So I want to apologize for the incredible lateness of this chapter. I just had such bad writers block and could not figure out where to go with it. I finally got somewhere last night and posted as soon as I had edited it. It's a little rough towards the middle but I found my way back eventually. Again I apologize but it's a bit longer to try to make up for it!
Look for answers to comments below!
Enjoy and again I'm sorry!
"Absolutely not." Serafine's voice had a commanding quality about it. Emma shrunk back. She wasn't easily intimidated but there was something about Serafine that made even the biggest men tremble. "I can't allow this Em."
Emma looked around helplessly. When she had returned and requested an audience with Madame Serafine. She had been gathered along with Juliana and Evan, Juliana's male counterpart into Serafine's meeting room.
"But Madame." Emma used Serafine's more formal name when in the presence of others. "I already told them I would go."
"Before you had come to me about it." Serafine said firmly. "What about your training?"
"I've been training almost every day for ten years." Emma complained.
And look how far you have progressed." Serafine gestured at Emma. "Do you really think you could progress that far on your own?"
Emma glanced at Juliana shrugged helplessly. "You're a lot of help." Emma muttered. "I realize how much you have given me Madame. I can never repay you for how much you have helped me. I owe everything I am to you. But I need people to see me as more than my magic."
"You are more than your magic Em." Juliana broke in. "We all love you here. You are such an integral part of this community with your tracking skills and your hunting. Your joyous personality is something we'd be lost without."
"I know that." Emma glanced at Juliana and then back to Serafine. "I love this place and all the people in it. You have been my life, my family. I grew up thinking I didn't have a true family, but I do. Or at least maybe I do. You have given me so much Serafine. But my family is the one thing you could never provide. What I'm asking you to do now is to allow me figure this out. Whether they are my family or not, whether they love me or not, I need to know. It's like Pandora's box, once it's been opened, I can't shove it back in. I can't pretend I don't know about this. I need to figure this out, so I can understand who I am."
"You know who you are Em." Serafine said. "I've always let you and everyone else be who they are. You are special and powerful beyond imagination."
"That's the problem." Emma broke in. "You see me as my magic. You define our worth on how powerful we are. I know you don't mean to, that you really try to see us as separate from our magic. But you always come back to what we can do. I don't blame you for that. You're our teacher. You spend most of the time focusing on our magic and teaching us how to use it. But I'm not my magic. That's just a part of me. And my family, well maybe they're another part. But I'll never know unless you let me try."
"I'm afraid you'll never come back." Serafine showed a small amount of emotion, which was surprising for the normally stoic woman.
"Serafine." Emma walked closer to the woman who had been her mentor for ten years. "I'm not going to abandon you. That's not my intention. This place is my home. These people are a part of me. I could never stay away from this place forever. You, my friends, everyone in Altair, it's my world. I'm comfortable here because it feels safe, because it's home. But at some point everyone has to leave home to discover who they really are. I could never abandon you all. But I need to do this for me."
Serafine looked at Emma. "What if they hurt you again?"
"Again?" Emma looked up.
"When I found you in that forest you were scared, you were alone, and you were hurting Em. Not just because of the pain of your magic manifesting itself, but because of the pain they made you feel. I could never forgive myself if I let them destroy you."
"They're not going to destroy me." Emma promised. "I won't let them. I'm stronger than that."
"Are you?" Serafine asked. "You may be strong Em, but there is some pain that not even the strongest among us can block out."
"If these people really are my family…" Emma started.
"They are." Serafine said quietly.
"What?" Emma said in surprise.
"They are your family." Serafine admitted. "I've looked into it these past few days. I've been worried about you. They are truly your parents Em."
"Then if they are, they won't hurt me." Emma said. "You should have seen him. The man that calls himself my father, he looked so happy to see me. He looked broken by the years they had been searching for me. If those emotions are true, he'll protect me."
Serafine was quiet. She glanced at Juliana who nodded slightly She looked back at Emma and sized her up. Finally she took a deep breath. "You promise you'll allow someone to go along to look after you?'
"Yes." Emma breathed in excitement. "Daniel already agreed to come. He's very overprotective of me and he's already been watching over me on your order for years. "
Serafine turned to Evan. "Please go tell Daniel his presence is requested."
"Right away Madame." Evan nodded and excused himself from the room.
"This shouldn't take long. He's waiting outside." Emma said. "He's not keen on listening to orders."
"Yes I had noticed he had picked up that habit." Serafine mused.
"Madame." Daniel bowed slightly as he entered the room. "You have requested my presence?"
