Of all the things she dreaded most about a return to the Enchanted Forest-the lack of running water, the iPhone drought, the chimera for God's sake-this one had to be the worst.
She was back in a corset.
"How the hell did this happen?!"
Snow and David, both dressed now in their royal garb, turned to her and smiled from where they stood, readying a few horses for riding. Killian strode over to her from where he was helping her father, and was likewise wearing his old pirate clothes once more.
"What's the complaint, love? I'd have thought this would come naturally to you by now."
The smirk on his face and slight show of his tongue told her he was loving this, and she scoffed at his enjoyment. She looked down at herself, taking in the brown suede getup. She wore some sort of riding pants with soft boots that came high up her calf, a sturdy corset in the same shade and a tight fitting coat that came all the way down to her feet. It was all cinched in with a heavily embellished belt that was absolutely not helping her breathing.
"Careful, Swan," he said, moving closer to her still, a look of tenderness washing over his face. "You're looking more tempting by the minute, and we're headed into the deepest and darkest of woods. You don't want to find yourself as prey."
He finished what she assumed was a sincere warning by taking out a long dagger from his coat and sliding it into her belt with a steady look. She nodded in response, understanding that for all the enchantment found in the stories she'd heard from her parents, there was also real danger present here.
"So sorry you aren't' enjoying this very minor side effect of an evil curse," Regina interrupted, striding over in her full on Queen attire, hair piled high on her head. "But your wardrobe change is the least of our worries right now."
"Care to enlighten me?"
"Well, for starters, we're smack in the middle of some plot designed by the Dark One, and that's never a good sign. We're stranded with no provisions, no plan and no real idea of what we're up against."
Emma surveyed their traveling group at the Queen's words, noticing more than one of them looked grim at Regina's assessment. Granny and Ruby stood off to one side in deep conversation, Aurora and Phillip clutched at their baby boy, Marco and a now prepubescent August stood side by side with frowns, and even Archie looked like someone had stolen his favorite umbrella.
"So what do we do?"
"We find answers," Belle spoke up, striding to the center of the crowd. "Rumple's castle is just a half day's journey from here, and that's where I'm headed. I know that place like the back of my hand, and with some luck I should be able to find clues as to what Rumple's planning."
Emma nodded, it sounded like the best option they had.
"So, let's get going," she said, making toward one of the horses.
"Not so fast," Regina interrupted. "The Dark One's castle isn't exactly the safest place for children, newborns and crickets."
The Queen swept an arm toward their audience with a raised eyebrow and Emma nodded in agreement. Regina was right, whatever awaited them at Gold's castle, it certainly wasn't something she wanted to expose Henry or baby Neal to.
"I'll go with Belle," Regina said at last. "She might need some magical backup. The rest of you should head toward our family castle, in the other direction."
"I'll come too," David said, stepping up and unsheathing his sword. "I may not have magic, but an extra hand could prove useful."
Regina nodded her ascent and made toward Henry to say goodbye. Mary Margaret stepped up to join Emma and David, her lips a tight line across her pretty face.
"Are you sure this is the best plan?" Mary Margaret asked. "I don't like when we split it."
"I don't either, but what choice do we have? Regina and Belle need backup, and the rest of our kingdom needs its leader. Besides, you'll have Emma with you in case anything of the magic variety pops up."
David clamped his hand at Emma's shoulder, giving her a comforting grin. Emma was glad for the reassurance. As much as she was used to taking on a leadership role in Storybrooke, there was no denying she was out of her element here. And David, all sword shining and cape wearing, was looking every bit a king at the moment.
"Henry, you look after you mom and grandmother, right?" David said to his grandson, preparing his goodbyes.
"You got it," Henry replied with a confident grin, drawing a smile out of Emma as she draped her arm around him in a side hug. David leaned over to kiss Neal on the cheek, as the baby remained sleeping peacefully in Snow's arms. Charming then drew back up to his full height, looking down at his wife with warm eyes, before giving her a simple yet meaningful kiss.
It was then Emma felt Killian draw near, coming to stand at her side as David turned to bid the both of them goodbye as well. She gave her father a watery smile, shrugging slightly at her emotion. David smiled happily at the display.
"Take care," he said, pulling her into a hug and placing his palm at the back of her head, as he had become accustomed to doing. It was a gesture she would now always associate with her father. As she pulled back and prepared to turn away with Hook, she heard David say quietly, "Killian. A word?"
Killian looked up abruptly, quickly concealing his surprise and schooling his face, giving a quick nod. The two men walked away from the group and Emma forced herself to look away, feeling as if the pair needed some manner of privacy. Instead, she joined her mother where she stood gently rocking Neal and talking to Regina. She watched as the Queen handed her mother a small, gold sphere.
"What's that?"
"My own contingency plan," Regina replied, looking serious. "You remember I went back to my crypt before we were sent here? Well this is what I was retrieving. It just might save us all."
