I don't own these characters; Disney/ABC does.
A/N: this is a Enchanted Forest AU. It also contains one of my favorite things, which is making King Leopold Emma's father.
Special thanks to Mel, Nyrdqueen, 2bears2023, Brooke, Hayleigh L, Knzi, Kae, Ashlee B, Aiszia, Jodi G, Angel S., N, Evie, Lauren S, Persephone the Dreaded One, Jelli_Tots, JoLeen, MaxximumRide666, HR…, Jennifer B, StarKitty23, 88WWitch, Kael D, Ches W, Susie, Sally C, Sketchy Raccoon, Mary, MamaSaucy, Katherine L, Nick Kruithof, Raven, Dean G, Reimarbles, EchoJuliet, and Matts. You're all awesome. Again, thank you. I appreciate all of your support.
Damsel in Distress
1: Good Knight
It was meant to be a festive day and the weather was in agreement for such. A day of feasting and games with the sun out, though not beaming, as thin clouds floated through the sky. The temperature was warm, as if at war with her insides, which ran cold. But, the outside was perfect for a celebration. Her celebration — Princess Regina Mills.
Regina had turned twenty-two a week ago. A grand ball had been held in her honor. Abuelo spared no expense then, but decided to do more. He wanted everyone to see how dearly he loved his first grandchild, or so he claimed. So, there was a tournament today.
Any other day, Regina would love a competitive tournament. Sports interested her, more than they should according to her mother. Yes, there should be enough knowledge of sports to hold a conversation with other peers and maybe do some of the simpler ones, but nothing beyond that. Mother always monitored her to make sure she never crossed the line. Except, Mother could not watch her all the time.
Sometimes, Abuelo and Daddy allowed her to participate, even in tournaments with huge crowds, overruling Mother, who did not think archery and horse jumping were ladylike. Still, Regina had some wins under her belt. She would be a force if Mother only allowed her the space to do so.
This tournament was different. These particular games were being held to get Regina married off. The winner had been promised her hand in marriage. She was literally a prize to be won. It made her sick.
It took all of Regina's self-control not to scowl or vomit as she watched the matches. She did not want to hear Mother's mouth about how unladylike it was to frown. And, with Mother sitting right next to her, Mother would notice her expression. Mother would definitely have something to say if she emptied her stomach right next to Mother.
Not to mention, Abuelo would also notice her expression and would not appreciate her being sick right next to him. She was at his elbow, as he also took in the tournament, and commented on those who stood out to her. He attempted to talk certain knights up. Regina did not care for any of them, even though some of them were quite entertaining.
More than anything, this tournament was for Abuelo to be rid of Regina, on his own terms. He and Mother had been fighting over who Regina would marry since she was sixteen. It was one of the reasons she remained unwed at twenty-two. Mother and Abuelo could not agree.
Mother pushed for a marriage between Regina and a high-ranking Castian noble. A duke would help sure up Regina's claim of fourth in line for the throne. That was probably the most important thing to Mother.
Mother also preferred someone Abuelo already liked, which was not likely to happen. Abuelo did not trust Mother and never seemed to like Regina unless someone was watching. Therefore, he would never give into something that might help strengthen her claim to the throne.
Abuelo, on the other hand, wanted Regina to marry a foreigner. A prince if possible, but it did not matter. He wanted a union that allied Castia with another — hopefully more influential — nation. And, also something that moved Regina out of the country, away from his throne. She was fourth in line now, but he would love nothing more than for her to be removed from the equation altogether.
So, after years of fighting and now agreeing Regina was approaching old age apparently, the tournament would be the deciding factor. It was only open to high nobles and they could be from anywhere in the world. And, by the end of the day, one of them would be betrothed to Regina Mills, Princess of Castia by way of her father, second son to King Xavier.
Regina was not sure how she made it through the day. Her stomach churned the whole time and her nerves frayed. She wanted to explode. A buzz under her skin that made her think it was possible. If only she could vaporize everything around her rather than endure this humiliation.
It was one thing that Regina was not allowed a say in who she would marry. It was a complete embarrassment for her to be turned into an object for some high noble. The Court had whispered about this the moment Abuelo made the announcement. She was such a disappointment and disgrace, she could not be married off by conventional means. She was somewhat surprised so many knights had shown up to compete from the way the Court made things sound.
