Emma began her work at the House of Vonmil and Oren the very next day. She was not one to waste time or idle about. A trait her master had been sure to train into her from the day he had taken her in.

The governor of the household had assured that any tools she would need could be found with the quartermaster. She had spoken to the quartermaster and even asked him for estimates on how much wood an estate such as the one they were on might need. It was a rather large estate from what she gathered with many rooms that grew cold in winter with only fireplaces to warm them. She would be kept rather busy.

As the man wrote down the number of rooms with fireplaces as well estimates of wood for the kitchen hearth and other such rooms, Emma realized perhaps now might be the time to think of apprenticing someone. A thought that had occurred to her once before during a bout of terrible illness that had made it difficult for her to labor during one spring a few years back.

She was not sure, still about the prospect.

He handed her his estimates. Emma looked over the numbers with a nod, thanking him, deep in thought. She would most definitely need to consider apprenticing someone. Perhaps a servant or someone around knew somebody that could take up the trade.

For today, her task was simple; setting up a place where she could bring the trees she felled and chop them up into smaller pieces. The Quartermaster provided her wood and stone, as well as a saw, hammer and any other tools she thought she might need.

It didn't take long for her to work up a sweat. Despite the coolness in the air, she shed her outer clothing, leaving herself in yet another sleeveless shirt. She had quite the number of them, it grew too hot sometimes while chopping. If it were summer and she were alone in the woods she would go downright without a shirt at all and merely wear her breastband. As it was, the coolness of the air bit at her just enough for a shirt to be necessary, but the working of her muscles as she hacked, cut, and sawed through wood in order to set up a workstation, was enough for at least a sleeveless to be necessary. Besides, she was in a noble house, she didn't want to offend any "sensitive" eyes.

Her chopping block went up first. She wouldn't be able to use a stump around here, not without first chopping down some likely decorative tree. She sawed, layered and hammered wood together, until she had a decently sized solid block.

Emma's focus on her work was so strong, she didn't notice the pair of curious eyes that watched her from a nearby tree.

Henry Daniel of Vonmil and Oren was what the servants called a curious lad. Other nobles called him "nosy" and boys his age called him "weird".

If anything, Henry was just inquisitive. He wanted to know things. He wanted to see things. To read more about places he had never known. To get to know the people around him.

The Royal Librarian, Belle encouraged it in him. It was, after all, her very own curiosity and desire for adventure that had eventually landed her in Queen Snow's castle and into such a prestigious position, and she was merely a lowly peasant! (In her own words.)

Henry loved to read. Belle sent him books directly from the Royal Library itself and as he completed them, he would write her back his thoughts on the story, exchanging the last book for the next.

It was as he read the latest book Belle had sent to him, a rather large book on fairy tales, that Henry heard the hammering and sawing from his perch in one of his favored trees.

As usual, he climbed a bit higher than his mother was comfortable with in order to find the source of the noise. He spotted a woman with very strong looking arms hammering away at building some kind of upright contraption.

She was new. Henry climbed a little further out on the branch he clung to in order to get a better view. He didn't hear the snapping until it was too late.

Henry's stomach dropped as he felt the branch fall from under him. His book fell from his grasp, landing in the dirt. He reached out and grabbed for the nearest branch, his fingers grasping the wood hard. He strained to grip the branch, his legs dangling beneath him.

"Help!" He cried out. He was high enough that Henry knew falling wouldn't be much more than a slightly painful experience.

Henry continued to call for help. He hoped a servant might hear him. He would even take his mother hearing him if it meant he was safe.

Emma paused at what sounded like a boy calling out. She turned about, searching for the source of the noise until she spotted him, a well-dressed boy, who looked to be no older than 10, dangling from a tree.

"Help!" She heard him calling. He struggled to hold on.

Emma let go of the hammer she had been using. She didn't think, just ran for the boy.

"Let go!" She called up to him once she was beneath him. He wasn't too high that his falling on her would do her too much harm.

He hesitated but after she called up to him again, demanding that he trust her, he let go.

Emma reached out and caught him, falling back with a hard slam into the ground. The breath slammed from her lungs as she hit the ground. She felt the boy roll off of her. She closed her eyes, trying to breathe in. She was definitely feeling that later.

Groaning, Emma sat up.

"Henry!" She heard the boy groan. She recognized that voice as well and had to wonder at the identity of the boy for him to groan and for the voice to be filled with such worry about him.

Heels quickly strode forward. She could see the lovely skirt of a dress from where she sat in the dirt. The boy, Henry hurried to stand. Emma looked up and found Regina checking the boy she had just saved for injury.

With effort, Emma pushed herself up from the ground. She pressed a hand into her back.

