So sorry about the long break. Things have been super crazy, like I'm actually not sure how I got everything done without a legitimate meltdown. But every things not quite finished yet so who knows. Anyway I've been working on both stories here and there so I can post. I promise By Faith Alone will be updated next. I just have to finish a final scene for the chapter so hopefully this weekend. Anyway here you, a little more drama for our dear Emma. As always let me know what you think, your opinions do matter, and if you see any typo's let me know so I can fix them!
It was dark when they arrived in Altair, the glittering capital city seeming out of place for the somber mood between the two. Emma lead him through the streets, going to the only person she felt she could truly trust his safety with. Getting into the hospital this late at night wasn't easy, but she managed to convince an orderly to let the two of them sneak up to the top floor.
As she expected Diana was still awake when they slipped into her room. She turned from where she was sitting at the window, over looking the city. The moon lit up her pale skin, her dark brown hair cascading down her back making her beauty look more ethereal than Emma had ever seen before.
"I had wondered when I would see you again." Diana mused. "After your little meltdown."
"You heard about that?" Emma was annoyed but unsurprised, gossip had a way of spreading through Altair.
"You had a rough day." Diana shrugged. "No one can really blame you. Who is this?"
"The boy belonging to the hide out she chose after said melt down." Orrin answered, earning a jab from Emma along with a pointed glare. Orrin walked forward and held out his hand. "Orrin."
"Pleasure to meet you Orrin." Diana took his hand and stood up, her wince barely noticeable.
"Are you feeling better?" Emma asked.
"I'm getting back to full strength slowly." Diana reluctantly admitted. "I'm sick of all of this."
"And you're more patient than I am." Emma pointed out.
"You would have gone stir crazy a long time ago." Diana grinned. "So not that I do not enjoy meeting your friends, but why did you bring this particular one here?"
Emma looked at Orrin and then back to Diana, a slight nervousness visible in her demeanor. "Well I was actually hoping you could help me with something. There's… well there's a lot going on in all of the realms as I'm sure you are more than aware."
Diana motioned to herself, invoking the memory of what had resulted in her hospitalization in the first place. "I'm pretty up to date with that fact."
"Well Orrin is kind of in the middle of it. He belongs to a kingdom whos belief's he doesn't exactly agree with." Emma began to explain. "We had to get him out before it was too late. War is about to break out and once that happens, there's no going back."
"And you want me to help provide him protection here." Diana nodded in understanding. "Why don't you just take him to your kingdom? He seems able bodied. He could fight for you."
"That's not exactly an option." Emma said slowly. "He's the prince of our kingdom's biggest enemy."
"Ah." Diana put the pieces together. "A dark prince with a moral compass. Must be difficult."
"It's not exactly easy." Orrin agreed.
"No one will trust him at home and if he gets caught while in Eirian it will be considered the utmost form of treason." Emma continued. "This is the safest pace for him."
"Well since I'm trapped here I'll enjoy some company." Diana smiled at Orrin. "You are more than welcome to join me in my confinement."
"You make it sound so inviting." Orrin sounded less than thrilled.
"I'm sorry." Emma looked at Orrin. "I know this is not ideal, but I don't know what else to do."
"No this is…" Orrin looked around, his eyes settling on the view of the city. "this is incredible, more of an opportunity than I could have ever received had I remained at Rohal. I can not thank you enough for how much you risked."
"I would do it again." Emma said honestly. "I wish I could stay longer but…"
"You have a duty to Eirian." Orrin finished for her. "I understand. You have to be a hero."
"It is not something I asked for." Emma glanced away.
"And yet it seems like something you are destined to be." Orrin said.
"Well destiny sucks." Emma looked back at Orrin.
"I escaped my destiny." Orrin pointed out. "I chose my own. You can choose yours."
"Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be as much choice in mine." Emma said flatly. "And millions of lives are dependent on my fate."
"You can do this. You will be amazing." Orrin promised her. "You always are."