Regardless, the end of this day would be Hell and the end was drawing near. All that was left was the joust. The top eight contenders had made it. She was not a fan of any of them, but one concerned her so much more than the others. A Black Knight.
Dozens of Black Knights littered the land like so much debris. Some were known. Others purposely hid their identities, trying to trade off the reputations of others. And, others tried their damnedest to make a name for themselves in one of the simplest ways known to man.
Pitch black armor stood out anywhere, on the battlefield, at a tournament, or just rallying troops. It was almost common now how people used it to stand out. There were at least five Black Knights at the start of this very tournament. Now, they were down to one.
The remaining Black Knight announced his true name at any point. He also had not shown his face, wearing his helmet with his visor down the entire time, even when it should have been a hindrance. Except it was never a bother for him. He had done well in every event. A master of weapons, though questionable on a horse. He had fallen from the saddle more than once, but always got up unscathed, unbothered, and ready for the next thing.
The fact that this Black Knight made it at all was laughable. He was the shortest and slightest of all the knights. It was almost like he was a young teen, but he had done too much for that to make sense. He was experienced and skilled in all areas of knighthood, but the joust would probably be his downfall. He was too small, especially compared to the remaining knights. Plus, he could not stay on his horse to save his life.
He was almost bumbling throughout the events. If this fool won, Regina would be tied to a laughing stock. The audience had laughed at the Black Knight almost every time he moved. It did not seem to affect the knight, but appearances mattered. Regina would not put up with that nonsense for the rest of her life.
And then the jousting began and being slight worked in the Black Knight's favor. It was harder to position the lance in a way to land a blow against him. One knight tried to aim for the Black Knight's head. Not only did he miss, but Abuelo upbraided him in front of the crowd for such unsportsmanlike behavior. Trying to seriously injure or risk killing a fellow knight at a tournament hosted by the king was beyond a disgrace. Wicked work indeed.
And at the end of the day, as the true Hell began, the tiny Black Knight stood the victor. Regina's betrothed was an unknown Black Knight. Neither Mother nor Abuelo appeared pleased with this. Regina was with them, but this whole spectacle had been awful to her.
For Abuelo and Mother, it mattered to know who the winner was, to find out which one of them would at least be satisfied with the match. Regina could not care less if she tried. Immeasurable misery came with any winner, as that was her life. This was her life.
"Good Sir Knight, you have proven yourself a warrior beyond reproach. Please, come forward and make yourself known to us," Abuelo said as he rose from his chair with the grand power expected from a man of his stature. He held out a hand for Regina. She took his hand and stood as well, a stone in her stomach weighing her down.
The Black knight stepped forward and bowed, but said nothing. Abuelo frowned. This was irregular, not to mention unnecessary. Regina glanced at Mother, her body tense.
"Knight, you will remove your helmet and speak your name. I shall not say it again," Abuelo said, his voice deeper. He could easily find out who the knight was. Every participant had to sign up with their true name and proof of their nobility. This "secret identity" thing was done only to make the tournament more entertaining for the audience.
The knight shrugged and off came the helm, revealing a crown of sunkissed hair done in a stylish braid and suspicious hazel eyes. Loud gasps were followed by a long, stunned silence. The winning knight was a slip of a girl. Possibly no taller than Regina and definitely younger. Regina had never seen her before and from the furious glint in Abuelo's eyes, he had no idea who she was either.
"What is the meaning of this?" Abuelo roared, face bright red. There went his carefully laid plan to be rid of his eldest granddaughter to someone somewhat respectable.
"Is this a joke?" Mother jumped in, up on her feet now. She glared at the knight, possibly weighing her options on what would happen if she set the girl on fire in front of everyone.
The blonde knight held up her hands in surrender. "Not a joke, I promise."
"This tournament was only open to high nobles. Who the hell are you?" Abuelo demanded, his body stiff in his royal robes.
The knight shrugged. "It's fine. I was returning home when I caught word of this tournament. I only wanted to test my skills against new opponents."
"That doesn't explain who the hell you are," Abuelo said.
"Oh, I'm Emma Swan," the knight finally announced.
The name meant nothing to Regina, but the fury finally left Abuelo's face. But, he remained tense, guarded. He glanced at Mother and then at Regina before turning his attention back to this Emma Swan.