"Yes." Serafine walked down the steps towards the two teenagers. "I need your word that you will look after our Em… Emma as she embarks on this journey to… find herself." Serafine cast doubting eyes at Emma.
"Of course." Daniel nodded. "I have always had Em's best interests at heart. You have my word that nothing will happen to her."
"I'm more concerned with her doing something that she will later come to regret rather than someone hurting her." Serafine shot a pointed look at Emma. "I think she has proven herself more than capable of protecting herself. It's her rash judgment I'm worried about."
"I'm slightly offended." Emma dared to speak with sarcasm to Serafine, something very few had the bravery to do.
"It's constructive criticism you should listen to." Madame advised. "What time did you agree to meet them?"
"Mid afternoon tomorrow." Emma said.
"Well the two of you had better collect your belongings." Serafine said. "Make sure to see me before the two of you depart. I have something for you."
"Of course." The two agreed.
"Juliana, will you please assist them in gathering what they need from the supply barracks." Serafine requested.
"Of course Madame." Juliana agreed.
Serafine turned back to Emma. "I hope this is really what you want."
"It is." Emma promised.
"Then you best be on your way." Serafine said. "I will see you tomorrow for your final lesson before you depart from us."
"I won't be late." Emma nodded as she and Daniel excused themselves.
"I can't believe you actually were able to convince her to let you do this." Daniel said in amazement. "One would think she would be afraid of losing you."
"It's precisely because she is afraid of losing me that she is allowing me to do this." Emma explained. "She believes if she prevents me from going that I will turn against her, potentially even leave on my own and not return. Essentially to keep me, she has to let me go."
"There's irony for you." Daniel shook his head. He studied Emma. "Are you all right?"
"I don't know." Emma admitted. "I just spent all this time convincing Madame this is what I really wanted when I'm not sure that it truly is."
"What do you mean?" Daniel asked.
"Well, I'm not exactly as gung ho about this as I made it seem back there." Emma looked guiltily at Daniel. "I knew I had to convince her more than anything that I wanted this, but I'm scared. I've lived my whole life under the assumption that they didn't want me, that they abandoned me. But now I'm being told a completely different story. One where love me more than anything. I don't know which to believe. I don't know which is true."
"Well that's what you're going to find out." Daniel said gently.
"But what if they really are the people I always thought them to be." Emma turned to Daniel. "What if this hope I have is all for not."
"Em." Daniel grabbed Emma's arms and forced her to look at him. "If they didn't want you, why would they have been looking for you all this time? Why would they beg you to come back?"
"I don't know." Emma shrugged. "But there has to be a reason I thought that for all these years."
"Well I think both you and your parents deserve a chance to figure that out in person." Daniel suggested. "Besides, didn't your father say you could leave if it wasn't what you wanted?"
"Yes." Emma agreed.
"Well then let's go and pack." Daniel pulled Emma forward. "We have a long trip ahead of us."
Emma shifted nervously as she watched from her perch in a tree. "Em Chill." Daniel called from where he was sitting. "You're going to fidget your way straight off that branch. Why did you insist we hide up here anyway? It's a little strange."
"I don't know." Emma twirled her ring, a nervous habit. "I just feel more in control when I can watch people but they don't know where I am."
"That's a bit creepy." Daniel said.
"You know what I mean." Emma looked at Daniel. "I don't know. I'm nervous. I don't get nervous so this is all new to me. I mean this isn't just Serafine sending us out to meet with new people to make an alliance or get supplies. These people, they're supposed to be my family."
"It's not forever Em." Daniel promised. "It's just for a little while, to find out where you came from. It helps you understand yourself better and the more you know yourself, the better control over your magic you have. When you're ready, we'll go back home."
"Home." Emma mulled the word over. It confused her now. To her, home had always been easily distinguishable. It was in Altair, with her friends, the people who were like her, the people who protected her. But now, well she supposed she was technically going home now as well. This place, it was where she was born, where she was supposed to grow up. So didn't that make it home too? Emma shook her head, trying to cast off the confusion. She stared off into the distance and noticed by the movements of the forest people were approaching. "They're coming."
"So what's the plan over there?" Daniel glanced at Emma. "Are you going to drop in and scare them? Hold them at sword point?"
Emma shot Daniel a look. "Just follow my lead and toss the bags down after I drop."
"You got it chief." Daniel mock saluted her.
"I wouldn't be mocking the girl who has the capacity to best you in everything we're trained in." Emma warned.
"Not everything." Daniel crossed his arms.
