Chapter 27: The Price of Magic
The conifers swayed in the calm breeze. Now and then an owl or a woodpecker added its call to the sound. The pine needles crunched under their feet as they walked along the path. The air was cool but not too cold yet.
They had been walking for a few hours now. Since they had left the castle, Rumple had taken them to the edge of the swamps. No more magic would work from there. However, their surroundings didn't look too scary yet. The forest wasn't dense here. Interspersed with bushes, wide meadows lay between the trees. The sky was slightly cloudy, occasionally the sun broke through and illuminated lush green grass. Wildflowers lined the path.
Looking at the landscape, everything seemed familiar, but also surreal. It felt like another Emma had come from this place ages ago and someone else had returned. In a way, that was true. A year ago, she had rushed across similar roads in panic and fear. They had travelled by night and day, not knowing what the next day would bring. Ruby had taken the lead then and Emma had stumbled after her, with no direction an no regard for where they were going. To escaping had been her only desire, but not just from their kingdom but her whole world, including all her memories.
Now she had seen the world, met so many people experienced great pain. A part of her had died and would never come back. She would never look at life in the same naive way. She would never again rely on people the way she had before. But the new Emma had also learned a great lot. She would no longer shy away from insecurities as she had before. She had learned to handle hopeless situations and how to negotiate with her back against the wall. Now her steps were more confident, and although she was in a hurry she didn't rush like a hunted animal.
As they walked, they barely talked. Rumple took the lead, followed by Emma. Ruby walked behind her, and Killian took the rear.
When the sun reached the treetops, they stopped in a clearing to rest.
Belle had made them food packages with smoked ham and bread.
"Are you alright?" Killian asked from the side as they ate. Ruby looked up from her meal and watched carefully.
"Yes," Emma answered curtly.
Killian didn't seem convinced, so she added, "The forest isn't that different from the area around the castle." She purposely didn't mention the word home.
"Everything seems so calm," Ruby agreed.
"There's nothing here to burn down and loot," Killian said. "People don't seem to stray into that area too often."
"When all of this is done, we'll have to visit the villages along the coast and inspect the damage," Ruby sighed. "It will be a great effort to rebuild everything."
Emma didn't answer. She looked at Rumple who was staring at her impenetrably. He was brooding over something and she didn't know if she liked it.
"It's time," he finally said. "We have to go on alone from here."
"That wasn't part of the plan!" Ruby protested immediately.
"The path to the island will only be revealed to Emma. I'll accompany her as far as I can."
Emma exchanged a glance with Killian. He looked extremely worried. She knew he didn't approve of letting her out of sight alone with the Dark One. But when Emma held his gaze, he accepted her decision and nodded. Ruby gave him an angry look for not taking her side.
"It's okay, Ruby," Emma tried to calm her. "I know what I'm doing."
Ruby nodded reluctantly and squeezed Emma's hand.
"I hope you would," she added after Emma had walked away, so quietly that Emma couldn't hear her.
Rumple led the way between the trees into the trees and then stopped.
"I've been trying to locate the lake by magic but as usual it leads me here. About two hundred feet from this point the trail ends and the marsh begins. I know of no safe passage from there. And belief me, I've tried."
"Don't tell me the mighty Dark One got stuck in the mud," Emma interjected, amused. "How did you get out?"
"I see you picked up a certain kind of humor on a certain ship, Princess," Rumple replied calmly. "It's lovely to see your confidence grow. With the right teacher, you would have done great. But don't worry, you'll get your chance to show how your confidence is doing."
Emma wrinkled her nose and marched past him. "Let's see where the path leads."
They walked on for few more minutes.
"I think you've got that wrong," Emma finally said. "I don't see the end of the path."
"Neither do I," Rumple said behind her. "That's quite interesting. It seems the way is opening up for you."
Emma felt a cool breeze but kept walking. "Some time ago, I read a book about that other world. Tir na nOg, Land of Eternal Youth, also called Tir na mBeo, Land of Eternal Life. It has many names. Our ancestors believed that it surrounds us, as a part of our world, but invisible to our eyes. It's rather a place of enlightenment and wisdom. Even though our world is permeated with magic, not many of us have been able to enter it. But everyone who truly seeks it, will reach their destination. It's attractive, even beautiful, and exudes its fragrance like a beguiling flower. But once inside, it snaps shut and swallows you. Not many came back to tell the story, but those who did, were changed.
That island you spoke of, Avalon? It sounded very close to that description. Does the place even exist?"
Rumple didn't answer.
When Emma turned around, the path behind her was empty.
"Dark One?" Emma called. She looked in all directions, but she couldn't find him. Rumple had disappeared.
She took a deep breath and noticed mist billowing up on the path in front of her. That was it, wasn't it? The gate, a smooth transition rather than a marked door, only for her to pass through. Emma kept walking. Though her vision blurred, she could still see the path ahead. She could make out silhouettes of birch and hazel trees along the path. She could feel drops of water wetting her skin. Her shoes made splashing sounds on the ground, but she didn't sink in. A few minutes later, she stepped on wood and was entering a footbridge.
The plank ended very abruptly. Emma had to keep herself from falling over the edge into an indefinable gray mud. She was now standing on something like a jetty. It was only a few feet long, embedded in marsh grass and mud. For a while, Emma only heard trickles, frogs, and the birds of the swamp. Then she could make out a faint light in the dense fog, which grew brighter as she approached. Soon she made out the shape of a boat laboriously making its way through the grass. A gaunt, stooped figure rowed the craft. Each stroke seemed to take great effort, and the boat moved very slowly until it came to a stop in front of her. A bony hand reached out to her. Emma hesitated for only a second before grabbing it and stepping into the boat.
The old ferryman. Not a legend after all.