"You are known for your nearly white armor, yet here you stand before us in black," Abuelo said.
Emma Swan glanced down at herself, as if she needed to check what she had on. "The pearly white armor is a giveaway for me and sometimes the more stubborn knights refuse to engage with a woman. I wasn't sure if the tournament would have those sorts, so I disguised my armor."
"You were just traveling through the realm or did your father send you?" Abuelo asked with an arched eyebrow.
"I was sent on a quest and I'm returning home. I am expected," Emma replied. She thought something was wrong and wanted it to be known her lord was waiting for her.
"Of course, but allow me to extend Castian hospitality toward you as we celebrate your triumph in this tournament," Abuelo said, a subtle way of informing her that she was safe. He seemed almost pleased now that he knew who she was.
Emma took a moment to respond and then shrugged. "I will need to contact my father."
"Yes, of course. I will also contact him and explain this entire situation. For now, please, rest at my castle," Abuelo replied with a small smile.
Regina was not sure what just happened, but she was pretty sure she was engaged, if Emma Swan agreed anyway. Of course, Emma Swan did not seem aware of much about what was going on. She also did not seem like much of a noble, but no one raised a fuss. Of course, no one asked Regina either, who would love to make a fuss.
-8-8-8-8-
Emma was not sure what she just wandered into, but it came with a hot bath, fresh clothes, and a comfortable bed, so she was okay with it. She had not been invited to dine with King Xavier, but he promised food would be sent to her room. That was more than good enough for her. In fact, she preferred to eat alone than with most royals.
She had also been given some time to contact home. She did not care to speak to her father, but it was something beyond wonderful to see her sister's face, even if it was through a small, enchanted mirror. This mirror was clearer than the one she carried in case of emergencies. Snow White came through as if she was right in front of Emma and she was excited to hear about Emma's quest.
"You have to tell me everything!" Snow squealed, rushing into her bedroom, more than likely to be alone. Emma would censor herself if it seemed like anyone else was around. Everybody did not need to know her business, and that included her sister.
Emma chuckled as she settled against the oversized pillows on the bed. "Calm down."
"I will not!" Snow puffed out her cheeks. It was only partially playful. Snow might be nineteen years old and engaged to be married, but she could still be a brat and throw tantrums. Usually, she had no idea she was doing it. She was so spoiled.
Snow also hungered for adventure, though. She had no idea she was like that until Emma appeared in her life when they were both twelve. Snow had been a prim and proper lady until Emma introduced her to tree climbing, running through the mud, and standing up to bullies by punching them in the face. They got into a lot of trouble together, forging a bond that should have been there for a lifetime. Now, it would be there for the rest of their lives.
"Tell me everything. Shouldn't you be home by now? Where are you?" Snow pressed her face closer to the mirror, trying to see more of the room.
Emma chuckled and did her best to answer her sister. She did not have much to tell Snow outside of the tournament, though. She had no idea why she was asked to stay. Snow would definitely scold her over leaping before she looked yet again. She saw a bright, shiny contest and let it distract her from getting any details about the aftermath.
"You're not being held captive, right?" Snow asked with her eyebrows curled up.
Emma glanced around the dimly lit room. The polished white of the walls contrasted with the dark wood furnishings, glistening with luxury in candlelight. "I don't think so. I mean, if this is a dungeon, I might stay awhile regardless."
Snow glared at her. "Don't joke like that."
Emma grinned. "Sorry. It's really comfortable here, though." She held up the deep crimson cover thrown over her bed. "You see this? It's like crushed velvet, but not as heavy. I don't think they give these to prisoners. King Xavier also mentioned contacting my father…" She held in an eye roll her sister would not appreciate. "I doubt they call prisoner's fathers."
"If they're planning to ransom you, they do. Are you sure you didn't do anything to get in trouble? You said King Xavier seemed upset when you won the tournament," Snow replied.
Emma gave a light shrug. "If they plan to ransom me, Leopold can afford it." He could afford a lot more. And, even if he did not pay, she would not care. It would be refreshing to be free of him in some way.
Snow sighed. "I wish you were more careful, Emma. I don't want to lose you. We only just found each other."
