Fluffy white clouds blocked out the sun and sky, concealing the land in a bright, though cold, light. To some, it spoke of long, cruel, unfortunate frozen nights curled around the fire for warmth. Emma only saw the transformation as magical - the wonder of a world encased in ice and the scents of frost in the air. Oh, she knew it was deadly, but didn't that go hand in hand with the beauty of it all? The thought lingered in her mind as she stood nervously at the side of her father. Her impatient fingers subtly tried to loosen the fabric of her pale blue dress – so pale it looked almost like the snow at night. "I don't see why I had to wear this." The blonde whispered to her father, "What was wrong with outfit I chose?"
Before the man had a chance to speak, her mother cut in with a quiet hiss of, "David, please explain to our daughter that just because she's to marry a young lady, it doesn't mean she must dress like a man." Snow appeared to be smiling as she looked over her subjects fondly; it was a talent she'd mastered over the years, how to berate her daughter without drawing attention. Something her husband and daughter had yet to learn themselves.
"I don't wish to be a man! I wish to be warm, unless you mean for my gift to my new bride to be the winter sickness. You've never been troubled by my choices in the past." Petulant as the remarks were, Emma at least held herself properly and tried to remember to smile as nervousness caused her heart to hammer in time with the sound of hooves beating down the road.
"You're a princess, Emma. You must dress the part." Snow insisted, and shot a pleading look towards her daughter to behave.
David held his amusement at bay long enough to slap a supportive hand on his daughter's shoulder, and squeezed lightly. "Think of it as another ball or party. Soon enough it will be over and you may forget you were even wearing it."
"Don't encourage her, it's enough of a fight already to get her into a dress!" Snow had snapped quietly at her husband, who did nothing but chuckle warmly in return.
"Is that her?" Emma had asked immediately when the door to a carriage opened. It didn't matter that nobody could be seen yet; she'd already taken a step forward, desperate to look upon the girl she'd been betrothed to. The sight of dark hair, high cheekbones and full red lips would have sent any man to his knees but it was the girl's eyes that evoked a hitch of breath from the blonde. The intensity was simply captivating, even from a distance, but it was how the young woman treated the crowd that stirred the most feelings inside Emma.
A brave little peasant girl tumbled through the crowd to greet the foreign princess and went so far as to wrap scrawny arms around Regina's middle.
Her guard appeared ready to strike the child, but Regina gave him a look of warning, then smiled shyly at the girl and ruffled the little one's hair. When that earned her a disapproving glare from her mother, Regina politely moved onward, approaching her betrothed.
Regina blushed and curtsied before the Princess, but once their eyes met, she had trouble glancing away. Even after a squire with a long scroll read off her titles and formally introduced her, she stood silently and forgot all of the instructions her mother gave her.
"Regina, darling," Cora cut in, pushing her forward. "The princess Emma is honored to meet you."
"The honor is all mine," Regina softly muttered. "I apologize for my silence, Princess. It has been a long day of traveling and I suppose I am tired. Come, let us get acquainted, if it pleases you."
Emma was intrigued. Not once did her gaze divert from Regina, and as the foreign young princess came closer, it was her mother's subtle clearing of her throat that reminded her to bow. The second she looked away she felt the heat of a blush scald up her neck and she exhaled a shaky breath as she smiled. "Please, you mustn't apologize for such things. I'm sure you must be exhausted from your travels. I'll show you to your room where you may rest before the feast."
With a quick nod to her mother and father, Emma captured Regina's small hand in her own tentatively, and led the girl along the path towards the castle gardens.
Flurries began to fall, leaving Regina with a melting crown as she walked hand in hand with her betrothed. Her gloves did little to protect her from the cold, but Emma's hand warmed hers, and when she stood close by the taller girl, the wind didn't catch in her dress the way it did when she stood alone.
"There is much I wish to show you but only one thing right now I request you see before you rest." Emma's voice was full of excitement, and though she still felt apprehensive of the marriage, she knew immediately that she liked Regina.
"This…" Emma breathed out softly, stopping in the middle of the garden where a small sapling had been planted. It stood no bigger than three feet tall, but the blonde looked ever so proud of it. "Is my first gift to you."
