Hi, guys! It's been a long time, I know. I wanted this and the next one to come up at Christmas, you know, to go with the story, but this chapter fought me relentlessly. I wrote it, rewrote it, deleted most of it in a fit of outrage, wrote it again... Many tears, chipped nails, a broken lap-top and pulled hair, later I managed to somehow finish it. And, all this struggle prevented me from starting the next one.
Hope you like it,
Chapter 32
Staring upwards at the darkness-obscured ceiling of the quarters she shared with her beloved, the 'Hero of the Empire' was lying in the bed, surrounded by warmth and thinking on the day before. Despite the soothing lullaby of soft, regular and slow breaths of the woman lying beside her, the raven-haired warrior couldn't rejoin her lover in sleep. Wide awake, the woman kept herself still, loath to interrupt the shifter's much needed rest.
Ruby had crawled into the warm beddings, into her waiting arms, wearing the signs of her exhaustion in the pallor of her face and pinched forehead. And, with a barely there whisper, murmured against the naked shoulder, the Wolf had begged the Empire woman to stop her from thinking, unable to stop herself from going over the arguments she had had with her friend. And, Mulan had done her best, keeping the shifter's attention on the soft and hard touches, teasing bites and the heat of their bodies pressed together. Pushing her own need down, the warrior focused entirely on her lover, driving her to rapture, playing her body like the other instrument she was skilled in, and when the dark blue eyes had surrendered to their lassitude and closed, Mulan had joined her beloved in a short nap.
However, her body was still thrumming with desire for the woman beside her, and if she remained in bed, the brunette wouldn't be asleep for long. And, no doubt the shifter wouldn't mind such a wake up, but Mulan still could picture the exhaustion dogging her beloved so clearly, and disturbing her sleep was not something the warrior would abide. So, with a hard swallow, Mulan carefully extricated herself from the loving hold, quickly slipping the pillow in her place, her moves smooth enough so the sleeping woman wasn't jostled in any way. Ready to leave Ruby to her sleep, the warrior looked upon the woman in her slumber, taking in the beautiful sight that was in front of her. The brunette was hugging the pillow, her dark hair strewn behind her as her face and naked shoulder peeked from the duvet. Unbidden, Mulan's body moved closer to the sleeping woman, and leaning over her lover she pressed a soft kiss to the brunette's forehead. Having gently rearranged the covers to keep the warmth for the sleeping woman, the warrior twisted around into her previous position, sitting on the edge of the bed. As her feet touched down, she clenched her teeth against the brisk air of the room and the cold radiating from the stone floor, and looked towards the dresser where her clothes were, folded and ready for wear, along with her Savior-forged sword resting on the side of the wooden dresser closer to the bed, ready for use. However, before she could rise and make a step, arms enveloped her chest and pulled her back to the bed, her startled yelp swallowed by the insistent lips of her lover. Only seconds later, the arms that held her close, gentled their hold and hands started to caress the exposed skin, causing the warrior to gasp in arousal when those hands found all the sensitive spots, bringing the slumbering desire back to the fore. No longer ready to leave, Mulan shifted and wrapped her own arms around the brunette, her breath escaping her in heaving gasps under the skill of those wandering hands.
"Where are you off to this early?" the shifter murmured against the lips of the Empire woman, peering into the almond eyes as she leaned over her lover. "Not even dawn yet," the shifter added, her complaint clear in the slightly whiny tone. "And, I didn't forget about you," she continued, bringing her questing fingers in between Mulan's legs.
"Couldn't sleep," the warrior replied with a grunt, moaning as she felt the tender digits tease the edges of her cleft, separating the flesh. Her hand wove into the brunette locks hanging over her and she pulled Ruby down for another deep kiss. "Didn't want to wake you," she added softly after the liplock, her eyes looking over the shifter's face, pleased to see that the marks of the day before had been erased during the short night. "Did I?"
However, instead of answering Mulan's query, the shifter brought her fingers into the heat, spreading the wetness around, and looking into the darkening eyes, she slipped inside, her actions further encouraged by the warrior's breathless 'Yes'. "Your heartbeat moved away," Ruby whispered as lifted herself up onto her elbow, seeking a better leverage for her hand, her move proving right, as Mulan's other hand grasped her shoulder and squeezed it.
When Ruby slipped her leg in between hers, Mulan couldn't help but moan, throwing her head back into the pillows and immediately after, hot lips latched onto her neck. "I bet I could get you to sleep," the Wolf offered in a husky voice, her every word punctuated by a teasing bite, driving her to distraction. "After a while, that is…"
It didn't take her long to reach her peak, and it took even less time for the second one to leave her completely breathless and limp, the shifter's warmth soothing the remaining shudders going through her frame.
However, even the soft caress of Ruby's fingers over the bones of her chest couldn't chase away her need to rise and prepare what would most definitely turn out to be a long day.
"Something is bothering you," the shifter stated, rising up onto her elbow, moving her hand from Mulan's breastbone to her chin, gently turning the Empire woman's head to see her eyes in the dimness of their bedroom. "I know Snow and Hood had me preoccupied yesterday," she said in a gentle whisper, placing her forefinger on the warrior's lips when the woman opened them to reply. "But that doesn't mean I haven't noticed you being distracted, as well."
"It's…" Mulan murmured against the finger, hesitating over the words. "It's nothing. I just…" A heavy sigh escaped her, before she shook her head.
Ruby pursed her lips in thought, tracing the warrior's lips with her fingers. "Did you notice," she started softly, "that whenever something reminds you of home or family…" She smiled at her lover, but the twist of her lips portrayed sadness instead of light wonderment her voice carried. "Your drive to serve becomes much stronger, and you all but disappear into a dutiful Empire soldier, refusing comfort or solace."
"I," Mulan sighed. It was true that she used the rituals and duties of her position to ward off any personal misgivings, but for it to be stated so outright, with understanding and love. And, to realize that she had not only been refusing comfort, but refusing Ruby and their connection at the same time… "I am sorry, I didn't mean…"
"I know." The shifter smiled in forgiveness, using her hand to soothe the frown on the warrior's face. "But I also know that whenever my mother is mentioned, you are right there, with a consoling touch, a gentle word, even a look, and it means a lot to me that you are by my side. That whenever I have trouble with meditation, or learning about my Wolf, you are there, guiding me through it. You spent hours listening to me ranting about the restrictions and complications of being a werewolf that had been raised by the former hunter." The hand's caress slid down Mulan's cheek before Ruby pressed the palm against the warrior's neck, placing her thumb onto her jaw. "Let me do the same. Let me be here for you."
Mulan reached up and clasped the shifter's face between her hands, gently bringing their foreheads together. "Beloved, there is no place I'd rather be, than by your side," she whispered into the other woman's lips before she kissed them deeply. "And, I know you are," she added after a moment, her right hand twirling Ruby's hair, while using her abdominal muscles to lift herself and her lover into a half-reclined position. "The Commander spent some time with my family after I'd left, and he had some conversations about me with my father."
"And, this troubles you?" Ruby asked, ignoring the fact that the Empire woman addressed her friend by his rank rather than name.
"In the Empire, there are rules for the women, rules that I broke, and that I keep breaking every time I don the uniform or the longer I remain unmarried to a good and prospective husband. And, breaking the rules, bringing shame onto the family - it's just not done." Thankful that Ruby was keeping quiet, showing that she was listening by her stroking fingers, Mulan sighed. She had told her lover some of the dynamics in her family, but she hadn't gone too deep into the realities of it. "If I hadn't saved the Commander's life just before then, when they discovered that I was a woman I would have been summarily executed and my father would be dishonored, with his name and the rest of the family in ruin. They would have been shunned, outcasts to the society and targets of scorn and mocking. Then, I saved the Emperor against all odds, and even then, some of his advisors called for my head." She hummed in melancholy, still in awe at the memory of everyone bowing before her at the steps of the Imperial Palace. "He elevated me, instead, giving me a place on his council, pronouncing me a hero of the Empire, and suddenly, all my wrongdoings were forgiven." But it didn't last. In fact, with her elevation, she had gotten way more offers of marriage, where everyone still had expected her to play a dutiful and quiet wife who obediently served tea to the man of the house. Even now, years after the day she had left her home, it made her so angry that she unconsciously clenched her jaw, her fingers curling into fists.
Ruby hummed, her fingers tapping out the quickened rhythm of Mulan's heart onto the jawline she had been caressing, warning the warrior of her body's agitation.
Quickly, the Empire woman shifted away, gently untangling Ruby's dark locks from her fingers and with a huff, she got up, letting the frigid stones take her out of her sudden rage. "No matter that I was the most celebrated soldier of the Empire, regardless of the fact that I served on the Emperor's council, I was still unmarried and that, according to my grandmother and mother, brought shame to the family," Mulan almost grunted through her clenched teeth, as she dressed into the set-out clothes, instantly transforming into the venerated soldier of the Empire. Forgoing the brigandine, the mantled cape and gloves, she tied the scabbard to her belt, letting the sword hang off her left hip, placing her hand on the hilt of it, as she stood in front of the shifter, presenting herself. "I was no longer someone who could twist into what they expected of me. So, I left." Rubbing her face with her right hand, she came back to the bed and sat down, grabbing her sword by the scabbard to shift it so it didn't press against her side, and looked at her beloved. "I got my leave from the Emperor, so I wasn't in dereliction of my duty to the Empire, but I knew the moment I left that there was no going back. That they would never forgive me for not complying to the common wisdom and settling down, instead of abandoning them."
Ruby rose up and, ignoring the cold of the room, wrapped the warrior into a hug from behind, kissing her cheek in comfort. "But?" she prompted softly, leaning her cheek against Mulan's.
"Cheng brought word from my father," the warrior murmured, her hands grasping the warm forearms wrapped around her front, still not believing what she had heard the day before. In quick whispered sentences, Mulan spoke of her conversation with Commander Li, leaning back into the comforting hold of her lover. "And, I…" she sighed heavily. "I don't know how I feel about this."
"Do you want to go home?" Ruby asked gently after a short silence, her voice carrying nothing but a light edge of curiosity coated in compassion.
"I don't think it was ever my home," the warrior replied heavily. "Not really." She then chuckled, but it was a brief, and bitter laugh. "I never fit in, and people always considered me odd and strange, even before I went to the camps." Turning to look Ruby into her eyes, she smiled. "My home is with you."
The shifter's eyes glittered in the dimness of the room, and a wide smile spread across her face. "My brave warrior," she whispered before she leaned in and kissed Mulan. "I would follow you, if you needed to go back," she added sincerely after their gentle kiss ended. "If you wanted to see them."
"And, I love you for that, my love," the Empire woman replied quietly, still holding the woman close. "But I am not… The time to make those decisions is not here, and it is not going to be for a while yet." Flexing her shoulders and straightening up, Mulan spoke up with determination, her voice firm. "My place is here for the moment. Our friends need us." Gently, she untangled herself from Ruby's arms and rose to her feet, grabbing the duvet at the same time. In one chivalrous motion, she covered the Wolf, wrapping her up in the warm covers, laying a soft kiss onto her forehead at the same time. "And, I should be going," she said in a weighty whisper, her hand gesturing to the door before landing onto the hilt of her sword. "You could sleep a while longer."
She heard Ruby responding, understanding the words her lover spoke, but her attention was drawn to something else. So, while the young Wolf extricated herself from the bed and rummaged around for clothes, Mulan frowned and turning her head away from the shifter, she tried to focus on what had prompted her distraction. And, it took her only mere moments to find it. The constant but steady tingle of magic in her sword was not there. Instead, the warning system the Savior had given her was pulsing, sending out mild zaps up her arm. "Kao!" The word exploded out of her in low but sudden exhale as she wrenched the door of the bedroom open and stalked out.
"What's wrong?" Ruby immediately asked, the sudden change in the warrior's mood making her follow the woman, struggling to put her feet into the trousers and walk at the same time, her long cotton shirt only impeding her further.
Mulan stopped in place, turning to look at the shifter, her frown deepening as she watched her lover drag the clothes over her hips, waiting for her to catch up and dress. "Magic, but new. Different." Judging her beloved not in danger of tripping and face planting on the hard floor of their quarters any more, she went to the door. "It's on the move," she hissed out urgently and rushed out of their quarters, leaving the Wolf behind to scramble after her.
Mulan only managed to make several strides in her dash to find the source of the magic, turning the corner in the corridor outside of their quarters, when she found her way blocked by something. Or, rather, someone.
"Emma!" she heard from behind her, as Ruby caught up with her. Mulan immediately raised her arm, stopping the shifter from coming farther, her other hand on the hilt of an inch drawn sword at her side, her eyes not moving from the woman clad in white leather.
"Prove yourself," the warrior hissed menacingly, pushing her beloved behind her and ignoring her half-hearted protest.
The blonde in front of her tilted her head in amusement, raising her hands in mocking surrender, but her right arm went up higher, right beside the hilt of her sword resting across her back. "Even if I wasn't a being of magic, you still have little chance against me. You are no longer the most experienced warrior of us, here."
With the two private conversations referenced in such an easy way, Mulan tentatively relaxed her stance. "You feel different," she commented suspiciously, still holding Ruby back.
The Savior sighed, dropping her hands down. "I am different. My magic is different. But I am still me."
"And Regina?"
"She is on approach." Emma smiled at the careful warrior, her hand falling to the hilt of her dagger at her waist. "We saw the signals, so I came to scout ahead."
Mulan relaxed further and the second her arm dropped, the shifter came around her and slammed into the Savior, pushing the blonde a step back. "You're alive!" Ruby whisper-shouted as she hugged the woman, ignoring the blonde's stiffened posture and hesitantly returned hug.
However, the warrior saw the change in her recently arrived friend and came forward, her hand gently coaxing her beloved off the sorceress. "You look well," she stated, bringing the Wolf to her side. "A little too well for a two day's rest, considering the state of you when you disappeared." A note of suspicion returned to the Empire soldier's tone, but the Savior just huffed an amused laugh in turn.
"It's been a bit longer for me," Emma noted quietly.
"Longer?" the warrior repeated in confusion.
"How long?" Ruby immediately asked, her eyes going over the blonde's features. When Emma hesitated, the Wolf approached her again and grabbing her shoulders, she leaned in and peered into the guarded green eyes, and the Empire woman saw the blonde tilt the head away, reclaiming some distance between them. "Emma, how long?" Ruby insisted in a gentle tone.
"I don't know, about… two and a half, three months, I guess," came the quiet answer before the Savior stepped out of the hold. "But, that's not important right now." She raised her hand, stopping the Wolf before she could ask any further questions. "There are some people I need to see, and… My stuff. I have to find my things from before the…"
The Savior's breathing changed, getting shallower and faster for a short amount of time, Mulan noticed, as the blonde hesitated over the event on the cliffs by the Charming Palace, before ignoring it all together, explaining to Ruby and her that she was not to be seen, not until Regina gave her permission, and that she needed access to her things first. It all added together, the warrior mused as she watched the woman turn invisible right before her eyes. She may have looked well, but the small signs of discomfort and avoidance told their own story, the one the Empire woman had seen in many men after harrowing events.
With the Savior waiting for them, Mulan followed Ruby back to their quarters and quickly tossed on her brigandine and redid the sword belt over it, watching her lover get properly dressed.
"She's not okay, is she?" the shifter asked in a low, worried tone as she donned on her vest, glancing at the warrior standing by the door.
Mulan pursed her lips and shook her head, her hand squeezing the pommel of her sword. "No," she replied with a sigh.
"What should we do?" In the same low voice, the shifter asked, coming to her lover, her hand reaching for one of the ties on the brigandine, fiddling with it.
"There is not much we can do," the warrior whispered back. "I guess follow her lead, and don't pressure her too much on things." Pressing a light kiss on Ruby's forehead, Mulan hugged the woman and pulling them to the side, opened the door, ready to follow the Savior, or rather lead her to the Royal Armory.
She wasn't surprised to find the suspicion in the almond eyes of her friend, her own story of Zelena pretending to be Regina obviously served as a cautionary tale. But those keen eyes saw a lot more than Emma was ready to admit, and the discomfort she felt under the scrutiny didn't ease much when she used her power to make herself invisible, so her hand went to her chest, tracing the outline of her rings through the clothes, the almost absent-minded motion allaying her anxiety.
Only minutes later, she walked right behind the couple on their way to the Queen's wing and the armory, in step with them, her footfalls and clothes silenced. She even used her magic to mask her scent, hiding herself from the Wolves they came across. Of course, she knew her way around the castle, Regina knew every nook and cranny of her former prison and home, but for some reason it felt safer to get the two of the women to escort her there, although in full secrecy.
"I hope the children have a good Christmas Day," Ruby mused out loud, her arm twined with the warrior's. "Henry was such a trooper yesterday organizing it."
"How much of it was his desire to have this celebration," the Empire woman questioned. "And how much was it a clever redirection for Snow and David to stop them from interfering with the prisoners?"
Emma shook her head at the conversation that flowed between the couple, where both Ruby and Mulan somewhat subtly supplied her with the bits of information of what had gone on the day before, both with the 'guests' and the family, along with a few curious rumors of events in the Charmings Palace. She was not surprised to hear Damian's harsh welcome for the forest man and his companions. Not only had the Captain of the Black Knights been one of the members of that now notorious war council where the forest Thief had provoked the Savior's ire, he had also held a personal grudge towards the Merry Men and their leader. Emma wasn't even surprised to hear about her mother's behavior, rolling her eyes at the details provided by the exchange going on in front of her.
By the time they reached the corridor that housed the Royal Armory, the Savior was completely filled in the minutia of the three days past. She hadn't minded the small break, but now was the time to get back to what she had set out to do when she'd first appeared in the castle.
The blonde reached for Mulan's elbow, her gentle touch serving as a point of reference for her presence and position. Softly, she came closer and leaned in to whisper into the warrior's ear. "The guard by the door," she spoke quietly, waiting a brief moment for a nod of acknowledgement. "Bring him in with you." Then, after a second, Emma added, "If he gives you trouble, Captain's orders." The Savior figured in all the commotion of the Queen's arrival, no one would really mind her fudging the truth for the moment, and it did serve a purpose.
Indeed, the guard had allowed for the Empire woman to pull him away from his post only when the warrior said, in quite the firm voice, brooking no dissent, that his superior had ordered it so. Meanwhile, both Ruby and Emma had entered the Armory, waiting for those two to come in.
"What's your plan?" the shifter murmured as she glanced around the seemingly empty space, before her eyes returned to the wide open door.
"In a moment," Emma replied, just as softly, taking the time to look around the sparse room. The first thing she had seen when Ruby had opened the door was her hauberk, placed at the center of the room, but now, with a bit of time, she noticed other things in the Armory, including the things she had worn before Guardian had taken her away.
"What's this about, then?" the guard spoke up as soon as Mulan closed the door behind him, his low and gruff voice tinged with impatience. She had seen him before, and plenty of times, at that, and not only in Regina's memories, although he had featured in them aplenty, Emma realized, taking in his familiar features; but she couldn't remember his name. "Well?" he prompted harshly, when both Mulan and Ruby failed to provide an answer, only sharing a look between them.
Not willing to let that awkward moment continue, Emma took a few steps deeper into the room so she would not be at the back of the guard, and when she reached the spot that provided an unobstructed eyeline to all three of them, she dropped all the wards she had woven around herself, becoming visible once more. She was only four feet away from the guard, and her sudden appearance made him react by lowering his halberd in the attack position. But, then, when he had a moment to really look at the newcomer, his weapon was hastily drawn back, almost flying out of the man's hands.
"Your Grace!" the guard gasped.
The Sheriff raised her brows in barely hidden amusement, tickled by the fact that both Black Knights' first instincts had been to attack her. But she was pleased that no defense had been needed, unlike with Damian when she had surprised the Captain. Watching the man stiffen under her gaze and straighten out in a formal positioning they often used with their superior officers, his left hand going behind his hip, as much as his armor allowed, while his right held halberd vertically to the floor at the perfect angle. "What's your name, Knight?" she asked him after a beat, coming a bit closer to him, and the two women.
"Benedict of the Queen's Guard, your Grace," the man replied with a short but respectful bow, before he returned to his previous pose, his hazel eyes staring straight ahead. He wasn't much taller than her, just two inches at the most, but his frame spoke of physical power and skill, which is no doubt why he had been promoted to the Queen's Guard even though he wasn't older than her, and Emma would bet that she had a few years on him.
"Well, Benedict of the Queen's Guard," Emma spoke up, tapping the man's spaulder lightly with her gloved fist, her voice and move drawing his eyes to hers, before she clasped her hands behind her back. "You should know that in about a quarter of an hour, your Queen shall return to the castle." When the man's eyes widened, she raised hand to stop whatever he was about to say. "Your captain is already apprised of it and is most likely organizing the welcoming committee as we speak. So, I need two things from you, Benedict."
"Yes, your Grace?"
