So I know it has been forever, and I apologize, but inspiration just wasn't coming for all of the scenes I needed and trying to force them never has the best result, which is why I happen to think the first and last scenes of this chapter are better because they flowed so naturally in my head, but the other two were need for exposition so. Anyway I hope you enjoy. There are a lot of emotions in this chapter so I promise you I will give you a lot of action very soon!
I responded to some comments from last chapter from below! As always, thank you for reviewing. I take your suggestions and thoughts into consideration when I'm writing and I love to hear that you are enjoying reading it as much as I love dreaming it up. You are all the best!
The castle was busier than she had ever seen in the next morning. The final units of her father's army were preparing to leave, with her father and his generals headed to the front lines where many of the other kingdom's forces had already gathered. While most of the Altarian soldiers were already assembled at the camp, a few of the higher-ranking officials had remained in the castle to best determine how to integrate the forces. Emma's own band of six were themselves preparing to depart.
The morning had been a flurry of packing the little they needed and ensuring their weapons were prepared. Emma had stood before her wardrobe for a long time. She didn't know how to decide what clothing was appropriate for approaching what could either be fulfilling her destiny or impending death. Finally she had decided on simple breeches, leather boots, a plain tunic with a brown leather vest. The vest would provide her minimal protection while still allowing her to move. She knew there was no point in wearing armor. It wouldn't protect her from what she was truly up against.
Emma had allowed her mother to braid back the front part of her hair. While perfectly capable of completing the task herself she knew it was a way for her mother to help calm her nerves. She had collected her freshly sharpened sword and dagger from the armory and was preparing to grab her bag when she ran into her father.
She didn't know why she seemed so surprised. She had seen him in his war garments before but it had been a long time. When she was young, even though she understood he was leaving to fight, her parents had always shielded her from the harsh reality of war. But this particular outfit was the one she had seen many times in her nightmares. It was the one she had seen him dying in, and that was not an image she could erase from her mind.
"Hey." She said quietly as her father left his advisors, walking towards her, his warm and comforting smile on his face.
"Hi sweetheart." James pulled Emma into a hug. "I see you're preparing to leave."
"You too." Emma noted, not entirely sure what to say. Of all the goodbye's she had to make, this one was going to be the hardest.
"Yes." James nodded. "We leave at midday." He glanced back at his generals before placing a hand on Emma's arm and leading her farther away so they could have a more private conversation. "I need to speak with you but… well this is a conversation you cannot repeat to anyone, most of all your mother."
"Ok." Emma said slowly, her eyebrows knitting together in a mix of confusion and concern.
James took a deep breath. The love and reverence he viewed Emma with was stronger than anything she had ever experienced. In that moment it struck her this conversation would be different than any they had ever had before. "Dad?" Emma prompted, cursing herself for sounding more like a child than she wanted to.
"I'm sorry." James shook his head. "I don't really know how to do this. As much as I want to believe that everything will work out, as much as I want to believe that your dreams are just that… I know better. I know how powerful you are, I've seen it. And I would be a fool to ignore what you've seen."
"You're saying goodbye." Emma said quietly.
"I don't want to." James said in an apology. "But I also know if this is the last time we are to see each other I would never be able to forgive myself if I didn't take the chance to say goodbye and tell you how incredibly proud you have made me. You have become more than I could have ever imagined. You are kind and loyal, generous and so incredibly brave. You are stronger and more accepting of others than I could ever hope to be. I love the zeal you have for life and your insatiable desire for adventure that drives you to experience the world. You are only sixteen but you have an incredible sense of right and wrong and the strength to do what is needed for others, even if puts yourself in harms way. I have seen glimpses of the woman you will become and I can already tell you have such a bright future ahead of you. You are going to be an incredible leader for our people, you already are."
"I don't know about that." Emma glanced at the ground.
"I do." Charming lifted Emma's chin until their eyes met. "I have seen your ability inspire others. Emma I know you can't see it but the way you lead your life gives hope to those around you, it inspires us all to be better versions of ourselves. Those of us who have already seen your ability to lead look up to you, and the rest of our kingdom will too when you become the queen you were born to be."
"If I live that long." Emma whispered. She closed her eyes. This conversation was not one she had expected to have with her father, one half of the ever-optimistic pair that were her parents. His honesty and fear only exacerbated the doubt she had within her.
