Chapter 4

Thank you all so much for your love and support for this fic! Means so much to me! And of course thanks to Jess for keeping me sane and betaing my work!

Weeks passed in much the same manner: Emma and Regina meeting in the clearing to practice sword fighting, ride together or just simply to sit on the grass and talk. Letters exchanged via bird in the dark of night and Regina and Henry keeping Emma a secret from Cora. That is, until an invitation to the ball arrived.

"To mark the occasion of Emma White of Misthaven's Coming of Age the King and Queen have requested the attendance of

Regina, Henry and Cora Mills

At their castle on the 22nd of October from half past 7 for a night of dancing,

We look forward to seeing you"

"Regina. Regina dear we're finally on the way to the top. An invitation to a royal ball, and look, they've put your name first." Cora bustled about once the breakfast plates had been cleared. "I must respond immediately, Oh Regina dear we must order you a new dress, you simply don't have anything appropriate enough for meeting royalty. And there will be numerous Princes and Lords there." Regina and Henry exchanged smirks as they watched Cora mumble a list of things to herself, little did she know that her daughter had already met royalty, and last time she saw them she had been covered in mud.

"Mother, might I be excused from lessons today as you are in such a good mood. It looks like it's going to be a wonderful day and I'd like to take Rocinante out." Regina held her breath, not sure where the sudden confidence to ask for the day off came from.

Cora thought for a moment before nodding curtly "I don't see why not, as long as you take your father with you and are back for tea-time. Oh my I have so much planning to do." Cora added under her breath as she walked out of the dining room and towards the study to write out a response and collect her thoughts.

"Daddy, I'm just going to write a quick note to Emma and then I'll meet you by the stables." Regina said bounding up from her seat and kissing her father on the cheek before running (thank god Cora had already left) up to her room.

"Emma,

Mother has given me the day off from lessons. I'll be in the clearing from 10 onwards. If you can, I'd like to spend the day with you. If not I'll see you at 3

Regina"

Regina held her hand out to the bird that sat on the branch just below her window and attached the note before changing into her riding outfit and heading out to the stables to meet her father.

Emma had gone back up to her room to collect the book she had forgotten when she saw the bird at her window. Confused she dropped the book on her bed and opened the window. It was far too early for Regina to have sent a letter, she'd be in the middle of her morning lessons just like Emma was. Unrolling the scroll a smile crept over her lips. Emma ran back through the door and down to the library where her mother and tutor were waiting.

"Did you get the book?" Snow asked, looking up from her own as Emma crashed through the doors.

Cursing under her breath Emma replied "No, it's on my bed, but I was just wondering if I could be excused from my lessons today." Emma hurried to explain "Regina sent me a note and she's been given the day off and wants to meet me in the clearing. I don't know if I'll get to spend a full day with her, you've heard what her mother is like."

Snow saw the pleading look in her daughter's eyes and smiled. "Oh go on then, why don't you run down to the kitchens and ask them to prepare a picnic for you, you might as well make the most of the lovely weather."

This time it was Emma's turn to squeal as she hugged and thanked her mother before running straight down to the kitchens. Once she had requested a picnic she ran back up to her room to put on her riding outfit before taking a deep breath and running straight back down to the kitchen to collect her picnic. Emma saddled up Maximus, secured the picnic basket behind her and trotted out to the clearing.

Emma's smile widened once she saw Regina, trotting around the clearing with Henry watching, smiles on both their faces. Regina caught sight of Emma and sped up to meet her as she trotted through the trees.

"You came!" Regina beamed as they both dismounted and embraced.

"How did you manage to get out of lessons?" Emma asked over Regina's shoulder as she smiled at Henry.

"The invitation to your birthday ball put mother in a good mood and she's trying to organise everything so I just took a chance and asked." She replied as she pulled herself out of Emma's embrace. "Is that a picnic basket?" Regina added confused.

"Yeah it was my mothers idea. She said we might as well make the most of the weather and have a picnic. We could ride down to the lake, it's usually lovely at this time of year." Emma suggested, smiling when Regina nodded enthusiastically, looking over her shoulder at Henry who smiled encouragingly.

The duo chose to walk to the lake, it was only a short distance from the clearing, and besides, it was a lovely day. For mid-October the sky was a perfect blue with only a few fluffy clouds punctuating its colour, the tops of trees a dark red shade that petered to brown the closer to ground they fell. Lone wild flowers dotting the path to the lake, bursts of purple, blue and red sprouting up amongst the green and brown of the trees and grass.

