21 years later…
His thoughts were all over the place, pounding in his head. He was tired of hearing about his betrothed. He's never even met her with the exception of her coronation, but she was an infant and himself barely just a lad of 4 years. He doesn't even remember that day, and yet his father keeps reminding him that she's his bride to be. His Father, the king has been able to talk about nothing else. Killian had to get away. A good long ride seemed to be the best plan.
Today he didn't feel like being a prince, especially if it meant he was being forced to marry a complete stranger and he knew that time was growing nearer. Maybe, just maybe, he could get away and never come back.
After hours of riding Killian decides to give himself and his horse, Philip, a much needed break. Killian dismounts and walks Philip to a nearby boulder where he sits on the ground leaning his tired body against the hard rock. He lays his head back watching the blue sky through the summer leaves of an old oak tree. It was then he hears a strange sound coming out of the forest. After listening for a few moments he begins to wonder if it's some kind of song bird singing the most beautiful melody, but after a few more moments the melody continues into a more intricate song and he knows it's a woman.
"Did you hear that Philip?" The horse just shakes his head and snorts. "Oh c'mon now. I know you do." Killian stands from his spot and with dreamy blue eyes gazes in the direction of the music. "Whoever or whatever that is it can't be far." His grin gets mischievously wider as he looks over to his trusty horse. "C'mon ol' boy. What do you say?" Killian playfully asks as he climbs on his horse. "We're now on a good ol' fashion quest, my friend. Let's go!" Off they ride in search for the strange singing that has Killian so enamored.
Emma always found joy in singing. It was the birds that taught her. The beautiful music they sang to one another gave her soul wings. Even though she loved to listen to the song birds, she especially loved to sing to the swans at the lake near their cottage. Their music was not so pretty, but the way they loved one other, inspired her. She always felt a kinship to them. She would notice the same two swans return every year. They seemed to mate for life, or so she's read. But she knew these two, even though they were mere birds, held love for one another. She sang to the swans every day at the lake. It's what made her aunties nickname her 'Swan'.
She longed for that kind of partnership. She supposes it was a romantic notion, but lately, approaching her 21st birthday, she's been feeling more lonely and isolated. Growing up she got to hear stories of Kings and Queens, Dragons, and Fairy Godmothers. It all sounded wonderful and heroic, but most of all, it made her yearn to be a part of something bigger. Her only companions are the animals of the forest. In her mind, she pretends they understand her when she speaks- she hopes they understand her; although, she's always had a floating suspicion they only hang around her because she feeds them berries and nuts that she collects in the forest.
"Typical forest animals," she thought, "only one thing on their minds."
This thought alone was frustrating enough to fuel the loneliness she felt. She sits on a nearby boulder blanketed with moss, staring off into the forest of large oaks. She listens to the songbirds nearby and decides to join them in their song. What else is there to do but sit in her favorite spot, praying that one day she'll have someone to share her soul song with and them in return?
She sang what was on her heart. She sang for deep soul connection like she saw with the swans. No words. She knew words could never convey this feeling- this longing to belong to someone and to have someone belong to her. Her heart continued to sing into the wood, but it had the saddest of undertones because she knew no one could hear it- and no one ever will.
Killian knew he was getting close but, because of the trees, the sound kept echoing. Philip's gallop comes to a halt as Killian listens again to the sound.
"Bloody hell, Philip. What's with this blasted forest? I could swear it was coming from this way." He quiets himself for a moment and tries to listen more intently this time. Then, that beautiful voice came ringing out once again. The sound didn't just vibrate in his ears, it resonated with something else-something more than he could describe or understand. All he knew is that he was desperate to find out where it was coming from. He pauses again. "This way boy! Let's go!"
This time he knew he was getting close. He gave Philip a kick to pick up his speed. A yell and another kick, faster again. He was getting closer; he could feel it, but the next thing he knows, a large stream comes into sight and before he can pull back the reigns, Philip comes to a violent stop just before the water. Unfortunately for Killian, the stop was way too abrupt, and it sent Killian flying over his horse and straight into the flowing stream, landing on his back soaked to the bone. Killian looks up at Philip and he swears he can hear a hoarse chuckle coming from the beast.
"Not funny Philip. Rest assured you're going to pay for that one my friend." Killian indignantly hoists himself out of the water and onto the embankment where he strips off his wet clothes. He starts with his overcoat and vest, peeling it off his wet torso and wringing it out to hang up on a nearby branch. Then he strips off his undershirt leaving his upper body completely naked. He begins to unlace his trousers when Philip starts to slowly trot away. "Whoa Philip. Hey!" For reasons he can't understand, Philip picks up his pace. "Wait! Get back here you blasted animal!" Killian shouts as he sprints after his runaway horse half naked.
