First of all I want to apologize for taking SOOO long to update this. It's been an insane semester - I'm literally always studying for a test or writing a lab report or paper. I'm really sorry guys. I've also had massive writer's block. But it cleared up a bit this weekend and thus we have this. I tried to give a little insight into the land and surrounding countries of Emma's birth - at least as told in my story. Thus the first chapter's first few paragraphs. I don't know how but this chapter became a Emma/Red chapter for all of you who are Aunt Red fans. Again I'm sorry.

"Ugh." Emma sighed dramatically and dropped her head onto the wooden table. She and Daniel had been studying the surrounding kingdoms and their royal families for what felt like forever and they were getting no where. She didn't want to disappoint Snow with her inability to remember. After all Daniel had called her brilliant the other night, but she just couldn't quite commit them to memory. It was as if something was preventing her from remembering. "This is impossible Daniel. I'll never be able to remember."

"What is up with you Em?" Daniel dropped the parchment with the map on it. "You never have this kind of difficulty."

"I don't know." Emma admitted as she stared out the window of the tower room where their lessons were held. "I just want to go outside, get some fresh air, do something active."

"Ok." Daniel agreed. "But one more try?"

"Fine." Emma acquiesced.

"Ok we'll start with something easy." Daniel held the map so Emma couldn't see it. "What is the name of the kingdom we are in?"

Emma shot Daniel a look. "Seriously?"

"You've been struggling." Daniel shrugged. "I'm simplifying."

"You are cruel." Emma shook her head.

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Are you stalling because you don't know the answer?"

"Shut up." Emma's eyes narrowed. "We are currently in the kingdom of Eirian."

"And it is ruled by?" Daniel prodded.

"Seriously?" Emma asked. Daniel only stared. Emma sighed. "King James and Queen Snow. Children Emma and William aged sixteen and eleven."

"Very good." Daniel smiled. "And you said you couldn't do this."

"You asked me about the kingdom of my apparent birth." Emma rolled her eyes. "I'm part of the answer."

"Well then let's go with something a little more difficult." Daniel glanced at the map. "What kingdom is directly to the north of us?"

"That would be Erril, ruled by King Thomas and Queen Ella. They have two children, Alexandra and Andrew who are the same age as William and I. To the west of Erril is…"

"You know this Em." Daniel encouraged.

"Is it one of the two that starts with an R?" Emma asked

"There are three that start with and R." Daniel corrected.

"I'm never going to get this." Emma put her head back on the table.

"Come on Emma, concentrate." Daniel prodded her. "If you actually tried you could get it. So what's to the west of Erril?"

Emma thought patiently. "Ryallon?" Daniel nodded. "Ryallon is ruled by King Phillip and Queen Aurora. They have three children, Christoph, fifteen, Arya, fourteen, and Leena, eleven."

"You got Arya and Leena's ages mixed up but good job." Daniel checked the map.

"Ok." Emma nodded, feeling more confident. "To the south is Ranaar. King Frederick and Queen Abigail have two children, Corrin is eighteen and Charlotte is fifteen?"

"Nice job." Daniel smiled.

"To the south of Ranaar is Llyr, the sea kingdom, which is weird because both Ranaar and Ryallon are bordered by the sea."

"There's a reason they're the sea kingdom." Daniel hinted.

Emma thought and then snapped her fingers. "Because Queen Ariel was a mermaid until she married King Eric. Now they have three children. Melody is my age. She has two younger brothers, Nicholas, thirteen, and Milton, ten. To the southwest of Eirian is Rivenguard ruled by King Flynn and Queen Rapunzel. They have three daughters, Victoire, eighteen, Elisabeth, seventeen, and Madeline, thirteen. To the west is Bamarre. Queen Eleonore and King Lionel have two daughters Adelina, twelve, and Baelyin, nine. To the north is Thrain, the biggest kingdom. It is ruled by King Angharad and Queen Helena. They have three sons, Rhys, Orrin, and Amadeo. They are nineteen, seventeen, and fourteen. Prydain is the kingdom across the straight. It is ruled by Taran and Eloise. They have the children with the weird names right?"

"Comparatively to the rest of the people on this list?" Daniel laughed. "They are the weirdest."