"Hey." James shook her gently. "I know I said I believed in the possibility of your prophecies, but we have already seen they can be wrong by Orrin's distance from this war. I may not be well versed in magic or able to see the future, but I do know that if any part of your prophecy is going to be wrong, it is going to be about your fate. You have so much power within you, so much good and so much promise for the future. I can't believe the universe would let that go to waste. There's not a doubt in my mind that you will return from this."
"Not even a little bit?" Emma asked.
"No." Charming shook his head. He placed his hand on the back of his daughter's head and looked intentionally into her eyes. "You have more strength in you than anyone I have eve known. I know you are coming home."
"But you're worried you might not." Emma took a deep shaky breath, the possibility of the idea terrifying her.
"I will fight with everything in me to return to you and your mother and brother. But if I cannot, knowing that you will be ok, that this kingdom will be in good hands with you as a ruler, will allow me to go peacefully. And if my time does come, if this short amount of time is all I have with you, I am eternally grateful for it. You turned out to be everything I could have hoped for and more. I could not be more proud of the woman you have become. "
Tears glistened in Emma's eyes as her father's words resonated with her. She looked down, attempting to blink them away before looking back to her father, the man who in such a short time had taught her so much. He said she inspired him, but what he didn't realize is how much he had inspired her. When she was little she had always looked to him as a pillar of strength. He had been a constant she could center her world on, someone who represented safety and the idea that everything would be all right in the end. Even know, when she had extensive knowledge of the tragedies of the world and the limitations of man, he still held that aura of safety for her. She looked to him as a representation of everything that was good in the world, a leader who's sense of duty and honor was something to be followed. "Do you remember when I first came home? Before I remembered who I was, you took me out to our spot by the lake. We talked and you told me about grandma Ruth and Regina, how terrible situations, moments that seem so bleak that they cannot possibly turn out for the best? But if you just wait, there is a beauty that comes from them. You told me sometimes the best things in life sometimes come from our darkest moments."
"I remember." James nodded.
"You said you couldn't find the good in my disappearance." Emma continued. "That you didn't see how anything good could possibly come from the pain of living without me for ten years. Well… I think we've found out the good that came from those ten years we lost. If I remained here, who knows how long Mohrion would have let me live before claiming my life. It was those ten years that gave us the opportunity to be together now, that gave us the possibility of the future that would have not been promised if I had not been protected in Altair."
Tears were pooling in James's eyes as he reached forward, placing a gentle hand on Emma's cheek to which she immediately leaned into. "You are incredibly wise you know that?"
"Well I've had pretty good role models." Emma smiled sadly. "I love you so much daddy."
Charming could bear the distance between them no longer. He pulled Emma to him, wrapping her securely in his arms. He placed a kiss on her crown before resting is head atop her own. "I love you too princess, so incredibly much."
The two remained like that for a while, but both knew their time was running out. Emma finally pulled back and looked up at her father. She knew what she had seen and she was aware of the dangers of war, especially for those leading the fight. But in the moment she chose to take a lead from her parents and choose to believe in the hope of the future rather than the reality of the present. "I'll see you soon."
James gave a sad smile, placing one final kiss on Emma's forehead before pulling back. The look he wore was one of pride at the incredible woman who stood before him mixed with one of regret that he had to leave her. "I'll see you soon sweetheart. I believe in you."
And with that he was gone, walking to join his group of generals. He dared not look back, knowing full well if he did he wouldn't have the strength to continue on. He had left his family for battle before, each time more difficult than the last, but this time seemed more difficult than all of them combined. This time he no longer had the confidence he would return to his loved ones. He wondered if he would ever see his family again. The stunning face of his wife, that made him catch his breath every time he saw her, the face he fell more in love with every day, the face of the woman who lit up every time she saw their children. The face of his son, a face that was a mirror to his own past, the face of a little boy who was trying too hard to make his father proud, who didn't realize that nothing he could do could make James love him any less. And finally the face of his daughter, the beautiful little girl who was a perfect mix of her parents, who's brow still furrowed in the same way it had when she was young, who's smile still had the ability to brighten his entire day, who's potential made him believe in the possibility of a bright future. A single tear slipped down his face at the thought. He quickly brushed the tear away, refusing to let his pain keep him from doing what he needed to keep his family safe, to give them a chance at a better future.
