Once Upon a Time

Chapter 26

Hope looked up at the huge castle in front of her. There was a bridge over the river that was around the castle that let out at the sea. It was bigger than it had seemed from a distant.
‘It’s huge.’ Hope said.
‘I know.’ Faith said with a small smile.
Hope turned her head sideways and saw her best friend with a smile looking up at the building. She could see the happiness come up and the tension disappeared from her shoulders and face. Hope smiled.
She must be feeling like she’s coming home.
Hope’s smile disappeared and she looked down.
This doesn’t feel like home for me though
Hope turned her head to the other side and saw Finn’s face screwed up in pain. Hope slit her hand in his and gave him a reassuring squeeze. Finn looked at her in surprise and she gave him an encouraging smile. He gave her a smile back and then turned back to look at the castle.
‘Ready to go in?’ Faith asked not looking away.
Hope took in a deep breath and let go of Finn’s hand.
‘I guess we have to.’ Hope said.
Faith turned towards her and nodded.
‘It will be okay.’ She said.
Hope gave Faith a hug and then nodded.
‘It will be okay.’ She said softly.
‘Let’s go inside.’ Hope said.
‘I’m still wondering how you’re going to get in.’ Finn said.
‘Wait and see.’ Hope said.
They walked down the path, over the bridge and stopped in front of the gate where two soldiers were standing.
‘Stop right there.’ One soldier said.
‘We’re here to see the King and Queen.’ Hope told them.
‘Maurizio! Timothy!’ Faith said.
They both looked at Faith and then at each other.
‘It’s me, Faith.’ She said.
They both widened their eyes.
‘Faith?’ The left one, that probably was named Maurizio said.
Faith nodded.
‘It feels like yesterday that you were a little girl.’ He said smiling walking up to her and giving her a hug.
Faith smiled.
‘It’s been longer than that.’ Faith said.
Hope looked at the situation that was happening in front of her with raised eyebrows and when she looked next to her she saw Finn looking at it with surprise and a bit shock washed over his face.
‘How does she know them?’ Finn whispered, leaning into Hope.
‘I don’t know actually.’ Hope said.
Finn straightened up again and they both looked at Faith now giving the Timothy one a hug.
‘Come in, come in, the Queen and King will be thrilled to see you.’ Maurizio told her taking her by the arm.
Hope and Finn followed behind them and when they were in the gate closed. They walked into this beautiful front garden. There was a fountain in the centre and there was a path from the gate around it for cars, erm carriages of course. There were flowerbeds and healthy looking trees, birds tweeting and flying around. Hope looked at a little one that was sitting in one of the trees looking at her. Hope gave it a small smile and it flew up, fluttering towards her and landing on her outstretched finger. Hope smiled and stroked it’s tiny head.
‘How did you manage that?’ Finn asked.
Hope turned to look at him and shrugged.
‘I don’t know.’ She said.
‘Those particular birds never come near to people, let alone come towards them and sit on your finger.’ Finn said.
‘Why not?’ Hope asked.
‘I don’t know, I guess they are scared or they don’t like people?’ Finn said.
‘I’m human, why did he come to me?’ Hope asked.
Finn shrugged.
‘I have no idea.’ Finn said.
Hope looked back at the little bird that was looking up at her. It looked so cute and fluffy. Hope lifted her finger up towards her shoulder and the birds hopped off of her finger and on her shoulder.  Finn frowned, looking at what was happening.
‘How is that possible?’ Finn said.
‘Maybe he likes me.’ Hope said.
‘That’s obvious.’ Finn said.
‘This is so weird.’ Finn said and he looked back in front of him.
They had reached the huge doors of the castle and Maurizio opened them for them. They walked in as the doors closed behind them again. Inside the walls where light painted and there were two staircases with in the middle of the two of them another huge door. In the walls where large windows, with curtains hanging next to them. Most were closed, what made the room darker.
‘Why are the curtains closed? The Queen always wanted them open.’ Faith said.