Emma paused, her gaze lingering on the plant as she licked her lips nervously. "I know it must feel frightening, to be in a strange land, where you might wonder if you fit in so I thought, perhaps, if you saw that you already have roots here, you would be comforted. It's not towering, like the others, but it will grow to be just as big, and just as strong, with fruit as delicious as the rest. I planted it myself." The earnest, though soft way Emma spoke conveyed the sincerity, despite the hint of pride in her voice as she reached out to touch the bark lightly.
With kind eyes that shined with gratitude, Regina showed her appreciation of the sapling, and placed her fingers by Emma's to feel the rough, frozen bark. "How thoughtful," she sighed happily, although her stomach did a nervous flip flop when she saw how Emma gazed at her, awaiting approval. "It appears to be a healthy little tree. Let us hope that it survives until springtime. Perhaps we can build it an enclosure for the time being to ensure it will live through these winter months…"
With a soft, warm puff of air that clouded her vision, Emma uttered quickly, "I'll build one to protect it." She had considered it, previously, but had wanted Regina to see it first in all its three-foot glory. The potential of the plant felt significant to the blonde, who understood that in order to grow and flourish it would need to be nurtured, respected and loved.
The tree shook in the strong breeze that came up from the water, and Regina's teeth started to chatter. She gripped Emma's hand and guided the princess towards a pavilion, where they would be safe from the storm. So far, her new home seemed to be a wonderland of frost.
Regina stared up into Emma's eyes and her lashes fluttered softly, timidly as she reached out to lay a hand on the taller girl's shoulder. "I've waited all of these years to meet you," she whispered, panting small white clouds of heat into the air between them. "But I'm frightened, Emma. My mother will surely punish me for this, but I have to be honest with you. I only wish to marry for love. If, by the eve of our wedding, you have no love for me in your heart… please, beg your parents to put a stop to all of this."
In some ways, Emma felt lost - the nervousness that had hold of her felt strange. Typically, the blonde was confident and self-assured and yet, in front of her betrothed, she experienced vulnerability. Perhaps due to Regina's own timid behavior, or the look in Regina's eyes as she confessed her feelings.
"No one will punish you here." The slightly fierce hiss took Emma by surprise as it forced its way out of her, yet she stood by her words and gazed back at Regina intently. Devouring her words as if she'd been starved all these years. The person who she would be marrying had played over in her mind since the day she'd been told her hand had been promised to the girl. She knew very little, and had imagined all kinds of things. Fear, of course, had made her worry that the girl would reject her on sight, or that her betrothed would be cold, closed off, or worse.
In preparing for the worst, Emma had never dared imagine that she'd be granted such truths and thoughts on the matter. She was surprised, but her surprise belonged to the particularly thrilling kind that left the blonde's palms sweaty.
"I shall do as you wish if that is the case, but…" Emma cocked her head to the side, no judgment in her gaze, only wonder as she whispered, "But what of your heart? If on the eve of our wedding, you feel nothing for me, I cannot allow you to go through with it. I will not trap you here simply because I desire to be bound to you."
With a small smile, Emma lifted her hand to ghostly brush the back of Regina's with her finger tips as she whispered, "So, if we are not in love with each other, we shall not be wed."
Regina chose not explain what she would do if she discovered she could not love Emma. She had already observed that the princess was kind and considerate enough, and knew that her betrothed was capable of winning her heart. The princess' gentleness, and the soft concern she found in green eyes the color of sea glass put Regina at ease.
Even if Emma was not warm and welcoming, Regina had no choice but to offer her affections to the Princess. Her true feelings meant very little to her mother and she'd rather not suffer the consequences.
"I beg your pardon, Princess," Regina whispered, fearfully glancing over her shoulder at the thought of her mother. "I should not have spoken of my fears or troubled your mind with any of this. Forgive me, and please take me to my new bed chambers…"
Emma's smile faltered, then fell, as Regina pulled back, but she didn't move straight away. Instead she waited for the girl to meet her gaze, and insisted quietly, "If we are to share a life together then your honesty is something I wish to experience daily. I have no desire for you to tell me what you think I want to hear. More than anything I want to know you for who you are, thoughts and fears so very much included. I apologize, Regina, it was not my intention to overwhelm you the moment you got here. Your chambers are in the left wing, I'll show you to them now."
