Chapter 11: The Plot Thickens

A/N - I absolutely can't believe how many people have taken time out of their day to read this little story. Thank you so much.

Many adults assumed that because Emma was only four, (almost five as she would remind you), her attention span was exceedingly short.

This was not the case.

When she was sufficiently fixated or her boundless curiosity piqued, Emma could be stubbornly single minded and no attempts at distraction, no matter how tempting, would be successful. Emma desperately wanted to know why her parents and Liam were annoyed with Killian, and she wasn't prepared to be fobbed off with breakfast when there were obviously serious matters afoot that involved her new friend.

One of Emma's favourite games was, 'Emma - Spy for the Crown'. Emma the Spy, was fearless and clever and possessed of a high aptitude for subterfuge that was quite disturbing in one so young. Having recognised that her parents weren't going to talk with Killian about whatever was so serious until she had left the room, Emma had allowed the maid, Averil, to lead her away. She was the very picture of polite acquiescence, holding Averil's hand as they went down the stairs to the kitchen. She was especially polite in responding to Averil's questions about the Jones boys, who were the talk of the servants' hall. Averil was one of Princess Emma's favourite maids, but to Emma the Spy, she was an obstacle that had to be dealt with, and soon, or Emma might miss out on the more important bits of what was going on with her parents and Killian. As they were exiting the stairwell, Emma saw her opportunity to escape. Two chickens were dozing quietly on the side table that ran the length of the short hallway.

"Cuddles!" Emma cried, and lunged for the nearest bird. Instead of trying to grab the bird, she used her free hand to push the poor chicken right off the table. The fact that Emma wasn't anywhere near at subtle as she thought she was, because Averil clearly saw the little girl shove the bird at her, made no difference. Emma lucked out as the frightened bird flew straight at the unfortunate maid who had to release the girl's hand to protect her face from the oncoming chicken talons. When she managed to get the bird under control, Averil saw that Emma had made herself scarce.

Emma almost . . . almost, felt guilty about tricking Averil. She slipped into the bustling kitchen and make her escape. She snuck through the hidden door at the back of scullery and up the stairs that led back to the very narrow secret passage that ran between the walls of all the rooms on this floor, including the dining and Receiving Rooms. Her father had told her that only family knew about all of the secret access points in the castle, but she was never quite sure if he was just humouring her. Emma the Spy, who had been forced to play alone, knew quite a few of the secret passages very well. She couldn't wait to show Killian. They could set ambushes for pirates trying to sneak into the castle.

Her first stop was behind the large painting of her great grandmother, Melora, that hung next to the fireplace in the dining room. She huffed in annoyance when she peeked into the room from the spy hole in the bottom corner of the immense frame and saw the room was empty, except for the chickens. Undeterred, she slid the little cover back over the spy hole and moved on to the next one that looked out below the wall sconce in her mother's office but that was empty, too. Methodically she checked each room until she found her parents, some of the guards and the big man that had been with the chickens in the market the day before. Neither Liam nor Killian was there, but she thought she would stay where she was and listen.

Miggens watched as the King and Queen entered the room and couldn't help but notice they were alone.

"Well? Where is he?" Miggens asked, belatedly sketching a rough bow. "I see the other one ain't here, either. You hiding him, too now? King Midas, will be angry about this, you know. Those chickens were sent here by his goodwill. To help your people after . . ."

"Mr. Miggens, you will be quiet!" David raised his voice to forestall the man's tirade. Miggens' mouth clamped shut as his brow furrowed.

"Now, the boy you sought, his name is Killian. You will be pleased to know that he has confessed his wrong doing and would like the opportunity to apologise. . . "

"Well, ain't that big of him? What good is that to me when my chickens is spread all over the kingdom?" Miggens asked, his expression sour.

"That's quite the exaggeration. Your chickens are going to be rounded up and passed out to the people as per the agreement with King Midas. You will get the full measure of the grain that was promised for the trade, regardless of how many chickens short the final tally is," Snow advised.

Miggens lifted his large hand to scratch his chin as he considered the Queen's words. "That's the least you could do," he said.

