DISCLAIMER:: do not own ouat or any of its characters. just borrowing for purpose of creative expression. no profit obtained.
A/N:: again, just to reiterate the note on my other story for those who don't read that as well, i no longer have internet due to an upcoming move. so posts will be a little more infrequent. i'll try to post as often as i can and i hope everyone sticks with the story. enjoy and review.
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-Chapter 3: Lies, Threats, and Proposals-
For the third night in a row, the man found himself staring down into the eager faces of his children as they waited for tonight's progression of their bedtime story. They both had become quite taken with the tale, each already invested in the love of the Princesses of Winter and Autumn.
He took his place on the chair by their bed. "We left the Princesses last when they had just confessed their love for each other. A few days later their time together came to a close and more than ever the Princesses were sad to part from each other. Two weeks of the year seemed so great a divide now that they knew of each other's feelings. But it was necessary. Until the Princess of Winter became of marrying age, they couldn't go to their parents with their relationship."
"But Queen Snow already knows." His adventurous child gave a typical eye roll, accompanied with the usual 'duh' expression.
Their father smiled. "Ah yes, but while the Princess of Autumn suspected Queen Snow White would approve, due to their conversation a decade before, she did not know for sure. And the Princess of Winter, while hardly fearful of the reaction of her own parents, was worried that Queen Cora would be hardly receptive. She had a right to fear such, but that is for later. The six months the Princesses were apart seemed like a lifetime, one in which their only form of communication was via bird. The girls wrote to each other weekly, long letters that talked of nothing but their love for each other and their plans for the future. However, the Prince of Winter, after missing the last visit with the Princess of Autumn, had grown restless. He had not believed he would miss the beautiful Princess as much as he did, but as the months passed he felt her absence keenly. He too began to write her letters, formal things that spoke of her grace and poise and how much he was looking forward to her next visit to the Kingdom of Winter. So much did he miss her that he decided he had waited long enough and, during her upcoming visit, her would ask for her hand."
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The Princess of Winter paced furiously back and forth across her chambers.
"Sweetheart, there is still time yet. Would you try and relax?" Snow helplessly watched her daughter as she stormed from one end of the sitting chamber to the other. She'd been liked this not only all morning, but for the entire week, ever since Addword had confessed his plans to propose an engagement with the Princess of Autumn. Snow had her assumptions of why the blonde Princess was so anxious, but she kept them to herself for now.
"I have to see her Mother. I have to…." Warn her. She left the end of her statement unfinished. She had always known this day would come of course. Addword and Regina had been groomed to marry for the past ten years. It was Queen Cora's plan, Prince Addword's desire, and Princess Emma's worst nightmare come true.
"You've spent more time with the Princess of Autumn than anyone. Tell me, will fair Regina refuse Addword's proposal?"
Princess Emma stopped, a look of sorrow crossing her face briefly before she buried it beneath a neutral mask. "No, I do not believe she will."
Queen Snow frowned. "Then she is not the future ruler I thought her to be."
Emma stared at her mother in disbelief. How could she say something so negative about Regina? The girl had been as a second daughter to her all these years and now she would decline her love for the girl? "She has the most gracious heart of anyone I've ever known. She will make a fine Queen one day."
Snow gave a small nod. "I never denied she will make an excellent Queen, just that she's not the one I thought she would be, not if she continues to lie to herself. I know how she cares for you; I saw it ten years ago and I see it now. Just as I see how you care for her."
Emma was unsurprised. Her mother had always had good intuition. Nor did it surprise her that her mother was quite unbothered by the prospect. Snow White was a young Queen yet and the Kingdom of Winter, just as the Kingdom of Summer, had always been more progressive than Spring or Autumn in their politics. Indeed they would find it more scandalous if Regina were a peasant than the fact that she was of a like gender to Emma.
"Does she love you sweet one?"
Sadly Emma nodded. "But it doesn't matter. The Queen of Autumn would never condone such a relationship. I am not rightful heir to the throne. Marrying me would give Regina ties to our Kingdom, but it would not give her rule. That is what her mother seeks."
Snow frowned. "So you'd have her marry Addword instead? You'd not only commit yourself to a life of misery, but ask the same of her? All for the sake of a crown? That is not like you. True love, if that is indeed what this is, is never meant to be stifled. If you bury it, it will only dig itself up later, at a time when it is even more complicated. It cannot be killed, it cannot be stopped. True love is eternal Emma. You may be ripped from it but, in the end, it will always find you."