‘After her daughter was gone, she didn’t want them open anymore. They had to stay closed. I think she’s depressed.’ Maurizio told Faith.
‘Depressed? Snow White? She’s always happy, always smiling, how can she be depressed?’ Faith asked.
‘After the princess was gone, she didn’t know what to do, she was not herself anymore.’ Maurizio said.
Faith gave Hope a quick look before looking back in front of her. Maurizio stopped in front of the huge doors and turned around.
‘No, you can’t take an animal into the castle!’ Maurizio said, but then he froze.
‘How is that possible?’ Maurizio asked looking at the bird.
Hope felt the bird getting a little nervous on her shoulder and she softly patted it’s tiny head.
‘Sssh it’s okay.’ She said softly to it.
‘He just came flying towards me outside.’ Hope told Maurizio.
Faith had turned around too and when she found the bird on Hope’s shoulder she looked up at Hope with a small smile.
‘Can we go further?’ Faith asked.
Maurizio tore his eyes off the bird and Hope and looked at Faith.
‘Ye-yes.’ He said opening the double doors for them.
Maurizio walked in and Hope, Finn and Faith followed him. Then Maurizio stopped out of the sudden, making Hope almost bump into him.
‘Wait here.’ He said looking at Hope.
Though he didn’t move, he just looked down at Hope. Then he frowned. It was the first time he really looked at Hope and she felt she was getting a bit nervous of his stare.
‘You look like-‘ Maurizio started.
‘Maurizio?’ A female’s voice said.
He fast turned around and straightened his back.
‘My Queen! I just wanted- well there are here three young-‘ Maurizio started.
‘Maurizio, I told you I didn’t want anyone to come into the castle today.’ She said.
‘I’m sorry my Queen, but one of them- well you’ll be happy to see her.’ Maurizio said.
Hope turned to look at Faith, who gave her a smile.
‘Oh, that’s right! I remember! You told me, the first time that you had seen me, was the time I was with my- my mother here, you were here with the Queen! How did I not think of that earlier?’ Finn whispered.
Hope chuckled.
‘Maybe we need to let your memory get checked.’ Hope whispered.
‘Funny princess.’ Finn said.
Hope smiled and turned back.
‘And who might that be?’ The woman said.
Hope saw Maurizio turning around, motioning them to come forwards. Faith walked at the front and they passed Maurizio after each other.
‘Snow, it’s so good to see you again, after all that time.’ Faith said.
When Hope passed Maurizio she saw the room was a huge ballroom. It was dark, but she could still see that it was beautiful. Then she saw the woman in the seat on the end of the large, long red carpet, that led to the three thrones at the end. The woman had sat up straight when she had heard Faith’s voice, her eyes widened and her mouth slightly opened. The woman looked beautiful, her hair was black and long, a fair white skin and her lips were red. She wore a beautiful “princess” like dress, it fitted her perfectly and was red with gold.
‘Faith?’ The Queen said.
Faith smiled.
‘It’s me.’ She said.
‘Oh my dear God, it’s you!’ She said getting up from her throne.
She walked towards them and when she got to Faith she gave her a tight hug.
‘You were so little when you left here.’ She said and a tear rolled down her cheek as she squeezed her eyes shut.
‘I know it’s just been a week after we unfroze, but it looked like ages!’ The Queen said.
Faith nodded.
‘It has been ages.’ Faith said.
The Queen opened her eyes and then she noticed Hope, who was standing behind Faith. She looked at her and then her eyes widened and a little gasp escaped from her mouth.
‘Is tha- is that-‘ She stuttered letting go of Faith.
‘Yes that’s her.’ Faith said with a small smile looking at Hope.
The Queen smiled and tears were rolling down her cheeks quickly. Hope didn’t know what to say.
‘Hope?’ The Queen said.
‘Yes that’s me.’ Hope said with a small smile.
The Queen got a smile on her face and she stepped closer to Hope. She stretched her hand out and softly touched her cheek.
‘You’re here.’ She whispered.
Hope swallowed and nodded.
