Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time
AN: Again, thank you to Beckyzoso for absolutely everything! I also want to thank GranddaughterOfCaskettAndTivia for being an awesome beta! ~ XOXO MAS
Hold my hand, oh baby it's a long way down, a long way down
Emma sat on the deck of The Swan writing a letter to her best friend, Elsa, explaining to her that she had indeed accepted Baelfire's proposal. As she reread her last sentence, Emma sighed. She even managed to sound less than thrilled in writing. There was no way members of the court would believe she was happy with this arrangement. Scratching out her sentence, she resolved to re-write the letter once she could find some enthusiasm to share with Elsa.
A scuffle on the deck drew her attention, along with yelling from the man in the bird's nest. She looked up and her eyes narrowed in on a ship in the distance. A moment later the captain was by her side, "You need to go below, Princess Emma."
Emma shook her head and stood, dropping her book, the parchment and her quill to the ground, "I'll do no such thing. Fetch me a sword." She ordered.
The captain scoffed, "Not likely, Princess." He latched onto her arm, "You're to go below. Now." He ordered. He motioned to two other crew members who all but dragged her below, ignoring her protests that she was a more than adequate fighter.
OUAT
Killian and Liam shared a look as they approached The Swan. "Smee!" Liam called out.
His first mate was by his side in an instant, "I want this done with as little bloodshed as possible."
"They won't let her go without a fight, Captain." Smee reminded him, carefully adjusting his glasses and red hat.
"I don't care. I want her aboard this ship and I want it done as safely and as quietly as possible." Liam repeated, "Despite George's belief, they're not the enemy. Remind the crew of that, please."
"Yes, Captain." Smee nodded, gathering the crew members who were ready to sink The Swan at a moment's notice.
As The Jewel of the Realm approached The Swan, Killian moved to stand next to his brother, "This is not going to be simple, you know that right, Liam?"
"It was your idea, brother." Liam pointed out. "I can't have you backing down on me now."
Glaring at his brother, Killian muttered, "Not at all, I just know it's not going to be as simple as we hoped."
"What in life is?" Liam countered as he steered the ship closer and closer to their target, canons ready to fire.
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Emma paced her cabin below. The stupid, infuriating captain. If he were wise he'd let her fight. She was just as adept with a sword as any of those men up top, and yet here she was pacing below deck with no weapon at her disposal. She recognized the flag flying on the ship. It was one of King George's and chances are they were here to take her and ransom her under orders from their king. The thought made her blood curdle. She was not a political piece to be moved around at the will of others. She was not a prize to be won or something to be dangled over a crocodile as a threat. She was a person and she made her own decisions. She seethed as she continued to pace, the boat coming to a jolting holt.
She steadied herself by grasping onto the table in her quarters. Something wasn't right. It was all too quiet above. Were her men not fighting? Were they just going to turn her over? She closed her eyes and listened. Suddenly she heard the patter of footsteps. Glancing around, she picked up a pewter candlestick. Moving closely to the door, she slipped the lock out of place and waited. When the door flew open she brought the heavy pewter down on the intruder.
The man crumpled to the floor and Emma went to make a dash for the steps when a set of arms wrapped around her and another hand wrenched the candlestick from her, "Come now, love, there's no need for that." An accented voice whispered in her ear.
Emma struggled her green eyes flashing up to meet a pair startling blue ones. She faltered for only a moment before she confidently jutted her chin out demanding, "Let me go, by order of the Princess."
"Darling," the man holding her still shook his head, his dark hair falling slightly into his eyes, "afraid that won't work here. Let's go now." He lifted her up, tossing her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.
"Put me down." She ordered, kicking her legs up and pounding on his back with her fists.
"Darling, I've carried rum barrels that weighed more than you do." He teased lightly as he moved back up onto the deck. Emma shut her eyes, her head hanging in defeat as he crossed over the gangplank between the ships. She noted that the men aboard her own ship were simply watching, it didn't appear that a single of one of them had put up a fight to ensure her safety. She hoped they were hanged for treason when they returned home.
The man deposited her in one of the nicer quarters below deck. She assumed it was the lieutenant's quarters, it was not big enough to be the captain's. "Now, you're just going to stay here." When she tried to rear up against him, he shook his head and wrenched her arms behind her back, "I do not want to tie you up, darling, but I will. Now, you're going to stay here with Peek while I see exactly what harm you did to poor Mr. Smee. The Captain and I will be below shortly to tend to you."
Emma's mouth dropped open and she scoffed, "To tend to me? If you lay one hand on me"
The man rolled his blue eyes, "It's not like that, lass. Now please, sit and wait." He turned to Peek. "Don't let her hurt you too, it appears she's resourceful and strong."
Peek chuckled, "I'd expect nothing less from the daughter of Snow and Charming." Emma snarled at that. Both men turned and raised their brows before the first left the room.
"They'll kill you, you know." Emma threatened after a moment of silence.
"Who?" Peek asked.