Arriving at the lake the girls tied the horses to a tree that still allowed them to drink from the lake but would also allow for shade. Henry opted to walk around the lake, leaving the girls alone but still visible, while Emma pulled out a blanket from the top of the picnic basket and laid it down. Bowing comically Emma held out her hand to help Regina sit down. "My lady." She added with a flourish, making Regina giggle before she pulled on Emma's arm and making her hit the blanket with a thump.

"Sorry." Regina winced "that sounded more painful than I intended it to be."

"Don't sweat it, I'm fine." Emma assured, grinning idiotically, trying to put the smile back on Regina's face. "You hungry? I'm starving!" Emma added, digging around in the basket and pulling out two sandwiches, offering one to Regina.

"You're always hungry." Regina smirked, taking the sandwich while Emma took a bite out of her own. The two sat in a comfortable silence eating their sandwiches, watching the fowl on the water swimming and diving for their own lunch.

"What do you want to do with your freedom today?" Emma asked. Having polished off her sandwich in record time she brushed the crumbs off her lap and sat back on her elbows.

Regina pondered this question, taking another bite of her lunch. "I'm not sure." Giggling softly she explained "I've never had a whole day to waste, to do what I want, so I don't really know what to do. What would you do?"

"Well, it's always nice to relax, I quite like to go swimming myself. This lake is pretty clean and it's always warm." Emma replied, standing up and starting to undress.

"Wait, Emma, what are you doing?" Regina recoiled, trying to look anywhere other than at the blonde slowly undressing beside her.

"Well I can't very well go swimming wearing all my clothes can I? I'll freeze!" Emma pointed out before running full tilt towards the lake and cannonballing in. "Come on in. It's wonderful." She added once her head had popped up from beneath the surface. "Dip your toes at least." Emma pouted noticing Regina's unease.

"How do I know that you won't pull me in?" Regina asked half joking, half serious.

"I guess you'll just have to trust me" Emma winked, treading water, hair fanning out around her.

Regina rolled her eyes and scrunched her nose up in thought before sighing and pulling off her boots. She pulled off her stockings, stuffing them into her boots and rolled up her trousers. Emma beamed at the brunette as she gently dipped her toes into the water before submerging her whole foot and sitting on the bank of the lake. "You're right, it is wonderful." Regina sighed at the warmth enveloping her toes, closing her eyes and relaxing.

Emma started to move towards the brunette, a mischievous look in her eyes. "I can hear you. You know that right?" Regina smirked, opening her eyes and raising her eyebrows.

Emma stopped and pouted. "Spoil sport."

"As much as I'd like to, I think my mother would be able to tell if I went swimming today. And I don't think she'd approve. And I wouldn't put it past her to stop me going out for riding." Regina pointed out.

Emma started to protest before something caught her eye. Regina watched, confused, as Emma swam off about 50 yards from where she was sat. "Now what are you doing?" Regina asked, standing up to get a better look at Emma.

"Shh, do you hear that?"

Regina listened for a moment, before she heard it. A faint chirping sound coming from the reeds. "What is it?"

"I think it's a bird, it looks trapped… I can't get a good angle from here though." Emma said, craning her head, trying to see through the reeds.

"I can, hang on." Regina noted bending down on the bank behind the reeds, she pushed apart the reeds revealing a fluffy grey cygnet. "Oh Emma it's just a baby. The reeds are wrapped around its foot."

"Can you get it free?"

Regina stretched into the reeds, her fingertips just grazing the reeds. Edging forward slightly her hand slipped on the edge of the bank and she tumbled headfirst into the lake. Emma was too shocked to react but when Regina's drenched head broke the surface she burst out laughing. "Oh my god are you okay?" she asked between laughs, trying to be serious but failing miserably.

"I'm fine, you got me wet now are you happy." Regina chuckled, splashing water at Emma. "At least I've got a better angle to free the cygnet now." She added turning round and untying the reed around its foot.

"Stay out of trouble little Swan, we won't always be here to rescue you." Emma said, paddling over to where Regina had released the cygnet. The cygnet chirped and swam off in search of its family. "Do you think it'll be okay?" Emma asked, watching the little one swim.

