Emily is pacing up and down, outside of the stables. When August, makes his way back towards her.
Her mind, was going through a dozen scenario's. All of which, ended badly for her.
However, when she see's August walking towards her, she immediately stops, and whings her hands together. Whilst hoping for the best.
"Emma?" he says, once he is a few feet away.
"August?" she answers and adds "Have you told her?"
"No"
Emma relaxes slightly.
"Thank god" she mutters.
"How have you come to be here Emma? I don't understand" August then asks, with a frown.
Emma sighs.
"It was all by chance really. I had fainted not far from her fields, and Regina happened to see me. She then, brought me back here a few weeks ago" she then explains.
"Why, did you not tell her who you are?" he then asks.
"I thought it was best. After all, the bad things my parents had said about her. I believed, she would have sent me to the dungeons or return me to them"
"And now?"
"Regina is not who my parents said she was, and I want to tell her, but I'm afraid she will hate me for it"
August shakes his head.
"You will soon have no choice Emma. Things are happening, that are out of your control" he then tells her seriously, and Emma swallows thickly.
"Why? what is happening August?" she replies in concern.
"You must know, that your parents, are still looking for you, and have been told, that you are here upon this land and they are going to send in their army"
"They can't do that" Emma snaps.
"They believe you've been kidnapped princess, and want you home"
Emma then throws her hands up in the air.
"I don't want to go back. I won't go back. I'd rather die" she cries out and August puts a hand upon her shoulder.
"I hope it doesn't come to that" he says sadly.
"I don't know, what I'm going to do August" she feels hopeless.
"Maybe, start by being honest, I believe she will forgive you"
"You do?" Emma doesn't look convinced.
"She likes you" he smiles at Emma.
"You think so?"
"Most defiantly. I can tell these things" he chuckles, and Emma looks down, with a pleased smile upon her face.
August, then spots Regina approaching them, and he quickly steps back.
"I must go now. The Queen has seen us" he says seriously, and Emma looks up and past August, spotting Regina.
"Oh, will I see you again?" she then asks him.
"I hope so"
Emma then smiles slightly at this, and watches, as August quickly walks away to get his horse.
"Was he bothering you dear?" she then hears a soft voice call out, and she turns instantly, a big smile appearing upon her face.
"Not at all. How was your meeting?" she asks, and Regina can't help but smile back at the blonde.
"It was not good news. I have a lot to think about"
"Can I help?"
"Its nothing I can't handle. But right now, I'd like to just enjoy the rest of our afternoon"
"That sounds nice" Emily replies, with a dopey smile that gives Regina the flutters, and when Emily takes her hand and gives it a squeeze, her breath hitches.
"Shall we?" Emily then asks and Regina nods, not trusting her voice and they walk back towards the gardens. Whilst not noticing, that August is now making his way out, whilst having seen them handing hands...
"Your quiet?" Emily remarks, as they stroll through the garden.
She had noticed, that Regina had been deep in thought, as they walked.
"Have you heard about the lost princess?" Regina replies, whilst stopping and looking up at her apple tree.
Emily swallows thickly.
"Yeah, I think everyone has" she tries to sound casual.
"Well, her parents think she is somewhere in my land, and are willing to start a war over finding her" she sighs, and looks down.
"Oh, is that why Mr August was here?"
"Yes. He came to warn me of their plan"
"What shall you do?"
"I suppose, I shall have to play peacemaker. Even though, I think they are the most infuriating people, I've ever met" she huffs.
"You really don't like them, do you?" Emily frowns.
"They are truly awful, and I have avoided having dealings with them for as long as I can. I can't remember, the last time I stepped upon their land" Regina answers, and sits upon her bench.
"I shall have to invite them into my home, to find a solution" she adds, and Emma gasps.
"Invite them here?" she then squeaks.
"I do not know what else to do. I will not start a war, over their dear child, one I have never even met" Regina scoffs, and Emily begins to panic.
Her breathing, starts to get out of control, and before she knows it, she feels strong arms around her, guiding her to the bench.
"What's wrong Emily? What do you need?" Regina says worriedly, and Emily grabs Regina's hands to try and ground her.
Tears, then spring to her eyes, as she looks at Regina's worried gaze.
"Oh Regina. You've been so kind to me" she sobs out. "But your going to hate me" she adds, and then brings her hands to her face in despair.
"Why would I hate you?" Regina asks confused.
"Oh god" Emma mutters, and her hands begin to shake.
"Its okay Emily. Please calm down. I promise, I won't hate you. I don't hate you" Regina then says, with concern in her voice.
"I can't do this" Emily then says defeatedly, and stands up, before making a run for it.
Leaving Regina confused, but she instantly goes after Emily. Hoping the woman, won't flea the castle.