"Tracking, magic, hand to hand, archery, sword fighting, with both one and two swords, throwing knifes, using all the other weapons we've been trained in…" Emma paused. "Need I go on?"
"No you needn't." Daniel rolled his eyes
"Is that even a word?" Emma asked.
"I believe so." Daniel shrugged. "Look there they are."
Emma watched the fair-haired man, the King, her father, approach them flanked by two guards. It seemed he had taken her advice from yesterday. There was no cloak today instead he wore a simple white tunic shirt and a leather jacket, riding pants, and boots.
Without warning Emma dropped from the tree, landing lithely in front of the three men. All three jumped back in surprised. James moved his hand to his sword hilt as if waiting for an attack. Emma smirked. "Expecting an attack?"
"Well after the way you greeted me yesterday, I was prepared for anything." James pointed out.
"Fair enough." Emma nodded. She glanced up as she heard a whistle from above. She caught the two packs Daniel tossed down before he himself dropped from the tree. "I don't think you two have been properly acquainted. This is Daniel. We grew up together."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Daniel bowed slightly, much to Emma's annoyance. Regardless, they were trained how to treat foreign dignitaries. Just because Emma was uncomfortable with the situation didn't mean he had to forget his manners. Besides, Emma was royalty in this land, she didn't need to bow to her own father.
"James." James held out his hand. "Thank you for agreeing to accompany my daughter."
"It was my pleasure." Daniel picked up one of the packs and handed the other to Emma. "Emma is one of my dear friends. Anything to help her."
"Well I'm glad to see you here today." James gave a small smile towards his daughter.
"Did you think I wouldn't come?" Emma looked confused.
"I had hoped you would." James admitted. "But I wasn't sure."
"We were taught to always keep our word as long as it doesn't harm the well being of our community." Emma said. "You can count on my word to be good. Daniel's as well."
"That is good to know." James seemed unsure of what to do. His daughter's distance pained him. She seemed like a stranger, but he realized in fact she was a stranger. This girl standing in front of him he knew no better than the boy standing next to her. She may have been his little girl once, but she seemed so far from that now. He wanted so badly to believe part of her was still there, wanting to come back to him. James shook himself from his thoughts. "I should introduce these two. You know… knew them well." He turned to the handsome brown haired man to his right. "This is Evander. He was the head of your personal guard."
"I had guards?" Emma raised her eyebrows. "As in plural?"
James let out a small laugh. "Of course you did. Aside from the fact that being a princess, especially in this kingdom, made you a target, you were so young."
"Right." Emma shook her head, the idea of having another life she didn't remember still a little much for her to wrap her head around. "So, am I still going to have that personal guard? I've lived my life thus far without them and have faired well."
"We'll discuss it." James hoped that answer would suffice for now. If his daughter was anything like his wife she, was stubborn and neither one would relent easily. "And this is Lancelot. He is the captain of our guard and head general, my closest confidant, and your godfather."
"It's nice to see you again, I guess." Emma said uncomfortably.
"I'm so happy to see you Emma." Lancelot took Emma's hand and smiled warmly. It unnerved Emma to see such affection coming from these people who were so foreign to her. Lancelot glanced at James. "I doubt Snow ever imagined she would see her daughter dressed in garments such as these."
"I doubt Snow ever thought she would see her again." James took in his daughter's appearance. She wasn't dressed so different from himself. She too wore leather boots, suede pants, and a simple navy tunic that set off her golden curls with a sword at her side. "I don't think it would be too different from what she would have worn."
"What?" Emma cut in.
"I don't know why your mother believed you wouldn't grow up to wear outfits such as this one, you were such an independent and adventurous child." James explained. "But you were her daughter and she loved buying you knew dresses and bows, you loved them too."
"Dresses and bows?" Emma paled slightly.
"The irony is your mother herself fancied wearing pants when she was out in these woods, even when she was dressed in finer clothing." James continued. "Don't worry Emma, you look fine."
"I wasn't really concerned." Emma shrugged, once again showing her indifference.
"Is that all of your belongings?" James looked at the two packs.
"We travel light." Daniel explained. "We left some of our belongings back in our home."
"Well we had better be on our way." Lancelot said. "Your mother is waiting anxiously for your arrival. The walk isn't far."
"We know." Daniel adjusted his pack. "We are very well acquainted with these woods."
"Well that's good to know." Lancelot seemed unsure of how to respond. It was as if the two teenagers were purposely asserting their distance from this land.
Emma noticed the awkwardness that hung in the air. "Let's go then."