"I think it'll be fine. Swans are stronger than you think. Me on the other hand, I'm going to catch pneumonia if I don't get out of the lake and into some dry clothes." Regina replied making her way back to bank and pulling herself out of the water.

"Well why don't you take off your wet clothes and you can put my shirt on" Emma suggested treading water "I won't look I promise, then we can go to mine and put your clothes by the fire to dry." Emma added when Regina shot her a look.

Regina decided that she'd rather risk Emma seeing her without clothes on than freeze to death so she shrugged off her sodden jacket and pulled her shirt over her head, reaching down quickly to pull on Emma's, smiling softly when the smell of her reached her nostrils. Behind her Emma climbed out of the lake and pulled on her jerkin and trousers.

"Here, wrap this around you." Emma said, picking up the blanket from the ground and wrapping it around Regina's shoulders.

"Regina, dear are you okay? I saw you fall in." Henry ran up to the pair of them, breathing heavily.

"I'll be fine daddy, Emma's offered to take us back to her castle to dry off. We should still be able to make it back for tea-time." Regina said.

"Well you two go on ahead then, I'll make my own way there." Henry said as Emma came over with the two horses.

Emma nodded and helped Regina up and onto Rocinante, ensuring the blanket stayed wrapped around her shoulders. With a wave goodbye, the two girls trotted off back to the White Castle.

"Emma dear what have you been doing?" Snow asked, rushing forward to greet Emma and Regina as they entered the library.

"Well I went for a swim, and Regina rescued a trapped baby swan and fell in." her daughter explained, sitting Regina down in front of the fire. "So I'm just going to run upstairs and fetch her some warm clothes, can you set hers out to dry please?" Emma didn't wait for an answer before she ran back out the door, leaving her mother confused in her wake.

"Sorry about this Snow."

"Oh nonsense, we can't have you getting ill from this, and it wasn't your fault you fell in trying to save a swan." Snow said bustling around, placing Regina's clothes over the fire to dry and fixing pillows around Regina.

"I really don't want to impose, I need to be back by half 4 or mother will be mad." Regina worried, shivering slightly in her chair.

"You can use our carriage, I really don't feel comfortable with you going back on Rocinante if you're feeling like this, and this way your father can ride with you." Snow added, sitting on the edge of Regina's chair and soothingly stroking her hand.

Emma came back with one of her dresses, a towel and some sweet tea. "Here, this should fit you and I brought you some tea to help warm up. I'm so sorry Regina, if I hadn't persuaded you to dip your toes you wouldn't be here shivering."

"Emma its fine honestly. Today has been one of my favourite days. I'll just have to get a bit creative when I explain to mother why I'm wearing one of the princess's dresses and riding in her parent's carriage." Regina chuckled, smiling at Emma and taking a sip of the tea.

"I'll go and ask the footman to have the carriage ready but you just take your time dear." Snow said as she made her way to the door, opening it to find Henry stood there. "Hello Henry, Regina is fine we're just drying her off and warming her up, do come in." Snow stepped back to welcome Henry in and closed the door behind her.

"Oh Regina what are we going to tell your mother?"

"Well we could tell her the truth? That I fell in a lake and Emma came to my rescue?" Regina suggested.

"Regina are you sure you want your mother to know you're my friend?" Emma asked, stealing a mouthful of Regina's tea and earning a look from the brunette.

"She doesn't have to know that we're friends, but she is going to want an explanation about the dress and the carriage."

"Carriage? What carriage?" Henry asked confused.

"Snow is very kindly letting us take their carriage home. She doesn't feel comfortable letting me ride Rocinante home after today." Regina explained.

"I can follow on Rocinante and then take the carriage home, you can return my dress when it's convenient for you." Emma smiled.

"Well I should probably get changed, we don't want to be late." Regina said, picking up Emma's dress and looking around "Where can I get changed?"

"You can get changed in my room, I'll show you." Emma replied standing up and leading Regina to her room.

Once Regina had donned Emma's dress she couldn't help but look around. She smiled at the stuffed dog-eared bear that sat on top of the pale blue covers of the bed. The bookcase full of stories and history books, no doubt a result of Snow and David's influence. Regina wandered over to the dresser, perusing the items strewn across it and, noticing a piece of parchment sticking out of the side of the jewellery box, opened it. Regina's eyes welled up upon seeing that Emma had kept her letters. She had never had a friend like Emma before, in fact she'd never had a friend of any sort before but she was touched that Emma felt enough of their friendship to keep her letters. Closing the box Regina composed herself before taking one last look around the room and closing the door behind her.