And up came the guilt, gnawing at her stomach lining. This was not fair. This was not even her guilt. It was not like she purposely spent twelve years away from her sister. That was all Leopold's fault. "I'm not going anywhere." She yawned.
A soft smile settled on Snow's face. "Except to sleep. You've earned a good night's rest."
"I like to think I have, but I need to eat first. I'll see you in a few days."
"Goodnight."
Emma made a noise and Snow's visage vanished. Emma put the mirror down on the nearby nightstand and settled in for the night. She wrapped the divert around her as her head melted into the pillow. She was asleep before she knew it.
She had an excellent sleep, as expected when having a comfortable bed after almost a fortnight of sleeping on the forest floor. When she woke, though, servants hurried her to get up. They were in a rush to make her presentable, waving brushes and dresses and shoes in her face. She was not sure what was going on, so she refused to move.
"My Lady, your presence is required for an early supper. Your father is here," a servant explained.
Emma groaned. That guy. The news of his arrival did not make her want to move faster, despite the fact that supper was mentioned. Food tended to be a great motivator for her, but not dealing with King Leopold was a better deal.
"Supper? Is it the same day?" Emma asked. She had fallen asleep before her meal arrived, but that should have been dinner. How long was I asleep?
"You slept for a great many hours, missing dinner and breakfast, as well as giving His Majesty plenty of time to contact your father and allowing your father time to arrive," the servant explained.
"What's he doing here?" Emma asked with a frown.
"I couldn't begin to guess, my Lady." Such lies. Servants knew everything. "I do know they're waiting for you."
Emma arched an eyebrow. "They?" Had Snow also come? Why did she not mention it when they spoke through the looking glass last night? Might have been a decision made this morning, but it'll be nice to see her in person. Snow would be enough to get her out of bed.
"Your father and our King, along with some of the royal family."
"Oh." Emma's shoulders slumped. She would have enjoyed seeing Snow in the flesh, though she would more than likely see her in a few days. Unless this madness doesn't end. "Might as well see what this is about."
Emma allowed the servants to do their job with minimum squirming. She was dressed in a plain white gown with her hair combed and brushed straight down her back. If they made her look like more like a fair maiden, she would have to come to her own rescue before they locked her in a tower. I can't wait to not have to deal with this nonsense anymore.
Once she appeared more like the noble she was, a servant dragged her off for this meeting/meal. Why was it so important for her to sit with her father, King Xavier, and some of his family? No answers were forthcoming, just pushy servants rushing her about the place.
They came to a room. The doors were flung open to reveal an unwanted surprise. There was no food. Quite disappointing.
Even more disappointing, her father sat at a small table with King Xavier, his son, and his son's wife. All of their eyes went to her as she stood before them. Not a single one of them appeared happy. What had she gotten herself into?
"Sire?" Emma greeted her father, but it was more like "what the hell are you doing here?" than anyone would have thought appropriate. In fact, those unused to her and unfamiliar with her relationship with her father regarded her with tense expressions. They would have to deal with it. She would not change her feelings for Leopold any time soon.
King Leopold stood with a smile. "Emma, I hear you're here in Castia causing quite a stir."
"Not to my knowledge, sir," Emma replied and then glanced at their hosts. "Surely nothing worth using a portal to come get me." A portal was the only way to explain how Leopold got to Castia so quickly. Mist Haven, the capital of the Enchanted Forest, was almost a week's ride from here. But, what was so important to make Leopold show up, dressed in some of his best clothing, the day after she was asked to stay?
Leopold chuckled and shook his head. "It's very much worth that."
"That's what we want to discuss with you now," King Xavier said and he motioned to the chair next to Leopold for her.
Emma eyed them as she took the seat. She paid Leopold some mind to ask a very important question. "Did Snow come with you?"
"No, this business was too urgent," Leopold answered.
Emma straightened and turned to the other three royals. "I'm sorry if I committed some offense against you. I'm still learning how to navigate nobility." It was not like she was born into this like everyone else. Not to mention, she did not pay much attention to the rules.
King Xavier laughed. "It's nothing like that, Sir Swan."
Leopold interjected. "Please, call her Emma. You are proposing to join our families, after all."
"Family?" Emma echoed. Okay, what the hell did she do? What was happening?
King Xavier nodded. "Yes, the tournament you won yesterday was held to find my granddaughter a spouse. The prize was her hand in marriage."
