A/N: Hello there :) I'm really sorry about this little (not little) hiatus. Anyway... this is the new chapter, mostly Killian PoV. Hope you'll like it :D
Disclaimer: I do not own OUaT or any of the characters. Nope.
As they were making their way to the capital city of his parents' kingdom, the prince could feel himself getting more relaxed by the second. The familiar view of the same ocean he could see from the large window of his bed chamber was now visible between the trees of the small forest they were riding through.
He caught himself staring at Emma every now and then, and fortunately she didn't seem to notice. She was riding next to Evans, and seemed to be enjoying his company. She laughed, a sound of sincere amusment and fondness, and he felt release from a pressure he didn't realize that existed in his chest when he saw her reaching over to ruffle the lad's hair.
Sure, he had noticed the development of their relationship over the last few days, but he somehow managed to convince himself that the bitter little stings of jealousy he felt as he watched them were because of the carefree playfulness that seemed to be ever-present between the two of them, because of the absence of things like it in his life.
Bullshit.
He was relieved when he saw her rumpling the boy's blonde, short locks because it was something an older sibling would do. It was something Liam used to do to him, when he was still alive.
Fantastic. How bloody fantastic.
It was perfectly normal of him to want her- she was a beautiful woman. Then why was the only thing that was coming to his mind when he tried to relive the night they had spent together the loveliness of the feeling of her peaceful, sleeping figure in his arms?
He couldn't be developing bloody feelings for the lass, he couldn't be doing that all over again. And, in addition- his desperate mind was trying to work some logic into the emotional mess in his heart- as clever, beautiful and skilled as she is, she wasn't fit to be a prince's mistress, not to mention his wife-
What was he even thinking about? He had only known the lass for the past few days and was already planning the sodding wedding. So with no other choice he spent the rest of the day trying to distract himself from her, by any means necessary.
When they stopped to make camp for the last night on the roads, he watched from afar as one of the knights chalenged her with a large, hopeful smirk spread across his bearded face, only to be thrown on the ground with her on top of him and his friends cheering less than a minute into the battle. Her hair shone in gold in the light of the fire they managed to light up as she helped the man up, panting and grinning.
She was wonderful, he found himself musing. He thought about how Evans said he would be lucky to call a woman like her his lady, without having the first idea of how right he was.
"I had a friend, when I was younger." She said, keeping her fingers occupied with a small stick she found on the ground near her feet. "His name was August. We made quite the team, actually, we used to pull all sorts of pranks. One day, he dared me to steal his farmer neighboor's rooster, which was quite the large animal, if I may say so. Of course, there was no other choice but to accept the chalenge." She paused her story when she noticed that the prince had joined the circle of listeners.
"Go on, lass." He encouraged her, a reflection of the fire dancing with amusement in his bright blue eyes. She swallowed and nodded.
"Well, anyway, I was probably, um, ten years old. Maybe even nine. And I was a rather small girl. So I snuck into the barn where this farmer was keeping his rooster, and just as I found the poor bird the farmer walked in the barn. So I dived right into a huge pile of hay." She smiled at the memory. "I couldn't even believe it was happening to me. I remember planning to make sure August would pay for it."
"Did he, eventually?" Asked one of the knights, a tall man named Wilson.
"Oh, yes," Emma grinned wickedly. "He most definitely did, and it was even better than I first thought because the farmer started jabbing the pile with his hayfork with me in it. Of course, I immediatly jumped out of it screaming, but I was bloody terrified. I think so was the farmer." She finished her story with a smile on her face.
"Where is your friend now?" asked Wilson.
She swallowed hard. "Long gone," she answered with a small, sad smile. "But I have quite a lot of happy memories to remember him by."
Killian could feel his heart clench for her. Much like him, this woman had lost so much she cared for- her parents (he got more and more convinced he was right about her being an orphan every time he looked at her), her dignity, her dear childhood friend. She made him question things he probably shouldn't question, he thought, like his confidence in how bad love was. But at the moment, he couldn't bring himself to care. She could be his second chance at love, and he could be hers. As frightening as the idea was, it's appeal was strong as well, strong enough to make him catch her by the arm when the men spread around the camp to sleep.
"What is the matter, your Majesty?" She seemed to get used to call him by the title. He hated it.
"I'm quite fond of you, Emma Swan." He began. Her eyes widened in understanding and she shook her head.
"I thought we agreed that this night was a one-time thing, your Highness."
