She was falling…falling…falling….
As suddenly as it left, the ground reappeared under her feet. Sarah felt the air rush into her lungs then just as quickly back out again as she felt arms wrap around her tightly and a subsequent squeal in her ear.
"Z! Z! Z...you're not Zarek?"
The arms around her loosened and Sarah was now able to face her attacker. A petite black haired woman with large bright green eyes stared back at her.
Zarek's deep laugh came from behind her and he stepped through the portal. The woman squealed again and pushed past Sarah to grab onto Zarek. Her fiancé in turn grabbed the woman by her waist and swung her around before taking her into a bear hug.
"Eva!"
"Z!"
The pair took a few laughing moments between each other before Sarah let out a not so subtle cough.
"Oh, god! Eva, this is my one and only, Sarah Grey. Sarah this is my aunt Eva."
"Aunt?"
Sarah looked the woman up and down. There was no way she was any older than them, young, maybe in her early twenties with long black hair pulled into an intricate braided updo. She was clothed in a period dress (although Zarek had mentioned this was normal for them) of a very pretty purple and white combination.
The pair looked at each other and laughed again. "Yeah." Zarek stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Sarah's shoulder. "Remember what I had said, you know…about everything?"
She sighed. It had been a bit of an unrealistic blur but… "Yes?"
"Well it left our parents, my grandparents -her parents- and my mother about the same age so that left us with an even more screwed up family tree."
Eva –his aunt- laughed again. "Oh right. Did you even get to Henry's side of things?"
"We touched on some of it."
Eva smiled and pulled on Sarah's arm. "Well good. Because we have a whole heap of people for you to meet and the day nearly over! So say goodbye to your baby boy and come with Auntie Eva, my dear!"
"Zarek?" Sarah looked over her shoulder as the surprisingly strong woman pulled her through the door of the barren portal room.
He smiled wide, wider then she had ever seen before and waved. "She'll take good care of you. I'll see you in a bit, have some stuff to take care of."
Oh this was going to be interesting…
:::
It was impossible but oh so beautiful. Sarah stepped out onto the balcony of her private room in the insanely large castle- a bloody castle! Disney's Cinderella's castle had nothing on this! - and looked out on the beautiful landscape. The day was sunny and warm for an autumn day. The trees were beautiful, vibrant reds and oranges seemed unreal. She pulled the wrap closer around her and leaned against the stone rail. The lofty mountains, the sky blue waters, the pristine kept gardens, everything was out of a fairy tale book from her childhood. But that was what this was, wasn't it? Her fiancé, her Zarek, had told her those book were true (to some extent). This was the castle of Snow White and Prince Charming –King David and Queen Snow- and she was sleeping in one of the many guest suites. A guest of a fairy tale couple. And she was to meet several others on the tour that Eva had dragged her on. Z had told her later that first night during a quiet dinner in the kitchen that their family friends –including a long list of Disney title characters such as Ariel and Eric, Cinderella and her own Prince, Aurora and Philip- were all arriving for the week long autumn celebration, a festival of the harvest they called it here apparently. Something that these kingdoms came together and celebrated every five years. It was the day every little girl wanted, to meet these beautiful and legendary men and women and here she was, the one and only person from the outside world to have this chance.
That was what held her up, made her stop herself from truly believing this was real. How could it be real? How could magic exist? Everything in her rational mind told her these where tales, these were fake and made up stories from hundreds of years ago. It was so much for someone to take in. Zarek had been so patient with her trying to absorb it all, he understood how much it was. After living the simple life with her, she realised how shocking that must have been for him. To come from this life of royalty and castles to basement apartments in New York eating the same leftovers for three days. If he could do it then so could she.
And she had made some progress. Over the two days she had been here she had met some of his extensive family. His mother she had met before and the two had gotten along well but here and now knowing her story made it much more awkward. But Emma shrugged it off, her non-magical background made her easy to relate to for Sarah. She pulled Sarah under her wing, stealing her away from the ever excitable Eva and tried to help her adjust to this whole idea. It had helped.
