Sorry made some changes to this chapter..
"Raphael?" Regina said as she rocked a fussy Melora near to her chest. It was the early hours of the morning and it had been hour since Raphael return. Raphael didn't answer for moment before he took a deep breath and released it with a pained expression. The news of Naveen's death had brought shock to her. she didn't know the really prince that well only meeting him a couple of times but she could tell the news weighted very heavy on Raphael.
He had tried his best to fix his wrongs and Regina knew he was feeling guilty about the whole situation. Sitting next to him on couch, Regina gently placed their very tried daughter in his arms. Watching the little baby girl settle peacefully in his strong arms Regina places a soft kiss on his temple. " Raphael there was nothing more you could do. You did everything you could."
Looking at his beautiful little girl in his arm Raphael softly smiled. She really was beautiful and everyday the twins reminded him of his gorgeous Queen Regina. They really were the only reason why he wanted to be a better person. He wanted to prove he was changing for the good but as the hours past the more his mind wandered over what Tiana would do next. He knew Tiana had the Snow Queen on her side and his history with that cold woman didn't end well. He wanted to believe Regina. However deep down he knew he could of done more and now he had to wait for Tiana to unleash what she had plan for him with the Snow Queen help.
Calmly rocking Melora in his arms Raphael continued to let his mind wander over worse to come. Regina however snapped Raphael out of his thought as she gently moved his head to face her. focus him to look at her.
" You did all you could." Regina said as she looked deeply into his dark brown eyes. Regina knew tension with both Tiana and Ella would only increase another bad deed to add to their list against him. News of the prince Naveen passing would soon reach the palace where Henry stayed with his family. Family drama would only continue.
She didn't want to worry about Tiana plans but the Snow Queen in his realm was no joke according to Raphael's stories. The idea of letting Raphael handle it on his own made her sick to her stomach but she had made a promise not to get involved and she would do her best to keep it. However Regina was a fighter and would do anything to protect the ones she loved no matter what so if he thought she would just sit and watch him suffer if thing took a turn for worse then he was very wrong. Tiana would do anything to make Raphael pay and Regina knew it, Tiana was a strong woman. The last thing she wanted to think about was losing another man she loved with all her heart.
" I can't let her revenge hurt our family Regina. She has no idea what kind of monster she has unleashed, You, the twins and the rest of our family need to be protected." Raphael said with concern.
" Once again we are no longer safe because of my past." Standing up Raphael made his way to the nursery to where baby Chiara slept peacefully in her cot. He knew Regina worried about the new threat to their family as did he and as much as he wanted to change the fate of Naveen to make Tiana happy he had failed.
" We will get through this Raphael, we will not let some Ice Bitch hurt our family." Regina said quietly not wake up the girls. Once Raphael carefully put down Melora into her own cot he checked on Chiara. The girls always brought peace when he was stress but now he wondering if he would ever get to see them grown up. He knew Snow Queen well enough that she wanted his head for what he made her do.
" Regina if the Snow Queen takes me don't try and find me. Take the twins and your family and get away from this realm."
" Raphael please you can't still think you can do this by yourself." Regina stressed as looked at him. Raphael understood Regina but nobody could fix things when came the Snow Queen and he wasn't going to drag another person into his mess. Especially his beloved Queen. Kissing both his girls a goodnight he and Regina Quietly left the Nursery. Once the door was closed a sudden noise erupted from kitchen.
" What the hell was that." Regina said as she looked in the direction of where the noises was coming from.
"I have no idea, stay here with the girls-"
" Raphael don't be ridiculous." Conjuring a fireball in the palm of her hand Regina made her way to the kitchen . Smiling at his queen, Raphael loved it when Regina was protective. However Regina's magic was still unpredictable and it was best for her to wait while for her to recover fully but knowing his beloved Queen she would do no such thing.
Swiftly walking to the kitchen thing the worse to their surprise it wasn't anything serious. In fact it only made them feel slightly ridiculous at how worried they were. Standing in their kitchen Mama Odie was rummaging through his cabinets. Hearing his footsteps entering the kitchen Mama Odie looked towards her Grandson and Regina with uneasiness.
