A/N: Oph. I essentially have the dirt I need to fill the hole I found in the story later on. Took less time than I thought! Hopefully, I'll be back to posting daily very very soon. Until then, please bear with me as we go through (IMO) some slower chapters.

~The Ruthless King~

Only a few hours into her journey, Emma was going over her most recent choice. What had compelled her? First, as much as her parents had prepared her for a thing like this, she did not really feel ready. What if she couldn't live out here? What if she disappointed her mother, who had to live out here to survive?

Then there was Hook. She had chosen.. No, demanded to join him. She hadn't thought too far ahead, only of her fleeting desire not to lose his companionship. She hadn't considered the fact that they'd be utterly alone together on a quest that had no real end date. Not to mention the fact that he was a no-good, villainous, flirtatious, fierce, pirate captain, and thief of her heart-

She blinked rapidly. That was not the path she wanted her thoughts to take. Sure, she found him incredibly handsome, charming, and he made her wet between the legs. Something that had never happened to her before. And she craved his attention, despite how she spoke to him.

He'd asked about the butterfly. Did he know? Gods, how insufferable he would be if he knew - or would he change at all?

She remembered the promise she made to herself. After the ball, she'd give Captain Jones an honest chance. Well, this was going to have to be that chance. But what of Dylan? She'd honestly thought no one she met from the ball could occupy her mind at all, yet he did.. to a degree. She knew he was certainly worth more than a fleeting consideration. It was her duty, after all, to wed to benefit her kingdom. Though her parents had not once told her who she had to marry, the decision still weighed on her.

She knew she ought to have named Dylan as her choice that very night, butterfly be damned. If she had, what would Hook have done? Nothing? Duel the prince? Poison him in his sleep?

Certainly she could rule out poison… Right?

She glanced behind her. He was still there, riding atop Domingo. Where else would he be?

"Are you sure this is the right direction?" She asked in a futile attempt at conversation.

"Aye. The stories may be old, but the landscape hasn't changed much."

"Have you been to the Enchanted Forest before, then?"

"A few times. I take it you've left here as well."

"A few times."

She turned back to face forward, rolling her eyes. That went well. She should have asked something else. Anything else.

He pulled his horse up next to hers, handing her a canteen. She eyed it warily, before taking it, and a rather large gulp. She was surprised it was water.

"I thought for sure this would have been rum." She eyed him warily.

He chuckled. "You're the one who drank from it." He reached into his inner pocket, producing a much smaller flask. "This one is the rum." He winked, then faced forward. "In a few hours, we will cross a river. That'll be a good place to stop, let the horses rest."

She nodded at this news. "Great. Now we have ample time for you to fill me in on why I awoke surrounded by everyone, and a guard." She thought for a moment. "And Roland."

He chuckled. "I've no idea about Roland. But the guard was placed for your safety while you slept. Everyone assumed you'd be out of it for a while."

"Finally a straight answer, even partially given."

"Honestly. I came to bid you farewell, knowing I would be traveling. You awoke while I was there. Your father, who had followed me because, well.." he gave her a salacious smile. "When you woke, His Majesty called for your mother, which of course meant that everyone found out you had awoken. They came to check on you because they love you, Swan."

"I know you're holding something back." She grumbled. "But frankly, I appreciate any honesty at this point. Thank you." He looked surprised for half a second. She didn't give him time to respond. "Tell me about this quest."

"Oh, that. It's a long shot. Very well could be dangerous, I wish you had stayed-" She glared at him, earning a sigh and a shake of his head. "Fine, but before I tell you, please agree to a few rules."

She raised her eyebrow. "I'll listen."

"Good enough. One, I know you can take care of yourself. But I have more experience surviving alone. I ask that you do what I ask, when I ask it."

She gaped at him. "I will not-"

"I'm not going to demand you bed me, love, as much as we would both enjoy that." She turned, facing forward, trying not to let those words affect her. She had no control over the blush that attacked her cheeks, though. "But I will demand you drop a poisonous fruit or berry."

She refused to voice a reply. She knew he wasn't asking for anything uncalled for, but she didn't trust her own voice at the moment. Damn him for making her want things an unmarried woman should never, ever want.

He continued. "Two, since we really are out here alone, I can't have you running off without me. We became a team the moment you stole my hook. No man is left behind. So please, if you plan on venturing off, communicate. Three, communication is always key, darling. Always voice your opinions with me. And lastly," he took a deep breath. "If I can terminate a threat without you, I expect you to let me."

That got her attention, her eyes narrowing at him.

"I'm not a damsel-"

"No, you're not. But you are precious, and I frankly do not want to return to your castle with a dead, or injured, princess on my hands. That is not a scenario that would lead to my early retirement."

Retirement? Was he planning to retire, or was he merely using that as an analogy? If he was sincere, that meant he wouldn't just run off at the next call of adventure. And she'd lose one more excuse to lock up her feelings for the man. His eyes were sincere, with every word, and there was no pang of a lie, though an analogy might not count as a lie...

Though she hated some of his rules, and rules in general, she couldn't help but nod in agreement.

He sighed, sounding relieved. "Right. This quest, as I said, is a long shot. We're traveling to Castle Blackthorn to find a tomb said to hold the remains of a greedy, ruthless king. It is also said that he was accidentally buried with the thing we are after."

"What happened to him?"

"Nothing is known for certain. It is said that he overtaxed his people, treated his servants like rubbish, and was always after more wealth regardless of the consequences. Townsfolk, servants, guards and soldiers alike became fed up with him and his regime.

"Basically, everyone."

"Essentially." He grinned at her, that awful… gorgeous grin. "He was said to have been murdered by his own people. Rumor has it, he had just procured a magick ring, said to have been forged in fairy dust, granting the bearer one wish."

She cocked her head at this news. "He had a wish to use and he didn't use it to stop the rebellion?"

"If he used it, he would have used it to procure more wealth if I understand the man properly. Since the castle fell to ruin, and the people all scattered, I doubt he had a chance to use it. They must have tricked him into willingly walking toward his death, or I'm sure he would have saved his own hyde."

"It doesn't sound very dangerous."

"There's more, love. There's a reason his tomb hasn't been looted. It is said even the bravest of warriors couldn't leave the place alive."

"Why?"

"I've no idea. The story was written, and I do know this King existed in history, but the story could be just that - a story. If it is true, however, a great evil could be lurking about there."

She laughed at that. A great evil, indeed. She suspected he was just trying to scare her back to her own home. Then his information processed.

"Wait. Everyone hated this man. Do I have that right?"

"Aye."

"Then why bother burying him at all? Let alone, in a tomb?"

"I wasn't there. Could have been a victory funeral, dancing on his grave so to speak. He could have also had a friend or relative who buried him. I did say it's a long shot, but one I felt worthy of my efforts." He raised an eyebrow in her direction. "Another reason I didn't want company. Surely your talents would have been better served elsewhere."

"My talents?" She scoffed. "I'd be stuck in that castle, a comfortable prison, but a prison nonetheless."

"Surely not."

"All that training I get? The archery, and swords, hell, hand to hand combat? It's all a last ditch effort. If the walls, guards, and my father himself can't protect me, I doubt I'd be equipped to handle anything that got through all that."

"And yet you attach yourself to my mission. A man can't help but wonder why."

Good question. "Seemed like a good idea at the time."

Thank you for reading!