Chapter Three
Ellysetta and Rain showed David and Emma the way back to their palace, where they would spend the next couple of days preparing for their journey. Despite David's protests, both Emma and Ellysetta insisted they stop to rest and drink several times, so he wouldn't pass out again. Honestly, he was walking fine, and David really wanted to find the rest of his family quickly. But they were too busy being worried about him. Humph!
It was weird that the redhead, Ellsetta, kept conjuring the water instead of letting him drink from the river, at least while it was nearby.
"There's water right over there," he pointed to the river the second time she handed him a cup that had magically appeared. David was a lot more comfortable with drinking water from a river than water someone had conjured. Especially since these people were still strangers.
They may have agreed to help him and Emma, but he didn't know them or what type of magic they used. From his experience, few people who used magic were caring people. Cora, Regina, and Gold rarely used magic for good. The only exception to that were the fairies. And Emma, although he tried not to think about his daughter possessing magic. So what was the price for this magical water? "All magic has a price." Rumpelstiltskin's voice rang in his head.
Ellysetta and Rain shook their heads. "The water in the river isn't for thirst quenching. It's called faerilas. It's the Source of our magic, and we use it recharge our magic," the man called Rain said tightly. The fact he spoke at all, especially to him, was surprising. Although he occasionally spoke to Ellsyetta, Rain usually let her talk to David and Emma. So this must be very important. Still, how could water flowing from a river be magical and conjured water not be? It didn't make any sense.
David looked at them strangely. Were they even telling the truth? How much could he really trust them? "It seems to me that fresh water from a river would have less magic than a cup that appeared out thin air!"
"The water from Ellysetta's cup is just that. Water, to quench your thirst and replenish your fluids. Crystal River is magic because…well, it's complicated, but let's say because our tairen ancestors made it that way for us." What the heck did that mean? Tairen ancestors? He still wasn't sure that Ellysetta and Rain weren't trying to trick him somehow. Still he noticed as Rain became more upset over this, Ellysetta touched his shoulder and he calmed down. It looked like the kind of support and comfort he and Snow gave to each other. It didn't mean they were necessarily trustworthy, but it might make them easier to deal with. Even Gold was easier to deal with Belle around.
But as David stood, still undecided which water to drink, Emma leaned over to him and whispered. "I know their telling the truth about the magic in the water, David. So are you going to listen to me this time?" He nodded and took the glass. He really wished Emma would start calling him "Dad" again, especially when she was whispering to him. Apparently, he would have to earn her trust all over again. This was the first step, he supposed.
David swallowed the water.
"Okay, are we ready to start walking again?" Everyone got up and they were off again. The sun hit his neck again and he tried to hold back the hiss of pain, making a face instead. The last thing he needed was more people worrying about him all over again.
They stopped several more times for water and rest breaks. The last few times, David insisted Emma have a drink as well. Emma tried to tell them she didn't need it, after all she hadn't passed out. It shouldn't surprise him that she was stubborn and trying not to show weakness. After all, David knew who here parents were. It didn't make it any less frustrating, though.
"Just because you haven't passed out yet doesn't mean you won't. Your injury may not have been as severe as mine, but you do have one." He pointed to the still bandaged cut on her arm. "And we've been walking for quite a while now, so you must've built up a sweat. Drink some water."
Emma shook her head. "Why should I listen to you when you won't listen to me?" she replied, testily.
David sighed. He really, really wished he hadn't lied to Emma now. It seemed like such a small thing, to protect her from the knowledge of what a sleeping curse did to its victim. But now Emma believed he didn't trust her, wouldn't listen to her, and was no longer worthy of being called "Dad." He could still win the title back though. He really believed that. All they needed was time.
"Emma," he tried, once again using the voice that would've soothed an angry sheep. "I told you, I was listening to you before. It's just not a time like to remember. And I am listening to you, now. I'm resting and drinking water, just like you told me to. Please do the same."
Emma sighed and nodded.
Ellysetta had been listening to this conversation with interest. David really wished they could leave these strangers, especially since they seemed so interested in conversations he wished would remain between him and Emma. But apparently, they needed the strangers to guide them to these other kingdoms to find Snow and Henry. The redhead looked at Emma and asked, "Do you want me to conjure your water or can you do it yourself? I really don't know much about your magic."