" Grandmother What are you doing here?" Raphael said. Although when Raphael took in the uneasiness expression on his Grandmother's face he knew something wasn't right.
" My child we all need to talk, something bad is coming." Mama Odie said." Me and your mother have some news to share with you both, You must come now."
Looking at his Grandmother with confusion Raphael tried understand what had made his Grandmother so fearful. " What coming Nana? What going on?"
" Raphael my child there is no time. I will explain everything at the mansion but right now pack your stuff and the twins we need to go now."
Flashback...
Many years ago before the frozen wastelands there was a beautiful kingdom filled with Rich green fields and a palace filled with joy and laughter. The kingdom was ruled by a fair and strong king who had two gorgeous daughters that many people adore. Sigrid was the oldest and was next in line to throne. She always followed the rules that her father set her and her sister but Annette was different. She wanted to be free from all the princess duties and did everything she could to escape such life. However Sigrid was always the one who had clean up her sister mess when things went wrong which always came with a price.
The fair strong King had no male heir only his oldest Sigrid but Sigrid always had a feeling she wasn't good enough in her Father's eyes. She had to be a strong leader for her kingdom, love, protect and fight for her people. Everything she knew she wasn't ready to do. Her father only saw her as a little girl, a young princess who knew nothing about about responsibility and it didn't help when Annette got herself in trouble. Dragging her into the mess that ultimately got her and Annette in deep trouble with the king. Their father. Even now at the age of twenty Sigrid could never live up to expectations.
Sigrid and Annette were close sisters but as they older a wedge was beginning to form between them. They both wanted different paths, Sigrid wanting to be follow her father's footsteps and Annette wanting to explore the world beyond the palace walls.
"Annette?...Annette!...Where are you?!" Sigrid called out for her sister.
" will you stop shouting, I'm over here in the dresser room." Anette said as swiftly opened opening the door to allow her sister in. Today was important day for both the sisters. Sigrid was preparing for her for coronation party as it was almost her Twenty-first. The age the king told her she would rule and he would step down from the throne. The king was a strong ruler and everyone knew that but as the years past the King's health started to decline. He need rest and it was finally time for Sigrid to take the throne.
For Annette the king had made arrangement for her to meet the prince she would one day marry at the party which didn't settle well with her.
" I can not believe father! He knows I'm not ready to marry yet but still he picked out a prince for me!" Annette said as she looked at herself in the fall length mirror. Trying on gowns wasn't something she enjoyed but a dress had to be picked for the party.
" I know but you might like the prince at the party." Sigrid said as she looked through the racks of glamorous gowns.
" I don't know Sigrid... You know I was thinking maybe today we could skip tea and sneak into town. I heard one of the maids talking about a strange shop that opened up in the town market. They said the man who owns the shop is some kind of wizard or something and that he calls himself the shadow-man." Rolling her eyes at her sister excitement Sigrid never understood her sister's fascination with magic. Then again anything dangerous was her sister's favourite.
"Annette you can't be serious. We can't sneak into town to see a creepy shop what will father say." Sigrid said as she looked at her little sister in complete disbelief.
Why do you care what father thinks? it's just for fun, we are allowed to have fun you know. You especially your always uptight and boring." Annette said as she went back behind the room dividers to change.
"What! I am not uptight and boring. I follow the rules as should you."
"See boring." Annette knew sister inside out and the one thing her sister wasn't was fun. She never liked to explore the outside world around them. She was always focused on following silly rules and a preparing herself to be Queen. " Come on Sigrid let do something different today. I promise we won't get into trouble I mean we are just checking out a new shop for goodness sake. I've asked you do much worse things than this."
Pondering over her sister proposal for a moment she sighed. " fine let go to his shop but if anything goes wrong this will be the last straw I mean it Annette. I a couple of months I will be Queen and I can't keep getting tangled in your mess." Annette rolled her eyes as she exited the room dividers but Sigrid Looked at her sister with a stern expression.
" Fine, Your royal highness" Annette said giggling, teasing her sister for being so serious. " I will meet you out the maid entrance door we can sneak out there."
