"Come now, Gypsy. You're supposedly the fastest horse in the realm," Emma said hoping it would hurry the horse.
It must have worked because at those words the horse quickened her pace and arrived at the castle before the sun got any higher.
"Good girl," Emma whispered as she hurriedly put the horse in her stall and quickly made her way toward the secret castle entrance in the third tree to the right of where her room was. A quick sweeping glance was all she made as she opened the hidden door and scurried down the stairs. It went down two flights then became a long barely lit hall going north then turned into another two flights of stairs going up. She opened the door cautiously peaking around to see if anyone was passing and to her relief it was clear, so she slipped out and hurried down the long bright corridor that lead to her room at the end.
She looked over her shoulder to make sure she hadn't been caught and slipped into the room quietly. A sigh of relief escaped her as she kicked off her riding boots and stripped of her ragged clothes and into her night-gown. She looked at herself in her mirror and touched the bags under her eyes, a side effect of going two days without sleep.
"I must get some sleep soon, or I'll forever look like a poor raccoon," She mumbled to herself as she forced herself away from the mirror. She dragged herself to her bed and slowly crawled under the sheets and snuggled into the mattress, blissfully closing her eyes.
"Sweetheart!" Her mother chimed as she knocked once on the door before pushing it open with a trail of chambermaids following in after her, "It's such a beautiful morning! What are you doing still in bed?"
Emma groaned as she threw the covers off herself and swung her feet over the edge of her bed.
"Emma, what are twigs doing in your hair?" Snow said as she inspected her daughter, "Oh never mind, just be ready, we have a busy day."
"Isn't everyday busy," Emma mumbled beneath her breath as she got ready.
—
It's was the same as everyday, wake up, attend her classes (which she loathed), then shadow her mother around the castle on her duties to understand the life and responsibilities of a queen. She also helped her mother plan for her own 18th birthday ball, which was in one months time.
She went through the monotonous day hoping night came faster than it escaped; waiting for the moment she would be able to escape to Gypsy and ride her loyal horse to the tavern where the pirates would be. Where Killian Jones would be, waiting for her perhaps? But Emma rebuked the idea. He was a pirate, he could have whomever he wished and need not wait for a mere girl such as Emma.
"Emma, dear," Snow said, trying to gain her daughters attention. They were in King's study and Snow bent over a few books while Emma was dawdling about the shelves, her fingers running over their bindings.
"Yes, mother?" Emma said courtly, turning to Snow who had a raised brow, but dismissed her daughter's queer behavior.
"Emma, I was asking you if you'd like to take a journey with your father to the far reach of the land, to the Dark One's castle?" Snow asked, obviously perturbed about the idea.
"The Dark One?" Emma repeated, unsure she was hearing the correct words, "I thought we were to stay away from all affairs with him?"
"Well, my love," Snow said stepping towards her daughter, "The ogre war is taking a large toll on the kingdom and we need help. Though the Dark One has the power to help us-" She needn't finish the sentence because Emma already knew what her mother was insinuating.
The Dark One had a son her age, and she knew the Dark One had always wanted a share in the kingdom, meaning -
"Father is going to engage me to the Dark One's son?" Emma spat the words out as if they were poison on her tongue.
"You know your father would never do this to you if we weren't desperate," Snow say defending her husband David, "We both never wanted this for you, but, we have to think about the kingdom's safety."
"I know," Emma grumbled, she hated that fact, but it was true. Their first priority was the kingdom, they had to protect their people in everyday they can, even if it meant giving their daughter to the spawn of evil.
"When do father and I set out?" She asked her mother, her gazing drift to the floor. Missing her mother's proud smile.
"In three month's time," She replied pulling her daughter into a hug, "I'm so proud of you sweetheart."
"May I be excused?" Emma said somberly, pulling away from her mother's tight hug.
"Pardon?" Snow asked softly looking at her daughter curiously.
"May I please be excused for the night?" Emma repeated, "I-I need to let the information sink in."
"Yes, you look like you need the sleep," Snow said, her face softened and her hand cupped her daughter's cheek softly, "I love you dearly sweetheart. Goodnight."
"Good night mother," Emma said, curtseying before turning for the door, "I love you."
