Chapter 11
Emma woke up with a shiver, Hook's arms no longer wrapped around her and for a brief moment, she panicked. He wouldn't have left her, especially not alone in Sherwood Forest, but she had been expecting to awake to his embrace and yet only the Swan-Feather Cloak was keeping her warm.
"You slept for longer than I was expecting." She turned towards the voice, a relieved smile spreading across her face when she saw Hook only steps away, rummaging through the burlap sack and staring at her, looking almost as if he were besotted.
But he couldn't be.
Emma started to get up, wanting to go to him, but she paused when she felt the ache in her back, a tightness that had surely come from the awkward position they had slept in, and a soft groan fell from her lips. Hook raised an eyebrow before abandoning the sack and closing the small gap between them, offering his hand to her as assistance. He helped her stumble to her feet, his fingers lacing with hers once she was stood in front of him. "I want to assure you that, had that tree not been the most uncomfortable resting place I've ever experienced, I would not have left your side until you had awoken." he murmured, and Emma glanced up at him, her eyes widening at how he must have noticed her short panic. He smiled warmly at her, dipping his head to brush a kiss to her cheek before releasing her to adjust the cloak around her. "It's cold today, darling."
She raised an eyebrow at him, his newfound need to take care of her a surprise. She hadn't felt anything like this before, not from anyone other than her parents, and she couldn't suppress a faint blush from staining her cheeks. He noticed, of course he noticed, but said nothing, simply reaching down into the sack again and rummaging through it, pulling out the translucent blue scarf she had held during their time spent avoiding one another.
"What's that for?" she asked, reaching out to brush her finger against the silk, remembering how she had slid the material through her fingers, listening to Hook's confession through the closed door of the Captain's cabin.
"It's for you." he answered, carefully draping the scarf around her neck. "It's something I've had for a long time and I feel that now is the time to use it."
"It's a scarf." she murmured, her gaze locked on him as he pulled her into a short, loose embrace. "What do you mean, use it?"
"It's more than a scarf. I was given it a decade or so ago, by a close friend of mine." he began, offering her his hook as he stepped away, the burlap sack held in his good hand. He watched her, and she knew from his closed, apprehensive expression that he was waiting to see what she was going to do. She smiled softly, her hand wrapping around the cool metal without even a moment's thought. Hook exhaled shakily, but didn't comment, continuing with his story as if nothing monumental had even happened. "It's from another realm and he told me it could be used to protect me, to allow me to escape from someone should I ever feel the need. All you have to do is throw the scarf behind you, and whoever you are running from should be delayed. Not that I've tested it, but I trust the man."
"And you're giving it to me?"
"I've told you before, Emma. This forest is dangerous and Rumplestiltskin is not the only sorceror here. If anything happens, you use it and you run. You get your son back and you stay safe." he halted, dropping the burlap sack to the floor and reaching out to cup her face in his hand. "You have to be safe."
"I can take care of myself." she breathed, although his insistence on her safety created a warmth that spread through her entire being.
"I know you can. Just think of it as insurance, just in case we get into more trouble than we anticipate." he stated, his thumb lightly caressing her cheek. "There's no need for both of us to die."
She stopped breathing for a moment, unable to catch her breathe when the weight of everything returned to her. He was still going to die, he was still planning on this journey being the last thing they did together, and she almost pulled away again, the thought of him not being there, not being with her, making her want to curl up again, to hide from the possibility, to pretend that everything would be okay.
She couldn't do that. Knowing that this journey was it, was the end, meant that she had to take advantage of every moment together, make this trip something she could always treasure. She knew what it was like to suddenly lose someone, knew that, had she known Baelfire would leave her, she would have made every moment count, and she had to do the same for Hook. She needed to.
And yet, she knew somehow that if she kissed him, really kissed him, everything would be over. He would have a piece of her heart that she would never get back and she couldn't risk that.
She swallowed, forcing herself back to attention and smiling awkwardly at him, his worried, despairing expression making her think he knew exactly what had been passing through her mind. "And here I thought you were simply trying to keep me warm," she forced out, wanting them to return to the light-hearted, affectionate atmosphere they had enjoyed the day before. He blinked at her, and she reached up towards him to press a warm kiss to the tip of his nose. "If anyone needs something to keep them warm, it's you. Your nose is bright red."
He laughed, but it sounded as forced as her teasing had, his hand dropping from her face and grasping the sack once more. "Well then, we ought to keep going. We don't all have a feather cloak to wrap up in."
The next few days spent trekking through the forest were divided between playful moments and a heavy silence, Emma's mind occasionally too intent on their upcoming separation for her to play affectionate. Her steps would falter, the distance between them widening as she considered the death that would put an end to everything. Hook would stop and look back at her, the despair in his eyes a mirror of her own for only a second, and then he would smile softly and reach for her, using his hook to carefully raise her hand to his mouth for a lingering kiss, each kiss feeling more like a goodbye than the one before.