Walking around the busy streets in their travel hooded cloaks in the town market it wasn't long before the sisters found the strange new shop. The shop stood out like a sore thumb as the walls were painted black and the windows were decorated with hanging skulls.
Reading the title of the shop Annette was curious to go in. " Dr Facilier's Voodoo Emporium. This looks so weird and creepy does it Sigrid."
" Yes and I think we should go back now. We have seen the shop just like you wanted now let's go" Turning to leave Annette quickly grabbed her sister's arm, dragging her into the shop.
Entering the Emporium both the sisters were in complete shock. Everything in the shop was strange. From scary masks that hung on the walls to disgusting bottle ingredients which Sigrid didn't want to know what they contain.
" This place is so cool I wonder if this place sell real magic items." Annette said as she picked a funny looking voodoo doll.
" Everything here is magical Annette it just depends on what you're looking for." Both sisters looked at the tall young man that stood at the other end of the shop. The man was tall and a wore a top hat and a weird suit. " The name is Dr Facilier by the way and welcome to my emporium."
" How do you know my name?" Annette said as she looked at Facilier curiously. However Facilier softly laugh to himself.
"If you think wearing a hooded cloak would hide your identity then you're dead wrong Princess Annette and Princess Sigrid." Removing their cloak hoods both the sisters were still shocked how a new shop owner already knew them. This sent alarms ringing in Sigrid's mind. She had a feeling this man wasn't to trusted.
"Can you do magic?!" Annette asked the man as she was drawn to his mysterious behaviour. Nudging her sisters Sigrid couldn't believe she drawn this guy."Well yes but my speciality is reading people future and past." Looking at both sisters Facilier knew they were curious. " If you want a reading it will cost you as don't use my gift for free."
" Believe it or not but I don't have much on me, I only have 12 Schilling." Annette said as she handed Facilier the money.
Sigrid couldn't believe Annette believe the Shadow-man. Magic only brought trouble and the last thing she wanted was trouble. " Annette please don't do this we have to go back to the palace before the ladies of waiting find out we're gone."
Rolling her eyes once again at her sister Annette was in no mood in hearing her Sigrid's worries and concerns. " Oh come on Sigrid for once in your life do something fun."
Not wanting to leave her sister alone with the Shadow-man Sigrid sighed in defect. Once again she had to fall into the role of over-protective sister. Agreeing with Annette to get their future read Sigrid kept telling herself it would be harmless but unfortunately for her she was dead wrong.
Back to Present day...
Waking up early Lucy got herself ready for the day. Making her way to the breakfast hall she was surprised at how quiet and busy the staff where. It confused her as many of the servants around the castle would chat happily away. Wishing her a 'good morning' with cheerful smiles that she would response back a good morning and happy smile of her own.
Today was different. The 'good mornings' felt empty and had a heavy feeling of sadness in them. the Maid's smiles where quick and light. Many of them looked glum as they prepared the breakfast plates when she enter the dining hall. Sitting in her usual seat Lucy was even more confused when she was the only person at the table. Normally in the past it would be her and Regina at the table for the first serving of breakfast and when she left it was normally her and her father. Sitting quietly, pondering on what on earth was going Lucy was beginning to feel anxious.
'Had something bad happen?' Lucy thought as she looked around the dining hall. When the food was finally laid out across the table Lucy began to worry even more. Serving herself a plate of Egg and beans Lucy's worries where finally decrease for a moment at the of her parents.
just like the castle's staff Henry and Ella looked gloomy and glum. Lucy knew something serious had happen which made her worry once again. So much so that it had knock her appetite right off.
" Mum and Dad what wrong? Why is everyone so quiet and unhappy." Lucy said anxiously as looked at her parents for some answers.
Henry looked to Ella with uncertainty. News of the prince's death had finally reached the southern kingdom in the early hours of the morning. Henry didn't know Naveen that well but he Knew that Tiana cared a great deal about him. Nevertheless this was still hard news to swallow. Death was never a easy topic to talk about especially when explaining it to children were.
Henry and Ella had been through a lot during the couple of months but at this news it was the first time they spoken to each without arguing. Tiana was both of their friends and they both could imagine the emotions running through her head.
