Chapter 3

Emma was unsure whether it was the sight of the huge corridor inside the castle or the beginning of a panic attack at the mention of Regina as she followed the King through and towards a guard who will assist them.

"Your highness, shall I take her towards the guest chambers in the west wing?"

Leopold glances over at the blonde who is still fully intrigued by the decor of the castle. "No..put her in the empty chamber next to mine.."

The guard nods and gains the attention of Emma who had looked towards the King hearing his request before leading the blonde to the said place. Opening the large double doors, the guard walks through and gestures to the bed. "His highness asked if you could change into more appropriate attire to what you wear now..whatever it is that you are wearing"

Frowning, the blonde glances to the dress laid out on the bed. "What if I don't?..dresses are not really my thing"

Chuckling, the guard shakes his head. "Then you would be the first and last to ever have stood up to the King"

Leaving the lost woman to it, the guard leaves closing the doors behind him. Approaching the bed, Emma lifts the dress pulling a face then changes into it, abandoning her leather jacket on one of the chairs. Looking over towards the mirror, the blonde gasps at how revealing it is. "You have got to be kidding me?!"
Walking back towards the door, the blonde looks to get a guards attention to see if she can get another form of attire if the King is so insistent on her wearing a dress then hears the doors opposite begin to open, showing a petite brunette woman in a dark blue gown and hair clipped up with silver diamonds.

Meeting the strangers gaze, Regina frowns upon seeing her in the opposite chamber and next to the King then continues her journey by closing the doors and heading down the corridor, glancing once again when she reaches the bottom.

Emma stood frozen in her spot then backs up having seen Regina walk away clearly not having a clue who she was because why would she?

"This is not happening..." Raising her hand to her necklace again, the blonde looks at it and slowly sits down on the bed.

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Having spent the next couple of hours confined to her room, Emma looks towards the balcony seeing the sky now dark and the stars begin to appear. "I will get back to you I promise..." Glancing down to test her skills, not wanting to lose practice, the blonde lights up a flame within her hand then guides it to the candles situated around the room.

Looking over to her door, the blonde stands from the bed and walks over wondering if there was some way of finding some food. Pushing her door open a fraction, Emma pauses hearing voices outside in the corridor.

"Leopold..I'm tired.."

The King stands practically covering the young Queen from view and strokes the side of her cheek. "I can be quick. You are my Queen Regina, you are suppose to serve me..besides how am I suppose to gain a male heir if my wife refuses to be anywhere near me?"

Regina glances down sadly then nods. Leopold smiles and leans forward to kiss her but settles on her cheek. "I will be back at eleven..be ready"

Watching the King leave, the teary brunette lifts her head to return to her chamber but catches the set of green eyes staring at her through the door opposite. Gasping, she walks across and pushes the door forcefully causing Emma to fall back slightly.

"How dare you! Who do you think you are spying on a King and Queen's private matter?!"

Emma tries to find her voice while mesmerized by the eyes she has missed so much. "I..I didn't mean to, I thought it was a guard and.." Stopping, the blonde frowns getting an idea that doesn't end with her head on a block. "I can help you..I have magic.."

Regina's eyes widen then she turns, closing the doors on them. "You shouldn't boast about something like that...you have magic?" Stepping towards Emma, the young Queen looks intrigued.

Emma watches her movements then holds her hand out to show her a fireball. Gasping in surprise, the brunette places her hand under the blonde's to bring it closer for a better look while smiling in amazement. Gulping at the touch, Emma bites her lip trying not to think about it and how much it makes her miss her Regina more. "I won't hurt you..please don't tell the King that I was watching"

The young Queen nods and looks to her when the blonde closes her hand back up and drops it to her side. "Can you help me?..teach me?"

Emma gives a small smile. "I can't sorry..I'm only new at it myself besides I am hoping to get home tomorrow.."

"Oh.."

Feeling slightly more brave, the blonde takes a breath. "You shouldn't let him treat you that way you know?"

Regina backs up looking away. "I am the Queen, his wife..I have to abide by the rules just like everyone else"

"But you are not..property, you're human..who deserves to be treated with respect and love..just like everyone else"

Looking at Emma, the brunette offers a small smile with a whisper. "Thank you.."

Emma goes to respond but is stopped by a guard making his presence known, looking in her direction. "Your majesty excuse me but the King requires this young lady's presence..in the main hall immediately"

Both women share a worried look, Emma through the possibility of being caught spying and Regina through concern over what the King is going to do with her.

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Following behind the guard at a steady pace through the castle, Emma looks nervous as she is lead into the main hall to be shown before the king. Leopold looks over from his fireplace and walks up to the blonde, waving his hand towards the guard to leave. "It came to my attention that I do not know your name?"

Fiddling with her hands, the blonde is still uncertain of his motive."..Emma.."

Nodding in approval, the aging king gestures for her to sit at one of his chairs by the fireplace. "Tell me Emma..the place of where you come from..more precisely, your family, who do they consist of?"

Emma looks up at him staring at her. "Well..I have parents.."

Leopold paces along the rug in front of the fire. "I see..and..a partner?"

Gulping a lump down, the blonde shakes her head. "No..they...erm..died" looking down briefly struggling with having to say the word, Emma does not see the king come before her and kneel down to see her face.

"I understand..I lost my first wife only a couple of years ago..no one understands how it feels..how lonely..it makes you..and the need to seek comfort"

Frowning, the blonde looks up catching his eyes on her. "I..what are you.." Hitching a breath, she feels his hand rest on her thigh. "I don't think..you should be... No. You have clearly misread the signals here"

Ignoring her explanation, Leopold smirks slightly and leans forward keeping his hand where he placed it. "I knew..you would look good in that dress..."

Emma looks horrified as the man continues with whatever he is planning and conjures up a fireball causing the King to move away sharply. "I said no!"

Leopold stands in anger. "You have just cost yourself your life rejecting me!"

Standing up from her seat, the blonde pulls a face at him. "I would rather die than settle for that!"

Shaking his head in fury, he shouts for his guards. Emma's eyes widen in panic and she throws a fireball at the door preventing them from entering then the worried blonde runs out the side door back towards the stairs. No matter what was to happen, she needed to see Regina one more time.

A/N: sorry that Leopold was extremely creepy but I had to so I could move to the next part of the story which involves a young Queen, a new stranger and the woods haha :)