Hiiiiiiii, folks! First, I would like to thank each and every one of you for the lovely reviews! You have no idea how happy they make me. Anywho, here's chapter three! Hope you enjoy it. The Frozen Swan meeting will happen in this chapter. Also, this is the last time skip. I promise. So, without further ado, the DISCLAIMER!
Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time. At all.
"Do I have to go?" Emma complained, as she examined herself in the mirror. She, Merlin, and Ruby were in her room in the palace. She wasn't very fond of the dress she was wearing, but Ruby had worked so hard on it that she felt too guilty not to. "It's just a ball."
"And you're just the Princess," Merlin said, dryly. He was sitting in his favorite chair, with his nose a book. "You're absolutely right, you have no reason to go to a ball hosted at your own palace." Emma gave her teacher her signature 'Emma look', which was a strange sort of glare that was halfway between amusement, and annoyance.
"And if Regina's there?" she asked. "Will she see Snow White in me?"
"She's not welcome here," Ruby assured her. "The king and queen have made their feelings about her quite clear, because of what she did to your parents." Emma simply nodded. She always felt somewhat uncomfortable when Ruby referred to Snow White and Prince David as her parents. To Emma, Abigail and Frederick were her parents. They had raised her. But Ruby had always considered her Snow's daughter.
"I just…don't like crowds," Emma sighed. "I never have. You'd think at twenty-five I would've grown out of that, by now."
"There are some things about us that never change," Merlin said. Not for the first time, the princess found herself curious about the wizard's past. There was much about him that she didn't know. She was shaken out of her thoughts by her mother, who smiled when she saw her.
"You look beautiful, Emma," Abigail said. Her daughter smiled.
She remembered when her parents told her the truth about who she was, and where she came from. All of the horrible things she had said. But Merlin had explained to her why they had to keep it a secret, at least at first. After all, the reason Queen Regina had killed Snow and David was because of a secret.
"Thank you, mother," she replied.
"So," Merlin said, grouchily. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"
"Wow," Anna breathed, looking around the ballroom in awe. "Look at all of these people! Why didn't we have this many people at our ball?"
"Because Arendelle is a fairly isolated kingdom," Elsa explained, patiently. "And Aurumine is one of the wealthiest, and most powerful kingdoms in the land. I'm sure many kingdoms are very eager to become allies with them."
"Us, included?" Kristoff asked. Elsa simply nodded, but made a note to explain the value of subtlety in politics to her new brother-in-law, later.
The truth was, they could use an ally like Aurumine. The aftermath of the 'Great Frost', as it had been named, wasn't good. Arendelle's relations with the other kingdoms had been…strained. Almost freezing their royalty to death tended to have that effect, even if it was an accident. People were scared, and scared could bring out the worst in almost anyone.
"Oh, I love this song!" Anna exclaimed, distracting Elsa from her worries. The queen watched in amusement as her sister dragged Kristoff to the dance floor. Her amusement grew when she saw the look on the new prince's face. She straightened, and put on her 'diplomacy face' when she saw Queen Abigail and her daughter approaching.
"Queen Elsa, isn't it?" Aurumine's ruler asked.
"Yes," Elsa said, courteously. Abigail smiled.
"I am Queen Abigail," she said. "And this is my daughter, Emma."
"It's an honor to meet you," Emma said, smiling politely. Elsa got the feeling Emma didn't want to be here. Neither did she, but Arendelle needed allies. And Arendelle's queen needed to appear…well, human, as opposed to the wrathful goddess that many people thought she was. Staying in her castle all the time would only make her seem more distant.
"Likewise," Elsa responded. She was somewhat curious about the princess, as she had heard that she not only had magic, but also had a teacher. The thought of having someone teaching her how to control her powers more was very appealing, to her.
"So-" Abigail began, but stopped, staring at the other end of the ballroom. Elsa followed her gaze, and saw two young men engaged in what appeared to be a drinking contest. Abigail Sighed, and Emma rolled her eyes. "Your brother…" Abigail muttered, to her daughter. She marched towards him, apparently intending to knock some sense into him.
"You're not going with her?" Elsa asked Emma.
"No," the princess laughed. "When my mother gets angry, it's best to be as far away as possible. And my brother, James, tends to make her angry a lot." Elsa smiled, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. Finally, Elsa couldn't hold it back.
"Is it true that you have magic?" she blurted, then cursed, mentally. So much for diplomacy, she thought. Emma didn't seem to mind her bluntness, though, and nodded.
"Yes," she answered. "Apparently, it comes from being a 'product of true love'." She said it as if she found the notion a bit ridiculous, but Elsa wasn't so sure. She had seen love do amazing things.
"I didn't know magic could come from that," she admitted.
"Well," Emma said. "Merlin, my teacher, says that love is the most powerful magic."
"You don't believe him?" Elsa asked. Emma shrugged, in response. Elsa wondered if Emma was just naturally skeptical, or if something had happened that made Emma doubt love's power. It certainly didn't seem to be the fault of her parents, who seemed to love each other very much. Elsa decided it was none of her business, and that she should just ask what had been on her mind since she'd heard of this 'Merlin'. "Do you think…that your teacher could train me? To better use my powers?" Emma seemed surprised, but before she could respond, a voice behind them made them both jump.
"I don't see why not," the old man said. His face was carefully neutral, but his eyes glittered with amusement. "Allow me to introduce myself," he continued. "My name is Merlin."
There you go, chapter three! How was it? Please, I appreciate feedback!