Emma made sure there was no sign of tears, straightening herself before she walked into the war room where her group was waiting. Five faces looked up expectantly as she entered the room, waiting for her to speak. "Are we ready to go?"
"Demanding now aren't we?" A familiar voice joked from across the room, a charming smile easing the tension in the room.
"Evan." Emma softened as she embraced him, thankful for a familiar face from her other life, someone who understood her and Daniel's training, how they operated in an environment like this. "It's good to see you, not under these circumstances but…"
"It's good to see you too Emma." Evan finished for her. "I'm glad you're still…"
"Alive?" Emma cut in wryly. "Yea well we'll see how long that lasts."
"Evan, Evander." Daniel mused looking between the two men. "It's odd how similar your names are."
"And their roles." Emma added as she considered the similarities. "It's almost scary how alike they are."
"Yes they probably both understand the headache of trying to keep you out of trouble." Daniel teased. "Something we are all well acquainted with."
"As much as I would like to argue this point with you, and as much proof as I have to argue that you are just as difficult as I am, now is really not the time." Emma shot back, a serious look on her face letting Daniel know she was not in the mood.
"Fair enough." Daniel held up his hands in surrender.
Emma examined the supplies. "Do we have everything we need?"
"Party is present and armed," Evander spoke up. "We have our rations, we have our plan. We're ready."
"Good." Emma nodded, looking back toward the rest of the room. "Are you all still committed to this?"
"Of course princess." Evander spoke up reassuringly.
"We're in this to the end Ems." Daniel said softly. "No matter what happens.
"Well then." Emma sighed, looking at the five individuals standing before her. Every one of them had dedicated their lives to her protection at some point. Each one found her important enough to put her safety before their own. It was a mix of her protectors from both lives. There was Evander, the man who had been a constant in her early life. Even when her parents had to depart on business, Evander always remained close by, watching over his charge, often the only one able to pull a smile out of her when her parents and Red were unavailable. She looked next to Evan, Evander's Altarian counterpart. Though Juliana had been the one she had run to with her problems, Evan had been a constant source of comfort, threatening to end anyone who would so much as dream of harming her. Next to Evan stood her Aunt Red, the woman who had been her confidant, who had been the first person who had taught her to survive, who had always made it a priority to ensure Emma was happy. Her eyes next moved to Daniel, her best friend, her constant companion, and the one person she knew she could always count on. Daniel understood who she was, her hopes and her fears better than anyone she had ever known. Finally her eyes landed on her mother, the woman who had loved her and raised her to be a strong an independent young girl. Despite her loss of memories, the lessons Snow had instilled in her had resonated through her entire life. The knowledge of what her mother had done, of her flaws and her regrets, had somehow only served to make Emma love her more. The five people standing before her collectively knew her more completely than she knew herself.
As blessed as she felt for having so many people who loved her this much, she couldn't ignore the guilt that coursed through her knowing the lives they were putting at risk for her. "I just want to say this now, because there won't be time later. I want to thank each and everyone of you for risking your lives for me. Not just today, but for every thing you've ever sacrificed for me. I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me. I know nothing I can say can deter you from the decision you've made. You've all made your decisions out of a sense of responsibility to or love for me. But I need you all to know that if this doesn't end the way we want it to, you haven't failed at your job. I know each of you will blame yourselves, but I'm asking you not to. Because despite how incredible you all are, you have limitations, as do I, and those limitations might come into play. We can't control what will happen. All we can do is fight, and do everything in our power to succeed. And if that's not enough, at least we tried, and that is something I couldn't be more proud of."
"To the end Em's." Daniel reached out and took Emma's hand. "To the end."
Emma nodded blinking back any tears before they had a chance to appear. Emma took a deep breath and gave a small nod. "Then let's go, because I'm sick of sitting around and waiting for things to happen. It's time I take charge of my so called destiny."
Snow smiled proudly. "A leader through and through."
They moved quickly as a unit, cutting through the forest. Most conversations were held to hushed tones, not wanting to attract any attention of enemy soldiers who might by lurking beyond their posts. Daniel and Red, being the best trackers from their respective worlds, had taken the lead, watching carefully for anything that was out of place. Evan and Evander's similar roles as Emma's guards resulted in both bringing up the back, protecting the group from any attack from behind. Unsurprisingly, Snow had insisted on remaining by Emma's side out of a maternal instinct to protect her daughter no matter the cost.
