Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Once Upon a Time.
Author's Note: I apologize to my readers for taking so long to post. I kept writing and rewriting this section until I got some important stuff out of the way. Here we go!
As always, R & R!
Emma was immediately pulled from her dream world by an unseen force. "What the hell?" she growled at the mist that surrounded her. In a flash of light, she was placed in a blindingly white room with, who else, but the Queen of Beasts.
She looked absolutely horrid. Her normally bright eyes were ringed with dark circles. Her hair had lost its golden sheen, and she was dressed in a loose-fitting white blouse and butternut leather pants, completed with black boots. She seemed to have aged at least ten years since Emma had last seen her.
The queen blinked, seemingly trying to clear her clouded vision. "I have a request of you, Emma," she said with obvious effort.
"How are you here? I thought you were at your home," said Emma, clearly confused.
Armina gave her a tired smile and beckoned her closer. "I can't stay long; I must return to my conflict with Regina's corruption, so you must listen. I may die this night, if I lose the battle with Regina's evil. The power was what corrupted her, and it will try to kill me. The point is that I have no heir."
"You don't have a kid? I thought that Benjamin was yours," said Emma.
Armina let out a forced laugh. "Oh no, he was just a child that I took in many years ago. He became one of my best soldiers. I have no heir, and I want you to take my place if I die."
"What about Andrew?"
With a pained expression, Armina replied, "Bonded soulmates often pass on within a day of each other, either by heartbreak or their own hands. That is why I am naming you my heir for the time being. I know you are a princess already, but I need to know that someone as strong-willed as I is on the throne. Take this," she said, handing Emma an envelope sealed with wax, "It will appear in your physical hands as well. That guarantees your ascension. Do me proud, Emma."
"What if I don't want this? Maybe I've got enough on my plate as it is!"
"Oh, ye of little faith, why can't you believe in yourself?" she laughed weakly. "Time is short. Just promise that you will try to understand my intentions. Everything I've done, I've done for your benefit and the benefit of our old world. I move the stars for no one, but I would for you. You returned my powers, and I will be eternally grateful. This is how I repay you: with power. Perhaps when I die, the balance will be disrupted and you might open the portal with the little magick you have within you."
"I have magick?"
"Of course you do! That's how you unfroze time and began to remind us of the past!"
"If you're so weak, how did you even get here? You've never done this before!"
Armina smiled. "I'm getting a feel for Regina's powers, while I still can. Before, I could only send you past things, now I can send you new things. Go now, and if the gods will it, I will see you tomorrow. If I never wake, tell Andrew that I loved him to my last breath." With a dismissive gesture from the queen, Emma was pulled back from her and pushed back into her body.
Emma woke with a start. Her body was covered in a cold sweat, and a pang of fear gripped her briefly when she realized that she wasn't home. When that passed, she noticed the wax-sealed envelope in her hand. Not bothering to fight the urge to open it, she carefully broke the seal and read the note that was written in the queen's elegant script.
It read: By order of the Queen of Beasts, greatest of the beasts in the Wild Forest, it is declared that Emma Catherine Swan, daughter of Princess Snow White and Prince James, is the heir to Armina Victoria Magna, the Queen of Beasts. Let this declaration be proof enough of her legitimacy. May the gods smile upon the future Queen of Beasts.
At the end of the note, she had signed her name in what appeared to be several languages. Emma would have to ask about that later. A chill went down her spine. There wouldn't be a later. Without thinking, she threw on her jeans and her jacket, making sure to be quiet enough that Henry didn't hear her shuffling about Regina's old room.
She went through Regina's drawers, finding keys to her black Mercedes. Regina definitely wouldn't need the car anymore.
Emma snuck out of the house, envelope in hand, and got in Regina's car, not really sure of what she was doing or why she was doing it. She started the Mercedes and began her journey to Armina's estate, not caring that she was driving a fifty-thousand dollar car on a gravel road.
When she hit cobblestone, she gunned it, desperate to get to the house faster. She arrived at the house, stopping in front of the door and shutting the car off, not even bothering to close the door behind her.
She kicked down the door, running straight into none other than the guard she had met earlier, Benjamin. "Hey, where is Armina? I think she's dying."
A look of genuine horror gripped his features as he nodded and grabbed her hand, pulling her along behind him as they got onto the third floor of the house. The young guard knocked on the chamber door, earning a growled 'what' from Andrew.
"The lady Emma fears for my sovereign's life. I am obliged to bring this to my king's attention," said Benjamin, his tone serious.
They heard the sound of Andrew walking to the door, quickly opening it. He looked disheveled. Dark circles, similar to his wife's, ringed his tired blue eyes. She was completely oblivious to the fact the he was clad in only a pair of artfully-faded jeans. "What is it, Emma?"
"Armina just came to me in a dream and gave me this," said Emma, handing Andrew the note. His face twisted in a mix of sadness, resignation, and premature grief.
"She's dying then?" he asked.
Emma nodded solemnly and he walked into the room, leaving the door open for them to enter. Emma followed with Benjamin now being pulled by her into the room. Andrew went over to the bed and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, tears running freely down his cheeks. "She told you what would happen to me when she dies, correct?"
"She never said that she would die for sure, Andrew. She said that, in the case that she does, she wanted an heir to take her place. She looked really bad, though, Andrew."
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I told her not to do it. That amount of power would corrupt even the most devout saint in any faith." He let the words sink in, then stood abruptly. He strode over to a curtain and tore it open, revealing a small library of leather-bound books. He tore through the shelves, dropping the useless ones on the floor. Emma had never seen him so shaky as he flipped through the books.
"What are you looking for?" Emma asked, picking up one of the books and looking at the foreign script written inside.
