Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

38 - Graham's Secret

James rode his white horse through the fields towards his mother's farm. She stood by the beach outside the cottage, arranging flowers in a vase.
James jumped from his horse and began to walk towards her. "Mother."
She turned to him. "Oh, you're back! You're alive!" she cryed running towards him, her arms outstretched.
"Yes." he smiled.
"Oh! Oh!" she put her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. She broke away. "Are you hurt? I've been so worried."
"I'm fine, mother, really."
"Look at you. Look at you!" she put her hands on his cheeks. "You look like......." she circled him happily. "....like a..... Oh, you look like a Prince."
She chuckled and James joined in.
She held his hand. "Come inside. I'll make us some supper. You should see the house, the farm. The king is going to take care of us. He's already started......." she began to walk to the house but James stayed. She stopped and looked at him.
"What?.... What's wrong?"
James looked down and sighed walking over to the bench. "Midas wants me to unite the Kingdoms. By marrying me to his daughter."
Her expiration changed quickly. "What?"
"It makes the grain merchant's dowry look like sheep dung."
She quickly began to walk to him. "No. You were right to turn down that offer, as you must do this one, too." she put her hands around his neck. "Every day you've been gone has shown me it was shameful of me to ever encourage you otherwise. Your freedom to choose is more important than anything...... I'll give up the farm."
"No."
"They can't force you."
"Yes, they can. And because of out ruse, Midas can never really know who I am, which........."
He stared.
".....we can't ever see each other again." his mother finished.
"Yes."
She looked down and thought for a moment then she looked back up at his face. "Then don't do it. Run away."
"I can't. They will kill you."
"I lose you either way. At least I know you'll be happy."
"I already accepted Midas' offer........ I didn't come here for advise, Mother." his voice shook and he stared into her eyes. "I came here to say goodbye."
Tears came to her eyes.
"There's too much at stake......... I couldn't let the kingdom suffer one my account....... I couldn't let them hurt you...... You were right about one thing........ Isn't have everything......" tears rowled down his cheeks.
"My boy. My sweet, sweet boy." she held his hands and kissed them. She let go of his hands and took a silver ring with a green jewel from her finger. "Give this to your wife to be."
"Mother, I don't love her. I don't even know her...... I can't take this."
"Just because you don't know her doesn't mean you won't grow to love her." she held the ring up. "True love follows this ring wherever it goes, my son......... I had it with your father....... I've had it as your mother........ Now you will have it. Take it."
"No. No."
She took his hands and put the ring inside them. "Take it, and I'll know, even if I never see you again, I'll know to find love........ I'll know you'll be happy." tears rushed down her cheeks now.
He nodded and she put her arms around him.
James stared down at the ring on his hands.

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Mary Margaret still stood by the river, under the toll bridge, twisting the silver ring with the green jewel on her finger.
She stared up at the sky until she heard someone running tears her. She turned around to see David standing near, breathing heavily. "You came." he said.
Mary Margaret smiled and looked down for a moment. "You sound surprised. In fact, you almost sound a bit disappointed."
"I remember."
"Kathryn?"
He nodded and walked slowly towards her. "Everything."
Mary Margaret stuttered. "And you love her."
"I don't know." he shook his head. "But I know I did. I remember how I felt. And....... I think I have to honour that."
"And everything that you said to me........" she stared.
"......Is true. I do have feeling for you. Intense feeling. Feeling I don't quite understand."
"You're going back to her."
"It's the right thing to do."
Mary Margaret thought for a moment. "The right thing to do was not to lead me on."
"I know."
"So you've made your choice."
He shook his head. "I'm sorry."
"That's okay. I guess it just wasn't meant to be." she began to walk away, her eyes filling with tears.

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Emma drove through the housing streets in the sherifs car.
Suddenly something caught her eye. She slowed down and looked out of the car to see a figure sneaking from the open window of the mayors house.
She pulled in, got out and shut the door quietly and sneaked over to the bushs a batten in her hand. She waited as the man walked across the driveway.
As the man was about to walk onto the street Emma swung the batten at him below his stomach. He grunted and fell to the ground. Emma looked down at the man, horrified as she saw his face.
"This is volunteering?" she shouted quietly at Graham.
"Plans changed. Regina needed me to........" Graham started still groaning in pain.
"Sleep with her?" she said as she looked at his ruffled hair and unbuttoned shirt.
"No."
She stared at Graham as he stood up then she looked up at the house. "Why we're you sneaking out the window?"
"Because........" he sighed. "......she didn't want Henry to know."
"You did this with Henry in the house?"
"He's sleeping. He doesn't know."
"Oh, my god, I wish I was Henry right now." she looked at him shamefully. "This is disgusting."
"I really do work at an animal shelter."
"You can finish my shift. I'm done working nights." she through him the keys and quickly walked away.

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David rang the doorbell of Kathryn's house.
After a moment she walked to the door and opened it.
"You were right. I did hate that windmill out front."
She nodded. "You remember."
He nodded too.
She stepped closer. "How much do you remember?"
"Enough. I know we weren't at a good place when I left..... I know you thought I was leaving you, but I wasn't..... I wanted to work things out..... I just needed some time...... Then I had my accident, and got much more time than I expected........ I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too."
"I know we have work to do. Let's see what happens."
She smiled and nodded happily. "I like that." her voice shook.
He stepped forward and took her hands.

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James took Princess Abigail's hand and walked her down, through the courtyard.
"Let this mark the beginning of a new era, of a new kingdom, United and strong." said Midas.
"An era of mutual prosperity." said James' father.
"Abigail, James, as I stay to work out the particulars of our new land with King George, go to your new home at my palace. We'll be along shortly. And the celebration will be beyond your dreams." Midas went on.
"Thank you, Daddy." Abigail said. She walked towards him. "I trust that you know best.
King George stepped aside with James. "I'm glad you made the right decision, son." he held his hand our.
"Thank you, father." he said as he shook his hand.
"Come. I'm tired of waiting." said Abigail to James.
"Then our journey shall begin." said James. "I thought we might take the scenic route."
She walke down the courtyard.
"Smile, son. You're on the road to true love." said George.
James looked down at the sachel in his hands and walked after Abigail.

They sat in the white carraige that the horses pulled through the forest.
A figure hide in the trees ahead, waiting.
"I told you the Troll Road would have been quicker." said Abigail. "Are you even listening to me?"....................
Snow smiled as she looked down at the carraige coming to a halt.

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Mary Margaret sat in Granny's Diner, tears rolling down her soft, pale cheeks.
Dr. Whale walked towards her and sat down. "Rough day?"
"Don't feel like talking."
"Come on, sometimes it's easier to talk to someone when you don't give a crap what they think."
She glanced at him and shook her head. "You ever walk into a situation where you know exactly what's going to happen?....... And then you go into it anyway.......... And then when what you were afraid of happens, you kick yourself because you should have known better........ But that's just who you are........ So you keep punishing yourself.........."
"No."
Mary Margaret looked at him again. "How do you do that?"
He chuckled. "By never doing what's expected. Keeps life interesting......... Can I buy you a drink?"
She glanced at him again and pit her arms down. "You can buy me two."
He smiled and nodded.