chapter 34: dancing with (and rescuing) his princess
He tells her that the meeting with Snow White went well. Clearly Snow White is so determined to get away from the Enchanted Forest, she didn't even question what a pirate would want with a wedding ring and tells him that she'll steal the ring from the ball tonight.
They stop to rest in a clearing near Midas' castle. "We're just supposed to sit here and hope she pulls it off? I don't like leaving things to chance." Emma says.
The air crackles behind them with the unmistakable feeling of magic. "You know," the Dark One says, "I feel exactly the same way, which is why I never do." He flicks his wrist and an ivory, linen square appears in his hand. "See, an invitation."
"So you'll be inside to watch out for her?" Emma asks.
Rumplestiltskin giggles. "No. No, I'll be far too busy sorting out how to get you home."
"Well who is the invitation for?" Hook asks.
"Well isn't it obvious? The two of you." He replies and then waves his hand over them both.
A misty smoke swirls around them both and before Hook can reach out to grab for Emma to make sure she is okay, the smoke disappears leaving her standing before him, in a crimson red ball gown. Her hair and makeup have been styled and jewelry adorns her. She looks absolutely stunning he manages to think before looking down at his own attire. His coat is brown with a crisp white shirt underneath, his usual amount of buttons undone. Brown trousers are on his legs, nearly black boots cover his feet. But more importantly, his hook has been replaced with a prosthetic hand, both covered in black gloves.
"The savior can't come this far and not play princess for a day." The Dark One says, almost gleefully.
"But I'm not supposed to stick out. What if someone remembers me in the future?" She asks and he finds it to be a really good question. Surely there is no way anyone will forget the stunning blonde in the crimson red gown. He's sure this image of her will play in his mind for quite some time to come.
Another wave of his hand produces a mirror. "Allow me. A glamour spell." He holds up the mirror to show them their new faces. "This is how you shall appear to one and all. Now, run along and do everything you can to make sure Snow White gets that ring. Once they're back on track, everything else will be too."
The Dark One vanishes in a cloud of smoke, but not before snapping his fingers and producing a horse-drawn carriage to take them to the ball.
The carriage stops in the semi-circle path leading to the entrance of the castle. The footman opens the door and Hook steps out first, taking her hand in his to help her out of the carriage. With a nod to the footman to take away the carriage, he places her hand on his arm and they follow the crowd of people into the castle. A valet is taking the invitations and he drops theirs on the silver platter.
"Just when I thought the clothes couldn't get any worse." She mutters, walking in stiff steps.
He can't help but wink at her. She looks absolutely stunning in the ball gown. "You might not be able to move, Swan, but you cut quite the figure in that dress." When she offers him a small smile, he allows his eyes to roam over her appreciatively.
King Midas comes up to them. "Greetings, I'm King Midas, father of the bride. Who do I have the honor to welcome into my home?"
Bloody hell he thinks. He'd been so caught up in how she looked in the dress and how comfortable she's been around him for their entire trip so far that he didn't even realize they'd need to use different names.
"I'm…" he starts, scrambling to come up with a name. "Prince…" Think, Killian, think!
"Charles." She finishes for him. "And I'm Princess...Leia."
He barely remembers to bow before the king but is impressed at how quickly she drops into a curtsey when she feels him move. The King merely welcomes them to his home and tells a valet to announce them, moving onto the next couple standing behind them.
"Mary Margaret and David are always going on about this ball and that ball - what's the big deal about these things?" She says, turning her head towards him and he can't keep the grin off his face.
The crowd in front of them parts and he stops, waiting for her to look forward and see the couples dancing. When she does, he hears her intake of breathe as she stares at them in awe. "You were saying?" he teases before taking her hand and leading her closer to the dancing couples.
"What am I supposed to do?" She asks nearly breathless. He can tell just how awestruck she is since there is no hint of panic in her voice and by how she allows him to pull her closer to the dancefloor.
"Blend in." he says, bringing them to the edge of the dance floor.
"Wait, you know how to do whatever this is?" She asks surprised.
He almost reminds her that before he was a pirate, he was in the Navy and dancing at balls was just another requirement of navy life. "It's called a waltz." He says instead, taking one of her hands and placing it on his shoulder, fitting her other hand into his prosthetic one. He steps closer, placing his good hand on her waist. "There's only one rule: Pick a partner who knows what he's doing."
