AN: Ah, the ball. I loved this scene. I'm going to get into more stuff that wasn't in the show, but this who episode was SO good and SO important I had to include a lot of it. As always, I own nothing, bold words are from the show, italics are thoughts, and...review maybe? Enjoy!
Are We Devils or Black Sheep or Really Bad Eggs?
Chapter 38
They walked right into the castle without a second glance from anyone and Killian handed their invitation to the valet as smoothly as someone who'd been doing this all their life. Which, of course, he had done more than his fair share of events like this in his Navy days and after.
Emma had quickly discovered that her dress was just as uncomfortable as the first. "Just when I thought the clothes here couldn't get any worse."
"You might not be able to move, Swan, but you cut quite the figure in that dress." Killian smiled and gave her he best flirtatious once-over.
Instead of rolling her eyes, Emma smiled proudly and looked down, a little embarrassed by the compliment. Come on, Swan, you've got to know you're a beautiful woman. Killian was about to tell her again how very much he appreciated the effect of corsets on her when they were startled by the approach of King Midas himself.
"Greetings. I'm King Midas, father of the bride." The elegant, glitteringly dressed man said. "Who do I have the honor to welcome into my home?"
"I'm…Prince…" Killian trailed off. We didn't bloody think of this! Da-
"Charles." Emma finished for him, not quite smoothly but smooth enough. "Prince Charles. And I'm princess…Leia."
On cue, the two of them bowed and curtsied. Killian hoped Midas would assume it was because they were in awe of all the gold on him, not because they were here with motives other than wishing the bride and groom well. Which, really mate, I love gold as much as the next pirate but that's a bit much to wear it head to toe.
Midas bowed slightly. "I'm honored to have you both." He looked over at the valet. "Announce Prince Charles and Princess Leia."
The valet tapped his staff and bellowed. "Presenting His Royal Highness Prince Charles and Her Royal Highness Princess Leia."
Killian nodded at Midas and they moved on into the crowd.
"So, what do you think?" He asked quietly as they walked.
"Mary Margaret and David are always going on about this ball and that ball - what's the big deal about these things?" Emma trailed off as they made it into the ball proper and she saw the splendor of the guests, the music, the dancing, the lights.
Killian smiled at her clear wonder and turned to look at her. "You were saying?" Oh, Swan, you are a princess at heart. This is in your blood, and it's what every little girl, even a Lost Girl, dreams of.
Her face was a mixture of awe and a very mild amount of panic. "What I'm supposed to do?"
Killian took her hand and smiled, resisting the urge to bring it all the way up to his lips for a kiss. This moment was about her. "Blend in." He said, leading her out on to the floor.
Emma's trepidation was tinged with excitement and curiosity now. "Wait. Are you saying you know how to do…whatever this is?"
"It's called a waltz." Killian explained, pulling her close and adjusting her hands slightly. "There's only one rule: Pick a partner who knows what he's doing."
He began the basic steps of the waltz, and they fell into a rhythm, moving in time with the music and other dancers perfectly. Killian couldn't help the grin on his face, and neither could she.
"Okay, seriously. How does…" Emma dropped he voice. "a pirate." She returned to a regular volume. "Know how to do this?"
"You have your secrets, Swan, I have mine." Killian raised an eyebrow teasingly. "No. It was a required course at the Royal Naval Academy. And since my…occupation after the Navy required an occasional association with the wealthy, it seemed prudent to maintain the skill."
"Why would that be a course at the academy?" She asked, confused.
"Well, lets just say the academy wanted to make sure it's cadets could appear in public without embarrassing themselves or the uniform so all were required to learn." He explained. "Navy cadets were very popular escorts for events like this one. Surely you've heard the saying 'women love a man in uniform?' I could never tell if that was actually true or if it was just my devilishly handsome self."
Emma pursed her lips in an amused smile. "I'm not answering that. Your ego doesn't need any stroking."
Killian grinned. "Ah, but that reply in itself answers the question." She rolled her eyes at him, but never stopped smiling. Killian noticed the other dancers adding the more complex steps to the waltz. "Care to try something new?"
Emma nodded and he briefly told her how to do the steps. She faltered only for a moment, then quickly picked up the steps. Killian beamed, he couldn't help it. Clearly she was born for this life of glittering balls and dances, and she didn't even realize just how natural she was.
"Watch the mocking. I'm actually getting the hang of this." She said.
"I'm not mocking you, Swan." Killian replied. "I'm just thinking about what you said in Storybrooke, about not being a princess."
"Really?" Emma asked, "You get my first real dance and my first royal ball and all you can say is I told you so?"
No, Swan. Not at all. Killian stood and bowed. "I believe what I'm trying to say, Your Highness, is that you appear to be a natural."
Emma gave him the same bashful smile she had earlier when he complimented her dress. They danced a moment more before Emma was distracted by something. "There's Charming" she said.
Killian looked over his shoulder briefly and subtly led them closer to where Emma's father stood talking to Princess Abigail. Listening to their exchange, Killian knew that could have never been a happy marriage. He clearly didn't love her, and she didn't love him. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if the icy Princess Abigail hadn't lost someone she loved. Killian and Emma continued to dance, pretending to be lost in each other - which was easily done as he felt like he could dance with her in his arms forever - while Charming walked by.
Suddenly, the doors to the ballroom flew open. Killian assumed it was some other royal wanting to make a grand entrance. None of the dancers seemed to notice either, until the Black Knights started marching in. Emma paused and her whole body tensed.
"Regina is here. Damn it. That definitely was not in the plan." She whispered.
"Breathe, Swan. She's a guest." Killian explained calmly. "The king's head would vanish to another realm, if he didn't invite her."
"Yeah, good point." Emma nodded, looking around the room. "Where's Charming?"
"He can't have gone far." Killian looked around.
One of the guards approached Midas, and Killian and Emma were close enough to hear him say Snow White was here. Emma and Killian snuck away from the assembled guests, towards where the bedrooms and private areas of the palace were.
"We can get a better look up here in the tower." Killian said, leading her up the tower and out the door. They came just in time to see Snow White disappear over the edge.
"She did it. She must have stolen the ring." Emma breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, in the tower above them and to the right, Charming stuck his head out and yelled "You can't hide from me! Wherever you are I will find you!"
Emma smiled. That must be something she knows he said in the original timeline. Which is good, it means we're fixing things. "Mission accomplished. Now all we have to do-" She was interrupted by the appearance of a Black Knight who armed his bow and pushed Emma roughly out of the way.
Killian caught her as the archer notched his bow and said "You'll find her sooner than you think, milord."
Before Killian could even think of a plan, Emma launched herself at the archer, pushing him over. From the ground, she held up the ring.
"The ring." She said.
Bloody hell. Killian thought. This is not going to end well. He pulled his sword. "You've got to get it to Snow. Go! I've got this."
Two hundred years of piracy and practice had made Killian an excellent fighter and swordsman. He managed to defeat all of the Black Knights, giving Emma time to go after Snow. He just hoped she made it or everything they'd done would be for naught.