Emma glanced over at her mother, noticing the troubled look on her face. "Are you ok?"
"Hm?" Snow was shaken from her internal musings, looking up at Emma in surprise.
It's just you look… " Emma searched for the word. "Troubled, like you want to talk about whatever is on your mind. I thought I'd just…" She shrugged. "Lend an ear."
Snow gave a smile and shook her head. "I'm the mother, shouldn't I be the one allowing you to unload your burdens on me? Not the other way around?"
"Isn't one of the hopes of mother's for their daughters as they grow older that they become close friends and confidants for one another?" Emma pointed out gently.
Snow's features immediately softened, a look of pure lover permeating her expression. "I love you, you know that right?"
"Of course." Emma nodded honestly. "I may have had my moments of doubt when I didn't really understand what was going on, but I know you love me just as I love you, unconditionally."
"Unconditionally?" Snow asked. "No matter what huh? Even if I abandon you."
"We both know it's not that black and white." Emma said gently. "Besides, even before I knew the whole story I had started to forgive you. Lord knows I have messed up in colossal ways and I will again. If I am to expect forgiveness from those I love I need to be willing to give it."
Snow gazed at her daughter, taking every inch of her in before speaking again. "What did I do right to deserve someone as incredible as you for a daughter?"
"Some people might argue you did something wrong." Emma joked earning a small laugh from her mother.
"Stop making me laugh," Snow shook her head. "I shouldn't be laughing when facing the fact that you might not… make it."
"Mom." Emma reached out and took her mother's hand. "Every one of us will die and none of us knows when our time will come. That's the thing about death, it doesn't discriminate based on class or gender or age. It comes both the best and the worst of us whenever it deems it time. You could be the wealthiest and most kind-hearted individual in all the realms, you could go to great lengths to protect yourself from the outside world, and death could still take you. We cannot stop it. The only weapon we have is to live our lives as much as we can for whatever time we are given."
"You're extraordinarily wise for one so young." Snow said quietly.
"Wisdom doesn't necessitate age, just as age doesn't guarantee wisdom." Emma stated simply. "I just want you to know if anything happens."
"Emma no." Snow protested.
"Not that." Emma said quickly. "I mean yes that also, but in terms of what I'm saying now, I just want you to know that if we run into unexpected company if you will, I just… I never wanted you to see me kill someone. So I'm sorry, if it comes to that."
"No." Snow shook her head. "Do not apologize for something like that. If it comes to that, do whatever you need to in order to survive. That's what I want from you. The most important thing to me in this is that you make it home, that you live."
Emma swallowed the lump that was quickly forming in her throat. Her voice came out in a sad whisper. "I don't know if I can promise you that?"
"You need to promise me that you'll try." Snow insisted as she looked into her daughter's matching brilliant green eyes. "That you will try everything in your power to make it back, no matter who comes back with you."
"I promise you I will try." Emma nodded, wanting desperately to be able to agree to her mother's request. "But even I cannot forsee the outcome."
"I know." Snow glanced away. "I feel as though I have failed you as your mother. Protecting you is the most important job I have, and I cannot fulfill my role."
"You haven't failed me." Emma said sincerely. "It is not your fault this is the role that destiny gave me."
"But it is." Snow whispered, looking at her daughter with apologetic eyes. "It is because you are the product of true love that you are the savior, that love is your father's and mine. It is our love that placed this burden upon you."
"Your love is strong though." Emma squeezed her mother's hand. "Stronger than anything I've ever known. The stronger your love is, the stronger my power is. Yours is the purest love there is."
"I don't know." Snow looked away. "I do not know that I still have the right to call my love pure, not after everything that I have done. And even if it is, how is that enough?"
"You love him more than anything in this world right?" Emma asked.
"Not more than you or Will." Snow said.
"But your love for us is different." Emma explained. "Your love for father, is there anything stronger than that? Is there anything that could ever diminish it?"
"No." Snow shook her head. "I love him with everything I am."
"Well then." Emma looked at her mother, a reassuring smile spreading across her face. "Then I believe everything will work out. Because there is nothing stronger in this world than love."
The small group had walked well into the night before Evander had finally deemed a small clearing fit to set up camp for the night. Red, Snow, and Evander had immediately set off to secure the perimeter while Evan went in search of food, leaving Emma with strict instructions not to venture outside of the boundaries and for Daniel to keep her from doing so. Both knew that nothing Daniel could do would prevent her from leaving if she truly wanted to, as did Evan, but neither said a word. Instead they sat silently in the clearing, waiting for others to return, methodically sharpening their swords, preparing for battle.
