Thank you for your patience while I was on holiday. Hope you like the new chapter. As always let me know what you think, drop me a review and I'll do my best to reply to them all.
At dusk the group threw their bags over their shoulders and marched into the Enchanted Forest. Robin, at the front of the pack silently led the way. Hook and Emma walked side by side just behind him, while Red scanned the forest for potential danger with her amber eyes and August trudged along keeping up the rear.
Robin had been clear when they departed and left Granny waving them farewell on the Tavern doorstep, they were to move in silence. The forest was named "Enchanted" for a reason. It was filled with nymphs, fairies, and trolls, not to mention the wolves and witches, magic, both light and dark, was present and not to be taken lightly.
For hours they crept through the ferns and maze of thick tree trunks reaching high into the sky creating their green sun-blocking canopy. Vines swooped down, intertwining the branches like snakes slithering down to earth to tempt the weary travellers to taste the forbidden fruit.
As they each moved on with their lips tightly sealed their eyes worked overtime darting this way and that scouting for any sign of misadventure waiting to befall them. Every now and then Robin would stop and raise his hand signalling for them to remain statuesque while he listened to the secret language of the forest that the others weren't fluent in, though Red seemed to understand more than she wanted to admit. After each of these episodes of stopping in their tracks after a while Robin would nod his head and point which direction they should go, undoubtedly diverting them from some unknown trap. Emma and Hook would exchange a look. His was always of solemn purpose mixed with caution and a strand of concern for her safety while Emma's was a look of encouragement trying to assure him she was fine and on her guard. She trusted Robin and had an unwavering faith in his understanding of the forest.
To an untrained eye it was impossible to tell what time of day it was. The trees sheltered them so efficiently not a ray of light broke through. But if one looked closely they could see the morning dew knitting itself over the leaves and dancing across spider webs. It was then that Robin uttered his first words in the forest.
"We set up camp here until nightfall" he whispered then added, "Whatever you do, don't stray from the camp and do not interact with any creature that may call to you."
Red made a small fire and roasted some fish they had caught in the River Titus before crossing the border into the Enchanted Forest. After their stomachs were filled they rolled out their blankets and tried to get comfortable on the forest floor to sleep.
Emma inched her blanket closer to Hooks. Everyone knew they were a couple, there was no point in hiding it, besides she didn't care what the others thought, being close to him brought her comfort. Once she was close enough she felt his arm drape over her pulling her in closer to him. The warmth of his body was better than any blanket and soon she drifted off to the rhythm of his breathing.
The others weren't long in following her lead and falling into a peaceful sleep. Robin slept holding his bow as a child would hold their teddy bear; he was always prepared for danger even in sleep. Red nestled in beside August who followed suit and slipped effortlessly into a dream where he walked along a beach, the golden sand massaged his feet while the low sun warmed his back. Red ran beside him giggling as she looked over her shoulder the setting sun resting on her head like a halo. She ran on and he tried to catch up to her but the faster he ran the further away she seemed to be. Her voice travelled on the seaside breeze and waltzed into his ear, "follow me my love" and he tried to run further. Her figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance but her voice grew louder in his ear, "why won't you follow me?" it asked.
"I'm trying!" He shouted and immediately his eyes opened. August was no longer at the camp but deep in the forest in a small clearing where gold dust hung in the air, glistening as it stayed there held up by an invisible force. He could here muffled laughing. He instantly knew it was at his expense. There was movement in the bushes ahead of him and he quickly spun around following the sound. Voices jumped out of the trees, it sounded like there were hundreds of them chattering in a language he didn't understand. It sounded like crickets chirping to each other but the voices were more pronounced.
"Who are you?" he shouted over their mummer as he squinted his eyes to see through the golden haze.
"Why are you trespassing?" a sinister voice, louder than the others asked him menacingly.
Before August could reply the chattering instantly stopped and all the gold dust fell to the ground like a carpet of glitter. Slowly turning around he froze in fear. He was face to face with a black wolf, bearing its teeth and snarling.
Thinking this was his end August reached down for his pistol, but something made him stop. The wolf had stopped growling, its eyes softened and something about the creature made August pause. There was a beauty despite its ferociousness and its amber eyes compelled him. He slowly walked towards the creature but just before he could reach out to it the wolf turned the other direction, looking back to August and grunting tipping its head towards the direction it was headed. August understood, the wolf was telling him to follow it.
