Hello everyone. Hope you enjoyed the action in the last chapter. I've been thinking to myself, hmmmm artimas, what would you like to bring into this adventure of yours? In my epic quest for answers I came along a book, a very old book, one that most have never completed reading but talk about all the time. I hope you can figure it out. *eyes twinkling* If you can I give you five brownie points! Anyway, I really do appreciate the comments and reviews. They make this much more enjoyable.
Shout outs:
Alexandra . sarafolean: I always liked the idea of Emma getting into trouble w/out meaning too. She honestly tries to do the right thing, but you can't always tell what the right thing is until its there. *shrug*
JLM13: Hope to not disappoint you in the future action is fun, but really hard to write...I'm trying my best to entertain. :3
Carolina Sofia90: Ahh I understand your take on Graham and Emma, I guess I always just saw it different, but thanks for the curiosity, and I hope you enjoy.
Boomerang12: That was one on the list...*hint hint*
To all my other readers, Thank you Thank you,
~Artimas~
Chapter 7: Moving On.
The coffee cup before her had turned cold, no warmth left to comfort her trembling hands. Mary Margaret didn't know what to do. She had lost her daughter in an instant. Years of waiting and now once again she was right back at the start. Was she dead? No. Emma was a fighter, she would have found some way to survive Cora.
"Snow…" A comforting hand rested on her shoulder, but she didn't have the heart to meet the eyes behind it. "Its not your fault."
Anger erupted from her. "Stop it David! I'm her mother…" She quieted, was she her mother? She gave birth to her, but what else did she really have to claim towards a mothers life. All she did was abandoned her.
The chair across pulled back, and the prince sat, gently wrapping both hands around hers.
"What happened? You have to tell me…" His brown eyes pleaded. She hadn't told David everything since he woke up from the sleeping curse. So far all she had divulged were bits and pieces. What Cora had wanted, and why. Who they met along the way, leaving out a lot about Hook. That fact that her daughter choose to stay, was just to much.
"She didn't need me" Her voice shook, "It all happened so fast. One minute we were ready to go home. Together." The tears spilled, "Then…She didn't jump with me…she didn't take the chance. She stayed Charming!" Whispering she continued, "Do you think she was to scared…you know. To come back. To take care of Henry? To be a family with us?" Her eyes scanned the nearby door.
"No." David ran a hand through his hair, "I think. Something happened. Like you said…maybe Cora had her under a spell. Maybe, she thought she was saving you." He sighed. Following her eyes to the white door, a sign 'Emma' written in cursive above it. Henry hadn't left the room since Mary Margaret had returned. He refused to go to school, and only picked at the meals left for him. Even Regina was powerless.
"I think…" He took a big breath before turning back, "I think we need to see Mr. Gold."
"He tried to kill me!"
"Snow. He tried to save Story Brooke." His voice was tense, he hadn't forgotten about the curse him and Regina had laid for Emma and Snow. "He didn't have faith that's all. But maybe, and it's a long shot, he can help us."
She looked out the window, the town folks helplessly continuing their daily tasks. It was the only thing that removed the fear and sorrow. With the Savior 'dead' everyone needed something to occupy them.
"I'm coming too." Henry. He stood tall, his multicolor scarf wrapped around his neck, sneakers and jacket already on. The story book was clutched to his side, and he even smiled. "Remember. The worst always comes before the Happily Ever After."
"No Henry. We can't-"
"I think it's a good idea." David had cut off her maternal instincts. Henry had every right to try and save his mother. "Snow..." he eyed her for a moment.
"Fine, but if Emma yells at us later about involving our grandson. Its your fault." A small smile finally found its way to her lips. David just nodded, before heading out.
Gold's shop seemed closed for the day, the little paper sign flipped and the lights out.
"We could try Granny's? Maybe he's with Belle." David suggested.
"No. I'll just bring him here." Mary Margaret was set with a new mission. As Henry called it on the way over, operation mantis. She would not try and track the little imp down all day. "Henry…don't ever do this okay." She gave a wild smile to the little boy before picking up a rock and smashing it through the window.
"Snow!" David ran up grabbing her by the shoulder. "What are you doing!? Are you nuts?"
"Getting his attention. He'll be here soon." She shrugged out of his grasp a bit jumpy even at her own actions. "Not like he can't fix it."
"Right about that, dearie." The small door opened, Rumple stood there cane in hand, head tilted in curiosity. "Although. You could have just knocked."
They filed into the shop silently, no one quite knowing how to ask for a favor, without a favor.
"So what can I do for you?" He scoffed, "You didn't come to just break my windows."
"We need your help. We have to get to Emma. We have to bring her back." Mary Margaret said, stepping closer as she spoke.
