A/N There is mention of Neal in this chapter, but don't worry, their won't be anything happening between him and Emma
Another two weeks passed, with the same routine of Emma going to see Regina when she could and both getting closer by the day. Even Henry was paying particular attention, every time they were all together.
There were small hand touches, arm touches and adoring looks and one evening in the libary, when Emma had made a swan out of paper which she had learned from her mother and gave it to Regina. Who thought it was very sweet and placed it upon her side table within her chamber as a reminder.
"Can I go see Regina now mom?" Emma asked, as they had just finished lunch.
"Not today sweetheart. We have a important guest arriving" Snow stated and stood up from the table.
"Oh. Why haven't you mentioned it before now?" Emma asked curciously.
"I wanted to be sure of his arrival and he is a prince from the Midas kingdom" she smiled and Emma stood up and began to walk with her out of the grand hall.
"Why would a prince be visiting us?" Emma asked.
"I thought it would be good for our kingdoms friendship and he is also near your age. I'm sure you will get on with him and I was hoping you would spend time with him"
Emma frowned.
"Do I have too?" she asked.
"I will not force you too sweetheart. However you will be Queen one day and one of them would be King. So it would be good for both kingdoms if you and him were on a good standing"
Emma sighed.
"How long is he here for?" Emma asks,
"A few days"
"Okay" Emma mutters and goes with her mother to get ready for the princes arrival.
Meanwhile. Regina is fussing around the sewing room, whilst expecting Emma to turn up at any moment. However as the minutes pass, she realizes that maybe Emma is not coming today and she wonders why, whilst also feeling a little sad.
When the prince arrives. He is greeted by Snow, David and Emma.
"Hello Queen Snow. It is an honour to be to be invited to your home" The prince says and they regard his average build. brown short hair and white pants and blue blazer.
"Thank you Prince Cassidy. I hope you enjoy your stay here and this is my husband David and my daughter Emma"
He look to David and nods and then looks to Emma and does the same.
"Please come inside. My guard will show you to your chamber, before we have dinner"
"Thank you" he replies and they all proceed to walk back into the castle. With Neal taking particilar interest in the paintings and Emma, thinking about what Regina might be up too.
At dinner. Emma sat across from the prince and sat quietly. Listening to her parents and the Prince talking about life in the kingdoms. It wasn't until they had finished desert that Prince Cassidy spoke to Emma directly.
"May I ask, if the Princess may show me your gardens?"
Emma went slightly wide eyed but said "Okay"
And it was five minutes later, that they left the grand hall and Emma walked the Prince to the gardens. Where they walked slowly towards the bench.
"Your very quiet Princess" The prince said.
"Um, I'm just tired" she lied.
"Okay, so tell me about your interests?" he asked.
Emma looked ahead.
"I like being outdoors, practicing swordfighting with my sword and being around my best friend" she smiled at she thought of Regina.
"That's a surpirse Princess. I wasn't expecting you to say swordfighting"
Emma snapped at her head towards him and glared.
"I didn't mean that in a bad way. Its just not a normal activitiy for girls"
Emma scoffed.
"Im sorry. I mean no harm" he then said. Seeing that he had slightly annoyed the Princess.
"Okay" Emma replied flatly and sat at the bench, that they had now reached.
"Your gardens match my own Princess" The prince then said. Wanting to get on a better footing.
"Thats good to now" Emma replied. Pretending interest.
Meanwhile inside. Snow was hoping that the Prince and Emma would form a friendship. That would quickly lead to romance. but unkwon to her, things were not going well at all. As all the princes attempts at conversation, were met with one word answers.
The next morning. Emma showed the Prince the stables.
"I am a keen rider" he told her.
"Yeah. I don't ride"
"Why is that?"
"I don't want to full off"
The prince laughed at this and looked around the stable. Spotting a stablehand bending over. He watched her keenly. She was of afican decent with long black hair and he found her quiet attractive. Not that he didn't find Emma attractive, as he did, but he found her personality closed off to him.
