A/N: Wow! I've gotten such a lovely response on this story! Thank you all so very much!
I'm glad you're enjoying it-so, enjoy this next chapter as well!
Not three days later, Gold decided that he hated all of the staff around the home.
So, he dismissed all of them, and it was that final blow that made Killian realize just how alone he was in this world.
But, he wouldn't sit around and pity himself.
There was no point in doing that.
So, of course, he was assigned all of the house duties.
He cleaned, he cooked, he ran errands-anything that needed to be done, was done by Killian from that moment on, and for months to come.
The young man hated every minute of it.
Yet, Killian was determined to live up to his family's expectations. He would be brave, he would be kind. No matter what that meant for him.
Months turned into a year, and now, Killian was essentially a servant, and certainly not by choice. He was eighteen now, he could leave and live on his own, but this was his home.
This was where he had lived with his mother, his brother, and his father (even though their time together was short).
Killian couldn't leave.
"Killian!" Neal yelled down to him.
Killian sighed as he finished kindling the fire for the morning, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Yes?" He called back.
"Is breakfast ready?"
"Almost!" Killian replied, standing up and brushing the soot off his pants before walking to put the plates on the table.
His stomach growled at the sight of the food, but he knew that they wouldn't spare him anything.
The two brothers came bolting down the stairs, whizzing by Killian to sit and start eating.
His stepfather was a bit more graceful coming down, glaring to Killian as he sat down.
"Who's the extra plate for?" He asked.
"I thought maybe I could-"
"Wait, wait, you really thought you could eat with us?" Neal laughed, "Nice try, Killian."
"I just thought-"
"Thought wrong." August smiled, his mouth full of eggs.
Killian sucked in a deep breath through his nose before turning and walking towards the door.
"Wait, Killian," Gold started, to which Killian turned around, "Let me get something straight with you."
Killian swallowed hard, afraid to know his fate.
"Aye." Killian uttered.
"You have a lot of work to do today, and if it doesn't get done," He spoke in a tone that made Killian wince, "Well, you'll see what happens."
"What exactly am I to do?" Killian questioned.
"You'll clean up after breakfast, then clean the foyer-we have people coming over tonight-then, you'll tend to the stables and clean the chicken coop. Once you're done with that, Neal tore a hole in his pants a few days ago, so you'll need to take that into town to get re-sewn."
"But-"
"No arguing. Those are your duties today. I suggest you tend to them." Gold replied, causing Killian's breath to hitch.
"Where have you been sleeping? On the hearth?" August laughed, "Look at all the ash on your forehead!"
"You look like you're made of cinders!"
"Dirty Killian!"
"Cinder-swain!"
"I like mine better!"
"Does it matter? He looks like he stepped out of an old man's ash tray!"
Neal and August erupted in laughter, causing Killian to swallow hard and bolt out the door.
He couldn't do it any longer. He couldn't be brave. He couldn't be kind.
Killian was left with a huge mess to clean up (of course, they did not eat cleanly), and just scraps to eat. He sat at the island in the kitchen, eating his eggs slowly. He glanced up to see his reflection in the kettle, noticing how thin, how tired he looked.
How unhappy he looked.
His mouth curled into a snarl before he raised his hand to throw the kettle. Instead, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, sucking in a deep breath, then dropped his hand to the table.
Without thinking further, he got up from his seat and ran straight to the stables to steal the family's horse. He hopped on and rode off towards the woods-anywhere to get away from that house.
Killian missed his mother, his brother, his family-gods, his dignity.
He wanted his old life back. This new one was not what he had in mind.
He didn't ride too far before he heard a girl scream. She sounded terrified, so he pulled his horse to a stop to glance around.
Finally, he saw her, racing through the woods and crying out for help.
"Hold on!" Killian called after her, kicking his horse to put him into full-speed.
He caught up to her enough that he could grab onto the reins and pull her horse to a stop as he stopped his horse.
"Whoa, whoa-are you alright?" He asked.
"Yeah." She nodded, out of breath.
"Who are you?" Killian questioned as their horses fell into an easy circle.
"You don't-you don't know who I am?" She smiled, her brows slightly furrowed.
Killian smiled in response, shaking his head as he watched her blonde hair flow behind her.
"No, I don't."
"Emma." She smiled, "What do they call you?"
"Nevermind what they call me." He replied with a small smile.
"Well, it's very nice to meet you." She offered.
"What's a lass like you doing in the woods?"
"I was out hunting."
"Hunting?"
"Yes." She smiled, "I know it's not a woman's job, but-"
"Don't you understand that animals hurt, too?" He asked.
"What?"
"If you're hunting those animals, they are much more terrified of you than you are of them." Killian offered.
"What an interesting thing to say." Emma smiled.
"I've grown up that way."
"And what way is that?"
"I was always told that just because it's what's done, doesn't mean it's what should be done."
"I like that." She smiled, tilting her head.
