A/N: This chapter has been through the wringer. Channeling a (nearly) 18yo girl is trying for this 28yo... I was more mature in my teens than I am now. But that's besides the point. Enjoy! (and please comment!)
~The Deep Pond~
She wasn't sure how long she had been riding, but she knew Gypsy needed a break. She needed to relax as well. She was sure she'd gone far enough into the woods to discourage anyone attempting to follow. If he wanted to find her, it was going to take work. Part of her wanted him to find her.
The part she ignored.
She dismounted, and plopped down to the ground, reaching for her toes. She desperately needed this stretch, after all the awkward twisting and turning during her training. She was upset when she hadn't made better progress sooner, but she argued with herself that it could have been worse. Like the day she cursed herself frozen, favorites breaking left and right.
She looked up from her stretch, laughing as Gypsy neighed. The mare was walking off without her rider. Emma finished her ground stretch early, standing to stretch from side to side before following the mare. Gypsy led her to a small pond, about the size of her room, and started drinking. Emma remembered her own water, taking liberal gulps before getting an idea. What better way to relax?
She quickly undressed, utterly naked, and jumped in without a care in the world. Her thoughts were far from pirates, spells, balls, or training. The water was cooler than the summer sun, and she thoroughly enjoyed the difference. It wasn't long before Gypsy had her fill, and moved off somewhere past the pond to graze.
"Don't leave without me!" Emma called over, earning a neigh that she readily took as an agreement.
Emma was blissfully unaware of life, duties, troubles, or her surroundings. She must have been there at least fifteen minutes before she heard it. Someone was whistling, a tune forign to her. It was a tune she found pleasing to her ear. Then it occurred to her, whoever it was, they were not far at all, and she was in something of a predicament. Fully naked. In a pond.
Well, fuck. If her father heard about this… Her mother would attempt to contain her glee and calm him down as best she could.
Emma wasn't sure what she should do. Could anyone see her beneath the water's reflection? Did it matter? Should she get out, hurriedly getting dressed? Or stay, and hope for the best? She decided on the latter. At least there was a chance they wouldn't see her below the waterline. But if she got out and wasn't quick enough…
She covered her breasts with an arm as soon as he spoke.
"Well, I must admit, I wasn't quite sure I would find you... but I thank my lucky stars that I did."
Hook. So he did come after her. His namesake was holding up her undergarments, a playful smirk on his lips. Her face was in the process of responding with a smile of her own before she caught herself. If she hadn't noticed that one eyebrow dangerously high on his forehead, she might have started flirting. That would simply be dreadful.
"Why did you come after me?"
"When a lass runs off, it's not always to be alone. If that be the case, I wanted to offer my services." As if that made any sense whatsoever. She scoffed, though she knew it did. Damn him for being so perceptive! Was she that easy to read? How the hell could he know that she had wanted to see if he'd follow? She certainly wasn't going to let him know that.
"This?" Her free hand came out of the water, circling around, motioning to nothing in particular. "Not one of those times."
"Well, I can't very well leave you now. What if someone were to see the scandalous princess completely nude beneath the waves of an innocent pond? I should be here to discourage onlookers."
"Discourage yourself!"
"Oh, have I tried." That twinkle in his eye would have buckled her knees if she were standing. "A lesser man would have already jumped in, mind you."
"How did you find me?" She said in an exasperated tone, trying to hide the curiosity in her voice.
"Well, it seems, your horse is in heat. So I simply…" he shrugged, motioning his hook and hand back the way he came as if that gesture finished that sentence. It was enough for her to connect the dots. All he had to do was find a stallion. Clever. The male horse did the work for him.
He leaned against a tree, letting her garment fall to the ground where he found it, and crossed his arms. That sinful smile lighting up his face. Did he always have to look so delicious? He could convert a nun with that sinful smirk.
"Do you ever give up?"
"Only if you really wanted me to."
"And if I do?"
"You would have told me already."
Damn. On the surface, this was just a simple conversation. But she knew just how deep this really went. All the way back to that addictive first kiss, and his request to court a kitchen maid. She thought about her mother's words again, the ones about regret. Her mind pulled at it like a game of tug-of-war. She didn't realize how long she was taking to respond, before noticing that one eyebrow had joined the other in a normal position. That damn smirk was disappearing as well. She hated that she missed the smirk. She hated that she wanted to feel his kiss again. She hated that he made her curious. Biting? She had to force those thoughts from unfolding.
Instead, she remembered their sword fight. He'd mentioned her changing her mind, completely leaving the door open before she left him there. Sneaky bastard.
"You did that on purpose."
"I do everything with purpose. Though I've no idea of what, specifically, you're referring to." He smiled innocently.
"I'm not changing my mind."
"Ah yes, the notes."
"Stop hiding behind your loopholes."
He pointed to himself. "Pirate."
"I'm beginning to see that."
"We can't help who we are, Princess."
"Perhaps not. But we can certainly choose who we associate with."
"That, we most certainly can."
She stared at him a moment, unsure of her next words. Damn him for always making her feel so unsure all the damn time and for giving her so much to be unsure about. That brought her back to her earlier question. Was she judging him based solely on his title? Like she never wanted anyone to do to her? Thinking back, was there any real reason to distrust him? Nothing had gone missing since his arrival. He'd never told a lie, in her presence anyway. If anything, he should distrust her. She'd allowed him to believe she was a maid, even acting the part. She knew she just wanted to give him a chance. Two days, then the dreaded ball, then she'd reevaluate her options… perhaps give him a chance.
She finally spoke. "Turn around. I'm coming out."
"As you wish." He said with a flourished bow. And he did.
