The Royal Family had an early start the next morning with a tour of the village, an address to the people, and a dinner with the nearby lords and ladies. Personally, Emma would rather be on the battlefield again rather than do this. She loved seeing her people, but speaking to a crowd was not her favorite and the lords are about as exciting as toast. Not to mention she would have to spend the day with Killian and right now she wanted nothing to do with him. She was still furious with him. He never returned to the ball last night. Which she was fine with, he could go skulk and think about what he had done. Emma would have to play nice with him and put on a pretty face for everyone. To limit her exposure to him she took breakfast in her chambers that morning. After she dressed for the day in a simple white dress Leo came to fetch her,
"Are you hiding from him?" He asked in lieu of a greeting.
"No, not hiding. I didn't really feel like seeing him. I'm already going to have to spend the day with him." She rolled her eyes.
"If it's any consolation he looked miserable at breakfast, maybe you should talk to him." He shrugged.
"Are you defending him?" Emma almost stomped her foot, but restrained herself.
"Of course not, but he was blindsided, and you have to spend the rest of your life with him, are you going to be mad at him forever?" He sighed at his sister's antics.
"I can certainly try," she mumbled, placing the tiara on her head. It matched the one Leo was wearing, a solid gold band encircling his head. The only difference was hers had a simple diamond in the center. They left her room and began their descent down the stairs.
"He hasn't even apologized to me yet."
"Pretty hard to do when you hide from him." He gave her a pointed look and Emma hated to admit it, but he was right.
"Just hear him out." Leo shrugged.
"Why do you care so much?"
"If I kept my mouth shut this wouldn't be happening and I don't want the treaty in danger because of something I did." Emma stopped on the stairs and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh Leo, no. Look, peace may have been fragile at first, but Killian needs this just as much as we do. I know him enough now to say he's not going anywhere. We will work through this, but the treaty is fine."
"How do you know that?"
"Killian saved my life on the ship, there was an accident. He could've let me die, let the treaty fall through. He didn't. He cares as much as we do." Leo nodded and they continued on.
Killian, Snow, and David were waiting for them at the bottom of the staircase. Emma desperately wanted to be angry at Killian, to be furious, but he looked apologetic and damn good in his regal red outfit. She was mad that he would doubt her and call her a liar. They both have things they haven't been honest about.
Killian will never not be struck by her beauty. It could be an elaborate gown for a ball, her vest and pants on a ship, or a simple gown for a tour of the town. She's beautiful in every situation.
He shouldn't have blown up like he did last night. He was just so thrown off by it, it had completely blindsided him. Killian knew she was still mad with him, but now was not the time for his apologies. He nodded and held out his hand to her when she approached him. Emma nodded, but said nothing. She was definitely still upset with him.
Snow saw the interaction between the two and sent Leo and David ahead.
"You two need to act like you at least like each other." Snow crossed her arms looking expectantly at each of them.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I don't know what happened between you last night, but our people will not accept him if you don't. Now, you have five minutes before the carriage leaves." Snow glided out looking as graceful as ever. Emma turned to Killian. He looked a little bewildered by Snow's blunt honesty.
"Love last night was a mistake. I'm sorry for how I acted. I felt like we had grown closer over the voyage and I felt betrayed. You were right we both have hidden truths and I shouldn't have-" Emma squeezed his hand.
"I should have told you. Men don't exactly react well to being told they'll never be in power. At first, I was afraid it would ruin the treaty. Now, I just-" She shook her head.
"I understand why you wouldn't tell me; I can't imagine suitors would like the idea. I'm not them, I'm not running away. You and I will be partners until the end." He reached out and touched her face. He thought she would flinch away or worse hit him. She didn't, she gave him a soft smile.
"How would you like to see Misthaven?" Killian squeezed her hand.
"Show me your kingdom, love." Killian gestured out in front of him, letting her lead the way.
They walked out to the carriages and Snow lifted her eyes at their linked hands. Emma gave a small nod. Killian and Emma shared a carriage to themselves and the rest of her family led the way through the village. While the people were ecstatic to see Emma and cheered for her, they seemed to fall silent and gave Killian weary looks, unsure of what to think of the foreign Prince. The whole time Emma plastered a smile on her face. She interlaced her fingers with his, their connected hands displayed for everyone to see.