Emma moved to ask more questions, but Regina walked briskly away, brokering no more discussion. The Queen strode to one of the horses she had conjured up when they had all landed, and watched with a regal gaze as Belle pulled herself up on a second horse.
"Are you coming, Charming?"
David and Killian had just rejoined the circle, their conversation apparently ended, and her father winked at her as he walked toward Regina and Belle. With a flick of the wrist, Regina had conjured a third horse o accommodate David, and the former shepherd boarded it easily. It was with one last nod toward his family and subjects that David steered the horse away, leading Belle and Regina off at a strong gallop.
"Feel like you're watching a fairytale hero, love?"
Emma smiled indulgently, wrapping her arms around her middle.
"David always looks like a hero," she replied, tugging Killian by lapel of his coat back toward the rest of Storybrooke's residents, as they all readied to head in the opposite direction in the heart of the woods. A few horses had been conjured to hold some supplies. Granny sat astride one, bow at the ready, as Ruby steered the horse forward, holding the reigns as she walked ahead. Mary Margaret had Henry by one hand and Neal crooked in the other arm, ready to take her spot at the head of the party.
Emma dutifully walked up to join her mother, feeling Killian at her side as she moved. The group started a path forward, moving as a synchronized body so that some of the stronger members were on the outside, everyone at the ready. There was no telling what they might face-they were on Gold's turf now.
The sun was getting lower now and Emma surmised they had just a few more hours until nighttime. She had no idea what they were going to do about food or sleeping arrangements, but she knew she was not the most equipped in their party to make those decisions. She looked to her side at her mother, warmed at the thought that Mary Margaret was near. She was reminded of the last time they were in the Enchanted Forest together, after her mother had jumped in after her into the portal. Snow had known just what to do back then, how to keep them alive in the woods. This time around, she was equally grateful for Snow's presence.
"Killian?"
Emma was brought out of her thoughts at Henry's call to Hook. She watched as Killian moved forward a few paces, joining Henry closer to the front of their group. Henry had quickly taken to the front, a natural leader, and had even found himself a long stick to swat away the shrubbery that fell in their path. Wearing the vest, suede pants and long coat he had appeared in the forest in, Henry looked every inch the young prince.
"Yes, Master Mills?" Killian responded, mimicking Henry's gait so the two walked side by side. Killian took up Henry's actions as well, swatting away at branches with his hook.
"What were and Gramps talking about?"
Snow chuckled from beside Emma, still rocking the baby as she walked carefully beside her daughter. The two women strode only a few paces behind Killian and Henry now, both likely equally curious about what the little chat between David and Hook had entailed, and both amused at Henry's youthful gumption to just come right out and ask the question.
"Well, we discussed a fair few things," Killian said, cutting down a rather large branch and helping Henry cross carefully over. "Your grandfather is a cautious man and there's a fine chance we're all to meet with danger at some point. He wanted to ensure I was up to the challenge."
"You think Gramps is cautious?"
"Not in a bad way. The prince is a man with much to lose. It would be foolish for him not to weigh his options carefully when protecting his treasure."
"Treasure?'
"Aye," Killian said steadily, looking down at Henry. "A family is the most precious treasure a man can hope to gain."
Emma swallowed hard, watching the pair of them. She looked away for a moment, almost out of necessity, and caught her mother's eye. Snow gave her a knowing look and a satisfied smile.
"Killian?" Henry asked finally, kicking at a stone as he walked. "Is Gramps afraid?"
"Tough to say, lad. I wager you'd have to ask the prince yourself. But I can tell you this...any time I've seen your grandfather display real fear, I've also seen him exhibit even greater courage. Bravery isn't the absence of fear, Henry. It's moving forward in spite of those fears."
"You think my grandpa's brave?"
"Lad, your grandfather is the bravest man I've ever known."
Emma stumbled at that, too caught up in eavesdropping to notice the wayward branch in her way. Kilian turned at the noise, grasping her easily by the forearm before she could hit the ground. He pulled her upright as the others in their traveling party moved around them and onward.
"All right there, Swan?"
Emma nodded, caught in his stare. That ability he had to hypnotize her with a look, like he was some sort of guiding star catching her attention, took hold of her once more. She could already feel herself moving forward, her face angling up as she lifted on her toes. She could tell the moment he realized her intention, a quirk of his lips pulling up to smile as he leaned in as well. His lips were just inches away from her as she closed her eyes and...
A loud swooshing sound caught her off guard and she snapped her eyes open just as Killian did, both turning their heads to find the source of the noise. Then, suddenly, she saw it-a thin arrow sticking out of the tree beside them, its end alight with fire.
"What the..."
"Who's there?" Mary Margaret yelled out forcefully, her arms already taught with her own bow, the string pulled tightly back with an arrow poised to be shot off in the direction of the intruder. Emma noticed the baby safely in Ruby's arms.
"Snow?" A familiar voice called out from the woods, deep and warm, with an accent she'd heard before.
"Snow, don't shoot, it's me!" the voice continued, moving closer. Then, from out of the cover of the trees emerged one Robin Hood and his Merry Men.