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The coach, grand in decoration and the deep gold of a Autumn sunset, pulled to a stop in front of the marble steps. Princess Emma's heart was slamming inside her chest. She had made her choice. She glanced at her brother beside her. He wouldn't propose right away. That gave her the advantage. If she just got to Regina first, told her of Addword's plan, and then of her own. She'd let Regina decide where her heart lie. There was risk involved, surely. They had not discussed the consequences of their love at length, choosing to avoid such a heavy topic. Would Regina's love prove as deep as hers? Would she agree to wait until Emma was of marrying age and then let the blonde Princess make her happy? Or was Queenhood what she longed for? Would she choose Addword to elevate her status? These and a million other questions raced through her mind as she watched the footman hop down, seeming incredibly slow in his duties today, and opened the door. Princess Emma clutched the Frost Rose she held, as per their tradition, and felt her entire body buzz with anticipation. Regardless of Regina's decision, the brunette would forever be a part of her life after this week, whether as sister or lover was yet undecided. But she'd always know her beauty and her light, even if not intimately. A part of her heart believed that would be enough. But only a part.
The second Regina left the carriage, brown eyes sought green. Princess Emma was her only goal. The months apart had been maddening on her. She was of marrying and therefore bedding age now, and after being with Emma, the way the younger girl had moved with her and inside her, she understood the appeal. She never had before, but being with Emma… it was nothing short of magical. She had never felt so connected to the world around her. Her magic instructors taught her that the very ground beneath her feet contained magic, just as all living things did. She had felt the magic pulsing within… everything that first night. She wanted Emma to touch her again, she wanted her mouth to move against her skin, she wanted to wrap her arms around her as she came undone.
The second her gaze met that of the Princess of Winter, the world stilled. Emma looked uncertain, but unmistakably happy. Regina clutched at the small parcel she held in her hands. It was a present, for Emma. She could only hope it would please the blonde.
"My fair Princess."
It was only as his voice broke that silence that she even realized Addword was standing beside his sister. She curtsied. "Your Highness. Your Grace."
Addword came down the steps and seized one of Regina's hands, the one not firmly wrapped around the parcel. He brought it to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles.
The first thing Regina registered about the gesture was that his lips were rougher than Emma's soft and delicate ones. She disliked the heavy press against her skin. Emma skimmed over her skin, the barest hint of a touch. Her small kisses so soft that a moment after one was done she was left wondering if the Princess' lips had even touched her at all or if it had been a projection of her desires. Addword's lips were firm, hard, sure of themselves. It felt foreign and wrong. She pulled her hand away as quickly as she could without being impolite. She offered him a smile even as her eyes found green once more. Was she mistaken or was there a small amount of what looked akin to defeat in the Princess' eyes?
As Emma watched the Princess of Autumn step from her carriage, she felt her heart hammer in her chest and then, as if too exhausted to keep pace, it just stuttered out completely and there was only stillness. Regina was here. She was no more than thirty feet before her. Addword shifted beside her and she became blindingly aware of his presence.
He walked down the steps and greeted Regina as any courting Prince would. There was no fault with his actions. But she felt the seed of jealousy in her stomach, planted from the day she'd first laid eyes on the brunette, slowly break soil and begin to grow, filling her up with a steady anger. He was charming, that brother of hers, just like their father. Her jealousy surged violently at his lips pressed against the tan skin. It was the Princess' hand, no doubt constantly receiving the attentions of noble's lips, but for some reason it still felt as if he were trying to mark territory that had already been claimed. By her. Brown eyes met hers and she tried to hide how much the gesture had stung. She knew Regina was not fooled by her mask when concern flooded the brown eyes of the older Princess.
They were both distracted when the carriage's other occupant emerged. Queen Cora looked around with an air of distaste.
Addword quickly hastened to greet her. "Your Majesty." He bowed. "I did not know you would be accompanying the Princess on her visit."
Queen Cora managed a smile, fake as it was. "Sire, it has been so long since I visited your grand Kingdom and I felt my presence was appropriate."
Addword offered her his arm. "The Kingdom of Winter is brighter in your presence. Let me escort you to my parents. I'm sure you'll find much to… catch up on with them."
At the implication, Queen Cora smirked. She took his arm. "You are too kind Sire. There are many things to discuss."
He bowed his head to Regina. "Until tonight Your Highness. I trust my sister will see to your every possible need in my absence."
Regina curtsied. "She will provide all I require."
Satisfied, he departed into the castle with her mother in tow.
The second they disappeared from view, the two girls moved toward each other.
Emma held out her rose. "The fairest rose for the fairest of them all."
Regina took the flower with a smile, pressing it to her nose and inhaling the delicate scent. "I don't think I will ever tire of this." And they both knew she was talking about more than the flower's aroma.
Emma held out her hand and Regina placed hers within the warm grasp. They started up the stairs, the personal guards falling in close behind. They all knew what to do. The palace staff fell into an easy and comfortable routine every time the Princess of Autumn visited.
"I have something for you." Regina gestured her head toward the package. "But it should wait until we are not so closely watched."
Emma smiled. "A walk through the garden perhaps? It's safe, enclosed."