The wolf howled as it walked through the forest. August didn't know if it was warding off any danger or calling something more terrifying. He had no choice, he was lost in the forest and he was at this wolf's mercy. He had to follow.
After a few minutes the wolf broke into a sprint. August tried to keep up but it was impossible, the wolf had run into the night. Something else caught August's eyes however, a glowing in the distance. Walking towards it he came across a familiar and reassuring sight. He was back at their camp. Hook was awake and stoking the embers of the fire.
"Robin told us not to wander" the pirate said without looking up to August.
"I...I...I had a dream, I must have been sleepwalking" August realised how crazy he sounded.
"You're lucky you found your way back" Hook scolded him lightly.
August looked around the camp, "Where is Red?"
"I'm here!" She answered short of breath, emerging through the trees.
"I woke and you weren't there. I didn't go far I just wanted to see if you were close, Hook started up the fire so I could have a reference point. I knew if I kept the fire in sight I would find my way back." She looked at Hook in a silent exchange August didn't understand.
"Well we're all here and safe; let's not go on any more adventures until it's time to leave". Hook patted the pockets of his long leather coat until he found his flask of rum and handed it to August, "Something to help you sleep more soundly, mate."
August tool the flask and had a drink before handing it back and turning to Red. "Let's go back to sleep, lass."
There were no more close calls during the rest time in the daylight hours on their hike and no more appearances of the mysterious wolf. Robin did well to guide them safely through the woods on a path that avoided the areas inhabited by magic. They'd had to sacrifice time for safety and that meant that it took them 2 weeks to reach the castle.
"How did you do this on your own before?" Emma asked Hook the day before they arrived.
"It took me longer because I wasn't sure of the way but I was so focused on my quest I paid no heed to the sounds of the woods or the voices in my dreams. The latter was the hardest for it was always you calling out to me to follow you but…" he hesitated.
"But what?" Emma urged him, taking his hand as they walked.
"I had already made the decision to set you free."
Her hand dropped from his and she stopped, nearly causing August to walk right into them.
"Ufff, sorry Princess, you stopped with no warning there!"
"Sorry, August, you guys go on, we'll catch up." She instructed the Lieutenant.
As the others footsteps went on Emma searched Hook's eyes for answers, "You didn't want to be with me?"
"Gods, no Emma!" He cursed himself for even bringing this up. "I just wanted to give you the freedom to choose who you gave your heart to. I was the only man you knew since running away from home and I didn't want you to feel like you owed me your love for helping you escape. I wanted what was best for you and it was difficult for me to believe that it was…"
"A pirate?" She finished his sentence for him.
"That it was me."
"And now?" Emma asked him, "Do you think you are the best man for me now?"
He shook his head in wonder, "The gods have mercy on me if I'm not Emma. All I know if that the love I have for you consumes me like a Tsunami, it strips away everything else in my life that I considered important, my wealth, my ship, my reputation…that has all been washed away and I haven't missed it. Meeting you turned my world upside down, the day you told me at Granny's that you loved me and that you wanted me everything shifted and amidst the chaos going on inside me there was peace and the strongest sense of purpose I have ever felt."
Emma's face softened.
"That is all I know, Emma, and that is all I can give you as means of explanation."
"I…I don't what to say." She laughed at a loss for what else to do because the happiness inside her couldn't be contained. "I don't know how to express my feelings as eloquently as you do. Somehow in explaining your own feelings you have managed to perfectly describe mine in a way I wish I could."
He released a happy sigh and leaned down to kiss her.
"Killian?"
"Yes, luv."
"Don't ever think that you aren't the best for me. I confess there is a lot I don't know but one thing I am certain of, my whole life was a dream leading me to you. You've awoken me and now I can be who I was born to be."
He blinked, staring at her. He felt it to, like they were destined to be together. Was it just for her to learn who she was and break her parent's curse or was there a bigger purpose and what part did they play in it? He knew he would have to wait for those answers. Suddenly aware that the others were out of sight he grabbed her hand.
"Let's go save your parents."
Emma hadn't known what to expect her parent's castle to look like. Living a sheltered life with Regina she'd only seen two castles before, Regina's dark stone fortress with twisting towers and a large portcullis and the Prince Derek's castle, smooth clinical silver blindingly illuminated by the sun's reflection pouring out over its kingdom.