Regina clasped hands with Emma, hoping to show her betrothed how much she appreciated those sincerely spoken reassurances. "Thank you," she whispered.
The walk wasn't very long. With so many people setting up the grand hall, the corridors were mostly empty. Save for the guards stationed at each entryway to ensure the castle's safety on such a momentous day. Along the way, Emma pointed out artwork, and spoke of how dreary she'd found her studies in the library when she'd have rather been reading of adventure or off having one herself. It was small snippets of her life to fill the silence, and to quell the growing anxiety that built with every step she took.
"This is your room, here." Emma said gently, though made no move to open the door as she took a step back and bowed her head. Pale fingers fussed with the fabric of her dress as she gathered her courage to smile at the brunette. "If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask. My chambers are at the end of the right wing."
On tiptoe, Regina leaned in to kiss the princess chastely on the cheek, and then flushed scarlet as she closed the door to her chamber.
The vaulted ceiling was painted with angels and faeries, in the midst of a blossoming meadow where wildflowers grew. Draped in airy white, the canopy bed looked like a cloud, and the pristine sheets appeared to be as clean and untouched as the young woman who was expected to lie in them. She began undressing herself, but her mother entered without knocking and brought two servants at her back that finished the task in a hurry.
"You must watch what you say to the Princess," Cora stated in her quiet, threatening way, as she paced in front of Regina's ladies, who were helping her into a steaming hot bath. "Do all that you can to please her, or else there will be consequences." With a stern wave of her hand, Cora dismissed the servants and knelt by the tub to scrub her daughter with a sponge. She wanted this time alone with Regina, and truth be told, she trusted no one to make her daughter's skin as pink as she did. "Do you think the Queen will allow her daughter to be unhappy? Listen, Regina… I want to enlighten as to what is at stake. If this arrangement with the Princess Emma doesn't work out, I will offer your hand to someone else. About a month ago, King George sent notice that he'd happily enter into a marriage with you, and it matters very little whether we ally ourselves with him or the Queen. We are now in a position of power, my love. You will be queen, no matter what lengths I must go to…"
"But… mother," Regina gasped out in shock, and from the painful abrasions that Cora was working into her back with the sponge, "You should go to the Queen and tell her what King George has done. Whether I marry the princess or not, our men have fought alongside the Queen's armies for the last sixteen years. It would be a direct betrayal-"
"Knowledge is power, my sweet child," Cora liltingly told Regina, and then gathered her grown daughter in a towel straight from the bath. "We'll tell no one of this, and you will keep your mouth shut around your betrothed, hm? If anything were to happen, she'd be the first taken prisoner. Now, hush, no more of this talk. You must only worry about being a good girl and pleasing the Princess." She stroked Regina's hair and patted her skin dry, taking a moment to glance down at the girl who looked more a woman.
"Oh, I remember when you were little," Cora smiled. "Where have the years gone?" She went to the wardrobe and chose an evening gown for her daughter, with lace and an underdress that would keep eyes from wandering where they didn't belong. With tenderness, she smoothed down Regina's hair and then gave her child only a minute to get her bearings. "I'll go down and seat myself by Snow. I want to hear what the Queen and King have to say when you make your entrance. Don't linger in here too long."
Regina sighed in relief when the door swung shut behind her mother. She would have liked to fling herself down on the bed, but instead she went to her trunks and searched for the soft toy rabbit she hid away in one of her dresses. Her fingers pulled gently at the rabbit's whiskers, brushing them back into place, and then she lowered the toy back into its crate. Soon it would be time to dine in the main hall, and she was feeling timid and on edge.
In another part of the palace, Emma found her fingers brushing against the place on her cheek where Regina had bestowed the chaste kiss upon. The tingling of surprise echoed through her body as she changed later. The maids assigned to help her had rolled their eyes and laughed as the young princess fought Snow's wishes and refused to put on the gown she'd chosen. "One is enough for today." The blonde had insisted, and as soon as her mother had thrown up her hands and walked out muttering, "Her father's daughter through and through," Emma had began pulling out shirts and boots and jackets, things she knew her father would have worn at her age, with the bold and rich colors her mother had chosen them to be made in. Even as a child she'd been much more content in pants and shirts; it granted the freedom to run around in the gardens, and climb the trees to pick the fruits they offered. Many times as a young girl she'd caused a stir by trying to remove her dresses so she could go play with the other children, but in truth the kingdom had embraced Emma's free spirit, and expected nothing less as she'd grown with the children outside the palace, always so eager to make friends.
