"Easy love, easy..." Killian kept up a running narration, even though he knew she couldn't hear him. He held her hand in his, walking backwards across the room and leading her to the breakfast table.
"You've done wonders, Mr. Sullivan," Granny said, clasping her knitting to her chest. "Just look at her! She's clean, she's smiling..."
"And you can talk to her!" Marco interjected. "Such a miracle!"
"Yes, well, she's highly motivated," Killian said, reaching over to hand Emma an apple. She smiled, bringing it up to her nose to smell before biting in. "She an intelligent girl. She only needed a little motivation."
"You've accomplished so much in such a short time," Granny said. "How can we ever thank you?"
"Perhaps you could do me a favor," Killian said. "Just a bit of information I need, really. Is there a harbor nearby?"
"A harbor?" Marco's forehead creased as he thought. "Yes, only a half-day's ride to the south along the coastal road. Are you expecting a shipment?"
"Something like that," Killian answered evasively.
"You're not leaving us so soon?" Granny asked worriedly.
"No, of course not," Killian said. "I can arrange for a courier."
He turned as Emma walked carefully to him, holding her hand out until it connected with him. She grasped his hand and finger-wrote:
A-L-O-N-E?
N-O he spelled back.
She made a face of extreme impatience that very nearly made him laugh. He looked over his shoulder at Granny and Marco.
"I believe I'll take her for a walk, if that's all right with you. The fresh air is good for her constitution."
"Take the market road, into the village," Marco suggested. "She loves the smell of the gardens and the bakery."
"That sounds like a very good idea," Killian said, tucking Emma's arm under his own. She followed him out without any hesitation, and it made something warm swell inside him to see how thoroughly she trusted him.
Once they'd gotten far enough away from the cottage, and it was clear there was no one else in sight, he took her hand and spelled out N-O-W.
"Whew!" she said. "Now that I can talk, it's a real pain in the ass when I have to hide it."
He brought her hand up so that she could feel him smile, then he kissed her fingers.
"You know, for a man who's so good with words, it's refreshing to have to deal with you like this," Emma remarked. "You still manage to get your point across."
He responded to that by pulling her in and setting her hand on the back of his neck. She tilted her face up for his kiss.
"See?" she said. "That's what I'm talking about."
She couldn't help but notice as Killian's head suddenly whipped to the side.
"What?" she asked.
R-O-B-I-N he spelled. I H-E-A-R R-O-B-I-N
"Robin? Which way?"
Killian took her hand guiding her along the road and around the bend, where he pulled up short and she ran right into the back of him.
S-O-R-R-Y he spelled.
"It's okay," she replied, rubbing her nose. "It's just my nose. One of the few things that functions correctly."
He leaned down and kissed her nose gently, then walked her carefully over to where Robin stood next to a wagon loaded with goods. He had his hands on his hips and he was staring at Regina, who sat inside her royal coach, staring out the open door.
"How can you possibly just block the entire road?" Robin asked in exasperation. "This is a trade route! People need to get through."
"I told you, I'm waiting for my guard to come." Regina said in a bored voice. "I sent the driver back to get someone to repair the wheel."
"And it didn't occur to you to have the coach moved out of the road?" Robin asked incredulously.
"Robin." Killian stepped forward, leading Emma along. Robin turned around at the sound of his name.
"Yes?" Robin answered. "If you're hoping to look at my wares, you'll have to wait until I get them back to the tavern."
"Of course," Killian replied. He reached down and spelled for Emma:
R-O-B-I-N-S D-R-E-A-M
She nodded, and Killian looked up at Robin again. "My companion is blind and cannot hear. We were on our way to the village. May I assist somehow?"
"If you can help me move this bloody carriage out of the way, there's a bottle of rum in it for you," Robin said. "But only if she'll get out of the damned thing."
"I'm comfortable," Regina said, waving a negligent hand.
"Regina?" Killian stepped over to the carriage, lowering his voice. "We're not in your dream. Why haven't you brought him 'round?" His eyes slid back to Robin, who was staring curiously at Emma.
"Why bother?" she asked, studying her nails. "I'm just going to hang out here until my rider gets back."
Killian gave her an odd look. "All right, then..." He turned to walk back over to Robin.
"She's quite something," he said, gesturing back at Regina.
"She's a royal pain, that's what she is," he said, deliberately raising his voice. Regina merely yawned in response.
"We were on our way to Storybrooke," Killian said. "Lovely place. Ever been there?"
"Storybrooke?" Robin's brow creased. "Can't say that I have." He rubbed his face thoughtfully. "Is it along this road?"
"Aye," Killian replied. "And not far from New York."
"New..." Robin went very still. "New York?"
"We're visiting an old friend there. Her name is Zelena." He hated to throw her name down, but it worked. Robin's face showed his recognition, and he sucked in a breath.
"God, Killian...don't tell me that she's here."
"I don't think so," Killian replied. "I just assumed the name would have the proper effect."
"So it did." Robin turned to look at Emma. "Is she really deaf and blind?"
Killian stepped to her side, taking her hand. She visibly relaxed once he did so.
"Yes," he replied. "I can communicate after a fashion." He spelled a few words into her palm and she nodded.
