The Cottage

by HollyeLeigh

CS AU: Everyone knew of the dark creatures that were rumored to lurk in the forest, the mystical elements that cast a foreboding veil over every cluster of trees, every sweeping branch and quivering leaf. The forest was quiet in the way fear was quiet. A silence one felt in their bones as it thundered in their ears from the pounding of their heart. All except Emma Swan

3. The Vow

The Vow

You must take her. There is no one else we would ever entrust her to. Watch over her, Killian. Protect her. Keep the cottage under your care until she is able to claim it. Swear to us you'll watch over her until that day. Let it not just be a command. Give us your vow.

You have my vow.

He had done his duty; fulfilled both command and vow as he watched her grow from afar. She had flourished in her youth, helped along with the love of the spinster and two nieces that he had charged in raising her. They were gone now, though. The young women had moved on to bright futures in other lands while she was still but a child, then the spinster had left by more mortal means when the lass had been a mere sixteen.

That's when he'd been pressed to watch over her more closely. Compelled by his vow and the command on his name to see to it she reached maturity so she could take claim over that which was rightfully hers. He feared it would be difficult, limited as he was in the way he was able to interact with the Mortal Realm. Surprisingly, though. The lass had made it rather easy on him without ever knowing.

Mortals tended to avoid the forest, giving it a wide berth and rushing past on the road that ran beside it toward the glen and townships beyond. But not her. Not Emma. She strolled along the path at her leisure, often stopping to peer through the dense foliage as if she wished to look upon the very heart of it. Always from the outside, though. Never had she actually dared to enter despite the fact that doing so would have held no danger for her.

Indeed, the forest held no real danger to anyone. It was simply the prolonged presence of his kind that caused the sense of dread to permeate into the Mortal Realm. Mortals always did fear that which they did not understand. Not that they shouldn't be wary. There were dangers in associating with his kind, just as there were dangers to his kind when associating with Mortals. Hence the restrictions in their nature.

Those restrictions hadn't kept him from fulfilling his duty, though. For years he'd watched as she made her way from the village to the glen where she gathered the wild berries for her jams. Always hovering at the very edge of the forest's boundary just as she did; considering her with every bit as much interest and wonder as she did the forest beyond his hidden form. Oh, how he'd wanted to entice her to step over that threshold, and perhaps had attempted to a time or twice, but she never challenged that particular convention like she had so many others the village held.

In recent years, he knew his interest in her went beyond his vow or bonded command; a fact that concerned his better nature greatly. He'd come to anticipate her trips to the glen, structuring his existence around their occurence so he would not miss a moment in her presence, even if she were unaware of his. Though, he did wonder if she could sense him at times. A fanciful thought, but an earnest one as well.

Over the years, his awe for her had only increased. No sight could compare to her beauty. No sunrise had ever displayed such radiance, nor sunset such splendor. There was no gold of the earth or wheat of the field that could capture the brilliance of her hair. No gem of veridian or leaf at the peak of its lushness that could match the green hue of her dazzling eyes. Her skin was milk, her voice honey, and her form pressed against his when he'd carried her in his arms had been an exhilarating mix of softness and strength.

It had been a near thing that night. Were it not for his unfulfilled duty, he would have most assuredly carried her through the archway. Taken her for his own to a world away from that of Mortals. His vow had kept her from such a fate, and with the matter resolved he would now be obliged to move on from this place. She would be left in peace, safely away from the likes of him. Loathe as he was to depart from her, he did not have the liberty to remain; his nature did not allow for him to establish relations with Mortals unless their permission was given by invitation, or an edict was given under a direct bonded command, which made the lass' note all the more vexing.

He'd prepared himself for this to be their farewell, but now… he had her invitation to remain. An invitation from her and a compulsion within himself, for this new offer did not hold the strings his bonded command had. This invitation was open ended, allowing him the freedom to frequent the cottage whenever he wished - during the appropriate hours for his kind, that is - and establishing the type of connection with the lass he'd longed for.

A connection that could very well be to her detriment if he did not tread carefully. He had no wish to bring ill will upon her, but he could not deny his nature and its proclivity towards darkness, especially where Mortals were concerned. Why they had ever chosen him to act as her guardian he'd never know, but in doing so they may very well have sealed her fate… and his.