However, Emily just runs to the library, and curls herself up into a ball in the far corner.
When Regina steps into the room moments later, she instantly puts a hand upon her chest, upon seeing Emily curled up, rocking herself.
She has never seen the woman, in such a state. It breaks her heart.
"Emily?" she then whispers, whilst slowly making her way over to the blonde, and she sits herself next to her.
She doesn't say anything else, and waits until Emily speaks.
It takes some time, but Regina doesn't mind. She just wants Emily to be okay, and would like nothing more, than to comfort Emily, and to take what's troubling her away but she doesn't know how welcome that would be.
She then feels a hand upon hers, and she looks sideways to see watery eyes staring back at her.
"I'm so sorry" Emily breaths out.
"You don't have to be sorry. I just want to help" Regina replies softly.
"What would you do, if you found out I was lying to you?" Emily then asks.
Regina frowns.
"Lying about what?"
"My name, who I am?"
Regina blinks in confusion.
"Why would you lie about that?" she then asks.
"Because I feared, what might happen"
"I don't understand" Regina's frown deepens.
"These past few weeks, have been the best of my life" Emily then says seriously.
"Mine too" Regina says back instantly, and Emily feels her heart beat faster.
"You have come, to mean a lot to me" Emily then tells her, whilst holding Regina's hand tightly.
Regina now smiles.
"But, I have lied to you, and I hate myself" she lets go of Regina's hand, and looks away ashamed.
Regina's smile falters.
"This is so hard" Emily huffs. "But, I'm just going to come out with it...My name is not Emily"
Regina's eyes widen.
"My name is Emma. Emma White"
Regina instantly stands up, and steps away. Like she's been burnt.
"EMMA WHITE? PRINCESS EMMA?" She says in a high pitched voice, and in disbelief. Whilst Emma can't look at Regina. In fear, of seeing disgust upon her face.
"I don't want to be a princess. Let alone Emma White" Emma replies truthfully.
"But your the lost princess" Regina replies, whilst feeling hurt and betrayed.
"I'd rather be called Emily Swan"
"But that's not your name" Regina replies seriously, and then starts to pace. "You've been taking me for a fool" she scoffs "I've let you stay all this time, whilst you've been taking me for a fool" she snaps and feels frustrated, for having let Emma in.
Emma stands up, hands stretched out.
"No. Everything other than my name is real. You have to believe that"
"How can I believe that?" Regina snaps back.
"Your going to have to trust me"
Regina scoffs.
"You've just broken that trust and I can't bare to look at you right now" she then says seriously, before, waving her hands and disappearing in a cloud of purple smoke, and leaving Emily standing there, staring at the spot where Regina stood.
Regina appears inside her father's chamber, moments later, to his surprise.
"What's wrong?" he asks, upon seeing tears in his daughters eyes and Regina tries to compose herself.
"Oh sweetheart, don't cry" Henry then mutters softly, as he reaches his hand out and Regina steps over, and sits upon the bed and hugs her father.
"Why can't I be happy?" she says into his shoulder, and adds "Every time, I let someone in, they betray me"
"You deserve every happiness in the world sweetheart. May I ask, what has happened to get you so upset?"
Regina leans back and wipes her face.
"Its Emily"
"What about her?"
"She's lied to us"
Henry frowns.
"About what?" he then asks.
"Her name. Maybe everything, she's ever said, since she's been here" she looks down sadly.
"I can't believe that. She seemed so genuine"
Regina scoffs and looks back up, meeting her father's gaze.
"It gets better daddy, and your not going to believe this...but, she is actually the lost princess. Can you believe that? I happened to bring, that idiotic woman's offspring into my home"
"She is a princess?" Henry gasps in surprise.
"Yes, Princess Emma White of all people"
"Well, this is a surprise indeed"
"What if this was her plan all along? to befriend me, and report back to her mother" Regina frowns.
"Oh, no, I do not believe that" Henry replies seriously. "If that were so, she would of been here sooner. Hasn't she been missing for over a year now?"
Regina blinks.
"Yes, I believe so"
"Poor girl" Henry then says, and Regina's eyes widen.
"How can you take pity on her?" she asks.
"Well, look at her parents. She must of had an unhappy upbringing. So much so, that she ran away, and god knows what she's had to do this past year to survive"
Regina frowns.
"Are you not mad that she has lied to us?" she then asks her father.
"If that, is all that she has lied to you about, then no. In her situation, I may have done the same"
Regina blinks, and wonders if she would of done the same.
"Speak to her some more, before you decide on anything" he then says, and Regina sighs.
"I'll think about it" she then mutters, whilst staring off in thought.
The next morning, Regina attends to her duties and has discussions, about what to do regarding the White Queens intentions to bring her army into her land.
