Chapter 17

The princess was rarely seen upon her return to the Enchanted forest. Her morning spar with Killian had been canceled for nearly two weeks. She had not attended any meal that wasn't required and spent most times in her chambers.

"I cannot bear this anymore," David said upon entering the royal bedchambers. "She had turned into a ghost."

"I assume you are speaking of our daughter," Snow was already in bed, reading from a novel.

"You speak as though you do not care. How can you go about your day, sending letters back and forth with Arendelle as if all is fine. Snow, she is in misery."

"And what would you have me do? As i said before, the woman told her no. I cannot force the earth woman to marry Emma."

"Whose fault is it that she rejected our daughter."

"You cannot possibly…"

"Yes I can!" he was normally quiet, differing to his wife in most things, even when raise their daughter as he was a second born and not trained for a crown. But this was different. He could not be silent. "It was only after you came from speaking with her that she ran out. You told her Emma could not be serious. You told her family that they were beneath her. I can only imagine what you said to the poor girl when you were alone."

"I...I may have...I doesn't matter. The choice was made and that is it."

"You could fix this Snow," he said finally sitting next to his wife. "No one wants to marry into a family where they aren't wanted. I bet if you had told Regina that she was fine, she would have accepted Emma's hand."The Queen pursed her lips and kept her face tight. She took reprimand from no one, not even her husband. She was Queen. Her word was law.

"We have already made an agreement with Arendelle. She is to marry that woman from the Weselton Province. A Queen does not go back on her word. Ever." David swung his arm around his wife's shoulders.

"Not without good reason she doesn't."

[SQ]

The Queen stood from her seat at the head of the council. This was the final item on the agenda for the day, and she was dreading it. Adding new members to the council was usually easy, but this weighed heavy on her mind.

"Jefferson, would you please let in our guest?" Nodding to the Queen, he opened the door to a small sitting room off to the side. The woman was still wide eyed, and Snow couldn't help but wonder if she truly was doing what was best for her kingdom.

"Come child." Emma's fiancee stepped into the massive meeting room, taking in the sharp stares. The woman kept from shaking, which impressed Snow, but wasn't enough.

"Are you aware of why you are here today?"

"To take my place on the council, as have all consorts that have come before me."

"And you will adhere to what is good and best for the Enchanted Forest, also known a Cantania."

"Yes."

"And you will act as a representative of your nation to this council."

"Yes."

"Do you swear to upload the laws of this land, to protect all of its secrets, even at risk to your own life."

"I do." Snow nodded at the woman's affirmative answer. She had taken time to think over all opinions before making this decision, but in the end, she had to make a choice that was not about her daughter, but about her kingdom. To do what was best for the Enchanted Forest. Political Alliances were important. And the Enchanted Forest needed ambassadors more than her daughter needed a wife.

The council agreed.

[SQ]

Her mother has not wasted anytime in preparing for the wedding after the council's meeting. If anything, she seemed ever more eager to get the ceremony over with. In exactly 10 days, and not a second later, Emma found herself in the back room, waiting for her wedding to begin.

"It will be alright my friend," Killian said, placing an arm around the woman's shoulder. "If you wish, I will keep them busy and you can run away right now. I know a guy over in Neverland."

"No, Killian. I cannot run from my duty. From my kingdom."

"Screw your kingdom man. It's not doing you any favors," he sighed. "I for one may not understand your wants, but i support you. You should marry who you want."

"Well she said no. So I'm letting it go."

"Emma,"

"Let it go Killian!"she yelled. "As your future Queen, I command you to no longer speak to me of Regina!" She didn't want to talk about it. She didn't even want to think about it. She had believed everything her parents had told her as a child. That she would find love in her marriage. Now she knew it wasn't true. She wasn't like the rest of her family. Nothing like her ancestors. She would not love Isabelle. She knew what love was. It was dark locks, deep brown eyes the color of coffee and a rich voice.

She knew what a true Queen should be. One with a strong opinion and the ability to stand up to anyone who tried to demean her as a woman. Caring for the children of Queens New York. it was working to build up an impoverished community and to give back. It was honoring a father's legacy of hard work by not shying away from it.

