a/n: So there's a little thing in the first half of this chapter that I dropped a hint of and I wonder if anyone will catch it. It's something I'll be exploring if I ever write a follow-up fic. Also, I'm sorry if these next couple chapters take longer to write. Apparently I have issues with dramatic tension.
The stage had been set early that morning for the Nautica to prove its claim of having more firepower than any other ship currently sailing the world's oceans. Two rows of barges had been lined up downriver — anchored in place and set to be cannon fodder for the great ship's guns. The Jewel of the Realm sat at the head between them, ready to observe the destructive force of the Southern Isles flagship.
There was no doubt that she'd have a better vantage point from onboard the Nautica, but she'd have had a better appreciation of the pegasus sail from onboard the Jewel as well and by now the whole castle knew how that had turned out. If she had to give Prince Hans any measure of credit, she'd say that he knew when not to push his case. He'd not attended dinner with her parents and had been ferried out to the Nautica in a smaller boat before Emma had even arrived at the docks. It was a welcome respite after spending the previous evening reassuring her parents that her rejection of the prince had no bearing on her curse.
She had felt it the first time, with Neal. She hadn't been able to explain it — still couldn't, as a matter of fact — but it was like a part of herself had broken free from its shackles in the moment she'd found out about his betrayal. As though a knot in her heart had been loosened. Hans, on the other hand, was the same as every other suitor she'd turned down. She may not have wanted his love, but he hadn't wanted hers either, not really. It was her crown he coveted.
Emma tried to push thoughts of the previous day from her mind, turning her gaze toward the Southern Isles flagship as Killian maneuvered the Jewel into position at the opposite end of the line of barges. She hadn't been given a tour the previous day, too busy observing the Jewel's flight and fielding unwanted proposals, but she knew enough from spending the last few days surrounded by sailors. The Nautica was the first of its kind. It dwarfed the Jewel of the Realm and her kingdom's new galleons, boasting one hundred and four long guns on three decks. Not for the first time, she wondered exactly how many trees had been felled to build it. If this was truly the future of shipbuilding, it was no wonder that the Southern Isles wanted access to the Enchanted Forest's abundant lumber supply.
The plan, as she understood it, was for the Nautica to destroy the first set of barges, make a tight circle around the Jewel, and then take out the rest as they followed along behind. There was more that had initially been planned — taking her out to sea and up to top speed, if the winds allowed — but there had been further demonstrations planned yesterday as well and, well, Emma hadn't bothered to ask. She just wanted this done with. Tomorrow the treaty would be signed and the Lady Eva launched and Prince Hans would fade to a vaguely irksome memory.
The sound of someone approaching the prow made Emma turn her back to the rows of barges and she smiled as Killian came to a stop in front of her.
"Do you need anything, milady?"
She couldn't help but peruse his form appreciatively — the way he stood tall and straight with hands clasped behind his back, the dark blue jacket that hugged his shoulders and brought out his eyes, and the ridiculous hat that capped off his uniform. (She said a silent thanks that officers in her own navy were not required to wear headgear.)
Emma bit her lip mischievously. "Perhaps. I'm not sure you'd be willing to give it though. Might not be considered 'good form,' strictly speaking."
His eyebrows shot up in surprise and he smirked, swaying towards her ever so slightly. "Funny you should say that, because I know a princess who has argued several times in favour of a looser interpretation of the principle."
Killian's voice dropped enticingly and Emma glanced over his shoulder at his men — each crew member and officer stood ready at their posts, seemingly unaware of the conversation she was having with their captain. Emma knew better than to trust in their professional disinterest but placed her hand on Killian's chest anyway, closing a little bit more of the distance between them. The treaty would be signed tomorrow, she reasoned, and yesterday's catastrophe meant that Hans would be unlikely to linger in the Enchanted Forest.
"So you'll give me what I want?" she asked innocently.
"Anything."
"In that case…" Emma reached up as if to cradle his face and guide him closer but abruptly pulled his hat off instead, placing it on her head and laughing as he sputtered and scowled at her.
"You're a bloody tease, you know that?"
She grinned at him and held out her hand. "I'd like your spyglass too, please. I'll try not to drop it into the water like I nearly did your brother's."