Wordlessly, he began rowing again, as if he already knew where to take her. His face was hidden under a black cloak. She could only make out parts of a pointed nose that looked like one of the trunks that surrounded her. It had begun to rain, and the water ran over the wide brim and dripped into the boat. The air was cooler now, and Emma began to feel cold. The ferryman's old bones seemed to crack with the exertion. They slowed even more.
"Shall I help?" Emma suggested uncertainly. "I don't know where we need to go, but if you tell me the way, I can paddle a bit and you can rest."
The ferryman paused for a moment, paddles in the air, and she guessed the hint of a head movement from him. But he must have decided it wasn't worth a look, and continued rowing instead. Emma considered saying something, for it had not been her intention to offend him, but she remained silent. He was doing a very good job. She probably wouldn't have found her way through the swamps herself, so she had to be grateful to him, no matter how long it took.
Wet from the rain, Emma endured the cold journey through the impenetrable fog, slowly losing track of time. When the ferry finally stopped, it was unexpected. Suddenly, the ferryman lowered the paddles and Emma raised her head in fright. She still couldn't see anything around her. Then the fog magically parted, revealing a path. Emma rose from the boat. She looked for some coins in her pockets, but could not find any. Finally she unfastened the brooch that held her coat, a gift from Killian. She loved it, but she had already received so many gifts that it wouldn't hurt to give one up. The ferryman accepted the offer without a word and let it disappear into the depths of his cloak.
Emma turned her head to the side, tried to look under his hat, and smiled. Maybe the ferryman was just shy or mute. Maybe everyone interpreted his attitude as sinister and that's why he became this dark legend. She would have liked to know the answer, but maybe it wasn't her privilege to know.
"Well, thank you, mister," she said, smiling. "Perhaps we'll see each other again when I return. Anyway, have a great day!"
She took a wobbly step on the boat and climbed out.
Suddenly, the ferryman grabbed her arm from behind and pressed a cool object into her hand. Emma turned and stared into bright blue eyes. The ferryman was indeed old, his face dry and wrinkled like an old oak tree. He looked like someone who had lived many lives. But his eyes were clear, somehow not matching the rest of his face. He looked at her insistently and squeezed her hand. Emma looked down. A compass, old and dented around the edges, not much different from the man.
"How can I possibly take this?" she asked hesitantly. "Don't you need it to navigate?"
Although she had never seen him use the compass, she didn't want to deprive the old man of his property.
But the ferryman closed her hand emphatically.
"Thank you," Emma said again.
"The ferryman's eyes flickered open for a moment. Then he sat down in his boat and reached for the paddles.
Without a word, he rowed away.
Soon Emma was alone again in the fog.
The path in front of her went slightly uphill. The ground became firmer and turned into heather. After a few minutes, the fog lifted and she stepped out of the forest.
She marveled at the landscape in front of her. Vast hills with purple flowers under an orange fading sun. The colorful clouds were reflected in the lake that lay in the valley below. At the top of the hill, she saw a dark, craggy rock formation standing out against the sky.
Emma felt a vibration in her hand and looked down. The needle of the compass wobbled, but was fixed on one direction. Surprisingly, it was not north. Emma turned and shook the compass, but nothing changed. It was pointing toward the sun, which had to be west. Finally, Emma decided that questioning basic physics in this realm made no sense. She stopped wondering why the compass wasn't working properly or why the sun was already setting after what felt like half an hour of marching and boating. Instead, she followed the needle and climbed uphill.
As she approached the rocks, she noticed a dark figure standing behind a boulder. Breathing heavily, she quickened her steps. Finally, she reached the top.
A dark-haired man, quite attractive, was leaning against a rock.
"At last," he said casually. "I expected you sooner, Princess."
Emma's eyes narrowed to slits. "And who are you?"
"The man you've been introduced to as your greatest enemy. Or properly introduced, Lord Arthur, King of the Enchanted Forest."
She had imagined this encounter many times. But never had she expected a man like him. She had imagined him as a fierce, ugly man, with a fierce beard and lots of muscles. Someone who felt intimidating. Emma opened her mouth, searching for words to counter the man's audacity.
"How dare you call yourself a king," Emma spat back at him. "After you slaughtered hundreds of people and burned half the country to the ground."
"Well," Arthur said, bored. "I have resolved to take my rightful place on the throne as peacefully as possible. If only your parents had relinquished their power and retired peacefully. Instead, they allied themselves with dark forces, and as if that were not enough, they turned all the villagers against me. It was not exactly my wish to fight a mob with pitchforks. They brought this on themselves. "
Emma gritted her teeth and squeezed the compass in her hand until her knuckles turned white. Arthur didn't seem to care.
"I've heard stories about you, that your parents hid you from the world because you're a delicate thing. But you seem more like a hothead. Maybe I should have listened to Merlin and taken you as my wife. But on the other hand, you were kidnapped by pirates. Who knows what kind of filth was there before." He looked at her hips without shame.
Emma saw red, anger shooting through her.
"You," she said in utter disgust, "are exactly what I expected."
As she looked at him, especially at his ugly grin, she wondered why she had found him attractive before.
"I'm glad I live up to your expectations," he said lightly. "Well, my dear Emma. After waiting for hours, I'm very glad you finally came to see me today. It seems we are destined to be here together, whether we like it or not."
He stepped aside, revealing what his body had been covering. Emma gasped. The sword jutted imposingly from the stone, the jeweled hilt glinting in the fading sun. It was here, out in the open. No sea monster to defend it, nor a series of riddles to solve. Emma started moving, lured by the beauty of the steel. She gave Arthur a weary look, but he didn't try to stop her. Emma grabbed the handle with both hands and pulled.
But nothing.
Emma tried harder, pulling with all her weight. The sword still didn't move a bit.
"This can't be," she cried angrily.
"That's very interesting," Arthur stated with his arms crossed.
"You've tried it, too?"
"Of course I have."
"So we've both been told we're the chosen ones, but neither of us is," Emma said. "What a surprise."