Feeling a sting in her shoulder, Emma looked down at her bare skin. Scratches marked her where skin had met the ground.

Regina glanced at her and quickly away as if burned.

"Mom, I'm okay!" Henry grumbled. Now that Emma had a better look at him, she could see something about his expressions that matched Regina.

"The lady caught me, I'm fine." He nodded toward Emma.

Regina finally acknowledged Emma. She frowned at the scratches she could visibly see on Emma's arms.

"I-, thank you." She grimaced. Emma frowned. Regina was acting odd.

"It was no problem."

"I think it's more than that, Miss Swan, you have now saved my life, and my son's." Regina told her. Perhaps that was why she was acting odd. She seemed the kind of woman that did not like to owe anyone.

Emma disagreed. "It was hardly life-threatening both times."

Henry looked between them both curiously.

"This is the woodcutter?" He spoke up, looking at Emma, wide-eyed.

On perhaps a lesser woman, Emma would have called the pinkening of Regina's face a blush.

"I am a woodcutter, yes, I am not sure about the woodcutter you speak of, sir." Emma winked at the boy. He quirked a small smile at her.

Regina glared at her.

"This is Emma Swan, Henry." She relented. Henry stepped up, despite his now dirtied clothing, he still maintained the picture of a young nobleman-to-be. He held his hand out to Emma. Emma took it bowing her head kindly to him, smirking with amusement to herself.

"I am Henry, heir to the house of Vonmil and Oren." He spoke proudly. Emma smiled at him.

A realization crossed his face.

"My book!" He let go of Emma's hand and before she could understand what was happening, he scrambled to search for something on the ground.

He seemed to find what he was looking for as he snatched a book off of the ground. He dusted the cover off, checking the pages within.

Emma looked to Regina who gave her an apologetic smile. Emma couldn't help but grin. Something squeezed at Emma's chest. She looked away, knowing Regina was the cause.

"Henry-," before Regina could admonish him, Henry turned to Emma.

"I apologize, but I was afraid I lost this book." He did look truly apologetic.

"It's fine." Emma had seen the passion in his eyes. He clearly loved books. The way Emma loved physical labor.

"Mom, can we invite Miss Swan to dinner?" Henry turned pleading eyes on his mother.

Regina frowned at him.

"Henry, I-, we-," she was at a loss. The thought of spending a dinner with Emma Swan was daunting.

"I want to thank her for catching me."

"Oh, that's not necessary." Emma held her hands out, she shook her head. She was getting enough attention from the nobles around here as it was. Dinner with them was too much.

"Henry." Henry gave her a steady look. Regina sighed.

"Miss Swan, it would please my son and I if you would join us for dinner." she invited Emma warily.

Henry was already giving Emma what could only be described as puppy dog eyes. She knew she couldn't say no.

"I accept."

After a visit to the household medical witch, Emma dug through her wardrobe for something to wear. The prospect of dinner with nobles was a terrifying one in Emma Swan's opinion. She did not own a single item of clothing she deemed worthy of a dinner with such upper class people.

A knock at her door brought her away from rummaging through what clothing she had in an attempt to find something even just the tiniest bit suitable.

"Zelena?" Emma questioned why the noblewoman was doing at her door yet again.

"I heard from my dear handsome nephew what you did today!" Zelena pushed her way into the room. A servant followed after her, boxes in his hands.

"He was very excitable, from the way he told it, you saved him from a cliff and a certain death!" Zelena laughed.

Emma sighed.

"A tree, and the worst he would have gotten is a broken arm, a bad headache or something." Emma wasn't surprised about the embellishments. The boy obviously liked to read. He was probably very creative as well.

Zelena sat on the edge of her bed.

"He told me you were coming to dinner." Zelena looked positively wicked.

"I thought that a woman such as yourself might not have an outfit that would be comfortable for the company of such a dinner so I thought I might help." Zelena nodded knowingly towards Emma's open wardrobe.

Emma sighed. She would have felt offended at the implication but the truth was, as a woodcutter, such impractical clothing was not necessary. Emma did not participate in town festivals that might require more decorative clothing, so she had never purchased anything of that sort. It would have come in handy at a time like this.

"I can repay you onc-," Zelena waved her hands.

"Consider it my own way of thanking you. My nephew and my sister mean much to me." Zelena told her. She beckoned the servant forward. He bowed and Zelena pulled a box from his hands.

"I thought from what I have seen you wear that a dress was not your style. I have picked out other outfits that I think may suit you much better." Emma watched as Zelena pulled leggings, a shirt and a vest from the box. The design was simple. Zelena had chosen plain, solid colors, rather than the usual decoratively embellished clothes nobles wore.

"Try these on!" When Emma frowned at her Zelena rolled her eyes. "I am not at all interested in that manner."

