So confession: Chapters 4, 5 & 6 were supposed to be one big chapter but I've kinda run out of patience so I'm posting these 3 short chapters instead lol. Thanks for understanding guys!

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Chapter 5:

Emma didn't sleep well that night. Her mind kept returning to Killian Jones and his impassioned words and his missing hand. When she was finally able to drift off, sleep was anything but peaceful. Her dreams were even stranger.

She dreamed that she was in a dark room. The walls shook violently, tossing her about. In the distance she could hear a baby's cry echoing throughout the chamber. Emma tried to call out to the child but her voice was lost. The room shook again. She bounced from wall to wall, struggling to stay on her feet. The floor suddenly jumped and Emma tumbled hard to the ground.

Then she heard something new. It sounded like someone singing.

"Hush now,

Don't be scared

Through this time of darkness

Shadows may march

Thunder may roar

But peace will soon prevail"

And suddenly, the room was filled with a bright white light.

When Emma finally awoke, she was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

Her mother was not present at breakfast. Neither was her father. Regina was, but clearly still angry about last night because she didn't speak or look at Emma the entire time. But Emma didn't care. On the contrary, what she had planned for today required her to be alone.

After she finished eating, Emma went straight to the stables. She often went riding before lessons, so no one spared an odd glance or questioned her. This time though, after she saddled and mounted Icarus, she didn't go out to the fields. Instead she went to the trail near the village. It was hard to believe she had been here only yesterday. But what had happened afterwards had rocked her world and she needed to realign it somehow. And so, with focused determination, she rode towards the village.

As Emma grew closer, she glanced over her shoulder. Although she could still see the castle, the dilapidated sails on the abandoned mill just barely peeked over the treetops. This was the furthest she had gone before. There was no one in sight yet she couldn't escape the feeling that she was being watched. The wind rustling through the trees added to the eeriness and made her anxious, but Emma pressed onward, drawing her hood up for both warmth and security. Soon, she had arrived.

The village was much smaller than Emma had pictured it. There were only a few houses made of wood and straw, as well as some slightly larger buildings, possibly belonging to grocers. Behind one home was a wooden pen containing an assortment of chickens and cows. On the surface, things seemed relatively peaceful.

A few of the villagers noticed Emma as she approached. Some frantically bowed to her. Others wordlessly gawked at her. Soon people were coming out of their homes and onto the roads, whispering to each other and staring.

"Is that the Princess?"

"It's Princess Emma!"

"Why is the Princess here?"

They must have recognized her by her golden hair. Emma tried to offer a friendly smile but those she made eye contact with immediately dropped their gazes to the ground. Some even ducked inside their homes and slammed the doors, as if she were diseased leper instead of royalty.

As Emma looked around, she began to see the signs of distress and poverty. Several of the buildings looked as if they had been hastily made, possibly in anticipation for the colder season. Others were barely hiding their age and decay. The livestock were thin, almost sickly and the provisions being sold were pitiful. Perhaps the saddest sight of all were the people. Everyone looked miserable and downtrodden. Beneath the whispers, the quiet atmosphere was often punctured by a cough or two.

Killian Jones had been right.

Shaking her head, she tugged Icarus back towards the castle.

"Your Highness?" A familiar voice called.

Emma stopped and turned to a familiar boy poking his head out of a nearby window. His face was one of surprise.

"Henry!" She said happily, bringing Icarus closer. "It's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too." he said politely, bowing his head. "What are you doing here? Is something wrong?"

"Not exactly." She leaned in towards him, conspiratorially. "I actually need help with something Henry, and it's pretty important. Do you think you can help me?"

Henry nodded enthusiastically.

"Has the village always been like this?"

The smile on Henry's face fell. He suddenly looked nervous. "I can't answer that. Not here, I mean."

Emma frowned but nodded as well. "Okay. Is there someplace we can go to talk?"

"We can talk at my castle! No one will hear us there," he said, his face lighting up once again.

"Your what?"

He clamored out of the window and began to run towards the forest. "It's around where we met yesterday. I can show you!" He called over his shoulder.

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Henry's "castle" was actually a small fort, roughly made with large pieces of tree bark and twine. The doorway was low, along with the "roof", so Emma had to duck her head when she climbed inside. It was sparsely furnished, with only an open trunk and a dirty woolen blanket laid across the ground. Along the walls were drawings of dragons and wizards. A few spiders occupied the corners but Emma didn't mind. She could see how eager Henry was to show this secret place to her.

"I'm sorry about the mess." He said, slightly embarrassed, as he picked up some wooden soldiers.

"No, no, it's alright, don't worry. It's very nice in here." She reassured him as she arranged her cloak to sit down. "I had a blanket just like this when I was little."

"I know."

This made Emma briefly pause but she continued looking around. "Did you build it yourself?"

Henry proudly nodded. "It's quiet here and no one bothers me when I'm trying to read." He glanced over at the trunk. Emma followed his gaze and spied the leatherbound book sitting inside. She didn't comment on it, however, recalling his reaction from last time.

"Does that happen often? People not letting you read?"

Once again, Henry's face fell and his gaze dropped to his shoes. "No, I mean… the boys at the orphanage… they don't really understand…" he trailed off. Emma nodded sympathetically.

"That must be difficult."

"Oh no, it's not that bad!" he said, shaking his head vehemently. "I mean, they don't bother too much. They're pretty easy to get along with mostly. Felix can be a bit intimidating but I try to stay away from him."

"And the village? What I saw today, is that usual?"

"Just around the cold season. But the summers are a bit easier. That's when we can keep the windows open and play outside. Although the well dried up last year, so we'll have to be careful with how much water we use. But I suppose it's better than freezing at night."

Henry's voice trailed off as he noticed Emma was watching him. Quickly he cleared his throat and attempted to smile, but it was a hollow one. "I mean, I shouldn't complain too much. It could be worse. I used to live in Longbourn by myself before so I'm really glad to have a place now."

The boy might have been speaking fast but Emma could hear the pain in his voice and see the tears brimming in his eyes. Gently, she reached over to touch his hand. He stopped and looked up at her.

"It's alright, kid. You don't have to lie to me."

"I'm not, I just mean-"

"Henry," She said firmly. "I'm going to help you. I promise."

A tear escaped one of his eyes as he gazed at her with a look of both shock and excitement.

The clocktower began to ring. Emma jumped but stopped herself from accidentally pushing her head through the makeshift roof.

"Shoot!" She exclaimed quietly as she scrambled to get out. "I'm sorry kid! I don't mean to run off on you again."

"No, no, it's alright." Henry said as he climbed out after her. "You really promise?"

"You have my word." Emma said as she mounted Icarus and gave him a slight kick.

As she galloped away, she heard Henry call after her.

"I knew you were a hero! Just like your mother!"