"No need to be cynical, Princess. We all knew you couldn't be the chosen one. You are a child of these false rulers. Your great-grandfather stole these lands from my ancestors. When the rightful king was wounded in battle, his general took over and claimed that the king could not rule because of a brain injury. He would sit on the throne until the king's heir came of age, he said. But like many before, he lied. He kept the power and banished my family."
"I've never heard that story before," Emma objected.
"Of course you haven't. Your family buried it well. All the chronicles were destroyed so that no one would remember this crime. But lies have a tendency to stink. They always come to light in the end."
"Maybe the Enchanted Forest is better off with a ruler who doesn't have a tendency to kill poor villagers and burn down all the crops that keep them alive in winter, just to prove he's the rightful heir to the throne."
"Perhaps the country needs a strong hand to build a defense that will not make it so easy to overrun in a few days. A firm leader who is feared but respected. Tell me kid, what qualifications do you bring to the job? A hereditary title? Tactical skill? Diplomacy? Do you think getting involved with a pirate for a few months will teach you all those skills?"
Emma swallowed.
"Do you really think you are superior to a man who has been prepared for this all his life? You may not like me, but what do you imagine? Yourself as a queen with your lover by your side? Do you think the people will accept the infamous Captain Hook, who has plundered this land and murdered countless times, as their new king?" He smiled. "Or will you make the ultimate sacrifice and renounce your love for the sake of your people?"
"You are nothing but a base little man," Emma hissed.
"At least diplomacy is not your strong suit."
Emma clenched her teeth. Maybe his words wouldn't cut so deep if he'd just said nonsense. Her first impulse was to fight back, but then she relaxed her muscles. She had outgrown childish defiance. Who was she trying to impress?
"So, what now?" Emma walked around the stone and casually slid her hand over the hilt of the sword. "We can continue the conversation, fight each other, or throw nasty insults around, but I predict the sword will stick. If anything, it will confirm that we are both unfit for the throne.
"No one is asking you to stay, little princess," Arthur said. "Just go home and keep playing with dolls."
Emma raised her eyebrows. His joking was getting old.
"Then tell me, Great King Arthur, what are you waiting for?" She moved a little closer. "Why have you been waiting for me? Have you run out of ideas on how to get the sword? Were you waiting for the little princess to help you brainstorm?"
Arthur gave her a disdainful look, and she knew she was right.
"Do you have any ideas?" he asked with an air of helplessness.
"Other than we're not the chosen ones?" She shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure, but since I came all this way, I can at least think about it for a while." She sat down on a rock across from Arthur, but still within reach of the sword.
"Did you notice something?"
Arthur's face was expressionless.
"Listen."
Arthur frowned. "I can't hear anything."
Emma smiled. "Exactly. No birds, no bees, not even the breeze blowing through the fields. It's absolutely silent here among the stones. The laws of our world don't seem to apply here. This is a magical place, and although everything seems natural, somehow it doesn't feel that way. It feels almost contrived. Like we've been led here to focus on one purpose only."
"Led by whom? Merlin had told me about the Lady of the Lake. I thought she was going to give me the sword, but I didn't see her. I only met the girl down the hill."
"Who?" asked Emma, sitting up.
"The shepherdess downhill with her flock.
"I didn't meet her."
"I asked her if she knew anything about the lady or the sword. And showed me the way."
"Did she speak?"
"No, she just gave me her crook and pointed up the hill."
"How generous of her," Emma said slowly. "How did you get through the swamps?"
"What swamps?"
Emma exhaled. "How did you get through the woods?"
"I just walked." Arthur said.
"Through normal woods?"
Arthur nodded.
"That's interesting," said Emma. "It seems we came from different paths and met different people. I was taken through a swamp by a ferryman. He didn't speak either."
"Do you have any idea what that means?" Arthur asked, and for a moment there was no arrogance in his voice.
"I'm not sure," Emma said slowly. "I know that voices are powerful tools. Wizards have their spells. Normal people communicate with words. You can hurt someone deeply just with them. It seems like there's a lack of words in this world. That must mean something."
"I'm not a magician," Arthur said in frustration. "I don't know any spells, let alone know how to use them."
"Neither do I," Emma agreed. "But maybe we don't need any."
"What do you mean?"
"Give me the crook," Emma demanded.
Arthur's hands instinctively closed around the wood. "Why?"
"What do you think I'm going to do with it? Hit you?" She laughed. "Come on, I just want to take a look at it."
He handed it to her hesitantly.
Emma turned it around in her hands. It was a simple stick with some carvings and a wooden hand piece. Grapes twined around some wheat ears and corn cobs. In the past, shepherds carved grapes on their sticks to symbolize a bountiful harvest. Some of them contained animals like birds and mice. But this stick was not very artistic. You could tell it belonged to a child who was just learning to make them.
Emma put the stick on the ground, not sure what she was looking for. She took the compass out of her pocket and placed it next to the stick.
Arthur followed every movement with his eyes.
"We both got an item from the people we met. Maybe they mean something."
"The needle isn't pointing north," Arthur remarked with a chill in his voice.
"I know," Emma said impatiently. "It's pointing west."
"Great, a broken compass and a child's staff. That's sure to help get a million-year-old sword out of a rock."
"The sword isn't a million years-" Emma paused and frowned. She stared at the compass. It was still pointing west, but not directly at the sword, as she had assumed. It pointed about five degrees to the northwest. Had she not been paying attention when she came up the hill, or had it changed? She picked up the compass again. The needle vibrated, came to rest, and pointed northwest. Emma stood up and walked a few steps. The needle changed a few degrees. Emma began to walk in a circle. The needle now changed noticeably to the north. Emma gasped and walked a full circle. The needle was actually not pointing to the sword.
It was pointing to the crook.
Emma put the compass back in the grass and took the stick. She began to move around the compass. The needle followed her.