"Eilonwy and Goronwy." Emma said slowly, receiving a nod from Daniel. "They are fourteen and ten."

"And the one kingdom that is not in the surrounding lands but your parents want you to know because they are close allies?" Emma prompted.

"Agraba?" Emma guessed. "Ruled by Aladin and Jasmine. They aren't kings and queens, I think the king is called a sultan. They have four children. Roderik is the oldest at twenty-one. Ione is nineteen, Issarine is eighteen, and Rafael is fourteen."

"Awesome Em." Daniel smiled. "See you can do this."

"Just wait until they make me learn the cities. Or put those names to faces." Emma shook her head woefully. "That will be a nightmare."

"Well luckily you don't have to do that today." Daniel stood up and held out his hand. "Come on Ems. Lets get out of here."

"Gladly." Emma took Daniels hand and allowed him to lead her through the castle. Emma didn't know why but she was nervous. She felt almost as if she were doing something wrong by leaving the castle grounds. It was an odd feeling. She had grown up in a life where she could more or less come and go as she pleased. Yes there were times when she was expected to be in a certain place but how she spent her free time was entirely up to her. Yet here she felt as if she were breaking some sort of rule by leaving the palace. It was a feeling she did not like but try as she might she could not cast it off. "Daniel."

"Yes?" Daniel turned around and looked at Emma. "What is it?"

"Are you sure we can be doing this?" Emma asked.

"Why wouldn't it be ok?" Daniel looked confused.

"I don't know." Emma shrugged. "It just feels as if it's something we're not supposed to do."

"Since when have you cared about rules?" Daniel teased. "Besides your father told us we could more or less do as we pleased. You're the princess. You have power over these people. How could anything you do be wrong?"

"I just can't shake the feeling that it's something I'm not supposed to do." Emma shifted uncomfortably.

"Well figure out how to get rid of it, because this version of you is no fun." Daniel grinned. "Come on. Don't you want to go somewhere we can practice our magic or sword fight, or do something we're used to?"

"I guess." Emma agreed.

"Well come on then." Daniel began to scale the palace wall. "We're wasting daylight."

"You do know we can use the gate." Emma called up after him.

"I know." Daniel looked down at Emma and grinned. "But this is more fun."

Emma laughed and began to climb after Daniel. She understood his reasoning. Scaling walls, hiding from guards, spending their days in the woods practicing combat and magic, it was the life they were used to. They lived a life of adventure and chance, each day bringing some new and exciting challenge. Emma may have only been in this other life, a life that should have been hers,. for a few days, but it was long enough to realize that the life she would have led here would have been drastically different. Gone would have been the adventure, the chance, the danger. She could tell her parent's were the over protective type. Sure she probably would have learned sword fighting and archery, but freedom would have been scarce. She would have lived a life with guards waiting to swoop in at the first sign of danger. In Altair they were trusted to handle themselves in precarious situations. Their leaders knew the children were powerful and well trained. They were warriors that could handle themselves in battle. She would never be viewed as such in this place. She would only ever be a princess, someone who needed protecting, someone who would have sit back and watch life while others lived it for her. It was not a life she would want for herself.

"Last stretch." Daniel held his hand out for Emma and pulled her on top of the wall. "You know it's probably not a good thing that this wall is so easy to scale."

"It's a castle on a lake." Emma shook her head. "There's only one way they can attack. And enemies will almost always be seen coming. It's a great defense system. Besides I'm more worried about someone seeing us and thinking that we are… well crazy."

"We can always play the teenager card." Daniel shrugged.

"Because that will get us respect." Emma rolled her eyes. "Come on."

"After you your majesty." Daniel mock bowed.

"Don't." Emma whipped around, drawing her sword.

"Whoa." Daniel held his hands up. "Do you think you are over reacting a bit?"

"Sorry." Emma sheathed the sword. "I just… I don't like being called that."

"Clearly." Daniel nodded slowly. "Now, shall we proceed?"

"You're the mastermind." Emma held her hand out for Daniel to lead.

"Well I can't be the mastermind without my head." Daniel swung himself over the other side of the wall. "Which you seem determined to remove."

