Killian stumbled despite her hands guiding him from behind. "Can't I take the blindfold off yet?" he huffed, tempted to pull off her silk scarf himself. She had accosted him before he had even disembarked from the Arendelle merchant ship that brought him back from a longer than usual service with the Royal family in the northern kingdom. He had written her weeks ago about the two gracious princesses her own age who had given him leave to practice on their grand piano. He hadn't heard back from Emma - perhaps bored with his endless descriptions of the piano's craftsmanship - and had not expected her to be at the docks when they made port.
"Then I wouldn't have an excuse to hold you," she breathed into his ear as she tightened her arms around his waist.
"Well, if you say it like that, lass," he replied, placing one of his hands over hers. Every time their skin touched he felt that familiar jolt pass through him, making him feel warm and alive.
"Just a few more steps," she murmured as she maneuvered him. Finally, she paused, hugging him from behind for a moment, cheek resting between his shoulder blades, before reaching up and pulling the blindfold off with a flourish.
He was standing before the grandest piano he had ever seen - a majestic concert grand made of enchanted wood and clearly, of the finest craftsmanship. It even exceeded the grand in the Royal Hall at Arendelle.
"What do you think?" she asked, biting her lip and hopping back and forth on her slippered feet. "I had it commissioned for you."
Killian was in a daze. "What is this for?" he breathed as he slowly approached the piano, trembling with awe, eager and excited to touch the instrument but just as afraid of ruining it with his undeserving hands.
"Let's call it an engagement present," she said so quietly he thought he might have misheard her.
"Wha...are you...?" he asked, swinging his head around to look at her.
"Marry me, Killian."
Killian forgot all about the piano in his astonishment. He had never been sure what would result from his relationship with the Princess of Misthaven. They'd shared a few secret kisses and fallen asleep in each other's arms from time to time. But she had come-of-age now and he had played during her debutante ball, where royal suitors had come from all over the kingdom and beyond to court her. He had been expecting their intimacy and time together to come to an end, that he would only see her from afar, when he was commissioned to play during special court events. "I, I uh...I'm just a commoner, a half-sailor, a street musician," he replied, not knowing what else to say.
But she reached out and grasped both of his hands. "You're a great many things as you've just said yourself! And not just some street musician but the greatest musician in this kingdom," she said earnestly. "Perhaps in any kingdom!"
She looked into his eyes and as it was that very first day, twelve years ago, he could not look away.
"I love you. It would be my honor," she said with a curtsy that took her down to one knee, her hands still holding his, "if you would have me."
She continued to stare at him, her eyes wet and wide, her lips trembling a bit, and he realized with awe that she was scared, scared that he would say no. Granted, she had spent years finding him at his next destination, following his song, standing in dirt roads and around wishing wells, waiting for him to come back from a sojourn at sea, and he had always turned down the offer of a royal position.
But it had nothing to do with her. He loved her too. But he had thought her admiration had been because of his music. That it wasn't actually HIM she loved. She was young, beautiful and heir to a kingdom. That she wanted him for him, out of all the partners she could have in the seven kingdoms, was beyond his comprehension.
He still didn't have the right words to say to her so he did what he did best instead. He took her hand and guided her to the piano bench. She looked at him in confusion and some alarm but he smiled reassuringly at her and placed her hands on the keys. Note by note, he taught her how to play his mother's song, their song, on the piano.
and it's breaking over me
a thousand miles down to the sea bed
found the place to rest my head
never let me go
never let me go
never let me go
never let me go
and the arms of the ocean are carrying me
and all this devotion was rushing out of me
and the crashes are heaven for a sinner like me
but the arms of the ocean delivered me
Even after they stopped playing, he could hear the song in his heart. He hoped it touched her as it did him, like an echo of their hearts in each other, deep in their souls, in a language that could transcend time and words.
"To a new beginning," he smiled at her as she leaned into him, eyes on him.
"To a new beginning," she echoed.
And for the first time since he first lost his hope, he allowed his heart to open up fully to his princess.
never let me go
never let me go
never let me go
never let me go, his heart sang.
They ended up playing the song once more that night, achieved one last transcendence, made one last vow, shared one last kiss, before a curse swept Emma and her kingdom to another realm while Killian was away at sea.
and it's over
(never let me go,
never let me go)
and I'm going under
(never let me go,
never let me go)
but I'm never giving in
(never let me go,
never let me go)
but I'm never giving in