The blonde pursed her lips before she shook her head. "Make that - three things." Clearing her throat, she tapped her chest lightly with her finger. "My name is Emma. If that is too hard to use, I will accept Swan, or Sheriff Swan, if you feel I need to have a title. But, let's leave all this 'your Grace' or 'Savior' nonsense for formal occasions."
"Yes..." the Queen's Guard replied immediately before he hesitated for a brief moment, stumbling over what to call the woman in front of him. "Sh-sheriff Swan."
The Sheriff in turn smiled at him. "Good man. Now, the second thing I need from you, is to not let anyone enter the Armory until these two return from their errands." Pointing to the women, Emma noticed them perk up with the mentions of tasks. "Then, I want you to take post at the main entrance to the Royal Chambers, and get Neal or whoever's inside at this time to open them. Regina will be coming from the main courtyard, and the shortest way to the children is through that door."
"Yes, Sheriff Swan," the guard replied easily with a short salute, and Emma sent him off with another smile.
"So, what are these errands?" Mulan questioned with slight scorn in her words after the guard had left.
"It's nothing bad," the Savior said quietly, walking over to one of the high racks. Having unbuckled her sword and dagger belts, she placed them onto the rack before she started undoing the ties on the bracers and her tunic, pulling the protective metal of her arms and placing them by the sword. "I just need you to bring Li and one of the Wolves in command to me before I explain things further." Taking the white leather off, she looked at the women. "Perhaps one other person to stand guard?"
"Sure, be right back," Ruby said before she too left, leaving Mulan with the blonde.
"What is going on?" the warrior demanded the second the door closed behind her lover.
Emma sighed, shaking her head at the Empire woman, before she took off her gray woolen tunic as well. "Things happened while we were away," she spoke quietly. "And, Regina is bringing some surprising friends with her, and I thought some warning, especially to the Wolves would go a long way," she further offered without delving into it.
Mulan stared at the Savior for a few moments, silently pushing for more, but Emma had said all she wanted to say at the time. "Alright," she said then. "I'll get you the commander."
"Thank you."
On her way out, the warrior glanced back at the gratitude filled words. "Yeah," she acknowledged and exited, leaving the blonde with a strong sense of disappointment.
And, Emma knew what that bit had been about. Ruby, in all her friendship with Snow and the other rebels, had been used to being sent off as a messenger at the moment's notice, and she hadn't even blinked at the Savior's request. However, Mulan was different. First, she was of a certain rank in the Imperial army, and even in the rag-tag group of Safe Haven, she had been high up in the hierarchy. Not only that, but she knew of Emma's powers, knew that she could have easily gone to each of the needed people and told them in person what she needed them to know, hiding from everyone else with not much effort spent. Instead, Emma had reduced her to a runner, sending her on an errand anyone could do. The warrior had expected a dear, formerly lost, friend, but instead of it, she had gotten the Savior, duty-bound and emotionally detached commander who treated her like a mere pawn.
She had trouble with it, the blonde knew, and her stay in Brocéliande wasn't really helpful in that regard, because there - she had been safe, Regina had been safe, from Zelena, from spies, enemies and secrets. And, the first moment she was to spend with her family, Emma was thrust into the situation of intrigue and cloak and dagger stuff. Added to that the fact she had an already all too busy morning and it's barely twenty minutes after dawn…
Nevertheless, there was a reason why she was in the Royal Armory the first thing, and it wasn't to just stand there in a shirt. She would apologize later, and hopefully mend her friendship with the Empire woman; but now, she walked over to the hauberk at the center of the room.
"Someone cleaned you up good," Emma murmured as she reached for the black chainmail. She could feel the magic in it now, after her time at the Sanctuary and all the lessons she had gotten there. Underneath the pervasive scent of her own desperate magic, she could still sense the tang of the dark and vile offerings Rumplestiltskin had gathered for it, but it was barely there. "That's odd," she murmured, tracing the weave with her leather covered fingers. Guardian had shared with her how the 'scales' had reeked of dark magic, giving her the sense memory of it, but Emma couldn't feel it, not in such quantities the dragon had. It was somehow muted, beyond the difference between the dragon's magical senses and her own. Only seconds later, the answer came to her. Her own magic, filled with hope and despair of the moment, along with her blood had suffused the mail, blood-bonding it to her and somewhat changing the magical spectrum of the weave. She had sacrificed everything she had had, in both magic and life, while wearing this hauberk, and it had left a mark. Now, the mandate Guardian had placed upon the use of it made sense. She had unconsciously mostly negated the dark magic in the weave, but still she would obey the directive she had received from the Lady of the Skies.
Quickly, Emma took the hauberk of the pole and put it on, securing the straps with familiar dexterity, her fingers going through motions that felt deeply ingrained. And, with the weight of the weave settling on her shoulders, the Savior let out a deep exhale, the discomfort of being exposed in these parts disappearing nearly completely. Shaking her head at herself, and her brief moment of relief for being in armor again, Emma walked over to the rack with her sword and tunics, twisting her arms and back in order to check for motion. Satisfied with the fit, she used haste putting on the woolen tunic, enjoying the perfect fit. Then, she reached for her white leather, and her shoulder bumped the sword, dislodging it from its place. With the Savior's quick reflexes, she caught it, but then, she saw a strange light pulsate from what was visible of her hauberk.
It was dim, barely noticeable in the early morning light of the room, but the weave was glowing, the soft thrum of magic it exuded almost singing. Releasing her hold on the sword, Emma stepped away, and the chainmail returned to its previous state, the black weave looking the same as on the day Regina had strapped it on her back, its magic returning to a background noise-like drone. Humming with interest, the blonde grabbed the hilt of the sword, and, sure enough, the tingles of magic and dim light came back. The Savior tilted her head to the left, going through the magic she was feeling. "Happy?" she murmured, before she drew the blade out. Sending a pulse of her power into the sword, she lit it on flame, and suddenly, the small tingles of the hauberk's magic increased in intensity, and Emma could only think of it as a joyful melody being played out, followed by accompanying light arrangements. The glow was still weak, hardly noticeable, but it was very animated in its flashing. "You are happy," the blonde said with a smile. It would happen only to her, she thought, shaking her head with a lighthearted chuckle. "This'll take a minute to get used to," she mumbled into her chin, sheathing the sword and taking her tunic.
Only a minute later, she was completely settled, with her sword back to its place off her right shoulder, her belt with a dagger over the tunic and chainmail hidden by the white leather completely. She even managed to tie off the laces on her bracers by herself quickly. And, just in time, at that, as she could feel her godmother approaching with two other Wolves. Amping her magic a bit, she heard the murmurs further down the hallway that housed the Armory, and then, the echoing stride of someone walking away. Benedict had been sent off, it seemed.
The door opened. "Come on, get in," Ruby insisted, pushing another woman in.
"I still don't understand why here, and what is so important that you had to drag me out of bed, Red." The shifter complained, her gaze solely focused on Ruby. "I only just got to sleep."
"It's worth it, I promise," the younger brunette claimed as she closed the door. Then, she met Emma's eyes over the other shifter's shoulder, rolling them in amused exasperation.
The odd interaction forced the shifter to turn around, and Emma recognized the Wolf immediately.
"Callie," the Savior said in greeting, inclining her head.
"That explains it," the Wolf murmured before she approached the blonde, tapping her chest lightly. "Full of surprises, are ya?" The woman then frowned as her eyes went over the blonde's body, sniffing loudly the air around her. "Masking?" she prompted, tilting her head at the Sheriff, getting a nod in return. "So, what's the urgency about?"
Emma looked at the pragmatic Wolf with a smile pulling on her lips, before she looked away, her gaze losing focus for a moment. "The Empire will join us in moments," she informed the two shifters, turning back to the door. "It'll keep till then."
Liam's lieutenant grunted in acceptance, and glancing around, she took a seat on the closest low rack, crossing her arms, inviting Ruby to join her with a simple head jerk. After sharing a look with Emma, Ruby cleared from the door and sat down.
Mere seconds later, Mulan opened the door and let the High Commander of the Imperial Guard come inside before her, shutting the door and leaning against them, her arms crossed with a barely noticeable scowl on her face, as she stared at the blonde standing at the center of the room. If the Commander noticed the warrior's cooler attitude, he didn't comment on it, just thumping the fist against the swan sigil at his chest the moment he got over his surprise at seeing his ally in the room, before he took a seat on the low rack opposite of the Wolves, with the Savior between them.
Rolling her eyes at the tense silence filling up the room, Emma clapped her hands. "Okay, let's get through this quickly." With her hand on the dagger, and the other in front of her chest, she spoke up, extending her pointer. "First, Regina will be here in minutes, and Damian will most likely have summons for you and Liam after breakfast," Emma inclined her head to Li. "I guess it will be a strategy meeting for dealing with your guests, before organizing a more formal and formidable audience for them." She turned to the Wolves. "Guardian took me away to the Sanctuary, and sent Regina after me. The healers there, including Aileen of your clan, and Regina, helped get me better. And, we've made some friends there, who decided to come out of hiding."
Callie hummed at the mention of the Sanctuary, nodding as if her suspicion had been confirmed, drawing looks from the other three in the room. However, her eyes opened wide at the familiar name, and got even wider at the implication. "Who?" she blurted after a gasp disrupted her otherwise staunch facade.
"Some soldiers, and the Knight. For now." Emma answered the interruption, watching the awe spread on the Wolf's face. "The Wolves were moved to the Sanctuary with the blessing of its new Warden."
Callie straightened up in her seat. "No, the Elder would not-"
"The Elder proclaimed the Queen," the Sheriff spoke over the objection. "Invoked it with your magic, no less." When the Wolf jumped to her feet, a heavy furrow in her brows and a few tears leaking out of the welling eyes, Emma grabbed her shoulders, stopping her in place, and peered into her face. "She's alive, in care of her family. I delivered her to the House of Healing myself." She didn't release the shifter, letting her breathe out several shuddering breaths and gather her composure. "But you need to warn Liam, before Regina summons him to her side, later this morning." Having waited for Callie to nod, the blonde dropped her hands away, and then pointed to Ruby, who was watching the two of them with unhidden interest. "If you could tell her what that means?"
"Yes," the shifter exhaled, the relief still evident in her voice. "As you bid," she said, placing her hand on Ruby's shoulder.
"Now, if you could fill in for the rest of us?" Mulan's impatient tone broke in. "What's all that? And, what does it have to do with us? And Ruby?"
"Sorry, internal Wolf matters," Callie responded before Emma could, patting Ruby's shoulder while staring at the warrior with a smirk on her face.
"Regina is bringing some friends, and when people hear where they hail from, some are going to freak out," Emma responded to the Empire woman, while she shook her head at the shifter, with her brow raised. When Callie chuckled and nodded in submission, Emma turned to the other two. "Especially when names like Camelot and Tintagel get tossed in the mix."
"What?"
Emma didn't know who had gasped, because Li spoke up in disbelief. "Tintagel?" The Commander went on, his hand in the air in front of him, small gestures enhancing his astonishment, "Ancient rulers of the Enchanted Forest, Tintagel? The most powerful line of sorcerers to ever be, Tintagel?"
The Savior looked at the visibly disturbed man, noticing how his words stunned the others into silence. "Yes," she confirmed.
"Ah!" He tossed his hands up, turning around before pacing a few steps away. "Why do I even…" He then pivoted back. "You are bringing Morgana Le Fay, the architect of the fall of Camelot?" he demanded, pointing his finger to the floor. "Here? The Dark Queen!"
"Hey!" Callie shouted, almost lunging at the man, but the blonde's raised hand stilled her. Emma turned her head, glancing towards the Wolf.
"She is almost at the gate," Emma stated with a smile. "Go, warn Liam. I'll deal with this."
The shifter hissed at the commander, stalking to the door and when the glare didn't move Mulan away fast enough, the Wolf tugged her aside before she left the room, slamming the door behind her. The Savior chuckled watching her go, before her eyes found the Empire man, standing with his mouth open, staring in confusion after the usually collaborative shifter.
Astride Spirit, Regina sat with her innate regal poise, the Gallant beneath her reacting to her every subtle command, stopping seemingly on his own when they reached the center of the courtyard. Giving others the time to stop in an orderly fashion behind her, she surveyed the people gathered in front of her, as she swept her gaze across the walls and parapets her eyes catching the surprised greens for a briefest of moments before she looked away, relieved to find Damian by the head of her stallion, addressing her. "Captain," she returned the greeting, leaning slightly forward in the saddle, and placing her gloved hand on the horn of it, the reins loosely held in it. "These are my friends," Regina stated, loudly, flicking her free hand above her shoulder, motioning to the newcomers. By the sounds behind her, she knew that her gesture was taken as an order to dismount, and the commotion drew her captain's attention to look behind her. "They are to be treated as honored and cherished guests and allies," she added firmly, her sharp tone spreading around to all the guards in the courtyard. Only when Damian bowed in compliance, did she get off her steed, giving the reins to a guardsman that had rushed over the second she made a move. "This is Spirit, Shadow's companion," she offered along with the reins. "Howel," she called out with a raised voice, pointing out the man to the guardsman and drawing his attention to her. "Will take care of them. Everything but the kit is to be sent to my quarters at once." When her instructions were met by nods from both her guard and the Camelot soldier, she dismissed them, turning to Damian. "Did you see her?" She asked quietly, standing by her Captain and watching as her companions were brought in from the cold and led to their new rooms, pleased to see that the code she had long before worked out with her Black Knights was still perfectly remembered.
"Yes," Damian breathed beside her, standing in what Emma no doubt would call a parade rest.
"Who knows?"
"Just me and Liam, your Majesty," came the immediate answer. "And the person she went to next," the man added a moment later.
"Keep it so," Regina ordered, her voice barely above whisper. "Even from them," she said, surreptitiously pointing to the Charmings slowly coming over across the courtyard.
She had been covertly watching the pair, seeing their rush down from the walls, their clumsy attempts of nonchalance while meeting the famed Knight of the Round Table, and awed expressions when Percy presumably told them who had his loyalty. All the while, Regina didn't miss the questioning glances and looks Snow had been throwing her way, and she knew that the novelty of their new guests would not be enough to quell Snow's insistence, and that she would be over and besiege Regina with questions, quite soon at that. Only seconds later, as if the Charming Princess knew Regina was thinking of her, Snow grabbed David by his arms, and with a few words of goodbyes, she pulled her husband away from the guests and took them to the Queen.
"I will call on you after meeting my children," she spoke up in a hurry, using the moments before Snow fell on her like a pack of dogs. "You are to bring Liam, the Commander and Percival to my chambers."
"Regina!" Snow's impatient call announced the woman, and before the woman pulled her into a strong hug, the older brunette used the seconds she still had to order breakfast to be sent to her and the children, dismissing the man just in time for him to escape the torrent of questions raining upon his queen. "Where did you go? Did you find Emma? Where is she?" were only a few of the questions the pixie haired princess asked in a rapid fire, while still holding onto Regina's shoulders, ignoring David's humorous comment of letting the woman breathe.
"Snow," Regina said calmly, but when Snow only spewed more questions, she sighed and sharing a look with Charming, before repeating Snow's name, this time in a sharp, reprimanding yell, using her forearm to dislodge the hands that held her captive before she turned away, heading up the way to her quarters. "Questions can wait until after I see Henry and Kyle."
"But-" the princess was insistent, dogging her steps.
Regina raised her hand, stopping Snow in place, and then she looked at the woman. "Not now," she said firmly, her dark eyes blazing with authority. "My children come first!" But, when the younger woman in front of her quailed at her manner, she softened a bit. "I will tell you everything after," she said gently, before she stalked off, leaving the couple on the ground level of the castle.
Li Cheng shook off the bewilderment he had experienced at the sudden aggression from the shifter, closing his mouth and dragging his hand through a bit overgrown hair on his head, he sought the Savior, hoping an explanation would follow.
The blonde chuckled. But, unlike earlier, this sound was cold and sharp, and Cheng shivered, remembering exactly who it was before him. "The Dark Queen," the Savior murmured. "The Dark Queen," she repeated, this time louder, disdain clear in her tone. "Really?" She looked at him, raising her eyebrow in question, her previously green eyes now piercing him with an icy-blue aura of magic. "The Evil Queen was taken, I gather?" Although it was spoken as a simple musing, Cheng tensed, aware that he had, in his now meaningless outrage, stumbled blindly onto the very thin ice with the blonde.
"I," he uttered helplessly, reflexively stepping back when the Savior stepped toward him.
"The fall of Camelot," the blonde sneered, his own words viciously thrown back. "Have you learned nothing?" Each word enunciated and brimming with ire, the very sound of it making his skin erupt in chills. Her eyes narrowed and a soft growl escaped her, before she snapped out "There would not be Camelot if not for the Tintagel." Emma made another step closer, her shoulders hunched slightly forward, making him scramble another step back, looking for a way to get out of the Savior's predatory gaze. "The symbol of it, the dragon, was from something Arthur had seen while enjoying the hospitality of Tintagel," the blonde claimed, her voice turning even colder with anger. "And, if anyone was at fault for Camelot's fall, it was a morally weak man, guided by a council of vainglorious fool noblemen, and seduced by Merlin's pretty whispers!" The Savior spat her words at him.
"Please…" he quietly begged, raising his hands in surrender.
"The Great Merlin!" The words were snarled, as the blonde's eyes kept him frozen in place, too afraid to even inhale. "Power hungry thief, rapist and killer, who brought the mighty line of Tintagel to its knees, with Morgana and her heir the only survivors." She was so close, and he thought that if he blinked, she would strangle him with her hands.
"Emma!" A shout came from behind the Savior, making the blonde swirl on her feet, taking her attention away from him, and he could finally take a deep breath, and drop his hands down. After his heartbeat slowed down, he recognized the voice. He glanced behind the blonde and saw the shifter speaking, slowly, calmly. "We all heard the stories. It doesn't excuse it; I know but it's the only side we knew." His friend's lover moved slowly, approaching the blonde. "We didn't know better. Go easy on us," she entreated as she reached for Emma's hand, taking it into her hold. "Please." And, suddenly, the fury eased from the woman's countenance. "Some things need time to be relearned," Ruby added gently, before she slowly enveloped her arms around the Savior, not at all bothered by the woman's stiff posture.
While the Savior's attention was focused elsewhere, Cheng looked over to his friend. Although he had witnessed some tension at the beginning of this conference, now, the Hero of the Empire stood only three strides away from the women, with worry clearly shown in her pinched face. When the shifter released the blonde, she stepped forward and placed her hand on Emma's shoulder. "The House of Healing," Mulan sighed, looking up into the Savior's face. "She is the one who healed you," she guessed and when the blonde nodded, Cheng had to close his eyes.
"I didn't know," he murmured, drawing the attention of the others to himself. With a deep sigh, he came closer to them, his eyes peering at the Savior, wincing slightly when her cold gaze met his. "I am sorry," he said solemnly. "And, you are right." He offered a self-deprecating smile, hoping to see at least some warmth in her expression. "I should have known better," he agreed, looking toward his protege, remembering all the times he had to stomp out vicious rumors spreading around the Imperial City and beyond regarding Hua Mulan and her actions in the war and on the Emperor's council. He remembered the dismay he had felt when he had learned that most of the malicious whispers came from a disgraced council member who had hated the fact that a woman, a provincial girl at that, had been elevated so high. "I know how things get twisted when a woman tries to escape her confines." The familiar almond eyes looked back at him at his conciliatory words, and his friend's lips pulled into a small, but encouraging smile.
He stepped forward and when he was only two feet away from the blonde, he bowed deeply to her, hoping to erase the wariness in her expression. "On my honor," Cheng spoke clearly as he straightened up. "She will be treated with utmost respect," he vowed, placing his hand to his heart.
The Savior, with Ruby and Mulan standing beside her, lowered her head into a slow nod. "That is good to know," she conceded quietly before she waved his gesture away. "But it won't be necessary yet," she disclosed gently, offering her hand to him in reconciliation which he quickly accepted.
"What do you mean?"
"Only the Regent of Tintagel is here, Morgana's heir," Emma answered Ruby. "And, you all know her," she added with a mischievous smile, bumping her lightly with her shoulder. "Even like her," she said with a wink to the shifter, before she turned to look at the warrior by her side. "And, I love her."
The Commander gasped as he understood who they were talking about. "Oh," he groaned quietly, dropping his face into his palm, disheartened by the revelation. Not only did he mindlessly attack someone who had saved the Savior's life, he had indirectly attacked the Savior's True Love. No wonder he had felt like he was dead meat under her gaze.
"You're kidding!" Ruby exclaimed, breaking his self-pitying moment, and looking up, he saw Emma's smile get wider. "You're not kidding? How?"
Emma shook her head with a sigh. "It is a long story, but the short of it is that Morgana, or Morgan, as she prefers to be called, was Henry's best friend and Regina's supposed godmother before Cora interfered." Reaching for him, she took the hand that remained on his face away.
"I," he mumbled as she held his hand. "I am truly sorry, your Grace," he had to say it again.