"Hi Robin," she said, a little loudly. "Swell dream." She tilted her head. "Wait...how is it both our dreams?"
"She's right," Killian pointed out. "We came from her dream and walked into yours."
"It's the bubble thing," Regina said carelessly.
"Why don't you come out here, Regina," Robin suggested. "We all need to talk this through."
"I'll just wait here," she said. "I'm thinking of taking a nap."
Killian strode over, grabbing Regina's hand and pulling her through the door and to her feet.
"Hey," she protested, but without her usual scathing heat.
"Talk." Killian's tone brooked no argument. "What do you mean 'it's the bubble?'"
"The dreamscape," she said, stifling another yawn. "It's in a bubble, and it's shrinking. It stands to reason we're going to run into each other more."
"We've got to figure this out," Robin said. "Have you found any other clues?"
Killian shook his head. "Other than the bottle of rum you just offered me...no. You?"
Robin put his hands on his hips and looked around. "I was on my way back from the harbor, with a wagon full of goods. I know it's terribly important that I make it into the village, but that's all."
"Are you two finished?" Regina asked. "I'd really like to lay down now."
"Regina, we don't have time for naps," Robin said. "I need to deliver my goods and see that the bill of sale is properly -" He stopped suddenly, then slapped a hand to his forehead.
"The seven seals!" he exclaimed.
"Beg pardon?" Killian asked.
"That's it! The Seven Seals of Commerce! Before I was an outlaw," Robin explained, "I wanted to be a legitimate businessman. But starting a new business in Sherwood isn't easily done. There's a special permit required of all new establishments, and if you've never engaged in commerce before, you're required to find seven men or women of good standing to give you their endorsement. Once you have the seven seals of Commerce, your permit is granted."
"So you have to find seven people who'll give you a character reference?" Regina clarified. "Sounds exhausting. I'll just wait in the coach."
"Well, that's one more piece of the puzzle," Killian said. "Now if we can just find out what's wrong with Regina..."
"Regina's tired, that's what's wrong," she called out from inside the carriage.
"She's not herself," Robin said. "She's just not -"
He didn't get to finish. At that moment, Emma decided she'd been left out of the conversation long enough. She took two steps forward, but was too close to Robin's horse. Her sudden move startled the animal and he shied, rearing up and coming down right on her, knocking her to the ground and trampling her beneath it's hooves before Killian could get there.
She came to slowly, groggy and disoriented. She still couldn't see or hear, so she reasoned that she must still be in the dream. She managed to croak out Killian's name, and felt his hand squeezing hers a moment later.
"What happened?" she asked, smacking her lips a bit at the gummy feel of her mouth. "Why do I feel so funny?"
M-E-D-I-C-I-N-E he spelled out very slowly in her hand. Then he added Y-O-U-R-E H-U-R-T
"The horse," she breathed. "I feel...heavy. Can't move my legs."
Killian looked up at Robin, whose eyes held his grimly. Granny sat on the other side of the room, her hands clasped in Marco's as they looked over at Emma. Regina lay snoring softly in a chair in the corner.
"I'm sorry," Robin said.
"You did the best you could," Killian replied. "If you hadn't gotten her to the doctor as quickly as you did, she may not have survived it."
"The trip on horseback may have been too jarring," he said. "But I had to act quickly."
"You did the right thing," Killian assured him. "You're a superb horsemen - far better than I am. You were the best choice."
His eyes went to Regina, because that wasn't entirely true. She was the best choice - but she'd insisted that they just let Emma rest instead of trying to help her. Robin had finally gotten her up on the horse, and off to the doctor. Once Regina's driver returned with her horse, Killian had taken off after them, only to find Emma had been taken home to recuperate.
And she was showing no signs of movement in her legs.
The horse had delivered a glancing blow to her head, thank God, but it's full weight had come down on her spine. Killian's hand fisted as he cursed fate for trapping her in a body that could neither see nor hear, and now couldn't walk either.
Marco pushed himself to his feet, stepping over to Robin.
"Thank you," he said. "Thank you for what you did for our Emma. You are a good man."
"I only did what needed to be done," Robin said. "I wish I could have done more."
"No," Marco said, shaking his head. "You did what a good man would do." He reached in his breast pocket and produced a folded piece of paper. "It's my official endorsement," Marco said. "If you need anything from the village, show them this, and they will see to your needs."
Robin opened the paper, tracing the words "Letter of Commerce" at the top. Underneath the title was Marco's signature.
"Thank you," he said. "I'll make good use of it."
"Killian." Emma's voice was groggy, and her hand limply found his again.
He leaned over, setting his lips gently on her forehead before spelling into her hand: S-L-E-E-P
She let out a tiny sigh, and did as he asked.
###
"Why did you call me here?"
Lily gave the hooded figure a scathing look. "I think they're getting suspicious."
"Why?"
"Belle is asking questions around town. And in the town hall, she was asking about Inanna."
"It's far too complex for anyone to figure out. You're worrying too much. I have experience with intricate strategy, remember?"
"I remember," Lily said. "I also remember that it backfired on you...badly." She turned on her heel and started walking.
"Goodbye, Isaac," she said, waving a careless hand over her shoulder.
"See if I do you a favor again," he sniffed. He trudged off through the woods, not realizing there was a pair of eyes watching him go.