Swan Queen:
Day 3: Arranged Marriage
Emma huffed as her parents walked in front of her down the long halls of the castle towards their bedchambers. They apparently had to interrupt her combat lessons to discuss something important. It's not like she doesn't get a long with her the King and Queen because she does. It's just that she almost beat her instructor, Mulan, for the first time in her 18 years of age.
Slowing down as her parents stopped to push open the doors to their room, Emma watched as her father held the door open to her mother and herself, wishing that she someday could find her true love and be that happy for many years.
"Thank you," Emma says as David motioned for his daughter to walk in as he held the door for her as well.
"Mother, father, what is this all about?" Emma asks. Snow walks to the couches near the windows and motions for her daughter to sit with her as David closes the doors behind them. Emma quickly obliges her mother's wishes and lowers herself gently down, minding the already forming bruises from her lessons up and down her arms and legs. David follows his wife's steps and sits next to her so that Snow is in the middle while David is on her left and Emma on her right.
"Darling," Snow starts as she reaches out and cups her daughter's cheek with one hand. "you are aware about the agreement that occurred while I was pregnant with you, correct?"
The princess nods as she recalls the stories how her mother was ill while pregnant with her and was near death. The cure was only given to them by Rumplestiltskin if her parents agreed to own the Dark One a favor that he will ask for one day.
"Baby, the Dark One had come to ask for his favor earlier today" Snow's voice trembled as her thumb moved back and forth across her daughter's cheek. She could feel David's strong hand squeezing her shoulder in silent encouragement.
"What? What does he want? Gold? We can give him that," the princess asked worriedly.
"No, Emma" her father began. "He said that he arranged a marriage for you in two days time."
All of the sudden, Emma lost all the color in her face and her heart clenched so tightly, it brought tears to her eyes. Her throat started to close up and her breathing labored.
"What?" her voice cracked as tears started flowing down her cheeks and her body was shaking in dread.
Snow let out a sob, "I'm so sorry, Emma!" she cried out.
"We tried everything we could to convince him otherwise, but anything we did was futile." David said as the tears he's been trying to hold in finally escaped.
The princess clamps a hand over her mouth to hold in her anguished cries. How could this happen to me? I just want to be loved. I don't want to marry some strange man who probably only wants power.
Emma shuddered as she took a deep breath to collect herself.
"W-who is it?" she asked meaning her soon-to-be spouse.
Snow shook her head before sitting up straight. "I don't know, darling. The Dark One said that he'll be stopping by tonight to allow you to meet with whomever it is."
Emma nodded as a few more tears spilt down her red cheeks. She looks up to her parents and dives closer for a hug. Both parents tightly embrace their first-born and hope the best will come out of this ordeal. Just as David pulled back and dropped a kiss onto Emma forehead, The Dark One popped in with a cloaked figure behind him.
"Hello, dearies!" Rumple giggles as he walks forward. "I've come with my suitor for your precious daughter," he says to Snow White and Prince Charming.
"why are you doing this? What do you gain from forcing my daughter's hand like this?" David demands.
"Maybe I'm just invested in your daughter's future,"
The Dark One turns back for a moment to motion for the cloaked figure to step forward and pushes the body forward towards the royals. At that time, Emma had stood up with her parents and wiped her face from any remaining tears. She peered from behind her mother's should at the cloaked person trying to get an idea with whom she'll be tied to for the rest of eternity.
"Well, go on! Take off your hood, Regina," the Dark One prompts.
The royal family comically expresses the same facial expression of shock when they hear the name of the suitor. The fact that it's a woman wouldn't be that big of a shock to any normal person, but royals usually set a goal for an heir making them more prone to be subjected to a heterosexual arrangement.
The woman reaches out and pushes back the hood off and lifts her head to face her prearranged martial life. From what she could gather, the princess wasn't aware about this arrangement until today where she had a few days to process the new development. She just hopes that her father will be alright and Rumplestiltskin keeps his end of the deal and protects her father. She's heard many people at her family's estate talk about the beautiful and kind yet wild and energetic princess. She just hopes that the princess would treat her fairly.
Emma gasps when Regina finally locks eyes with her. The first thing the princess notices the beautiful brown eyes and the timid smile the brunette tries to give her. She throws back as much of a smile as she could at the moment to try and settle her nerves.
A clearing of a throat catches the attention of the two young and soon to be married couple.
"I'll be off to go now, dearies." Rumple giggles, "you'll be staying here in the castle indefinitely." He says pointing at Regina.
"Welcome to your new home," the imp says before disappearing in red smoke.
Both Snow and David let out a breath as the lizard finally leaves the castle. Snow is the first to step forward a little, "well, Emma…". Snow grabs a hold of her daughter's hand and walks towards Regina who's now fidgeting with the ends of her long sleeves.
"how about you show Regina to the chambers that she'll be in for the next two days before the wedding." Snow exclaims in a nervous tone, "the one closest to your room will be fine" she reassures when her daughter gives her a look that says 'which room are you talking about, woman!'
Emma nods as she and Regina exit her parent's rooms and start walking down the long cold halls towards the princess's room.
"i-umm. I hope you like it here," Emma starts. She gives Regina a sideways look to see her reaction.
"Me too," Regina whispers. "I'm sorry that you've been dragged into this. The Dark One is known for his tricky deals, but I understand when a person is just trapped in a corner."
Emma looks at the girl walking beside her who will become her wife in a few short days.
"Is that what happened to you?" the princess asks.
"I'm afraid so. I was desperate to escape from my mother, but my father whom I love dearly would have paid the price. Of course, I didn't know I would be marrying you, but I can't say that I'm not glad it's you, princess. I mean, I know you don't know me, but I've heard great things about you and I hope that you'll be satisfied with having me as a wife," Regina rants as she tries to explain herself and situation to the royal princess.
Emma grabs Regina's hand to reassure the girl, but she's interrupted when takes a deep breath as shock waves course through her body originating from where her hand is holding onto the brunette's.
Emma shakes her head before trying again, "Regina, I can't tell you enough I much I'm relieved that I'll be marrying you and not some snobby prince who thinks he's better than anyone around."
Both girls giggle at that before the blonde continued, "I'm sorry you had to go through all of this to protect your father and I hope that we can get to know each other better, but from where I am now, I'm sure that we can get a long just fine" Emma smiles at Regina as she stops in front of the room closest to hers.
She bids her fiancée a good night, but not before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and heading off to her own rooms.
Maybe everything will be okay…