Arthur watched her closely as Emma made strange movements with the stick. Finally, she paused and felt along the wood until she reached the knob at the tip. Completely focused on her task, she examined every little notch in the wood, trying to feel for the slightest imperfection. Then she tried to turn the knob. With a soft click, it gave way. Emma unscrewed the knob.
The inside of it was metal.
"It has runes on it," she said, "but I can't read them."
Arthur stepped closer and took a look. "Those runes are on the sword," he exclaimed.
They both hurried to the stone. There it was. The sword's hilt was decorated with the same runes.
"There's a hole in the hilt," Arthur said at the same moment Emma noticed it. They looked at each other, and Emma took a step back and put her hand firmly around the pommel.
"Are you going to try to steal my knob now?" Arthur asked with a smile like a cat waiting in front of a mouse hole.
"You wouldn't have found it without the compass." she exclaimed.
He laughed. "I guess unscrewing a knob isn't that difficult."
Emma's muscles tensed. She wasn't armed. Her only chance was to run. But there was no reason to run. Where was she going to go? She looked at Arthur's muscular body. She couldn't win this fight, not without a weapon.
"If you give it to me willingly, I will not harm you," Arthur said generously. He appraised her body in a way she had experienced before. And then she felt his touch on her face. Emma wanted to take a step back, but she froze in place, her mind blank. His hand traveled to her neck, almost tenderly, but icy cold.
"Mmm," he said with relish. "Still just a delicate flower."
The words hurt the most.
Emma felt him take the knob from her hand. She did nothing to stop it as he walked over to the stone and inserted the pommel into the hilt of Excalibur. She watched in a daze as Arthur pulled the sword from the stone as if it was butter. She did nothing as he bowed mischievously to her, turned and left the hill. She still didn't move when he had already disappeared among the purple fields and stared at the hole in the rock.
The first thing she felt was a drop of water on her cheek. It was followed by a rumbling thunder. The rain pelted down, soaking her clothes and the ground around her. And because everything was wet, no one could see the tears that mixed with the rain.
-/-
Emma no longer knew how long she lingered by the stones. Bowed and dejected, she painted a miserable picture amidst the colorful landscape that reappeared through the passing clouds. A veil of mist covered the grass, blurring the colors like a painter whose brush had fallen on the paper.
At one point she felt the cold creeping up her fingertips and realized she was soaking wet.
Emma clenched her fists. She was furious with herself. How had this happened? After all the time, hardships, and her training with the pirates, she had failed in the one moment that decided the future of her kingdom. She had not been strong enough. Not even to defend herself. She had simply fallen over. Like a delicate flower.
She imagined the others when she returned empty-handed, the undisguised disappointment written on their faces. Would they stand a chance against Arthur and Merlin now that he had the sword? Would they even face a last stand? Or would they accept a reign of terror when even nature had decided who was fit to rule? It had been she who had solved the riddle, but in the end the strongest had won. And that had not been her.
The walk back down the hill took longer than she had expected, wet and cold, her sodden shoes making squeaking noises with each step. With the fading sun, it became harder to see the path ahead, and she had to be careful not to twist her ankle on a root or a rock. By the time she reached the edge of the forest, she could barely see. There was no way to get safely through the swamps at night, so she looked for something she could use as shelter. But she found nothing, and she could not sleep on the muddy and cold ground. Desperate, she reached for the compass, and she was lucky. Again, it did not follow the laws of physics and pointed her in a specific direction. Would it guide her through the forest? As she followed its directions, she realized that it was showing her a way along a solid path. Maybe she would at least get out of here alive.
Soon she was swallowed by the familiar fog of the swamps. Getting completely soaked in the fine droplets was especially cold, and Emma almost lost hope again. The fine droplets around her stung her like tiny icy needles. The sounds of birds faded, and instead she heard the animals of the marshes. How could it get so loud? It was as if the removal of Excalibur from the stone had awakened the land and its creatures.
But with the increasing sounds, the light faded and soon it became difficult to read the needle of the compass. She had to hurry, but also stay safe. The sounds of the forest became more and more confusing. Between the croaking of the frogs, she heard new sounds that she couldn't place. At some point, she even thought she heard a voice. Emma remembered the pirates' fears of being lured to the rocky shore by sirens, and she got even more goosebumps. Then she heard something again that sounded almost like a real voice.
"Help!"
Emma stopped, rooted to the spot. Was this real? She had heard it very faintly.
"Help!"
There it was again. Still faint, but clearer. Emma stared at the compass and followed her path.
"Hello?" she called out into the darkness. "Is anyone there?"
"Help!" The voice grew louder, and Emma quickened her steps.
"I'm coming," she shouted, "Hang on!"
With a smacking sound, Emma's foot hit unsteady ground and sank into ankle-deep mud. Barely keeping her balance, she leaned back and pulled it out with great effort. She peered through the thick fog, but couldn't make out more than the silhouettes of dark trees.
"I'm here," she heard a faint voice, and her blood froze. The unknown voice was Arthur's. He was in the middle of a muddy patch in which he was already half-submerged. It seemed that he had moved quickly to escape his prison, but it had only weakened his strength and lowered his body temperature. Suddenly she noticed Excalibur sticking out of the mud at arm's length. Her heart was pounding madly. It was within her reach; all she had to do was reach out. After all, she had solved his mystery, she deserved it. And she had done nothing to Arthur, he had brought about the situation himself. If she took the sword and left, no one would ever know what had happened, and she could claim that she herself had pulled Excalibur from the stone.
But that would be a lie.
It would be a made-up story and every time she would tell it, she would know that she was not the shining hero. She would know that in order to get the sword, she had let a man die. A vile man that not many would cry over, and he definitely deserved to die after what he had done, but still she would be responsible. She would condemn a man to certain death without a trial because it was convenient for her. Was that what she wanted to build her kingdom on?