Her parent's, in contrast was entirely circular, following the curve of the island it sat on encompassed by its deep dark moat. It was made of light grey stone and ivy draped over the top of its highest towers, not twisted like the towers on Regina's castle but smooth and pointing straight up to the heavens. The towers were made of a lighter stone, almost white and the shingles on their pointe rooftops were red. There was a charm and warmth to the castle's smooth curves and light colours. Emma wondered what it would have been like to grow up here and how different her life would have been. It was a sobering thought but one that was impossible to see completely, before her was just a building, until she met her parents she wouldn't know the extent of what had been taken from her.
Relieved to be out of the forest and its mystical dangers the group breathed a collective sigh of relief. Robin dropped his bow from his shoulder and laid down his bags.
"We'll rest here and eat. We need to get our strength back and discuss how we are going to cross the moat and enter the castle." He instructed them.
"How are you feeling?" Hook quietly asked Emma while the others were digging into their food and talking amongst themselves.
"I'm not sure now to explain it." She replied honestly.
He handed her an apple, "Trust me luv, I understand completely" he gave her a small smile before biting into his own piece of fruit.
Once the group had refreshed themselves with food and water Robin gathered them around in a circle to hear his plan.
"First we need to build a raft, I suggest taking wood from the forest floor, it is too dangerous to cut the trees as they have a spirit of their own in the Enchanted Forest and they'll fight back."
"It will take us days to find enough wood and build a raft big enough for us all!" August cried.
"That is why we are only building one big enough to carry Emma and I" Robin replied.
"Hold on!" Hook protested, "I agreed for you both to go alone into the castle but we can't even go over the moat with you? What if something happens to you while you're inside? It would take time for us to find wood to build a second raft to come over and rescue you, if you are taken by the curse by then it could be too late!"
"Why can't we just swim over the moat, it doesn't look to far?" Emma asked.
"It's enchanted" Hook replied, "No human can touch the water without being engulfed by it."
Hook's eyes bore into Robin, he knew the man was right but he was entrusting Emma's safety to another and he didn't like it one bit.
"We will just have to stay focused on our task and make sure we don't fail." Robin offered. It wasn't much but it was the most comfort he could give the pirate.
"We better start building then" Hook replied through gritted teeth.
After an hour of collecting broken branches and large twigs, dead dried vines, and large leaves the group made short work of building a raft with August and Hook's experience with all things nautical the bespoke transport was complete and ready for its maiden voyage.
Emma turned to Hook before stepping onto the raft. "I'm going to be fine, Robin will be there too. Remember I'm stronger now." She smiled reassuringly.
Hook couldn't return her smile. A cloud of dread and foreboding hung over him, materialising itself into a raincloud coming fast over the horizon. Robin glanced nervously at the pirate.
"You can do this, luv," he whispered. "Break this damn curse and come back to me."
"I will" she promised him with a parting kiss.
His body tensed as he watched her slowly sail away across the moat.
Emma tried to calm her nerves as the raft glided over the silky smooth water. She peered over the side at the deep blue liquid beneath her. It looked so calm and inviting, it was impossible to believe that this serene indigo pool was as dangerous as they claimed. She felt the urge to reach in and break the mirror like surface with her finger tip. Before she could move Robin warned, "Don't touch the water" and obediently she recoiled her hand and continued to stare at her reflection. As if the mystical water had heard her wish a drop kissed the surface sending ripples out. Emma looked up and saw the grey cloud had reached them, raindrops tapped her skin and she turned to look back at Hook who was still watching her intently, brooding from the bank of the moat. She gave him a small wave that seemed to offer no relief to the man. The rain still came.
A jolt alerted Emma to the fact they'd reached the other side unscathed and unswallowed by the ominous water. Robin helped her off of the raft and then the two of them pulled it up onto the bank so it would be safe for their return.
With one last look back to the others Emma and Robin headed off around the side of the castle.
"There is a secret entrance under an old oak tree on the south side. No one knows about it except Regina and I." Robin explained.