Emma clucked at him. "I thought we agreed, no more of that?" She patted his hand before releasing it. "She will call on you soon," she reiterated her earlier statement before dismissing him with an understanding smile. Relieved, he walked out of the room, needing a moment to gather himself. She had been right, he scowled at himself as he stalked down the hallway. He really should have known better.
It was strange, Neal mused as he watched the freshly prepared logs and kindling get engulfed in flames he had started only moments before. It had been years since he had woken well before the Sunrise with the excitement for the Christmas Day in front of him. As he sat into one of the chairs by the fireplace, he leaned back, thinking back. The day he had taken Emma on an 'adventure', shortly before he had set her up for the watches, might have been the last time. His eyes drifted to the large bed on the other side of the room, easily finding the dark locks of his son, the only visible thing from under the thick duvet. With a soft wistful sigh, he idly considered the dates of Henry's birth and of that long ago Christmas, before he shook his head, stopping himself from following that particular thread of thought. What was done was done, and that was it.
This time, he found himself excited to spend his first Christmas with Henry, and Kyle, and it was making him feel giddy in ways he had never experienced before. However, at the same time, it hadn't been only the anticipation of it that had gotten him up way too early. Worry and consternation filled him as well, his body thrumming with barely stifled anxiety. The previous day, Henry had been masterful in keeping the young tyke's attention, preventing major meltdowns, but Neal had a terrible feeling that this holiday would prove too much for his son's upbeat state, and that the two boys would descend into depression at the first, no matter how innocuous or indirect, reminder of the missing True Love couple.
A soft cry coming from the bed interrupted his musings, and Neal walked over and found blue eyes, wide open and searching the room, as the small body struggled against the confines of the duvet. "Hello, little one," the man whispered gently as he uncovered the crying boy, and took him up into his arms. "Hush now, we don't want to wake your brother just yet," he murmured as he moved away from the bed, his steps unheard over the soft crackle of the fire and mewling soft whines of the child. Sitting in a high back chair by the fireplace, he brought the boy to his chest, rubbing his back. "What has you up so early?" he rumbled softly, hoping that his quiet tone would help soothe the fussing child.
A small fist thumped against his shoulder as the boy fidgeted in his arms, his cries not getting much louder, but more defined as Neal could discern a few proper words among the whimpers, such as 'Ma, Ehwy, Mommy, come' as well as some others he didn't have much luck deciphering. "I know, little one," he still spoke out, calmly soothing the boy. "I know you miss them."
However, the soft tones and gentle rubs did little to calm Kyle down, the boy's cries turning sharper in frustration, his chubby face turning ruddy as snot and tears streamed down. "Ma," the boy wailed in discontent, wriggling against the steady hold Neal had on him. "Ma, here, come!" he shouted as his hands pushed against the man's shoulder and face, to little effect.
"What's going on?" came the mumbled question from the bed, and Neal turned to see his son sitting up, rubbing his face, his hair mused and spiking in every direction. "Kyle," Henry said a second later, snapping to awareness with speeds that made Neal feel tight around his heart. The concern in the teenager's voice and rush to get up and come to them, to help soothe his brother, only enhanced the feel of melancholy that had gripped the man. When did they all just stop being children, unbothered and unburdened by the worries and responsibilities for another?
"It's okay, I've got him," Neal spoke up, still rubbing the agitated boy's back, ignoring the hits coming from the chubby fists. "He misses his people, is all," he added softly, as he waved his son away to ablute and prepare for the day. He then turned to the child in his arms, leaning his forehead onto the boy's head. "You just don't know how to say it," he murmured softly, never stopping his soothing motion. "And, that's okay." And for the next several minutes, Neal spoke in this low and measured tone, not at all reacting to the sometimes-painful hits from the writhing boy, as Kyle's cries and shouts slowly turned into sobs, and then into exhausted snivels, before the child simply leaned all of his weight against the man, surrendering to the comfort. He would still periodically call out for his Ma in soft whimpers, but he no longer struggled against Neal's ministrations. "It's okay," the man murmured softly in between his exaggerated motions of breathing, hoping that the rhythm would help Kyle calm down faster.
"Here," Henry whispered a few minutes later as he offered a small towel, crouching by the chair. "Hi, Kyle," he added as Neal turned the boy to sit down onto his lap, so he could wipe his face.
The damp towel had not yet properly cooled from the hot water it had been dunked in, and Neal gently traced it over Kyle's still red face, erasing all the traces of the meltdown. "There, a handsome prince," he said lightly, bopping the child on his nose, pleased to note that even though his giggle was muted and short, Kyle still laughed.
"D'you think it was a nightmare?" his son asked softly while he used his hands to play with the still tired boy, now resting against Neal's chest and the arm that held him upright.
"Dunno," the man mumbled, gently running his fingers through the golden locks, pushing the strands away from the boy's face. "He kept calling for-" Cutting himself off before he could utter the name he had wanted to say, he swallowed hard, before he started speaking again. "The Savior." Sharing a look with his son, he sighed. "Mostly her, saying to 'come here'," he added.
When he saw Henry's face fall, he feared his idle thoughts from before were coming true. However, the teenager in front of him rallied, and forcing a smile upon his lips, he clasped his hands in excitement, but Neal knew it was hollow. "It's Christmas Day," Henry stated, rising to his feet and reaching for the tyke at the same time. "And, we are going to have some fun," he said firmly, taking Kyle to get him dressed. "First, we are going to put on some clothes…"
Remaining in the chair, Neal watched the boys, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as he listened to his son prattle on, keeping the younger boy's attention firmly on the things they were doing at the moment, his heart breaking when the tyke would still call out for Emma and, now, Regina, but, at least at the moment, his mood wasn't sinking into the despair he'd experienced earlier.
But Henry was right. It was a Christmas day, and if they tried their best, perhaps the day would turn out quite fun for the children, and that was all they could ask for, apart from hoping that the Mistress of the castle would return, along with her True Love. Determined to succeed, he pushed himself up and rose to his feet, ready for the challenge.
But, before he could join Henry, a strong thumping sound was heard from the main entrance to the chambers. As he hesitated, looking back at Henry and sharing a surprised look with him, another strike came against the hardwood doors. Knowing that the Black Guard was posted on the door, he quickly found the key and having unlocked it, he slowly pulled one side of the door inwards, peering outside, finding the hazel eyes of the Black Guard stationed there.
"Finally," the guard standing there said gruffly, shaking out his gauntlet-clad hand.
Looking at the man in bewilderment, Neal frowned. "What?"
The guard huffed and shook his head, looking at him with barely hidden condescension in his eyes, before taking mercy on him. "Her Majesty's arrived," he said quietly, before he glanced toward the man. "Won't be a moment before she's here."
"Really?" Neal was stunned, not ready to believe that his hope had come true. Getting out into the hallway, he closed the door behind him.
"Aye!" He pointed his hand down the hall, and sure enough, there was Regina, dressed in all black, her hurried strides eating the distance between them.
When a loud gush of air left Emma's mouth, and the blonde's shoulders dropped, Ruby took the woman's hand and guided her to sit down on the rack she had been using as a seat previously. "That's not all, is it?" she whispered softly, gently placing her other arm around the blonde's back, her palm going over the supple leather in what was supposed to be a soothing motion, but when she felt the metal weave underneath, she stopped, just letting her hand rest on Emma's shoulder blade. "You went off on him, and you usually have more restraint in dressing people down."
The Savior snorted. "Usually." She placed her elbows on her knees and leaned down, the creak of her leather and sword belt loud in the silence that followed her utterance.
"Tell us," Came the kind order from her lover as she took her place on the other side of the blonde. "We're here."
The shifter heard the blonde murmur something like 'time 'n' deo' or whatever, before Emma pressed her hand against her eyes. "The red mist, it poisoned me," she started in a whisper, just loud enough for Ruby and Mulan to hear her, staring at the floor between her feet. "It was…" She swallowed, hard, before she cleared her throat. "It was pain beyond you could ever imagine. Fire that burns and never stops and all you know is agony." Ruby pressed harder into the blonde at those words, tearing up. She had heard from Rumple what the mist was, but listening to Emma speaking about it in this weird, half-absent tone, but still filled with hurt. She looked up into her lover's face, meeting her eyes, seeing the same kind of helplessness in her. "Doesn't end," the blonde continued, unaware of the silent communication above her shoulders. "It didn't end for a long time. Not until Regina managed to crack it."
Emma rubbed her cheeks before she raised her head. "But, Morgan. It wouldn't have worked without her and her apprentices. I owe her my life." She rose to her feet, slowly shrugging off the comforting hands of her back. "But, that's not…" Turning to look at the still seated women, Emma paused for a moment. "Too much has happened to just tell it. Too much of it I just can't share. But, due to many factors, you should know that Tintagel magic has adopted me, and I am charged with protecting the family." A half-hearted chuckle fell off her lips as she shook her head. "I mean, it's not a bad thing, seeing that Morgan was the last of it."
"Wait," Mulan piped up, raising her hand. "Regina is the Regent of it. And, you are adopted in it. That means that Tintagel lives through the Mills'."
"As I said, family."
"Snow's gonna lose her mind," Ruby mumbled, but the sharp click of a tongue at the mention of her friend's name drew her eyes to the Savior.
"She has no say in it," the blonde uttered firmly, before she waved her hand, closing the subject down, and turned around, pacing a few steps away, before she pivoted at the angle and directed herself to the corner of the room, where the bloodied remains of her clothes had been set aside.
It wasn't that much surprising to see Emma react so cynically about her mother, their Christmas conversation easily coming to mind, but it still made her heart ache to see the frayed relationship between Snow and Emma. And, it seemed that Emma had spent some of those two months with Regina, so no doubt Snow's pregnancy had come up. Speaking of…
"Why aren't you with Henry and Kyle?" she asked the woman, watching her rifle through her things on a table there. "I thought you'd be there first."
"As Queen's Champion, I do as she commands me," came the reply, oddly formal and devoid of emotions. Ruby's head snapped to the side, as she glanced at her beloved in worry. Regina ordering not to go to the children? Mulan shared her concern and quickly rose to her feet, her long stride reaching the blonde in a moment.
"That doesn't sound like you," the warrior said carefully. "Or Regina," she added, after a bit, her hand instantly going to the hilt of her sword. Ruby jumped up to join her lover, not really knowing what to do if a fight broke out between the two women. And, Emma's rapidly changing emotional states left her a bit befuddled.
"These should have been burned, not carried around like this," the blonde murmured, her lips curled and nose wrinkled, and a moment later, the clothes disappeared in a flash of colorful smoke, before she turned around, clearing the rusty smears off her white gloves. Her eyes went to Mulan's sword, and she raised her eyebrow at the Empire woman. "You planning to do something with that blade, soldier?" she questioned tauntingly, but despite the contemptuous words, Emma's both voice and posture was incongruent with it. It was asked in a mischievous way, teasingly. That is, before she rolled her eyes. "Oh, would you lighten up!" she burst out, snapping Ruby out of her suspicions, and judging by Mulan's hand dropping from the hilt, it worked on her too. "Look, me being here is supposed to stay secret for a while longer. And, Regina is supposed to talk to them about it, first, before she springs me on them." She explained quickly, before she came closer to them, placing her hands on their shoulders. "She's not keeping me away, or whatever you're thinking. And, anyway, she's already here, and in a few minutes, I'll join her."
Mulan tilted her head to the side and considered the Savior, before a smile spread on her face. "You can feel her," she said quietly.
"Always," the blonde immediately responded.
"No, I mean, you know exactly where she is. You can feel her presence." Ruby glanced at the warrior, before she looked back at the Savior, and seeing confirmation in her expression, she couldn't help but feel the awe fill her at her friend's power.
"Is that because you're…" she started but however she would finish her question, she had a feeling it would sound like an insult to the blonde woman. Ruby grimaced and left it unfinished, biting her lip. "Sorry," she quietly added.
But the blonde just shrugged her apology away. "It's due to my magic," she replied softly. "As I said, it changed. It grew, and it keeps growing. And, we are connected on so many levels, so my magic always seeks her out." Then, her posture changed and her eyes glowed for a moment, glittering with swirling colors. "Speak of the devil," she muttered in delight. "Okay, I need to go, but remember, no one knows I am here. You haven't seen me, and you've only heard Regina's back."
Both Ruby and Mulan nodded in assent. "But we'll see you later?" the shifter implored as Emma walked off to the door.
Glancing behind her, the Savior smiled. "Sure. You can even usurp the Charmings in an hour or so." And, then, she just vanished, with no smoke or anything. The door remained closed, so Ruby turned to her lover, posing a silent question.
"She's gone," Mulan replied instantly, jiggling her sword before she pulled the shifter into her arms, and Ruby sank into the welcoming embrace. "So," the Empire woman murmured into the brunette's hair. "She is still full of surprises," she commented lightly, and Ruby couldn't help the laugh bursting out of her.
"That's an understatement," she agreed, still chuckling.
Her heart was pounding as she climbed the stairs at the run. Emma was around here somewhere, meddling behind the scenes, as it were, and she was only moments away from her children. Her Henry, who must have been so worried; and sweet Kyle, only knowing that the woman who took care of him was away.
If she weren't so determined to get to her quarters as fast as possible, Regina would take a few seconds to let the patrolling guards welcome her properly, after scrambling out of her way at first. But, she had only one thing in mind, and there was only one more staircase and then the corridor leading to her rooms, before she could hold her babies.
At the top of the stairs, she paused for a beat. Not only to let the surprised Black Guard settle back into his duty and open the door to the hallway, but she needed a moment. It may have been only two days for the rest, but for her… And, engulfing them in strangling hugs because she missed them so much would not do. Of course, there was a brief, but sharp pang of guilt for stopping Emma going to them first. But they agreed to it, together. They had a plan. And, that plan hinged on not wasting time.
She was lucky, she knew, waving her hand at the guard to open the door. Snow could have dogged her steps all the way up here, badgering her about the guests and Emma, and who knew what else. Offering her regal nod to the man, she went through, her strides quickening.
As the brunette went through the corridor, she heard brief bits of conversation and she looked up, seeing her brother talking to the Queen's Guard at the door of her chambers. Oh, good, she thought. Better this way, then just storming into the room, and probably scaring everyone inside. Not letting up on her speed, she saw the Guardsman point toward her, and only then she recognized him, because even the what seemed to be weeks old beard and tousled, cheek length hair couldn't hide his youthful face nor his eyes that were golden under the lit torches in sconces. Her eyes then fell on her brother, frowning a bit at the mismatch of modern and the Forest's clothes - the light grey sweatshirt with curious stains paired with sheepskin pants was looking very odd.
When Neal saw her, he came forward and stepped right in her path, his arms catching her easily and pulling her into a full bodied hug, lifting her off her feet, the sudden pull taking the breath out of her. "You're here!" he exclaimed, swinging her side to side for a few moments. "I don't believe it!"
"Oof, you idiot, put me down," she protested with surprised laughter in her voice, hitting him in the shoulder, and pushing him slightly away when he lowered her down, but he held on to her right arm, sliding his hand down to catch hers. She allowed the unusual contact but it made her question him on it. "You saw me two days ago. What's gotten into you?"
"Oh, it's been hard, Regina." he sighed, his free hand going into his hair, and suddenly she saw the tiredness and helplessness in his rugged face, along with the defeated slump of his shoulders. "Especially on the little one." The hand dropped down to his face, and he rubbed his eyes. "He wants his mothers and we can't actually explain to him why you aren't there." Having seen her flinch at his words, he quickly added. "Henry has been a wonder with him, managing the meltdowns and all, but he, too, misses you two." He glanced back to the doors, thinking of something. "It's Christmas day, and as much as he knew not to expect anything," Neal murmured slowly, his gaze still pinned to the doors. "I think he hoped that you'd show up, and I didn't know how to…" He shifted slightly and Regina could see the worry and anguish at the prospect of consoling his son over the missed Christmas Day in both his crumpling expression and dark eyes he had inherited from their father. He then moved, shaking his head, taking his eyes back on hers, and his mouth spread into a wide grin filled with amazement. "But you are here," he whispered softly as he came closer to her, their faces only inches away. "You really are here," he repeated, this time a bit louder, his grin getting even wider while his eyes glittered with happiness. But only a moment later, his eyes changed, as he looked over her shoulder, searching for something. His lips twisting into a moue of disappointment. "And, by yourself."
"Not for long," Regina said quietly, not ready to tell him just yet, using ambiguous words for a reason. Although the need to soothe him tugged on her blackened heart, she had promised to herself that the first ones to hear about her beloved would be the children and she wasn't going to break it. Not even for her own brother, the man she had grown to care for in the two months she had spent with him in Storybrooke. Taking her hand out of his, she grabbed him by the shoulder, she started walking again, pulling him towards the Guardsman and the rooms. "I don't have much time before the horde descends," she said with some humor, catching the Guard's eyes after the man tried to swallow his chuckle. "Are they up?" Regina looked back at Neal, motioning to the quarters.
"Yeah," her brother replied, as he scratched his beard, after shaking off his mood. "I was just about to send for breakfast."
She patted his shoulder, gently pushing him to the door. "Okay, give me a minute out here," she said quietly, as she glanced at the Guardsman. Seeing her brother hesitate at the door, she gestured him on. "I'll be there in a bit," she promised, quickly adding, "please don't say anything." Neal nodded and with a look to the guard, he slipped inside, careful to keep Regina hidden by the door. When the door slab slid in place, and the click of the latch in place heard, the brunette turned and finally approached the Guardsman, her lips creasing into a small gentle smile. "Hello, Ben."
The Guardsman inclined his head. "Your Majesty. Welcome home."
As every one of the Black Knights, Wolves and Empire men inside the castle had seemed to do a double take at her walking past them, it was odd that this one had been so calm when she had appeared. However, she hadn't forgotten that Benedict had been one of her best Guardsmen, and the youngest by far, advancing fast exactly because of his steady nature and ability to remain unfazed even at the most dangerous or strangest things happening. But there was a miniscule trace of smugness in his features, like he couldn't suppress it successfully. Almost as if he had expected her. "You are not surprised I am here?"
At her curious but pointed question, the man clenched the pole of the halberd, both his gauntlet and the wood creaking loud in the following silence, and Regina almost smirked at the tell. "No, your Majesty," Ben replied. At her insistent look, he added, "I… was told of your arrival, your Majesty."
She hummed in acceptance. "The Captain?" She guessed, but the Guardsman shook his head.
"No, your Majesty."
Surprised by the answer, she blinked as her brows narrowed. She had assumed Damian had sent him as soon as he had been informed of her imminent approach, but if he hadn't, and all others he had told had been ordered to stay in the courtyard to keep the commotion in the castle down… There was only one other option. With a small nod, she raised her eyebrow at the man, her eyes glittering with the knowledge of the answer.
"Yes, your Majesty," Benedict confirmed.
"Were you surprised then?" she asked him impishly, knowing her wife's penchant for showmanship.
"Yes, your Majesty." But, instead of an amused rejoinder, Regina saw her man get uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, his eyes darting away from her as he fidgeted in place. Under her unrelenting gaze, he sighed and lowered his head. "Almost attacked, your Majesty," he confessed quietly, still avoiding her eyes.
"Ha!" The Queen couldn't stop a quiet bark of laughter, before she gently thumped her fist against his armored shoulder. "She has that effect on people," she whispered as she leaned in, smirking at him, her conspiratorial tone easing his consternation. "Well, Ben," she sighed, once more patting his shoulder. "I must see to my children before I am besieged," she spoke as she turned away from him.
Benedict leaned forward, careful not to crowd her or bar her from entering. "The Guard can keep them out, your Majesty," he offered earnestly, the sharp rap of the halberd's handle on the floor accentuating his words.
Regina smiled at him, but shook her head. "No, but thank you. It needs to be done." She reached the door and grabbed the handle, before she glanced at him over her shoulder. "I am happy to see you alive, Ben."
"Happy to be here, your Majesty," the Guardsman replied as he settled back into his guarding position, his words following her inside.
Her quarters were warm and looked lived in, much more so than when she had been living there, she noticed, pushing the wing of the door closed behind her, making sure the door caught, silently. Leaning against the hardwood, she let her eyes wander around, taking it all in. The rooms weren't cluttered but small trinkets and toys here and there showed that her boys had been comfortable enough to spread out and play in here. The two nightstands held various books and comics, along with some toys and there, on what she guessed was Henry's side was a frame with a picture, but she couldn't actually see what was in it. The table by the settee was covered in loose papers with drawings on them, her vanity held several baby foods jars and a diaper bag. And, there at her working desk, several notebooks and pens were left, speaking of her eldest's industrious writings.
But, the most obvious change was the tree. A small fir, only a few inches taller than her, was placed beside the large fireplace, decorated in paper cutouts and popcorn strings. Neal had mentioned Christmas, but she had not expected them to go through all the trouble of actually trimming a tree. However, she should have known better, and the decorations had Henry all over them.
But where was he? And, Kyle? Neal wouldn't have spirited them away, not with her so close.