And his father…Oh. Dear. God. Now shesaw where Zarek got his rather old school charms from. The dashing and debonair Killian Jones…was also Captain Hook. She had to shake the old images of the character from her childhood out as fast as possible after meet him. The 'reformed' pirate captain had been the perfect gentleman, something he had passed onto his eldest son and was something she had always loved about Zarek. Killian too, like most others had tried to be as accommodating as could be although –she had to admit- the hook was rather off-putting.
Henry, Zarek's much older brother was another Sarah had met. Adorable was the first word that came to mind when she had met him. Whether it was interacting with his equally playful wife Grace or their sweet daughters, Henry was always joking and laughing. The older man was quite a goof, a wide smile came easily for him. Although he had attempted to be terrifying when he pulled her aside and asked what she had thought of the books…his books apparently (which made her blush, knowing that Zarek would have told him what she had thought of them, which at the time was not very highly).
The rest of his extensive family though had kept their distance, greeting her but not smothering her, worried about her attempting to grasp this new world. She had quick introductions to his 'grandparents' but had yet to see his other siblings or Henry's apparent 'whole other cluster-fuck' of people (as her fiancé kept referring to) as they had yet to arrive from their own castle.
A knock sounded on the solid wood door. She called for them to come in and Zarek slipped into her room. Dress in the apparent garb of this land and with the sword at his side he looked the part. His blue eyes were wide and shone with something she had never seen, a smile on his face that she hadn't seen for quite a while.
"Well you look happy," she noted. He practically skipped forward and grabbed for her. A sound and solid kiss landed on her lips and her effortlessly lifted and spun her around.
"I am happy, my dear," he finally spoke. "And you?"
She smiled and traced the laugh lines on his face which had become more and more prevalent the longer they stayed. "I'm happy. And getting better at wrapping my mind around all this." Sarah swept her arm out to the open landscape surrounding them.
"Good. Because we have several days of celebrations in store but first," he paused and pulled her back into her room. "First I have a few things to show you and a few more people for you to meet."
Sarah bit her lip. What more could he possibly show her? "What are we doing?"
"I'll show you."
:::
As beautiful as the palace and the scenery from it was, it was even more spectacular on the ground. Zarek had dressed her in a simple pair of breeches and a strange riding habbit-esque like top then took her down to the docks. This place was buzzing with activity, everyone preparing for the celebrations. Many people stopped and bowed quickly or offered a hello to Zarek (a Prince, she had to remind herself) before carrying on.
"Where are we going?" she finally asked after he had stopped to talk with several people.
"To see my brother, hopefully. Before we head out."
"Your brother?"
He laughed. "Aye, Liam. I haven't seen hide nor hair of him so I assume he's down here."
Zarek didn't stop but continued to lead her down through the crowded streets and docks until they came across a rather large building. A pounding, throbbing sound was muffled by the thick wooden frame of the building.
"He's here," Zarek laughed and shook his head. He opened the door and music poured out of the building. Sarah followed him in and quickly shut the door behind her. Inside sat a rather large ship in the process of being build and the pounding sounds apparently were a mix of a hammer and a cranked portable stereo playing AC/DC's Back in Black. Sitting rather precariously on a beam of said ship was a man working away. He was tall and lean, short cropped brown hair with a rather familiar looking trimmed beard and shirtless –which revealed a large full back tattoo of a ship basking in a full moon.
"Oi, Liam!" Zarek called. The man leaned back and noticed the pair before pulled a control from his pocket and pausing the sound system.
"What do you want?" he snapped.
Sarah made a move to leave but Zarek took her hand in his and led her closer.
"Just wanted to say hello and to introduce Sarah, my fiancé." Zarek turned to her and frowned. "I want to apologise for him but Mother dropped him on his head too many times as a babe."
"Did not," the man bit back. Deftly he jumped down from his perch and landed before them. "And I offer my best wishes and condolences, Madam, for having to marry this ninny."
Sarah laughed but held out her hand to shake only to have him grab it and kiss her knuckles. Another laugh caught in her throat as she noticed his 'hook' tattoo, placed exactly where his father's real one would have been, across the back of his hand and 'connected' with a series of tattooed leather straps.
"A pleasure, Lady Sarah."
"And you too."
"So wanna tell me why you're down here working on a ship while the rest of the family is gathering together," Zarek asked.
He scowled, crossing his arms. "Because I love my ship more than some members in that family at the moment."
"What did you do now?"
