Chapter 19

He woke as the first rays of light hit his face, pulling him from a disorienting sleep. Sleep. He sat up, feeling queer all over, trying to figure out what where he was and what had happened. He remembered the violent darkness and then the sudden dizziness, but after that he could only recall warmth and calm. He shook his head again and was in the midst of taking his surroundings, plotting out his next move when he heard a twig snap.

He was on his feet in an instant, turning to face the noise, his cutlass in hand in an instinct fast and older than any magic. And he waited as he heard the noise get closer and closer until with a final crack of a twig a giant shadow made itself visible. He tensed, about to attack hen he looked a little more closely at the approaching form.

"Bloody hell," he muttered as he allowed his sword point to drop, staying still as a black stallion with sky blue eyes emerged from the trees. While he knew there was more than one black horse in the realm, he knew that this was the princess's stallion. He held perfectly still as their eyes connected, the clashing of the purest blue and the one tainted by darkness.

The creature stopped its approach about ten paces from him, flicking his ears and swishing his tail as it studied him.

Why he had actually thought it was a good to try and find the creature that had given off such a stench o the beach was still beyond him. However, he did know that the strange leather clad man before him could have killed him, but instead had somehow put him in a lovely glade not too far from where he and his liege lady had encountered the creature. That, coupled with the faintest scent of his lady had beckoned him to find the man. Now he would see if it was worth it. He snorted at the thought.

He watched as the beast assessed him. For some reason he felt very keen to have the bloody horse like him, so he slowly sheathed his weapon, before speaking up, scratching behind his ear the ridiculousness of addressing a horse.

"Good to see you again mate."

If a horse could flick its ears sarcastically, this one did.

"Aye, fair enough. I hope there are no hurt feeling though. I just needed to prove a point to your long lady, that's all."

The horse stomped and swished its tail in agitation, letting out a scoffing huff.

"Bloody hell," he muttered under his breath, before speaking up, "Alright, I'm sorry. It was probably uncalled for. But you're fine, she's fine. See? No worries."

The horse eyed him for a moment before huffing with a scoff, stomping his foot and turning away. He figured the damn beast just wanted to rub it in, but after a moment, his head swung around and one blue eye regarded him with a sparkle of merriment, before the horse tossed his head, beckoning him over.

"Oh you want me to come with you?" he asked, surprised.

The horse gave another good natured eye roll, and with a repressed smile he stepped forward to stand alongside the beast.

"Do I get to ride, or shall I be walking?" he asked, half joking. The horse whickered out a small chuckle before shying sideways to bump him with the saddle. The smile would not held back as he gratefully swung up into the saddle. The horse turned to look at him, waiting to hear the plan.

He paused, considering. "We'll head to the village that isn't too far from here. See if we can find anything out. Sound good?"

The horse dropped its head in agreement before turning to make its way to the northeast and for a while, he simply enjoyed the morning, before a sudden thought struck him. As he stiffened, the horse paused, noticing something was amiss.

"Bloody hell, Swan needs her breakfast." He hesitated, before bowing over to speak to his steed. "Can you get us as far from the barrier as you can in the next twenty minutes or so? I don't want to use magic and risk tipping off Regina. And I need to send your lady her meal. And her chores."

The horse grunted slightly at that, but dipped his head in acknowledgement, before he started to move, picking up speed with every step until he was practically flying through the undergrowth. The horses muscles clenched and bunched under him and he felt a freeing sort of exhilaration at the beast's pure power. It was the same sensation as captaining the Jolly at full sail and listening to her whole frame hum with strain and precise power.

The pounding of the horse's hooves turned into a beat that kept time with his heart and his elated breaths, before he notices that the sticky sensation of the barrier had faded away.

"Aye that's probably good," he called and the beast immediately began to slow to an easy amble. He reached down and gave the shoulder an appreciative pat, and the horse whinnied lightly in response, before he sat back up to concentrate on summoning what he wanted to project to the ship. He hoped the early hour would mean she had not woken yet, and was not waiting on food.

Once he had sent the plate and scroll on its way, he sat back and simply enjoyed the stroll through the woods. He notices that even in daylight, the forest was still. It was unsettling, and he could tell the horse sensed it too, and so in an effort to alleviate the pressing silence, he spoke up.

"So what shall I call you, master horse?" He received a snort in response. "Come now lad, while that might be a respectable way to say in your sphere, I can't every well go around snorting when I am calling you. That would be poor form. So be a good lad, and give us something a little easier to say, yeah?"

At his words, the horse stopped and turned its head to him and he could have sworn the beast raised an eyebrow at him.

He gave the animal a wry smile as he scratched the back of his neck yet again, "Aye fair point. dub question. Perhaps if I list letters, you can spell it out, or shall I just guess?" The horse shook his head as he shrugged, sidestepping a branch. "Oh I can just pick then? Alright. Give us a moment ."