"Right." Lancelot nodded and turned to lead the way.
Emma fell into step beside her father. The man intrigued her. She wanted to get to know more about him but she wasn't quite sure how to go about it. "So, is there anything I should know? About my life? About our family?"
"Well." James looked thoughtful. There was so much he wanted to tell her, to remind her of, but he didn't want to overwhelm her. Most of it he wanted her to remember on her own. "You have a brother"
"Brilliant." Emma said with some reservation. "Older or younger?"
"Younger." James answered. "By five years."
"So he's eleven." Emma surmised based off her own age. "Out of curiosity when is my birthday? We never knew so we just celebrated it as the day I arrived in Altair."
"That is your birthday." James said quietly.
"Really?" Emma said in surprise.
"What?" James looked confused.
"It's just that it's very rare for someone's powers to manifest on their actual birthday." Daniel explained. "While most of us gain our power's in our sixth year, we don't know when they will come. It's a sign of power for them to manifest on the exact day."
"Midnight on the dot." There was a twinge of bitterness in James's voice.
"Impressive Em." Daniel looked at her with admiration. "All though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised when it comes to you."
"What does that mean?" James asked curiously.
"Em…ma." Daniel was still unused to using Emma's full name. "Is exceptionally powerful. While she's not the most skilled in our land, she is by far one of the most powerful amongst us. Some believe she is the most powerful, although those governing Altair would never admit it."
"Why not?" James asked.
"Because unlike in other kingdoms, Altair is ruled by a rather unique system." Daniel explained slowly. "Those who hold positions of power do not gain them by birthright, it is based off power. But before you make too many assumptions power is not the sole focus of our land."
"It kind of seems like it is." Lancelot looked back. "Emma herself told Red the land you come from is only inhabited by those who posses magic, and you just stated Emma is special because she is so powerful. By those claims would not that infer your value and worth is based off power?" Emma cast her eyes down uncomfortably as Daniel glanced away. Lancelot realized he had inadvertently hit a nerve. "I apologize princess."
"You don't have to call me princess." Emma said quickly. "I uh… how much further again?"
"I thought you knew these woods." James looked at Emma, a slight twinkle in his eyes.
"I …" Emma saw the castle rise up before them.
"There it is." James put his hand on Emma's shoulder. Emma looked up, shocked, but she made no move to brush it off.
"So." Emma looked back over the lake to the beautiful castle sitting on it. "This is where you live?"
"This is where you lived too." James glanced back at his daughter. "You were born here. You spent many a day running around inside those castle walls."
"Sounds kind of like prison." Emma whispered under her breath causing Daniel to laugh. If anyone else had heard her, they ignored it. "It's massive. You might want to give me a tour guide for the next few days."
It was James's turn to laugh. "It's not as confusing as it seems. You'll be fine, I promise."
"Oh she's pretty adept at figuring those things out." Daniel grinned in amusement. "From what I gather she already has a pretty good handle on this place."
"Daniel." Emma hissed.
"What are you talking about?" James looked at Daniel.
"Oh she didn't tell you?" Daniel looked from James to Emma. "Emma and my sister broke into this castle last week. I guess your security isn't as good as you believed it to be."
"You broke in?" Evander's eyes grew wide. "How?"
"I don't know if I should tell you." Emma looked at the men. "I mean what if I want to sneak out?"
"Oh I'm sure you'll find a way." Daniel said. "You always do."
"We scaled the walls on the north east side. Then slipped in the servant's quarters. There are some hallways along the top that I assume are used only for decorating the castle or cleaning that no one is ever in." Emma explained. "It really was not that hard."
"It seems your daughter has more in common with you and Snow than we realized." Lancelot smirked.
"Breaking rules is kind of a common theme in our family." James smiled at Emma.
"Oh then she'll fit right in." Daniel teased.
"I always follow the rules." Emma looked at Daniel.
"Says the girl who's been realm traveling behind Serafine's back for years." Daniel countered.
"Well for the most part." Emma crossed her arms.
"Don't worry, you had a penchant for bending the rules when you were younger too." Evander informed her.
"It's good to see things haven't changed." Emma looked up at James. "Should we… go?"
"That is probably best." James nodded at Evander and Lancelot to continue on.
"So." Emma bit her lip. "What exactly is going to happen when we get there? Who all will be waiting… I'm sorry, I guess I'm just a little wary, nervous."
