Chapter 7

Making their way along the pathway back to the princess' horse, Emma looks towards the young woman trailing behind her, glancing around the open space with a mixture of curiosity and fear. Reaching for her hand, the blonde smiles reassuringly. "It's going to be okay. Besides your mother has no knowledge of me. All that she will know is that you got out and escaped some how..."

Gripping tightly to her hand, the brunette gulps as she moves herself as close as possibly to the princess' back. "I know.." Noticing a guard up ahead, Regina stops in her tracks. "Emma who is that?!"

Also coming to a halt, the blonde peers over her shoulder. "It's okay. He's my guard..well my parents guard but like I said my father. Trust me. He can take us back to the castle safely"

Biting on her lip while trying to hold any threatening tears from falling, the young woman then sniffles. "..maybe I should have just stayed in the tower..."

"No!" Turning around to face Regina, the princess looks mortified. "Don't ever say that! I know this all seems very daunting but you're not alone"

Nodding slowly, the brunette shifts forward and rests herself against the blonde who instinctively wraps her arms around the younger woman's back. "I'm scared Emma. My mother is capable of terrible things and I..I don't want anyone to get hurt. Especially you.."

"I'll be fine. Let's get back to the castle and get a good nights sleep. We can decide on everything else tomorrow" encouraging Regina towards her horse, the princess signals to her guard for them to leave as the two women mount the steed and begin to ride off.

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Managing to avoid any awkward questions over Regina's presence and who she was, the two women were grateful to be lead straight to the princess' bedchamber and left alone for the night. Taking in her new surroundings, the brunette stares in amazement. "Your room is the size of my whole tower"

Slightly embarrassed at having such space when the young woman hardly had any, Emma bites her lip. "I know..it's..not exactly fair..I'm sorry"

"Why are you apologising?" Peering over towards the balcony intrigued, Regina stops. "It's how you were brought up. You never asked or stole to get here..it's your life"

Approaching the brunette, the princess stands beside her before nudging her arm gently and holding up a nightgown for her to borrow. "I still feel bad..but I know what will make me feel better and that's making you happy"

"You've already done so much Emma" accepting the nightgown, Regina smiles and presses a quick kiss to the blondes cheek.

Watching the young woman disappear back inside the room and behind the screen to change, the blonde then peers back out the balcony, wondering how Regina felt with this as her only view since she was young.

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Lifting her head as her husband enters the hall, Snow places her book to the side. "Did Emma return safely from her ride?"

"Yes she did" David responds with a smile as he takes his place next to his wife in the arm chair before rubbing his hands together in front of the fire.

Biting her lip, the brunette frowns. "She seems to be going for a lot of rides lately..should we be worried?"

Giving the woman a look as he knows his wife worries too much, the prince shakes his head. "You know Emma, always adventurous. She just likes exploring that's all"

"While I encourage her freedom David, I also want her to be happy with finding love. The kingdom frowns upon an unwed queen and when the time comes she needs someone to be at her side. I would love for her to find love in the same way we did but it's not always possible"

"She still has time Snow..I'm sure it will all work out"

Smiling at her husband's faith, Snow reaches across for his hand affectionately. Clasping their hands together, the prince smiles back before frowning at hearing a loud bang coming from the entrance to the castle.

Peering towards the door wide eyed, the Queen grips her husband's hand. "David.."

"Wait here. Don't move unless I say" the prince warns as he rises from his seat and heads out along the corridor as three guards surround the main doors before opening at the consistent banging. Seeing red locks come into view, David sighs at seeing the princess but grows concerned at her worried state. "Snow!"

Appearing in the doorway, the brunette follows her husband's stare towards the redhead. "Princess Zelena?"

Glancing at the guards warily as they begin to back down, Zelena steps forward and up to the reigning pair. "I apologise for my intrusion this late but I really need to speak with Princess Emma if possible.."

Moving forward, Snow takes hold of the girls shaking hands. "Zelena..sweetheart what's wrong?"

