Chapter 32
Snow awoke the next morning and made her way to Emma's rooms. She had let them sleep in, knowing that after the dancing and drinking they would need it. She waited as long as she could contain herself. She knocked on the door, loudly, and hoped that they could hear her.
Emma heard the knocking and much to her dismay it didn't stop. She threw herself out of bed and across the suite. She opened the door to find her mother standing there, smiling.
"Good morning, Emma," she told her.
"Morning, Mom. Is there something that I can do for you? What time is it anyway?"
"It is almost lunch time. I figured I let you all sleep in enough. It is time to get up. We have a wedding to plan," Snow told her bursting through the door.
"You want to plan the wedding? Now? As in right now?" Emma questioned as she closed the door and followed her mother to the table.
"Well there is no time like the present," Snow said, getting more comfortable.
She pulled out some parchments and books. She placed them on the table. She watched as Emma just eyeballed her, saying nothing. She cocked her head and looked over towards the closed curtains to the bedroom area.
"Where is Regina?" Snow asked.
"She is still in bed, where I should be," Emma told her.
"Now, Emma, your wedding will be a state event. Don't you want a big affair with all the trimmings? We could have it right here at the castle. I'll just start sending invitations-"
"Hold up, there, Snow," Regina stated, joining them.
"I am sorry?"
"I don't think that Emma and I will be having a wedding here," Regina replied with a note of finality in her voice.
"I don't understand."
"I think what Regina is trying to say is that we want a small affair, and we'll probably being doing in in Storybrooke. No offense, Mom, but you are lucky that I got all dressed up for the Ball last night. I am not sure that I would be the bride you want for my wedding."
"Exactly, Dear, a small, simple wedding in Storybrooke," Regina added.
Snow looked at them aghast. She couldn't understand why they didn't want the big wedding in the Enchanted Forest. She figured that they would have a smaller affair in Storybrooke for those that didn't want to come to the Palace for the wedding, but to not have one at all in her own kingdom. The thought never crossed Snow's mind when she agreed to let them marry.
"Why not?" Snow asked quietly.
"I don't exactly have a good track record with weddings here, my dear," Regina answered.
"No, I guess you don't," Snow deadpanned.
"Look, Mom, I know you mean well, but we just want something simple, private but elegant."
"I know, but you are a princess and –"
"Nope, don't care. Small and private, if you can't deal with that, then I'm sorry. It is what I want…what we want," Emma told her.
"Will you at least let me have it here?" Snow asked.
"How about this: you and Regina plan it," Emma offered.
"Excuse me?" Regina asked.
"Well, Mom wants to help and do her motherly duties. You and I want something small. I figured if you two could work on it together, then we would all get what we want, right?"
"Wrong," Regina stated.
"She might be on to something there, Regina. We could do this. We could make it work. You know what she wants. I know what I would like to happen because you are both princesses. We could do this," Snow pleaded.
"Have you forgotten Rhiannon so quickly?"
"No, Regina, I haven't. I was about to get dressed and go find her. I know that we need to help her. I still plan on doing that. Besides it isn't like we are going to get married in a few weeks. I figured we'd wait until Spring or at the earliest Fall. It would give us enough time to deal with Rhiannon and finding her daughter and planning for the wedding."
"Oh, no you don't. You aren't getting out of this. You are not going to saddle me with your over-happy mother while you go off gallivanting around the country side with Rhiannon."
"No one said anything about gallivanting."
"Preciously. You aren't going anywhere without me. I'm sorry, Snow, but right now is not the time to plan for the wedding. We have other things to deal with," Regina told her, getting up and going back into the other rooms.
"Can I at least start planning the wedding?"
"No invitations, no big ball, and don't hire anyone, just ideas, Mom, promise?" Emma asked her.
"I'll do my best, dear."
"I know and that is what I am afraid of."
"What is that supposed to mean, Emma?" Snow asked.
"It is just that you like things a little over the top. You want everything to be big and pompous. I think that Regina and I have come to appreciate things a little more refined. I love you, Mom, but we just really want something small," Emma replied.
"If that is what you want…"
"It is, Mom. Thank you for understanding. I know that I haven't been the daughter that you wanted me to be, but I am still trying," Emma stated.
"Emma, that isn't it. I wish that you had been there in the Enchanted Forest. I wish that you had been able to go to balls as a child, yes, but you didn't. You grew up here and because of that you have different thoughts about how things should happen. I don't want you to ever think that I don't love you or that you haven't become a woman that I am proud to call to my daughter. You saved us all, Emma. I am very proud of you," Snow said.