" Lucy honey today we have gotten some sad news about a dear friend of Queen Tiana. Prince Naveen pass away last night." Henry said as he sat next to his still anxious daughter.
"Is Tiana going to be okay?" Lucy said as she looked at father.
" Well Tiana is grieving sweetheart and she will be feeling sad for couple months when she arrive back home." Henry said as he tried to explain to Lucy. However Ella wasn't able to stand still without bursting out rage.
Ella knew how much Naveen meant to her best friend and when she and Tiana discuss the future plans for the shadow-man Ella couldn't help get a feeling it was all his doing. When they got the news of the prince's passing they didn't know the course of death. Which rang alarm bells in Ella's ears.
" This is the Shadow-man doing I feel it." Ella said as she sat next to her family. Looking at her with shock both Henry and Lucy couldn't believe the words that had left Ella's lips.
" Ella how could even say that- You know what we're not having this conversation here not in front of Lucy." Henry said as he grab himself a plate of food. Henry didn't know Raphael that yet but he knew he won't do such a thing to Naveen especially since he spent so much of this time trying to prove he had changed.
" Lucy needs to know what that is capable of Henry. stop trying to write him off as a good guy. We have no idea what he capable of." Ella said but Henry wasn't having it. Ignoring the Ella's comment on the matter Henry changed the topic to Lucy's process to horse riding.
Lucy hated this. Her parents hadn't gotten along for a while and it always pulled her spirit down. She understood why her mother was't a fan of the Shadow-man but just like Henry Lucy believe he wouldn't do such a thing. Listening to her parents bickering made her crazy and not feeling hungry anymore Lucy quickly excused herself from the table and made her way to early morning lessons.
Sitting in silence Henry and Ella didn't say word on the matter but the deep silence was killing them. Everything was tense between lately and the family drama was draining. He wanted to go back to when they were happy a close family enjoying life but since the birth of Ben Everything began to change so dramatically.
" Ella...what happen to us?" Henry said as he looked at his wife. Ella sighed as she looked away from her food to Henry with sad eyes.
" I really don't know. Where always on different pages." Ella began to remember the happy times of their family and she could believe how much things had changed.
" Ella I'm tired of fighting with you. I just want our family to be happy once again...I miss us."
" I think we could still go back to that but I just can't let that Shadow-man into our family Henry I just can't. My for most of my life I have grown up with a cruel jealous step-mother and step-sister and promised myself I would go through that again or let my children go through that."
Henry understood Ella side. Ella had told him about her life with Lady tremaine and Drizella. Life with them wasn't easy for her to get over especially when dark secret began revealed themselves. " Ella I understand but I've spoken to Raphael and I promise you he isn't as bad as you think. Trust me I would never put our family in danger." Henry said as he took Ella's hand into his warm ones.
However their intimate moment was cut short when Lucy and many servants came running into the dining room. Swiftly turning their attention Lucy, they took in her shocked expression as she alarmed them. " Mum! Dad! It's SNOWING!" Lucy yelled at them. Pulling Henry to his feet Lucy drag him to the now frosty windows.
" See look it Snowing!" Lucy shrieked with joy. Henry, Ella and many other servant in the room were left in confusion. They were still in the early stages of Winter but according to the weather outside Snow covered the royal gardens and ice froze the grounds within seconds. It was like they got three weeks worth of snow in one day.
" Wait, there was no sign of snow this morning and now it's winter wonderland out here." Henry said as he took in the strange weather.
" We don't normally get this kind of snow so early in time? This is blizzard." Ella said with confusion. Looking at the beautiful sight of snow in front of her Lucy watched in glee but far in the distance the white clouded sky was beginning to darken into a dull grey sky. The light winds of the early morning began to turn harsh. Ripping the leaves off the trees within the blast, it was clear a storm was brewing and it wasn't a normal one either.
Hope you like the new chapter...I kind of didn't like the other one so much so I thought i'll had a flashback of the snow queen in this to explain her story a little more. Her story will continue on the next chapter when I upload it but for now I hope you enjoyed this chapter :-) xxx