AN: Hello everyone :) Well, tonight's the night *waggles eyebrows*. I hope you are up for a fairly long chapter (considering the length of the rest that is), because I decided that part of the reason the plot has been moving so slowly is due to the shorter chapters.. so, I made this one longer. So think of it as two chapters wrapped up in one, bc this one is double the length of the rest with change to spare ;)
A side note... when I talk about the Dark Castle, I realized today while looking at photos on Google I have been mentioning the wrong castle. I meant to be talking about the Dark Palace, i.e. the castle that is Regina's in the show, NOT Rumple's castle. So, even though I named it wrong, know that I am talking about the pointy-castle-of-terror. :D
One more note and I will let you start reading... if you are unaware of what a Capriole move is (for a scene involving Percival), I encourage you to Google a GIF of it. It's wicked neat :)
Oh, I have started to initiate "..." for breaks within the same scene, just in case you were wondering.
Lastly... I have read your reviews and I have listened to you guys whine and complain about the Queen, so I sure hope I hear just as much about her now that she is here (spoiler alert) as I did when she wasn't - i.e. reviews are appreciated and I do take them into account.
Until next time...
Skye
Emma rode for three days before reaching the Black River. Twice she nearly ran into Black Knights, three times she ran into passing travelers. One particular family of five had eyeballed her curiously, her expensive clothing and royal crest announcing her allegiance. The man and woman had whispered to each other the significance of her arrival into the Black Kingdom's borders, and Emma was confident her arrival would be anything a surprise to the Queen by the time she reached the castle.
She had decided during her journey that it would be no use concealing herself and risk the Queen identifying her on site, or some lowly soldier giving her away. No, she would face this head on. For her people, for Graham, for herself.
Stopping at the river's edge, she surveyed the forest around her. Everything was still as stone. Keen eyes scanned the banks of the river's opposite side until she landed on a single raven staring at her from a old oak tree. Emma wondered briefly if it was one of the two that been near the White Castle, but quickly dismissed it as irrelevant. She had heard that the Evil Queen used many animals, among ravens, as spies; so whether or not the bird was one she'd seen before or not wasn't any reason to trust the sight of it. The bird's head flitted back and forth as it analysed her presence before giving her a particular chilling caw and flying north in the direction of the castle.
Good, she thought. The quicker she drew the Queen out of the castle, the quicker she could get to work on bringing her down. The wind blew down from the north, blowing her long hair back into the wind behind her and exposing her neck to the frosty air. The White Castle was in the southern region, with a normally warm and temperate climate with only mild winters. The Black Kingdom, however, was in the north. Letting out a shivery sigh, she turned Percival towards the bridge a few feet away and began to cross.
Before she made it to the other side, two trolls jump from the bridge's underside and made their way to her. Percy reared in surprise, striking out with his two front legs and managing to hit one in the head while the other ducked and tried to rip the princess from the saddle. Emma was too quick, pivoting Percy and then cueing him into a capriole as her sharp hearing caught the advance of the first troll on her other side. The move sent Percy up, taking her out of the first trolls reach, before ascending into the air and kicking out with his hind legs, nailing the second troll square in the chest and sending him off the bridge and into the cold water with a loud splash.
She drew her sword at the first trolls throat as soon as her horse was back on the ground. "One move and your blood will paint this bridge." She snarled, teeth bared and eyes glowing. The troll froze in terror. If she were able to witness herself she would've realised it was the frightful red eyes that had caught the creature's attention. However, ignorant in the knowledge, she assumed the trolls obedience was brought about by self-preservation. "Tell me the nearest human residence." she commanded, her gaze never leaving his face as Percy wiggled about with adrenaline.
"Half mile to the east, just over that hill. Follow the river and you'll find it." The troll's low voice rumbled, nervously looking anywhere but at her face."It belongs to a old man and his daughter. Harmless folks, been stealing from them for years."
Emma narrowed her eyes. "Now you don't."
He nodded rather enthusiastically. "Absolutely. Can you let me go now?"
The blonde removed her blade from the troll's neck but did not lower it, instead using it to point over his shoulder to the west. "Go. You'll find your friend downstream in about an hour's time."
The troll nodded and ran off the bridge to find his friend.