Like most children, Emma had gone through the phase of playing dress up. It was shortly after her fifth birthday, having been caught once again by her parents standing in their chambers with her little feet stuffed in her father's boots, and his fur lined cloak draped around her like a giant fabric puddle that pooled out behind her on the floor, wearing the shiny close helm of one of the guards while she brandished a stick at shadows flickering on the wall, that they decided their little princess would grow to be whoever she wished to be. The only thing that mattered at all was her happiness.
Later in the banquet hall, as she stood eagerly by her father, Emma pulled nervously at her jacket and tried not to fiddle with her cuffs.
"Perhaps she's tired." Emma murmured as her anxiety rose up her throat and she forced herself to swallow it.
"Nonsense. She'll be here soon, you'll see." David stated gently, then shared a look with Snow as he tilted his head towards his daughter, his lips quirking up to show his amusement at her nerves. The Queen smiled softly in return and rolled her eyes at her husband, but left them alone to talk in peace.
"I should have worn the dress." Emma spat out quietly, her anxiety making her jittery as looked around the large room filled with guests and tried to work out her chances of being able to flee. "Maybe there's still time."
"Relax." David rumbled, and placed a large hand gently on his daughter's shoulder. "You look beautiful, and I'm sure she'll think the same."
"You don't know that. What if she thinks I'm a lunatic? Oh no…" Emma's eyes widened and she turned to her father to quietly hiss, "What if she thinks I'm making a fool of her? I must change immediately!"
"Emma…" David's hand tightened around the blonde's shoulder to keep her in place before she shot off like an arrow. "Nobody here thinks that and neither will Regina, who, might I add, has just walked in."
Emma froze as her eyes found Regina and she swallowed thickly as the girl made her way to her side.
David slipped away without her even noticing and Emma wiped her sweaty palms subtly down the dark fabric of pants.
"Hi…" Emma shyly whispered, her smile nervous as she forced herself to make eye contact. "Did you rest well? Is the room to your liking?"
Regina sensed the nobles were staring and whispering about her, but her eyes never strayed from Emma, and she slipped her arm through the princess' as soon as she was able. "I'm feeling much better, yes, and I look forward to settling in over the next few days. The room is lovely and makes me forget the storm outside." Her gaze discreetly swept over Emma, and the handsome navy coat that the girl wore better than any man. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to stare. You were beautiful in your dress, Emma, but… somehow this suits you better. Should we be seated?" At first, she was uncertain as to who would pull back her chair; the men at her mother's table had always done it, but Emma naturally stepped up and took care of it. Then Regina reached over to push the princess' chair back in a way that was untraditional but went unnoticed by the other diners at the table.
The reaction Regina had to her attire stunned Emma, and she felt incredibly flattered by the compliments she had been given. "You're easily the most beautiful girl in all the realms." The blonde had uttered in a rush as she sat next to the brunette, and instantly busied herself by plating food to divert attention from her sheer embarrassment of blurting her thoughts. She knew better, of course. She'd been given endless lessons on thinking first before speaking, especially in such situations. Yet being faced with her betrothed had proved quite quickly that her filter had significantly weakened.
Regina placed her cloth napkin in her lap as the servants brought trays of roast game, mutton and fowl, and fish that were freshly caught and salted. As instructed, she took only a small taste of the dishes Emma appeared to favor, and complimented them all in turn. The desserts were rich and topped in sweet cream or decadent fudge that her mother never allowed her to eat. She chose instead a small vine of grapes and an apple, which tasted of summer and made her smile as she ate. "What was it like growing up here?" she asked. "What were you like as a child?"
As Emma recounted stories of running about the grounds and befriending the blacksmith's son, who soon became the princess' sparring partner, Regina tenderly reached out and ghosted her fingers over the taller girl's arm. "I bet you fight well. I would love to watch you practice."
The gentle touch to her arm coupled with Regina's earnest request to watch her practice stirred something almost animal inside of Emma, and she straightened up with pride. For reasons unknown to her, the princess had the sudden urge to go off hunting, for no other reason than to present Regina with the fresh meat and soft furs. Though Emma perceived it as a strange response, she couldn't deny the desire.