So, Emma reached not for the sword, but for the crook she had taken with her after Arthur had carelessly left it by the stone.
She tried to get a firm footing on the ground and extended the stick to Arthur. He struggled to get his hands out of the mud, but finally managed to grab the stick.
Emma clutched the staff and braced herself with her weight. It wasn't enough. The mire had a tight grip on Arthur and was not willing to let him go. Emma made another attempt and this time she succeeded in freeing his shoulders.
"Hold on," she shouted and pulled again. It was precision work with which she managed to pull his upper body out of the mud. After a few minutes, she was breathing heavily and her arms were getting heavy. She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep going, but she knew she couldn't give up.
So she continued, pulling and pulling, getting more and more of his body out as she died inside. But Emma ignored the pain in her arms and legs. She tried to imagine it was rope work on the ship. If a storm came up, there was no other way to get through the work that needed to be done.
"There's something in the water," Arthur suddenly called out. Emma followed his gaze and noticed large bubbles under the surface. It gave her the creeps. What in the world lived in these waters that could create such large bubbles?
"Ignore it and hang on!" she shouted back. "We're almost there."
She pulled again, and Arthur tried to reach for a clump of grass that was right in front of him when Emma felt a force from the other side.
It happened quickly. Arthur cried out loudly as Emma felt the crook being ripped from her hands. She lost her balance and fell on her back. As she straightened up, she could only see Arthur's body being dragged back into the swamp and disappearing into the mist. She heard two more screams, a gurgle, and then silence descended over the water.
Desperately she searched the surface for any sign of life, but there was almost no light left. All that was left of the action was the silhouette of Excalibur. She reached for the sword, then hesitated. This sword had brought only death, and it had lost its appeal to her. But Rumple needed a prize. He had shown her these swamps and would want his payment. She knew what would happen if the Dark One did not get what he wanted. So she pulled out the sword. It felt cold and heavy in her hands. She checked the compass and resumed her walk. She didn't know how long she walked, but after a while she felt the ground getting harder. When all the light had faded and Emma could no longer see the needle of the compass, she stopped. With heavy limbs, she sank to the grass and it wasn't long before she nodded off from exhaustion.
Emma was awakened by the first rays of the morning sun. The air had warmed up and the fog had completely disappeared. She was lying in the middle of a meadow. Wild grasses tickled her face. The ground was as dry as if it hadn't rained in days, and she knew immediately that she had returned to her own world. Excalibur lay beside her. For a moment, Emma lay still and let the sun warm her face. The memory of the cold was still in her bones. She lifted her head and found that her sleeves were completely filthy.
She would have given anything for it to have all been nightmares. Even though Arthur was gone, she could feel no relief. Had that been her role in this story? Would she now sit on the throne and rule a kingdom she had not even fought for? More than ever, she felt like an impostor, and it was killing her.
She imagined her life on this cold throne, listening to the quarrels of the nobles, the complaints of the peasants, and the proposals of princes from all kingdoms trying to conquer the queen's cold heart.
And her true love would be gone, for he would not choose this life and who could blame him. He would sail distant waters and after years and new adventures he would probably forget her.
That was the duty her heritage had placed upon her, and at this point she wished she had jumped into the mud with Arthur and buried Excalibur with them.
But at the same time, she knew she would face her fate. She had known it before, but she had not faced the consequences. Her life was not her own, but if she was not allowed to be happy, she had to at least allow her family to be. Make it possible for Neal.
So she got up and went on her way.
She didn't know how much time had passed. For a moment she was afraid that years had passed while she had been away. It would at least fit all the fairy tales she had read as a child.
But then she heard familiar voices among the trees and after a few steps she recognized the clearing where she had left the others. She peered through the bushes and watched her companions for a moment. Ruby and Killian were sitting by the embers of a fire, rubbing their hands together from the cold night, it seemed. She was surprised to find that they were not alone. Ramsay, Bernie, and even Regina were sitting with the others. Ramsay had an arm around Ruby. Rumple was pacing back and forth at some of the tents farther back, his steps springy and unsteady. How long had it been before they had all arrived here and set this all up?
Emma gave herself a jolt and stepped out from between the bushes.
Ruby noticed her first, of course. Her head snapped around as she heard a crackling sound from the forest.
"It's Emma," she called out, running toward her. Emma fell halfway into her arms. She smelled familiar grass and wolf and suddenly everything didn't feel so bad. She had missed everyone so incredibly, it was like she had been gone for weeks.
"You did it!" exclaimed Ruby, excited. "I knew you'd come back."
"How long was I gone?" Emma asked, slowly breaking away from the embrace.
"Three weeks," Ruby said.
"Three weeks?" Emma gasped, unable to believe it.
"Two days after you left, the barrier collapsed. But we don't really know what happened."
"Arthur is dead."
"That's what we suspected. But what happened in there?"
"I'd rather not talk about it right now," Emma said hesitantly. "Not yet. But I got what I went in for."
She pulled Excalibur from under her robe.
"I didn't expect it to go like this, but good job, Princess," said Rumple, who had approached without Emma noticing. Emma thought she detected a hint of tension in his voice. Was he expecting her to betray him?
Emma's fingers slid over the sword. "Remember our deal, Dark One? The Sword for my land."
"Seems like you've already done most of the work in there," he countered. "Tell me, how did you defeat them both?"
"I only met Arthur. He's dead now."
Rumple's eyes darkened. "So that son of a bitch wizard is still roaming around. But he must have gotten weaker. At least he couldn't hold the barrier anymore. But anyway, you did a good job. I'm very impressed, princess."
"I have one more request regarding our contract."
Rumple flashed her his best smile. "I'm a man of my words."
"Leave Killian alone. No revenge. Your feud was long ago. Perhaps it is time to move on."
She looked to Killian, who was watching the scene but standing a few feet away. But she was sure he had heard every word. It puzzled Emma that he hadn't run into her arms. Perhaps because he had decided to let her go. Maybe he was trying to delay the inevitable.