When the heat of the room started getting to her, Regina pulled away from the door, and walking slowly deeper into the rooms, she removed her fur cloak and gloves, and tossed her things across the nearest chair. Calling up a brief spurt of magic to hide her ring and betrothal gift from sight, she stepped toward the fireplace and the tree, her fingers touching the ornaments. With an affectionate smile on her face, she directed herself to the other side of the room, going toward the sleeping area and the door to a large washing room. Only when she neared the large bed, she heard noise coming from the bathroom.
"... understand? And, why are you changing?" came the voice that she hadn't heard in two months, and how she had missed it, even filled with surprise and suspicion as it was now.
"I told you, we have guests, and I can't show-" Neal's voice came from a bit deeper inside, before it was stopped by an insistent cry of her younger boy.
"Mommy, come!"
"I know, Kyle, I miss her too," Henry soothed, his voice almost completely muffled by the door and she could just imagine him whispering to the infant, before she heard him speak louder again. "You didn't care what you wore when we heard about Robin Hood and his crew. Why is this different? Are they from the Charmings' Palace?"
Well, it seemed her boy wasn't just full of pestering questions just with her, remembering all the distrustful interrogations he had put her through during their dinners in Storybrooke. Silently chuckling at what Neal had to deal with, she walked over to the lit fireplace and sat into one of the high back chairs, leaning her elbows on the hand rests. A burst of magic allowed her to listen to the rest of the conversation in the bathroom, and another turned the chair a bit to the right, so she could be directly seen whenever the three left their current whereabouts. She finally used her magic to soundproof the rooms, knowing Henry could be loud when he wanted, and the same could be said of Kyle as well.
"I can hardly be dressed in sweats when meeting royalty, can I?" came her brother's voice, now much closer to the door, his words accompanied by a soft garble of her youngest, and the door to the bathroom opened.
"So, it is them, isn't it? Aurora and Phillip," Henry spoke as he walked through the door, looking back at his father, who followed him out, carrying Kyle at his shoulder. "Just them," the boy added with disappointment before he went to the nightstand by the bed, his hand grabbing the picture frame on it, not even sparing a look in her direction.
"Hen," Neal said calmly, walking over to him and patting his shoulder. "It's not them," he stated, before they both looked down at the photo. Gently, the man took the frame out of the boy's hand and placed it back in its place. "You'll like these guests, I promise," he added, nudging the boy.
"Yeah," Henry murmured, disbelief very clear in his tone.
Out of the three of them, it was Kyle who saw her first, over her brother's shoulder. And, she watched how his face spread into a wide smile, his eyes glittering with joy as he exclaimed sharply, "Mommy, here!" before starting to struggle in Neal's arms, fighting his hold and screeching in happiness that was quickly turning to frustration, not helped by Henry's absent-minded acknowledgement of him as he rubbed his back, his eyes still pinned to picture at the nightstand.
"Are you going to let him come to me, or do I need to kidnap my own son?" Shaking her head at the oblivious men, she finally spoke up, startling them, and the two of them turned to look at her at the same time, almost the same expression on their faces.
"Mom!"
"Regina!"
They both shouted in surprise, before Neal continued. "Dammit, you scared me!" Henry glanced up at him before he took off towards his mother, rushing into her welcoming arms.
"My little prince," she whispered into his hair, having gotten up the second he realized she was there. Placing her hands onto his cheeks, she kissed his forehead, before she pulled him into a hug. "And, hello, you, my baby boy," she greeted the child before it was thrusted into her arms, Henry quickly moving to the side, with his arms still wrapped around her middle. "I missed you both so much!"
"Mommy, here!" Kyle said firmly, his chubby hands pressing into her cheeks as he peered into her eyes. "Ma, come!" he added, his burrows furrowing into a deep frown.
"She will, my sweet boy," she replied, tickling his belly, before folding down carefully, sitting on the ground in front of the fireplace, tucking her feet behind her and leaning against the chair. Henry followed her down and sat beside her, leaning into her, his head falling to her shoulder, but remaining suspiciously quiet. Glancing in concern toward him, she settled Kyle down to lean against her knees, and caressed his belly before she bopped his nose, drawing a giggle out of the boy.
A small tap on wood came from the side and she turned her head, seeing Neal stand by the other chair, looking at her, well them now, sitting on the floor, with his hand resting on the wooden frame of its backrest. "It's been a long two days."
She chuckled at his statement. "You have no idea."
"Well," he sighed, before he tapped against the back of the chair again. "I'll give you some time with them." He turned to leave, and for a long moment she was determined to let him go. But he was her brother, and a friend. And, he was Emma's… something, so he deserved to know. And, perhaps, having him there would make it easier on her, not only with telling the story but with containing the children when Emma appeared. Because she had not seen them for four months now, and she might be overwhelmed by their exuberance.
Another pinch of familiar guilt squeezed at her heart, but she shook it away. "Stay," she said loudly, just in time, because he had already reached the door. When he looked back at her, she motioned to the chair. "Come, sit."
Neal sitting down seemed to be a signal for Henry to start talking. "Where did you go?" he asked his first question, his green eyes looking up at hers. However, before Regina could reply, he turned his head to his father. "Wait, you knew Mom was here?"
"Henry," the brunette tried to get his attention back, but Neal's snooty retort of "I told you we had guests," kind of derailed that.
"She is not a guest!" Her boy's indignant shout made her wince, before she took control of the situation.
"Enough," she snapped in between the two, raising her finger at Neal, to keep him quiet, and tugging on her boy's shoulder with her other arm. "Henry," Regina then said calmly. "I surprised him, too, you know. And, I asked him to keep it a secret just for a few minutes longer." Her fingers gently went through his hair, before she lightly scratched him behind his ear. "Also, we do have guests."
"Oh," was the only thing the boy mumbled, sheepishly.
"But, to answer your previous question, I went where only Shadow could get me." Regina sighed and thought about her words, aware of the secrets she was supposed to keep. "Far away, to a very old place, deep within the Infinite Forest." She smiled at Henry and used the soft cadence of the times she had been telling him his bedtime stories. "A place very few know exists. You see, in that hidden place, a famous and very powerful sorceress lives, and she cares for those who are ill or dying, healing them back to health. And, when Emma's friend, Guardian, saw how hurt Emma was, she took her there to help her. But, because it is a secret and hidden place, only I could go, not telling anyone where I went."
"You found her?"
"I did," Regina confirmed.
She was going to tell him more but a sharp rattling knock at the door stopped her. "Enter," she commanded, instead, gently transferring Kyle into Henry's arms and getting to her feet. Motioning to Neal to stay seated, she stepped away from the chairs and turned to the door, watching the both sides of the double door open, one guard pushing inward each slab of it.
"Your Majesty," Ben addressed her, standing by and letting two more Black Guards and Dai enter into the quarters. She couldn't be angry with their interruption, because she had ordered the things to be sent to her rooms immediately. When the first Knight looked up at her in askance, she pointed to the side corner of the room, judging it to have the most space for the things they were bringing in. Her men were carrying the saddle bags and sacks, but in Dai's hand she saw Emma's new bow and quiver, her old sword and her black cloak, the Camelot man carrying them with unnecessary solemnity. And, instead of placing the weapons on the floor, he walked over to the closest side table and put them gently on top of it, while he carefully placed the Savior's cloak, properly folded over them. Then, he turned to her and bowed, deeply.
"Thank you, Dai," she spoke softly but loud enough for all three men to hear her, softly smiling at the man's respect for Emma's things, her words drawing awed looks out of the Black Guards.
"Your Majesty," he said as he straightened up and pivoting on his heel, he strode out of her rooms, the Guards scrambling to repeat his gesture and follow him out. At first, she was surprised by her men's unusual behavior, until she remembered that the man had carried a gold dragon banner on the way over, identifying him as a Tintagel man.
Just as the three men cleared out, two more Guards showed up, this time carrying trays with breakfast offerings. Pointing them to the table by the small sofa, Regina used her magic to clear all the papers away, gathering them together and transferring them to her working desk. As the men lowered the trays, she thanked them for their effort, nodding at them as they addressed her in turn. Having watched them fuss around the food, she considered her people. The Black Knights were highly trained soldiers, Knights of her Realm, and here they were playing the part of servants and cooks, serving her without a complaint. The curse and the subsequent breaking off it had left her castle unmanned, and her Sworn were picking up the slack, but it couldn't go on for much longer. It was disrespectful to her Knights and she wasn't going to reward their loyalty in such a way.
"Again, thank you very much, gentlemen," she said graciously before dismissing them with a kind smile on her face, sending them away.
With the men gone, Ben motioned for the other guard at the door to start closing it, doing the same with his side, inclining his head to her before he closed it shut. Regina sighed, pressed her hands down her hips and walked over to the fireplace, leaning her forearms against the back of the empty chair, the thumb on her left hand tracing her invisible ring, as she looked down at her children. "I did find her," the brunette returned to the conversation as if they weren't interrupted. "And the people she was with did their best to help her, but as is her luck, things happened." A barely seen smirk appeared on her lips as her right hand went to her left forearm, fiddling with the sleeve. "Some good, some bad, but important things." She directed her eyes at Henry, catching the ones so similar to her lover's. "Keeper of the Balance things." Rubbing her teeth over her upper lip, she paused for a second, glancing away from Henry and looking at Neal. "Savior things," she added sadly, finding crestfallen understanding in his dark eyes. Of course, he was the son of Rumplestiltskin, he knew how the world really worked and what the price real heroes paid. Blinking hard against the welling of her eyes, she shook her head and chased her dark thoughts away. "She is … better," she said finally. "And, she is here."
"Mom!"
"Here, here, as in the castle, here?" Neal needed to confirm, rising from the chair.
"Yes," Regina simply said, raising her right hand. "But we need to talk about her, first."
"Why, what's wrong?" Henry hurriedly asked, clambering to his feet with Kyle in his arms, before he stepped around the chair to get to his mother, almost stumbling into Neal, who had quickly jumped to their side to grab the youngling, afraid that Henry would lose the grip on him in his worry over Emma. "You said she was okay," the young prince added with tinges of complaint, clenching his suddenly free hands into fists.
Seeing her boy's reaction, Regina raised her hand and with her palm, she gently cupped his chin and a side of his face, her thumb soothing him gently, bringing him closer to her. "I said she was better," she corrected him softly, ignoring his sharp tone and petulance. "You remember all those talks I had with Dr. Hopper about her?"
"Yeah," he sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping, adding more weight to Regina's palm as she still held on to his face.
"And, you remember what I told you about it?" she asked him further, not stopping with her soothing motion, her eyes shooting quickly to her brother as he shuffled closer, his shoulder gently bumping into hers.
Henry nodded, his eyes darting furtively at his father before dropping down. "Yeah," he repeated.
Catching the guilty look on her son's face, Regina turned her head to Neal, frowning at him in suspicion. At first, her brother attempted to seem innocent under her keen gaze, but as she narrowed her eyes, he tilted his head to the side, sighing in defeat. When the man mouthed 'He snooped' at her, her frown only deepened. She had done extensive research on PTSD in the small hours at Storybrooke, using the computer she had in her home office, and the amount of terrifying information she had gathered… Who knew what her curious boy had come across? And, they had a talk about his snooping, but was it before or after he had gone through her research in the office?
A touch distracted from her contemplation. The man beside her pressed against her shoulder, leaning in a bit, as he lowered Kyle so the child could reach for his mother, but never releasing his careful hold on him. "Is it really that serious?" Neal softly whispered in her ear, taking great care to muffle his voice so it wouldn't carry to Henry. She looked up at him, her face holding traces of her smile for Kyle, and by his crushed expression, he got her message.
"So, before I call her here," Regina continued talking to Henry, looking away from the two by her side. "I want you to understand that she is not the same as before," she warned him.
"I know, Mom."
"No," she shook her head sadly, bringing him a bit closer, tilting his head up, her fingers tracing his chin. "You may think you know, but until you really see it…" She sighed, remembering the terrors she had seen in her beloved's head. Remembering the ways Emma had felt in the months of their absence from the Enchanted Forest. "She may seem cold or numb sometimes, sometimes she might be too angry or irritable, or too tired, and I need you to know that it has nothing to do with you." She grabbed his chin firmly and brought their faces close. "She loves you, and I need you to trust that."
"But, I do, Mom," Henry insisted firmly, looking at Regina with his earnest eyes, taking his mother's hand and pressing it against his heart. "I am her True Love." Then, he smirked at her, adding, "One of them, anyway."
"My boy," Regina whispered proudly, before kissing his forehead. Straightening up, she took a deep breath before letting it out. "She's been okay with small groups, but I don't know how she will react with all the people here. With her magic and her skills, that only complicates things." Pushing her left hand through her hair, she scratched the top of her head in irritation, as she took a few steps away from them, pacing. "Snow manages to push her buttons on a best day, but now, that's…" she added, with worry.
"We'll help," Neal joined in, his voice resolute. "We'll be here, and we will help."
Seeing them standing there, side by side, with Kyle in Neal's arms, both determined to help and ready for it… Although, more often than not, Henry resembled his blonde mother in deeds and looks, and sometimes he would display her mannerisms and ability to scheme, but at that very same moment he looked the same as his grandmother once did, with his green eyes brimming with love and faith - in her, for her… The unshakable optimism of the True Believer. She bit her lip, the sharp pain of her teeth doing nothing to stop tears from welling up in her eyes, as pride and heartache warred in her. Heartache that he would be exposed to the darker parts of the Savior through no fault of his own. That, no matter how unwilling or unintentional, Emma might hurt him, with a thoughtless word or a flinch at the sudden movement. But she couldn't keep them apart. Nor did she want to. So, she had warned him, and she would be there and help him, just as she would be there to help Emma.
"One other thing," she remembered. "Her presence here is a secret only a few will know," she cautioned softly. "Only those that will meet here will know about it, so please, don't go telling of her arrival around the castle." The instruction and firm order in her words was clear, and from Neal's expression she could see he even understood the reasons why they were keeping the Savior's presence a secret. But Henry only nodded, not even caring about it.
"It's not like I talk to people here anyway," he tossed out, shrugging his shoulders.
With that last bit of business settled, Regina stood facing the double doors and closed her eyes, taking a deep, settling breath. As she exhaled, she clasped her hands in front of her, the forefinger of her right hand sliding over the back of her left, right over the wrist to the edge of her rose gold, now invisible, weave, tracing it softly. And, following her lessons, she allowed her magic to flow, focusing on her bond with her wife, searching for her in the rooms of her castle. It took her only a span of two breaths to find her, so close, only one long corridor away, and with a bit more of concentration she reached out, establishing a surface meld with the Sheriff. Your children are waiting for their mother.
Good thing you are there. The reply came instantly, carrying with it the gentle buzz of Emma's magic. I'll be there in a moment.
Neal is here. I asked him to stay.
Got it.
And, immediately after, she felt Emma appear in front of her, with barely inches of space between them. Grinning affectionately at the blonde's penchant to completely ignore her personal bubble, she opened her eyes expecting to see the green looking back at her.
However, there was nothing. She blinked once, before she frowned. Or, there appeared to be nothing, but Regina could clearly feel her beloved right in front of her. "That's not funny," she said, staring right into where Emma's face was supposed to be.
"Mom?" came her eldest's worried tone.
"It's fine, Henry," Regina said, not moving her gaze, even though she still couldn't see Emma. "Your mother is just being very silly." Do you need more time? The silent question echoed through their connection and she felt the blonde hesitate, spikes of anxiety traveling back from her, before Emma plucked her courage by sheer tenacity of her will, forcing herself to meet them all.
No, it's been too long already. And, suddenly, the Savior appeared, right where Regina had sensed her, their eyes locked. After a hard swallow, the blonde gave a short nod and turned around to face the others in the room. Then, she suddenly dropped to one knee, opening her arms wide and not a second later, her son was engulfed in Emma's arms - both of them softly crying. "I missed you, kid," the blonde whispered into Henry's hair, squeezing the life out of him, and Henry didn't complain about the too strong arms holding him close.
While the blonde held tightly on their eldest, Regina saw that Kyle wanted in on the reunion, his chubby hands reaching out, as he garbled Emma's and Henry's names. With a soft rub of Emma's shoulder, she slowly stepped around the blonde and approached her brother, who had not moved from his position by the chairs, his eyes pinned to their new arrival. Using her touch to inform Neal of her presence, she brought her hands up and carefully plucked Kyle out of his hands, shushing him gently as he cried out for the Sheriff.
"She used to hate white," Neal mumbled, watching his son with his mother, his gaze hungrily looking over the blonde, taking her in. "Wouldn't even wear simple t-shirts if she had money for something else, and now, she is…"
Regina hummed in agreement. "She still hates it," she said when he turned his head towards her. "Hates the image they are pushing on her more than the color. But the clothes, the leather especially, were a rather thoughtful gift, and she had nothing else to wear."
Neal nodded and looked back to the Savior, before he sighed and lifted his hand up, scratching the back of his neck. With another, this time heavier, sigh, he shuffled on his feet, turning to Regina. "I'll leave you," he murmured, glancing toward the blonde before his eyes found the molten chocolate of his sister. "This is the time for family."
Not really surprised by the man's desire to give them privacy, Regina had been ready to let him leave this time, but she had not missed a flash of dejection that had passed over his eyes as he had watched his son with the blonde he had betrayed. "Neal," she grabbed his hand before he could move away. "You are family," she claimed, catching his eyes. "You know that," Regina insisted, her eyes burning into him as she willed him to believe her.
"Yes," he agreed with a soft smile, squeezing her fingers gently. "But this is more of a nuclear family type thing, isn't it?" His lips widened into a self-deprecating grin. "And, that's not me," he added ruefully. "I'll be back." His grin changed into a mischievous smirk, leaning in and bumping Regina's shoulder. "In, say, an hour, with 'the horde'." His teasing call back to her words of earlier that morning caused an almost invisible twitch in her lips as she tried not to smile at her brother.
"No," she stopped him, remembering something. "Damian will bring the rest of them, but Snow and David deserve a bit of time for a somewhat private reunion." She spoke quickly, rushing through her words as she saw his smirk disappear in surprise that she was so considerate towards the Charmings. "Bring them a bit earlier, ten minutes or so…" Neal nodded in assent, turning to go, before she tugged on his arm once more. "Bring Mulan and Ruby, as well."
"Sure thing," he said, agreeing. "Can I go now?" he asked, his eyebrows high on his forehead, tilting his head forward and pointing to their connected hands. Shaking her head, she released the hold on him and watched him leave, before her eyes returned to her wife and their son. A soft sigh left her lips, and humming a soothing tune, she walked over to them, her free hand touching Henry's head first before she touched the long golden locks. Slowly, she placed her hand onto Emma's shoulder for added stability and carefully lowered herself down beside the other two, leaning into the blonde's side.
Her move brought Emma's head out of Henry's shoulder and the blonde looked at her, before her eyes fell on the other child. "Hi, Ky," she whispered to the boy, lifting her arm away from her eldest and gently tickled the boy's belly.
"Ma," the boy replied, his hands landing softly on her face, his fingers tracing her cheeks. "Mama, here," he added, before he tugged, bringing himself closer, almost leaping out of Regina's hands.
"Careful, mo balachain," the Sheriff whispered softly as she brought him into a half hug, her other arms still holding on to Henry. "My sons," she sighed affectionately, before she glanced up, not moving her head, at her True Love, her eyes swirling with both magic and emotions. "Mo Chridhe," she whispered almost soundlessly, tears falling down her face.
"We are here, Emma," Regina murmured softly, bringing her arms around the blonde, wrapping all three of them into a hug. "We are here with you."
"Yeah, Ma," Henry spoke up from his place at Emma's shoulder. "You're finally with us."
It was strange, Regina thought as she leaned against the hard wooden surface at her back. The sudden silence that fell on the remaining people in the room, stifling and uncomfortable, was not broken even by her younger son's nonsensical babble. Even Henry, whom she expected to at least comment on it, kept his peace, leaning against Emma on the settee.
Only seconds before, Regina had seen Damian out, the last of the people that had been called to the Royal Quarters for the meeting. And, before that, Snow and David had walked out in a cloud of misery and resigned despondence, the pixie haired woman tossing imploring looks over her shoulder, her eyes pleadingly seeking Emma's, while the blonde had steadfastly ignored her.
The very blonde that was now sitting by their children, looking like she had no care in the world, with her arms holding both Henry and Kyle to her sides. Nonetheless, the Queen knew her True Love, even without the help of the bond, and the Sheriff was still seething after the events of the meeting.
"That was…" Regina spoke, breaking the odd stalemate, before she sighed heavily, looking at her wife.
"Not as bad as I expected," Emma finished for her, her brows mildly furrowed in a pensive consideration.
"You expected worse?" the brunette exclaimed in surprise, as she pushed herself away from the door, propelling herself to the center of the room where the sofa with her family was.
Emma shrugged her shoulders. "Well…"
And then, Regina remembered who her wife was and what she could do when pushed too far. She had voiced her concerns earlier to Neal and Henry about the blonde losing control of her immensely powerful magic in such a confronting situation. Not only that, but the time away from her family had sharpened the Savior's tongue, cleaving through people's weaknesses with enviable ease, and unleashing the barbs she had obviously held back would have irreparably destroyed any chances of reconciliation with her family.
