Wonderstruck
Chapter 22
Author's Notes: I've had this ready for about a week now but I wanted to edit it and make sure everything made sense. I had to work a show this weekend for business so I didn't get a chance to really go over it until the show ended and I made it back to my business partner's apartment. This is getting convulted as all hell. I'm going to go ahead and finish it then maybe pull it down and rework some of it/edit the hell out of it to make sure everything is making sense doing right. It may take me a bit but I figure I'll get there. Please be patient with me if it's not quite working out right. This piece is so detailed and intricate it's easy to miss even the smallest thing if I don't go back and read and re-read to prompt myself. I have the next chapter all ready done too so it won't be too terribly long before it goes up. Just wanna look over it as well to make sure it's all good. I hope you enjoy and as always if you wanna get me motivated let me know how it's coming along in your eyes. ~ Scarlette
With her new Mother-in-law's departure a week after their wedding, Emma finally felt like she could breathe and she was beginning to see new sides to her beautiful new wife every day. Regina had a sharper tongue than she'd realized but that only made her enjoy her time with the younger woman more. They spent most evenings together talking about their days or debating philosophy and political history. She was fascinated with Regina's views on the war with the Ogres and the desperation that many of the Northern Kingdoms faced in an effort to try and reroute their resources to keep their people from starving while still giving proper food, clothing, and weapons to the able bodied soldiers on the front lines. Lancelot was lurking closer than ever but she did her best to ignore the guard and spend her time pursuing activities she enjoyed and some she didn't. Her Mother was insistent she sit in on counsel meetings about the war, resources, and problems the people of their Kingdom faced on a daily basis. She excelled at war, her sharp mind proving itself more than adequate but her mind often wandered when people droned on about water and crops. It bothered her that Regina wasn't allowed to attend such meetings.
"She's my wife," She'd argued.
"She is your consort, nothing more. She has no relevant bearing here Emma." Her Mother had stated calmly and the Princess narrowed her eyes.
"As you wish your Majesty." She'd huff silently knowing she'd share everything with Regina that evening at dinner. It was often Regina's quick mind that helped her decipher the things she missed that were barely even visible after all. It was her wife's opinions that helped shape hers and often steered her own hand in the right direction. She wouldn't tell her Mother that though. Best if she think Regina preoccupied with being her wife.
Speaking of her wife, she skipped out of the throne room happily. The war meeting had taken much less time than had been anticipated. She counted her blessings since she had no desire to debate where to best set the archers and the catapults. She'd deal with that later for now she had one destination in mind and that was the library where the beautiful girl she was privileged enough to call her wife was likely held up.
"Why is there nothing here on what I need?" Regina groaned, sitting back and rubbing at her tense shoulders. She'd been hunched over most of the morning trying to read up on anything she could get her hands on about the old child's rhyme Rumplestilskin had recited to her.
"Good afternoon." Emma called from behind her. Regina flipped around in her hard high backed chair and smiled softly as her wife flounced towards her.
"You're done early today. Did something happen?" She asked as she slid to her feet.
The blonde shook her head, her mass of beautiful curls flying around her pretty pale face as she stopped next to her wife. She dipped into a playful bow, green eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Nothing of the sort…I thought perhaps we could take the afternoon and have an adventure. What do you think?"
"I think you have duties you are shirking and I want no part of that." Her wife stated dryly even as she dipped into her own playful curtsy.
"Nonsense! I will have you know I was set free from the painful torture that is war counsel sessions by my Mother and the other counselors; I would do nothing of the sort otherwise!" Emma stated with mock seriousness before she burst out laughing at the disbelieving look that crossed her wife's beautiful dark features.
"Your highness, may I have a word?" A lilting voice spoke behind the blonde who rolled her viridian eyes and pivoted on booted feet to look at the now life sized fairy that stood close by.
"Is there a problem Blue?"
"Nothing of the sort your highness. I'd just like a word in private." It didn't escape Emma's notice that Blue wasn't the least bit fond of her wife and that her wife seemingly returned the favor trifold.
"You're being rude to my wife." She pointed out as she stomped away. "I will be back soon my darling!" She called over her shoulder.
She rounded a corner of the large library hidden naturally by high bookshelves and waited until the Blue fairy, as ever light on her feet as though she were floating, followed her.
"I apologize your highness for disrupting you but there is something important we must speak on."
"You've never felt the need to consort with me before. Why start now?"
"You are to be the future leader of Wintersend in a very short time. I felt it necessary to speak to you on this subject since it is your own wife that this concerns."
Emma arched a light brow, "Go on."
"Forgive me highness but your wife wasn't a choice I would've made for you. In fact she would've been the last I would've chosen."
"Well thankfully I don't require the approval of anyone to choose my spouse for me and since Regina and I are happy I don't see where that is anyone's concern but mine."