‘You’re finally here.’ The Queen whispered more to herself then to Hope.
Hope nodded again then the Queen wrapped her arms around Hope and pulled her in a tight hug. Hope widened her eyes and didn’t know what to do. She knew this was her mother, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious, it was like a complete stranger was hugging her. And that was not so weird, because the woman who was hugging her, was a complete stranger to her. Hope swallowed again and looked in panic at Faith.
‘Hug her.’ Faith mouthed.
Hope looked around the room, for help, but there wasn’t any.
Why doesn’t Finn just stand there? He would’ve helped me.
‘I know this has been a lot to take in, but I’ll make everything up to you.’ The Queen said pulling away from her and holding her shoulders.
Hope saw that tears were still rolling down her cheeks.
‘My Queen? Is she really?’ Maurizio asked.
The Queen didn’t look away from Hope and just smiled.
‘Yes she is.’ She said.
‘I’ll go get the King.’ Maurizio said fast running away.
‘Your father will be so happy to see you back, finally.’ The Queen said.
‘Father?’ Finn asked behind Hope.
Then the Queen frowned.
‘Honey how old are you?’ She asked.
’16.’ Hope said softly.
Then the Queen turned around for the first time, looking at Faith.
’16? She had to be 18.’ She said.
‘I know, but Shadows came after her.’ Faith told the Queen.
‘On Earth?’ The Queen asked.
Faith nodded.
‘First something happened in a museum and Rumpelstiltskin came, after that the Shadows.’ Faith told her.
‘I’m so sorry Hope, I’m sorry for all of this.’ The Queen said turning back to Hope.
‘If it hadn’t been for the Evil Queen, you would’ve grown up here, but I had no choice.’ The Queen told her.
‘You always have a choice.’ Hope said softly and a tear rolled down her cheek.
‘I’m so sorry.’ The Queen said.
Hope turned around and ran away, ignoring Finn calling for her. She ran out of the double doors. Through the front doors and saw the gate was closed, so she was trapped. Hope stopped and then sat down at the edge of the fountain. Tears were rolling down her cheeks onto her hands that were in her lap. Then she noticed the little bird again, it was moving, hopping on her shoulder. Then there was no pressure on her shoulder anymore and a second later the bird was seated on her hand that was still laid in her lap. The little bird looked up at her. Now she could see it up close, she saw it was light blue on the top and it had a white belly, the little beak was a bright orange and the little feet where a darker shade of orange. Through the light blue fluffy feathers were little spots of a darker shade of blue, that couldn’t been seen on a distant. Hope gave the little bird a small smile and shook her head.
‘I’m sorry.’ She whispered.
The little bird lowered its head and placed it under her thumb. It almost seemed like the bird tried to comfort her. A bird that normally didn’t want to be near a human being, wanted to comfort her. Hope got a warm feeling inside of her. Then a green light appeared from her right hand. She slowly lifted her fingers up and saw a green sign appear on her pinkie, it looked like a leaf.
This is getting stranger with the second.
‘Hope?’ She heard someone calling.
Why didn’t I notice the anger before? Why did I feel it when the woman who claims to be my mother told me she was sorry? I don’t want to be angry, but I can’t help it. Why is all of this happening to me? I’m just an ordinary girl. I just want to go home. I even miss Claire and Veronica, I’ve never missed them, I would’ve been glad if they moved to the North Pole. I even wrote a letter to Santa when I was little asking him if he could make them be nice to me. Even if it was just for one day.
‘Hope.’ Finn said out of the sudden next to her.
Hope didn’t look up and just looked at the little bird in her hands.
‘Go away.’ Hope said.
‘I’m not going anywhere.’ Finn said.
‘Can I sit down?’ He asked.
‘No.’ Hope said.
Finn sat himself down next to Hope on the edge of the fountain and looked at her.
‘What about that princess?’ Finn said.
‘Shut up.’ Hope said.
‘Why didn’t you just tell me Snow White and Prince Charming are you parents?’ Finn asked.