But Emma would simply curl her fingers tighter around the metal and let him continue leading her through the forest. She saw that he too was as devastated by their future. She could only believe that if he felt anything as powerful as she did, then each step they took towards the Dark One became that much harder, the decision that may have once seemed easy to him becoming near impossible.
She just wished she could glean from his expressions whether these were his thoughts, if he actually wanted the same things as her.
And every night, no matter their mood, Hook would wrap the cloak around the both of them, his arms warm around her waist, and they would sleep.
Her feet hurt. Five days had been spent walking through Sherwood, breaking only for sleep and food, and Emma felt aches through her entire body. Her feet were worst, but constant rests against trees only relieved the pain briefly and were unpleasant for her back. Hook seemed as weary as her, but also equally determined, and insistent that she would not carry the burlap sack, even though it was lightening by the day.
Conversations had stopped almost entirely, the silence comfortable as they walked together, her hand loose around his wrist. Only at times, when the sun was fading and a darkness was filling the forest, did the silence become eerie, the two teasing one another awkwardly in an attempt to keep foreboding thoughts at bay.
But Hook had told her that the trip would only take a week, and with each night, she held him tighter, wanting to speak about what he intended to do, try harder at changing his mind, but she didn't want her insistence to push him away. As much as she couldn't bear the thought of his plans, she knew it was ultimately his choice, something he had been working towards for hundreds of years. She had only known him a couple of months, and she was almost certain that such a short time together could never compare to a vendetta longer than many lifetimes.
And yet, she was positive that their connection, forged only weeks ago, was stronger than any she had felt before.
She took a deep breath and then halted, her fingers clenching around Hook's arm when he continued to walk, waiting for him to turn around and meet her gaze.
"Do you have a plan?" she asked, her stare hardening when he simply blinked at her. "For killing Rumplestiltskin? I don't think simply striding in there will be much help. He's the Dark One, he'll be protected from people who want to kill him. And if he isn't, then I don't think it's because of a lack of foresight. He knows just how hard it is for anyone to kill him."
"I do have an idea." he admitted, seeming almost reluctant. "When you go in, when you find Henry, I was considering taking it as a distraction. He wanted your son for a reason, and I doubt he will simply let Henry go. When he confronts you, I'll take his dagger and then it'll be over. And if he dares to try and harm you, his death will just arrive faster." He spat out the last words, a dark look crossing his face as if the mere thought of Rumplestiltskin threatening Emma caused him too much pain, made him too angry. He faltered for a moment, Emma's free hand reaching up to rest gently on his cheek as she tried to calm him, comfort him. "Of course, I hate to ask such a thing of you, to put you in such danger, but-"
"Rumplestiltskin took my son, Killian." she murmured, his name reserved for moments like this, for moments where reassurance was needed, when she needed to show him just how much she cared without stating it in so many words. His name was all she needed to say, and she was certain he knew what she meant whenever she said it. "I want him gone. But too many things come with a price, and if the price of killing Rumplestiltskin is losing you too, then you know I think it's too much. He's not worth it. Not to me." Hook opened his mouth, ready to speak, but she shifted her thumb to brush against his lips, his short breaths warm against her skin, and he remained quiet. "But if you think that it is worth it, then it's your decision and… well, I will help you."
"If it's too dangerous, I won't let you do it." Hook said quickly, insistently, his focus solely on her, his eyes wide with what looked to be a mixture of astonishment and adoration. "If he tries anything more than talking, I won't let him. I guarantee that no matter how dangerous it may sound, no harm will come to you or your boy."
She wanted to ask more questions, wanted to know what exactly would happen once the dagger was in his hand, but he looked so concerned, so earnest, that all she could do was pull him towards her and hold him tightly, his hook resting at the small of her back and his good hand dropping their supplies so that he could tangle his hand in her hair and tug her even closer. She smiled into him, dropping a short kiss against the crook of his neck and enjoying the way his breath stuttered at the action. "I know you don't want me to get hurt." she muttered, lips brushing his skin with each word but leaving the remainder of the sentence unsaid. No matter how well he protected her from Rumplestiltskin, there were more ways she could be hurt. Despite all his precautions, he hadn't considered that their journey was destined to end with her being left behind.
After a few more minutes, Emma tried to step away, but Hook held her tightly for just a bit longer before dropping his arms to his sides and glancing around them, his eyebrows furrowed in suspicion. "What is it?" she asked, following his gaze. "Is there something here?"
"Perhaps." He passed her the sack, surprising her when she realised it was far lighter than she had expected, and drew his sword with his good hand. "You know the plan, love. Anything happens, you run." His hook brushed gently over the scarf, reminding her of what he had told her only days ago, and then he began a slow walk deeper into the forest.
They were both silent, the orange glow of sunset filtering through the trees, and Emma tried to listen out for something, any indication that someone was following them, but their own footsteps were too loud, the dead leaves covering the forest floor making it impossible to hide their position.