"Marriage!" Emma almost jumped up, but managed to control herself. Holy Hell! "I didn't know that. I thought it was just a normal tournament." Who the hell had a tournament to find a spouse for their kid? No way this was normal. Well, not much of the royal and noble life is normal from what you can tell.
"Your father and I think it would actually be a superb match," King Xavier said with a glance at Leopold.
Emma gawked at Leopold. "What?"
Why would he think this was a good idea? She did not know or understand how Leopold's mind worked. After all, he thought it was a good idea to sleep with a barmaid a few days after his marriage and then pretend she did not have his kid for twelve years until he was forced to admit she existed.
"You're eighteen, Emma," he answered in that annoying, low, and patient tone he thought made him right. "It's time to consider marriage."
"Yes, you don't want to end up a spinster like my poor Regina," King Xavier said with a laugh, like that was a joke.
"Regina's hardly a spinster. She's only just turned twenty-two," the king's son replied. Emma could not recall his name.
"Emma, I understand everything's been a whirlwind, but these are Regina's parents — my son Henry and his wife Cora. They wanted to sit in while we talked terms," King Xavier explained.
Emma made a show of looking around. "And Regina?" This seemed like it would be important to Regina more than anybody else and she was nowhere to be found. It made Emma's heckles act up.
King Xavier's face remained impassive. "Has already agreed to my terms. Your father wanted you here for your input."
Well, that was a surprise. Emma was not sure when, if ever, her father cared about her input. Everything was done for his image, carefully manufactured to ensure his subjects still viewed him as a saint. He had this down to such a fine point, his people still believed he shared True Love with his late wife, Eva, despite the fact that Emma existed and was definitely not Eva's child.
"This would be an outstanding match for you," Leopold insisted in a gentle tone, like he was so caring. This was just something else to keep her out of his face, reminding him of his sin, of his flaws.
Emma frowned and rubbed her hands together. "Here's the thing, I haven't considered marriage. I've been enjoying being a wayward, hapless knight, as Snow likes to say."
She was not a person who ever looked forward to her wedding day. It was not her fault. The first twelve years of her life were about survival, scurrying around the streets of Mist Haven as an urchin, doing her best to make it to the next day.
"Well, you've already agreed by winning the tournament. How often do we tell you to look before you leap?" Leopold countered.
Emma curled her upper lip at him. "So, why bother to call me down? Sounds like things have been settled." She looked between the two kings. So, now I'm being forced to be married? Being this man's daughter never stopped being a pain in the ass.
"The marriage will happen, but some things need to be handled beforehand," Leopold replied. His eyes drifted to King Xavier and then to Cora.
Emma was not following; the story of her life with these people. "Like what?"
"Such as your father legitimizing you to ensure Regina is marrying at her status," King Xavier replied, motioning to Leopold. He spoke these words as if that was normal.
Emma almost scoffed, but held it in. Leopold would never do that. It would be an admission of his sin in a way that acknowledged Emma as his legitimate issue. His court would flip. After all, they referred to her as "the bastard" the moment they thought she was out of earshot. They said it as if this was her fault, her sin.
Not to mention, legitimizing her would also threaten his favorite child's position. Emma did not have anything against Snow, but she was the child he loved. He was not alone in that. The realm loved Snow. She could do no wrong.
Leopold would never give Emma a chance to take a crumb of what was for Snow. Not that Emma wanted anything from Leopold. She almost rejected her knighthood because it had to come from him.
"That could be difficult," Leopold answered in a controlled manner.
King Xavier let out a loud laugh, but it was a scoff. "Please, don't pretend this is out of your scope. Yes, much of your Court might reject the idea, but you are king. Your word is Law and Emma is your issue."
"You know the Enchanted forest doesn't work like Castia," Leopold argued.
"Yet here you are ready to negotiate a marriage between my granddaughter and your daughter, even though the Enchanted Forest ignores same-sex couples. You know no offer better than this will come along."
Ouch. Of course, King Xavier was probably right. Leopold raved about Snow being engaged to Prince David of neighboring Gansland, but never spoke of finding a husband for Emma. She did not want one. She had her freedom in her knighthood. A small patch of land earned her enough money to live comfortably. Nothing like a royal, but more than enough for her. She could come and go as she pleased. She had enough time to go out and help people, which she was compelled to do.
