Thanks for the amazing response to the first chapter! Here we go. Sorry gotta get a little more political drama before the plot deepens.
13 years ago.
Fairy Tale Land
The United Kingdoms Council
"What is going on with you," Snow whispered as her daughter continued bouncing her leg up and down in her seat. She'd begun wondering if Emma ate coffee beans directly instead of waiting for them to be ground.
"Nothing,"
"Well something is going on honey," David reached over and placed his hand over his only child's. Emma was always restless when she had to sit still, but today was different. She'd had a nervous energy all week and it seemed to reach its apex that morning. She hadn't eaten much at breakfast, which was a huge signal that something was wrong.
"I'll tell you both later. The meeting is almost over." Emma shook her head as her mother attempted to speak again. She turned her face back to one of the UK's members who was giving the closing speech. It was the same as it was every year, just different metaphors or inflections. They were meeting to keep peace, ensure the safety of all who inhabited their realm, blah-blah-blah.
As he dismissed the rulers, Emma grabbed her mother's hand before she could get up.
"Please wait. I need to-to…..to discuss something with both of you, but I ask that you keep an open mind."
"What is it my little Swan?"David asked.
"I want you to know that I love you both. I love our home, our kingdom and I would never do anything to jeopardize the Enchanted Forest. Believe me when I say, I never do anything without thinking as to how it will affect the kingdom," Emma glanced up to see Regina heading into the meeting room behind them. She smiled. "So know that despite what you may feel, I know what I am doing."
Emma stood up and reached out for her father, who had a frown on his face. Her mother didn't look much better. Both had their faces crinkled in confusion. The blonde ran a hand up and down her mother's arm in a effort to calm them. Sure it would only last about five seconds but that five seconds was better than nothing.
The Royal family of the White Kingdom entered the small meeting hall, only for the King and Queen to stop abruptly as they saw Queen Cora sitting at the table inside with Regina standing to her right.
"Emma what is the meaning of this," David growled.
"I must ask you the same dear," Cora said to her daughter. "I don't appreciate being the presence of the so-called righteous."
"Mother please," Regina murmured. She glanced at Emma for a brief moment, allowing her fear to show plainly. There was no way this was going to end well. Not a minute in each other's presence and they were already throwing barbs. It was only a short while till those barbs were laced with fire.
"You Majesty, Queen Cora," Emma curtsied to the Dark Queen. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Princess Emma, of the Enchanted Forest, Daughter of Snow White, first of her name, and the Prince Consort David."
"I know who you are. What I want to know is why you have deemed it necessary to waste my time and how you managed to convince my daughter to join you in this foolishness?"
"Emma, please tell us what is going on." Snow said.
"Well mother, I want to have a formal meeting with you and Queen Cora," Emma stepped forward and reached out her hand to Regina, the Dark Princess coming to her side immediately, "to announce my betrothal to Princess Regina of Valentia."
The room went silent for a moment. Both girls held their breath.
"The hell you are!" the Prince Consort yelled, stepping forward and yanking Emma back roughly. "Emma, have you lost your mind?"
"No father," she said pulling her arm out of his grasps. "I am in love and I want to marry Regina.
"No baby," Snow said coming out of her stupor. The White Queen stepped forward, putting her hands on her daughter's cheeks. "You- You can't be in love with….with her. You don't even know her."
"Mother, I am. Regina is my love, my True Love. We have been courting for three years."
"What?"
"Every month when I told you I was going on a tour of the boundaries of our nation, I was meeting Regina at the edge the Enchanted Forest," Emma said softly. "I love her mother." Mother and daughter were pulled from their conversation by the cackle that came from behind them. Everyone turned to look at the Dark Queen, who was laughing so hard, that there were tears in the woman's eyes.
"Mother?" Regina asked.
"This is….this," Queen fought hard to contain her glee. "This, my dear…" Cora shook her head, pulling her child to her with a smile. "You did something right for once in your life."
"What?" The other four in the room said simultaneously. Everyone was stunned, none more so than Regina. She was sure her mother would have been furious.
"Mother, you are not angry at me for getting betrothed to Princess Emma without your permission?"
"While I would like to have known you were courting, I am not displeased with your choice. A royal. The heir to the throne of one of the largest kingdoms in our realm. How could I be angry?" Cora smiled. "Do you truly love this girl?"
"Yes Mother. I do." The Dark Queen nodded and turned to the White Family.
"I give an acceptance of your daughter's offer of marriage on behalf of King Henry of Valentia."
"We have given no offer of marriage," David said angrily. "My daughter did not receive permission to ask for Regina's hand."
"We accept," Emma said quickly. Her father's face turned red. She hadn't seen such anger on her father's face in years, and never had it been directed at her. "Please Your Majesty, may I speak with my parents alone."
Cora nodded, the maniacal smile still gracing her face.
The moment Cora and Regina exited the room, Emma turned to her parents.
"I know you are upset…"
"Upset! Emma this is more than just upset! You have made an offer of marriage to the most devious of kingdoms. You don't know them like we do!" David yelled.
"You're right! I don't know King Henry, or Queen Cora but I know Regina!"
"No you don't!" Snow said. "That girl has been raised by two of the most heinous people alive. Her mother is known for ripping out hearts for heaven's sake!"
"Regina loves me. That is all that matters."
"I don't even know if she can love Emma," Snow sighed. "No, you won't marry her. She will not rule over the Enchanted Forest. I forbid it."
"Then you no longer have an heir." Emma stated.
"What?"
"I will abdicate my rights as heir of the Enchanted Forest if you will not allow me to marry the woman I love."
"Emma you can't do that," David said.
"You preached to me all my life about True Love. How you and mom found each other. How no matter what happened you made it through because you loved each other. It was a none issue that you were raised a sheep herder and she was a princess. Where you came from didn't matter," Emma said angrily. "Now all of a sudden it does?"
"True Love does overcome all, but Regina does not love you. How do you know this is not all some plot cooked up by Cora to get access to the Enchanted Forest?"
"Because I know her. I see her Dad. I see Regina, not the Dark Princess." Emma whispered. "You don't know her. All her 23 years she has lived under this title due to who her parents were. And all she wants is to be herself. I know her. She is a woman who wants to be someone other than who others tell her she is. How can she do that if no one will give her the chance?"
"Emma," Snow frowned.
"I have never felt this way before," Emma could feel tears welling up. "If you don't want to allow it because of my love for her, then do it for the political benefits."
"What?"
"I was going to use this argument on Cora, but if we marry, the Dark Forest is no longer neutral but a part of the Enchanted Forest and Valentia. We would be able to use its resources, instead of it remaining stagnant. Also, Cora would be prevented from attacking us ever. We would have access to their mines, which are filled with Fairy Dust, above all the other minerals that are there, which they don't even use because its light magic. I know this because Regina told me." Emma ticked off the points on her fingers. "We would have the largest duel-army in the entire realm, although that probably appeals more to Cora than you. You would have two magical sorceresses added to the White defense system. They have some of the best blacksmiths in the realm-"
"You thought this through." Snow interrupted.
"The moment I realized I was in love with her I wanted to make sure nothing stood in our way. Not to mention, if you backed out now, I'm sure Valentia would take that as a slap in the face. You would also be without an heir." David turned to Snow, who still had a look of shock on her face.
"We did raise her to think for herself. This is the result."
"Father, you did raise me to think for myself, but you didn't raise a fool," Emma said. "I love Regina with all my heart and I know fully that she feels the same way. I didn't make an offer of marriage to her lightly, nor did she push it. It was my idea. She nearly refused because she knew you would react this way, even though I told her it would be fine. Don't make my first promise to my fiancée a lie."