Emma looked bewildered. "Honestly, I don't know much about it, either. I haven't known I can do magic for very long. I know I can heal…sometimes and protect loved ones…and push away evildoers…I don't know!" She threw her hands up in the air in frustration.
Ellysetta smiled. "I understand. I just wanted to know what you already knew you could do. Did you want to try weaving Earth to get your drink?"
David and Emma both looked more confused than ever. "What?" Emma asked. "What does Earth have to do with getting a glass of water?"
Ellysetta smiled again. "When one conjures something real, something physical, out of nowhere, like the glass of water I gave him," she pointed to David, "it's called weaving Earth. Did you want to try it or not?"
Emma seemed to be attempting to decide which was worse, trying to see if she had more magical powers than she already discovered, or letting this Ellsyetta person, who they still didn't know if they could really trust, conjure more magic for them.
"I guess I'll try it." She stared intently at her hands for several moments. David waited for a glass of water to simply appear in her hand, like Ellysetta had done, but nothing happened. He and Emma had to accept another conjured glass of water from the redhead.
Eventually, they reached the palace Ellysetta and Rain lived in. Although David still wanted to move on their plans right away, Rain still insisted it would take a few days to get it together. In the meantime, perhaps he and Emma would like to rest in one of their guest rooms?
Emma, obviously still concerned for him, as much as he protested, immediately agreed that was a good idea. Come to think of it, neither of them had a good night's sleep in two days now. Maybe it was a good idea, for Emma's sake. He just hoped he didn't end up in the burning room again.
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Apparently, Emma and David needed more sleep than they thought because when they finally woke up, Ellysetta and Rain told them they were almost ready to go. They were handed "traveling clothes", which consisted of leather outfits. They were a little uncomfortable for Emma, who may wear leather jackets but wasn't used to leather pants. David, however, seemed to find them quite comfortable.
As they walked down many flights of stairs (Emma was surprised to find out despite all the magic in this land, they had no elevator or other way to transport downstairs!) Emma noticed something on David's hand. "What's that?" she asked pointing to his hand.
David seemed to be considering whether to show her. How long was it going to take for him to understand she didn't need protecting? He'd better not lie to her again if he knew what was good for him. "Davvviiiddd", she warned.
He sighed and showed her his hand. There was another burn on it, looking just as nasty as the one on his neck. Emma sighed. "Are you going to be able to use your hand?" she asked concerned. He'd need his hand. It's too bad she didn't have an idea how to heal him. Then she thought for second, as something occurred to her. "How come you got two burns from the room in the last two days? Is it because of your injuries? Are you sick or something?" Panic edged into her voice. She still cared about David, even though it still bothered her that he lied to her. Besides she needed him to help her find Henry, Mary Margaret, and Neal.
David sighed, his face troubled again. "Don't you dare try to keep something from me or lie to me again. What is it?" said Emma, in a voice that made it clear she would take no more nonsense.
"I wasn't going to lie to you, Emma. I'll never do that again. I just hate to tell you things I know you're not going to want to hear. The truth is I've got a lot of burns from that room in the past couple of months. I've just been able to conceal them better, especially with Snow's help. We…didn't want you to know you could get burns every time you go in there, especially with Henry's history there."
There was so much for Emma to be upset about. First of all, her parents had tried to hide something from her. Not just David, but Mary Margaret as well. Mary Margaret, who had told her everything and vice versa when they lived together during the Curse. That really hurt. Second of all, that meant Henry had been burned because of the fire room, too. The guilt from not believing Henry when he tried to tell her about the Curse and about the poisoned apple welled up inside her again. Plus, when Henry was burned, she hadn't even been able to take care of him. How was she going to deal with so many different emotions at once?
Seeing Emma's reaction, David continued. "That's one of the reasons we didn't let Henry go to the fire room that last time to give you the message. We didn't want him being injured further."
Emma gave a small smile. If nothing else, it was nice to know David had protected her son from the burning room the best he could. "Thanks for that, anyway."
Soon after that, they finally reached the end of the flight of stairs. Emma sighed. Were the castles in the Enchanted Forest like this, too? Endless staircases with no end in sight and no elevators? That was another reason why she had no desire to return there, even if they were able to rebuild the castle and chase away the ogres.
