The Traitor's Wish

1. The Stranger's Mistake

Part 1:
A Royal Affair

The Traitor's Wish
Chapter 1
The Stranger's Mistake

Every Princess deserves a Prince, but Emma Swan deserved more. She was born of the truest love, Snow White and Prince Charming, and her dear parents wanted nothing less for her. Of course many suitors had offered her their hand in marriage, for she was a beautiful girl, but none of them had what she was looking for. None of them felt any different to her. She was not one to rush love.

Her parents wanted her to meet someone. They knew she had a true love somewhere out there, so she was introduced to as many men as possible, royal families, men of the royal guard, Dukes. She even spent time in the local markets, meeting simple commoners, her future people.

Her Grandmother was the pickiest of all. She wanted nothing short of perfect for the young girl. It had even sprung up conversation in their morning tea today.

Regina lifted her cup, taking a sip and trying to sneakily start a conversation Emma had been trying her hardest to avoid. "Met any boys lately?" A small grin was forming on her face that she tried to conceal, but Emma saw right through it.

She gave Regina her punishment with a hard glare, but the sparkle in her eyes told the Grandmother it was not completely serious. "Alight, alright." She raised her hands in defeat. "You have to agree, I'm not as pushy as your parents." She said with a sly grin, raising the cup to her lips for a sip of the sweet fruity tea.

"Now, Grandmother, the palace is not a place of gossip." Emma raised her nose to the air after taking a long drink of her own tea- her pinky raised up to add to her little act. Regina knew she would get her to crack. She raised her eyebrow with a smile.

Emma quickly set her tea back on the saucer. "What do you know?" She asked excitedly, resting her elbows on the table with her hand in her palms. If she sat like this in front of her parents, she'd be sent straight to her room.

Regina laughed, but leaned in to spill the secrets she had heard. "Your dad has been recruiting dozens of new guards, all of them an age suitable for you to wed. After all he can't have his little girl marry a thief." She laughed and sat back into her chair, a wide smile on her face. Emma could sense the old queen's joy. She could not imagine life in the palace without her. After all she had taught Emma everything she knew about surviving as a princess, specifically how to sneak extra dessert into her room.

She laughed at her father's attempt to find a worthy husband. "His wife stole his wedding ring from him and knocked him out with a rock!" She exclaimed, her eyes full of cheer.

"Can't have the same for his daughter. Oh, and the whole family is meeting the new members of the guard tonight." She added with a wink, knowing how much Emma would just love that.

The princess groaned lightly and fell back onto the pillows in her chair. "There goes my afternoon."

Regina sat a comforting hand on her knee, getting her attention again. "Everything will work out. It usually does after all." She said calmly, a light smile lit up her features, making her look years younger.

Emma took the encouragement with a grateful nod. She just wished if she had a true love he would hurry and show up. Her parents meant good, but their constant search for worthy men sometimes caused her great stress. She twiddled with the golden curl that fell all the way to her lap. "I have a ride with father any minute now. It will not please him if I'm late." She stood, smoothing out her dress

"Have fun dear." Regina hugged her tightly. It seems all the years have flown by so fast. She can very easily remember when she we'd the king, and became Snow White's mom. It was just like yesterday, like a dream she had in the night.