The door slowly opened, "Your highness, your messenger is here." George waved his hand in gesturing to let the boy in. The boy was skinny and looked fragile with long messy blonde hair that fell over his eyes, "who are you, you are not my messenger." Ordered George, the boy tensed at the harshness of his words, "i-i-i..." stuttered the boy terrified. "Spit it out boy." "I am a street orphan your highness, your messenger told me to give you this as he is caught up in some business." George snatched the letter out of the boy's hand "what business?" questioned George "he didn't say your highness" George waved the boy away and he hurriedly left. He hastily opened the letter hoping for good news in this terrible time.

Your highness,

I have infiltrated the castle and have worked my way into their lives. If an opportunity arises in which I can prove myself to her and her father, I shall seize the moment and inform you of what happens.

##

Emma had retired to her room once the ball had ended and was about to collapse on her bed when there was a knock at her door. Before her stood Belle with a look of concern on her face, Emma lead her towards her bed and they sat there in silence "Belle what's wrong?" asked Emma worried as she turned to sit in a position where she was now looking Belle in the eyes, "It's my father he is losing the war against the Ogres in our town Avonlea." Belle looked down at her feet her eyes tearing up "I have to go home Emma I have to be with my family" stated Belle "But surely it isn't safe to go there?" questioned Emma "I have to go back Emma, I have to be with my family I can't just abandon them." Belle got up off the bed and walked towards the balcony, neither spoke in that moment. "There was a way to save my kingdom but my father refused the deal." Admitted Belle "why?" Emma asked as she herself stood up from the bed. "Because of what it would have cost him." "You're going to accept the deal in his place" guessed Emma "no matter the cost" Belle nodded her head in agreement. "Belle what is the cost?" demanded Emma as she started to realise just what the price was, Belle stood there staring at her friend as the tears finally stopped and she stood straighter gathering up the hem of her dress, "It's you" whispered Emma in a state of shock.

Belle looked at her friend "I am doing this Emma I have to, please I beg you don't try and stop me." Belle ran for the door her dress trailing behind her as she disappeared from Emma's sight. "Belle!" shouted Emma as loud as she could as she began to run after her friend but she was too late. Emma fell to the floor, the tears stopped falling as she closed her eyes. "Emma?" called a male voice from next to her, the man placed his hand under her elbow as he guided her back up. "What's wrong?" Emma looked up at Neal "We have to help Belle." "I will get your father then we can leave to save your friend." Stated Neal as the corner of his mouth turned up into a mischievous smile.

Emma had returned back to her room as Neal had told her to do while he spoke to Charming. She walked towards her vanity table and sat down on the white cushioned stool that was positioned perfectly so she could see her reflection in all three mirrors with her reflection in the centre of each. As she sat there she stared at her reflection, her hair was knotted, her cheeks and eyes red from the tears. Emma lost herself in her thoughts; replaying the moment Belle told her over and over thinking of ways it could have gone differently.

Emma was snapped away from her thoughts as the castle messenger entered her room, "Princess, there is a letter for you, it is a matter of urgency." Emma stood up from the stool and took the letter off the tray, the boy walked out and left her with the letter. As Emma examined the letter she noticed that the seal was Belle's fathers. The envelope teared clean and swift, she laid it on her vanity table as she began to read the letter.

Emma Swan,

I write to you with details of a matter of urgency. As you know my kingdom is at war with the Ogres, I was desperate to save my kingdom so I seeked help from a man who has great power. Many warned me not to trust the man and they were right. He wanted Belle. My dearest Belle visited us a few days back and found out about this deal and I made her swear not to take this matter into her own hands but I fear she will.

You have to stop her. But if you are not able to stop her, seek help from your Father and a pirate I enquired about, who is rumoured to know of this man as it is said that the Dark One cut off his hand. Please take care for the Dark One is powerful and knows no bounds as the pirate discovered. I will join you in this fight when you have reached my land of Avonlea.

Sir Maurice

"Hook" exclaimed Emma as the letter fell from her hands and landed on the floor with a soft thump.

##

Emma pulled her hood further down to cover her face as she reached for the door to the tavern, from just standing outside she could hear the music and rowdy men inside drinking to their heart's content. As she pushed the door open Emma was hit with a musky ale smell and she took a deep breath before walking further in, the men in front of her sat at the bar turned her way and stared following her with their eyes, which made Emma pull her cloak tighter. She made her way to the back of the bar where she could see the man she was looking for but as she past a table that was full of from what Emma could tell where pirates, the biggest loudest of them all reached his hand towards Emma and grabbed her cloak tugging her onto his lap. "Who do we have here?" laughed the man as he untied Emma's cloak to reveal her face, as he did so Emma pulled away but the man reached for her cloak again and pulled it away. "A feisty one I see, our favourite." Proclaimed the man to his fellow mates, Emma felt her cloak fall to the floor. The table went silent. "Princess" stated the man "even better, I wonder how much we could get for you." Laughed the man. "How about you let her go, and I won't." The man pushed Emma aside to face the man who just threatened him "and who are you supposed to be" provoked the man "well my crew call me Captain Hook, but you can call me the pirate who beat you." Threatened Hook as he tapped his fingers on the hilt of his sword. "Jack just leave it he's not worth the trouble." One of his crew members stated as he pulled his friend back down to his chair, the man complied with a grunt and spiteful expression on his face "I will get you for this one day Hook." Hook bowed at the man as he grabbed Emma's cloak and draped it across her shoulders as he lead her out of the tavern.

"What are you doing here lass?" asked Hook as he leaned against the railing of his ship, "I need your help" "I think you will find I just helped you lass, speaking of which I didn't get any gratitude for that." Teased hook as he ran his index finger across his lips with a grin. "Belle's in trouble." Hook stood up straighter as Emma explained what has happened. "Rumplestiltskin, I know him" spoke Hook with his voice full of bitterness "Will you help us…me?" pleaded Emma, Hook nodded his head in agreement, Emma hesitated before she spoke "How do you know Rumplestiltskin?" once she spoke the question she regretted it as she saw a look of hurt flash across Hook's face for a moment before the smirk returned to cover it up. "Let's just say lass, I took something from him so he took something from me." Emma looked down at his hook. "I should get back before they notice I'm gone" "Sneaking out at night to meet me Swan I'm honoured but what will your father think?" Teased Hook as he held his hand out for her, which she ignored as she gathered up her dress to raise the hem then she headed back towards her horse. Hook had rode with her back to the castle on a horse of his own; which she was almost certain he had stolen. When she got there she went straight to her room and began to prepare for what tomorrow was going to bring her way.

Author Notes: Sorry this took so long, I have been busy with college then I got ill. I hope to upload the next chapter soon.