Emma took the clothing Zelena handed her. She changed ignoring Zelena as the woman opened the other boxes and laid out the rest of the outfits.

The leggings were black. The shirt white and the vest red. When Emma turned, Zelena nodded in approval. She pointed at a pair of fresh black leather boots.

Emma raised her brows at the shoes. She pulled them on. They fit very nicely.

"This all fits very well." She told Zelena in surprise. Zelena smirked.

"I may have had a servant check your clothing and get size estimates during cleaning." Zelena confessed.

"That one suits you very well."

Zelena pointed towards the other outfits which included coats, dinner gloves and belt with belt purse. Emma eyed a rather lovely blue vest.

"Save that one for a special occasion." Zelena winked.

"This doesn't count?" Emma wondered at her.

"Keep saving Regina and Henry and I'm sure this will be the least special occasion you'll ever see." Zelena teased her.

Emma wondered at the ease with which Zelena spoke to her.

"For a noble you are awfully easy-going." Emma remarked, smoothing down the vest.

"I'm actually a countess." Zelena gave her a wry smile. "My mother was a merchant's daughter and my father was a dishonored lord, but that is a whole different story."

Emma frowned at Zelena.

"You've been a countess this whole time?" Emma's expression turned incredulous.

"Why are you even talking to me?"

Zelena laughed.

"Oh ask any of the servants and service men and women here. Even ask the local town barmaids, I have no problem associating with the masses." Zelena eyed the servant she had brought with her and winked. He outright smiled at her.

Emma shook her head at Zelena.

"Besides, my sister is fascinated with you. Perhaps even infatuated. She just needs to acknowledge it." Emma blushed. Zelena took joyful notice.

Zelena stood. The servant gathered boxes.

"Keep these outfits. I will see you at dinner." Zelena told Emma. She swept out of the room as easily as she had come in.

Emma ran fingers down the delightful material of the vest she wore. The shirt, the leggings, the boots, they were the softest, most comfortable clothing she had worn in her entire life.

She thought back to Red. She would most definitely have to visit on her day off and tell her about all of this.

Her life changed within days. It was new, scary, but it was good.

It was what Red would have said she needed.

Emma frowned to herself remembering Zelena's words about local barmaids. Red had once told her about a countess passing through town that stopped at the inn and staying the night. She had invited Red to her room.

Emma realized now with great clarity that Zelena could very well be that same countess. She chuckled to herself at strange nobles. Red had been half in love with the woman but as always, resigned herself to continuing her life as it was, enjoying herself as freely as she chose to do.

It seemed Zelena was the very same.

Dinner was one to begin one of many dinners to come, so Zelena would say.

Regina and Emma would agree that it was one that set the tone for them both going forward.

Henry, well, he found himself wondering why his mother and the new woodcutter seemed to be unable to keep their eyes off of one another. Maybe he would ask his aunt Zelena later.

Emma found the family dining room after asking more than one servant for directions. Some gave her odd looks, others whispered as she passed. It seemed she was stirring waves.

Henry was already seated with his aunt Zelena. As Emma entered he stood excitedly. He grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her towards a seat.

"We have to stand when my mom gets here because she's the head of the household." Emma realized the seat he sat her in would be right next to Regina.

She gave a Zelena a questioning glare. Zelena shrugged innocently.

"I hope you like apple tart." Henry told her. "Cook told me it's for dessert."

"I've had it at Granny's Inn in my local town, she usually does it very well." Emma approved.

"Granny's!" Zelena exclaimed. "How is she? And her dear granddaughter?"

Well, that one is confirmed, Emma thought to herself.

The clicking of heels alerted them to Regina's presence. Henry and Zelena stood in a quick and graceful manner. Emma nearly tripped over her own feet as she scrambled to stand.

Regina frowned at Zelena across the table from herself as she took her seat. When she turned to Emma, her eyes darkened. Warm approval crossed her face as she glanced Emma over.

"My, Miss Swan, you clean up rather well." Emma almost preened under her gaze.

Henry watched the two of them, wondering what this was all about.

A servant stepped forward and whispered to Regina. She nodded.

Regina asked Henry about some tutoring lesson. Emma listened with mild interest as appetizers of light vegetables and fruits were served. Emma took up bits of apple and carrots and as she saw Henry do, drizzled an interesting looking sauce over his own appetizers.

She found it to add a sweetness to the crisp foods. She quite liked it.

Henry turned the discussion towards her.

"How did you stop Robin Hood from hurting my mom?" He wondered.

Emma was a bit surprised by the question. She pondered whether she should answer him honestly.

"Robin Hood fears me." Emma didn't know how to elaborate.

"He's afraid of you?" Henry looked confused.