He begins to dance, unable to keep the grin off his face. He never thought this would happen; Emma in his arms in a ballgown fit for no less than a princess, twirling around to the music. Her eyes meet his and he feels her relax in his arms, her feet seemingly knowing exactly what to do. She smiles back at him and it takes every ounce of strength he has not to kiss her right there. Kissing a princess of the dancefloor of a ball is definitely something only a pirate would do and he can't himself from smirking, wondering briefly if she'd even allow it.
Luckily she cannot read his mind and mistakes the smirk for something else. "Watch the mocking. I'm actually getting a hang of this."
"I'm not mocking you Swan. I'm just thinking about what you said in Storybrooke, about not being a princess."
She frowns slightly at him. "Really? You get my first real dance at my first royal ball and all you can say is I told you so?"
Hook shakes his head. "I believe what I'm trying to say, your highness," he pauses to bow briefly, "is that you appear to be a natural."
She offers him a small smile in response. "Hey, there's Charming."
He's beginning to wonder how long he can make this last, having her in his arms and letting her experience what her life would have been like. The crowds part as another guest appears and her body stiffen. He steps closer, his immediate instinct to protect her. Regina has come to the ball with her black knights in tow.
'Where's Charming?" she whispers, dropping her hand from his shoulder and quickly exiting the ballroom. They step outside just in time to see Snow White descending down the castle wall.
"She must have stolen the ring." Emma says almost breathlessly.
" "You can't hide from me. Wherever you are, I will find you!" Her father calls from an open window on the floor above them. Hook can feel her shiver at the words.
A black knight with an arrow drawn pushes past them, knocking Emma into him briefly before she's stepping forward and shoving the knight. Even from this distance he can see the arrow misses its target. When Emma turns to face him again, a small ring with a glittering green gemstone is in the center. "You've got to get that to Snow. Go! I've got this." He says, pulling his sword from his hip at the approaching knights.
He makes quick work of the knights, not fighting to kill them but simply to knock them out long enough that he can get away and Emma can get her ring back to Snow. When they've all fallen he returns his sword to his hip and slides back into the ballroom, just in time to see two of Regina's black knights holding Emma between them.
He winces, knowing there is nothing he can do for her to get away without making a huge scene that would be likely remembered. The guards pull her out of the ballroom and he can only hope that she doesn't do anything stupid before he can get there and save her.
He hangs around the ball, wandering from conversation to conversation hoping to hear something useful about Snow White or to confirm that the Evil Queen has taken Emma to her castle. He overhears Charming saying that he's heading out first time tomorrow morning to the forest to see if he can find the bandit who stole his mother's ring.
-\-
Killian follows Charming, keeping a safe distance between them and watches as the Prince sets up an elaborate trap hidden carefully under the brush of the forest. He has no idea if Snow White is even still in the area or if Charming will be lucky enough to catch her, but this is the best option he has right now.
Nearly an hour later, Snow comes trudging through the forest and is immediately swept up into the trap Charming has created. Her shriek sends Charming strolling out into the open.
"I told you I'd find you. No matter what you do I will always find you." The prince says smirking.
Snow glares at him from above in the net. "Is this the only way you can catch a woman? By entrapping her?"
Charming laughs heartily. "It's the only way to catch thieving scum."
"Aren't you a real Prince charming."
The prince shrugs. "I have a name you know."
Snow offers him an unamused look. "Don't care. Charming suits you. Now cut me down, Charming."
"Why would I do that?" Charming asks. "All I want is the ring you stole."
"Not the jewelry type." She mutters.
"Indeed. I noticed." The prince bites back.
"I don't have your ring." She argues.
"Then why don't I believe you?" The prince asks.
And that's his cue. Hook steps out from behind some trees. "You should. She's telling the truth mate."
Charming and Snow both spin around to look at him. He bows. "Prince Charles. Lovely ball the other night. The mutton was a tad overcooked, but that happens. Snow White doesn't have your ring. But I can tell you who does. My princess. And I need your help to get her back."
"She has my ring?" Charming asks incredulous. "That's two women who have robbed me. Where is she?"
Hook frowns. "Well, thats the problem. The Queen's castle."
"Actually," Snow White chimes in, "That's not a problem at all. I know it well. It used to be mine. I can get us there, but not from up here. So you let me down and you get your princess" she gestures to Hook, "and you get your ring back." She finishes looking at Charming. "And I never have to see your charming face again."
