Chapter 4 – Unexpected
"Your highness, you must come to the gates." A plump soldier urged. Emma spun in her chair, closing the book she had been reading. It had been three weeks since her particularly heart- wrenching nightmare, and the waiting hadn't gotten any easier. Emma had found herself sitting by the window staring at the seemingly endless sea, the sea that reminded her of him so much. Even when her parents came to keep her company, Emma kept quiet. Her father made an effort to get her out of the castle as much as possible, without pushing her too much. He had convinced her to go riding twice so far, and to spar with him thrice.
The books in the castle's extensive library had served as a sort of getaway for the princess. She devoured a novel every two days, sitting in her favorite chair by the window for hours on end. She alternated between watching the horizon and flipping through page after page of her current book. Every once in a while a servant would pretend to dust the books, if only to check on her. When she was sure that she was alone, Emma would read to herself and image it was Killian's voice caressing her ears.
"Can we try this one?" Emma asked tentatively, holding out a book to him. Killian took it and turned it over in his hand, studying the cover with a slow nod. He looked up and met her eyes. "Where shall we sit, love?" He asked. The princess grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her favorite spot, near the window overlooking the sea. Killian sat down and patted his lap, smiling when Emma blushed and sat down. He wrapped an arm around her waist as she leaned back into him, content. He brushed a kiss behind her ear and opened the book, turning to the first chapter. "The wind howled in Jake's ears, the dark sea raging just below his feet. Thunder struck once more, perilously close to him." Killian's voice made her smile, and she closed her eyes, imagining the scene while safe in his strong arms.
"Milady?" The soldier called again, eyeing Emma carefully. The princess nodded and marked her place in the book with a stray piece of paper before setting it down on the wooden table beside her. She stood and straightened her dress, motioning wordlessly for him to lead the way. The man straightened and bowed, then held the door of the library open for Emma to step through. She gave a stiff smile and turned right, quickest way to the gates, knowing the soldier would follow her.
The halls were all but empty, drawing a frown from Emma. As she took the familiar path to the main entrance of the castle, Emma was barely aware of the quick tapping of the soldier's shoes as he walked behind her. Every turn she took, the incessant droning of voices got louder. Emma picked up the pace, her dress swishing every time she rounded a corner. Something was up, and Emma was growing more and more determined to find out what. As quickly as she could while holding up her skirt so as to avoid tripping, Emma made her way down the stairs and through the huge dark oak doors of the great hall.
The sight that greeted her was one she was completely unprepared for. Their army was back. The courtyard was buzzing with activity, hundreds of soldiers walking every which way. Some led horses to the stables, others carried swords and shields to the armory. Emma caught a glimpse of several men laid out in stretchers, on their way to the infirmary to be treated.
She stood in her place for what felt like seconds, frozen as a she everything in. It must have lasted longer than she thought, for a young man stopped next to her, looking worried. "Your highness? Are you alright?" He asked tentatively, cocking his head to look at her. Snapping out of her daze, Emma nodded and dismissed him with a wave. The blonde sucked in a breath, looking around with wide eyes. If the army was back… So was he.
Suddenly, Emma was filled with a new sort of hope. It swelled in her chest and made her throat tighten, and for a moment she lost the ability to breathe. It almost hurt, and after taking a deep breath, Emma knew just what she was feeling. This was just like what she felt when she was with Killian. Love. Love so deep it almost hurt, love so strong it made her feel invincible.
Before she had time to register it, Emma had picked up her skirts and was running around the courtyard, pushing her way past the numerous men. She ignored the calls behind her, because if they weren't him, in that moment, she didn't care. She needed to be held, to feel him in her arms, to look into his blue eyes. Needed to hear his voice, to smell his scent.
Gasping for breath, Emma pushed herself away from a group of soldiers, looking around her frantically. There were too many people around her, suffocating her. Her breathing quickened, and Emma suddenly felt dizzy. Shaking her head, she pushed her way out of the crowd, emerging in a corner where some of the wounded we still stretched out on sheets, half in the hay. Medics were gathered around one of the soldiers, who was stationed farthest from the crowd. Emma stepped closer, curious. The man's face was hidden behind a doctor, who was tending to his hand. More accurately, the place where his hand should have been. The medic unwrapped the bloody bandage, yet the injured man didn't make a sound. He was unconscious, or maybe even dead, Emma figured. The doctor stepped back and around the body to grab a new bandage, giving Emma a clear view of the wounded man's face.
Emma's heart stopped. Laying there, with hay in his hair and a missing hand, was Killian. Her hands immediately went up to her mouth, doing nothing to stifle the tortured sound that fell from her lips. Emma barely registered the doctor turning around and another medic rushing to her as she fell forward and everything turned black.