Re-entering the library Regina walked over to the fireplace to inspect her still-wet clothes. "Wow Regina, my dress looks good on you." Emma said, smiling when a pink tinge covered Regina's cheeks.

"I… uh...thank you Emma."

"Oh Regina you look wonderful. I've never seen you in a dress before but they suit you." Snow said, opening the door. "You and Henry can head home whenever you like, the carriage is all ready for you."

"Thank you, your majesty it's very kind of you."

"How many times do I have to ask you to call me 'Snow' Henry?"

"Thank you Snow, Regina and I really should get going now, Cora will start to worry if we aren't back for tea-time." Henry replied looking at Regina who nodded understandably.

The four of them walked out to where the carriage was waiting, Henry helping Regina up, whilst Emma untied Rocinante from the post and climbed on his back. "I'll be back soon Mother. I'm just going to make sure they get back alright." She said as she followed the carriage out of the gates.

Over at the Mills household, Cora was beginning to worry where her family was, and only became more confused upon seeing the Royal Carriage approaching her driveway. "Regina? Henry? Why on earth are you riding in that carriage? Oh my!" Cora called, running out of the house but stopping in her tracks once she saw Emma.

"Good afternoon Cora. My name is Emma." Emma said, climbing down from Rocinante and curtseying.

"If you don't mind my asking, but why are my husband and daughter riding in your carriage? And where did that dress come from?" Cora asked, surveying the dress Regina wore.

"Well-" Emma started to speak but Regina cut her off.

"Mother it's my fault, I wanted to walk by the lake but I… I was uh… I was too close to the edge and fell in. Emma came to my rescue, pulled me out and was kind enough to take me back to her castle to dry off and lend me her dress." Regina waited with baited breath to see if her mother bought it.

"Darling, you know I don't like you being out by the lake." Cora tutted.

"I know Mother I'm sorry but I uh… I just thought that it was such a nice day. My riding clothes are with Rocinante and I'll return Emma's dress tomorrow."

"Regina it's fine you can just bring it to the clearing tomorrow and-" Regina's eyes widened and she shook her head violently.

"Wait… the clearing? What do you mean? Have you two met before?" Cora's gaze shot between Emma and Regina, Regina's brain whirring a mile a minute trying to think of an explanation.

"Well you see mother… I uh… Emma and I have uh…"

"Regina and I met a few days ago in the clearing, just by chance, but then I saw her again yesterday. I just thought that if she's there regularly then it would simply be easier for her to bring my dress to the clearing rather than all the way to my castle." Emma spoke.

"Oh… well… okay then…" Cora said, not really believing Emma but not wanting to argue with the princess. "Would you like to join us for tea?"

"That's very kind of you Cora but I should probably be getting back for my own tea. I'll see you around Regina, if not tomorrow then definitely at the ball?" Emma said, turning to see Regina nod before climbing into the carriage.

The next day Regina was surprised when her riding jacket wasn't in her wardrobe, confused she went in search of her mother to see if she knew where it was.

"Why yes dear. I have it right here. Would you care to explain why there is a tear in the sleeve?" Cora said authoritatively, holding up her jacket and poking a finger through the left sleeve.

Regina's eyes widened. Emma's sword must have caught her arm while they were fighting. She was busted. "Mother I can explain."

"I think you better had Regina. Were you attacked? Why didn't you tell me? I told you the lake wasn't safe."

"No mother it wasn't at the lake, I uh… Emma has uh… Well she's been teaching me how to use a sword." Regina fiddled with the hem of her shirt, studying her mother's face for a reaction.

"You've been using swords?" Cora sank into a chair. "Regina how could you be so reckless? What if someone had seen you? No man is going to want to marry a woman who uses swords! You have ruined us. You have ruined any chance this family had of making it to the top. How could you have been so selfish? To only think of yourself and disregard me! I have already told you that riding was a bad idea, no man wants a wife who can run away so easily but one who can fight too? You will grow old alone, become a spinster and what will become of me? No one will respect me. They will surely laugh at me for having a daughter as crude and unladylike as you Regina."

Regina's face was stoic but her mind was running in circles. Before she knew what she was doing she had ran from the room, down the stairs and out to the stables. She was halfway to the clearing before she realised what she was doing. Bringing Rocinante to a halt she started to panic.