As the din and clatter of plates died down, lords asked their ladies to the ballroom. Regina held onto Emma's hand, although she felt faint with nervousness when she glanced at the Queen and her mother, and saw similar, expectant looks on their faces. "Emma, put your arms around me," she requested, stepping in front of the princess.
Emma went over the things her father had taught her growing up. To be aware of herself and how she behaved, to be respectful and to treat the girl with care, and never as a possession. Confident in her movements, Emma took the lead as the music changed to a slower pace and she nervously licked her lips as Regina came nearer.
The waltz was upbeat and lively, but the violinists began to play a slow song after Regina began to move. She tipped her chin up and stared in Emma's green eyes, and not for the first time she felt like she was staring over the side of a ship at the rocking ocean – the fierce beauty she saw gave way to the gentlest of rolling waves when the princess' eyes met her own. "Hold me closer," Regina whispered, and instinctively pressed herself into Emma. "I-I.. once came across a love story in my mother's library. I wasn't allowed to read it, of course, but I was a curious child. The author seemed to believe that dancing allows lovers to have conversations they wouldn't otherwise have in polite company, because no one can hear them whisper over the sound of the music. I've always wondered what he meant by that. Perhaps they were sharing their secrets…"
A tingle of excitement shot through the blonde as Regina whispered to her, and she instinctively pulled the smaller girl flush against herself. Emma's left hand found purchase on the small of Regina's back while her right saw fit to splay between the girl's shoulder blades, "Is this okay?" She whispered anxiously, aware that her shallow breaths were out of place with such a slow dance. "You know, I've always believed curiosity should be encouraged. I stand by that even more now, as I picture you reading the book."
The comment had rolled off her tongue without so much as her consent, but Emma couldn't seem to find it within herself to care as she gazed into Regina's dark eyes. The slightest tilt of her head said what she was thinking, yet she never missed a step as they danced together. "Perhaps it's a way to be intimate in a crowded room? A chance to share what's in their hearts or… Speak of desires privately without worry that those around them would hear." Emma concluded softly, her lips tugging down at the sides as she nodded slightly. Later it would hit her that as she held Regina in her arms, the rest of the room faded away, but right then Emma was too busy paying attention to Regina to even realize. "What else did you read in that book? Do you enjoy those stories? We have many, I'm sure, in the library. I could find some, if you wish, to be taken to your room."
Regina's limbs formed elegant lines as she spun around the floor with Emma, their bodies moving as one. She thought back to the illustrations in her mother's book, pages upon pages that were hand painted and bright, except the one near the end of the story where a maiden lay naked in bed. Every time Regina picked up the book, she flipped back to look at the picture, never understanding the impassioned expression on the young woman's face. Staring at the photo always evoked a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she had never read up to the part that explained what the young woman was doing or why she looked that way. "Desires," she echoed, repeating Emma and briefly remembering how that word appeared on nearly all of the pages of the romantic storybook. "Yes, that must be it. What secret desires will you share with me, your betrothed?"
Her chin found Emma's shoulder, and her cheek rested against the princess' cheek; she felt dizzy, either from the dance or from having Emma's strong arms around her. "I never finished reading the story," she admitted. "Mother discovered it in my bedroom and scolded me. I believe there was something improper described at the end. But I didn't read it for that reason. I only wanted to find out what being in love is like. Perhaps we can go to your library and look for a book to read together, but we'd best not read stories of that kind. We'll only get ourselves into trouble." The violinist played a last, long note, signaling a break in the dance and their conversation.
Emma kept her thoughts to herself until Regina placed her chin on her shoulder, then the blonde princess turned so that her mouth was close to the brunette's ear as she husked shyly, "If I tell you of my desires, will you share one of your own? I don't wish to make you uncomfortable but earlier, when you kissed my cheek, I left quickly because I suddenly wanted to feel your lips against mine." The confession was all she offered as the danced, in part because the embarrassment that followed robbed her of her voice. So she listened instead, and smiled as her betrothed told her of the book. Emma was caught between mischievous delight and concern, and it showed in her throaty chuckle that died on her lips as she husked, "We cannot get in trouble for reading the books in the library. We're due to be wed and we shall read what we want. Perhaps we'll find one similar to the one you never had the chance to finish. We could... Read it together…" Oh it was a bold suggestion, one Emma hoped with all her being didn't offend Regina.