"But?"
"There is no but there, Emma. I am proud of you. I love you. There are things that I wished that I could have done for you. I wish that you could have had a coming out ball like I did, but if you want a small wedding in Storybrooke, I'll honor your wishes."
"You aren't going to fight harder about this?" Emma asked.
"No, it is your wedding and your choice."
"Thanks, Mom. I love you. Give me time to talk with Regina, maybe we can make some concessions. I am sure that the entire town will end up being invited. I am sure that she'll let you invite some other royals to the wedding, too. But, for right now, let's just keep it small and simple," Emma suggested.
"I'll do my best. I'll talk with Belle and Red. I know that they will help me get things ready for you. When do you think that you will be leaving?" Snow asked.
"I don't know. I know that we are going to help Rhiannon, but we don't know where her daughter is. I think that Regina and I are going to visit Belle to see if she has something that could help us on this quest."
"Sounds like a plan. Will you at least be back soon so we can talk some more? Are you taking Henry with you?" Snow asked.
"I don't know. We don't know what we might run into while we are there. I know that he is going to fight us on this, but would it be alright if he stayed here with you while we go?"
"It would be fine with me. I am sure that your father would love to spend some time with him. They could work on his knight skills. I am sure that Henry would be okay with that," Snow offered.
"I am sure that he would. Just tell Dad to be careful with him. He likes to get a little over zealous some times when he spars," Emma replied.
"I'll make sure that Henry has extra padding. Now, Emma, go to your fiancé and figure out how to help her friend Rhiannon. Please let me know before you leave," Snow said.
"We will, Mom."
Emma showed Snow to the door. She gave her mother a hug as she left. Emma shut the door behind Snow and went back into the sitting room of her suite. She was joined by Regina who was dressed for a ride.
"Going somewhere?" Emma asked her.
"I am going to Rumple's castle. I figured that you would be coming as well. Aren't you going to get dressed? I told Rhiannon that we would leave as soon as we got up today. She seemed to understand that we would need some rest after the party last night," Regina said.
"Give me a few minutes and we'll go."
"Do hurry, Miss Swan. I don't want to be gone very long. I want to make sure that your mother doesn't go completely overboard with the wedding plans."
A few hours later, Emma and Regina were standing outside Rhiannon's door. She didn't even give them time to knock before she opened the door. They stared at her in wonder.
"I knew you would eventually come out of your rooms and find me. I didn't think that it would take this long. Isn't there something else we could be doing in order to find my daughter?"
"That is why we are here," Regina told her.
"Sorry, we were a little delayed by my mother," Emma offered.
"She likes to meddle doesn't she?" Rhiannon asked.
"She has good intentions, but sometimes those intentions aren't very helpful."
Regina eyed Emma, but didn't say anything. She just smiled, her blank regal smile, and waited for Rhiannon to invite them into her room. Emma knew that she had spoken out of turn and that Regina was upset by her comment, but she also knew more about Regina and her mother's past then Rhiannon did. She also knew that she didn't need to hash it out with Regina now.
"Anyway, we wanted to know if you would go with us to Rumple's castle. We could make it by nightfall by carriage or we could poof as Emma calls it," Regina stated.
"Poof?"
"Teleport?"
"Ah, what is at this Rumple's castle?"
"The globe you are looking for."
"Then poofing it is," Rhiannon stated.
"We won't be beating Belle home will we?" Emma asked.
"I hadn't thought about that, but I doubt it. I am sure that she left earlier this morning. We both know how wrapped up in Rumple she is. Plus, her being there will help us. She'll be better at convincing Rumple into letting us use his globe."
"You think?"
"I am sure that she will, Emma. You may have to ask her, though. I just want to help Rhiannon," Regina stated.
"Why do I always have to be the good guy?" Emma quipped, "Oh, yeah, right, that."
Rhiannon looked from Emma to Regina and back again. She couldn't help but giggle at Emma's silliness. It didn't make sense to her, but she knew that Regina had finally found someone who would stand up to her and gave just as good as she got.
"I see what you see in her, Regina. She is a good match for you. Do yourself a favor with this one, though, and don't let her get away," Rhiannon told them still laughing.
"See, I am a catch," Emma added a little defiantly.
"Yes, Dear, you are. And, you are all mine. Now, let's go before you mother wants to discuss the wedding cake or something else to do with our pending nuptials," Regina stated.
Regina took both their hands and pulled them in close to her. She knew that Emma didn't like to travel by 'poofing' if she didn't have to, but they needed to get their information quickly. It was the only way they could get to Rumple's and back before Snow noticed they were gone.
