Killian and Emma made their way above deck quickly. They approached the gangplank and found a tiny red head standing next to a tall blonde guy. He had his arm draped across the redheads shoulders. Killian tried his best to smile at them. Emma held tightly to his good hand.
"you look just like Granpabbie said you would." She smiled. "don't they Kristoff?"
"He didn't say anything about the hook." Kristoff said staring at Killian's left hand.
"It's a new addition." Killian managed.
"I'm sure he knew about it. Probably didn't want to scare us." She smiled. She had a very happy go lucky way about her. "you don't seem very fearsome for a pirate."
"Anna, we need to let them talk." Kristoff said delicately.
"Oh I'm so sorry I rattle on sometimes." She paused and then continued rattling. "I'm Anna princess of Arendelle, this is my fiancé Kristoff."
"nice to meet you. I'm Killian Jones." Killian managed. "This is my fiancé Emma Swan."
"oh that's wonderful." Anna said. "Granpabbie wasn't sure you would be there yet. He said you two are destined for each other, but you might not have figured it out yet."
"Who is Granpabbie?" Emma asked speaking for the first time. It was difficult to get a word in.
"he's a rock troll." Kristoff interjected before Anna could speak. She shut her mouth just in time. "They are prophetic creatures that live in this part of the world. Very magical. They told us you were coming."
"I thought you were here for the queen." Emma asked.
"We are, my sister Elsa wanted us to come and greet you. Granpabbie and her talk often. He is helping her learn to use her magic." She paused. "Elsa possesses ice magic."
"I'm sure this Granpabbie told you that I have light magic as well." Emma said. "I hate to be blunt but why are you here?"
"Rumplestitskin." Anna said. "he wants my sisters power. Our parents sailed to Misthaven looking for a way to cure Elsa. They died trying. Rumplestitskin learned of my sisters power from them. He has coveted it ever since. I hear he is your enemy as well. We thought perhaps we could help each other."
"The bloody dark one seems to leave a mess in his wake wherever he goes." Killian said. "I'm not sure how much help I'll be, the last time I faced him, I got this as a souvenir." He held up his hook.
"Granpabbie believes that you two can help us defeat him. He doesn't believe that we can do it with out you." Ana said. "he asked us to bring you to him when you arrived in Arendelle."
"We are kind of in a hurry. He is on our tail. We don't really have time to meet with a rock troll. I need to reach Misthaven." Emma explained.
"Its about an hour on horseback from here. It will be worth it. Granpabbie also said he had something important to tell you. It's a message from Tinkerbell." She said. Emma's special talent for knowing when people were lying was on high alert. Anna and Kristoff were telling the truth. "Apparently they are old friends."
"I will get Smee to watch the ship." Killian said not hesitating. Emma had perked up at the mention of Tinkerbell.
"The dark one was very delayed by the storm Elsa caused, according to Elsa's sources he is several days from here even with his boosted magic speed." Anna explained.
"Your sister caused the storm that nearly took down my ship?" Killian asked.
"yes, but she tried to shelter you the best she could. She was trying to stop the dark one." Anna explained. "It worked for now."
"that's a relief." Emma said. "I know we need to keep ahead of him, but I need to do this Killian. I feel like it's important to go see this Granpabbie."
"I know." He paused. "I'm with you Swan."
"Always?" She phrased it like a question.
"always." He promised.
"you two are really sweet." Ana said. "Kristoff why aren't we that sweet?"
"I don't know." He tried. He pulled her close and kissed her hair sweetly. "I think we are."
"I know." She smiled. "I was just testing you."
"lead the way. We haven't got a lot of time." Killian explained. "We are still running away from the dark one."
"Elsa is going to meet us there." Anna promised. "I was surprised that Granpabbie thinks you can defeat the dark one."
"Why?" Emma asked
"The prophecy Granpabbie made says that only the lost princess of Misthaven can defeat the dark one." Kristoff answered. "since no one knows who she is, we didn't think he could be defeated."
Emma stared at Killian the two of them seemed innocent enough to but she could not be trusted with the secret yet. There were men Killian trusted with his life that he had not told Emma's secret to. He would die before telling these two strangers the truth. Even If they clearly already suspected it.
"I'm going to go grab some supplies for the journey." Killian said. He disappeared onto the ship.
"Do we need a map?" Emma asked
"We can show you the way." Anna said. Emma already sensed that the two weren't lying. Still she had been too trusting before. Killian returned after a few minutes. Emma made sure he had grabbed his cutlass. She could defend them against magic, she trusted him more then anyone with a blade. He threw a second cutlass to Emma. She smiled. He would trust her to handle the weapon. He had been the one to teach her how to use it. She took it gladly sliding the sheath he had also brought around her waist.