"You want to kiss me?" Regina whispered hopefully, although she said nothing else on the matter; the thought of sharing a kiss and reading romantic literature with Emma made her knees shaky and breath sharp.
She took a step back from Emma and stared down at her hands. "Can we find a place to sit? I'm afraid I'm getting tired."
Emma carefully guided Regina through the crowd and to a row of seats in a quiet corner.
After all day in the carriage and her early morning rising, Regina was exhausted – not to mention, she was up well beyond her usual bedtime. She no sooner located a spot for them to sit than she fell asleep where she sat, with her hand in Emma's and her head resting on a cushion. She would have to be carried off to bed like a child.
It was David who came to check on his daughter, and the young girl who would one day be Emma's wife. "It seems the two of you have tired each other out," he smiled, and took a seat beside Emma. "Shall I call her guard to take her up to bed?"
Emma watched over Regina with equal amounts of wonder and curiosity. It didn't occur to her that she could let go of the girl's hand, nor did it strike her as odd that she didn't want to. Instead, the princess sat quite content, unaware of her father until he sat beside her. She turned to grin at him crookedly, and might have agreed had she not cast her gaze back to the sleeping form of her betrothed. "No…" She whispered softly, and got to her feet with a determined nod of her head. "If Regina is to be my wife, then it's only right that I see that she gets to her chambers safely."
David knew better than anyone that once his daughter had made up her mind, nothing would sway her decision. So, with a slight incline of his head, he gave his approval, "Well, I better get back to entertaining our guests."
Emma sucked in a slow, deep breath to calm herself, then gently scooped Regina into her arms the same way she'd seen her father carrying her mother. One arm supported the sleeping girl's back while the other rested under the crook of her knees. Regina felt light in Emma's arms. Lighter than the armor or stacks of hay she'd carried through the years. Carefully, the princess walked through the castle, and rolled her eyes at every guard that nodded and chuckled at her. They were all like family, really. A whole army of brothers that had spent their lives protecting her, and entertaining her. Which was why she stuck her tongue out at the guard stationed by Regina's chambers when he opened the door with a suggestive wink. She waited until he closed the door behind her before making her way to the bed. Though she hesitated when she realized she couldn't pull down the covers and hold Regina.
In a moment of panic she flicked her fingers towards the bed and sighed in relief when the subtle tingle of magic ran through her hand. The covers turned over just enough for Emma to place Regina down gently.
Regina breathed deeply and softly, content and safe in the arms that carried her from the ballroom to the warmth of her bed. Her heavy eyelashes opened once and drooped shut, but she stirred as soon as Emma tucked the blankets in around her. "Emma?" she whispered, then draped her arms around the princess' shoulders in a loose embrace before lying flat against the mattress and letting her head fall on a goose down pillow. "Some day, I will let you kiss me," she muttered. "And when we are married, we'll read all of the romantic stories by candlelight, in this very bed..."
The smile that graced Emma's lips as Regina spoke of their nights reading together was nothing short of dazzling, but before she could say how it thrilled her, Cora entered the room and startled the princess.
Cora's first instinct was to reprimand Emma for taking Regina to bed, but instead she smiled threateningly and placed her hand gently on the Emma's shoulder. "It was kind of you to see Regina to her room," she laughed with a faint hiss in her voice. "But if you wish to stay for a while, I must insist I chaperone." She'd spent the last eighteen years of Regina's life shadowing her daughter to ensure the girl remained innocent, and she would not give anyone the opportunity to think that she'd allow Regina to compromise her virtue before the wedding night. "You are young yet, Princess Emma, and there are lessons you only learn with age. There are those in your noble household and in mine who will assume you are behaving indecently with my daughter. All you have to do to prevent the spread of such nasty little rumors is to call me, or one of Regina's ladies in waiting, to accompany you."
Though she had no intentions of trying to take advantage of Regina, Emma still blushed furiously as the girl's mother made it very clear how improper she had been to take Regina to her bed chambers alone. "I-I would never-" Emma stuttered out as she was lead aside, evidence of where her thoughts had been clear as day in her wide eyes as she tried to shake the idea of kissing the girl. "Yes of course, I-I'll do that until the day we are bound by marriage." She hurriedly assured, and swallowed thickly as the intense gaze of Cora made her feel like a small child again.
