A/N I'll make this quick because I'm pretty sure this is the longest chapter I've ever written. Thanks a million for all the love for my last chapter. Don't forget to review because I love feedback! Updates should come once a week from now on. Tell friends to read this. Enjoy!
Knock, knock. Emma was very much awake when the knocking came on her door but she was in no mood to deal with wedding plans at that moment, so instead of going to see who it was she pretended to be sleeping. Knock, knock. Emma turned so that her face would be away from the door and prayed that whoever it was would just leave.
"Princess," a maid said after clearing her voice, she spoke a bit loudly, probably because the door was only slightly cracked. "Are you awake?"
Emma didn't respond but, unlike she had expected, the maid simply came into the room. Normally Emma would've been furious and had the girl fired for such a thing (she was still considering it) but at that moment Emma was too worried about what might happen if she revealed that she wasn't actually asleep. Her mother probably had her booked for the whole day and Emma was not ready to start yet.
"Your highness," the maid whispered as she neared Emma. All Emma could think of was how wonderful it'd be if the girl would just go when all of a sudden the maid was touching her arm. She shook Emma ever so slightly and that was where the princess drew the line.
"Have you any idea how improper it is for a serving girl like you to even enter my room without permission, let alone try to wake me in that way!" Emma said in a rush, more annoyed than angry. None the less she startled the girl, who jumped back in shock and dropped the paper she held in her hand.
"Forgive me your highness, I only came because," the girl went on saying nothing of any real importance for a bit as she tried to pick up the paper with her slightly shaking hands. After a moment Emma felt a little bit sorry for frightening her so much and decided to pick up the paper and place it back in the girls hands.
"It's alright, just don't do it again. You're lucky I'm in such a forgiving mood, normally I'd have you fired and I'm sure others would too." Emma said, walking past the girl towards her vanity. It only made sense that if she was awake she should start preparing for the day. Emma picked up her brush and started on her hair, peering at the girl through the mirror before continuing. "Now, what did you come for? Did my mother send you?"
"Um, no, your highness, I come with a letter for you." Emma gave her a confused look through the mirror and the maid went on nervously. "I was out collecting water earlier and a man asked me if I could pass a note on to you."
"And you said yes?!" Emma asked, quite appalled, the girl really should've been fired. The maid seemed to have read Emma's mind because she looked down in shame at the paper between her hands.
"He... He offered me some money, and he said he knew you." She said meekly.
"Did you get his name at least?"
"I don't quite remember, something Hook, it mayb-" Emma cut the girl off before she could finish.
"The note, give it to me!" Emma ordered holding out her hand but the maid was too stunned by Emma's interruption to move, "now! Hand it over!"
With a quick nod the girl rushed over and gave Emma the folded up piece of paper. Emma quickly unfolded the paper and searched for the signature at the bottom. As soon as she saw it is was as though her heart had both slowed down and sped up all at once.
"How much did he pay you?" Emma asked folding the paper again and hiding it under the hairbrush.
"Two silver coins." She told the princess as Emma made her way over to her jewelry display.
"You'll have to forgive him for being so stingy, he doesn't have that much," Emma said picking out a gold chain. Without another word she walked over and put the jewelry in the maids hand.
"That should be enough to ensure you keep quiet about this." She told the girl with a smile, "now let me write a little note so no one tries to accuse you of stealing."
After writing the note Emma gave it to the girl but before letting her leave Emma offered some words of advice; "In the future if anyone offers you anything in return for speaking with nobility you should deny them, it's simply not safe. You got lucky this time but that was a fluke. Oh, and you mustn't speak of this to anyone, ever. Understood?"
"Perfectly, thank you, your highness." With that the girl bowed and rushed out of the room with her new treasure.
Emma looked around the hall waiting for the maid, and anyone else for that matter, to be completely out of sight before shutting the door. As soon as it was closed she hurried over to the vanity and grabbed the paper out from under the brush where she hid it. Emma paced back and forth for sometime, flipping the folded note over in her hands before finally sprawling herself out on the bed to read what it said.
Dearest Swan, (or should I say princess?) Emma smiled at this but quickly went on reading. I hope this finds you well. I was disappointed that our conversion got cut short. I'd like to see your again, do you think you could find the time to sneak off and meet with me somewhere? There's an old fountain in the west garden, if I remember correctly there's a large rock beside it. Write me a note with details on when and where to meet and leave it under that rock. I'll check sometime in the middle of the night. Yours, K.J.