Regina returned the smile and nodded. "That sounds lovely."
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Emma looked around the turn of the path to make sure the guards truly had given them privacy before returning to the lip of the grand fountain and sitting down beside the brunette. "You have grown even more enchanting in my absence." She caressed the soft skin of the older girl's cheek in reverence.
Unable to take any more distance, even the mere inches between them now, Regina leaned in and claimed the blonde's mouth. "Oh my Princess, I have missed you. This separation kills me every minute. I am lost without my heart."
Emma smiled against her mouth. She pulled back just slightly. "Do I truly have your heart?"
Regina nodded. "Always." She turned to the parcel she'd set at her side. "I have a gift of sorts for you." She handed the silk wrapped package to the blonde.
Emma unfolded the silk slowly, unsure of what could lie within it. As she came closer to the item wrapped at the center of the silk cloth, it began to gain more definition. Finally she pulled apart the last fold and revealed the most breathtaking hand mirror she had ever seen. She traced the handle, glittering gold intricately carved with apples. "It's beautiful Regina."
"It's made from the finest Autumn Gold. I wanted it to remind you of me whenever you look at it. I have one too, made with the Winter Diamond your Kingdom is famous for."
"So you can think of me when you look at it?"
Regina blushed and nodded. "Not that I need assistance with that." She bit her lip. "I grew restless without you. It was maddening having to rely on birds to speak with you. I wanted to find a solution. As you know, I've been learning magic. I've enchanted the mirrors, linked them if you will. If you choose at any time, you can see the reflection in my mirror in yours and I can do the same. We'll be able to talk every night once I return home, if you wish."
Emma stared at Regina, incredulity keeping her silent. She held the mirror to her breast, suddenly feeling like she needed to protect it from the world. It was instantaneously her most treasured possession, nothing else even came close. She smiled at Regina, her heart once again hammering beneath her breast. "I love you."
Regina leaned in and kissed her once more. She broke the kiss quickly but stayed close, her lips hovering mere inches from the other Princess'.
"I have something to tell you Regina, and something to ask as well."
Regina kissed her softly. "You may ask whatever you desire."
Emma took a deep breath, pulling away farther to cure herself of the dizzying sensation being close to Regina caused. She cradled the mirror close to her chest, a part of her afraid Regina might snatch it back once she said what she needed to. "My brother plans to make his proposal to you. It will most likely be tonight, or on the morrow. He'll expect an answer before you are to return home." She sighed.
Regina had known a proposal was coming and her mother had predicted it would be during this visit. Addword had never written to her in the time between their visits before. Once his letters started arriving, it seemed as if this were the inevitable destination. It was why Cora had insisted upon coming along with her. She wanted to be present for the big moment when all her manipulative schemes came to fruition. "And what of you? How do you feel over this news?"
"My mother knows of us. She's suspected it for a while but we have only just today discussed it. I had thought it to be a delicate subject, but she was wholly responsive." Emma bit her lip. "She'd bless us. I know I couldn't offer you the Kingdom of Winter, but what I couldn't give you in status, I'd give you in love. I'd make you happy Regina."
Regina tilted her head curiously. "You… and I? You wish for my hand?"
Emma nodded. "I wish for your hand, your mind, your soul, your heart. I want to marry you Your Grace."
"And Addword?"
Emma frowned. "As I've said, he wishes to have you as well."
"What of your relationship with him? He is your brother."
"Addy means much to me. He has always protected me from the world. But my time to be protected is over. He may mean much, but you mean everything. I cannot turn my back on how I feel for you, not unless I know you do not feel the same."
Regina placed a hand on either side of the blonde's face, her thumbs softly stroking the pale flesh of her cheeks. "Come now, darling, you must know by now that choice is no choice at all. I am yours. It is there, carved in my heart. I cannot deny it, nor do I wish to. It may require the forfeiture of my crown, but I care not. I love you Princess Emma, and one day, I promise, we will be wed." She pulled the blonde's face to hers and their lips met in a soft press of raw emotion.
The servant watching from the bushes stifled a gasp and snuck away to go report what he had witnessed.
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Regina had no idea why she was being summoned to her mother's guest chambers so close to the dining hour. She and Emma had retired to Emma's chambers where they'd taken their time relieving each other of their dresses and reacquainting themselves with each other's bodies. When they'd finally quelled their hunger enough that it wasn't at a fever pitch, they went about getting ready for the night's feast. Less than an hour before they were expected, Cora's handmaiden had shown up and called Regina to her mother's chambers.
"You summoned me Your Majesty?"
Cora ignored her, instead looking to the servant girl. "Leave us. Close the door."
Regina frowned. Her mother was blank. It was unusual. Normally her mother faced everything with an air of scorn. But she was completely neutral.
The second the doors closed she began to circle Regina, like a predator trying to spy the best point of attack. "You are weak Regina."