Emma showed him all of the village surrounding the castle, her people with their works of artistry. From blacksmithing to jewelry makers. They toured the market full of the various crops of the kingdom, it was nothing compared to the market it the summer, but for winter it was a true accomplishment of her people.
Most of the people gave Killian a wide berth, not wanting to be close. A few were more open with their displeasure by glaring at Killian. He gave them no attention and was kind to every person he met, not that Emma expected any differently. She smiled at him often, her hand never far from his. She thought it would bother her, but it didn't, not in the slightest. Today was about showing her people her acceptance of Killian, so they would accept him. Not only that Emma felt true ease and comfort around him that had been building for a while now.
They toured some of Misthaven's countryside and gave Killian a chance to view Misthaven's spectacular mountains. Overall Emma would've called today a success. However now the royal family has to host a dinner party for the lords and ladies of Misthaven. They wanted to get a sense of their soon to be king.
On their way to the Great Hall for dinner, Snow was stopped by Graham, who muttered something and gave her a note. They all waited outside the Great Hall while her eyes darted back and forth across the small page. Snow sighed and looked at Killian. Graham waited for further instruction.
"What is it? Is it Liam? Elsa? The babe?" Every terrible scenario running through his head. Emma wanted to reach out to him, to let him know she was there, but his hands were clenched into fists.
"They're fine. The note is about your ship. It was stopped in the channel, by one of our few remaining ships. They apparently didn't believe a naval ship would have the diplomatic papers we issued them, and your crew is currently being held. Graham send word to release the Prince's crew and send the boat on its way. Make sure to relay to any of our other ships to not stop it."
"Of course, Your Majesty." Graham nodded, before running off to follow Snow's orders.
"How could this happen?" Killian asked Snow, fear and anger evident in his stance.
"I can't control everyone in my command, no matter how much I try. You led men; you understand all too well what I am talking about." Killian nodded she was right he did indeed know all too well.
"Are my men alright?"
"No deaths, they surrendered. Everyone is fine, knowing Graham your ship should be here by next week." Killian still looked like he had gotten terrible news. He simply nodded and wandered down the hall.
"What on earth is his problem?" David asked Emma, who just shook her head.
"I don't know." She frowned, looking after Killian.
"Find out, will you? We'll entertain our guests until you return," Snow sighed. Emma nodded and turned away from her family. She followed Killian down the hallway at a slow pace. She knew he needed time to cool down, she doesn't understand what this meant to him, but it's important.
Emma finally caught up to him in an alcove overlooking the palace grounds. Killian's back is to her, his hands gripping the ledge of the windowsill.
"Killian."
"If you're here to drag me into that dinner, I can't! This is bloody unbelievable; I can't go out there and pretend everything is alright." Killian let go of the windowsill, and clenched his fists. Emma could feel the anger emanating from him, she knew the anger wasn't toward her. She reached out placing a hand on his arm.
"Then let's go somewhere else." Surprise crossed his face.
"What? Don't we have to charm those lords and ladies at dinner with your parents and brother?" He shook his head in confusion. Emma took his hand and led him through a door that did not lead back to the great hall.
"We definitely do," she snorted.
"Then, where the hell are we going?" Emma stopped and turned to look at him.
"Do you really think I am a perfect princess who always does as she's told?" His face turned red and he scratched his ear, his nervous tick that she was growing to love.
"No, but what does that-" she began pulling him forward again. They went down another passageway, one that led to the stables.
"Stop worrying about the lords and ladies of Misthaven, they'll live with our absence for today. Now, pick a horse." Emma led him into the stable, finally letting go of his hand to tend to Buttercup. Killian stopped in front of a beautiful black Friesian horse.
"That's Orion," Emma said across the stables. Killian nodded while he prepared Orion, who took to Killian much better than Emma thought he would. They mounted their horses and Emma turned to Killian, "Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be, lass," he smirked. She smiled and led the way. They moved swiftly through the grounds and the fields surrounding the castle.