Emma was disappointed that he didn't sign his full name but it was probably safer that way, then he wouldn't have to worry about anyone happening upon this note and finding out that he was around. Still she traced the initials with her finger carefully before sitting up and setting to work finding some paper to write on.
Once she had a sheet of paper and her quill Emma sat down at her vanity and began writing. She started to write a "K" but thought better of it, Mr Jones, she wrote instead. Yes that was it, she must be sure nothing she wrote looked suspicious. I was glad to receive your letter, as you know I've been very busy lately, so much that I've hardly been able to go riding. I plan on riding my horse this Saturday out by the river in the eastern woods. I'll be riding in the evening so you won't be able to find me anywhere else between the hours of seven and twelve. I hope to see you soon. Emma contemplated how to sign it and settled on simply, Swan.
Just as she finished the "n" her door creaked open. She was about to shout at the maid but when Emma looked in the mirror she saw Edric stepping in cautiously. Emma quickly hid her letter and Killians in a drawer and turned to face the Prince. He seemed to be looking everywhere else in her large room before his eyes finally settled on her.
"Oh, your still in your nightgown," Edric said awkwardly, looking away after his gaze landed in her. Emma looked down, slightly surprised, she had almost forgotten that fact. Quickly, she put on her robe then began running her brush through her hair.
"Yes, I've only just woken up," she lied with a smile, "was there something you wanted?"
"I- well..." Edric searched for the words to say as he sat carefully on the edge of her bed, "I've been thinking. We're to be married-"
"I know." Emma said quietly, swallowing a lump in her throat.
"And I feel that we hardly know each other. And- well, I'd like to know my wife, at least a little bit. Mother has both of us completely busy today and tomorrow but I've convinced her to let us rest from all this on Saturday. I thought perhaps we could spend the day together."
Emma blinked a few times at this proposal. There was nothing necessarily wrong with what he was suggesting but it still slightly bothered Emma.
"Like a date?" She asked casually, as though she couldn't care less.
"If it's too much-" Edric began nervously but Emma forced a smile and shook her head.
"No, of course not, sounds lovely." She assured him, "but I do plan on riding by myself in the evening on Saturday so the majority of this date will have to happen before seven."
"Of course." The prince smiled and stood up, "I'll see you Saturday, though I'm sure we'll run into each other sometime before then."
Emma nodded as he left the room but her smile dropped as soon as the door closed. She should've been happy that he was putting effort into making this work. She should've been putting more effort into it herself, instead she was writing letters to Killian.
With that thought in mind Emma wondered what she saw happening in the future if she met with Killian. In the end it didn't matter what she felt for him she was going to marry Edric. Perhaps it'd be best to save them both the heartache and not meet on Saturday evening. But then again, what if they found a way around it all?
That last idea was doubtful but it filled Emma with enough hope that she took her note from out of the drawer and quickly got dressed before heading off to the west garden where a fountain was waiting.
...
Killian cursed under his breath as a guard passed by him. He had been standing completely still in that same spot for nearly twenty five minutes now.
It used to be so much easier to sneak onto the palace grounds, but ever since the prince and princess had returned their security was much more harsh. On most days anyone was allowed to visit the western garden or the main hall of the palace but even those were now watched carefully, closed off early and every visitor went through extensive security checks before being admitted.
So not only was Killian working against the fact that he was wanted but he also had to deal with this, which left his only real way of entrance a less than legal one. With this in mind he decided to wait until dark, when hopefully the guards would be more tired and therefore more lenient. Luckily he figured that out ahead of time. Not long after passing the note off to the maid Killian found a nice spot in the corner of a building near the west gate where he could wait later that day and that was where he stood now.
If only he had known early which guards would be working security that night. Most of the men walking around at the moment were soldiers that Killian recognized from Graham's squad. And as Killian well knew, Graham kept his troops on a tight leash which could only mean extra difficulty.
"It's nearly midnight," Killian heard one soldier call to another sounding quite exhausted. His voice was young and one that Killian didn't know right away, he must've been new.
"Your point?" Asked a man that Killian instantly recalled but couldn't quite put a name to. He sounded annoyed as though he had heard the other one complain far too many times.