"Well that's not possible. She'll only get back on her own accord, but don't worry. Lets just say I took out a little insurance on Miss Swan before she left." He smiled, and her stomach somersaulted.
"Insurance? What the hell does that mean Gold?" David was yelling, hardened jaw and fists clenched.
"Don't fret your majesty, she's in safe hands, for now." He swiftly walked behind the counter, placing much needed distance between him and Charming.
"What did you do?"
"What needed to be done. Cora's coming, one way or another. If she's not ready, we die. I'm sorry my boy." He actually sounded apologetic, his eyes shifting to Henry. The request for forgiveness holding more than he was letting on. "But for now, you should not be worrying about Emma. You should be preparing yourselves."
"We don't have much time." Emma was frantically pacing the room, as the Queen Titania insisted on looking her best before they headed towards the dungeons. She was sitting in front of a vanity, powdering her nose.
"Your highness…is this really necessary?" Emma said wryly. The woman could not possibly get more annoying. She had already assembled the 'perfect' outfit, set her hair, and positioned her crown. Is this what her life would have been like if she was still a princess. Talc powder and hair pins?
"Tell me again," Titania said, "How did you come to get to my realm?"
Sighing in defeat Emma began the tale for the fourth time. Her throat a bit raw when she finished.
"It sounds glamorous," She blinked her eyes and smudged the dark charcoal around them. "Life on the road. Not tied down to any one place. Adventurous. Dangerous."
"Well its not going to be so wonderful if my guide dies in your dungeon while your playing dress-up!" Emma had enough. If she wasn't actually going to get any help from this woman she would have to do it alone. She was stopped before she even turned.
"I'm ready." Titania rose, Her gaze scrutinizing. "No wonder he doesn't love you, look at you. You are nothing compared to me."
"Yes your highness, you are the fairest in all the land." Gritting her teeth, she responded with the first thing in mind. A small pinch in her heart as she thought of Mary Margaret.
"First you will need to disguise yourself." Titania's voice became cool, "you do know how to do a cloaking spell, don't you?"
Emma wanted to snap back that she did, but that wasn't going to help her situation. "No."
"Not a very talented are you?" Without blinking Titania snapped her fingers. Emma felt the cold sensation of water being poured over her, from her head to her toes. When she glanced down, her body shimmered and shifted out of existence.
"They shouldn't be able to see you now, unless your stupid enough to call attention to yourself" She turned to the door, and stopped. "when we reach Killian, just remember he is my love. Not yours." She walked out, "Follow me…and don't speak."
The hallway to the throne room was brightly lit, and Emma couldn't help but try and duck into each shadow that presented it's self. Servant's passed by but none of them looked her way. At the flight of stairs she had a close call, someone almost bumping into her, but the Queen had intercepted. A bit later than Emma would have liked, she was almost mocking her. Wanting to prove to Emma how useless she actually was, and it was working.
Finally they reached a beautiful dining hall. Emma tried to move across the room with care, but still jammed her thigh on the edge of a table. Barely managing to suppress a cry of pain.
Titania instantly remarked, "You do not understand the words of stealth my dear. I wonder how he deals with your oafishness." Another jab at her and Killian. "I will have to punish my guards, defeated by a child such as yourself." Emma had no retort. Only shifted her glance to the floor, Titania was right. She wasn't anything special, sure she could do little magic tricks, even fight a bit, but in actuality she was powerless.
"My dear?" Titania steadied a hand behind her. Emma waited, shifting into a nearby hall. Maybe the king was immune to such spells. Not a chance she wanted to take.
"My king." The woman gracefully fell into a curtsey, "I thought you would be resting from such a long day?"
"I knew you would try to see him." His voice was filled with such sadness. Emma truly felt sorry for the man. He must love this woman very much. As the Queen walked into the throne room, Emma continued on. The hallway was dark, and obviously wasn't used often. Sparse candles the only thing lighting her way. She took the first stairwell she could find, hoping it would lead down. Good riddance she thought as she left the Queen behind.
Checking her hands she noted the magic still swirling, this time it had changed to a more golden hue. Don't stop on me now.
Reaching the bottom she came to a small room. A chair in a corner holding an attentive guard. A hallway behind him leading to many different cells. He held no keys, and Emma cursed at her luck. Come on! Didn't they always have the keys down here in the movies? As he stretched she moved closer, maybe she could just get by him without anyone- her foot hitting something on the floor. A metal clang echoed painfully through the room.
The guards eyes widened, and he began to search. Pulling his sword from his belt, and swiping it blindly in front of him. Emma back up to the wall, slipping the dagger into her hand. She didn't want to kill the man, if she could just knock him out.
"Ahhh…so the prisoners apprentice knows magic does he?" He chuckled, before swiping the sword once more. "I will find you, and then the king will have such fun." This man Emma noted was different than the others. He had a rougher look to him, still a fey like charm, but darker. She was taken back by his lopsided grin.
