Chapter 11
Thick, grey smoke blanketed the vast meadow as indistinguishable forms wrestled in the twilight. Tears filled Emma Swan's dark green eyes and her lungs burned from the falling ash of countless fires. Effortlessly dodging a sword aimed for her head, she countered with a blow of her own throwing the shadowy assailant back into the writhing mass of bodies pressing in from all sides. Slowly she fought through the chaos, slashing and stabbing anything that crossed her path, winding a path towards the light emanating from an unknown source at the top of a large hill.
Breaking free of the roiling battle, the blonde stood at the foot of the rise wiping away the blood and sweat obscuring her vision. The pure white light did not pierce the swirling darkness that surrounded it, but still shone with such brilliance that any who dare look directly upon it was instantly blinded. Whatever lay beyond the impenetrable barrier tugged at her very soul and called her forward with a force she was powerless to resist.
A long arm stretched in front of her, shielding sensitive eyes from the radiant light, as she began the long trek up. With each step, a crushing weight settled heavily across her shoulders, threatening to buckle her already beaten body.
Finally cresting the peak, Emma stumbled forward blindly as the debilitating burden suddenly lifted and the light dissipated. A lone, dark figure coalesced as her eyes adjusted to the change, revealing the Evil Queen standing patiently before her. Tangible waves of unadulterated hatred rolled off the naturally trim body and a malicious smirk graced blood red lips as she gleefully took in the blonde's weakened state.
Emma's boot clad feet remained rooted to the spot refusing to obey her command to run as the Queen stalked forward like a jungle cat closing in on its prey. Warmth washed over the paralyzed blonde from the body now separated from hers by mere centimeters. Green eyes closed involuntarily and a shiver of fear laced with desire coursed down her spine as full lips brushed against the delicate curve of her ear.
"Goodbye, Ms. Swan."
Startled by the menacing tone, Emma's eyes shot open to find a familiar figure glaring at her from several yards away. The woman now clothed in a grey power suit with feathered locks caressing delicate shoulders was definitely Regina, but the flames dancing behind dark brown orbs were pure Evil Queen. Before the blonde even had time to react, something flew from the brunette's hand, twisting and twirling through the air with wicked intent.
Pain blossomed in Emma's left breast, originating from her heart itself before burning across every nerve ending. Pale features grew ashen at the sight of the large, silver knife protruding from her chest. Crimson blood poured around the gleaming metal as she struggled in vain to staunch the flow of the viscous fluid that seeped between trembling fingers. Falling to her knees the world tilted and slammed into her back, driving what little breath remained from her lungs.
Blood pooled around her prone body as she gazed into the starless heavens above. Emma could find no glimmer of love or sympathy in the cold, uncaring brown eyes of the dark haired woman hovering over her. Darkness clouded her vision and life slowly drained away as she lamented her inability to be the White Knight for the one person who needed a hero the most.
A sharp gasp fractured the peaceful silence as Emma shot up in the large bed, her right hand reflexively clutching the gaping wound over her heart. The pre-dawn light filtering through sheer curtains slowly registered in the blonde's sleep addled brain allowing the last vestiges of yet another nighttime horror to fade away. Moving to the edge of the bed, bare feet rested on the cool stone floor as shaky hands ran through sweat dampened hair.
Nightmares had plagued her non-waking hours every night since her conversation with Rumpelstiltskin nearly a month ago, this one by far the worst. She understood psychology well enough to realize they were merely a reflection of the anxiety building within her as the days progressed and the ultimate battle neared. Charming had caved easily enough, granting her permission to accompany them. Little did Emma realize how long it actually took to prepare for war. While this allowed her to greatly improve her swordsmanship, it also gave an ample amount of time for a plethora of worst case scenarios to form in her mind.
Staying busy helped maintain her sanity, but her increased training had not gone unnoticed and it wasn't long before her 'White Knight' status had spread like wildfire throughout the castle and beyond. Apparently, someone had somehow caught wind of her conversation with Snow White.
"You are not the 'White Knight'!" the petite brunette's screech reverberated around the room before flying out the open door and bouncing down the corridor.
Yeah, I'm sure the people in the next kingdom over didn't hear that.
"There is no way my daughter is this fabled hero," she spat. "It will be a cold day in Hell before I allow you to go gallivanting around the country trying to rescue that vindictive, controlling, sadistic, self-centered... bitch like she was some goddamn damsel in distress!"