Emma had lost her temper a couple of times, and her disdainful scoffs had been heard by everyone. However, knowing her lover's mind, Regina could see just how much Emma had reigned herself in. "I see," she murmured softly, slowly lowering herself onto the armrest of the sofa, leaning against the back of it. With her arm stretching out, she brought her fingers into the blonde's hair, gently caressing the locks at the back of the woman's neck.
The Savior allowed only a few seconds of the soothing touch, lowering her eyelids for a long moment, before her eyes snapped open and she leaned forward, withdrawing her arms from the children. "Right," she piped up suddenly, slapping her knees with both her hands. "We should get ready." She got up to her feet so fast that Henry had to hold Kyle up with a grunt of surprise, while he too struggled with his balance. Tossing her arms upwards, Emma pulled her back into a long stretch, a deep groan passing her lips in a strong exhale, before she let her arms drop down, hands landing onto her hips. She turned and looked at the brunette. The woman was sitting there - leaning to a side, her legs crossed, alluring in her tight black leather; and as Emma's eyes traced over her splayed figure, they darkened, while her quickening breath was followed by a darting tongue, wetting her lips. Finally, when they rose up to Regina's face and the woman's amused expression, the blonde swallowed and cleared her throat. "You need to change," she spoke, ignoring the brunette's raised eyebrow. Then, she turned to her eldest. "You should, too."
Abruptly, the Savior pivoted on her heel and walked over to the empty patch of the wall beside the entrance to the bathroom. "You wanna see something cool, kid?" she asked, not looking away from the stones in front of her. Henry didn't reply but she heard his shuffling feet come closer. "Open Sesame," she whispered lightly at the moment she felt her boy beside her, pressing her hand to the wall. It suddenly split right down in the middle in two door panels that slid away to the sides only seconds later, revealing a decently sized room filled with multitude of various dresses and other clothes, arranged on racks, shelves, and mannequins around the room.
"It's like the Vault," Henry exclaimed in excitement as he surged inside, rushing to explore this new facet of the quarters he had been in for two days.
"Exactly like the Vault," Emma replied, glancing back at her approaching wife. "Why change it if it works, right?" the Savior joked, taking Kyle out of Regina's arms.
"You're just jealous," the brunette teased back, entering her previously hidden closet before Emma.
"As if," the blonde murmured, settling the young boy in her arm, catching his bottom with her elbow. "Your mother is so dramatic," she told Kyle, her exaggerated expression coaxing a giggle out of the boy. Then, following the rest of her little family, she went into the hidden room. "No, not black," she said, loudly, when she saw Regina reach for an elaborate dress in the farthest corner of the room.
Regina pursed her lips, her eyes going from the dress and her beloved and back. "Don't you know I am in mourning?"
"They expect you in black," the Savior tossed over her shoulder, her free hand going through one of the racks of preserved dresses. "The whole Evil Queen look." The blonde perused the rest of Regina's couture under her wife's and son's curious gaze. "You need something different, bold in color but still slightly toned down."
"Bold but understated," Regina murmured, shaking her head at the blonde.
"Exactly!" The Savior agreed, not aware, or rather, just outright ignoring the brunette's sarcastic remark. "Hmm, no, not red," then the blonde muttered into her chin. "This midnight blue is too bold, no, no, no…" Her words were accompanied by the sound of heavy fabrics moving around.
"Moms," Henry called out from the other side of the room, drawing the looks of both women. "How about this?" He lifted a garment away from the rack, showing it to his mothers.
"Kid," Emma exclaimed happily as she strode up to him. "This is." She took the offered piece of clothing up and looked it over. "Perfect."
It wasn't a full-bodied dress, but rather it had been made in the style Regina preferred when travelling or riding, meant to be paired with her signature black leather pants. The bodice of it was intricate with black beads and stitching on fabrics, the colors of geraniums slowly darkening into blooming violets, the shades reminiscent of Regina's magical signature color. "What do you think?" Emma in turn asked the brunette.
Regina took the dress out of Emma's hand and walked over to the mirror, taking a look with it pressed against her body, and hummed in approval. "It'll do," she murmured softly, her eyes connecting with Emma's through the mirror, before she focused back on the purple garment in her hands. Under the pretense of inspecting the clothes, Regina surreptitiously watched the blonde walk over to Henry, seeking the signs as to Emma's mood.
It had been a hard morning, Regina mused, but no one would know it watching her beloved joke lightly with their son, while still holding Kyle up with her arm. However, she could see the slight hunch in Emma's shoulders, the half-aborted flinches when Henry would move too fast, or speak up too suddenly, or if Kyle would touch her face while she was looking away.
After giving them a minute to settle, Regina coaxed the Savior up and directed the three of them to the sofa. Letting them shuffle slowly around to it, she went to the table at the front, laden with nibbles and a still warm pot of tea; crouching down she reached for the pot and poured the tea into two mugs, doctoring it to Emma's and her preferences. "Have you eaten?" she addressed Henry while picking out things and preparing a plate for her beloved. With no forthcoming answer, Regina looked up at him.
Her boy was seated at the end of the sofa, staring hungrily at the blonde, watching her fiddle with all the straps that held the sword to her back, while still holding on to Kyle.
"Hen," she raised her voice.
"Huh?" came a grunt from the still dazed boy.
Rolling her eyes at his distraction, Regina glanced up at her lover, catching the same eye roll on the Savior's face. A smile pulled at the brunette's lips as she watched the Savior lower her right arm, and with the sword now off her back, she tapped the end of the scabbard on the floor, the clear metallic sound breaking their eldest boy out of his trance. "Your mother asked you a question, kid," Emma spoke up, slowly maneuvering between the sofa and the table, careful not to trip herself or lose the grip on the toddler in her arm, before she finally sat down in the middle of the couch, letting the sword lean against the table and her right leg.
"What?" Henry murmured, his eyes going to his other mother.
"Have you eaten?" Regina asked again.
"No," Henry said. "Neither did he," he motioned to the other boy, sprawled over Emma's lap, his hand quickly moving through the air.
Following his gesture, Regina looked at Emma and if it weren't for the ways she was familiar with the woman's face and various expressions, she would have missed the subtle flex of the muscles in cheek and neck. Not willing to draw attention to it, she simply lifted the plate she had prepared for the blonde, giving it to her, before she plated two more portions. With that done, she quickly prepared breakfast for Kyle, before joining the rest of her family on the sofa, taking the younger boy into her arms.
"So," Emma started after a few long minutes they had spent in silence, munching. "How was school?"
Henry huffed at the question. "Boring."
"That's not what Mary Margaret said," Regina tossed in, wiping Kyle's face from the remains of his mashed fruit. Ignoring Henry's indignant 'Mom', she turned to Emma. "He had quite a goodbye on the last day of school." The brunette shared what Snow had told her about Grace's goodbye kiss and Henry's stunned expression afterwards, getting the blonde to chuckle lightly. But neither she nor Emma pressed Henry for further details, not wanting to embarrass him too much right from the start.
After that parental teasing, their conversation turned to more exciting things, with Henry asking Emma questions about her adventures in the two months he, and the rest of her family, had been away. Already knowing about it all, Regina only had listened to her two True Loves chat, appreciating the way the Savior had sanitized most of her experiences, focusing more on the awe-inspiring parts of them. There were several times when she would place her hand on the blonde's hip, using the pressure to keep the blonde in the present, whenever she would hear Emma stumble over her words or trail off, but there weren't many of those instances, especially since the Savior had chosen to speak only about a few of her exploits.
"That's new," Henry said after a while, pointing to the sword.
"Yeah," Emma agreed, glancing toward Regina and sharing an amused smile with her. Her boy had been darting looks to the sword for a while, and seemed to finally gather his courage to ask about it.
"Where did you get it?" Henry leaned forward in his seat, placing his hands on his knees, interest obvious in his face.
"I made it."
"Really?" Came the awed reply. "Can I see it?"
"It's right in front of you," Emma replied with a faux frown, before she turned to Regina. "Maybe we should get his eyes checked," she said to the brunette, chuckling when the light push coming from the boy, along with grumbling 'Ma'. She then turned back to Henry and raised her eyebrow at him.
With an eye roll, Henry corrected himself. "May I see it?"
The Savior sighed. "Sure." She leaned over, placing the half-empty plate on the table before she picked up the sword by the scabbard. Putting it across her knees, she softly pointed all the imagery portrayed on the scabbard, explaining the names for several bits Henry wasn't familiar with.
Regina watched the two of them, too engrossed in the artwork in front of them to pay her and Kyle any mind, but she wasn't complaining. It was rare to see Henry so engaged about something these days, and it gave Emma an opportunity to boast about a thing that she had made, rather than a feat the Savior had done. And, it wasn't like Kyle wasn't enjoying the show and tell, his big blue eyes peering at the two from her lap.
Emma unlatched the locket of the sword and used her magic to pull the weapon out, letting it levitate in the air in front of them. "Now, this is a very dangerous and magical weapon," the Sheriff firmly warned their boy. "I don't want you playing with it."
"Yeah, alright," Henry murmured as he watched the sword hover above his face.
"Henry!" Emma added a bit of a snap in her voice, startling the young teenager. "Promise me," she insisted, her eyes hard and intensely staring at the similar ones looking back at her from her son's face. Only when he solemnly promised to Emma did the Sheriff look away from him, and with a small flick of her fingers, she brought the sword closer.
"It looks different from other ones," Henry whispered, his hand slowly reaching for the exposed metal, but Emma stopped him from touching the blade. "It's not like a mirror…"
"It's because-" The blonde launched into a bit of a lengthy story about making the sword, sharing some tidbits about katanas and Damascus blades, sharing the secret of the special ore and how she had bound the ingredients with her magic. Due to their link, Regina was privy to everything Emma had done in Roan's smithy, and even the Savior had spent several minutes telling Regina about it, the pride and excitement clear in her voice. But, hearing it now, as Emma was telling it to Henry… Regina realized the true impact of what the blonde had done.
Emma had made several things with her magic, with her hands, but everything she had made served a purpose, and had been ultimately for someone else. The gifts for Ariel and Liam, the stones for the Gate, Regina's betrothal bracelet… Beautiful works, a masterpiece of art and jewelry in case of her bracelet, but all given away. The sword was the first thing she had made for herself. And, the first time she had allowed some of natural pride and vanity to show in her work, with every detail painstakingly and lovingly done. Yes, she had other people work on it too, but it had been her design. And, not only she had made something beautiful for herself, although it was a weapon, but binding it to her family, she had made a legacy. Something to carry into the future. The future that Emma, still carrying inside the orphan girl who had been always on the move and running, rarely allowed herself to acknowledge. Which had gotten worse, actually, after meeting with Guardian in Brocéliande, Regina mused with worry.
"Reach for it here."
Regina watched as Emma guided Henry's palm around the hilt, and she smiled at the boy's awed 'Wow', when the sword lit up, proving the blood bond.
Knowing what would come next, Regina shifted in her seat, moving a bit to the side, to keep Kyle a bit further away, and incidentally providing him with a better point of view.
"It recognizes when one of our family holds it," Emma explained as she motioned the boy's hand away, taking the hilt herself, the bluish light growing stronger. "Now, watch this." And, after checking in with Regina with a look and getting an affectionate smile in return, Emma pushed a bit of her magic into the sword, lighting the blade on fire.
"Brisingr," Henry gasped, his mouth falling open and his eyes wide as he watched the blue flames dance over the sword, making the blonde chortle a laugh at his awe-filled comment.
"There is a bit more, but it's too dangerous to do it here," the blonde added, dousing out the flames and sheathing the sword after letting both Kyle and Henry watch the curious fire for a long minute. "And, no, I won't be showing you that later. It's an offensive measure, and I can't make sure no one would be hurt if I unleash it around here." Dropping the sword down and quickly putting it in its scabbard and back to its previous place against the table and her leg, Emma leaned back ruffling Henry's hair affectionately, before turning towards the toddler and accepting his reaching arms to pull him into a hug. "Did you like it?" she asked, her voice getting a bit sing-song at the end, gently tickling the young boy. "Huh?"
As Emma was half leaning against her, Regina could feel the periodic tightening of the blonde's back muscles, especially if Kyle would be very emotive with his hands, but after several minutes, the Savior managed to relax more into the brunette, letting the other woman wrap her arm around her shoulders. But that relaxation didn't last for long.
And, there was a rolling sense of anger resonating through their bond, the fury and resentment that had been pulsating through their magical connection ever since the White Princess had spoken up in greeting.
Neal obviously had done as she had said, as there was a sharp knock on the doors, barely forty-five minutes after he'd gone. Regina squeezed Emma's hand before she got up to her feet and walked to the door. Blocking the others from entering, she went out, pulling the panel of the door shut behind her. And, there, in front of her, were the Charmings and the Wolf and her warrior, with Neal uncomfortably rocking on the balls of his feet to her side.
"Neal," she called him to her side. "You should go in," Regina tilted her head towards the quarters. "Tell her to brace," she added in a whisper as he came closer in order to get inside. "You, too, if you don't mind." She now addressed the shifter and the Empire woman. "I need a minute with these two." Regina then turned to the two Charmings, blocking their way inside.
"What's going on?" David asked quietly, his palm gently rubbing his wife's tense shoulders as he stood in front of the Queen. "Neal just said you needed to see us."
"Well, that is only somewhat true," Regina responded. "You asked me about Emma."
"Yes," Snow almost hissed in her response, the urgency of it obvious.
Ignoring the woman's tone, Regina went on quietly. "There are a few things you need to know." Her eyes darted between David's blue and Snow's green as she exhaled slowly. "I was led to her," she said first, ignoring the 'I found you' nonsense the Charmings liked to spout every now and then. "She is alive, and she is here." Before Snow could muscle through her to the room, Regina lifted her palm, it subtly glowing with magic. "Wait!"
"You didn't say she was okay," David murmured, after a careful scrutiny of the woman in front of him.
"What?" Snow stepped back from the brunette and looked up at David in question before turning to her former stepmother. "Regina?"
The former Evil Queen contemplated her words before she spoke. "For you, it's been a little bit more than two months. For Emma, it's been almost six. And, during that time, she has been in constant danger and under tremendous pressure, even almost dying several times." And, once dying for real, but Regina wasn't going to mention that. "The siege and the battle at the Palace took a lot out of her, and it…" She swallowed before continuing. "It hurt her, badly. Physically, she is alright, but…"
"But, the trauma of it remains," David continued instead of her, remembering Henry's words, pulling his wife into his arms, pressing into her back with his chest. "The Wounded Warrior research," he added at Regina's curious glance.
The brunette rolled her eyes and muttered her son's name.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Snow asked, somewhat sharply, but still keeping her voice quiet.
"I needed to see the boys, prepare them for her arrival, and I needed to give her time."
"Can we see her now?" David pleaded softly.
"Yes, of course. But, do not rush her or crowd her. Especially not on this day." With that warning, she let them inside and immediately, as if she had not spoken at all, Snow broke out of David's arms and hurried to Emma's side. The blonde herself had been talking to Neal, standing beside the decorated tree and holding something in her hands, but as soon as the pixie haired woman called out her name, the Savior flinched and turned away from the man, her back and shoulders tightening. And, then, Snow manhandled her into a hug, pulling her uncooperative body down so she could envelop her shoulders. But Emma's arms remained by her side, even while Snow blubbered on her shoulder about missing her, being very glad to see her, and questioning about her absence. If it weren't for David's gentle intervention, Regina dreaded to think what the blonde would have done to get herself free from her mother's vise of a hold.
The man was more sedate and kinder in his affection, approaching Emma slowly, only letting his hand fall gently on her shoulder, squeezing it in greeting before he heartfeltly said her name, and getting a soft smile in return.
A smile that disappeared the minute Emma looked back at Snow. A long gaze out of those green eyes she loved traced the princess's body lines, pausing over her middle section for a bit before going back to the orbs Emma had inherited from her. "How are you?" the blonde cordially asked, ignoring all the questions Snow had asked.
If Regina wasn't feeling the deep thrum of the connection between them resonate with the blonde's turbulent emotions, she would have believed Emma's mild expression.
"How am I?" the princess repeated incredulously, before she placed her hands on her hips, her motion drawing the attention to her belly. "Emma!" she huffed.
The blonde stepped closer to the princess, using the small height difference to stand over the woman. "You do not get to use that tone of outrage with me, Snow," she said calmly. "You may be my mother by birth, but the time when you could ground me or demand anything of me has long passed."
Regina watched the White woman perk up with the acknowledgement and then immediately frown and slump at the cold words at the end, leaving her sputtering in dejection. Then, when David tried to intervene, Emma's cold eyes stopped him from reaching out for her.
"We were just worried," he said.
"Yes," Emma's hiss of the word elongated it for a bit more, her tone taking on the sarcastic edge. "So worried. So concerned about your daughter becoming a Black Knight. Or, was it the Savior? Or, you know, dead. It's a toss-up, really."
Regina frowned at Emma's words, coming closer to the three, fearing the escalation. She leaned in toward her kin, who was trying to pretend he wasn't eavesdropping on them. "What is she talking about?"
"David had a meltdown at the Palace the night we arrived and the Wolves had heard him." Neal shrugged and elaborated at Regina's look. "He raged about Emma pretending to be a Black Knight, wearing your colors. Snow did correct him on it, but the Wolf guards witnessing it told the others as soon as it was known that you had left. And, then, the day before yesterday, he bemoaned Emma's sacrifices as the Savior."
Regina snarled at his words making Neal chuckle as he patted her shoulder. "Mulan was quite forceful with him that evening, and Red finished him off. Those two must have told Emma about it."
"Mulan absolutely would," Regina agreed.
"But what I don't understand is, if David was the one questioning her, why is she so cold to Snow."
Regina sighed. "It's too complicated to really explain, but she expected it from David, because he, underneath it all, is a simple guy. Black and white, right and wrong, things are clear for him."
"While Snow understands the nuances," Neal added in understanding.
"Not only that." The brunette crossed her arms, glancing around the room, her voice dipping even lower. "It's the hypocrisy that is bothering her." He frowned at her and she leaned in even further. "She has read your father's ledgers and Snow's name comes up several times, a few more times than we've assumed. Along with what he had learned from the fairies about the wardrobe."
"Ah," Neal exhaled, comprehension flooding his features. "I was wondering when that would come up." His eyes followed the blonde as she walked away from her parents after the long, silent stare down, and took a seat on the opposite side of the room, immediately reaching for the children. "I would have thought she would rake them over coals for it."
Regina shook her head as she pointedly glared at the Charmings, her eyes cowering the two even further. "She's been stewing about that for months, and won't even talk about it." She then strolled over to the two, scowling at their miserable looks. "I warned you not to push her, Snow. And, you still…" Regina shook her head and exhaled heavily. "She found the Dark One's ledger, Snow, and he kept detailed history of his every deal and the consequences from it."
The woman reminded her so much of the timid Mary Margaret, blanching at the mention of the ledger and all the shameful secrets hidden within. "She hates us, doesn't she?"
"Emma doesn't hate you," Regina started but catching the blonde's eyes across the room, she hesitated, taking in the deep frown and clenched teeth accompanying the hard stare. The Savior held her gaze for a moment more, before she gave a short nod before looking away. "However, there is a lot of resentment to work through." The Queen then raised her hand, pointing sharply at Snow. "And, you cannot keep doing this, or she will hate you."
Turning away from them, Regina went to the shifter and the warrior, needing more information about the two days past.
Regina looked away from the mirror and having hung the dress, she searched through the shelves for added accessories. Picking out high heeled boots was a no brainer for her, but the jewelry was causing her some trouble. She needed something simple yet elegant, something that a queen would wear and not draw too much attention (which, she was aware she had had most of her necklaces and chokers designed just for that reason) to her neck and assets.
Suddenly, she felt warmth at her back as her lover wrapped her arms around her middle and pulled her into a gentle hold, the blonde's chin resting against her shoulder. With one arm resting against those holding her, she raised the other, her palm reaching Emma's cheek and caressing it tenderly as she hummed in contentment, enveloped in her beloved's care.
"You looked pensive there for a bit," the Sheriff noted lightly, before she pressed her lips against the brunette's ear.
"Just thinking," she replied. "If we weren't in such a hurry, I would never allow so many people in our chambers. Not on a day meant for families." She turned her head a bit and glanced at the blonde. "Not after spending so much time isolated in the Sanctuary."
The slight movement of Emma's head against her shoulder indicated a nod. "I am okay," the Sheriff responded to the brunette's worry. "It was a lot, and it ran a bit too long. Not to mention, the three segregated groups of people in their interactions with me mixing together was strange to see." The blonde then shifted the woman in her arms, so that she could easily see her eyes. "I know you have concerns about me-" she started softly, a bit unsure but Regina moved her hand and placed her finger on the blonde's lips.