"Me?" Liam scoffed and strode back to work. "I did nothing. The old man and I just got into a bit of a row, that's all."
"Again?"
The younger brother refused to answer.
"You are coming to the banquet at least, right?" Zarek asked.
Liam turned around with an exaggerated smirk on his face and bowed deeply. "As your highness wishes. I may be a disappointment to the men in this family but I will not disappoint the women. Mother and grandmother will have my head if I don't show up."
"Well good then. I'll see you in a few days."
Liam bowed his head towards his brother then bowed deeply before Sarah.
"My lady, I shall see you later."
Zarek grabbed her hand and led her from the building. They walked back through the crowd in silence.
"So that's your brother, huh?" she finally said.
He sighed. "Yeah…yeah he is."
:::
"Oh no. Oh hell no." Sarah held her hands up and backed away. "No, no, no, no, no, NO!"
"Come on, Sarah. It's easy. Kinda like riding a bike…a bike that won't fall over or crash you into a fence."
She scowled and crossed her arms. "No but it can take off and kill me. Or run me into a tree. Or many other horrible things."
Zarek laughed and handed the beast to the stable boy beside him. He ran his hands over her arms and kissed her forehead gently. She frowned but knew he was going to win this one.
"I swear on my honour that you will be perfectly safe with Boudicca here. She's very calm and very sweet, as bomb proof as you can get. My mother even rides on her and that's saying something."
Sarah looked over his shoulder to the rather large chestnut mare. He was right…she at least was standing still and quite compared to Zarek's own dapple mare who refused to stand and had nearly trampled the stable hand. But she didn't ride. She hadn't even taken a bloody carriage ride in the park yet. Who the hell rides horses anymore?
"You're sure?"
"Positive."
"Boudicca is the best there is, my lady," the boy called from behind Zarek. He led the mare to her again and stood ready for her.
"Fine, fine. How the hell do I get on this thing?"
Z's wide smile returned and quickly helped her on. Sarah was still struggling to sit up correctly and listening to the stable boys instructions on steering as Zarek easily mounted the circling horse. Again and again, Sarah kept noticing things about the man she loves that she had never noticed before. Everything here that was so foreign to her came so, so naturally to him. The natural way he mounted the horse, spoke to the servants with grateful yet authoritative manner, how he knew when and how to respectfully bow to the many royals that came through the gates every day. The politics, the languages, the policies. More and more things came to light everyday they spent together. With each day he stood taller and loosened up, the dark circles from lack of sleep from school faded and with everything she learnt she realised more and more that she loved him.
"You okay?"
Sarah shook her head from her daze and smiled. "Yeah, just thinking."
"Alright well we have a long ride ahead of us so get comfy and follow me."
"Aye, aye Cap-i-tan." She guided the horse to follow behind Zarek's as they headed out the large open gates.
"Oh god don't ever day that around my father."
"Why not?" She teased. Although she could almost picture the pulsing, twitching brow the Captain would probably have.
"He would-as Liam likes to say -'Blow an ass-gasket'."
And with that the pair took off back down through the crowded streets who parted way for them and out into the expansive forests. The trails to where ever the hell they were going were beautiful. Sarah had always lived in a city of some sort. Manicured parks were as nature-y as she had ever got. Forests that went on for thousands and thousands of acres without a skyscraper in sight almost felt wrong. As the ride went on into its third and fourth hour with only a few short breaks to stretch her legs and let the horses eat and drink, she wanted to complain about her sore butt and pulled legs but Sarah couldn't. With each breath of the pure air and the light breeze that brushed her face she felt her body rejuvenate. Here she felt…new.
"Almost there." Zarek said after a stretch of silence between them.
She nodded and moved her horse closer to his as they slowed their pace down. The sun was beginning to set on the open plain and there she spotted their destination. A small cabin rested against the edge of the forest, surrounded by some small pastures long overgrown. They stopped at the cabin and she stood and waited while Zarek untacked the horses and led them into the pasture.
"So why are we sleeping in a cabin in the middle of the woods?"
"Because," he paused to lift the packs and carry them towards the cabin. "We are half way to our goal and need to rest for the night. And," he stopped again to open the door, "this place is kinda special to my family…and to me."