Emma remained calm as her mother ranted and raved on that 'loathsome woman' and questioned her sanity for believing such a ridiculous notion. When Snow finally ran out of steam, the blonde pulled out her arsenal, which consisted of Henry's book, what Charming had told her about Rumpelstiltskin's prediction, and a mixture of pleading, stubborn determination, and 'true love' fluff.
It hadn't worked.
A little more week later, however, Snow finally relented and Emma made sure to thank her father for whatever he had said to get the brunette to change her mind. The fair haired man had just given a strained smile in return before focusing her attention back on training.
Bright, morning sunlight now bathed the room in a soft, golden glow as the blonde shook herself from her introspective mood. Today was the beginning of their long journey to intercept the Evil Queen's forces and she had some packing to do.
Dressed and ready to go, Emma grabbed her gear and made her way through the bustling castle before stepping into the courtyard. Every exhalation turned to fog in the frigid air as she wove her way around scurrying servants and jovial knights preparing horses and supplies. Charming had explained that it was late in the year for a campaign, but saw no other choice. The blonde was just grateful that his kingdom was in the southern part of this world. Had they still been in Maine, they'd be buried under several feet of snow by now.
Spotting her parents by the stables, Emma made her way over and wasn't surprised to see Henry standing with them. A small chuckle escaped as her son's comically wide, green eyes turned towards her with a mixture of awe and fascination. She may not feel like a story book hero, but she sure looked the part.
Long, curly hair was pulled back into a low plait taming the wild strands. The polished, iron breastplate molded to her body perfectly while a large, golden swan with its wings extended decorated the front. That same image adorned the circular shield already strapped to the back of her horse. Pauldrons, vambraces, greaves, and a sword slung across her hips completed the look. While light, Emma had been ensured that the armor was completely effective and would allow her the mobility she needed.
Snow's armor was similar to her own, but instead of a swan, the petite brunette had a hawk in mid flight across hers. Charming's was much darker in color and bulkier in appearance, while a silver roaring lion decorated his chest and the large rectangular shield he favored. Today they would ride through the city decked out in all their glory in a show of strength and determination. This tradition was performed before every campaign and helped instill confidence not only in those they were leaving behind, but in the soldiers as well.
Henry rushed over and she dropped to her knees in order to pull him into a tight hug. A lone tear slipped from the corner of her eye that she was quick to brush away. Emma would have been content to hold him like this forever and let the rest of the world take care of itself, however unrealistic that was, but all too soon Henry pulled back to look her squarely in the eye.
"Are you nervous?" he asked with a shrewd look.
"Not at all," she lied.
"Yes, you are," she smiled at his ability to always call her out on her bullshit, "but you shouldn't be. You're the White Knight; the hero in this fairy tale and the hero always wins."
If only it were that simple.
For all his maturity and intelligence, Henry was still a child and sometimes she envied his blind faith in the world of good guys versus bad guys. She was all too aware of the varying shades of grey that existed.
"You're right, kid," she said with as brave a smile as she could muster. "All of this nonsense will be over in no time, then you and I will be back with your mom and be the proper family we are meant to be."
She could only pray that would prove true. Rumpelstiltskin's final warning still rang in her mind and she knew it was quite possible that Henry could lose not just one mom, but two.
Charming and Snow joined the pair and the moment was broken before Henry could respond. Standing, Emma noticed an unfamiliar sword cradled in the king's large hands and the barely restrained excitement in the blue and green eyes looking at her.
"Emma, a gift just arrived for you," Charming said before handing over the weapon.
The blonde reached out and took it in her tentative grasp. The silver pommel and cross-guard were decorated with glittering sapphires and the black scabbard inlaid with a delicate blue flame design matched the grip. At the reassuring nods of her parents, Emma carefully unsheathed the blade. Sunlight gleamed off the razor-sharp edge and highlighted the flames etched around one word, Excalibur.
Emma remained speechless as the importance of such a historic weapon overwhelmed her senses. Henry was so excited it looked like he was about to pass out.
"King Arthur felt he was too old to join the battle, but sent this along with half his army. Apparently, word of you has reached even the Far North. Excalibur, as I'm sure you've heard from the legends, is no ordinary sword. It is imbued with a power that cannot be matched by any man. With this weapon you will be protected from all dark magic, it will reflect any harmful spells cast your way, and it will even enhance your physical combat skills."
"You'll be invincible," Henry squealed in delight. In his mind, there was no way Emma could lose now.
