Chapter 20 Moving forward...
The next couple of weeks went by like a blur for Regina. Emma on the other hand had been caught between the political side of things. She spent most of the time with the councilmen and councilwomen which also included her parents. They hardly saw each other or had any interactions with each other. Regina preferred it that way.
Things weren't going so great in the outside world either. The war between the werewolves and the humans had taken the first step. The joint power of both kingdoms was providing advantage to the humans. Although, the other kingdoms were hesitant at first with the Charming's decision to join forces with the Evil Kingdom but were witnessing the results of it within several weeks. Both kingdoms provided the other kingdoms with the numbers and strategies that were aiding them in acquiring as much land as they could while pushing out or killing the werewolves in their path.
Fast forward….
It had been well over a half year since marriage. Politically things were going very well. Both kingdoms were witnessing the decrease in wolf attacks in all kingdoms. The relationships between the two kingdoms were strengthening as the time passed by. Same couldn't be said about Regina or Emma.
"So…..what do you think? Is there like a third person situation going on here?" Robin spoke as he bit into a pastry and put his other hand on Daniel's shoulder to get his attention.
"Get your filthy hand off of me, Robin" Daniel spoke as he gave an ugly look towards Robin.
Robin quickly stuffed his mouth with the pastry and put both of his hands up in the air as if apologizing.
"Mmmmh…aaahh…" Robin voiced as he wiped his hands on his gear. They both had been assigned to accompany Princess Emma and Regina around the annual bazaar with many different shops for an outing and to show face to their people.
"I think there is someone, it has to be, don't you think so?" Robin again prodded about the subject to Daniel. As they both stayed several paces behind the princesses. Robin couldn't help but notice how the couple acted. Walking side by side, no holding hands, no acts of love showing between them. The distance between was them growing more and more with each step.
"Will you shut your mouth; it is none of our concern! We are here to protect and serve!" Daniel explained not wanting to get caught between the mess. His main concern was Regina per Cora's orders.
"Ah….man you are so boring. They been married for almost a year now but look at them they act like complete strangers…"Robin said as he halted Daniel in his step and pointed in front of them at Emma and Regina. "What do you think that tells the people about them? Huh? They are not even putting any effort to at least fake it." Robin emphasized, letting Daniel go who stayed in the spot shocked.
Daniel ran up to catch up to Robin, "I see what you mean, Queen Cora wouldn't be pleased!"
"Exactly!" Robin exclaimed as he it finally clicked to Daniel. "We have to do something for sure" Robin said with a mischievous smile. Daniel just looked at him puzzled. "What do you mean 'we'?" Daniel asked as he caught up to Robin again.
"I don't know yet, but something needs to be done. Why don't you pull Princess Regina to side and talk to her, and I'll speak with Princess Emma, hmmm" Robin waited for Daniel's response, he could see Daniel didn't think that was a wise idea. "Nothing wrong with talking to them, you know." Robin tried to persuade. Daniel couldn't help but agree. He needed things to be well between both princesses.
After a while, both knights had taken the lead to accomplish their mission. Robin and Emma were walking ahead of Regina and Daniel.
"Princess Emma, forgive me for being so straight forward but if there is anything on your mind, please feel free to share it with me, I will help you with the best of my abilities" Robin said with a big smile on his face, trying his best not to be so nervous. Emma just looked him, confused as what promoted this knight to ask her such a thing. She thought it over several times and debated. Not that she cared to share but this could give her insight into something she been curious about for a while now.
"Hmm… now that you ask me that, tell me about your princess….Regina I mean." Emma corrected herself, she felt so stupid asking this question but so far, her advances to form even a friendship with the woman were futile, she was on the verge of just completing giving up.
"Princess Emma, I believe you would know more about your wife than anybody else…am I correct ?" Robin spoke too hastily, was too late to notice the look of anger on Emma's face the moment those words came out of his mouth.
'I am done for now. She is going to chop off my head for sure' Robin thought as he looked at Emma with fear in his eyes for his life. He noticed Emma's grip harden on her sword and gulped.
"Apologies milady, forgive me for my assumptions, I didn't mean to intrude. I was just stating the truth…" Robin stated with a weak voice.
"Damnit all!" Emma spoke harshly as she stared daggers in Robin's direction. She took a breather in and spoke again. " It's not your fault. I am sure like everyone else you and the others have noticed our strained relationship"
"Take Princess Regina back to the castle, I will be back shortly" Emma said as she made her way away from the group to the castle gate. All Robin could do was release a breath of relief and nodded his head.
He walked the opposite direction back to where Daniel and Princess Regina were.
"Milady, Princess Emma had advised to take you back to the castle" Robin said as he bowed to Regina and stood up straight waiting for her reply. Daniel could notice the slightest hint of fear in his eyes.
"Where is the princess?" Regina asked looking behind Robin to try to spot the blonde woman. When she didn't find her, she diverted her attention back to Robin.
"Apologies milady, Princess did not say as to where she was headed, we are to take you back were her orders before she departed in the opposite from us." Robin shared as he waited for Regina to decide.
