Wonderstruck

Chapter 5

"Mother," Emma said uncertainly as she stepped into her chambers and began to remove her fur lined coat and hat.

"Emma, come and sit by the fire to warm yourself. You look half frozen." Snow's voice was soft but held a command as well. The mark of any good ruler, the blonde remembered.

"Yes Mother," The princess took a breath moving towards her mother, who turned her head back towards the fireplace. The orange glow traced lines and patterns on her mother's face and Emma noticed, not for the first time, that her mother though still beautiful was beginning to show her age.

Slowly, Emma lowered herself onto the overstuffed velvet couch watching her mother wearily. Despite Grumpy's words of reassurance, she was still afraid of what her mother would say to her.

"I invited your Aunt Red to come and visit once the royals leave. I thought you two might enjoy hunting," Snow made conversation, which only caused her daughter to tense up more.

"That will be fine Mother. I'm sure Aunt Red and I will have a wonderful time." Emma swallowed, trying to remember not to lock her knees so she wouldn't pass out from the stress.

"Mother…I…"

"I already know Emma. I've known since you were a little girl where your true preferences lay."

"You did?" The Princess breathed.

"I'm your mother. Not much about you escapes my notice." Snow turned to look at her, jade boring into jade.

"Then why didn't you ever say anything?"

"Did I need to?"

Emma turned away unable to meet her mother's eyes. "When I was younger and I started…dreaming…it was always a woman. Never a man….it scared me Mother."

"Why?"

"Because I wasn't going to be your perfect little girl; I was different, a freak."

"Why do you think that?" Snow asked, sliding her hand out and touching her daughter's arm. Goose flesh appeared underneath her fingertips as her little girl, who wasn't so little anymore, curled up around herself a little tighter.

"Mother, you and I both know that my kind isn't accepted in this world we live in. Let alone for someone like me to be royalty."

"I always tried to instill in you that love conquers all. Did I fail in that task?"

"Of course not Mother, but I'm not dumb enough to think that it will conquer in this case. As Princess of Wintersend I'm expected to be a miniature version of you. Perfect and brave, beautiful and sweet. But I'm not; I won't be all because I desire my own sex. It's devious and it makes me ashamed to not be able to represent my people in the way they should be." Emma hung her head, until she felt her mother's soft fingers pulling her face up.

"You're not shameful nor are you devious. It's rare but love is love and there is no changing that. You desire your own sex above the opposite, that's just a part of who you are. Despite the nobility pushing me to marry you off, I won't unless I have to."

"To who? Who will you marry me off to?"

"Now that you and I are being honest with one another, I was going to ask Aurora to allow you to court Caroline."

"How did you know about Caroline and I?"

"I saw you two kissing one day in the garden when you were younger. It wasn't hard to figure out."

Emma's lips parted before she looked away. It was true, Caroline had been her first. Though they'd both agreed to keep their maidenhoods intact mostly due to their statuses they'd done just about everything else with each other. She took a breath, letting it out slowly. "I would've gladly married Caroline had it been meant to be but it's not."

"Who would you have me marry you to now?" Snow asked, cocking her head.

Emma shrugged, feeling a blush heat up her cheeks. "I don't know Momma, but not Caroline. I couldn't doom her to a loveless marriage nor could I allow that for myself."

"Of course not that would be torture for you both." Snow sighed softly. "What about one of the other princesses? Cinderella's daughter Alexandra is still unattached."

"Alexandra and I barely get along Mother. We're too different and don't suggest Melody either."

"I wouldn't dare." The Queen offered her daughter a warm smile, which was slowly returned. "What about…Princess Regina?"

She noticed immediately as her daughter tensed. "What about her?" The girl asked nervously.

"I know she's unattached and I also know her mother is scheming to marry her off. We could put a bid in for her hand with her parents."

"No," Emma shook her head. "I won't do that to her."

"What do you mean darling?"

"I mean I won't treat her like a prize that is to be won. It's the same way all the other princes treat me when they try to court me only to find out that I'm not interested in them."

Snow looked away, "It's my fault. I've allowed this to go on because I thought you'd find someone to love among your suitors."

"It's not your fault Momma. The nobles pushed you to it. I know that."

"I knew of your feelings Emma, long before you were even aware of them. So did your father. He begged me to never make you marry a man knowing how unhappy it would be for you. I told him we may not have a choice but I promised that I would do my best to make sure you were happy. I thought with enough suitors surely someone would catch your eye."

"And someone did but not the one you wanted." Her daughter looked miserable at the thoughts.

"I would be happy to have Princess Regina as my daughter in law." She offered.

"She wouldn't be happy being your daughter in law. Nor would she be happy being my wife."