"Well." Emma sighed. "I should get going." She turned to Diana. "I'm sorry I cannot stay longer, but I want you to know I miss you so much."
"I miss you too." Diana pulled Emma into a hug. "Don't get yourself killed.
"I'll try." Emma laughed despite the tears that were threatening to spill over. "Take care of yourself."
"I will." Diana pulled back. "Same goes for you."
"Will do." Emma nodded. She turned to Orrin. "I guess this is where we say goodbye."
"Just for now." Orrin promised. "We'll see each other soon."
"Yea." Emma nodded, trying to believe him even though both knew there was no guarantee of his promises. They let the space between each other remain, both knowing a hug would mean a definite goodbye, a goodbye that could be finite, and it wasn't something either of them wanted to acknowledge. "I should…" Emma motioned to the door.
"Yea." Orrin nodded. "Goodbye Em."
"Goodbye Orrin." Emma whispered, stealing herself against the possibility that this would be the last time she would see two people that had become so important to her. With one final glance she turned away to walk out the door.
Diana watched the scene with a mix of sadness and frustration. When it became clear to her that both were about to let it be their goodbye she turned to Orrin. "Seriously?"
"What?" Orrin looked confused.
"That is how you're going to leave it?" Diana looked utterly shocked. "Go after her!"
"It's not like we're…" Orrin shook his head. "Anything special."
"I honestly don't care. She just saved your life. Do not let that be how you two said goodbye to one another." Diana insisted.
Orrin was shocked by Diana's admonishment of him, but, realizing she was completely correct, sprung into motion, chasing Emma out into the hallway. He saw a flash of blonde hair turn the corner and took off after her. He rounded the corner and saw her, his heart seeming to stop. "Emma!"
Emma turned around, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw Orrin running toward her. He didn't slow as he neared her. When he had erased the distance between them, he pulled her to him, locking the two of them into a passionate kiss. Emma reacted with surprise at first, but relaxed before Orrin finally pulled away. Orrin closed his eyes, feeling stupid for acting so rashly on impulse alone. "Sorry… I just… I couldn't let that be how we said goodbye."
"No." Emma shook her head, still in shock. "It's fine, I just… didn't expect that."
"Neither did I to be completely honest." Orrin admitted.
"But I liked it." Emma told him, not wanting him to overthink the action. Emma smiled sadly, hugging her friend. "Goodbye Orrin."
"Goodbye Emma." Orrin tightened his arms around her. "I can never thank you enough for what you have done for me."
"Just do me a favor." Emma pulled away. "Don't waste it. You can have any life you want Orrin. We will help you with that. You can be happy, you can be whoever you want to be. This is your chance to decide your own fate. Your future is in your hands. You don't have to be a victim of your circumstances any more."
"I won't waste it." Orrin promised. "But the same goes for you. I know it doesn't seem like it, but you do have a say in your own life Emma. You are the strongest person I know. You will get through this, and we will see each other again."
"Is that a promise?" Emma asked her voice portraying empty hope.
"It is." Orrin said firmly. He leaned in for one more soft, short kiss. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Emma whispered as she watched Orrin walk away. Unconsciously her hand came to her lip, touching the spot where Orrin's had just been. She turned around slowly, surprised to find a familiar face watching her. Slowly she walked over to where Evan was watching, his body language evidencing that he had just witnessed the previous scene.
"Another boy." Evan kept his face judgment free. "Your life is very complicated."
"Don't I know it." Emma sighed, leaning on the railing that looked out onto the city.
"I still remember when you hated boys." Evan mused, a soft smile coming to his lips. "I miss that time. I miss you."
"You miss the mischief I caused?" Emma glanced over at him, her eyebrows raised. "All the hell we put you through and the mistakes you had to fix."
"You did age me." Evan chuckled. "Sometimes I felt more like a parent than a mentor."