"Regina should not be made to wed less than a duke or duchess," Cora declared with a stern glint in her eye.
King Xavier scowled for a quick moment, as if he did not want to hear from Cora. But, then he caught himself and his face relaxed. What was that about? Castia was supposed to be decent at respecting women and allowing them their opinions.
"This is correct. Regina was once in line for the throne. It's no secret I've granted that girl land and title after land and title. She deserves a match that has the same status, at least in name," King Xavier said.
Regina was once in line for the throne? What stopped that? King Xavier sounded like he cared about Regina, but was ready to marry off to a stranger. He did not know if Emma would care for Regina the way he did.
"My daughter deserves the best," Henry spoke up, his voice strong, but the looks from his father and wife suggested it was not always so. "I'm sure you feel the same." He did not look at Emma, but stared Leopold down. The world knew how Leopold felt about Emma, but they all pretended otherwise.
Leopold huffed and massaged his palm with his opposite hand. "Of course. I'm not sure it's in Emma's best interest to be declared, though. Royal intrigue is a pain."
Emma kept in an eye roll. She still had to deal with royal intrigue. The number of people who tried to use her to get close to Snow was an almost daily annoyance. It was one of the reasons she left on quests. Well, that and to get away from Leopold and his Court.
King Xavier was not swayed. "She has to learn to navigate it eventually and Regina would assist her greatly in such. Considering the dowry Regina comes with, one would consider legitimizing Emma a minor issue. If you wish to leave things as such and wait for a merchant or an earl to propose to your daughter that is understandable." This was said in a way that made it clear it was not understandable. In fact, he kind of called Leopold an idiot with his tone.
King Xavier did not seem to have much patience for Leopold, which Emma could respect. It was entertaining to see someone not kissing Leopold's ass or falling over himself to make things happen for Leopold.
Leopold glanced at Emma. This would be a huge step up for her as far as nobility was concerned. She would like a say, though.
"You don't even know if I like women," Emma said.
King Xavier laughed, putting a hand on his belly. "Good Sir knight, please, be serious. You're a knight."
"I'm not following," Emma replied, even though she got it. She just liked to make people speak their bias plainly.
He did not miss a beat. "The nature of a knight is to like a damsel in distress." He was not wrong, but that did not need to mean she liked women. A "damsel in distress" was a state of mind, a situation, and many other things, except a gender. "Beyond that, surely you are aware not every marriage is about attraction."
"And as a knight you proclaimed your attraction when you entered and won a tournament where my daughter's hand in marriage was the prize," Henry added. Okay, he had an excellent point.
Emma would not argue by saying she had no idea that was the prize for the tournament. It was embarrassing enough, especially since everyone knew the truth. Admitting it aloud to them would just seem like it was so much worse.
"King Leopold, perhaps you and your daughter need a moment alone." King Xavier climbed to his feet, jewelry and cloth singing out as he moved. His son and Cora followed suit. Their clothing made less noise, but still let on how rich they were. Cora stared at Leopold for a long moment and then followed her husband and King Xavier out of the room.
So, they would get the moment whether they wanted it or not. Emma had little desire to have this discussion with Leopold, even though he had not made up his mind on the situation. There was no way he would announce Emma was his issue, but he was interested in marrying her off to a royal.
"I have to do this?" Emma asked as soon as they were "alone." Servants were still about, but nobles did not count them as more than self-moving furniture. It was disgusting.
Leopold sighed, as if this whole thing pained him. "You agreed to it when you won the tournament. You know as a knight, your word and reputation matter more than most other things. Do you want to be a disgraced knight? No amount of adventures will bring back your credibility."
Yeah, knighthood was similar to the street that way. But, in the street, it was still possible to function and make moves while being a known liar. Once a knight was a liar, might as well become a full-blown villain. No one wanted to use an untrustworthy knight.
"Are you seriously considering this?" Emma asked in a neutral tone. She was in this mess already. He was the one with the power to disgrace her. She did not want him to figure out how feelings on this and manage to make it worse.
"This is one of the best matches possible and it connects our kingdom with another formidable nation. It increases your standing. Emma, marrying a princess is no small matter."
