Henry has always been an adventurous child. Whether that be jumping out of trees and windows or just exploring a new place he's never seen before.
Living in a medieval castle just added to that effect. This has often lead to nearly giving his mother and grandmother heart attacks.
Not his grandfather though. No, David expected the mischievous streak, proclaiming Henry was fine and chuckled when the women shrieked at the way he fell and floundered.
As he grew up he changed from quiet to outgoing, from his obsession with cops and robbers to the most recent fascination of saviors and pirates.
All of that and he's still never outgrown the joys of a good old-fashioned expedition.
/
David walks into the kitchen and sees Mary Margaret already preparing breakfast.
"Good morning my queen" he says to his wife as he hugs her from behind and lowers his face into her neck .
She chuckles before replying "Good morning your highness" and turns around to pull him down by his shirt to meet her lips.
He's pulling her into him when they hear a voice and gasp, frozen in place.
"Hey, what did i tell you two? No sex in the public areas! Actually, on second thought, no sex at all." Emma shudders at the thought and exclaims "ugh." as she looks at her parents, who are both blushing beyond what should even be possible.
"Good morning to you too" David says as Mary Margaret tries to hold in her laughter.
"Good morning Em". She says as she hands Emma a plate.
"Um, Em, want to ride into town with us for some shopping? There's a new boutique down the road that Mary's been dying to go to" David asks to try to break the tension as she finishes her breakfast.
"No, im good. I have some stuff i need to get done. God knows i dont need more clothes, there's at least two loads of laundry between me and henry that's starting to pile up already."
"Ok." He chuckles gently. "You know where we'll be if you need anything."
Emma nods and hugs both of them before they turn and head for the stairs.
"Make sure you don't get lost alone anywhere dark." She calls and can hear her mother giggle. She smiles and makes her way to her room to start on her chores.
"Hmm, i wonder if Henry's up yet?" She could check, but he probably isnt so she decides to leave him be. She'll wash her clothes and come back for his a little later.
/
He's heard David talk about the dungeons plenty of times. About the killers and the thiefs and the danger, and while it should have deterred him, it's just drawn him closer.
If he had to guess, he'd say it was about 5:30 in the morning. Late enough for him being awake to not seem suspicious, but still early enough that he could sneak back to bed if he really needed to.
The stairs that descend from his room lead into a small passageway near the back of the castle, which rounds a bend and a hallway while the stairs come to a brief halt and then continue downwards to the left.
At the end of said hallway is a large wooden door that he has only recently begun to notice. Its wide and short, the wood is peeling and top is round, much unlike the tall towering doors in other parts of the castle.
He'd asked david, the first time he saw it. David explained that it was the old dungeons. There hadn't been prisoners down there for years, mainly because the stairs and cells were decrepit and rotting away and at some point it had been deemed unsafe and was condemned. He could understand that. The door looked like it could crumble at any second, not to mention the state of what was behind it.
But he's been having second thoughts. Although David's explanation seemed grand and most likely correct, something about that door nagged at him. Whether it was the fact that it moved periodically with the wind, or just that there were strange noises coming from it at times, something seemed off.
He'd woke up early and he could just feel it. Today would be the day. He almost got caught, coming downstairs and narrowly avoiding his mother, who thankfully was preoccupied with the overflowing basket of clothes.
Remembering his mission is what has guided him to the familiar hallway and the mystery of the door. The door which currently has forced him to indecision.
Should he go in? If David's telling the truth and he falls through the ruins, he'll most likely be trapped between centuries of decay. But if David's lying...well, then there's no telling what there could be. Finally carpe diem takes over and he gives the door a shove.
/
He gasps when he feels the door easily give way, and he stumbles into a passage well-lit by the dozens of torches set along the walls.
As he descends the light bend of the shallow steps, he can't help but wonder what this place is and what it means. Why did David lie? Surely he must know about this place. Does his mother know? Does his grandmother? What could possibly be so bad that they'd have to hide...
His thoughts and movements come to an abrupt halt when he hears a slight cough. That can't be. There werent supposed to be prisoners in this dungeon. Then again there wasn't even supposed to be a dungeon, yet here he is.
He wanders through the first passageway, coming to a halt when he sees a shadowy figure slumped against a rickety old cot.
"Oh my god. Sir? Sir! Can you hear me?" The man seems to acknowledge him, although it's not much more than a faint grunt and a slight shuffle towards him that brings the mans face into the light.
Henry sees a small water jug just inside the bars, and he reaches for it before gently tipping the contents into the man's open mouth.
The man drinks greedily and lets out a faint "Thank you" before opening his eyes and staring at the young lad before him. Henry decides he cant be much more than 30, if that. He's not sure whether to leave or stay, to find out why he's here or assume it's for good reason. He doesnt have much time to decide before he can hear his mother's footsteps coming towards him.
/
Emma knocks on Henry's door and walks in before noticing that the room is lacking its occupant. She assumes he's up and wandered off, god knows how much he did that when he was younger. So she grabs the basket and makes her way down the hall.
That is, until she sees a large door that is usually closed now standing wide open. Thats odd, she thought David sealed the dungeon up years ago. She sets the basket on the ground and slowly descends the stairs.
As she turns the corner she sees Henry staring into one of the cells, his face a mix of shock, horror, confusion, and betrayal.
"Henry? Are you alright?!" He can't seem to get the words out so he points into the darkness. Her eyes follow his arm and sees a figure. She gasps.
Thats...a man she hasn't seen for decades...a man she thought had abandoned her...a man she thought was dead...a man that had changed everything for her.
"Killian?" He looks at her and whispers "Emma" before his eyelids fall shut once more.