"Yon know you enjoyed punishing us though." Emma grinned. "How long did you spend thinking all of those up. You got really creative those past few years."
"I was always on the lookout for new ideas." Evan admitted with a smile. "I knew nothing I did would discourage you from breaking the rules so the creativity was mostly for my enjoyment."
"Well that much was clear." Emma laughed. She sighed, turning her back to lean against the railing. "Simpler times when I didn't have to worry about families, or boys, or destinies and fates of the realms."
"Your life has anything but simple." Evan pointed out. "You have always lived life full throttle, leaving everyone else to catch up with you. On the boy dilemma, I know Juliana would be better at giving advice for this but I'll do my best to fill her place. I don't know the other two, so I cannot advise you on the best choice, no one can. But I do know one thing. Whoever you choose, they had better treat you with respect and well, like the royalty you are, or they'll have to deal with me."
"I don't doubt it." Emma laughed. A somber mood fell over her as she realized that Evan would soon be sent out into the war, making it more likely that one of them would not return. "Where will you be posted?"
"I haven't been assigned yet." Evan shrugged. "They will probably send me to the area that is in most need of help. Right now that is the realm of Fayregaard but it is likely that the realm that will be most torn by war is…" Evan trailed off, his gaze shifting to Emma, not wanting to finish his sentence in an attempt to not trouble the girl further despite the fact that they both knew what he was going to say.
"Its obvious." Emma offered in an attempt to assure him he hadn't alerted her to anything she hadn't already riddled out herself. "Mohrion's goal is me, my life. I am from Eirian. The logical conclusion is he will bring his war in full force to the Enchanted Forest. My people will be the ones that suffer the most because of the simple fact that I am their princess. Even if I succeed there will be death and despair. If I fail, well who even knows what hell that world would look like."
Evan noticed the distress plaguing the usually confident girl. Emma rarely needed reassurance but it seemed the weight of everything had begun to affect her. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You can do this you know."
"That's what everyone tells me." Emma looked at the ground.
"Emma we can all believe in you, but it's not going to make a difference unless you believe in yourself." Evan told her.
"Still quoting Serafine I see." Emma said flatly.
"She's right." Evan said firmly. "When you joined us here in Altair you weren't at all rattled by the biggest change in your entire life. The entrance of magic into your reality didn't affect you. You were the most confident little girl I have ever known and that confidence only grew as you did. You were rarely fazed by anything and had the confidence to do things that not even we believed you were capable of. You were so strong willed and self-assured. What changed that?"
"It didn't seem to real before. The results didn't seem so finite." Emma shrugged. "I mean I know it was in a sense is was life and death, but it wasn't my life or everyone's death. My mistakes only affected me, but now, if I fail…" Emma trailed off, unable to finish.
"But if you succeed, you will be the greatest hero this or any world has ever known." Evan assured her, turning her so she was looking at him. "You can succeed Emma. I have never seen greater power than what I have witnessed in you. You are capable of so many incredible things, of so much good. Don't let your self doubt keep you from what you are meant to be." Evan dropped his hands from Emma's shoulders, his voice taking a softer tone. "Juliana would be so proud of the woman you are becoming. I know I am."
Emma looked up at him, sadness in her eyes at the reminder of what they had lost. "Thank you Evan, for everything you have ever done for me."
"It was my pleasure." Evan assured her gently. "If you ever need anything…"
"I know." Emma nodded, words seeming unimportant in the light of the understanding that silently moved between them. "Goodbye Evan."
"Goodbye Emma." Evan watched as she walked slowly but purposefully away. He knew that behind all her fear, she was prepared both mentally and physically to do what needed to be done, to save them all.
Diana observed Orrin carefully as he walked back into her room. His demeanor seemed both lighter and heavier at the same time as a result of his goodbye with Emma. He intrigued her. She didn't know why, but despite the fact that they had barely spoken, she felt a connection between them. She noticed his sadness as he sat down, looking lost. "Are you doing ok?"
