The following morning, Emily steps out of her room, and is surprised to find a guard standing there.
"Oh, um, can I help you?" she asks, whilst being wary of the man.
"I have been instructed by her majesty, to offer you breakfast within the kitchens, before you leave. Unless you wish to leave straight away" he replies seriously, and Emily swallows thickly.
"Breakfast would be good"
The guard then nods, before taking her to the kitchens, where Mrs Lucas is waiting.
"Hello child. Did you get a good rest?" the woman asks politely.
"Yes, it was wonderful" Emma smiles back.
"Please sit. You can have oatmeal or bread and jam"
Emily moves to sit at the bench.
"Bread and jam would be nice"
Then, that is what you shall have" Mrs Lucas beams.
"You seem happy this morning" Emily then remarks.
"Yes, my grand daughter is arriving this afternoon"
"Oh, that will be nice"
"Yes, she has been away for some time"
"The Queen allowed her to leave?" Emily asks in surprise.
"I told you child. She is not, who people say she is, and to those who know her well enough, can see that she behind all the bluster and sarcastic remarks, she has a heart as big as the sun"
Emily then tilts her head. She thinks, maybe she would like to meet the Queen after all.
"Do I have to leave this morning?" she finds herself asking without thought, and she doesn't notice, that the queen has quietly stepped into the kitchen. Whilst putting one finger to her lips, telling Mrs Lucas not to alert Emily, that she is there.
Mrs Lucas looks at her curiously, before looking back to Emily, who now has her head down. Deep in thought.
"You wish to stay?" she then asks the girl, and Emily looks up at her.
"Um, You've been so kind, and I really don't have any where else to go right now. I mean, do you think the queen would mind if I stayed another day?"
Mrs Lucas then smiles. Before saying "You shall have to ask her" whilst glancing to the Queen, who is standing by the door, with a amused look upon her face.
Emily meanwhile, just gulps at this idea. The thought of meeting the Queen makes her anxious, even if what Mrs Lucas says about her is true.
"Maybe, I should just leave after I've eaten. She's probably got a lot going on, and doesn't need me hanging around like a bad smell. She doesn't even know me" Emily then says, a little defeatedly. Whilst, not realizing that the Queen has heard every word of that sentence, and she steps forward.
"I'm sure, I can cope with you being here one more day, dear. Especially, since you have now had a bath and don't smell of forest..." she then remarks in a sultry voice, which causes Emily to choke on her bread...
It takes a good ten minutes, before Emily is able to speak properly.
"Geez, don't sneak up on me like that" she says, whilst reaching for her water.
"I can sneak up on whoever I like dear. I am the Queen after all" comes the reply, and Emily looks up to finally get a good look at the Queen. Who is now, standing across from her, with a smirk upon her face.
Emily stares at the other woman in wonder. She can't help but think, that this woman, is the most beautiful woman, she has ever seen in her life.
The Queen, is wearing a full length navy blue gown. Her hair, is the colour of a raven, and her eyes are dark as chocolate. She has a little scar above her upper lip and Emily wonders how she got it.
She then, realizes that she hasn't said anything, and starts to panic.
"Um, Hi" she finally manages to say, with a grimace. Which causes the Queen to chuckle, while Mrs Lucas shakes her head in amusement.
However, Emily's cheeks begin to go red in embarrassment, and she looks down to the table. Whilst cursing herself for being stupid.
The Queen, then takes pity, whilst finding Emily endearing at the same time.
"Would you like to take a walk with me Emily?" she then asks seriously, causing the blonde woman to look up in surprise, but she quickly covers it.
"Yeah, um, okay. That would be nice" she begins to stand.
The Queen then nods, whilst stepping towards the door and Emily looks to Mrs Lucas, who gestures for her to get moving, as the Queen is already out the door.
Damn it, Emily then thinks to herself and she quickly moves to catch up with the Queen.
"So, Where do you come from Emily?" The Queen asks, whilst looking ahead, as Emily joins her in their walk through the castle.
"Oh, Newhaven" She lies.
"It has been a long time, since I last stepped foot there. Do they still have a farmers market?" the Queen asks, whilst still looking ahead.
Emma swallows thickly, and whings her heads together as she walks. She had only been there briefly, but she does recall seeing a few stalls. That must of been the market.