They kept walking once the darkness had fallen, both of them deciding that they wouldn't rest until they were certain that no one was following them, that they were safe. But she could feel something watching them, had felt that way ever since Hook had made her aware of his own suspicions, and she simply blinked when an old woman materialised before them, a weak swirl of brown smoke indicative of the powers she possessed.
Hook raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the witch's sudden appearance, his sword held loosely in his hand as he shifted in front of Emma, blocking her view of the witch. "I believe it's in your best interest to step aside." he warned, looking back at Emma when the woman refused to move away.
"Did you think no one knew you were in here?" she rasped, and Hook simply shrugged.
"I was well aware of all the pathetic characters taking shelter near the Dark One." Hook spat at her, Emma remembering his many warnings that power drew others to it, that Sherwood Forest was not safe, and she regarded the witch slightly more cautiously. "It was bound to happen after Robin Hood's retirement. Honestly, I had hoped the standard of such villains would be higher. You don't even seem like a threat."
The witch snarled and Emma held in a groan. As weak a witch as she appeared to be, she highly doubted it was a good idea for Hook to be provoking her, and she reached out to lay a hand on his arm, to keep him from doing anything impulsive.
"I have enough power to stop you. We're not here for shelter, we're here for the power the Dark One can give us."
"You're simply a pawn for the Dark One to use, something to delay anyone trying to reach him." Hook laughed harshly, a sound Emma had never heard escape him before. "And you may delay us, but don't think you can stop us from reaching him. You're nothing. And you can't stop us." It seemed Hook had said too much, the witch drawing her hand back and launching a small ball of fire towards them. She missed, Hook's harsh laugh deepening as the tree behind them was set aflame, the heat beating against their backs, but both of them unharmed. "I can see why he trusts you with such power. Terrifying, truly."
"Hook." Emma murmured, sighing in relief when her voice seemed to catch his attention and his head tilted towards her. "You're wasting time. Stop antagonising her."
"Listen to her." the witch snarled. "You think that was the power the Dark One gave me? You don't need power to hurt someone, to keep them away. You need knowledge and that's what the Dark One has given me. If you were so desperate to get to him, to kill him, you would have killed me by now. But you're hesitating. You know killing the Dark One won't change anything. It won't bring Milah back and won't help you move on. All you're doing is walking towards your own death, and you want me to delay you because every moment spent here is a moment when you don't have to think about what you're planning to do...and what you're planning on giving up to do it."
Emma's eyes widened and her grip on his arm tightened, watching as his jaw clenched and he sent the witch a look of utter hatred. To her surprise, he turned away from the witch, the anger in his face vanishing once he met her stare. "Emma, go." he stated, his voice hard and at odds with the expression on his face. "Take the music box and get to your son. Use the scarf, stop her from following you."
"And what? Leave you behind?" she replied, aware of the witch listening to the entire conversation, unsure why she was allowing them this time. "That's not going to happen. Not now. Not today."
"You're not leaving me behind, you're going ahead." he whispered, pressing a lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth. "I will find you again. After all, I have yet to kiss you."
Emma swallowed, the declaration causing a shiver to run through her body, the words familiar from her parents often repeated tale of their own love, and she couldn't move, couldn't leave him, not when he was saying things like that. Hook rolled his eyes and undid the scarf from around her neck, pushing her suddenly past the witch and throwing the scarf to the ground just behind her.
The ground rumbled, a crack separating Emma from Hook and the witch, the shaking earth causing Emma to stumble and fall, Hook calling out her name and running to the edge of the crevasse now separating them. A rush echoed through the forest, water tumbling from nowhere and filling the gap between them, the current too strong for anyone to cross. Emma's hand flew to her neck, the idea that this force had come from the thin scarf almost unbelievable.
She raised her eyes back up to see Hook, equally as astonished as her, standing on the other side of the river, the witch behind him shimmering as if the air was too hot, and she wanted to yell out, to warn him something was happening, but Hook spoke first.
"Well, that's quite an obstacle." he stated with a twisted smile, completely distracted from the danger at his back. "But don't worry, my love, this river won't keep me from you. Now go. Get Henry!"
He was so desperate, so insistent, that she clambered back to her feet, stumbling away from him but keeping her gaze on him, wanting to see him for as long as she could. A coldness swept through her when she saw the witch stop shimmering, no longer the withered old woman that had spoken to them, but a woman she recognised, had seen in the drawings in Hook's room.
Milah.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I'd like to everyone who favourited this story or put it on story alert, as well as Bemac, melanie, Anvistern, phiphi78, LadyBell91, Rain Pours Down, Petah's Lost Gurl, Conan in love, LadaHathaway, Guest (which I'm pretty certain is ChainOfPaperclips) and Nouqueret for reviewing. And, of course, BlackDragon733 for beta-ing!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own OUAT or the related characters.