Emma tightened and turned back to Rumple. He seemed displeased.
"As much as I like your commitment, the pirate is my business."
"My country is not saved until I take it, and I can't do that until I know he is safe. Before that, I will not leave the crew. So you have to decide what's more important to you. The power of Excalibur or your revenge."
"That's a very creative interpretation of the deal," Rumple said. "It may not be valid."
"You can fight me, turn me into a frog, I don't care, but those are my demands. And I think I deserve to make them."
"Well, well, the saucy princess has learned to use tricks. How do you know if the man is even worth it?"
"I guess I have to take a leap of faith."
Rumple's eyes were on Excalibur. "All right," he finally said. "You can have your pirate."
Emma smiled.
She handed Rumple the sword. He accepted it, weighed it thoughtfully in his hands, and walked back to his tent without words.
"Emma," said Bernie who had stepped beside her and spread his arms. He hugged her with his fatherly, boisterous manner and Emma couldn't help smiling. After that, it was Ramsay's turn. After hugging her, he patted her on the shoulder.
"You've become a hard wood, my old girl."
If only they knew what had really happened. That she hadn't done any great heroic deed. But at least she had survived the swamps. That was more than Arthur had gotten. And she had really tried to save him. Maybe she should stop blaming herself for everything that went wrong. Maybe everything had been supposed to be that way. The warm welcome from her friends made her feel a little better.
Behind her friends, her eyes settled on Killian. At last he came closer. Emma met him halfway. She looked at him for a moment. Then, without thinking, she reached for his face. His eyes half closed as they touched his cheeks. Then he closed his hand around hers and breathed a kiss. How he always managed to stop her heart with one small gesture. Emma closed the gap and kissed him. His lips felt familiar, the taste of salt made her feel at home. She pressed against him, wanting to drown in him and never leave him again. His arms closed around her, and he returned the pressure by pulling her even closer.
At last she dared to release her lips from his, and looked up into the stormy eyes she had missed so much. And she knew that he could see her pain, that he saw behind her fake smile, that he knew how much the experience in the swamp had broken her. He kissed her on the forehead.
"I'm glad you're back, Swan," he finally said, looking at her tenderly. "That's all that matters."
She leaned against his chest, listening for his heartbeat. "It was awful, Killian," she whispered. "I tried to do the right thing. But every decision I make, I don't know if it's enough. I don't know if I can do this for the whole country, every day."
He stroked her hair, taking a moment until he spoke. "All this waiting. The uncertainty. It's given me time to think."
Emma shivered slightly in his arms.
"You asked me about our future, remember?" he said softly.
She nodded, not yet ready for it.
"I couldn't give you an answer then. It's been a long time since I gave anything of myself to a woman. The consequences of my selfishness took her her life and almost mine, too. When I met you, Emma, and forced myself to reconsider all those questions, I felt overwhelmed. You may not be aware of it, but you have the purest heart. You may think you are weak sometimes, but your greatest strength is your forgiveness. You are the one who believes in people. Since you've been there, you've made the crew whole, you've given them a second chance to be honorable people. And not just to us. I've talked to a lot of people in the last few weeks. You even freed Regina, who was your parents' biggest enemy for a long time. And now she is absolutely convinced that you are our hope. You don't have to tell me what happened in those swamps if you don't want to. But I know for a fact that neither of us would have done any better."
Emma's hands clawed at his coat.
"Thank you, Killian," she said in a breaking voice.
"You've gone through quite a transformation since you were my little stowaway. And I knew eventually my swan would open its wings and fly away. I've tried to hold on to you out of fear, but I know I can't. And know this. Struggling is normal. Doubting yourself is, too. You won't always make the right choices. But that's just the way life is. A swan doesn't learn to fly in a day."
He stroked her arm with his finger.
"As for your question. I will never leave you again. I have been a pirate for so long. When I started sailing, I was an honorable man. As time went by, I almost forgot about him. But when I met you, I wanted to be that man again. Not just for you, but for myself. I just had no idea that was even possible. That you, a princess, could choose me as the man by your side, especially when you were queen. And also that I could ever forgive myself. I know that I might have to work my whole life to make up for the shit I've done. And I know I'll never be able to do it completely. But at least I'm going to try."
Emma stared at him as tears rolled down her cheeks. She felt a little shaky as all the emotions rolled over her. This was all she ever wanted. She wouldn't have to do any of this alone. He wouldn't leave her. It felt like a dream.
"Killian," she just stammered, unable to speak properly through her emotions.
He gave her his crooked smile and leaned down to kiss her again. And this time she returned the kiss with complete abandon. When she finally let go of him, she beamed of joy until another thought occurred to her.
"What about the crew?"
"Adam will be the new captain. And if you pardon him, he would gladly sail on your behalf and defend your empire."
Emma smiled. "I think I have a lot of people to pardon." She looked around.
"Is he still on the Jolly Roger?"
"Someone has to hold down the fort, but he sends his warmest regards. While we're on the subject, Bernie has asked for a position in the kitchen."
Emma let out a giggle. "He can have it!"
"God, Emma, are you sure? Imagine Bernie's grub in a royal kitchen!" Killian looked at her, amused.
"You forget, Captain, supplies are limited on a ship. Equipped with the finest ingredients, I will prepare Emma the most fabulous meal she has ever tasted," Bernie said from behind, obviously having overheard their entire conversation. "You can stick with old stew and table scraps, of course."
Hook raised his arms with a laugh. "No offense, I love your stew."
Emma, still holding Killian's hand, returned the smile. "I love it, too. Don't worry about it, Bernie. You'll do great!"
Bernie waved a kiss at her. Ramsay, standing next to him, raised his eyebrows at Killian, not even trying to hide his amusement. Then he met Emma's gaze.
"What are your plans, Ramsay?" she asked, a little concerned.
