The Third Year
"But Snow, I thought we wanted to give her a chance to find love!" David shouted at his wife. "That's always been our dream for her!"
"It's just a betrothal David, and the engagement will be a long one," Snow replied warily.
"But if we break our agreement with the Dark Kingdom, we could start a war! This will be a war that we cannot win. Do you really want that? Do you really want to face the possibility of our sweet, sweet Emma marrying the son of the Dark One?" David yelled angrily.
"No David I don't! I want Emma to find true love like we did, but I also want our kingdom to be one of peace!" Snow responded just as angrily.
"Then why can't you see that this is a mistake!" David said. "If we sign this, Emma is betrothed to the Dark One's son, Prince Baelfire. The engagement starts on her sixteenth birthday and ends on her twentieth. If Emma does find her true love during this time period, then we could end up starting an unwinnable war. We will lose our kingdom, and our daughter in the process! It's better if we just say no!"
Snow White looked up into the eyes of her husband and sighed miserably.
"David, we can't," she said sadly
"And why not?" David snarled. "Wait, what aren't you telling me?" he asked, his face softening.
"I- I'm with child," Snow whispered. David's eyes widened.
"Snow, that's, that's great!" David answered. "But, what does that have to do with Emma's marriage?"
"Everything," Snow uttered.
"I don't understand," David whispered.
"King Rumplestitleskin threatened the baby, "Snow sobbed. "He threatened the baby, and all our future children," she cried. Her shoulders shook, and she took a deep breath, leaning into her husband. "The man has the gift of prophecy," she said. She looked at her husband, her eyes shining. "We are supposed to have two other children after this one," she said, her hand running across her still flat tummy. "And he threatened to take every last one, if we don't marry Emma off to his son."
David took a deep breath, trying to stay strong for the sake of his wife.
"It'll be okay Snow," he crooned. "Everything will be okay. We can do this. We are strong, and Emma is even stronger. We will be okay."
"Daddy, why is Mommy cwying?" a young voice asked. The couple looked up to see their young daughter in the door way. David released his wife and went to his baby girl, picking her up and escorting her to her room.
"Nothing is wrong with your mommy Emma," David lied. "You should go back to sleep."
"Okay Daddy," Emma yawned and rested her head on the King's shoulder. David walked into her room and lay her down on the bed. He tore his eyes away from the slumbering form of his daughter only to find the shining white butterfly fluttering around the room.
"I don't know who or what you are," David said to the bug, "But I get the feeling that you and I have the same goal in life. We want to protect this girl here. As much as I try, I can't do it alone. Are you with me?"
In response, the butterfly settled on the young Princess' head.
"Thank you," David whispers. He silently walks back to the chambers that he shares with Snow White, and together, they read over the marriage agreement, and sign their daughter's life away.