They slowed when they reached the forest, maneuvering the horses through the dense trees. Emma dismounted Buttercup when they reached a beautiful lake with a waterfall. Without a word to him she walked toward the waterfall and for one moment he swore she disappeared into the cliffside. When he got closer, he saw her nestled in the cliffside in a nook that Emma was leaning against.
"I thought you disappeared in a mere blink of an eye," he whispered, the waterfall roaring next to them.
"Can't get rid of me that easily." Emma has that mischievous glint in her eye that Killian is learning to love and hate at the same time.
"Good. What is this place?"
"One of my favorite hiding places. The waterfall is great to cool off in the summertime, right now it's just beautiful to look at."
"One of?"
"A rebellious princess needs many, don't you know…" he chuckled at this, "Killian, I need to know the truth." The laughter stopped and he swallowed, feeling his airway constricting.
"About?"
"Your ship. You looked absolutely panicked, way more than I would've suspected. Even when assured it would be resolved you couldn't go to the dinner. So, if you'd like my help you need to tell me what's going on." She never broke eye contact with him, never blinking.
"It's not simple." Is all he can manage to get out. Her gaze is unwavering and relentless, never judgmental though.
"It never is."
"This damned war nearly broke our people; it certainly broke our very limited farmers and trade. We relied heavily on fishing as an export and well we took those fishermen into war and soon there was very little to trade, we were trying to keep our people alive and fed. With each passing year it got worse and worse. We had trade agreements for a few years that helped, but other countries were so fearful of war and what it would do to their country, so they never held up," he rambled on. Emma laid a hand on his chest.
"Killian! What does this have to do with your ship?" Her eyes searching his, looking for the answer he couldn't seem to give her.
"My people need food, grain, seeds, whatever I can get them. Emma, they'll die without it. I was going to send over some food and seeds to help the few farmers we have. My people need me, I can't let them down." She closed her eyes and cursed him. He might be smart on the sea and with strategy, but he had a long way to go when it came to diplomacy. She opened her eyes to find he had retreated slightly.
"Why didn't you ask for a trade agreement in the treaty?"
"What?" His brow furrowed, not expecting that answer. Truly the thought hadn't occurred to him or Liam.
"Killian, we aren't heartless. We don't want your women and children to suffer, to starve. We would've made it work, just as we will now. Do you not trust me?"
"Love, I trust you more than anyone else in the realm right now. I have followed you into what used to be enemy territory, my life is quite literally in your hands." With each word he moved closer to her and they were chest to chest, almost touching one another.
"But you couldn't come to me for help?" she whispered, and he placed a hand on the cliffside.
"Not then. Not when peace was riding on every action and reaction." He shook his head.
"What about now? Did you really think I wouldn't help?" she asked him, her voice wavering, her hurt evident.
"I was afraid. Emma, please I trust you. Everyone is counting on me. This wasn't about you, it was about my fear clouding my judgement," he pleaded with her.
"I see, we should head back now. At least make an appearance for dessert." Emma pushed past him, back to Buttercup.
"Of course," he muttered after her. He worried that this truth had ruined everything building between them. They rode back in silence to the stables; Emma didn't know what to say to him. She was beginning to trust him and now this.
"Love," Killian started.
"Not your love," she threw the words back at him. Killian flinched, he definitely deserved that.
"Emma, I shouldn't have-"
"No, you shouldn't have, but that's not the point anymore. The point is your people need help. We'll talk to my parents in the morning, figure out what we can do."
"What if they aren't inclined to help?"
"Doubtful that will happen, but then you and I will handle it ourselves." Killian reached out for Emma's hand, his fingers brushing hers. She moved out of his grasp, walking ahead. Killian sighed, throwing his head back.
Today had felt like a dream with her. Her smile and touches had sent him on cloud nine. Killian knew that some of it was manufactured for her people, but he couldn't help but to revel in it. And now he feared he may never feel that again, may never feel that way with her.
Killian took a breath and followed Emma in ready to fake a smile for these people, who he didn't give a damn about.
Hope y'all are having a good week! Just a little more angst I promise but good things are coming!
