As the morning light filtered through the intricate lace curtains of her bedchambers, Emma lay nestled in the warmth of her bed, her gaze fixed on the tranquil scene outside her window. The world beyond seemed to beckon to her, yet Emma remained ensconced in her cocoon of blankets, reluctant to face the day. A gentle knock echoed through the room, barely registering against the backdrop of Emma's thoughts. When she made no move to respond, the doors to her chambers swung open, and a familiar figure stepped into the room. Queen Snow's expression a mix of concern and gentle reproach.
"Good morning, my dear," Snow greeted, her voice soft yet firm. "The courtiers have begun to gather in the dining hall for your birthday feast. Are you not planning to join them?"
Emma sighed, her gaze drifting back to the window.
"I'm not feeling quite up to it, Mother," she admitted, her tone tinged with weariness. "I think I'll just stay here."
Snow approached the bed, her eyes searching Emma's face for signs of illness.
"Leopold worries about you, you know," she said gently. "He fears that you may have some kind of illness."
Emma offered a weak smile.
"Tell him not to worry. I just need to be alone at the moment."
Snow nodded understandingly, though a flicker of concern remained in her eyes.
"It would mean a great deal to everyone to see you on your special day. Especially Leo, who has traveled all this way to see you."
Emma let out a sigh.
"Any word from Nottingham?" she wanted to know.
"Not yet, but I have been told that Sherwood Forest is being searched far and wide. We will find Charlotte. I promise."
"And what of Corona?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "With both the King and Queen dead, and their son... cursed by the Dark One..."
Snow's expression grew solemn.
"All we can do is hope," she said quietly. "Hope that Maleficent remembers the debt she owes us, and that she will spare our kingdom from her wrath."
"It's all my fault," said Emma, tears filling her eyes. "I was one who freed her. I'm the reason they're dead, mother. Corona's royal family is all but extinguished because of my stupidity."
Snow shook her head and placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders.
"Do not blame yourself, sweetheart. You have a pure heart; you couldn't have known the brutality Maleficent was capable of. And besides, those bandits took you there by force. They threatened to kill you if you didn't aid them, didn't they?"
Emma looked away. "One dead princess is preferable to a fallen kingdom."
Snow reached out and gently smoothed a stray lock of hair from Emma's brow.
"Come, my dear," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "It is time to rise and greet the day. Lingering here in the darkness of your chambers will only make you feel worse. Trust me."
Reluctantly, Emma pushed back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. With some help from the Queen's handmaidens — Emma had refused to replace her former handmaidens with new ones of her own — she dressed herself in a gown of shimmering blue silk, the fabric cool against her skin.
The grand dining hall of Ironthorn was adorned with banners and tapestries, the air heavy with the scent of roasted meats and freshly baked bread. As Princess Emma entered, accompanied by her mother, a hush fell over the assembled courtiers, who rose to their feet and bowed low in reverence to their beloved princess. Emma took her place at the head of the long table, flanked by Snow on one side and her younger brother Leo on the other.
At the center of the table sat a roasted suckling pig, its golden skin glistening in the candlelight, surrounded by platters of succulent roast venison, glazed with a rich red wine reduction. Next to them were bowls overflowing with steaming roasted vegetables, including carrots, parsnips, and potatoes, seasoned with fragrant herbs and spices. On one end of the table, a towering display of seafood awaited, with platters of freshly shucked oysters, grilled lobster tails, and poached salmon, all served with a variety of dipping sauces and garnishes. Nearby, a selection of artisanal cheeses and freshly baked breads beckoned, their enticing aromas wafting through the air. In the center of the table, a magnificent fruit centerpiece stood tall, a work of art in its own right. Bowls of ripe strawberries, juicy peaches, and plump grapes were interspersed with exotic fruits such as mangoes, papayas, and lychees, creating a riot of color and flavor. And to wash it all down, goblets of fine wine and ale were served, their golden hues sparkling in the candlelight, alongside pitchers of sweet fruit punch and refreshing citrus-infused water.
Despite the sumptuous spread laid out before her, the princess had little appetite. The weight of her worries hung heavy on her mind, overshadowing the festivities unfolding around her. Emma picked at her food listlessly, nibbling on a piece of bread and sipping at her water as Leo, ever the exuberant youth, was quick to regale her with tales of his recent adventures, his eyes shining with excitement as he recounted their journey to the Mountains of Annuvin.
"We faced many perils along the way," Leo declared proudly, his voice echoing in the cavernous hall. "But we emerged victorious in the end."
Snow raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"Perils of your own making, no doubt," she chided gently. "You were meant to be on your way to Ironthorn, not gallivanting off on some reckless escapade."
Leo's expression faltered, his bravado momentarily subdued.
"But Mother, we had to help," he protested. "The people of Locksley were starving, and we couldn't simply turn a blind eye."
Snow sighed, her gaze softening as she looked at her son.
"I understand your intentions, Leo," she said gently. "But you must learn to consider the consequences of your actions. You will not always have the luxury of relying on luck to see you through."
Leo opened his mouth to retort, but Emma cut in before he could speak.
"What did you find in the mountains?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Her brother's face brightened at the question.
"We found a magic cauldron," he replied eagerly. "One that can produce endless amounts of porridge. The people of Locksley will never go hungry again."