The prince considers it for a moment before pulling his sword free and slicing through the ropes holding Snow White in the net. She lands in an undignified heap, grunting as she makes contact with the ground. Charming just smiles at her.
Hook joins the pair as they begin to head down the road. "Wait. You can't just walk right up to the Queen's castle with your face plastered on every tree." He says to Snow.
She nods. "I'm aware. There's a merchant not far up ahead. He owes me a favor. We're going to take his cart."
-\-
With Snow hidden in the back of the cart and Charming keeping an eye on her, Hook drives the cart to the outskirts of the castle grounds. "We're here."
"We're going to need help getting past the guards. Wait here. We go at night. I'll be back with help." Snow says, running into the forest.
"Did we just let her escape?" Charming asks.
"I don't believe so. I think she's a woman of her word and she'll return at nightfall." Hook replies, hoping that he is right.
They pass the remaining hours wandering around in the forest, returning to where they had left the cart just before nightfall. Charming had gathered some branches and they quickly make a fire waiting for the sun to drop below the trees.
"You excited for your nuptials?" Hook asks the prince.
"I'm marrying Midas' daughter. What's not to be excited about." Charming replies in a dull voice.
"I don't mean to pry mate, but you don't exactly look like a man who is doing this by choice." Hook continues.
The prince raises an eyebrow. "I always thought I'd marry for love." He shakes his head as to dispel the notion. "And here I am about to enter into what amounts as a business transaction. A merger of two kingdoms. I don't know, this whole ordeal makes me wonder if there's even a such thing as true love."
Hook is taken aback by the prince's words. In the short time he's spent with Charming and his wife in Storybrooke and even in Neverland they were both so full of unwavering hope and faith that everything would turn out just as it should; with the heroes winning.
"I once felt as you did, mate." Hook confesses. "All it took was meeting the right person and everything changed."
"Princess Leia? The one we're rescuing?" Charming asks.
He smiles. "Aye. I'd go to the end of the world for her. Or time." He says wistfully.
"And she for you, I take it?" Charming asks.
Hook snorts, shaking his head. "I don't know." He answers truthfully. She hadn't allowed him to drown but that wasn't exactly a declaration of love.
"What's the problem?" The prince asks.
"There are many complications."
Charming nods as though he understands. "Family? Because my father is making things quite difficult for me."
"Aye, there's that. I'm not sure her parents approve." Hook confesses, wondering if he should be telling her father this.
Charming gives him a look. "Given the lengths you've gone to save her, they'd be crazy not to."
Hook smiles and mutters "I sure hope you remember that, mate."
Something to their left rustles in the woods. "What was that?" Charming asks, standing up and extracting his sword.
Hook does the same. "I believe we're about to find out."
A brunette in a blood red cloak comes into focus, walking right toward both men with swords ready looking as though she has not a care in the world.
"Who the hell are you?" Charming asks.
"Name is Red. I'm a friend of Snow's. She sent me to help you get into the Queen's castle." She says.
"How?"
She starts walking toward the castle, motioning for them to come along. "You'll see."
When they get past the guards that parole the perimeter of the woods and are nearly a hundred feet from the entrance to the dungeons, Red stops walking. "I'm a werewolf." She says as though she's inviting them to tea. "This cloak allows me to change back into my human form. I'm going to take it off and I'll deal with the guards inside the castle. You need to follow me and then once it's clear, place the cloak back over me. After we rescue Leia, I know where to find Snow." At the baffled look of both men, she continues. "I have both of your scents. I won't hurt either of you, even without the cloak."
Hook exchanges a glance with Charming. It's not as though they have any better of a plan.
Red quickly takes down the guards and Hook drapes the cloak over her, returning her to human form. "Someone's coming." She says as soon as she stands up.
He gets to his sword first, but much to his surprise its Emma and another woman coming around the corner. "Swan?" He asks as though he's simply envisioning her.
"Hook." She replies with a soft smile.
"What the hell are you doing? You're depriving me of a dashing rescue."
Her smile widens. "Sorry, the only one who saves me is me. Speaking of which, I'm not gonna be around much longer unless we find where this belongs." She twists the ring off her finger.
"I think that belongs to me." Charming says, motioning for them to exit.
"You guys have a way out of here?" She asks.
"Follow me. Snow told me where to meet her." Ruby says, turning to lead the way.