Trying not to grow teary, the redhead bites her lip. "Please your majesty, I just need to speak with Emma"

Glancing briefly towards her husband, the woman then nods as she slips a comforting arm around the princess' back. "Of course..I will take you to her" leading the redhead up to her daughter's chamber, Snow attempts a reassuring smile before knocking once and opening the door before looking inside. "Emma, Princess Zelena is here to-"

Pausing wide eyed in her movement as she had begun making a bed out of her cushions and blankets at the foot of her bed, the blonde gulps as she then follows her mother's silent stare towards the fearful looking brunette sat on her bed while hugging at her nightgown in a protective manner. Pursing her lips confused, the queen goes to question but is prevented by Zelena rushing inside.

"Regina!" Hurrying around the bed, the redhead pulls her sister into a tight hug before leaning back to inspect the young brunette carefully. "Are you okay? I went to the tower and you wasn't there..I.."

Taking hold of her sister by her arms, Regina smiles reassuringly. "Zelena, I'm okay"

"Emma, what is going on?" Snow calls out, silencing the room as the trio of young woman look in her direction.

Dropping her cushion, the princess looks guilty. "I was helping a friend mother.." Peering over her shoulder, the blonde continues. "This is Regina..she's.."

"She's my sister" Zelena blurts out as she keeps hold of Regina's hand while the brunette removes herself from the bed, realising she is in front of a queen.

Releasing her hand, the young woman walks over to Snow and bows her head. "Your majesty, I'm sorry..I know I should not be here..but Princess Emma has been helping me. My mother Cora, she has held me within a tower since I was born and recently it has got bad..she has magic you see and..Emma helped get me out"

Staring in disbelief, the Queen then frowns. "You're..Cora's daughter?..we never knew of another daughter.."

Taking hold of Regina's arm as the young woman shakes slightly, the blonde princess looks sad. "She was kept a secret..as she is not the King's daughter.."

"She betrayed my father" Zelena pipes up also sad.

Looking into the young brunette's tearful eyes, Snow clears her throat due to a lump forming at the information given. "So you were locked away in a tower since you were a child..." Moving forward, the Queen gently takes hold of Regina's face and smiles. "Then you must stay here until we figure out what to do.."

Hitching her breath at the touch and care, Regina then panics. "You won't send me back to her will you?"

Shaking her head abruptly, Snow pulls the girl into a hug. "Never. Do not worry child, you will be safe from now on"

Giving a small smile, the brunette replies. "I wish I could believe that..but mother's a very powerful woman.."

"Even so, we have our own power to fight back"

Glancing across to the princess and her sister, Regina stares at them worried.

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Leaving the two sisters in the capable hands of granny the cook for a hot drink to calm their nerves, Snow calls her daughter into the main hall. Walking inside slowly, the blonde bites her lip as she clasps her hands together nervously. "Mom..I'm sorry I didn't tell you but..I was trying to not let her get hurt and if I had mentioned anything while she was still in the tower and under the influence of her mother..it could have ended badly. I panicked. Zelena panicked"

Reaching out to grab her daughter's hands, the Queen smiles. "Emma stop apologising. Yes I would have liked it if you had come and talked to me but at the same time you shown to me what strength you have and what a great leader and queen you will be someday. You put the needs of the kingdom, of Regina before your own"

Looking slightly embarrassed, the princess ducks her head. "Well yes of course I did, I mean Regina is-"

"You're friend" Snow concluded with another smile.

Frowning a little, Emma looks back up to her mother, realising how clueless she actually is. "Right...friend.."

Releasing her daughter's hands, the queen turns towards the main doors. "I'll have the guest chambers made up for Regina and Zelena to stay in. Your father is currently sending word to King Henry to arrange a meeting tomorrow"

"Oh.." Feeling herself deflate at Regina having to stay elsewhere, the blonde mentally curses herself as of course it would not be any other way, even if her mother knew that the pair were more than friends. "It's going to be quite a shock for him.."

"Shock..I think it would be more than that Emma, it's treason after all.."

Following her mother out, the princess gulps. "You mean her penalty could be death?"