When Emma was finally done she held up her sword, looking it over. Her eye caught Evan returning with an armful of supplies. She glanced back at her work, satisfied with its appearance she glanced over at Daniel. "You ready yet?"
Daniel ran the iron over the sword one last time, blowing off the flakes before examining it. "I suppose."
Emma pushed herself to a standing position, wiping her own sword on her leggings. "Well then, let's go."
"You know this isn't exactly fair right?" Daniel grumbled. "It never really has been. You have an unfair advantage to begin with."
"Just because my sword is made of a better material doesn't automatically mean it will be sharper." Emma shrugged. "It's all in how you treat it, how well you sharpen it"
"Yea but it's like starting a 100 meter race 50 meters ahead." Daniel rolled his eyes. "If we must, let's get this stupid tradition over then shall we?"
Emma glanced over at Evan. "Do you have them?"
"You know there are much easier ways to get this done." Evan reluctantly handed over the stone like objects.
"Yes but none quite as fun." Emma grinned ruefully as she took one, tossing the other to Daniel.
"What exactly are you doing?" Red asked as she returned to the clearing after securing the border of their secluded campsite.
Emma turned to her aunt, the childish grin on her face. "Dinner."
The grin warmed Red's heard. That smile reminded red that despite her abilities and the weight of the responsibilities that had been placed upon her, despite the gravity of the life she had led up until this point, she was still just a girl, a child on the threshold separating childhood and her adult life. It gave her a glimpse of the child she might have been had destiny not chosen this course for her. Red smiled as she approached the small group. "Dinner huh? From what exactly?"
"These." Daniel held up the object in his hand.
"Rocks?" Red raised an eyebrow.
"They only look like rocks." Emma said. "Most go their entire lives without realizing the delicacy they are missing."
"While you two are playing around I'm going to actually get dinner prepared." Evan shook his head in exasperation as he set to preparing the other things he had gathered. Emma shifted the object to her left hand before looking at Daniel. "Ready?"
Daniel gave a small nod. "One, two, three." On his count both tossed the objects into the air, swinging their swords, cutting easily through them as they fell. Red watched in awe at the ease they swung their swords with. She understood what their training in Altair had made them capable of, but seeing their skill was another story. She only wondered how she would handle the shock of their skill in an actual battle. Luckily for her, their adversaries could very well be just as shocked, giving them an advantage. Both grabbed their halves, examining their pieces before they examined the other's. She looked over to Evan. "What are they doing now?"
"Examining edges to see who's cut was cleaner." Evan explained.
"And subsequently who's sword was sharper." Daniel added. Finally he sighed in frustration. "I can't tell. Evan what do you think?"
"Bring them here." Evan shook his head, a smile playing at his lips. "Then at least I can make dinner once you two are done competing for no apparent reason."
"There is a reason." Emma insisted. "I like to win."
"Oh I'm well aware." Evan laughed as he examined first Daniel's cut and then Emma's. Finally he looked up. "They're both the same."
Emma looked over at Daniel. "Guess you made up those 50 meters."
"Shut up." Daniel shook his head.
"So what is in there?" Red looked inside the rock like shells to see a soft fruit like substance inside.
Emma pulled her dagger out of her boot and cut a small piece out, handing it to her aunt. "Try it."
"That better be clean." Evan warned.
"It is." Emma rolled her eyes. "God you sound so responsible."
"Because I am." Evan reminded her. "For the likes of you two hooligans."
"My God." Red's eyes widened as she took a bite. "This is incredible."
"It's better cooked." Daniel smiled.
"If you two are done can you finish getting what I need" Evan asked.
"Will do." Daniel nodded. "Come on Em."
"We'll be back soon." Emma called.
"Snow and Evander are watching the perimeter. Be careful." Evan warned.
"We always are." Emma's song like reply drifted back.
Evan tried to stifle the snort of laughter at her response. "If I had a gold coin for every time I heard that lie I'd be the wealthiest man in all the realms."
Emma glanced over at Daniel as they walked silently through the tree's. "This is nice. It almost feels normal."
"Nothing about us is normal." Daniel laughed.
