Emma and Henry walked along the docks, coffee in their hands. They walked in an uncomfortable silence, Emma stuttering about, trying to think up words to say about how she was sorry he'd lost his father again.
Instead, she placed an arm round him, and they walked to the waters edge, looking down. Charming and Snow walked along in the distance holding hands, Gold and 'Lacey' strolling along, and Red chalking on the days special outside Granny's.
Suddenly, something shining caught Emma's eye. She squinted in the distance, and suddenly, the sun burst out, blinding almost everyone. The skies turned a bright blue colour, and the waters seemed to turn brighter. The shining thing on the water sparkled and Emma saw it closer. It seemed to be some sort of pendant. And it was attached to a body. Emma gasped, her mind trying to take in the sight. She yelled, and the people came running over- granted, Rumpelstiltskin and Lacey strolled more than they ran, but everyone gathered at the edge to see the floating body of a young woman, with streaming red hair. She looked pale, her lips slightly blue, but gave a sharp gasp and coughed, spluttering out water, before going under. Charming immediately leapt into the water, swimming towards her with forceful strides. He dragged her back onto the docks, and laid her body in front of everyone on the wooden floor.
Everyone gathered around, shouting different things.
"Quickly, someone give her CPR" Emma said. Gold pushed his way through the crowd.
"no need, dearie" Mr Gold said calmly. "I'll heal her"
"Yeah? At what price?" Emma said sharply, turning and giving him a suspicious look.
"Does it matter? Just save her!" Mary Margaret exclaimed. Gold's face suddenly dropped when his eyes fell on the young woman. Emma had never seen him look so shocked before, and he definitely recognised the woman. He bent down slowly, and seemed to mutter to himself.
"It can't be" Gold said, looking at the woman. He seemed to pause, until Emma gave him a sharp look. He was taking too long- now was not the time for a reunion.
"I will save her, but I have a price. Once she is healed, and has recovered- someone must bring her to me, straightaway, and no questions asked."
"Fine, just do it" Emma quickly said. They all watched, holding their breath as Gold waved his arm slowly over the woman. She seemed to glow, a golden hue enveloping her body. Henry knelt over her in curiosity as she began to give slow, shallow breaths as she looked at the little boy in front of her. Her eyes frantically darted around as she tried to take in the crowd standing around her. Her eyes widened when she saw Gold, her mouth opening in surprise.
"Done. I'd suggest some rest- a couple of days. Then bring her to me. I have some unfinished business with this little one" he said, almost bitterly, Lacey followed him as they walked off. The woman watched him go with frantic, terrified eyes.
"Let's take her back to ours" Emma said, as Charming hoisted her up in his arms.
An hour later, they all poured into the kitchen, Emma making tea for the couple.
"Are you sure you guys don't mind looking after her? She definitely has a history with Gold, and I don't want him hurting her" Emma said, as the woman slept in the bed. She still hadn't spoken.
"I think it's a good thing, taking this girl- woman- in. Acts of kindness are the most important" Mary Margaret beamed "and I can't help but recognise her. It's odd"
"Well, I did it more for Henry to be honest. I hoping he'll get so distracted with this that it takes his mind of his dad for a while" Emma sighed, looking down at the unconscious woman.
Henry sat, looking at her. She was wearing a green gown, made of floating materials, rich, like silk and gossamer. Her hair was red, long, and curly, reaching down to her waist. He eyes were a deep mossy green, with flecks of gold in them. She began stirring, giving him a weak smile, and reached over, touching his face softy, then going back to sleep.
The woman opened her eyes to the sight of a bright, happy room, with soft blankets, pastel colours, flowers in vases and light streaming in through the window. The smell of bacon, eggs, filled her nose and she used her elbows to prop her up. She looked to see a blonde woman smiling down at her, holding a tray awkwardly.
"Here- some breakfast. Uh, Mary Margaret made it, I can't really cook" she said, giving a slight smile.
"Thank you" the woman said. Her voice was musical and sweet, and she seemed a bit in awe of everything around her. Emma had that feeling before. She took the tray, and looked at the food. "I haven't had bacon and egg in years" she said, looking down ravenously.
"Really? I couldn't survive without it" the blonde woman said, drinking coffee.
"Oh… I'm more of a vegetarian. Absolutely no fish" she said, her eyes twinkling as if she held some kind of secret. "But, I could really get used to this" the woman grinned.
"Well, eat up, and then we'll talk" Emma said, patting Henry's head as he slept on the edge of the bed.
The woman cut into the bacon, and egg, taking bites of warm, buttoned toast, fat, juicy sausages and crispy bacon, delicately sipping at a glass of orange juice until she was finished. She sighed contentedly.