"I may not be able to see you…but I can hear you." With that he brought the sword down, just the tip of it grazing the leather coat. "There you are…" She knew her spell had broken. She pointed the small dagger out defiantly.
"If you do not stand aside…I'll kill you."
"So…it's a woman is it?" The fey stated in disbelief. A smile rising the tips of his mouth upwards. "What is a woman doing running after a pirate?"
"He's not a pirate…he's a guide."
The man laughed, "I know a pirate when I see one. I've been through the rift."
"Good for you." With one fluid movement she knocked back the blade he held and charged. The man was to strong for her though, laughing at the attempt and shoving her down to the ground. She was dazed, her head hitting the cobblestone roughly.
"It has been a while since I've had some fun with your kind." The gaze in his eyes turned dark, and he crouched down before her. "What have you done to our Queen maiden of the sun?"
"Nothing."
"Liar." He didn't smile this time, just roughly grabbed her by the neck and shoved her against the wall. "Now…what have you done in your jealousy?"
"I'm not jealous of her." She felt the pressure again, spots starting to form as her air supply became more scarce. "I. Tried. To. Save. Her." The man was obviously debating the idea. The truth ringing through him.
"To the king. He will decide." He released her throat, causing her to crumple to the ground gasping for air.
"I can't. I need to save Killian." She slipped out the second dagger, pointing it up at the man in front of her.
"Then you leave me no choice." The sword he held rose high above her head, and she prepared herself for the strike that never came. His eyes looked fearful for a moment before they rolled back and he slumped to the ground.
"Do you need a hand love?" There he stood in all his roguish glory. That cocky smirk on his lips, and that all knowing gleam in his eyes.
"How did you…" she whispered.
"Pirate." He winked as he stood her up. "No time for all the boring details I'm afraid."
"I came for you."
"I never doubted you for a second." He looked around the room as he replied, yanking the dagger out of the mans back.
"The moonstones Killian. I found them." He looked at her expectantly, as if she might pull them out of the pockets of her coat. "They're in the necklace the Queen wears."
"Now that is a problem."
"No…she's on her way. She loves you." She winced at the thought. "You could get them from her."
"Then lets set the scene shall we." He smiled as he started to drag the body back into the chair. "Hmmm…didn't seem like the type to sleep on the job."
"Hopefully she's to dazzled by your good looks to think twice on it." Emma's voice came out tense, almost catty.
"Is that jealousy I hear?"
"Not a chance buddy." She rubbed her neck gingerly. The skin was tender, and she was sure it was going to bruise. "Okay…here we go. Back to your cage!" He glowered, before entering a nearby jail cell, slamming the door shut behind him.
"What about you lass," He smirked.
"It's better if she thinks I'm not here." Taking a deep breath she let her mind wander over the feeling of the spell the Queen had cast.
Killian's eyes watched as she disappeared. Looked like his little Swan was learning a few new tricks. He smiled proudly through the bars. It would definitely come in handy.
Soon enough the Queen came bustling in, eyes wide and searching. "My love." She exclaimed as she ran past the guard, and to the bars that held him. "What have they done to you?"
Killian thought he heard a snicker, obviously the Queen didn't mind Emma's absence. "Nothing my beloved." He put on his most dazzling smile, his voice lacing every word with sensuality. "I feared we would never see each other again. The King thinks I have tricked you." He let one hand slide down her cheek, "But my love. You are the only one I feel affection for."
Hook line and sinker he thought, as she leaned in and kissed him. His hook ran down her side, while his hand unclasped the necklace. Slipping it from her neck and holding it out behind her back for Emma. Unseen hands retrieved it, as he displayed his passion for the Queen.
"But alas my love…I must leave." and with that he pushed the door ajar. "Do not fear for me…for I have my magic." The Queen tensed, her mind taking in the door. "I must leave…for good."
"With her?" She scanned the hallway gazing straight through Emma. "I know she's here. Watching in the shadows. My own spell used against me. That little witch."
"She's not here. I sent her away, I waited for you." He pushed Titania back against another set of bars, the door slowly creaking open as he distracted her with kisses and sweet nothings. Then in one quick fluid motion he shoved her inside and slammed the door shut.
"Run." Was all he said before barreling out of the dungeon.
Emma wasted no time following. Reaching one hand out she grabbed his, trying her hardest to cast the cloaking spell on both of them. He must have known because he kept looking down at his arm to see if he was still solid.
"It's not working Killian."
Once at the top of the steps he turned sharply to the left, away from the throne room.
"We really have to work on your timing love." He shattered a window at the end of the hallway, "Doesn't matter. Come on Swan." Practically throwing her out the window and into a bush.