Emma's brow furrowed.
"All magic comes with a price. I dread to imagine what price Locksley will have to pay for their newfound abundance."
Leo's expression darkened at that, his earlier enthusiasm dampened by Emma's somber words.
"I... I hadn't thought of that," he admitted, his voice suddenly hoarse.
"Magic only comes with a price for those who are not accustomed to it," Snow said suddenly. "In the right hands, it can bring power beyond your wildest dreams."
The sun cast its final rays across the royal gardens as Emma and Leo strolled together, the soft evening breeze rustling through the trees.
"I wish we could all live together in one palace," Leo mused, his gaze drifting towards the setting sun.
Emma nodded, her expression thoughtful.
"It would be nice to have everyone together," she agreed softly, her mind already wandering to her own plans. "Though, I've been thinking, maybe I could come back with you to Crowncastle... and stay there permanently."
Leo stopped walking, turning to face her with a puzzled expression.
"But why would you want to leave Mother alone here?"
Emma's gaze dropped, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
"There's something I need to show you," she said finally, in a hushed voice. Emma led the way as Leo followed her towards the royal maze, their footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestone path. They navigated the towering hedge walls. They turned one corner, and then another, and yet another still, but Emma was familiar with this maze now. She had visited the center of the maze several times upon her return, sneaking out at night to watch the gilded Queen shimmer in the moonlight, her mind ablaze with questions. At last, they reached the center of the maze, but Emma's eyes widened in shock at the sight before them.
"The statue..." she murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief. "It's gone."
Leo frowned, scanning the gazebo.
"What statue?" he wondered aloud. Emma's heart began to race.
"Maleficent said I needed to free the Evil Queen to unlock the secrets beneath the maze," she recalled, her voice tinged with apprehension.
"The Evil Queen?" Leo's eyes widened in realization as he spotted the trapdoor in the gazebo.
With a shared glance, Emma and Leo approached the trapdoor, the wood worn and weathered beneath their touch. Together, they exerted all their strength to force it open, revealing a dark hole leading into the depths below. Emma hesitated, her pulse quickening with uncertainty.
"This isn't what I had in mind when I said I wanted to show you something," she admitted, her voice wavering. Leo placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his expression determined.
"I know, Emma. But we've come this far. We need to see what's down there," he urged, his tone resolute.
Taking a deep breath, Emma nodded, her resolve firming.
"Alright, let's go," she said, her voice steady as they descended into the darkness together. As they descended the stone steps into the underground chamber, their surroundings bathed in the eerie light of the torches that ignited by themselves. Both of them jumped, startled at the sight of their reflections staring back at them from the circular mirror at the far end of the chamber, its frame twisting like black iron vines entwined in a sinister dance. Emma shivered involuntarily, feeling a chill run down her spine as she gazed into the mirror's depths.
Leo's eyes roamed the chamber, taking in the shelves of colorful potions, the large chests, and the cauldron that sat ominously in the center. He approached a large, open chest and peered inside, his brows furrowing in confusion at the collection of broken shards of glass scattered within.
"Looks like someone smashed a mirror and put the pieces in here," he noted.
Emma's attention was drawn to the far corner of the chamber, where rows upon rows of closed drawers lined the walls. The rhythmic sound of soft, pulsing beats filled the air, like a symphony of distant heartbeats. At first, Emma thought it was her own heart pounding in her ears, but as she moved closer to the rows of drawers, the sound grew louder, filling her with a sense of dread. Each drawer had a miniature window, and through the glass, Emma could see a red glow emanating from within. Her hand trembling, Emma reached out to one of the drawers, hesitating for a moment before pulling it open. Inside lay a glowing red heart, pulsating with red light.
A gasp escaped her lips as she stumbled back, her mind reeling with disbelief and horror. Leo's eyes widened in astonishment as he beheld the sight before him, struggling to comprehend the significance of what they had discovered.
"The Evil Queen must have built this place to practice dark magic," Leo speculated, his voice barely above a whisper as he surveyed the chamber, but Emma's gaze was fixed on the rows of beating hearts imprisoned within the drawers.
"Why would Mother keep all these hearts here?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with disbelief and confusion. "Instead of returning them to the people they came from?"
"I don't know," Leo said, troubled. Then, after standing in silence for a few moments, he turned and faced the mirror that had given them a fright upon their entrance. "Magic mirror on the wall... who holds the hearts of them all?"
"What?" Emma frowned in confusion. Then, she saw their reflections vanish from the mirror, as dark blue smoke seemed to swirl behind the glass. "How did you know to say that?"
Leo's expression was grim. "I overheard Mother saying it a while ago."
They both looked back at the mirror as the blue smoke cleared, revealing a window into darkness. For a moment, there was only black in the mirror. And then, someone from behind the glass stepped forward; a middle-aged woman, dark-haired and dark-eyed. Only her face, bathed in blue light, was visible.
"You two must be Princess Emma and Prince Leopold," the woman's head smiled softly from behind the glass. "It is such a pleasure to meet you both."
"Who are you?" Emma asked, slowly moving in front of her brother protectively.
"You needn't fear me, princess," the mirror said. "I'm a friend of your mother's. My name is Cora."