"That's what is fair," David said, his eyes glinting dangerously in warning that anything other than acceptance would be a very bad idea. "Now, will you accept the boy's apology?"

Miggens looked from the King to the Queen, his eyes narrowed. He bit on his lip and finally gave a short nod. "Let's have him, then."

David gestured to the guards to stand a little closer to Miggens, as he wasn't taking any chances. Miggens snorted in derision and tapped his foot impatiently. Snow went to the doorway and called in the boys.

Killian, back straight and head up, wearing an expression that wouldn't have looked out of place if he was mounting the steps to the gallows, walked in behind Liam. His older brother, jaw set, hands clenched, kept himself between his little brother and the huge man that Killian had angered. Despite the kind assurances of the King and Queen, Liam didn't really know them and was unsure how much trust could be placed in their words.

"This better be a proper apology, boy," Miggens warned. He flexed his hand, open and closed, demonstrating the likely outcome if he found Killian's words unsatisfactory.

Snow bristled at the man's threat and the implication that a beating would be allowed. "Like his brother, Killian is under our protection. You'll do well to remember that," she said, her authority ringing in every syllable.

"Yes, Your Majesty," MIggens said. His words, intended to placate the queen, failed to offset his threatening manner.

"I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you, sir, " Killian said, speaking up loudly.

"That's it? That's you're apology? That's how Misthaven apologises? Your actions could be taken as an insult to my land, boy, and I won't stand for that. King Midas rules us well and fair. He don't deserve to be insulted by some no good thieving boy," Miggens said. He glowered at Killian who flinched but stood his ground.

"I'm not a thief!" Killian shot back. "I didn't steal the chickens."

"You are a thief, boy. Saying you're not, don't make it so," Miggens said. In one swift movement he grabbed Liam by the shoulders and pushed him out of the way so he could get to Killian. Liam stumbled into Snow who wrapped her arms around him to keep him with her. She was sure if she let him go, the furious young man would launch himself at Miggens for insulting his little brother.

"Mr. Miggens, no-one is denying the seriousness of the matter, but Killian is only six. Boys get into mischief. I know I did," David said. He stepped up next to Killian and put a steadying hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure there was no malicious intent on Killian's behalf."

"Then why'd he steal the chickens?" Miggens asked.

"I didn't steal them!" Killian shouted, getting frustrated that Miggens kept insisting that he had.

"Then why did you do it, Killian?" David asked him. He asked his question quietly, hoping that using a soft tone would help calm the agitated youngster.

Killian looked desperately at Liam. He didn't want to upset his brother.

"Answer him, boy. Or you can come back with me to face punishment from my King," Miggens said, jabbing a finger into Killian's shoulder.

"That's enough!" Snow said. She tightened her hold on Liam. "He's not going anywhere. We're certainly not letting you take a defenceless six old." She turned a smile on Killian. "Now, just tell us in your own time. Why did you let the chickens out?"

Killian felt as though everyone in the room could hear his heart pounding. He looked at the door and then the windows and then down at his feet, wishing the floor would open up under him so he wouldn't have to explain.

"I can't say," Killian mumbled.

Emma had heard everything from her hidey hole behind the wall that was covered by a tapestry of her grandfather's coronation. As soon as she'd heard Miggens accuse Killian of thievery she tried everything to get the big stone door to swing open and let herself into the room. Unfortunately she was so angry and upset she couldn't get her shaking fingers to properly grasp the handle on the mechanism that opened the secret door. It took her several tries but finally it opened and she pushed the tapestry aside to stand behind her startled mother and Liam.

"You have to tell them, " Emma said, as she rushed past her mother to grab hold of Killian's arm.

"Emma? Duckling, were you eavesdropping?" David asked. He frowned at his daughter's disobedience.

Emma's cheeks flushed bright pink but she held her father's gaze. "Yes, Papa," she admitted and bit her bottom lip. "But Killian has to tell you what he told me. It's bad, Papa," Emma said. Her little face was set in a solemn expression as she nodded. She pointed at a dumbstruck Miggens. "He's a bad man." She narrowed her eyes at the offending individual and stuck out her chin defiantly. "That's why I let the chickens out."