"There may be a way to save her, Emma. I just need to find the right spell. You see, unlike Armina, I've never really enjoyed the magickal nature of my race, so I don't know the spell by heart like she does." Emma stepped back just in time to avoid a flying book that would have hit her in the face had she not moved.
With an audible 'a-ha,' Andrew turned with a massive book, his finger tracing the writing inside. "This is it. I will simply take some of her power and ease her burden, split the weight of Regina's evil magick." His eyes were bright with hope as he met Emma's unsure gaze. "There is hope, Emma."
He walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, placing his hand gently on his wife's forehead. He began to chant quietly in what must have been the language the book was written in. Armina had said he was Fae, maybe they had their own language.
As he spoke, the faint silver of his tattoos grew more pronounced. They seemed to flow with liquid silver, and shifted when he moved. Emma briefly wondered if they really were filled with molten metal as he stood on shaky feet and stepped away from his waking wife. He grimaced as he felt the first pain from the power he had taken from Armina.
He swallowed back the growl he wanted so badly to emit at the feeling, and fixed his gaze on Armina, whose eyes were now half-lidded with drowsiness. "What did you do?" she asked , her voice being its usual commanding self.
"I took part in your fun for once, my love," he grinned, despite the pain clawing at the back of his skull. He rubbed the back of his head, trying to ease it. "You take so much on by yourself, and I wasn't going to let you die when I could save you."
"You took on some of that magick, then," she said quietly, reaching out to take his hand.
"I've been said to have been heroic at times," he said with a tired grin. "For too long you have thought me to only be a companion, your soulmate. Let me help you this time."
"Can I deny you anything?" she asked.
"Never," he said, his smile widening. He leaned over and wrapped her in a tight hug.
Meanwhile, Emma and Benjamin sat there, trying not to look at the elated couple before them. Armina released Andrew from the hug and looked over to the woman and guard that stood off in a corner, trying to avoid her gaze. "Thank you, Emma. Perhaps I'm not as wise as I thought myself to be. Let us meditate, love, we need to fight this influence together." Andrew nodded and sat cross-legged on the bed, following the example of his wife.
Before shutting his eyes, he said, "Go now, savior of Storybrooke, and sleep knowing your sovereign lives."
Emma wasn't sure what to say to that, but Benjamin's hand on her arm sent the message that they needed to leave. They walked out and shut the door, Emma's face a mix of confusion and relief. Benjamin released her from his hold and took her hand, placing a light kiss on her knuckles. "Shall I escort you out, Princess of Beasts?"
She grimaced at his address. "Don't call me that please. I think I can find my way out. Thanks," said Emma as she began to descend the stairs. Benjamin seemed a little put out by her comment, but he didn't pursue.
"Uh, yeah, goodnight, my lady," said Benjamin awkwardly as he retreated into another hallway, praying she didn't turn around to question his tone. What was he feeling for her? It couldn't be love; that was impossible. Perhaps he was just drawn to her innocence
On impulse, he chased after her. "Emma, wait. Could I speak with you for a moment before you leave?" Emma stopped short as she got to the second floor landing. Her face was a mix of confusion and curiosity. The young guard hadn't ever addressed her like that.
"Uh, sure; I could stay for a couple minutes. Is there something wrong?" she asked as he joined her on the landing.
He paused, carefully considering the words he wanted to say. "What was it like when Henry came to find you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Were you happy to see your long-lost son, or weren't you?" he asked, seemingly unsure.
"I definitely didn't expect to see Henry. I mean, I did love him, even though I only knew him for so long until I gave him up for adoption. I guess it did feel good to know that he was safe. Wait, why are you asking me this? Is there something going on?"
"I...am not well acquainted with my father. We, uh, parted on bad terms. I know our situations are completely different but I thought, maybe, you might have some insight."
Emma's brow furrowed. "Who's your dad?"
"That's not important. Do you think that he would want me back?"
Emma sat down on the last step of the staircase, deep in thought. "What do you mean by 'bad terms'?" She patted the space next to her and he obliged, sitting on the step.
"In the other world he had power, and he was a monster. I didn't like who he'd become, and I found a way to make him human again. He didn't want any of it. Apparently, he loved his precious power more than he loved me. I left suddenly, and I don't know if he even missed me. That was nearly thirty-five years ago. Now he's changed, and I want to tell him that I forgive him, that I love him."
His hands were shaking, and Emma reached out to take one. "To be perfectly honest, I have no experience here whatsoever, but I'm pretty sure he might like to see his son again. If he's changed like you said, I think he would like to see you, Benjamin."
The corner of his mouth twitched in an unsure smile. "Call me Ben."
"Only if you call me Emma," she replied as let go of his hand and got up from the step. She offered her hand and he took it, pulling himself up. Emma turned to leave and added, "Good luck."
"Thank you. Are you bringing the young prince to Regina's trial tomorrow?"
"I think so. I haven't asked him yet, but I think he'll want to go. Can you save us seats?"
He grinned, a change from his solemn one from before. "I think I can snag a couple spots for her majesty's honored guests. I will make sure your whole family has enough room tomorrow."
"Thank you, Ben. I'll see you tomorrow."
With a sheepish grin, he replied, "You know what, you can call me Bae."
"Bae? What kind of name is that?" she asked, her face incredulous.
"It's short for Baelfire, but that's kind of a mouthful. Call me Bae."
"Okay then, goodnight, Bae," she said with a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips.
"Same to you, my lady Emma," he said with a flourish of his hand. She left the house and shut the massive oak door behind her, leaving her in the glowing light of Armina's tastefully chosen street lamps.
A/N: If you understand the references Armina makes in her declaration of faith in Emma, I love you. Whoever guesses the references right in a review gets a little shoutout in the next chapter!
~Clarus Magnus