They turned the corner, and breakfast was all set up on a large table. "You need to make sure you eat and drink something before you go on such a long journey," Ellysetta told them from across the table. They both nodded and sat down. There were piles of fruit Emma had never seen before, pastries full of…something, and a big hunk of some kind of meat. She hoped it wasn't chimera again.
She sighed. For all she was still uncomfortable around her, (Emma still hadn't forgotten the "truthspeaking" thing.), Ellysetta was right. They'd never be able to travel to a whole another kingdom without eating a good meal first. So, what should she try first? She tried to look at David out of the corner of her eye. Was he familiar with any of it?
He seemed to be somewhat familiar with the pastries, so she put some of those on her plate. The fruit looked really juicy, so she decided to try one of those, too. The rest of it was just too…weird.
When they finished, five men walked into the room. "These men are Ellsetta's quintet," Rain announced. They will travel with us to Celieria and Elvia, in order to protect her." There was a veiled threat in that comment. Rain meant these men would protect Ellysetta against Emma and David, if need be. Emma gulped. These men were hugely muscular and glowed with energy that she was pretty sure meant they used magic, too. What if she and David got in the middle of them for some reason? Was this really a good idea? Although, after seeing what Ellysetta was capable of herself, Emma wasn't sure she really needed bodyguards in the first place.
Still, this was the best chance they had of finding the rest of their family. Emma looked at David, and he nodded. They agreed. They still needed to do this.
"This is Bel," Ellysetta introduced them, pointing to a tall, dark – skinned warrior to her right. He carried black and red daggers across his chest, and a sword, like David, at his hip. Bel? Emma thought to herself. That was strange. When she heard Belle, she thought of the quiet, pretty brown – haired woman who was Mr. Gold's girlfriend. Now he was a dark – skinned man who she assumed had magic?
"I am a master of Spirit," the man replied, as he introduced himself. Emma had no idea what that meant, but she nodded anyway. Ellysetta says you speak Celierian. That's not our native tongue, but we can manage," the man added, speaking with an accent. Come to think of it the man called Rain spoke with an accent, too.
"This is Galen", Ellsyetta continued, pointing to a man with dark hair and blue eyes. He was dressed the same way, and carried the same weapons.
"I am a master of Spirit and Azrahn," the man announced as he introduced himself also with an accent. What were they talking about? Emma wondered again, but still nodded.
"This is Tajik," Elllsyetta pointed to the redheaded man to her right. In addition to being in my quintet, he's also my uncle." Rain seemed upset she had revealed this, but Ellysetta looked at him carefully, and he nodded. They seemed to be able understand each other without words sometimes. Mary Margaret and David did that, too.
"I am a master of Fire and Water," the man announced. It was interesting that Ellysetta said this man was her uncle. Not that they didn't look alike, as they both had the same shade of red hair. But they both looked so young. Emma wondered if David being her father would seem as strange as she thought to these people. It didn't matter, now. She'd think about that later.
"This is Gil," Ellysetta said, continuing the introductions. The man had pale blond hair and dark eyes and also carried the same weapons as the others did.
"I am a master of Air", the man announced with a very thick accent. Emma could barely understand him. What did this all mean? What good did these introductions do if they didn't understand them?
"Finally this is Rijonn," she pointed to the last man. He was tall, brown – haired, with brown eyes. The man also carried the same weapons and was dressed the same way.
"I am a master of Earth," the man announced with an accent not quite thick as Gil's, but thicker than Bel, Galen, and Rain's. If Emma remembered correctly Earth meant making things, like water, appear out of nowhere.
"So I understand we'll be accompanying you to Celieria and Elvia to see if you can find your family?" the man namded Bel asked. Emma and David nodded. That name was going to take some getting used to.
"That's right," David replied. We'd like to leave as soon as possible."
They all nodded.
"Are you sure Hawksheart would be willing to see us? What if it interferes with his Dance?" the man called Tajik asked, disgusted.
Ellysetta placed her hand on the man's shoulder. "Peace, uncle. All we need to do is as Lord Hawksheart if he'll help us. These people want to find their family. I'd think you'd know what that's like."
Tajik grumbled. "That elf is the reason I couldn't find my family. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't help these people, either.
"But we should ask, anyway," Ellysetta tried to reason. Apparently, there was some unpleasant history with this man and this elf king.
