The Swan Princess

Swan

Chapter 5

Swan

Emma woke up next to a warm, soft body. She furrowed deeper into the warmth, ejoying the delicious smell, her favorite smell.

Apples.

She sighed as her arm snaked around the small waist and her head rested against the other woman's chest.

"Gina," Whispered Emma hugging the Evil Queen closer to her, but the woman did not react. She moved away, slightly, not wanting to be touched by Emma.

She was indifferent to the girl, cold.

Emma didn't mind her hostility and held onto her. She wanted the queen to talk to her, to tell her something. She didn't quite understand the Queen's behavior. She wanted Regina, the woman that appeared in her dreams. The young, raven haired woman she so constantly shared a bed with. Where the Queen was bare of clothes and bare of the coloring that made her eyes look cruel.

Emma pressed her lips to the woman's chest, right above her heart and yet, she had no response.

"Regina, please." Emma said in a broken whisper. She wanted to cry desperately, but instead she got out of the bed and ran, her surroundings changing suddenly. Like magic. She ran through the woods, seeking something. What? She did not know.

And yet she heard the Queen's voice tell her "Love is weakness," over and over like a prayer...or a curse.

She felt a rush run through her veins, like ice cold water. It was then that her anger became sadness and her feet became weak. She could run no more.

"Love is weakness, my little ducky. Love is weakness." She heard as her lungs burned inside her and she fell to her knees. "Goodbye." Whispered her Queen's voice.

Emma woke with a start, clutching her chest and gasping for air.

"Mama?" She called, wishing her mama were home so she could hug her and reassure her, but she knew better. Her mama and papa were away, working for their daily bread.

She wiped the tears off her face and got up. She knew going out while her parents were not home was forbidden, but she needed to see her friend. And she would not get caught; she knew they were always back just after noon and before sundown.

Emma dressed and took a piece of bread, which she ate as she made her way to the closest village. The memories of the dream came back to her as she walked deeper into the woods. The warmth, apples, the rejection...the Evil Queen's voice...tears stung in her eyes and she began to run.

Surely her friend would make her feel better.

"Goldie! I was just about to go see you." Lilith, her best friend said, the smile on her face falling as she took in Emma's expression.

Lilith was the daughter of Maleficent, another well-known villain around here, but Emma and her had been friends for a long time. No matter what, they were always there for each other. It was almost as if they had had a connection since before birth. Lilith was dark where Emma was light; Their hair, their eyes, their complexion...even their thoughts. There had always been something about darkness that intrigued Emma. She wondered why that was and always came up with one thought: the Evil Queen. The one thought she pushed away as hard as she could.

Emma hugged her friend with such force, the other girl stumbled backwards.

"Lilith, promise to never leave me, okay? I care about you so much....You're part of my family." Emma said, making Lilith return the embrace just as fiercely.

"Come on you, Gold. You know we are in this together, " Lilith said, pulling away and smiling reassuringly. "Whatever this is." She said gesturing to their surroundings. Emma used her hands to dry her tears and smiled as her friend bumped her fist against.