Chapter 4: The Lion and the Lamb

Killian:

"What do you mean; Cora needs a magic bean to make a portal?" Emma turned and spit the words out. "You just said so yourself that there's none left in existence!"

He didn't know how to explain to her. Killian looked out to the horizon and saw that the sun was already setting. "How about we settle here for the night? Does that sound good, princess?"

"Stop changing the topic!" Emma cried, "And don't call me princess!"

He stooped so that he was eye level with Emma, and it was his turn to put his face inches away from hers. "I'll explain to you, if you promise to settle here for the night because I don't know about you, but I'm bloody tired."

Emma stared into the deep blue eyes, momentarily forgetting her name. Killian watched as she was lost in his eyes before he smirked. "You know, love, there's more time to admire my looks later. I just need an answer."

Emma snapped out of her state and glared at Killian. "Just for you Hook, we can settle here for the night."

"Good, now help me get some wood so we have something to make a fire. I'll explain to you then."

Emma pouted and started looking for wood while Killian stood and watched over the area. He continuously glanced over in the direction that Emma had walked, hoping that she's come back sooner. Where the hell did she go, he thought. She'll get lost out there; she needs me, I need her…whoa, he continued to think, where did that come from?

He shook his head and continued to wait for her…

The moon and stars lit the night sky and Emma still wasn't back. I should've known she wouldn't come back, Killian thought to himself, disappointed and upset. He turned around and jumped back a little. Emma was standing there, with a giant pile of firewood at her feet.

"It took you long enough to notice," Emma smirked, using Killian's trademark smile.

Killian stared at her in surprise before laughing. "Well, dear, it looks as if you've bested me for a third time."

"You've got to step up your game, Hook," Emma laughed.

"You just smiled and laughed, all in the same minute. Emma Swan, what's the occasion?" Killian taunted.

As fast as it had come, Emma's smile faded. "Shut up, Hook. And, besides, there are ogres out there. The last one I saw was about two miles from this location."

Killian began to pick up firewood and began to improvise. "Well, love, I'm here to protect you. I told you, I'll always be there for you," he winked.

Emma rolled her eyes and began to help Killian with the fire. "So, about that magic bean…"

Being a pirate, Killian was about to start a fire in no time. He grabbed two more sticks and did the same thing; he added it to his new-born fire and watched as it began to grow little by little. He found stones and made a circle large enough to enclose the fire in one spot. Before long, Emma added enough sticks and the fire was large enough to last for another week. "So, the bean," Killian began.

"Like I said, Cora needs a magic bean to open the portal. It was said that the last magic bean was given to the bloody little ass I told you about, but I trust my instincts and I think there's more surviving. The giants are a lot smarter than they look, Emma."

"You're saying that the giants hid the beans before the war," Emma gave him a puzzled look.

"No one else believes me, and quite frankly, I'd forgotten about it. But, your pretty little face showed up here in this land with your Queen mother, and I remembered.

"My Queen mother has a name, you know. You can just call her Mary Ma –Snow White. And, you're the only one that believes there are still magic beans still existing."

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

"Do you have any idea where these beans are?"

"I've not the slightest clue," Killian looked into Emma's hazel eyes.

She laughed, "We're hopeless."

"Actually, none of us know how the compass works. Cora only believes that the compass will point to the portal," Killian commented.

"Let me guess," Emma rolled her eyes, unable to resist her smiling. "You think the compass will miraculously lead to the magic beans."

"No, actually I think your warrior friend knows where the magic beans are," Killian flashed another smile.

He watched as Emma's face changed. Is that jealousy I see, Killian thought as he watched Emma. But the face soon changed to sadness, want.

"What if we never get back to them? What if we never find them?" Emma looked down and stared at her feet.

Killian didn't know what else to do, so he scooted so that he was sitting next to Emma. "We'll find them, love. Don't worry. Forget about the magic beans right now, forget I even told you."

She didn't look up. "Hook, if we really find magic beans, we'll have the advantage over Cora because then we'll have the compass and the beans."

"Oh…okay," Killian said slowly. "Listen, love, why don't you get yourself a beauty sleep. You've done enough work today already."

Emma sighed and leaned to her left so she could rest her head on Killian's shoulder. Instinctively, Killian wrapped his right arm over Emma. He felt Emma shudder under his touch and he smiled.

"Hook, don't think that I trust you," Emma said without looking up.

"Love, if I wanted to win you over, I wouldn't need you to trust me," Killian smiled.

Emma groaned and closed her eyes; she fell asleep within ten minutes. Killian looked to make sure she was asleep before he laid her down. He stared at the fragile face and thought to himself, she really is a sleeping beauty.

He truly did miss Milah, but Emma gave Killian a different feeling. She was just like him. Milah was fun, and she was ready to lead a fresh, new life and take on any challenge. But, Emma…she was like Killian. She knew how to argue, she never took no for an answer, and she picked her fights carefully. Killian may be a pirate, but he knew his limits. The one thing Emma had that Milah didn't have: motivation. Emma had something to live for, while Milah simply wanted to enjoy life. It's the one thing Killian didn't like about Milah, but here was Emma. Is she worth it, Killian asked himself? She's a princess and I'm a worthless pirate.