"We shouldn't need weapons." Kristoff said nervously.
"A pirate never travels without his cutlass." Killian explained. She realized she hadn't seen Killian leave the ship without the sword since arriving on the Jolly Roger. "Emma is a member of my crew and the woman I love, she will have one as well."
"Its fine Kristoff. We can't expect them to just blindly trust us." Anna quantified. "would you trust them in the same situation?"
"Its pretty scary when you are the voice of reason." Kristoff said. Emma somehow suspected that it was scary. Anna seemed like the act first think later type.
"let's get going." Emma managed. Killian took her hand.
"We are almost there." Anna said almost an hour later. Emma rode with her hands tightly wrapped around Killian. He was enjoying the feeling of her breath as she pressed against him. They entered a clearing a second later. A woman about Emma's age sat in the middle of the clearing. Her hair was so blonde it was nearly white. She had it pulled back in a long braid she wore a long blue dress with a cape. Killian couldn't help but notice that she was beautiful in a very regal way. Emma smiled widely at her.
"you must be Elsa." Emma managed. She had rarely met another human magic wielder. It was nice to meet one now.
"And you're Emma." She smiled back. Her pale face lite with excitement.
"yes, and this is Captain Killian Jones." She explained.
"of course nice to meet you captain." Elsa said taking his hand as he dismounted the horse.
"It's a great pleasure love." He said. Emma nudged him a little. He grinned at her jealousy as he kissed the young Queen's s hand.
"Remember who you are coming home with." Emma whispered into his ear as they followed Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff.
"I couldn't possibly forget." He whispered back kissing her cheek. "Were you a little jealous love?"
"She's pretty gorgeous." Emma explained.
"Aye, but so are you Swan." He said. "And I am very much taken."
"I love you." Emma said, before he had a chance to answer. They had entered a second clearing. Hundreds of what looked like boulders sat together. Emma could sense an enormous amount of magic coming from them. She wasn't really surprised when one of the largest boulders opened its eyes and began to speak. Killian looked shocked.
"Good child, I see that you brought them." The rock troll said his face was old and wise.
"Yes Granpabbie." Anna said bowing slightly. Emma knew these creatures were nothing but kind. Killian was on edge. His hand was tight on the hilt of his sword.
"It's okay they are not going to hurt us." Emma assured. He relaxed slightly. Emma put her hand over his and he finally released the hilt.
"It's okay Captain Hook." The troll surprised both of them with his choice of name. "I am not going to harm your beloved."
"Why did you ask me to come here?" Emma asked
"Two reasons." The rock troll explained. "first because I wanted to get a look at the woman who will defeat the dark one. It's nice to finally meet you Princess."
"I'm not a princess." She explained.
"the lost princess." The wizened face argued. Anna gasped from behind them. Kristoff gave a satisfied smirk. "you can trust everyone in this clearing."
"He already told me." Elsa answered Anna's gesture of confusion. "weeks ago."
"so I'm the only one?" Anna said looking at Kristoff.
"I suspected." Kristoff admitted.
"So it's really true." Killian said. A strange disappointment sunk over him.
"yes." The rock troll confirmed. Killian looked stricken as if until now it had only been a story, and now it was real.
"I'm ok love." He tried to reassure Emma. "I just need a moment." He stepped away. Emma felt a desperate war inside her. She wanted to go with him, but she needed to know the second reason for her summons.
"I'm sorry if I upset the captain." Granpabbie said. "But the truth is important. My friend the fairy Tinkerbell believes that as well. She asked me to give you this." He handed her an envelope. She immediately knew that the handwriting was Tinks.
"Thank you." Emma said.
"Elsa has an important part to play in your mission." He continued. "I hope that the two of you will help to fulfill the prophecy."
"What do you mean?" She asked
"I think that you should read Tinkerbell's letter." He explained. Emma excused herself and headed in the direction Killian had gone. She found him sitting on a stump in a thicker patch of wood. He had slashed his hook or cutlass against a nearby tree. She sat down next to him.
"you okay?" She asked.
"I think I will be. Hearing it from the mouth of a creature so old and so powerful, it just made it feel more real. I'm not going anywhere, but the idea that I could be a king someday. It's the most terrifying thing I've ever felt. I'm just a pirate. I'm not suited to be a king." He explained.