"You're in a vulnerable position right now." Emma warned as she handed Daniel the rope. "I would not recommend testing me."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Daniel grinned cheekily as he began to rappel down the wall.

As soon as he was at the base Emma began to pull the rope back up. She fastened it around her waist and lithely swung herself over the side of the wall, quickly descending. She prayed no one saw them. Something told her that if her parents found out about this particular adventure they would not be thrilled. It wasn't exactly the safest thing they could have been doing.

"You know." Daniel looked around the forest as they walked along. "You picked an incredibly gorgeous place to be from."

"I'm glad you're enjoying your vacation." Emma rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on Ems. We're staying in a castle, on a lake, surrounding by gorgeous snow capped mountains and currently walking through a gorgeous forest." Daniel gestured around him. "How could you not be obsessed with this?"

"It's not so much the location as the situation." Emma lamented.

"Ah." Daniel nodded in understanding.

"I don't want to talk about it." Emma shrugged. She stopped and looked around the small clearing. "Well this is a good a place as any to practice." She pulled out her sword. "Shall we?"

"We shall." Daniel unsheathed his own sword and held it out in front of him. "Don't think just because you are of high birth in this land I will go easy on you."

"I would make you pay if you did." Emma shrugged. "It's your start."

"Shall we quiz each other over realm battle strategy as we practice?" Daniel suggested. "Both a distraction and something you can actually get right."

Emma's eyes narrowed. "We both know I'm a better sword fighter than you so it's probably not a good idea to be insulting me… but yes."

"The Eidali?" Daniel took the first shot, beginning the sparring match.

"They prefer a more underhanded approach." Emma immediately responded. "They don't have the physical prowess required for field battle so they prefer more of a guerilla war fare attack. The Ktsitai?"

"They are a brutal people." Daniel answered, moving quickly to avoid Emma's sword. "They are not known for their mercy. If they feel you have wronged them they will brutally massacre entire towns. However they are more of a nomadic people so they have little organization in battle. A well-trained and experienced army should contain them handily. Westeros?"

"Nice try." Emma caught Daniel's trick. "It depends on which house you are referring too. They all prefer different strategies in war and many are influenced by religion. They are ravaged by their own civil war but have shown impressive displays of trickery and brutality. Galraun."

"They are a brutal people who prefer a classic battle strategy. Using sheer force and skill in field combat." Daniel blocked Emma's blow. "However they have a penchant for war and their lands have been ravaged by war. They are impossible to reason with as all they want dominance. The Tandashi?"

"I…what?" Emma was caught of guard. Daniel took the opening and knocked Emma off her feet, holding his sword to her throat. "Distractions get you killed dear Emma."

"That was extraordinarily unfair." Emma glared.

"Because everyone is fair in war?" Daniel smirked.

"Ow, ow!" Emma cried. "Daniel your knee, seriously!"

"What?" Daniel shifted his weight, concerned he was hurting Emma.

Emma took the opening to reverse the power, flipping Daniel over and pinning him to the ground. She looked down with a triumphant grin. "Empathy is weakness and weakness results in death."

"That was low, even for you." Daniel smiled.

"I merely took a page from your book." Emma shrugged.

"Well this is interesting." Both kids looked up in shock to see Red grinning at them. Emma immediately shifted off of Daniel, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. "Oh no, don't let me stop this. Though this is a rather… interesting way to go about courtship, but if sword's are your thing…"

"No!" Emma and Daniel immediately insisted. "Daniel is just my friend. Nothing more. We were just practicing our sword fighting."

"If that's what you want to call it." Red's eyes twinkled.

"Oh my gosh." Emma hid her head in her hands.

"I promise Emma is just a friend." Daniel swore. "She's like my sister."

"So you gave up your entire life and friends to follow your friend to another land?" Red clarified.

"They sent him to look over me." Emma insisted.

"If you say so." Red shrugged but she didn't look convinced.

"So who sent you?" Emma asked knowingly. "My father? Or my mother?"

"How did you know?" Red seemed mildly surprised.

"It is extremely unlikely you would happen upon us on your own. However if you were looking for us, well that is a different story as you are a tracker." Emma explained. "We've been gone from the castle for a while without guards, and well sending you is less threatening."

