Wonderstruck

Chapter 4

Author's Notes: Here it is guys. After a week of working on this on and off since work has been insane I think I'm finally at a point where I'm semi-happy with it. I hope you guys will enjoy it as well and please let me know what you think. It motivates me to write when I'm not exhausted and tells me whether to continue or not when I lose inspiration. Thank you! ~ Scarlette

"Princess Emma seems to be quite taken with you Regina." Regina tensed as her mother's voice washed over her. The servant girl continued to run the brush through her long black hair as she took a breath and let it out slowly. She tried to keep her heart from fluttering out of her chest at the sight of her mother peering over her shoulder in the mirror at her.

"She was kind to me your majesty." She offered softly, forcing her eyes to stay forward and not watch as her mother moved towards her sending the servant girl away quietly and lifting her brush towards her hair. She forced herself not to flinch as her mother raked the brush harshly along her scalp, pulling on it roughly.

"We aren't here for her. You'd best keep that in mind."

"I know my Queen. I know we are here because Prince Hugo is here." Hugo was the son of Queen Morganna and King Edward of Summerslanding. He was a handsome prince with dark eyes and sun kissed hair.

"You're getting old Regina. In the fall you'll be seventeen winters. I had hoped you'd be married by now. Prince Ali and Princess Jasmine's son seemed interested in you but I suppose that was all in vein."

The princess shuddered but forced herself to remain still. "Prince Bahir had no interest in me your grace. He was only interested in himself and what he wanted." She wouldn't mention that the Prince had tried to force himself on her the last time he'd seen her.

Cora rolled her eyes, "As if that's ever been a problem."

Regina squeezed her eyes shut before opening them. "You sound as though you would rather me marry Prince Bahir instead of Prince Hugo."

"We have a steady trade with Agrabah we don't need to strengthen it. Marrying you to Prince Hugo will ensure that we have access to the southern Kingdoms and their rich iron deposits."

"Wintersend has access to the diamond and platinum mines." The younger woman pointed out softly. "Wouldn't an alliance with them be just as well?"

"Darling surely you aren't proposing that we marry you to the White Kingdom?"

"No, of course not; that would be savage and improper your majesty." Regina repeated her mother's words to her when she'd found her daughter with someone she considered not good enough for her.

"Well I'm certain that little blonde would be perfectly content with that." The Queen's words washed over her as her brow wrinkled.

"What do you mean?"

"I know all about her kind Regina," Her mother snarled the word kind as she pulled the brush viciously through her hair.

The princess winced, and forced herself to speak through the pain filled mewl that left her lips. "What do you mean her kind?"

"Are you really that dense stupid girl that you couldn't feel her eyes moving over your body the entire time we were being presented to her? Honestly the nerve of that girl, in front of all those people too."

"She's spoiled."

"Yes and it shows. No good comes from spoiling a child mark my words on that."

Regina squeezed her eyes shut, "Yes your majesty."

"Good afternoon Princess. May I walk with you?" Emma asked, using her best puppy dog eyes to get the beautiful Springfall princess to agree.

Regina narrowed her eyes, "If you insist your Highness."

"Well I wouldn't do that to you but I'd like to if you'd like me to." She furrowed her brow as she grew tongue tied.

Regina blinked cocking her head as she stared at her trying to interpret her words before giving her a small nod, "If you wish to walk with me highness, I cannot refuse you. I am a guest in your home after all."

"You can refuse me if you'd like to. I'd just hope you won't because you'd like to spend some time with me." The blonde offered, scuffing her booted foot against the snow covered walkway.

The princess of Springfall stared at her for a moment before dipping into a slight curtsy. She was as fluid as her father had been, Emma noticed, feeling a little faint. Her stomach continued to tie itself in knots.

"That's not necessary Princess." She murmured, trying to keep her voice from squeaking.

"As you wish," the dark princess rose to her feet, standing before her at her full height.

The White princess carefully offered the other girl her arm. She couldn't keep the stupid, goofy grin off her face when Regina slid her hand into the crook of her elbow allowing Emma to escort her as a gentleman often would.