"I thought being stationed at the capital would mean more time to have fun, not just stand around for hours." The younger man said impatiently. No one responded, Killian heard him sigh loudly before continuing, "the pubs will be closing soon."
Again there was no response and Killian began to wonder if anyone was there. He stuck his head out of his cosy little hiding spot but quickly brought it back when he saw the three men. The were standing in a triangular formation in front of the west gate with about thirty feet between them. The youngest man was in the center and closest to the gate, as though he was their last resort if the others failed to catch any trespassers first.
"If you want to go so bad by all means leave, but no one's going to cover for you." The man closest to Killian said lazily just before yawning.
Once again there was a long period of silence but Killian didn't dare look this time. And a good thing too because not much later the younger man crossed just a few feet from where Killian was hidden. Still Killian thought it'd be best to wait awhile longer before checking again.
"At least we don't have to listen to him whine all night." Commented the man at the far end who Killian recognized earlier.
"Maybe but Graham will be upset when he finds out." The other replied with another yawn.
A few minutes passed in silence and then came a soft snoring. Killian could hardly contain the joy and relief on his face when he heard it. He took a step out of his hiding spot then quickly came back after hearing the crunch of pebbles under his boots. Still he was able to see that the guard nearest him was sleeping on the ground and the other was facing away from him.
Slowly Killian took off his shoes then resumed his plan. Stepping out of his hiding place he began to very slowly and very carefully make his way to the western gate. It took far longer than he had calculated but he finally made it to the gate and slipped through the bars. Once he was on the other side it was simple, all he had to do was run to the garden before he was seen.
Killian made it to the fountain unnoticed but exhausted. For a moment he couldn't help but find it funny, he had done all this for what exactly? A note that she may or may not have put under that rock. That's right, he had no guarantee that she wrote to him, or even received his letter for that matter.
Suddenly Killian felt very foolish as he bent to lift the rock but relief rushed over him as soon at he saw the folded paper. Just then he heard a voice in the garden coming near him. Without a moment of hesitation he grabbed the paper and put the rock back, then hid himself on a bench nearby. There were so many trees and vines around the bench that it was nearly impossible to get to but Killian remembered it from when he was younger. Once he was seated he felt safe knowing that just as he couldn't see through the branches no one would be able to see him.
With a quiet sigh of relief he looked up through the tree tops at the perfectly clear sky. The moon was full that night and the trees let just enough light in that Killian imagined he would be able to read Emma's note right then and there. Just as he began to unfold it though, he heard the voice again, this time it was accompanied by another and it was much closer.
"Sorry we had to meet so late but I've been terribly busy with wedding plans." It was a woman speaking, her voice was soft and kind but still very strong.
"Quite alright, I don't mind." Killian would've known Kingsley's voice anywhere though he was surprised by the way it sounded. As Killian remembered the eldest prince was always very arrogant sounding and much more flirtatious around women, though now his voice had neither quality.
"Of course I mean to discuss our plans in dealing with sir Dennis but first I must ask, have you spoken to my daughter at all?" The woman spoke in a voice that tried desperately to hide her concern but it was still very easy to hear.
"When Emma isn't with you she's with my mother and trust me she wouldn't confide in me anyway. From what I understand she hardly speaks to Edric."
Ah, so this was Emma mother, Killian noted. It felt somewhat wrong to eavesdrop on a conversation about Emma but he couldn't help himself. Besides they were also speaking about sir Dennis, or at least they would be, and that was a topic Killian was also very interested in.
"She used to be so talkative as a girl, now I can hardly get a word out of her," the queen said, "I fear I may have caused that. But I know that's not what we came to talk about, and you probably hear your own mother complain enough for the both of us. Now, about our plans..."
Either the queen had begun to whisper or they were moving away from where Killian was hiding because suddenly it became very hard to hear what was being said. Every once in awhile he would pick up a word or two but soon the only sounds around him were that of nature. Killian frowned at the silence, having hoped to hear more. He set down the note and got up to look through the branches, he was alone again.
With a small yawn he went back to the bench and began to read Emma's very formal sounding note. Once he got to the end, which took more time than it should've since he had to go over a sentence or two every now and then, it seemed to be much brighter above him. Still it wasn't yet morning and Killian could only imagine how long it might take to get back out, let alone to where he was staying. Without giving much thought to it he decided to rest his eyes for awhile. He could wake at dawn and sneak out then but for now he would take a well deserved rest.