"I think, I would like to go for a ride on one of your horses" he then said.
"Of course. Ill just get a stable hand to help you" Emma replied quickly. As this was an opportunity to get away and go find Regina. So, she quickly hurried off. Over to the stablegirl.
"Tamara" Emma said.
"Yes Princess?"
"Prince Cassidy wishes to ride today. Please fetch a horse and bring it out to us"
"Yes Princess" Tamara replied and quickly went to saddle up a horse for the Prince. While Emma headed back to the prince and lead him outside. Explaining where he can ride.
Minutes later. Tamara appeared with a black, well built, horse, with brown saddle.
"This is Tamara, she will help with anything you require" Emma then told him.
"Thank you Princess. I shall she you at dinner"
"Okay" she smiled and then turned to head back to the castle, leaving the prince and Tamara to get better aquainted.
Once back in the castle. Emma headed to the sewing room but Regina wasn't there. So, she headed to the libary where she found Henry. Who was sitting at the table reading a book. Emma approached him.
"Hey Henry" she said lowly.
He looked up.
"Emma...is everything okay?"
"Yeah. I was just looking for Regina" she smiled at him.
"I believe she's in her chamber"
"Oh. Thanks, um, I'm gonna go find her" she turned around, heading for the door and Hemry chuckled lightly, as he watched Emma leave the libary.
Five minuties later.
Emma knocked upon Regina's chamber door and anxiously looked around for any guards.
The door then opened and Regina went slightly wide eyed.
"Hey" Emma greeted shyly.
"Hello Emmah" Regina smiled.
"I'm sorry I didn't get to come see you earlier. We have a guest staying and my parents wanted me to spend come time with him"
Regina's smile faded.
"Oh. That's okay. I understand. Your the princess after all" Regina rambled, as the thought of Emma and this man getting close, unsettled her.
"Yeah, but I would of prefered coming to see you" Emma then told her. Easing the brunnettes fears.
"Do you want to come inside?" Regina then asked.
"Um, sure" Emma muttered and shuffled into the chamber. Noting there wasn't much within it and she waited for Regina to close the door to say "Is everything okay?"
"Yes. I was just reading one of the books from the libary" Regina replies and sits on the bed and picks the book up to show Emma.
"Your becoming a bookworm" Emma jokes.
"It keeps me busy" Regina replies with a slight smile.
"Yeah I suppose it does. Did you know, your father is in the libary reading aswel?"
Regina nods.
"Yes, I was in there with him for a while, but decided to return to my chamber"
Emma nods slightly and bites her lip, as she watches Regina put her book on the side table.
"So, who is this guest exactly?" Regina asks.
"His a Prince" Emma replies and goes to sit next to Regina.
"A prince hmm..." Regina mutters and falls silent. Wondering, if this is some kind of set up. On Emma's parents part.
"Yeah" Emma mutters back and looks at Regina curciously.
"Do you like him?" Regina then asks lowly.
Emma shrugs.
"Is he handsome?" Regina then asks, whilst hoping the blonde will say no.
"His.." She ponders for a moment. "I haven't thought about him, in that way" Emma replies honestly and starts to wonder why, Regina is asking this.
"Oh. Well you know what people say. That all Princes are handsome and come in, sweeping women off their feet" she chuckles nervously and looks to her hands, which are gripped together within her lap.
Emma frowns.
"Well, I've never heard that before..Is that, what you want...a prince to come and sweep you off your feet?" Emma says seriously and Regina brings her head up. Meeting the blondes gaze and shakes her head slightly.
"No. I don't believe it is. I just want someone, who will love me for me and makes me happy" she replies softly and looks back to her hands with a small smile. Not seeing Emma's goofy grin.
"That's good to know" Emma then says happily and they both continue to talk into the night, without a care of the outside world.