"She is dangerous Highness and not because of her heritage."
"We all have the same heritage. All the royals are descendants of one family. It's always been so." Emma folded her arms, quickly growing impatient with her Mother's patron fairy.
"I have sensed something off. About your wife and I think it needs to be brought to your Mother's attention."
"You mean you haven't all ready?" The sarcasm cut deeply and the fairy drew herself up, puffing up like a bird that had it's feathers ruffled.
"As I said highness, you are to soon be the ruler of Wintersend and as such you should be allowed to make decisions that will impact not only yourself but your Kingdom as well."
"You keep speaking in circles. Why don't you tell me exactly what is on your mind Blue?"
"Rumplestilskin. He's been visiting your wife."
"The Dark One? Has been visiting my wife?" Emma blinked, her eyes widening with shock.
"Forgive me if I cause you distress your highness but yes he has come to your wife and spoken to her. I'm afraid he's put ideas in her head…ideas that could harm all of us if brought to fruition."
"And what ideas are those?"
"I'm…unsure your highness. I could not hear their conversation. I could only sense the dark one's presence. Your wife is a strange combination of old magicks and her own resilience. She is dangerous, more so if she is allowed to pursue the path she is setting herself up to follow."
Emma folded her arms defensively. "So what do you suggest I do?"
"You need to send her away your highness. Either back to SpringFall or further still. She cannot be allowed to pursue her current path."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I will be forced to go to your Mother and ask her to take charge of your wayward spouse."
"You will do nothing of the sort. If Regina goes, I go. It's as simple as that. She is my wife and she and I took vows that are unbreakable." To make her point, she held up her hand, flashing the platinum bracelet at the fairy.
The fairy opened her mouth to retort but closed it after a moment seemingly thinking better of it. She dipped her head. "As you wish your highness."
Emma narrowed her eyes, "If you go to my Mother, I will never forgive you and I will make sure when I become Queen you aren't my fairy advisor. Are we clear?"
"Crystal your highness."
Emma took in the pinched set of the now life-sized fairy's mouth and turned storming back towards her now seated wife. Regina slipped to her feet and silently took Emma's calloused hand in her own smaller one knowing instinctively that her wife needed privacy.
"We're going riding." The older girl stated with long strides as they moved out of the library and into the much colder hallways. At least the library like most of the rooms in the Winter Palace had a large fireplace that stayed lit any time of the day or night. It helped cut through the chill. Though the large crystal windows didn't hold much of the heat, they allowed the daylight to enter. It was the most well lit room in the palace that Regina had found so far.
"Where are we riding to?" Regina asked, all ready silently giving her consent to join her wife.
"I don't know but we'll figure it out. I need air."
"As you wish your highness."
"Don't say that." Emma pulled up short tugging her wife towards her. The smaller brunette cocked her head, long curls spilling along her silver velvet lined arm.
"Is something wrong?"
"We'll talk about it when I can ensure our privacy."
"All right. Is there any particular subject I should avoid?"
"No, of course not. You know you can ask me anything and I'll answer."
"I know." Regina studied her face, noting Emma's strained look and dipped her head. "Should I retrieve our gloves and cloaks and meet you in the stables?"
"No, we'll go together. I don't want you out of my sight."
She didn't bother to observe the worry that settled over Regina's pretty features. She was too distracted by her thoughts of a certain dark magician and her Mother's patron fairy warring over the one person she was coming to value more than anyone.
Emma paced back and forth along the cold hay strewn floor of the stables watching with restless eyes as the stable boys hurried to saddle her horse and Regina's beautiful mare. It was taking too long and she felt the urge to pull her hair out. She glanced over at the serene figure of her young wife who slowly slid her now gloved hands along her arms to try and stay warm. She couldn't help the small smile that tugged up her lips at the unconscious gesture. Regina hated the cold but she was beginning to adjust or at least Emma hoped she was adjusting. She didn't want her to freeze to death all their lives.
Her wife remained in her place until their horses were brought out of their stalls, ready to ride.
In typical fashion, Emma clumsily pulled herself into the saddle, feeling like it might be easier to just jump up and then try to swing her body over even though there was a good chance she'd get hurt or she'd hurt the horse. Best not to try that, Regina would have a fit. It was rare for her wife to display anything but an even temper in public but Emma had a feeling if she tested her, Regina would give her a good tongue lashing for her idiocy. Public be damned.
When they were steadily trotting along the frozen ground surrounded by guards since despite Emma's whining she hadn't gotten her way about private time with her wife and Lancelot would've been at her back in a moment if she tried to dart off with Regina as she had when they were engaged with Grumpy. Best not to try that stunt again…until Grumpy came to visit again…then she would be sure to get him to agree to a ride with her and her wife...then leave the surly dwarf so she and Regina could explore.
