Leather & Lace
Chapter Ten
"So, why don't you tell me what you can remember about your attack," Belle continued as Granny set down the breakfast she ordered on the countertop in front of her. "Maybe together we can try to figure who he… or she… is."
"She claimed herself to be from Camelot," Killian replied in frustration, rubbing his brow again while he tried to think back to last night and earlier this morning. "She arrived last night supposedly through a portal, though no one actually witnessed a portal opening somewhere. We were all here in the diner when she came in. Me, Emma, her parents, and Regina that is. She called herself Maura… Modena… Morgana. Morgana, that was it. At least I think so. Whatever her curse, or spell did to me, did to everyone else's memories… it must have affected my own memories somehow too. I can barely remember what she looked like, other than that she had dark hair. And bright green eyes. She's powerful. I was suddenly struck down by an immobilizing spell, then I the next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital and nothing was the same. Everyone's lives have been drastically altered somehow and for some reason, I've ceased to exist. But that's all I can remember. I'm hoping you could help me to figure out what's changed. I know you're no longer married to Gold, Emma's no longer married to me and she appears to be so… lost."
The young woman finally spoke again saying, "Perhaps it's better if I don't tell you anything more. Not that I don't want to help you, Killian… because I do, but if what you're telling me is true, then surely it would only make you loathe yourself that much more than the small part of you which already does and that small part of you will only grow. Do you really want that?"
The Captain looked behind him towards David and their friends, most of whom kept their eyes trained on him as though he was going to turn on them like the man he had been when he shot Belle years ago to make his oldest enemy suffer all over again, then he turned away and answered despondently, "As long as I get to the truth and figure out a way to fix all of this, then how I feel doesn't matter."
"No one truly knows just how much of an impact one has on the lives of those around them," Belle responded softly while she laid her hand tenderly over his. "Especially on those closest to them. You said everyone's forgotten you, yet no one appears to have forgotten anyone else. And everyone's lives are different, but what if it isn't because they've all been cursed, only you. You were after all the one who was attacked. From what you've told me, it seems like you've never been born and therefore nothing of what you've said and done, neither good nor bad, will ever have happened."
"I'm not sure I understand," Killian replied in confusion while he turned his head to look over at the beauty again.
She nodded and then continued, "When David and Leroy walked into the diner with you earlier, David made it pretty clear he really despised you. I don't mean to insult you, it's just that I'm trying to help you to understand. He's probably not too thrilled with you because you claimed you're married to his daughter, but I'm guessing he really cared about you before all of this happened to you, like a son perhaps? Because you don't exist now, your friendship with him was never forged and he sees you as nothing, but what you appear to be… a pirate. As for whatever else is going on, you'll have to figure it out for yourself. I don't know what all is different for you, because I don't know the real you if you're really speaking the truth. Only you know that. However, if you'd like for me to do some research on this villain from Camelot, who may possibly be a witch or sorceress, I can try. I've only ever heard of one powerful being from that kingdom. Merlin, a very powerful sorcerer."
Hook bowed his head out of shame as he answered, "Aye… I know of him also. I was the one who killed him."
"And you really believe Emma would have married a murderer," David stated cruelly as he then came up behind them upon listening to as much of their conversation as he could.
"Look… I've no excuse for killing the people I have, nor am I trying to justify my actions either, but all of you have forgiven me for the sins of my past including your daughter," Killian responded pleadingly as the sheriff then grabbed the pirate by the back of his jacket and shoved him back against the counter to arrest him. "You've managed to forgive Regina despite all she's done to all of you, including the dark curse that kept you frozen in time without memories of who you are for twenty-eight years."
The Prince glared at him as he replied, "Because we know who she is and that she's no longer the Evil Queen. We don't know you and you just admitted to killing someone. More than one person in fact. My theory that you're here working for the Dark One is sounding more and more plausible to me the more you open your mouth, pirate."
Belle tried to get in between them as she attempted to stand up for Killian while she said firmly, "You know you can't arrest him for simply being a pirate because you don't like or trust them. And one could easily argue that Killian's so called confession was nothing more than words taken out of context."
"If he's working for Rumplestiltskin, I could find out the truth from him in a matter of minutes, if you'll let me," Regina then answered from the back door of the diner after she had walked in a few minutes ago, having heard most of the conversation exchanged between David and Hook.
"I think it'll be better if we give this man a chance to explain himself in an interrogation that doesn't involve the use of dark magic first, Regina," a hero Killian was shocked to see among the others responded as he moved out into the open from the back of the diner until he was standing beside the woman he loved. "So far, he's done us no harm. We can get the truth out of him."
Killian stared at him as he stuttered, "Robin? But how… How are you alive?"
The archer turned to the pirate and then spoke again saying, "I don't believe you and I have ever met before. I'm pretty certain I would remember someone dressed like yourself. And I usually don't associate myself with pirates. Not unless I have to."
"I'm really sorry to have to do this, mate, but I'll never get to the bottom of what's happened to me if I'm to be arrested, so… I really hope you can forgive me for this later," Hook said quietly as he turned to his father in law again and suddenly swung his fist to punch David hard in his face to knock him down as the sheriff had done to him earlier, then Killian ran from the diner before Regina could even use her power to stop him.
"Leroy, I need you and the other dwarfs to spread out around town and see what you can do to find him," David called out to his friend angrily as he struggled to stand again with Robin's help. "Some of you should begin with the tunnels below the streets. Hook seems to know a lot about not only us, but about Storybrooke as well. He could be going anywhere. Regina and Robin, see what you can do to find him, be it through magic or just hunting him down. I'll join in the search too as soon as I go talk with Mary Margaret and Emma so they'll know the pirate's dangerous just like we feared he would be. Leroy and I caught him snooping around outside of Gold's shop. I suspect he might be here to help set Rumplestiltskin free and if that's true… Let's just say we can't risk him being free until my theory is proven wrong. Now get going."