When All Else Fails

Sheath Your Weapon

The morning seemed bittersweet. Though the sun was shining, and all was peaceful in the kingdom, there settled a strange feeling in everyone's chest. Emma knew that beyond the city walls, and deep in the enchanted forest the rough terrain, and shady overgrowth gave safe haven to a beast. One that she believed no one had ever seen before.
She would never utter the words in the presence of her men, nor anyone else for that matter, but Emma was a bit frightened at the though of what they might find.

Snow, and David came into the stables with a few things.

"What are these?" The blonde asked receiving a bundle from her mothers arms.
"It's some fresh bread, and a blanket sweetheart.." Snow said.

David approached Emma, who was decked out in full armor, looking like a true white knight. He pulled his heavy red cloak from around his own shoulder, and gracefully tossed it around Emma. "Yes, the winds up north can sting a bit more than what we are used to.. It'll be the first time you've left the safety of our walls, but I think maybe it's a good thing." And he was right. As the commander of a whole army it would be in Emma's best interests to become familiar with the part of the realm she will one day rule.

The Charmings bid their daughter farewell, and watched as she, and her group of soldiers marched out through the city gate on horseback.
Once the gate was firmly closed behind them Emma signaled to her men. Without missing a beat they took of in a thunderous herd towards the forest.
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By sundown the horses were exhausted, and eight of the ten men were complaining if soreness. Emma knew their complaints before they said anything. She was feeling it too. The cold had set in once the sun went behind the trees. Some of the more seasoned fighters mentioned feeling the cold set into their joints, and how they felt it before it was even here.
"Killian. Can you give me an idea of what the weather might do?" Emma asked.
Killian Jones was a born sailer with a knack for telling the weather patterns. He joins the royal guard as a way o pay off a gambling debt he owed Emma.

"Ey,To be honest I'm getting the hints of snow in the air.." He said tugging his own blue cloak over his head.
Great Emma thought. Just what they needed.
"Alright I want tents up, and two fires made. Split up five, and five." The commander called, and the men hustled about.

Everyone say about their fire and ate their meals. Emma shared her bread with a couple of people but ate a lot of it herself. She made sure to save some because she wasn't sure that any market would be open if it snowed in a next few days.
"So.." A soldier named Donavon said. "Who wants to bet it's a bear?"
Everyone looked at each other. They hadn't thought about it..
"Well I for one think it's a mountain lion.." Sir Rowen said.
A couple of the men took their respective stances and tossed a few coins into a bowl.
A few more scoffed, and continued eating.
Killian leaned forward as if he was about to say something to contribute to the bet but Emma caught his eyes.
He knew better.

The night ended with everyone moving inter their tents. Emma did so and found that the cold had not yet seeped into the tent.
Without even thinking the woman tossed herself under her blankets and yawned. She wanted sleep to take her.
And it did..