"Hold on tight. And, remember to only think of Rumple's castle. Emma, close your eyes. It will help you with the nausea that it causes. Ready. Hold on to me and here we…" Regina said as they 'poofed' in a cloud of purple smoke.
Belle wasn't surprised to the column of purple smoke appear before her. She was surprised to see three people come out of it. She had expected Regina and Emma, but Rhiannon was a complete surprise to her. She already had the globe out and sitting on Rumple's formal dining table when they arrived.
"…Go," Regina stated once they smoke cleared.
"That wasn't so bad this time," Emma replied.
"That is because you are getting used to moving like that. Soon it won't bother you at all. Now, let's focus on why we are here," Regina told them.
"That's the globe, right there. I would recognize it anywhere. Belle, is it? May I use it?" Rhiannon asked her.
"Rumple said that you might need it. I am not sure why he wants to help you, Rhiannon, but he does and without a deal. He actually sent me out here with it for you," Belle answered.
"He did?!" Emma and Regina asked at the same time.
"Yes, he did."
"The only time that I know that he did anything without it turning into a deal was with me," Belle stated, "But that doesn't matter now. He said that you needed it. Here it is."
Regina and Emma crossed the room to the globe. It had been years since they'd seen it and found out they were on their way to Neverland. They both hoped that it wasn't somewhere as disastrous as Neverland. Regina was hoping that it didn't mean Wonderland, either.
"How does it work?" Rhiannon asked.
"You need to prick your finger on the spindle. Then drop some blood on the globe. It will do the rest and tell us where your daughter is, Rhiannon," Regina told her.
Rhiannon walked up to the globe. She pricked her finger and began to drip blood on the globe. They all watched as the drops fell onto the white globe. It started to spin and a blood red map began to appear on its surface. Regina and Emma looked on as they tried to discern the map that the globe was showing them. Rhiannon looked on in wonder. Belle just watched amazed and then confused, because she didn't recognize the map the globe showed.
"Where is that?" Belle asked.
"I should know, but I don't," Regina told them.
"I know where that is," Emma stated.
"Where?" Rhiannon asked full of wonder and excitement.
"Yes, Dear, where?" Regina inquired.
"It is in the U.S."
"In the U.S.?" Regina asked.
"Yes, it would seem that Rhiannon's daughter is in our world after all."
"She is in the 'Land with No Magic'?" Rhiannon questioned.
"It would seem so, but where?"
"A place called South Carolina, looks like the capital to be exact."
"We're going South?"
"Yes and no," Emma replied.
"What does that mean?" Rhiannon asked.
"Regina and I will go to Columbia to see what we can find out. Our world doesn't have magic, so you won't exactly blend in very well, Rhiannon. If we find her, we'll bring her back."
"No," Rhiannon stated.
"She's right, Rhiannon. You can't go with us. People aren't all ready to believe in the myths and legends of old. If you go there, it could cause chaos," Regina told her.
"I don't mean: 'no' as is in 'no, I'm going with you,' but as in 'no, not if, but when'."
"I don't understand," Emma stated.
"I do," Belle stated, "Her blood told you that her daughter was there. She has to be there. You found Neal out of millions of people in New York. How hard could it be to find her daughter, there? I mean the girl has to be magical, right? She should stick out, right? Plus, you're a bounty hunter by trade, Emma, finding people is what you do."
"It has been years since I have done that," Emma started.
"But, yet, you always find your man," Regina replied.
"That I do," Emma said.
"Then, that settles it. We need to tell Snow and the rest. Tell Rumple thank you, Belle. I am sure that helping us wasn't high on his list of things to do today, but thanks. We'll head back to Storybrooke and make plans for going to Columbia. I am sure that there are more books that you will like to read and tales to investigate," Regina stated.
"I would love to have a peak at your library, Regina," Rhiannon stated.
"Maybe, Belle, if you come back to Storybrooke, could help you. I am sure that there is plenty about your daughter in the books. I'll even give you full access to my entire library," Regina stated, "But, now, we should go. I don't want to Snow planning something huge for our wedding and I don't want Henry to think that we've abandoned him to his grandparents, again."
"See ya later, Belle. Tell Rumple thanks. And, see you in Storybrooke."
"Yes, thank you, Belle for all your help. Tell Urra Dudh, that he has fulfilled part of his bargain with me. I hope that I never have to collect the rest. Give him my best, Belle. Until we meet again, my young friend," Rhiannon told her and then turned to an astonished Regina and Emma, "Shall we go, ladies? I have a daughter to find and a kingdom to save."