"Normal for us." Emma corrected. "We used to do stuff like this all the time before…"
"Before our the entire world we thought we knew as real fell out from under us?" Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Well some of our realities were a little more shielded than the others weren't they." There was an edge to Emma's voice. "Sorry. I know you didn't realize fully what you were doing. You were just trying to do what was best for me. I can understand that."
"I never wanted to hurt you." Daniel said softly.
"I know." Emma said honestly. "I know we live in a world that is vastly different from the one we saw just a few months ago. I know it is more real than anything we've encountered, but it is also darker, there is less hope in it. Knowledge is… well it's painful, that's what a lot of people don't realize."
"Wise words." Daniel nodded.
"Aren't you supposed to be the wise one?" Emma teased. "Regardless, this moment, no matter how small it is, it almost gives a sense of normalcy back to ours lives, at least the lives we had before all of this when our only duty was to fulfill our roles on our assignments."
"Yes, but before we were almost guaranteed to return alive." Daniel said bitterly.
"Careful Daniel, wouldn't want your optimism to show." Emma's sarcasm was softened by her tone.
"Sorry." Daniel sighed. "It is nice, to pretend that we're normal, to pretend that the world isn't burning around us."
"Wasn't that always our philosophy?" Emma asked sarcastically, almost mocking their past selves. "Do whatever we pleased and leave destruction in our wake?"
"It was a pretty naïve philosophy." Daniel shook his head. Before he could help himself he burst out laughing.
"What in the world are you laughing at?" Emma asked.
"I just." Daniel gasped between laughs. "I just finally realized all the hell we put everyone through forcing them to clean up our messes. The constant danger we put ourselves in because we wanted an exciting life. We wanted our adventures to be so grand that people would tell stories about them for ages to come. And now we've finally got our wish and we… we would do anything to give it up. We don't want what we've spent our entire lives chasing."
Emma stared at him incredulously before finally, slowly, joining his laughter. "This isn't funny." Emma tried to quit laughing. "This is terrible. We are laughing at our impending death."
Daniel took deep breaths, trying to calm down. "I think we've finally gone crazy."
"Oh Danny." Emma sighed. "I think we hit that mark long ago."
"Yea." Daniel nodded in agreement. After a few moments of silence he reached out and took Emma's hand. "We're going to get through this Em. We'll find some way to get through this."
Emma looked at him, confused by his sudden change in outlook. It took a minute before her look softened in realization, repeating back to him the words he had often used on her. "Admitting the facts and admitting your hopes are two equally powerful but very different things."
"I know the odds are not in our favor." Daniel admitted. "But that doesn't keeping me from hoping for a better future, the only future I can bear to dream of, any other is just to painful to consider."
"Daniel." Emma whispered.
"Any other future isn't worth living." Daniel continued.
Emma's eyes were filled with sadness as she squeezed Daniel's hand. "You have to find a way to live in a future were I do not make it, because that is a very real possibility."
"Ems." Daniel said sadly.
"No." Emma shook her head. "You don't get to give up. You don't get to quite just because I'm gone. There are so many people who are still going to need you. Your sister needs you. You're the only family she has. You are going to need each other. You don't get to abandon her. I would hate you if you abandoned her and I don't want to hate you Daniel, I could never hate you. So you don't get to give up if I don't make it, because you have so much more to give than just being my friend. My destiny may be all but pre-determined, but yours isn't. You get choose what your destiny is, what your future looks like, and I know it will be bright, because I know you. You are going to do great things, and to do those, you can't give up."
Daniel squeezed his eyes shut, trying to rid himself of the tears that were threatening to appear. "Considering the state of things shouldn't I be the one encouraging you?"
Emma looked at Daniel sadly, trying to hold back her own tears. Her voice was soft as she spoke. "You don't' have to play back up to me for the rest of your life. Your star shines far to bright for that."
"Nothing about being with you has ever felt like being in the background." Daniel whispered. "My life feels complete when I am around you."
"Well then." Emma sniffed, wiping a stray tear before taking a deep breath. "You're going to need to find a way to feel complete without me. Because I can't go into this knowing I might leave you broken if I don't make it."
"There's no scenario where part of me doesn't shatter if I lose you." Daniel whispered. "I could never erase you from my heart."
Emma glanced away. "I know." She said quietly. "I wouldn't love you if it were that easy for you to just… forget me."
