Chapter 3

Open Book

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."

― Albert Einstein

The sun rose in the air high, and its rays burned into Emma's face as she brought herself back to life. A hand rose to block the light as she squinted, taking her in surroundings. She felt her mate's stomach rumble as he awoke, a loud yawn erupting from his jaws.

"Good morning Aer."

"Morning. What's that smell?"

The pair turned their heads to see the stranger and his dragon by the fire cooking what seemed to be eggs in some sort of pan.

"Morning love."

Emma narrowed her eyes at the term of endearment and got herself up, strolling over to where the fire was and checked on the eggs.

"Not your love."

He simply grinned at her and offered her some food to which she took gladly.

"Come sit beside me."

The blonde looked at the man incredulously because who offers a stranger company?

"Uh I'm good thanks."

"Look, I think we got off on the wrong terms yesterday. The name's Killian. Killian Jones."

Emma looked at his now outstretched hand as he was sitting on a log as she stood rather awkwardly with eggs in her hand.

"Emma…..uh…Emma…um…..Emma…"

The blonde stuttered as she tried to come up with a last name. She didn't want him to know who she really was because, well, that could lead to problems.

"Emma….Swan. Emma Swan."

"A pleasure to meet you Emma Swan."

The blonde took Killian's hand and shook it, looking at him oddly.

"Yeah. Sure."

She plopped herself down beside Killian, giving him strange looks here and there, trying to figure out what his aim was.

"Love, I know I'm quite handsome, devilishly in fact, but staring can be quite rude you know."

Emma ground her teeth together trying to keep her retort in. Instead of speaking she brushed her hair back, flipping it so it landed in his face. She hit her target and smiled smugly as she ate her eggs.

…

Killian on the other hand spit out the locks and wiped his tongue, unhappy with her reaction to his comment. To further aggravate the blonde, the blue eyed man took one single strand of hair and twirled it in his fingers.

"Stop that."

She swatted his hand away and got up leaving his side and heading over to her dragon. Killian watched on, trying to figure out a way to entice her so she would come with them to him.

"Try seducing her. It's worked with your conquests before."

The man tilted his head, agreeing with his mate's words figuring that his charm would win the blonde maiden over. He did have a perfect track record after all. He stood up, leaving his breakfast to the side; Iaoch would just eat it anyway, and walked over to Emma who seemed to be conversing with her dragon as she stood eating.

With a seductive swagger in each step and the ovary exploding grin, Killian stepped in front of Emma, who had a fork with egg right at her lovely pink pout lips. She set the fork down on her plate and raised an eyebrow at him, giving Killian a perfect droll look.

"What?"

With his usual cocky grin, Killian put one hand, outstretched onto the green dragon's belly and began playing with the hem on the blonde's shirt.

"Well love, I think you and I could maybe find some more pleasurable things to be doing. Come with me and I can show you a grand ol time. Just you and me love."

The green dragon snorted out smoke and Killian whipped his hand back giving the dragon a scowl.

"And we'll leave the dragons behind."

The blonde slapped his hand away and then laughed in his face.

"As if. Sorry love but I have places to be." With that Emma brushed past Killian to throw her food away in the fire. As she did so, the ocean eyed man came up behind her and took a hold of her waist, pulling her flush against his. His voice dripped with sex, and held a breathy tone to it.

"Come love. I'm interested; why not make some fun with me happen? I can tell you're attracted."

Something in his voice threw Emma off and she turned to look at him, narrowing her eyes.

"You're lying."

Killian scoffed at the idea (even though it was true) and began rubbing her neck, letting his fingers slowly and lightly go down her back.

"You doubt me?"

Emma narrowed her eyes and put her hands on his chest, playing with the black curls matching him to his own game. She went right to his lips and with a breathy voice whispered to him, "Yeah."

The blonde pushed Killian away and sent him tumbling to the ground all while pulling out a dagger and putting it to his throat.

"You see I've got this super power and it's practically screaming at me that you're lying. So what are you really up to Killian Jones?"

Killian sighed and sat up on his elbows, the rest of his body outstretched with the blonde on top.

"You're an open book love."

"I am NOT an open book."

"You've never really been exploring have you? You seem the kind of person whose parents raised her to be too wary, to unaware, too naïve."

"I am NOT naïve."

"No? Then what's with the dagger love?"

Emma growled under her breath and pulled it back, sticking it back in its sheath.

"I can show you it. A new future, a new world filled with wonder. I can show you things you've never seen before. Just come with me."