"It's not that." She quickly denied it, refusing to let doubt bloom in her lover's mind. "I trust you, Emma," she said firmly and earnestly, their eyes connected in an insistent gaze, as she moved her finger, her whole hand, to Emma's cheek. "If I had any doubts about your stability, I would have banned Snow from the meeting after that first hug she caught you in."
"Oh," the Sheriff uttered in surprise, before she scowled in irritation. "I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or punishment."
Regina understood the sentiment perfectly. Having Snow tossed out would have been satisfying on so many levels and providing for a more relaxed atmosphere at the meeting, if such a thing was possible considering the situation. "A compliment, my beloved. Always a compliment." Then, she sighed. With a glance over her shoulder, she checked on the children, chuckling at Kyle playing with the skirts of one of the displayed dresses. Satisfied that the children were suitably occupied, she enveloped the two of them in traces of her magic, keeping their conversation private. "You were harsh," she said quietly, turning back just in time to see her lover's eyes flash with anger. "You needed to be, otherwise she would have never heard you," she quickly added to forestall the rebuttal. "And, you need to air all the resentments between you if there is any hope of you three ever having a meaningful relationship."
Emma hummed in agreement. "You learned a lot from Archie, huh?" she spoke after a moment, teasing the woman in her arms.
The brunette ignored the Sheriff's attempt of levity to divert the heavy conversation. "I love you, Emma. And, despite all their faults, you love them." Emma looked away, her eyes glistening, and Regina let her have that small way of hiding. "I have absolutely no doubt that they love you. And, with some luck, some very hard conversations and a bit of time, you will get the parents your heart yearns for."
"I don't need them," the blonde said through her clenched jaw, her voice breaking.
"No," Regina agreed. "You don't." Gently, so gently, she pulled the blonde's face towards her. "But you want them." And, she would do anything in her power to help Emma have them, or if things went badly, help Emma come to terms with not having them in the way she wanted them.
With a sharp nod and hastily cleared throat, Emma broke the silencing magic around them and stepped away from the brunette. "I'll let you change," she murmured before leaving the hidden room.
"Mom?" Regina heard her son call out in question as she watched the blonde hastily duck out. Turning to look at Henry, she noted his concerned face.
"She needs a moment, my prince," she answered his unasked question, before she clapped her hands. "What do you want to wear for this thing?" She then quickly distracted her curious boy, determined to allow the Sheriff her moments of privacy, by tossing out examples of court wear to the awed teenager, chuckling at his exclamations.
After she had sorted Kyle, and Henry had left to get dressed himself in a handsome ensemble she had provided for him, she finally got to changing herself, not even bothering with taking off her things but rather just using her magic to switch out the clothes. And, since she didn't have maids and servants on stand-by to help her put on the elaborate pieces, she felt quite justified to just wave her hand and use her magic. Fully attired, standing in front of the mirror and contemplating the dress, she couldn't help but think back on the large-scale meeting that had happened in her rooms that morning.
With Neal, Snow, David and the shifter-warrior couple already in the room, Regina didn't expect too many people to show up with Damian, two or three at the most. However, after she had called out her permission for entrance, her captain brought in not two, or even three, inside, but not counting him, six additional people. The commander of the Imperial soldiers, chief of the shifters and Percival were not a surprising choice for this type of gathering, but accompanying them were also Dai, Gwen, and Cheeky. Smiling at her guests, the brunette motioned them in, directing the smallest and the youngest of them to the sofa, where currently her boys were sitting.
After everyone had come and had been introduced to the rest, Regina suddenly found herself in front of Liam, with the man standing in front of her, bent at the waist with his head bowed, the shifter's action causing the room to fall silent as the people curiously watched what was happening. As soon as Ruby saw the man's supplication, she approached Regina as well, but she didn't bow so low as the chief of the shifters but, rather, only bowed her head in respect to the queen.
Damn shifters, Regina thought in irritation before she turned to look at Emma, scowling at the blonde for giving out the warning to the shifters during her time in the castle before Regina's arrival. Her scowl deepening at the Sheriff's unrepentant smile, the brunette turned back to the two shifters in front of her. The girl, who had been behind many of Snow's guerrilla attacks on her soldiers, who she had despised on principle, had somehow transitioned from a moderately hated enemy, then mild annoyance and irritant, to a trusted friend. Granted, Ruby was Emma's trusted friend and the girl had been there for her wife when she had not been around, and the memories of those events only further attested to the shifter's value as a friend. Just for that, the girl was owed appreciation and trust, but seeing her stand there, solemn and quiet, holding herself in a posture of obeisance… "Ruby," she murmured softly, reaching for the young shifter, her fingers lightly touching the underside of the woman's chin. With gentle but insistent touch, she forced the girl upright.
"Mo Bhanríon," the shifter said the second she stood straight, keeping her eyes lowered. As soon as those words passed the wolf's lips, Regina felt her own magic react and accept it.
"No," the Queen spoke softly, still keeping her fingers under Ruby's chin. "Look at me," she asked of the shifter, careful not to let this new magic make it an order. When those dark blue eyes found hers, she inclined her head in approval. "You've always been an impudent pup, Ms. Lucas," Regina said with a light smirk, ignoring the sounds of disapproval coming from the people clustered around the tree, Snow's huff immediately recognized. "It's one of the things I like about you. Don't go all deferential on me now."
Ruby glanced toward the still bowed chief. "But-"
"You said I am your Queen," Regina interrupted the girl's floundering, referencing the previous words Ruby had said. When the young shifter nodded earnestly, she continued on. "Your Queen asks you to treat her as a friend. Will you respect her enough to accept it?"
After a long questioning look, Ruby nodded. "Yes," she exhaled softly. At the brunette's raised brow, she quickly added, "Regina."
"Good dog," the former Evil Queen murmured, tapping the girl's chin before she removed her hand, chuckling in delight when the young shifter playfully growled at her, lightly snapping at her fingers. Then, the young woman winked at Regina and walked away, letting the brunette now focus on the still bent shifter in front of her.
If not for the time spent in the elder's home, learning about the customs of the wolves, she would have unknowingly hurt the man's very magic by ignoring the proper acknowledgement of his fealty. By not knowing the ritualistic replies, the very act of dismissal could have caused the Wolf within him to take it as a rejection of the claim, and in an act of despair, force Liam into destroying himself for offending his Mistress enough for her to turn him away.
With Ruby, she could get away with not following the traditional greeting, because the girl hadn't grown up with the clan, steeped in the shifter's magic and rituals, and, the girl still had her troubles with her own form, struggling to fully accept it. With the young brunette using the magical form to name Regina as her queen, it was enough to acknowledge Regina in her new position as the ruler of all the shifters, and Ruby's subservience to her. However, with the Wolf who had practiced his powers for the most of his life, who was so deeply entrenched in both the magic of shifting and the rituals of his people, such lackadaisical approach was deadly. Luckily, Fiadh, and some other members of the clan, had been quite insistent in both her and Emma learning the proper forms for this very moment.
"A Liam, de chlann Faoladh, glacaim do fheall," she spoke in that strange dialect of the shifters. And, as she spoke the words, she saw the effect they had on the man in front of her. His uncovered skin rose in goosebumps while he shuddered, before a small exhale of relief left his mouth. "Now, Chief of the Wolves, rise and accept my hand," she said with some added formality offering the man her right hand.
The shifter reached for it, still bowing and after pressing a light kiss on top of it, he rose slowly. "Mo Bhanríon," he uttered before releasing her hand.
Regina sniffed at him, noticing the sparkling eyes as he looked up. "We are back here, again," she muttered, making the man smile as he stood up straight. "This doesn't change anything, Liam," the brunette murmured, lifting her fingers to his cheek, gently rubbing the small patch of visible skin above his beard. "I may be your queen, but you are the chief of your people. You come to me if you have problems, but I will not meddle in your clan's politics or tradition."
"Yes," he accepted, inclining his head, then hesitated a bit over the appellation before he settled on "Mistress."
Humming slightly, Regina nodded. "If you must. However, I would really prefer just Regina." She then tilted her head, her eyes darting over the man's shoulder to the middle of the room where currently her beloved was sitting on the couch, with Henry under her arm, and the young healer beside her with Kyle in Gwen's lap. The blonde was talking to the girl, including Neal, sitting on the low table in front of them, in the conversation. "You know Emma hates the pomp over her titles," Regina spoke after a minute watching the Savior, musing over it, noticing that the Wolf had turned a bit in place to look behind him. "But, while we were in the Sanctuary, someone came up with a name for her that she even likes." When the man's face turned back to her, his brows scrunched in question, she let out a quiet hum before she answered. "Geilgeis," she murmured softly, the whisper of the name drawing the green eyes to hers. She smiled at the blonde, taking in the lively spark in her eyes, no doubt brought on by the enthusiastic talk she was engaged in with Henry and Neal, with Gwen and Kyle listening in.
The shifter nodded, considering it. "The Queen?" he asked in a whisper. "Or, the Knight?" he added, tilting his head towards Percival.
"No, as it happens," Regina shook her head a bit. "It was your mother."
He blinked in surprise. "She went to the Sanctuary?"
The Queen confirmed it with yet another soft hum. "With the skins Emma is now wearing." As her mind went over those first days in Brocéliande, Regina swallowed hard before she cleared her throat. "Aileen was rather involved in saving Emma's life, actually." She then looked up into the man's deep blue eyes. "So, if there is a debt between us, it is mine to yours."
Liam shook his head as he crossed his arms, before he turned around and stood by Regina's side, his eyes going to the blonde, not caring that most eyes in the room were now focused on him and the brunette by his side. "Ah, Mistress," he sighed. "I was told of your actions to help my Elder," he said in a low murmur. "You saved the core of my clan, Mistress," he continued on, his whisper taking on a gruff tone. "Mum's a healer. Considers her duty to help, and that the person she helped is your mate is... It is her connection to you that endeared her to our hearts. But, all of that is irrelevant as you and… Geilgeis… saved Althea's life." He lifted his arm away from his chest and waved his hand in front of them. "This only proves that you and your bonded are deserving of our loyalty. That our trust in you to guide and protect us is validated."
"She's the Savior," Regina murmured, shaking her head.
"And you are our Protector," he returned firmly, his eyes hard as they peered at her.
In conciliation, Regina placed her palm against his bulging biceps, her fingers lightly digging into the warm skin of the shifter. "I accept you, Liam," she whispered, leaning into the small space between them. "Your whole clan." Then, her grip turned harder. "It's the submission that irks me," she muttered softly.
"We are not some mindless Heartless that will do your bidding, Mistress," the chief responded quietly, not quite able to suppress the chiding tone out of his voice. "I will not kill for you, unless they present a clear threat to you and yours, and even then, only if it is absolutely necessary."
"Nor would I ask you."
"Then, we understand each other perfectly."
As soon as Regina sat down on the settee, in the spot Henry had cleared out for her, placing him between his mothers, the gentle buzz of conversations going around the room quietened down and the rest of the people took their seats on available surfaces, creating a half circle opened towards the door. All but one, that was. Her newly promoted Captain stood before her, waiting for her leave to start the 'official' part of the meeting.
"You have the floor," she spoke out, gently making a sweeping gesture at him.
Damian inclined his head and with a deep inhale, he started with his report of the events of the previous two days. He was precise, telling his queen the important bits, giving the overall picture without focusing on immaterial details, his clear and measured voice not too loud, but carrying enough for everyone to hear him.
The brunette listened to her guardsman, nodding along his briefing, but some of her attention was directed at her beloved, sitting on the other side of Henry, leaning back and with her elbow resting against the arm of the settee. Emma was murmuring something to Kyle in her lap, too low for Regina to understand the whispers, but the toddler's soft giggles and happy babble told of his enjoyment of it.
"When the Wolf scouts reported of them coming from the North, measures were taken." Damian's voice, pointedly accentuating the cardinal point, redirected Regina's focus away from her toddler's dimpled grin, but instead of staying on her Captain, her attention was pulled to her former stepdaughter.
"What does it matter where they come from?" Snow interrupted, drawing all eyes to where she was seated, to the left of the Mills', as the room filled with an awkward silence. "What?" the woman then asked, uncomfortable by this kind of scrutiny.
The mounting tension was broken when the Savior snorted scornfully before she turned to Regina, looking at her over Henry's head. "You lost to her," she commented in joking derision, ignoring the offended gasp of her name.
Regina pursed her lips, not willing to smile and encourage her lover, but she did pull Henry into a half hug, letting him lean into her. "She had more sense, then," she said seriously. "And, she had help."
"Regina!"
At the rebuking outburst, Emma's face lost every trace of humor and her eyes turned to ice. "Snow," she barked sharply, still looking at Regina, and then she gently picked the boy in her lap up and transferred him to the brunette, sparing a gentle pat on the shoulder for their eldest. "Where were the merry band of thieves when they were last heard of?" Her voice was mild, but the scowl was clear on her face as she turned to face her mother, leaning over the arm of the couch.
The pixie haired woman blanched at the cold eyes directed at her, her hand instantly reaching out to her husband, gripping David's forearm. "At the camps, beside the Palace?" she uttered slowly, her voice lilting up in question.
"And, where is the Palace?" Emma asked, her glare not letting up, and suddenly, the middle school teacher found herself on the other side of the geography quiz, the embarrassment tingeing her cheeks with color.
"About thirty, thirty five leagues to the South East from here."
Emma raised one finger beside her ear and tilted her head, calmly asking again. "To the…?"
"South East," Snow replied quietly, dropping her eyes.
"And, which side of this castle is the most accessible, that even the main gate is placed there?" Emma continued to question the former inhabitant of the White Castle. But Snow kept quiet, prompting David to speak for her.
"The East side."
Emma shifted her eyes to her father and inclined her head in confirmation. "So, why would they approach from the North? The most treacherous of the paths, especially in this time of the year and in this weather. Only to slink around the castle and request entrance at the Eastern gate?" The Savior didn't wait for anyone to provide an answer, before she continued. "And, they are on foot, as well. How did they get here so fast?"
Come to think of it, Regina noted, that particular question hadn't crossed her mind. One couldn't traipse around in the dark, it was too cold and too dangerous to do so. And, with a league an hour at the consistent pace (that would become unmanageable as the men get tired), they would need more than thirty hours of daylight to walk over to the White Castle from the Charming Palace. How did Robin come to her castle? He obviously had help, but what kind, and from whom?
"Not getting into a full red alert at these inconsistencies is just plain reckless, not to mention stupid," the Sheriff added her last punch and when only silence came from the Charmings, the blonde settled back in her seat, motioning at Damian to continue with his report.
And, Damian did, as if he hadn't been interrupted. He went on to outline the guards and their rotations and positions in the two rooms the motley crew had been put in, detailing Robin's behavior and the way he had seemed somewhat distant with his own people.
Regina listened, considered and planned. However, she knew that the truth-seeker would have some ideas of her own to approach the men, especially since she had met them before.
"If I may, your Majesty?" A soft interruption came from her new ally. "Apologies for cutting in, Captain, but if the man presents such a clear threat, why is he even here? You have enough men to get rid of him, in whatever way you deem necessary." Percival's words carried a cold edge of pragmatism in them, and the allusion to a more permanent way of dealing with the man was quite obvious. However, due to the presence of young ones, it wasn't quite so plainly stated.
Damian cleared his throat. "Unfortunately, I couldn't act in such a way, sir Percival. My actions would reflect on my Queen, and the man is seen as some type of hero in these parts."
"And, with Regina reformed, we really don't need any more of the 'Evil Queen' nonsense," the Savior added. "Locksley obviously knew it and used it to gain entrance, which is yet another point against him."
"Locksley, Geilgeis?" Percy queried after a moment of thoughtful silence. "Robert of Locksley Hall, you mean?"
"I guess," Emma replied, having shared a look and a shrug with Regina. "He answered to it."
"Ah, I see…" The knight nodded, placing his chin into his hand. "Robin must be the son…" he murmured, scratching at his shadow-of-a-beard. "The timing is right…"
"Percy?"
The knight looked at Emma and blinked before his face lost the pensive look. "Right." He then cleared his throat. "It is ironic that people consider him a hero," the former knight of the Round Table remarked calmly, sharing a look with the blonde.
"What do you mean?" David dared to ask, breaking the gaze between the two.
The Knight hesitated, his amber eyes darting to Henry's face before meeting Regina's in a question. Getting a nod in return from both her and Emma, he was free to continue. "In his willing exile, Lancelot served as an information gatherer for her Majesty, the Queen, helping us keep up with the events around here. As people had respect for his position, it wasn't hard for him to get to the bottom of it. Baron Robert I Hylton of Locksley Hall was imprisoned, blinded, and then executed for dereliction of his duty to the crown," Percival shared what he knew. "He was to provide militia and armaments to the border garrisons defending the kingdom during the Ogre wars, which were to be under the command of his son, Robert the Second, lovingly called Robin."
"Let me guess," Emma interjected sardonically. "He didn't show."
"No," Percival confirmed. "Not only that, but the monies from the Hall's treasury set aside for equipping and funding the militia were gone as well." The knight then sighed. "Since the son had absconded and was in the wind, and the border was overrun and surrounding villages sacked until the king sent his own reinforcements to deal with the problem, the punishment fell to the father."
"And, we can assume," Regina joined in the conversation. "That John made proclamations asking for him to surrender to save his own father?"
"Yes, your Majesty. Robert the First was executed after six months of imprisonment, with criers and bellmen sent out to all settlements under the king's purview within the first two weeks of Robert's incarceration." Grim quiet spread throughout the group, and at the new information even Snow couldn't keep her starry eyes at her 'most wanted' post-mate. "Locksley Hall was seized to repay the cost of the additional army, and Robert II was considered missing, presumed dead - and the king considered the matter closed."
"Until George Vaisey, Sheriff of Nottingham started getting reports of a poacher and thief operating in and around the Royal Forests of Sherwood," Regina added absently, looking down at her older boy, ruffling his hair with the hand of the arm that was wrapped over his shoulders. He obviously didn't like the conversation, and judging by disappointment in his eyes, another story was ruined for him. "You okay, my prince?" she murmured gently as she peered down at him. The young teenager half-shrugged then nodded before pursing his lips and burrowing deeper in her hold, keeping quiet on the topic.
"Wait," Emma suddenly spoke up, startling the two of them. "Keith's name is George Vaisey?"
But it wasn't Regina who replied. "No one called him that, though." Ruby tossed in. "He always insisted on being called Nottingham if not the full title." She then scowled as she remembered something. "But under the curse no one called him anything but Ass-"
Regina cleared her throat quite pointedly. "We are getting off point here." With her eyes sweeping across the people in the room, she sighed. "Acquiescing to Robin's insistence to see me in private is out of the question." And, who was he to demand anything of her? "So, how are we going to deal with this?"
"Meet him in the throne room," Emma said.
"You did mention that before," Damian interjected, absently pointing upwards.
The blonde leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees. "By all descriptions, he is acting all… imperiously." She looked at Regina. "Like he has rights to make demands of you, just because he is acquainted with me." Her eyes glinted as she coldly smiled. "Why don't we disabuse him of that notion?"
"How?"
"By showing him who you really are and how insignificant he really is," the Savior stated imperiously.
"I see," the Queen replied, understanding what her beloved had in mind. "And, we do have a reason to hold reception in the throne room," she added, pointing to the Camelot men.
"Exactly!" The Savior then grinned. "And, with Percy's indulgence, I will be in disguise as one of Tintagel and join them for the show."
"You what?"
Right there, in front of the mirror, stood the Queen, draped in the finest of fabrics, bejeweled according to her station and ready to take her seat on the throne. However, her brows were still furrowed from the memory of her screech at Emma's words. She didn't know why she had been so surprised with the blonde's plan; after all, the Sheriff was supposed to be in hiding and still be present during their pageantry for the Merry Thieves. It was the Savior's impish grin more than anything else that convinced her to go along with the idea, as she would have done anything to keep that smile on her beloved's face, but she knew it wouldn't last. Not with the duties and people they had to deal with. Unfortunately, she had been proven right mere fifteen minutes later.
After Emma had somewhat elaborated on her idea, Damian was dismissed and as he walked away from the 'stage', the gathered people broke into smaller groups, starting their individual talks. The Savior herself used the opportunity to get off the couch, offering Regina a soft, reassuring smile when the brunette looked up in concern. "I am okay," the blonde muttered, ruffling Henry's hair, before she walked over to Dai and Liam, tossing out a question to the chief of the shifters, engaging him and the Brocéliande man in a hushed conversation.
"She seems restless." A soft whisper reached Regina's ears and the Queen turned to look at the three people appearing in front of the sofa. She only hummed in reply to the young healer's words, bringing Kyle in lap and motioning to Cheeky and Gwen to take the seats, while she watched Percival drag over one of the chairs before lowering himself gingerly into it, the clunky sounds of the armor he had on portraying his difficult task.
"She and patience are often at odds," Regina simply stated, the comment making both the girl and the Knight huff out a laugh.
"Why is that funny?" the teenager with green eyes asked immediately.
The Brocéliande people shared a look before Percival turned to the prince. "Geilgeis - the Savior - has noted several times that being patient just means wasting time, and that patience was never one of her virtues, your Highness," the knight noted in a low voice.