"I see" were the words that Regina spoke with a hint of sadness to it which didn't go unnoticed by the two knights.
Emma had made her way to the very spot she had been avoiding, but something is her was pulling her to it, she needed to go and see, hope hanging in the air.
She let the breeze hit her face, as she tapped Beetle's side to let her horse know to go faster. The only sound she wanted to hear right now was her horses' strides and the air filling her ears.
Emma slowed Beetle down as the place she and Ruby used to hang out at was in view.
"Easy there, Beetle" She got off her horse and made her way to the edge of the cliff.
"Wish you were still here, my friend. I wish I could convey to you how sorry I am for the way things turned out.." Emma spoke softly as she looked up at the sky. Tears running down her face. She still couldn't understand how things turned so ugly. She stayed there for a while just thinking back on their time together. Practicing sword fighting, pulling pranks on each other and when needed sharing thoughts and concerns. She missed her friend dearly.
"I need you here with me Ruby…..more than anything Regina needs you my friend." Emma spoke as more tears started to fall. She wiped her face and looked in front of her. The view was amazing she could see the castle from this cliff. That was the reason both Emma and Ruby decided to meet here. This was their spot; this was the place where they could be themselves and let go of the formalities.
"Where did you go?" Regina inquired; the moment Emma into the dining area as Emma took her seat next to Regina. Emma gave Regina a look ignoring her question.
"I would like to be made aware, so I do not look like a fool in front of your parents" Regina stated in a harsh tone, furious that Emma decided to ignore her.
Emma leaned into Regina and whispered in her ear. "Don't worry about me or my parents, Princess. You don't have to answer for me"
Emma smiled a small smile at her and proceeded to eat. Regina even more furious now at the statement abruptly got up and left the dining area. Emma paid no mind at her action.
"Emma.." Snow spoke out as she noticed Regina leave. "What is the matter?" Snow inquired.
Emma sighed in frustration and looked at her parents who were waiting for her to explain what just happened, "I don't know mother. She gets like that sometimes" Emma tried to brush it off.
Her parents weren't having that poor excuse. "Emma honey…we have noticed things are tense between you two….I know this isn't what you both wanted but we thought if you both gave each other time, things will sort out own its own." Snow said with a sad look on her face as she took hold of King James hand for support.
"Emma darling, please go after her, she was waiting for your return, she hadn't even touched her food" King James stated as she gave Emma a look that said, 'do as I told you'. Emma huffed a little and wiped her mouth clean and got up and made her way in the same direction as Regina had.
"They will be alright, my love." James assured Snow as he put his other hand on top of Snow's hand and smiled at her. "Our daughter may be stubborn, but Regina is a good girl. Emma needs someone like Regina to keep her steady" James shared his thoughts about the couple.
Hearing that made Snow ease her tension.
"Regina….wait…." Emma called out behind the brunette, but Regina was not having it. She kept ignoring Emma and made her way to the room. She reached for the door and was about to shut it on Emma when she felt something was stopping her for completing closing the door. She looked down and noticed that Emma had stuck her sword in the crack between the door and the frame, preventing it from closing. Regina gave a deadly look at Emma and said, "Emma….leave me alone!" Regina spoke trying her best not to scream at the blonde.
Emma ignoring Regina's statement pushed past the door, making Regina step back. Regina caught off by the sudden movement, caught the back of her dress at the bottom of her foot as she tried to step away from Emma forcing her way in.
A loud thud was heard inside the room, Emma quickly turned around after closing the door shut to notice Regina on the floor next to the bed.
"Oh my god, Regina…..I am so sorry" Emma spoke the words so fast, inwardly cursing herself for letting something like this happen in her presence. She quickly got down to Regina's eye level and noticed Regina squinting in pain and rubbing her back.
"Here, let me help you up" Emma stuck her hand out in front of Regina to take. Regina gave Emma a look, "No need, I am capable of getting up myself" Regina gathered herself quickly and made the motion to get up on her feet but ended up losing her balance again and was waiting on the second impact with the floor, but it never came.
Emma had ignored Regina's statement and the moment she noticed Regina was about fall again. She quickly wrapped her arms around Regina's waist to keep her steady and prevent her for falling.
Regina opened eyes to notice the state they were in; she couldn't help but feel furious all over again at the audacity of Emma putting her arms around her waist. "Let go of me, Emma" Regina spoke quickly but when she got no response, she looked at Emma's face notice that she was lost in thought while staring intently at her. "Unhand me, right now" Regina spoke a little louder, feeling the blush creep up on her cheeks.
This woke Emma out of her stupor and was about to let go of Regina but stumbled back herself but not before Regina took hold of her armor sleeve. Next, they both knew, they landed themselves on the bed with Emma on top of Regina.
Regina had shut her eyes the moment she left body lean back again; she slowly opened her eyes as she felt the bed underneath her. She was now holding tightly to Emma's biceps with both of her hands. Emma found herself blushing so hard that she could feel the heat on her face. She ended up landing on top of Regina, right between Regina's legs but managed to put her hands out to brace herself next to Regina's heads.