"That obvious huh?" Red didn't seem remotely ashamed.

"It is pretty transparent." Daniel agreed. Both Red and Emma shot him side-glances. "I wasn't aware I wasn't welcome in this conversation."

"Oh stop being such a girl." Emma rolled her eyes.

Daniel glanced up at the sun's position in the sky. "Oh shoot. I better get going Emma."

Emma glanced up at the sky. "Yea you don't want to miss the window."

"What are you talking about?" Red asked.

"It's one of the days transport into Altair, well into our area of Altair, is unrestricted. It is always possible to get in and out if necessary but today I'm allowed to return to see my sister and practice my magic. Not all of us are as advanced as Emma."

"Oh." Red smiled. "You must be excited. Are you going Emma?"

"No." Emma shook her head. "I mean I'm welcome to but… they're all trying to give me my space to think. I can't really give this place a chance if I'm constantly traveling home."

"I'll see you tomorrow Ems." Daniel sheathed his sword and hugged her.

"Tell everyone hi for me." Emma waved as Daniel disappeared. She turned back to Red. "So… "

"So." Red repeated, waiting for Emma to make the first comment.

"How long did it take you to find us?" Emma asked.

"Not very long." Red shrugged. "Less than fifteen minutes."

"You're quite an incredible tracker." Emma complimented.

"Thank you." Red smiled. "From what I hear, you are pretty skilled yourself."

"Best in Altair." Emma said nonchalantly. "They said I was a natural when I arrived and it was easy to train me on the fundamentals, I had all the necessary instincts. They send me on all the recon missions and out hunting a lot because with my ability to move undetected and my skill with a bow I bring back a lot of game. I don't mind though, it gets me out of the repetitiveness of lessons."

"You don't like learning magic?" Red asked.

"Oh no I do." Emma said quickly. "It's just that sometimes it gets a little repetitive. It's not easy being one of the most talented ones, you get a lot of special attention and private lessons and learn how to do some really cool things, but there's a lot of pressure. I get pushed to do things that individuals two years above me couldn't even begin to attempt. And it's tiring being told over and over how special you are, to be careful and that they're only being protective because you're the most powerful. If I really am the most powerful shouldn't that mean I can protect myself?"

"Oh." Red laughed. "You would not have enjoyed the guards your parents would have had with you at all times had you grown up here."

"They're still trying to thrust them upon me." Emma grumbled.

Red laughed again. "Oh you have your parent's spirit. I'm glad to see you haven't lost that. But your tracking skills, those come from me."

"I'm starting to see that." Emma gave a small smiled. She suddenly looked nervous, giving Red a tentative look. "Could you tell me… what I was like? Back then when I was … everything they wanted me to be."

"Emma." Red looked at her sadly. "You are still everything your parents want you to be."

"Am I really?" Emma looked at Red. "Do you really think when I was born and my parents imagined what I would be like they envisioned me as I am now?"

"I don't think they imagined these circumstances." Red admitted. "But you are still so much more than they could have ever dreamed."

"How?" Emma shook her head. "How am I possibly what they could have wanted? I'm obstinate and resistant to them. I can't accept them, I can't love them like they love me. There is so much about me they don't know… that they don't want to know."

"They are your parents Emma." Red took Emma's hand. "They want to know everything about you, good and bad, and they will love you no matter what."

"And Will, that kid hates me." Emma shook her head. "My own brother hates me."

"Will is a difficult child." Red agreed. "When you left, your parents were so heart broken. They channeled all their energy into raising Will. He was the only child they had left. They gave him everything he wanted and they never said no. That was the difference between him and you. You had rules and guidelines. Your parents didn't have to punish you often because you knew your boundaries, you obeyed and did what you were supposed to do. They tried to raise you with morals and respect for every living creature. But with Will, it was as if they were afraid that by saying no, they would push him away and lose him too."

Red took a deep breath. "I would never tell James or Red this but…I never believed Will was worthy of the throne… that he would make a good King. You are so much more worthy of the throne Emma. You were born to rule Eirian. When you left that right fell to Will. He grew up entitled, wanting more than anything to be King. And now that you're back… well…"

"What?" Emma looked up in surprise.