Emma tried to imagine Regina young and in love with Robin. It was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, it just didn't line up. The Regina she'd known was cold and strict, yet Robin was so warm and thoughtful. Could the Queen have changed so much in that time? Emma had so many questions she wanted to ask Robin about her adoptive mother but now wasn't the time. They hurried along the castle walls until she saw what had to be the tree he was referring to. It was a mighty oak that must have been at least a century old judging by the thickness of its trunk. Its branches stretched high and wide and dressed in thousands of leaves it sheltered them from the relentless rainfall. The rough bark that twisted and turned up the tree trunk told a thousand stories, it sheltered animals, Emma counted at least 10 bird's nests, and there were a handful of hollows at different heights housing Owls and squirrels like an animal inn. As she ran her fingers along the trunk she came across an engraving of a heart with an arrow piercing it, she looked up at Robin.
"Another life" he muttered.
He pointed to a knot protruding from the trunk and to Emma's amazement twisted it. The ground rumbled and part of the tree trunk caved in on itself revealing an opening.
"Your secret passageway" she whispered.
Robin grinned, "Now three people know of it."
He squeezed through the small opening and Emma followed him not knowing what to expect. She certainly hadn't imagined the spacious dug out tunnel before her. Robin pulled out flint and a torch from his bag, lit the torch and used it to guide their path. There was a damp earthy smell as they walked along the dim tunnel. There were small holes in the walls where moles and stumbled across the tunnel while digging their own though Emma noted that there was no movement of any kind underground and wondered if the creatures this close to the castle had also fallen victim to its curse despite the fact that the tree they'd came through had seemed immune.
They weren't long in arriving at a wooden door. Robin pulled out a key that hung on a chain around his neck. Emma watched curiously as he used it to unlock the door. Had he carried that key around his neck all this time? Just another question for her to add to the long list she already had for him once this was over.
He disappeared through the doorway and she followed him, immediately she felt something soft flap against her face. She reached out in the pitch darkness; she was surrounded by heavy furry bodies all around her. Claustrophobia began to set in as she scrambled to find some air. She felt a firm hand grasp her wrist and pull her into the light. Her body hit the floor. Looking around she was inside a bedroom, she glanced back to an open wardrobe filled with fur coats and royal dresses.
"Did we just crawl through Regina's old wardrobe?" Emma asked, dusting herself off as she stood.
"Never mind that" Robin brushed her question aside, "We need to be quick, stay close!"
He ran out the bedroom and turned right down the hall. Emma hurried after him. They weaved in and out of rooms and deeper into the castle. Robin felt as if no time had passed since he was last here sneaking round the corners with his love, stifling their giggles so they wouldn't get caught.
With each room they passed through he was assaulted with memories of happier times, lazy days lounging in the courtyard listening to Regina's laugh as he impersonated the different council members and dignitaries. Days when they would play hide and seek in the castle library or when she would sit with her head resting on her shoulder listening as he read poetry aloud. The memories flooded his head pouring out of his eyes. He wiped them away with the back of his hand as he ran, not wanting to alarm Emma. Remembering the princess he looked over his shoulder and then came to an abrupt halt. Emma was nowhere to be seen.
Emma stood before the massive portrait that stretched from the floor all the way up to the painted ceiling. It had caught her attention as she ran past it following Robin. She'd seen the subject of the painting just out of the corner of her eye and her body had no choice but to stop and look. For the first time in her life Emma saw her parents.
The portrait burst with joy. The King, who had fair hair, a strong jaw, and twinkling green eyes like hers smiled proudly at his Queen who sat on the throne he was standing next to holding a baby. The Queen wore a velvet red dress and a sparkling gold crown that was woven exquisitely giving it the appearance of solid gold vines binding together. It was the most intricate crown Emma had ever seen. The Queen looked angelic with her pale glowing skin and deep red lips, Emma couldn't make out the colour of her eyes as she gazed lovingly at the bundle she held in her arms. The baby wore a white bonnet and a long lace christening gown that reached the floor.
A knot of emotion began to build in Emma's throat, her eyes glistened as she realised she was looking at her family portrait. She had always wondered how her parents felt about her but this painting made it clear. It was as if their love was bursting out from the canvas. Emma knew she could do this; she could wake her parents with true loves kiss.
Her own emotions must have been taking over because in her excitement she began to feel tired. She knew she should find Robin but something was telling her to rest for a moment, to sit and look at the painting longer. She couldn't refuse; after all she was tired from running. Fatigue began to set in and soon Emma could feel the weight of her eyelids. She fought it not wanting to lose sight of her parents looking so lovingly at her. She didn't want to look away but her eyes buckled under the pressure. The last thing she felt was her body slumping to the ground and the last thing she heard was Robin's collapsing beside her.