"Your Majesty?"
"After everything I've taught you, the time we've dedicated. He wishes for your hand, though I cannot fathom why he'd want a filthy whore such as you. Tell me dear, have you let her between your legs?" Regina's sudden silence gave the Autumn Queen her answer. She whirled on her daughter, her hand gripping the back of the girl's neck forcefully, her face stopping inches away from the frightened face of the Princess. "You impure, unclean, filthy excuse for a daughter!" She released her iron grip on the girl, throwing her away in disgust. She took a deep breath to harness her anger. It wouldn't do for the Princess to show up at the feast with bruises. "No matter. You will accept the Prince's proposal. You will marry the heir to the Kingdom of Winter. He knows not of your… infidelity. There is still time to set this straight."
"No."
The word was so faint Cora wasn't even sure she heard it correctly. "Excuse me?"
Regina looked frightened, but there was a determination burning brightly in her eyes that Cora had never seen before. "I said no Mother. I love Emma and when she comes of age, we will be wed."
Cora felt her rage bubbling just below the surface, ready to explode forth out every pore. "What makes you think you have a choice dear?"
Regina stood, defiantly now, and narrowed her eyes. "You cannot stop me."
Cora again fought down her rage. She had to be smart about this. The answer came to her almost instantly. "You're right dear. I cannot take from you your free will. If you wish to tell the Prince of Winter that you're not in love with him and you desire another, that is your grave to dig." She looked thoughtful. "But wouldn't it just be such a tragedy if something awful were to happen to the Princess?"
Regina's eyes went wide. "She's royalty! You wouldn't!"
Cora leered at her only daughter. "I will kill them all if that is what it takes! Do not underestimate how far I will go Regina. I will rip that girl from you faster than you can breathe. I will crush her heart in my hand and deliver the ashes to you so you may be forever reminded of how you failed to save her, your true love." She sneered the last two words disdainfully.
"She'll want to know why I've changed my mind."
"Lie to her dear." Cora waved the question away as if it were ridiculous. "I'm not above compromise. Marry the Prince and you can keep your little whore to warm your bed for you. As long as the wedding proceeds as planned, I will not object. You've already been tainted by her hands, there's nothing else she can do to muddy you more. But, use discretion dear, because if the wedding is called off for any reason whatsoever, Princess Emma will fall victim to something unspeakable."
Regina felt numb. She couldn't feel herself breathing though the rise and fall of her chest was physical proof she was still inhaling and exhaling.
"Don't look so dumbstruck dear, it's unbefitting a Queen. Come, we'll be late." Cora turned and left the room without a care.
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She knew it was coming a moment before it happened. She saw his gaze shift briefly to her and the deep breath to steel his nerves. She grasped Emma's hand under the table and prayed the girl wouldn't let go, even as Regina broke her earlier promise to the blonde and subsequently, her heart.
Addword's proposal was genuine just as he was but Regina was unmoved. Her fingers gripped Emma's with all her strength. Don't let me go Emma. I will find a way to have you.
"Your Highness, you honour me with your request. They shall surely sing of our love across all the Kingdoms as we will be the first couple in history to blur the battle lines forged so long ago and reunite our Kingdoms once more."
She couldn't bear to look at Emma's face, but she could feel the confusion in the hand that gripped hers. It slackened completely, no longer grasping, just laying as dead weight in Regina's hand. But she did not pull away. That was what Regina had wanted, but as she felt how unresponsive the blonde's body had become, she wasn't sure which was worse.
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"Emma." Regina was rushing forward to her as soon as she closed the door to the chamber.
"There is only one thing I want from you Regina." Emma held up a hand to stop the brunette from touching her. "I just want to know why you lied. I told you in the garden that I would understand if your heart belonged to him or even to your crown. Why did you tell me you wished to marry me if you were planning to accept his proposal all along?" She sat on the edge of her bed, defeated.
"I have no choice Emma. This is my mother's doing, her desires, not mine. I want you. None of what I told you, of what we've had has been a lie."
Emma looked up, her temper flaring. "Your mother did this?"
Regina nodded. "She has something over me Emma, something that is forcing my hand. I have no choice but to marry him." She came over to the bed and stood before the blonde, looking down at her pleadingly. "Please my darling, I need you to help me through this." She ran her fingers through blonde locks. "You can still have all of me."
Emma leaned forward, pressing her face into Regina's abdomen.
Regina continued to stroke her fingers down through blonde waves as she let the younger Princess sob against her.
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"No!" His normally quiet child let out a wail, startling him from the story. "The Princess of Autumn can't marry the Prince of Winter, Daddy, she doesn't love him!"
The father chuckled. "I think that's enough for tonight." He raised up his hand as two little mouths started to protest. It was already late as it was. "The story will still be there when you wake. Sleep now." He kissed his children goodnight and left them to dream.