"Thank you so much" she said, leaning back and closing her eyes. "That was perfect"
"I'm guessing you'll want to get freshened up, too" Emma said. "Showers at the back, and there are warm towels and clothes for you"
"Bless you" the woman said, standing up, stumbling.
"Pins and needles? Or just feeling woozy?" Emma said. The woman looked like she was struggling to walk.
"Oh.. yeah. Just a little dizzy"
Emma could tell she was lying. Odd. She didn't get an 'evil' vibe off the woman, though. And Henry was certainly taken with her. "Well, I'll give you half an hour, but we have to be quick. My parents will be back soon, and we all need answers"
Precisely 30 minutes later the woman came back, in tight blue jeans that accented her figure and a V-neck, cream knitted jumper.
"I know who you are" the little boy looked up at her. "You're Ariel"
"That's right" she smiled down, confused "And how exactly do you know that, little boy" her accent was a mixture of many different languages, but was sweet and feminine.
"You're the little mermaid. One of my favourite stories" The boy thrust a book at her, and she saw a picture of mermaids, with one looking fairly like herself in the middle. She laughed.
Emma nodded. It made a lot of sense. Yet she couldn't help but notice one thing- this Ariel definitely didn't have a tail. That explained why her walking was a little bit stumble-y at first.
"Well, now we're all getting introduced, Ariel- this is Henry, my son, and these are my parents, Mary-Margaret and David, otherwise known as-"
"Snow and Charming!" Ariel said "Yes, I know you! We met at the princess fair, when you were a child" she said to Mary Margaret.
"But- but how?" Mary Margaret said "You're the same age as you were back then"
"It's a terribly long story, but to sum up; yes. I was human back then, people knew me as Aurelia. But after I got cursed and turned into a mermaid I stopped aging. I am now immortal, too" Ariel said.
"Well, you'd better tell us the full story" Emma said, sitting down "We're going to need to understand"
Aurelia opened the latch of the cottage door slowly, so as not to wake her aunt. The door made a small creaking sound, and she slipped out, closing it quietly behind her. She wrapped her dark blue cloak around her as she headed down the path leading into the forest.
On the way she picked up her lantern from the hiding place in an oak tree and lit it with a match, holding it up so she could view the dark, tall tree's. Her feet, wearing only a pair of thin shoes, made the leaves rustle underneath her as she made her way to the lake. When she arrived, she parting the long wall of ivy that guarded the entrance to her secret place, and whispered quietly "Peter" to see if her friend was near.
He appeared, also holding a lantern and beaming, and the friends hugged tightly. Peter and Aurelia had grown up as children together, until they became teenagers and their guardians had forced them to stop spending time together.
Peter was the heartthrob of the village, with his golden locks of hair and small, shy smile. The girls all fawned over him as he made his way through the town, but his heart belonged to Aurelia. However, she was completely unaware of his affections and did not return romantic feelings for him. Aurelia's heart belonged to adventure, to danger. But still they spent almost every night together, getting into trouble. Tonight, they sat on the moss, and Aurelia opened her latest book. They came down to the lake every night, sometimes to talk, sometimes just to enjoy each others company. They always came down to dream. Peter dreamed of glory, and fame. Of his parents being proud of their boy. Aurelia dreamed of far away lands, and tall, dark handsome princes whisking her away. It never happened.
"So I figured it goes without saying that we're going to the fairdowns ball together" Peter said, mending his boots and Aurelia poured into a book, lying on her front with her elbows propping her up.
"Of course. Though you really needn't call it a ball, the Fairdowns aren't that grand" she gave a small laugh.
"yes, but aren't you always complaining about there not being enough events? Now you have one!" peter said teasingly. Aurelia put down her book.
"You make me sound like an old woman! But yes, I suppose you're right. And honestly, I am excited. Aunt Miriam even bought me material for a new dress. She'll have to make it for me though, I know I won't be able to make it"
"That's because you're awful at anything womanly" Peter aid, earning a scowl from the girl. "Oh c'mon Aurelia, you always say it- you'd much rather be playing in mud sword fighting than sitting indoors sewing all day"
"Well, that's fair enough" Aurelia said, turning back to her book. She couldn't concentrate. The Fairdowns ball was tomorrow night, and she was terribly excited. There would be rich foods there, good quality meat and ale, and the deserts would be divine, pastry's with heavy cream and even exotic fruits.
The only price to pay would be the company of the Fairdown's daughter, Freda. She loved Peter completely, and had always hated Aurelia from childhood, mocking her clothes, her aunt, their little sweet cottage on the outskirts of the village. And now they were young women, she would criticise her etiquette, her personality and most hurtfully, Aurelia's looks.
