A/N: I'm so sorry the chapter is late! I had a full chapter completed on time, but when I read it before posting I realized it was utter garbage. It had to be thrown out and I started from scratch. Hopefully this one is more up to standard! Also, in case you hadn't read my previous notes, there will be another chapter posted this Thursday, and every Thursday after. Well, at least until I finish the story. Cheers, and enjoy!
Chapter 9
Grumpy was snoring, and Emma was at her wit's end. Henry, the traitor, had decided that the dwarf made a better pillow, and had promptly gone to sleep in his lap. Emma was left to stare out the window, at tree after tree after tree, until she felt like screaming. Not that the forest wasn't beautiful, merging shades of green and brown that swayed softly in the wind, but a girl can only look at leaves for so long before wanting to strangle something.
She supposed she could ask Killian to stop for a bit, stretch her legs, but she didn't think that either man would take kindly to a delay. They wanted to reach the mountain by nightfall, to take shelter in a cave part way up the slope.
Emma looked up at the window, placed behind her head so that the passengers could communicate with the driver without the inconvenience of raising their voice. If she took off her shoes and coat, and stood on the seat like so…
She opened the window. "Psst, Killian?"
"Aye, lass? What can I do for you?" He had to speak up to be heard over Grumpy's snores.
"Could I come and sit up there for a bit? I don't want to get in the way," she hurried on to say. "But if I have to spend one more second in this gilded prison, I will become murderous."
"Ah, we can't have that. Do you think you can make it through the window?"
Emma didn't respond, simply stuck her upper body out and raised her hands. Killian took her meaning, and grasped her wrists to pull her out. After one terrifying moment where both she and Killian were in danger of falling off opposite sides of the carriage, Emma gathered her wayward limbs and sat on the bench. Killian picked up the reigns and urged the horses back up to speed.
"So, will you be needing conversation while you're up here, or is my mere presence enough to keep you entertained?" Killian asked after a moment, smirking at Emma. She rolled her eyes.
"Horses make better conversationalists, I'm sure."
"You wound me, Princess." He clutched at his heart dramatically. "I can converse with the best of them."
"You can brag with the best of them, more like."
"It's not bragging when it's true."
Emma threw her hands up in disgust, and Killian winked at her. "You are incorrigible."
"You have no idea, love." This ridiculous innuendo, partnered with his ridiculously well-raised eyebrow, sent Emma into hysterical laughter. Killian looked a mite put out by her response. "You have no concern for a man's dignity."
"Oh, dignity? I was unaware you possessed any. Certainly, I've yet to see evidence of yours."
"And clambering out of a window shows true dignity, Your Highness." Killian's voice was sarcastic, and his eyes danced.
"I've never claimed to have dignity. It's you two who seemed convinced of that." Emma had meant to sound teasing, but the words came out far more seriously. Killian sobered.
"Aye, that we are." He gazed into her eyes, and she looked away. They were silent for a time.
"So, will you miss it?" Emma finally spoke.
"What, your talking?"
"No." She rolled her eyes. "The Royal City."
"Ah. I don't believe so, love."
"But it was your home, wasn't it?"
"It was a place I once lived. End of story." Something in his tone told her that if she pressed this, she would regret it. But Emma was nothing if not daring.
"Well then, you must plan on making Arendelle your true home."
Killian chucked softly. "You know, lass, for a woman who claims to have never had a true home, you do seem to care an awful lot about finding one."
"Don't you?" Her challenge was met with silence, but she could see his answer in the hunch of his shoulders and the glint in his eye. Killian Jones had given up hope on ever finding a home.
Emma felt she should do something, either try to re-establish his belief or simply comfort him, but before she could try he pulled out a flask and handed it to her.
"Something tells me I'll need some liquid luck to handle the rest of this conversation, and it's poor form to drink alone in front of a lady." He kept his eyes on the road. Emma took the flask and sniffed, the strong liquor burning her nose just a little.
"Rum? Is that your solution to everything?"
"It never hurts, love."
Shrugging to herself, Emma took a hearty swig. The liquid burned down her throat pleasantly, good quality rum. Without stopping to ponder where a thief might have procured such fine spirits, she passed the flask back.
"No, I suppose it doesn't."
Killian took his own mouthful and placed the bottle back into one of his many pockets. "Now, sit up straight. No slouching. And remember, you're a Princess, so no fiddling with your collar."
Emma sat up with a jolt, unaware that her hand had been creeping up to her necklace. A faint protest died on her lips as she remembered to keep her necklace a secret. "How is it that you know what royalty does and doesn't do?"
"I make it my business to know. And besides, I used to live in the Royal Palace, before the curse."
"Really?" Emma was intrigued.
"Aye. Now, how would you like to try your hand at horseback?" Killian asked with a savage grin. Emma looked at their speeding mounts and shuddered.
THE LASS HADN'T been terrible at riding. In fact, she took to the saddle as if she'd lived in one her whole life, but Killian wasn't about to say that. There were many perplexing things about Emma Swan, not in the least her uncanny ability to read his mind.
She was a fast learner, he found when they stopped for lunch. Killian and Grumpy took turns at quizzing her about proper etiquette, history of the realm, and the Royal family members. Emma seemed to surprise herself with how much she knew, and how quickly she picked up the things she didn't.
Every so often, Grumpy would send Killian a look as if to say see? Didn't I tell you? She could be the one! Killian still had his doubts, but it was fast becoming clear that there was more to Emma than any of them suspected. Including Emma herself.
There wasn't time for many lessons. There were still people after them, and they had to make it to the cliffs before midnight when the Queen's soldiers checked the perimeter of the forest.
They pressed on, unaware that their journey was already being closely followed. Jefferson was planning his first assault.