"Um, It is not as big as it once was" she replies, hoping that will satisfy the Queen.
"If I remember correctly, it was always small" the queen chuckles to herself.
"Yeah"
They then walk into the castle garden, and Emily looks around with interest.
It is much prettier, than her parents garden and she spots an apple tree, with deep red apples upon the branches.
"That is some tree, you got there" she remarks, and the Queen smiles.
"Yes. My father had this brought over for me. It has become one of my pride and joys" she still smiles, whilst looking up at it.
"Did you know, the honey crisp tree is the most vigorous and hardy of all apple trees? It can survive temperatures as low as forty below and keep growing. It can weather any storm and to this day, I have yet to taste anything more delicious than the fruit it offers" The Queen then says, looking back to Emily, who is looking at her.
"No, I don't now know that. Maybe, you would be so kind to let me try one"
The Queen quirks an eyebrow.
"So, I may agree or disagree with your statement" she adds, with a small smile and the Queen smirks.
"As you wish" she then says, whilst stepping towards the tree, and picking an apple from one of the branches.
Emily watches with interest, as the queen moves with poise and elegance.
"There you go" The Queen holds out her hand, holding the red apple out and Emma takes it.
"Thank-you, your majesty"
The Queen then smiles, and turns to look out, towards the flowers.
"I hope I am not stepping out of line, but you are nothing, like what the rumours of the kingdom say" Emily then remarks softly, causing the Queen's smile to fade.
She looks back at Emily.
"Yes. They call me the evil queen, do they not? they say I kill children, and have a heart as black as coal" she snaps, but then looks away, and sighs.
Emily frowns.
"Not everyone"
The Queen turns back to Emily.
"Do you?" she asks.
"No. I have never called you that. Nor do I believe, that you have harmed children. And if you had a heart as black as coal, you would have left me to the wolves and not have brought me back here, to your home, and gave me food and a bed"
The Queen tilts her head, and stares at Emily for a long moment. As if contemplating, but then turns her head, and begins to walk away.
Emily quickly follows, and they walk in silence for a long moment.
"I have never, done this before" The Queen then says quietly, and Emma tilts her head towards the woman.
"Done what?" she asks.
"Let a stranger, come into my garden. No one is aloud here, apart from me, my father, Graham, and the groundsmen"
"Oh"
"There's just something about you, that makes me want to trust you. I can't explain it" the Queen then says, whilst shaking her head in confusion, and adds "I will admit, that I did think about leaving you in the forest, but when It came to it, I couldn't leave you there"
Emily's eyes widen.
"Why?" she then asks.
"I do not know" she then sighs and then adds "Maybe I would have felt guilty. Maybe, I took pity on you. Or, maybe, I am a lonely fool who is looking for a friend"
"I can understand that" Emily replies easily.
"You can?" The Queen asks, whilst looking perplexed.
"I may have felt exactly the same in your position" she sighs and adds "And I can admit, that I have felt lonely most of my life, and would have loved someone to talk too. Someone to confide in. A true friend"
The Queen then frowns, but instinctively reaches out, and touch's Emily's arm, just above the elbow.
She gives it a squeeze, whilst looking into Emily's eyes, and the blonde woman stares back, getting lost in the Queen's deep chocolate eyes.
Time seems to slow, as both women get lost, but the pull is broken, when they hear a voice say "Your Majesty"
The Queen steps back instantly and snaps her head towards the groundsman.
"What is it?" she snaps, whilst Emma blinks and looks slightly dazed.
"Your father, is asking for you" the man explains.
"Okay. I will be right there" The queen replies with a huff, before taking a deep breath, as the groundsman bows and then walks off.
"Will you be long?" Emily then asks, making the woman look back to her.
"I shall be a while. You may go back to the kitchen, or to your chamber if you wish"
"Can I stay out here a little while longer?"
The Queen, looks momentarily surprised.
"You may"
"Thank you"
The Queen then nods, and goes to walk away. Leaving Emily to watch her go.
The Queen walks through the castle, towards her father's quarters. But not before, telling a guard to escort Emily, once she's done in the garden.
She can't help but think about the woman, as she walks. She wonders, if she's doing the right thing by letting Emily stay another day. This could all be a deception after all, but something inside her tells her that it is not.
It doesn't help, that the blonde woman is endearing and totally different, to anyone she's ever meet.