Emma waited until she saw the troll scurrying along the steep bank below before dismounting and checking Percival for any injuries. Luckily, the trolls had been unarmed, and once satisfied her mount was in the same condition as before, she remounted and finished crossing the bridge and headed east. The journey wouldn't be long, but the terrain across the river was much rougher than before. She knew she would have to dismount for at least some of it judging by the jagged rocks along the bank. The wind picked up again, causing a shiver to run through her, the thin navy cloak she wore proving little use against the elements.
…
Sometime during her journey, it began to snow and by the time Emma caught the scent of the humans she was visibly shaking under the bitter air. Percy walked quietly to her left, providing some warmth as they went. They had left the river's rocky edge some time ago, taking shelter within the trees once it began to snow. Now, daylight was retreating and the temperature was leaving with it. The Castle was only an hour or two from the bridge, but this little detour to the east had cost her another hour at least. She wouldn't be making any introductions with the Queen tonight as planned. The realization sent her mood floundering with everything else as they moved closer to the little stone cottage she could spot in the distance.
Soon they broke through the trees into the little clearing surrounding the trees. There was still enough daylight to reveal the small cottage, small stable and varying pieces of farming utensils strewn about the place. It wasn't exactly tidy, but it would do for the night.
A dog started barking and Percival lifted his head curiously as the fluffy black hound rounded the side of the cottage, it's bark echoing around the clearing. Emma stopped and waited.
The book cover shut with a slap as Ruby pushed it towards the stack of a few hundred others she'd been going through ever since Emma left. Frustrated, she stood and paced back and forth while trying to rack her brain of any other books that might have any information on what had been behind Emma's reaction that day in the sparing room. All her life she had been taught to respect and love her wolf, and never to resist it for long. Doing so could drive a wolf mad and she worried for her friend.
Their bond had been quiet over the last couple of days, only spiking in a quick bought of rage shortly after dinner had ended. Ruby had been lounging in the common area with Archie and a few others when she had felt it. It had been hot and sharp like a knife driving into her gut that had been resting in a fire. She had clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes, nearly affected by it as much as Emma had been. It was over almost as soon as it started thankfully, but the feeling left the brunette restless and she had excused herself to the library.
Now, she was out of ideas. Running a hand through her hair, she turned away from the books and headed for the kitchens.
…
"Here, take that pie and set it over there for me girl." Granny commanded as she all but thrust a blueberry pie into Ruby's hands the moment she entered the kitchen. Ruby did as she was told and when she was done she came back and leaned against the giant table in the center where Granny was dutifully rolling dough. When she didn't say anything, Granny summarized the reason for her presence, "Didn't find anything in the library again?"
Ruby shook her head and sucked her teeth before letting out a sigh. "No."
The older woman made a noncommittal noise and flipped the dough. "Told you. What you're looking for isn't going to be found in books."
"Do you have any other suggestions?" Ruby breathed out, reaching forward and grabbing an apple from the bowl on the opposing counter and taking a bite.
"You could always check with Bandos." Granny proposed with another flip of the dough.
"Who?" Ruby said blankly, not familiar with who her grandmother was referring too.
"Squire Bandos. His father was a renowned history scholar for King Leopold. If anyone knows the answers to your questions, it'd be him." The older woman stopped rolling the dough and looked at her matter-of-factly. "I know you are worried about her. I am too. When someone ignores their wolf, bad things tend to happen. I hope you can find some answers soon, before Emma gets herself killed."
Ruby sniffed. "Me too." Finished with her apple, she tossed the remains into the fire and left the kitchen, feeling only slightly better than when she arrived. At least she had a lead.
"H-hello? Who's out there? Show yourself!" A female voice called from the far side of the cottage.
Emma lifted her eyes from the barking hound who had stopped halfway between the voice and herself, using her wolf's vision to see an attractive young woman with long dark hair, piercing blue eyes and a crossbow looking nervously at her. The blonde lifted her trembling hands as a show of surrender and licked her lips before speaking in a quiet, non-threatening voice. "I mean you know harm, I only wish to seek refuge from the cold for the night."
"Y-your eyes!" The girl gasped.
"I am a descendant of Loki." Emma said firmly, hoping that would hold sway to the girl. Loki, an ancient God from long ago, was said to be the father of her race. It was said that he had shapeshifting abilities which he passed down to his children, her ancestors. Although Loki himself hadn't the best reputation, associating with him meant associating with the kind and pure reputation of the White Kingdom, and would hopefully be enough to assure the girl that the blonde meant no harm.