He considered. For some reason, this felt very important, this naming of the horse who had sought him out. So he truly though deeply about it, going through all the famous names before suddenly, gentle inspiration struck.

"How would you like Dílis?" The horse paused, considering. He suddenly felt incredibly awkward again, almost embarrassed as he explained, "It means loyal."

The horse was quiet before it gave a long and please whinny and he smiled. "Aye, Dílis it is."

The two continued on in companionable silence until they reached the village, around noon. It was a shoddy place, and the Dílis flicked his ears in distaste.

"Aye, me as well," he said softly, before dismounting, staying close to the horse's flank and summoning a cool, sweet apple to his palm, before walking up t his bridle and offering it to him.

"Bygones be bygones?" he asked quietly. The horse eyed him, before happily accepting both his apology and the juicy apple form his hand. "Aye there's a good lad." He scratched the horses forelock for a moment, looking around and considering, before lighting on the village tavern.

"How 'bout a drink then lad?' he asked the horse as he turned to walk toward it, Dílis following gamely behind without the need for his harness. When they reached the entrance, he simply draped the rope through the hitching ring, not bothering to tie a knot. "Makes for an easy escape, see? Now stay put and I'll see what I can find out 'bout the rest of the royals, yeah?"

The horse dipped his head before nosing his hand again, wanting another treat for his good behavior.

"Aye, course, lad, you deserve it," he whispered, carefully summoning another apple for the horse, who happily started munching on it while he turned to walk inside.

He wasn't surprised when his entrance through the small wooden door brought silence to the establishment. That had been happening for far longer than his existence as the Dark One. But he was surprised to see a small company of black uniformed guards sitting at one of the tables. He would be sure to keep his eye on them.

He pulled his shoulders back and allowed himself to slip into the costume that had been long fitted to his form, and with a new swagger to his gait, he made his way over the bar to order a drink as conversation and music began to fill the room once more.

The bar tender came over, "What can I get for you traveler?"

"Your house ale is fine. But how do you know I'm a traveler?

The bar man laughed, busing his hands with reading a glass and starting to pour the foaming liquid, "We don't get too many strangers round these parts, although lately there been more than were used to, to offer congratulations to the queen and all."

"Aye?"

The bar tender nodded, "People on their way to offer fealty."

That gave him pause. "Why?"

The bar tender gav e him a strange look, "You definitely are new about these parts if you don't know. The queen has claimed the royal family is dead and herself as the rightful queen. Many folk coming through to make sure she understands where they stand. But if you didn't know that, what brings you here?"

He bit his tongue, not wanting to give anything away. "I had business with eh queen, of a different sort, and I've been travelling, so the news simply didn't reach me. But now I'm here, I'll be able to offer her my congratulations on her coronation."

The bar tender closed the pas, taking a small stick from his apron to wipe the foam from the top of the glass before placing it before placing in front of him, "Good idea, although unless you are invited by her majesty, you'll not be able to get to the castle. Something about a defense against assassins.."

I am sure it is, "Well hen,' he said cheerfully," how's a lad get invited to castle?"

The tender gave a wary nod toward the table he knew housed the guards, "Ask one of that bunch, they'll be able to tell you."

He nodded before pretending to fish in his pocket, summoning two silver coins to his hand and pulling it out to lay on the bar. The man's eyes widened at the sum, "Thanks for the help mate," he said lightly.

The bar tender gave him a shaky nod, "Anytime. Always a pleasure to be of service sir." Then he quickly swiped the coins into one of his hidden pockets before turning away to deal with something else behind the bar.

He took a deep breath and a long sip of the cheap ale before he pulled a clever smile to his face and strutted right up to the guard's table.

"So I understand you are the lads I need to talk to about getting an invite to the castle."

"And who the fuck do you think you are?" one of the guards scoffed, before turning back to the game of dice he was playing. The others simply ignored him, and for the first time that day, he felt the blackness rear up, and this time, he welcomed it.

He let it fill him and watched with a cruel grin as the men began to register his sinister presence. He could see the flicker of fear in their eyes.

Yes, that's it dearie.

He stood for a moment more, taking anther deep pull on his ale before placing it down on the table and casually walking up to the man who had so blatantly disregarded him, and in a move like lightening, his hand was wrapped around the man's chin, hook just brushing his thundering pulse. His comrades jumped up shouting, but with a gleeful flick of his thoughts, they were all choking on air. He put his lips right against the quaking soldier's ear.

"I am here to congratulate the Queen and my name is Captain Hook, better known as the Dark One," he whispered as if speaking to a lover, his voice making the man freeze and the smell of urine crept up to his nostrils. His eyes burned for a moment and if he could have seen his reflection, he would noticed his eyes had faded to black. The fear in the room was like a lover's touch and he was reveling in it.

"No I do believe you have a message to deliver, aye?"