It only took moments to get out and back into her clothes. He had been the perfect gentleman, unreservedly facing away from her. She eyed him the entire time, even though she simply knew he wouldn't peek. She also knew how badly he wanted to. Knowing he could overcome those desires, she felt an admiration she had not expected.
She took an extra moment to compose herself, fingers twisting around other fingers, a nervous tick she had picked up from her mother. There was so much that she wanted to ask, plainly. But giving away her position, of any of the various ones she seemed to jump to, felt risky. Though he did just take a risk, slyly bringing up the courtship. She just wanted to give in, to hell with the ball!
Why did she want to give in? Why did he make her heart flutter? Or make her feel so nervous? Why did he have to bring that up? Why did he want her? Even as a nobody, he wanted her. Perhaps the better question would be why did she want him? Would she regret it if she didn't let him in?
She squashed that train of thought. He's just entertainment, she reminded herself. At least for now. A distraction from her normal day to day. She would enjoy his company as long as he provided it, and she was just taking advantage of the time he did provide her. Nothing more. It's just a crush. Perhaps a childish infatuation. She was overdue for a meaningless fling.
It's not meaningl-
She closed her eyes. She absolutely knew she was bullshitting herself, and on some levels, she knew she was smitten. Not just physically. No, there was a pull in her heart leading her toward him. Besides, any man who could keep up with her was worth more than what she was giving this man. So why was she giving him so little?
She shook her head, the wet strands sticking to her neck and moving against her back. Perhaps she simply needed something to get him out of her mind. Or completely give in and let him overtake her...
She ceased her nervous tick, making her arms stick to her sides, as she cleared her throat.
"I'm decent." She spoke in a dull tone, keeping her emotions bottled. He turned slowly, almost as if he was checking to see if it was safe, before fully appraising her. His eyes were twinkling with mischief, and she tried not to wonder of what he was thinking.
"Beautiful as ever, Swan."
She pushed the comment from her mind as she moved past him to get to her horse. "Gypsy needs to rest." She rubbed the spot between the mare's eyes.
"I suspect so." He nodded. "I can walk her back if you want to take…" He pointed to the stallion he had likely commandeered, hand moving toward his lips. "Erm."
She tried not to smile. "Tornado." He raised an eyebrow, a silent question. "The horse. His name."
"Aye." He grinned sheepishly. "Much better than 'Blacky'."
She couldn't hold back her bemused smile. "You didn't."
"I failed to gleen his name before taking off after you. However, Tornado is all yours if you'd like to gallop off without me." He looked at the horse. "Apologies, mate." He rubbed the stallions neck apologetically before picking up and holding the reins out to her.
She made a quick choice. "I think I'll walk back with Gypsy." She said, picking up the mares reins, and heading back the way he came from, the palomino in tow.
He followed, soon at her side, looking at her closely. He was reading her again. "Since we're headed the same direction, I could use the company."
"If you insist." She said lightly. "Who knows how far we came. It would be awkward to avoid each other for the walk back."
"Actually, we aren't too far." Her gaze shot up at him. "Your steed didn't have a specific destination. She must've ran in circles. We should only be a few meters from the clearing." She tried to hide the disappointment she felt, but he must have seen it on her face. "If you were looking forward to a longer walk, perhaps to stretch your legs, I could be persuaded to join you… if you asked nicely."
"I would rather walk barefoot in a field of thorns."
"You do know how to crush a man's hopes."
"Oh, then it's working."
"Not very well. I am a stubborn man."
"Then I will endeavor to perfect my technique, and I will be rid of you, and your charming trickery." She looked up at him in time to see the moment of surprise before that damn smirk reappeared. She continued on her way, quickly realizing he had stopped, falling behind by mere steps.
Her own footing faltered as she turned to look at him, the serious gleam in his eyes taking her by surprise. She'd never seen him as serious. She turned to fully face him, Gypsy taking the hint and stopping as well. She allowed her face to show the quizzical look she was feeling. What was he up to this time?
He barely spoke above a whisper. "When I win your heart, Swan, and I will win it, it will not be because of any trickery. It will be because you want me."
Her mouth gaped more than a little, her heart stopping, her brain shutting down, her breath halting. Blissful nothing, only the thoughts of him, and them, together. If she had been any closer, she would have kissed him. How she longed for a repeat performance.
Then it all came back in a rush. Her heart began racing frantically, her brain searching for any hint of fabrication, her breath coming shallow and quick. He wasn't lying. He was after her heart. That's when he truly began to terrify her. Not because of the pirate thing, but because of what he did to her. He gave her hope. He could, and would, eventually have her heart if he failed to cease his actions. And that thought was the scariest she ever had to face. She'd never expected to have hope for a happy future, hope in love. She always thought her parents were among the lucky few.
She realized she was waiting for any sign, any at all, of that tell-tale ping she felt when anyone wasn't completely truthful with her. It wasn't coming. She looked him over. His glorious eyes were still quite serious, a small, genuine smile playing on his lips.
If she wasn't torn before, she certainly was now. Staying with the playful banter was safe. It wouldn't go anywhere. He'd leave, eventually. She'd have wonderful memories of his time here, and she'd eventually marry someone, have her own children, live a boring, predictable life. She'd rule the kingdom with a prince at her side. Everything her parents wanted for her. But she knew she would regret it.
Going on this deeper route, she had no idea what that would bring. It was thrilling, to not know. And terrifying. In so many ways, she wanted to jump in just to see. Was it love? Or would he break her heart? There was no certainty in that path, which was exactly what made it so tempting. She didn't know if that path would lead to regret, or not.
Two days.
"Well?" She finally spoke, choosing to ignore it until after the ball. "Are you coming, or not?"