Regina leaned in toward her eldest. "Emma had things to do, a lot of them sometimes, and just waiting around seemed kind of pointless to her," she spoke quietly to him. "And, that was before all this big Savior stuff."
Henry nodded in understanding before he turned towards the knight. "What did you call her? What does that mean?"
"Geilgeis," Percival enunciated carefully for the boy, repeating it once more as Henry tried to say it. When he got it, the knight nodded with a gentle smile. "It means White Swan, your Highness. She seems to like it."
Cheeky hummed lightly, drawing attention to himself. "Oh, how she hated the names my brothers would call her. Most of my group settled on Knight Swan because it caused the least amount of flinching or eye-rolls."
"What did you call her?" Regina heard her son ask the young dwarf, feeling the seat under her move as the boy shifted to fully engage with the newcomer.
"Busy called her Ser Knight, or Lady Swan, her Highness… Sometimes, the Savior…"
"She was the same when we met her," Percy added. "Whenever I wanted to annoy her, I would call her Princess. She would work harder while riled up."
The boy looked at the knight. "Work?"
After Percy's explanation of Emma's training, it didn't take long for Henry to besiege the Camelot man with questions, and when Regina was about to intervene, the knight waved her off, talking with the boy and telling him a few anecdotes from the vigorous training he had put Emma through, as well as some entertaining ones from his own past, drawing in the young dwarf into the conversation as well. Leaving them to it, Regina focused her attention on her newly appointed Royal Healer.
The girl had been making faces at Kyle, playing with his feet and making him giggle but Regina hadn't missed the careful scrutiny in the healer's eyes as she looked over her son. "See something concerning?" the brunette murmured, interrupting their play.
"Emma asked me the same," Gwen murmured back, her lips spread wide in the exaggerated smile while held on to the toddler's feet. "But no. You have a healthy baby boy, isn't that right, little one?"
After a few more comments and retorts, Regina let the conversation with the Healer taper off, letting the girl join in the very vivacious retelling of Emma's adventures in Brocéliande, with a lot of details and parts omitted for secrecy. She sat back, smiling at her excited boy, gently rubbing his back as he seemed to vibrate in place as he listened to the two newcomers.
As her silence enabled her to split attention to other gatherings in the room, she surreptitiously watched her wife converse with the shifter, and by the man's repeated nods, Regina assumed he was being given orders of some kind. Not a minute later the shifter nodded for the last time, slightly inclined his head and went for the door, disappearing for several minutes.
It wasn't long before Neal joined the blonde, his slightly hesitant approach giving Dai an excuse to withdraw. Regina was curious and was even a bit tempted to listen in on their conversation, she refused to intrude upon her wife's privacy in such a manner. And, in any case, she had a good guess what that would be about, her guess confirmed when she saw a small wrapped parcel appearing again her wife's hands, as Neal kept saying something to the blonde, some of it making Emma chuckle.
"Mom?"
Henry's voice brought her back. "Yeah?"
The boy hesitated a bit, his eyes darting toward the Knight before he returned his eyes to peer at his mother. "You never say where you were," he pointed out softly. "Or who it was that healed Mom."
Regina sighed and glanced at Percival, but the Knight was obviously leaving it to her to decide. "There is a reason for that, my prince. Most of this is supposed to be the utmost secret." She watched her boy, her eyes scrutinizing his face, her worry over him already spiked by his utterance of 'Mom' rather than 'Ma' as he had firmly decided to call Emma. Not to mention the fact that apparently any mention of secrets just invited him to investigate, even against her set boundaries. (They really need to cure him of his habit of snooping…) "However, let's try it this way," she added after a moment. She waved her hand, gesturing at the man still sitting beside the couch. "You know who he is, right?"
"Yeah," Henry said, frowning. "Sir Percival," he added, with a slight nod to the words, affirming them. Regina hummed with amusement, her lips twitching into a small smirk at her boy's obliviousness. It wasn't like Henry not to twig immediately at her pointed question and the knight's name, as he had spent considerable time going through legends and stories after finding the Book. T.H. White had been on his bedside table for weeks as he had gone through his works, so she knew that Henry knew enough about Camelot to make an educated guess to Percy's real identity.
She turned to the knight. "Kind Sir, would you introduce yourself to my son?"
The dark man smiled and nodded indulgently as he straightened out. "Percival o'r Goedwig, the Virtuous, Knight of the Order of the Red Dragon, servant of the rightful ruler of Camelot," he proclaimed, quietly as to not draw attention from others in the room, even though, no doubt, they already knew who he was.
"Oh." Henry's stunned face turned towards her. "But, wait, you said, and Mom said, that Camelot was gone, in ruins."
"It is gone, my prince," Regina confirmed. "But some of the people remained." She pointedly looked at Percy, before turning to Gwen, then again to Henry. "They just moved to a safer place. A secret place."
Her boy's face brightened in excitement. "Avalon?"
Bopping him on the nose, Regina chuckled at his disgruntled grimace. "No," she spoke softly. "It is true that most of Camelot's people had gone to Avalon. But the place we speak about is similar," she added. However, before he could query more about it, she interjected. "Secret, remember?"
Henry crossed his arms and slumped back, frowning. "You still didn't say who it was," he murmured petulantly.
The brunette smiled. "No, I didn't."
At that time, Gwen decided to join in. "However, she did tell you enough, young master, for you to guess." Sharing a knowing look with Percy, she smiled at the boy, focusing onto his eyes. "After all, my former Mistress is quite famous."
"I don't…" Henry shook his head, his frown deepening as he stared in front of him, trying to find the answer. She let him stew in his frustration for a minute or two, turning to Gwen.
"Would you mind looking after Snow? We don't have other healers on hand, and with her condition…" Regina asked the young woman, prompting her to look over to the former princess.
"Of course," the healer assented with ease. "Do you know how far along she is?"
"The healer in the other land calculated she should be about 12 weeks."
Gwen smiled, clasping her hands in an abortive clap. "Oh, that is right on the cusp." She then muttered something into her chin, Regina discerning a few words of her mumble, such as 'better food' and 'glow'. "I will approach her as we leave," the healer gestured at the princess just in time for Regina to notice both her and her husband approaching Emma, interrupting her engaging conversation with Neal and Damian who had joined them minutes before.
The sharp sting of annoyance flared through their connection, followed by the thrumming of anger that was getting stronger the more Emma was forced to engage with the two. Not only that, the brunette sorceress felt a magic ward surround her wife and her parents, trapping all sound of the conversation inside it.
Concerned by the use of magic, Regina watched carefully, ready to intervene, already losing her patience with the princess, who despite multiple warnings, just couldn't help herself. But she waited, focusing intently on the bond, using it to gauge Emma's emotional state. If she butted in too soon, it would speak to her lack of trust in her wife - and that, she never wanted to do to Emma, who already had shown traces of struggle with it. However, if she failed to react in time, someone could get injured, not even taking into account the emotional hurt from it.
For the moment, it seemed like they were having a civil conversation, Emma's stiff posture slightly ameliorated by her inclined head, as she listened to her mother. Snow was talking, her usually waving hands clasped in front of her, almost as if she were begging Emma for something, which, in all honesty, she could have been. Judging by the feelings emanating through the bond, the talk was going… Regina would not say well, but cordial, at least. The Savior's shoulders loosened a bit and the blonde even allowed David's hand to pat her upper arm after adding something to Snow's words.
Then, as quick as a lightning strike, a flash of anger twisted with disappointment buzzed through the bond and the Sheriff sharply shrugged the Charming's hand off her, taking a small step back, her retreat immediately countermanded by Snow's intrusion in the form of a grasping hand catching Emma's elbow.
Regina didn't need to feel the bubbling magic across their connection to know things had deteriorated badly, and she rose to her feet, ready to stride in between them, her sudden move drawing the attention of all people in the room first to her, then immediately after to the magic encased trio. However, she did not move away from the sofa, her action stayed by the blonde. Geilgeis, with her eyes swirling with the white and blue of her magic, had looked away from her parents, the hard and terrifying stare mellowing out as she gazed upon her True Love, and only minutely shook her head, before facing the Charmings again, her piercing eyes pinning them to place. Even with the silence ward in place, Regina saw that Emma spoke only two words to her mother, the twist of her lips making them a menacing snarl rather than a simple order. "Let Go!"
And, Snow did, letting Emma walk away from the two of them in long and fast strides, ducking into the bathroom. Being the one to witness the whole conversation, Neal quickly rushed after her and before following Emma in, he stopped at the entrance, staring down the couple with his dark eyes. "You just can't help yourself, can you?" he said, shaking his head.
"We just need to explain-" The light haired man tried to plead, but Neal stood firm.
"You need?" Regina heard her brother sneer at the couple in a very unlike him manner. "What about what she needs?" He didn't let them speak as he raised his hand. "You are done. She'll find you if she wants to." He then caught Regina's eyes, not caring how his particular inflection affected Snow, steadily ignoring her gasp and slight stagger away. With a short move, he motioned to the bathroom behind him, waiting for Regina to nod before going inside.
After Neal went into the bathroom, the brunette sorceress turned her head to look at the Charmings. She did not speak, but by the way Snow was avoiding her eyes, she didn't need to. Shaking her head, she went back on the couch.
"Why are they fighting?" Henry mumbled into Regina's shoulder after she settled back into her previous seat. "Is it because of the baby?"
"Oh, my sweet boy," Regina murmured into his forehead. "No, no, it's not the baby." She peered into her son's sad eyes. "Emma and her parents have a lot of things to talk about, to work through, but both Snow and Emma are stubborn. And, you know how Emma reacts when you push her to do something she doesn't want."
"Yeah…" he agreed absently, his eyes going out to his grandmother before returning to his mom. "I figured it out," he mumbled after a moment.
"Did you?" The brunette said back with a soft smile on her face, not missing the still lingering unease about Emma and Charmings' clash on him.
"She isn't evil, right?" He asked tentatively, furtively looking at the knight who watched on in interest. "The stories just got twisted?"
"Something like that." Regina was going to say something more to reassure her son, but her Captain approached her.
"Your Majesty, if I may interrupt," Damian spoke with a small bow. "We haven't gotten to the particulars of how the 'show', as the Savior termed it, was to proceed."
Regina looked away from the mirror and turned around, already carrying the proper poise of the Queen she was to be. It was time to start this show, she thought to herself as her mouth pursed in distaste for having to deal with this on the first day with her children after a long absence, and Christmas Day morning at that. "Henry," she called out, catching the boy's attention, careful to wipe away all discontent from her face.
The boy in question straightened out, his left hand absently fixing the lines of his tunic, while his other one was holding on to his brother's hand, keeping the toddler in place. He glanced up and smiled at her, slowly stepping forward, minding the younger one's unsteady gait.
Her little Prince might have been a loving endearment for Henry but now, dressed in the finery of this Realm, he truly lived up to it. Black velvet breeches, adorned with silver stitches on the outside, black leather boots polished to shine, emerald green tunic that drew out the color of his eyes, and a silk black high neck shirt, embroidered with silver peeking from under it. The whole deal was completed with a silver studded black belt with a small dagger on it, tucked into his left side. "Don't you look princely, your Highness?" Regina cooed at her boy, delighting in the slight blush covering his cheeks and in a disgruntled moue twisting his lips. It was heartwarming to see the child in her son's face, having feared that he was growing up too fast, through some fault of her own.
"And, you, little lion," Regina smiled at her youngest. "Come to Mommy." She lowered herself as much as the dress allowed and opening her arms wide, she encouraged her boy to toddle up to her, laughing loudly when she caught him mid jump. Bringing him to her hip, she used her fingers to push his blond curls off his face, before she brought them down to his clothes. They mirrored his brother's, only instead of green and silver, the color scheme was sky blue and gold, also bringing out his eyes. "My handsome boys," she murmured with a smile encompassing both Henry and Kyle. Then her smile disappeared. "Come, we must go."
Carrying Kyle in her arms, and with Henry following her in step, she exited her wardrobe and found Emma waiting by the doors, absentmindedly rubbing her chest, seeming lost in memory. "You have only five minutes, Emma," she gently warned the blonde, breaking whatever trance Emma was in, coming closer to her. "And, remember," she added, using her hand not holding the toddler to grasp for her wife, pulling her closer, "as a stranger in this castle, you cannot be armed in my presence."
"Understood," the Savior replied, bowing her head lightly before she placed a kiss on Regina's lips. "I have informed the others to take their places already," she added, getting an appreciative nod in return. "Now, let me look at you, kid." Gently, taking the boy by his shoulders she looked him over before she lowered herself onto one knee. "You know how annoyed you get when someone lies to you?" she asked quietly, the boy nodding in turn. "You get that from me, kid. It took me a while to figure out that people in general are not that bad liars, it's just that I can feel it when they do."
"Really?"
"Yes. And, I want you to use that today."
"Emma."
The blonde looked up at the Queen. "The Savior is one with the power to do it, and that is something Hood knows about me, thanks to the dwarves." She rose to her feet, placing a hand to Kyle's side, her fingers gently sliding over the brunette's. "But, for all intents and purposes she is not here. And, he is of her blood. Let the magic speak."
Regina narrowed her eyes. "You are planning something," she said. "Fine. Whatever. On your head be it." She reached for Henry's hand, tugging him gently to start moving, using her magic to open the doors. "And, don't go too Elvish in your masquerade," she tossed over her shoulder as soon as she went through them, slamming them close before Emma could respond. It was small of her, but well…
She didn't go the whole way down to the throne room on foot, not willing to subject her children to the many stairs, but rather used magic to transport the three of them to a prearranged spot with her Captain. She lowered Kyle down and offered his hand to Henry. "Stay here," she said firmly. Then, she made a few steps away from them, motioning the man waiting for her there to join her. "Lieutenant Nathan, is everyone ready? Are the prisoners brought in?"
The Black Guardsman bowed in greeting. "Yes, your Majesty. And, the Imperial Commander insisted on adding ten additional spearmen above the agreed amount to the room. The already established guard for the Merry Men is forming a circle around them as they are forced to remain to the left of the main entrance. The Captain is inside, keeping everything under control and Hammond will lead the Camelot guests through it as soon as you give the signal."
At that moment, one of the Imperial runners reached the Lieutenant and her, his light footsteps barely heard on the stone floor of the hallway. The man stopped and after greeting her with a quick bow and fist thump to the swan mark on his chest, he leaned over to the guardsman and murmured a few words. Receiving a quick reply from Nathan, the man nodded. With another bow in her direction, he quickly disappeared back into the corridor from where he had come.
The man did not need to see her expression to hurry with the explanation. "He's brought word that the guests are ready, and in full number chosen for this."
"That was fast," Regina commented, knowing she had left Emma only two minutes earlier. "No matter." She walked to the children, and knelt down on one knee checking over their clothes and hair. "Remember, we don't know where Emma is," she whispered to Henry, casting a small glamour over her boys to make them look tired and a bit worn. Then, the brunette gently instructed Henry to follow behind her, as she had to walk in first and by herself. After everything was set, nodding at the men at the door, she gave the signal for entry. "Here we go," she murmured as she watched the door open slowly.
After the sound of door latching in their place, Neal turned around. In front of him, the blonde was pacing the length of the bathroom, completely vexed and muttering under her breath. With what he could hear from her, quite a few of those mumbled words were swears directed at her parents, so he just leaned back against the door and let her vent.
After several minutes, Emma turned to him. "She lied!" A snarl was accompanied by a pointing finger directed somewhere outside the bathroom, but Neal had no doubt at whom it was supposed to point. "To my face!"
He blinked at her outburst. "What about?"
"We had no choice," she mocked her mother's voice. "She had it! She made it! She had hours before her labor started, she could have gone then, but no! She didn't want to leave Charming. And, even before that, she made a choice to bargain with the Dark One, yet again, bartering my name." Emma then thumped her chest in anger. "My name!" She then swirled on her heel and started pacing again. "But all of that doesn't even matter," the Savior said, in a quieter voice. "Her ending up in Maine without any knowledge of the modern world would only end up with her in a looney bin and me in foster care anyway."
Neal felt the air leave his lungs, torn between a sigh and a chuckle. "I never thought about it that way." He then walked closer to the blonde, deciding to sit at the edge of the pool. "So," he started as he watched her pace. "It's not about her making the choice, but about lying about it?"
"Yes!"
He hummed thoughtfully. "Why?"
Emma stopped her pacing, turning to look at him. "Why what?"
"Why is the lie such a…" Neal hesitated over the word, but then shrugged. "Trigger?"
The blonde sighed, closing her eyes before she lowered herself down beside him. "It's not just the lie, Neal. It's all of it." He just lightly bumped her shoulder with his as a prompt to continue, and she did. "It's the whole 'We knew you'd be safe because Rumplestiltskin said' mantra she keeps spouting. The only thing your father told them was that the child was the Savior and that she would break the Curse."
"My father rarely lies," Neal had to point out.
Emma scoffed. "But, he also rarely told the whole truth. Since he tailored it for every eventuality, I have no doubt that there is a death of Savior clause somewhere in it that breaks it, as well."
The son of the Dark One winced at that, knowing that Emma was right to claim that. It was something Rumple would do.
"If August hadn't come through, as well, I would have died in that forest, Neal. And my parents didn't know about Blue's treachery. They sent me through on a word from the Dark One, the worst trickster there ever was."
Hitting his heels against the stone edge of the pool, Neal nodded slowly. "Well, I am glad you didn't die," he tossed at the blonde, forcing a wide grin on his face, his words receiving a startled laugh out of the Savior, before she lightly punched him in the upper arm.
"She keeps behaving like things just happened, like they had no part in them, and that it was just the past. You know, I have forgiven her for giving me away long ago, and even this time I spent with Rumple and Regina, it made a lot of things clear for me. So, I get it."
"But?"
"But, she never took any accountability for it. She meddled with magic at every step of the way. Her actions made everything worse. David, at least, has some measure of it, and he tried to acknowledge and apologize for it. Snow, however… She's playing victim and it sets my teeth on edge. And, all this talk of a new family, without magic, without curses, starting again… She doesn't even realize how it sounds from my side. I told her what the Swans did to me, and still." She then jumped into the empty pool, the need to move obvious in her posture. "I am surrounded by magic, made of it, in fact. So-"
"-When she says she wants no magic, you hear she doesn't want you."
"Not just me, Neal. Regina, my kids. Her child, even."
"Really?" He gasped in surprise. "You can tell? Even now?"
The blonde nodded in confirmation. "I can feel everyone in the castle. I know how many wolves there are, how many of the Empire soldiers carry my mark…"
Then Neal realized what she had also said. "Wait a minute! Your kids?"
Emma just looked at him before she rolled her eyes. "What did you expect, Baelfire?" She used his old name purposefully, her scathing tone quite clear. "The son of the Savior, with prophecies about him not to have at least some bit of magic in him?"
His shoulders slumped because she was right. He knew about the prophecy - Rumple had told him; but he never expected… "And, Kyle?"
"It's faint, barely there," Emma murmured softly. "But, it's good."
"Wow," was the only thing he could say, as he didn't think of anything that wouldn't be taken as another form of rejection for the woman, letting the silence fall between them. After a long moment watching the blonde fidget in the pool, he patted his thighs, remembering something. "Anyways, aren't you going to open it?" He pointed to Emma's pants pocket, currently bulging out due to a hastily stuffed gift he had gotten her for Christmas. The blonde turned to him and took it out of the pocket, her hands gently gliding over the colored paper.
"You already told me what it is," she said offhandedly, before she tore the paper away and tossed it away.
Before Neal could even comment on littering, the scrunched ball of detritus was enveloped in glittering haze for a second before it winked out of existence. The man blinked at Emma's absentminded but precise use of magic, amazed by the control she possessed.
"Is this clean?" Emma then asked, holding the iPod up with her fingers as the headphones twined around them. "It would be very awkward if the Sheriff had to arrest herself for the possession of stolen property."
Neal harrumphed. "It's clean. I have receipts and everything." But, when she only stared at him, her green eyes piercing, he lifted his hand and rubbed his neck. "I had some money lying around and I bought it, I swear."
"And the music?"
"Oh, come on now!" He snapped. "It's full and there is no way I could afford that. Nobody not insanely rich can afford that."
Emma tilted her head considering, before she shook it. "Fine." She leaned against the wall of the pool and turned the device on. "There better not be Judy Garland on this," the blonde threatened as she looked through the listing.
"Well," he purposefully hedged, fully expecting her glare. "No, but there's some Wicked."
The Savior chuckled as she turned it off and wrapped the earphone cables around it. "This is great. Thank you." She said with gratitude before stuffing it back into her pocket. "Too bad I have to restrict myself to a couple hours…"
"Why?"
"The battery?"
"Oh," Neal gasped, before slapping his knee. "No! No, I forgot to tell you." He waved his hands in front of him. "I brought one of those manual chargers, for camping and stuff," he explained, miming winding a crank on a box.
