The Happy Couple (Tag: Alidia and Rahim) rated M

"I think Mother and Father wants to at least official name me as his successor and bestow me with my title as a noble. After that, we should be free to do what we want." Nahusha speculated.

Emma nodded "Okay my beloved...but you know this means you have to have a bride and a lot of these young women will be lucky to have you as a husband...they will be the luckiest girl alive...and born in noble blood and beautiful..."

"Now you stop right there. If you're suggesting that I would choose someone else over you, Emma, then you are very wrong. I could never dishonor you like that after all you've done for me, never. And you possess many qualities that a noble woman should have. Besides, how do we know that you're not nobility yourself?" Nahusha debated.

Emma started to cry. "I'm only a peasant girl who's almost of her family died when she was only 5...and she was traded in slavery...then she was whipped and beaten...but one day she was wondering the jails and she found a poor soul...she brought him love food and water... Nahusha I love you more then I love myself...I'm not of noble blood..." she felt heartbroken but she pulled him in for another kiss. And she placed his hands on her heart. 

"Emma, I can't force myself to cast you aside, I just can't. Besides, all the human women here are too old for me and many of the Cihpromorhtna females who seem interested in me are not peafowl. Mother explained to me the reason why Cihpromorhtna don't mix with different species of our race; feathers, fur, and scales don't mix well with each other. If I were to marry, say that female tiger over there or that monitor lizard lady over there, and have a child with them, one of two things would happen. The child would either be born dead or die shortly after birth." Nahusha paused to catch his breath.
"For some reason, Cihpromorhtna don't have that problem when they mix with humans. They can have children together just fine. That's why I've made a decision, Emma. Either I will marry you, or I will not marry at all." he stated with finality. As he was talking, Sharma was making her way toward them.

Emma started to cry "You wanna marry me...yes I will be your wife...I'd be honored...Just give me a moment...I need to put myself together..." Emma ran off to a river to wash up and she looked at her reflection. "This is actually happening Emma... you're getting your fairy tale..." She started to sing at the reflection.

She felt like she was being watched and when she looked up she saw fairies and she got up.
"Please we mean no harm....please lets fix you up...." they said and Emma nodded. They glowed and did circles around her and made her look like a princess in a peacock mask for Nahusha to guess who she was. She curtsied at the fairies "Thank you.." They smiled as they disappeared. Emma took a deep breath in and out as she walked in the party. She was wearing a blue dress with a pink sash on the skirt part. Pink peacock feathers with blue-green "eyes" and a white mask on.

"Really, Mother? She is?" Nahusha asked his mother, somewhat excited.
"Yes, my son. Rajasi and I knew her uncle for several years. He often spoke of his father, who was a Count. Since Emma is his only surviving heir, that makes her a Countess. How are you going to tell her?" Sharma asked him. Just then, he noticed the young lady in a mask and slightly different dress.
"I think I know how to tell her." he said with a smile.

Emma looked around for her prince charming and she sat down when she didn't see him. There were a couple of strangers that asked but she respectfully declined as she played with her hair and the pink water lily in her hair.

"Pardon me, my beautiful lady. I hope I might interest you with a dance. I hope I can talk to you about something important, Emma." Nahusha whispered into her ear.

Emma blushed as she nodded and began slow dancing with her prince. "Some water fairies made this..." she whispered as she put her head on his chest. "Whats the matter..."

"Nothing. In fact, what I have to tell you is good news. My mother was telling me something about your family. She and Father got to know your uncle very well and learned that your grandfather was nobility, a Count to be precise." Nahusha explained to her. "And, since you are his only surviving heir..."

Emma lost her breath of a minute. "Me...an heir? Its impossible...I thought I knew everything about my family..." Emma shyly looked at her prince's eyes. "I'm scared..."

"Why? Don't you know what this means? It means that you really can have a better life for yourself, even without help from me. You're a Countess, Emma. We can still marry. This doesn't change any of our plans at all, encourages them really." Nahusha consoled her.

Emma nodded. "I know...what it means...its that this is scary to think...I, Emma Chester...who was normal...was kidnapped traded and beaten...before I was 8 and I don't remember anything...maybe can you help me remember?" Emma placed her head on his heart, tears running down her face.
((OCC: Might be on and off this weekend having a friend over))

"Oh course, Emma. I can at least try. Perhaps, we might want to take a seat while we discuss this." Nahusha suggested to her.

(OOC: I understand. I actually have to attend a Mad Hatter's tea party this Sunday.)

Emma nodded as she sat in the chair. She wanted to recall her memories and if Nahusha was going to help her...she'd take all the help she could get.

((OCC:Thanks and I was thinking that Emma's recalling of her memories like Anastasia...))

"Is there anything from the past that might help? Anything that helps to jog your memory? Perhaps there's an old song from your past that can help you remember." Nahusha began going through possibilities. As the music played a certain tune, he hummed along with it. He noticed how she perked up at the sound and he recited the first few lines.
Dancing bears, painted wings
Things I almost remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December

Emma remembered that tune...she closed her eyes and a small glimpse of something. A woman with red hair. She heard a small voice calling her name. "Emma...where are you..." 

Nahusha wrapped her in a hug and held her close. Something told him it might help her more. He continued to recite the song as embraced her.
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory

Emma's memory was taking ahold of her. "Mama..." a young Emma was crying out in the woods alone. But she wasn't cause her friend Nahusha was keeping an eye on her from a distance... A man in black taking her; blindfolding her and someone screaming. "Emma...my baby come back...." Emma heard screeching. Like a bird of some sort. "Nahusha..." young Emma called. 

Nahusha hummed through a musical interlude. He rocked Emma back and forth as she seemed to be recalling memories. This feeling inside told him she needed it.
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory

Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember

Emma was entranced with the memories. "Dont forget me... Nahusha...." she screamed as she was taken. "Dont for...." Emma was tossed to a crate.  She started to see her slavery past. She started to shutter. She heard the "voice". "Your countess...no more..." he covered her mouth and her memories...gone. " Nahusha..." she softly whispered as the world went dark. The slavery beatings came to her. And her outlook was changed. Her hair changed color and cut.

As he held her, Nahusha looked down at her. His gaze filled with love and devotion to her. He vowed that he would be loyal to her as he finished the song for her.
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December

Emma snapped her eyes opened. "I remember...I remember it all...you and me...before...we were friends...betrothed...being taken...Nahusha...I remember you...and mama..." Emma began to play with his hair like she did when they were kids then she whispered his nickname. "My white hair angel...."

Nahusha stared at her for a minute. Now that he was really looking, she did look like his childhood friend. But after all this time, he understood why he didn't recognize her right away.
"It really is you. I never thought I'd see you again after I was taken away. If there's anything I could honestly thank the king for, it was that he brought us back together." Nahusha exclaimed, his joy evident on his face.