‘Because- I don’t know Finn.’ Hope said as another tear rolled down her cheek.
‘I don’t know, it’s still sinking in.’ Hope told him.
Finn looked at her.
‘You know they did this to save you, right?’ Finn asked.
Hope looked at the bird in her hands.
‘If they hadn’t send Faith with you through that portal, there’s this huge possibility that you would’ve been dead right now.’ Finn told her.
‘I’ve seen what the Shadows can do, it’s horrible.’ Finn went on.
‘I know you’re mad at them, I would be too.’ Finn said.
‘I can’t help but feel that they didn’t want me.’ Hope said softly.
‘Of course they wanted you. You heard the Maurizio dude, the Queen didn’t want light to come in, she was depressed because her daughter, you, was gone.’ Finn said.
‘I don’t know about the frozen part thing, I have no idea what she was talking about just a second ago-‘ Finn started.
‘I’ll explain later.’ Hope told him.
‘But one thing I know, and that is she doesn’t want anything else more then you to be with her right now.’ Finn told her.
‘She missed you.’ Finn said.
Hope sighed.
‘I always knew there was something special about you princess.’ Finn said.
Hope looked up for the first time and Finn gave her a small smile, wiping her tears away with his thumb.
‘Thank you.’ Hope said softly.
Finn smiled and wrapped his arm around her, pressing her close to him.
‘No problem.’ Finn said.

Hope took in a deep breath and she felt Finn squeeze her shoulder. The bird had flown back up and was seated on her right shoulder again. Finn gave her an encouraging nod and Hope opened the doors. When she walked in there were Snow White and Prince Charming standing with Faith, they were talking, but when they heard the doors open they stopped and turn around. Snow White gave Hope a small smile and Prince Charming just looked at her. After a moment of silence he slowly moved forwards. He didn’t say anything and stopped in front of Hope. Hope looked up at the man. He had broad shoulders and she could see the muscles through his “prince/king/soldierish” suit. The man looked down at her and then gave her a small smile.
‘It is really you.’ He said softly.
Hope gave him a small smile.
‘Yes, it’s me.’ She said softly.
Charming opened his arms and didn’t wrap his arms around her, he invited her for a hug, he didn’t force a hug onto her. That calmed her a little bit and she slowly took a step forwards, slowly wrapping her arms around him and then his arms clamped her against him, tightly, into a tight hug. She felt him kiss her hair.
‘I’ve missed you so much.’ He said into her hair.
‘I know you’re angry, but you have to know we did this because we loved you.’ He said.
Hope bit her lip.
‘We would never have let you go if it wasn’t the only way to save you.’ He said.
Charming pulled away, but let his hands on her shoulders. He looked at her and smiled, just smiled.
‘I’m proud of you.’ He said.
Hope smiled and a tear rolled down her cheek again.
‘We’re back together, our family is complete again.’ He said.
‘And trust me on this, I would never let anyone hurt you.’ He said.
Hope nodded slowly. Charming stepped aside and Snow was standing behind him. Looking at the two of them with a small smile.
‘I’m sorry Hope.’ She said softly.
Hope nodded, she didn’t dare to say anything, she didn’t trust her voice. Snow White smiled and Hope walked towards her, giving her mother a hug as another tear rolled down her cheek.
‘I’m really sorry.’ Snow said.
‘We’ll talk about it later.’ Hope sighed and she let go of Snow.
Snow nodded and gave her a small smile.
‘So, shall we get something to eat then? I’m starving.’ Finn said.
‘And who are you exactly?’ Prince Charming demanded.
‘I’m Finn.’ He said reaching out his hand so Charming could take it.
Charming looked at it and Finn let his arm fall back next to his body.
‘He helped us find the castle.’ Faith said.
‘Thank you, young man.’ Snow said.
‘Shall we show you your room?’ Snow asked turning back to Hope.
Hope looked at Faith, who nodded, and then gave Snow a quick nod.
‘Follow me.’ She said with a small smile and started to walk out of the ballroom.