"How do you know that Emma? You two seemed to be enjoying your time together. I saw you walking in the gardens earlier."

"She wants to be free Mother. Marrying me won't let her be free."

"She's a princess Emma. Her life, like all royalties, is decided for them." Snow sighed.

"I won't make that decision for her. It's hers to make."

"Marrying you may be a good compromise for her. At least you'd treat her with respect that a lot of the other nobles won't." The queen shook her head.

Emma paused and bit her lip. "Do you think so?"

Matching jade eyes stared into her daughter's. "I know so. If you think she's the one Emma, then I will speak with the King and Queen on your behalf. Regina isn't yet seventeen winters. When she is, she will be of marrying age and then you two can be wed."

"What if the King and Queen say no?"

"Then we will cross that bridge when we get there. No need to borrow worries."

Emma offered her mother a soft smile, "Yes mother. Do you think…" The blonde girl trailed off before she continued. "Do you think I could make her happy?"

"I know you could my love. I think you'll both be surprised what happens if you let it."

The princess nodded, "Then, yes, please speaks with the King Momma."

"King Henry?" Snow spoke softly as she approached the older man.

The guests were all out in the gardens admiring the beautiful frosted flowers and ice sculptures there.

The elder King turned to look at her and offered her a warm smile. "Yes, your Majesty?" He asked.

"I wonder if I could speak with you about something?"

The King glanced to his wife and daughter that were speaking with Queen Morganna and Prince Hugo. He knew of his wife's plans and he also knew of his daughter's miserable fate if she was allowed her way. He had all but failed her as a father but perhaps there was a way to fix it?

"Of course, your majesty. What may I help you with?"

"Let us walk in private so that we may talk."

The King nodded and held out his arm for the Queen to take. They slowly began to make their way down a short sloping path covered in beautiful thick layers of snow and ice.

"Your Kingdom truly is lovely." He offered with a small smile.

"Thank you, your grace. I hope we get to visit Springfall soon. I've heard wonderful things about your Kingdom."

"I would like that and I know my daughter would as well." It didn't escape Snow's notice that he left his wife out.

"I would hope so. Forgive me, your Majesty, but I must speak my mind on a certain subject matter. I do not wish to offend your majesty with my words, but I must be frank with you."

Henry's brow furrowed but he nodded, "Of course. You may be frank with me. I understand well that time is a limited thing in this world."

"With the death of my husband, I'm afraid I've indulged my daughter's every whim." Snow began. "One of them being that as long as I could, I wouldn't force her into a marriage; but I'm afraid that may be coming to an end. I love my daughter and I want to see her happy so you understand how this breaks my heart."

The King listened carefully and nodded. "Of course that is the wish of all parents; for their children to be happy." He agreed, unsure of where Snow was going with this conversation.

"My daughter's…preferences lay in a direction so rarely seen that I'm afraid it may be difficult for me to ensure her happiness at the current time without some help from you, your grace."

"What can I do to help?" The man offered immediately.

Snow took a breath, releasing it slowly before she spoke. "I know that Princess Regina is still not of marrying age but being that I know her to be unattached I was hoping that you would consider…an alliance with our Kingdom. If you would allow my daughter to court and marry yours, I think it would do quite a lot for both of our Kingdoms. I believe with all my heart that they would flourish under our daughters."

The King studied the Queen's face, noting how her lips had thinned slightly and she narrowed her eyes. She was obviously nervous about her request, worried that he wouldn't take it seriously or worse would laugh in her face for her absurdity. He paused, gathering his thoughts before he spoke.

"I have done very little for my daughter over the years." He began. "I must confess that I was a bit disappointed when I first learned that my wife was having a girl but the first time I laid eyes on Regina, she was so perfect and beautiful. I couldn't help but fall in love with her. I still feel that way about her. She's the apple of my eye." He paused before he continued to speak. "Much like I am sure your daughter is the apple of yours." He added.

The Queen nodded in silent agreement, clearly waiting for a response.

"A binding contract would have to be written up." He said carefully. "I would request that our soldiers not be used to fight this war for we have problems of our own that they need to attend to."

Snow frowned, but nodded in agreement.

"I would however consent to sending supplies and armor to your soldiers. If of course we could depend on the same from your Kingdom should the need arise."

"Of course, you would have my word on that as well as the contract."

"I love my daughter, but I do worry for her if I am gone. Marrying her to your daughter would put my heart at ease for I do believe in just this short time your daughter has fallen for mine."

Snow nodded, "She has."

Henry paused again and then offered her a small smile. "Have the contract drawn up and I will sign it. When my daughter comes of age, she will marry yours."