Ever since Aidan saved her life Emma had trusted him completely. He stayed at the castle until his sixteenth birthday when it was required he return to his kingdom to begin assuming his duties as future king. That was the day she learned of her betrothal to him. Emma's parents had kept quiet about the arrangement due to her strong willed and independent nature. They didn't see why she had to know until the time came for them to marry. Aidan was about to board the ship and sail home when Emma came running down the dock, tears streaming down her face. His heart shriveled up and disintegrated at the sight. Emma Swan simply never cries. He pulled her into a hug and asked her what was wrong. She slapped his arm and told him he was an idiot. Aidan was genuinely confused. Emma revealed that she was worried she would never see him again and he laughed. She crossed her arms and pouted at him, not finding the same humor in the situation. He rolled his eyes and told her she would have to try harder to fool him. Obviously they would see each other again, because they would both have to be at their wedding! Slowly Emma stepped backwards, away from Aidan, eyes wide. 'Our wedding?' Aidan, more confused than he had ever hoped to be, began walking towards her. She held her hands out telling him to keep his distance and then ran. She ran off the dock, through the garden, up three flights of stairs, and into the throne room to confront her parents. That was how she found out she would marry Aidan and that was the last time they saw each other.
Suddenly Emma realized she had been looking straight at Aidan for far too long and a blush rushed to her cheeks. She moved her gaze to the back of the throne room. Her father's speech couldn't go on much longer, at least she hoped. Emma's left toes quietly began tapping the marble beneath her and she bit her lip. She felt uncomfortable. Why did she feel so uncomfortable? The right side of her face began to twitch and burn like someone was watching her. She looked to her right and caught the eye of Aidan's mysterious friend whom she had noticed earlier. He raised the left side of his mouth to smirk and winked at her. Emma raised her eyebrows at him and tilted her head. His smirk blossomed into the most endearing toothy grin Emma had ever seen. Aidan turned around to look at his friend and moved in to whisper something in his ear. Aidan's new position gave Emma a clear view of what his friend was fidgeting with earlier. Hanging from the man's left wrist was not a hand, but a large silver hook. Emma quickly covered her mouth to prevent any possible gasping noises she was ready to make.
She had heard about this man. He was a pirate and he sailed the seas on his ship The Jolly Roger with a crew that feared him like a child fears the monsters under their bed. There were numerous theories floating around about his hook and how he lost his hand. Some said it was cut off for thievery, others that he was stranded on an island and cut it off for food. There was even a story about how he cut it off in front of all his crew and replaced it with a hook simply to make them fear him and ensure they would never betray him. None of these stories, of course, excluded detailed descriptions of the pirates devastating good looks. As Emma looked at him she decided she would pay good money to the first person who could describe his physical appearance accurately, because none of the descriptions she had ever heard could have prepared her for the man in front of her. She had heard it all: dashing, gorgeous, attractive, handsome, striking, enchanting, beautiful, alluring. None of those words captured the essence of the pirate. Everyone called him Captain Hook, but it was obvious to Emma that wasn't his real name. As popular as he was around the kingdoms the lack of backstories for the captain was shocking. No one truly knew where he came from and no one seemed to care all that much and he didn't seem the type to talk about his past. This only made Emma more curious. She decided after the ceremony she would ask Aidan all about this Captain Hook and how they met.
"So as we celebrate the melding of two powerful kingdoms I invite you all into our home. This marriage is about unity and friendship. Please, do not hesitate to ask for anything you require. We wish to make your stay as comfortable and pleasurable as possible. Thank you all for your support through this monumental stage of our kingdoms future history. May you all encounter prosperity in each of your endeavors." The King bowed to his subjects who all returned the respect.
"Prince Aidan if you would please make your way to my daughters side." He dug in his pocket and pulled out a small wooden ring box.
As Aidan made his way past the King he retrieved the box from him and placed himself in front of Emma. He knelt on one knee, as tradition would have it, and opened the wooden box in his hand. "Emma, today I request your hand in marriage, with the blessing of the King and Queen, because I- I…"
Emma raised an eyebrow at him as he choked on his words. She nudged his shoulder with her hand and his muscles seemed to relax.
"Because, I believe that our marriage would be beneficial to both our kingdoms. Will you accept my hand in marriage?" He rushed his sentence.
The whole thing seemed so formal Emma almost laughs and somehow she figures Aidan had planned on saying something much different, but she replies with a simple, "Yes." He slips the ring on her finger and stands up to hug her as the crowd applauds the couple's engagement. They turn to the crowd, hand in hand, and take in the applause.
"Please, enjoy yourselves. Eat, drink!" The King shouts as he makes his way into the crowd to mingle with the dignitaries.
Aidan released Emma's hand and began making his way to his pirate friend. Emma takes a few steps and opens her mouth to call after him, but her mother stops her.
"Emma, please stay. I would like to talk to you." Snow stated as she took a seat in her throne.
Emma turned to face her mother, figuring she was about to get an earful on how it wasn't becoming of a princess to show up late to her own engagement ceremony in a ripped and muddy gown. But her mother patted her father's throne and said, "I'd like to talk about Aidan."
Emma shrugged and took a seat in the throne, "What about him?"
"It's obvious that you don't have romantic feelings for him."
"Is that a problem? I was under the impression that I had to marry him whether I loved him or not."
"Well, you do, but I want to talk to you about the possibility of loving him. Truly loving him."
Emma sighed, "Mom, isn't it enough that I'm marrying him without complaining? Aidan and I aren't like that. He's always acted like an older brother towards me."
Snow nodded, "Maybe in the past, but you two haven't seen each other for some time. I think it's possible his view of you has changed. When you first ran into the throne room, his face lit up. It certainly wasn't a look of brotherly love."
"Okay mom, stop. I'm not having this conversation with you. If Aidan loves me so much than he can tell me himself, but I don't think that will change the way I feel about him."
"That's why I wanted to talk to you. Don't you think it will affect your marriage and more importantly your friendship if he expresses his love for you and you tell him there's no chance you'll feel the same? I think you owe it to yourself to open your heart to at least the possibility of loving Aidan. You have time. The engagement will be a long one."
Emma looked across the room to where Aidan was standing at the table filled with delicious desserts. His plate was absolutely full of chocolate cake, exotic fruits, and colorful pastries. He eyed the rest of the table with a childish glint in his eye that made Emma laugh. She stood up and rolled her eyes at her mother, "Fine, I'm not saying that I will love Aidan, but I'm not saying that I could never love him."
"Good," her mother smiled, "and also, stay away from that friend of his, Captain Hook I think they call him."
Emma's smiled faded, "Why?"
"I know Aidan has taken a liking to him, but he is not an honorable man. He has no respect for authority or the law. The stories of him are truly terrible. He is nothing but a pirate, in every sense of the word."
"Have you ever even talked to him?"
"I don't need to talk to him, I've heard the stories."
Emma placed her hands on her hips, "That's a little unfair. They are stories for a reason. How do you know they aren't lies?"
"Just stay away from him Emma. I don't trust him."
"Fine." Emma started to walk away, towards the back of the room where the desserts and Aidan were located. She was about to approach Aidan to ask him about his friend when she felt someone watching her from behind. It was her mother. She noticed the pirate to her right, all alone and smiled at her mom. Emma could ask Aidan all about Captain Hook, but where would the fun be in that? So she walked past the prince and made her way to the pirate himself.