Emma ducked out of the study and hurried to her room. Like hell she was going to sleep, it had been barely a dozen hours since she last saw Killian Jones and his crew. She'd be lying if she didn't admit she missed looking at the pirate captain, but she couldn't be thinking like that, not anymore now that she's betrothed. Against her will, needless to say.
"I can't believe this," She grumbled to herself as she traded her dress for her worn riding attire.
"How did it get to this point?" She growled as she slipped on her most used riding boots. But she knew exactly how. The ogres were getting help from Regina, the wicked wench who had a vendetta against Snow White and Charming. The only person more powerful than Regina was the Dark One and the only way we would get his help is if we unified our families.
Emma shivered at the thought as she slipped out of her room and hurried down the corridor to the secret exit. She had only seen the Dark One once, when he had visited her father to collect a debt; she remembered his skin was putrid green laden with bumps, and his eyes were like that of a reptiles and he had a weird cheery attitude about himself.
She groped her way along the black hall of the secret passage, mentally noting she had to relight the torches when she returned, this time hopefully with time to spare. She made her way to the stairs and tried to climb it, but reduced to crawling a few of the steps until she got her barring right and was able to walk the rest of the two flights up. When she finally reached the top and stepped out of the tree door, she looked around quickly to see if anyone saw and much to her joy, she was in the clear so she hastily made her way to the stables.
"Hello Gypsy," She hummed to the horse, "You look as beautiful as ever."
She whispered kind words to her beloved companion as she saddled and lead her out.
"You ready for a ride?" She asked as she mounted the horse. In response Gypsy snorted and raked up grass with her hooves, waiting for her master to give her the signal.
"Let's go, hyup!" Emma said firmly, the horse moved with little nudge.
Gypsy ran as fast as she chose and walked as slow as she pleased because Emma was in no rush, in fact her mind was somewhere else entirely.
She was thinking about her future husband. What would he look like? What would his likes and dislikes be? Would they even like each other? Was he as repulsive as his father? Her mind was so consumed with worries that she had not noticed they had entered the town and Gypsy was taking her straight to the Crescent Hill as they always do. This time Emma abandoned the cape entirely, but made sure her curled hair was still draped around her face so if need be she'd be able to hide her face with her curtain of gold.
"Why Gypsy, we arrived earlier than I expected," She murmured to the horse as she slid off and tied her to the post, "Would you be a good horse and wait for me?"
Of course she knew there was no need to, the horse was especially fond of her and the feeling was mutual.
Emma walked into the tavern and proceeded to her usual spot at the bar, except this time, her eyes danced around the tavern looking for the pirate and his rowdy crew.
"They're over there again," the bartender whispered to Emma, pointing to the table they occupied the night before.
"Oh I wasn't-" Emma said trying to deny it, but the bartender just shook his head and handed her a beer.
"It's fine, your highness," He whispered, "Your father nor mother will find out of this affair from me."
Emma gave him a sincere grateful smile before picking up her beer and heading over to the table of the most loud men in the entire tavern.
"Ah! The most fairest woman in all the land has returned!" Killian said raising his mug to her, followed by the rest of his crew, "Come, come, Emma! We were just about to start to tell of our wondrous tales!"
"Really!" Emma said excitedly, taking the seat next to Killian, "Oh surely you didn't spend all day waiting for me!"
The men chuckled yet no one denied it and she started to wonder if she was the first person truly enamored with their stories of treasure and adventure.
As they told their stories, Emma started to forget of her royal duties and worries. She became engrossed in their lengthy stories but she never minded at all, she wanted to escape for as long as she could.
Though she never noticed how Killian looked at her like she was the only person in the room, or how he reveled in her laughter.
Though this time the night does not last as long as the one previous.
"But love, you can't stay just a bit longer?" Killian asked as he helped her mount Gypsy.
"I've said before," Emma said, "I've to be back before dawn so my parents don't find me gone."
"But will you return tomorrow night?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not."
That was how it went for the next month. Everyday like clockwork, she arrived and listened to their enchanting stories, sometimes she heard only one long one and others she would hear five short tales. The more she went to closer she became with the Captain, so much so, she start to sit closer to him, take every chance to brush her skin against him, and I'd be lying if I said Killian didn't noticed, and did not return the sentiments.