Emma narrowed her eyes trying to get a good read on the pretty man before her, but it seemed it wasn't lying. But he was omitting information.

"Sorry Jones, I've got places I need to be that are more important than frolicking with you in some forest."

"Swan you know you want to. You're afraid to talk, to reveal yourself. Why is that I wonder?"

The princess glared at the man who stood there smugly, arms crossed and waiting.

"None of your damn business that's what."

The blonde twirled on her feet and stomped to her mate, climbing up and sitting firmly in the saddle. With a loud roar, Erue launched himself into the air and the pair flew in a circle around the campsite.

"SWAN!"

Emma rolled her eyes and motioned for Erue to dip down so she could speak with Jones.

"What?"

"If you change your mind I'll be in the downtown part of the village of Ouat, at the Jolly Roger bar. I'll be there till midnight. If you don't show, I know you'll be staying wherever you are and I'll leave you alone. Savvy?"

"Fine. I won't be there though so you're wasting your time."

"We'll see love."

…

Killian watched as the blonde and her mate flew into the air, soaring high and disappearing all too quick.

Iaoch came up beside him and sat down, watching the pair fly away as well. Killian looked fairly small compared to her size but he didn't really notice seeing as his eyes were solely directed on the now empty sky.

"I'm surprised you lasted so long. You've usually never had such an issue with women. How did it feel being rejected several times?"

"I was not rejected!"

"She seemed rather prominent about saying no."

"She'll be there. Don't you worry."

"And how will her mate come?"

Killian gave his own mate a sly look to which she raised a brow.

"You're female."

"You want me to call him?"

"Why not?"

Iaoch gave Killian a droll look to which he matched her own raised eyebrow with crossed arms. She wasn't winning that easily.

"I suppose I could…if it will help you succeed. Or you know, you could just tell her to tell him to come here. I certainly can't go into town."

Killian pursed his lips and pondered Iaoch's words.

"That might work better. Get her to trust me more."

Iaoch simply snorted and shook her head.

"Amateur."

…

Emma could see the castle below as she and Erue descended through the clouds. She felt as if she was going towards her doom, her final chapter of her life. The blonde of course knew she was over reacting, but a lot of the time when she approached the castle it didn't feel like a home should, it felt more like a cage.

"Your parents will be worried."

"I'm 28. They should learn not to be."

Erue merely shrugged and landed with a loud boom in the courtyard. Emma slid off his side and patted it, letting her hand brush over his crinkly scales as she moved towards the doors.

"They're helpless."

"That's what happens when you're a big dragon in a tiny egg. You can't be perfect in every way."

Emma winked at her mate and kissed his long nose. With great reluctance she let go and he flew off towards her room to have a nap.

They had been out all night after all.

The blonde rolled her neck to work out the kinks as she headed towards the library where she knew her parents would be. But as the princess walked she couldn't shake off the feeling a deja vu. As if she knew she wasn't going to like what her parents said.

She shook it off, figuring it was nothing but frazzled nerves after the encounter with the man who called himself Killian Jones.

She had to admit, he did intrigue her, but from what she could tell he stirred up all the wrong feelings in side of her. After she caught him the first time lying, she couldn't tell if he kept on lying.

It seemed her "superpower" failed around him.

Emma bit the inside of her cheek as she walked down the corridor by herself, her mind playing over and over again the guy's face as if it was a song stuck on repeat. It was annoying, he was annoying, but she was incredibly tempted to meet him at the Jolly Roger.

No. That would devastate her parents. She would NOT under any circumstances do whatever he wanted. And the innuendo from earlier? The one "I'll jab you with your sword?"

Please, Emma had totally heard better ones.

All too soon her train of thought stopped as she heard raised voices behind the doors. With great caution she leaned in, placing her ear on the door. She still couldn't hear, so the blonde opened up the door a tad. Not enough to reveal herself, but just enough to hear everything going on inside and maybe take a peek or two.

"Snow are you sure this is a good idea?"

"She didn't come home last night Charming. I've had enough! This will keep her tied to our home."

"Snow be serious."

"I am serious! Charming Emma keeps on disappearing, each time longer than the last. When will she grow up?"

Emma heard her father sigh and she looked down to the floor and back. Her parents were all too good at making her feel guilty without even trying.

"She is grown up. She just needs time."

"Time? Time?! She's 28 for goodness sake Charming! How much more time does she need?"

"Snow…"

"It's final. I've already called the prince and his family over."

Charming furrowed his brow at his wife.

"Without my consent? Snow…"

The Queen sighed and sat on a couch, all tired out from the fight.

