Chapter twenty-four
Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT of any of its characters. I am simply borrowing ideas and using my own for creative writing purposes
Notes from me: you know, I'm just gonna keep apologizing for the wait between chapters. Trust me, I know what it's like when a story takes forever to be updated. Please please pllleeaasseee don't hate me and please continue to be patient. Just a side note, one of you lovely followers commented in French and it literally made my day! I speak French nearly as well as English and it really touched me that one (or some) of you can, too !
The sun cast shadows over the silent grounds of the golden castle. Its first rays could barely reach their slender fingers over the turrets; not a glimmer of light could yet be seen through any shade drawn over stained glass windows. The forest – of course, naturally sombre – held even more forlorn darkness in the earliness of the day. However, three trees held darker shadows than the rest.
A silent, nearly invisible motion made by the leader caused a slight rustle in the thick canopies. Just the wind, one would say. A small breeze.
Enoch held up a hairy hand to halt the advance of his brothers. At the edge of the forest, they were still well hidden. Not even an animal with extraordinary sight would be able to detect their presence.
They waited. It was still too early for even the keenest and most loyal of servants to be roused and bustling. Any who would have been suitable to their purpose would not wake for another hour yet, perhaps more.
They waited. Three pairs of dark, cunning eyes continuously scanned the perimeter for signs of activity.
They watched as the sun rose higher and higher. Now the majestic orb could be seen cresting over the trees in the far off distance on the other side of the lake. Surely some would wake now to prepare for the day.
A small group of knights marched orderly down from the main gates of the castle to the stables, all wearing the colours of King Charming and Queen Snow.
Keft sent a glance to his brothers. Them? His eyes questioned.
Enoch resisted the human urge to roll his eyes and sent a look back. Of course not them, his eyes responded. There were seven knights and three of them. Though they could probably be subdued easily enough, She had said they needed some less conspicuous humans. Knights would be too easily noticed if they were to behave abnormally. No, they would have to wait a while longer.
The knights came and went, leaving with half a dozen horses and many blankets and satchels. For nearly an hour, no one else showed. Occasionally, a figure would step in front of a window or scurry from one end of the grounds to the other, but none ventured near enough to be a possible victim.
Enoch had long since sent his brothers to other posts to watch from, when finally, just before mid-morning, a young maid came rushing to the stables. She was dressed in maid's clothes, clearly; however, they were considerably well kept – the personal maid of a royal.
This was the one he had been waiting for! Pausing just long enough to check his surroundings, Enoch leapt from his perch with such grace and momentum, one would have thought a giant bird had soared off instead of a winged primate.
He was on her in a matter of seconds. The girl had only the time to open her pale, narrow-set eyes and throw stick limbs up to cover her angular face. Terror splayed itself over her freckle frosted expression. Thin lips parted just enough to form a black hole of fear. Before any cry could be choked from her throat for help, it was done. But, oh, how Enoch wished he could have let her scream!
***SWAN QUEEN***
"Have we everything?"
"I guess so," Neal affirmed, topping his horse.
"Then I believe we are ready to depart," Hook said from atop his own borrowed steed. The image of him on such a beautiful creature was strange. Emma had never before thought of him as a man who would ride a horse – only command a ship.
"That means we have to go, kid." Emma wrapped her arms tightly around her son and he returned the affection. "Be safe and listen to your grandparents. I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you."
"I love you too, mom. Don't worry, we'll all be fine." He smiled brightly. He really did believe everything would turn out fine. Let's hope the heart of the truest believer has enough magic to tip the balance in our favor…
"Charmings, I don't think I need to warn you of what should happen if you fail in protecting our son. Do I?" Regina took Henry in her arms – the two had the chance of growing closer since their talk in the stables a few days ago, and Regina was loath to leave him behind again.
"Don't worry, Regina. I give you my word, no one will even touch Henry as long as we are alive," Charming assured her.
"Mom, we'll all be okay. I promise." Henry hugged his second mother; now he felt he could call her mom. At the sound of the name she so longed to hear, Regina's expression softened and melted – her face now quite resembling the soft caramel beauty of her eyes.
"Your Majesty, if it should ease your heart to know that I have also entrusted my young Roland to the care of the King and Queen, let it. I believe in their word," Robin added.
"That's because you don't know them as well as I do."
"Regina, trust us! We would never let anything happen to Henry." Snow placed a hand on her grandson's shoulder, almost possessively. "Or to Roland," she added with a pointed look to Robin, as though she could convince him that Regina was only paranoid.
"Regina, don't worry. I know they'll look after him. We won't be gone long." Emma placed a hand on the back of the Queen's formal riding jacket which the brunette unknowingly leaned into.
"Alright," she said softly. She placed a last kiss to her son's forehead and – before she could reconsider their expedition – mounted Lorem with grace. "Don't you leave the castle. For any reason!"
"Okay." Henry hugged his mother tighter, and she him.
Once they let go, Emma ruffled Henry's hair lovingly and hoisted herself onto Erue's back, quite pleased that she could do it without the help of one of the knights. This earned her a glance from beautiful, half lidded caramel eyes and a proud smile that caused a blush to creep into her features.
"Mothers, are we ready to leave?" Hook waved his hand to the open bridge.
Emma and Regina both looked back to Henry. The teenager smiled and waved. It was time to go before they changed their minds.
"Okay, let's go," Emma said finally.
The nine of them: Neal; Emma; Regina; Hook; Belle; Robin; knights named Caleb and Lionel; and one of Regina's knights, Bruin, started off towards the forest on the opposite side of the bridge. There, they were to meet the rest of Robin's Merry Men. Then, the party would make its way to Lake Nostos and – hopefully – their dark angel of hope.