He pulled the instrument out of his breast pocket and placed it in her waiting palm, his eyes holding hers the entire time. Emma curled her fingers around the metal as Killian's gaze flitted up to the tricorne hat on her head. He adjusted it slightly, letting his fingers linger on the thick plait she wore to keep the hair out of her face before pulling away and stepping back.
"One day, Princess, I am going to get you back for that."
"I look forward to it," she said, turning back towards the ship's bow and extending the spyglass. The sooner he could reciprocate her flirting, the better.
She heard Killian give a heavy sigh and raised his spyglass as he walked away, a smile on her face. Within moments she'd located the Nautica and started scanning the action on deck. When she passed over Prince Hans, a sinking feeling settled in her stomach and Emma paused her sweep of the other ship. The prince was also looking through a spyglass and she couldn't shake the sense that they were watching each other. The standoff lasted only a few heartbeats before he frowned and tucked the instrument away.
Emma lowered the spyglass and clutched it to her chest. Breathe, breathe, she repeated to herself. The chance that they'd actually been watching each other was slim, as was the possibility of him seeing her flirt with Killian. What would it matter anyway if he had? She'd already rejected his proposal and made it clear that there would never be anything between them. Surely, if she'd had any chance of insulting him and triggering the curse it had been the previous day, not now. Not when the damage was already done.
Her nerves disagreed. Emma's hands shook as the first cannon shots exploded across the mouth of the river. A spark of something shocked her and she jumped, Killian's spyglass slipping out of her fingers. She cursed and fumbled but couldn't catch it and it hit the water with a tiny splash that couldn't be heard over the Nautica's cannons.
Emma clutched onto the bulwark for support, unable to keep from trembling. All fifty-two port-side cannons fired on their targets and the blasts rolled into each other, making a single wave of sound that grew louder and louder as the ship cruised upriver. Plumes of water sprayed up and Emma counted each barge as it was destroyed. It was no wonder that the Nautica was said to be revolutionary. Its destructive force was so immense, she doubted anything would be able to stand in its path. For centuries battles at sea had been fought by boarding parties, but this ship could overpower any foe with the strength of its guns alone. If its model was adopted by other navies, the galleons her parents were preparing to launch could already be considered out-of-date.
It was a leviathan, an absolute beast of a ship, its barrage unrelenting as it moved steadily closer until the barge closest to them was destroyed. As loud as its cannon fire had been, the river grew suddenly silent as the Nautica drew alongside the Jewel of the Realm. Behind her, Killian's crew prepared to follow their flagship as it destroyed the second set of barges but she barely noticed them. The same fear that had gripped her when she'd seen Hans through the spyglass flared to life once more and she shut her eyes. Something was coming, she could feel it.
Emma took a deep breath to try and calm whatever force was rising up within her. Dimly, she thought she should try and warn everyone but a single cannon shot drowned out whatever she might have said. Wood cracked and splintered and shouts rose up on both ships. The bulwark broke, the deck gave way beneath her, and Emma barely had time to take a breath before she fell into the icy water.
"Mr. Stevens, report!"
Killian left the wheel to his helmsman and strode down to the main deck. Fired on by his brother's ship! He'd never known a man under Liam's command to make so grievous an error.
"There's damage to the hull, but we're not taking on water and all sailors are accounted for, Captain."
"All sailors…" he repeated scanning the deck. His eyes landed on Emma's two guards standing near the damaged portion of the deck, arguing with one of his men who was trying to cordon off the area. Killian surveyed the ship once more and his stomach dropped.
"Where is the princess?" he demanded.
His lieutenant gaped at him but Killian couldn't afford to wait for an answer. Pushing past him towards the damaged bow, he searched the water for any sign of her. The seaway was near freezing, and if she'd fallen overboard they'd have to get her out as soon as possible before hypothermia could set in.
Adrenaline took hold over the panic, keeping his mind clear. It was plain that the cannon had been fired with exactly this goal. No sailor under Liam's command would make such a mistake, but Hans was an admiral and had his own men aboard the Nautica, guards who reported to him alone. If he suspected anything…
"Captain! Over there!"