With a gentle rustle of Emma's hair, Cora turned away and went to sit in a chair by the fire, which burned with enough heat to fill the grand room. Snow stepped into the bedroom next, greeted Cora warmly and straight away moved towards the bed, where she smiled down at both of the children. "Emma, I must speak with you before you retire for the night. If you are not done visiting with Regina, I'll wait for you." The Queen moved over to an armchair by Cora, and began to talk of preparations for the upcoming wedding – what winter flowers would dress the halls, what rare delicacies would be served for the parties, and what their daughters' dresses would look like if Emma would only agree to wear a gown.
Regina tried to make herself comfortable, but her corset cut painfully into her slender waist and prevented her from resting. "Can you loosen the ties at the back of my dress?" she asked, and then lay on her side so that Emma might help her.
As soon as Cora glimpsed what was happening, she rose from her chair and pulled Regina by the wrist up from the bed. "Come, daughter," she commanded, and ushered Regina away to a silk screen that would guard her from view while she changed.
Though the request didn't strike her as bad, the second Cora leapt from her seat to push away her questing fingers that attempted to loosen the strings of the corset, Emma realized she'd done something wrong again. "I apologize, I was merely trying to help." She blurted in an embarrassed whisper, but whether or not Cora heard her was beyond her.
Emma nervously tugged at the sleeves of her jacket. She dared not turn to glance at her mother in case the woman wore the same look Cora had given her, and quietly began to wonder if perhaps she was failing in treating Regina with the respect she deserved.
When Regina returned to the bed, she felt as though she was wearing more clothes than before, but they were at least made of soft fabric, even if they covered her from neck to ankle.
The princess moved to the side as Regina slid back into bed. Emma waited for the girl to settle under the covers before coming to stand beside her.
Regina sat down, and gradually resumed her position in the bed, but she was awake now and slipped her hand into Emma's cooler hand. "I don't want you to leave me yet," she sulkily whispered. "Will you come for me in the morning when you wake?"
The soft warmth of Regina's small hand as it slipped into her own caused Emma's heart to quicken, and she smiled bashfully as she murmured, "I fear I must, for now, but perhaps we will find each other in our dreams." It sounded ridiculous now that she'd said it but Emma cleared her throat and vowed softly, "I shall be at your chamber door the moment I'm dressed. Goodnight, Regina, I hope your dreams are as sweet as your company has been."
Emma grudgingly took her hand back and forced herself to walk away as she glanced cautiously towards her mother and Cora. "You wished to have a word with me, mother?" The princess gently inquired as she made her way towards the door. She did not hesitate to pull it open, making it clear that whatever would be said would be for her ears only. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Cora, I trust you'll sleep well." She said with a sincere nod of her head, before stepping into the corridor with a sigh.
Regina kept her hand outstretched even after Emma left her bedside, although she hadn't the chance to bid the princess a proper goodnight. Cora's hawkish glare was on Emma, and although Regina should have felt relieved that her mother's wrath was for once directed elsewhere, fear churned her belly and her concerned eyes followed Emma to the door.
As the room was shut up for the night, Cora came back to Regina's bedside and perched next to her, running her old, wrinkled fingers through her soft dark curls. "Sleep now, my angel," Cora whispered.
"Mama," Regina muttered softly, "Emma is honorable and never meant to trouble you by taking me back to my bedroom. I know you worry about my reputation, but I would never disobey you or do anything to bring shame to our family." Her drowsiness brought a pretty rosiness to her cheeks, and Cora kissed them both to quiet her child.
"You must be more careful," Cora asserted. "In a few weeks time, you'll be married and then everyone will smile when they see the Princess carry you off to bed. They won't make a mockery of it. One day, you'll understand that I'm only protecting you. For now, you must go to sleep." She blew out the candle on the night table and left Regina to rest, lingering only a short while longer before retiring to her own bed chamber.