"Look I don't pretend to understand your problems with this elf," David began patiently. He was really good at speaking calmly when others were upset, Emma noticed. Didn't Henry's book say he was a shepherd, once? Maybe it was because of that. "But like she," he pointed to Ellysetta, "said, we can only ask. I know it's probably a lot to ask to work with someone you consider an enemy. Believe me I've had to work with enemies myself." David was probably thinking of Regina. "But we have to find our family. Please?"
Tajik nodded, reluctantly, and the rest of the quintet nodded as well.
"Then let's get going," Emma commented, standing up.
That night they traveled as far as the kingdom called Cerlieria's border. "This is Garreyal," the man called Bel announced. It had mountain ranges on either side a narrow valley that they could set up camp.
Emma watched as the man called Tajik, Ellysetta's uncle, made a fire after they had finished eating some snacks. He gathered several sticks that laid around the almost empty valley. Then he stared at them until the fire was suddenly lit. She supposed that made sense. It seemed being a "master of fire" meant you could start your own fires with magic. She wondered if he could make people catch on fire, too, not just wood. Probably, Emma thought to herself.
She moved a bit further away from Tajak.
Ellysetta sat next to Emma carefully, not as close as friend would, Emma noticed with relief, but closer than she would like. "Have you ever seen fire magic before?" she asked, trying to sound friendly.
Emma tried to remember whether she had ever seen Gold or Regina use fire magic. Oh, of course! When Regina and Cora attacked their whole family in Gold's shop. What a pleasant memory. "Yes," she replied, still angry thinking about it. "Regina and Cora used it to break a protection spell and try to kill our whole family."
Ellysetta nodded. "I thought it might be something like that, based on the look on your face. But fire magic doesn't have to be evil. You see that now. It's how you use magic that makes it good or evil, not whether you use it or not. I had to learn that, too."
"Only Mages use magic for evil. It sounds like this Regina and Cora might be Mages," Rain added. He used the same accent the others used, Emma noticed again.
Emma had always considered them to be witches, actually. Although after Regina had helped her destroy the failsafe, she wasn't so sure about her anymore. Not to mention helping them rescue Henry from Neverland. Out loud she replied, "Maybe."
Ellysetta continued. She was the only one out of the group, besides her and David, who spoke without an accent. Emma wondered why that was. "I know you can weave Air. You used it against Rain and I when we first appeared to you. I know you can heal, too, at least with my help. What else have you done?"
Emma shook her head and got up. Just because she was willing to let these people help her find Henry, Mary Margaret, and Neal didn't mean she was comfortable talking to them about her magic.
But Ellysetta wasn't so easily discouraged. She followed after Emma, saying. "Look I get that knowing you have magic can be scary and overwhelming. I went through that, too. And I know you probably are even less likely to trust me because I had to truthspeak you. I'm really sorry I had to do that, especially now. It took me a long time to trust the shei'dalin who truthspoke me, too."
The she'- what? And if Ellysetta thought they could become buddy – buddy just because she they had a few shared experiences; the woman had another thing coming! That wasn't how Emma Swan operated. She walked off again.
But Ellysetta came after her again. "Look I'm asking because it's clear to me that even though you have magic, you haven't really been trained. I can train you, since your magic is shei'dalin magic."
"She – What?" Emma asked, finally turning around. "Look I can't be a she – whatever, because I'm not from here! I told you that already. The only reason I have magic is because of something Gold did."
"That may be," Ellysetta replied. "And I don't have answers for why that is. But it doesn't change the fact that all of your magic powers are the same as a shei'dalin. Only she'dalins can heal, which I've seen you do. She'dalins also have something called a she'dalin's love inherent in all of their weaves. You have that, too. I felt it when you wove Air against me. And I noticed you told David you can always tell when someone's lying. That's untrained truthspeaking ability."
Emma paused, shocked. This was really getting overwhelming. Now she didn't just have magic, she had she'dalin magic? And why would she want to truthspeak anyone, anyway? She 'd never put people through that torture. But…"I've seen Regina and Gold heal in Storybrooke and in Neverland before. And I can tell you they definitely don't have this "she'dalin's love" that you speak of. Their magic is…usually dark. So maybe the rules where I come from are different?"