In her embarrassment, Emma couldn't help but look deep into those brown orbs as they slowly opened up to notice Emma's face right in front. Regina felt herself blush again at the look she was getting from Emma. "So beautiful" Emma accidently blurted out. Which made Regina blush even harder and look away.
"You can get off of me now, Emma" Regina managed to get the sentence out. Emma broke out of her stupor and paid attention to the words directed at her. She tried to get off of Regina but felt herself unable to move. Emma then noticed the strong hold that Regina still had on her arms.
"Um….your grip….." Emma said as she looked back into those brown orbs. Regina quickly let go of her hold and looked away. Emma couldn't help but notice Regina was breathing a little heavy and the blush on her face kept getting darker.
Emma took hold of Regina's chin with her hand and turned her face so she could look at her again. "You are so beautiful, Regina" Emma whispered out. Emma then leaned into Regina their lips slightly away from touching. Emma closed her eyes as she closed the gap between them. Regina's eyes widen in shock, and she gripped the bed sheet underneath her tightly. Emma slowly started to deepen the kiss; she was surprised that Regina hadn't pushed her off already.
Next thing she knew, Regina started to engage into the kiss as well. Emma peeked open her eyes to notice Regina had her eyes closed.
They both gave into the kiss, letting their carnal desire take over them. Emma moved her mouth down to Regina's jaw and then her neck, biting on a spot that made Regina open her eyes wide and whimper. Emma unable to hold herself back moved her hand between their bodies and started to undo the clasps and zipper on Regina's gown.
Before she could complete the task, Regina took hold of Emma's hand stopping her in her tracks.
"Get off of me, please…"Regina whispered softly. Emma shocked at the statement, became completely still and slowly moved off of Regina.
Emma sat on the side of the bed, unable to look to her side where Regina was. She could hear Regina adjusting her gown. The blush was intense now, she started to panic.
Regina got up from the bed and went to the dresser to fix her appearance. Emma sat there as if cold water was dropped on her. She felt sick to her stomach. 'Did I just force myself on her?' Emma thought as the panic started to intensify in her mind. She got up and grabbed the doorknob.
"Emma….." Regina spoke out softly, she turned around in the chair to face Emma.
"I…." Emma refused to face Regina and couldn't even say what she wanted to say. She wasn't even sure there was anything she could say that would redeem what she had just done. There was no going back from this.
Before Regina could add anything more to the conversation. She saw the door close to the room.
'What's happening to me?' She felt guilty for giving into Emma's touch, into the kiss. She touched her lips softly, thinking back on the moment.
"No..no..no…this cannot happen….." Regina spoke out in panic. She started pacing back and forth inside the room. Feeling restless and all other types of emotions she had shut off after Ruby. She wished Emma had stayed so they could have cleared things up. But all that woman does every time is leave her to her own devices and thoughts.
"This is nothing but a trade…remember that next time…"Regina told herself. Her mind had other plans though. Emma was running through her mind nonstop. She decided it was time to change and get ready for the evening. A bath would help ease her worries and thoughts.
Emma on the other hand, decided to hit the training ground to get her mind off of things. Especially Regina.
'I really crossed the line now. If she didn't hate me enough, she certainly does now' Emma thought to herself as she took a swing with her sword at the wooden mummy. She was concentrating so hard at taking jabs and practicing her strikes she didn't notice Daniel approaching the training ground.
"May I join you, Princess Emma" Daniel spoke out to get her attention.
Emma stopped what she was doing and turned around to face Daniel.
"Sure" Emma waited for Daniel to unsheathe his sword. Danielle had thought Emma would want to use wooden swords but when he noticed Emma get in position he received his answer. He smiled a little.
Clanking of swords could be heard all around the training ground. They didn't know how long they had been at it. But both were breathless and tired but didn't give into defeat. Daniel was surprised that the Princess could hold her own. He was very impressed by her strength and determination.
Emma on the other hand, felt the fatigue of the day dawned upon her. She noticed that she was breathing a lot harder than Daniel. Although she never doubted her dedication, but she also couldn't ignore the fact that she was very much distracted.
"Once again?" Danielle asked, raising his eyebrows at Emma.
"Why not" Emma shrugged her shoulders, pulling out from her thoughts.
The next round didn't go so well for Emma. She kept missing her opportunities and received several knocks down from Daniel.
"You are very good" Emma stated feeling breathless all over again. She was crouched on the ground trying her best to catch her breath. She tried to get up but felt herself get lightheaded.
Daniel sheathed his sword and stuck his hand out for Emma to take. Emma accepted the gesture. "You win!" she declared.
Daniel helped her to chair, motioned for one of the servants to bring her water to cool down.
"You did really great, Princess Emma. I would love to spar with you again" Daniel shared as he saw Emma chug down the water.
"I guess" Emma said, not really in the moment.
"Would like me to help you take you to your room?" Daniel asked.
Emma just looked at him. "No, that's fine. I am just going to sit for a bit before I go in for the night" Emma shared. Daniel nodded his head and excused himself, leaving Emma to herself.