They turn right down dimly lit hallway and follow Ruby up a narrow staircase exiting out of a secret passage hidden by a statue on the wall to the second floor of the castle. He has a gut feeling to walk over to the broken window in the hall but as soon as he makes out the images outside he wishes he hadn't.
"What is it? Did you find Snow?" She asks, coming up next to him.
"I"m afraid so." He says. Snow White is tied to a post in the courtyard, burlap sack secured over her head. Regina stands fifty feet away, fireballs already forming in her palms.
"We have to get down there before it's too late." Emma says.
"I don't think we can." Charming replies.
The fireball in Regina's hand grows larger. "No." Emma whispers. He's had more than enough people die right in front of his eyes and knows the lasting effects that can leave on someone. He doesn't want her to watch this but he knows any attempts to lead her from the window will be in vain, so he does the only thing he can do; provide support. His arm wraps around her waist, pulling her into him until her cheek rests against his chest just under his chin. As the fireball hurtles towards Snow he feels Emma lose her footing and wraps his other arm around her, keeping her upright.
"We need to go." Red says quietly, her voice broken.
He keeps his arm around her waist as they make their silent escape from the Evil Queen's castle. He nearly expects her to shrug him off but finds the one time he pulls away slightly she moves even closer to him. When they arrive at the cart hidden in the woods, Charming takes one look at them and promptly offers to drive. Shooting the prince an appreciative glance, he helps Emma into the cart and sits next to her, putting his arm back around her waist. She curls into him almost immediately.
When they arrive back at the campfire, he sits her down on the same log where he had that amusing conversation with her father only hours before. Tears still roll down her cheeks and she's not bothering to wipe them away. He nearly doesn't speak, knowing when he was in her position he didn't care what anyone else had to say. Their words wouldn't bring back the dead and provided no comfort to him. "After my brother passed, all I could do was relive that terrible moment. Don't do that to yourself, love. All we can do in times like these is live in the here and now." He says finally.
Emma's brow furrows. "Here and now." She repeats slowly. "I'm still here. How's that possible? We saw her die. Which means I should have never been born."
"You should have faded from existence." Hook catches on.
"Exactly. So then she must still be alive." Despite her tears the smile that now shines on her face is like the warmth of the sun.
"We should head back towards Regina's castle." Hook says, swatting at a ladybug buzzing around his head. "Cursed vermin." He mutters. The lady bug buzzes around some more before coming to land on Emma's sleeve. "Stay still love."
"Wait! Is that a bug?" Charming says, running over to them. "Snow told me about a dust that she was going to use on the queen. A dust that would turn her into something easily squashed. Like a bug."
"You think Snow turned herself into that?" Emma questions doubtfully.
Charming nods. "If she timed it right, it could have happened. We just need to figure out how to turn her back to herself."
Emma leans in closer to the ladybug climbing over Charming's gloved fingers. "I think she's saying something."
Although one version of him is from a land with magic, some things will never cease to amuse him. "Wonderful." He retorts with an eye roll. "Anyone fluent in bug?"
"She's calling for me." A voice says, causing them all to turn in that direction. The blue fairy hovers a few feet above them.
"Can you turn her back?" Ruby asks.
"Dark magic did this to her. Light magic will fix it." Blue says with a wave of her wand and a white light engulfs the ladybug before turning her into a human form and fading. Snow is yet again standing before them. He has to admit, he's impressed. He has no idea how the bandit managed to toss the dust on herself at just the right time to avoid the Evil Queen's fireball, but he's surely glad she did it. Emma steps forward and hugs her, missing that the other woman is shocked by the sudden display of affection from someone she doesn't even know.
Hook steps forward, bending his knuckle to wipe away at the tears still staining her cheeks. "Looks like we're back on track, love."
Charming had mentioned to him on the way into the castle that they might need to camp here for the evening, which seems to be the case. He watches in fascination as Snow fastens together beds from the brush found in the forest. Red informs them she's going out to find food and he starts to suggest that he'll come with her but she waves him off, pulling the cloak off her head and saying it's easier to hunt alone.
After hugging her mother, Emma returned to sit on the same log as before. He looks over and sees the exhaustion in her eyes and form, shoulders hunched forward. "Come on, love. You should get some sleep." He offers her his hand.
It's not too cold yet but the temperatures will drop as the night grows on. The thin prisoners smock will not keep her warm. He shrugs off the coat and lays it down on the makeshift bed closest to them. "Perhaps this will provide some comfort." He says.