"My parents. They'll make sure you're killed." She threatened. And it wasn't an empty threat. They may be benevolent and kind rulers, but if she was hurt, they would be out for blood. Many people in her kingdom would be.
Peek snorted, "Not likely."
OUAT
Killian waited at the port side of their ship as Liam re-boarded. "Bloody bastards," Liam muttered, "the majority of that crew has been bought off by King George to ensure she was safely handed over to us. He didn't want to risk her being killed or hurt until he got what he wanted from her parents." Liam murmured.
Killian's eyes darkened, "Then it's a good thing we got to her. Someone needs to go below and fetch Smee. She knocked him out with a candlestick of all things."
Liam's eyes brightened with mirth, "A feisty thing. That's good. It'll make things easier." He chuckled and slapped his brother's back. "Let's get away from this ship and get out of here. I'll send Matthews down there to get Smee and some of her things. She'll need clothes and such." He paused, "And I don't really want to leave her valuables with these men. They'd sell them for profit, and after what they've done, they don't deserve that. We should make sure everything makes it back to her kingdom in tact."
It took another ten minutes before Liam was giving orders on where to store the princess's things and they were letting The Swan go on without the princess. "I put her in my cabin with Peek." Killian led the way below deck as Liam ordered the ship to move in the general direction of both King George and Princess Emma's kingdoms, "Hopefully he's still in one piece." When he opened the door he found Emma seated on his bed, her arms crossed and a look of defiance on her pretty face. Peek looked highly amused by the princess.
"Is he dead?" Emma spat.
Killian raised a thick brow, "Smee? No he'll be fine. Other than his ego being a bit bruised, that is." The three men chuckled and Emma glowered at them.
"Ah, Killian we should introduce ourselves." Liam took a bow, "Captain Liam Jones, your highness. It is an honor."
Killian also bowed, "Lieutenant Killian Jones, your highness." His eyes twinkled up at her in her mirth.
Peek stood, "Jacob Peek, your highness, quartermaster. If you need anything, please let me know." He looked at Liam and Killian, "I'll have Harkey bring something for the princess to eat."
"The princess does not want your food." Emma snapped.
Peek shook his head, "Well, since you are a princess you shall have the best regardless of whether or not you eat it." He nodded to Liam and Killian before leaving them.
"You're not pirates." Emma observed when the three of them were alone, "You're navy men. Why did George ask you to ransom me?"
Liam and Killian pulled the chairs around to sit across from Emma, "Because, Princess Emma," Liam began, "King George is a corrupt ruler."
"Thank you for your keen observations, it is so helpful to me." She spat.
Killian held up a hand, "Now, Princess, please calm down, we're not taking you back to King George, we're taking you home." She arched an incredulous eyebrow, she'd heard some tall tales in her life, even told many of them herself as a child, but this one was extraordinary, "We intend on returning you, unharmed, to your parents and ask only in return that they allow us to defect to their kingdom."
"You don't honestly expect me to believe that?" Emma asked archly. "I'm not a daft fool."
"No, you're not." Liam agreed, "And neither are we. If we refused this mission from the King, not only would we be tried for treason, but another ship, with a perhaps less scrupulous captain, would be assigned to take you. Some captains in the navy are not honorable men."
"And you both are?" Emma asked sharply.
"Aye." The two responded simultaneously.
Liam sighed and stood, "I'll let my brother explain the rest to you. Please, when Harkey brings you food, eat something. We have quite the journey ahead of us. Two weeks at minimum." He adjusted the sleeves of his coat, "I have orders to give."
When the door shut with a click, Emma faced the younger brother head on, "I don't believe you."
"I realize that, Princess Emma, but my hope is that by the end of the two weeks you will. We have no intention of hurting you or sending you to King George. We're going to take you home." He promised. "Now, the only men who know of our plan are Smee, Peek, and Harkey. The rest believe we're following orders. We will stop at a neighboring kingdom on our way back to your land and tell the men what our true intentions are. They then will have the choice to either accompany us to your land or find their own way back to George. Either way, we'll dock at your parents' port long before they reach King George's kingdom." The door opened revealing an older gentleman with a tray. Killian stood, "This is Harkey. If you need anything, find him, Smee, Peek, Liam or myself." He ordered. "Peek is having your things brought here. You may have my room for the trip." He bowed, "I suggest you remain below deck for the remainder of the day while Liam and I assure that our men will behave themselves in your presence."
Emma scowled as the door shut, "He's a good man, the Captain and the Lieutenant both are, actually." The older gentleman stated as he set up the table with her meal. "They'll take good care of you and make sure you get home safely. They'll also help you find a way to defeat King George without having to marry Prince Baelfire." Emma's brow arched at that, but Harkey just continued, "I can't imagine anyone wanting to marry him." He admitted. He straightened, "If you need anything else, the galley is just down the hall. I'll be there for the remainder of the day." He bowed before he left.
Emma stared at the room she found herself left alone in, Well, what do I do now?
OUAT
XOXO
MAS