"Charming this is our only hope that she will come home and stay home."

"What about true love?"

"Who says she can't fall in love with him? He's a handsome man, comes from a good home. He's a good match for her."

"We can't force her to love him."

Emma watched as he father took Snow's hands and sat on the couch beside her. The Queen's head looked to the floor in shame and then back to her husband.

"Our daughter will find the good moments in the bad. It's what she does best."

The princess watched in horror as her father nodded and kissed her mother's head, the pair leaning against one another in sadness. Emma shut the door quietly, her eyes wide and mouth agape.

An arranged marriage? They couldn't be serious.

But she knew from their tones they were.

The blonde ran towards her room, each step moving quicker than the last as she ran up the stairs and threw open the door.

Erue raised his head, looking at his distressed mate who ran around her room, grabbing all the saddle bags and throwing items in them like there was no tomorrow.

"Aer, what is wrong?"

Emma looked to Erue with sad eyes, pain etched all over her face.

"They're going to wed me off to a stranger. We have to get away."

"And where will we go?" asked her mated as he slowly rose.

"We cannot leave the kingdom without them knowing."

The blonde grabbed the bags and attached them to the saddle as she grabbed extra supplies she kept in her room for late night flying.

"I don't know."

"I fear you may have to take that man up on his offer. He can get us out without being detected."

Emma looked at Erue's yellow eyes, her face serious and pondering his words. She didn't like it, but it seemed to be their only choice.

"You're right. We'll be going wherever he wants to take us I guess."

Emma froze, her head falling down as her arms rested on her mate's back.

"God I hate this."

"It will be alright Aer. Things will work out for us."

The princess looked to her mate and shook her head as she finished shoving things into the sacks attached to the saddle.

"I certainly hope so."

…

Killian sat at a far booth in the back of the Jolly Roger. His mate was currently resting on the clifftop he had met the fair blonde maiden at.

He was waiting with a pint of rum for said maiden.

Speaking of her, she hadn't made an appearance. It wasn't that Killian was worried (Oh who was he kidding he was terrified. If she didn't show up she was going to make things so much harder for him!)

It was more so that if she didn't appear he was going to have to take matters into his own hands.

He wasn't leaving the bloody kingdom without her. Not when he knew that when he reported to him, he wouldn't be happy.

Killian took a chug of his rum and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He eyed up the barmaid who winked at him in return, causing him to provide a roguish grin. She blushed and he smirked to himself.

He still had it.

So why then hadn't it worked on Swan? What made her so different? Was she just blind or was she really just not attracted to him?

"Impossible." he muttered to himself. "There's no way."

He took another sip of his pint and called the barmaid over. He needed some entertainment as he waited.

…

Emma pulled her hood on tighter as she entered the Jolly Roger. When she had arrived in the forest that was on the outskirt of the village she realized that she couldn't bring him in with her. He told her he'd wait in the forest for her to come back out with the man and they would leave.

With a deep breath Emma took a look around the bar. It wasn't super packed as she would have expected, but it certainly wasn't empty. She had to dodge quite a few patrons of the bar as well as several tables and chairs that were scatter about.

She made it to the actual bar after tripping over several things, (many which she didn't feel like saying or ever admitting to) only to have to call the bartender.

His eyes were that of a dull brown and he had a few wisps of brown hair on his head. He was missing a hand which all in all was just a stump. He reeked of bile and had a toothless grin. The princess had to count to ten in her head just to stay calm in order not to recoil at the sight.

"Excuse me?"

"What can I get'r for ya?"

"I'm looking for someone."

"Lemme guess. Tall, dark, and handsome?"

Emma narrowed her eyes at the bartender, really wanting to correct him on the matter but instead refraining. It was kinda true.

"Sure."

"Over thar. Man with the pint o' rum."

The blonde nodded in gratitude, breathing a sigh of relief that she wasn't recognized. She made her way through all the furniture only to be stopped by a barmaid flirting with Jones. She sighed and rolled her eyes because it figured he would relish under the woman's breasts and attention. Men.

She silently slid into the booth across from him, keeping her gaze down and her locks tucked underneath the hood.

"Sorry lass but it seems my friend is here. I will talk to you later and uh…those delicious assets of yours."

The barmaid giggled and Emma gagged at the sound. The other two gave her a look, Killian's amused and the woman's unamused. The princess remained silent, biting her lip in order to not make a sound. Soon the barmaid left and Jones's gaze was solely on her.

"I knew you'd come. Like I said, open book."

"It's not what you think. Circumstances changed."