"I won't make this decision alone Killian. If you don't want to do this I'm with you. I choose you. I will turn around and we can make a life together on the Jolly and just forget this princess stuff." She said.
"We both know that we can't do that." He smiled. Then he took her hand, letting her know he was still in this with her.
"I need to open this." She showed him the envelope. "It's from Tink."
"We will do it together." He said. They both felt nervous as Emma tore open the large envelop. She pulled out a letter first.
Dearest Emma,
I'm writing you this letter because I believe, unlike the blue fairy, that you deserve to know the whole truth of the prophecy. She hid pieces of it from you. She believes that she is protecting you. By now I hope you have realized that Liam Jones was not your true love. If not you need to stop fighting your feelings. You are destined to spend your life with captain hook. Until a few months ago neither blue or I realized that captain hook was Killian Jones. If you don't end up with him, we are all doomed Merlin was sure of that.
You see the future is fluid. The future that Merlin saw can change. I have ripped the pages from the prophecy of Merlin , so that you will fully understand your destiny. Please look at them. They will help you understand the next half of this letter.
In order to defeat the dark one, you will need help. The first piece we have given you already. The princesses true love. You need to assemble the rest. I have nothing but faith in you. I always have. Follow the prophecy and for all our sakes, I hope that you can succeed.
Love always,
Tink.
Emma stared at the letter in confusion. Killian read it as she pulled about 20 pages from the envelope. She looked through them. The first showed her and Killian on the deck of the Jolly Roger, she had just mended his damaged arm and she was giving him the hook. She flipped through the pages and her heart fell. Tink hadn't been kidding. She would not be able to defeat the dark one unless she found a lot of help. The first person she and Killian required was the queen of frost. Lucky for her they already had that one, they just needed her help. The others were vague. A great enemy turned friend, someone with the heart of a wolf, a bandit, a great hunter, and most importantly an Author with a true heart. She didn't fully understand what all of those meant. But so far, they had pretty much just fallen into her lap.
She learned that she needed to arrive in Misthaven by her 22nd birthday. This meant that they still had about three weeks. Killian said that if they made good time they could easily be in winterhaven in four days time. It would be a week further to the capital. They should make it with time to spare if nothing else went wrong.
She turned to the second to last page in the stack. Her heart ripped in half. In the photo. Killian lay on the ground, a dagger stabbed through his chest. He was clearly dead. In Emma's hand she held a beating heart. A distraught looking woman in a black dress stood behind them. She quickly turned the page, in the last photo. The woman stood with them the heart was now gone. The woman had her hands on each of there chests and they were both gasping.
"you okay?" Killian asked she had probably gone white.
"Apparently there is more peril ahead for us." She handed him the last pages.
"you are going to rip your heart in two to save me?" He asked
"if these pages are correct, then yeah, but it looks like it works." She explained. He looked skeptical. She only smiled. Seeing the picture of him laying dead in front of her with the dagger through his chest had stirred something inside of her. She could only call it fear. She found herself pulling his lips to hers and kissing him with passion.
"Come on love we need to save that for somewhere a little more private." He was cut off by another kiss.
"Please." She said. "I need to know you are here, I need to feel you." She explained. He looked around shocked by Emma's words. He imagined if he had seen a photo of her like that he probably would already have her naked. He understood the need. He pulled her a little further into the forest.
"We need to be quiet love." He begged as her hand rubbed up and down him. There was no foreplay. He simply untied his breeches, pulling himself out. She lifted her dress for him in wanton desire filled him in a way that had him burning. He slipped a finger inside of her long enough to feel that she was wet and ready.
"Please remind me that you are still here." She begged. He pressed her back to tree trying to keep a good vantage point incase anyone came for them. He lined himself up with her entrance and thrust. She felt perfect around him. He marveled that every time with her was different and somehow amazing.
"This won't be gentle." He whispered as he started to set a brutal pace.
"Good." She said meeting him thrust for thrust. The smack of flesh on flesh filled the air as they tried desperately to stifle their moans. Emma bit Killian's shoulder hard enough to draw blood as she came around him. He was only a few thrusts behind her.
"I love you." She said as he climaxed inside her deep and violent.
"I love you too," He managed as he finally pulled out of her. He had nothing to clean her with. She didn't seem to care. She pulled down her dress and adjusted her hair while he retied his trousers.
"Thank you." She said feeling better. He smiled.
"Come on princess we need to get back before they send in the calvary." He teased she lifted the pages and they headed out to find out if Granpabbie could tell them what came next.