Emma offered him a pleased smile as she climbed on the edge beside him. "Cool. Thank you."
Neal let out a grin in return. "Well, it was that or the coffee machine," he added jokingly but Emma didn't let him shrug this away.
"I mean it, Neal." The Savior then sighed as she rubbed her face. "Not just for the player, but for…" She motioned to the bathroom door. "It gets exhausting, you know. Being the Savior. And being around those two, with their expectations and hopes and dreams…"
"Fuck her."
The sudden profanity startled a sharp bark of laughter out of the blonde. "What?"
"Fuck her. Fuck them." He reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. "You grew up without parents, and you did okay for yourself. Granted, had a few detours, one of which I am at fault for, but you managed." Looking into her eyes, he saw the damage Snow had managed to inflict during one short morning and even though Emma would never be his girlfriend or whatever, he still very much cared for her. "Yeah, because this whole thing with curse and realms is so fucked up, your parents found you, but that doesn't mean that what you lived through or who you became doesn't matter."
"How do I tell them that?"
"You don't," he stated firmly, still holding her hand, hoping his touch would soften the blow. "They either get a clue or don't." The man then got up, pulling her up as well and tossed his arm around her shoulders. "But, don't let them keep you away from your family, and from my understanding, you still have a lot to do this morning."
Emma nodded with a slow hum. "Yeah…" She then pushed him, gently slapping his arm away. "Keep your hands off me," she muttered jokingly before she straightened her tunic. "I am a taken woman."
"Oh, God," he gasped with such an exaggeration, Emma chuckled at his behavior. "You think the Queen would kill me? Off with my head?" Once more gasped and clutched at his throat before he too started laughing.
"That's the wrong Queen there." Emma shook her head and punched his shoulder. "What's your opinion on this whole mess?" she pivoted, keeping him away from the door. "What do you know?"
"What do you mean?" He tried for innocence but her knowing stare told him that it wasn't worth it.
"I know you, Neal." The Savior spoke quietly. "Con Man must know everything about the situation he is walking into. Or-"
"-How else would he turn it to his benefit… Yeah, yeah, got it." He rubbed his cheek and tilted his head. "I didn't go down there, so this is just what I got from the Black Guard, okay?"
Emma leaned in, grabbing his shoulder, none too gently. "Spill it," she ordered.
He shook off her hand. "Alright, no need to leave bruises." Pursing his lips, he took a deep breath. "It's five of them, I don't know the names of everyone, but what I do know is that John isn't here."
"Really?" Emma hummed in interest. "He didn't bring his yes-man along? Others? Impressions, descriptions?"
"There is the Agrabahni, the minstrel and two others. For one, I heard some of the guards call him Gilbert Whitehand, some famous bowman." He saw Emma nod in recognition, so he continued. "Other is blond, tall, and capable of killing with bare hands."
"Much, I would say," the blonde supplied. "Nasir and Alan aren't diehard fans of Robin's, but Gilbert and Much are." The Savior turned slightly away as she considered what he had told her. "And, where is Roland? He wouldn't be away from his son unless he had to? Right?"
"I didn't even know he had a son," Neal commented softly, but Emma ignored him.
"John has to be with Roland. And, he is a bit of a blabbermouth if you get him angry enough, so…" She actually stomped her foot and groaned. "I hate this! We were supposed to enjoy Christmas together, not deal with random Enchanted Forest nonsense." Emma then craned her neck until it cracked before she shook her whole body. "Okay," she sighed. "Okay. Let's rejoin the meeting."
He nodded and reached the door first, opening it for her. As she went out, she patted his shoulder gently before she walked towards the settee Regina and the children were on.
Emma slowly took back her seat beside Henry, smiling in gratitude at Gwen who had stood up to give her place on the couch. With a few murmurs as the girl passed her, the healer excused herself and went to Dai, relieving him of his solitude for a moment, before she walked over to the Charmings, engaging them in conversation. Meanwhile, the blonde settled down, letting Henry sink into her side as she listened to her wife outlining with Damian how the Throne room meeting was going to go.
"Do you have anything to add?" Regina turned her head to look at her, the brunette's eyes going over her face in barely restrained worry. But, when Emma looked back and winked at her, the tension from the Queen's body dissipated.
"Line the walls with people," Emma spoke up, using her hand to wave the Imperial Commander over.
"We don't have that many people to both man the walls and swarm the Throne room," Damian noted with some reluctance, glancing at the Queen in apology.
"That is why Li," Emma said pointing at the Commander who had just joined them, "is going to help." The Empire man nodded and bowed his head, thumping his fist to his chest.
"How can I be of service, your Grace?" he asked, his exaggerated subservience betrayed by a teasing glint in his almond eyes, getting the blonde to roll her eyes at the name before she smirked at him in turn. Even Henry didn't miss the subtle byplay, a soft chuff escaping him as he peered at the two men and his mothers.
Using a small bit of her magic, Emma made an outline of the Throne room in glowing blue lines hovering in the air right in front of her and Regina. Smiling at Henry's softly uttered 'Cool', she leaned a bit forward, inviting the men closer. "As Regina said, everyone from the castle should already be inside when she and the boys arrive. That means the Merry band as well. Their own guard is to surround them and keep them to this side, out of the way." Emma pointed to the outline. "Two Blacks in full armor with halberds, or glaives, are to be beside the dais, one each side of it, and their sole duty is to guard the children." Regina had previously said that she would keep a protection ward around the Throne, but still, Emma wanted the added security. "We are treating everyone as hostile, both the Merry fools, and the Camelot/Tintagel contingent." Emma looked up and when she garnered nods all around, she continued. "So, Li will supply the warriors with polearms to fill up the numbers inside without compromising the defense of the castle, as well as four crossbowmen to be stationed above, on the platforms in the rafters." The platforms that Regina had installed ages ago right for this purpose, where a pair of Heartless would surveil the Court events and intervene if need be.
"If that is the case, Sheriff, your group will need to be disarmed as well," Damian pointed out.
"Yes," Emma agreed. "But, it also means Charming is not allowed his sword in the room, only a knife or a dagger." The Savior remembered Aileen's rebuke and comment from her own wedding very well, and she intended to honor it. "Mulan is your officer," Emma turned to Li, "so she could technically be armed, as an added sentry. And, I want her around Charmings and Neal here." Once more she pointed to the outline.
The four of them agreed on a few more tidbits, before Regina dismissed both Damian and the Commander. Then, Emma turned to Cheeky, who had simply shuffled to the corner of the couch and kept his quiet while the others dealt with things. Seeing the youngling's drooping eyes and slight pallor of exhaustion, she frowned.
"I would rather hide my connection to the dwarves for a bit longer," the blonde started gently, in order not to startle the young dwarf, turning more toward him. "But, if you want to attend this, I will not stop you."
The dwarf simply patted Emma's knee before he shook his head, stifling a yawn with his other hand. "No, Emma Swan," he spoke slowly. "I am tired and not really interested in the big folk business."
"You can go now and rest," Regina spoke quickly before Emma could reply. "We will not be offended if you want to leave."
"Much obliged, your Majesty," the dwarf said quietly before he lumbered off the couch. Then he stood in place for a moment, hesitating, his arms shifting restlessly beside him. When Emma smiled and leaned forward, inviting him in, he jumped at the invitation and hugged her strongly, but briefly. With a slight blush covering his cheeks and the top of his ears, he bowed to Regina before turning away, getting to the door.
"I better see he is escorted," Regina muttered as she got to her feet, shifted Kyle to her hip and talking to the dwarf, she guided him outside.
"He is not like other dwarves I know," Henry noted quietly, watching after both the dwarf in question and his mother left the chambers.
Emma chuckled at her boy's comment, before she leaned back, pulling him closer to her with her arm around his shoulders. "Don't take this the wrong way, but he is the first dwarf you have met." Before Henry could deny Emma's words, she spoke about the seven. "The dwarves in Storybrooke got cursed into men, and they had been men for a long time, Henry. Perhaps even longer than they have been dwarves. And, the Curse left its mark, changing them. They might still identify as the dwarves, but not one of them has used their dwarfish names after we broke it. Only jokingly, and as nicknames, right?"
"Yeah," her son agreed in a quiet voice.
"But, yes, he is different from other dwarves," the blonde finally replied to Henry's original statement. "So much so that some of the others of his kind bullied and shunned him for it," she added, unable to stop traces of anger from seeping into her tone. "That's why we brought him along. He wanted to join me the first time I met him, but now, I couldn't deny him. Not when his safety was in question."
"Whose safety?" Regina had returned and with care for the toddler in her arms, she sat beside her son. When Emma simply gestured to the door, the brunette nodded. "Ah, yes, a charming young man," the woman said with a smile, before she turned to look at Emma. "What else do we need to do to get this thing going?"
It didn't take long to do a quick check up with Regina, and barely five minutes later, Emma was on her feet and looking around the room. Two tasks she took upon herself, and with them done, they could let everyone get ready and move the day along. So, with that in mind, the Savior searched for the first person she wanted to talk to, doing a small, almost unconscious wince when she saw in whose company that person was.
No use in stalling, the blonde noted to herself, taking a fortifying breath before she walked around the couch and to the one side of the room where three people stood, two women engaged in what seemed to be a quick paced but pleasant conversation, while the man stood beside them, following it with both amusement and bewilderment.
Emma slowly approached the group, not willing to interrupt before the natural break in the conversation, but for all her care not to be rude, she was prevented by a sudden half shouted gasp of her name. The woman's utterance stopped the conversation cold, and now all three of them were looking at the blonde, each one with a different expression upon their face.
Not willing to engage, not only because she was loath to get into another explosive exchange, Emma stepped forward and looking only at the young Healer, she inclined her head just a bit. "Mistress Gwen," the Savior addressed the girl by her now proper title, her calm but officious delivery bringing an amused smile pulling at Gwen's lips. "A moment of your time?" Emma added, offering the girl her hand in invitation.
"Of course, Geilgeis," Gwen replied, reaching out, and placed her own hand onto Emma's, before she turned to the couple she was with. "If you would excuse me."
The Savior made a step away, guiding the young healer, but suddenly her path was blocked by her mother, the woman quickly jumping in front of her, reaching for the blonde, but not touching her.
"Emma, please," Snow said quietly. "We need to talk about this!"
After a suffering sigh, the blonde turned her head to look at the pixie haired woman. "We will," Emma said simply. "But, not now."
The rebuff didn't sit well with the princess, the scowl appearing on her face. "When, then?"
"When I have time, and when I am in a mood for listening to your rationalization," the Savior replied coldly, her eyes darting to her father and back to Snow, to encompass them both in her words.
The woman's face crumpled. "It's not a rationalization," Snow mumbled in objection before she stepped away, falling into David's arms as he pulled to him.
"We will wait, Emma," the Charming said quietly before he started whispering into his wife's ear, his words of comfort still audible to the Savior.
With her parents now busy, Emma guided the younger woman to a side. "I apologize-" she started saying as she turned to face Gwen, but the healer simply reached up and placed her hand to Emma's shoulder.
"Do not worry about that," she spoke gently. "You wanted me for something?"
"Yes," the blonde nodded, getting back on task. "Are you interested in attending this gathering in the Throne room?"
Gwen tilted her head, her perceptive eyes tracing over Emma's face. "You don't want me there, I assume."
"It's nothing against you," the Savior was quick to say, but Gwen only smiled.
"I have spent years immersed in the court politics and intrigues of Camelot, Geilgeis," the healer reminded the blonde kindly. "Being barred from this meeting is not an insult, especially if you think that there will be trouble." When Emma's shoulders slumped slightly in relief, the young woman stepped closer. "But, in case of injuries, I expect to be called, Geilgeis."
"Yes, Mistress," the blonde said immediately, before she took Gwen's hand again. "Thank you." Then Emma sighed with some tiredness, bringing her other hand to her eyes. "I want to limit the number of people they see, in case some of them are reporting to someone else."
The healer waved off the explanation. "It doesn't matter, Geilgeis. You are the Sheriff and Sovereign of Tintagel," Gwen spoke quietly, looking up at Emma. "But, above all else, you are my friend, and I trust you." Before Emma could once more utter words of gratitude, the healer patted the blonde's shoulder and, after a brief moment of consideration, walked away, finding her way to the Empire man and drawing him into a conversation with ease.
Emma watched the healer make new friends with affability that was quite charming on the girl. After all, that same strange quality had made Emma, self-proclaimed cynic and misanthrope, a friend to the healer.
But, now, the Savior had other business, and with another glance around the room, she found her next targets, luckily standing by each other. Not a minute later, she was right beside them, engaging them in yet another plan for the meeting in the Throne room, using her magical trick to show the two men what she had in mind.
"Is it enough to have just the two of us, Geilgeis?" Percival asked, pointing between Dai and himself. "I would be more comfortable by adding two more to our group."
Emma considered, but she really didn't want Robin to see how many new people were there. "You can have one more," she offered a compromise.
Percival nodded then looked at Dai. "Bodwyn would do, right?"
The Knight's friend rubbed his chin. "If intimidation is the factor, definitely." Emma agreed, as Bodwyn was a boulder of a man, and dressed in Camelot's Kings Guard, he was not only imposing but terrifying. "If you want to lull them in, Finn is a better choice."
The young soldier may seem like a villager freshly picked off a farm, but due to long years under Brocéliande's spell protection, Finn had honed his body to perfection, as had most people under Percival's direct control.
"No," Emma interjected quietly. "I am all for intimidation, and Robin is not quite versed in subtlety," she added, the jab at the forest thief not unnoticed, and when Dai, the usually taciturn and stony man, smirked at Emma's words, the blonde grinned at him.
Ignoring the byplay between the two of them, Percival hummed in acknowledgement. "Then, Dai and I will go and get Bodwyn and get ready." Inclining his head in greeting, he took his leave, with his friend following him in tow.
Emma left the hidden wardrobe in a hurry and walked over to the only people sized window in the room, which also served as a door to the balcony beyond. Although she wanted to go outside, she didn't open it, in consideration for other people. It was freezing cold out there, and an opened window would chill the chambers in a matter of seconds. So, she just stood by the window, looking outside.
The blonde needed a minute, and not only because of the very sensitive topic of her parents. All this planning, arguing, even conversing was hard on her, especially since it was packed in such a short amount of time. It didn't help that the air around her felt thin, almost empty, so she had to fight her own body not to descend into a panicked reaction of heaving and gulping whatever air there was left. It had nothing to do with oxygen, Emma knew. As a matter of fact, the air in the Enchanted Forest was fresher and cleaner than anywhere she had previously been, including Neverland. It was the effect of disappearing magic, made worse by her having been submersed in some of the most powerful energies this world had to offer.
There was a small but still niggling sting of jealousy Emma was trying to discard, knowing that it wasn't fair, or even comparable. However… She could see Regina adapting to this very unsettling feeling of loss much quicker, helped no doubt by her long stint in Storybrooke with her magic locked away. And, she could remember well how panicked and out of sorts Regina had been in the first days of the curse, so…
She took a deep breath, then another and yet another, placing her onto her chest, her palm pressing into the slight lump created by the rights she was wearing around her neck. That small meditative break helped, so she gathered her wits and in a quick stride, she got to the door and opened them.
The Guardsman she had met earlier that morning turned to her, inclining his head in respect, waiting for her to speak.
"Benedict?" Emma addressed him quietly. "Her Majesty will be out in a few minutes with our children. If you could somehow alert everyone to be ready?"
"That would mean leaving my post, Sheriff Swan," the man replied respectfully.
Emma nodded. "I know," she added softly. "It's alright, Ben, you are not derelicting your duty," the blonde told him with understanding. "And she will not come to harm. Not while I am around to have a say about it."
The Guardsman's eyes held her own for a moment before the man accepted her words and released her from his sharp gaze. He then bowed, thumping his halberd against the floor. "As you will, Sheriff," he stated and then walked hurriedly away to relay the message she had given him. She didn't begrudge his hesitation. In fact, she felt somewhat amused and relieved by it. Even though she was the Savior, and all other things that demanded respect, for the Black Guard, she was Regina's True Love. And, that small bit of reluctance to take her word for Regina's safety spoke of the love the sworn Guardsmen had for their Queen, and she could never begrudge anyone loving her wife, definitely not after so much scorn Regina had already faced.
She got back into the room, closing the door behind her, as she looked over the quarters. The abandoned food still sat at the table in front of the couch, chairs and stools were strewn haphazardly around the room, speaking of the large gathering they'd just had. In the days of old, Regina would have servants running around the castle, doing their job and keeping up with the things, but now, she only had her soldiers, and despite their unwavering loyalty and love, it really wasn't fair to them to treat them as mere domestics.
Considering the lay of the room, the blonde brought out her magic and put the things to right, even tidying up Henry's messy clothes and school work.
If all worked as she planned, the castle would have someone servicing it soon enough.
Having learned new stuff about Robin, Emma wasn't much surprised about it, to be honest. After all her thinking (Regina would rightly point out that the blonde was brooding) time in Brocéliande, she had, albeit reluctantly, come to accept that the stories about various heroes were just that - stories. She knew from her home's turbulent history how certain factions and points of view colored everything, oftentimes glossing over, or outright hiding, the dark and depraved things.
But that wasn't why she had gotten up from the couch in a barely concealed rush. She needed to talk to Liam, so she cornered him right as the man was greeting the quiet Brocéliande soldier.
"Dai," Emma nodded to him in greeting, "Liam," she then addressed the Wolf.
"Yes, Geilgeis?" the shifter hailed her by her new name, drawing a soft huff of resigned acceptance.
"I see that one is making rounds," the blonde noted, making the men smirk before she shook her head. "I have a question to ask, and I need a brutally honest answer."
The Wolf shifted his weight and straightened up, giving the Sheriff full attention, the man beside doing the same, despite the fact Emma was looking at Liam. "What do you need to know?"
Emma glanced around the room before she leaned a bit in. "I need to send messages to some people, but I cannot risk using magic to do so." The blonde glanced at the soldier before she looked back at the eyes Aileen seemed to share with her son. "What is faster for this purpose?" Emma finally asked. "A horse rider or a wolf running without the Moon?"
"If we are talking under current conditions," Dai spoke up. "We would need to know the destination. There are many things to consider, not just the speed."
"He is right," Liam agreed, bringing his hand up to rub at his beard. "Open space and wooded areas are different for travel, and I definitely would not send anyone to traipse around after the night's fallen, be it horse rider or Wolf." He then inclined his head to the Savior. "But, it's to Charming Palace, correct?" Getting Emma's nod in return, he considered the path they had taken only a few days before. "It has snowed a lot after we arrived here, so a horse would have to fight the alluvion as well as the cold, so it would slow them considerably." He mused out loud, getting a grunt of agreement from the soldier beside him. "And, the way we took was the easiest one for the horses, using the main roads to get here, going some distance due to the curvature of the road." Liam then lowered his hand, crossing his arms. "If you need to send those messages now, I would send people the more direct path, as we did the first time you sent us out there."
The Savior remembered the events well, the dark magic emanating from the cuff Liam had used to prevent shifting having seared into her mind. But, she also remembered that he had led his men on a night and a day trek to the Palace.
"A whole day, though?" Emma questioned.
Liam chuckled at the blonde's dissatisfaction, knowing that she was going by what he had told her then. "Only this time the messengers would not need to waste time on hounding deer or fight the sway of the Moon," he supplied gently.
"How long?"
"If I send them out now, they will be there before nightfall, quite possibly sooner," the shifter calculated, certain in his answer.
"Less than six hours, really?" Emma replied in surprise. She knew they were fast when they wanted to be, but didn't think they were that fast.
"My runners are fast," the man confirmed, his pride in his people obvious. "But, you also need to consider this. After a few leagues away from here, Geilgeis, the land slopes to the sea, and if my runners catch a good approach, it would be that much easier for them," the man explained.
"Alright," Emma accepted his reasoning, familiar with the geography of the realm. "I need you to send someone as soon as possible," she said, her hand waving in front of her. "You'll find two sealed notes in your pants pocket, one is to go to Rumplestiltskin and the other is to Captain Hook."
Liam used his lowered arm to feel out the outline of the newly appearing messages in his trousers, nodding to Emma.
"But, after the messages are given, your shifter is to find William the cook," Emma continued in an urgent whisper. "He is to be told that the Queen needs a household, at least a bare minimum he could gather."
"You mean the servants and staff?" Liam inquired after being confused by the Savior's expression.
"Yes," the blonde said with a nod. "Your people and the Black Guard have managed so far, but it's not your job to do the household chores, particularly because you already are in charge of protecting the castle and its occupants."
"Alright." The shifter nodded again. "I assume that my man is to urge William to hurry as much as possible?"
Emma tilted her head slightly and thought of the man she had met several times. "You know, I wouldn't be surprised if he is already prepared to join us here, waiting only for the orders."
Liam chuckled lightly at her words, pleased at the knowledge that his Mistress's people would be eager to serve her again. "Then, I leave you to do as you bid, Geilgeis," the man said, inclining his head to the Savior, before he offered a short nod in goodbye to the soldier beside him.