Before he knew it, he was falling for the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming.

"One day, Emma Swan. One day."

He lied down next to Emma and stared at the stars, but he couldn't stop his eyes from closing. Soon enough, Killian drifted to sleep.

Emma:

It was the middle of the night when she heard the movements.

She struggled to open her eyes because she was so tired, but eventually, she succeeded. It took Emma a while to register her whereabouts, but she remembered she was in the Enchanted Forest, and she was stranded with Hook.

Hook, she thought. That bastard.

She turned over to see her companion sound asleep. What the fuck, I thought he was supposed to be keeping watch, she thought.

She stared into the pirate's face and unconsciously stared for some time. Why does he have to be so good-looking, she wandered. No, Emma, stop. You can't fall for him; he's a damn pirate and I'm a princess. It just doesn't work that way. Plus, he'll leave, just like the rest.

Emma was about to lie back down next to Hook, but she paused with caution as she heard the trees move. There's no wind, she observed while she examined their surroundings.

The trees began to sway back and forth slowly while there were footsteps approaching at a distance nearby. Slowly, Emma stood up and walked on the edge of the clearing. Her eyes kept darting to Hook ever so often just to make sure he was still alright, but soon, the ground began to shake.

Since when do earthquakes happen in the Enchanted Forest, Emma began to frantically look around, trying to figure out what was coming their way.

She ran back to Hook to wake him up, but fell during the process because the ground was shaking violently enough to cause a building to crumble within seconds.

How is that bastard pirate still sleeping, Emma thought to herself.

She carefully turned her head and saw the source of all the commotion: ogres…three…

She turned her head back and saw Hook roll to his other side. The ogres didn't see her, but she was sure they'd scented both her and Hook. She crawled without making a single sound and held her breath. When she reached Hook, she prodded his side, making the attempt to wake him up. Guess what? She failed.

"Hook, wake the fuck up!" she whispered harshly.

No response.

"Hook, wake the fuck up!" this time, vigorously shaking him now.

His eyes slowly fluttered opened and looked at Emma. "You really just love having me in your arms, isn't that right, Swan?"

She disgustingly let him go, but she continued to whisper. "If you want to live to see Rumplestiltskin, I suggest you help me get away from these ogres!"

Hearing Rumplestiltskin's name had gotten his attention, and he led his eyes to the creatures behind you. Hook's eyes widened as he slowly backed away from Emma.

"Emma, come here," he beckoned.

It was one of the times Emma trusted Hook to protected her. They slowly back away, but Emma made the mistake of stepping on a small pile of leaves, creating a CRUNCH!

"Swan!" Hook glared at her. "What the hell are you doing!"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to!" Emma's words were sincere.

The ground began to rumble again and Emma noticed as the ogres began looming in their direction. They must've seen us, Emma panicked.

She grabbed Hook's wrist and ran in the direction of Regina's castle, but the ogres made no hesitation and kept moving in their direction. Before either of them knew it, they were holding hands, running frantically for their lives.

Emma's legs were burning by the time the ogres had caught up to them; Hook still had steam left over.

"Swan, keep going!" he encouraged her.

"I'm trying!"

"Listen, I'm going to dive left, you dive to the right. It'll cause a distraction for the ogres!"

"There are three of them!"

"Yeah, all with a brain the size of a pea! Chasing two people is already too much work for them!"

Emma didn't have any other choice but to listen to Hook.

"On three!" he warned her. "One –two –three!"

Hook disappeared to the left and Emma dove to her right. Please come for me, she thought to herself. Hook doesn't deserve to die yet.

She didn't get her wish.

The ogres veered left and went for Hook.

"Killian!" she cried. "God dammit!"

I wish I had a sword right now, Emma thought, panicking. She looked frantically for a last-minute weapon she could use, but she was hopeless. She turned to look back, but something caught her eye. She looked to the ground five feet ahead of her when she saw a piece of some type of metal reflecting the moonlight. She rushed up to inspect the item, only to find a sword covered by the fallen leaves.

She picked it up and rushed forward. The ogres had stopped moving by then and were looking down. Oh god, Emma tried to look around, I hope he's not dead.

She took her pick and picked the middle ogre first. Using all the energy her legs could muster, she took a giant leap and jumped onto the back of the crouching ogre. She reached the ogre's neck and paused. She lifted her sword and sliced the creature's neck before stabbing it in the left eye.

The ogre roared as it began to lumber back and forth, carrying Emma. She jumped off in time before the ogre fell onto its back, lifeless. She crawled over to Hook and checked his pulse. It was there, but barely alive. Please wake up, Hook. I need your help, she prayed. With a sudden movement, he grabbed her wrist. "Relax, love, it's called playing dead," he winked.

Emma gave him a small smile that led to a smile on his face. She turned her head, but at the same instant she was dealt a crushing blow to the side of her head.

In an instant, she blacked out.