Shrugging lightly, Snow hugs at the young woman's shoulders. "It's possible. Anyway it's nothing for you to fret over.."

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Watching her sister practically devour a muffin, Regina glances towards her own on a plate and sighs. She was hungry, starved even, but she had other pressing matters on her mind rather than her stomach. She knew it was all going to be disastrous for the next few days and no matter the outcome, her life as she knew it will change. Trying to shake away any negative thoughts, the brunette frowns as she once again looks to Zelena. "Did you not get married?"

Swallowing the last of the muffin, the redhead clears her throat with a smile. "Yes I did, but it all worked out for the best. It was actually my father who had set it up and mother just had to approve of the boy while completely unaware that he was a close childhood friend who always looked out for me. Father knew this and chose him so that I would be happy. His name is Robin and like me he's quite adventurous. The only fall out we will have from mother at the moment is that we do not wish to rush into a family. He actually brought me here..as soon as I came back I went to the tower and he said he would take me anywhere I needed to.." Ending off with a dreamy stare, the princess then chuckles to herself at how she is acting. Leaning across the table, Zelena then rests her hand upon the brunette's arm. "Anyway. What about you and a certain blonde princess upstairs?"

Immediately going red, Regina looks to her plate again. "There's nothing to tell..as such..I love her and well I hope she loves me but that all depends on her parents now doesn't it? It's still...new.."

Sniggering, the redhead rolls her eyes. "Tell that to your face next time you're glued together at the lips"

Appearing shocked, the brunette then drops her head down onto her arms upon the table. Hearing footsteps at the staircase, Zelena stands upon seeing Snow then Emma and clears her throat towards her sister who quickly stands and bows her head down again.

Smiling, the short haired queen walks over. "Regina honey, you do not need to do that every time. Just for the sake of the public.."

Biting her lip, the brunette steps back awkwardly. "..sorry..I just..I've never been in the company of royalty before.."

Nudging her elbow, Zelena waits for her sister to look over. "Technically you're royalty sis..you're a princess too"

Eyes widening slightly, Regina gulps. "I..guess so...would you excuse me your majesty, I'm feeling rather tired.."

Nodding with a frown at the girl's sudden change in mood, Snow replies. "I have set up the guest chamber opposite Emma's..her maid will show you..."

"Thank you.." Briefly glancing at her sister, the brunette makes her way past the Queen, giving Emma a small smile then starts up the stairs. Reaching the top, the young woman hurries towards her chamber before leaning against the bed and taking a deep breath.

"Regina?"

Peering over towards the door at her name being called followed by a knock, Regina sniffles and straightens herself up as the blonde princess enters the room.

"Hey..are you okay?"

Blinking back her tears, the brunette simply nods. Watching as Emma approaches slowly, Regina bites down on her lip as the woman wraps her in a tight hug, prompting a few sobs to escape the brunette's mouth.

Holding onto her tightly, the princess frowns in concern as she takes a deep breath herself. "Please don't cry.."

Giving a couple of hiccups as she tries to calm herself down at Emma's heartbroken words, Regina rests her head down onto her shoulder while clinging to the blondes back. "I don't know what to do or how to feel..I'm not used to all this and it's all too much..I don't want to sound ungrateful but it's..one minute I was in the tower and I knew how my life was going to be and the next I'm here and there's this new family and I'm a princess..I..just..Emma, I'm not a princess.."

Cradling the young woman's head, the princess kisses her crown and remains still. "It's okay..nothing is expected of you. You don't want to be a princess then don't be one. Regina it's your life and you do as you please. We will all support you no matter what you decide to do"

"That's hard to say. The King doesn't even know who I am, Zelena now has a husband..mother is..probably out to kill me and your parents think I'm a just a friend.."

"Then I will put them straight about it first thing. People may grow and drift apart but I promise you, you're stuck with me. Even if it meant following you to the ends of the earth because you want to travel and see the world. I will be right beside you"

Tightening her grip, the brunette finally lets out a smile. "I want to be stuck with you"

Chuckling, Emma pulls back enough to look at her then plants a series of kisses over her face. "Good"