Killian smiled back, enjoying the silence that fell upon them for a moment.
"Regardless, you ought to be more careful, lass."
"I tend to push my boundaries as far as I can." She smiled, causing him to chuckle.
"I see that." He smiled.
"Where do you live?" She asked.
"Not far from here." He replied, "What about you, Miss?"
"The palace."
"You work in the palace?"
"I do. I'm an apprentice, of sorts." Emma smiled proudly.
"I'm very impressed, lass."
"Thank you." She smiled, then turned at the sound of horses galloping.
"Your-"
"Miss Emma! Emma! It's just Emma!" She called to the man who was calling her name.
"I'll let you get back to your men." Killian spoke sweetly.
"I'll see you around?" Emma smiled hopefully.
"Perhaps." Killian smiled in response.
"I hope so." Emma smiled.
"I do, too." He replied before watching her gallop away.
She was beautiful, in every way.
Killian wanted to see her again.
Emma smiled the whole way back to the palace as she rode with Graham and her men.
All she could think of was Killian, and his kind words.
He was sweet-she could see it in his eyes, could hear it in his lilting voice.
"Your Highness-or, Miss Emma," Graham teased as they walked back into the palace, "You have been distracted since that run-in with that man in the woods. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." She smiled.
"You seem very distracted."
"I just... He seemed different, that's all."
"Different from the men you're used to meeting?"
"Yeah." Emma giggled, "I'm not overly fond of the suitors my father has chosen so far."
"That's alright. You'll know when you meet him." Graham smiled, nudging her shoulder as they walked into the 'painting' room. Her least favorite room of the palace.
"Father, do I really have to do this?" Emma grumbled, walking behind a screen to change.
"Yes, everyone in the royal family has a portrait, Emma." He replied with a chuckle. She rolled her eyes as she slipped out of her riding clothes and into the undergarments to the dress she was to wear.
"How was your hunting trip?"
"Would have been great if the princess had let us actually hunt." Graham teased, causing Emma to roll her eyes again. She was hoping he wouldn't bring that up.
"What happened, Emma?"
"I... I ran into someone."
"Someone you knew?"
"No, but I'd like to see him again." Emma said as one of her ladies in waiting helped her with the corset. She gasped as the woman tightened it, closing her eyes for a moment.
"And, what has you so taken by him?"
"He said something that just... stuck with me." Emma smiled, following the direction of her ladies as she daydreamed a little.
"What did he say?"
"Just because it's what's done, doesn't mean it should be done." Emma smiled fondly, playing with a ring on her finger, "He was sweet, and kind. He saved my life, too."
"Saved your life?" Her father asked curiously.
"He stopped her horse from running her deeper into the woods, your Highness." Graham added.
Before Emma could speak, the doors opened to reveal the Grand Duchess. She was a tall, thin lady-one who demanded all the attention as soon as she walked into a room.
Emma didn't care for her too much-she was cold-but, she grew up with the woman, she'd grown used to her.
"Emma, I've got all of the suitors for the ball lined up, and-"
"Regina, with all due respect," Emma offered, "I don't think I want any of those men."
She appeared from behind the screen, going to stand in front of the fake backdrop of gardens.
"Well, you need to start wanting them, because the men that are attending this ball are your options." Regina retorted, "You'll need to marry a man with a title-he can't just be some layman."
"Does it have to be that way?" Emma asked, "Can't I just marry someone because I love him?"
"No, Princess, that is not how this works."
Emma rolled her eyes, catching Regina's glare.
"Graham, tell the crier that I want the whole kingdom at my ball." Emma informed him, making him smile.
"Your Majesty, are you going to say something?" Regina asked in an annoyed tone.
"I see where my daughter is coming from, Regina." He offered, then turned to Graham, "Tell the crier that the kingdom is invited."
Regina sat sulking in the corner, making Emma smile.
She was always good at getting things done her way.
Later that afternoon, she sat in her father's room with him, waiting on the doctor to give him some sort of diagnosis.
She paced around his room, only looking up when she heard the doctor close his bag.
"His condition is deteriorating." The doctor said, "I'll keep an eye on him."
Emma nodded as he left, before going to sit beside her father.
"Papa, I don't want you to leave." She whispered, leaning into his embrace.
"I'm sorry, Em." He whispered in response, "I never meant for you to obtain the crown so early."
"I'm only eighteen."
"I know."
"What if I can't find a husband quickly enough?" She asked nervously.
"Regina and Graham will help you keep up with the kingdom." He promised, "But, I do not intend to leave you any time soon, Emma."
"I don't want Regina's help." Emma sniffled.
"Well, you'll have Graham's help. I know you'll want his." Her father smiled, "He's practically your brother."
"I know." Emma spoke with a tight-lipped smile.
"I won't let you do this alone, Emma."
"Thank you." She whispered, closing her eyes as her father pulled her closer.
Emma realized then the weight being placed on her shoulders.
And, damn, did it terrify her.