Reply To: Emma + Baelfire = Swanfire

[Slurpeez]

This is yet another post in which I analyze another deleted scene: This one is between Emma and Henry when they’re talking about how Henry was sorry he was ever tempted to listen to Cruella. He was tempted to rewrite history so that Emma never killed her to save him.

Emma: I never wanted to hurt anyone, Henry, and I know you don’t either.
Henry: That’s the only reason I got the pen, the only reason I kept it secret.
Emma: We’re family. We can’t have secrets. We have to share.
Henry: I’m sorry.
Emma: I know. I know. You were just trying to help me. Henry, never compromise your soul. Never, not even for me. I couldn’t live with myself.

Is Emma speaking from first-hand experience and regret? I know; that’s probably too much to ask for from these writers. Heaven forbid that Emma should actually have regret or remorse about saving Hook. But, the writers did have that scene for a reason (though they did cut it, grr). And the writers did include that scene when Merlin again warned Emma that she would stain her soul if she gave into darkness (i.e. saved Hook).

From 5×7 Nimue:

Merlin: ( Sighs ) I see two paths for our journey, Emma. On one, you resist the darkness and we succeed. On the other, you succumb to the darkness and I do not return. I die.
Emma: You die? But…
Merlin: Even immortality has exceptions. A dark one does have the power to kill me.
Emma: But they won’t even be there. Not really. ( Merlin looks down. )
Emma: Oh. It would be me. If you died, it would be me.
Merlin: If I die, it means that you lost your battle and the darkness stained your soul. Everything and everyone that you know will be at the mercy of the most powerful dark one ever… Yourself. No pressure.

It sounds to me like Emma is soul sick and weary due to giving into darkness from when she tethered Hook to Excalibur. Her warning to Henry makes it seem as if Emma is regretting that decision or at the very least trying to spare Henry from a similar bad choice. She did question what she was thinking by bringing Henry and her family to the Underworld to try and get back her bad boyfriend (you know, after he tried to send her family to the UW). Emma also seemed to be having real regret and a sense of reckoning when Robin died (too bad Hook interrupted that growing sense of guilt).