"Turnskin." The girl lowered the crossbow but kept it armed. Emma winced at the common term for species, but remained silent. "From the White Kingdom."
"Yes." Emma confirmed, her voice wavering slightly from the cold.
The girl looked at her shivering, blue eyes shining with something akin to pity that had Emma bristling inside, before releasing the arrow out of it's catch and returning it to it's quiver. "Alright. Just for the night. Put your horse in the stable, there is plenty of hay and my father is away on business so there is an open stall for him. I'll put some tea on." She looked over to the dog, "C'mon Gaston." The mutt looked between them, huffed in Emma's direction, and then turned to follow the girl into the house.
Emma watched them go, then led Percy towards the stable. Once inside, she quickly unsaddled him and gave him a quick wipe down with a nearby rag to remove the light layer of snow that had fallen on him. Once she was content that he was as dry as she was going to get him, she put him in the open stall and tossed him a few flakes of hay, happy to see there was already water in a bucket in the corner. "I'll see you in the morning Perce." She told him, smiling when he completely ignored her in favor of stuffing his face with his dinner. On the walk out, she stopped to pet the pretty bay horse in the other stall, scratching it's forehead affectionately.
When she let herself into the cottage, the young woman was by the fire, taking a small whistling kettle from the heat and setting it onto the table. "Do you take sugar in your tea?" the stranger asked.
Emma shook her head, "No thank you, plain is fine." The girl nervously flitted about collecting two mugs and pouring them tea while Emma removed her soaked cloak and hung it on nail by the door.
"Please, take a seat at the table and drink some tea, you must be freezing."
The blonde hummed in agreement and sat down at the small table, taking the chair closest to the fire before bringing the mug up to her lips.
"I'm Belle." The young woman announced after a few minutes of sitting in silence. Emma paused her movement of bringing the mug to her lips again and thought about how she wanted to introduce herself. Obviously, she couldn't tell Belle who she really was, for fear of too many questions being thrown at her that she didn't want to answer. So… she lied.
"Emily."
"Really? You don't look like an Emily." Belle blurted out, then quickly looked down at the table, cheeks blushing pink. "I apologize, that was rude of me."
Emma smiled, ignoring the apology. "No? What do I look like?"
Belle looked up at her, eyes wide. "Um, well, I don't know… just not an Emily."
The blonde chuckled, "I will keep that in mind."
"So, what brings you north?" Belle asked, taking another sugar cube from the bowl between them and placing it in her mug with a plop.
"Definitely not the weather." Emma quipped, finishing her tea and pouring herself another mug full. "But I guess you could say I was looking for a change of scenery."
Belle, who was smiling in entertainment at Emma's light humor, nodded politely. "I see. And what do you think of the scenery so far?"
Emma pinned the younger woman with a sultry stare, causing Belle's eyes to widen at the unintended innuendo and her cheeks to tinge pink again. "I-I mean… I-" she smiled again and ran her hands through her hair before setting them palm side down on the table. Squaring her shoulders, she seemed to catch a wave of bravery as she tried to explain herself. "I didn't mean to imply-"
The blonde interrupted her by laughing, full belly as Emma stood and walked closer to the fire. "Relax, I didn't come here for that." She paused, letting the fire wrap comfortably around her. "Although the scenery so far has been… charmingly beautiful." She looked back at Belle and gave her a little wink.
Emma wasn't one to flaunt her sexuality, and she didn't flirt often back home. However, she was feeling rather awkward standing in some stranger's dining room, and it seemed to be manifesting itself in strange ways. Not that she dwelled on the feeling much, it was sort of nice to be out of her parent's grasp without consequences.
Belle smiled at the compliment and stood, collecting their mugs and setting them in the sink. "Is there anything else I can get you?"
"Well, I wouldn't say no to dinner and a warm bath but I'll take whatever I can get." Emma replied, her bravado from moments before dissipating as she withdrew a bit, suddenly missing her private bath and the palace cooks.
"I can heat up a pot of water for a sponge bath?" Belle suggested kindly, "And I just set leftovers from dinner in the cellar to cool, it isn't much… cabbage soup and rabbit, but it'll fill you up."
"Thank you." Emma returned with a grateful smile.
Belle smiled, "We may be from different kingdoms, and they may not see eye to eye, but that shouldn't stop people from being decent to each other."
Emma nodded, "I couldn't agree more."