"You have no reason to be wary." James said supportively. "We didn't want to overwhelm you on your first day so there will be guards in the courtyard but they will stay at their posts. Your mother will be there to greet us as well as your brother. Your Aunt Red, whom you have already met, will be there as well. Her son Michael is a close friend of your brother so her husband and son will join us at the castle for dinner. We just want you to be comfortable."
"I appreciate that." Emma wrung her hands nervously.
"Don't be nervous." James went to put his hand on Emma's shoulder but thought better of it and pulled it back.
Emma remained silent. She was confused by the feelings she was experiencing. In Altair they had always been taught to keep their feelings to a minimum. Of course they were no strangers to joy and frustration. But this fear, this desire to impress people she didn't even know. It was something she was unfamiliar with. It was if she were worried she would not be good enough for them.
They bypassed the main courtyard to avoid the hustle and bustle inside but Emma could see the vendors and their customers, children running around playing with one another. If she had grown up here Emma could imagine she would know these people by name. She would be familiar with them, and they with her. Maybe one of them would sneak her something she wasn't allowed to have every once and a while. Maybe she would have been one of those children when she was younger. But that would have been a different life; she would have been a different person.
Emma was so lost in thought she didn't even realize they had happened upon the gate to the castle's inner courtyard. She saw Evander waiting for her to pass. "After you prin… Emma."
"Thank you." Emma said quietly, her nerves affecting her usually assertive personality. The courtyard opened up before her. It was smaller than the main one, more intimate, but it was beautiful. Sculptures carved from both stone and hedges decorated the space indicating to anyone who didn't know better that this belonged to some very important people.
She heard a gasp and turned to see a beautiful woman staring at her, tears in her eyes, her hand to her mouth. It was the woman she had seen the other day in the castle, her mother. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel in this moment but she knew it wasn't supposed to feel like she did now. She wasn't excited or nervous she didn't really feel anything. If she did, it was nothing she had ever felt before, something she didn't understand.
Emma heard her name being whispered and saw her mother come towards her. There was such love in her eyes, unlike anything Emma had never seen before. "Oh Emma." Her mother closed the distance between the two of them and pulled Emma into her arms. "My Emma."
Snow let out a deep, shuttering breath and with it years of worry and pain. To have her daughter in her arms again, though she would never admit it, it was something she wasn't sure she would ever happen. So many years her little girl had been gone and here she was now, almost a grown woman. Snow could feel Emma's rigid body in her arms as if the girl was unsure of how she was supposed to react. While she wanted more than anything for Emma to return her embrace, she knew her daughter didn't remember her. That broke her heart more than anything. More than spending ten years without her Emma, the worst was that Emma didn't remember the time they did have together, some of Snow's most precious memories.
But that didn't matter. What mattered now was her daughter was home and she was safe. Snow pulled away and held her daughter's face in her hands. She looked past the unfamiliarity into the bright green eyes that matched her own. Her daughter's face a mirror image of her own was framed by cascading golden curls. Snow could see Emma had gotten her stature from her father. She was both muscular and graceful. Emma possessed the kind of beauty everyone would recognize. "You are so beautiful."
Emma shifted awkwardly. "Thank you."
Snow could tell Emma was uncomfortable with all the staring. "I'm sorry." Snow apologized. "It's just… I never thought I'd see you again. And now, here you are and its… I'm almost afraid to believe it."
James seemed to notice the awkward tension and stepped forward. "Snow, this is Daniel. He is a friend of Emma's. He'll be staying here with us."
"Oh, yes." Snow let go of her daughter, taking notice of the boy for the first time. "It is my pleasure to meet you. It is very kind of you to accompany our daughter here."
"The pleasure is all mine." Daniel took Snow's extended hand. "Emma is a dear friend. Her safety and well-being are the top priority of our community."
"Well this is Emma's home, we're her family." Snow's smile was less genuine, more cautious. "You needn't worry about her safety here. It's our priority too."
"So." Emma tucked her hair behind her ear and turned to James. "Is this everyone or…?"
"Right." James nodded and motioned to a guard. Emma watched as the door opened and a young boy walked through. He was a carbon copy of the man standing next to her, right down to the sandy hair and steely blue eyes.
"Come on sweetheart." Snow beckoned. "Don't be scared."
"I'm not afraid of anything." The boy scoffed. He walked slowly down the steps, a haughty air about him. Emma could see him studying her carefully, judging her, sizing her up. Emma laughed internally. She could tell by the way to boy acted he thought highly of himself. Emma knew this boy was no match for her, but he thought he was.
"Come on." Snow guided the boy the last few feet forward and positioned him in front of herself, her hands on his shoulders. "Will, we'd like you to meet your older sister Emma."