Killian's feet move swiftly beneath him to try and catch up. As he quickly moves through some thick brush he slams bodily into Philip's rump. Killian immediately grabs his nose hoping he didn't break it on that devil horse's arse. "Ah!...aahh! Ugh! Philip! What in the blazes is wrong with you-" And then he sees her through a small opening amid the thick brush. She was breathtakingly beautiful- a vision he could not turn away from, even if he wanted to. No words could describe his draw to her and then he heard her sing. Her voice was like an angel's. He instantly recognized the song she was singing. Elated that he finally found the voice he'd been chasing this whole time. Had Philip known? He led him right to her. Killian is about to put his foot forward to go and introduce himself to her when all of a sudden she vanishes from his line of sight. "What the devil," he whispers to himself. "Where'd she go?" He takes another step forward when all of a sudden hears a loud smack and everything goes black.
The pain reverberates through his whole body. His head aches like it's never ached before. His hand goes behind his head to make sure he isn't bleeding. It's a bloody miracle he isn't. He then realizes he's lying on his back in the dirt, the summer sun beating down on him. A shadow moves above him looking down with fiery eyes and a branch the size of a warrior's mallet.
Once his vision returns he sees the most beautiful woman he's ever lay his eyes upon. Despite the pain in his head he is awed by the sight before him. He's conflicted as well. He's not sure whether to grab this gorgeous creature and pull her down on top of him or put his hands up in surrender. He figures he should choose the latter.
"Whoa, whoa darling…take it easy with that. I mean you no harm… I was only standing here loo-"
"What?" She interrupts. "Spying on me?"
Her eyes are like green jades, drawing him in like a spell. They bore into him with such ferocity and fire. He knows he is in trouble… in so many ways.
"What's your purpose here mister?" She spoke with authority and passion. He was even more enamored now than he was when he was searching for her. He'd kiss her if he wasn't so afraid.
"No, no I was just… following a voice I heard in the forest and well… it was lovely and it was singing and… well… I believe it was your singing lass and so…" He was having a hard time getting his words out. He hadn't planned on their conversation going like this, nor to be in so much pain, or on his back, with a weapon in her hands ready to crack his skull open. With the look in her eyes, he knew she might just do it. "I just wanted to find out where it was coming from that's all." He shot her the most charming grin he could muster. Though he knows it looks forced since he swears he has a lump on his head the size of his fist by now.
"Is that so?" She asks raising an eyebrow. "Then where are your clothes?" She continues to interrogate in a very aggressive and threatening tone. It's suddenly dawned on him that he's half naked. He realizes that none of this looks good.
"Oh. That. Well, that my dear, there is an explanation I assure you, but how 'bout' you put that tree branch down and I'll tell you." Her stare only bores down onto him more intently, she waits for his explanation holding her 'ready to attack' stance.
"Look, I was following a sound in the forest and my horse threw me in the ravine. As I was drying off he took off and I followed trying to catch the blasted animal." He could see Philip slowly creep behind a large shrub as if ashamed of his actions. Killian throws him a look that says, you'll pay for this!
"Oh." She let her guard down a bit to his seemingly reasonable explanations. The branch she's holding starts to lower and she holds out her hand to help him up. Relieved, Killian takes her hand and stands up. Still suspicious, Emma asks, "so what are you doing this deep in the forest anyway?"
His eyes go soft and his shoulders slump, as if all of a sudden he realizes his body is exhausted. He lets out a long breath. "Running away from my fate it would seem." He sits down on a nearby fallen tree trunk. Her brow perks up at his words. She reluctantly takes a seat next to him, realizing he's still a stranger, yet she can't help but feel drawn to him. It surprises her how she's let her guard down with him (even though she did smack him good in the head.) She looks at him with pleading interest. "Your fate?" She spoke quietly hoping she could get him to divulge further.
"Aye," he looks to the ground, sadness coloring his features. "Have you ever felt that you were made for something else? Something more than the hand you've been dealt?"
Her jaw drops; astonished at the similarities they seem to have. "I suppose." She decides to lean on the tree branch resting against the large trunk they're both sitting on. She then looks down at her hand in her lap. "I've lived in these woods my whole life. All I ever wanted was freedom from this isolation. My three aunts- they mean well and want to keep me safe, but I don't want to live in fear and suspicion. I want to travel and see what's out there. Go to exotic lands, meet interesting people." She pauses, "maybe even find true love." She looks at him and smiles. "But as you can see I may need to work on my social skills." Her smile gets bigger as they both laugh. He rubs the back of his head, glad she hadn't caused too much damage when she whacked him.