The next morning, Emma awoke with the sun. Quickly, she redressed and headed down stairs, intent on sneaking out of the cottage before Belle stirred. Unfortunately, she found Belle putting finishing touches on a meager breakfast of dried fruit and bread in the kitchen and found her feet walking in that direction. It would be rude to just walk out when the young brunette had put an effort into making breakfast anyway.
"Good morning." Belle greeted cheerily.
"Good morning." Emma returned, a little shyly as she sat down at the table.
"Help yourself to the fruit, there is porridge cooking over the fire that will be done soon as well." Belle offered, motioning to the plate between them.
"Thank you, honestly, you're being too kind." Emma said as she popped a oven dried strawberry into her mouth.
"Nonsense, I am just helping out a kind stranger." The brunette insisted.
They continued on like that, lightly complimenting the other's kindness and discussing benign subjects like favorite foods and the weather until Emma decided it was time to leave. She thanked Belle again for her kindness and then excused herself to the barn, where, she happily discovered Percy munching on his morning hay. Belle must've woken early and done all of the chores prior to making breakfast. The thought made her smile, and she thought if things were different, she and Belle would most definitely be friends.
After her horse was ready and saddled, she exited the stable and mounted. Snow crunched beneath his hooves as he danced around with the energy of the new day. His enthusiasm was infectious and Emma allowed herself a moment to laugh with him. If she had to guess, more than five inches of snow had fallen during the night. It was colder today, and she was already shivering underneath her light cloak. But the ride would be short and once they got going, the heat rising off of Percy's back would help to keep her warm.
"Wait! I have something for you!" Belle called, rushing over to her with a thick, white fur. "It'll help keep you warm." she said as she handed up to Emma.
Emma smiled, "I couldn't possibly take something so nice from someone with so little."
"Then bring it back to me when you can." Belle reasoned, "Consider it a lend."
"Okay." Emma agreed, taking the warm fur and putting it around herself.
"It suits a member of the royal White family." The younger woman decided with a nod.
"Thank you, Belle. For everything. I will always remember your kindness." The Princess promised, thinking that if the prophecy surrounding her birth had an ounce of truth to it, she'd repay Belle's hospitality handsomely.
"Halt!"
Emma did as commanded, Percival coming to a standstill as they both watched as at least a dozen Black Knights poured from the Dark Castle's gates, the sentinel's above on the curtain wall positioned with arrows pointed in her direction. She held up her hands in surrender as the knights encircled around her.
"What is your business here?" One barked at her.
"I've come to offer my allegiance to the Evil Queen." Emma stated firmly, eyes flickering between the knights, keeping a constant vigilance.
"And who might you be?" Another asked from behind her.
The blonde pivoted Percival to face him, her chin tilting up with a mixture of pride and arrogance as she announced her title. "I am Emma White, Princess of the White Kingdom, and I demand an audience with your Queen."
A sultry cackle emanated from behind Emma, and she turned to see the Knights parting as a beautifully dark woman wearing a cloak made of black feathers sauntered in. "You demand an audience with the Queen?" The woman repeated salaciously as she neared Emma, "How brash of you, my dear."
Emma narrowed her eyes, standing her ground as the woman wrapped a gloved hand around her horse's reins, looking up at her with long dark lashes and eyes the color of chocolate. Emma felt her heart flutter at the sight, but blinked the feeling away as she squared her shoulders arrogantly. "I don't believe I stuttered."
The woman laughed, looking around at her soldiers who joined her, albeit less enthusiastically. When those brown eyes pierced hers again, Emma felt her wolf rise to the surface and fought back a snarl. She was supposed to be feigning allegiance, not getting herself killed before even entering the castle.
"My dear Princess, do you know how many people have drowned in a pool of their own blood for being as cavalier as yourself?" The dark woman replied silkily, a warning laced within the words as she preoccupied herself with petting Percival's neck.
Emma remained unshaken. "I won't be one of them."
"Oh?" Dark eyes flitted to hers again, amusement shining in them like infinite stars.
The blonde nodded confidently. "I may have renounced my title to the White Kingdom, but my death would still start a war that you are not prepared to fight, your Majesty."
The Evil Queen laughed again, louder and fuller than before, as if Emma had just told her the funniest joke she'd ever heard. When she finally caught her breath, she made a diplomatic hand gesture to the Knight closest to Emma, and before the wolf could react, she felt thundering pain against the side of her head, and then she was unconscious.