The blonde was still noticeably shell shocked and James placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. When her gaze finally lifted to meet his own, he continued in a calm, supportive tone.
"Our army has quadrupled in size because of you. Volunteers have come from all over and every friendly kingdom has sent troop to aid in our quest. There will be thousands fighting at your side, including your mother and me. You are not alone in this."
The encouraging words did nothing for the blonde. What if she wasn't the hero they all thought her to be? Literally, tens of thousands of people could lose their lives if she didn't succeed. The pressure was overwhelming and brought the reality of the whole situation into sharp relief. Panic forced its way into the corners of her mind and her respiration grew shallow as fear and dread threatened to engulf her.
Thankfully, a small hand tugging on her arm snapped her out of it before the debilitating anxiety could completely overpower her.
"I know you can do this. I love you, mom."
The quietly spoken words permeated into her very soul and instilled within her a power she hadn't realized she possessed until now. She could do this. Henry deserved nothing less than her all.
Scooping him up into an awkward one-arm hug, Emma let every ounce of affection pour into the gesture. She shot Snow a grateful look when the other woman gently took the sword from her grasp, freeing both arms to complete the crushing embrace.
"I love you too, Henry, so very much," she whispered in his ear. "I promise I'll bring your mother back to us."
Six days after their procession through the city found the army of King James and Queen Snow White, once again, camping out in the desolate forest of the Wilderness. Gnarled roots jutted from the parched earth, barely able to support the barren trees standing sentinel in this dreary wasteland.
Dusk had fallen as the last tents were raised and hundreds of fires now dotted the landscape. Eerie, animalistic noises pervade the night air as a multitude of glowing yellow eyes watched from the surrounding darkness, their vigilant owners careful not to cross into the light. A constant sense of foreboding invaded this ghastly realm effecting all who set foot within its borders.
Emma Swan sat on a fallen log near the fire absorbing the warmth of the flickering flames while eating whatever stew had been placed before her by one of the soldiers. Conversation flowed easily amongst Charming, Snow, and their top generals as they discussed latest reports from the scouts. The Evil Queen's forces were now just over a day's march away and those gathered were arguing final battle strategies.
This held little interest for the stoic blonde. Her sole focus during the actual fighting was to reach Regina and end the Evil Queen's tyranny once and for all. Five knights, Philip, Hanno, Tibauld, Lothar, and Everard, would act as her protectors, clearing a path up the left flank as much as possible, while Snow and James concentrated on the center, hopefully drawing some of the enemy forces away from her.
The log under her rocked slightly as another body sat upon its rough mass.
"You look like you have a lot bouncing around in that head of yours. Anything I can do to help?" Snow White's compassionate voice asked in the silence.
A million thoughts jumped to the forefront, but most could not be answered yet, many she was too afraid to voice, and some she just couldn't put in words. One, however, had been bothering her since she'd first learned of the Evil Queen's plans.
"Why go through all the trouble of open warfare? Why not just beam the army right to our doorstep and launch a surprise attack?"
"I have no doubt she considered that possibility, but transporting that many people and creatures requires a substantial amount of power, more than she and her cohorts have combined."
"Couldn't she just teleport in by herself, then, and take us all out in our sleep? Seemed easy enough for her to escape during the party."
"There are wards surrounding the palace that keep people and creatures from magically entering the grounds," Charming answered as he sat on the other side of Snow. "The same does not apply, however, for leaving or transporting place to place within the castle itself allowing the royal mages to react quickly if there is an emergency. The Evil Queen appeared outside the barrier and disabled the guards before they could raise the alarm."
"Besides," the brunette added, "if she wanted us dead, she could have accomplished that a hundred times over in this world and the last. She wants to watch us suffer as she destroys everything we love."
The brunette's underlying meaning was not lost on Emma. She knew her parents still believed her to be brainwashed by the corrupting influence of the older woman. However, deciding discretion really is the better part of valor, the blonde chose to ignore the not so subtle dig and turned the conversation to their next course of action.
A/N: Anyone else going through serious Swan Queen withdraws this week? I'm not sure how I'll last the summer. Lots of writing and reading I guess. I realize this chapter is a lot of filler, but I wanted to get it out of the way so the next one can be pure action. The final battle is upon us! Who will win? Who will die? Will Emma be able to reach Regina before it's too late? Well... i guess you'll just have to wait and see ;) Thanks, as always, for reading and for all your wonderful comments. Keep them coming so I know how I'm doing. Don't want to bore you guys to tears or anything.