"It's nice to meet you Will." Emma held her hand out to her brother. "Though I suppose we've met before."
Will didn't take her hand. Instead he crossed his arms. "I don't remember it either. We're effectively strangers. We all are to you."
"Ok." Daniel said slowly as Emma returned her hand to her side. "Well I'm Daniel, Emma's friend."
"Are you like her?" Will asked.
"What do you mean?" Daniel looked confused.
"You know, different, magic. " Will's voice was filled with disdain.
"Yes." Daniel ignored Will's tone. "I am like Emma. I have magic too."
"Super." Will seemed less than enthused. "So where are they staying?"
"Well Emma will be staying in her own room of course." Snow explained. "We have a nearby guest chamber made up for Daniel."
"Why don't we take them there." James suggested, trying to ease the building tension. "Let them get settled."
"James." Snow protested.
"I know sweetheart." James took her hand. "They aren't going anywhere. Just to put their bags down."
"Right." Snow shook her head, trying to cast off her worry. She looked at a nearby guard "Darius, would you take their bags."
"We can carry them." Emma said a bit too quickly. "There's no need to burden others. We're fine, aren't we Daniel."
"We're pretty used to traveling with packs." Daniel agreed. "But thank you for your offer."
"Of course." Snow nodded. "Well just this way."
Emma looked nervously at Daniel as they began to follow her family into the castle. "It will be all right." Daniel promised.
"This has already gotten off to a terrible start." Emma whispered.
"You'll be fine." Daniel reassured her. "You just need some time to get used to one another."
"Emma." Emma looked up to see Snow calling her name. "We have deal with something, but it'll just be a minute."
"That's ok." Emma nodded, giving her mother permission to go converse with her father and some important looking man.
"So." Emma turned to see Will staring at her. "You're her."
Emma followed Will's stare to a large portrait hanging on the wall. Three people stared back at her. Her father wore a magnificent red coat trimmed with intricate silver detailing and a deep red cloak. Next to him stood her mother in a magnificent white dress, her hair was left down in simple dark curls making her all the more beautiful. Both of them had their arms around a little girl, her angelic face framed in golden curls. She wore a magnificent deep blue dress trimmed in silver like the man behind her. The most captivating part of the portrait was the little girls eyes. They were an intense green, sparkling with happiness. Emma recognized those eyes. They were hers. The three of them, they looked so happy. It was a picture of another life, a life she didn't recognize. "I guess so."
"So what's it like?" Will asked.
"What's what like?" Emma tore her eyes away from the picture to look at her brother.
"Not remembering who you are." Will elaborated.
"I don't know." Emma shrugged. "For my whole life I thought I knew who I was."
"But you always knew you didn't remember your life before you were six." Will pointed out.
"I didn't think it was a life I wanted to remember." Emma's eyes drifted back to the picture. "I never knew I was missing something. But now, I don't know what to think. It's strange, everyone knowing something about you that you don't recall about your own life. I don't know how to explain it."
So if you don't remember. How can you be sure you're her?" Will looked skeptically at Emma.
"I can't." Emma admitted as she glanced over at the people that called themselves her parents. "But they seem to think I am."
Will glanced up at the portrait. "They miss her badly they'd believe anyone was her."
"You keep talking about her like she's a different person." Daniel looked at Will.
"She is a different person." Will said adamantly. "They may not want to admit it. But she's no more that little girl than I am magical like the two of you you. She knows it just as well as I do."
Daniel looked over at Emma who was staring at the ground, knowing the words her brother spoke were true. Daniel looked back to Will. "How do you know she knows? You just met her."
"Call it sibling intuition." Will shrugged. "You may have known her forever, but supposedly I'm related to her. I can tell she's thinking the same thing as me."
"Are you?" Daniel looked at Emma.
Emma's voice caught in her throat. The usually outspoken girl had nothing to say. "I…"
"Will." Snow called to her son.
"Yes mother?" Will turned, loosing his snarky manner.
"Michael is here. You may go see your friend." Snow nodded down a hallway. Will turned to leave. "William."
"What?" Will turned around, exasperated.
"Say goodbye to your sister and her friend." Snow prompted.
"Why?" Will looked like it was the last thing he wanted to do. "I'm going to see them later."
"William." Snow chided.
Wills eyes narrowed. Emma could tell he didn't like being told what to do. Finally he turned to Emma and Daniel. "I'm … glad you have returned Emma. It's nice to meet you Daniel. I'll see you at dinner."