Ellysetta paused for a minute. "Regina is the one who mentioned tried to kill your family, so I would agree that she definitely doesn't have she'dalin's love." She paused and looked at Rain and the rest of her quintet. "It's possible she's manipulating magic so it appears she healing when she's actually not. Or maybe she obtained healing ability from somewhere else. We don't know. But your powers are still similar to a she'dalins. I think you should be trained. I can help you."
Emma looked down. In a way, Emma knew she was right. If she was trained in her magic, she could probably heal David's burn. She could also protect her family better once they were reunited. Still, did she really want to be trained by Ellysetta? For all the help the woman was giving them now, Emma still didn't fully trust her. In some ways, she actually trusted Gold and even Regina more. For all their problems in the past, they shared a common goal now: protecting Henry.
Ellysetta smiled. "I know it's scary to realize you have to be trained. And I didn't make it easier by truthspeaking you before. But your powers could be important to finding your family. And speaking from personal experience, untrained magic doesn't help anyone. When I had only just met Rain, I lived in Celieria. I refused to believe I possessed any magic, much less be trained for it. We attended a state dinner with the King, the Queen, and all the nobles Rain was trying to win support from. Because I didn't control my magic, I wove lusts on everyone at the party and almost cost all of the support of those people."
Emma stared at her hands as she digested that information. Could her magic ever cause a problem like the one Ellysetta described just because she wasn't trained? The very idea made her shutter. Would her magic be important to finding Henry, Mary Margaret, and Neal? It might, Emma admitted. But she was still reluctant to trust Ellysetta's instruction.
David looked up just then. "Emma, I wonder if she's right. We're here and it sounds like she's the best person to train you, considering her magic is so much like yours. Both Gold and Regina have dark magic. That isn't really the magic you want to learn, is it?" he asked gently.
David had a point, Emma admitted unwillingly. Gold and Regina weren't around right now, anyway, and this Ellysetta was. "Okay," she agreed finally.
Ellysetta smiled, obviously relieved. "We'll begin tomorrow, since I think you've had enough to do today."
Emma smiled, relieved as well. At least she wouldn't have to worry about training until tomorrow. "By the way, you said you lived in Celieria before. Is that why you're the only one who speaks English without an accent?"
Ellysetta smiled. It seemed she was glad Emma was finally being friendly. "Yes, that's right. I forget your "English" is our "Celierian" sometimes. I did grow up in Celieria. I'll tell you about it some other time. Right now, I think I need to lie down." She went to Rain and they both lied down on a blanket that seemed to have come from out of nowhere. That Earth magic, she supposed. In the meantime, she and David would use regular blankets.
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OOOOOOOOOO
It seemed training Emma wasn't as easy as Ellysetta had believed it would be, David said to himself. Although Emma had agreed to be trained and had tried for a couple of days, she didn't have enough trust in Ellysetta to "open her mind" to Ellysetta. David was sure that would come with time. Emma, on the other hand, wasn't so sure.
Emma took her hands away from Ellysetta again in frustration. "I still can't do it!" Ellysetta had been trying to show her how to "weave Spirit" as she called it. According to Ellysetta, Emma had done this before, when she extracted Pongo's memories from the dream catcher and when she had put up the protection spell in front of Gold's shop. But Emma couldn't seem to do the same thing today.
"You need time," Ellysetta reasoned. "When you used magic before, you were trying to protect your family, so it came easily. You need to learn how to tap into your magic, your love without being forced into it. It doesn't help that I know you don't really trust me, so I can't help you see the weaves." As Emma tried to protest, Ellysetta shook her head. "I know you don't. I have the same ability to tell lies that you do, remember? I really don't blame you, after I had truthspeak you when we first met."
Emma shook her head. "That's part of it, yes, but not all of it. I'm afraid I just…don't trust people easily. I've grown up alone and had to depend on myself for too long. I've had my heart broken so many times…you know? Last year, I finally got so I could trust my family, but…others?"
David bristled. Although it was necessary, he really hated hearing how hard Emma's life had been before Storybrooke. She should have grown up surrounded by love and trust, not alone with none of it. Still, he was happy to hear Emma did trust their family.
Ellysetta nodded. "That explains it a little more. Although I have to say, I don't think you're far from trust as you think, because you explained that to me. Someone who really didn't trust wouldn't say anything." David nodded, proud of his daughter. Ellysetta was right. She was really coming a long way.
