Chapter 8

The King and Queen's Castle.

Dancing well into the second piece of music, Emma and David both glance to the tall, dark Duke who had headed their way to introduce himself and ask for the honour of a dance with the blonde Princess. The King nods and releases his daughter into the arms of the Duke before heading back to his throne. Emma attempts a smile as she dances for the third time with someone she really didn't want to dance with. "This is..hurting my feet.." Looking up at him, she frowns slightly hearing the pair beside them who are dancing talk about a strange dark haired newcomer. A woman in a blue dress.

Pausing in his step, the tall Duke nods. "Would you like to go and talk Princess?"

Swallowing hard, Emma quickly scans the room and manages to see a glimpse of blue between the crowd. Glancing up more, she catches a dark braid and immediately lets go of the Duke's hand. "No..thank you, if you would excuse me I am in need of some air.." Turning away, the Princess hastily leaves causing an alarm to her parents who stand as guests all turn to see what is going on and witness the young royal exit out the double doors.

Racing outside, Emma takes a deep breath once there and leans against the cool stone wall. Hearing a rush of footsteps, the Princess sighs, looking defeated and pushes herself off of the wall to hide within the gardens. As the person hurries to her side, the blonde feels a warm hand quickly clasp hers. "Emma? Are you okay? What happened in there?"

Recognising the voice straight away even with the worry, Emma stops and looks over teary at the brunette. "It is you..you're here.."

Regina smiles and steps closer to look at the Princess properly. "I told you I would try..let's just say the first attempt didn't go so well.."

Frowning, the blonde grips her hand. "Why didn't you come to me?"

Biting her lip feeling awkward, the brunette looks away. "Well..I..saw you..dancing with my...brother..he said he was going to have you by the end of the night.."

Scoffing, Emma tilts the woman's head back to face her. "The only thing he is getting at the end of the night is a carriage home, he got forced to leave for indecent behaviour"

Chuckling, Regina shakes her head. "That does sound like my brother..let me guess, he couldn't dance and stepped on you.."

"You know we don't really do that..throw people out for being terrible dancers, no..he..tried to..grope me.."

Gasping, the brunette looks mortified and angry. "That..that..idiot!" Looking towards the Princess having received silence from her, Regina gulps seeing the blonde look her up and down in a stare.

Realizing that she is staring, Emma gives a coy smile. "You look amazing..."

Regina bites her lip also embarrassed. "Says the Princess...look at what you are wearing..red suits you"

Looking down at herself, the blonde chuckles. "Thank you but it does help if you can breathe.." Hearing some close by talking of guests and her mother, Emma pulls on the brunette's hand which she still has hold of and quickly moves them off to the side gate hidden by the wall. Resting her back against the stone again, she looks at Regina. "I'm glad you're here..I was on the brink of going insane in there..I can't do this..I mean, me run an entire Kingdom?"

The brunette pulls her into a hug as the blonde gets teary again then sighs as she relaxes against the woman in her hold. Burying her head into her neck, the Princess feels a hand stroke the back of her head gently. "It's a matter of you not wanting to Emma but if not given a choice, you can do this"

"I shouldn't even be complaining about my life..not when you get treated so badly.."

"It's okay, we are both being controlled in one way or another..but I'm here, for you..if you want.."

Pulling back, the blonde gives a teary smile causing Regina to reach across and swipe her tears with her thumb. Looking at her, Emma takes her hand again and hesitantly leans forward without breaking eye contact. Knowing what is to come, the brunette gives her hand a squeeze and prepares to meet her half way. As their lips are about to touch, the castle clock sounds through the garden, prompting Regina to jump back realizing the time. "..oh no..I have to go"

Emma frowns in confusion. "What?..but.." Watching the brunette look fearful and begin to walk away at a fast pace, the Princess bites her lip feeling lost and in a panic that Regina is leaving, which means she will not see her due to her trip. Rushing after her and before the woman retreats back inside, the blonde calls out. "Regina?! I..I choose you!"

Pausing at the door, the brunette looks over shocked.

Stepping towards her, Emma smiles, clasping her hands together. "Whatever happens inside, with the ball and the suitors, I choose you"

Glancing inside, the brunette walks back up to the Princess hastily and places a quick soft kiss to her lips before looking apologetic and rushing off.

Having seen the interaction between his daughter and this woman who is apparently Regina from the side door, David frowns then watches his daughters sad expression at the woman running off. Looking down, Emma sniffles and turns to walk back inside, catching her breath upon seeing her father standing there. "..dad..I.." Finding it difficult to explain, the blonde stops and looks down again.