Emma was very aware that marrying a princess was a big deal. Where she was from, that was the stuff of dreams. Unfortunately, where she was from, it was also the stuff of dreams to find out the freaking King was your father and that had been nothing but a waking nightmare for her.
"Is this even legal in the Enchanted Forest?" Emma asked. Not a single married couple in the Enchanted Forest was a same-sex couple. There was something taboo about such pairings, even though they happened all over. It had to do with magic, which for a place called "the Enchanted Forest," the Enchanted Forest was a little funny about. That was part of the reason her existence made people uncomfortable.
"We don't have laws forbidding such unions." Leopold rubbed his palms together. He was not comfortable with the idea, which made it somewhat appealing. She would love watching him squirm every time he had to introduce Princess Emma and her wife.
"Yeah." People in the Enchanted Forest pretended same-sex couples did not exist because there was a stigma attached to it. Society sucked, which was partially why Emma liked being a knight. It allowed her to deal with society on her terms for once.
"This can happen if you want it," he said.
Emma arched an eyebrow. "Can it? Why are they just giving Regina away, anyway? She's only twenty-two." Old maid levels were not reached until twenty-five most places. Actually, how did Regina make it to twenty-two without a spouse? It had to be that her grandfather and king did not approve of any matches, but then did something like this where she would be married to someone random. It was all so weird.
Leopold glanced around. "We should discuss that in private."
Oh, so now suddenly servants were people. "Gimme something." Because this was straight madness. What was wrong with Princess Regina for King Xavier to be ready to throw her at the first idiot who won a tournament?
Leopold sighed. "Henry is the second son, but Regina is the oldest of the new generation by eighteen years. Xavier's oldest has a four-year-old son. The heir to the throne has an heir and his wife is pregnant again."
Oh, they were marrying Regina off because out with old and in with the new. That sucked. Regina was a cast-off because she was born in the wrong order.
"Is that all?" Emma asked. It was probably enough for the way royals acted, but King Xavier had years to find the right person for Regina. Why the rush now?
"The toddler and pregnant mother recently had troubling illnesses. There's speculation on what happened."
Emma's eyes bugged out. "Did she?" They wanted her to marry someone who possibly poisoned her pregnant aunt and little cousin?! Madness.
Leopold shook both his head and hand to dispel that. "No, she had nothing to do with that."
Emma was not sure if she believed that. Leopold would love to marry her off to someone who would get her out of the way. It was not like he wanted her around.
"Isn't this really your decision?" Emma pointed out.
Leopold leaned back. "I'm sure I could negotiate different terms."
"They seemed pretty adamant about the one thing they want," Emma said. And maybe that spoke to Regina's innocence. King Xavier probably would not be fighting so hard for Regina to marry someone of proper status if she had tried to kill his grandson and pregnant daughter-in-law.
"I'll talk them down." He said this as if he was not saying Emma was not worthy of recognition as his daughter.
"If you think you can." Emma shrugged. King Xavier seemed to have Leopold by the underpants, but she would keep her mouth shut.
Of course, Leopold was confident, but King Xavier was very strong in his one desire Regina would not marry someone beneath her. Glad to know where she stood with all of these people. He did not give any ground when he came back in.
"Leopold, my friend, if it matters so much to you, we can hold this wedding after your heir's wedding. You think I don't understand the importance of secession? But, Regina will marry at her station," Xavier said.
Leopold hummed. "That's acceptable. They'll live in the Enchanted Forest. Emma still has duties to her Order." Emma being a popular knight in the Enchanted Forest helped his reputation, so of course he wanted to keep her close by.
"Emma will have duties to her wife as well," Cora said.
Leopold glanced at Cora, like he knew something about her, something not good from the way his mouth set in a line. Cora's eyes bored into him for the moment they stared at each other. He turned away, focus back on King Xavier.
"Emma will fulfill any and all duties placed in front of her. It's one of the things that make her a good knight," Leopold said.
King Xavier nodded. "Acceptable. Shall we host the wedding since this sort of thing isn't done in the Enchanted Forest?"
"Yes, and I'll host a welcoming party for them."
King Xavier grinned. "Then it's settled." He turned to Emma. "Congratulations, Sir Swan!"
Emma chuckled, but it sounded as hollow as she felt. How the hell had she gone from winning a tournament to getting married? This was insane.
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: the madness truly begins and the story ends.