Sarah stepped inside the small hand-built cabin and glanced around at the wooden table and chairs, two beds and other small furnishing. Zarek busied himself and quickly had a small fire going to light the place and broke out a few of the supplies to make supper.
"Sorry it's so dusty. Grandpa usually has someone come around a few times a year to clean it up and maintain it but I guess we came a bit too early."
"Oh?"
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, bit his lip as he always did when he was nervous. "Yeah."
They ate in silence just as they usually did at home in their apartment but here in this world they took it outside and ate under the open clear sky then laid out. It was perfect and beautiful but as the time grew and the sun set she grew more and more concerned.
"Anything wrong, Zarek?" she finally asked.
"Wrong? Nothing wrong."
"Okay fine, not wrong but something is up."
He turned over on his side to look at her then sat up. "I have some stuff to tell you and I'm not sure how you might take it and that makes me nervous because I love you and don't want to lose you."
"I love you too, Zarek but what else is there to say? I mean…"
"I know, I'm sorry and you're doing so well with everything, you really are. And this isn't anything new…per say but an elaboration."
"Okay? What is there to elaborate on?"
Zarek remained silent, composing himself but before long he spoke. "Alright, okay. Don't take this the wrong way but…"
She smiled as his words bumbled out, over lapping and repeating himself, even lapsing into a slight stutter as his nerves kicked into full force. "Zarek just spit it out, please."
"I'm a Prince."
Sarah sat up and looked over at him. "And? I figured that out when people started referring to you as Prince. And the fact your family are all royals was another hint."
"No, no," he shook his head. "I mean yeah but I have to tell you that I'm not a Prince, I'm the Prince."
"What's the difference?" she asked but her mind quickly overtook her words. She knew what it meant. Being a Prince, at least in the world she was used to, meant they would be royalty, they would have perks and look pretty but to be the Prince…that meant that they had responsibilities and that would eventually become King.
"It means-"
"That's you'll be King."
He nodded. "Yeah. It means when I'm done at med school this year I will be returning to the Forest and I will be accepting the position from my grandfather. The coronation has already been put into motion, by grandmother of course."
"But…how? I mean I thought your uncle was supposed to take over?"
"James? No, no, I mean yes but," he paused again and ran raked his hair again. "There are two kingdoms under my grandparent's rule right now. My grandma's is the one we came from, the one which James is going to take over but the one that my grandfather came from…well it needs a leader. It hasn't been doing well without someone to see to the day to day, the economy in the kingdom is nowhere near as far along as…you really don't understand anything of that do you?"
Sarah shook her head. Politics and economics had never been anywhere in her wheel house.
"Sarah I love you. I love you so much and well," he stood up and began pacing in front of her. "I came here because this place is where big decisions are made in my family and this is a big decision for you, you know…to become part of this family. It was here my great grandmother made a choice to save her family by giving up a son, where my grandfather choose to safe his mother by subjecting himself to a life of lies and," he paused and finally met Sarah's gaze. "This was where I finalized my choice to become King. And here is the place I'm asking you to think about a life changing choice. I love you, Sarah but I am going to become King and I need to give you fair warning on what that would entail. If you choose to leave understand that I will respect it. I will always hold you in my heart."
She had no words. The silence between them grew at the night went on. The stars were clear and bright here and they seemed to be the only thing Sarah could concentrate on. He had asked her for forever before in New York and it hadn't caused a second thought then but this forever…this was vastly different. This wasn't just let's have jobs and a house and 2.5 kids. This was let's rule a nation together, deal with politics and being for the people at all times. He was right...she had to look inside and this time she wasn't sure if she could do forever, even for Zarek.
:::
They started off early in the morning even though they had both stayed up well into the night, staring off into the sky in silence. Zarek had the horses prepped and ready with breakfast already on the table by the time Sarah awoke. In silence they ate again and he gently helped her mount the mare. Hours more of galloping passed without seeing another soul and it gave her a few more hours to weigh in on her decision. Hours didn't seem long enough to choose as the pro and con list grew and grew. In the end, she knew she truly didn't want to leave Zarek. He was her first real love and they had grown together in those years at school. It wasn't the future she had dreamed about but the more Sarah allowed her mind to wonder the more she came to conclusion that she could do this, this Enchanted Forest thing.