"Go to your chambers and prepare yourself for tomorrow. I will deal with your mother"

The Princess slowly nods unsure if he is mad or not then walks back inside in the direction of the staircase to go to her chambers. Upon entering the hallway, the blonde notices a small box strewn on the floor. Crouching to lift it up, Emma sees that it is a gift for her as it is wrapped. Looking around, she rises to her feet and continues on to her chambers. Once inside, Emma rushes over to her dresser and places the box down to open it. Pulling at the loose bit of string, she removes the paper then opens the small box, smiling instantly. Covering her mouth, she lifts the necklace up, revealing a silver pendant with a clear casing that contains a pressed flower, the same flower as the ones she had been leaving for Regina. Turning it around, she runs her hand across the engraving. 'E+R'. Quickly moving her hair to one side, the Princess puts her necklace on then stares at it through the mirror.

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The Mills Estate.

Slamming the front door behind her, Regina froze realizing that her bedroom door is locked. Looking around in a panic, she then glances down to her now torn peach dress. Biting her lip, the brunette looks up with her eyes. "...erm...Tinkerbell?" Feeling a cloud of smoke appear, Regina blinks then notices she is now in the attic as the smoke disperses from her sight. "..thank you?.." Turning to walk towards her bed, she looks wide eyed seeing Neal sat there.

"What the hell is going on?!"

"Neal..I can explain..please do not tell mother"

Laughing, her brother stands. "What have I got to lose from it? Besides I need to get back on her good side after being thrown out of the ball because of the stupid tease of a Princess couldn't handle me"

Glaring, Regina slaps him. "Do not talk about Emma that way!"

Holding his face, Neal walks back to the door. "You're crazy! I'm telling mother everything and you cannot stop me!" Waving the key in front of him, he chuckles and walks out, locking the door once again.

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The King and Queen's Castle.

A few hours later, Emma watches as her door swings open and an disappointed looking Snow walks in followed by her husband. Coming to her daughter's side on her bed, the Queen looks towards the Princess. "Your father informed me that you had fallen ill.." Pressing a hand against the blonde's forehead, the mother still looked hopeful. "Did you manage to find anyone suitable?.."

"Snow!"

"David, she danced with a few tonight.." Continuing to look at her daughter, Snow waits.

Glancing up at her father worried, Emma bites her lip as she answers her mother. "None of the ones I danced with tonight..were suitable because..I..I love someone else.." Ending with a gulp, she looks down.

The Queen raises an eyebrow confused. "Emma, honey..the only other contact you have had besides tonight have been..." Quietening at the thought, Snow looks to David shocked.

The King glances briefly at his wife and then back to his daughter, clearly not shocked by the confession after what he had witnessed. "..I knew it..."

"..David, she cannot.."

Shooting her head back up, the Princess looks teary. "Mom please.."

Looking between the pair, David takes a deep breath. "I'm going to sort this.." Leaving the room, the King calls out for his horse.

Watching, Emma lets her lip tremble as she gets upset. Despite the situation, Snow grabs hold of her and hugs her tightly having always sworn that being a mother came first and Queen second. Yes she was afraid and had tried to keep her daughter from that family but she would never push her away or intentionally hurt her for the sake of her happiness. "It'll be okay..Emma.." Running a hand through her hair, the dark haired woman keeps hold of her clinging daughter while she sobs into her.

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The Mills Estate.

Waiting in the living room for his mother and sister to return from the ball, Neal stands upon hearing the front door and a loud amount of chatter that he swore sometimes, he could not understand how either woman understood the other person as they talked above one another. "Mother?"

Both women looks over towards him with a glare and scold as Cora sets her cloak down and approaches her son. "You boy made a fool out of me tonight, how dare you!"

"I know and I apologise but the Princess was given me mixed signals. Mother I have something else important to tell you, it's about Regina, she got out..I don't know where she went or how but it looked like magic"

Eyes widening, the older brunette glances up towards the stairs. "Oh did she..." Looking back towards her son and daughter, Cora waves a hand. "Children go to your rooms..this will not be pretty.."

Zelena and Neal exchange fearful looks then hurry upstairs, shutting their doors behind them. Cora sighs feeling her anger begin to rise as she mounts the stairs, grabbing the belt off of the hall stand on the way.

A/N: :o