They had stopped their journey for the day and were setting up camp, this time in the middle of a forest. Trees of various sizes and types grew everywhere. Tajik was making another fire out of magic. Looking over at him, Emma said, "Or maybe I'm just not meant to control my magic, you know? Maybe it will only be available for me to use when my family is in danger. Or when Gold wants me to use it," she added grumbling. "It's all his fault I have it, anyway." She sat down on a nearby log in defeat.
David walked over to Emma, shaking his head. He sat down next to her, although not to close. They were making progress, but he didn't think Emma was quite over him lying to her before. "Emma, I'm sure if you have magic, you're meant to control it. You just need to give more time. You've only just started learning with the right kind of teacher." He smiled at Ellysetta. For all the problems they were having finding their family, he was grateful Emma had found someone who had the same kind of magic she did and was willing to teach.
Emma shrugged, unconvinced. "Someday you'll see I'm right," David persisted. "You need to believe in yourself, like I do. Like we had to believe in Henry to get him back from the Lost Boys." Emma smiled at him at that. "Hey, what do you mean it's all Gold's fault you have magic, anyway? I thought you had magic because you were the Savior."
"Well…yes… but… that's because he made me the Savior," Emma replied, mumbling the last few words.
David had to struggle to hear that but was pretty sure she said Gold had made her the savior. He had never been more confused in his life. Gold, or rather Rumplestiltskin made Emma the savior? How was that even possible? "That doesn't make any sense. Regina cast the Curse, not him. We thought…it was supposed to be a prophecy." Pain in began to grow in his belly at the thought of his Emma being used by Rumplestiltskin in any way.
Emma sighed. "I'm sorry; I thought you knew. I should watch what I say, sometimes." She paused for a minute, obviously trying to decide what to reveal.
David sighed. She was his daughter and he needed to know what she meant. "Please tell me," he asked tightly.
"Regina may have cast the Curse but Gold made it," Emma began. She stopped for a minute, seeming to be a little nervous.
Rumplestiltskin made the Curse? No wonder he knew so much about it. Although, even if that were true, what did it have to do with Emma being the Savior? "Okay," David replied carefully, noticing how nervous Emma still was with talking about this with him. "But what does that have to do with you? Don't worry, you can tell me. It'll be okay." He used his "calming the sheep" voice again.
"He told me he used the love potion as part of the Curse as a 'safety value.' I'm not sure whether he meant to make the Curse stronger or to make sure there was a Savior. Maybe both." She shrugged, and then dared to look at him in the eye.
David smiled. This conversation seemed to be helping Emma trust him again. Maybe he'd even here the word "Dad" again soon. Still…"I still don't understand what that has to do with you, specifically."
Emma shook her head. "It really amazes me you had no idea about any of this. That love potion came from you and Mary Margaret. Gold said he got it from strands of your hair. That's why I'm the Savior. That's why Ellysetta says all my magic has love in it. It comes from a love potion."
David's mouth fell open in shock as he understood everything for the first time. The love potion Rumplestiltskin gave him to "put into a safe place." It came from him and Snow? He thought back to that conversation.
"Behold the most powerful magic of all. True Love," Rumplestiltskin announced to him, holding up a bottle of purple magic." Charming reached for the bottle. Where did he get that?
"Careful this is all I have left of it," Rumplestiltskin warred, snatching it away. At the time, David hadn't cared that was "all he had left of it." But listening to Emma, now he knew. Rumplestiltskin had used the rest of the potion, their potion for all intense purposes, to create the curse. David knew Rumplestiltskin was manipulative before, but…he had used the relationship between him and Snow, their pure love…to help create the Curse? He had never felt so manipulated before in his life. And worse, Rumplestiltskin didn't just manipulate him and Snow; he manipulated Emma, too.
"That's unacceptable!" David cried, outraged. "And to think, I was half getting to like that man. I mean, it's not like I really trusted him or respected him…but I helped him out sometimes! We worked together! I always thought the Curse was all Regina, but he was just as responsible for destroying our happiness! " He stood up and began pacing through the area.
Emma sighed. "In a way, I agree with you. I'm in this mess of learning how to use magic because of him, just like I said. But magic has let me help me you and our family. I saved you in Neverland. I helped protect everyone from Cora and Regina. Maybe it's okay." It was weird, hearing Emma suddenly be the voice of reason. "And Gold didn't create the Curse for revenge, like Regina. He wanted to come to the real world to find Neal. I understand wanting to find his family…and you should too," Emma added.
