Hey guys, long time no see! I've been working in this AU for about a month and already have a few chapters written. I will be posting on Saturdays.
ps I know how things have been in the past but I am determined to write this story start to finish. I plan for it to be about 10-15 chapters long.
Today is my 22nd Birthday. The words rang out in her head over and over again. Today was the day she had been waiting for, the day she had planned for. Today was the day she was going to run away. The ball would be starting soon. She looked down in disgust at the red ball gown her mother had chosen for her. There was a knock at the door. Snow White walked in, dressed as beautifully as ever in a beautiful, blue satin ball gown. "Emma, are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Emma muttered with a sigh.
King David and her fourteen-year-old brother, Henry waited for them in the hall. "Happy Birthday, Emma."
Emma smiled down at her little brother. "Thanks, kid."
Emma's stomach fluttered as the large ballroom doors opened. Esteemed guests from all over the Enchanted Forest were there to celebrate her birthday. They all clapped and cheered as they parted so that the Royal guests could be seated at their thrones. Emma took her seat next to her mother and her brother next to her father. Emma took a deep breath as she watched the guests dance the waltz. "Emma," Snow said, causing Emma to look up. "Would you like to dance with one of your suitors?"
"No."
"Emma…"
"Mother, if I'm to marry, I need it to be on my own terms."
"Well we've few people to choose from, Emma."
Emma gave her mother a look. She had made a mistake, but her mother didn't have to rub it in at every ball.
About a year and a half ago, Emma had a dalliance with Prince Thomas. She was so desperate to love him, and for him to love her, that she declared her love only two months into their relationship. He had proposed, and Emma accepted with little thought. But, however, Prince Thomas's father, King Roland, did not approve of their union and Thomas left her without another thought. Normally, this would not have been a problem, but Thomas took what was his when they were betrothed, and left her at a devalued and rather undesirable status.
The Queen's face softened. "Oh, come on, sweetheart, for me?" In response, Emma groaned and got up from her seat on the throne. A tall man with brown hair and a scruffy beard waited for her at the bottom of the steps. She took his hand and was led onto the dance floor.
"Hello, Princess. I am Neal, of the Eastern Isles. My father is the Viscount."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," Emma mumbled, less than enthusiastically.
Neal frowned. "Forgive me, but you don't seem very cheerful on your birthday."
"Handsome and perceptive," Emma said sarcastically.
"No need to be grumpy on your birthday." He said, trying to be cheerful. "How about, with the King and Queen's permission, we could go on a stroll through the gardens?"
"I don't think that will be necessary, but thank you for the offer." Just then, the song ended.
"I bid you good night, Princess."
"And I you." Once back to her throne, Emma sighed and turned to her mother. "Mother, I am not feeling very well. May I excuse myself and go to my room?"
"But the ball has barely begun!"
"Please, mother. It is my birthday."
"Alright, very well, you may go."
"Oh, thank you mother." Emma got up hurriedly and walked to the guards stationed at the ballroom doors. They immediately let her pass and it was all Emma could do to hide the mischievous smirk forming in the corners of her mouth.
Once at her room she summoned one of her handmaidens, Elizabeth to help her with her dress. When she was dismissed, Emma began focusing on the task at hand. She opened the wardrobe and took out all of her practical clothing. Which, to Emma, was anything that was not a dress.
She donned her riding attire and put the rest of the selected clothing in her pack. She pulled her coin purse out from the drawer on her nightstand at examined its contents. The last she counted, it was a hundred gold pieces, so, naturally it was very bulky. She threw it, and any other pieces of valuable jewelry inside of her pack and put up the hood on her cloak. Her hand went to grasp her necklace. It was a silver chain, with a coin attached to it. On the coin was an imprinted picture of a swan, a gift from a friend she used to know. It was her most prized possession, although it wasn't much. And lastly, Emma left the note.
Dear Mother and Father,
By now I'm sure you have noticed my absence.
I assure you I am alive and well and that I have not been kidnapped.
I have decided to run away.
Even though I know you will search anyway, I encourage you not to waste your time.
I will come home when I choose, and if I do not wish to be found, you will not find me.
I am my mother's daughter after all.
Please tell Henry that I love him and that I'm okay.
I wouldn't want him to worry for me.
Much Love,
Emma
Now, it was time for the climb. She was unusually nervous, although she knew that there was no reason to be, the climb down the castle wall was one that was very familiar to her. She secured her backpack on her shoulders and opened the window. Taking a deep breath, Emma climbed out of the window and began her descent. Ivy grew all the way from her window to the ground and she often wondered if this was intentional. The room did once belong to Snow White.
Emma breathed a sigh of relief as her feet hit solid ground. Now it was time to run. She knew that the guards would spot her, how could they not? It was the eve of her birthday ball. But, more importantly, they wouldn't know who she was, which would give her a head start. "Stop! In the name of the King!"
And so it began. Only one thought ran through Emma's mind at that moment. Run. Like. Hell. And she did. She ran as fast as her legs would take her, weaving expertly through the labyrinth of trees in the never-ending forest that was her home. Emma stopped suddenly and hid in behind a tree. She could no longer hear the pounding of feet coming in her direction. Only faint, faraway yells. "We lost him!"
Emma grinned as she realized that she had arrived at the road that would lead her to the docks.
.
.
Emma boarded the gangplank of the Jolly Roger. A pirate ship she had heard many stories of when she ventured into town at night. There was a crew member, a plump man with a scruffy beard and a red, knitted cap, cleaning the deck. He looked up and acknowledged her presence. "I wish to speak with the captain," she said calmly, trying not to sound too authoritative.
The man shrugged and pointed. "He's in that tavern across the road."
Emma nodded curtly, then took off to the tavern. She paused in front of the door, wondering if it was really wise to take all of her belongings into the tavern with her. Caution be damned. I'm running away. Emma walked into the building, the stench of alcohol and waste immediately overcoming her senses. After regaining her composure, she began to search for Killian Jones.
In a sudden bout of confidence, she strode all of the way to the table, leaning against it and surprising all of its occupants. "What are you boys playing?" The captain eyed her seductively, his face wearing a slack-jawed expression. Emma chuckled. "Close your mouth captain, I'm here to do business. That is…if you're sober enough to remember it in the morning." Where the hell did that come from? This is Killian! Wait, why can't he remember?!
"What's your proposition, lass?"
Emma chuckled again. "I'm not making a business transaction in the middle of a tavern while you're surrounded by women and alcohol."
"Ooh, you're a feisty lass. Follow me to my ship, we'll converse."
.
.
Emma sat in a chair in front of the desk in the Captain's quarters. The man looked at her expectantly. "I wish to secure passage on your ship. And I need for it to be a secret."
"What's in it for me, love?"
"I can give you payment in any form you wish."
The Captain opened his mouth to speak.
"Except that of which involves indecency, Captain."
"Treasure."
"Coin or Gems?"
"Gems," He said, his voice a bit suspicious.
Emma opened her pack and searched for her most valuable necklace. She smiled as her hand grasped it and held it up so he could see.
"Sapphire?"
"Sea diamond," Emma said proudly. The diamond was a large oval, with both it and the chain encrusted with small white diamonds and pure silver. The Captain's eyes widened and he reached out to old the necklace, but Emma pulled it away. "This payment includes not only my passage, but it ensures that I am well-fed properly treated and protected, and lastly, that I can stay aboard for as long as I choose.
"Yes…of course….What's your name, lass?"
Emma paused for a moment, all confidence now replaced with fear. Her hand reached up to grasp the chain dangling from her neck. "Swan."
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