"So I thought perhaps while you are here we could…talk? Uh I'd really like to get to know you."

"I don't know why you would want to know me."

"Well there are many reasons to want to know someone."

"And what are yours your highness?" Regina's deep brown eyes met her jade ones. Emma faltered before she caught herself and forced herself to continue to walk the snowy paths of the garden.

"Well…you are beautiful for one."

"Is that all?"

"No, of course not," Emma immediately denied, feeling put on the spot. She took a breath trying to gather her thoughts before she spoke again.

"Then what else is there?" The princess turned to face her. Her fur trimmed boots crackled in the snow as she twisted to face the older girl.

The blonde resisted the urge to pull the other princess into her arms and hold her close especially when she noticed her nose was growing a little red due to the cold. She reached out instead brushing a lock of thick black hair behind the princess' ear in what she hoped was a tender gesture. The younger girl's lips parted clearly surprised by the intimacy of such a gesture. Emma blushed looking away as she stepped away.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have."

"No, you shouldn't have but you did. And you don't have to apologize for it your highness." Regina turned away looking down the path at the crystal fountain that appeared to be as frozen over as the plants and paths around it.

Emma nodded, biting her lip. She didn't know what to say to that. After a while the silence grew too much for her and she spoke.

"So I heard you…might like horses?"

Regina twisted once again, cutting her eyes at the blonde. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm not very good with horses. Neither is my mother. We both aren't too fond of them."

"Pity that. It's our main source of transportation your highness."

"You didn't answer my question."

"Yes, I am fond of horses." Regina responded finally as they reached he beautiful fountain.

"Would you like to go to the stables and see the horses? Ours are probably different from the ones at Springfall." She offered immediately wanting desperately to spend some time with the other girl.

"What are you trying to do Princess Emma?" The girl finally asked looking at her with suspicious eyes.

"Nothing, I…" Emma faltered as the girl's warm eyes turned cold.

"You what?"

"I…just want to get to know you," the blonde finished, feeling lame.

"Why?" Regina asked again.

"Are you going to continue to ask me that question?"

"Yes your highness," The younger girl didn't hesitate to answer.

"Well I told you earlier. You are beautiful and intelligent and I really like your company."

Regina frowned turning away from the other princess. She continued to walk as the blonde followed behind her with a furrowed brow. "I didn't come here to enjoy your company your highness." She said softly.

"Then why did you come?"

Regina remained quiet for a few moments before she spoke. "My mother plans to marry me off. She's hoping to bring Springfall closer to the Kingdoms of the Enchanted Forest."

"What do you want?"

Regina looked up, her lips parting as she stared at the blonde. A small smile spread across her beautiful lips and Emma once again forgot how to breathe. She was so beautiful when she smiled.

The younger girl looked away before she spoke. "No one has ever asked me that before."

Emma's grin lit up her pretty face. "Well I want to know. What is it you want?"

Regina looked back at her finally studying her eyes for a moment before she spoke. "I want to be free."

"Free of obligations?"

"No, I know as heir to Springfall that I have certain choices I must make to benefit my people. Those I accept."

"Then what sort of freedom do you want?" Emma asked.

"I want…to be free…to love who I choose."

"I take it your parents don't approve of you seeking your…freedom."

Regina took a breath letting it out slowly as they began to circle the fountain. Her breath formed an icy cloud in the cold atmosphere. "No, they don't."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I think my parents would've been like that with me but with my father's death, my mother tried to compensate as much as she could to make my childhood bearable." Emma glanced back at the iced crystal fountain before smiling at Regina.

"I can only imagine how painful it was to lose a parent. I don't think I would do very well if I lost my father."

"I've adjusted. It was a long time ago and though I still miss him dearly I know he'd be proud of me for the choices and decisions I've made."

"That's all a parent can hope for," Regina stopped once again looking the marks their booted feet were making in the packed snow.

"Emma," The gruff voice of a hung over dwarf called.