Peter had always said Aurelia was the most beautiful of the village- long, auburn curled hair, green eyes and a small freckled nose. But how could that compare to Freda's dark, straight elaborately styled hair, her heavy eyebrows and strong jawbone. Whenever Peter saw Aurelia's eyes red from crying, he would say "Yeah, but she looks like a horse" automatically knowing it was about Freda, and cheering Aurelia up.
A few hours later Peter walked Aurelia home, and was acting differently. He seemed skittish, nervous and kept opening his mouth then closing it, not finishing his sentences. As Aurelia closed the garden gate behind her, he said "I'll see you tomorrow, right?" but before she's answered he'd hurried off mumbling to himself. Aurelia laughed. What a strange boy.
She snuck inside, putting her beautiful cloak on a hook and climbing into her warm, comfy bed, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep, with thoughts mingling between balls and princes, dragons and forests.
The next day was eventful, to say the least. She tried on her ballgown, and went downstairs.
"Oh, my heart" Aunt Miriam said. She looked at Aurelia with tears in her eyes.
"Oh please don't cry aunt" Aurelia said, rushing to hug her.
"I'm happy, my darling. My beautiful girl has grown up" Miriam wailed "Oh don't look at me, I look like a haggard old witch! Go, my beautiful young girl, go and have fun!" Miriam placed a hand on her forehead dramatically and swept out of the room. Aurelia laughed. Miriam was certainly the most eccentric woman in the village. Aurelia looked at her reflection in a basin of water. Her hair was styled with intricate plaits that restrained her unruly hair which fell down her back. Her dress- a royal blue, made her hair look like fire, and matched her cloak. She even had dainty, lace gloves on, and new silk shoes.
Peter waited outside, the sun making his hair shin like spun gold. He bowed, laughing as she curtseyed to him.
"Aurelia, you look great" he said, taking her arm. She beamed, and they began the short walk to the Fairdowns big house. It was in the middle of the centre, and as they reached it, Aurelia's eyes lit up with wonder. It looked like something from a fairytale. There were stalls set up selling books, jewellery, food goods and everything you could imagine. The smell of fresh warm bread and grass and lavender filled the centre, and there was a huge bonfire sitting on the flagstone centre.
Aurelia and Peter entered the hall, smiling. Cassandra, one of Aurelia's great friends, rushed up.
"Cassandra, you look breathtaking!" Aurelia said. Cassandra was wearing a bright yellow dress, her hair pushed back to show her rounded, heart-shaped face which flushed immediately. Aurelia leaned in "I think Gregor would certainly agree with me" ensuring a new shade of beetroot. Cassandra hugged Aurelia tightly.
"Oh, do you think so? Tonight's the night I think! Do you know tonight is supposedly the night where all true loves find another? How romantic!"
Peter coughed, looking flustered. Aurelia raised her arched eyebrows at him and shrugged, then sauntered off to the food table.
"Hello Michael" she said, greeting her friend.
Michael was a chubby shy boy, who was incredibly serious and clever. He smiled at Aurelia, and offered her a bread roll, which she offered and nibbled on, then taking a sip of a dark red wine.
The party was magnificent. Aurelia had eaten her fill of the delicious food, enjoyed the company of her friend's and had been asked to dance by many different boys. To top it off, Freda was concentrating on wooing Peter, and had no time to insult Aurelia.
As Peter and Aurelia had finished slow dancing, he began to speak.
"Aurelia… We've been friends for so long now.. and"
"yes, I know" she smiled "And you're brilliant Peter. Oh, I'm having such a wonderful time! It's so perfect, all of it"
"And I think you're beautiful" he continued, stumbling on words and his breathing was different.
"Are you okay, Peter? You don't look very well" Aurelia observed.
"I need to tell you… that.. well, Aurelia, I-"
"If everybody would like to go outside for the final dance!" Freda screeched, making everyone turn to the doors. The dark night was lit with stars as the bonfire was burning, lighting up the courtyard.
Aurelia took Peters hand, then Cassandra, who was blushing as Gregor took her hand and gave her a kiss on her cheek. As they all interlinked hands, the final dance began, an upbeat one which meant swapping of partners. Aurelia's face was flushed, a great smile on her face, her eyes half closed in the euphoria of the night. She swapped from Peters clammy grip to a strangers firm, cool hands, and, still beaming, her face turned towards the heavens, opened her eyes.
She gasped, startled. It was certainly not a boy holding her, but a man. He was tall, with dark hair and was so very, very handsome that it took her breath away. She'd never seen anyone so handsome before in her life. Her heart was beating erratically as they stared into each others eyes. His blue eyes were bright and brilliant and stared into her emerald ones. He was dressed all in black, and had a sword at his hip.
"Sorry for cutting in- I hope you don't mind" he said casually, in a smooth voice accompanied by a lazy smile.