."

AN:

*I think I'll only update this weekly-ish. I've been updating each chapter everyday since I've posted this. So far, hundreds of ya'll have read this and only one has reviewed...

Guest: Thanks for the review! Hopefully the chapter after this won't disappoint then, expect a certain hatter. :)

*added hours after publishing this chapter