David shook his head. There was a part of him that understood what Emma was saying. But still…"So Rumplestiltskin sacrificed our family just so he could find his? We should have been a family for twenty – eight years instead of being stuck in the Storybrooke Haze. You should have grown up with us, in the Enchanted Forest, not all alone in the other world." He continued pacing.
Emma sighed. "Yeah, I know. My childhood was horrible because of the Curse. But I got Henry, and now I have Neal, too. And since I have Neal, I guess that means we must deal with Gold, too."
David grumbled at that. He didn't want to be reminded he was still going to have to interact with Gold or Rumplestiltskin or whatever he was calling himself these days. And even though he had helped Emma get Neal back, he'd rather not think about her having what amounted to a boyfriend, either. But none of these problems were going to be solved, now. "Come on. Let's find out what we have to eat tonight."
Emma smiled at him, and he couldn't believe this, reached for his hand, as they walked back to the rest of the group.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
David tossed around for the millionth time that night.
First of all, sleeping on the ground was less than ideal when you were used to sleeping in a bed. The ground felt rough against his back compared to the mattress he used to. But even that wasn't the biggest of his problems. No, David had two big problems with sleeping tonight. The first was he couldn't stop thinking about what Emma had told him earlier that night. Rumplestiltskin had manipulated the love he and Snow had to create the Curse. He sacrificed their family to find his. How was he going to resist the urge to beat that imp to a pulp the next time he saw him? He tried to remember what Emma had told them. That they would have to interact, because of Henry and Neal, but it didn't really help.
The other problem was that he was missing his wife. David hadn't slept without Snow since she got back from her and Emma's trip to the Enchanted Forest. For all the problems they had in Neverland, including battling Neverland's seductions, fighting the Lost Boys, trying to win Henry back, helping Emma win Neal back, and dealing with injuries, at least he and Snow had been together. Actually, they slept on the ground in Neverland, too, but with her wrapped in his arms, it didn't seem to matter that much. Here, there was no ebony – colored hair ticking his nose. No smell of cinnamon and Snow surrounding him. No soft breathing next to him, letting him know she was safe.
It didn't help that they were traveling with another couple, David thought to himself, as he tossed again, looking at Ellysetta and Rain. They were able sleep in each other's arms. They could hear the other breathe and know they were safe. He closed his eyes again and sighed. At least he wouldn't have to worry about ending up in the burning room again tonight.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
It was later the next day when they finally arrived in what Ellsyetta said would be their destination, Celieria City. Even though he was very tired, having gotten about an hour of sleep the night before, he glanced around.
As David looked around, he was amazed at how much this place reminded him of home, even more than the Fading Lands they just left. Here, plenty of people traveled in carriages. The water held no magical properties, so he and Emma were invited to drink whenever they felt like it. No one looked twice at him for carrying his sword on his hip, and plenty of the others did the same, including his other male companions. Furthermore, the traveling clothes had been given were very similar to his back in the Enchanted Forest. And in the distance, he could see a palace, that reminded him very much of the home he and Snow tried to make.
There was a part of him that wanted simply drink in this atmosphere of a land that reminded him so much of the Enchanted Forest. This is what he missed. This is why he wanted to return. He could almost see it now. They'd take their family for drives in the carriage for a relaxing afternoon. They could stop for a drink in the river in the forest. David had a particular fondness for the river that he had been thrown in by a black – haired beauty.
In fact, he remembered one day, shortly after they had "taken back the kingdom" where he and Snow had come out that way by themselves.
"This time it's my turn to through you in the river!" David laughed as he gave Snow a push. She landed, soaked from head to toe, in the water.
Snow's head popped back up, laughing as well. "Don't think you can get away with that so easily!" she giggled as she grabbed him and pulled him in the river as well.
He landed, head first in the water, but soon he popped up as well. "Ah, I see how you want to play!" he swam after her and gave her another dunk. Just as he pushed her under, however, she grabbed him, and they both dunked each other at the same time.
When they both popped up again, they grinned at each other, coming in for a kiss.
Oh yes, so many good memories in the Enchanted Forest, David thought to himself. Memories he was so eager to recapture, once they found the rest of their family and returned to Storybrooke to retrieve the others, that is.