"I-," Emma did not know if she should tell the story.

"It's quite a long story."

Henry looked to his mother.

"If you wouldn't mind?" Regina bid Emma to continue.

Emma took a deep breath.

"The story starts with Robin Hood coming too close to the Grove of Noch."

"The Grove of Noch?" Henry's eyes widened excitedly. "The magical grove whose trees very wood grant wishes?"

Emma bowed her head.

"The very same."

"Robin, I don't know why he had come so close to the grove that day. Perhaps it was to steal some something from the grove. Perhaps he was lost." Emma continued.

"The closer a person gets to the grove, the more dangerous the forest becomes. The Guardians are magical creatures, dangerous and not to be trifled with. They live within the grove. Then there are magical creatures sometimes attracted to the grove that live on its borders, they are just as protective of it, and just as dangerous."

Emma remembered one such creature, a magical bear. He had been huge, massive and the reason her master didn't journey as often to the grove as she did. It was this same bear that didn't sleep the winter months away. This bear that made winter visits to the grove impossible.

"Robin had managed to step into the territory of one such magical creature, a magical cursed bear." Emma realized that not only was Henry listening intently, but Regina and Zelena were as well.

"It is said that the bear was once a man, so wild and strong, and his wish was to be as strong as a bear. The grove had changed him into one."

"He ended up roaming the forest outside of the grove. Robin Hood had managed to come up on him by some misshapen step. As I was exiting the forest after my weekly offering, I happened to run into Robin and a group of his thieves attempting to hold the bear off."

"Wait, how are you able to enter the grove?" Henry interrupted.

"My axe." Emma shrugged.

"Your axe?" Henry was puzzled.

"My axe." Emma was only allowed to tell the next woodcutter she apprenticed the secrets of her axe. The handle, carved from wood of the grove, the head forged from a fire heated by wood also from the grove.

"It's magic." Emma continued her story. "Robin was cornered by the bear and had taken a pretty bad swipe across the chest. I happened to be passing through when I heard the commotion."

"I had not heard enough about Robin to know who he was nor did I listen to town gossips enough to really care. All I really saw was a group of men being attacked by a bear."

"You definitely have a hero complex don't you?" Regina remarked.

"I don't know about "heroes". Why stand by and do nothing if I can help?" Emma answered.

"So I stepped in with my axe."

"You fought a bear with an axe?" Zelena was impressed.

"It wasn't an easy fight and I have scars to remember it by." Emma mentioned the scars on her back. Four large clawed tears. She stayed at Granny's while they healed and couldn't lay on her back the entire time.

"I fought a bear with an axe and I don't recommend it." Emma gave Henry a stern stare. He nodded solemnly.

"Robin, I don't know if he fears me because I saved his life, or if because he has seen what I can do. The bear, after I killed him, returned to human form, only covered in a bear skin. I felt so badly for having killed him that in anger, I turned on Robin and his men and rushed them from the forest."

Zelena burst out cackling.

"Of course Robin was terrified. He had an axe-wielding woman come after him right after she saved his life!"

Emma laughed as well.

Regina clapped her hands. Servants stepped forward with platters of food.

As they laid dinner out, Emma looked on, impressed.

"This is all very delicious looking."

"Stay away from the beets." Henry suggested. His mother gave him a look.

Emma served herself beets anyways. The stuffed and roasted bird looked fantastic.

"Zelena, did you make a change to the dinner menu?" Regina questioned her sister across the table.

"I might have." Emma frowned at the impish grin Zelena wore.

Taking a bite, Emma wondered what kind of bird she was eating. It was unlike anything she had tasted before. Similar to duck, but not quite.

"Aunt Zelena, what is this bird?" Henry finally asked aloud what seemed to be on Emma and Regina's minds as well.

Zelena fought to hide her laughter.

"Roast Swan."

Emma and Regina both choked. Henry laughed a bit though he wasn't quite sure why.

"Is she always so-?"

"Wicked?" Regina supplied.

Zelena was all too proud of herself.

They continued to eat and exchange pleasantries and small stories about one another.

Emma learned very quickly that Zelena viewed Regina as uptight. Regina saw Zelena as too loose. They were definitely opposites but the way they exchanged back and forth was very, sweet, almost.

Emma was enjoying herself. Every so often she caught Regina eyeing her from the corner of her vision. That was a plus.

Overall, it was turning out to be a delightful dinner.

As they finished their meals, Emma wished it didn't have to end.

"Turnovers?" Henry looked at everyone meaningfully as if to ask if they all still had room.

Emma sighed happily. They still had dessert.

"Let's try these turnovers." Regina, for the first time that night didn't hide her smile from Emma. It warmed her inside.

For the first time in her life, she didn't feel alone.