However, she can seem to concentrate on the matter. As Emma is on her mind.
She had been avoiding the blonde woman since the confession, and now, she found herself wanting to see the woman.
"We will discuss this further later" she suddenly says, raising from her seat and her advisors stare at her.
"What could be more important than this?" one asks.
"I need time, to think upon what you have said" she partly lies.
"Than we shall all meet again this afternoon?" another asks.
Regina nods and says "Very well" before stepping away and walking out of the door and through the castle.
She can't find Emma anywhere. So, she asks Violet if she's seen her.
"Yes, your majesty. She went towards the knights training yard"
Regina raises an eyebrow at this, and thinks why would she go there?
"That will be all" she then says to Violet, who hurries off. Leaving Regina, to take a deep breath. Before making her way towards the knights yard.
Where she spots Emma talking with Hubert, one of her trusted knights and she hides herself in the shadows, observing them.
Emma meanwhile, looks frustrated as she speaks, and Hubert shakes his head.
Regina frowns.
What on earth could they be talking about, she muses to herself. Before her eyes widen, at the sight of Emma stepping away and picking up a sword.
Regina then tilts her head, as she watches, the blonde woman swing it side to side. Admiring the blade.
Hubert then steps next to her, and shows her some moves. All of which has Regina dumbstruck.
Emma tries to concentrate, and follow Hubert's instruction.
"You catch on quickly" he remarks.
"I'm a fast learner" she replies, and prances forward, sword out in front of her. Like she's fencing.
Regina shakes her head in wonder at the sight. Before, deciding to make her presence known.
She takes a deep calming breath, before stepping out, and walking towards Emma and Hubert.
Hubert spots her first, and bows immediately.
Whilst Emma turns, and her eyes widen, at the sight of the queen.
"Mr Hubert. May I ask what is the meaning of this?" Regina says seriously, and he keeps his head bowed.
"I'm sorry your majesty, Emily here was just enquiring about my work"
"You may rise" Regina then tells him, and Hubert stands to attention. While Emma admires. his dedication to his queen.
"I never knew, that you had an interest in such things" Regina then addresses Emma.
"Oh, um, well, yeah.." she begins to blush slightly and adds "I know women are not supposed to be interested in such things"
"Something your mother told you, no doubt" she then replies, with a scoff.
"Yeah, she did say that" Emma looks down, with a frown.
"Well, you shouldn't believe everything she's told you dear. I have had, no trouble in allowing women to train here. I currently, have one female Knight in my ranks" Regina then tells her proudly, and Emma looks up, eye's widening and her mouth falling open.
"You do?" she then, says in surprise.
"Yes. Hubert here, has had many sparring sessions with sir Mulan" she looks to Hubert, who nods in confirmation.
"Yes, Sir Mulan is one of the best in her majesty's service"
"And where is she now?" Emma asks, whilst looking between Hubert and Regina.
"She is out on an important mission" Regina replies and adds "Maybe you will get to meet her"
Emma swallows thickly, whilst staring at Regina.
"Your not going to send me back to my parents?" she asks.
"No one deserves that" she gives Emma a knowing look, and Emma takes a deep breath, her eyes begin to water.
"We should talk" Regina then says, and Emma nods "Okay"
"As you were" Regina then tells Hubert, who bows, before leaving and Regina gestures, for her and Emma to walk back into the castle.
They walk in silence for a long moment, until Regina breaks it.
"How long have you been interested in sword fighting?" she asks.
"Well, when I was a child, I wanted to be a knight" Emma replies simply.
Regina then smiles, and Emma feels more at ease, at seeing no judgement from Regina.
"Is that so?" the Queen replies easily.
"Yeah, I would use sticks, and pretend I was the best knight in all the realms" she chuckles and Regina's smile widens.
"What did you want to be when you was younger?" Emma then asks, in curiosity.
"I just wanted to be free" she replies, wistfully and Emma frowns.
"Oh, I can understand that. Both our mothers are real pieces of work huh?"
"Indeed"
"Are you still mad at me for lying to you?" Emma then asks carefully.
"Not as much as yesterday, but I don't like being lied too. Everyone I've ever trusted, bar my father, has lied to me"
"I promise from now on, that I will never do that again" Emma then says seriously, whilst reaching for Regina's hands, and Regina stops to look at her.
"How can I know, that to be true?" she asks, whilst looking deep into Emma's eyes.
"I will earn your trust again. I don't know how yet, but I will" Emma replies seriously, whilst staring into deep browns.
And all she wants, is to have that trust back, because Regina has quickly become the most important person in her life. And the thought of not having Regina in it, is one she can not bare at all...
A/N Thanks for reading everyone and hope you liked this one. Hope to update again soon.