What was she doing? Her mother would surely find her and she would be punished. Severely. Just like the last time. Steadying her breathing Regina's mind went to the only logical solution she could think of. Emma.

It was usually a 10 minute trot to Emma's castle but at the speed Regina was cantering she made the journey in 4. Knocking on the door Regina took this time to try to get her heart to beat at a normal rhythm again; "Sorry, I need to speak to Emma, is she in?" Regina panted once the footman opened the door.

"She is in with her tutor this morning, may I take a message for her?"

"Oh… I… can you tell her I-"

"Regina? What are you doing here? George let her in." Snow called from over the footman's shoulder, moving forward to pull Regina into her arms.

"Mother found out that Emma's been teaching me how to use a sword. She says I've ruined the family." Regina's words were punctuated with sniffles as she tried to stop the tears from falling.

"Oh Regina dear I'm sure she didn't mean it. She was probably just a bit overwhelmed." Snow soothed, cradling Regina's head to her shoulder.

Snow lead Regina to the library where Emma, upon seeing her distressed friend, immediately jumped up to hug her.

"We'll leave you two alone, I'll come back with some sweet tea." Snow whispered, ushering the tutor out of the room.

"Whenever you're ready you just tell me what's got you so upset." Emma said, holding Regina close, leading her over to the chaise. The two stayed huddled together, Regina occasionally taking sips of the tea Snow had brought, neither speaking, the only sound was Regina's breath levelling out.

Eventually, Regina broke the silence. "Mother found out that you've been teaching me to use a sword. She got so mad, I've never seen her like that. Not even when I ran away. She said I've ruined the family, that there's no hope for a good marriage for me now. She said she's never been so disappointed in me." At this Regina burst into tears again.

"Well are you still going to come to the ball?" Emma worried.

Regina sniffed and looked confused; "Why wouldn't I? I said I'd be there so I will. I don't know if mother will be there but father and I will be."

"Cora will get over this, and as far as a good marriage goes, I'd personally love to marry a woman who knows how to use a sword." Emma said casually.

"A woman? Emma, do you hear yourself?" Regina shot up from Emma's arms. "You can't say things like that, what if your parents hear you?" she added looking at the door as if armed guards were about to drag Emma away for saying such things.

"Regina relax. It's okay my parents know. I told them a few months ago. I overheard them talking about a suitable suitor for my hand, so I just told them. Mother didn't take it too well at first but she's said that as long as I'm happy that's all that matters. They said they're going to announce at the ball that it'll be treason to attack anyone verbally or physically for homosexuality or anything that isn't considered 'normal'. So I suppose it's just as well your mother won't be coming." Emma joked, as if she hadn't just announced something huge.

"Wow Emma, that's wonderful."

"How about I walk you home and try to explain all this to Cora? I can ask mother or father to come too, she might actually listen to them." Emma offered with a smile.

"You may walk me home, but please don't speak to my mother. I think it would just make things worse."

"I'll go and tell mother. She won't want me walking back alone." Emma nodded understandably, and got up to find Snow.

10 minutes later Emma was walking Regina and Rocinante back to her house, Killian in tow keeping his distance from the girls.

"I'll leave you here, it'll probably be easier for you if she doesn't see me. I'll be in the clearing at the usual time tomorrow but if you're not there I will understand and I'll look forward to seeing you next week for my birthday." Emma said as she hugged Regina, leaving her to walk the driveway alone as she turned back.

Regina handed Rocinante's reins over to the stable boy and pushed open the front door, walking as quietly as possible she headed upstairs to her room.

"Where have you been?" Regina froze, her foot hovering over the bottom step of the stairs as Cora's voice came from the doorway of the dining room.

"I… uh…" Regina stammered before realising she didn't need to hide her friendship with Emma anymore. "I was with Emma. We were just talking. She wanted to make sure that I was still coming to the ball next week. And I assured her that father and I will be attending, I'm not so sure about you." Regina added, turning defiantly to stare Cora down.

Cora looked taken aback, "I would like to attend, I need to do some damage control incase anyone has seen you with a sword. I've told you no man will want a wife who uses a sword."

"Yes well, if it's all the same to you mother I'm rather tired so I think I'll be heading to bed now. Good night." Regina turned on her heel and continued up the stairs, head held high.

Please review! The next chapter will be the ball itself :)