Daniel reached his hand up, cupping Emma's cheek. "I could never forget you."
"Daniel." Emma cast her eyes downward.
"Loving you has never been easy." Daniel continued, determined to finally speak the words he had so many times thought. "You live life at full speed. You are brave and strong and fearless and you rarely let anyone's expectations define you. You're unpredictable and from the moment I knew I was falling in love with you, I understood there was no guarantee I'd be loved back the same way. I knew a future where we would both be together, or at least alive was not promised. I knew it could bring me pain, but my heart chose to love you anyway. And even f you don't make it, even if you chose someone else, this, being together for the time we've had, getting to be your friend, that's enough for me."
"But it shouldn't be." Emma shook her head, her voice thick with guilt. "I don't know if ill make it and I don't know who my heart will choose. I can't think about that right now. But Daniel you deserve someone who can love you as fully as you love them. I don't know if that will be me, if it is, then I would be so blessed to have someone as incredible as you. But if it's not me, if my heart doesn't say it's me, then you can't settle for just being my friend and never finding your own happiness. You believe in true love Daniel. There is someone out there for you. No prophecy can tell you who it is, but whatever happens you need to fight for your happiness. I can't ruin your life."
"You could never." Daniel promised reverently.
"If you believe I am the only person you'll ever love and I can't give that back, then I have ruined you," Emma said quietly, tears glistening in the moonlight. "I care about you, I love you far to much for that. You have a piece of my heart, and you always will."
Daniel glanced at the ground, nodding in understanding. "You just don't know what piece it is."
"I'm so sorry." Emma's heart felt like it was breaking knowing the pain she was causing him.
Daniel looked up, resolve strengthening. "It's ok Emma.
Emma shook her head, tears threatening to spill over. "It shouldn't be."
"But I understand you, better than you understand yourself sometimes." Daniel took her hand into his, giving it a tender but reassuring squeeze. "Love scares you. It always has, even if you never admitted it, I knew. And if I tried to force you to choose before you were ready, well then I wouldn't be worthy of you... None of this should matter right now. And I am a terrible person for bringing it up. You need to focus on what's most important right now, and that is fulfilling your destiny."
Emma gave a dark laugh and rolled her eyes. "No pressure right?"
"I thought you weren't scared of anything?" Daniel teased, but it was half-hearted at best.
"Of course I'm not," Emma joked, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm just trying not to look too confident. You know I like the air of suspense."
"Ah, yes," Daniel nodded. "Anything for a good story."
"It's not fun if you already know the outcome right?" Emma tried her best to keep the light attitude that the joke needed but instead her voice came out broken, her face betraying her fear to anyone who was looking.
Daniel gave her a sad smile. "You all right to go back to camp? You know your mother will freak if she sees you were crying."
"I know right, she does enough of it already." Emma wiped away the stray tears, blinking to try to keep anymore from forming. "God... If I could go back and erase this year..."
"You wouldn't." Daniel said quietly.
Emma swallowed thickly before shaking her head. Daniel was right, he knew her better than anyone. He could instantly see what she was truly thinking. "I wouldn't."
Daniel watched as Emma struggled silently to get her emotions under control. As much as he wished she would open up completely, he knew her, and he knew this was something she needed to do to be prepared for what was to come. When she finally seemed to have relaxed he put a hand on her shoulder, guiding her back to the campsite. "Come on, let's go back."
"Ok." Emma nodded, allowing Daniel to guide her as they walked in silence. Emma shot glances Daniel's way, thinking back on everything they had been through together, all he had done for her, how thankful she was to have him in her life. Finally she found the strength to speak again. "If this is all I get, if this is all the time I have..." Emma pulled Daniel to a stop, looking into his eyes. "I'm glad I got to spend it with you."
Rob: Snow understands it's dangerous - she doesn't know what Daniel and James and those who understand the prophecy and Emma's vision know yet. In Emma's mind her mother is too fragile to handle that knowledge, but Snow is a lot stronger than Emma is giving her credit for in that respect, it might be a scene that unfolds.
Superfan123: Depending on how this all plays out I think it's a very real possibility that Charming would have something to say about his daughter's suitors. And thank you, you're making me blush. If you are writing I hope it is going well.
Thesethingswelove: Thank you! I'm glad you found it/are enjoying it
IceTear1: I did too ;) It wasn't supposed to happen but when I was writing it it just felt right so I put it in.