"Now that you're back you regain your right to the throne." Red explained.

"I…" Emma's jaw dropped. "But I'm a girl, Will is the son. Shouldn't he be the heir?"

"This isn't a paternalistic society Emma." Red shook her head. "The right to throne falls to the eldest child. That is you."

"But I…" Emma shook her head. "I've been gone for years."

"Which is why Will is angry with you." Red explained. "You are taking the only thing he has ever wanted. The thing he believes is his right."

"But I never asked for that." Emma protested. "I don't want to be a queen."

"Whether you want it or not, it is your right." Red said simply. "And honestly I believe you will be a far better leader than your brother."

"Why." Emma looked at Red in disbelief.

"Because you have so many of the qualities that make your parents great rulers. I still see in you all the qualities of your youth, no matter how dormant they may be. But your years of living in Altair, becoming a warrior, becoming so independent, it has given you so many character traits your parents developed in their years on the run."

"Their years on the run?" Emma raised her eyebrows.

"The story is a long one my dear." Red smiled. "For another time, but I can tell you that your parents lives were not always easy as they are now. They spent years fighting against people who wanted to destroy them, destroy their happiness. I see their fighting spirit in you, their strength to handle any circumstances thrown your way. Emma you may have only been back for a short time but see much in you. You are strong and fair. You are noble and kind. You will make a ruler your parents would be proud of, that your people will be willing to follow."

Emma blushed. "Thank you. So… will you tell me what I was like? What these qualities that everyone see's in me is."

"I'm surprised you want to hear about that." Red said. "You seem to have been avoiding talking about it at all costs."

"Well I just…" Emma glanced at the ground. "Whenever anyone else talks about it, it's like they want me to be the way I was when I was five, like they want me to stop being who I am now and just revert back. I don't know why, but I don't feel that pressure with you. I feel you just want me to be me."

"I do." Red smiled. "I just want you to be happy. And Emma, nobody wants you to chan…"

"Don't lie to me." Emma shook her head. "We both know what I'm talking about is true to some extent."

Red sighed before looking back at Emma. "You were a beloved little princess. The whole kingdom was as much in love with you as those close to your family. But no one loved you more than your parents. Emma you were their entire world. I've never seen them as happy as they were when you were in their life. You flourished in their love into a beautiful little princess, a light in all of our lives. There was such a happiness and joy in you that was unlike anything I had ever seen. You had never known any pain, any hardship, and there was such a blissful innocence about you. It was so reassuring to know something that pure could exist. You were never capable of causing pain. It tore you apart whenever you believed you had hurt a creature."

Red smiled with fondness at the memory. "There as this wonder in your eyes, and you approached the world with a belief that anything that could happen. But perhaps my favorite thing, and the thing I've missed most, was your laugh. It was most beautiful sound any of us had ever heard. Hearing you laugh, seeing you smile, nothing made me happier Emma. I loved you… I love you so much more than you could ever imagine."

Emma sat silently, staring off into the distance. Finally she spoke. "And you still see those qualities in me."

"I do." Red nodded.

"The reverence for life might not be there anymore." Emma said grimly. Red looked at her in confusion. "Hunting."

"Right." Red nodded. "I'm interested to hear what you think about yourself now."

"Now." Emma sighed. "Now I'm, well definitely not as innocent as I was back then. I have seen far too much to be oblivious to the darkness of the world. I believe I have a strength, and a will to survive anything. It's hard to describe." Emma shrugged. "I'm a very different person."

"And is that a good thing? Red asked. "Or a bad thing."

Emma stood up and grabbed her bow and arrow. She looked up into the sky and back over her shoulder at Red. "I guess it depends on who you ask." Emma glanced back and sent the arrow into the trees, seemingly into nothing. Red was confused as to why Emma would waste an arrow like that. However second later a bird plummeted from the sky, the arrow shot directly into its eye. Red stared in shock as Emma picked up the bird. It was clear to her that the girl in front of her was indeed very different. Her skills were both incredible and deadly. It was in that moment Red realized she was not just looking at a girl who was talented in hunting. She was looking at a trained killer.

Yes there was a GoT reference in there!