Her wife's placid face and sure seat were the exact opposite of hers. She squirmed and looked at her wife who stared steadily ahead before twisting to look at her. "What's wrong?" She asked.
"I just wanted more privacy."
"I think this is about as private as we are going to get." Regina pointed out, voice soft and lilting just as always.
Emma chewed her bottom lip and nodded.
"Did the Blue Fairy say something to upset you?" The younger girl asked, finally getting to the root of the problem her wife seemed to be having.
"She had some rather choice words."
"About me?"
"Yes."
"She wasn't very happy you married me. It was rather obvious. The tension could've been cut with a knife when she and my Mother were in the same room together."
"She gives you the cold shoulder too."
"Yes but I don't trust her in return."
"She has never had much to do with me either. Until well now."
"I take it the conversation involved me?"
"Yes, it did." Emma paused, gathering up her courage. "She wanted me to send you away. Back to SpringFall or somewhere else."
"I'm not surprised. I wish I could say I was but I'm not. There were more than there fair share opposed to our union. The fact that we have gone against the grain in so many ways has caused quite a stir."
"You're very calm about this Regina."
"It doesn't need to be anything more than what it is. You are to be Queen and I your consort. It doesn't quite matter what I have to say. It only matters what you say."
"You know I don't feel like that. You're my equal."
Regina gave a wan smile, "I know."
"The North is more opposed to magicks and the like. I understand if you're afraid that telling me certain things will get you into trouble."
Regina cut her eyes at her wife. "If you're referring to what I think you are and I cannot see how it's anything else truthfully…"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Emma cut her off.
"I didn't think it concerned you. He's not exactly a welcoming creature and I don't intend to have anything to do with him though he's trying his damnedest to tempt me."
"What did you speak of?"
"He recited an old children's rhyme to me. Something about the holy land."
"On the farthest shores of the ocean of time the holy land sleeps. Who knows it's paths? The way to it's doors? Was that it my wife?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"It's an old rhyme that's told around here. I heard it from Grumpy years ago as a small child."
"Do you know anything of it? This holy land?"
The blonde pursued her thin pink lips and then shook her head. "No, nothing. I thought it merely a child's tale."
"He's focused on it. And I think he thinks that I know how to get to it."
"Do you?"
Regina scoffed, "Of course not. Why would I?"
"You tell me. Why else would he come to you?"
"He said something about he and I being destined to be together."
Emma growled lowly, "And what was your response?"
Her wife narrowed her eyes, "I assured him my wife would have something to say about that."
"You're damn right I do. You're my wife."
"I'm well aware."
They fell into silence as they continued to plod along in a slow fashion. The trees were beginning to look weighed down by the snow and ice starting to form on them. Pretty soon they would be locked inside the palace unable to get out much due to the heavy snowfall.
"Why would you think I would keep something of importance from you Emma?" Regina asked softly, startling the blonde from her reverie.
"You've kept a lot from me. Who is to say what else you would choose to keep private?"
"Emma," Regina said her name softly sounding hurt but understanding.
"I get it; I do. I forced you into this and I know I'm not the person you wanted or chose for yourself."
"That may be but we are trying are we not?" Regina said softly.
"You shouldn't have had to try. I was stupid and selfish and I thought I could make you happy."
"We started this union on uneven footing." Regina began. "Let me finish." She glared at Emma as the older girl opened her mouth to speak. The blonde's thin pink lips snapped shut with an audible click of her teeth. "I may not love you Emma but I respect you a great deal and I know you feel the same for me. A deep mutual respect isn't a bad place to start a marriage."
"Then why would you keep something like this from me? If you and I share a deep respect for one another; does that not go against the very nature of mutual respect?"
Regina parted her ruby lips then paused. "I didn't want to hurt you." She finally stated. "I don't want you in the middle of something. Whatever it may be."
"What do you mean in the middle of something? My Mother surely knows by now that he's been lurking around if she didn't know long before Blue confronted me. She probably went straight to my Mother long before she ever thought about coming to me."
"Yes she probably did and I would rather take the brunt of any punishment that may come my way than for you to be placed between your Mother and I. The same can be said for the Dark One and his machinations."
They looped back towards the frozen courtyard in contemplative silence. As the large steel gates and frozen doors closed behind them, Emma looked up to the steps that led up to the palace.
"Mother?" She asked, brow furrowed upon seeing her Mother standing at the top of the stairs.
"Both of you, come to my chambers immediately." She commanded, looking at her daughter and then her daughter-in-law. There was no warmth to her eyes. They were cold and commanding, her voice was totally flat. She twisted on her heel not waiting for affirmation and walked back inside.
"To the wolves then my dear wife." Emma muttered, looking at Regina. The brunette's beautiful face was a blank mask, revealing nothing of her thoughts to anyone that cared to look.