"Are you kidding me, why do you even ask? You know I'm going to stay by your side. And you still need a sword master."
Emma smiled in relief. "It seems you've already made the most perfect plans."
Killian moved closer to her ear. "He would be the perfect choice. Besides, I've heard that the sword master's quarters are not far from those of a certain wolf."
Emma's smile widened, and she had to hold back tears again. That they all wanted to stay by her side made her so grateful.
Emma felt Killian's hand clasp hers. "If you'll excuse us. I need a little time with my queen."
She wanted to talk to everyone, but she was grateful that Killian wanted to take her away for a moment. She still felt exhausted and overwhelmed by all the information.
"Are you hungry?" he asked as they walked.
She nodded.
Killian opened his tent and let her go ahead. He led her to some mats and blankets.
She wolfed down the food as if she hadn't eaten in days. And maybe that was the case. She had a headache and felt disoriented, as if she were coming ashore after months at sea. Killian sat next to her, watching her closely.
Finally, Emma set the empty bowl aside and looked at him.
"I'm missing time. I remember being in there for an hour, maybe two. The rest is just gone."
"This is why I hate magic," he said. "It messes with your head."
He paused.
"Emma," he said hesitantly, "I need to know one thing. Did Arthur hurt you in there?"
"He did," she answered hesitantly. "But they were just words."
"They can cut deep, too," he said empathetically. "I wish I could have been by your side."
Emma took his hand. "You are now."
They stayed inside the rest of the day. Killian brought her up to date on the others. In the evening, he lit candles, and they made themselves comfortable among the pillows and blankets. Emma rested her head on Killian's bare chest and listened to his slow heartbeat as her fingers played with the hook. His chest hair tickled her cheeks, reminding her of the quiet nights on the ship.
-/-
A deep rumble pierced the tent. The ground vibrated around her and Emma awoke with a start. At first she thought she had been dreaming, but then she heard the raging sounds outside. Killian had woken up as well. They looked at each other, then jumped up and rushed for the exit. As they rushed out, they were blinded by a brilliant white light. Emma shielded her eyes with her hand as she tried to make out what was going on. In the meadow, she could make out two dark figures, one of which was clearly Rumple. He raised Excalibur and his dagger to the sky, seeming to catch the light emanating from the other person. Emma tried to get closer, but a storm was raging around her, making it difficult for her to walk. On a small hill in the middle of the meadow stood a tall man with a staff that emitted the light.
All at once the man turned in her direction and Emma froze.
"Hello, Emma," a voice spoke in her head. She knew there were few magical beings who had mastered the ability of telepathy, but witnessing it felt surreal.
"Merlin?" she yelled toward the figure.
"Emma, stay back!" she heard Regina shout, and she felt Killian grab her hand.
"This will be the end of you!" Rumple shouted from the other side. "You'll be crawling in the dirt, begging me to stay alive. And I will look down on you, not caring about your as you did, all those years ago. The time of reckoning has come."
"Emma," the voice said again. "You are a witness of Avalon." His voice cut deep into her bones.
"I tried to save Arthur, I swear it!" she cried against the strong wind that blew her hair in all directions. "But I know I'm responsible."
"Did you look into the lake?" Merlin asked. His voice sounded like hers, but somehow she knew they were his thoughts. She gasped as she saw the lake amid the purple fields in her mind. She remembered it, but that was a different image. And a different season. She realized it was his memory.
"Yes," she whispered.
"Do it again."
She could see a naked woman rising from the lake. Was this her, Nimue, the Lady of the Lake? She was beautiful. A graceful figure with long black hair. She put on a robe and walked up the hill through the flower fields. Emma recognized the rock formation where she and Arthur had been standing. The woman turned, a smile spreading across her face as a young man stepped up to her. They kissed.
Then the scene changed and Emma could see the couple in the same spot, but this time they were arguing. Emma couldn't make out the words. But she saw the desperation in both of their eyes.
Then the scene changed again, and this time she could see the woman holding a dagger to Merlin's throat. He pleaded with her, but she turned and left him standing there. In a change of scene, she saw Merlin put the sword into the stone.
Emma sensed that years must have passed although he still looked the same. At one point she saw Nimue walking on a cliff above the lake, young as ever, but with hunched shoulders and alone. A figure approached from behind. It was clearly not Merlin, but a shorter man. Emma's eyes widened as Nimue offered the man her dagger. He took it, cradled it in his hands, and with a sudden movement buried the dagger in Nimue's heart. When the man pulled it out, Nimue looked almost peaceful, her black hair moving in the wind before she fell over the edge into the lake. Emma could see the bloody dagger in the man's hand. But then his hands turned, his skin became darker, scaly, the nails gray. He lifted his hood, revealing his dark face, covered with a golden glow. It looked very familiar to her, but it was not Rumple's face. A different Dark One.
"Nimue was the first of them. She wanted to rule the world with me. But we didn't last. For nothing can last forever." Merlin spoke. "After she realized this, others followed. All driven by greed or desperation. Some of them ruled for a long time, some of them didn't. In the end, they all learned that immortality was not a power, but their punishment. Some tried to kill me, hoping to gain more power to escape their own wasteland of boredom. But none of them got close to the stone. Nimue watched over it from below. Not yet ready to let go. Until now."
"Did she send the ferryman and the girl?" Emma whispered knowing Merlin could hear her.
"All these years Nimue has kept the secret of the stone. Her soul divided between Avalon and the curse of the Dark One. But now she is tired and ready to bring them together again. But I can't let that happen."
"Why, Merlin? Why are you doing this?"
"Defeating me will end the Dark One's curse. But if I die, every magic in this realm will die, and everything that contains magic with me. Rumple wants to end it for all of us. Maybe I should let him. But I can't."
She looked back and forth between the two. "So you never supported Arthur?"