"It's nice to meet you too Will." Daniel shook his head at the boy's outward disdain for the two of them.
"I see Will has shown you the family portrait." James joined them, having bid the man he was conferring with goodbye.
"If it's a family portrait." Emma glanced back up. "Why isn't Will in it?"
"This one was commissioned before he was born." Snow explained. "There are others around the castle with him."
"Are there any of… well, all of us." Emma asked.
"Just one." Snow said, a twinge of sadness in her voice. "We didn't even have a year as a family. And… well it's difficult to get a baby to stay still long enough for a portrait. You weren't exactly keen on standing still for these either but if we promised you a new dress for one you'd stand for hours."
"You were bribed with a dress?" Daniel shopped an amused look at Emma. "Who would have thought?"
"I was five." Emma rolled her eyes.
"I feel like you've been taking me for an easy mark for years." Daniel shook his head.
"You are an easy mark." Emma looked at Daniel. "At least for me."
"Someone thinks highly of themself." Daniel teased.
"I'm aware of my capabilities." Emma corrected. "And the capabilities of those around me."
"I feel like I should be insulted by that comment." Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"You probably should." Emma grinned.
"Well, would the two of you like to see where you will be staying?" Snow suggested.
"That sounds good." Daniel nodded.
"Right this way." James led them up a grand stairway. "Emma your room is in one of the eastern towers."
"A tower room." Daniel grinned. "That's quite the set-up Em."
"It was Snow's favorite room in the castle." James took Snows hand in his.
"It still is." Snow smiled. "All the windows let in the light in the morning. We used to watch the sunrise on the balcony almost every morning. I always knew it would be your nursery, and then your room of course."
"Your own room isn't your favorite in the castle?" Emma asked.
"Our suite is a bit larger than yours, more convenient." Snow let out a small laugh. "But it's balcony faces west so I can watch the sun set over the mountains with your father. Our room is just down the hall from yours."
"Your mother could never bear to be far from you." James smiled back at his daughter. She noticed the uncomfortable look on her face. "Will's room is a few doors down from yours."
"He doesn't get a tower room?" Emma asked. "Poor Will."
"There wasn't a tower room close enough for your mother." James explained. "There was only one room that was really an option. She wanted him close to us, but far enough from you so he wouldn't wake you. You were quite the light sleeper."
"Really?" Daniel looked at Emma. "This girl can sleep through a natural disaster."
"Well that is definitely a change for the better." Snow said. "You used to have the worst nightmares as a child."
"Really?" Emma asked. "Why?"
Snow's face sobered suddenly. She looked like she regretted saying anything. She chose her words carefully. "Getting to our position hasn't been without enemies. You took some very real threats to heart. You had quite the imagination which resulted in some terrifying nightmares."
"Maybe it's a good thing I don't remember them." Emma said.
"I can't tell you the last time she had a nightmare." Daniel agreed. "Like I said, the girl doesn't lose sleep over much. She's kind of ruthless."
"I am not." Emma crossed her arms.
"I've trained with you for ten years." Daniel looked at Emma. "I know you Ems."
"She doesn't give up easy does she?" James looked back at Daniel.
"No she doesn't." Daniel agreed.
"She has always been that way." James grinned. "I don't know if I would describe her as ruthless but she was never one to give up. Especially when she wanted something. Her determination was adorable."
"Adorable." Emma said slowly.
"You were five Emma." James explained. "Everything you did was adorable."
"So this room?" Emma changed he subject.
"It's right here." Snow pushed opened the door leading them into a beautiful room. It wasn't quite circular but had more of a hexagon shape with alcoves holding an armoire, a desk and chair and a chest. A beautiful woven rug covered the marble floor inlaid with colored stones creating a mesmerizing pattern. The ceiling was painted blue like the night sky and dotted with stars. Magnificent red and white tasseled curtains were drawn back, opening up all the alcoves and windows letting the light in. Emma could see what Snow meant about the natural light in the room. Intricate circular windows of different sizes covered the walls from floor to ceiling. Iron had been set into the windows in beautiful designs. Across from the doorway a stained glass door opened out onto a balcony revealing the mountains and lake beyond. Bookcases filled the spaces between the alcoves, their shelves filled with toys and books. A doorway led off to what Emma assumed was the washroom. One alcove had no windows and instead held a magnificent four-poster bed covered with a deep blue bedspread.
Emma turned to look at her parents. "It's beautiful, I can't believe I lived here. I can see why it's your favorite room."
"I think yours was actually our room." James smiled fondly at the memory. "We could never seem to get you to stay in here."