"Nearly there."
Sarah pulled herself out of her stupor and took in where they were. A small town was carved out of the thick forest and rested up against a wide river. In the distance and at the highest peak sat the castle. The one that would be her home, should she choose this life. Before she had seen them as beautiful and magical but now…now she thought of the obligations and restrictions that came with such a homestead.
They slowed their horses as they approached the town. They rode first through the open fields on their way to town. Farmers all stopped and waved or called out cheerful greetings to their Prince. Young boys helping their fathers ran through the crops and chased behind their horses. Sarah couldn't help but smile at the excited children as they skipped and jumped behind them. They called out for their soon to be ruler, calling Prince Zarek over and over until he smiled his wide smiled again and swiftly dismounted. Sarah stopped her horse and watched as the crowd of children ran up to him. He deftly picked up the smallest girl who ran into his arms and giggled as Zarek lifted her high up.
"Prince Zarek, you're home!"
"Of course, Eliza I told you I would, didn't I?"
"Prince Zarek?" one of the older girls asked. "Who is that?" she pointed at Sarah. She flushed at the multiple stares from the young crowd.
Zarek smiled and looked up at her as she slid out of the saddle. "That little ones is the love of my life," he paused and grabbed for her hand. "If she'll have me."
:::
Zarek sat under a large tree in the open field and watched Sarah as the children crowded around her. They were in awe of the strange clothing she still wore, poking and tugging on her clothes. He loved moments like this. These times of happiness where he could spend moments with the people that he cared and protected. Zarek missed riding around and visiting with the farmers to the merchants and bread-makers while under his grandfather's wing. King David may not have been bred or raised into royalty but he always understood the subtleties to ruling, always knowing what to say and what to do for the people. He knew that his uncle James looked up to David just as much as Zarek did in those times. Both knew and vowed years ago to try and create two strong kingdoms and do everything they could for their people, they wanted to be kind rulers who were connected to the people.
"So what do you think?"
A soft hand grabbed at his. Sarah stood before him with a crown of flowers upon her head and the largest smile he had seen since the 'whole new world' thing was thrust upon her.
"What do you think, Prince Zarek?" little Catherine ran up beside Sarah, grabbing her hand and leaning against her. "We spent all morning picking them once we heard you were arriving but Eliza thought they might be better for the Lady Sarah."
"I think it looks beautiful, Cathy," he paused to rise and ruffle the little girl's golden hair. He kissed Sarah and ignored the mixed response of their growing audience as the children followed behind. "But I know the Lady Sarah is not partial to crowns."
Little Catherine frowned and looked to her companions.
"I told you we should have made a necklace."
Sarah chuckled and leaned down to face Catherine.
"You know what? I think the more and more I'm heard and see your home here, the more the crown is growing on me."
The village children cheered at the Lady's assurance but were unaware of the shock and awe on their Prince's face. Sarah did not. She knew he words were true. She knew what Zarek saw here, what he loved and strove to protect. She finally knew and understood his struggle and she finally realized she could love it too. These children, these people and this village made her see just how wonderful it could be in just the day she had been there. Her understanding of his world was still limited but with enough care and growth Sarah knew she could blossom as well as the rest of the prosperous village.
Sarah knew she could wear the crown of flowers and be proud to stay at his side.
Zarek nearly choked on his words but swept her under his arm.
"Are you sure?"
The light and life in her eyes was enough to answer his question but the gentle smiled and nod confirmed it.
He reached down for a quick kiss much to the children's dismay.
"Well if that's the case then we might need to get you fitted with a longer lasting crown."
"Oh I don't know I think this suits me just perfectly."
So so sorry for the wait. My life has just been a whirlwind of things coming up. Best of all is being accepted into Teachers college and just finishing my first placement! So much things to get done etc etc but with so much amazing CaptainSwan things around me I had to finish this. Not going to lie, I'm not a fan of Sarah but he is who Zarek wants apparently...I nearly have the companion piece for Kiss it Better nearly done and should post this next week. Thank so so much to all the people who have stuck by and read this collection as well as my other Once pieces. Thank you to anyone who may stumble upon this story now for reading it and as always please read and review. Nothing sparks the creative muse like positive reinforcement!