"The Dark One manipulated you both, telling you that you were destined to lead this land in the hope that someone would get to the stone."
"So all this talk of destiny, that one of us is destined to pull out the sword, was a lie. Nothing but a cheap trick?"
"Not everyone could have done it. The ancient royal bloodline is rooted in Nimue. Before she decided to betray me to become immortal and became the Dark One, she had a child with a man. When she became powerful, she made her boy the king of the Enchanted Forest. But when he died and her grandchildren and their children turned to dust, she became estranged from the family. A witch who never aged. Eventually she was chased away by her own descendants. Many families descended from this line, but Merlin and your family were the last ones.
"Dark One," Emma called out, letting go of Killian's hand and trying to get closer so he could hear her. "Is he telling the truth? Was this your plan all along? To destroy magic?"
"It has to be, Emma!" Rumple shouted above the noise, holding up his sword and dagger with great effort.
"So you are the reason my parents died! It was you who incited Arthur against my family and promised him power because you knew a man like him would fall for it. And because you didn't trust him to do the job, you sent me after him?"
She remembered Killian's warnings. The Dark One tricks, the Dark One deceives. She should never have trusted him.
"I never ordered him to kill your parents. I stage deals, Emma. What people make of it is their choice."
"But if you defeat Merlin, you'll die too! Think of Belle!" Emma yelled. "Regina and Ruby and so many more! "
"Magic always has a price," Rumple shouted. "And this is mine. You haven't been there, Emma. All these years. You haven't seen the power corrupt good people with the best intentions, tear them apart, rot their minds, destroy everyone around them until a younger version of them plunges a dagger into their heart. People never learn. The only way to save this world from this abomination is to tear out the root of all evil. This is my fulfillment of our agreement, Emma! You will lose people, but after that you will get a kingdom without horrors. It will be your chance for a new beginning in a new world. And your pirate will be rid of me. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
Emma looked at Killian, and she knew Merlin had sent the thoughts to him, too, because she saw deep fear in his eyes. Because he knew her.
"Magic isn't all bad," Emma insisted, struggling closer to Rumple. "There are many people who use magic for good! And many of them were just born that way. They didn't have a choice to be someone else!"
"Sweet child," Rumple replied pityingly. "Haven't you been listening? That's how it starts. You haven't lived long enough to know!"
Suddenly Emma felt an arm on her shoulder. Regina had reached her.
"He won't change his mind," she whispered in her ear. "I can accept dying. I've done a lot of terrible things. You could let him do it and really start over."
"But that would be over the dead bodies of so many beings," Emma protested. "And it would be my fault. I brought him the sword."
"There is another option," Regina said after a moment's hesitation. "The sword is enchanted. Only Merlin, the Dark One, or one of Nimue's bloodline can touch it. Only you can still stop it. But if you do, it will cost you dearly, Emma. There's no way back from there."
Emma closed her eyes for a moment.
"I accepted the price when I accepted his offer."
She turned to Regina and her hand closed around something Regina gave her.
"Promise me you'll take care of Neal and everyone else," Emma pleaded in a broken voice.
Regina squeezed her hand, her expression serious. "I promise."
Emma swallowed, held back tears, and let go of her hand.
Then she turned to Killian, who had fallen back and was now fighting the storm much harder, trying to catch up to her. He looked at her.
"Emma, don't do this," he pleaded through the storm. She had never seen him so panicked.
Emma hesitated for just a moment.
"I love you," she almost whispered. Then she turned, mustered all her strength, and began to run toward Rumple. She felt Merlin struggling behind her, clearing a path for her. And Emma ran.
Rumple screamed and tried to break Merlin's strength, but he realized that she was faster. When Emma reached him, she saw his golden eyes widen, and for the first time she could see fear in them.
With everything she had in her, she lunged at him, grabbed his hand that held Excalibur, and dropped the magic bean from her hand.
Light exploded around her and she felt as if a wave was crashing over her. She felt the sucking of the light beneath her, saw Rumple and the sword get sucked in, and then she felt someone grab her wrist. Killian was hanging on the edge, his hook buried in the ground, holding her with his hand. The pressure was unbearable and his face was contorted in pain, but he didn't let go. From a distance, she heard Ruby's screams.
"Hold on!" Killian screamed.
The suction beneath her was too strong.
"I can't!" she cried, feeling her fingers threaten to slip from his.
And then she saw Killian loosen the clamps on his arm with his teeth. Suddenly there was no more pressure as she fell through the glistening white nothingness.
-/-
The portal closed with a loud bang. A shock wave swept across the meadow, knocking everyone over. Ruby lay on the edge of the place where the portal had opened seconds before. Now there was meadow again, its grasses swaying gently in the wind as if nothing and no one had ever disturbed them. The only clue to the spectacle was the hook still stuck in one of the tufts.
She looked up as Regina held out her hand. But Ruby stood up on her own.
"What did you do?" she stammered, stunned.
"I gave Emma a choice," Regina said, tormented. "And she chose to save everyone."
Ramsay stepped to Ruby's side. Agonized, he took the hook from her hand. "What happened to them?"
"Many years ago, when my heart was still driven by hatred, I had made a pact with the Dark One. He gave me a magic bean and created a curse for me. The bean leads to a world without magic. And with the magic, the memory of the life before disappears. At that time, I wanted to use it for Emma's parents to get the throne. When I changed, I wanted to get rid of her. But somehow I never did. I wish there had been another way."
"And now Emma is there alone with the Dark One," Ruby said sadly.
"Not quite," Ramsay said, looking at the hook as tears wet his face. Ruby turned to him and pulled him close.
"We have to find a way to get to them," Ruby said firmly.
"There isn't one," Regina replied dejectedly. "I checked then that there was no back door."
Regina turned and looked toward the hill where Merlin had been standing. But he, too, had disappeared.
"We can't reach their world anymore. The only thing we can do is make this a place Emma could be proud of."