He shook his head in response. "I am not trying to get you laid, Emma." He assured her. "Nor will I force you or use my royalty to win you over. Because when I win your heart, Emma Swan," He took a step closer. "and I will win it," He let go of her arm. "It won't be because of any trickery. It will be because you'll want me, for who I am."
Her eyes were so wide when she just gazed at him for a lingering moment he thought she might be having a severe heart attack and will collapse at any second. "I am in for the long haul." He whispered. "Have a pleasent night, Emma Swan."
She stared at his back for a long time after he had left. She noticed that her mouth was still open and hurried to close it.
He was the first man with an interest in her heart rather than her body in quite a while. Since… Since Graham. And Graham died almost four years ago. It was quite ridiculous, actually, how every single person she has ever loved had died. First August, then her parents, one after the other, and then Graham. The only one who saw past the mask she had to put on for her shows, the only one left to love her for the person she really was. But he was caught hunting in a forest that belonged to the Evil Queen, and the Evil Queen isn't exactly known for her forgiving personality. His body was sent back home a few days after he disappeared. She had cried for an entire night.
The opportunity of having a new love was both terrifying and tempting.
But she could never let go of her first love.
She swore she wouldn't.
-xxx-
When they have finally reached their destination, she didn't really know where should she go now, since she didn't have a house.
"I am going to need you to come with me, Emma," Said the prince from behind her. "My parents need to know you're in the guard so that you could have a place to stay." he added at the doubtful look she gave him. She nodded and followed him through the stables of the castle, to the castle itself.
"Welcome home, my son." greeted him King Frederick when Killian entered the court room. He could barely hear Emma's silent steps behind him.
"Thank you, father." He smiled warmly at the king. "Hello, mother."
"Hello, dear." Grinned Queen Abigail widely at her adoptive son. "I hope your jorney was pleasent." Suddenly, the queen's eyes were fixed at Emma, widened. "Who is this?"
"This is Emma Swan. Our paths crossed in a village near the border and I offered her a job as a guard for being one of the most talented fencers I've ever met."
Emma was genuinely surprised by his comliment, but said nothing, for the queen's bright, grayish-blue eyes were still on her.
"How does a girl from a small village learn the art of the sword, lass?" Asked the king, amused.
"My father taught my to fight so that I can defend myself, your Majesty." She answered honestly.
The king frowned. "A father you were willing to leave in order to come here?"
"A father who died a long time ago, your Highness."
She could feel the prince's gaze on her back, and hated with every fiber of her being the weakness she must have been showing, but she couldn't dishonor her deep love for her father.
The king's gaze softened as he realized the mistake he had made. "I am truly sorry, lass, for doubting your devotion to your family."
"No harm done, your Highness." She assured him, blushing deeply at the apology from the king. Queen Abigail's eyes were still pinned to her face, which made her quite nervous.
"There is nothing more painful than losing your loved ones." Continued the king. Emma really wished he would stopped talking about it. "That is why we need men- people in our guard. That is why I must fight every day to keep my family safe."
Emma smiled at the honesty of King Frederick's words. "True love isn't easy, your Majesty, and you are right- it must be fought for, because once you find it- it can never be replaced."
A sharp gasp from the queen drew everyone's attention. "Who said these words to you, my dear child?" She asked, her eyes shining with tears.
"My father," Replied Emma, forgetting her manners in her confusion.
"Frederick-" The queen turned to look at her husband. "This is James's daughter." She whispered. The king's eyes widened in understanding and recognition. Even the prince seemed to realize something Emma didn't.
"I'm sorry, your Majesties, but you must be mistaken- my father's name was-"
"David." Finished the queen for her, rushing off her throne towards a very baffled Emma. "Your father's name was David, and your mother went by Mary, but her real name was Snow."
Emma just stood there, jaw hitting the floor, as tears were streaming down Queen Abigail's face and gathering in King Frederick's eyes. "H-how do- how do you know-?"
"Your father was a dear friend of ours. We last saw him only a year after he and your mother surrendered thier kingdom to the Evil Queen to prevent her from hurting their people with a terrible, terrible curse." explained the queen, hesitatingly cupping Emma's cheek in her palm. "You were one or two years old. You look just like him."
Emma was scared and confused. Their kingdom? Their people? What the bloody hell was going on?
"Is your mother dead as well?" Whispered Queen Abigail softly.
Emma swallowed and nodded.
"Then that makes you Princess Emma of the Enchanted Forest, the only heiress to both thrones of Queen Regina and King George, daughter of King James and Queen Snow White."
Review? :3