"Whatever you say darling."

"I need to get out of the kingdom and fast."

"You in trouble love?"

"Depends on the trouble."

"Well I suppose I can get you out then. You won't be staying though?"

"Staying where?"

"With me of course."

"Not in the slightest."

"Pity."

"Will you help me?"

"It would be unfair to deprive myself of rescuing such a damsel in distress."

Emma rolled her eyes at his antics and pulled her hood up more.

"So can we go?"

"I've still got half a pint left love, why don't you join me."

"No thanks."

"Take off the hood at least."

"I'd rather not."

The man across from her shrugged and continued drinking his pint. Emma shifted in her seat, obviously uncomfortable as he did nothing to help her about it. She knew he was aware how her uncomfortableness and was perfectly amused by it. She huffed and he ignored her purposely, aggravating the blonde.

"Do you know where my mate can stay?"

"Ah yes. Tell him to fly to the top of mountain. You know, the one where you attacked me?"

Emma glared at jones through her hood but he couldn't see since it was pulled so far down.

"And where are we to go then without them?"

"We will meet them there."

"Why."

"Because they very well can't come here can they?"

She quickly sent a call to her mate and he nodded to her and flew off, letting the blonde know he was gone.

Emma though was growing impatient having to wait for him as he was so obviously taking his time with his drink now that she was here. With a swift move she grabbed the pint and chugged it down, slamming it on the table empty.

"Hey! Bloody hell woman."

"Let's go."

The princess grabbed Jones's wrist and dragged him out the bar, tossing a couple of coins onto the table as payment. She burst out the door, breathing in the night air and tossing Jones onto the ground. He landed with a satisfying yelp as Emma pulled the cloak tighter around herself.

"What was that for?"

"I don't like being away from my mate for a long time. I'm sure you feel the same."

The man shrugged and he got up, dusting off the dirt and putting a hand through his hair.

"Well then. We head this way."

Jones pointed to a hidden path in the forest. He began walking, with Emma following close behind. The pair disappeared into the trees, but not without one last look to the stars by Emma, who wondered if maybe she was making the right choice.

The idea of an arranged marriage flashed through her head and he shivered, knowing that any option was better than that.

Even spending time with some lunatic man.

…

Killian moved through the forest with ease, seeing as he had done this multiple times before without his mate. He had understood Swan's words about being away from them though. It was rather stressing and nerve-wracking being far away from them. They gave a reassuring air when close by, a comfort only offered by them.

Speaking of the blonde, Killian looked back only to see her hood was off now and her locks seemed to glow as the moonlight hit them faintly. She was something, a looker with a harden heart.

He certainly didn't know much about her, and he really had no reason to, but like all women who rejected his advances (she was the only one actually) she intrigued him.

"Was wondering when I'd see those curls again. I was beginning to wonder if you were secretly bald."

She gave him a droll look, one that Iaoch very often gave him. He shot her a cheeky grin and she merely rolled her eyes, clearly not in the mood for any sort of banter.

The silence was deafening.

The traveled for a bit more through the darkness, the moon illuminating their path before them. The trip was rather tiresome, and the travellers were beginning to get exhausted.

"How much longer exactly?"

"A while yet love."

Killian could hear the words slip out of her mouth next, a combination of annoyance and irritation.

"Not your love."

He figured that was going to be a thing with them. The thought made him grin.

"Careful of the branch lass."

He lifted it and ducked, holding over for Swan to pass under. She did and gave him a nod of gratitude but no words. Seemed he'd annoyed her enough that she was giving him the silent treatment.

How mature.

Two hours later:

Killian sighed and ran a hand through his hair, followed by him adjusting his leather strap for his satchel. Swan shot him a look, but he was too busy fidgeting with the strap, which was digging into his skin despite all of the huge scarf he wore and heavy tunic.

Soon they exited the forest and arrived to the clearing where Killian had been attacked by the blonde just the day before.

"Erue!"

He watched with a silent fondness as the woman ran towards her mate and embraced him almost like how a child hugs their favourite toy. He shook his head and walked over to his own mate, who at watching the pair with observing eyes.

"Hello there."

"You made it. And it seems she came too."

Killian leaned against his mate with his elbow watching the pair as well. His thumb brushed his nose and he sniffed, a cockiness surfacing in him.

"What'd did I tell you? Open book."

…

A/N: Another chappie is up and awesome! Please read and review as always! And in the next chapter…Him may be revealed! ;) Aren't you curious? Who do you think it is?

Much love!

~ Ember G.