A/N: Slightly shorter chapter than "normal" (2500 words) but this is a sort of transition chapter, Killian getting more used to life with one hand.
I give a huge thanks to my beta reader: Ultraluckycatnd
Chapter 4FIVE DAYS LATER
Emma watched Killian work along with August as the craftsman was fitting a sort of brace to Killian's now almost fully healed wrist. The magic she'd used along with the Phoenix Flower had healed him much faster than it normally would have. Killian had been astounded; each morning she would come and change his bandages and see his once macabre wound become more and more healed. Now it was still a bit raw and tender to touch, but he'd agreed to work alongside August so a brace could be made for his stumped arm. It would still be a few more days until the wrist and skin would be ready to carry the weight of such a contraption.
Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she realized that the man was currently in the process of removing his shirt, leaving him only dressed in his usual leather pants, the ones that he had refused to let go of. He'd reluctantly agreed after his third day here to have them cleaned up and repaired.
Emma shifted her pose so she would appear to be gazing out over the view of the city, but in her peripheral vision, she could see Killian struggle with the leather straps that August had fashioned on the brace. Killian had his back turned to Emma so he would not see her eyes shifting back and forth between him and the view. The rippling back muscles shifted under his tan skin as he hoisted the straps over his shoulders, letting August secure the brace to his wrist.
Emma let her fingers slide through the small fountain she'd placed herself at, the water cooled her heated skin. Lately, it seemed as if her body was reacting stronger and stronger whenever she was near Killian. They'd become friends, or so she'd like to say so herself. Even if his demeanor at times was grumpy and moody whenever a daily task proved to be too complicated to do with only one hand. Most times Emma had to reassure him that once August had fashioned him a prosthetic, it would be much easier.
Scooping up a handful of water she leaned over her hand and drank the crystal clear water. Then she used the now cold hand to ease the burning sensation blooming over her clavicle, the low-cut neckline giving her access to her upper chest area.
Emma focused on the men working together again. She bit her lower lip as Killian was now moving around, lifting the brace up and down as if to test how it felt on his stumped arm. She was too far away to fully hear what they said to one another, but the two seemed to have formed a sort of friendship in the past few days working on the brace. Killian smoothed his fingers through his long dark hair, giving her a glimpse of his pointed ears. She hadn't dared ask him if he might be elven, perhaps he didn't even know himself.
When the men had finished the fittings they needed for the day, Killian slipped on the tunic shirt he'd picked out this morning. As August bid them farewell Emma watched Killian looking over the landscape beneath them. August's workshop was located at some of the top levels of the city, giving them a good view of the splendor spreading out beneath them. He smoothed his hand through his hair, he'd declined her offer to help him secure it into a low ponytail. Only a few times had he agreed for her to brush it properly for him.
Biting her lips she rose to her feet and walked over to him. His shoulders were tense and she knew he had to be thinking about something.
"Misthaven is a beautiful city," he mused without looking at her.
"Yeah, it is," Emma said and tugged her hands into the hidden pockets of her long pale blue dress. She turned her gaze to him and asked, "How are you feeling today? You seem tense."
"Bloody hell." He rubbed his face in his hand, then he rested both elbows on the railing. His stumped arm was now being used more and more as the pain had been almost nonexistent since yesterday. He would still get phantom pains in the missing hand, but Emma did reassure him that it was normal.
"What's troubling you?"
"Today, while trying on that brace idea August has fashioned for me, it struck me that this will be my life from now on." He clasped his hand over his blunted wrist. "A bloody cripple who can't do anything without help."
"That's not true." Emma tried to soothe his troubled mind, but she'd been lost for words most of the time when his mood spiraled down like this. "Give this brace a chance. Have you spoken of what kind of attachment you'll want?"
"Not in specifics, August will find some ideas," Killian said in a low mumble as if this was not something he wished to talk about right now.
"That's good." She bit her lips as she rested her hip against the railing, still watching his reactions closely.
"Aye." The tone of his voice indicated that he wasn't believing his own words, but for now, it was good enough.
"Come on, let's go to the evening meal," Emma suggested, smiling when he finally nodded in agreement. He'd been quite baffled when he'd joined them for the evening meal yesterday. Everyone living on the castle grounds was eating together, so it was a large crowd he was suddenly faced with. Emma had helped him through the evening and she was relieved to see that the experience hadn't warded him off from joining them again. All things considered, he seemed to adjust to living here, at least as much as he could.
3 DAYS LATER
Walking into the workspace of the elven craftsman August had been a new habit of his, ever since his wrist had healed up to the princess' satisfaction. It had all been because of her magical healing skills and knowledge of how special plants could aid in his recovery. Physically he was on the mend, but his mind and soul were a whole other matter. Every night he would have nightmares, some worse than others, the darkness still lingered deep within his soul. His missing hand was the ever reminder of what he lost that day, not only his ship and crew but also his trust in having a life worth living for.
It had been quite a change for him to find himself among the elven people, their approach to life was so vastly different from what he'd grown up with. He'd shared a bit here and there with the princess about his past, and she'd been open and honest when she spoke with him. Strangely it hadn't hurt to share with her how his father lost his mind to drinking too much when he was only a small boy. He couldn't really remember the man, only the lingering darkness that seemed to have haunted him. Growing older, Killian learned that the darkness that had consumed his father had been a dark elven curse. It was now taking up space in his soul. When his father ended up drinking himself to his death, it had been up to his mother to raise him and his brother. She had worked as a seamstress; it never paid well, but it was enough for them to not grow hungry, at least not all the time.