No she would not know love, nor what it mean to have a co-ruler by her side. The kingdom had taken her freedom. Her ability to be an individual, why should it not take her heart also?

Emma glanced down at her clothes, feeling at least a bit less angry. Her mother had allowed a new wedding suit to be made for her. Instead of the frilly white dress that had been decided upon, she wore a tailored suit. Sharp black breeches, and a black and grey jacket with ornate silver trim. She checked her gray sash, ensuring that it didn't cover the silver buckle on her leather belt.
She knew the clothing was her mother's version of an apology. An 'I can't let you marry who you want but i can let you wear what you wish' It would never be enough, but she would suck it up for today.

"Lets go," she said to her best man without emotion. It was going to be a long day, and she was ready to get it over with.

Exiting the back room, she saw the grand hall full of people from every kingdom in the realm. Many were faces she didn't know, but they were important. Straightening her crown for the final time, she nodded ushers opening the doors. The music was appropriate, a gentle tune as she and Killian walked side by side up to the dais where her parents sat, dressed in their royal finery. Jefferson stood one step down, ready to announce the new couple upon completion of the ceremony.

She gave her best friend a sad smile as he walked off to the side, eyes stating he was ready to whisk her way at the drop of a hat. No, she had a duty to attend to.

Keeping her back to the aisle, she inhaled as she heard the doors reopen to admit Isabelle. She glanced up at her mother, who held a strange look in her eyes, almost as if she was on her way to tears. Now? Now she chose to show emotion?

Emma shook her head, breaking eye contact with her mother and choosing to look at the ground. This was not the time to show anger. She must remain the impassive heir to the Enchanted Forest. If she would not show happiness, she must definitely now show anger.

She felt more than saw Isabelle approaching her side. Her gown was as billowing as Emma's was meant to be. A veil obscuring her face. Something was off about the duchess, but Emma paid no mind as she inhaled, uncovering the face she would see everyday for the rest of her life.

"W-What?" she said suddenly. Glancing at her parents, and then glancing back, a smile erupted on the princess' face. She turned to her parents again, unsure of what she was seeing. Standing next to Snow was Cora, the woman looking as if she could break out into a dance at any moment.

"Miss me," the husky voice said. Instead of blonde locks and icy eyes, deep brunette curls framed a face with coffee-colored eyes and olive skin.

"Yes." With no hesitation, Emma pulled Regina's face to hers, pressing her lips to her future queen. It had been so long, but she hadn't forgot the taste of her love. Using her tongue, she parted the businesswoman's mouth, sliding her tongue inside to savor the brunette's flavor.

"Your highness," Jefferson coughed. "Your highness….we haven't come to that part yet." Emma waved him off. The guests could wait a few more moments.

[SQ]

"Would you really have given all this up for me. To stay in New York as nothing more than a regular person." The day had seemed as if it would never end. The carriage had driven them through every edge of every village to allow the citizens to see the newest member of the royal family. Regina had waved more and shaken more hands that she had at any other time in her life. They were then escorted to a massive banquet where she spent more than being congratulated than actually eating.

"In a heartbeat. So What happened?" Emma said the moment they were alone in her suite of rooms. "Last I saw, you had said no and my mother...my mother…."

"Is more of a politician that you think. She convinced the council they needed a representative from Earth more than they needed a connection to Arendelle."

"And...you said yes?"

"Emma, I never stopped loving you," Regina approached her wife slowly, cupping the blonde's face. "I will never stop loving you. I was afraid. You were this...princess and here I was just some girl from New York whose parents were barely accepted by the people there. Who was I to think I could be accepted as queen?"

"I could care less what people think of you regina. You are my queen. I don't care where you are from."

"Really?" the brunettes tone changed as she ran her nails down Emma's suit jacket.

"Really?"

Stepping away she turned her back to the blonde. "So you have no desire to...what was it," she reached behind her pointing to the zipper on her dress, giving the heiress a seductive glance. "...to taste foreign goods?"

Thanks for sticking with me for this fic! Let me know your thoughts. Leave some love (or constructive critique). :D