"Little Emma was scared of the dark?" Daniel teased lightly.
"More like scared of what was in the dark." James explained. "Or what she thought was there."
"My how you have changed Emma." Daniel nudged Emma gently.
"I guess I lost my timidity when I lost my memory." Emma shrugged.
"Oh you were never timid." James laughed. "Far from it. You were sweet and gentle but definitely not timid."
"The color blue seems to be a recurring theme around here." Emma glanced around the room. "Interesting considering I'm a girl."
"Well James was insistent for the longest time you were going to be a boy." Snow explained. "When he found out you were going to be a girl he wanted this whole room to be changed to pink but I liked it too much to change it. Blue was always your favorite color. We were hard pressed to get you into a dress of a different color."
"Has that changed?" James asked.
"Oh no." Emma held up her hands. "I am most definitely not a pink sort of girl. Blue is more of my color, clearly." Emma motioned to her shirt. She dropped her bag on the upholstered bench in front of her bed. She gingerly sat down on the bed. It was the most comfortable bed she had ever felt.
"Daniel, why don't I show your room?" James suggested.
"Of course." Daniel nodded. "Ems I'll see you soon."
Emma nodded silently as Daniel followed James out of the room, leaving her and her mother alone. "It's weird." Emma said quietly. "Being in this room, my room that I spent six years in but I don't remember any of it."
"You will." Snow promised. "With time."
"Do you really believe that?" Emma asked.
"I want to believe it." Snow admitted. "More than anything I want to believe it."
"I hope I don't disappoint you." Emma looked down at the bedspread.
"Emma." Snow sighed sadly. She sat down next to Emma, putting her hand on her leg. "You could never disappoint us. We're just happy you're home. That's more important to us than anything else."
Emma nodded and glanced away. It pained Snow to see and feel the distance in her daughter. She now understood what James and Red had told her. Emma was there and so clearly her daughter but she was different, she was a stranger. Snow's heart broke at the realization the boy in the other room knew more about her little girl than she did. Snow wanted so badly to say something, to reconnect with Emma but she was at a loss.
"Well." Snow pushed herself up. "I suppose I should give you time to get settled. Daniel is just a few doors down and if you need anything our chambers are down the hall. You can ask the guards where we are if you need to find us."
"I think I'll be fine but thank you." Emma said.
"Dinner will be in a few hours. I'll be back to show you where to go." Snow lingered in the doorway, looking back at Emma. Emma could tell Snow didn't want to let her out of her sight. Emma supposed she understood. For ten years this woman had been looking for her and now here she was. "Well, I'll see you soon."
"See you soon." Emma agreed. Snow finally turned around, leaving Emma alone in the room. Emma sighed and glanced back around the room. It was clear that a lot of love and hard work had been put into it for her. It truly was magical, like something out of the stories they had learned about in Altair. She wondered who she would have become had she grown up in these walls with these people who seemed to love her so much. It would have been such an easy life, free from worry or responsibility. She could tell she would have been happy, but she wouldn't have become the person she was today. She wondered what was worse, losing your family, or yourself. Though was it really losing yourself if you never knew what was missing in the first place?
Kapuis: There are fairies in the enchanted forest but their magic comes from diamonds so that's kind of how I circumvented it in my head. I see Snow and James as scared of the magic within types like Rumple and Regina. Also a slight spoiler there is a history with Regina and Serafine - you'll see an allusion to that in Serafine's interaction with the unnamed girl in what I believe is the second chapter
Debbie93: Emma is only sixteen in this story and I'm not planning on a teenage pregnancy. This story has other plot lines to fill it without that one. Thanks for the kind review!
Guest: It definitely occurred to me to write that seen - i imagined James telling Snow that night but the writers block just prevented that from happening
luce88:I can imagine this probably wasn't the first meeting with Snow you would have imagined. Just a forewarning there relationship will be a little strained - there is a reason though
Guest: Oh there will definitely be angst about Snow not being as close to her daughter as others. Down the road there will be a confrontation between the two of them
Jess: If you couldn't already tell there will def be some Will/Emma angst. He doesn't really like her which of course will be revealed. Yes Emma will remember what she heard but if you go back to that chapter you'll see that what Emma heard sparked another - bigger - more traumatic memory
Ali: It will be interesting to see how Snow and James tackle parenting Emma. They obviously want to be her parents and Snow is most certainly not a push over and Emma is very independent but at the same time they don't want to push her away so they feel like they can't enforce the same rules they would on say Will who grew up with those rules.