"No. I can't take your coat." she protests.
He shakes his head slightly. "I'm not going to take it back, love. Now please lay down before you fall asleep standing up."
She mutters something he can't understand and then pulls another makeshift bed closer to the first one. She lifts his coat and turns it horizontally across the top of both beds. "If I get a pillow, you get a pillow. No arguments."
He's touched that she cares enough for his comfort but knows as much as he wants to be a gentleman, there is no arguing with his stubborn princess. With a grin, he replies. "As the princess wishes."
Red offers to take the first watch. Charming volunteers for second and Hook says he'll take the third. Snow comments that she's usually up right before the sun so taking the early morning watch is fine with her. Quietly he walks over to the makeshift bed Emma has pulled next to her own and lies down next to her. "Good night my princess." he whispers even though her breathing has already evened out.
He awakes a few hours later, feeling her shivering. It's nearly time for him to take over watch so he sits up and pulls his coat gently from under her arms and lays it on top of her. Her eyes flutter open. "I can hear you shivering."
"But aren't you cold?" She whispers back.
He shakes his head. "Go back to sleep, love. We have a long day ahead of us."
At this hour the forest is almost completely silent, save for the owl hooting ever so often in the distance. With his back pressed against a tree, he allows his thoughts to wander. He glances over at her, curled up in a ball with his coat draped over her and tucked under her head to make a pillow and smiles. He doesn't know where this little trip back to the past is going to lead them but his heart feels lighter at how receptive she's been of him recently. He wants to believe it's more than just the fact that he's the only one who really knows her here, but she guards her emotions so carefully it is hard to tell.
A few hours later Snow taps on his shoulder to let him know she'll take the watch. He doesn't bother to go back to sleep, but lies back down on his makeshift bed. Emma has turned over and is facing him, blonde hair falling into her eyes. The desire to reach out and tuck it behind her ear, as well as scooting closer and pulling her into his arms is nearly overwhelming but he doesn't want to break whatever is between them, so he just watches as the sun slowly creeps her way over the horizon.
Emma is last to wake and blushes furiously as she hands him back his coat. He debates on teasing her but merely presses his tongue to the roof of his mouth instead.
Charming approaches them asking if they have seen Snow, telling them that she said she would fill his canteen. His hand clutches at his pocket as he realizes she has stolen the ring again. "There's only one way to get to the harbor from here and that's the troll bridge." Charming says before taking off in that direction.
"Oh no." Emma looks at him with wide eyes before starting to take off after her father.
"Swan, wait." He says reaching out and grabbing her arm. "The bridge. Isn't that where you want them to be? Isn't that where Snow saved him from the trolls?"
"Yeah but the only reason she was able to do that is because she had the dust. The dust she used on Regina. Come on, they're going to need help."
He doesn't even need her to finish her sentence before he realizes that once again they're going to need to step in and make sure that this fairy tale story rights itself properly. "Oh bloody hell."
-\-
The fight is over by the time they reach the troll bridge. Snow and Charming appear to be heading towards them so he leads Emma off the main path and into the bushes where they can see her parents.
"So, you'll probably want this." Charming says, handing her back her pouch of Gold.
"Right, the gold." Snow says slowly. "And um, you can't get married without this." She hands over the pouch with his mother's ring.
Charming pulls the ring from the pouch, holding it up in front of Snow. "I know, not your style, right?"
Snow pauses for a moment before snatching the ring from his fingers. "Only one way to find out." She says, pushing the ring onto her left hand and holding it up to examine in.
After a few seconds she clears her throat. "Yeah, not me at all. I'm sure your fiance will love it." Snow takes off the ring and hands it back to Charming, oblivious to the way he is looking at her.
He glances over at Emma, finding her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "It's okay Swan," He says softly. "Not everyone gets the chance to watch their parents fall in love."
"Well, wherever you are going, be careful. If you need anything-" Charming starts.
"You'll find me." Snow finishes.
Charming nods, picking up Snow's bundle of possessions. "Always."
"I almost believe that." Snow says with a small smile, turning and walking slowly away from him.
"They're heading away from each other." He whispers panicked.
She offers him a shy smile. "No, it's okay. That's how it happened the first time. It took my parents a long time to accept their feelings for each other."
The opening is too great not to comment. "Must run in the family."
He remains still as she leans over and pulls the storybook from his satchel. "Look, we did it!"