"I don't know how to describe how I feel right now." Orrin admitted. "I'm almost numb from the overwhelming amount of emotion I feel."
"I know the feeling." Diana nodded. "I'm worried about my brother and my best friend, knowing full well I may never see them again. I wake up every day knowing more people that I care about have died trying to fight this war. I'm frustrated that I'm unable to help, and all of that probably pales in comparison to what you're feeling."
"There are no words for the confusion I'm feeling." Orrin agreed. He shook his head, steeling himself against the onslaught of emotions. He looked up at the girl in front of him, trying to use her as a distraction. "So what about you? Why are you stuck here?"
"I was injured in a mission." Diana shrugged, trying to play it off as if the events that had resulted did not have a major impact on her life. "As a result I'm stuck here alone until I heal and this war is over because there is no way they're sending me out there again in this kind of environment."
"You're alone?" Orrin seemed surprised by this revelation.
"Well my brother and friends are off fighting for the greater good so…" Diana looked away, not liking to think about the fact that everyone she cared about was at a very real risk of losing their life.
"Even your parents?" Orrin asked, unaware he had broached a very sensitive subject.
"Well my mom is dead and my dad has never wanted anything to do with us so…" Diana shrugged.
"I am so sorry." Orrin visibly reddened, feeling terrible he had inadvertently touched something he should not have.
"It's fine." Diana brushed it off. "My father chose power over his children a very long time ago. I don't even remember a life where he existed. The only thing I know about him is that he did some very terrible things that I am ashamed to admit were enacted by someone I am related to and landed himself a life sentence in the Altarian prison."
Orrin watched her with sympathetic eyes. He was able to relate to her on a basic level. "I get what its like. I mean my father didn't abandon us but he would chose power over family in a heartbeat. The only reason we are of any relevance to him is because we are his legacy and his power continues through his successful manipulation of us."
"Kindred souls." Diana gave a dark laugh. "Daniel always found some way to be positive about our situation. I honestly believe if in some alternate universe our father asked for our forgiveness, he wouldn't hesitate to give him a second chance. He always wants to see the best in people."
"And you?" Orrin prompted.
"I'm realistic" Diana said simply. "People cannot change that radically. If he ever came to us it would be to further his own desires, nothing more."
"I see you have a lot of faith in humanity." Orrin mused.
"No more than you seem to." Diana shrugged. "I've seen too much to believe the best in people."
"I can relate to that. I lived my life surrounded by people who focused only power." Orrin sympathized.
"Well it looks like Emma realized we had more in common than we knew. I'm glad I won't be alone in all of this." Diana pointed to the door. "Come on. I'll show you where you can sleep."
The sun was peaking over the mountains. It's reflection on the lake causing the water to sparkle with a beauty that clashed with the dark future that was quickly becoming her reality. Emma paused for a moment, taking in the beauty and peace of the scene in front of her, pretending for a moment that possibility of this future wasn't rapidly disappearing.
Knowing full well her parents were on edge about her absence despite the fact that Daniel had promised her quick return Emma turned and headed into the castle. It was impossible to tell it was barely daybreak by the level of activity in the castle. Even in her twenty-four hour absence the level of preparation seemed to have amped up considerably. Ignoring all the stares being directed her direction she wove her way through the hallways, making her way to the royal quarters.
As she was still dressed in yesterday's clothing Emma hoped to have a chance to change before seeing her family, but it seemed that fate continued to do anything but what she wanted. She was a bit surprised to find Daniel roaming the hallways this early in the morning considering he was a late riser but judging from the circles under her eyes she doubted he ever went to sleep.
A tired smile spread across his face when his eyes settled on Emma. "Hey."
"Hey." Emma said quietly, pulling him into a quick hug.
"You look…" Daniel paused waving his hand around as he searched to find the words to describe Emma's apparent attitude change from the previous day. He had known Emma for eleven years but he had never seen her quite like this. Despite the eerie calm surrounding her, her obvious exhaustion told a different story to anyone who was close to her. She had clearly been through the ringer emotionally but it seemed she had managed to at least find some emotional peace in the situation. "Calm."