"David," Emma said, coming up behind him. "Are you okay? We've got to move."
"Oh, yeah." He replied, embarrassed that his daughter had caught him daydreaming. "I didn't get much sleep last night." As if to prove his point, he yawned at that precise moment.
With that, they continued their walk to Celieria's palace. A guard appeared out front. "We wish to have an audience with King Dorian." Rain told him formally.
"We have guests who wish to ask him an important question," Ellysetta added, gesturing toward David and Emma.
The guard bowed to Ellysetta and Rain, and then nodded to David and Emma. "I believe he is in court with some of the locals at the moment. But I am sure he will grant your request when he able, Lord Feyreisen and Lady Feyreisa." He and Emma had never heard them referred that way, but apparently, those were their formal titles. David tried to remember all the rules of etiquette he had to learn for court when he was posing as Prince James and after he married Snow. It was kind of hard, especially since he was so tired.
They were led into the palace into an antechamber with huge portraits of important looking people. Past rulers, he supposed. The chairs were made of ivory and everything else was of marble. It was impressive. And here was the problem of being in a land that reminded him so much of home. He and Snow had a room just like this, for visitors waiting for their audience. Even though there was a part of him that was overjoyed to be here, there was another part that found it painful. Everything here just made him more homesick for the Enchanted Forest and heartsick for his Snow.
Still, these chairs were comfortable. David struggled not to fall asleep. From what he remembered, that wouldn't be proper etiquette. Emma unfortunately, knew nothing of etiquette and did fall asleep within minutes.
He jerked awake again as someone walked into the room. Was it the king? "Queen Annoura," he heard one of the men say testily. David was pretty sure it was the man named Rain.
"Feyreisen, Feyreisa," the queen replied in the same manner. He got the impression, even though they were being civil because of court customs that they didn't really get along. He turned to get a good look at the queen. She was a small woman, with skin as pale as his wife's, if not paler he was forced to admit. Her hair was silver blond and styled at the top of her head. The queen's dress was a beautiful pastel green. Gold and other jewels decorated her entire person. Quite frankly, it was a bit much. Yes, she was a queen, but how much jewelry did she need to wear to prove it? Snow had never worn that much jewelry when she was queen. Come to think of it, he didn't think Regina wore that much jewelry!
"I see you have been befriending the peasants again," Queen Annoura said, with her nose in the air. The woman reminded him a little of King George. Obviously without the desire to cut off his head, but still. David remembered a conversation he had with George, back when he was still posing as James. "You were chosen for this," he had said. "Plucked from poverty, wanting for nothing!" The man had no idea that he had been happy as peasant. It wouldn't occur to him because he believed peasants weren't worth anything. Just as this woman clearly did.
"They have an important question they want to ask your son, the king," Ellysetta replied civilly, yet without any warmth. "We have decided it has merit, and I'm sure he will, too."
Queen Annoura nodded. "Doesn't the girl know better than to fall asleep in the king's palace?" she asked pointing to Emma. "I would think even a peasant would know better than that. How dare she insult my son!" she barked. David sighed. He had been afraid of that. Hopefully the king was a little easier to deal with than this woman, who was apparently his mother.
Emma woke up at the outburst. "Well, I didn't know any better, your Majesty. We need to see the king, so deal with it." David was mixed between feeling pride in his daughter, who had never been easily intimidated, and nervousness that her lack of court skills could be costing them the king's cooperation.
Queen Annoura looked at Emma strangely and left the room.
Ellsyetta looked at Emma, surprised. "Look, I respect you for standing up to Queen Annoura. I know she can be…difficult. But you need to be careful when you're talking to the king, if you want him to grant your request. He's not really…hard as she is, but he does expect certain etiquette. You have to curtsey, or bow," she added to David. "You have to stand to his attention when he's talking to you. Do you understand?" she asked both of them.
David wasn't about to explain his life story right now, so he couldn't tell her how much he did understand. But he nodded, anyway. Emma nodded, too, slowly. He was glad Ellysetta had explained that to Emma instead of him, though. He had a feeling it might not have gone well, coming from him. What if Emma had thought he didn't respect her?
He rubbed his eyes again. Gosh, it was hard not to fall asleep in these chairs! Maybe he should stand up. Just as he was about to do so, one of the servants appeared at the door. "The King has agreed to your audience."