When he'd been only 11 years old his mother passed away, leaving him alone with his brother who was 8 years older than him. Their lives were a mess for quite some time. It wasn't easy, but they ended up finding employment on a pirate ship. The pirate Captain Nemo had taken the two boys under his wings and taught them well. Well enough to be able to fight for themselves, even being chased by the Dark One.
Killian gulped down at the thought of how his brother had lost his life at the hands of the Dark One, and now the very same evil man had taken his hand.
"Killian," August broke into his musings, "good you could come this afternoon. I'm fairly certain that I have the final things sorted out so the brace won't bother your skin too much." August turned to the work desk and lifted the contraption for Killian to see.
It had a harness attached to the brace that would hold it to his body, with straps wrapping around his shoulders. Then whatever attachment he chose instead of his hand he could lock into the brace.
"Looks good." Killian reached out and inspected the lining August had padded the brace with, it felt soft under his fingers. The leather on the exterior would match perfectly with his usual leather breeches. He missed his old leather duster; the greatcoat had been his armor and something he valued, but it had been lost in the battle. A few mornings ago when Emma had given him a woolen outer coat to wear if venturing out at nightfall, he had mentioned the leather coat he lost. She promised she would look into what she could find for him at their tailors.
"Now what do you want to use as an attachment?"
Killian glanced around the workshop, the walls lined with tools, half-finished blacksmith projects, or woodwork. The latter was most likely August's father's project. He was a skilled woodworker in Misthaven.
"I have no idea, mate." Killian rubbed his neck, his eyes shifting over the work desk, at the farthest corner was a pile of several grappling hooks. He reached over and took one, "I need something I can grab things with, so perhaps something like this?"
August took the hook from Killian and flipped it over in his hands, inspecting the metal,"I will see what I can do," August said with a smile, then nodded to a pitcher of wine, "a drink?"
Killian nodded mutely. He wasn't usually a wine drinker but it would do, his mind was getting a little restless right now. August poured them both a glass and the two men ventured to the patio in front of the workshop.
"I know it was the Dark One that took your hand," August said slowly as if gauging how Killian might react to the name. Killian shrugged so August continued, "Mind sharing why?"
"I was in possession of something that he wanted." Killian took a few gulps of his wine, this wasn't as strong as his usual choice of rum. "Sadly he bested me the day he took my hand, and now he has a powerful crystal."
"That is bad." August took a drink of his wine.
"Aye, it is. I have no idea what his plans are," Killian shrugged.
"But what will you do now?"
"I want to travel to Oz in search of a dagger that supposedly can control the Dark One." He scratched his scruffy beard, it was getting longer and he hadn't trimmed it yet.
"The Dark One's Dagger?" August gasped in surprise.
"Aye, you've heard of it." It wasn't a question. Killian could see the knowledge of the dagger in the other man's eyes.
"I have." August emptied his glass. "There's a human who our head royal guard befriended many years ago." He glanced at Killian. "He might come here if the good Graham is going to bring him through our realm."
Killian blinked in surprise, "I wasn't aware that this realm had many interactions with humans?" It was a rare occurrence if a human and an elven ever became friends. Well as of now his life was here, in the elven realm. But he was certain that he would be traveling away as soon as he had his brace made, and could navigate doing things with one hand.
"Well, Aiandil has passed through our realm before, some 30 years ago," August mused, inspecting his now empty glass.
"I know the elven people age at a different rate than humans, so this fellow would be how old?"
"I honestly don't know," August shrugged.
"After my brother died, I lived in and out of Neverland. Ever heard of the place?"
August shook his head. "Can't say that I have."
"You don't want to go there, trust me." Killian gave the man a firm look, making sure that he was very serious about this. "The place is a wicked and dangerous place ruled by a mad son of a bitch." He scratched behind his ear. "The only good thing, if it's even a good thing," Killian mused, "is that you don't age at the same speed."
"Oh." August looked genuinely surprised at this. "So how old are you?"
"I'm not sure how old I really am, things got a bit messed up after so many years in Neverland, but perhaps a few hundred years. Give or take." He shrugged, glancing at August trying to gauge his reaction to this. It was usually the story he went with when explaining his many years of living, but deep down he knew it was his elven heritage that had him living for such a long time.
"Well, you've lived a true elven life then," August laughed. "I'm almost 350 years old."
Killian blinked at this. "So the princess, how old is she?" He ducked his head, not sure he was even allowed to speak so freely about the princess, but these past days he had formed what he would describe as a friendship with Emma.
August chuckled. "She is nearing her 100th year, so still young, but soon to be considered an adult."
Killian nodded in understanding as he tried to shake out the images of the fair princess from his mind. It was hardly proper for him to even think so much about the elven Princess of Misthaven.
"Well, you've lived a full life too I see," August interrupted his musings.
"Aye, with all the trouble that follows, but I've managed on my own the past 30 or so years." When August lifted his eyebrows in curiosity Killian added sadly, "My brother died." He emptied his glass, not fond of talking about his brother's demise. "Since then I've been on my own."
"I'm sorry for your loss," August said, then fell silent again.
The silence was nice right now, all the talk about the past had Killian feel some old scars begin to rip at their seams. Finally, he lifted the empty glass and said, "Thanks for the drink, mate."
"Any time." August took the glass from Killian. "Come back in two days, and I will have the attachment ready for you to try out."
Killian nodded in thanks, then began walking down the winding stairs, finding his way to his chambers. While he walked he was met with several of the other elves; everyone knew of him being there and that he was a friend. A few curious stares were sent towards his missing hand, so he tugged it into the pocket of the coat Emma had found for him the other day. It wasn't his leather coat, but it was nice for the warm climate here in Misthaven.