"God damn it Hook!" She grumbled as a thousand prickly thrones tried to jab into her arms. He was already beside her, pushing her forward and towards the wall
"So when your mad…I'm Hook huh?"
"Now is really not the time…" She mumbled, as a few guards shouted and pointed towards them. Killian drew his weapon. Following suit and pulling the saber out from her side.
"Horse…" She pointed towards the gates, a rider searching the grounds for the shouts.
"Perfect." With a smile Killian ran forward, one foot in the stirrup and the other pushing the surprised man out. Without thinking Emma jumped up behind him, grabbing his waist with one hand and sloppily flailing the blade behind her.
The horse sped forward as arrows pelted the space around them. Killian steering and Emma guarding their backs. Once at the gates, the castle doors burst open. King Oberon and Queen Titania hand in hand, side by side. For a moment Emma thought they were free, obviously she no longer loved Killian. Then she pointed and the gates began to close, and the bridge began to rise.
Not taking the chance they spurred the horse forward, jabbing it in the ribs with their heels. Through the gates, and over the bridge. A voice echoed through the forest as they fled, "I WILL KILL YOU KILLIAN!"
"Take it she doesn't love me anymore." He smirked back.
The sounds of wolves howling and men shouting cut through the air. The horse panted, and foam grew at its mouth, but still he urged it on. The forest began to thin. They were almost there, almost to the lake. The wind whipped, and the ground began to shake. The horse stumbled, and over they went tumbling from its back and face first into the frozen sands of the beach.
A small paddle boat wasn't far off, but before they could even get up, a thousand flaming arrows shot forth. Lighting up the sky and plummeting down on the Jolly Rodger. Emma watched in fear as men fell from the side, and sails caught fire. Blind cannons shot back, one cracking a tree close to Hook and her.
"They can't win Killian."
The retaliation was spells being slung, a large sickening crack echoing form the waters edge. The Queen and her men had found them, and the rage she possessed was anything but pretty.
Hook seemed to hesitated for a moment. His eyes seemed dark and sad at the same time, before he pulled off one of his rings. Turning the small stone. It faded from red, to green.
"Its time to go Swan."
"What? What about the ship?"
"They know what to do." He sighed, "Smee will find us…he's rather good at it."
"Then their leaving?"
"They must. Do you still have the necklace?"
Opening her shirt she pulled out the delicate object.
"Didn't take you for the jewelry type Swan." He winked before yanking a stone off the bottom.
"Do you think you can navigate it Swan?"
"I can try." He took her hand.
"That's all I can ask for…"
With that he tossed the portal. A type of rip opening up before them, bright and dark at the same time. They jumped, the world of fey falling behind them. The shouts and screams of the Queen fading. She felt his hand tighten, urging her to make good to her promise. Emma concentrated, her body felt pushed and stretched. Waves of nausea flooding through her. She tried to visualize Story Brooke, tried to think of the old well where lost things became found. Hell she even thought of Henry, and her parents. The old clock tower, and the library, Grannies. Her feet took on solid ground, and she hesitated to see if it had worked.
"If this is your world love…I think I'm gonna love it."
Her eyes snapped open, and she frowned. This was most definitely not Story Brooke. They were on a cliff, a town spread out before them. A line of docks on the left, leading into the open sea. To the right thousands of people running up and down the streets, shop vendors, marketplaces. It reminded her of the 1700's from the dresses the girls wore, to the button up shirts and swords the men carried. She was going to stick out like a swore thumb.
"Nope."
"Ahh well worth a shot. Better than the Fey."
"Really...because I thought you liked locking lips with gorgeous woman?" Her voice had taken on that cat like quality again. What the hell was wrong with her? She wasn't jealous.
"I do." He smirked, "and she wasn't the one I wanted my lips locked to."
She ignored him. Watching the town instead.
"Looks like a pirate town." He pointed at the black flags in port.
"You know it?" She hoped.
"Nope…definitely not. I'm sure we can find out. Come on Swan don't look so disappointed." His smile was contagious, "Let me show you a bit of my kind, huh."
She sighed, "Fine…Argh me matey…" her voice deadpanning the imitation.
"Is that what you think we all sound like?" rolling his eyes, and grabbing her by the sleeve. "Lets get a place to stay lass, a good meal and some drinks." he sighed as she stiffened, "I promise love, we'll be out of here as soon as we know where here is. In the meantime…no impressions, and stay close."
Pirate towns? Who would have guessed, Poor Killian without his ship...*sigh* but what town could we possibly have landed in? Next time: on "The road least traveled"
P.S. I know this wasn't the longest chapter, I promise the next one will be better, I've had a grand idea in my mind for a while now, and can't wait to show it to you. :3