Emma looked over and took a step away from Regina when she saw Grumpy blinked at her from heavy brows and bloodshot eyes. "Hey short stuff have a good time last night?" She asked with a smirk.

"Get over here you little brat."

"Geez, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. If you'll excuse me Princess I must attend to my hung over friend." She dipped into a bow as she released Regina's arm before turning and walking towards Grumpy.

"Of course; have a good afternoon Princess Emma." Regina curtsied carefully, watching as the other Princess, who certainly didn't act like a princess, walked over to the dwarf and slung an arm around his shoulders before leading him away. Curious though she was she knew she shouldn't follow the two. She forced herself instead to go back inside knowing her mother would be trying to find some other way to throw her at the Prince of Summerslanding.

"You better watch your damn back kid. What are you thinking?"

"What are you talking about?" Emma asked looking at the dwarf who groaned again as he grabbed at his head. She was sure he had a massive headache from his drinking escapade the night before at the ball.

"I'm talking about the way you eyed the Princess of Springfall like she was some sort of feast and you were a starving man. What the hell were you thinking?" He repeated.

"I wasn't eyeing her like that," She protested even though she knew it was true.

"Yeah, you were and it was obvious to everyone that you were."

Emma paused, feeling her heart rate accelerate. "Mother…" She trailed off.

"Oh she knows all ready, just like I told you she would understand all along. You can be certain given the way you looked like you were ready to jump on that girl."

The princess bit her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. "Did she say anything to you Grumpy?"

The dwarf dusted off a stone bench that was covered in a thick layer of snow. "No, but she didn't have to. I know your Mom pretty damn well after all this time. Trust me she knows."

"What am I gonna do? She'll be devastated!"

"She's not. She just wants you to be happy." Grumpy pointed out as he plopped down on the bench and pulled out a small flask. Sure fire cure for a hangover. He took a gulp before speaking, "I gotta hand it to you kid you sure as shit how to pick 'em." He shook a finger at her.

"What are you talking about?" She asked turning to glare at him slightly.

"The Princess of Springfall, everyone knows that kingdom is ruled with an iron fist by the Queen. That's why it's so isolated."

"The Queen?" The princess arched a brow as she stared at him then, she paused thinking about Regina's words. "Yes, you're right and that's not all she rules."

"I'm telling you kid you'd do best to stay away from that girl and her screwed up family. Mark my words that'll end badly every single time for you."

"What if she's…the one?" She hesitated to speak.

"She's not the one." Grumpy denied instantly even though he had a feeling it was completely in vein.

Emma shook her head moving to sit beside him on the now snow free bench. Thankfully her leather pants kept the cold from cutting her to the bone.

"I think she is. She's beautiful and she's intelligent. The first time I laid eyes on her well you saw…I couldn't keep my eyes off her. I felt like someone had sucked the breath out of me completely."

"Kid, you're basing this on the assumption that you know her and not only that but that she wants you too."

"You don't think she does?" Emma asked green eyes begging him to confirm that Regina did want her like that.

"Hell I don't know but I can tell you this if you two do want to be together you both got an uphill battle to fight."

"She's worth it." The blonde murmured immediately willing to fight if that's what it took.

"And what if she doesn't want you? Then what?"

"Then I let her go gracefully and I mourn my broken heart."

Grumpy let out a breath, watching as it puffed out in a cloud of white smoke for a moment before he spoke. "That's not how it works kid. You get one chance here and that's it. So you'd best be sure she's the one before you go trying to court her or anything like that cause there's no redos."

Emma bit her lip, "I don't know her well enough to say that she is the one but I definitely feel a connection to her."

"You want my advice?"

"Not really."

"Well tough you're getting it anyways. Be her friend first and see where that gets you. Get to know her a bit and then make the decision about courting her. It sounds to me like you're in lust with her right now and that won't make either of you happy in the long run so try that first."

The blonde nodded, "I'll try that thanks."

"You're welcome. Now go talk to your damn mother. She's worried sick about you."

She laughed and nodded, "Okay."