Killian's eyes followed to where his crewman was pointing and his heart stopped when he saw his hat floating in the water. A break in the waves not far away pulled his attention and he exhaled in relief when he caught sight of Emma. She'd managed to grab hold of a large piece of debris and was trying to climb onto it.
"Lower a boat," he ordered, turning on his heel and setting off towards the mid-deck. "As soon as I'm in the water, raise the pegasus sail and keep her steady. Once I have the princess, hoist us both back aboard ship."
"Evasive maneuvers, sir? On our own ship?"
"The Nautica is no longer one of our ships," he snapped. "I suspect the prince of trying to murder the princess and will not accept further risk to her safety. Lower me down and then get us out of range."
His men hurried to follow orders and Killian turned his gaze back to Emma, trying to keep himself composed.
"That's quite the accusation against your prince," one of Emma's knights — Lancelot, he remembered — said quietly as Killian stepped into the side boat. The small vessel rocked as it was set out over the side and Killian looked up at the older, armour-clad man.
"If it's proven true, then he is no longer my prince."
The knight regarded him for a long moment before finally nodding. "Bring her back, Captain, and our kingdom will be in your debt."
Killian didn't bother to reply. He couldn't care less about winning thanks. He just had to get to Emma.
His hands itched to work as he sat in the boat and was winched down. He balled them into fists instead, his gaze darting between Emma, the Nautica, and the approaching water. There was no way to tell what was happening on his brother's ship, and while that worried him it wasn't something he could focus on yet. He had to trust that Liam would do what he could to maintain order and stop whatever Hans was still plotting.
One thing at a time. And the first thing was Emma.
It was always Emma.
The skiff hit the water and Killian was ready, detaching the ropes quickly and setting a brisk pace towards the debris. Emma had seen him coming, and he was glad that she'd opted to conserve her strength rather than trying to swim in the freezing river. No matter how strong the swimmer, cold water always increased the risk of drowning and he refused to lose her to the sea.
The Jewel took flight just as he pulled up alongside her and Killian set the oars down carefully, the boat rocking in the waves. Emma scrambled, struggling with her grip, and he leaned over to help pull her in. He had to brace himself as she fell into his chest and he hurried to strip off his jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders. She was freezing cold and shaking, but she was alive.
"It's alright. You're alright, love," he murmured, holding her close and allowing himself one brief moment of relief.
Her drenched clothes clung to her body and he rubbed her back with one hand while the other tried to warm her stiff fingers. Emma huddled closer, tucking her face into his neck and he murmured sweet assurances as much to himself as to her, pressing kisses to the crown of her head.
Killian kept an eye on the Jewel as he comforted her, watching as the ship was brought back around. The extra-long ropes were lowered about a half-dozen yards off and he shifted Emma, pulling away so that he could row them over.
"Stay low and hold onto something if you can, love," he said, maneuvering around her to hook the last thick cord into place.
Her nod of acknowledgement turned into a shudder and he frowned, settling back in beside her. She still hadn't spoken, and his initial relief was turning to a pit of worry in his stomach.
The boat rocked and swung as it was lifted up from the water and he crouched down in front of her, rubbing warmth into her arms and legs as he searched for injuries. She was curled tight in a ball with her eyes squeezed shut but Killian could find nothing other than a few scrapes and some swelling that would surely turn to bruises.
Satisfied that it was just the shock and cold affecting her, he pulled her into him once more and cradled one of her hands, pressing kisses to each of her knuckles in turn. They were suspended about halfway between the water and the Jewel when Emma took a deep breath and laced her fingers together with his.
It was the first movement she had made since being pulled from the water and relief spread through him. Killian pulled back a little, tipping her face up with his free hand and kissing her softly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered as he pulled back and he frowned.
"Sorry for what, Swan?"
"I thought… after yesterday… I thought that he wasn't part of the curse. I should have been more careful."
"This isn't your fault, Emma. And we don't know for certain it was Hans."
"I do," she said softly.
Killian was nearly as certain as she was, but it wasn't the time for such talk. He may not be able to fight against magic curses, but he could take action now that it was in play. They were nearly back to the Jewel, and once he made certain that she was taken care of, he would lead some men down to the Nautica and make sure that Hans couldn't hurt her ever again.