Tedious hours had passed and still Hook got no answers from the beautiful woman.

He'd taken to calling her Swan because she reminded him so much of one and she wouldn't give her real name. As well as that, he had to tie her down for when the squid ink wore off - he could already tell that she was wild and fierce enough to try and attack him even with his weapons on show - and despite his warnings, he hadn't laid a hand on her. Hitting a woman, despite her stubbornness, still didn't sit right with him.

The longer he stood there interrogated, the more amused the Swan girl looked. One would think he was telling her a limerick rather than threatening her life. "Give it up, pirate." She said with a sigh.It was clear that she was getting tired as the minutes droned on.

"I don't think you understand the seriousness of your situation, love," He warned her before abruptly pulling her chair closer to him and leaning down so their faces were once more level. His arms stayed on either side of her to once again try to intimidate her but her stormy gaze stayed on his with no trace of fear in them. "I am no ordinary pirate. In fact, I am one of the worst there is." He told her with a smug tone to his voice. "My weapon is not just a dashing accessory, its who I am. The most feared Captain in all the seven seas and although my absence has been long, I'm sure you've still heard of my legend." He finished with his lips stretched into a smirk. He was proud of his achievements and the havoc he'd wrecked so he had no problem bragging about it.

"Nope." She replied with a bored look. That shocked him into speechlessness.

"Excuse me, wench?"

"I've never heard of you."

"Thats bloody impossible!" He snapped at her. Parents warned their children about him and his fearsome crew, drunkards sang shanties in their name, criminals idolised their every move and high-collared blue bloods feared that they would be their next target. It didn't matter how long he'd been gone from this realm, the stories of what he'd done had travelled generations... Unless, "How long have you been alone in this castle?"

"As long as I can remember." She answered with a shrug.

Hook softened after that. Not only had she finally answered one of his questions with an actual answer but she also revealed how she'd never heard of him. She'd been here since childhood, likely kidnapped by the Dark One like Belle had been before her. What he didn't understand is why she would leave after the crocodile being gone for so long.

This woman confused him more with each second.

Hook was conflicted. His morals were put into question for the first time he started on his quest for revenge. He stood up straight and turned his back to the woman who had so quickly distracted him from his destiny to kill Rumplestiltskin once and for all. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair as he thought about his options. He could either go back against his code and torture her for information like he had done with so many men before, or he could let her go. He would be back to square one with no knowledge of the Dark One's whereabouts, no squid ink to freeze him with and no guaranteed amount of time to find him.

After minutes of painstaking silence, he made his decision.

Before he could change his mind, he turned back to the blonde and slashed his hook down. He cut the ropes tying her arms to the chair. Ignoring her look of surprise, he began to cut away the rest of her constraints.

"Well let this be the first story of Captain Hook in your memory." He said almost softly. If any of his mates seen this display of mercy, they'd have him hogtied and keelhauled by sundown. "Now, I don't know your story and you've been tightlipped about everything to do with the Dark One so far, but I would like to propose a truce." He told her after she was released but she made no move to stand. "Join me for a drink at the tavern in the next village over, or be alone once more with nothing but a broken wheel to keep you company." Hook offered with a knowing look.

If she accepted then maybe she'd start talking after a few libations but if she declined he would know that she was either trapped in this castle or she was protecting the crocodile. If it was the latter then he'd have to return with his crew and either take her away from here by force to use as leverage - unharmed, of course - or leave her to her own misery. For some reason both of those options made his chest tighten.

"What'll it be, love?" He asked, offering Swan his good hand to take or push away. "The choice is yours."