"Yea well when you accept your impending doom." Emma shrugged. She took a quick breath, running her fingers through her hair, suddenly feeling tightly wound about the situation. "Is there any alcohol around here? Like anything at all. Wine, mead, rum… the hard stuff? I'm really not picky."
"Because you drinking in your parents castle where all the guards report to them is a good idea?" Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Yea I don't really care at this point." Emma shook her head, finally feeling comfortable with letting her stress show. "I know you know where to find it. Knowing you it's probably in your room. I need to relax so… be of use."
"Ok, ok." Daniel held his hands up, disappearing into his room. He emerged a few minutes later, handing a flask to Emma.
"I knew I could count on you." Emma gratefully took a swig
Daniel sighed and shook his head. "I'm a terrible influence."
"Yes." Emma nodded. "You are."
"And an enabler." Daniel put his hands to his head.
"It's why I love you. You help me take the mind off the fact that my life has become a living hell." Emma held the flask up before taking a large swig.
"Emma?" The voice caught Emma off guard. She choked the drink down, wiping her mouth, turning an ashen face to her mother.
"Mom." Emma said in shock, trying to hide the flask behind her back.
"You're back." Snow's face lit up with relief before her eyes settled on the flask in Emma's hand. "Is that a flask?"
"Yea I…" Emma looked at the flask, trying to come up with an explanation. "Yea its… I have no excuse other than the fact that I was stressed and need to somehow unwind before well… yea."
"With alcohol." Snow said slowly.
"Yea I thought we had gone over this." Emma said. "Different worlds… different cultures."
"Yes, well when you are in this world you will not be drinking alcohol." Snow said firmly, eyeing the flask.
Emma glanced down at her hand, quickly shoving the flask toward Daniel. "Right."
Snow sighed, shaking her head at the situation in front of her. "We'll talk about this, and your unexplained disappearance later. Right now I have to go to a war meeting."
"Perfect," Emma straightened up. "We'll join you."
Snow put her hand to her head. "Emma we've been over this."
"I know we've been over this." Emma sighed in frustration. "I'm not someone who needs to be protected from this war. I know you're experienced in this world but so am I. We both understand this world. We can help. You need us to help."
"Emma you're sixteen." Snow began.
"I know." Emma spoke up quickly, not wanting to go through the same debate she and her mother had previously covered. "I'm not an adult. But I'm also not the child I would have been had I grown up here. We all know that. I have had experiences that I never would have encountered here. I've had more experience than you, especially when it comes to magic."
"I just..." Snow sighed.
"I get it." Emma said gently. "At least I sort of get it. I'm your daughter, and you feel an innate need to protect me, but you also have to realize that there are some things you cannot protect me from. If I am to be the future ruler of this kingdom I need to do this for my people. I want to be the ruler that you've always modeled for me."
"What teenager actually pays attention to what their parents say?" Snow shook her head in distress. "All right. Come along."
"I can't believe that actually worked." Daniel whispered to Emma as they followed behind Snow.
"Neither can I." Emma admitted.
"You didn't tell her though." Daniel pointed out quietly. "About the prophecy."
"Yes because informing my parents of a prophecy that predicts my possible impending death will really help make them comfortable with this situation." Emma said sarcastically.
"We both know they're not going to let you go into this battle unless you tell them why you need to be involved." Daniel argued.
"And telling them will just make them want to keep me away all the more." Emma hissed.
"But you have to tell them." Daniel insisted. "You owe them that. You can't have them be blindsided by this. That's not fair to them."
Emma sighed, knowing Daniel was correct. "I know."
"So how are you going to tell them?" Daniel asked.
Emma took a deep breath, watching her mother closely before looking over at her best friend. "I'll let you know when I figure it out myself."