The Traitor's Wish

7. The Future's First Dance

TTW Ch7
The opening ceremony is tonight. Emma could not keep herself together. Something about the thought formed butterflies in her stomach. She wanted the noise of nature surrounding her and sweet violin music filling the warm air. She wanted to dance until her feet bled. She wanted to hear her heels tap the cold marble floor, and to see the smiles of her people, the joy they had, and the beautiful gowns from their fairy god mothers.

She was ready for the food, the scents and tastes of simmering chicken and spicy potatoes. The children running around the ribbon pull, and skipping stones across the lake. The elderly laughing at the young folks and her grandmother finally getting to see Edna.

All of the guards having fun as they danced with old friends and saw their families for the first time since recruitment. Laughs, tears, music, and food.

She wanted an excuse to hold Kade close, to rest her head on his shoulder all night long as they waltzed across the floor, as if they were the only ones together.

She wanted it all. That is why she went to his room in the middle of the night. The guilt had eaten her alive. She had to tell him.

She pushed the door open and snuck in, abandoning the knock weeks ago. He was curled up on his side sleeping. Emma touched her hand gently to his cheek, resting on her knees just beside the low bed. "Kade," she whisper gently.

He stirred slowly, leaning into her touch. "Swan," he rubbed his eyes, "what are you doing love?"

"Trusting you." She answered softly, hesitantly. He knew how much it took for her to say that. After all, she wasn't one to voice her feelings. His eyes opened quickly, staring into hers in disbelief.

"I'm sorry." She said, "I should've come to see you, but I just couldn't face what I-" she took a deep breath, her heart beating insanely fast, "what I feel for you." She said breathlessly.

He said nothing back, instead pulled back the covers and lifted her beside him. He knew he shouldn't, if they were caught even holding hands the king could have him hanged.

But he still kissed her hair softly. She still turned to face him and kissed him again, for real. It was all like a dream, when he woke up he would have doubted it, if it were not for the bright pink lips left behind on his cheek.
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Kade wanted a bloody glass of rum. It'd been months since he had even seen the ocean, and as the pain in his stomach grew, it was all he wanted.

The hazy care free attitude, no worry to beat him down, no arrow slice throbbing pain all through his body. He wanted to spend the night on his feet, and so far David had said he could.

It was his first day back to work. He wasn't on his full patrol yet. Instead they had him stationed in the center garden where coincidentally hundreds of chairs were set up and plenty of maids were there to keep an eye on him.

Hughs had been very displeased when David had put Kade back in the rounds this morning. He wore a smirk as David broke the news that Kade would not be stuck inside during the ball. Hughs was put back at his regular post and Kade would slowly be filtered back in until he was serving full time again.

The sun scorched down from the middle of the sky. The Queen had visited him earlier, sitting for a chat as maids finished the last decorations including flowers.

"Glad to see you out and about in time for the ball." She said with a bright smile, sitting in a chair near him.

"It is all quite lovely, your highness." He said, gazing not at the decorations, but a certain princess he had spotted not to far off, sporting a bright smile as she strode horseback through the fields.