"I suppose this lump forming in the back of my head would say that's true." He just looks at her and sees how different her features are now that her guard is down. His heart swells at how breathtakingly beautiful she is because of it. But then her smile falters and she looks down again watching her hands as if she wants to share more but is afraid. He watches her with softness in his eyes waiting for her to continue.
"I wake up in terror sometimes, worried that this is all life is ever going to be for me. My aunts would read me stories growing up and I always wished I could travel in my books and live their lives for only a day. What if this is all my life will be? What if what I want will be nothing more than a fantasy?"
Killian watches her fidget. He can tell she isn't use to sharing herself like this. The kind of sharing where you reveal a part of yourself that makes you exposed and vulnerable. The more he watches her though, the more he realizes he isn't either. But for some reason he feels he can truly share himself with her.
"And this life you dream of living for yourself… what does it look like?" Killian asks with softness in his eyes.
A warm smile forms on her face as she looks back down. Killian's heart squeezes as he watches her.
"I know it sounds silly, but I wish I was someone people looked up to. I imagine I was someone who was capable of saving people; a hero perhaps. Not for glory or anything like that. I just want to make a difference. I want to know that I'm capable of helping another." Her smile falters a bit as she continues. "I know my aunts love me but I also just want to meet other people. They're the only other people I've ever known. I mean you're pretty much the only other person I've ever talked to besides the three of them."
"Well lass, I hope I'm not too disappointing as of yet." They both give a small chuckle at his comment.
Killian's expression hardens a bit as he decides to share a bit more about himself. He closes his eyes and says, "My father, he's forcing me to marry. See, my family, mostly my father, has determined my fate for me, taking away any choice to my own life. That's what I was running away from."
The corners of her mouth lift slightly, hoping to lighten the mood. "No wonder you ran away," she adds.
"Yes well, I have no idea what I was running to." He pauses for a moment and gazes into her eyes, "until I heard you singing."
"Me?" she questions, surprised by his words. She looks down again. "I'm afraid there's nothing special about me or my singing worth running to."
"Now why would you say that lass?" Bashfully he adds, "I've never been more drawn to anything in all my life." Even he himself was surprised by his words, because they were true. Their eyes meet after his confession and Emma realizes her stomach is doing flips. A feeling she is so unfamiliar with that she believes she is becoming ill.
His gazes into her eyes, pleadingly. For what she wasn't sure, but at the moment her heart is soaring at the possibility of someone else actually intrigued by her. But by the look in his eyes, it was more than intrigue, it was longing.
After their gaze holds for a few moments she can't help but blush and drop her gaze back to her hands. A comfortable silence falls between them. It feels a little daring but she looks back up to his eyes and then unconsciously down to his lips. A vision suddenly appears in her mind's eye of them kissing. She leans in and notices he does the same. His eyes close as their faces are mere inches from one another. Before they touch she backs away, suddenly remembering that he is a stranger. Memories of her aunts warning her of strangers invade her thoughts, yet she's not afraid. She clears her throat as she settles back into her seat.
"Well then… I uh," she gives a nervous chuckle. "I wish you well then." She reaches her hand out for a handshake. She can see Killian's expression is that of shock and, perhaps, awe. Did he actually want her to stay?
He reaches for her outstretched hand and gingerly raises her knuckles to his lips for a gentle kiss. He lowers her hand but continues to hold it, his thumb rubbing small circles on her knuckles. He averts his gaze and stares down at his hand holding hers. He notes how good it feels. He doesn't want to let go.
"I wish to see you again," he speaks softly. She catches her breath, her hand unconsciously squeezing his. It takes her a while to answer and, for a moment, he wonders if he's overstepped his bounds.
She's in a bit of shock. Here she was trying to wish him well, thinking they would never see each other again and then he says he wants to meet with her? She's caught a bit off guard with this whole encounter. He waits with on baited breath as she finally speaks, "um… ok." Years of her aunt's warnings of talking to strangers continuously hammers in her mind. But looking at him, she can't help but feel she already knows him. Yet, she also yearns to know him more.
"Meet me here tomorrow at noon," she says.
Killian smiles the biggest grin at her and she can't help but smile back at his beautifully hopeful face. He stands to face her looking earnest and happy. "I shall count the hours, milady." He kisses her hand again making her smile even bigger.
Emma takes her hand back and stands to leave, making her way back to the cottage. Killian calls out to her before she's out of ear shot, "wait! I don't know your name!"
"It's Swan," she yells backs. She's not sure why she only gave him her nick name. She supposes she's hoping this isn't too good to be true. Or maybe it was the fear her aunts had instilled in her about strangers. Regardless, she knew one thing; she was actually looking forward to tomorrow.
As Killian watches her scamper away, he brings his hand to the back of his head, just now realizing he has a terrible headache. The bruise is excruciatingly large, but right now he can't really bring himself to care.