The Queen then sighs, as she reaches her father's door and pushes it open.
"Daddy" she greets, upon seeing her father sat up in his bed.
He smiles back at her, happily.
"How are you feeling today?" the Queen then asks softly, as she steps closer to her father.
"Better. than yesterday. I may finally be getting over the worst" he replies happily.
"I am glad" The Queen sits upon the bed, and reaches for her fathers hands and squeezes them.
"I actually called for you, because violet tells me, that there is a young woman, staying within the castle, that you rescued from the forest" he then says eagerly, and the Queen rolls her eyes.
"Daddy, it is nothing for you to be concerned about" she replies.
"I am not concerned. I am rather curious"
"Why would you be curious?"
"Well, you have never let a peasant stay within the castle. Let alone rescued one before"
"Its nothing" she lies, and looks down.
"So, what is her name?" he then asks.
"Emily"
"That's a nice name. Does she have a second name?"
The Queen then blinks. She had not asked.
"I do not know"
"Then you must ask her. It is important to know ones full name" he presses.
"You sound like mother" the queen frowns.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, I didn't mean too. I just want to know more about the girl. Is she nice?" he then asks.
The queen smiles slightly at that, at her father's curiosity. She can't blame him really, as she is just as curious about the woman.
"Yes, I suppose she is, and she has manners" she answers simply.
"That's a good sign. If she were rude, you would have kicked her out of the castle by now" he chuckles and the queen smiles.
"That I would have" she agrees.
"Where is she now?"
The Queen bites her lip.
"She's in the garden"
This makes her father raise an eyebrow, in surprise.
"You don't just let anyone in your garden sweetheart"
The Queen sighs.
"I don't know why I showed her, to be honest"
"Maybe, you thought she would appreciate it"
"Yes, maybe" she looks down.
"You should go back to her, enjoy the rest of your day" he smiles.
"I only just got here"
"I'll be fine, and I will see you again later, before you retire to your chamber as always, and you can tell me more about her then"
"Only if your sure"
"Yes, now go" he smiles at her, and she smiles back and stands up.
"Love you daddy" She then tells him, before stepping out of the chamber, and heading back to the garden.
Where she finds Emily, sat on a bench, and looking up into the clear blue sky.
"I hope, I am not interrupting" she says, with a smirk, as Emily jumps and looks to her.
"You got to stop creeping up on me" Emily replies, with a hand upon her chest.
"A queen does not creep. She walks with poise and is refined" The Queen replies confidently, and with her head up in the air.
This makes Emily snort.
"That was very un-lady like" the Queen remarks, whilst taking a seat next to the blonde.
"I'm not a lady"
"Then you are a peasant" The Queen teases back, and Emily scrunches her nose, which the Queen finds rather cute.
"I thought you was with your father?" Emily then asks.
"I was, but he told me to come back here, and enjoy the rest of my day with you"
Emily smiles at that.
"I just thought, I never got your surname?" The Queen then asks, whilst looking at the blonde woman. Who is looking forward.
"Oh" she turns to the queen "Its, um, Its Swan"
"Emily Swan" The Queen then says softly, with a small smile upon her face and Emily swallows thickly. She had liked the way, the Queen had said her name.
"Yeah, that's me" she then chuckles, nervously. Whilst looking down at her hands, and thinking, What the hell am I doing! She's been so nice, and I'm lying to her face.
However, she's brought out of her thoughts, when she feels a hand upon her arm, and she looks up, to see the Queen looking at her.
"Is everything okay?" the queen asks.
"Yeah. I was just thinking, that I'm going to be leaving tomorrow" she lies and frowns.
"Well, you...you don't have too" the Queen mutters back, whilst looking down in thought.
Emily's eye's widen.
"You. You wouldn't mind me staying tomorrow as well?" she then says in surprise.
"If you want too. I mean, you don't have too but..." the queen trails off and sighs. She feels like a teenager again.
"Really? I mean, yeah. I'd like to stay. Um, how long can I stay for?" Emily asks eagerly. She had never stayed in one place, for more than a few days, in fear of capture. But surely. she would be safe here, no one would look for her here.
The Queen then chuckles.
"Were see how it goes, shall we" she then replies, trying to play it cool.
Whilst thinking, I may never want you to leave...