Meanwhile, Snow walked down the long hallway to her sitting room, where she drank tea in the afternoons, played at cards and spent time with her family. She sat on her richly embroidered sofa and patted the cushion beside her, then took Emma's arm and drew her stubborn daughter into the spot next to her. "Emma, I can see from the way that you look at Regina that you're already enamored with her, and that pleases me greatly, because I never wanted to arrange your marriage for you. I wanted you to choose the person you'd spend the rest of your life with, and I honestly thought I would be consoling you tonight instead of giving you the talk I'm about to give you now. I know that you acted with noble intentions, and that you have Regina's best interests at heart, but you must be sensitive to the fact that not every one of our visitors knows your true character. When they see you taking your betrothed off to bed, they will assume that you are not merely tucking her in for the night. I've taught you what happens when love exists between two people, and how they express that love. There is no shame in that, not in my eyes, but the nobles believe in tradition, and tradition demands that you wait until your wedding night. I'm sure it seems unfair that everyone will judge you today for what you've done, and once you are married, they'll praise you for it. But, please, for your sake and for Regina's, do what Cora's asked of you."
Emma felt uncomfortable the second her mother began to talk, and it intensified as she sat there and listened to her mother explain the reasons why the nobles would be disturbed by such behavior. Despite understanding this, the words that escaped the princess were indignant as she sputtered, "But if a guard were to carry Regina, their armor surely would have hurt!" It was on the tip of her tongue to say that her father had allowed her, but she swallowed the childish impulse and hung her head instead. "You're right, I know… I just… I just wanted her to feel safe in my arms. To trust me, even for a short while, so she may feel at ease to be around me."
Truth be told, Regina had caused all manner of emotions to restlessly shift within the blonde, and while it felt exhilarating on some levels, on others it was terrifying. "How am I supposed to get to know her when someone is always going to be with us?" She felt embarrassed enough when she spoke her mind privately with Regina, but the notion of being overheard felt particularly vexing. The blonde princess shook her head and let out an undignified groan of frustration. "She must think me a fool for my actions. I must make it up to her. Tomorrow, would you send for her handmaidens to accompany us on a tour of the grounds? I'd like to show her the castle and have lunch in library." Once catching her mother's eye, Emma hurriedly added, "Not near the books, at a separate table where the parchment can't be soiled. It's too cold to request her presence in the garden."
Snow sat silent and patiently listened to her daughter's complaints and requests, awed by the range of emotion she saw play out on Emma's face. "Emma, please take a deep, calming breath. I'm sure Regina doesn't blame you in the slightest, and no one aside from her mother noticed that you left the party without an escort. I just wanted to have this conversation with you now, to avoid future problems. I'll make those arrangements for you, and rest assured, Regina's ladies need only be close enough to observe. They'll keep their distance so you can talk privately. It's important that you're given that opportunity to speak freely with one another, otherwise how are you ever going to know that you're making the right choice?"
Silence fell over them as Emma went over her mother's words of wisdom and took them to heart. When she next spoke her voice was low, but filled with conviction. "I would choose her." The princess confessed, "Even if this hadn't been arranged and I only met her tonight by chance. I would choose her."
Snow was pleasantly startled by the girl's certainty. Her arms circled around her daughter, and she exhaled happily, squeezing the princess close the way she did only when Emma was little enough to sit in her lap. "I won't force you to marry her if you change your mind, but I'm thrilled that this arrangement hasn't made you miserable," she admitted. "I've feared this day for your entire life, and even delayed this first meeting because I didn't want to put any pressure on you. But never before have I heard you so strongly declare your affections for anyone, and I can't help but think you've found your true love when I see you with Regina. Now, if you would only agree to wear the gown that the dressmaker has designed for you… all of my hopes and wishes for you will have come true."
Snow smiled and playfully ruffled her daughter's curly hair, then kissed Emma on the cheek. "I'm only kidding. I've actually been meeting with the tailor, and he can outfit you with a handsome suit like your father wore, if you'd prefer. You're an adult and a leader. You know how to wield a sword, and you've fought beside your father. I want you to be comfortable, and that means it's up to you to decide what you'll wear on your wedding day." She rose up from her sofa and went with Emma towards the wing of the castle where her daughter had grown up, the tower in the west where her nursery had once been.
Emma had always been independent, and often refused her attentions, but Snow decided to see her daughter changed and into bed. She draped a blanket over daughter, stoked the fire herself, and left only when Emma began to doze.